What we've been up to....

I have been meaning to update about Channing's new pre-k and upload pics from her first day, and I CAN'T FIND THEM..... I am so upset!  I have only done this one other time, and I am just hoping that I didn't accidentally delete them.  But, the first day she did really well... carried her new personalized backpack, didn't argue about her clothes, and when I picked her up, Ms. Robin said she did AWESOME, listened to instructions so well, and was able to do everything she asked.  I am really happy with my choice to send her there, and I think the small group is going to be good for her.  She is the oldest in the class, but if I would have started her in kinder she would have been the youngest.... so I guess older is better.  The 2nd day was her actual b-day, and I brought cupcakes, took pictures (where are they.... arrrrg), and Ms. Robin even gave her a gift.  It was fun!  Channing had about 2 weeks of birthday festivities this year, and we had a lot of fun!  Then soccer started.... (jaxson is just along for the ride right now :) ).  She has had only one practice, but did great and really got into it.  Paxton is the assistant coach so that helps her to come out of her shell.  We will be busy with practice every Thursday and games every Saturday am.... I am so excited!  Me and Jax have had a lot of mommy and me time...  I have enjoyed getting some one on one with him, and he is SO CUTE at 2 years old!  He bounces in store to store when we run errands and makes everyone smile.  He makes me smile, too, until he throws himself in the floor because we won't let him play with the iphone!  Crazy kid!  Our wonderful friends Jeff, Allyson, Sadie, and Tripp came this weekend.  We had a great time, and just mainly hung around here but did take the kids to the Rainforest Cafe.  Sadie was a little scared, but got used to the lifelike snakes and gorillas and hung in there just fine!

First Soccer Practice... how little are they??? So cute!

Sadie and Channing at Rainforest Cafe

Jax playing in our "pool"

Jax sleeping after day of errands

10 Day Challenge starting Saturday, Sept. 4

I got this idea from my good friend, Allyson, but didn't have enough energy to even think about completing one task when she first told me.  Now I am having a burst of energy and looking around my house thinking.... where on earth am I going to put a high chair, much less a baby!  So-- time to get some much needed housework/ organization done!  10 days to complete 10 tasks, with a status update half way through.
1.) Clean out pantry- complete (9/04)
2.) Clean out entry closet- complete (9/06)
3.) Clean out guest/ gift closet- complete (9/12)
4.) Buy bins and organize all photog. stuff in top of closet
5.) Clean out Jax Closet
6.) Update blog with Channing's first week of school- complete (9/06)
7.) Get thank you notes out from Chann's party- complete (9/06)
8.) Finish Workshop.
9.) Start picking out fabric for drapes- not going to get this done.... decided to hold off
10.) clean out glass/ cup cabinet- complete (9/06)
I can do it, I can do it, I can do it!  Channing is starting on the pantry now :)

More conversations with a 2 year old.....

Paxton is putting Channing to bed, and I just came out of Jaxson's room.  Here's how it goes down.... I am rocking him, telling him about God, he wants to talk about Santa Claus, then I ask him some random questions:
"Jaxson, how old are you?"
He responds "5".
"No you're not.... you're 2. Sissy is 5."
"No she's not!" he yells, "Daddy is 5!".
"No Jaxson, Sissy is the only one who is 5.  You are 2."
"Oh", he replies.  Then he bumps something in the dark and cries.  I ask what is wrong.  He screams that he hurt his shoulder as he rubs his knee.  I explain that his shoulders are "up here.  That is your knee".  "No it's not!" he yells.
Finally I get him into bed, and I think I am making my escape.  He says "Oh, I gotta go poop real bad!".  Darn!  He didn't care about bodily functions when he was going "tee tee" all over his chair tonight at the table.  But since I am giving potty training a try, gotta give in.  So there we go.... he sits and grins at me for at least 5 minutes or so.  Not even a push or a grunt.  He has played me..... again.

Chann's 5th B-day Party!!!!

