Wednesday's Winning Words: The cure for temper tantrums

I am not even kidding, y'all, I have found. the. cure.  I have a guaranteed method for bringing 2 year olds and 6 year olds alike, out of a full-blown, mid-scream, tears-down-the-face, I-hate-the-world-when-I-don't-get-my-way temper tantrum.  It's 5 simple words:  "What does the fox say?"

I don't know if you have heard that song, What Does the Fox Say?  but if you have not, you MUST immediately drop everything and check it out.  If you have small children, have them watch with you.  It is awesomely bad to adults, but once a kid hears it, it is kryptonite to the common temper tantrum.  Now, to be truly effective mid-hissy fit, you must say it loudly, in the rhythm of the "music" and then be prepared to say what the band says the fox might say (or some variation thereof).  Because, well, that's the best part to a child.  Silly dancing helps too, but that should come as no surprise.

You are welcome.

If, by chance, you are as enraptured by this Swedish group and want to hear more, like a certain part-Swedish person I know and happened to be married to, a great deal of entertainment (although NOT for kids) was derived from Meaning of Stonehenge.

Wednesday's Winning Words: Relocation Edition

As you know by now, we are moving.  So, we have spent quite a bit of time trying to prep the kids for it, even though they aren't really going permanently for a few more months.  Justus has his days--sometimes there are tears and sometimes there are cheers.  We're working on getting him excited about it.  Lately, he's asked a lot about the school mascot and sports teams.  When I went last week, he asked me to pick him up a few things because,

"I'm excited about becoming a Hyena, mommy!!"

He LOVED his hat and pennant, but I just need him to remember they are the Javelinas, not the Hyenas (they sound the same to a 6 year old).  I'm giving him a break.  He's only known the Aggies and Tigers until now. 

 

And, as for Delaney....she thinks we are moving to "KingsBell."  It's really precious to hear her say it.  I've corrected her once or twice, but not too much because I love the way she says it.

Now, this is my kind of Shark Week!

 

 

We Kidd and Justus love shark week!!

 

As long as the sharks look like this, I can get behind it too.

 

Us lately...

Just to bring you up to speed...

I've been traveling for work for the last three weeks (see post on Philadelphia).  So, things have been hectic and I've been a terrible blogger.  But, what else is new?!

This is me. 

 

We no longer own this home.  We are having mixed emotions about it.  It was a great home with great neighbors, but we were ready for something that was more suited to our needs.  We bought a lot a year ago with big plans to sell this home, and rent while we built a new home.  We are just at a different place than we were a year ago, but we still executed the plan...at least as to the selling and renting part.  How could we not?  It's such a seller's market right now. 

Stay tuned for details on the rest. 

 

Justus tested for his next belt level.

 

 ..and got it!  A new Tiger Yellow Belt.

 This one had a 4th of July Parade at her school.  Last year she cried, so this was an improvement.  But, there were no smiles...

 

4th of July!!  Happy Birthday, America!  The kids were, at various points in the day, all decked out in red, white, and blue, but of course I didn't get pictures of that.  I did get, what they would tell you was the best part of the day.  Pool pics!!

 Lunch time!

 

I didn't get any good ones of J in the pool.  He had on his snorkle gear and his face was always in the water.  I couldn't help post this sweet happy face though.  They wore themselves out!!

We are adjusting to the rent house and look forward to what the rest of the summer holds for us.  We are sure it will be quite an adventure, especially if June was any indication...  We hope everyone is having a great summer too!

Wednesday's Winning Words

I know, I haven't blogged in awhile and this is totally the easy way out, but this has stuck with me since yesterday so I just had to share.  I said that every now and then I would share winning words by other people, so count this as one of those.

So very creepy.  And yet, hilarious!  Kids say the darndest things, don't they??


Creepiest things a child has ever said:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mattbellassai/the-creepiest-things-a-child-has-ever-said-to-a-parent

Picture time!!

 

We got some pictures back from our favorite photographer and I just had to share them.  We did birthday shoots with everybody's favorite things.  So, for Delaney, it was SHOES of course, and for Justus, we focused on the sport de jour--soccer, and his new found love for LSU.  Meanwhile, I had yet to do an Aggie shoot with the kiddos, so it was a prime opportunity to fit it in too.

 

 

 

 

I think I shared some of the shoe pictures of Delaney already in her birthday post, but I just can't get enough!!  This girl LOVES shoes and I love these little legs and feet.

 

And isn't this one of the cutest little Aggies you have ever seen??? 

