We're going out of town tomorrow morning (we're headed to Orlando for a conference of Tom's and to visit AJ, Grandpa Mike, and Grandma Susie) so I wanted to get in one more post before taking a brief leave from blogging. See you next Tuesday!
Could we have a genius on our hands?
Experiment #1
Erin: “Hallie, can you count to ten?”
Hallie: “YES! One, two, sree, four, fise, sis, senen, eight, nine, sen!”
Erin: “Very good! Let’s try something else. Hallie, what’s one plus one?”
Hallie: “Purple!”
Erin: “And what’s two plus two?”
Hallie: “Banana!”
Result #1: It’s safe to say Hallie is NOT a mathematical genius. At least not yet.
Experiment #2
Tom: “Hallie, what color is your dress?”
Hallie: “Football!”
Tom: “Hallie, we JUST talked about this. Tell Mama what color your dress is.”
Hallie: “Piddy!” (Pretty)
Result #2: So, Hallie’s not a genius with regard to her colors either.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Piano Hands
Tom is a very good piano player, especially when it comes to playing by ear. The kids love this about him, because they can request a song and then hear it performed live just a few minutes later. Some of their most frequent requests, at least these days, include I Want to Hold Your Hand, Elmo’s Song, Life is a Highway, Little Einsteins, and Poker Face (they have eclectic tastes). When Tom takes Hallie’s requests she insists on sitting on the piano bench and tickling the ivories along with him, making for some interesting duets.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Happy Valentine's Day!
Happy Valentine's Day from Texas, happy birthday to Aunt Chandi, and happy anniversary to Grandpa Paul and Grandma Brenda!
And a little Valentine's Day Will-ism...
"Look Mama - this Valentine that Sophie gave to me has X's and O's on it! It's a tic-tac-toe card!"
(Important note from the photographer: It took 177 pictures to get this one - one where both Will and Hallie are smiling, looking at the camera, and holding their signs the right way. The picture would be better if Hallie weren't holding a pretzel and the kids hadn't inched their way onto the dirt patch in the corner of the yard, but after 20 minutes of picture taking Tom was pretty tired of dancing behind me and trying to get the kids to cooperate. :))
(Important note from the photographer: It took 177 pictures to get this one - one where both Will and Hallie are smiling, looking at the camera, and holding their signs the right way. The picture would be better if Hallie weren't holding a pretzel and the kids hadn't inched their way onto the dirt patch in the corner of the yard, but after 20 minutes of picture taking Tom was pretty tired of dancing behind me and trying to get the kids to cooperate. :))
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.
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