A Mama's Toolbox

Every day I pull from what I am beginning to think of as my mama toolbox.  What I am calling a mama toolbox is simply the collection of things mothers (well, dads too!) use to navigate through parenthood.  I realized there are countless objects, ideas, pieces of advice, and resources I use on a daily basis to help us get through the day and/or any particularly difficult phase in our life.  Some tools, like advice from my mom, I've had stored for years, even before I had kids.  Other tools pop up on the fly...as in, sometimes I make this stuff up as I go. (Like this blog, for example...having a space to express my thoughts helps keep my ol' mama head on straight.)  I think from now on I am going to throw in a post here and there about a tool I've used, especially if it makes me look like an innovative, got-it-together mom!

A tool I used recently...the POWER OF SUGGESTION...

Lately Coop thinks pajamas make him look like a prince.  And he wants to be a prince at school.  That's cute and all but the tantrum that ensued when it was time to get dressed for the day was getting old...So after several days in a row of fighting with him (I'm a quick learner), I suggested he be a cowboy instead so he'd quit fighting me, get some clothes on, and GET IN THE CAR SO WE CAN GET TO SCHOOL ON TIME! Then I insisted we take a picture in order to drive the point home...Cowboys at school are COOLER than Princes.

What do you have in your mama toolbox?

Where Do We Go From Here?

Hello family and friends!

Yes, I am talking to YOU, oh reader of this blog.  Firstly, thank you thank you thank you so much for following along our little life!  I first started this blog for the sole purpose of keeping our family, specifically David's parents, updated with the latest and greatest of our new, precious baby boy.  I felt sad that they didn't live close enough to share in even our weekly  happenings with baby Cooper, and everything baby happens so fast!  As time went on, I not only discovered that I enjoy writing for the blog, but my regular posts will be priceless to us one day when the children are grown and we are in a different season of our lives.  I have come to really cherish my job as our family's historian!

So, in 2012, I want to keep writing!  I am happy to continue as I have done over the last 3 years by posting periodic growth and milestone updates, our fun times, and of course tons of cute pictures.  Lately, however, I have been itching to do more.  The journey of parenthood so far has left me with innumerable memories, insights, wisdom, and inspiration that makes me feel as if I should be sharing.  So my question to you is, what would YOU like to see on this blog in 2012?  (Or what are you sick of?  I am craving any and all feedback.) If you get a chance today (or any day) leave me a comment or shoot me an email (leslie@kirkresources.com) or Facebook message.  I would love to hear from you!

Living in the Moment...

Celebrating the New Year at the Ranch

Our friends Becky and Ryan and Leighton and Jenny and kids all trekked up to the Graham Ranch to celebrate the new year with us.  It is hard to tell who had more fun...the kids or adults!  Cooper and Penny had a blast showing their new friends how to go ranchin', which included digging in the big dirt pile, swinging on the tire swing,  feeding the fish, calling to the cows (yes, cows...a neighbor's fence must be in need of repair.), and generally just taking advantage of the wide open spaces and gorgeous weather by running around EVERYWHERE!  The adults amused themselves by smoking some bar-b-q, shooting clays, relaxing, sitting around the fire pit, playing giant jenga, and of course ringing in the new year  with a bang, once all the little ones dropped from exhaustion.  We couldn't ask for a better way to start the new year...All the kids were good and played well together, and the adults were able to relax and create some hilarious moments we will remember for a long time.  

Ma-Mas and Pa-Pa were at the ranch for a little bit when we first arrived.  

Cooper, Penny, and new friend Raeleigh played in the dirt for hours!

Just having toooo much fun!

Cooper kept giving me a rock and saying , "A surprise for  Mama!"

Penny, MJ, and Cooper playing "Cornhole".

MJ, Cooper, Leighton, and Penny call to the cows.  

A Year in Pictures

As we come upon 2012, I thought I would take a minute to reflect on 2011. We had a good year but we always expect the coming year to be even better. I believe what made 2011 so significant in the unfolding history of our life was that 2011 was the bulk of Penny's first year. We watched her transform from a tiny baby to a vivacious toddler. In the meantime, Cooper went from a cute, cautious toddler to an active, fluent, and free-thinking kid. So without further adieu, here is 2011 in pictures.

