Over The Years with Santa

When Jacob was almost a year old, we tried our very first picture with Santa. Sadly, it did not turn out as I had expected.

It's hard to tell in this photo, but he was SCREAMING when I placed him on Santa's lap.
 

We didn't try Santa again until Maddie was a year old. By then, Jacob was obsessed with Santa and I like to think that they helped each other get over the anxiety of sitting in Santa's lap.

Since then, it's been nothing but sunshine and rainbows each Christmas.

2011:

2012:

2013:

I can't imagine a day when they will be "too big for Santa" but from the looks of the last picture, they are already crowding his lap! I can't believe they aren't little babies anymore. (sniff, sniff) I am one lucky mama though to have these memories to look back on!

IHM Fashion Show 2013

The biggest fundraiser of the year at the kids school is an annual Fashion Show. It is a PRODUCTION, let me tell you. As soon as the school year begins, they are promoting this event and trying to get your kids involved. When I asked Jacob if he wanted to participate he said "of course Mom, I wouldn't want to MISS the fashion show!"

When he was in Kindergarten, there was no real rehearsing other than at school. All of the Kindergarteners participate by opening the show with a few songs (that they learn in their music class). This year as a first grader, he had to participate in one of the fashion show "segments". There are about 15-20 of them, each with a different theme and choreographed by a professional. Luckily, his segment was with a group of fellow first graders and they were doing the "12 days of Christmas" segment which required them all to dress up in holiday attire.

For his segment, we had to go to Macy's for a fitting. The great part about it is they get to pick out whatever they want to wear (within the category) so they are comfortable for the show. I really wasn't sure what to expect. Jacob and I went together and they told us what section to "shop" in (kids formal wear). I kid you not, Jacob walked up, immediately picked out a Calvin Klein suit and said "I like this one Mommy. Let's get this one." We tried it on, it looked great and that was it! DO YOU KNOW how long this would have taken with Maddie?!?! DAYS. MONTHS. YEARS.

I have to say, he has some great taste, don't you think?!

For some reason, at the show, I was SWEATING BULLETS before his segment came on. Seriously. Heart palpitations. I was so nervous for him! The entire show is purely confidential so they don't let the parents in on anything that the kids will be doing. We are 100% NOT allowed to be present during the rehearsals. Luckily, his segment was simple -- just walking the catwalk and being adorable!

I apologize for the quality of this video.  We only had our iphones and it really doesn't do the cute segment justice.  Jacob was the 6th child in line.  This is something we will definitely be doing every year -- as long as he continues to want to do it!

Too Much TV

Maddie and Jacob love to watch a show called "Good Luck Charlie".  It's actually a pretty entertaining show and it's generally kid-friendly so I let them watch it from time to time.  But there is one particular episode that have Maddie and Jacob both laughing hysterically every time they watch it.  The mom on the show is trying to teach her daughter some dance moves for upcoming Mascot tryouts.  The moves are HILARIOUS.  And Maddie has since been trying to repeat them. 

This girl is TOO MUCH.

I'm not cheap. I'm just lazy!

The thought of professional picture taking when you have a 4 and a 6 year old generally makes me queasy.  The truth is, it always sounds like a good idea, but then the reality is never, ever what you dreamed.  And when you add on the pressure of getting the "perfect picture" for your annual holiday card?  Fohgettaboutit.

So, last year, since we had procrastinated long enough, we decided to take on the challenge ourselves.  15 minutes max.  At a local park.  First thing in the morning.  No pressure -- just a few minutes of picture taking in hopes that we might have something useable for a holiday card.

And we got one.  Dare I say we got a few?  And it didn't cost a dime.  Don't be mistaken.  I don't mind shelling over the big bucks for outstanding photos of the family (this is Angela talking -- Mark might greatly disagree) but I have a fundamental problem with the STRESS that goes along with it. And I won't even compare my photography with a professional, but when it comes right down to it, I just want a nice family photo.  And I'm pleased with how it all turned out.

So on Sunday, we decided to dress up a bit and go on what we called a "nature walk" with the kids (see how we make it seem like an adventure to them?)  Mind you, we were walking around nature in our neighborhood (that we walk all the time -- but call it a "nature walk" and all of a sudden it becomes exciting).  I brought the camera in hopes of capturing something.

