StatusUpdate

Thought I'd use some facebook statuses to catch us up even more! I know, I'm still a whole Friday Faves behind though!

• something tells me i should have woken zach up before his nap hit 3.5 hours. it's a play now, pay later kind-of thing.
• darn you, laundry. darn you.
• lunch time. mackenzie wants fish crackers, pretzels or cookies. i have offered turkey. i just asked, 'are you ready for turkey, or do you want to hold out and see if you get snacks?' her response? (with a smirk) 'i'll hold out for a bit longer for snacks.' predictable, i know. but it was pretty funny.
• dad took the kids to the Y. quiet house. yummy turkey and avocado sandwich. and then the cat throws up. can momma get a break? please?
• gymnastics this morning followed by an evening literally running around the zoo = mackenzie out in 5!
• okay so we went to say bye to mackenzie's preschool friends who are graduating to kindergarten. i know it's only preschool and not even my child who's moving on yet, but i wanted to cry. not cut out for the emotions that comes with this parenting thing!
• going to a 'graduation' potluck this evening at Mackenzie's preschool for the 'friends' who will be starting kinder next week. next year it'll be her. oh my.
• and in 3 short years it'll be zachy...oh my oh my!
• never had to work with mackenzie on 'using her words' as the saying goes because she uses them just fine. zach's a little less verbal. unless it has to do with sugar. 'more cookies' flows out of his mouth perfectly.
• mackenzie got a new, special purse yesterday. it's a black poodle with a sparkly pink shirt & bow. i emptied it out tonight & she had put in it: a camera, a cell phone, something to pull her 'hair' back with & her ID (ymca). just like her momma's purse. made me smile. ♥ her!
• My kids birthdays are 4 days apart. I was filling out invitations for Mackenzie's school friends and on the second to last one almost wrote in Zach's date. So, of course I had to open all the others to make sure I wrote the right date, which I did. So, now I need a bunch of invite envelopes. Annoyed. But at least we actually live by stores now. Out in nowhere land, this would have been a major crisis.
• okay, zachy zacher...if you want to feed rufusdog hotdogs, that's fine. but deli meat's not cheap!
• zachy, almost 2, got out his favorite plate, brought it to me & said 'salad please.'
• something tells me that whoever came up with the phrase 'no sense in crying over spilled milk' was either not a parent or long past the toddler years.
• kids playing and laughing. hear a boom and zachy crying. 'what happened?' i ask. 'he fell and broke his head.' oh, glad it's nothing serious.
• suddenly find myself wondering why i didn't take advantage and nap and when both kids were napping, which does not happen often anymore. also wondering why the extreme sleepiness sets in just as the second wakes up. coincidence? i don't think so....
• ‎'it wasn't me. it was zachy. he tried to reach it....with a stool. and then he took it away. he VERY took it away.' i suppose it's possible, if he weren't in the living room busily trying to throw a balloon at the ceiling fan. nice try, mackenzie.
• zachy is 23 months today, a month from two & mackenzie is a month minus 4 days away from four. i know they're still little, but it goes so fast. we were at the zoo monday, which is where they celebrated their 1st & 3rd birthdays. eleven months is not that long ago, but zachy was still a baby. now he runs & climbs & talks. all in eleven months. mackenzie has gone from a totgirl to a little girl. it's crazzzzzy!
• just a hunch, but i don't think 'iphone,' 'text' or 'debit card' were part of my 3 year old vocabulary.
• took the kids to the zoo this morning. love all the playdates we get to have but sometimes it's nice to see them just interact with each other. they were simply adorable together.

BackpacksGlasses&Zachy

Okay, so Zachy is ridiculous. Ridiculously cute that is. Last week we went to Walmart. He had on sunglasses. And a smirk. OHMEGOLLY, people couldn't stand it. How cute he looked that is. I couldn't stand it. I saw him in the carseat. Looking like a totally cool dude. With his perfect little head, sunglasses and smirk. But every time I tried to get a picture, the poop would take his glasses off. It's like he knew.

While at Walmart he saw a Cars backpack. He's never seen Cars, but the merchandise is all over the place. For 5 bucks and some change, I decided he could have a backpack. How could I resist afterall, since he looked so ridiculously cute with his glasses and smirk. Oh, and, and he had an Elmo balloon. Because we had gone to the dollar store first.

