Ho...Ho....Hose!

Man, look at them tightz! LOL!

I just wanted to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday!

***for the sake of....well, everything!***

Really wanted to have some recent pics up. I have been pretty silent since we quietly slipped out of the Houston City Limits back in August. I'll fill you in on the details there as soon as I can. In the meantime, enjoy some pics of the kids from the Dallas Zoo last weekend!

It's the Bitter-sweet Birthday Blues

Son, Happy Birthday! Being 4 will be a very fun time for you!

I started to really get sad last night. At dinner the family kept saying things like, "this is our last dinner with our 3 year old" "this is that last book we will read to our 3 year old" ..etc etc. Well, as we were reading Hank the Cowdog: Garbage Monsters From OuterSpace, I got really sad. I turned over a looked him in the eyes and just nearly came to tears when I told him I was going to miss his 3-year old self. He looked at me, and nearly had tears too. He said, "it's okay mom, it can still be just like this. We can still snuggle and I will still tell you that you're pretty". CHOKE! He is such a sweet ham. He has this thing lately where he says the tip of my eyelashes are so pretty. I usually can't ask him anything after that so that I can keep it together, but last night I asked him what was so pretty about them and he said that they were purple right there. Must have been the lighting but he keeps seeing it so who knows.

So, anyways, it took a special occasion like this to get me off my but and come make a post! I've actually been incredibly busy though! The move, the new jobs, new schools, house hunting and mounting bills - it takes its toll on you and coming here to update on all of THAT chaos just didn't seem worth it!

so, let us celebrate Senior Wickleton as he turns 4 today! It's his day!

Cheers!

Into the weekend!

Well, into the weekend and onto a 3rd "Open House" (http://search.har.com/engine/905-Walling-St-Houston-TX-77009_HAR73772082.htm)!!!
Thanks to Don, we won't be doing our final yard sale. A breather!

And man, I hate to say it, but I'm going crazy because I haven't had my Hudson fix yet! I need more pics! I need something! I am a nutcase for sure - He's 9 days old and I'm feeling like I've missed out on so much already. Gammy, I really don't know how you handled us being here in Houston with your Grandbaby. It breaks my heart to think about it. I can't wait to hold my nephew! Maybe it's the hormones....

I might as well throw in some cell phone pics, right? We attended Connor's 4th Birthday Party at the Firestation museum. That was super fun!







Another failed attempt visit the MFA landed us in the sculpture garden, where we find snails, not sculptures, way way way way interesting! They kids were too funny. I'm too lazy to post all the pics, but we were covered in slimy snails. It was hard to say our goodbyes....





Now, I've just come accross these and am wondering why I never posted them! Those eyes!
Heart.......so.......broken........

Hello to Happy, Handsome, Hudson!

I want to introduce my new baby nephew, perfect in every way, to you all. Little guy was just under 7lbs but he was trying to trick everyone into thinking he was a chunker!
He gets to go home today to see his new digs, worlds apart from the space he was occupying before he got evicted July 20th! Me and my predictions...I thought today would be the day he was born, not the day he went home!

Imagning them driving home with that precious, precious cargo evokes so much feeling. My memories of doing that 2 times in this life are still right here with me. I can revive that intense feeling nearly as much as I can recall just how hot my first sip of coffee was this morning. They are too precious to put in a car seat once you've carried them in the confines of your womb; they are too precious to be on the road amongst the other drivers; they are too precious to hear a sound that isn't you singing to them on the inside of you. I can honestly say that second to the birth itself, there is nothing like it in the world when that time comes to drive them home from the hospital. You grip the steering wheel tightly, drive at least 15 mph UNDER the speed limit!

Getting there is a different story. The peace. The beginning. The love and devotion to your baby returns in a new form now that you're home and you're a family. (Finally! After 2 or more solid days of interuptions!) You discover all over again that you have this unmarked capacity to love someone that you didn't know you had. You take one look in their eyes and it's enough to realize that this person will teach you new things about life, yourself, your faith and outlook on life.