 

Brother is a little confused.  He likes the Aggies but is currently leaning more toward LSU for college.  I can't wait to see how many times he changes his mind on this issue.

 

Why does he have to look so grown up?? 

 This one....we are in so much trouble!

My heart in two little bodies.  I could not love them more, and am so thankful to Sarah Giles, Butterfly Chaser Photography, for capturing their smiles, silly faces, and amazing spirits in pictures.  Thanks also to the King Family and Ms. Shanon for prop assistance.

So, this (all) happened...

Since I've been neglecting you so much lately, but am still a bit short on time, I wanted to at least give you a nutshell update of what's been going on in our world lately.

 

 

Valentine's Day lunch with my favorite little man.  McDonald's--mmm (for him).  I hope one day he knows better than to give a girl McD's on Valentine's Day--no matter how ridiculous of a Hallmark day we think it is.

 

As you know, Shanon has been a trusty sitter and family member since around the time Delaney was born.  Well, she decided to move on to bigger and better professional aspirations.  In Dallas.  So, we got together with the King family and had a little farewell dinner before she left.  What a blessing she has been to our family.  It's been a challenge adjusting to life without her.

We put our house on the market.  It is a pain keeping it "show ready" with two little ones, but I really like it much better now that we've decluttered and keep it orderly. 

No, not enough to keep it.

 

 

This dude had his first belt testing at Taekwondo.  He did awesome and moved up a rank!

 

We had Kindergarten Rodeo at the school.  He had a blast, and I enjoyed being able to volunteer for the activity.  Next event:  Kinder field trip in a couple of weeks.  That should be interesting.

 

 

Since a certain little girl I know doesn't seem the least bit bothered by a wet Pull-Up (don't get me started on what a racket I think those are!), I decided to kick it up a notch.  Her teachers are fully supportive, and were probably actually glad to see that I finally stepped it up.  She LOVES her new panties and insists on wearing them.  Now, if she will just get that she has to keep them dry (see above concern of keeping a clean house...). 

 

She got her first yearbook in the mail from Camp Mystic.  She looked at those pictures of the girls having fun at camp forever.  Then, Daddy pulled out one of my old yearbooks to show her me when I was at camp.  Apparently, that was not quite as interesting.  At least now she has reading material for her potty time. 

By spring break, the kids were missing Shanon and I needed a sitter since they were out of school and I had to work.  So, off they went to Camp Shanon for a few days.  We are still in the midst of this adventure and we miss them terribly but know they are having a blast.  It's the first time we've sent them off while we stayed home.  The house is eerily quiet.  And, I am amazed at the "free time" I have.  I have no idea how I managed to waste so much time before I had kids, thinking I was busy.

 

So, there you have it.  Pretty much all the major activities for the last month or so, mixed in with our daily crazy busy life.  Sorry you got it all at once, but I'm hoping to get back to regular posting soon.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Royals!

My holiday heart, in pictures

**At the risk of ruining the excitement over receiving a Christmas card from the Royals with some adorable new pics of those kiddos, I had to share the following.  So, close this now, and never look back (well, at elast until after you get our card), if you are determined not to ruin the surprise.  Otherwise, drudge ahead and enjoy!**

 

Y'all know how crazy I go when I get pictures from Sarah, right?  I mean seriously, she captures my whole heart's happiness with her talent and a camera.  Every time I get new pictures from her, I think "These are the best we've done!"  Maybe it's more about the kids--just growing more and more in love with them all the time, as though that's possible.  But, I think it definitely has to do with Sarah and her magic, too.  I've seen the way this goes in the heat of the moment, and I just don't know how she does it.

 

The process goes like this:  Make appointment way in advance for shoot.  Swear to have organized assistance in setting up some fabulous "sets" from more creative friends than myself.  Mention it casually to said friend, then fail miserably to follow through.  Realize shoot date is much closer than realized, and there's no time to impose on friends or anyone else to throw this together.  Do the best I can to coordinate clothes, at the very least.  Meet Sarah, and do child wrangling/entertaining/clothes changing/disciplining for 2 hours while she works her magic.  Somewhere in the middle of that, resign to the fact that it was just a waste of everyone's time because she couldn't possibly have gotten any decent pictures with the way we were all acting, the wind was blowing, etc... 

 

And then this happens:

 

 When did they get so grown up??? 

Between them looking so old and me knowing the quality of newborn pics Sarah can turn out, it ALMOST makes me want another.  Almost.

