Dinosaur Day

I promise this will be the last dinosaur post for a while!:)  A couple of weeks ago, we were fortunate enough to have Daddy stay home with us on a Friday.  It was a beautiful day, and I felt like we should take advantage and do something outside.  Last year I had heard about an exhibit at the Heard Museum in McKinney.  They had huge animated dinosaurs.  We missed it.  Lucky for us, it's back and we got to go with Daddy!

I'll be honest, I'm glad we didn't' have to pay to get in , thanks to our Perot Museum membership.  It was a little disappointing.  I thought that it would be cooler than it was.  Dylan loved it, Graham was pretty scared of the dinosaurs, and refused to get out of his stroller until we had finished looking at the dinosaurs, and were playing in the old tree houses.  They also had a small animal section with some deer, and a small butterfly house.  Again, the boys loved those parts!  We were only there for about an hour and saw all there was to see. 

We followed up our day at the Twisted root for a yummy lunch ( they give the kids free shakes if they "color" their coloring page) then we played in the sand at the sand volleyball courts for a bit.  A great day was had by all.

Dino- Mite

As a busy birthday week comes to a close, I can say that we have all almost caught up on all of our sleep.  It was a busy, fun filled weekend, and start to the week as we celebrated Graham's second birthday! Graham celebrated his actual birthday with sleeping until 9 am.  I think he was tired from all his activity!

My little Graham is into so many things this year, I could have gone so  many directions for his second birthday party.  But Costco was really the deciding factor.  They had a dino sheet cake.  Done.  Now in years past, you might remember I usually pay an exorbitant a cake.  This year, I decided that a $20 cake was probably just as good, if not better than a $120 one.  I was right.

A few months ago, I decided dinosaurs would be the theme.  It was easy, cheap and well, Graham had a blast.  I purchased some goodies from Oriental trading for goodie bags and décor, and I was just about done.  I took an idea off of pinterest to have dino footprints in our entry, which I think I forgot to take a picture of.  We had a sandwich "bar" if you will, lots of cold cuts, a couple different breads, cheese, and sauce.  Along with fruit and dip, chips, and veggies with ranch dip.  I ordered a chocolate cake, so I made some vanilla cupcakes to go along with it.  I'll have to post that recipe, I must say, they were a hit! 

A week before the party, I checked the weather and it was supposed to be gorgeous, so I ordered a bounce house. It was supposed to be a dinosaur, but it was clear as day a dragon.  It even said it on the front:)  As the day grew closer, it was getting colder and wetter.  Though the rain was supposed to hold off until the party was over.  But alas, it was misting, and pretty chilly.  Luckily the mist stopped, and most people brought jackets, because with 12 kiddos, my house was crowded, and I'm glad everyone got to partake in the bounce house.  It was a BLAST for them.

Graham was gifted with lots of new and cool toys, amazingly this year yet again, not duplicates or repeats of years past. Against my better judgment, almost all have been opened already, because he was so excited to play with them all. 

It was a great party, all of his friends were there, plus some of ours!  He doesn't know it yet, but he is so lucky that he has so many people in his life that love him, and want to celebrate his birthday from near and far!

Two

He did it.  Graham went and turned two on us today.  It's hard to believe really.  It has been such a fast year.  Adam and I were talking about it last night.  Time really does go a warp speed when you have kids.

He has become such a little boy.  He talks, has his own opinions, like and dislikes.  A few weeks/ maybe months ago, I thought for sure he was entering the "terrible two's"  he was cranky, mad for no reason, and just kind of a turd.  Luckily, he grew out of that quickly, and this last month or so has really been a joy.  He listens , as much as a two year old does, loves his brother, plays, and generally has a good temperament.  I think it comes from school.  He has to listen and follow directions there, so it moves on to home. 

First haircut

Some of his favorite things to do are play outside, and race things.  He loves to push cars, trains, planes, anything with wheels really around the house.  He loves to throw balls, and play "fight" with his big brother.  I'm amazed that we have not had a ER trip, or broken bone.  They rough house a lot and well, I love it.  It's scary and sometimes annoying, but I think that is part of having a brother.  Maybe they will get it all out before they are teenagers? I won't hold my breath.

His speech is amazing, I guess he is probably your typical toddler on that front, but because of Dylan, he seems amazing.  He will repeat anything we say. He can express to us exactly what he wants, and if we don't understand he takes us to it.  His favorite song is currently the ABC's.  I have an app on my Ipad that has the song and he will literally listen to it for 45 min back to back.  Thus, he knows the song, and is really adorable when he sings it. 

opinions

He is a much better eater than his brother, thought you wouldn't know it looking at him.  He was also blessed with Adam's metabolism.  He got my good looks, but Adam's skinny!;)  He eats things that I am amazed with.  He loves black olives, salad ( sometimes) broccoli, and pickled beets.  He of course won't eat a grilled cheese, or lunch meat, and just about every lunch is chicken nuggets,pizza,hot dog, corny dog, or a PB and J at school.  Oh well.  He is growing.  I'm not sure how tall he is, but he weighs 24.5 lbs on a good day. 

