Soccer!

Ali's soccer team, the Little Dora's, are back in action! I realize Joe and I may be a bit biased - but the kid has talent! It's embarrassing to admit, but at four years old, Ali's athletism is superior to mine. I was the kid in gym class praying not to be the very last one picked for the kickball team and then once I was assigned to a team and sent to the outfield - I forgot about the game completely and mentally wandered off. I get my mental wandering from my father... anyway... Ali inherited her Dad's competitive nature and natural talent (her good looks and sensitivity came from me. Obviously). She has no fear and she is darn fast! We all gather at the soccer field on Saturday afternoons to watch her games and cheer for our favorite Little Dora! And her coach! The Little Dora's are the only team you'll see passing the ball and doing "give and go's". We're pretty proud of Ali and Coach Joe!

"Mom! No more pictures!" I can't help it. Isn't she cute?? Did I mention that Ali is also the littlest Little Dora? Makes it all that much more impressive, doesn't it?

James enjoys a nice soccer game in the afternoon. He is most likely going to be our baseball star. He throws everything. And he really likes dirt. He sure looks good in his soccer uniform from Uncle Joe though.

Mia knows the soccer routine well. She's the Little Dora's mascot! I'll be surprised if she doesn't play soccer too - it's in the genes. However, others have predicted that Mia may be a bit more hard-core and we may be attending pee-wee rugby matches. I hope not.

Taking Care of Business

That's right - we're deep in the process of potty training! Here's Mia modeling her big girl panties (or "big boy panties like Daddy" she's still a little gender confused. But, whatev.) Most of the details regarding this topic are a bit - sticky- and I've been advised not to get into too much detail. Too much information and all.. let's just say that accidents happen. Frequently. But I am confident that someday soon Pullups will be a thing of the past! As Ali and I say, "Mia! You go girl! Or boy!"

The Zoo

On a whim, the girls and I decided to go to the zoo this morning. We just needed to do something fun! Auntie Leslie is out of town, so we picked up our best cousin James and brought him with. I managed to make it sound like an easy, relaxing type of outing and Grandma agreed to come with also. Nothing catastrophic or outrageous happened... the kids were a little hard to keep track of amongst all the school groups and it was a little chilly (I had the girls in matching dresses). The kids loved the gorillas and the "Lesser Kudu" (african deer). They roared at the lions and tigers and loved the Flamingos. Fun morning.

Easter Basket Bandit

Can you guess what this is about? About the time I started thinking "Gee, it's quiet. I wonder where Mia is..." Grandma came upon her in the back room. The destruction is Ali's easter basket, minus all the candy. Oh the chaos! Oh the hysteria when Ali realized what had happened! And being the high caliber Mom I am, I made sweet little chocolate-faced Mia stand by her mess while I got the camera. Then we had a talk. Then Mia surrendered the sweets from her own basket. Then she had time out. And only then did the adults get to giggle about the incident in the other room!!

Happy Easter!

Well, we managed 7:00 am Mass this morning... Joe and I half asleep and our kids getting wound up with chocolate milk and baggies of sugary cereal, but we were present. After church we made our way to Grandma and Pop-Pops for brunch. And, (can you believe it??!) the Easter Bunny knew we'd be going to Grandma's, so he hid our eggs at her house!! The egg hunt was fantastic. The kids loved it. Their baskets contained gifts the Easter Bunny collected from Grandma Peg and Grandma Carol too! And promptly at 12, the girls were out cold for 2 hour naps. Okay, Joe and I too.

The Bunny brought James lots of Thomas the Train stuff. I don't think he put his new train toy down all morning. Except for the time Mia confiscated it and was chased down by a determined little boy. You just don't mess with James' trains.

Okay, I asked Mia to show me her candy. This isn't what I meant.

Funny Bits

I've accumulated several bits of conversation and funny happenings. Here they are:

Ali's thoughts on our way into church this morning -
"I bet when James grows up he'll want to be a train driver because he loves trains so much. And I bet Mia will be a taster because she loves to taste everything."

Last night as I was vegging out in front of the TV (much to Ali and Mia's dissapointment). Ali repeatedly asked me to play hide n' seek, memory, color, ANYTHING.

Mommy: "I don't want to play right this minute Ali, I'm having a little bit of Mommy-Time."

Ali: "Well, you just need to get over that."

In the car after school earlier this week. Ali is showing off her latest art project and Mia slyly snatches it away. Ali goes hysterical in the backseat.

"No Mia! You can't just take my things!! Mia!! I am really not impressed right now - you can't be my best sister right now!"

Mia's latest declaration:

Mommy (coming home from work at about bedtime): "Oh! I missed my little girls!" (pick up Mia) "Are you Mommy's little girl-baby?"

Mia: "No. My boy." (points to self)

Mommy: " No. Mia is a girl."

Mia: "No. My boy." (points to self)

Mommy: "You're a boy now?"

Mia: "Yeah."

I am corrected frequently now by Mia who insists that she is a boy. ("Good gir... boy, Mia", "Time to go home now little girls. And boy.")

Driving home one evening in the car. Mia is screaming and crying about something, but I can't understand what the problem is. I turn around and see that the sun is shining directly in her eyes and we aren't turning another direction anytime soon. I tell her to close her eyes and then realize what she's saying:

"Peez Mommy, peez. Light off, peez!"

