Moving on up!

This weekend Gavin moved up into a booster seat and Kailee began forward-facing in Gavin's old carseat.  We originally planned to keep Kailee rear-facing until two (based on the most recent safety guidelines), but as she got bigger and more obstinate, it became too much of a battle to fight getting her strapped in at least twice a day.

Here are the happy riders on their first ride in their new seats!

Cool Man, Gavin!

Happy Girl, Kailee!  Hopefully the carseat fits will stop happening now!

XOXO,

Need help carrying all that pool gear?

If you are like me and find that you have way more gear to carry to and from the pool than you can possibly handle, then I have got the solution for you!

A draw-string laundry bag!

It's big, breathable--so all the toys/floaties can dry out easily--and makes it easy to carry all the big inflatable gear back and forth.  The one pictured contains 2 sets of water wings, 2 balls, to inner-tubes, 2 boats, 2 watering cans and 2 pairs of goggles.  Since I took this picture, I've also added 2 more pairs of water wings and still have room for even more gear.

As a stay-at-home mom in the summertime, I often have to take the kids to the pool by myself.  This makes it much more manageable and convenient--something all moms can appreciate.

XOXO,

From one Pen-Fanatic to Another

My faves!

If you didn't already know, I LOVE PENS!  I am very particular about them and often have expensive taste in pens that write perfectly to my taste and come in sets with multiple colors--especially pink and purple.  I always have a pen with me, usually at least 10 in my purse.

Over the years I have come to realize that there are many pen-fanatics in the world as well as many inconsiderate-pen-borrowers.  At conferences, professional development, or even in a class, I have lost many a good pen to people with whom I've so generously shared because they forget to give it back (or quite possibly, they pocket it because of it's obvious awesomeness).

Inexpensive, Expendable, and Easy-to-Replace

I have a solution for those out there, like me, who spend good money on pens and can't keep replacing them...  Always carry cheap pens to share!  Right now I have exactly 3 expendable pens in my purse in case someone asks to borrow.  When I attend professional development or a conference, I bring at least 5 pens I don't mind losing forever.

XOXO,

Why everyone needs a little girl!

The shoes






The headbands / bows













Put it all together and you get absolute cuteness!

XOXO,

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Memorial Day!

As we enjoy BBQs, pool time and fun with family and friends, let's be sure to remember the reason for this 3-day weekend.  

Thank you to all the people who have served our country and thank you to their families for their sacrifice!

XOXO,

What you can see, you can photograph

I take a ton of pictures of my adorable children using my iPhone, which was the number 1 reason I wanted an iPhone in the first place. Before this phone--that I've had for almost exactly 2 years (the longest I've ever had a phone)--I had a Blackberry that would delete pictures if I had more than about 15.  Right now I have over 1,000 on my iPhone.

Anyway, I recently decided to investigate various apps to mess with photo effects, and I've found a few that I like.

Photo Wall
This App allows you to make photo collages.  I used it to make my current lock-screen:

PhotoStudio

This app has a plethora of effects that you can layer.  Here are some photos I've edited with the app:

CamWow
This one has one effect that I think is fun to play with.  Here it is:

Instagram

While this one has less options, the options are more usable than some of the ones offered by the other apps.  Here are some pictures from tonight:

 

In all honesty, I wish I had the interest in learning photography so I could take cool pictures of my children, but the interest just isn't there.  I like to zoom and click.  These apps make a PhD-camera (press here dummy) person able to have cool pics too!

XOXO,

It's my bedtime and I'll cry if I want to!

Mommy, it's your fault for getting rid of the crib!

Kailee will NOT stay in her bed tonight despite the fact that she is QUITE sleepy.  I finally decided to shut the door to her room, much to her dismay.  Brady lasted less than 30 seconds with her screaming before going in there to stay with her.

MEN!  As strong as they are, they are pushovers when it comes to their little girls. :)

XOXO,

Tapas!

My favorite Tapa ~ Patatas Bravas

While we cannot control how people feel, we can control how we treat others--which likely will affect how they feel.

I'm sure my students would tell me to make this into one of my "Tapas."  "Tapas" are small dishes, akin to appetizers in American Culture and the name I use for my bell-ringer or warmup (it's the appetizer to the class as I explain at the beginning of the year).  Everyday in my Spanish 3 classes, I begin with a Spanish idiom.  They are fun little sayings that sometimes directly translate but usually do not.  Some examples of English idioms are: "Never look a gift horse in the mouth," or "An apple a day keeps the doctor away."  A lot of times there's a pearl of wisdom and I take a couple of minutes to explain it to the class.  

Usually the class appreciates it--I mean, it's off-topic and high schoolers jump at any chance for that--but occasionally, someone will ask, "Why do we do these everyday?"  My answer is always the same, "It's helpful to be reminded how to be a good person.  I feel inspired to be a better person because of these and I hope you guys are too."  

