Happy 2011, folks...here we go.

Jack is in his fifth month of preschool and continues to enjoy it but never shares what he does. When we ask he simply says, "I played." I guess that's what you do at age three in preschool, but I know there's more because I've seen various art projects - a stocking, star, turkey, bear mask, ornaments, and countless other goodies that I pull out of his bag in a rumpled mess. He has two best buddies and I wonder if he chats his teachers up like he does everyone else? He is full of hot air and he's getting a bit of a temper. We're trying to fix that...I find myself having nights where I swear all I do is yell at him...probably not helping matters. I hate those nights - and feel like the worst parent ever. He's also tenderhearted, wild, sweet, anal, and extremely witty. For example, in trouble, I say, "No more arguing. Stop." To which he says, "but I was going to tell you I love you." The get out of jail free card. Or: "Jack, sit down and eat your dinner, you are going to fall out of your chair and get hurt." "But I was going to come give you a hug and a kiss." An answer for everything, he's taking after his mother, which could be to his detriment! The majority of his traits that make a mother crazy are from me, so maybe I should do a 180...

I can no longer keep up with Charlotte. She's climbing on chairs, desks, tables, benches, toilets...she has fallen off chairs so the lesson about letting her fall (or something) does not apply. She cries for a minute, hops back up and goes again. I turn my back for one second and she's on the kitchen table, playing with a screwdriver I'd left out from when I was removing light covers the night before. I look down to put on my shoes and she's on top of the toilet tank or teetering between the seat and the counter. I've removed furniture, rearranged, stacked and somehow she still finds a way to the top of the heap. She loves to dance in the backseat with Jack and the key to her heart is through her stomach. Any mention of food and she's all yours. Any mention of leaving and she's at the closet waiting for her coat and putting her hands on her head and saying, "hat!". So smart, but Jack does enough talking for the both of them. Their differences are fun to see...but at this age Jack was talking like a big kiddo and she's just saying a few words and that's difficult at times, but I think we can generally figure her out. She loves to sit on my lap and look at books - she roars and oinks (which is really just panting) and is getting smarter by the minute.

They are exhausting and fun and silly and I love them. I am thrilled to say we purchased a shiny new Nikon and pictures will be more abundant now. Or maybe not - I have 600 on the camera and none of them have made it to the computer...so I'll take more and do even less posting, probably. The weekend is here and the kids and I are in for a painting party, snowmen, and possibly some cookies added to the mix. Hubby's new job with youth sports has him working Saturday basketball so mama is going to have to start getting creative! See you soon, all!