Perfect Project

Aaron finally got to take Aaris to the Home Depot Day. She's been going but with either me, my dad, or Aaron's dad due to Aaron's busy work schedule with Dennington Decor. So, they went Saturday, Feb.2 and it ended up being the perfect project for them to work on together. Aaron loves football and hosted a men's only Super Bowl viewing party at our house the very next night. Well, this month's wood-working project was to make a football shaped step-stool with the Super Bowl emblem on top. Aaris loves to paint her projects when she gets home from making them. First she suggested painting it the colors of her princess bank castle she made last month (pink, purple, yellow and aqua blue) but we nudged her into thinking that maybe we could paint it the Dallas Cowboys' colors. She was actually very easily persuaded. She even suggested painting the top brown since it looked like a football and that's what color footballs are. We, having the themed decorated rooms we have, actually have a Dallas Cowboys bathroom. It's the guest bathroom that the kids use, so an extra stool in that room that actually matches the decor ended up being the perfect project for us. In the second picture you will see Aaris sitting on our commode in the Dallas Cowboys bathroom holding her finished project. :)

Aaron's Granddad Jim (Vicki's dad) passes away on Jan. 17 and we all gathered in Tyler on Jan. 25 for a Memorial. It was beautiful and really honored him well. Aaron gave a beautiful speech and also played "Taps" on his trumpet that moved us all to tears. Something that I'll always remember is that when Aaron started playing "Taps" standing at the back of the chapel Titus marched out from our pew and into the center aisle looking for his daddy knowing that was him playing. Aaron's brother, Alan, and his wife, Kristina, were able to make it with my sweet niece, Cosette. Cosette and Titus are almost exactly 6 months apart. It's so cute to see them together. Right when we all arrived Titus was generous in giving Cosette hugs and kisses. Titus and Cosette probably weigh about the same and I'd say Titus is only about 1 inch taller than her for now. But, I bet that won't be the case one of these days because I have a feeling that Cosette has her daddy's genes and will be on the tall side, and Titus has both Aaron's and my gene's and will be on the short side.

The Newest Hair Product

Every day when Titus wakes up from his afternoon nap he gets a yogurt cup to eat. Usually he is a very clean eater and actually prefers to eat everything with silverware. This afternoon after getting him in his highchair I received a call and Titus and Aaris were being loud while having their snack and watching Veggie Tales, so I went and sat on the stairs to finish my conversion. When I returned to the kitchen I found Titus rubbing his yogurt in his hair. What he didn't eat of the yogurt cup he had first poured on his highchair tray and then started to smear it all in his hair. He was so proud of himself with the biggest grin on his face which made my initial reaction one not of character for me when facing a mess...pure, uncontrollable laughter. It was just so funny to see in person. I don't know though, he might have found the next big thing in hair products. After rinsing it out with water his hair was smooth, smelt pretty, but also held his style very well.

Game Night

Last night after cooking breakfast for dinner (yum) we played some games. Aaris and Aaron played Chutes and Ladders. For the first time playing this game Aaris actually kept spinning bad number and 3 times in a row had to slide back down to the very beginning on the same long slide. She got very frustrated by the end, and had to learn the lesson that sometimes things don't turn out they way we like, or things are harder than we anticipated, but you still have to finish what you start, and do it with a good attitude. She did finish and she was very happy when she made it to the winning square. We were so busy helping her learn her lesson that I forgot to take pictures. Then we broke out a game that Poppy (Aaron's dad) gave Aaris. It's called Cariboo and it's by the makers of the game Cranium...this is just a kids version. Aaris played one time before she had to get ready for bed, but since Titus had taken a good nap he got to play for about 30 minutes. He LOVES this game. Aaris plays it with cards that let her open the 'doors' with the key after matching it with the right color, number, or letter. There are 6 balls hidden behind the doors. You use the purple key to open the doors. After you find a ball you put it in a special slot. When you've found the 6th ball and put it in the ball slot, the treasure chest opens. Titus doesn't use cards but just likes opening all the doors with the key. The whole time he says "ba" (ball), but when he actually finds a ball it's much more drawn out "baaaaaaaaaaaaaa" (like when you watch a soccer game on t.v. and you hear them say "gooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaal"). This is a great game with different progression levels for different age kids. Titus just stood there on the chair for at least 30 minutes playing this game over and over again.

Little is right

From the first week we brought Titus home from the hospital Aaris has always called him "Little Buddy". I end up calling him "Little Rascal" many times throughout the day as his mischievous and ornery self are brought out in his actions. Well, we went to the doctor Tuesday for his 15 month well check (yes, he is 16 months old and a month late). I was sure that Titus had been at least 20 pounds for a couple of months now, but it turns out I was wrong. He weighed about 19.3 lbs which is in the negative 5%. And he was around 30 inches long which is in the 5% range (it's in the negative 5% by some internet sights). So, we have gotten one thing correct in our nicknames for Titus... "Little". Oh, but there is one thing that Titus is in the 50% for, and that would be his head circumference, which is funny because that is the thing Aaron was most concern about when Titus was born. Titus's head at birth was only the size of Aaron's fist and Aaron thought that was not good. It ended up being normal since Titus was only 5 lbs. 9 oz., but now, well, a small head doesn't seem to be the case. And it seems fitting since confidence is one thing Titus does not have a problem with. He really thinks he is not only able, but deserving of the right to do exactly whatever his sister is doing. Wow, I've got my hands full...full of love and blessings.

Texas cold

Okay, so I just had to laugh this morning when I was getting the kids ready to leave for preschool. The temperature was in the 30's and this is what I made my kids do as a result. It made me think of "The Christmas Story" when they got all bundled up for school. But, come on, we are talking about Texas here...and 30 degrees. I might have gone a little overboard, but for the pictures alone, I'm glad I did it anyway.

Putting My Trust to the Test

All lighting season long Aaron has been wanting to take Aaris up on a roof. I have persistently told him that I didn't like that idea at all. I myself am paralyzed with fear from heights and I definitely don't want anything happening to my little girl. But about 2 weeks ago when Aaron was taking down our lights he and Aaris came into the kitchen to ask me something. Aaron had told Aaris he would like to take her up on the roof but that they had to get permission from me to go ahead and do it. Well, she came in very excited when she asked me, and well, I just couldn't look like a mean scaredy cat in front of her, so I said yes. I "supervised" with much opinion and direction throughout the process. They walked to the very peak and sat down for a minute to look around at everything. I ran into the house to get the camera in order to document my trust in Aaron. And someday when Aaris comes to me and says, "Oh, but, mom, you never let me do anything I want" I can show her proof that I have.