We have done a picture similar to this at every shoot we do, and I just adore looking and comparing them to each other over time.

 

 

 Sass Times Two!  I think we are in serious trouble.

 And a little love for me and my Aggie friends!

'Tis the season, right?!  Gig'em!

 

**Sarah is dealing with a family medical situation, and managed to turn these out super fast in the midst of that so we could send out Christmas cards.  She is amazing and we could not be more thankful for her!  Prayers going up for sweet Abbey!**

Thanksgiving Round-Up

Wow!  What a wonderful Thanksgiving week we had.  I say week because although the actual day was awesome itself, we had several different events on different days that were just as special to us!  We had a Kindergarten Program on Tuesday with Justus, where he and his friends sang several songs about giving thanks that just melted my heart.  I have a video of one of the songs, but the quality is not good.  Similarly, my "good" camera and I are having a fight, so I only have a picture or two that came out.  You can spot him smack dab in the middle of the first one, looking at me.  I like the second one because it gets most of his class on the right side of the pic.  He's in the third row from the top, 4th from the right.    It was really, really adorable to see him participating in this.  The day before this event, the Kindergarterners went to a local senior living community and put on the same program.  He had a blast doing that!

Then, on Wednesday, we scooted over to Delaney's daycare, which hosted a fabulous Thanksgiving Feast where we all brought sides and desserts while they provided the turkey, dressing, and gravy.  In the words of Rachel Ray--Yum-O!!  I did NOT want to go back to work after that.  Technically, I didn't have to (we were given a noon release for those leaving town), but there was still work to be done so I did (see--I'm being a good steward of your tax dollars, Texas residents.  You're welcome!).  I only managed to get this one shot of Delaney and Kidd before the feast began, but there was plenty of entertainment.  I was just already shoveling it in by then.  The two oldest classes sang a few songs and told us what they were thankful for.  Sooo sweet!

That evening, we headed to SA to see my family, which was great, as always.  This is us after lunch.  Everybody smiling.  Except Kidd and Delaney.  Have I mentioned that she is his child, in EVERY way?!

 

It shouldn't be this way, but I'm pretty sure this is the second consecutive year this type of picture has been able to be taken.  Swimming.  On Thanksgiving Day.  This is not right (but was still kind of awesome).

Delaney and Darla had fun with sparkly shoes.  This is not surprising.  There will be more of this in Delaney's future, I have no doubt.  If she could only see and appreciate Darla's closet--it's like Mecca to shoe lovers.

 

Saturday, we had a wonderful lunch with Kidd's family.  Apparently, I was so busy eating, taking pictures never even crossed my mind.  Sorry (and yet, not altogether surprising)!  That night, we had a few friends over to watch the Aggies snap their 3-game losing streak to Mizzou, while Johnny Football made his last argument for the Heisman.  Again--fabulous!  For some, there was something more entertaining than the game, though.  Delaney had all kinds of fun with Ms. Tish, Ms. Glenda, and Ms. Sheila, while Justus and Tish's son, Carlos, ran off and played all evening.

 Sunday was an uneventful, yet productive day.  We I got up in the attic and got down the Christmas decorations and put them out.  The only thing left is the tree, which will require Kidd's assistance.  He is not thrilled about this, so I must approach the issue at a time likely to result in a favorable response.  I'm thinking after he's had a couple of drinks.  Don't worry--I'm still the one getting up in the attic.  I just need someone to wait at the bottom for falling tree parts.  Our house lights are going up today (thanks to professional assistance)!  We even went to Toys R Us yesterday and let the kids create a wish list.  I know it's very commercial, but grandparents and other people LOVE having a list to choose from when they don't know what your kids want.  Plus, they both have birthdays right around Christmas, so it's all there.  Don't judge--it's a fantastic idea. I think we should all be able to create registries at our favorite stores...and more than just for wedding and baby showers.  I just wish they had it at Target because I kind of hate our local TRU.  Shhhh, don't tell the kids. 

Work is so busy right now, and is about to get even crazier, so there are no words to express how thankful I am for such a wonderful long weekend to reflect on the many blessings I have been given.  I hope that you and yours had as great of a time, and may that warm heart feeling carry you through this very busy holiday season.  CHRISTMAS IS COMING!!!

**This post has already been too long, so I will do a separate one for the rest of what I want to share with you.  Just a hint--Sarah Giles, of Butterfly Chaser Photography, has been busy with our kiddos and you know what that means--gorgeous PICTURES that I can't help but share...even at the risk of ruining Christmas cards for some**