We Have Two Keys!

Cleo is now able to wash herself in the bathtub. Roger and I still shampoo and condition her hair. Now, she handles using her little wash cloth to wash her entire body. She's very careful and thorough.  Bathtime  takes considerably longer now but the self-possessed confident look on her face while she's washing her little body is priceless.

Sunday, Sidney was using his set of letter cards to pretend to give a lesson.  He did not recognize what the picture of the ice cube was. When I told him, he said, "ice makes drinks cold."  He's so quick at making connections.  I complimented him and said he was so smart and he responded with, "can I get a treat?"  I told him no.  He didn't realize that the A card had a picture of an ant on it - he thought it was a caterpillar so he would say, "A" is for caterpillar when he was flipping through the cards.  He went through a lot of the cards instructing us on the pronunciation of the letters.    When Sidney got to the K card with a picture of a key on it I said, "key" like me and he said, "We have two keys!"  Clever little fellow.

I saw Hunger Games on Sunday. It was a really good movie. I had a really nice time going to see the movie by myself.  I had a small popcorn.  I smuggled in a water.  I only saw one young kid in the theater. It was a very violent movie and the little girl was around 4 years-old. I would not bring a child younger than 13 years-old; it was gruesome at times.

Cleo's 5th Birthday Party

Here is Cleo standing near the sign for her party.  Such a cute little birthday princess.  Cleo's party was a great success and she and her princess pals had a great time.

Me smiling because Sidney is being such  a big boy and making his own bracelet.

This is a picture of Brayden, Cleo's frenemy in daycare. Brayden is Cleo's co-valedictorian for their graduation.  Then, Cleo, Kaelin and Sidney eating candy from his goody bag.

Cleo and Kaelin making their jewelry and Roger helping.

Cleo's crazy awesome cake. It had chocolate cake inside. Around 1/2 was left over after the party and I probably ate 2/3 of that 1/2. Roger ate a little. Cleo and Sidney do not love cake - they will eat a little for special occasions.  Sidney prefers my Weight Watchers Smart Ones ice cream sundaes. Cleo always prefers candy, e.g., Skittles, Nerds or Sweet Tarts.

Colorful group shot.

Family photo with Sidney being characteristically uncooperative.

After the party, we went back to the house and Cleo opened some gifts. Sidney had a few to open and Kaelin had a few to open too.  Now, Cleo and Kaelin have 2 sets of matching pjs to wear while we are in Disney World April 18-22.  Ahnya got Sidney a little back pack and small zippered coin purse with Thomas and Friends diesel trains on them. Sidney was very happy.  After their naps, Cleo opened the rest of her booty. She was very happy with all of her gifts. This weekend, I will write the thank you cards.

Sunday we relaxed around the house.  Saturday night, Kaelin stayed over with us - she slept with Cleo.  Robin came and picked Kaelin up around noon and they headed to FL around 1pm.  The kids took naps. We then had dinner at Ruby Tuesday. We stayed local because Cleo wasn't feeling 100%.

My dad and Ahnya returned to NYC on Monday.  I was so sad when they left.  But Ahnya will be back for Cleo's May 24 graduation and I hope my dad comes for my birthday.

Friday, March 16, we celebrated Ahnya's birthday at Cafe Sunflower. It's the best restaurant in Atlanta. They have the best chocolate cake on the planet. They always bring it out refrigerated but it tastes SO much better at room temperature. Ahnya and I try to resist eating it at the restaurant but we invariably eat more than half then and only have a little to eat later when it's warmer and much more awesome.

I have been making wise choices about eating and am still within 2 pounds of my goal weight. I attended a Weight Watchers meeting today.  I am so happy. It hasn't been easy. I haven't exercised in a week but will get back on track on Sunday.  I am not exercising on Saturday because during the kids' naps I am going to see Hunger Games. I cannot wait.

Isn't she the most fancy 5 year-old you have ever seen!?  Have a good week!

Birthday Party Prep

We went to Jacksonville, FL on Saturday, March 10 for Roger's "Aunt" Carolyn's 70th birthday party.  The party was a lot of fun.  When I am older, I am going to go to line dancing class. Not the country music kind but the kind of dances that people do at black parties.  There were two older ladies doing all the dances because they go to a line dancing class once a week.

Cleo, Sidney and Kaelin were babysat by Roger's cousin Tiffany, her two daughters and her husband Deacon.  They played, watched movies, ate pizza and fruit snacks, and had a really good time.  We picked them up around 12:30am. We dropped them off around 7pm.

Sunday, we left FL around 2pm.  We encountered some traffic when we got closer to Atlanta and that prolonged the return trip some.  Sidney napped a little during the trip home.  Both Cleo and Sidney watched movies and ate snacks during the trip home.

