the littlest princess

This summer the activity Devyn and I were both looking forward to so much was the Tippy Toes Princess Dance Camp at our church.  Devyn hasn't entirely fallen in love with princesses. She likes them because Cade tells her that's what girls like. (HOW does my five year old know gender stereotypes?? Oh, the five year girls he hangs out with who are ob-sessed with princesses)

Up until the week of Devyn didn't own any ballerina clothes OR princess dresses. I took her to the local dance store and we picked out a blue leotard and blue tutu, tights, and a pink ballerina outfit. Day 1 she spreads lotion on her belly on her blue ballerina outfit two minutes before we were going to walk out the door. So we reverted back to the black and pink ballerina outfit....AND she was the ONLY little girl who came as a ballerina and not a princess. But she felt special. And isn't that the best?

The special feeling didn't last when we got in the door. Suddenly, homegirl became terrified. As in she was screaming and crying and begging me not to leave. The lead princesses told me she would be fine and assured me they would call me. They told me she was fine after a few minutes, but I died inside. Poor baby girl.

As the week went on she got a little more comfortable and enjoyed herself more and more each day. So when the final day came for the princess tea party that families were invited to, I was elated. I was so excited for my princess dream to come true and experience it all with my Devyn. The day  before I took her to the mall to pick out her very first princess dress. She chose Cinderella. I was so excited about her choice. It is the most gorgeous choice. Sparkly blue over shiny blue satin. It's dreamy and she looks precious in it. (She didn't feel precious in it. It itches. I hated to teach my two year old that fashion is painful and we sometimes sacrifice for beauty. I didn't want her to sacrifice too much, so I let her wear the blue leotard underneath to minimize itchiness. She did refuse the bows and ribbons and flowers for her hair that I offered....bummmmer)

I dropped her off that morning and when I excitedly arrived with Grammie and Cade for the princess tea party, this is what I saw.

That little puddle of blue between Aurora and Belle is Mommy's little Cinderella. Not at ALL what I expected to see! At first she was being silly then I realized she was nervous and didn't know what to do in front of all the parents and grandparents. Stage fright?!

And the group pic. She was one of three crying.

One little sweetie refused to be in the picture.

 

The time came for them to dance.

And for Devyn to bail.

I sat with her on the edge of the dance floor, hugging her in my lap as she whimpered.

She refused to dance. My girl who will twirl all night at home refused to dance. Of course I was sad, and a bit mad at first because I really wanted to see her up there. After all, she was the only one dressed as Cinderella and she's clearly the most beautiful girl there. I was sad for her that she didn't want to. Then I caught sight of the other mommies whose daughters also refused to dance and were crying. They both looked pissed. Royally pissed off. I didn't want to be pissed. So instead, I held my girl and tried to encourage her without pressuring her. Then, I wanted to cheer on the other little girls. One girl,  Belle, caught my eye. She was adorable and so happy. Then I realized she was 2 if not 3 years older than Devyn.  My baby survived Princess Ballerina Camp. It was tough, but she did it. She was scared but she was calm and she participated and she did it. She even came home happy every day. I could be proud of that. I am damn proud of that.

 

And then, as we were leaving she was hanging behind.

Staring lovingly at Elsa.

I melted and I felt that joy. That joy of the magic of my daughter enjoying what I enjoy about princesses. Not that you have to be rich, or pretty, or marry the prince. But that you can be anything you want to be. You can dream bigger than yourself. You can overcome. You can find friendship and love doing whatever you want to do and being yourself.

 

So, gender sterotype that it may be, I'm happy to support her new love for princesses.

And when she sat on Elsa's lap and gave me that smile one of my dreams I had when she was still in my belly came true. To see my daughter and love her for everything she is and everything she will be.

Cade's 5th Birthday

Time to catch up on some posts from this spring!  Cade is officially five years old, and completely head over heels obsessed with everything Transformer.  We threw him a party at Metroplex Gym and had a total blast!  Nick and I thought the place was so cool we might rent it out for my birthday this year! Foam pit, zip line, three indoor tree houses, slides, and trampolines? Yes, please!

 

This little boy has stolen my heart.

