"Twins" Day

For the holidays Cullen gave his teachers charity: water/Water for Christmas shirts that he helped make; aka take off the dryers conveyor belt and pile on top of each other. I got a note last week that his teachers would like a picture with Cullen this Friday wearing the shirt.

Cullen has been looking forward to today since the note came home. We layed out his outfit last night to build up the anticipation. Then I put a camera in his backpack before he went to school and wrote a note asking Cullen's teacher to take a few pictures with our camera as well. Cullen thinks the world of his teachers and had so much to tell us today when he got home from school.

One of Cullen's teachers printed out a packet of some pictures of them together and added a copy of a page from Cullen's journal. I don't think you can read the writing on the picture below but the people are labeled as Cullen and his teachers as well as a camera. Today was a day I don't think Cullen will forget anytime soon. Cullen was smiling all day and was so proud to be a part of the "twins" day as he called it.

I'm putting together a video for a presentation I'm doing with a friend for Global Awareness Week at one of the local high schools. At the end of the video I'm adding pictures of different people wearing the Water for Christmas/charity: water shirts we printed in all different colors. It won't be done for about 2 weeks but as I was flipping through the pictures quickly tonight I was pretty pleased with how cool it looks. Here is one of my favorite pictures, perhaps because it has my favorite 3 people in it.

For those of you looking for a shirt update, sales are still going pretty well, I plan to sell through the Global Awarness Week (middle of Febuary). The high school recently printed up 200 "limited edition" shirts, in black and white and those are a hit. Changing up the shirt and ink color and printing a limited amount seems to have increased sales again.

Tonight we went to a high school basketball game, my kids like to sit in the nose bleed section all by themselves.

New Years Resolution and What Not

So I haven't exactly been a good blogger since the new year began. I've made my usual new years resolution to give up working out at the gym for the first few weeks of the year to avoid the crowds. I'm not against running outside as long as the ground isn't too icy- my reflexes aren't what they use to be:) So while everyone else is busy getting in shape, I'm busy getting out of shape.

My boys are keeping me busy, as you see they are as charming as ever.

Cullen has perfected his map drawing skills, he likes to reference his electronic GPS (Yahtzee game) while drawing the maps.

Geremu has been perfecting his hammering skills, it's constant. He is now moving items that were hanging on the walls to pound the nails all the way into the wall. So we actually have less hanging since he started, perfect.

I will now be leaving you with one last shot of cuteness and it's all MINE!

The Never Ending Parent/Tot Swimming Class

Geremu still hasn't passed the parent/tot swim class. He is a good swimmer (we go often) and is as fearless in the water as he is on land. His skills in the water are well beyond the class he is in but he is having a bit of an issue with listening. Thus the reason they won't pass him onto the next class where he wouldn't be in the water with us. When the teacher talks Geremu swims underwater, so he doesn't have to listen. I don't think this is funny but I have a feeling this is one of those things I will look back on and laugh at some day... If he isn't still in this class at age 18. When I register Geremu for the class I got a *reminder that he needs to be in a swimmer diaper. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that is not necessary when he has been potty trained for a LONG time.

Our babysitter (who is now taking Geremu to class to see if having her in the water helps him to show off less- LOVE her) thinks he is getting a little sick of singing the songs and twirling around in the water when he can actually swim underwater, hence his lack of following directions/listening. I'm imagine our sitter is in the water doing the motions to "The Wheels on the Bus" while Geremu is swimming around.

I think we might have to take a swimming lessons hiatus next session (if he doesn't pass again) and just attend open swim once a week. This way we can work on his swimming skills instead of his singing and dancing skills.

The age old question: Why do we cut hair?

Our entire family needs haircuts. There are always tears shed with who goes first. Today we did eyeballs & bumpers (heads & tails) to decide if Cullen or Geremu will go first. Geremu won and he chose to go second.

Geremu hates the noise of the clippers, it makes him shrug his shoulders so cutting his hair is a challenge. Geremu does not want his haircut and I'd grow his hair out if he still didn't take naps. His hair requires a little styling/fluffing-up if it is long and he lays on his head. Styling his hair is also a bit of an ordeal, he doesn't like it. So in the mean time, his hair is cut to a manageable length. So the following conversation is what took place after Geremu said, "No cut hair Mom."

Cullen: "Geremu, getting a haircut is like mowing the lawn, right Mom?"

Me: "Um, sure..."

Cullen: "If the grass doesn't get mowed it turns into a field. But if the grass gets cut, it's a backyard. So if you don't cut your hair it will turn into a field."

Cullen certainly enlightened me with his elegant speech and it was enough to convince Geremu to get his haircut. I guess Geremu prefers to sport a backyard on his head as opposed to a field:)

Happy Birthday Nick!

Nick had a birthday today and the boys helped him celebrate in style! We got up early and decorated the kitchen after Nick went to school. The babysitter (my lifesaver) did some crafts with the boys to add to our decorations and made some delicious cupcakes. We had a meal tonight that Nick enjoys before celebrating the big day. Here are some pictures of the night.
After the formal celebration we headed upstairs to play before bed. Cullen yelled to me to come in his room because "an orange jumped into his bed". Um, I'm pretty sure he put it in his bed.

Geremu got a hold of the camera and I got this picture of our family dragon.

I learned that our family dragon can also fly but only if he flaps his wings "like this mom".The dragons landings are not graceful.

In the words of Geremu, "Happy Birthday Big Papa!"

In the words of Cullen, "What the heck?"

Tonight I was busy snuggling with Cullen when Geremu came running into the room. He appeared to be foaming at the mouth with his tongue hanging out and spit dangling. There was clearly something on his tongue, face and shirt that I didn't recognize. He was gagging and dry heaving/making funny noises- I jumped up and couldn't figure out what was going on. In a panic I start yelling at him, "What did you eat?" He wasn't making any sense which made me panic even more. I then start to yell at him, "Show me what you ate, where did it come from?" I was not even a little bit calm. Geremu started scrapping his tongue with his fingers and points at the kitchen. I run in and see something all over the counter. Then I see it, the pepper container with the BIG top open laying on the floor, empty.

I have no idea how it happened or what Geremu was thinking but somehow he got pepper all over his hair, face, shirt, the counter and floor. His mouth was so full of pepper, it was unrecognizable to me. Honestly if I had to guess what it was, I would have guessed dirt with fertilizer. We spent a bit of time by the sink trying to get it all out of his mouth.

Geremu has a habit of putting things in his mouth that don't belong there; dirt, pebbles, rocks, fish eggs. I'm hopeful that Geremu learned something from this but I'm not going to hold my breath. I'm open to suggestions on how to stop this habit.

Ringing in the New Year- Early!

We went to my parents house today. My Mom pinned Geremu down to get a laugh out of him, some things just never change. I remember my mom doing this to me when I was little... And last week.

Then we watched the early 6pm fireworks display and pretended it was midnight. Yelled Happy New Year before throwing the kids in bed.

Geremu seemed to like the fireworks today more then he did on the 4th of July. Wondering if it has anything to do with the fact that he was watching them inside with the big guy? Tonight my parents and I headed next door to the neighbors for a CrAzY New Years Party!