The Polar Express

Yesterday we drove over to Bryson City to take a ride on "The Polar Express."  This was the first time we've ever done this and since I had no idea what to expect, I opted for the 8pm ride and decided we would spend the night afterward.  The lady who took my registration information encouraged me to put the kids in their pajamas for the ride.

Had it not been raining the entire day and night, had the train not been 15 minutes late, and had I not just gotten flu shots for myself and the children the day before, this would have been a PERFECT evening.... but alas, it did rain all day & night in Bryson City (well, mostly mist) and I let Kyra choose the Abby Cadabby footie pajamas, so someone had to carry her all night... then the train was 15 minutes late, so we waited in mist for 1/2 hour... 

Once we were on the train though, it was great if only because the kids were SO EXCITED!!!  We were served candy & hot cocoa, they read a story and when Santa finally got on our car, I thought the kids would lose their mind!  Henry asked for a  Batcave & McDonald's Kitchen, while Kyra asked for a sweater & a cradle for her baby doll.  Honestly, Santa was rather surprised that Henry asked for the McDonald's Kitchen given the kitchen he brought them last year, but I digress.

By the time we got back to our hotel, it was well after 10pm and I thought Henry felt a little warm, but figured it had been a long day.  At 3am, I heard him moaning and say "I'm hot."  The poor guy was burning up!  I gave him Tylenol, he and Brad switched places in the beds, and I waited for the Tylenol to kick in!!  I got a cool washcloth for his forehead, worried that my Tylenol had expired & tried to remember if I had seen a drug store (or hospital) in Cherokee... thankfully, at some point we both fell asleep.  He wasn't 100% today and I do wonder if he'll be able to go to school tomorrow, but they both are already talking about taking the ride again next year!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today Brad and I hosted his mom's side of the family for Thanksgiving dinner.  This is our 2nd year doing this - the Drum family gets together for Thanksgiving dinner every year, but normally, my MIL plays host.  The Drum family is very big - we easily had 25 people here today and not everyone came - so last year, we offered to host and I think have started a new tradition.  

It's funny - Brad and I have very specific childhood traditions that we followed every year, but since getting married, we haven't really been able to recreate any or start any new ones... so it is kind of exciting to take over this annual role.

Henry and Kyra were very excited to have a house full of people - as you can see, they were sitting by the front window, waiting for Ammy & Paw Paw to get here.... and they had so much fun with their second cousins!!  The food was great - and apparently, especially our bird!!!  People were raving about it!  I was shocked, because I'm normally a pretty bad cook!  I found the recipe for the turkey & cornbread dressing.  I made the dressing & Brad prepared the bird... I checked & basted it each hour and was rather fearful that we had over cooked it, but apparently not!  What a team we are over here!!!

And I've said this before - but how friggin cute is Kyra's outfit?  Before she had an accident that is?  Thanks Mia!!!

First Haircut

Well, I did it - I took Kyra for her first hair cut ever!  Since this was a big deal, and because we had to go to Ballentyne for Jeffrey's birthday party, I made her an appointment at Sweet & Sassy - this little girl hair boutique.  It's a cute place - they do manicures & pedicures on little girls in addition to hair cuts & very loud birthday parties where they put extensions in the girl's hair & let them sing loudly... this last part I know because there was such a party going on while we were there.

Anyway, I paid $15.95 for the stylist to spray Kyra's hair wet with a water bottle, snip for roughly 5 minutes, blow her hair dry, put glitter spray in her hair, spray her with cupcake smelling perfume and give her a gourmet lollipop.... I'm still trying to determine whether or not I was completely ripped off and that cupcake perfume made me want sugar all afternoon!  But, the stylist did put some of Kyra's hair into a plastic baggie for me and Kyra loved it all, so I guess it was worth it.  She easily cut off an inch from the back, but you wouldn't know - her hair is still pretty long.... and very pretty!!

SunDay? No, ColdDay!

So I guess winter has finally arrived?  Today was one of those deceptive weather kind of days... it looked nice out.   The sun was out, the sky was blue... but it was chilly... and by the time it got to be 5pm and Henry reminded Daddy that they hadn't played football yet, it had to be like 40??  

