Fun in the morning

Grace got up a couple of weeks ago and decided that she was going to the (imaginary) beach that morning. So she donned her beach hat and took a bunch of friends downstairs to hang out on the sand. So here's a pic of Grace in her Care Bears nightgown with beach hat, and what Jim and I thought was a very funny set up of her friends on the couch.

Grace at the beach in the morning. 

All her friends lined up on the couch with their beach "hats" on. I don't know which I like better- baby doll Sophie with the pink lid on her head or the brown bear with the pint-size inverted container hat.

Very Sad

I didn't know him personally, but knew his voice. My favorite talk show host on KERA-FM died yesterday morning. Glenn Mitchell was the best at making just about anyone seem interesting. And the Friday "Anything you ever wanted to know" show - people call in with a question about anything and if Glenn couldn't answer it then rest assured some caller would be able to - was the most entertaining thing on the airwaves.

Here's the story from the Dallas Morning news. And here's the obit from the KERA website.

He will be sorely missed.

I also hate...

...Hummers. While I can roll my eyes at huge gas-guzzling SUVs, the sight of a Hummer rolling down my street makes me just want to scream and flip the driver off. And don't you know here in Dallas I have plenty of opportunity to feel that way. Is there a bigger "f-you" car available in America? To me it seems like the epitome of self-centered "we're Americans and nobody can tell us what to do so screw the environment/oil dependence/etc" mentality. And all I can think of is that the drivers must think they look so bad ass driving around in it. Probably assuming that my staring is admiration and not disgust.

Sheesh.

I HATE...

...folding sheets by myself. Especially fitted sheets. Thank God for Lupe.

The Telephone

So have you ever read the original Curious George book? The one where George the monkey is captured from the jungle, and while discovering fascinating things in the human world plays with the telephone, calls the fire department and gets thrown in jail for it. Well guess what my little monkey did today.

I had taken Alex upstairs, rocking him to get him to take his afternoon nap (Grace was playing downstairs), when someone knocked on the door a couple times. My first thought was that it was our playdate having come early, figuring either Liz or I had gotten 2:30 and/or 3:30 mixed up. But no, it was one of Dallas' finest knocking at our door. I opened the door and the policeman asked me if I'd called for help. When I said no, he confirmed my address, then it hit me. Sure enough I picked up the phone and hit "redial", only to discover that the last number Alex hit before going to bed was "91111123".

I apologized profusely.

Halloween

So I'm only about 2 weeks behind in posting these.

We had a fun Halloween this year. Went and celebrated over in the M Streets with our friends Jay and Maja and their kids Sydney and Bella (one of Grace's best friends). It was so much fun to watch the trick-or-treating because Grace and Bella are now old enough to go up and knock on the door by themselves while we just stood back on the sidewalk and waited. Poor Alex was strapped in the stroller the whole time - no candy for him. I think this may be Grace's favorite holiday. She just about runs from house to house ("COME ON Bella, let's go to the next house").

I made their costumes this year, which kind of surprised me since I'm usually not crafty at all when it comes to Halloween stuff. But Grace was Boo from Monster's Inc - originally put together for a costume birthday party we went to last March. And she decided that Alex needed to be Mike Wazowski from the same movie. He's the little round green guy with one eye. Much to Jim's dismay I had to put Alex in tights for his costume, but I just couldn't find any green pants in his size to use instead.

Also Grace discovered Junior Mints, her new favorite candy. She walked away from her final house with her hand cupped over her nose. I thought she'd smelled something stinky, but she was holding that little white box up against her nose breathing in the minty fresh scent. She continued that once we got home, holding each one up to her nose taking a deep sniff before putting it in her mouth. Heaven to a 3 year old, I guess.

My two kiddos in costume. 

Another shot of Alex in his Mike costume.

Most of the time Grace loves her little brother. 

I like this picture because you can see Gracie's hand around Alex's shoulder.

This is who my kids were supposed to look like.

Mmmmm...Junior Mints

So so tasty.

I wanna be a cowboy

Grace had Rodeo Day at school the Friday before Halloween. Very cute seeing all the kiddos in their "western" gear (if you consider vests made out of paper bags western wear). Grace brought her cowboy hat too but we loaned it to her friend Aiden who had forgotten his. My daughter is often the envy of other 3-yr old girls with those rocking hot pink boots.

Grace decked out for Rodeo day. 

Grace and some of her classmates.

The kids paraded around the church, which was actually pretty cool because they were being led by some of the marching band members from North Dallas High.

Just proving that Alex was there too. In this picture you can see Grace's busted lip she got falling down in front of Tom Thumb the day before. 

Pony rides!

That's Grace on the front pony.

Alex opens gifts

Well, we finally located the cable to download pictures off the little camera. I've got a ton to post so I think I'll spread them out over a few days to not overwhelm everyone with my kids.

Here's a few from Alex's birthday evening (not the party later that week).

 

More excited by the ribbons than by the gifts his sister is opening for him. 

Grace helped with everything from opening Alex's gifts to wanting to "show" him how to play with his new toys. 

Seconds before Alex picks up the puzzle piece and flings it. 

Curse of having a big sister part 2

Poor Alex.