vegas, baby

We have arrived.

After a full day of travel prep and travel itself, with two little lovelies, we finally arrived.  It's 7:30 am here, but I feel like it's 10:30.  It's new and weird.

All in all, things went pretty well.  I told myself all day that I was going to be the cool, calm, collected mom with two little kids at the airport.  I figured if I made that my mantra it would be more likely to come true, and I actually think it helped a little.  Throw up in the car?  No big deal.  Hannah running from the line at the airport?  I've got this, as Hannah has learned to say.  Wiggle worm on the plane because she can't find a comfy spot on my lap?  No worries - I'll just jiggle and move her around until she falls asleep out of sheer exhaustion.  I was rather impressed with myself.

So anyway, back to our travels...

I think I just keep getting better and better at packing.  This time when we loaded the car, we could actually see out the back window and there weren't bags around all of our feet:)  I came up with a system so that I wouldn't get carried away with outfits, and I kept the numbers of how many items of a certain kind to bring the same for each of us.  It was very helpful.  And now Jack is old enough to pick out his own clothes and count his items as well - so that was wonderful.  Once things were packed, I had to quickly shuffle them out of sight before Hannah had a chance to unpack.  Very typical!

Jack was also a super-big helper in that he straightened up the downstairs, the playroom, and his bedroom before we left, so we'll get to come home to a clean and tidy house.  I love that.

On our travels to the airport, poor Hannah Bear got sick.  Twice.  Since this is the second time this has happened to us while traveling, I'm going to go ahead and say that Hannah gets carsick.  Very unfortunate.  However, now that I've recognized a pattern - next time I'll be more prepared.  Plastic bags, bibs, and changes (yes, multiple) of clothes are necessary.  That girl's a trooper though, I'll tell you what.  Just a little whimpering, and a sad face, and then she'd be fine.  Stopping on the side of the road to undress and clean a tiny tot and unpack/repack necessary supplies all while remaining cool, calm, and collected?  I felt like Wonder Woman.  Just sayin'.

Once we made it to the airport, Hannah seemed much better.  The trickiest part for us was figuring out how to get all of our bags to the counter with two umbrella strollers and two car seats, but we did it!  The line to get our tickets was very long, and we were worried we weren't going to make the flight.  So much for a nice, sit-down dinner at the airport.  The kids stayed busy in line, jumping on floor mats and running off.  We decided to let them burn off some of that energy since we knew they'd be cooped up for so long.

Security was a breeze, and luckily our flight was slightly delayed so that we didn't miss it.  We arrived at our gate in time to let everyone go to the bathroom and get some fast food before we started boarding.

Jack and Hannah both did wonderfully on the plane.  They were thrilled during take-off, so I just tried to hide my intense fear.  Having Hannah to snuggle up to was a good thing for me...

Jack watched part of a movie before he fell asleep, and Hannah dozed in and out, but had a hard time getting cozy.  Brad and I took turns holding her.  Five hours is a long time to fly - I don't like it.  When we were landing, Jack was so sound asleep we could barely wake him, and Hannah just couldn't get close enough to the window to look at all the pretty lights.  I'm glad they did so well on the plane - it could've gone much worse.

Grandma and Grandpa picked us up at the airport, and then we headed to our hotel.  We unpacked the kids and got them into their jammies, ate a late-night snack, and went straight to bed.

Hannah is still sleeping, Jack woke up at 5 am Vegas time.

Today we're headed to Comic Con to see if our little man can meet some super heroes, and then we're not sure what's in store.  I can't wait to see all that there is to do!

Hannah Bear and an Early Case of the Terrible Two's

There are three reasons I haven't been back to write about the worst. night. ever. until now:

1) I've been reading The Hunger Games trilogy in rapid succession, and I can't put them down.

2) It was such an exhausting evening, the thought of writing it all down and re-living it, so to speak, seemed daunting.

3) I was hoping it was a fluke.

I can tell you that it definitely was not a fluke.

We are traveling into the terrible two's at a very fast pace with a very willful, determined, and stubborn tiny tot whose smile melts our heart.

{she hi-jacked Dylan's binky}

There doesn't seem to be any way to predict what will cause Hannah's tantrums or how long they will last or how frequently they will occur.  We are at the beck and call of a little girl who has so much to say, but can't clearly communicate everything she's thinking just yet.  Something tells me when she can, we may be in just as much trouble!

I honestly don't remember what caused the many tantrums that occurred that evening last week because since that night, they've occurred every day since, multiple times of day.  