The boys bundled up and out they went... Kyra wanted to go out too, which means that I had to go out as well.  Now, there is a reason that I no longer live in Rochester, NY.... ok, maybe there are a couple of reasons, but the MAIN reason is because I HATE COLD! 

I lasted long enough to take these pictures and that was it - maybe 5 minutes.  Henry & Daddy played football for about 1/2 hour before they had to quit and Kyra lasted about 5 minutes longer than me.... oh and she chose the hat & "glubbs."

Night Time Twist

Henry and Daddy went to their last ASU game of the season today... and froze their hineys off!  Henry normally NEVER wants to leave a football game early, but he was ready to go after half-time.  They had a good time & Appalachian did win, but when they got home at 7:30, they were both exhausted.

Kyra and I spent the afternoon playing at Sydney's and once again I forgot my camera.  But they had a great time - played outside in Sydney's "house," painted, played Guess Who and Hi Ho Cheerio, and only got into an almost heated battle over a Sesame Street light up, spinning Elmo toy once.  When we left there, we went out for an early dinner and did a little shopping at the Super WalMart (with approximately 5,000 other people)!!!  She never fell asleep once - I couldn't believe it.

So at 8pm, after watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas, I knew they were both very tired.  Kyra wanted a sleep over in Henry's room.  He did not.  She wouldn't stop crying and he refused to budge.  So, I let them go to sleep in my bed - they were very excited.  I layed down with them to ensure they went right to sleep... they did, but not before doing the oddest thing.

I closed my eyes & pretended to be sleeping, but actually kept one eye ever so slightly open to see what they would do.  Oddly, both pick their nose before falling asleep.  It was the strangest thing... Kyra was doing a thorough review of her nostrils one second, and the very next, she was out cold.  Henry alternated sucking his two middle fingers on his left hand, while rubbing his left ear with his right hand (his normal ritual) with checking out his nose... then he rolled over & snuggled under the covers... he did this twice before I left the room.

Should I be concerned about this I wonder???  It is totally natural for kids to do this right???

Gymnastics

For those of you who hear me talk about Kyra's gymnastics and wonder if I'm really telling the truth, here are some pics of her doing a split & a flip.  This flip is literally bringing her feet up & over her head.  It is so cool!!  

Fall Day

Isn't it so pretty in Charlotte these days?  I can't remember when the colors have been so pretty - even driving down the interstate on the way to work I'm amazed at how pretty it is outside!  

We decided to spend some time outdoors today while Daddy cleaned out the cars... while I love when he cleans out my car, I inevitably hear about how many previously enjoyed tissues are in there and the vast amount of papers that have accumulated inside... that's always a fun conversation to have with my beloved!

Anyway, we rode bikes, played two-square, pretended we were Humpty Dumpty & rolled down a hill and then went to the park.  After lunch we got out the crafts and played with the stickers.  Henry used his stickers to add to his drawings... Kyra just stuck stuff anywhere and everywhere and when I wasn't looking, she poured blue glitter all over the table.

Time to Brag

Henry & Brad are outside playing football & Kyra fell asleep on the way home from the grocery store, so I have a few minutes to brag.  And I mean REALLY BRAG!

Last Monday I had my first parent/teacher conference w/ Ms. Fentress.  She LOVES Henry - and while I'm sure she says this to all the parents, I actually believe she loves Henry the best... the rice krispie treats I brought in (at Henry's request) for Teacher Recognition Day probably didn't hurt.  She & Mrs. Floto (the assistant teacher) could not believe that Henry remembered that rice krispie treats were their favorite!

So Ms. Fentress said that Henry was so sweet & kind and nice to all of his class mates.  She loves how excited he gets although admitted that sometimes, he seems to space out for a bit.  She then explained how they put children into small working groups when they do reading or writing or math.  Henry, she said, is in his OWN group for reading!  She said that he is easily at a 3rd grade reading level, but that it is hard to test that because there are not a lot of age appropriate books at that level for KDG kids... so she is going to talk to second grade teachers to get ideas of how to keep Henry interested, without just giving him more work to do.  She said that he not only read extremely well, but that he totally comprehended what he read too.  