During the trip home Sidney announced that he was Princess Sidney.  Roger and I told him that he is Prince Sidney because girls are princesses and boys are princes.  Sidney replied, "No, I am Princess Sidney."  We dropped the issue because he is 3 and adores Cleo and wants to be like her.  Sidney has not brought it up again and this week has demanded to be called either Sidney W. or Diesel 10, the super villainous train in Sidney's favorite movie, "Day of the Diesels" featuring Thomas the Train and a whole host of other trains.

Monday morning was hard because of daylight savings and setting the clocks ahead. We got them to bed around 9:45pm and they both acted like vampire babies in the morning complaining that the light hurt their eyes. In response to their pleas, I turned off the light that's directly above the kitchen table. Tuesday and Wednesday morning they asked me to turn off the light - Sidney asks before Cleo and it's her that complained the loudest on Monday morning.  We have been working to get them to bed on time this week so that their bodies can adjust to the time change.

Last night and tonight Cleo and Roger have assembled the goody bags for Cleo's in-class birthday party on Friday, March 16.  Cleo selected Transformer goody bags for the boys (there are 10 in her class) and Disney Princess goody bags for the 11 girls in her class (counting Cleo).  She and Roger prepared a boy goody bag for Sidney for her birthday party on Saturday.

Cleo and Sidney get to wear green shirts on Friday.  Cleo is wearing a plain, kelly green colored t-shirt. Sidney is wearing a dark green t-shirt that says, "Daddy's Caddy."

Tomorrow, I am going to buy 24 St. Patrick's Day cupcakes. There are usually ones with yellow cake and some have white frosting and some have green frosting. I am going to look for the ones with shamrock rings stuck in the top.   Today, Cleo told me that I did not have to get the boys cupcakes with rings in them but I think it will be cute for everyone to have a shamrock ring.  Roger will bring the cupcakes and goody bags into school Friday morning.

We are all set for Saturday. We have not assembled the goody bags for the Saturday party but will do that Friday night.  Friday evening we are picking up Cleo's cake.  She selected a really pretty Disney Princess cake.  For food, we are ordering Chick Fil A chicken nuggets and fruit.  Her party is from 10am-11:30am.  A few weekends ago we bought bead and string and fasteners to attach the string.  The girls should have a great time.  I found a pretty Rapunzel dress on sale at Target. I got her accessories too - purse, tiara and necklace with an amulet that plays music when you hit a particular button on it.  She has some gold sandals to go with the dress but we may buy her some gold maryjanes from Target.

Today, I went to Ross, Toys R Us, Marshalls and TJ Maxx and got Cleo some great birthday gifts. I got her a lot of little things that I know she will like instead of a few expensive items she will neglect and ignore. I got her two little bead and thread sets, some Disney Squinkies (don't ask - little rubber things that sort of look like characters in Disney movies), purple frilly tutu, Rapunzel pjs, Disney Princess pjs, Merliah Mermaid Barbie, Disney Princess t-shirt, tiny porcelain Disney Princess tea set, tiara/necklace set with purple gems (she has a set with pink gems), Rosie train (compatible with Sidney's train set), display thing for the Squinkies and a carrying case for the Squinkies. Most things were around $6 and the most were $13 - the Barbie and the tutu. A long time ago I got a Hello Kitty alarm clock from Target on super sale, so we are giving her that.  She likes Hello Kitty but she does not have much Hello Kitty stuff.  We have some Old Navy pjs that we did not give her for xmas and we are giving her those.  There are some Barbie outfits we didn't give her for xmas and we are giving her those too.  She should be happy with everything.

Ahnya and my dad arrive tomorrow at 4:32pm.  Kaelin and Robin arrive tomorrow too. I do not know when they arrive.  Ahnya and my dad are staying with us. Kaelin and Robin are not staying with us.   I don't have anything planned for dinner for tomorrow.  I will come up with something. Friday, we are going to Sunflower Cafe to celebrate Ahnya's birthday.  Saturday is Cleo's party.  Not sure what we are doing for dinner - maybe make your own pizzas.  Sunday for dinner, we are going to the Cheesecake Factory at my dad's suggestion. He's funny!  I do enjoy that place because the menu is so vast.

I plan on getting Ahnya a free 3 day pass to my gym so we can work out Saturday and Sunday while the kids nap. We need to earn Points Plus Activity Points to balance out the cake we will be eating all weekend. I ordered her a vegan cupcake from Whole Foods which she will eat at Cleo's party on Saturday. I ordered 2 because one is for Cleo's classmate Zariya who is allergic to foods in normal cakes. She's not a vegetarian like me or vegan like Ahnya.

Cleo is quite excited about her party and every day conducts a countdown to Saturday, March 17.

