Emma's First Haircut

Emma got her first haircut! I have held off because she needed it trimmed but I also needed it to be long enough to pull out of her face. But, now that 2 is approaching, I thought we were there. She was such a trooper. She hated that we buckled her in. I think she thought I was going to leave her but once she got a lollipop she was fine. Hey, I am not above bribery! The guy who cut her hair even braided it all up for her so she could look like a princess and let me tell you---she loved it.

We got home and Luke kept telling Emma she looked like Cinderella so they decided to put on their skirts (yes, even Luke) and he ran to my closet to get shoes for both of them. It was so cute! I know his days of dressing up like this are numbered so I had to take a pic. He was so cute and was so excited that they both looked like Cinderella.

The place we went is for kids, which is great because Jack and Luke were also entertained. Luke immediately found a Buzz Lightyear toy, which he was quick to tell me, was cooler than the one he has. Needless to say, once Emma was done, it was meltdown city trying to get Luke out of there. So, I escaped on the promise of getting our Buzz Lightyear costume over the weekend. Today, we went in search of Buzz and Luke thinks he won the lottery. We have been wearing it all day. I may regret that we bought it this early. He even fell asleep in it which is not going to happen tonight so I expect a big battle at bed time and for school tomorrow (say a little prayer for me). At least Scott is home so I have forewarned that he gets to be the heavy:) As I said in my last post...Luke has his favorites and we are going to wear and play with those things until something better comes along!

A Few of My Favorite Things...

So, I know I have said that Luke LOVES his jeep, but good golly! He really loves it. I am learning that Luke at age 3 really has some opinions. When he has a favorite, it is really his favorite. So, green is Luke's favorite color. We went shopping for some fall clothes and HAD to have a green shirt, which we found. He wants to wear it every day. And not just wear the green shirt, he wants to wear it with his green shorts and green shoes. HMMM, well, that is not going to happen but try explaining why a green jumpsuit isn't going to work to a 3 year old. We typically settle on one piece of green a day. Lucky for me, I have been able to convince that olive can count as green.

And when we went shopping, we bought him a new sweat jacket for fall. There was no green so we settled on red (like Jack has). Luke had to wear it right then and there. Every time he sees it he wants to wear it. So, nevermind that it is 85-90 degrees outside...Luke will probably be in a long-sleeved green t-shirt and/or a red jacket.

Yesterday we had to ride our jeep and I went out and he is zipped and hood on etc. He was bright red because it was so hot but he did not care. He insists it is cool so..whatever works for him. But I chuckled because Emma will ride next to him in her sundress and is also so hot and he is dressed like Winter Wilma. It was really cute and he thinks he looks so cool!

Now, Emma will ride next to Luke in the jeep but only for a few minutes. She is very much a "I Do It" kind of girl. So, we pretty much go through every scooter, bike, big wheel etc on any given day. Who cares that she can't pedal, she is going to scooch all the way down the street. She can hang and I love that about her!

Cher!

Today I had work meetings all day. The meetings were good but it was one of those where I had 50 people all asking questions and I was trying to answer them without making any of our top exhibitors mad and keeping them all happy. So, I think I did a good job of dancing  around the tough questions and managed to survive after 8 hours completely unscathed but ready for a drink! Even they were laughing at me by the end and were trying to take it easy on me. I felt like a Secret commercial "Never let 'em see you sweat" (or Arrid Extra Dry or Dry Idea or whatever it is..not the Secret commercial where the girl walks around high fiving strangers in NY--I can't stand that one). 

Tonight, we took them all to see Cher. I like Cher but I would never pay $150 to go see her myself. It was FANTASTIC! She had a gazillion costume changes (someone said 17) and sang for 2 hours. The dancers were fantastic and the show had so many videos of her younger years (she's 62), clips of Sonny and Cher etc. It truly was worth the ticket price. And let me tell you...she still looks amazing! If you get the chance, go see her. 

Meanwhile, back at home, Scott had Mr. Mom duty and did great. He got them all to school and picked up and then even managed to make it to Jack's back to school night. I was pretty impressed. And yes, I do it all the time and it shouldn't be different for a man, but no matter who you are, if you aren't the one doing it all the time...it takes a lot. I at least have plenty of practice. Anyway, he was walking into Metro and Luke wets his pants. Uh oh. So Scott calls and says, "Please tell me you have a change of clothes in the car because this was not an oops, I need to pee, it is a oops, I went". Well, long story short, the change of clothes is in Luke's bag and he brought Emma's so...he had to reload everyone back in the car and go to Wal-Mart to buy pants for Luke, then back to school for all the festivities. I totally feel his pain which I think is why I am writing about how great Scott is and how much I appreciate what a good Dad he is. 

