Get with the program Mother Nature!

What a strange weekend.....Saturday we spent the entire day outside enjoying the sunshine and Sunday in snowed!  By the time we went to bed Sunday night, there was about 4 inches on the deck with snow still coming down and schools were closed for Monday!  What happened to Spring?!

Saturday was the "David Tate Urban Forestry Service Day" in Church Hill - It was a project that my brother helped organize in honor of a friend and co-worker that passed away recently.  I wanted to go to support Andy, and Claire came along to help do some work in the park!  I was so proud of my brother and all of the people who volunteered that morning.  It was really so impressive to see so many arborists come together to work on the city trees.  The kids helped mulch a new willow oak tree that was planted.  We will definitely go back to Chimborazo Park - it's beautiful! - and also to check on the new tree.

That afternoon we played outside for a long time.  Claire tried to keep up with the other kids on our street that were playing basketball and then they colored with chalk in our driveway.  Fielder had so much fun just running around outside - he LOVES to be outside.  He reminds me so much of Andy! 

And then here is a picture of our Spring snowstorm!  I am so ready for warm weather.  I couldn't deal with all of us going out to play in the snow Monday - I had to work in the afternoon and just didn't want all the wet clothes and mess.  I did let Claire go out on the deck and play.  She had fun for a short time until she saw a "scary fly" and wanted to come back in. 

I'm packing away the winter gear...we are officially ready for flip-flop season!

1st Day of Spring!

Welcome Spring, we are so happy to see you!  To celebrate, Rita's gives out free "ice" so Fielder and I joined Meredith & Kate for a little treat after lunch.  After we ate, the kids had fun walking up and down the sidewalk before we had to go pick up Claire. (Luckily Claire didn't notice that Fielder and I had red mouths - I felt so guilty going without her!)

She had a really fun day at school - It was Donut Day and she was SO excited to bring Rob to her class.  They had donuts, the kids sang some songs, and showed the Dads/family members around the classroom.  They also made place mats with pictures of them doing their favorite activity with their Dad.  Claire's says she likes to play jacks....um, she has never in her life played jacks, but now that's all she talks about so I guess I need to find some so she can play with Rob!  (Notice the V saber in the picture on Daddy's shirt?!)  I wish I had sent the camera with them....no pics....but they had a great time!


Oh yes, and remember the missing keys?  Well, they have finally been located and as it turns out the disappearance had nothing to do with Fielder or a Leprechaun!  I really wish I had a funny story to tell about where they were found, but it was as simple as Rob's jacket pocket.  He still swears he has not worn that jacket in months.  And I even checked every jacket in the closet!  We both feel ridiculous, but so relieved that they were found!

 

 

A Visit from a Leprechaun

Our silly leprechaun stopped by last week for St. Patrick's Day and to play a few tricks on us.  He left a little picture of himself on our computer (see above....he must have been tired when he worked on it because he made a typo.)  He turned some pictures upside down and scattered green necklaces all over the place.  Claire's favorite...he turned the water in the toilets green!  We also had a green breakfast and even an all-green dinner!  

For the most part, I don't mind the tricks he plays on us, but this year it seems the leprechaun may have hidden Daddy's keys and we are going NUTS trying to find them.  They've been missing for about 5 days now and we've just about given up.  I keep asking Fielder "WHERE are Daddy's keys?"  And this is the look he gives me:

If he knows where they are - and something tells me he does - then he's just not telling!

 

Valentine's Day & 15 months

We love holidays around here!  My ideas for decorations took a bit of a back seat due to some home improvement projects, but I still had fun doing some Valentinesy things with the kiddos. 
This year Claire got a "love note" each morning on the pantry door in the kitchen.  She really looked forward to seeing them and even hinted a couple times about what she wanted on her love note.  It was also really fun to see the Valentines she made for other people - she is really loving drawing and making crafty things now, which of course I love!

On Valentines morning, Fielder slept in so we got to spend some time with our big girl.  I made Valentines pancakes and she had a little gift waiting for her (and pink milk.)

 


                                               Aunt Mary Lynn sent the kids some really cute gifts too which they opened on Valentines Day - Thank you ML!!! 

