Obedience

(until there's time to catch up)

It’s a big deal to me. Had the privilege (and I do mean that word….regardless of my mood and temper at the moment) lately of teaching a two year old obedience…and its importance?Is it a big deal that EB climbed the stairs [albeit safely] when she KNEW that it was against the rules? Probably not. However, it is important to me to discipline her as we travel further down this little road of life together. It is SO important to me that she LOVE the Lord her God with all of her heart, soul and mind, be respectful to/of others, that she loves all people, etc. etc. etc…. For me, obedience is a key ingredient in the overall picture. Geez, it can be so hard. The first time I saw her sitting in timeout at school, it BROKE my heart…She wasn’t being “obedient” to her precious teachers. I may or may not have shed a tear. There are times, I will admit, that right smack dab in the middle of a tense moment, she shoots me a look, kills me with her honesty, or diverts her eyes SO severely that I just laugh… I do not recommend it. A look into a likely conversation (a minor infraction):

The scene: After climbing the stairs while I was getting dinner ready and Jason was changing clothes:


Me: EB, please come here right now (after hearing her jumping on the trampoline from upstairs)!
EB: (timidly walking to the top of the stairs) Hey mommy.
Me: EB, did mommy or daddy help you up the stairs?
EB: [emphatically] THEY.DID.NOT. (as if it was our wrongdoing and not hers)

Hey…at least she’s honest. Well, for today.

I would like to pick God’s brain for about five minutes…You know, like a Barbara Walters interview. I have to think as He ordered EB’s steps and the plan for her life He laughed REALLY hard thinking of us [and her] as she entered the twos-oh the looks we get…ohhh, the facial expressions of Evie Black. I’m grateful that He trusts me to train her up in the way she should go (although, I’m pretty sure I fail MISERABLY on an hourly basis)…I’m grateful that I have been entrusted with her life (THANK GOODNESS I have Jason Black by my side).. I am just plain grateful, but wow….the challenge….and patience, but OHHH the unconditional love (on His part and ours)!

What to do when you're iced in?

All of this, of course! We got to spend two lovely days last week "iced" in...all together. It was trying for a child who would LIVE, SLEEP and EAT outside if I would simply allow her.

Calendar girl

My car said 22 degrees this morning. I’m gonna branch out and say I trust what she tells me. With that being said, you can imagine my shock when I had an email from Zulily (PSA: You should REALLY check it out if you have wee ones. They have AWESOME sales. Santa found it to be QUITE resourceful) at the crack of dawn with bathing suits on sale. GASP! I have on like three layers as my whole body is contorted over my heater…how can I look at bathing suits?

To be QUITE honest, blog readers, I’m thankful EB has such a cute belly and squeezable thighs (still! Thank goodness) because she’s about the only Black that I want to see in an itsy bitsy teeny weenie yellow polka dot bikini at this point in the year. So, while I won’t allow myself to peruse the bathing suit section just yet, I had NO problem plucking one right off their sale page for $12. She is one step closer to a beach chair, umbrella…and a frosty [V8 Splash] toddler toddy wouldn't you say?!

Fa la la la la

Here it is 2011 and I’m discussing Christmas.

To be brief, I’ll tell you this: 1. We had the best day, despite changing some traditions. 2. Evie was a BLAST. 3. We had a “white” Christmas. 4. We got to spend LOTS of time together over some MUCH needed vacation days.

For time sake, here ya go....a recap in pictures. In NO particular order:

Millie made the situation better....Nothing a few beads and.......an Artic Cat can't fix. If only I (and my garage)was kidding.

That's my girl! I love a rule follower. Get that helmet, girl.

Lock up your sons, it may be a LONG summer.

"Did you tell my mom about these...."

Getting ready for those visions of sugar plums to dance in her head....

Claysus the Elf came to help out Jolly ol' Saint Nick... I thought stuff was pre-tested in Santa's workshop ahead of time?

Allow me to interrupt this post….. This was a GREAT investment, moms out there. Evie LOVES this contraption (as do my GROWN neighbors and brother, but that’s another story). Hey, don’t EVEN worry about not having space for it because it’s running RIGHT through the middle of my living room. We won't be making the cover of Pottery Barn any time in 2011.

A southern girl has to love her elephants! ROLL TIDE!

Merry Christmas from the Blacks! Hope your CHRISTmas season was full of all things precious and dear in your life!

