Disney Family Vacation 2012

We had a blast with everyone this past December, at Disney World.  Here's is a little video to highlight our memories!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAUFuetpw9k

Top 38 Reasons Bronwyn is Freaking Out!

Disclaimer: I am totally plagiarizing this idea from someone's Facebook page!  It is just too true!

1. Her left fingernail is sticky.
2. Her tights feel weird.
3. There is a tag in her shirt.
4.  Jack has more butter on his plate.
5.  She has more butter on her plate.
6.  Her food is too cold.
7.  Her food is too hot.
8.  Chicken tastes yucky.
9.  Her seat belt is too tight.
10. We don't understand her.
11.  We aren't listening to her.
12.  Her brother is talking.
13.  There is an ant in a 70 foot radius
14.  She wanted the red crayon.
15.  I gave her the WRONG red crayon.
16.  She isn't tall enough to reach the remote control.
17.  Dad won't let her wear open toe shoes in the middle of winter.
18.  I put the wrong tutu on her.
19.  Jack touched her.
20.  Jack looked at her.
21.  Jack isn't looking at her.
22.  She is remembering the balloon she lost 60 days ago.
23.  She wants to play in the dryer.
24.  Her eyelashes are heavy.
25.  There is a speck of dirt on her shoe.
26.  She didn't want in her car seat.
27.  She wanted to put herself in the car seat.
28.  She wants Jack's car seat.
29.  The wrong Mickey Mouse episode is on.
30.  The music stopped playing.
31.  The blueberry touched the banana.
32.  The iPad has a password.
33.  Her sleeve is touching her thumb.
34.  She is not allowed to touch fire.
35.  Milk does not appear on demand.
36.  Her left toe nail is peaking out of the blankie.
37.  My feet aren't covered by the blankie.
38.  The wrong Belle doll is in her crib.

It clearly is tough being two!

Happy Monday

5:30 am rise and shine.  First day back at school.  Bronwyn covers me with kisses.  Jack is excited to go back to school and picks out his clothes.  If only time froze right there.

5:35 am chaos.  Jack hugs Dad (who was away all weekend) and somehow pinches a nerve or something during the hug fest. Scene ends with Jack on the floor reeling in pain.

Cut to Bronwyn. Despite the fact it is 30 degrees outside she wants to wear her summer Belle princess dress. I offer a grand solution... to wear it over her winter clothes. She will have none of that. Many tears and she ends up in olive leggings, grey henley, red-orange cardigan and a BIG GIANT PINK TUTU.

6:00 am breakfast. Jack now loaded with Advil and pressing a compress to his neck.  I make the callosal mistake of serving Jack, my slow eater, first. Bronwyn dissolves into a fit of fury. I decipher a "I want the blue plate" through the screams. So her breakfast is served on a blue plate. "NOT THAT ONE!". She cries...she wants Jack's...same plate colour and style...the exact same food. Yet the tears are at a rate of an ounce a second!  With Jack's permission I switch plates.  She then notices Jack dipped into his butter already.  More. Fits. Of. Fury.  Plates quickly switched back and tears start to subside. Gary gives me the, "you will spoil her rotten if you keep giving her, her way" look and exits stage garage.

I bundle Jack up (not to dote but to maximize time.)  I put his shoes and coat on while he continues to chew his waffle slower than any other human has ever chewed a waffle before. Then I slip his backpack on forgetting about his "broken" neck. A lot more tears and a few accusations about it being on purpose (where's the logic in that, Mr. smarty pants.)

Bronwyn on the other hand...as the left hand is holding her waffle and sausage link...does not want to wear a coat. Even the coat we call a dress because it looks just like a dress.  Plan B.  She gets a scarf, hat (too big for her head) and a chenille blanket wrapped around her. 

We walk the .25 miles to the bus stop as every other parent passes me in a car, coffee in hand and children nestled in backseat watching their automobile's entertainment system for the .25 miles to the bus stop.  Why am I so dumb?

Once there my children transform into polite, happy and engaging children. The life of the party.  Mr. Matt comments..."boy I wish I could have a little of what your kids have in my house each morning." Oh, you can Mr. Matt. You certainly can.

After several comments about Bronwyn's lack of coat despite the blanket (in the wagon), two cardigans, scarf and hat...I hang my head in shame, put my son on the bus, hold my daughter's hand and steer the wagon (which she insisted on riding there but refuses to ride home.)  Once we get home I spot the waffle and sausage still in her left hand...just a bit soggy and crumbly. I debate for a nano second putting it back on the plate for her but wisely choose to make her a fresh breakfast instead.

And that is the story of Monday morning here...

Jack Tackles Mercy Watson Who Tackles Crime

Jack got a new book for Christmas with help from Santa and his Cousin Jennifer--Mercy Watson Tackles Crime.  Here he is reading it.  Bonus, Bronwyn "reads" her book at the end.  Jack's reading is starting to really soar.  I have noticed he is reading everything lately...with pride!  Today he asked me about a picture at the doctor's office.  I answered and he corrected me saying, "look, it says it right here."  Of course if he could read the caption one might wonder why he asked me in the first place...ha!  But it is good to be needed (even if not useful!)

Jack Reading (6.1 years)

Happy New Year

We took the kids out for dinner and movie on New Year's Eve.  Family Date night!  And then had the bright idea to let them stay up and usher in the new year.  I had the bright idea to record the kids sharing their highlights of 2012...let's say the idea was better in conception than execution...either way enjoy the highlights of their highlights.

And on a sadder note, the new year brought our family some sad news of Jack and Bronwyn's older cousin, Jarrodd's passing.  He will be cherished, yet not forgotten by so many.  A very talented boy...he would have been able to compose a beautiful score to accompany Bronwyn's song (not to mention added a bit of intelligence to the lyrics.)  God bless you Jarrodd.

A Budding Artist

Here is an art project completed in school by Jack.

And here is an art project completed by Jack on his new handy, dandy art projector--a Christmas gift from Grandma and Grandpa.

Guess which one I like better...

P.S.  What did Dad do to upset him so much?  Excused him from the table without desert due to poor manners (and by poor manners we mean incessant whining during dinner...I know...horrible parents we certainly are...HA!)