Cleo is co-valedictorian of her graduating class from daycare.  She and her co-valedictorian, Brayden, will give a speech at their May 24 graduation.  Robin, Linda and Kaelin are going to try to come.  The parents have to raise money to help fund the graduation festivities by buying spaghetti dinners and selling America's Finest chocolate bars. I love that chocolate.

Have a good week!

Arts R Us

Saturday morning, I took Cleo to an art class at the Vinings School of Art. Her friend Chase gave her a gift certificate for the class for Cleo's 4th birthday party. It was set to expire on March 12 so we had to use it.  Cleo made a pretty butterfly, which I will photograph another time and post a picture of.  It was rainy and cold so Cleo sported her cute rain boots and rain coat (not pictured below).  She looks so big and grown-up.

After Class, we picked up Sidney and Roger and went to Publix to let Cleo select her birthday cake. She selected a 2 level cake with a Cinderella castle on it and 4 princess figurines.  Have I mentioned recently that she's into princesses?  Whew.  She identified which friends she plans on gifting the figurines to.  We went home and had lunch and naps. I went to the gym while the kids napped. Prior to the gym I hit Target. I got a gift for one of Sidney's classmates whose party is on March 17 - Sidney is not attending the party.  I also got a gift for one of Cleo's classmates whose party is March 10 but we will miss it because we will be in Jacksonville, FL next weekend attending Roger's aunt Carolyn's 70th birthday party.  We are driving down Saturday morning and returning on Sunday.

After naps, we played a bit.  Then, took baths and had an early dinner. For movie night, we watched the Lion King.  Cleo and Sidney watch their movies over and over so they know a lot of the lines and words to the songs. It's sweet.  The kids had Skittles, popcorn, raisins and water. I hipped Cleo to putting soy sauce on her popcorn and she loves it.  It was not hard to convince her because she loves soy sauce.

I have been craving veggie sushi rolls ever since Roger and I ate out at that Japanese restaurant  a few weeks ago. I got some after the gym at Publix.  The sushi rolls had avocado, cucumber and carrots in them. I shared the brown rice (on outside of sushi rolls), cucumber and carrots with Sidney. Cleo had some of the cucumber too.  Sidney is pretty open to trying new things. Cleo is not as adventurous.

Today we went to church, then food shopping, then home for lunch and naps. Cleo had a cheese sandwich and waffle fries for lunch. Sidney had most of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and cheese puffs for lunch.  I went to Target again during the kids naps because I didn't realize we were out of back-up tissues. We go through a lot of tissues in this house so I like to have at least one box of back up tissues. I got a 4 pack of tissues - I had a 50 cent coupon, not big but better than nothing. After Target I went to the gym.

I am wrestling with how to incorporate more exercise into my day.  For a while I was motivated to work out after we put the kids to bed but for some reason ever since I restarted my health routine in December 2011, I simply cannot motivate myself to work out at night. I am thinking about trying to wake up at 4:15am and exercise in the morning.  If I force myself to go to bed by 9pm I can do it.  But it's hard to get to bed and be asleep by 9pm.  I need to exercise more often than 2 times a week at the gym on the weekend. I haven't been working out my arms at all. I do the step mill stair master thing for 45 minutes on Saturdays and do the stair master thing again for 45 minutes on Sundays and also nautilus machines and ab work.  I will work something out and keep you all posted.  :-)

After the kids woke up, we all had a snack.  Then, we played with play dough.  The separate colors (green, red, brown, yellow, and white) are now a light brown marbled with some of the mixed in colors. Sidney mixed all of the colors together.  Cleo and Sidney made little 2 layer cakes with gummy bears on top.  I took pictures of them and their masterpieces. They were so proud they ran and showed Roger who was in the kitchen cooking pork chops.

Sidney is obsessed wit that zebra shirt. He wears it for his naps on Saturday and Sunday. I dread the day he grows out of it. If you guys see an affordable zebra t-shirt in size 3T please buy it and I will pay you back.  We got that one at Macy's last year on sale.  The one he has is size 2T but it's a big 2T so it should fit him for a little while longer.  He doesn't necessarily love zebras more than other animals - for a while now his favorite animal is elephants.

Sidney is doing much better.  Today was the last day that he had to take antibiotics for his ear infection.  We still have to give him albuterol and pulmicort in his nebulizer but the albuterol can be given to him every 6-8 hours instead of every 4-6 hours like last week.  We have to give him the albuterol and pulmicort for at least another month or 2.  Cleo grew out of needing breathing treatments by the age of 3 but Sidney has not. I hope he eventually does and does not develop full-on asthma. What he has is pre-asthma symptoms.

Have a good week. I may not be able to write much next weekend but I will do my best to keep you posted of our adventures.