And I got this:

And this:

And this:

There are always unexpected photos that come from these mini photo shoots that you can't help but giggle when you see them.  Like this one of Maddie on Jacob's back, trying to give him a kiss on the cheek while smashing his face in.  If that doesn't capture their bond, I don't know what does.

And then of course Maddie insisting on trying to give Jacob a piggy back ride because he gave her one. We didn't actually let him try, knowing that would end in a bucket full of tears.

I won't ruin the surprise and post the pictures that did make it on the holiday card.  But, rest assured we had a few to choose from.  And it only took 20 minutes and $0 dollars.  That's my kind of holiday card.  ;)

iPhone Flashbacks

The beauty of a smart phone is that you'll never have to miss capturing a special moment. The pain in the arse about a smart phone is that if you neglect to download those photos onto your computer to share them, well then, what's the darn point?

That's me. The one who forgets they are there.

Then I decide to update my iphone to the new IOS 5 something and I am lost. Completely lost. I don't know where things are on my phone. I don't know how to text a photo anymore. I don't know how to download music. LOST I TELL YOU! Stupid Apple.

But the silver lining is that I have been forced to download photos from my phone onto my computer that have been sitting there for months (years, maybe). Looking at them now makes me laugh. And cry. Because the time goes too darn quickly...

This was our last visit to Great America this Summer.  Please take a look at how Maddie's leg is wrapped around Jacob's!

Mark and I at the Northwestern/Cal game.  What a fun night!

At the San Jose Lego Kids Fest

Wine country weekend with my girls.  I love this photo for so many reasons.  We look happy, silly, and just plain fun.  And that's what every single moment is with these girls.  My girls for life.

I then got SUPER LUCKY and got to spend a few days in wine country with this man for my birthday.  My soul mate. :)

This is Jacob after he got his flu shot.  He screamed so loud all of San Mateo County could hear him.  But ice cream always makes it better.

And then of course the next day when he had an inexplicable fever for 24 hours.  Darn flu shots!

A trip to Target is never boring.  Especially with all of the Halloween gear you can try on.  And my little people LOVE to try on stuff!

And lately, whenever Mark goes out of town, this happens.  I'll spare you the vomit photo (yes, one does exist) and instead just show you the peaceful "passed out photo" in the midst of the aftermath.  I also won't show you the picture I took of the wine I ended up drinking that night!

When Jacob and Maddie got matching Avengers pajamas from Grandma and Grandpa they had to immediately put them on even though it was 2:00 in the afternoon.  Then they had to get into character.

Nanny and Papa sent Maddie this gem.  She is too stinking cute dressed all up as a veterinarian.

Mommy was a slacker for Halloween this year and couldn't pull together a family theme in time.  It's getting harder since the kids are very much into making their costume choices on their own.  Somehow, superheroes won again.

And Uncle Joe came with us on the Goblin Walk this year!

My favorite people.  All dressed up.

Again, my favorite people.  All dressed up.

And for even bigger laughs.  This one KILLS me.

A LOT has happened in the last few months.  My Fall sale is over now so I hope to at least put a decent effort into blogging until the end of the year.

Happy FALL!

Who's afraid of 4 year shots? Not this girl.

This girl shocks the heck out of me sometimes.  On the way to her appointment, she asked me if she would be getting shots.  My standard response is always "I don't know.  We'll have to wait and ask the Doctor".  She got upset a bit and started to wimper, "I don't want to get shots".  I just kept saying not to worry until we talk to the Doctor.

Doctor comes in and she is a little ham -- telling him all about her preschool, the teachers names, what they do during the day.  We chat a bit and then he tells me she's due for 2 vaccinations and the flu shot.  Maddie didn't seem to overhear this so I just let it go and decided to tell her when the nurse came in with them.

Nurse comes in and tells her, "Okay, we're going to get 3 owies today but you can sit on Mommy's lap and I'll do it REALLY fast."  Maddie doesn't even flinch.  She sits on my lap and watches (I repeat, WATCHES) the nurse stick her 3 times in the legs!  After the first one, I was expecting her to start screaming but she just sat there and stared at her legs and the needles going in.  At one point I said "Well, Maddie, you don't have to watch them going in!  You can look away!"  Nope, no way.  She watched every. single. one.