I can't wait to meet you, Hudson! Huddy Buddy! Huddleton.. (after "the wickleton" which we affectionately call Oliver from time to time!)!!!

Congratulations to you all!

B-day Party Pics! *K*I*R*A*N*

LISTED

My Heights Home is officially listed online! Please, if you know anyone looking to buy a home in the heights, priced well under market value, please send them in this direction! My realtor Clayton Katz can represent both sides, looking out for the best interest of BOTH parties!



http://search.har.com/engine/905-Walling-St-Houston-TX-77009_HAR73772082.htm



So excited but full of butterflies. I love my home more and more each day because of all the work we've done on it! Whey didn't we do it all sooner?!!!!

Parenting

There's NO way could I have put this better myself.
I've consistently thought of, and not followed, 8 of 9 of these 'Parenting Guidelines'. Like I said, I know them but probably couldn't explain a few as well as this author and mother did, but don't put them into action quite enough. I won't get into the one's I'm guilty of but at least I can come out and admit it right? I desperately want to work on this. My kids are just at that age now. (BTW, Happy 7th Birthday to Kiran!)
They're completely aware of when they're being brushed off at the ripe age of 1 but as they get older they start to internalize everything around them. The "labeling" mentioned below is a a very disturbing issue to me. I don't struggle with labeling myself, but it sure bugs me to see other parents do it. I refer to those parents who do it without a care in the world. Some who have run into this mistake may not have really known what they were doing. So to those who are just now considering this for the first time, I will quote "...negative labels can become a self-fulfilling prophecy"

Number 9, the one unknown to my faultless little self, is interesting. It's not some deep concept no one is thought of but some of us get pretty lazy at times or just stick with a routine we always thought was "correct". It's good to think about the positive effects of rephrasing that praise can have on a child. You might just encourage them right into a million dollar career so that you're totally set for retirement at 50! :-)


(Parenting.com) -- I was trying to do two things at once -- cook (in the kitchen) while deciphering some paperwork (in the next room). I'd been interrupted a thousand times with requests for snacks, shrieks over spilled paint water, questions about what squirrels like to eat, and arguments over whether clouds could be blue and flowers could be green. And did I mention that a ruptured disk in my back was throbbing even worse than my head?

Still, nothing can excuse my behavior that afternoon.

I erupted like Mount Momsuvius: "Enough! Get out! Stop bothering me!"

The look on my daughters' faces said it all. The 2-year-old's eyes widened. The 4-year-old furrowed her brow and jabbed her thumb between her lips. Immediately I wished I could stuff the hot-lava words back into my mouth. They certainly hadn't come from my heart, or my brain.

We all say the wrong thing sometimes, leaving our kids feeling hurt, angry, or confused. Read on for some of the most common verbal missteps moms and dads make, and kinder, gentler alternatives:

'Leave me alone!'

A parent who doesn't crave an occasional break is a saint, a martyr, or someone who's so overdue for some time alone she's forgotten the benefits of recharging.

Trouble is, when you routinely tell your kids, "Don't bother me" or "I'm busy," they internalize that message, says Suzette Haden Elgin, Ph.D., founder of the Ozark Center for Language Studies, in Huntsville, Arkansas.

"They begin to think there's no point in talking to you because you're always brushing them off." If you set up that pattern when your children are small, then they may be less likely to tell you things as they get older.

From infancy, kids should get in the habit of seeing their parents take time for themselves. Use pressure-release valves -- whether signing up with a babysitting co-op, trading off childcare with your partner or a friend, or even parking your child in front of a video so that you can have half an hour to relax and regroup.

At those times when you're preoccupied (or overstressed, as I was when I exploded at my girls), set up some parameters in advance. I might have said, "Mom has to finish this one thing, so I need you to paint quietly for a few minutes. When I'm done, we'll go outside."

Parenting.com: The 5 best ways to raise a grateful child

Just be realistic. A toddler and a preschooler aren't likely to amuse themselves for a whole hour.

'You're so...'

Labels are shortcuts that shortchange kids: "Why are you so mean to Katie?" Or "How could you be such a klutz?" Sometimes kids overhear us talking to others: "She's my shy one."