The family portrait

Taking EB to see Santa was similar to my first roller coaster experience. My dad took me to Six Flags and talked a big game about the “Scream Machine.” I was so excited because I was rather adventurous and maybe slightly on the tomboy side. However, when I got in line and saw “the hill” I remember having a mild panic attack………Fast forward 20+ years later with me standing in line with my child after building Santa up for a good several days and she was FIRED UP!

UNTIL…..
…He emerged from some random door. I thought I would be “wise” and walk her around to where she could watch the scene and be familiar wit hit. All in hopes that she would sashay her little self up there, tell the man she wanted Thomas (OF COURSE), get an adorable picture, she could ride the carousel for being good and we’d be done with the mall for the rest of the month.

FALSE! FALSE! FALSE! SISTER GIRL clung to her dad as if Santa would soon feed her to the reindeer. AND....There was me, “Jason! Just put her down. She’ll be fine. PUT HER DOWN AND LET’S GET THIS PICTURE.” I never said I was SUPER sensitive.
Fast forward again…….. Here is her our Santa 2010 picture…. AN ENTIRE FAMILY PORTRAIT WITH SANTA! This is what I get……Good thing I was dressed and not in my typical weekend way. Wouldn’t you know, after the fact, the little one got brave and wanted to go back and tell him one more thing……. So, I’m sorry to the family who had a two year old dart into their family moment with Santa to tell him “one more thing.”

Overtime

I’d like to know who thought of the elf phenomenon. Also, I’d like to know why they thought that was a good idea. I bet it was a grandparent…Aha!! As an attempt to spoil that precious grandchild just a TAD more and make momma lose her last bit of Christmas spirit, a grandmother, nonetheless, came up with the elf. That grandma is probably sitting fat and happy in front of her fireplace because those things may be more popular than the fat ol’ jolly guy himself.

Last year our elf appeared on our doorstep after Christmas. She got there by the help of our dear neighbors. Do not misunderstand, for that I’m grateful, it’s just the phenomenon as a whole that baffles me. Since she arrived post-Christmas, I tucked her away (both mentally and physically). She jumped out at me this year as I unpacked a box. Thusly, the conversation began with JB Clark regarding our own “family elf.” Within reason (quite frankly there is a fine line between celebrating these secular things and that of the REAL, true reason we celebrate Christmas and every other day of the year), we introduced our new family elf to EB. It took her several days to pin down a name. I called her “elf” and EB had a hard time understanding why her name couldn’t just be that, “ELF!” Anyway, she’s an endearing creature with her orange hair, so we went with “Wooocy.” In adult terms, that would be “Lucy.” So, there began the adventures of “Lucy the Elf.”

SIGH.

Lucy is still an elf in training, or so I tell myself. She is simply around to watch and listen and report Evie’s behavior to Santa. She appears in the darndest places and watches Evie from her perch…whatever and wherever that perch may be. With that said, Lucy has been working overtime this year….just in time for the “terrific” twos. These speak quite plainly for themselves, but I'm sure my opinion will be thrown in...

Evie feeds Gus as her "chore." Woocy is a friendly reminder that GB's belly is likely as empty as his bowl.

Stage fright? It's ok, Woocy doesn't care about adults tee teeing, just EB.

I'm not one of my favorite things, but I liked this picture of us.

There ya have it. Our little Christmas elf who has had to work EXTRA hard this year.

Tis the season to be thankful

It seems like a year ago, but we gave thanks and enjoyed it. Evidently I had some pre-season eggnog (or something) and thought it would be a good idea to not only do Thanksgiving at my house, but to also cook the dressing. GET BACK! No one got food poisoning, to my knowledge, and it turned out well.
The HasenBlackSanderson 2010 Thanksgiving in pictures:

And then the tryptophan kicked in.... and our brains made our bodies do weird things...

Like play weird games...GUESS WHO?

His hair is longer, wavier (?) and much fuller than mine. I was slightly jealous and not thankful.

Jason is jealous as well....he longs for long, wavy locks...or just locks period.

The tryptophan didn't do its tricks with this little lady...

She learned very lady-like gestures instead...

And...before this day was over, this pair earned a new nickname: Claysus and his disciple. It fits. This Thanksgiving EB was thankful for cornbread (her favorite) and her "Unc Cay."

And.....this fellow was UNIMPRESSED by the day overall. So much so that he did not even lick the crumbs that are beside him on the floor (MY OCD IS NOW KICKING INTO HIGH GEAR).