And I bet after seeing this pic he has stolen your heart as well.

And Optimus Prime has very clearly stolen his heart.

Ahhh, this boy!

His hats constantly do that to his little ears. Swoon!

                                    He is infatuated. I worried about the day a girl would come and steal his heart, now I kind of know what that's like.
 

                                       And there is Doodles' signature closed eye smile.

The sweet teenager who ran the party was amazing! He knew exactly what the kids would like and did a wonderful job of leading them through different activities. I was so impressed with how he motivated each of the kids (and even all of the little girls!) to do the zip line 9 foot drop off into a foam pit!  I will never forget Audrey being so brave or McKenzie going for it in her denim mini-skirt. It brought tears to my eyes to see these  kids be so brave and do something that would make me absolutely terrified! I loved every single minute of watching them zip line.

Cade's whole preschool class was invited along with some special family friends.

On his real birthday we had dinner at home with an Optimus Prime fighting Megatron cake.

The Target bakery delivered!!!

                                 Cade blowing out his candles. I can't believe he's a real little boy.
I always sound like Pinnochio when I say that, but I remember holding this teeny tiny baby and talking to him in my tummy the moment I got that positive pregnancy test, and now here he is. A real live five year old! 

And here are some of his favorite things:

Favorite restaurant: McDonald's
Favorite color: Green
Favorite tv show: Autobots
Best friend: I think Mommy
Favorite friend from school: Quinn
Favorite place to go: Swimming at a pool
Favorite ice cream flavor: Mint chocolate chip
Favorite breakfast food: Toast
Favorite dinner food: Breakfast for dinner
Favorite candy: ice cream
Favorite song on the radio: "Baby you're a song that makes me wanna roll my window down and cruise"
Favorite toy: Autobots and my video game
Favorite movie: Despicable Me

My girl

Oh Devyn. You have no idea how much I love you. You are always surprising me with what you know at just two and half years old. I can't describe it all or do my love for you justice, so I will make a list.

1. The way you play dress up. Your creativity knows no bounds. Pink goggles, birdie panties, and a battle axe. Of course!

2. You don't care at all about learning your colors. Everything else that is new information to you, you will repeat it once or twice and it sticks. But colors? You just don't care! 

3. Before bed Daddy and Cade eat a bite of turkey and do push ups. I guess it's a manly thing. But you dig it. You get your bite of turkey too and you do push-ups. You inspire me, so sometimes I do them too. 

4. I asked if you and Cade wanted to count Mommy's push-ups tonight and you flawlessly counted from 1 to 10 by yourself. When I cheered you smiled a little, but mostly acted like it was no big deal.

5. Sometimes you make your blankie into a babushka. 

6. You like Lucky Charms. Because it would be weird if you didn't. 

7. Your most loved babies lately are the shampoo and bath wash. Your most loved babies of all time are Daddy's vintage Hulk Hogan and Captain Lou. I kind of love it!

8. You always want a good pupcake. 

9. Last week you wanted to be Fancy Dancy. My God, it stole my heart. And you accessorized with rain boots!

10.  You love to do the naked dance before your bath and then after the bath you run away from me when I try to put on your PJs. You are so fun loving but sometimes I'm tired and I really hate that when all I want is bedtime. 

11. When I tell you to look at the camera you do this:

12. You like to hold hands. 

Cade told you he loved you and said "I love you to the moon and back" and you said "I love you to moon and back too" and he kept saying it and you kept telling him you loved him too for a good 3 minutes. I don't know how I kept driving because my heart had melted.

13. You can hang with the boys. Such a valuable skill, my girl!

14.  You hang on me. All around the house and in the pool you are my little monkey hanging on to momma.  You wrap your arms around my neck and my legs around my waist and you crawl further up me as if you can't get enough and never have I ever felt so loved. 

15. Most of all, you are a mystery. Who you will be as a girl, teenager and woman is yet to be. But I know you will do great things my love. You're my Devyn Doodles Cutie pie Apple of my Eye. 

My girl

In the car ride to pick up Chinese food for dinner...

Dev: I'm hungry

Me: I know, sweetie. We are going to go pick up dinner right now!