Young children believe what they hear without question, even when it's about themselves. So negative labels can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Thomas gets the message that meanness is his nature. "Klutzy" Sarah begins to think of herself that way, undermining her confidence. Even labels that seem neutral or positive -- "shy" or "smart" -- pigeonhole a child and place unnecessary or inappropriate expectations on her.

The worst ones cut dangerously deep. Many a parent can still vividly, and bitterly, remember when her own parent said something like "You're so hopeless" (or "lazy" or "stupid").

A far better approach is to address the specific behavior and leave the adjectives about your child's personality out of it. For example, "Katie's feelings were hurt when you told everyone not to play with her. How can we make her feel better?"

Parenting.com: How to win over super-stubborn children

'Don't cry'

Variations: "Don't be sad." "Don't be a baby." "Now, now -- there's no reason to be afraid." But kids do get upset enough to cry, especially toddlers, who can't always articulate their feelings with words. They do get sad. They do get frightened.

"It's natural to want to protect a child from such feelings," says Debbie Glasser, Ph.D., director of Family Support Services at the Mailman Segal Institute for Early Childhood Studies at Nova Southeastern University, in Fort Lauderdale. "But saying 'Don't be' doesn't make a child feel better, and it also can send the message that his emotions aren't valid -- that it's not okay to be sad or scared."

Rather than deny that your child feels a particular way -- when he obviously does -- acknowledge the emotion up front.

"It must make you really sad when Jason says he doesn't want to be your friend anymore." "Yes, the waves sure can be scary when you're not used to them. But we'll just stand here together and let them tickle our feet. I promise I won't let go of your hand."

By naming the real feelings that your child has, you'll give him the words to express himself -- and you'll show him what it means to be empathetic. Ultimately, he'll cry less and describe his emotions instead.

'Why can't you be more like your sister?'

It might seem helpful to hold out a sibling or friend as a shining example. "Look how well Sam zips his coat," you might say. Or "Jenna's using the potty already, so why can't you do that too?" But comparisons almost always backfire. Your child is herself, not Sam or Jenna.

It's natural for parents to compare their kids, to look for a frame of reference about their milestones or their behavior, say experts.

But don't let your child hear you doing it. Kids develop at their own pace and have their own temperament and personality. Comparing your child to someone else implies that you wish yours were different.

Nor does making comparisons help change behavior. Being pressured to do something she's not ready for (or doesn't like to do) can be confusing to a little kid and can undermine her self-confidence. She's also likely to resent you and resolve not to do what you want, in a test of wills.

Parenting.com: How to deal with sibling rivalry

Instead, encourage her current achievements: "Wow, you put both arms in your coat all by yourself!" Or "Thanks for telling me your diaper needs changing."

'You know better than that!'

Like comparisons, quick gibes can sting in ways parents never imagine. For one thing, a child actually may not have known better. Learning is a process of trial and error. Did your child really understand that a heavy pitcher would be hard to pour from? Maybe it didn't seem that full, or it was different from the one he's successfully poured from by himself at preschool.

And even if he made the same mistake just yesterday, your comment is neither productive nor supportive. Give your child the benefit of the doubt, and be specific. Say "I like it better if you do it this way, thank you."

Similar jabs include "I can't believe you did that!" and "It's about time!" They may not seem awful, but you don't want to say them too much. They add up, and the underlying message kids hear is: "You're a pain in the neck, and you never do anything right."

'Stop or I'll give you something to cry about!'

Threats, usually the result of parental frustration, are rarely effective. We sputter warnings like "Do this or else!" or "If you do that one more time, I'll spank you!"

Parenting.com: Why toddlers throw temper tantrums

The problem is that sooner or later you have to make good on the threat or else it loses its power. Threats of hitting have been found to lead to more spanking -- which itself has been proven to be an ineffective way to change behavior.

The younger a child is, the longer it takes for a lesson to sink in. "Studies have shown that the odds of a two-year-old's repeating a misdeed later in the same day are eighty percent no matter what sort of discipline you use," says Murray Straus, Ph.D., a sociologist at the University of New Hampshire's Family Research Lab.

