hello dance

Dance

We had so much fun on Charlie's visitors day at dance. She takes a Preschool combo class. She takes 30 minutes of ballet and 30 minutes of tap. I thought she would like the tap best but it is ballet that she shows us more. She is so uncoordinated. But she sure has a blast. It's interesting to see the differences in parents. One of her friends did not want to dance. She kept her hands in her mouth on the verge of tears most of the session. At one point Charlie was pulling on her arm trying to get her to dance. I kept telling her to quit pulling on her friend. The friend's mom said thank you for trying to get her to dance. A difference of opinions! Who would have known.

How do you respond?

We are at dinner tonight with Dusty's parents and Charlie asks the table next to us if they are Mary and Joseph. I think it is because the woman had a head dress and they were speaking a foreign language. They also had a very small baby with them.

Almost 2 years ago we were at Crest and Charlie asked our cashier (a black woman) where Little Bill was.

How do you respond? I don't think that we are raising her to be prejudice and yet things like this just pop out of her mouth. I just don't know how to respond.

Single Moms

I just don't get how my mom did it! I am in awe of her. She was such a great single mom. She took us everywhere. I just don't remember days like these. I tried taking the kids shopping today. I should have just stayed home. The first store we went to...Charlie threw herself on the floor and threw the biggest tantrum. She hasn't done that in a while. I should have gone home. Nope, I had to get my shopping finished. So, we went to the scrapbook store (Just 4 Keeps). Great store! Great friends. They even had a play room. Charlie was fablous until she pooped her pants. We went to the bathroom when we got there. I asked if she needed to go before we left and she said no. I forgot to ask if she was dry? I realized it as she was wiping poop on the back of my seat. She still won't keep her hands out of her pants. So I stopped wiped off her hands and the car. We drove to Wal-mart where I knew they had a private bathroom with a changing table and Charlie wouldn't you know that the family bathroom was closed for repairs.

We use the regular bathrooms. I should have gone home. It took me 45 minutes to clean her up, have her go potty and change Brantley (who slept through the cleaning of Chalrie and would have slept longer if I hadn't have woken him up to change his diaper. I keep telling myself I should have gone home. We then went to OG (Olive Garden) and had dinner and got to visit with Dad. We had a great time.

I should have gone home! Instead we went to a living nativity. ... The Journey to Bethelehm put on by Harvest Hills Christian Church (Very Cool). We get there. We go to the bathroom. Charlie insists that she doesn't need to go. I insist that she tries. We get into the auditorium. We sing some Christmas Carols. We go to the bathroom. They called our row. I didn't know this we go back and sit in our seat. We sit in the autiorum singing Chrismat carols for an hour and 15 minutes b/c we missed our first turn. We go on the journey. As I said earlier it was very cool except that my fearless child is terrified of the soliders. Yes, I said terrified. She is screaming and shaking and does not want to go through the nativity.

Okay, I have to say that I understand people being kind and asking to hold Charlie so that she can see. Or taking her hand and moving her to the front of the group but I have some serious issues with this people. (Please know that I am a very tired mommy who is getting on her soap box for a minute.) I know that you are being kind and "Christian." I know that I was at a "church" function but I don't care...You are STRANGERS. Yes, I said it STRANGERS. I have a 3 year old that does not know the differnece and would walk off with anyone, like the kind lady with the flashlight that made the soilders walk away. I understand that she was being nice but Charlie doens't know the difference in safe and unsafe. I know that that lady was probably nothing to be afraid of but who is to say that she is not some big-bad-wolf in a grandma (or bible time) costume. (Okay I will get off my soap box). I

I realize that I am probably that extrememly over protective parent and that I should probably stop watching all those cop shows like CSI, NCIS, and Law & Order that I like but I just can't help it.

Decorating for Christmas

Sunday evenings at my house always consist of a napping boy. Usually it is just Dusty. This week it was both of my boys. Isn't that just the cutest sleeping baby face.

And the Daddy's pretty cute, too.

Here is the final product. I love our eclectic tree. We haven't finished all the decorations just the main tree. I have slowly been adding other decorations. I am hoping to have every thing out and photo graphed tomorrow.

Dusty is such a goof ball.

Charlie kept putting all the ornaments in the same spot so we had to go behind her and spread her ornaments out. But she had fun. She could not stand how long it took to get the tree up with all the lights so we opted for no tinsel this year. She was driving Dusty crazy with "Is the tree ready yet, Daddy?"

I love this time of the year!

My Center

One of the things that I prayed for when preparing for my husband was a sense of humor. I have a tendency to be serious, very serious at times. I don't always get the punch line of the joke. I am usually the last one to laugh and it might even be an hour later before it sinks in. I prayed that my other half would help me stayed centered. So we are at dinner, you know serious time, and Brantley starts crying. Charlie says, "Hey daddy, lets make silly faces at brother to make him stop crying."

And where would she get this funny sense of humor...from her Daddy. Here is her wonderful scary face.

Chipmunk Cheeks

Porky! I just love this guy! And wouldn't you know that Brantley stopped crying and started laughing.

Mustang Tree Lighting

We went to Mustang's tree lighting on Monday. It was a lot of fun. We made crafts, had hot chocolate, and sat on Santa's lap. Well, Charlie sat on Santa's lap. This is the first year for that. She had a great time. She is bound and determined that Santa is going to get her a little pink house with a door, a window and some flowers. Yes, remember I said that she was odd. Last year she wanted tickle monsters. This year she wants a house. A house, you know one that is pink and has a little window and a door. Oh, and don't forget the flowers! So, what do you want for Christmas?