Tag The little ones

Easter 2010

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Hubs had to work on Easter, but managed to swing by several  times to take photos, hide eggs and take yet more photos. He also met us for lunch at the Dixie Cafe for a carby-yummy feast.

Getting pictures before church was a little difficult. Hubs always says that he can photograph anybody’s kids EXCEPT for his own. Let’s just say the E-man isn’t the most cooperative of subjects. For a perfect example, go here.

Anyway —

One looks bored. The other is grimacing.

Mommy has cooties.

"I know! Let's put Mommy in a headlock!"

Attack of the E-man

Methodical. Like Daddy.

Impulsive. Like Mommy.

Methodical equals success.

So does impulsive.

And now … back to the children’s Easter baskets. Yum.

Arkie Mama: Help me

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Am cowering in a closet, listening to loud banging noises coming from one of the children’s bedrooms, where they are busily constructing a weapon of mass destruction.

Really, though, I can’t imagine what’s left to destroy. The living room looks like a toy bomb went off in it. Our long hallway has been elaborately boobytrapped, with scores of plastic GIs waiting to puncture my feet.And Tootie’s room? We will not speak of its condition. It is simply too terrifying.

Now on our second snow day, the children are bored. They are stalking me.

One keeps yelling, “Let’s do the Bobblehead!” before vigorously shaking my head back and forth. The other wants me to help her find a teensy stuffed animal that she thinks was most recently under the tent she made in the living room. Am convinced she wants me to enter the tent, where further torture awaits. By an impressive array of armed and dangerous Pet Shops.

Awhile ago, I called a fellow mama and told her my children were out to get me. She told me that her son’s ADHD medicine ran out right before the snow fell.

My back is still killing me. The children sense my weakness. The only safe place in the house is the coat closet, which is where Hubs will find me upon his return, huddled among the jackets and his musty-smelling hunting gear. If he does not have Chocovine for me, I will tell him he is responsible for catching the children and wrangling them into the bathtub and bed. Must now send out a plea for help on Facebook.

Arkie Mama: One party down, two to go!

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Today we celebrated Tootie’s birthday a little early. She invited three girlfriends to go out for pizza. Then we returned to the house — which was adorably decorated by my friend Amy Upshaw — where we ate cake, opened presents, etc…

Hubs hasn’t toned the photos yet, so the colors are a little off, but you get the idea …

Cute party sign by Amy

Amy decorated while we were eating pizza. (Banner is her design.) Tootie was quite surprised upon our return.

Cake by Tracie Rich. Yum.

From left: E-man, Tootie, Jada, Rebecca, Olivia

Birthday girl.

BFF Olivia

Moody Mom's Bear, aka Rebecca

And here's Jada, who celebrated 7 in November

The E-man was perhaps a tad too muc into the present-opening.

Pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey princess/diva style.

After three perfect tail-pinnings, we realized the girls were peeking!

We had such a good time. The girls played, the E-man made the most of being a pesky little brother and the mamas had some much-needed girls-afternoon-out time.

And many, many thanks to Amy for such darling decorations. Tootie wore her hat well into the evening and is already insisting that Amy “do” her party next year.

Next up: The E-man turns 5. Then I turn 40. (Not sure whether those pictures will be fit to publish. Heh.)

And now, back to my Chocovine.

Arkie Mama: Snow & ice

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The little people in this household have had a glorious few days.

Day One: Yay! Snow!!

Bulldozing a trail

Snowballs!

Deciding on their next victim.

Deciding on their next victim.

Sledding, redneck-style.

Why, hello, Randy! Where's Chevy?

Of course, not everyone was so pleased to see the white stuff.

The Very Reluctant Snow Shepherd

I am not leaving my doggie bed for the not-so-great outdoors. You cannot budge me.

$*#%&*%$!!!!!

Arkie Mama: Daddy/Mama dancing for Wordless Wednesday

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This year, Hubs and I are participating in the father/daughter and mother/daughter routines for Tootie’s dance recital. And so are Moody Mom and her hubby.

First, I have to say that Hubs is a marvelous dancer, so his routine has been moving along nicely. As for me? Well, I can dance by myself, but I’m finding it difficult to lead my daughter, especially when it comes to twirling her.

