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Connor: That look of anticipation before the water hits. I took close ups of his feet when the water was hitting too and discovered that right before the wave hits, he would cross his toes. I cross my toes for things too.

 Isla: Sometimes you've just gotta lick the shower door. She has also been really into acting like a kitty lately. She crawls around the house, carrying things in her mouth and begs me to play fetch with her. It's actually pretty funny. Oh, and she loves it when I pet her…she "meows". 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2015."

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Star Student Connor

As I mentioned before, Connor's weekend with Curious George kicked off his week of being star student in his class. Each day there was something special centered around him in the class. Monday was sharing his weekend with George and showing off his "all about me" poster from the beginning of the year. Tuesday he got to bring a book for the teacher to read to the class. He chose Curious George Goes to the Aquarium. Wednesday, I wrote a letter to him that was read to him in front of the class. It's supposed to be a letter telling Connor why he is so special to us…I will share the letter at the end of the blog. Let's just say it's a lot of pressure to try to write a letter in a way that would be meaningful to a five year old! Thursday, Connor got to bring an item to share with the class. He brought his police uniform (and I subsequently made him have a little photo shoot in it when he got home from school). And today, everyone draws a picture for Connor and he gets to take them all home. Connor also told me that there is a special star student cape you can wear every day, but he doesn't like wearing it. Also, his desk chair is decorated so everyone knows where he sits. Being star student really is a big deal!

Connor:

There are so many things that make you special, that make you uniquely you. From you being born in Scotland, to your knowledge of the solar system. From your love of legos, to your incredible imagination. But, what really makes you special is your heart. Your desire to do good. Your desire to make others happy. Keep on being you. Because we love you so much just the way you are!

Love, Mom & Dad

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How Much Do You Phub?

On Saturday, Ian's parents offered to watch the kids while we went to dinner. We don't get out that often, so jumped at the offer. I even put a dress AND heels on. That's kind of a big deal around here these days. While we were at dinner, I was totally and completely entertained by the couple sitting next to us. Their table was mere inches from ours, so I was unable to even tell Ian what I was witnessing (he was sitting next to the lady I was entertained by) until we left. Never in my life have I seen a grown woman (we guessed this couples age to be mid-late thirties) take so many selfies from so many angles ALL THROUGH HER MEAL. Like I said, totally and completely entertaining. Needless to say, she had her phone in hand most of the time. When we left, Ian mentioned that the guy was playing on his phone for most of the meal as well. The very next day an article popped up in my news feed…about phubbing.

What is phubbing? It's phone snubbing. Playing on your phone instead of interacting with the person you are with. Shockingly (sense the sarcasm) this is causing problems in peoples relationships.

I don't see phubbing as a problem in mine and Ian's relationship. However, I have found myself annoyed with friends that can't seem to put their phones down when I am with them. Now, I don't have a problem with someone checking a text. And I don't even have a problem if they want to post a picture on instagram. It's when they want to scroll through instagram and leave me sitting there staring at them that I start to have a problem.

I can only imagine how prevalent cell phone use will be for my kids. Or, will there even be cell phones? Maybe the iring will have caught on by then…yeah, I read that apple filed a patent for a ring. Who know's how exactly that would even work?! But I digress.

At some point, as a society, we are going to have to realize those in front of us are more important than all the acquaintances we have on Facebook/instagram/snapchat. We are going to have to chose to live in the moment, rather than trying to make the moment fit in a little instagram square with a quirky saying to capture it. The people right in front of us are always more important. And now I'm jumping off my soap box for the time being…

A Weekend with Curious George

When I saw Connor after school on Friday, the first thing I noticed was the yellow and red backpack he had with him. This meant he was chosen as "star student" and got to take Curious George home with him for the weekend. Every kid in the class gets to be star student at some point. It lasts for a week, but begins with the weekend with Curious George. You are supposed to take pictures and write about what you and George did that weekend. Here are some of the pictures from their weekend together.

 

^^ I LOVE this picture and look at their matching facial expressions. Too adorable, if you ask me.