He is still a great sleeper, getting up at 7:30ish on most days, going down around 8.  He takes a good nap on non school days, but on school days just a short one, then we do something fun after usually so he goes to bed early!

I can't believe two years have passed since welcoming him into our lives.  He fit so wonderfully, and I know that Dylan is happy he has a little brother to " potet" as he says.  I can't wait to see what this year holds for us, as he becomes a big brother himself.  I'll be honest, I'm a little scared!  I love watching him grown and learn new things every day!


The difference of a year!

Happy birthday baby!  I still can't believe it!

 

The Fenner FIVE

In case you missed this. We have another little one on the way!  I can hardly believe that I am already 16 weeks, and well, I feel like I'm getting bigger by the day!

The third and final Fenner babe, will hopefully grace us with his/her presence around mid March! 

We found out about this baby on July 5th!  The day after a big pool party, so I was able to get one last drinking day in!  ( makes me sound a little like an alcoholic, but oh well)  I've missed a few good opportunities since!:)

To tell Adam's parents ( who were in Australia at the time ) I made the boys some shirts, that they were really happy to wear as you can see!  Side note:  When we told them I was pregnant with Graham, they were also just returning from a trip to Australia!  Maybe they should stop going so we stop telling them they have another Grand baby on the way!  Kidding of course! ( seriously, this is the last one!:))

11 Weeks

I have lucked out again, in that I do not suffer from morning sickness.  I was tired, but honestly, with two boys, I'm kind of always tired.  I've been feeling great, and really, just feel normal.  I'm starting to feel love beloved kicked, and well my belly is growing, those are the only reasons I know for sure there is a baby in there!

Everyone asks if I want a girl.  If I'm answering honestly, I really don't know.  A boy would be so easy and familiar, but of course a girl would be nice, for a change of things, different clothes, colors, toys.  I do not have a preference honestly, and I'll be happy either way!  Though, we are running out of boy names;) 

Back they go...

Pirate Dylan- First day MDO 2013

Another year of Mother's Day Out.  Sadly, this year we had to change schools.  Graham was finally old enough to go to Shepard's kids, where Dylan had been for the last  two years, but the 18 month class didn't make. 



First day MDO 2013

After much going back and forth with the Director there, we were finally on a waiting list for the 2's class.  She was willing to bump him up for me, but of course the class was full.  Firewheel ( where they go during the summer) had openings for both of them.  So I signed them up, hopeful that if we got into Shepard's kids, I could just take them out.  Well, of course, they started asking for money.  After a huge struggle for me emotionally, I had to call the director of Shepards kids and tell her to take us off the waiting list.  I couldn't risk Graham not going to school this year.  I was so sad.  I love the people that work there.

Firewheel is going well.  They both seem to enjoy their classes.  Graham has two friends, Caleb and Everett that he is always excited to see in the morning.  Dylan has Everett's brother Caden in his class, so that is nice.  Dylan has finally stopped asking if we are going back to the "old school" so that makes me happy.

It was such a hard choice for me, but I know in the end, it will hopefully make Dylan's transition to Full time Pre K next year, also at Firewheel, easier on him. He will be used to going there, and all of the things they have to offer. 

Oh the places...

This summer has been the summer of "going somewhere" as I mentioned in an earlier post, Dylan always wants to "go somewhere" Luckily for him, I had a few places on my summer "To Do" list.  We have hit just about all of them.

We went to Medieval Times, and  played at a few different mall play places.

Some of the "new" places we have been are Kid Mania.  They love this place, as do I.  They can be pretty independent there, although When we are not Carson and Caleb, the boys need some adult love.  Luckily we went with Daddy this day, so he was all for it.

CooCoo's: This is just another bounce place.  They have a train though that is free with admission, I think the boys rode this train 10 times while we were there.  Another perk: open on Sundays!

We went to two movies this summer, Monsters Inc, and Planes.  So long as I provided them with food, they were pretty happy at both!

We hit the zoo on one lovely summer morning, and plan to do so again this coming week.

I finally got the courage to use our Perot museum passes.  I was always afraid there would be a zillion kids/ people there, but we lucked out the morning we went, and there was hardly anyone there. They loved it as well, so that was a plus!

 

Overall, I would say we stayed pretty busy this summer between all our "new places", the pool, library, and of course school! Now that the boys have started back at school, I'm sure that our outings will become less frequent, but I have a list going to things that I want to do now that the weather will hopefully be getting cooler!:) 

Fall

I have found a fall find, that if you have access to, I urge you to try.  In Murphy we have a Starbucks of course, but we also have a Saxby's.  The other day Adam had the boys at the park, and I was out running second birthday (eek) errands, and I stopped at Saxby's because it was more convenient.  I ordered a pumpkin pie chia.  I am telling you people, I'm not sure I will ever get a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks again.  It was SOOO good.  I'm not a coffee or tea drinker on a regular basis, but man, I've been craving this since I got it.  I'm sure I'll be back.  Luckily they have a frequent buyer card so at least I'll get a free drink at the end of the season!;)

So if you have a Saxby's nearby or know where one is, stop and try a Pumpkin Pie Chia, or a Latte, I bet you won't regret it!:)