I try explaining that I can't turn off the sun. Finally we turn onto another street:

"Tu - Tu Mommy!" (translation, "Thank you Mommy!")

Momma's Birthday

Well, since I have to work tomarrow (on my birthday),

we celebrated today!
Started out with donuts and coffee and then we headed out to Southlake for some shopping since it was a nice day. Kids weren't in the mood for shopping. Enough said? So we grabbed some burgers and milkshakes and headed back home for some afternoon naps. Finished the evening with one of Pop-Pops famous dinners and a red velvet cake. Nothing too exciting, but a day

spent with my family is always gratifying. I love this picture of Ali and I!

The girls are asking me if I want a grape. In four out of five pictures, Mia is eating something. Gee, I wonder where she gets her appetite?

"May I take your order please?"

Sometimes It Snows In Texas

That's right - it was 70 degrees last weekend for Mia's birthday and yesterday it snowed. The girls were so excited! Mia kept shouting "No, no, no!!" (translation: "Snow, snow, snow!!") and pointing out the window. So I sent Daddy out to help them build a snowman and soon realized my mistake. Mr. Sunshiny California obviously had no clue, so I bundled myself up and showed them how it's done. (I didn't want some fool snowman standing in my yard!) He turned out a bit taller than Ali (the snowman did) with sunglasses on and a lolly-pop nose. Then this morning Ali woke up at 6 and instantly began asking to go outside, so... here they are at 8 am this morning. Mia lasted 5 minutes and then came sobbing to the back door, "Cole! My cole!!" (translation: "Cold! I'm cold!") Ali lasted quite a bit longer, running and singing in the snow and slush. When she finally came in at 9:15, she shivered and said, "I've been out there for hours!" I give it 4 hours to all melt away...

'

Honesty Is The Best Policy

Here's a conversation from earlier this evening in the car.
Ali: Mom, I have to tell you something that really is not good.
Katie: Okay. What is it?
Ali: Earlier the day ago (she means "earlier today") I ate a lot of candy.
Katie: Oh? Who gave you the candy? Auntie Leslie? (usual culprit)
Ali: No, I got it my own self when I was sneakin on you and you were in the bathroom and I climbed up to where the big bowl - you know the big bowl on the counter? No- the one with the fruit and apples in it and it has candy in it? - that big bowl and I had some chocolate candy that was in it. And then you asked who opened the pantry door cause you heard it and I said it was Mia, but it wasn't- it was me. And then I went in the bathroom and ate the candy.
Katie: Well, thank you for your honesty. Should you have eaten candy without asking permission first?
Ali: Um, yes? No? I mean no. It hurt my nerves so I had to tell you. (I think she means her conscience) Cause I tried to get some more when I was sneakin on Daddy but he saw me...
Joe: So that's what you were doing...
Katie: Okay. Ali, we do not sneak candy. You ask permission first, and if Mom or Dad says "no" than that's it. And we do not lie to Mommy. Understand?
Ali: Yes. But I did a good job that I didn't give Mia any, right?

She's my "silver lining" girl, isn't she? Although I think Mia would argue that if she could...

Jesus Diapered All the Children

Ali loves to sing. Real songs, made up songs, intructions for her sister to follow, it doesn't matter. Occasionally these songs make sense and occasionally they crack Joe and I up to the point where we have tears running down our faces.
Ali : Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world..... (next verse) Jesus diapered all the children, all the children of the world....
Joe: How does it go Ali?
Ali: Jesus loves the little children
Joe: No, the other part
Ali: Jesus diapered all the children?
Katie: It's actually, Jesus died for all the children.
Ali: Oh
(pause)
Ali: He DIED for them??
Katie: Yes, Jesus died for all the children so they can be saved.
Ali: You mean he KILLED them??
Joe: We'll talk about Jesus on the cross another time Ali, you sing the song how you want. I'm sure Jesus diapered a kid or two in his day.

"Mom, This Wasn't My Idea"

This is one of the most frequently used sentences in our house lately, and certainly the one that gets me away from whatever I was doing fastest. Of the many things that were not Ali's idea, here are some of my favorites: coloring Mia's lower torso with magic marker, using Vick's Vaporub as chapstick and hair gel , climbing on top of the play kitchen to reach a helium balloon (see picture below), using an entire bucket of bubbles to "wash" the patio furniture. Of course Joe believes that the problem lies not with our "creative" daughter but with her apparent lack of supervision. I don't know what he's talking about.

Mia and Her Cousin James Turn Two!

The long anticipated birthday party took place on Saturday, March 1. We had a great turn out- Ali and Mia's friends Audrey and Natalie came and James neighbors Owen, Dutch and Henry came. Of course Auntie Leslie, Uncle Matt and Grandma and Pop Pop were here. The kids had a blast with the bounce house, swing set and bubbles. James entertained us by dipping the bubble wand in the soap and then sucking on it, while Mia blew raspberries on her bubble and and became frustrated when she got all sticky without any bubbles being produced. The cake was a compromise - James being all about his Choo-Choo's and Mia's current obsession with all things "Melmo". Overall, it was a laid back affair, the adults enjoyed a beer or two, the kids played nice and by 8pm were passed out in their beds from exhaustion.

The Cake..

And after James drove his Choo-Choo through the frosting....

Here is the big bounce house! This smelly, inflatable bounce house is responsible for hours of entertainment for the kids. Priceless. We should have thought of this four years ago!

And here is the Birthday Girl..

And the Birthday Boy......