  

 

^^ Every kid has to color a picture of Curious George and this was Connor's.

Connor chose to watch Curious George on tv with George on Friday night. Then, he cuddled with him when he went to bed. I was slightly grossed out thinking of all the places George probably has been, but could it really be any worse than what Isla does with the stuffed animals she sleeps with?! On Saturday, we took George up to Railtown to ride the steam train. Then, when we got home, he got to go check out the chickens at our neighbors house. I didn't take any pictures of George on Sunday, because, well I had to print the pictures out on Sunday and one can only do so much!

Connor got to tell the class about his weekend with Curious George on Monday and show them the pictures. I peppered him with questions about it, but only got that it was "good". Aww, to have been a fly on the wall and hear what he said to his classmates. 

Next up, I have to write Connor a letter that the teacher reads to him in front of the whole class about why he is so special. No pressure or anything!!!

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On Being Pregnant and Having Older Kids

When I was pregnant with Isla, people used to ask me all the time what Connor thought about it. I used to give them a strange look while thinking to myself, "He can't even string two words together, so you know, he has a lot to say about it!" Connor was all of 13 months old when I got pregnant with Isla. Connor never had anything to say about my growing belly or the fact that baby stuff was once again popping up in our house. And, to be honest, the transition from one to two was a pretty easy one for us. Connor was hyper and disobedient for a couple weeks, but that was it. Again, when she was born, he wasn't even talking in sentences, so it was just completely different than today.

Both kids are acutely aware that a baby will be joining our family. They talk about it with me and with other people all the time. Isla wants a sister and Connor, a brother. They talk about helping change its diaper. They talk about when it will be able to walk. They have tons of questions. From how the baby will come out to what the baby will be able to do when it comes out. Connor even said a few weeks ago that he wishes boys could have babies in their bellies because he doesn't want to be a girl, but he wants a baby in his belly someday. Of course, then he decided to stuff his bear in his vest (in the above photo). He was very proud of himself. And how could I not resist a double belly shot ;)

It's a whole different story than last time. My kids know what is going on. They are curious. They have a lot of questions. And I give them honest answers. Connor is excited to see the baby's umbilical cord (or what's left of it) after it's born. Isla says she wants the baby to sleep in her room. I know the excitement of a baby will wear off after it gets home and they discover that the baby cries a lot and demands a lot of mom's time and attention. But, for the time being, I am enjoying being in the "honeymoon phase" and having them be all sorts of excited about a new baby joining our family.

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Connor: We got a little bit of rain one day this week and he was so excited to play in it for a few minutes after school. He was also really excited to get to play in his classroom before school because the playground was all wet.  

 Isla: Lately all her stuffed animals need bows on them at all times. It's pretty dang cute. 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2015."

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Preschool Open House

 

^^ Taken by Connor. Who, by the way, did a much better job than the lady that offered to take a family picture for us. So way to go Connor! 

^^ Isla sitting on her spot on the circle time rug.

 

Isla had her open house at preschool this week. I have always loved these things because it is fun for me as a parent to watch my kids get excited to show off their classroom and show off the artwork they made hanging in the classroom. Poor Isla was pretty mad on Monday when school got out that she couldn't take her craft project home with her until open house. She literally cried about it all the way to the car. And it ended up being the first thing she wanted to do when we got to open house. 

Probably the coolest thing at open house was Isla getting to see her favorite teacher from last year (and still her favorite). That teacher only works part time now and it's on the days Isla doesn't go to school, so there is never any hope of seeing her during the week. But Isla was oh-so-excited when Teacher Janet came up outside and said hi to her. 

Both kids got super into playing in Isla's classroom, but we kind of had to force them outside because the other class (Isla is MWF, but there is also a TTH class) was coming through soon after. They both played for a while. There are a lot of siblings at the school, so many of Connor's former classmates were there as well. In fact, the kids ran around and played for a good 45 minutes. By then it was dark and nearing bed time, so really time to head home. 

Preschool really is such a sweet time in a kid's life…and a mom's.

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