The Stillman and McCormack Railroad Park

Today Jonathan joked that I should take the day off from work and we could go out and do something fun as a family.  I dismissed his suggestion at first, because I had work to do.

But then it occured to met hat I work half-time these days ... and I should stop focusing on how much work I can get done, and instead focus on how much fun a part-time schedule can allow me to have.

So we loaded into the car and headed out to Scottsdale.  It's quite a drive, but well-worth it to see how excited Christian got about being there (his first passion?  Sharks. His second passion?  Trains!).

It's a really cute little park and nicely done.  Almost feels like we're not in the Phoenix area, but rather in a little nook of Disneyland (I suppose it seems that way, in part, because the carousel there plays songs from Disney movies).

Of course, the biggest thrill for Christian is getting to ride on the little train

And a good ol' model train room always puts a smile on his face!

Sibling "Loverly"

Sibling rivalry?  We have sibling "loverly." ;)

We are so incredibly fortunate that Christian completely adores his baby sister!  He's always happy to see her, enjoys kissing and hugging her, and talks sweetly to her.

I love it when he comes up to her and in the most adorable voice says, "You're my best friend."  Awwwwwww!!!

The other day, I heard a story of a kiddo who is about Christian's age - and he, too, has a new baby in the family.  He's so terrible with his baby brother, that the family is looking into getting a psychologist involved.

So we are, indeed, blessed that Christian loves Scarlett so much!

Easter weekend was pretty exciting around here this year. We had numerous events going on:

Saturday Egg Hunt in Verrado

Jonathan had to work Saturday, so I took the kiddos to an egg hunt and fun activites sponsored by our community's health club early Saturday morning. Christian made me laugh when the hunt began, because with the first egg he found, he sat down to check out the goods inside while the kids around him snatched up all the eggs (man, kids are CRAZY at egg hunts!). I even grabbed a nearby egg and put it really close to Christian so he could get it, and some bigger kiddo came in and swiped it. His mom was right there and laughed as she said to her son, "That was his ..." and I just looked at her son, then looked at her and said, "Wow ..." (as it, "Wow, lady ... is that really all you're going to do?").

Most surprising of all was that Christian was agreeable - and excited - to sit with the Easter Bunny.   He walked right up to him (her?) without hesitation.   Doing so was very unlike Christian, and I was absolutely thrilled ... and so was he! :)   

Saturday Afternoon Picnic and Egg Hunt

We finally got out for an afternoon with a local playgroup we belong to.  Christian was so excited to do a second egg hunt that day!

Saturday Night Egg Dying

Our egg dying adventure started out pure:  one color per egg, and using the little wire dipper to place the egg in the cup.

How quickly things changed (as evidenced by Christian's green hands)! 

Sunday:  The Big Day

We tried a new church today (our newest attempt at finding a church that works for our family) and when we got home, we found the Easter Bunny (and Easter Granny) left some goods on the porch and some eggs to be found. Christian was SOOOOO excited!

(A big thank you to the Easter Granny (and Grandpa) for all the goodies, which arrived just in time!)

Papa is teaching Scarlett how to text! :)

And some more videos!

Auntie Liz joined us for Easter dinner!

"Constant Questions"

Today I had to teach Christian what the word "consequences" means, after he was having naughty behavior much of the morning and then wanted a story before his nap. I explained that a consequence of his behavior was that I would not be reading him a story.

So at dinner, I asked him, "Do you remember what word Mommy taught you today before your nap?"

He replied, "Yes, 'constant questions.'" LOL! Good enough for me! :)

The Setup

I put Christian to the test today.  Okay ... I set him up.  I'm not going to "candy coat it" - pun intended!

Today Christian came home from school with some plastic eggs filled with jellybeans.  We don't give him candy at home, so jellybeans are a real treat.

He wanted the bag in his room for naptime, and I declined.  He asked again, I declined.  He insisted ... and I caved in.   Getting little sleep for the past three months is somehow all catching up with me today and I just didn't have the energy to fight him on this one.  Pick your battles, they say.

So I decided to make it a learning experience.

I sat him down and explained that his bag was to stay on his beadside table.  He wasn't to touch it, wasn't to open any eggs.

"Do you understand, Christian?"
"I understand, Mommy."

Let the test begin.

As he often is these days, he was full of energy at naptime and simply wasn't sleeping.  But he's still really good about staying in his bed until I tell him it is time to get up.

So time passed and I heard his door shut ... and I wondered ...

But I'm just to tired too tired get up and investigate (weekend, come quickly!).

A bit later, I heard some paper crinkling.  And it kept crinkling ... and kept crinkling.

I walked in to find he'd taken off his shirt, and in the darkness I could see the sticky, colorful remnants of jellybean "juice" (read "spit") all over his face, chest, belly and hands.

"Christian, did you eat your jellybeans?"