He loves having a backpack. I'm not sure he knows that he can put things in it. But, he knows it's called a backpack. He knows it goes on the back. And he knows it's his. What else really matters?

So there you have it. Zachy loves backpacks and he loves sunglasses. And, he's cute. Ridiculously so.

GymnasticsDayOne

When we went to Tsunami on the Square in June, the gymnasts came and did a little demonstration. Some totcoaches let the youngins line up and helped them do back flips, of sorts. Mackenzie was drawn. My sometimes shy (sometimes not shy, but always pretty cautious and slow to warm up) Mackenzie marched over and stood in line. She was a little nervous, but determined nonetheless.

Since then she has talked about gymnastics and wanting to take lessons. Okay, my little Mackenzie, consider it done! I called and they had an opening. For Saturdays at 10 am. Not my first choice, but it'll work and get us started.

She got a little nervous at times during the week. After seeing the place on Wednesday when we went to sign the papers, I think she might have gotten even a little more nervous. But, she also stayed excited about being in gymnastics. And determined. That's my girl! Last night she said she was ready.

This morning she was all hyped up.

Come watch your big sister when you get there Zachy, okay? (true quote)

We were a little early, so she watched the other students through the window. Along with brother.

And then they called the yellow cards. She had a yellow card. Time to go. They started with butterfly legs and then pizza legs and then became cats. She sat and looked at me.

But have no fear, once they moved on and I moved out to the lobby, she warmed up.

And maybe even enjoyed herself just a little...

FridayFaves7.22.11

Time to share some favorite moments from the last week. Yay! I mean two weeks ago. Okay, so I'm a little behind, but it's cause we are having fun!

Saturday...

• Having Kathy and Tony T. come over and seeing both kids enjoy them and seeing them enjoy the kids. Such a wonderful evening with wonderful friends.
• See above.

Sunday...

• During Suessical the Musical, Mackenzie snuggling up to me and looking up at me with the sweetest, most delightful smile ever.
• Zachy bringing me books and saying 'The End!' I didn't know he knew that phrase.

Monday...

• Mackenzie working really hard on getting her doll's clothes on and saying 'I proud of myself.'
• Zachy intiating me in Ring around the Rosy. And, loving every fall. Both of us. 
• Sibling fave: Going to the zoo this morning, just the three of us. Mackenzie and Zachy playing so well together. We have a lot of super fun playdates these days, but it was an absolute simple delight to get to see just the two of them enjoying each other.

Tuesday...

• Talking to Mackenzie on the phone on the way home from work. My she sounded so big!
• Zachy, who had come home sick, taking my hand so I could put him to bed. Cutest thing was, it was more a game. He really just wanted to milk the whole sick thing for attention. Smart boy!

Wednesday...

• Mackenzie got to get together with Saiger for a playdate. She waited so patiently and was so excited when she arrived!
• Zachy trying to hit the balloon to the ceiling fan. For a really long time. With sound effects. 'Whoaaa.' "Ahhhh!'

Thursday...

• Zachy 'helping' me sweep the front. I would sweep it into the rock area and he would sweep it out. He likes to 'help' a lot these days!
• Mackenzie got really excited at drop off because her teacher told her they were going to have a special sibling field trip to the gym. She couldn't wait to see her Zachy!

Friday...

• Mackenzie and I sitting in the front playing 'camping.' She must have run in the house twenty times to get more 'things' for our camping trip. We had apple tea!
• Zachy enjoying the smoothie Dad brought home. Really enjoying it. It has sugar afterall, right?
• Sibling Fave: Seeing the pictures from sibling day. Mackenzie holding Zachy's hand. Being the Big Sister to him. The two of them waiting together for balls, Zachy's favorite thing to do. Laughing with Saige as she waited for Chase to come. Love those glimpses! Love them!
• Honorable Mention: Impromptu playdate at Ari & Cate's house!

That was last last week. Hopefully by the end of the weekend I'll get to some memories from this week.

NoggyRestaurant

This morning Mackenzie wanted chips and juice for breakfast. I told her she had to have real food, not chips and juice for breakfast.She walked away.

About a half hour she came back to the kitchen with a stroller.

'Hi, I'm Glinda. My five babies and I would like to eat at your restaurant.'

I asked what she would like.