Dev: What we getting for dinner?

Me: Chicken and rice. 

Dev: Oh, I don't like chicken rice. I like tacos and pupcakes!

Me: Tacos and cupcakes, together?

Dev: I like tacos and pupcakes*, both of 'em in my pummy!

Me: So yummy, so yummy in my  tummy!

Dev: I eat tacos and pupcakes in my tummy make me Superman!

Me: I bet tacos and pupcakes make you strong like Superman! 

Dev: Because I'm awesome! 

Me: You are awesome! **laughing so much at the crazy cuteness of this convo** I love you!

Dev: .....tacos and pupcakes in my  pummy make me awesome. I'm Superman!

*Translation Guide:

Pupcakes = cupcakes

Pummy = tummy

'Em = them, they

And some pics of her enjoying her fave activities: park & pupcakes!

We have been bribing potty training with the promise of pupcakes for going #2 in the potty. She had 4 successes in a row so I took them to The Original Cupcakery in Uptown. I had strawberry, Cade had carrot cake, and Dev had lemon with pink strawberry frosting. They were all beyond amazing and the best cupcakes I have ever had, but Dev's stole the show. It was amazing!

This child is beyond.... Love her and all her awesome Superman glory!

Show Us Your Life - My friend Amy

This post is linked up to  Kelly's Korner for her "Show Us Your Life " special Friday edition featuring single friends.  In the previous Singles Edition there were 375 bloggers who posted about a single friend or friends, and 9 marriages so far from this link up!  I love the idea of matchmaking, so if you have come across this blog and think Amy would be perfect for a friend, please share her email address or link, or leave their email address in the comments. It's good karma, right?!

Introducing.... my good friend Amy.

 

Amy and I met in high school working as hostesses at Island's.  In our Hawaiian shirts, singing to Salt N Peppa, busing and wiping down tables, and crushing on the waiters that's how we bonded.  Amy has always had the best laugh, quick sense of humor, and just always been an all around cool girl.  She left for college a year before me and soon we found ourselves in Aggieland.  But what happens in college stays in college, right?

 

After college we bonded over both having babies with helmets and our blogs.  We bonded over both being mommies who "keep it real".  We roll our eyes at the mommas who wear high heels to Klyde Warren Park, we laugh at our mommy fails, and we are brutally honest with each other about the reality of raising kids (the good, the bad, and the ugly).  The gorgeous little girl pictured with her is Audrey, a brilliant & beautiful soul in a 5 year old's body. 

 

Lets get down to it. Who is Amy?

 

The classified ad: 33/F/North Dallas/Christian

 

The High Fidelity Top 5:

1. Favorite restaurants: Gloria's & Chuy's

2.  Favorite music: Texas country (Pat Green, Robert Earl Keene, Roger Creager)

3. Favorite movie:  The Fugitive

4.  Favorite football team: Texas Aggies

5. Favorite hobbies: Working out, Reading, Yoga, Watching football

 

 

 

The Interview:

What are your favorite simple, random things?a beautiful sunrise, an unprompted hug from my daughter, a good cup of coffee, sharing a laugh with a friend, and catching a green light :)

What's important to you in a relationship?
LAUGHTER. I love being around others who share my sense of humor and love to laugh. I laugh easily and love others who also look for the humor in things. I also value honesty, a strong work ethic, and the ability to be grateful for what you have. Authenticity is also important to me and I look for others who value the relationships that they have in their lives. My faith in God is paramount in my life and I am looking to share my life with someone who has that same belief.

What kind of new things would you like to do or learn?
I love learning new ways to be active. I recently took up yoga and long distance running (not quite long distance yet, but getting there!). I love working out and finding new ways to challenge myself. I also love learning new recipes to cook.

What do you think about...
Drinking: I drink socially or sometimes at home after a long day… usually at least once a week. I have a good time, but keep it under control now that I’m older.

Smoking: Yuck. Smoking of any kind and snuff/dip is a deal-breaker for me.

Dancing: I like to dance, but I’m not great at it, and I know that!! But that doesn't stop me from dancing around the house with my daughter. I love to two step and dance to good music.