Plus, it's kind of cool that the English and Spanish are often completely different.  For example, "Look before you leap" originally was, "Before getting married, consult the pillow," in old Spanish.  That one makes me chuckle every time.

XOXO,

Think before you Speak

If you know me at all, you probably know I can get quite fired up about things that bother me.  I am notorious for getting offended on behalf of others, even when they themselves are not offended.  It's coming from a good place though.  I just don't like the people I care about to get hurt.

Recently, Brady and I were talking about something where I was offended on behalf of someone else.  Brady wasn't all that interested in the conversation and in an attempt to get me to move on, he said, "It doesn't matter what you think, they are going to do whatever they want anyway!"

Much to his dismay, I was offended by his statement and proceeded to vent for another 5 minutes.  Why is that?  Well, because what I heard was, "your opinion doesn't matter, you aren't important enough for them to care what you think."  In 2 seconds a non-personal issue became personal because my value came into question.

So this made me think.  How many times have I said to someone, "It doesn't matter what you think...blah blah blah."  How rude is that comment?  There's gotta be a nicer way to say that, or a way to say it where it softens the blow of the reality of the words.

Here are some nicer ideas:
They are probably going to do what they want no matter what anyone thinks.  This option makes it less personal.  It's not that your opinion doesn't matter, but everyone else's as well.
They don't seem to care about other people's opinion otherwise...
They don't seem interested in what other people think.
They have the free will to do what they want and we can't change that.

Sitting here now, I can think of at least 5 different instances where someone has said to me, "They don't care what you think," and how those six words instantly offend.  I know I'm going to be avoiding that statement along with it's cousin, "I don't care what you think."  However, I don't know if there is a nice way to say, "I don't care what you think."  Hmmm... Gonna have to think about that one.  Comment away if you have a nice way!

XOXO,

Happy Sunday!

Just some cute videos of Gavin.  Happy Sunday and I hope everyone has a blessed week!

By the way according to Gavin, I am "The best only mommy" he's ever had.  :)

XOXO,

Cruising into Kindergarten!

Last week Gavin turned 5 and this week he graduated from Preschool!  Mommy, Daddy, YaYa and Poppa attended the family program.  Poor Gavin got scared in front of everyone--especially, to perform in front of us.  My poor baby covered his face during most of the ceremony and had tears running down his face.  We are sooooo proud that he stayed up there the entire time despite how scared and embarrassed he was.  He was very upset afterwards and disappointed in himself.  I felt so bad for my baby boy!  We told him over and over again how proud we were and I made sure someone would comfort him if he got upset during the second performance--the one performed for the entire school and teachers.

Here is the video of his special moment and when he received his certificate:

My worries for the second performance were completely unnecessary!  Gavin got over his stage fright and had fun performing for the school.  The wonderful director of the school saw how great he was doing in the second performance so she filmed it in short clips for us!  I was so touched that she went out of her way to do this for us!  It was a great surprise that made me cry.   Now we not only got to see him at his best, but we also have nice videos to show him!

Please do not mention the first performance to Gavin.  We are trying to focus on the positive experience he had the second time around.  Here are the great videos from his second performance:

XOXO, 

Big Girl Bed

Kailee began by sleeping mostly in the infant seat.

Or swing

Then we managed to get her to sleep in her crib (though for a long time she had to be swaddled up tight).

Recently she began sleeping on a crib mattress on her floor.

 Though she often ended up on the actual floor.

On the way to work on Friday morning, I noticed a white toddler bed at a garage sale in my neighborhood.  I pulled over, asked them to hold it, and voila, we have a big girl bed--for only $20!  She loves it!

First nap on her new bed (30 minute catnap before Gavin's party; Daddy enjoyed that too)

First night on her new bed!  She didn't fall out!

Gavin is 5!

I can't believe it but my baby boy is 5!  His actual birthday was Tuesday and he chose to go to the restaurant "with the bear that used to be alive but isn't anymore."  In other words, he wanted to go to La Hacienda Ranch which happens to have a stuffed bear at the entrance.  He also requested an M&M Ice Cream cake--which daddy improvised by piling M&Ms on a regular ice cream cake.  He was so worried about the cake that Gavin did not even ask for a single present on his birthday!  I was shocked.  It didn't occur to him to ask for one all week either...  We just gave him some after his party.  CRAZY kid!

Here are some pictures of Gavin on his actual birthday:

The first thing he said that morning was, "Mommy, I'm 5 and my Batman Pajamas still fit!"  

Being sweet with his baby sister

M&M Ice Cream Cake

Riding the horse outside of Hacienda Ranch

Kailee's turn on the horse

On Saturday, we had his party at Main Event in Plano.  He had a ton of fun bowling, eating his Star Wars cake, and playing games!  And he LOVED every present he got!

Dressed as Captain Rex, telling me he's 5

Headed to go bowl

Running to get the bowling ball

Work friend, her daughter and Kailee

Me and one of my little bros

The Mark Family minus Ethan (one of Gavin's best friends)

The Star Wars cake