'Chips and juice.'

I told her we don't serve those at our restaurant.

Then she became an angry customer, packed all her kids up and stomped out while yelling.

 Fine. We are going to the Noggy Restaurant where they feed us chips and juice.

And she and her five babies left. Gotta hand it to her, she's pretty clever.

Poopyhead

Zachy and Mackenzie.

It's hard to explain the changes that take place in their relationship. It's ever evolving. As he grows and she grows. As she learns and he learns.

They are more interactive in their games. He follows her lead quite well. Unless he doesn't want to. And he's gotten able to express that. Also quite well.

He taunts her at times. He used to like to take her things for the reaction, but I'm not sure he really understood what her reaction was. Now he knows. For sure.

He will also give her hugs when she's upset.

Today at the zoo, he was on the jungle gym and she climbed up after a few minutes. He yelled out with excitement...Kengy! Kengy!

Sometimes she will say that he says something. Zachy called me a 'Gooble de doo.' Oh really? And what does that mean? I don't like it.

The other day she said,  Zachy called me a poopyhead.

While I doubt this was initially true, he practiced his new word.

Over and over.

Until he uttered it perfectly...

Kengy Poopyhead!

And, no matter what she says, I think she liked it.

NoMatterHowSmall

Yesterday Mackenzie and I went to see Suessical the Musical put on by teens at our local Fine Arts Theater. We met Ben, Caleb and Momma Julie and Ari and Momma Tess.

I'd say it was a good time. Last week we saw Alice in Wonderland. Mackenzie did a fantastic job of following theater rules. But, the second half got a bit boring for her.

Suessical kept her entertained. All the singing and the dancing and the 'Feather Girls' as she named them. She laughed at times. She smiled. Her eyes sparkled. She really did enjoy herself.

Afterward, we went for ice cream with everyone and the kids ran around the Square. She, like Ari, got Rainbow Ice Cream.

She spent much of her time at the Square playing Feather Girl. A mother I chatted with for awhile commented on just how funny she is. Is the brunette yours? She asked. Yes. I said. She's really funny. And has a great imagination.

Yep, that's my girl.

Just remembering it all makes me smile.

In the words of Dr. Suess...

A Person's a Person, no matter how small.

Thank You for a special day, Mackenzie! I love you. So very very much.

Doesn't take Dr. Suess to remind me...

How lucky I am!

AlmostTwo

This morning the kids and I went to the zoo. The same zoo we are now members at and go to on a very regular basis. Also, the same zoo where we celebrated their birthdays almost one year ago. Mackenzie's third and Zachy's first.

Although we've gone there a lot since, I felt a bit sentimental today. I looked and Zachy and it hit me how much he has changed this year. He was a baby last year turning one last year. Crawling, pulling up. A few words. But really, he was still a baby.

Today he was running around. Climbing on things. Interacting with Mackenzie as they played 'house' together. I'd ring the 'doorbell' and they'd come to greet me. He'd shout out 'Welcome.'

Last year all he cared about where the chickens. Now he notices and is starting to identify things. He's learned Sash the Bear's name. He laughed today as Cassie the Tiger played with her ball in the water.

I had such a hard time with him turning One in a lot of ways. Felt like I was letting go of him being a baby. Still do. However, it's such a delight to see who he's becoming. What a great little person he already is.

He's funny. And clever. And focused. And determined. And observant. And sweet. And loving. And still is my amazing little boy. Oh Gosh. Now I'm crying.

Love you Zachy!

 Then...

And now...

Zachy'sFavoriteThings7.16.11

Time for another edition of....

Zachy's Favorite Things!

• Balls.
• Throwing balls.
• Riding bikes.
• Riding bikes in the front yard.
• Looking at bikes.
• Saying the word Bike.
• Story time in Mackenzie's room before bed.
• Throwing pieces of paper.
• Throwing things in general.
• Being held upside down.
• Sneaking and getting into things. In the bathroom especially.
• Pushing strollers.
• Driving 'cars.'
• Digging in dirt.
• Trains.
• Ice cream.
• Pushing then hugging Mackenzie.
• Barney and The Wiggles. Whatcha gonna do!?
• Oh, and Thomas the Train.
• Chase.Running and screaming.
• Squirt bottles.
• Last, but NEVER least...GUNKY!