Fire Station Visit

So....before I can get to the Christmas fun... we did have an exciting visit to the Carrollton fire station with the CECPTA in November.  The funniest part was that as we were driving there (late) we passed two firetrucks with their sirens blaring.  I said to Anderson and Everett, "That's not a good sign."  Of course, once we finally arrived at the fire station, we found out that the firemen had indeed been called out on an emergency call and our group was just left to "wait".  So, about 35 of us literally just took over the fire station and just hung out for about 45 minutes.  It was kind-of funny how they just left us there all alone.  Anyway, once they all returned from their call, they graciously led us on their tour and let the kiddos have a ball searching out the firetrucks.  Both Anderson and Everett had a great time!  Here are some of the pictures from our visit:

Anderson was both torn and thrilled at his outfit for the day.  He was so sad that he didn't have a proper fireman shirt (which he now has!) yet he was excited that he got to wear his dress-up/play fireman vest.  Isn't he just adorable? 

I really love this picture!  Such a cute snapshot of the boys and their hometown.

Fireman Everett

Everett walked around the firehouse like he owned the joint- high-fives for all the firemen, etc.  He was a riot and had all of them laughing.

The fireman dressed up to show the kiddos what they looked like in full gear.  Here's Anderson giving the fireman "knuckles", which he thought was super cool.

Jingle Bells!

Anderson ~ 3 1/2

Finally! Big Enough Paper!

Anderson mastered writing all of the letters of his name a few weeks ago, but we hadn't been able to fit them all on one page of paper yet. Writing at 3.5 years old requires lots of space, especially when your name is so long!  But, in one of Mommy's birthday presents was an enormous sheet of paper!  So, Anderson was thrilled to write his full name all on one page, although it still barely fit!

Happy Birthday, Mommy!

I had such a sweet birthday this year with my boys.  Reese took them shopping on a special trip to Walmart where they got to pick out a card, flowers and balloon.  Anderson was so proud of the red roses that he picked and presented to me.  Everett was very adorable bringing me my balloon.  (I think an extra birthday bonus would've been to be a fly on the wall during this shopping trip.)  As it turns out, Reese also let them pick out cupcakes for me which turned into Reese convincing Anderson over and over that we didn't need a sheet cake that was big enough to feed 48 people.  They were able to all agree on a dozen Elmo cupcakes.  :)

This worked out well, though, since Anderson's present idea didn't quite go how he wanted.  He really wanted to get Mommy her very own Lightning McQueen t-shirt to wear.  They had to settle for Cookie Monster if it was something Mommy actually was going to fit into since she's not the size of a toddler boy.  

After a family dinner out for sushi (thank goodness it was a Wednesday night at 5:30- we weren't too disruptive), we came home for cupcakes.  I had to put on my new shirt before I could have one.  ;)  

I was also so excited to get this necklace that I had dropped a huge hint about last July to Reese.  It's a square calendar pendant that has a stone that looks like a diamond (April's birthstone) placed on the month of April which is the month that both boys were born.  I've been hoping that this was coming, so I am thrilled to have it!

Leila Capture the Month Pendant

Reese also has a surprise planned for me while we are in Vegas in a few weeks, so I'm anxiously awaiting to find out what's in store for me!  Thanks to my sweet guys for a love-filled birthday.  It was a very special day!

Going Once...Going Twice...Where My October/November Went

Right before Everett was born in 2010, I joined the Carrollton Early Childhood PTA with a few of our playgroup friends that live in Carrollton.  The CECPTA is affiliated with the National PTA and provides support, education and activities for parents of infants and toddlers.  There are lots of socials, parties and playgroups that we attend with our CECPTA friends as well as the monthly meetings where the children are treated to great programs while the adults get to socialize and participate in parent education.  At the beginning of this year, I joined the CECPTA Board as one of the Fundraising Co-Chairs.  That put me and my partner in charge of coordinating the organizations' only fundraising event, our 21st Annual Silent Auction.

So, where did all of my free time go the past few months?  To sending emails, making phone calls, designing print materials, organizing donations, planning auction details and just general begging for money.  :)  The auction was held on November 11th and was a success!  With close to 100 attendees, almost $8000 was raised.  Things went smoothly overall and it was a fun event.  Here are a few pictures, although the same excuse applies here too: I was so busy at the event itself I didn't even have time to take proper pictures!  Oh well!  I guess there's always next year  ;)

Raffle Table (4 Day Cruise & Hotel/Dinner Date Night)

Yo Ho Let's Go! Happy Halloween!

I'll just pretend it's not mid-November as I'm finally posting Halloween pics.  (An explanation-post as to why following soon.)  Regardless of the time, I couldn't skip documentation of the fun and cuteness of my little pirates.

Anderson loves a cartoon on Disney Jr. called Jake and the Neverland Pirates and I was happy to steer him on the path towards something a little different than Lightning McQueen for a change.  Anderson's costume was a Gymboree costume from a few years ago that I found on Ebay, which I loved.  Once Anderson decided to be Jake for Halloween, he was quick to decide that Everett had to be Cubby from the show since he's Jake's sidekick.  (And...according to Anderson, "because he's short.")  Everett's costume was my first 'homemade' costume, thanks to my sweet neighbor who helped with the sewing.

Both boys had lots of opportunities to wear their costumes since we went to so many fun activities.  Here are some pictures of our Halloween fun!

Anderson as Jake the Pirate

Everett as Cubby

At the Trunk or Treat Social with the Carrollton Early Childhood PTA

Children's Party at Daddy's Office

Mommy Pirate joins the fun on Halloween

Daddy's team at work dressed as Peter Pan so it worked perfectly for him to be Captain Hook!

Everett at the Prestonwood Carnival

Anderson running the wheel-barrel race like a pro!

A few trick-or-treating stops around the neighborhood to finish the fun!

Teamwork & Yogurt Melts

The teamwork between these two little guys at a mere 1.5 & 3.5 years old is a little astounding, if not frightening to say the least.  Today while I was cooking dinner with them under foot in the kitchen, Everett pulled out a bag of yogurt melts from the pantry.  Basically, they are freeze-dried drops of yogurt.  Fantastic for lunchboxes and snacks, but not as pre-dinner munchies.  So, I told him that I would not open them.  He worked at it for a bit, trying his hardest to pull apart the sealed top (a ziplock-type press-seal).  Along comes Anderson who offers his help.  Everett, who usually screams like a banshee the moment Anderson nears him to take something from his possession, was eager for some help.  Anderson worked at it without success.  Again, I reminded both boys that they were not going to get any yogurt melts now, but if they ate a good dinner they could have some afterwards.  I then stood back to watch.  It was a few moments later that I heard Anderson tell Everett under his breathe that "we'll just have a couple."  Then, Einstein Everett got the idea to head to the pantry to retrieve tools for the job.  What did he return with?  A plastic knife.  Anderson applauded his effort and set to work now using the plastic knife as a prying tool.  Everett, sensing Big Brother's approval, headed off to the pantry to get reinforcements: another plastic knife.  Two of them have to be better than one!  It was around that time that their hard work and colluding paid off.  The plastic knife did its job, sliding effortlessly in between the seal.  The looks of joy and accomplishment the boys exchanged with each other were priceless.  Then, they both looked at me.  I had to smile.  I let them each have two as I again quoted the same scenario for earning more.  For what it's worth... neither of them ate a great dinner and neither of them remembered at all about the yogurt melts.  I think Reese and I are definitely in for it in the future if these two can abstain from pestering each other long enough to work together.