January

Penny, so interested in Coop!

Strangely, one morning a deer swam across Nueces Bay and went running through our neighborhood.

February

March

First trip to the zoo!

April

Penny's first swim

Easter

May

June

July

At the Splash Park

On the 4th

August

Penny turns one!

We spent lots of time in our own backyard.

September

Football!

School Days!

October

The "birthday season" is upon us!

Cooper "helped" with the baking of goodies for  Halloween.

November

December

Cooooold Day at the Ranch.

Um, define "good"...

Here's to 2012! 

Christmas 2011

JOY!

I hope everyone's holiday was merry and bright, just as ours was!  We filled the days leading up to Christmas with holiday prep, but we made it fun!   The kids' school was closed and David took a little time off work so we spent the week mostly together.  One day we divided and conquered...Mom and Penny grocery shopped for the two meals we would be serving at our house while Daddy and Cooper ran some "secret" errands.  On Friday morning the four of us went out for breakfast together.  Afterwards, Mom and the kids made jokes in the car while Daddy shopped in a thrift store to find an ugly Christmas sweater.

On Christmas Eve Eve, we kicked off the weekend with what we call "Friends" Christmas.  We recognize that most (us included) reserve the holidays for family.  We like to have a chance during the holidays to acknowledge our friends by including them in our holiday celebration too.  Many of our good friends came over for fondue and an ugly Christmas sweater competition.  (Congrats, Becky.)  The kids ran wild up until bedtime, after which the adults played giant Jenga.

On Christmas Eve, Daddy prepared the chili to be served with tamales that evening (a South Texas tradition) while Momma made dessert to take over to Grandma's the next day.  The kids took luxuriously long naps and Nonnie arrived in the early afternoon.  We spent the latter part of the afternoon relaxing, and the kids watched the fluke $5 Christmas song DVD I picked up over and over.  Ma-Mas, Pa-Pa, and Uncle Clint came over, as per tradition, to help us eat tamales and play elf...Uncle Clint put together the new playhouse, Daddy set up the electric train, and Momma stuffed the stockings. We fell into bed tired but satisfied with what was sure to come the next morning.

The Elves' hard work...

Christmas Day began early...as in 5:45 a.m. to be exact.  (The song doesn't go, "All I Want for Christmas is Some Decent Sleep" after all...especially with little kids in the house.)  With the video camera rolling, both kids seemed overwhelmed by all the splendor at first and didn't seem to know where to start.  They quickly figured it out and dove in.  Both kids seemed happy with both their gifts and each other's gifts.  We had many, many hilarious moments that I couldn't sit and describe because it would take all day.  It was just simply a sweet, magical morning.

A Thomas train that moves by itself!

New playhouse!

Penny was skeptical...

It was cold Christmas morning!

Cooper enjoying Nonnie's (er, Santa's) gift...He has already mastered the crash move.

After we  had tried out all the new toys and gotten dressed, we all trooped over to Ma-Mas and Pa-Pa's house for more presents and Christmas dinner.  We received a lot, gave a lot, laughed a lot, and ate a lot.

Coop takes off on his shiny new fire engine.

Again, Penny is skeptical...

Uncle Clint shows the kids a thing or two on the keyboard...

Our cups ran over this year and we are truly grateful.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Christmas is a Comin'

The Holiday Season is in Full Swing!

The last week has been COLD and has left us little to do but get ready for Christmas.  We have spent quite a bit of time indoors, visited Santa and attended a family Christmas party at the Ranch.  Cooper is getting really excited for Christmas and keeps asking us where his toys are...We keep reminding him that not only does he have to wait until Christmas, but he has to be good!

Shots from our recent activities:

Why play-doh is an indoor activity I will never know.  When I asked  Cooper what happened, he replied, "The engines are hauling the play-doh, Momma!" (like, duh!)

A visit with Santa!  Not everyone was happy about it...

Little peppermint face after her harrowing ordeal with Santa...

It was COLD and rainy at the ranch but we had fun anyway! 

Coop takes his digging job VERY seriously.

Cooper and Owen: partners in crime!