While I work on taming her wild mane, I take comfort in knowing she has her pretty face to fall back on. :)
Friday, February 11, 2011
Bed Head
The color of Hallie's hair is beautiful, but that's where the pros end. Her hair is wonderfully curly in the back but stick straight on the sides, making both curly and straight hairstyles difficult to achieve. Hallie's hair is also very fine, and every four or so months a new crop of thin hairs sprout up. This means there is always a portion of her hair that is only about an inch long, making her blond locks difficult to style and perfect for really spectacular bed head.
While I work on taming her wild mane, I take comfort in knowing she has her pretty face to fall back on. :)
While I work on taming her wild mane, I take comfort in knowing she has her pretty face to fall back on. :)
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Snowpocalypse
A couple of days after we wore shorts, short-sleeved shirts, and flip flops to the park, the snowpocolypse rolled into town. (I told you the weather was confusing.)
This is what a snowpocalypse looks like in Texas.
Now let me be clear – I know that what hit College Station was nowhere near as severe as what hit the Midwest and the East Coast. But when temperatures drop into the teens and an inch of snow falls in a city that has ONE plow/salt truck, people behave as though the world is coming to an end. Frenzied shoppers buying bottled water and canned goods at the grocery stores. Schools – including Texas A&M University – and businesses closed. Fender-benders, accidents, and trucks in the ditch at every corner. Will couldn’t figure out what all the fuss was about, and headed outside in his jammies to make snowballs.
Trying - unsuccessfully, due to the cold temperatures - to turn the snow into something fun.
The road conditions kept us at home (note to all you Midwesterners scoffing at me for staying home because of such a small amount of snow - it doesn't matter that I know how to drive in snow, because no one else here does and it's best to stay out of their way), so we spent the day baking cookies (post to come), coloring, and getting to know the new games that Grandma Brenda kindly gave the kids. It was officially a Texas Snow Day!
This is what a snowpocalypse looks like in Texas.
Now let me be clear – I know that what hit College Station was nowhere near as severe as what hit the Midwest and the East Coast. But when temperatures drop into the teens and an inch of snow falls in a city that has ONE plow/salt truck, people behave as though the world is coming to an end. Frenzied shoppers buying bottled water and canned goods at the grocery stores. Schools – including Texas A&M University – and businesses closed. Fender-benders, accidents, and trucks in the ditch at every corner. Will couldn’t figure out what all the fuss was about, and headed outside in his jammies to make snowballs.
Trying - unsuccessfully, due to the cold temperatures - to turn the snow into something fun.
The road conditions kept us at home (note to all you Midwesterners scoffing at me for staying home because of such a small amount of snow - it doesn't matter that I know how to drive in snow, because no one else here does and it's best to stay out of their way), so we spent the day baking cookies (post to come), coloring, and getting to know the new games that Grandma Brenda kindly gave the kids. It was officially a Texas Snow Day!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Chicken Legs
The temperatures here in Texas vary dramatically. It’s not uncommon for us to see a high of 70 degrees one day and a high of 40 degrees the next. It’s also not uncommon for us to see 40-degree temperature swings throughout a 12-hour period of time. The weather confuses me, and I feel like I spend at least 45 minutes every day trying to figure out what everyone in our family should wear to be comfortable.
A couple of weekends ago the weather was beautiful – nothing like what January weather is supposed to look/feel like. I pulled out shorts and a short-sleeved shirt for Hallie, thinking that what she wore last summer would probably still fit her, what with her refusal to grow and all. I was wrong, but once she was dressed, Tom and I thought she looked too cute to change her clothes. This outfit has since been packed away for baby Lily, but before it was retired we had to take pictures so that we can one day remember her adorable chicken legs.
This was the fastest playground slide I've ever seen. Hallie nearly flew up over the side, and she definitely shot off the bottom. Note how Hallie's hair is blowing backwards as she comes down - it was NOT a windy day.
And just because, another shot of Tom and Will peeing in the bushes at a public park. Hallie and I can't take those two anywhere.