Hunting: I’ve never been hunting, but I’m not opposed to it….just opposed to the hanging it in the house!

Working out: I try to work out as much as possible. It may be hard to get there, but I feel great afterwards. I’m currently training for a 5K.

Spending time outdoors: If it’s nice out I want to be outside. Whether it’s running, walking, eating, drinking, seeing a concert, floating the river, on a boat, whatever!

Education and Career: I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Texas A&M. I currently teach 1st Grade and truly love my job. I look forward to going to work and teaching my precious kiddos every day.

How important is religion to you?
Very important. I have a very strong faith and go to church regularly. I was raised a Catholic, but am now a member of a Methodist church.

 

  

If you're interested in getting to know Amy or setting her up with a great guy in your life, please leave a comment with your email address or get it touch with her at her blog:  http://theadamsfamily-amy.blogspot.com/

#100happydays

Can you live 100 happy days?

2014 is all about accepting challenges and living my best life. So far I've started the transition to a Paleo diet (clean, healthy, gluten-free foods---- not hunting boars and cooking over fire), started the Couch to 5K program with fellow mommies who want to cross off Run a 5K from the Bucket List, and now live 100 happy days. In a row. Or at least find one happy moment and give it a little recognition once a day for 100 days.

Here is the site if you want to learn more about the challenge:

http://100happydays.com/

The creators of this site state that 71% of people failed this challenge, quoting lack of time as the reason. Really? Lack of time to snap an iPhone pic, pop an Instagram filter on it, and hashtag it?  I sort of believe it. Even though it's kind of sad. Maybe you don't agree, maybe you think social media posting for 100 days is kind of sad.  I like making connections with people. I don't like scrooges and fun-ruiners.  I like a challenge.  And I like a reward. At the end of 100 days they will send you a book of all 100 pics.  Will they really? I'm not sure, and neither are 71% of people who tried this challenge.

Here are my first three happy days:

Baby girl looking fabulous at the tank park.

Making Batman pancakes late at night to surprise little man in the  morning.

(Daddy forgot to pack them, so he got them the next day, when I showed them to him, all I got was an "uhhh....") 

Tiny painted fingernails.

 

 

Crazy Beautiful

Today....wow. Super busy working mama day, then leaving work right away to pick up the kids and take them to the doctor to get Devyn's cough checked out. I knew our 4:00 appt followed by 5:00 Target run for meds & juice & training panties would make our otherwise normal night über busy. 

When the dr came in I expected the tears to start, but Dev just laid back on the table like "Legs get his over with". She seriously was beyond just cooperative, she was charming. This wild child was all smiles and giggles and she kept looking at me and squinching up her nose & giving me high fives. Our pediatrician said this was the most awesome two year old check up ever. I almost felt bad telling herI  was equally surprised she didn't  bring the drama. Turns out baby girl has a mild case of bronchitis. So off to Target for meds. 

The kids got Icees so we could tolerate a wait at the pharmacy and shopping for essentials.  We were in the lingerie department and I was doing my mama-zone-out-high-on-Targét thang. All of the sudden I hear my four year old son say," Mommy I like all those boobies!" Uh-whaaaa?   He pointed at all the bras. Oh. "Yep, they're nice. Daddy will be proud." And he says, "No, we won't tell Daddy." Oh. So I get sucked back into the zone. At that point the kids can fend for themselves, Mama's shopping. As we leave the lingerie he points to a super cute black and white polka dot bra and says "These things are awesome, they look really cool. Look at this one Mommy!"  For a second I almost bought it. He was absolutely right. That bra is adorable. I've never had a polka for bra. I love polka dots! I need that! Then wait. Sanity bitch-slapped me. I do NOT buy a bra at my son's recommendation. NO. In order to maintain any last shred of sexy I do NOT do that. (Forget the time he was 6 months old and I had him by me for a bikini wax...)

So overall their behavior in Targét was awesome. They smiled at all the ladies who told them they were cute. They were okay when I said no to popcorn. They helped me unload the cart. 

