My Favorite Thing

This is going to be a super-short post, but I just had to share one of my most favorite events that just happened on Friday night.

It was a regular night...we got the girls in bed on time(ish) and Cliff left to go to our apartment's gym. I was cleaning out my inbox and checking facebook, because those are two very important things to do, of course. The girls were extra giddy - they were playing and laughing together in bed, which is just the best thing to listen to, so we never really scold them for it (until a "she's making noises at me" or a "she's looking at me" fight breaks out).

All of a sudden, I hear fireworks going off - our apartment's patio has a perfect view of whoever does the fireworks at every major firework-related holiday. I have never heard of fireworks on Columbus day, but I am assuming that is why they were celebrating. Since the girls were still up and playing, I decided to go into their room and open up their blinds so they could watch them, too! I told them to get back into bed once the fireworks were over and TRY to go to sleep immediately. Right as I sat back down at the computer to resume my chat with the awesome Michaela on facebook, Cliff burst through the door of our apartment asking if the girls were still up. I said yes, and that they were watching the fireworks from their bedroom. "Oh, good!" was his reply, and he went in to watch with them. I heard a lot of "ooohing" and "aahhhhing" from all of them and even Jossie saying, "Daddy, look, there are shooting stars out there!"

It was then I realized that it was a little early for Cliff to be back from his workout...and he doesn't cut his workout short EVER. Not even if we just got a new movie from Netflix to watch. When he came back out he said, "When I heard the fireworks start, I ran back here to see if they were still awake."

HOW LUCKY AM I?????????

How many men do this - drop whatever they are doing just to go watch their kids watch fireworks?? NONE, I TELL YOU! My husband is awesome. I absolutely LOVE that he truly enjoys his kids. I love seeing the unconditional love and adoration between them.

My husband, my kids, my LIFE totally rocks.

Room Moms are Cool

Yesterday was the first day of KINDERGARTEN for Aidenne, and today was the first day of PreK for Joscelyn. They were both so excited to go! While Aidenne was in school yesterday, Joss and I went swimming - I tried to make the day fun for her, but she told me all day that she wanted Aidenne! I hope they get to see each other sometimes at school.

Aidenne had a great first day - I went to chapel with her and afterward they had the parents stay in the sanctuary for orientation. As soon as her teacher called for her class, she jumped up and ran out - no hug or kiss for me at all! She did wave once she was in line...I guess that is all I get from my independent sweet pea!

Joscelyn was very proud of herself this morning for being able to go to school, too. She was excited but had a momentary lapse into babydom when Cliff and I were leaving - she said "I want you to stay, Mommy." I gave her one more big hug and then she found the play kitchen, so she was totally fine - no crying from her (or me, surprisingly!) I signed up to be room mom for Joscelyn's class. I can hear all your eyes rolling right now - don't make fun!! I love being able to go to all the class parties and help out at the school, so hopefully my own school schedule won't interfere with that. That's right, Aidenne and Joss, Mommy is ALWAYS WATCHING YOU!

I get to register for my classes next week, so I will finally be able to plan other things around my schedule! I can't wait to see what I will be taking first. I hope it isn't too tragic getting back into the normal "no time for anything" lifestyle...I have been on vacation for too long!

I think I should go eat lunch now. Without the kids here to feed, I almost forgot to eat. I will let you know how eating a full meal in peace and quiet goes...

It's Been A While...

I love that my last post was almost two years ago, and I was talking about how I never update my blog. My BESTIE started a blog recently, so it apparently got me in the mood! (I look forward to the comments of your hatred of the word "bestie.")

So remember that three-year-old I spoke of in my last post? Yup, Aidenne is now just a month away from being FIVE and starting kindergarten in just two weeks. WHAT?? And our baby Joscelyn is now three and will be in the PreK program at the same school. Woohoo - Mommy free time! What will I do with it? Oh yeah...homework! I am still studying interior design, but have transferred from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online Division to The Art Institute of San Antonio. I think going on campus will benefit me greatly in this field and allow me to network like crazy. I do not start on campus until October 4th, so I do have a month of pure vacation and lots of selfish ME time. I plan to take on sewing projects (yes, I have learned to SEW in the last 2 years!), update my blog (don't hold your breath), and generally be as lazy as possible.

Speaking of school, I am sad to say that my GPA has dropped to a - GASP! - 3.91. My dream of a perfect 4.0 did not last all that long, but I think it is still higher than Cliff's final GPA. But this isn't a competition. ("Certainly not a close one!")

We successfully sold the house in Denton after spending a long long looooooong 8 months apart. A lot of blood, sweat, tears and repair work, mixed with the tiniest dash of sleep made that sale happen! So we finally all live under one roof again, and it has been smooth-sailing ever since (ish).

The girls continue to amaze us with how stinkin' smart they are every day! Aidenne can read and we have her amazing PreK teacher to thank for that - all future teachers have a LOT to live up to! And she better still be there next fall when Joss will be in her class...you heard me, Ms. Stacie!! Aidenne has also shown her athletic ability in gymnastics, which we hope to get her in again soon, basketball (a swift ball to the head made this sport obsolete in her mind), and now tennis, which she is absolutely in love with and looks like a tiny little pro while doing! She is still very independent and cannot wait to start school again.

Joscelyn is the ham of the family! I swear I look ten years older because of the laugh lines that girl gives me. My favorite Joss-ism from today was: "My macaroni and cheese is yummy with added ranch." She has learned all her letters and their sounds, and has gotten amazingly good at coloring inside the lines. Her hair is still...ummm...(OK - brief Jossie hair update: Since I last posted she grew a mullet and I could not cut it off for the longest time since I just wanted her to have SOMETHING. But it is now gone and she has had 2 whole haircuts in her entire life!) She recently was mistaken for a boy in a restaurant - our waiter said something like, "Here you go, little buddy." And she replied, "Hey, I'm not a buddy!" That's my Jossie! She doesn't take crap from anyone. She got that from her Auntie Kristin. Both of them.

Cliff is awesome as usual. He gives 100% at work and 100% at home, making sure we are all taken care of and totally happy. He still works out daily like a crazy person and is still addicted to Dr. Pepper and Hawaiian Punch. He has even cleaned the bathroom twice this year, so I consider myself the luckiest wife on the planet! When it comes to the girls he has endless energy - he can take them to two different parks AND Sea World in one day and still have the energy to make them dinner and put them to bed (meanwhile, I am crashed out on the couch!) He truly enjoys spending time with them and that is something I will never take for granted!

OK, I know I have not caught you up on a full two years, so I will update soon with the things I have forgotten. Soon, as in, less than two years from now.