Fear of the Mama

Just the other day my friend and I were talking about how kids today don't fear their parents, and how much harder it is to parent under those circumstances. Do I sound old or what? "kids today"
Anyway this afternoon while I was mowing the grass, Sophia came running out to tell me that Logann was making a mess in the kitchen. Normally a mess is toys everywhere, or some spilled juice. No big deal!
Today's mess however was a different story. i came in the house to find 2 bags of rice dumped all over the kitchen floor! According to the girls, the 25 My Little Ponies they have needed some food! Didn't look like those ponies were too fond of brown and jasmine rice though because it managed to get everywhere, in every crevice of the kitchen. I personally think the girls were throwing it at each other and the ponies had nothing to do with it. What would possess them to get out the rice?
At some point the guilt set in with Sophia and she came to get me as well as tattle on Logann, and herself! She's smart like that.
Lets just say the rice proved it, I have it, that fear! I didn't think I did but 5 lbs of scattered rice all over the floor was a great test. I didn't even have to lose my temper. It was all about the look, that sent my two little girls running away shaking. A long time out, countless "I'm sorry's", and some sweeping and I was over it.
I'm feeling quite confident now in my parenting abilities. fear of the mama is a good thing.

Eyeballs

"Mom look I found my pink eyeballs" - Logann.
I think this will be a blackmail picture for the future. I remember a similar picture my mom took of me and my brother at this age wearing my grandparents big glasses. Gotta love the way Logann is sporting the buddha belly too.

myrtle

my dad and fam came to visit us for the week. we lucked out immensely and are staying at a friend's ocean front condo in myrtle beach for the next 4 nights. everyone is having a great time . today it was sunny and 75, a great beach day! the girls are loving it! the ocean is freezing but fortunately there are lots of ocean puddles for the girls to play in. after seeing the guy next to us catch a sand shark i'm not sure the girls will ever go into the ocean again. that was pretty wild!

Color

Neutral this house is not! I'm a color freak this time round. My dad came to visit last Sun. and I put him straight to work helping me paint my kitchen, den, dining rm, living rm and Logann's room. He was so much help, taught me some new painting tricks and the job looks so professional. Thanks Dad!

Here's my kitchen color, "Copper Mine", I love it! All my colors are earth tone-ish. I am sorta getting my ideas from this and other metal artwork I recently bought. I'm not sure this is going to show the color well but its basically chocolate browns, greens and gold/oranges. In our living room we have a stone fireplace that has all the same colors muted, so it came together perfect.

When I finish with all my decorating projects(almost there) I'll post pics of all my colorful rooms

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Look close and you'll see John's new 52" plasma or is it a LCD TV don't ask me? A TV is a TV. It does have a nice picture though I guess I can get use to it.

Cary Road Race

last Sat the girls and John ran the Cary Road Race. John ran the 5K and the girls the 1 mile(well they were suppose to). It was a great family race around a really beautiful section of Cary. I was in charge of photos, cheering, and babysitting Willie, Sophia's class pet. During the kids race I urged Sophia on running alongside her and eventually carrying her piggy back to the finish. She is quite the runner with her long skinny legs and perfect stride already. Definitely has more Hook blood in her.

Logann started the race with John and fell twice within 50yds. We tried really hard not to laugh but I have to admit it was funny and so typical of Clutszy Lo! After two skinned knees and some tears, she bowed out of the race. Our friend's 7 year old daughter Celia up above, completed the 5K as well, pretty impressive! It was a fun morning!

Caterpillar hunting

The girls had their buddy Nolan over for a playdate the other day. On our way to the neighborhood playground we ran into loads of caterpillars on the sidewalk. The kids had so much fun playing and collecting the "fuzzy guys" on sticks. Something I never did as a kid because I am not and never was crazy about bugs or creepy crawly fuzzy things. Yuck!

I let Sophia and Nolan take one home as a pet. Logann apparently takes after me and wanted nothing to do with taking one home. We made a house for Sophia's in tupperware with holes for breathing. Dinner consisted of lettuce and carrots, standard caterpillar diet Sophia thought. Before dark I convinced her to release him to his parents who were surely looking frantically for him. I must admit the caterpillar made an easy pet for the day, definitely easier than the poodle, hamster, rat, or baby brother she's been asking for.

Brandon

Last week I had to volunteer at Logann's preschool. I was anxious to meet all the kids since she doesn't say too much about school, well except for Brandon "her boyfriend". He was so sweet, came right up to me and sat on my lap during music time. Looks like she has good taste, I think he could pass for her brother.

Hard Knock Life

is sophia ready for broadway or what? : ) i taped annie for them and they're hooked on it.

new friends

we finally have met some of our new neighbors. we've been hanging out with one family lately. they came over last night for dinner. fellow new yorkers, go figure. they're a lot of fun, and best of all they have a 4 yr old daughter too. i think she's even more of a girlie girl than my two. they just love isabella. you never know after our last neighborhood but i have a feeling they will become good friends.