And never made a peep.

Can you tell I'm shocked?!  Even the Nurse was dumbfounded.  She gave Maddie a high five after and said "GIRLS ROCK".  heh.  Then she whispered to me "Watch out Mom, sometimes they save the screaming for the car."  I wasn't worried.  I knew Maddie would be over it the second we left the building.  And she was -- and she's MY rock star baby girl.  :)

Her 4 year stats:
43 lbs (90%)
42.5 inches (90%)

Interestingly, at Jacob's 4 year check up, he was 42 inches tall and 46.4 lbs.  At every appointment, she is about 1/2 inch taller than he was at that time.  And we thought he was huge!!

Something we need to watch out for is her eye sight.  She struggled a tiny bit with the shapes on the chart.  Her left eye was 20/32 and the right eye was 20/25.  Nothing to worry about right now though and they'll just re-check when she's 5. :)

We also just found out that IHM moved their Kindergarten cut off date to 9/1.  It used to be 10/1, so Maddie met the cut off by a day.  Now she doesn't meet the cut off and we're not sure exactly what that is going to mean.  We had planned to send her to Kindergarten next year (as long as the preschool felt she was ready) but now I have no idea what's going to happen.  There is a transitional kindergarten through our public school district for kids turning 5 in Sept/Oct/Dec that might be a great transition for her.  We just know that it really doesn't make sense for her to do another year in that preschool.  I think she would get extremely bored and frustrated.  We hope to talk to the school this week to see what our options are!  Wish us luck!

Maddie turns FOUR! (Yes, I'm over a month late)

Our BIG girl turned FOUR on September 30th and I'm quite late and posting all of the details.  This year, I really wanted to do something we hadn't done before.  We have been to countless parties at Pump it Up, Safari Run and Rockin' Jump.  I really wanted to do something more intimate and unique.  So, I decided to do a search on Yelp for "Kids birthday party" and a place called Scribble Me Happy popped up.  Arts and Crafts?  Painting?  It was RIGHT up Maddie's alley so we went for an open session and both Maddie and Jacob LOVED it.  So we booked it!

What I loved about this place is that it's super cute and cozy and you can bring it whatever food, drinks, decor, etc. that you like.  The whole party is focused on the kids doing one main art project that they can take home.  They asked us to come up with a theme and they would build the project around that.  A theme?!  Hmmmm, that was a tough one!  And believe it or not, Mark came up with the perfect idea!  As you may remember from this blog post, she is a BIG fan of Pete the Cat. So, when we were brainstorming, he said "What about Pete the Cat?!"  It was just perfect!

So, mommy looked to Pinterest for some creative ideas and I think the party turned out awesome.  Maddie had an amazing time and we have some pretty cute artwork to remember forever!

A little bit about Maddie at 4:

• She STILL does not want anything to do with princesses, dolls, pink OR purple.  So don't even try to give her any of these things.
• She loves all things sports; soccer, baseball, basketball and more.  She's in a weekly soccer class on Tuesdays that she just LOVES.  All week long she'll ask me "Am I going to soccer today?"
• She knows all of her letters now and loves to sit down and copy them and write them down on paper.  We're working on the sounds they make now!  She likes to write her name over and over again and just loves to copy how to write words and names on to paper.
• She still adores her big brother.  She copies EVERYthing he says and EVERYthing he does.  It annoys him at times but we like to remind him that she does it because she wants to be just like him.  Who wouldn't take that as a compliment?!
• Her best friends at school are all boys.  Not surprising in the least bit.
• She is REALLY into music.  Singing especially.  She always wants the radio on and belts out her own rendition of the songs that are on.  Don't try to video her doing it though - she doesn't like to sing for the camera.

Our 4 year check up is this week so I'll post her stats soon.  I am SO looking forward to those 4 year shots (said with intense sarcasm).  Jacob recently got his flu shot and I think all of San Mateo County heard him screaming in the Doctor's office!

Here's all the pics from her Pete the Cat party.  Enjoy!