Even with older kids, no discipline strategy yields surefire results right off the bat every time. So it's more effective to develop a repertoire of constructive tactics, such as redirection, removing the child from the situation, or time-outs, than it is to rely on those with proven negative consequences, including verbal threats and spanking.

'Wait till daddy gets home!'

This familiar parenting cliché is not only another kind of threat, it's also diluted discipline. To be effective, you need to take care of a situation immediately yourself.

Discipline that's postponed doesn't connect the consequences with your child's actions. By the time the other parent gets home, it's likely that your child will actually have forgotten what she did wrong. Alternately, the agony of anticipating a punishment may be worse than what the original crime deserved.

Passing the buck to someone else also undermines your authority. "Why should I listen to Mom if she's not going to do anything anyway?" your child may reason. Not least, you're putting your partner in an undeserved bad-cop role.

'Hurry up!'

Who in this world of back-to-back appointments, overbooked schedules, sleep deficits, and traffic snarls hasn't uttered these immortal words?

Certainly every parent whose toddler can't find his shoes or blankie or who's blissfully oblivious of anything but putting on his socks "all by self!" has. Consider, though, your tone of voice when you implore a child to hurry, and how often you say it.

If you're starting to whine, screech, or sigh every day, with your hands on your hips and your toes tapping, beware. There's a tendency when we're rushed to make our kids feel guilty for making us rush. The guilt may make them feel bad, but it doesn't motivate them to move faster.

"It got so hectic at my house in the mornings, I hated that the last image my kids had of me was being angry," says family therapist Paul Coleman, author of "How to Say It to Your Kids." "So I made a pact with myself. No matter what, I wouldn't yell or roll my eyes even if someone spilled their Cheerios or asked me to find something just as we were heading out."

Rather than hectoring ("I told you to turn off that TV five minutes ago!"), he looks for calm ways to speed things along (he turns off the set himself).

'Great job!" or "Good girl!'

What could possibly be wrong with praise? Positive reinforcement, after all, is one of the most effective tools a parent has. The trouble comes in when the praise is vague and indiscriminate.

Tossing out "Great job!" for every little thing your child does -- from finishing his milk to drawing a picture -- becomes meaningless. Kids tune it out. They can also tell the difference between praise for doing something rote or simple and praise for a real effort.

Parenting.com: How to get your kid to sleep in her own bed

To get out of the habit of such effusiveness:

• Praise only those accomplishments that require real effort. Finishing a glass of milk doesn't cut it. Neither does drawing a picture, if your child is the kind who makes dozens of them every day.

• Be specific. Instead of "Beautiful job," say, "What bright, happy colors you picked for the dog's spots." Or "I see you drew a picture of the story that we read this morning."

• Praise the behavior rather than the child: "You were so quiet with your puzzle while I was finishing that paperwork, just like I asked."

How much nicer if I'd said that to my daughters instead of transforming into a spewing volcano. Luckily, I'm sure to get another opportunity tomorrow.

Mags-N-Me

Randomness! She's like my kid sister!

FireFighers Calendar or Anthropologie Model?!

My precious pooky pants! Not staged shots, but a good moment to capture. The girly is growing up.
Dang that reminds me....how many days utnil our birthdays and I've planned NOTHING?! She wants a "pokemon" party. Does anyone even know what that means? I feel like I need a translator here, I'm so out of touch. The youth these days! I've gotta pull it off somehow since our plans of a vacation in an RV to the Grand Canyon is out of the question now. I won't dare try to top it but I don't want to hit rock bottom either.

Me, well rock bottom has to be somewhere around the corner as I arrive in my 30's.

2 blondies & a Braid

That wasn't like a set-up for another blonde joke, in case you were hoping. I've read enough offensive ones for a life-time. So offensive that I've gone "darker"! No, really I just did some low-lights and brought the bright blonde up to a Honey-Blonde, what I feel is much more close to my natural color. It's somewhere in between anyways.

