Oh Boys..

For the last three years - since I returned to work after having my Brown Eyed Girl - my mom has watched my kids one day a week, every week. Even with the addition of our Mr Blue Eyes, Grandma has continued her weekly Grandma Day.

My kids love Grandma's Day. Their little eyes light up every morning they see Grandma. Beyond helping us financially, Grandma Days have given my mom an excuse to slow down from her day to day grind, an excuse to turn off her phone, a reason to get down on the floor and take a load off, a new found glisten in her eye and pep in her step. If you ask her, Grandma Days are are the best day of the week, the best thing she looks forward to.

I often question what "really goes on," on Grandma Days. 

If I ask, I am told, "What happens at Grandma's, stays at Grandma's."

Of course this frustrates me to end. How do you explain to Grandma that my kids are too little for a pseudo Vegas vacation every week?

I am pretty sure my Brown Eyed Girl never sat in time out until this year at Grandma's. Some how she is always perfect. Of course, only for Grandma. Time outs are not needed at Grandma's house because they are angels... every week. Even through the terrible two's. Apparently my Brown Eyed Girl just left the attitude at the door every week. 

And then came Mr Blue Eyes!!!

Wednesday was Grandma's Day. 

After work, I went to my mom's to pick up the kids. Grandma looked tired. A little worn through. In 3.5 seconds from walking in the door I was informed that I had a hell rasier for a son. She was not sure what happened in a week's time - of course I'm sure it's something I did - but Mr Blue Eyes went from being a sweet little guy to... well, a BOY. 

He supposedly completely terrorized everyone so much throughout the day that Grandma had to keep track - like a report card. His first running tally of naughty-isms though out the day. 

I couldn't help but snicker. 

... and whip out the 'ol iPhone to document the day!

I can't help but smile. Let's address this list...

Kicks & Hits Boji as well as Hits Grandma - I don't doubt it. He's in the hitting stage. With out a doubt he is a hitting machine right now. Perfect timing for his age really, especially considering he has three girls that push him around all day at daycare and he is finally getting big enough and strong enough to retaliate.

I asked if he was put in time out - not sure why I even asked.

He was not.

Legos in Register - Mr Blue Eyes discovered a new game. Taking the tiny little Legos and putting them through the heating register vents at the bottom of her stairs. I don't think I can fault him for this. This one was all about learning and discovery.

Tore Plant Up - Grandma has a spider plant in the room where Mr Blue Eyes. Right. Next. To. The. Crib. Apparently, Grandma found Mr Blue Eyes after his nap in his crib with plant parts and dirt everywhere. So much for Grandma's poor spider plant. Again, this one was all about learning and discovery. 

I'm afraid I am going to have to point the finger at Grandma. Let's just hope he didn't eat the plant.

Last but not least...

Tore Screen Off Door - I think this is my favorite one! Al I can do is giggle and let the pictures speak for themselves. 

Last but not least, Grandma said all he did was wine and fuss all afternoon since he woke up from his nap.

Awe Grandma... Welcome to parenthood and a typical day our on the prairie. 

My poor little monster. Did I mention he is teething?

Love him to pieces!

Did I mention that he is wearing my old sweat pants?

A Pizza Pie

Handy Man has been working a lot the last few months. He leaves at 4:30 every morning and rolls in around 7:30 every night. I won't lie, it's tough living a pseudo single parent lifestyle. I try to just focus on a single routine in order to slink by and maintain my sanity. But I have to admit, I am getting sucked into a rut.

So, Monday night I decided we needed to "do something" more then just get home, put our stuff away, eat, take baths, watch tv, and slip off to bed. 

I decided to let the kids make their own English Muffin Pizzas.

This girl is a pepperoni freak!

I had to really regulate her consumption of pepperonis. Before I knew it, we barely had enough for the pizzas.

I even let Mr Blue Eyes get up on a chair and make his own. He did so good! 

He was so proud of himself! He kept looking back at me for approval. He was so excited. 

Have I mentioned how big he is getting?

He's so cute!

