Tree House?

[caption id="attachment_715" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Maybe we should talk to them about what "tree house" means? Nah!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_713" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Who says an incomplete backyard can't be fun?"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_714" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Nothing But Ultra "Green" Construction Here!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_716" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Open Air Concept Home"][/caption]

The Big "H"

It was coming. Not that I thought it would happen so soon but I knew it was inevitable.  For some reason I thought we had a few more years but she has been an "early bloomer" in all other areas so why not this one too?

So it goes that no matter how good/patient/sweet/fair a parent you are, one day that little mouth you've loved, cared for, cooed over, nurtured selflessly will spit out the words "I HATE YOU!" and stop you cold in your tracks.  This "first"  was surprising to me mostly because I wasn't aware that she'd ever heard the word, let alone know how to use it in proper context.  I'm sure Patrick and I have never used it in her presence and not likely that Cailou or Handy Manny are going around "hatin" on things so I'm not sure where she assimilated it into her verbal arsenal.  Truthfully it's interesting to me how kids innately understand the meaning of things like "love, "hate" and "God" without need for adult explanation and interpretation. They seem to be born with a set of universal truths that don't require a bungling parental explanation.

All that conscience "purposeful" understanding aside I have to admit it did take me a few seconds to recover from the blow. I had prepared to hear it but I wasn't quite ready with what my response should be.  Act hurt (to encourage empathy for other's feelings however it could lead to further outburts to gain power/attention), act angry (to show an outward consequence for ones action BUT it could inhibit future expressions of emotion),  or act unaffected (to show that I'm in control and not swayed by shock tactics.. easy to say, not so easy to do). I ultimately went with acting unmoved.  I asked her to remain in her room (which is where she was at the time of her outburst) and later talked to her about the use of "big" words like hate and how they impact other people.

Can't say whether any of it sunk in or whether I did the right thing. Time will tell and hopefully by the time the boy's are spewing out the 'h' word I'll have worked through what the best plan is.

Lucky for me they're not early talkers. I may have a couple years of nothing but "mamaluv" from them. One can wish, right?

Pink, Shimmery AND Smart

[caption id="attachment_687" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Pinkerella"][/caption]

Princess mania has hit hard in our house. If it's not pink, frilly, poufy or glittery don't even think about suggesting it as proper attire. The girl has gone mad. She's a princess from sun up to sun down and prances around like true royalty (complete with diamond tiara) often inviting Prince Charming (AKA Alex) and Prince Handsome (AKA Max) to join her for "enchanting balls" in the living room. Such an invitation requires the proper attire of course and as such the boys are usually stuck wearing the only thing suitable for a prince of their caliber... a Hawaiian Lei or Mickey Mouse ears.

[caption id="attachment_688" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Suitable Attire for a Prince!"][/caption]

I'm not sure if the trip to Disney was the impetus but whatever the cause the Princess fever has struck hard.  Coincidentally there was an online article a few days ago (I can't remember the source) that stated that "Princess mania" was on the rise across the country contributing to overly feminine images for our young girls that hinder their ability to think creatively, explore the outside world (science/math) or see themselves as someone other than"the sleeping beauty" awaiting her prince. Experts worried that if parents failed to "limit" their daughters princess play they could inadvertently create grown women who, while focused only on their appearance, limited themselves to dreaming no further than their own wedding.  Evidently the experts have failed to observe a real three year old in full princess mode. Not only do they don the sparkly shoes, bejeweled necklaces and shimmery wands, they are out their right along side their male playmates digging holes in the sand, fighting pirates and investigating bugs. To suggest that the inclusion of a little pixie dust here and there is a flaw to be stamped out is short sighted and in my opinion sexist. After all can't girls match wits with the best of them while wearing whatever (albeit adorably cute outfit) they want.

And on top of all that being a parent is exhausting enough. Why worry about the future implications of a little pretend play?  Hell, if a couple years from now princess mania hits again in this house (via Max and Alex) I'd lose no sleep over it. Let the games continue!

(But you'd have to check with my better half to see if he concurs on that one!)

[caption id="attachment_690" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="On a Mission with Princess Deja"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_691" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Charge Ahead Little Ladies!!"][/caption]

Say Ahhhhh!

This morning the kids experienced thier first visit to the dentist. Although we had a rocky start (waking up at 6:15 meant only 30 min to get two adults and three little people ready and in the car), and had to wrangle them in the waiting room while filling out what seemed like 50 forms, change two diapers and make one very long stop to the "potty" for a certain Little Miss, the kids ultimately got a thorough teeth cleaning and a clean bill of health. By 8:15 am we had three shining smiles, a few stickers and "good patient" toys and a newly discovered "spare tooth"  in the car and on the way home.

[caption id="attachment_669" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Miss Cool Under Pressure (Plus the Debut of her Extra Tooth!)"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_666" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Spitting at the sink "][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_672" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Not too pleased to be here but even so no crying!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_673" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Smile You're Done!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_674" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Alex on the other hand seemed to really enjoy his cleaning!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_675" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="And now for the good part!"][/caption]

A Pretty Nice Little Saturday

There's a line in the movie "Old School" when the newly domesticated Will Ferrell is asked about his Saturday plans that perfectly describes our lives since March.

"Well, um, actually a pretty nice little Saturday, we're going to go to the Home Depot. Yeah, buy some wallpaper, maybe get some flooring, stuff like that. Maybe Bed, Bath, & Beyond, I don't know, I don't know if we'll have enough time."

(If you haven't seen the movie I'm sure this makes absolutely no sense but Patrick and I find it hilarious. We have a very strange sense of humor, I know. Must be why we're together!)

Thanks to us that nice fat "first time homebuyer" stimilus check we were so generously gifted by the American taxpayer REALLY is going to stimulate the economy.  Thanks again Barack! Home Depot, Lowe's, Hobby Lobby, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Action Equipment Rental and a few local contractors are feeling the love as well.

Our first project was a backyard patio foundation (100% complete), followed up by privacy fencing (60% complete), backyard landscaping complete with real grass... trust me in this part of the southwest that is a novelty (45% complete), new ceiling fans for all the rooms (50% complete), shelving in garage and completed attic (100% complete), and turning Sophia's room into a true princess palace (100 % complete!). Next comes the play area and swingset, the garden for growing rosemary and jalapenos (only here right?),  a porch for the backyard, landscaping the front, and perhaps a little hardwood in the living room. We will be busy for weekends and weekends to come.. and by we I mean Patrick. My job is limited to making esthetic choices and keeping the kids from wrecking the project before it's complete.

It's definitely been fun (for me anyways) and there definitely is something to the notion of "Home Sweet Home".  Even the first mortgage payment we made felt so much more rewarding than mailing out the rent. We are blessed to be in our very own home... which we will own outright in only 358 short months!

[caption id="attachment_661" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Patrick and his Sub Contractors "][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_659" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Just a Little Tilling"][/caption]

Trip To California

It's seems as though facebook has just about killed my blog. It's terrible to admit that adding a couple of pics there is so much easier than writing about what's been going here but with time so limited.... Okay enough with the excuses already!

So to update in early April we took a family vacation to California and visited among other places the beach and Disneyland. My parents came with so things were much more manageable and all in all we had a very successful trip considering the kids ages. We probably won't be doing another amusement park again until everyone is much older... as in old enough to pay for themselves.