Day 31 - January 31, 2010

This picture really doesn't do the moment justice. I should have taken some video to go with it. Heath and Susannah were reenacting a dance that they saw after an episode of Olivia on Nick, Jr. They have some educational bits in between the shows. It was pretty cute. Susannah was directing Heath since he didn't pick up the dance moves as quickly as she did.

Day 30 - January 30, 2010

Today the kids were invited to a bowling birthday party. They both had lots of fun pushing the ball down the lane. Unfortunately, we had to leave about 45 minutes after it started because Heath started to feel like he was getting a fever.

Day 29 - January 29, 2010

Oh, my loud children. Here they are this morning practicing their Indian War Cries. This is a favorite activity for all meals. It's loud and a lot of times, it's very messy.

Day 28 - January 28, 2010

I think that the best time for my kids to play creatively is while I am making dinner. They seem to always come up with the most interesting things, keeping each other busy. Today the kids were making themselves ice cream cones while I was making dinner. Heath even put a cat toy rattle ball inside his cone for ice cream.

Day 27 - January 27, 2010

Here are the kids in an "ambulance." As you can see the red car in the background, there was a crash into the wall. And of course, they needed to take an ambulance to the hospital. I guess Susannah wasn't too hurt since she is smiling pretty big.

Day 26 - January 26, 2010

After 6 days of being away from home, we were ready head back to Texas. Heath was in heaven - after dropping off the rental car at JFK, we got to ride the train to the terminal. Both kids where having a blast. Maybe a recreational train ride is in our future.

Day 25 - January 25, 2010

We managed to find another inside thing to do on a cold, rainy Long Island morning - The Atlantis Aquarium. Here are the kids with Matthew looking in on the sea lions. We weren't able to see a show because of the rain but the sea lions were gracious enough to swim laps in front of the underwater viewing area.

Day 24 - January 24, 2010

I took this picture of Matt and the kids shortly after we returned home from NYC. The kids were really happy to see us and were showing us the fort that they had made with Grandma between a table and couch. Blankets and scarves provided the roof.

Day 23 - January 23, 2010

Happy Birthday Aunt Maureen and Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary to Pat and Joe. Congratulations! Matt and I are headed into the city for Tim and Vanessa's wedding tonight while the kids spend their first night without us at Grandma Kathy's. Before we left, I got some last minute cuddle time with the kids and read them a story. Kathy snapped this picture for us.

Day 22 - January 22, 2010

Unfortunately, there isn't much to do on Long Island and even less to do when it is cold outside. But thankfully a new bouncy house place opened up and we decided to try it out. Susannah had a ton of fun on the huge climbing/sliding structure and Heath was loving "playing" with the video game machines. Here is Susannah joining Heath in the video game playing.

Day 21 - January 21, 2010

About 3 weeks before we arrive in NY they had a blizzard. I think that there was over 2 feet of snow. Luckily for NY, the sun must have come out and melted most of it away. However, there were places where plowed and shoved snow had built up. My dad had a bit of snow left on the sides of his driveway. So he pulled out his childhood sled and Dad pulled the kids around his yard on the sled. They had a ton of fun as it was the first time that they got a chance to play with any snow.

Day 20 - January 20, 2010

Well, today started the first day of our trip to New York for Matt's brother's wedding. We're staying at my mom's house on Long Island. It was a long day - the kids were up at 4am for our 7am flight. Heath did pretty well for the first hour or so on the plane, then he started to get restless. Derek, the saint flight attendant, saw Heath looking at a book and told the kids to come up to the bulkhead so he could read to them. Heath, not at all intimidated by strangers, happily agreed to sit on Derek's lap for a story while Susannah stood by them looking on. Thank you Derek!

Day 19 - January 19, 2010

After two failed attempts due to bad weather, we finally had our field trip to the Little Buckaroo Ranch, a miniature horse farm. After helping with farm chores like watering the horses, the kids each got a turn grooming.

Day 18 - January 18, 2010

Here is Susannah reading to Heath. One of his new favorite books is Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Eric Carle.

Day 17 - January 17, 2010

Here are the kids playing chalk in the driveway. It was a beautiful day with temps in the mid-60's. Matt was taking down the rest of the Christmas lights and the kids were entertaining themselves with chalk.

Day 16 - January 16, 2010

Now, I know that this is a weird picture since you can't see either of the kids faces but it was a cute moment so I had to capture it. Susannah was making a fort with the two Pottery Barn chairs. Then she crawled inside and was meowing and saying that she was a hurt kitty. Heath came over to pet her head and was asking her "what's wrong, kitty?" It was super cute and sweet.

Day 15 - January 15, 2010

I made some crockpot "refried" beans earlier in the week and had a ton of leftovers. Susannah wanted tacos but we were out of tortillas so we made up some right before dinner. Here are both kids helping to roll out the tortillas. Heath kept saying that they were cookies and was pretty disappointed after dinner when he couldn't find his cookie.