While cheese sprinkled the floor and I looked the other way as my Brown Eyed Girl snuck another pepperoni in her mouth, I couldn't help but remember the very first time I made English Muffin Pizzas. They were with my old babysitter when I was not much older than my Brown Eyed Girl.

Barbara...

Barbara was our home away from home. Our stand in grandma.

I stood there and couldn't help but remember all of the things Rah-Rah and I did with Barbara. English Muffin Pizzas. Leaf Houses. Graham crackers and milk. Fried baloney sandwiches. Artichokes.

I couldn't help but know Barbara was watching over me and smiling.

I couldn't help but smile myself.

I sure wish she was here to get know my kids... to see me as a mom... to make pizzas with my kids.

When the pizzas were all ready, we clapped our hands and cheered in delight!

Off to the oven...

~

The three of us sat down and enjoyed our Barbara inspired English Muffin Pizzas. I have to admit they were (okay) but not quite as good as what I remember Barbara used to make. Maybe my age has skewed my perception of what they were supposed to taste like. Mr Blue Eyes inhaled one all by himself. My suddenly picky Brown Eyed Girl, who typically only will eat the pepperonis off the pizza, actually ate about half of hers.

So I am calling this a success!

Stylish Adventures

What does one wear on an adventure?

If you are planning your trip early in the day, an outfit like this seems most appropriate. 

A beautiful matching top and skirt. The perfect complementing accessories - princess crown and fancy dancing shoes. One FAA regulation sized carry-on. And of course every ladies most valuable accessory, her purse.

Sometimes however, you just have to pack those dancing shoes for later. Sometimes, your travels might call for more sensible shoes.

Now if you are planning to take your adventure in the afternoon, then afternoon travel calls for a whole different wardrobe.

You don't want to be hot and sweaty.

I hope you all took notes.

My Little Artist

I wanted to share some of my Brown Eyed Girl's latest artwork. 

Happy Friday!

Above: A flower, a butterfly, and spiders.

Below: My favorite drawing of all. 

Last week in the car my Brown Eyed Girl said, "Mommy! Look at my pinch-ee bug."

I get it!

I see it!

I wanted to pull the car over on C-470 and kiss her face. 

I love that little girl!

Reminder: she is only 3.

Sparkle Like Twinkle Little Diamonds

Yesterday was a BIG day for our Brown Eyed Girl. It was her very first visit to the Dentist!

As her mother, I feel like we have been preparing for this event f-o-r-e-v-e-r... Teaching her to brush her teeth. Remembering to make her brush her teeth. Wrestling with her to spot check and thoroughly scrub the ones in back. Getting bit. A shadow visit with Grandma. Probably 5 scheduled and re-scheduled visits...

I am not exaggerating there. I can only imagine what the office ladies think... In fact, her last this-is-it-we-are-getting-her-in-to-see-the-dentist-if-it's-the-last-thing-I-do appointment was supposed to happen on September 5th. A Wednesday. At 4:30 in the afternoon.

At 4:25... I realized I forgot.

Pretty sure yesterday was our last straw.

Hell or high water! I was making that damn appointment!

The night before, I gave all 20 of those pearly whites a scrubbing. I couldn't help but think, "Lord I hope they look okay. I don't want to be 'that mother' who's kid's teeth are rotting out of her face." Of course they aren't...but still.

I went though some roll playing with My Brown Eyed Girl. The Dentist is going to count your teeth like this... and then the Dentist will have you open WIDE like an alligator like this... and then the Dentist will have you bite down to show your front teeth like a tiger, like this...

And then I was schooled. My Brown Eyed Girl was completely fine with opening up like an alligator; however, she did not feel like being a tiger.

"No Mommy. I want to be a Princess and SMILE like this..."

At which point the wiggled, posed, batted her eyes and displayed her little white teeth through her smile.

A Princess...

NOT a tiger...

Got it!

Lord help me...

We talked about the Dentist's magic toothbrush, the noise it makes, polish flavors, flossing... pretty sure I covered all the basics. All that was left was for one last final... bribe. In true motherly fashion, I bribed my Brown Eyed Girl that if she was really good, she let the Dentist clean all of her teeth and she didn't bite the Dentist - another fear aside from rotting teeth, please don't make the Dentist bleed tomorrow - I would buy her a treat.