It was a SWEET day indeed.....there was a surprise cupcake from Samara left on our front door, Mimi brought cookies, Daddy brought home cake pops, neighbors brought cookies, and I collected some candy at work!  To say I "fell off the eating-healthy-wagon" is a total understatement!
Oh man, that red velvet cupcake looked so good, but the note attached said "To Claire, stay out Mom" so I didn't touch it!!

In other news, Fielder turned 15 months on the 10th!  I took him for his well visit on Monday and he is doing great.  32" and 25lbs....I think he's 85% for weight if I remember right.  He wasn't in a very social mood that day.  The second the nurse just touched him to measure his head he started crying and I don't think he ever really stopped until we left.  The pediatrician said "the 18 month visit is usually worse."  Great. 

Physically and socially, he is right on track.  I'm really hoping his speech improves in the next few months - even though the pediatrician is not concerned and this is pretty normal for boys, it is so frustrating for him and for me when he can't tell me what he wants.  His only real words so far are Mama, sort of a "Ca" sound for Claire, and a very southern version of hi.  He makes some sounds like "t" for eat and out, "k" for milk, a meow sound, and he uses a few signs.  He clicks at me a lot and I never know what that really means? 

One little funny thing....the paperwork they give us at each visit has milestones, info on discipline, stuff like that.  One of the notes says that potty training typically begins between 15 and 24 months.  WHAT?!  Has our experience with Claire completely distorted my view on potty training or is that just crazy?  What 15 month old knows when he or she needs to go potty?!  If Fielder pees while he isn't wearing a diaper, he looks at it in total shock like he cannot believe that actually happened.  Oh, I really cracked up at the thought of potty training now!

 

Here's a couple recent pictures.  Mom and Dad go to the VCU basketball games and brought home this sweatband for Fielder....I couldn't think of a more appropriate word for this boy!  Hilarious!  (He's always chewing on his fingers....4 molars and another bottom front tooth all started coming in at the same time!)  And also I just love this picture of him in a new outfit from Aunt ML.  I got out the camera and he actually smiled at me like he knew what he was supposed to do. 

 



 

SNOW!

We've had a couple small snowstorms the past few weeks and Claire has had a great time playing in it!  I'm so glad that Santa had thought to bring snow mittens and that Mimi and Papa gave Claire a sled  :-)

Fielder enjoyed being pulled around on the sled.  We had him bundled up in so many layers that he could hardly walk without falling down and then when he would fall, he couldn't get back up!  We got a cute little video, but blogger seems to have changed a bit and I can't figure out how to post it right now.

It's really been fun to play with her in the snow.  Even Mommy and Daddy took some turns on the sled!!  We still have snow in our yard from Friday since our house sits in the shade, but by Wednesday it's going to be in the 70s!

Haircuts

Fielder was starting to get a bit of a mullet so we decided it was time for his first haircut.  I took the kids to Divas n Dudes and prayed they had some tricks up their sleeves to make him hold still!  The lady seemed very confident and told me that the first haircut is usually fine, it's the 2nd that they get upset.  Hmmm.....I wasn't buying that.  Anyway, Claire went first and was glued to the tv the whole time, easy-peasy.  Then it was Fielder's turn and I asked how we were going to do this?  She told me just to put him in the little truck seat.  She actually thought he might just sit there and let her cut his hair?!  HA!  I knew better, but gave it a shot.  He liked the bubbles, but the minute she turned on the clippers, he was crying and thrashing around.  So I had to sit in a regular chair and hold him on my lap.  At one point, I was bear-hugging him, holding both arms down, and pinning his head under my chin.  I honestly have no idea how the cut turned out as good as it did.  I know they're used to it, but I was embarrassed and just wanted to get out of there!!  I can only imagine how well it's going to go the next time he needs a haircut!



He looks like such a little BOY!  And Claire's haircut turned out really cute too. 

 

12th day of Christmas

On the 12th day of Christmas, we had our 4th (or was it 5th?) celebration, this time with the Hulchers.  There were very few pictures taken because it was chaotic as usual and Fielder was especially difficult that day.  He wouldn't nap in the morning so he was cranky, teething, spitting up a lot (still has reflux.)  I had to hold him the entire time before we sat down for brunch.  Luckily he cheered up a bit after eating and I could sit down to watch everyone open gifts.

 Uncle Andy wore Grandpa's vest that day! 

Thanks to the Masons and Hulchers for another nice celebration and for all the nice gifts!