first season

First year of soccer for Theo is in the books.

Lots of hilarious antics as four and five year-olds stormed the field every Saturday.

There were side games of Star Wars, tag and who can do a cartwheel being played at any given time.

Water breaks were when ever someone decided to get up and leave the field.  Parents took turns pointing kids in the right direction, constantly reminding them to stand up, and not to pick up the ball.

You scored two goals: one that was in the wrong net and the other was from mid-field...

it slowly rolled past all the other backfield players - who were playing a game of what looked like freeze tag - that by the time in went in, none of the kids were paying attention.  It was technically an assisted goal, because it bounced off another kids foot, but she was trying to do a flip and not looking in the direction of the ball at all.  But I give you full credit.

It was a great first season.

getting sauced

My Eva has been having some big emotions lately, especially when things don't go the way she thinks they should.   It is hard to be 6 and especially hard to be the oldest kiddo.  I know.

So Eva and I are in her room talking it out.  Working through a bad morning and trying to get the day back on track.  Theo and Helena were playing in the living room.  I could hear them.  A little giggle now and then, but no yelling or crying.  Things seemed to be going well.  

A little too well I guess.  Because then things were really, really quiet for way too long. 

I should have know things were going too well...

An entire, very full bottle of chocolate sauce.  It was everywhere.  The couch had puddles and the floor had footprints.  They were covered head to toe.  Helena's head had so much sauce that when Theo would put his hand on her head she would literally stick to him.

It took 4 bath towels to clean up the couch and floor.  I still keep finding sticky spots.

Good news, as Theo said, "Mommy we just taste so good!" as I was telling him to stop licking his sister.  And it make pulled Eva out of her bad mood, she laughed until she cried... eventually I did too.

Four

Happy Happy Birthday Theo!!!

Wow buddy!
I seriously can't believe you're four years old,
but you are so awesome at being four - I think it is the greatest age ever.
You crawled into bed last night because "daddy was gone and I was alone."
So awesome that you are worried about me.

And the Minion shirt.
I think I need a uniform of them to keep you happy.
Kevin is your favorite and it is so cute how you know their names.  

You are such a little man now.

So kind, so curious and so loving.

Your big heart and sideways grin slays me everytime.  

Happy Four Years Little Man.

All our love.

Ballet

First ballet recital.

The freckles were killing me.

And Theo choose his Aunt Carri's lap for his nap during the show...

sketty and edits

We found the magic cure that keeps Theo in his seat at dinner...

Spagetti

He loves it and I have no clue were he put the four huge helpings that he scarfed down.  He was shoveling it in so fast that we were reminding him to breath between bites.  He only stopped long enough to tell us a few times, "I really like sketty.  Sketty is good."

The last few months have been good ones.  After taking a two month unintended break, I thought it was time to get back to keeping some memories and pictures here on the blog again.  I even dusted off my big girl camera and used it instead of my phone for once.  I have been trying to edit things down a bit around here, but I decided the blog isn't going to be one of those things.  

I did however delete Facebook off my phone and that one is gone for good.

little engineer

While Eva is in school and Helena is napping - it is mommy and Theo time.  

We play cars, build garages, or he loves to help me with laundry.  He is a great basket dumper.

While I was folding and putting a load away he had built the "huggest" tower ever.

I think he described it just right... it was huge!

spider girl

We watched the Spider Man movie and they are fans.

And somehow when they act it out - all of their mannerisms turn into grown up ones. 

Keep it up and slow it down little ones.

frozen

Waffles are a hit at our house.  Not homemade - although I tried and tried - no the Trader Joe's Multi-grain frozen delights are their favorite.  Maple syrup, peanut butter, and always a winner - Nutella.  For the lat few months however, Theo has been begging for us not to cook them.  Every time we would go to stick them in the toaster, he would be crying out, "No, No please don't cook it!!!"  We never listened, because obviously he has no idea what he is asking for...right?

The onther morning after many pleas and and full out tantrum happened - Michael decided to call his bluff and give him the rock hard frozen waffle for breakfast.

And Theo ate it... happily.  "Yummy!"  He even thanked us.

explorer

Mr. Theodore - your first day of preschool.