On the note of this blog. I have no idea why some paragraphs are space and a half and others are single spaced. I am sure it is in the html coding and I have seen the coding but for some reason now that I am trying to fix it, I can't find it. So...just ignore it and know I do realize it is messed up but a girl can only do so much and this is waaaaayyyy down on my list:)

Tomorrow I head home and am really looking forward to some hugs and kisses!! I have enjoyed the break and it is good to get away but there is no place like home!

Viva Las Vegas

It's been a few days since I have written so I am sorry. Saturday morning Scott and I boarded a plane for Vegas. I have a work meeting here on Monday and Tuesday so Scott and I came to Vegas for a few days of an adult vacation! it was much needed and went way to fast! Saturday we just watched football, played and went to Rao's for dinner. It was fantastic! Sunday, I went shopping and we spent the rest of the day watching football, playing and just running around Vegas. We went to dinner on Sunday night with some of my co-workers and I think it may have been the nicest restaurant I have ever been in! It was fantastic, off the strip but at another big hotel/casino I had never heard of. Michael's was the name of the restaurant and it has apparently been in Vegas for years and frequented by some of the biggest names in Vegas and beyond. Our dinner captain (and yes, we had a captain), had many stories to share with us. When we were finished, we saw Flav a Flav--and if you know him, then you will appreciate that he was wearing his clock! He's a famous rapper and has a reality show on MTV. Someone tried to take a pic with their iphone and Flav says "if you don't have a flash, I won't show up". I died laughing. That was really funny to me!

Scott left yesterday and I am still here working. Tonight we are taking a group to see Cher, which should be fun. I hear she has 17 costume changes--WOW! My parents helped with the kids and we left them with a sitter one night (that was a first). Everyone did great and without Whitney and my parents help, we could not have come so we appreciate that! Scott is playing Mr. Mom today and tomorrow until I get home and I am sure he is doing great but bet he will be glad when I get home! I am enjoying the break from home but sure do miss my kids and can't wait to get some hugs and kisses! Maybe tonight I will strike it rich, but I'm not betting on it!

There's a Sharpie on the loose!

So last night I was helping Jack with a book report and science project. I checked on Emma and Luke often because one never knows what they'll get into. But, we finished printing so I walk into the kitchen to find Emma sitting on the countertop with her back to me. As I approach, I see that she has taken the lid off of the glue and poured it everywhere. Emma thinks this is great and she says "Look Mommy!" All the while, smearing the glue about on the granite and rubbing it all over her cute dress and once clean hair. So, I strategically wipe up glue, pick her up and horror of all horrors, I find a Sharpie lid. HMMMM...there is Sharpie on her hand, there is Sharpie all over the glue bottle, but there is no Sharpie anywhere in my kitchen. Now Emma is a climber but once she gets up that high, she can't get down. So, Jack and I search high and low and no Sharpie. 

Still no Sharpie. I am sure it is bleeding somewhere in my house but at this point my only hope is that it dries up quick! If I were smart, I would have taken a pic of her, but at that point I was in recovery mode and not thinking of the blog!

Family Fun!

Labor Day weekend in Houston was great fun and lots of fun with family. Friday night, Amanda found a sitter and all the adults went out. We went to a great steak house and out for drinks. Fran picked the wine and it was fantastic although Jerry might have wished she didn't go for the waiter's first suggestion:)  The kids all just loved playing together...and taking baths together. I love this pic and am pretty sure there are some of the Carona girls and Altimores that are very similar laying around somewhere!

Saturday, we spent so time with Jeff, Kate, Sean and Charlotte and that was fun. We went to their house for swimming and cook out.  Jack and Sean had a great time and

 got to spend the night together. We were able to give Charlotte a birthday present in person (which has not ever happened before) and we just all hung out and played. For Luke, the highlight came when Aunt Kate and Uncle Bobby said he could have Sean's old jeep. Luke was in hog heaven! When we got it to Mandi's, he sat in it for hours. It couldn't drive because it was charging but he didn't care. He just sat there in the heat and smiled and pretended to drive. He was so excited because it is green and that is his favorite color. Scott says we'll see this again when Luke gets his first real car.

Sunday, Mandi had a party at her house. It was all of us visiting from Tulsa, Aunt Raini & Eric, Jacque and Steve (who was very nice, BTW), Jarod, Katherine, Jeff, Sean and Charlotte. The kids swam all day and Paki smoked a brisket and turkey. It was fantastic and a great way to end the weekend. Just food, fun and....(take a guess and listen to the music)...you guessed it, family.

And you know what they say about house guests and fish. I am pretty sure we started to stink by Sunday night. We got up early Monday and made the voyage home. We enjoyed every minute and were so glad we got to spend time with all of our Texas family! We look forward to seeing them all again over Thanksgiving (if not sooner, hint hint!)