Almost Famous

Our local paper did a profile of me this week. Hayden was here for the interview, so it includes a photo of him on my lap...with his blankie...sucking his thumb. His speech therapist would kill me!

Bayley posed for this pic...with a scary ogre he got in a Happy Meal when Gram-mo & Pop-Pop were here.

Buy My Mom's Book

My author copies of FOR KICKS arrived today.

Warming Up

After one of the coldest winters I can recall, it is starting to thaw. On nice days the boys can play baseball with their friends at the park.

And now they can move their Moon Sand outside - thank goodness. That is some messy stuff...and it refuses to dry out so I can toss it!

Bayley says...

"The more keys you have, the more important you are."

"Once the baby gets here, I'll never have a moment to myself. Right now, the only time Hayden leaves me alone is when I am on the potty. When Grace is here, she'll be on me too."

Bunkers Brothers Birthday Bash

Pump It Up is the mecca for active children. I'd weasled my way out of going to birthday parties there until the Bunkers Brothers Birthday Bash. All the neighborhood kids were going, and they are like my own, so I wanted to see them all playing and having a great time.

The parents were as entertaining as the kids! Watching your friends shoot down a two story slide while hanging on to half a dozen kids is well worth the proce of admission...especially since The Bunkers picked up the tab!

My boys were all about the slide. They did the obstacle course and bounce rooms once, but the rest of the time they were up and down the slide, conning the other dads into going down with them. Jeff spent most of the time playing air hockey.

I like our park birthday gatherings, but I have to admit, this was a blast! Might be an option for us if we still have baby brain by the time birthday time nears.

We Love Australia

Uncle Chris has taken way too many classes on kids and nutrition - so he refused to return to the states with a crate of Tim Tams as requested. Thankfully, my writing partner isn't such a stickler for nutrition labels!

Christmas Hits

This was the year of the Leapster!

Other big hits were the Shake and Roll race track and the marble roller coaster kit. The Moon Sand set has been a big hit...with the boys. That stuff does not dry out and go bad like Play-Doh!

Unfortunately, our Christmas morning involved a flood in the kitchen, courtesy of our fridge. Yes, the one that had broken twice before. I'll never buy a GE fridge again! Not now that we have to replace the hardwoods in the kitchen!

Swedish Christmas Eve

The McCauley family has had a Swedish Christmas Eve...well, forever. It is a great memory from childhood that Jeff has. Each year we hope the boys will start trying some of the traditions - like Swedish meatballs, rut-mus (rutabega mashed potatoes), corn pudding, rice pudding...however, this year they were mainly interested in chips and the raspberry jello dessert. Hey, it's a start.

Having fun is a big part of the tradition as well. Our boys don't have any cousins, so they borrow Daddy's youngest cousin, Sean. The boys all gathered in the basement where there were tubs of toys waiting to be played with. Legos, dress-up, cars...and a doll house. We'll have to get one for Gracie. Hayden LOVED playing with it.

Then it was on to presents! The kiddos all collected their gifts, and had to try and be patient until it was time to tear into them. We got a bit nervous when Aunt Sonny handed Jeff a bag of batteries... the boys were thrilled! Hayden got a race track and art supplies...Bayley got a telescope which he is currently using to try and spot Santa (he caught sight of the sleigh rail, but then lost it). AND he got a kit to basically turn his room into a small planeterium! Oh my!

He thanked Aunt Sonny...and may have told her he wants a planetarium next year. Aim high, kiddo.

What A Day!!

Friday was a marathon day of holiday fun. While Hayden was at preschool, I helped in Bayley's classroom with their holiday Buddy party. In kindergarten they assign the kiddos a buddy in the 4th grade, and the buddies stay together through the years. The big kids came to visit and have cocoa with marshmallows and read holiday stories. Too cute.

Then, I snagged Hayden from preschool and we came back to help out with the holiday party. He was so excited to be able to participate. The did art projects together...and then Bay was upset I was helping the other kids and not spending enough time with him. Which...made me question why I was there at all... I keep saying I am only going to do the small projects so I can attend to him as well, but it is hard.

Our afternoon was stuffed with visits from the Aunts (complete with pink baby gear!) and a playdate with the Bunkers Brothers...and then Daddy came home early!

We've been trying to get the boys to ZooLights all month, so wven though we'd been running all day, we trekked over there. Hot tip - show up at 4. We got there ate half past and got a parking spot (which we hadn't been able to score on previous attempts) but had to wait in line for the zoo train...though the line grew exponentially once we got off. It was crazy! BUT the boys loved it.

The train zips you around a short zoo loop, so you get to see most of the main lights, plus some they have set up just for the train ride. The boys are in for everything train related, so it was a big hit.

Afterwards, we hiked around a bit (not as much as they would have liked...it was cold and mom was dragging). Hayden liked the lighted swamp set up on the amphitheater lawn - beacause that's where the hippos are. Bayley thought the anaconda was cool.

After dinner we moved the party to the boys favorite restaurant, Sweet Tomatoes because they were doing a fundraiser to aid the flood victims in Vernonia. That, and I was just plum tuckered out!

Hayden's First Movie

I know. He is 4 and has never been to the movies? Well, Bayley hates watching movies on TV, so talking him into a theater is impossible. Since we usually do things together, it hasn't been an option. Plus, they don't make many G rated movies anymore. Everything seems to be PG.

Today we had a pocket of time, and he was being sweet, so I thought we'd give it a try since there are two movies he wanted to see. We missed Alvin & The Chipmunks, but made it to Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium!

We sat down...and were the only ones in the theater. Now, why they put scary previews in a G rated movie, I have no idea. Hayden wanted to leave. But, he hid in my jacket and we made it to the movie.

A good thing since at the begining of each preview he asked "IS THIS MY MOVIE?" Glad we were flying solo. It was a lovely story, light and fun but about the serious subject of moving on after someone you love leaves.

Hayden's review :: There were lots of toys and then that weird guy and a girl, and it was so funny when the color didn't come back. And there was a big ball, and a room with lots of balls bouncing, and a rocketship and trains and lots of stuff.

However...he did not sit still. I think he sat in about 30 of the seats. He went all the way up to the front to say 'hi' to the screen. He laid across seats. He took off his shoes.

So...He wants to see Alvin & The Chipmunks...but I think he'll be waiting until it hits On Demand.