"No."

"Christian, tell Mommy the truth. Did you eat your jellybeans?"

"No, Mommy.  I didn't eat my jellybeans."

I explained to him that I knew he ate them because he was all covered in stickiness - and becuase his breath smelled like candy.  I looked in his hand and saw a small bag of candy that he'd been unable to open.   Crinkly noise explained. :)

I explained that he must always tell Mommy the truth and I said, "Christian, did you eat jellybeans?"

"No, I ..."

"Christian, tell Mommy, 'Yes, Mommy, I ate the jellybeans."

"Yes, Mommy, I ate the jellybeans."

"Thank you for telling me the truth (big smile).  I feel very happy when you tell me the truth."  (Christian definitely understands the concepts happy and sad nad he knows that Mommy and Papa "feel happy" when he listens ... and "feel sad" when he doesn't).

A made sure my response was very pleasant and with a smile so that he knows I won't flip out when he tells me the truth (ask me again in about 10 years after he's come to me with some terrible, gut-wrenching truth ... I might not be so cordial in my reaction).

As I got up to leave and take the bag with me, he said, "Mommy, can I have jellybeans after my nap?"

*sigh*

He asked me to leave the bag in there, and I obliged again.  We'll see if #1, he can resist the candy and #2, if he can't, if he owns up to eating them.

So yep ... I set my four-year old up twice. :)

By some miracle, he's asleep right now - even with all that candy in his bella.  And I'm willing to bet that when he wakes up, he's not feeling so good.  That happeend in Valentine's day when he ate way too much candy, cookies, etc.

Sometimes lessons learned are painful ... and come with a bit of vomit.  (eeew!)

First Official Portrait Together

I had a dream.  My dream was that my children - dressed in carefully selected matching outfits - would take an amazing "first portrait."  I wanted a baby blue dress for Scarlett, and a Polo shirt for Christian that had some blue.   I found his shirt first, and when I couldn't find a blue dress for Scarlett, I bought a fluffy white dress with blue flowers across the waste.

The first thing Christian said to me that day, "I don't WANT my picture taken."  And he wasn't kidding.  He was truly upset at the idea.

Fortunately, somebody at school was able to get his picture taken care of while I got Scarlett ready.  And that picture turned out great (see post below).

But when it came to posing with Scarlett, Christian somehow got stage fright.  And the more the photographer tried to cajole Christian into posing with Scarlett, the more upset Christian got.  We were begging, pleading - BRIBING - Christian to just hold her for a moment.

But when his eyes filled with tears, and his voice cracked with a bit of panic, I knew we just need to leave him alone.

But one more attempt got us the picture above.   I didn't care for Scarlett's dress being fanned out that way, and I was irritated that Christian's face wasn't visible.

But when I step way from my "Type A" desires and see the picture in print, I think the picture is really charming.  Don't you? :)

Christian's Spring Photo

The Date Night That Almost Was ...

This is the tale of the date night that almost was, and then wasn't ... then almost was again ... and then kind of was.

Confused?

Christian's school offers "Parent's Night Out" about four times a year.  The last one was in December, and we haven't had a date night since the baby was born.

Tonight was Parent's Night Out again. The plan was to drop Christian off, and keep the baby with us as we went out to dinner somewhere.   But then Jonathan had a daytrip to California and wouldn't be home.  Drats!
I still took Christian to school ... and then the baby and I headed to JCPenney.   Jonathan texted to say he'd arrived, and was at the airport and he'd get in touch with me as he got closer to where I was at.   The implication was that we'd meet up for dinner somewhere.

Well, Miss Baby Girl started to get fidgety, so we left the store.  Still hopeful that Jonathan and I could have a date, I pulled into the parking lot of a nearby hospital, found a good spot and fed Scarlett.  Funny, I probalby would not have done such a thing with Christian when I was a first time mom.  I problaby would have just gone straight home.

So I fed the baby and started planning to where I'd drive until Jonathan arrived.  But, alas, baby got fussy and I decided home was the best place to go after all.

Jonathan arrived home about an hour afer his initial text.  He and I took the baby to Main Street and walked around with her for a few minutes - smelling burgers and pizza in the air and wishing some of that food would find itself in our bellies.  But there was no time for dinner at that point.

So we picked up Christian and came home.  Another exciting night with the Luceros!

It is important to keep things in perspective, though.  While we didn't get the date night we envisioned, I got to take Chrisian somehwere for a few hours while I got out and about.  And even though I wasn't out for very long ... I was out.   And sometimes a mommy's just got to get out, you know?

Wordless Wednesday - March 14, 2012

A Walk to Main Street

Today we took a walk, as a family of four, to Main Street - and back home again.  If you've been to our house, you know that is quite a walk ... especially with a newborn.  But I'm very happy to report that we MADE it - even with Christian in his tricycle.