On the way home sick baby girl was done. She needed to be home, on the couch, wrapped in a blanket and in our arms. She was crying for cuddles. Cade didn't hesitate, he just started singing our song "It's Your Love" by Tim McGraw. I pulled out my phone at the stoplight and put the music video on YouTube. Both kids were mesmerized. When it was over Cade said "I love that cowboy guy. He's so awesome."   Love him. (Cade, not Tim. Well I love him too.)

Home was a nightmare of busyness. Cooking a new paleo dinner was out. Cooking macaroni for my babies was in. Unloading Target goods. In. Making a paper doll community helper with the boy. Oh wth. How did I forget to do this over the two week holiday break? Seriously? What's my deal? Last night Cade didn't want to do it. neither did i so i didn't fight that battle. So tonight we cranked it out. His first homework assignment special project! Eek!

Here he is cutting out a hose for his fireman. So diligent.

The finished project. Yep, he's a real boy! With school. Homework. Scissors and glue time. Countdown to kindergarten ticking away. Siiighh.... (And notice the vein popping out of my forehead. It wasn't the most whimsical fun ever to juggle sick toddler, homework boy, dinner for kids and me, thoughts of what to cook next on the diet to stay on top of it, thoughts of who will stay home tomorrow with our sick girl, texting my sick mom, texting my diet partners...yep. Vein time.). This is my life. Crazy but beautiful. 

The Christmas Series, part 3

For my mom's birthday my brother and I planned a day of fun family activities. In the morning we drove out to Grapevine to see the Ice! exhibit at the Gaylord.  We ended up having a blast checking out how every nook and cranny was decorated. It was truly a wonderland.

The nativity scene at the end was breathtaking.

However, Cade has this thing. He thinks that baby Jesus was special because he was made of gold. Like his skin was gold.  Despite my best intentions to teach him that actually the three wise men brought gifts to the baby of gold, francinsense and muhr... He didn't quite get it.

He told me that when he was in my tummy he was deciding if he wanted to be gold or silver. Because every baby is special and we all have birthdays, just like Jesus.  I wasn't sure if it was my place to tell him, no sweetie, you're not as special as Jesus- wise men brough him GIFTS. No, that's not what you tell your child to explain the difference between the whole entire world being joyful and celebrating Jesus' birth and the entire world being joyful when he (my son) was born. Maybe next year, he'll get it?

The best part of the day was spending time with my family.

Seeing the kids continue their infatuation with my brother.

Is Uncle coming? Where did Uncle go?  Uncle, come with me!

God bless my brother. Young fun bachelor from California sucked into preschool world.

 

The kids loved every single bit of it!

The best part was the ice slide.

I was so excited to ride down with baby girl, but they workers told us we had to go alone. I momentarily panicked-- my baby alone?! What?! Thank God my mom was in line behind us so she helped Devyn. The child who was terrified to sit on Santa's lap had zero fear on the ice slide.

She took forever scootching her way down the slide, looking completely adorably joyful the entire time.  Sweet Dev, I hope you remember this Christmas magic forever!

 

The Christmas Series, part 2

 

Facts about decorating gingerbread houses with kids:
1. Don't expect a beauty.
2. Do expect a giant Rudolph turd.
3. Do expect the kids to eat most of the decorations before they make it on the house.
4. Don't expect their attention span to last long enough to finish.
5. Do expect to be the one saddled with the task of finishing off the house and having to turn their utter garbage hard work into a whimsical Christmas masterpiece.

So, this one.
When we first got started I put one house in front of each family to decorate.
Devs took one look at it, lifted the whole house on it's cardboard tray up and took a big ol' bite out of the roof.  I couldn't even speak. Seriously. Who does that?! 
God, I love her.
Freaking amazing.

The other fun part of our party was when hubs came home with a party  box of party tacos from Le Taco Bell.   Cade and Dev were so excited.  The other kids were like "Uhh....tacos?"
Cade convinced them tacos are indeed delicious. And in that moment, my son decided tacos were his new favorite thing in the world.  Days later, when driving around town he spotted a Taco Bell and begged me to stop. I promised I would take him on a very special Taco Bell date over the holiday break. Don't be jealous. I know we are uber-posh with our greasy taco bell love. Not sure how this fits into Mommy's plans to go Paleo....but we'll figure it out. For my little love.