menchies with my buddy. shhh don't tell Audrey!

Decision '11

I'm losing points in the mom department, as I don't think I've taken a photo since my last post.  So these are some old ones, from New Year's Eve, although they are new to you!

 

This morning I thought about the kids and some of their distinctive personality traits and a big one that hit me is their decision making style.  Audrey makes a decision and sticks with it.  At Christmas when we asked what she wanted, she told us ponies. Over and over. She told Santa ponies. She told her teachers ponies.  And now for her birthday she's been just as decisive and consistent: ladybugs.  Girlfriend knows what she wants.

Miles, on the other hand, wants to consider his decisions very thoroughly before committing.  He often asks, "Mom, if you were me, which would you pick?" I've already introduced the pro/con lists - choosing between spring soccer & baseball, soccer won.  So we talk through the things he should consider before making a choice: "Well, M&Ms and Reese's cups are both yummy.  Do you want peanut butter or just chocolate?  Which one would last longer?" and so on.  Very funny.

Earth to Nicole...

come in Nicole...   I'm not sure how it got to be Jan 22nd before I posted the first blog of the year, but here we are.  Oh wait, yes I know!  SNOW DAYS!  One would think being stuck in the house for weeks at a time would lead to plenty of blog time, but not for me. Sadly, these are just about the only photos I've taken in the last 3 weeks too.  I know, appalling.

So there was snow.  The kids were out 2 extra days and went short days the rest of the week while the rest of the county continued to thaw.  Here was the view out our back door. 

We were really lame and didn't get out to play in the snow.  We had movie/reading days and had family nap time each day.  Seriously, Miles, me and Audrey all piled in bed and took 2 hour naps.  It was glorious.  We made cookies and muffins and all sorts of goodies (as my jeans will attest) and watched the beautiful snow.  Tuesday afternoon we went to the library and the kids ran around like nuts in the snow.  It looks snowy here, but the roads & driveway were thawed, I promise.

Last weekend we went to Nashville to celebrate Kate's 6th birthday!  The kids had rotating slumber parties, alternating nights for boys or girls to sleep at YaYa's or Aunt Elizabeth's.

And now we're back into the routine, hopeful not to be disturbed by snow days again for a long while!  My class started and it's going to be a lot of work but so much fun.  It covers literature for children so I'll get to read all sorts of fun books.  Of course I have to do papers on all of them,  but that's all right. Miles has already listened to Charlotte's Web and now we've started Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  Keep watch of my GoodReads widget on the right to see what else I've enjoyed.