Brotherly Advice

Rex has recently taken up writing in a journal which he calls a diary because of the "Dude not a diary" starter journals I gave both to the boys; however, I'm trying to get him to call it a journal because that sounds more masculine, I guess?  Anyway, Scott and I heard the boys talking in their room when they should have been falling asleep.  We really started listening when we heard Rex get worked up and this is what followed:

Rex:  Joseph makes fun of kids who have diaries and if Joseph's not my friend anymore I'll only have one friend left!! 

Felix:  Listen, I'm going to give you some really good advice.  What you have to do is act really cool and then you'll have lots of friends.

Rex:  I already have a plan.  I'm just going to kick him in the butt at recess.  

Felix:  Actually, that's a really bad plan.

Rex:  I have a back up plan.

Felix:  What is it?  Shoot him all over with a dart gun?  

Rex:  No, just keep kicking him in the butt all of recess until he plays with me.

Miss Daphne

Daphne

lover of babies and princesses

little miss in your business and do it my way

outdoor adventurer and tea party hostess

caillou obsessor and sugar addict

healer of ouchies and broken hearts

dish washer and twirler

sweet and spunky 3 year old

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!



Felix James is 8

Felix is 8!  Seems like yesterday he was a cute baby with so much energy it came out his toes!  

Today he loves:

telling jokes, using big words, reading, playing the piano, baking, video games, Pokemon, riding bikes, training his gerbils, anything science, Cub Scouts, spending money, basketball, taking care of his baby brother, teasing his other siblings, being comfortable in his PJs, playing with friends and much more

Love you Felix!

Dinner and dessert at the Cheesecake Factory

Rex has a big grin because Felix had just hugged him after opening Rex's gift to him.
These hugs come very infrequently and Rex wants them so badly! 

Felix wanted time in the massage chair at the mall for his birthday

Trying to take a picture with the all the kids

The birthday boy still isn't too old to hug his mommy :)

Practicing piano in his undies

Christmas 2013

Christmas has come and gone.  Christmas with a newborn makes it so hard to be energized to create memories and do fun stuff, so I wouldn't say our holiday was super exciting, but we managed a few things:  gingerbread houses, playing in the snow, visiting a retirement home with the Cub Scouts, carrying on our knock and run secret Santa tradition and of course opening gifts.  

This was the year (*Santa Spoiler Alert*) where I broke the news to the kids that Santa is merely a fairy tale and Mom and Dad are the gift buyers.  Maybe I should have left the fantasy alone for now, but it was just SO exhausting keeping up the charade, and our kids were under the impression that Santa will give you ANYTHING you ask for and I was tired of the lies I had to spin to make them understand that, NO, he won't bring you ANYTHING.  The boys are now under the impression that Mom and Dad are rich in order to afford the gifts they've received...another fantasy that will be crushed soon enough.

All in all a good Christmas.  We're healthy, together, warm and trying to be better each day.  My New Year's Resolution?  Wipe my kids' faces clean.  What kind of mother am I?

The boys in Pokemon heaven

Give Daphne a baby doll and she's in heaven

Max is living my Christmas Day dream

Our Christmas Day Snowman Family

Brotherly Love

I came across some choice quotes I had written down courtesy of Felix back in October 2011. 
I thought they were worthy of sharing:

Felix:  I'll bet your [Rex] brain is filled with squashed flies or something.

Felix:  Sometimes I imagine him [Rex] falling in a black hole to calm myself down.

Such a stinker!!

Snow Days

 

 

Our family as miniature snowmen

Snow angel

Watching the snow plow clear the street

Sledding

 

Our bird of prey on the trampoline

Daphne with her likeness as a snow girl and Rex as a snow boy