Here’s a sampling from last Saturday. The men’s dance is “My Girl” and the women’s is “Respect.”

Music starts. Hubs is the guy in the black shirt.

Music begins. Hubs is in the black shirt.

Men walk along in jivey fashion, snapping their fingers.

Now the men walk out, snapping their fingers and veering left and right.

Little girls scamper out to join their daddies.

The girls scamper out to join their daddies.

The dip.

The dip.

A twirl.

A twirl.

The kiss. Each time they did this, the E-man yelled, "BLECH!"

The kiss. Which prompted the E-man to yell, "BLECH!"

Fancy stepping.

Fancy footwork.

Another dip. If he tried this with me, I would either fall or otherwise incapacitate myself.

Another dip.

Finishing with flair.

Finishing with flair.

OK, moving on. You’ll note that Moody Mom and I had a bit more trouble mastering our dance. By the end, we were laughing so hard it’s a wonder we didn’t trip over our children.

Note my concentration and Tootie's uncertainty.

Note my focus and Tootie's skepticism.

Moody Mom and I attempt the footwork.

This isn't too bad.

The E-man finally stopped yelling, "Blech!"

The E-man finally quit yelling, "Blech!"

I have absolutetly no idea what the child is doing. His father was supposed to be watching him.

Oh, look, somebody's child isn't behaving.

Trying to dance while your other child is writhing around on the floor is quite difficult.

I wonder who he belongs to?

This is the part where the daughters are supposed to look like teenagers while we shake our fingers and pop our hips.

Here's the part where we all show "attitude."

Oops.

Oops.

Something went awry here.

Something clearly went awry here.

Moody Mom and I cannot stop laughing.

Meanwhile, our children beg for mercy.

For more entertainment (and photos) drop by Moody Mom’s. Note she did not include any pictures of herself!

For more Wordless Wednesday posts from our other Little Rock Mamas, go here:

Family Way

Baby & the Beasts

Blessed Mom

Hugs & Kisses

Mom on a Wire

Arkie Mama: First haircut Wordless Wednesday

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Today, our Little Rock Mamas bloggers are posting first-haircut photos. Some will reflect docile, accepting children. Others … well, not so much.

Tootie, my oldest, was among the docile. But the E-man …

The little guy didn’t get his first haircut until age 2. In fact, he was bald for so long that when he did start growing hair, I couldn’t imagine ever cutting it, especially when it started curling into ringlets.

 

My baby has hair!

My baby has hair!

At one point, however, I had to concede that my child had developed a mullet.

 

See?

See? A little humidity and the curls went pppht.

So, reluctantly, I took the little man in for his first haircut. By the end, Hubs had to put down his camera and hold onto a thrashing E-man.

 

The prep

The prep

"I have serious doubts about this, Mommy."

"I have serious doubts about this, Mommy."

The struggle begins.

The struggle begins.

"I will remember this and hold it against you."

"I will remember this and hold it against you."

For more Wordless Wednesday, go here:

Mom on a Wire

Family Way

Baby & the Beasts

Moody Mom

Blessed Mom

She’s Crafty

Hugs & Kisses

 

 

 

Arkie Mama: A shoutout to my stepson

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Today, Ty graduated from the Coast Guard Training Academy. And I’m so proud of him!

It’s hard to believe that the 9-year-old kid I met in 2000 is now an adult. It’s also hard to imagine my stepson without his hair!

Anyway, congratulations, Ty!

Now let’s take a trip down memory lane, shall we?

Totally humoring dad's request to take a photo.

Totally humoring dad's request to take a photo.

From left, Tootie, CeCe, E-man, Ty

From left, Tootie, CeCe, E-man, Ty

Spring break 2005 in San Antonio

Spring break 2005 in San Antonio

See why I can't imagine him without hair?

See why I can't imagine him without hair?

Brothers

Brothers

This is one of my favorite photos.

This is one of my favorite photos.

Big Dam Bridge

Big Dam Bridge

And now he's headed for the mighty Mississip

And now he's headed for the mighty Mississip