Spending the morning with Elmo and Annabelle.

A couple months ago I decided to buy tickets for Annabelle and I to go see Sesame Street Live.  It seemed so far away when I purchased the tickets, but here we are, mid-May already.  I thought since I took MJ to the Monster Jam that it would be fun to have an outing with Annabelle too.  MJ had school this morning so it worked out well.  Annabelle was a dream to take.  She didn't ask for anything even though I was prepared to buy a little souvenir or t-shirt. 

The stage was all lit and ready to go.  Annabelle was a bit overwhelmed by all the sights and sounds but knew who we were there to see.

How cute is she?  I took this picture while she was sitting in my lap.  She's become very connected to skin contact.  When she sleeps she likes to either touch my stomach or her own to get comfortable.  I've noticed when I'm not available and she's wearing a onesie she has started to just place her hand on her cheek.  I could just eat this girl she's so darn cute!

Annabelle's favorite character Zoe!  She actually came close enough to us for Annabelle to touch her (with a little encouragement).  She was about as excited to come in contact with Zoe as she was for Santa.  
I wanted to see her face watching the show.  She really enjoyed it and sat through the entire thing from 10:30-12:00.  Pretty good!

The only thing Annabelle indicated an interest in getting was cotton candy.  She saw the carts being pushed around the arena and said, "try it?"  How could I resist.  She didn't push it or cry or insist so on the way out I bought a bag for her to take home and share with her brother.  She was really excited and surprised.  

It really was such a pleasant morning.  I am so grateful to have made friends here who were willing to take MJ so that I could spend this time with Annabelle. 

My blog list

I added a talented photographer's blog to my blog list.  She did a fantastic session with my newborn nephews.  Check out Lucky Ladybug Photography to see her work and pictures of the boys.  I'm thrilled with the job she did.  If anyone needs a photographer in the DC Metro area please keep her in mind.  

Preschool Mother's Day Program

MJ's preschool put on a Mother's Day program yesterday.   It started with the distribution of beautiful paper corsages adorned with gumdrop centers made by the kids (and the

n eaten by my kids too!).  The kids processed into the sanctuary and lined up to perform adorable songs of spring, mothers, and praising the Lord.  I feared we'd have a repeat performance of MJ not listening or participating but I was pleasantly surprised.  He was so enthusiastic he threw his hands in the air and shouted, "Yeahhhh!" after every song.  The program was followed by the unlimited consumption of cinnamon sugar and iced cookies.   It was a great way to spend the morning.  

Annabelle tried to join in the program several times too. Blowing me a kiss mid performance.

Cooperative as usual for a picture.  :)

Tried again and this time you can see my beautiful corsage.

What would you say?

Ever wonder what you would say if you were face to face with your father for the first time in months?  Well if you were my children you'd say about 5-10 minutes of "Do da!" and "Bleh blah," followed by rounds of giggling.  We had a video teleconference with Mike the other day.  The time delay made it so that the kids could hear what they had said in an echo on Mike's side.  So they enjoyed making nothing but silly sounds for the first half of our 20 minute teleconference.   He and I had already agreed that we'd let the kids take the lead on the "conversation" so as to not have too high of expectations on what we'd actually be able to communicate.  Annabelle sang a little bit of a song and showed off her new shoes.  MJ talked about the possibility of getting a pet and then realized if he walked away from the table we were seated at and and jumped his head would come in and out of frame so he did that for a while.   Mike and I just laughed and said very little to each other as I think he just enjoyed being in the same room as the kids for a while.

Score one for technology!

Hoppy the Frog

Once upon a time there lived a Pacific Tree Frog named Hoppy.  He lived in our yard.  MJ was playing with a toy lawnmower and Hoppy hopped out of the grass.  MJ came to me and asked me to help him capture Hoppy.
We caught Hoppy and put him in MJ's bug catcher.  Hoppy was a small frog, about an inch and a half long.  I was happy cause Hoppy gave me the chance to play with my new Macro lens.  This is Hoppy laying next to a dandelion. 
MJ collected bugs and plants for Hoppy.  But soon I thought we should let Hoppy go.  He stopped hopping and I didn't want him to get hurt.
So MJ took Hoppy out of the bug catcher and held him for a while.
Until Hoppy hopped away!
Hoppy was happy in the grass.

MJ was very unhoppy, I mean unhappy.
MJ found Hoppy again in the hopes that Hoppy could become a happy member of the family.  

MJ caught him and kept him while I checked on what Hoppy would need from us to be our pet. I found that Hoppy could not legally be kept so we had to let him go.
Hoppy hopped up MJ's arm.

Hoppy then hopped away again and again MJ was unhappy.  

The end.

It's been a while

I know it's been a while since I posted pics of the kids.  I've been busy these last few weeks. Partly because I did a photoshoot for MJ's preschool and partly because life just seems to take it out of me a little more these days.  I think I've just reached the point where any novelty of single parenting has more than worn off.  I feel pretty lonely these days and I think that emotional stress causes physical exhaustion.  Anyway, here's a few things that the kids have been up to (more to come) 

The other day I came to my room to find the door locked.  I got MJ to open it and he told me he was working out and needed some time.  I had to take a picture.  

After dinner one night I told MJ he could have a cookie while  I was upstairs getting Annabelle ready for bed.  He called up to me telling me that he couldn't get the package open.  I told him I was busy and he'd have to figure out how to get into it.  Well he did just that.  I think I counted 6 sharp edged kitchen tools on the counter and a mangled container...but he had success and I commended his independence! 
After a full day being watched at a friends house while I did preschool pictures, Annabelle crashed.  Since she had been playing outside part of the time I didn't want her in her bed getting it all dirty so I let her  sleep on a pillow downstairs.  She was out cold.  I just thought she looked cute.
MJ's school does a cool thing.  For the kids who joined part of the way through the year or who have birthdays in the summer they do a special day.  The child gets a crown, to do show and tell, be the special helper and bring in snack.  I decided we'd go with it and made an old childhood favorite of mine, ice cream cone cupcakes.  Annabelle had a hard time waiting to get one but both got to indulge when MJ got home from school.  
Yesterday Annabelle was chasing us around the house with a chef's hat covering her face.  It was so funny.  I'm not sure how she could see but she did great.  

MJ's been really bonding with Annabelle lately.  Here he was playing that he was putting her down for a nap.  When he left Annabelle called for him and wanted him to lay down and snuggle with her.
It was beautiful on Friday.  I was going to take the kids to the zoo but after a series of issues with listening and dumping water all over the car and themselves I decided to skip it and go home.  So the kids enjoyed their zoo lunches outside at home while I searched the house for hard liquor.




Another bonding moment, MJ had built a car for them out of couch cushions.  Each child had a picture of themselves on the floor in front of their seat.  I came in to find both of them making "vrooom vrooom" noises and giggling.
Annabelle's hair is weird.  It's so long and just plain weird.  My friend Charrissa did her hair like this a couple weeks ago (I still need to blog those pictures) and so I did it again.  She looks adorable and she actually keeps it in.    The other day while we were walking in the gym and Annabelle's hair was au natural a guy looked at her and said, "Oh, look at you! Look at that hair!" Uncomfortable chuckle, "You're so pretty!"  I can translate that for you, "Oh, look, is there a child under that mullet?  You look like a troll!  Your Mommy should love you enough to comb it or cut it!"

So that should satisfy the requirement that I post some pictures.  I will post more and include MJ and his frog story.