Before the hair appt, I took some pics for Kiran. Memories will be needed because i don't think I'll be doing that again! Ever!







Newer (not an excellent representation really)

WaterWorx

Probably one of the greatest additions to Houston is Discovery Green. We have plenty of memories from this centrally located park in Downtown. Plus...trees, open space, kids, concerts....all something to make the otherwise mundane business district a fun place to be. I've always wanted to disown the city but little-by-little I've come around. And well soon....it will be discarded altogether anyways. Too little, Too late dude.
More fun in the sun & water!




An art exhibit they had going on that weekend were the "art pods". I believe these were just your standard 7 X 10 (or so) metal storage containers that have been turned into art.

What do big sisters do?

They dress their baby brothers up...the only way they know how! Like princesses! We did get a DJ LASTERDAY wardrobe change though!

Get Off Your Facebook!!!

"People who spend a lot of time online don't develop social and emotional skills they need," said Clifford Nass, a Stanford communication professor and a researcher on both studies. "We think the reason is that you have to learn how to read emotion and understand people's emotions."

SOURCE: http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/06/14/phone.addicted.parent/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

And now I suppose I can shove a sock in it and get off of "Blogger". Good day folks!

30 Days Till' 30

At this fateful time in my life, I find myself shielding the reality of aging.
See right there? I call it "aging", not "maturing" or "advancing" or "entering my prime".

I am a 20-Something turning into a 30-Nothing.

My youth is vanishing, my wrinkles are thriving. I've gotta stop being so cynical and be much more optomistic about the future. So, I guess I'm just hoping to spend this last 30 days of my peak years with a different outlook.

Heeellllpppppppppp!!!!!!!!!

How do you make a blonde laugh on a Saturday?

.....You tell her a joke on Wednesday!
So, anyone got any good blonde jokes for a blonde?...on a Wednesday? Please, I'm in desperate need of a good weekend with everything that's on my plate right now.

I thought I would share some pics of my 7 hour trip to the salon. Folks, an ENTIRE bottle of bleach was used on my head! Typically a few spoon fulls is all a stylist will use. But this isn't because of the number of times we processed my hair. In fact we did it twice instead of the 3 we guessed. My hair took VERY well to the bleach on the first try. Maybe this is because I've never bleached my hair, or maybe it's because I'm naturally blonde and it was just stripping color rather than doing that in addition to adding a light pigment.

On the way to the salon.....



After:


Mee & the Keekster are finally starting to look like Mother & Daughter! I haven't decided if I like the bangs showing so I usually hide them for now!





After using this Violet Toning Shampoo for another few weeks it should start toning out those brassy / yellow colors and slowly getting back to a more normal blonde. We shall see. Here's today!

Wrapped around my finger....JUST where you belong!

After many many months without my precious filigree engagement ring, it's back! Wrapped around my finger! Michelle at Past Era has let me bring it home while I finish paying it off. She's outstanding. I went ahead and posted a PAST ERA review on City Search as a thank you. I'm sure she's thinking...just give me my money so I don't have to come break your knee caps...or that diamond again!

Pic-Post!

I owe you. I really, really owe you! I'll just post some current pics (all from cell phone) and add a caption to each. I can't wait to snag the awesome ones from my nice camera!

First up - our trip to The Downtown Aquarium. We had Isaac along with us, so there is extra cuteness in these pics!


"Oh Isaac! Save me! Don't let the shark eat me for breakfast!"
....Tell me Oliver's face in those 2 pics isn't total awesomeness! And Kiran...she just looks stunning in the first! My sweety is growing up! (that reminds me....)



"Raaaar, I'll eat you anyways! All 3 of you...as my snack AFTER breakfast!"

A little face paint went on.... ...Daddy, got the spiderman face paint?




Even mom & dad had a good time!





Once upon a time, the Grandparents used to get a hotel in Houston just to see us. This will be a distant memory soon!




"My Spidey senses are....."




Another day at Discovery Green!






Dallas....



And of course, this is what happens when you drink too much spiderman juice on Easter.




And...why can't I look like this every day darn it?! [photoshoot]