I can't believe my little pumpkin is turning 5 tomorrow, and we had such a fun party this weekend!  I think maybe last year I said I would never have a morning party again because you wake up and run, run, run... but what I LOVE about a morning party is that a.) we are all morning people in this house and get up at the crack of dawn.... except maybe Paxton, and b.) you don't spend the entire day anticipating the party and trying to keep the house picked up.  So it really is a great way for us to go.  And since Paige and Jade were here, we had great help and the kids were entertained.  Channing and Jade of course were pre-occupied with their new pet frogs.... poor little frogs, I think the girls tried to "teach them tricks" using the Barbie swimming pool.  Anyway, my good friends DJ and Codi supplied Channing's party outfit... a cute tank top with her name, #5, and an ice cream sundae (the theme of the party), and DJ supplied the adorable matching shoes and bow!  I loved all of it.  We had about 25 kids or so here, so it was crazy and messy and exciting all at the same time.  Our party favors went with the sundae them PERFECTLY, and of course we made actual ice cream sundaes at the party.  The kids loved piling on the gummy bears, m&m's, whip cream, chocolate syrup, etc.... it was cute to watch, and boy were those kids messy when they were finished!  We were so thankful to all of our good friends for coming and being there for Channing on her big day!  Between the cupcakes, sundaes, and pinata candy, they were all on a sugar high when they left (sorry to their parents)!  Channing loved the party, having all of her friends here, and was obviously excited about all of her new, "super cool" gifts!   I enjoyed all of the chaos this year, realizing that in a few years, she will be too "cool" to get really excited and not care about the cupcake smeared all over her face, or to rip into gifts with such enthusiasm.  Time to enjoy those precious things!

  

Channing's 5th B-day Party Prep!

I am separating Chann's party into "preparation" and the actual party because both parts were so fun this year!  Her cousin/ best friend, Jade, came in from Dallas to celebrate, and Paige (her mom and our cousin/friend) was a HUGE help..... don't know if I could have pulled it off without her!  Anyway, I started Friday morning making sausage roll, pigs in blankets, cupcakes... etc.... and then drove to San Antonio to get them from the airport.  When we got home the girls played (collecting frogs was their activity of choice for most of their time together!), and then we all put the party favors together.  We put colorful washcloths into little glass parfait dishes and stuck a cherry on top.  They turned out really cute.... although it took a few minutes for us to figure out how to make the cloth fit, and make it all look realistic.  Paxton went to work on "Jaxson patrol" and got the yard and patio cleaned up. Because we had a Sat. 10:30 am party, we woke up that morning and it was pretty much work from the start.  But it all went wonderfully!

  

The Kids are Back!

We met M&M with the babies at the Oasis on Lake Travis Saturday.  We were SOOOO happy and excited to see them.... it felt like Christmas all the way there!  We had a great dinner overlooking the beautiful lake.  The ride home was nice with Channing and Jaxson both grinning the entire way.  I have enjoyed giving them my undivided attention over the past couple of days.... but whew.... I am getting tired.  I don't get my 2 hour naps anymore :)!  

My fun day of shopping!

I met Ali and Laurie for a relaxing day of shopping in Fredericksburg yesterday.  Those girls are good for my soul... love seeing them every time!  We didn't really have a particular mission, although I had been thinking about doing a little updating to Chann's room while she is gone.  Nothing major since we've only been in this house a year, but she has been asking for new bedding for a while.  I had my heart set on adding some black into the pink she already has, and found the perfect quilt, but they didn't have her size.  After we left Fredericksburg, I stopped off at the TJ Max home store at the Rim, and I was SO HAPPY.  Love that store!  I didn't find black, but ended up finding an adorable quilt for a 1/4 of the price I would have spent on the other, 2 lamps, a vase, a rug, etc.....  so basically, it is not a whole new look and still traditional and girly, but a little more fun and bright with a touch of contemporary added to give it a little more of a "big girl" feel.  I hope she likes it!