Little boys

Little girls dress up dolls, little boys dress up robots. And apparently do so pantless.

It takes a village

I have working-mother guilt. One thing I especially feel bad about is missing all the fun activities they do at Ellie's school.  I want to be able to go eat lunch with her, to read to her class, to attend the holiday parties, and to cheer her on at the various competitions. However, Ellie is a lucky little girl because her aunties are always there to pick up the slack!  Sabrina was there to take her first day picture and to eat lunch with her.  Rosie has gone up to the school twice to read to her class.  And yesterday when she ran laps to raise money for the Boosterthon, both Rosie and Sabrina were there to cheer her on.  I am so thankful for my support group!

V-day

I love Valentine's Day! From the time I was little when my parents would always have a heart-shaped box of chocolates on my breakfast plate, the day has always been a favorite of mine.  Then, when I was in high school, Tom (or really his mom) would always have a huge basket of goodies, balloons, and flowers to carry around all day and make me feel special.  A way to announce to the world....someone loves me.  Now, Valentine's Day is more about the kids than about Tom and I.  The night before, I set the table in newly purchased Valentine dishes.  I set out the traditional heart-shaped boxes of chocolate, and placed their gifts on their chairs.  Ellie got a new Valentine outfit and a mini pillow pet to match her full-sized one.  Jack got a big Captain America action figure.  They were both so excited to see their gifts.  Jack kept asking, "Who gave this to me?"  I know he was trying to figure out the Valentine equivalent to Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny.  When I told him it was from mommy and daddy, he kept running over to hug me and say, "Thank you, Mommy, thank you!  That is so nice!"  Such a sweetheart.

I woke up to a love letter from Tom on the bathroom sink. He writes the sweetest letters, totally sincere and thoughtful.  Then, I came home to a vase full of long-stemmed roses.  At some point during the day he left school to buy them and have them waiting for me.  No matter how many times I tell Tom that I don't really like roses and think they are a waste of money, it is like he just doesn't believe me.  But I still love the thoughtfulness behind them even if I am not actually a big fan of the flowers themselves!

Speaking of thoughtfulness, Daniel and Sabrina invited all the cousins over for heart-shaped waffles.  Tom and I were able to order a heart-shaped pizza and watch a little TV in peace.  These days, pizza and TV alone with my hubby is my kind of date.  So, thanks Dan and Sabs!

Photo courtesy of the amazing Sabrina!

Weekend recap

On Friday, Tom and I went to one of my favorite events of the year...Mark and Rosie's annual Newlywed Game party!  Every year they do a theme and this year it was Italian.  Tom and I didn't dress the part because I am limited to a few maternity items.  Everyone else got in the spirit of things, but I didn't get any pictures of them!  Just of the table setting.

Don't ask me why I felt a picture of the table was more important than the men with slicked back hair and shirts unbuttoned halfway down.  Usually, Tom and I totally lose the Newlywed game, but this year we got 2nd place and went home with a fun prize.  It was all very exciting and nice to get out for a rare date night.

On Saturday, I took Ellie to a party at a roller skating rink.  The child has never been on skates so I was a bit apprehensive.  She fell a lot, but just kept trying and by the end she was feeling pretty confident. Slow, but confident.  Now if only we could get some of that confidence to transfer over to her bike.  I almost didn't take Ellie to the party.  We ran into the birthday girl earlier in the week as we were coming out of the dollar store.  She hugged Ellie and said hi. Ellie was caught off-guard and just kind of stood there stiff and mumbled hi.  Then we were off.  The whole thing lasted 30 seconds.  But then Ellie told me a few days later that the birthday girl's mom told her Ellie was a brat because she didn't say hi!  She also said Ellie couldn't come to the party because she hadn't RSVP'd.  I went back to check my text message and, sure enough, I had sent it to the wrong number.  I was feeling pretty disenchanted with this child's mom at this point.  But, it all worked out and I am glad I went.  I was extra nice to the mom (actually, this little girl had two moms) and I made sure to warn Ellie in advance to suppress any bratty tendencies!