A couple of weekends ago the weather was beautiful – nothing like what January weather is supposed to look/feel like. I pulled out shorts and a short-sleeved shirt for Hallie, thinking that what she wore last summer would probably still fit her, what with her refusal to grow and all. I was wrong, but once she was dressed, Tom and I thought she looked too cute to change her clothes. This outfit has since been packed away for baby Lily, but before it was retired we had to take pictures so that we can one day remember her adorable chicken legs.
This was the fastest playground slide I've ever seen. Hallie nearly flew up over the side, and she definitely shot off the bottom. Note how Hallie's hair is blowing backwards as she comes down - it was NOT a windy day.
And just because, another shot of Tom and Will peeing in the bushes at a public park. Hallie and I can't take those two anywhere.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Visitors from Nebraska
Back in January, Grandma Mike and Grandma Susie came down for a visit. The kids were very excited to show Grandma and Grandpa around College Station (the six of us went on a walking tour of campus, visited the A&M bookstore to stock up on Aggie merchandise, enjoyed quite a few meals at local restaurants, and shopped for real-deal cowboy boots), but they also enjoyed just relaxing at home with two of their favorite people.
The weekend started with presents, which were very well received, especially because we're planning a trip to Disney World next week.
There was lots of book reading, for which I was grateful, as I'm pretty tired of reading 10 Friendly Fireflies to Hallie and books about Wolverine to Will.
One afternoon we all (minus Hallie) watched the Transformers movie during what would have been Will's nap time. Will was the only one who didn't take a nap that day.
Grandma and Grandpa bought Will and Hallie their first pairs of cowboy boots.
And no visit would be complete without a trip to the park.
During Grandma and Grandpa’s visit, Uncle Joel, Aunt Teresa, and cousin David drove down from Dallas to join in the fun for a day. The kids really love Joel, Teresa, and David (as do we, of course) – Hallie sweet-talked Joel into reading her LOTS of books, and David was a very good sport about playing Transformers with Will for what seemed like hours. The family-focused weekend was a great one, made all the more special by the Packers’ NFC Championship win over the Bears!
Visit again soon, Grandma and Grandpa!
The weekend started with presents, which were very well received, especially because we're planning a trip to Disney World next week.
There was lots of book reading, for which I was grateful, as I'm pretty tired of reading 10 Friendly Fireflies to Hallie and books about Wolverine to Will.
One afternoon we all (minus Hallie) watched the Transformers movie during what would have been Will's nap time. Will was the only one who didn't take a nap that day.
Grandma and Grandpa bought Will and Hallie their first pairs of cowboy boots.
And no visit would be complete without a trip to the park.
During Grandma and Grandpa’s visit, Uncle Joel, Aunt Teresa, and cousin David drove down from Dallas to join in the fun for a day. The kids really love Joel, Teresa, and David (as do we, of course) – Hallie sweet-talked Joel into reading her LOTS of books, and David was a very good sport about playing Transformers with Will for what seemed like hours. The family-focused weekend was a great one, made all the more special by the Packers’ NFC Championship win over the Bears!
Visit again soon, Grandma and Grandpa!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Hallie's 21-Month-Old Bath Pictures
Hallie is nearly 22 months old, so it’s about time I post her 21-month-old bath pictures…
A week before Hallie “turned” 21-months-old, Will started preschool here. With Will gone three mornings a week, and for the first time since my maternity leave, I’ve had time at home during the day with only Hallie. It’s been enlightening – Hallie, as it turns out, is a completely different child on her own than she is when she’s around her big brother. As a little sister, Hallie is obedient, cooperative, and playful; as an only child, Hallie is WILD. I'm fairly certain she’s testing her boundaries, trying to figure out how far she can go without the watchful eyes of her brother tracking her every move (Will prides himself on protecting Hallie, but also sees it as his duty to “keep her in line”). Thankfully my watchful eyes are still pretty good, and I’ve been able to slow her down.
Hallie is as chatty as she’s been since she was nine-months-old, and what we can understand of this chattiness is increasing every day. Her words are clear enough and her grasp of the English language is such that much of the time she can carry on simple conversations.
Hallie loves whatever Will loves, so on any given day she’s drawn to Mario, Buzz Lightyear, or Ironman. On her own, Hallie loves babies, animals, books, singing, sunglasses, the Cat in the Hat, Elmo, raisins, cookies, and her pacifier. She still refuses to eat about 50% of the time, but sleeps like a champ. I see less and less baby and more and more toddler in her every day, and sometimes that makes me sad…
Kiss!
