Lots of snow in Dallas today. The boys were happy to walk around in our driveway for a few minutes then they were ready to head inside. William was mesmerized by the falling flakes and Miguel told me he was a penguin as he made footprints in the snow. We lost electricity around 7pm tonight and I am hoping it comes back on sooner than later. AMEN, the lights are back on at 830pm!!!

Front of our house

William meeting snow for the first time

Miguel tasting the snow

So excited and holding two suckers from his school Valentine’s party

William not so sure about it all, but a sucker makes it better

Miguel’s coat isn’t missing a button. hehe

William in our driveway…he only took a few steps in the snow

Miguel, the penguin.

Oh, don’t mind me…I’m just over here trying to recover from the past few weeks of hell I have been living through. Miguel travelled for 3 weeks doing his work thing, and pretty much froze his buns off in NYC, Boston, and Chicago while I stayed at home to tend the boys and house. It should have been a piece of cake, but my boys, well, they had other ideas. The boys decided they both needed to come down with RSV at the same time, and life came to a screeching halt for 10 days. For 10 days, they hacked up a lung up night and day while I tortured them with inhalers and round the clock breathing treatments, I wiped snotty noses, went through more Motrin and Tylenol than I care to admit, William puked every time he had a coughing spell, which was especially wonderful at 3am and all over the carpet and me, and pretty much watched so much TV that I can sing every damn song from all the most annoying cartoons on PBS Kids and Nick Jr., which has lead to a burning desire to hurt Ming Ming from The Wonder Pets if I hear that whiney voice of his again.

But, you know what? I survived the worst 10 days I have ever experienced as a mother of two children under 3 years old, and if that is the worst then I am pretty darn lucky.

Our house is still on the market (someone, please come buy it, pleasepleasepleaseplease), and I am happy to report as of about an hour ago all traces of the coughing puke fest are now gone (thanks to zerorez)

So, with all that fun behind me I can’t wait see what the spring will hold for us.

Gosh, it feels like I just blogged about Miguel’s 2nd birthday canvas painting here and here yesterday, but, alas, it was a year ago. He enjoyed painting his canvas and had been looking forward to doing it since he saw William paint his in October. He was into blending the colors and asked for more paint a couple of times. When he was finished, he pronounced the painting “his family” and decided he wanted to be camera shy and hide behind his finished work of art while holding it sideways. And just for fun here is his first birthday canvas.

William was rocking the mullet, so on Christmas Eve we decided to get his  haircut. He did great as long as he had a Dum Dum sucker in his mouth at all times until right at the end when he decided he was done. As in done right. now. don’t. come. near. me. again. with. the. scissors. So, alas, no after photo.

Miguel is “free,” which is his way of saying he is three years old. Happy Birthday, sweet boy! He adores Super Why and wanted a Super Why cake. I made his cake, and I was quite proud of it since it was the first cake I ever decorated. We celebrated his birthday in Baton Rouge this past weekend and again tonight on his actual birthday.

At three years old, Miguel loves to sing, play “go to the store,” help me cook, and jump off the fireplace. He continues to be fascinated with technology, and asked for a camera and an iphone for Christmas. He knows all his letters (upper and lowercase), has just started writing M and i, and can recognize/sight read family member’s names along with some words.

Each year, we go on a horse drawn carriage ride through Highland Park to see all the Christmas lights. Last year, we had to cancel because William was in the hospital, so I was really looking forward to this year. The weather was chilly, so we snuggled under blankets for our hour long ride. Miguelito serenaded us with Jingle Bells and “the other Jingle Bells” (aka Jingle Bell Rock) about a thirty or forty times, and William was content to sit on my lap and point up to the lights in the trees. Miguel and I were both pretty shocked they did so well considering it was way past their bedtime by the time we were done. It was a great evening and a tradition we look forward to continuing each year.

Our very sweet and much loved Ms Jennie is not going to be teaching music class next semester, and quite frankly we are devastated. Miguel adores Ms Jennie, and she (I think!) adores him. When I was hugely pregnant with William last fall, Ms Jennie would hold Miguel and dance with him during the free dance song. He instantly bonded with her and her fun outgoing personality, and let’s not forget her beautiful voice. Miguel calls the CDs from music class “Jennie class music CD” usually followed by “now, Mommy.” We (William included) have been students of Ms Jennie’s for 4 semesters now, and we just can’t imagine music class without her. We will miss you dearly, Ms. Jennie.

My Miguel is getting so big. I am thisclose to a breakdown when I think of him turning 3 years old in January. He has turned into quite the chatterbox, adores anything with a button, knows how to work my computer better than I do, full of energy and is non stop action, and a well mannered sweetheart, who gives the best kisses and can pout with the best of them. (I have no idea where he got that from.)

He loves to wear his glasses “like Super Why". (The redness around his mouth is strawberries.)

Mommy and Miguel at his MDO’s Thanksgiving Feast

Sitting with a few of his classmates

Showing off his feather headband

*pictures of the boys *update on us (don’t worry, nothing exciting) *re-cap of Thanksgiving *anything else I deem blog worthy

On Halloween, William had his one year old session (cry, sniffle, cry..my baby is one) with the fabulous Jen and we snuck in family photos too. Jen’s amazing talent takes my breath away each time I see my children through her camera lens, and she certainly did not disappoint this time around. I have no idea how I am going to choose photos because they are all abso-freaking-lutely awesome. Enjoy the slideshow and be sure to turn on/up your speakers.

Miguel+William