Of course, I thought this was all so wonderful, but I expressed my concern that he didn't know how to tie his shoes... she laughed at me and said, "Well if THAT is what you want to focus on... Henry could really just pay someone to tie his shoes for him... while he reads War & Peace!"  

We talked for about an hour.  I told her that Henry loved patterns and that I tried to trick him with an a/b/c/d/e/f pattern one day & he told me, "Mommy, we only do patterns up to E."  Ms. Fentress said, "Yea, most the kids in here struggle with a/b patterns."  When I asked if there was anything we should be doing at home, she said, "You did hear me say he was in his own reading group right?"  

So my post is all about Henry & why the picture of Kyra you ask??  For starters it is totally cute, but secondly, I'm sure I'll be writing the same things about her in 3 years... because my kids are ADVANCED!

Attic Treasures

Remember how we cleaned out the attic last week?  Well we found "Hokey Pokey Elmo" and decided to save him from the Goodwill bin.  This morning I woke to Elmo singing for a good half hour... then the kids realized that if you knock Elmo over, he says, "Whoopsie, can you help Elmo up please?  Thank you."  

They thought this was great & proceeded to knock Elmo over about 5 times... I think Elmo is on the fritz anyway, so his days are numbered, but I must admit, the little guy is funny when at the end of the song he says, "That was fun... Elmo's pooped.  Bye Bye."

Ugh - Kyra just squeezed his hand again and we are "doing the hokey pokey with Elmo" AGAIN!!!

I Love My Husband

So first thing this morning, Brad started pulling out every box from the attic - huge boxes of clothes, shoes & tons of toys.  Some of the toys are actually easy to get rid of... but when I found the Fisher Price Activity Pad that Henry used to sit at for hours when he was 6-9 months old, and he'd laugh and squeal whenever he was able to make it light up, I nearly burst in to tears.  Mind you, this toy is so dusty & nasty - Kyra never enjoyed it the way Henry did so it's basically been sitting in the attic for 5 years...

About 10 minutes later, he offered to build some shelves in the attic so that we'd have more storage space for the items I can not part with and he said, "like that toy Henry always played with."

So now, he's off to Lowe's to buy some 2-by-4s AND he's getting me some Dunkin Donuts coffee on the way home!!!!  Is my husband not the BEST?!?!?!?

Sesame Steet Live

Last month, Angela and I took our girls to see Sesame Street Live... except I did not bring my camera because I thought for sure they wouldn't be allowed.  Don't we walk into Cricket Arena & there on the wall is a huge sign that reads "Cameras Allowed."  Not pleased was I.  Fortunately, Angela brought hers & she was able to get a couple of pictures of Kyra & Sydney enjoying the show... Unfortunately, the camera was in the car when the girls got huge hugs from Elmo & Abby Cadabby.  Oh well!

Trick or Treat

So here is a tip - when you decide to purchase a Halloween costume on sale the week after Halloween (to save yourself 60%), you might not want to wait until the day before the next Halloween to pull the costume out of the closet.... because then you'll realize that the Tinkerbell costume you are so excited about has no wings or wand... and you probably wouldn't care until SOMEBODY points out that your kid has a lame costume.... and then you'll send your husband to Target to try to find wings or a wand on Halloween day and of course, there will be none.

Thankfully, Kyra didn't care.  I'm not sure what she & Henry liked better - going trick or treating or handing out the candy to those that came to the door.... and at 7:00 this morning, I heard them taking inventory of their loot.  

It actually reminded me of my childhood Halloweens... born to be an accountant I guess, the day after always involved my sorting out my candy & taking a written inventory of every candy bar, lollipop and piece of gum.  My brother would trick-or-treat for hours and always had a HUGE stash of candy, which he was kind enough to let me inventory too... yea, I ate some when he wasn't looking!!

New Bed?

Here is how I've found Kyra the last few nights... after we put her to bed, she gets up & puts herself to sleep in her bean bag!!  Yea, I think she's ready for a new bed...