December 2015 Pics

ZJ was upset one day so IJ drew her whatever she wanted to cheer her up - a unicorn on a rainbow with hearts.


Both kids had their holiday programs on the same day.




ZJ had her first professional haircut. I took her to the person who has cut my hair for about 10 years.


We had a nice zoo trip over the break.








We went on an evening walk to check out the lights in our neighborhood.


We went to Austin to see my cousins and have a little fun. The kids went ice skating for the first time.












My kids are weird. I turned back to see IJ smelling ZJ's hair as he likes to do.

November 2015 Pics

IJ's Fall soccer team (minus a couple kids).

ZJ had a slackline set up during the camping theme at school.


Every Friday ZJ stays later and listens to storytelling and a puppet show.


Nurse ZJ took the staple out of IJ's head.


ZJ and her friend at a cold and rainy soccer game.


Just like her mama, petting a hissing cockroach.


School dress up.


Storybook parade at IJ's school.




ZJ attended her first drum circle with her new drum.


ZJ attended Thanksgiving camp and became friends with a preK student at her school who has also had open heart surgery. This friend actually has a heart transplant.


IJ attended the camp one day and read a thanksgiving book to all the kids.






IJ holding a pic of his daddy.

October 2015 Pics

One of the dads brought his guitar to school and Z loved it.

ZJ fell asleep in the stroller a couple times after picking up IJ from school. I've had to give her an earlier bed time since school wears her out.




The kids wore their costumes to IJ's school carnival.










We are still helping IJ's kindergarten teacher from last year with her class garden. The zinnias we planted in May are still blooming.




We also went to the carnival at ZJ's school.


I'm reading the 14 book Oz series to the kids.








ZJ got her clothes dirty at school one day and I found her with this shirt on. We both thought it was silly.


One night I checked on the kids and they were both sleeping in the same position.




The day before Halloween IJ was playing with ZJ and hit his head on the coffee table. It left a deep gash and he had to get a staple in his head at urgent care. He was a super patient as usual.


Once IJ and NJ got home from urgent care, we put the kids to bed and got ready for the costume party we were attending that night.


Halloween!

ZJ's 4th birthday celebrations

ZJ's actual birthday happened to be my work day at her school so I was able to spend the morning with her and NJ decided to take the morning off to spend time with her too. He stayed the entire morning with her and got to experience her school day.

ZJ's school celebrates birthdays by presenting a fake, reusable birthday cake while the children sing "happy birthday." They also get to wear a crown all day at school and take it home.


Then the 3 of us went out to lunch.


ZJ had her favorite, avocado rolls and ate 2 entire orders.


That evening we had chocolate chip pancakes for dinner and gave ZJ gifts from our family. NJ and I surprised her with her new mermaid bed, including the purple quilt, new pillows and a handmade, custom mermaid doll. IJ gave her a mermaid puzzle.


The following Saturday we had another celebration with NJ's parents and I made a chocolate ice cream cake for ZJ.




She ate that entire giant slice with no problem.


The following day we had yet another birthday celebration. This one was the birthday "party" as far as ZJ was concerned. We invited her friend and her friend's brother. The brother is in IJ's class and ZJ has become friends with his sister from playing at their brothers' soccer games. They gave ZJ a stroller and a baby doll, we had a tea party and I painted both girls' toenails.