The only part I do remember is that it mainly happened over one of Hannah's favorite dinners: kielbasa, baked beans, and corn.  She was so resilient in her fight, that at one point, she pushed her plate away, stuck her nose up in the air, and defiantly said, "Gross.  I don't like it."

That time it was because I wouldn't let her eat dinner from my lap.

But any other time?

Because she wanted to use different toothpaste.

Because she couldn't reach the book she wanted to read.

Because I wouldn't let her put the lid on her sippy cup.

Because I didn't get the right sippy cup out of the cabinet.

Because we made her hold our hands as we went across the street.

Because I wanted to take a video of the adorable sign language she was using to explain that we were taking Jack to swimming:

And so on.

It's like a minefield around these parts, and we are failing!

Even when she's not full-out throwing herself on the floor and crying, she's standing still, staring, and grunting with discontent every thirty seconds to let you know she's unhappy.

I just keep telling myself, this too shall pass.  

And it will.

But with that too, goes the little girl who says the most adorable (and sometimes, snarky) things as she's learning to talk more and more.

Hannah read to me.  (I want to read.)

Non't do that again, Mommy.  (Don't do that again, Mommy.)

I go tell Mommy on you.  (She said that one to Daddy when he wouldn't let her use a regular glass for her juice.)

Hannah go nap.  (When she's sleepy and wants to be put into bed at night...)

Pick you up.  (When she wants to be carried...)

Hannah come with you.  (When she wants to follow me everywhere, always...)

Hannah do it.  (When she wants to do something for herself...)

Jack took away.  (When Jack retrieves something she has stolen from him...)

Greasy bite you.  (When Gracie or Cuddlebug gives Hannah kisses...)

This little one is tricky, but we love her so, so much.  God help us when she's a teenager.

And so you know we're not exaggerating, we shot of short clip of one of Hannah's tantrums the other night.  This one seemed sparked by the fact I put the cookies she was asking for on the table rather than giving her the container.  We don't typically video her tantrums, but since everything else we've tried doesn't seem to make much difference, we figured it was too good to pass up.  

{Video: Hannah's Temper Tantrum #174}

Wordless Wednesday

worst. night. ever.

details to follow...

but instead of focusing on the fact that we're getting ready to embark on our second round of the terrible two's, focus on these two month photos of Dylan instead.

see?  you're smiling too.

Jack's Birthday Party

We had Jack's fifth birthday party yesterday.  He decided to go with a pirate theme this year, although Jack has already decided that next year he'd like to just have a regular party.  I think he means without a  theme.  He also mentioned he'd like to have it in the backyard.  I told him I think we have plenty of time to plan next year's party...although I'm excited because that should be a lot less expensive!

Jack is lucky to have so many family members that live close enough to come to his every party and friends that come out on the weekend to celebrate with him.

I think he and his friends had a good time yesterday.  There were lots of smiles and laughter, and only a few tears.  Probably to be expected when you're the center of attention and all eyes are on you.  And you embarrass easily.  His little sister enjoyed herself as well:)

Jack received many great gifts - his friends and family know him well.  Some of his favorites this year - Avengers crocs and sheets, a huge, stuffed Spider-man, an Iron Man lego set, a Jake and the Netherland Pirates play set, and a race car stunt garage.

We just can't believe our little man is five years old already!

We love you, Baby Jack.  So, so, so much.

Hannah Bear

Hannah has recently developed a passion for taking off all her clothes, diaper included, shaking her booty, and saying, "Naked baby!"

*****

Tonight, when Hannah heard Daddy was home, she quickly hid under the table and laughed and laughed and laughed.  She thought it was the best hiding spot ever.  Needless to say, he found her pretty quickly:)

*****

I think the terrible twos are arriving a bit early.  Hannah throws a tantrum like you wouldn't believe as soon as she does not get her way.  Uh oh.

Just the other day, she actually said, "No way," to me.  I don't even remember what I asked her to do.  Just that she said, "No way."

She also says, "You're not the boss of me."  Lucky me, she learned that one from Jack saying it to her.  Only now, she uses it on me.

*****

When Hannah gets a craving, she comes up to me, smiles, and says, "Choc-o-lat?"  It literally melts my heart into a puddle.  Girlfriend's got my sweet tooth, and it makes me smile.

Also, when she asks me for a "peesh a candy?"  How do you say no to that?  You don't.  That's how.

*****

When we're driving in the car, and it's too bright, Hannah squints and says, "Shunshine eyes!"  This is also how she asks for her sunglasses:)

Just Jack

Tonight, I got my very first dismissive, "That's cool and all, but..." from my five year old son.

And so it begins.

Silent Sunday

{oh happy day}