Cheese!
Pretty. Almost angelic, if I may say so myself.
Stay tuned for Hallie’s 22-month-old bath pictures in less than a week!
A week before Hallie “turned” 21-months-old, Will started preschool here. With Will gone three mornings a week, and for the first time since my maternity leave, I’ve had time at home during the day with only Hallie. It’s been enlightening – Hallie, as it turns out, is a completely different child on her own than she is when she’s around her big brother. As a little sister, Hallie is obedient, cooperative, and playful; as an only child, Hallie is WILD. I'm fairly certain she’s testing her boundaries, trying to figure out how far she can go without the watchful eyes of her brother tracking her every move (Will prides himself on protecting Hallie, but also sees it as his duty to “keep her in line”). Thankfully my watchful eyes are still pretty good, and I’ve been able to slow her down.
Hallie is as chatty as she’s been since she was nine-months-old, and what we can understand of this chattiness is increasing every day. Her words are clear enough and her grasp of the English language is such that much of the time she can carry on simple conversations.
Hallie loves whatever Will loves, so on any given day she’s drawn to Mario, Buzz Lightyear, or Ironman. On her own, Hallie loves babies, animals, books, singing, sunglasses, the Cat in the Hat, Elmo, raisins, cookies, and her pacifier. She still refuses to eat about 50% of the time, but sleeps like a champ. I see less and less baby and more and more toddler in her every day, and sometimes that makes me sad…
Kiss!
Cheese!
Pretty. Almost angelic, if I may say so myself.
Stay tuned for Hallie’s 22-month-old bath pictures in less than a week!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Sports Fans
It's no secret that Tom and I are sports fans. We love football most of all - specifically Iowa Hawkeye football, followed by Wisconsin Badger, Nebraska Husker, Michigan Wolverine, and Green Bay Packer football - but we also enjoy Detroit Tiger baseball, college basketball, and professional soccer. We have tried to instill in our kids a love for sports, both as participants and as spectators, and on some days, I think we're doing a pretty good job.
About a year ago, gearing up for the 2010 Hawkeye bowl game.
Our move to Texas took us out of Big 10 country for the first time in many years. We won't be able to watch, because of the television options here, very many of our teams' games (except for the Packers in the Super Bowl - Go Pack Go!), so in the name of sports fan-dom we've decided to also become Aggie (Texas A&M) fans. Will and Hallie bought into the craze immediately.
Almost exactly one year after the above picture was taken - gearing up for the 2011 Texas A&M bowl game.
And our closest relatives - Uncle Joel, Aunt Teresa, and cousins Katy and David - are helping us keep the spirit alive. (Not great pictures of the kids, but the aprons Aunt Teresa made for us are perfect!)
Gig 'em, Aggies!
About a year ago, gearing up for the 2010 Hawkeye bowl game.
Our move to Texas took us out of Big 10 country for the first time in many years. We won't be able to watch, because of the television options here, very many of our teams' games (except for the Packers in the Super Bowl - Go Pack Go!), so in the name of sports fan-dom we've decided to also become Aggie (Texas A&M) fans. Will and Hallie bought into the craze immediately.
Almost exactly one year after the above picture was taken - gearing up for the 2011 Texas A&M bowl game.
And our closest relatives - Uncle Joel, Aunt Teresa, and cousins Katy and David - are helping us keep the spirit alive. (Not great pictures of the kids, but the aprons Aunt Teresa made for us are perfect!)
Gig 'em, Aggies!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Wrastling
Tom and Will have always loved “tickle fights”. These tickle fights, however, have recently evolved into all-out wrestling matches – complete with tackling, jumping off furniture, and the occasional injury (usually to Tom ☺). At first only Tom and Will participated, but once Hallie realized how much fun they were having, she joined in and renamed the activity “wrastling”.
Point Tom
Point Hallie
Advantage Will/Hallie
Game, Set, Match.
Point Tom
Point Hallie
Advantage Will/Hallie
Game, Set, Match.
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