Day 14 - January 14, 2010

In addition to a weekly class at My Gym, we often go to a free session in the afternoons. Susannah's preschool is right down the street from My Gym so we go straight from school pick up to My Gym. Here are the kids in the car having their snack as we wait for My Gym to open up for their afternoon playtime.

Day 13 - January 13, 2010

Here are my lovebugs this morning. They were riding about the kitchen in a circle chasing each other.

Day 12 - January 12, 2010

Last week Matt alerted me to a great deal that Lands End was having on girls dresses. I picked up one for this coming summer and a larger size for next summer. When the kids saw the dresses, they wanted to try them on. Susannah was nice enough to let Heath wear the smaller size dress cause the larger one was hard for him to walk in. They both had the best time. Susannah lead Heath in dancing around the house, saying that they were getting married (dancing seems to be important aspect of what she things a wedding is).

Day 11 - January 11, 2010

Here are the kids this morning. Heath wanted a "shaker" so big sister did too. But the shakers are flavored popcorn salts - chili lime for Susannah and kettle corn for Heath. It is good to know that no matter how much toys the kids have, they still can find pleasure in playing with non-toy items. They've been playing with an empty carseat box for several months now.

Day 10 - January 10, 2010

Tonight while I was making dinner, Heath decided that he needed to have a spatula to play with. "Monkey see, monkey do" so Susannah needed one too. Both kids enjoyed running around the house with their spatulas trying to carry things. It was the perfect game and kept them busy while I was in the kitchen.

Day 9 - January 9, 2010

Earlier in the year, we had the pleasure of discovering the music of a local children's artist, Laura Freeman and the Hey Lollies. Austin, the mecca of live music, allowed us to see Laura Freeman about 10 time for free and the kids love her. We have all three of her albums and never miss a chance to see her and the Hey Lollies perform. *Note - Susannah is sitting next to Matt in the pink hood if you couldn't see her.

Day 8 - January 8, 2010

Like I said before, I don't stage these pictures. My goal is to really get the kids doing something natural. I do ask them to stop and say cheese but I don't dress them up or making them do certain things. I've been so surprised since I started this how silly my kids are.

Here are Susannah and Heath this morning before breakfast. Susannah had a rough start to the morning so she decided to put on some fairy wings and her tutu. Heath likes to do what big sister does so he had to dress up too.

Day 7 - January 7, 2010

This afternoon the kids and I went to a fellow MOMS Club member's house for craft day. The kids made place mats. Here they are playing in a tent. Heath was trying to cover himself with a blanket so he could pretend to sleep (complete with snoring noises) and Susannah was reading a book.

Day 6 - January 6, 2010

Here are the kids on their "ponies" before lunch. Susannah's chair is Honey Pie Pony (from Strawberry Shortcake) and Heath's chair is Pinky Pie Pony (from My Little Pony). They were bouncing up and down, making horse sounds.

*Note - so far, none of these pictures are staged. I am trying to capture the kids doing every day things.

Day 5 - January 5, 2010

Here are the kids having their 2nd afternoon snack - a banana. They already had some graham cracker bunnies in the car on the way home from pre-school but when they saw me having a banana, they insisted on having some too. If you don't already know this, my kids are silly! They were trying to yell at each other and make crazy faces with the bananas half hanging out of their mouths.

Day 4 - January 4, 2010

On Monday mornings, the kids take a family class (mixed ages of siblings) at My Gym. Here they are up on one of the pieces of equipment. Burning off some energy is a great way to start the week.

Day 3 - January 3, 2010

Here is Susannah reading to Heath from the Curious George Dictionary. Heath has started to really like books over the last couple of months. Honestly, I am surprised that it took him so long given how much his sister loves to read.

Day 2 - January 2, 2010

Susannah and Heath attended a wonderful birthday party this morning at the Little Buckaroo Ranch, a miniature horse farm. Pony rides, ranch tour, walnut in the spoon races, bean bag toss. Both kids had a blast and Heath enjoyed his first ever hot dog. Happy 5th Birthday Sophie. Here they are watching Cowboy Jimmy roast hot dogs.

Day 1 - January 1, 2010

Susannah attended a birthday party yesterday that had a jungle/safari theme. The party favors that she received included sunglasses, whistle, mini flashlight and binoculars made of toilet paper rolls (super cute idea). Susannah was able to bring home an extra flashlight for Heath and lent him some extra sunglasses so the two of them could play safari.

The Project Begins

I thought that I would try to do something fun for this year. I am going to take a picture of my kids everyday this year. Hopefully I will get around to posting every day but I suspect that it will be a couple of days at a time. This blog should give you a good view into our lives in 2010.