Yep you heard it! That's right. I bribed her (again.)

I picked her up from daycare and she was pumped. The whole way to the office we went over the process again. Alligator. Princess. Magic toothbrush. Counting teeth. No biting. And of course her treat - stopping at the gas station for a $.99 juice.
Lord let her always only want a $.99 juice as her reward and not $100 Guess Jeans...

We arrived. We were excited!

Filling out paperwork in the waiting room, my Brown Eyed Girl was bouncing off the walls. She was oozing with excitement.

By the time we were asked back and walked to our room, she became quiet as a mouse.

She was nervous.

I kept on a smile, stayed positive and excited.

I think it helped a little that her little bib was purple. 

We need an ice breaker!

Thankfully, the hygienist commented on her beautiful gold, sparkling shoes. Talk shoes, she'll warm right up. In fact about the only thing I can get out of her when I ask how her day was at preschool are what the other girls shoes look like.

Houston, we may have a problem in the future... 

Here, she is telling the hygientist how old her brother is.

Later, I noticed in the pictures that when she wasn't talking, she had her lips wrapped tight around those chompers like a ninty year old man with out his dentures.

Before she had time to rethink a thing, we got down to business.

Teeth were counted...

My Brown Eyed Girl chose bubble gum flavored polish - pretty sure she has never tried bubble gum. I wonder if she thought she was getting the real deal. 

Out came the magic toothbrush. 

She did so good and even giggled a little bit when it tickled.

Then her pretty teeth were washed and she got a kick out of sucking on the suction straw.

She even let them floss her teeth.

Piece of cake!

She did AWESOME for her first cleaning! She made sure to show me that her teeth now "sparkled like twinkle little diamonds."

While we waited on a final check by the Dentist, she got to pick out a new tooth brush - Belle, from Beauty and the Beast no less.

The Dentist came in and we counted teeth again.

She got a clean bill of health!

Thank the Lord, no rotten teeth or bleeding fingers today.

Best of all, this little princess with her twinkle-little-diamond teeth got a Cinderella sticker, princess wand and princess crown on top of her Belle toothbrush for being such a good girl at the Dentist.

I was so proud of her. My little, big girl did really, really well for her first visit. 

...and then we headed to the gas station to get her $.99 juice.

Cool Ride

There is no question that my Brown Eyed Girl and Mr Blue Eyes are spoiled by their grandma. Yes, we are back to calling him Mr Blue Eyes. He has decided to leave the toilet alone... for now.

Granted, they didn't come out with these little cars until I was too big to ride in one. There is no doubt in my mind that Rah-Rah and I both secretly dreamed about owning our very own. Even Handy Man said he always wanted one but he was also too big to capitalize on this toy sensation.

So of course, Grandma buys my kids one.

You know, it's really not very surprising. It's amazing what grandparents will do for those little smiles. It's amazing what they can't wait to give their grand kids.

Actually, what amazes me the most is how much their rules, opinions, and generosity changes with age.

I'm not bitter...
Really, I am not.
I am happy my kids are enjoying their little, expensive, two-seater, motorized car.

Really, I'm not...

The other day my Brown Eyed Girl finally got to show me her new car.

A Barbie Jammin' Jeep Wrangler to be exact. Purple finish (her favorite color) with hot pink trim. 

This baby is a two speed - 2.5 AND 5 mph. It also features a high-speed lockout brakes for beginners - keeps my little speed racer at 2.5 mph for now.

It has real working doors for easy access in and out.

This Jeep has realistic details inside and out.

Simulated CD player with pre-programmed radio that plays 6 songs.

This baby rocks!

In a flash she fires up all 12-volts and off she goes!

Grandma's yard is a dream! The large lot adds to her driving adventures. 

Watch our Molly! 

I'm not sure she was issued a proper license. 

After Mr Blue Eyes woke up from his nap, everyone had to show Mommy how cute they are riding together. 

Two spoiled rotten thrill seekers out on an adventure. 

Beep Beep Boji!

Did I mention that it also features a rear storage area?

Oh how I want a ride!

These are a couple VERY happy kids!

Lucky little devils!