You were so excited to get back to school.  Especially after a week of dropping your sister off, watching her get on a huge yellow bus and heading back to our boring house - I couldn't blame you one bit.

All of the sudden you looks so much like a little boy.  The baby cheeked face is all gone.  So is the diapered baby bum.  This summer you potty trained us all little man.  It was a long ride, but we got here. 

You had a great first week as a Explorer.  We love you Mr. Theo. 

Eva and Theo

Since we have been back from vacation it seems like time has been on hyperspeed.  Vacation - The Bixlers go RVing - was so much fun and I am wading through the hundreds of photos and trying to get them in some kind of order.

After almost 2 weeks of uninterrupted parent time, no bedtimes, and all fun all day - it took awhile to adjust.  (Enter tantrums and 4:00 am wake-ups.)  But now that the dust has settled we are trying to soak up the last bits of summer... because on Friday Eva will be an official kindergartener.

She is excited.  Very, very EXCITED!  After her orientation yesterday said, "Mom, I am really big now aren't I?  Really big and really cool."  Yes, you are really big and really cool.

Eva and Theo have been thick as thieves lately.  Everything they do - they are doing it together.  From playing cars, princesses, being Mr. and Mrs. Incredible and even plotting against mommy to get on the kitchen counters looking for suckers.  They introduce each other to their friends and I catch them holding hands when they think I am not looking.

So as much as I know Friday is going to be an emotional one for me, my mommy heart breaks for Mr. Theo.  He is going to be a little lost without his big sister and especially his best friend.

three

Mr. Theodore

Three years old.

Dear Sir, you are our force.

You bring the chaos, the light and the life to every moment of everyday.

The most loving guy in the whole world - you give hugs and kisses as you run by and then apologize for the thrown elbow or knees that land as you thunder through.

A true bruiser with a heart of gold.

Happy Birthday Dear Sir.

We love you to pieces.

his boots

Theo really likes his new rainboots. He's now worn them for a few naps and insisted on them for bedtime last night.  At around 2 in the morning, I think he had a nightmare and woke up screaming.  As I rocked him back to calm, I slipped his boots off while I sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  When I laid him down almost fully asleep, his little arm shot up and then pointed at his feet - "my boots please." So I slid them back on.

home cuts

In March I cut his curls off.  While Thomas the Train was on and he ate 3 suckers.

The Theo pompadour will return to see another day I am sure.   

evidence: pandas

The pandas in our house clearly are underfed and love maple syrup.

(They are also silent ninjas that have figured out how to climb baby gates.)

pretend boss

Eva told Theo, 

"Today, you can pretend to be the boss.  You tell me what cutter to use and what shapes to make.  Alright, now tell me to roll out the dough and to use the this cutter, okay?"

evidence: party rice

Someone tried rice and liked it.  For its taste and best of all... its similarities to confetti.

"It's a party!"

a month

One month ago the world outside looked like this.  Today it is 65 degrees and sunny.  Amazing how much can change in a month.

On this day, Theo was helping his daddy shovel our driveway. He worked hard.  Harder than I would to be sure.  No breaks and he wouldn't stop.  No, mama I finish, I finish.  Red cheeks and a runny nose, he worked on.  

This head-strong, stubborn little guy's personality can sometimes drive me nuts.  When he won't stop climbing or running through the house with his mouth full of food... sometimes I think might loose my mind.  But watching him use his the things that make me crazy to work so hard - I definitely don't want to forget this. My dedicated hard working little guy.

Because a month went by and I blogged once, I am going to do my best to catch up and blog everyday in April.  It was Julia's idea and I thank her for it.  

now a preschooler

Theo's first day of preschool.  He ran in and hid so we couldn't make him leave.  He has been tortured every time we drop off his sister - all the rooms with chairs and tables his size.  And then there were the toys - bins and bins of blocks, cars, play food and magnetic letters.

There were no tears shed, except maybe mine as I stalked him through the window in the parking lot.  (Theo is in the orange shirt.) Watching him play and be such a big guy brought on the misty eye.  Then seeing him sitting down - at a table - not climbing on it - working on a project with all the other kids brought on a full size tear or two.

evidence: coffee break

Still trying to figure out how they made it in there.

him and her

Showing her all about legos and cars.