Holiday Review

Though we have just been sitting around squirting syringes of milk or water in Zoe's mouth for the past 9 days, the holiday is flying by. We've been taken back to the days when Zoe and Henry first arrived and they needed our care 24 hours a day. It sure makes us sympathize for our friends who have new little babies at home. We have had little glimpses of the Zozo we know starting on day 7 of her recovery but we are far from healed as I type this entry.

The kids got some great presents from friends and family. Zoe got a cool stamp set from Ang that Henry is quite fond of as well. The pink and purple unicorn from Aunt Mary and Uncle Clint is a big hit with Z. Henry loves his truck from Grandma and Grandpa and the new bike from Santa has been buzzing around the living room day and night.

I got some much needed clothes to freshen up my winter wardrobe. After 3 years of wearing the same sweaters it was time for something new. I gave Rhett some new nonstick cookware which he is (maybe surprising to you but not to me) very excited to use. Santa also left some Chimey beer in his stocking. Doesn't Santa always know what to bring?!

Where's the time gone?

It's probably time to update. It has only been 3 months since my last post. We are getting in gear for the holidays and as always trying to figure out how to juggle our commuter Christmas.

We are dealing with our second bout of Strep throat with Zoe in less than a month. I can't wait for her tonsils to be removed. I'm reassured more everyday that this is the right decision. Her tonsils are so large, on a good day, that she has a very restricted airway causing labored sleep time breathing. It's painful to see her try to breath when she has one of these infections.

The only other noteworthy entry is that my oldest, dearest friend welcomed her twin boys in November. I'm so thankful that their arrival was blessed with overall good health. I'm hoping to put those two in my arms before the new year!

We had a great 3-day weekend. There was lots of playing little people and relaxing. We went swimming and enjoyed an early dinner at Maudi's. Cheese enchiladas covered in chili and onions...delicious!
The most exciting part of the weekend for me was our school and neighborhood shopping. Finding the best Round Rock elementary school in time for Zoe's entrance to kindergarten is heavy on my mind. We found 2 very promising neighborhoods with great elementary schools and homes that are actually in a price range that is doable.
We'll stay put for this school year but the summer could bring a departure from "mildew" for the Brewer clan!

I'm back to work. Students come for their classroom visit Tuesday. You would think I would be plenty ready by this point. This is my 6th year teaching 1st grade, which I must say, seems crazy. Since I contracted the rearranging bug from my mom, I can't help myself but change the design of my classroom every year. Often it is given further small face lifts through out the year.

Anyway, I spent the first part of the week trying to make sense of the disaster I created in my journey to create the optimal first grade learning space. Then, I decided it would be a good idea to repaint the cabinets around my sink area. The trouble with this is that there are 4 layers of paint. One is an oil-based graffiti paint that won't allow anything you put over it to stick. This is actually the whole reason I took on the project. The coat of paint that was applied over the glossy peach graffiti paint is chipping badly and looks like a wreck in my opinion. To make any improvements I have to sand the surface down to the bare wood. I honestly thought this would be a 2 day project; sanding one day and painting the next. Oh no, no, no. I've had some parent help but I've definitely been involved with the "hard labor". I'm ready for this project to come to an end. I think I'll be happy in the end that I went through all the trouble. I think.

Happy Birthday Zoe!

Together at last....

I love these kids!

So excited to be the birthday girl

The girls with their camp leader Kelly.

We had a great day. Zoe and Hannah had their last day of camp at The Austin Science and Nature Center today. We baked cookies yesterday for Z to take and share with the other campers at snack time. I picked them up and we had lunch at Jason's Deli. The girls had mac-n-cheese of course. Soft serve ice cream followed. Swirl for Hannah and Henry, straight up chocolate for the birthday girl. We came home to relax for a bit. After a few cartoons, we put our suits on and hit the pool. The kids played for quite a while. Zoe thinks she is a mermaid and swims as if her legs are connected. When I got everyone rounded up to leave we were surprised to see Rhett driving into the parking lot as we were walking out.

We gave Zoe her bike before dinner. She wanted to start practicing right away. She did very well but was definitely wearing down. Her choice for her birthday dinner was pizza and orange soda. Sleep came not long after. She has her bike parked beside her bed.

A Vampire Strikes

Henry...Henry...Henry. Will you be a mischievous boy yet?

Henry has taken to biting and pulling people's hair. This is new territory to me. Although Zoe challenges all I know about children and how to care for them, she was never a biter. Henry took a nice bite of a cute little boy at the library today. I was embarrassed and sad for the little boy. Henry looked quite happy which wasn't gaining me any sympathy points from the other mother. I'm not joking Henry just bit Zoe as I was typing this! She's recovering with an ice pack and some Max and Ruby. Most of the time I can't tell if Henry is going to give me a sweet smooch or bite my ear off.

I'm doing a good job with my summer reading goal. My favorite thus far is a picture book about a cockroach named Martina the Beautiful Cockroach. All of 21 days old it is time for Martina to get married. Her Cuban grandmother insists that she pour coffee on all her suitors shoes as part of the interview process. Fun story and good pictures. Approved by boys as well as little lades. Owen requested it be read many times while he was visiting. I find it odd but I've read two books this summer with cockroaches as the main character.

BEACH

Another great family vacation at Rockport has come and gone. We left this year wishing we had another day to spend at the beach. We took Owen with us this year and the kids really enjoyed having their cousin come along.
Zoe and Owen had their own room. They spent most of their time at the beach house with the door closed pretending one thing or another. We didn't take many toys but that didn't seem to matter. Owen's little imagination led the way. Several times I would go take a peek and they were crouched behind one of the twin beds, piled high with their gear, Owen behind the wheel taking them on a journey. The said wheel was an extend-an-arm type gadget that is designed to help pick items up off the floor. In addition to being a steering wheel the "picker" had many functions during our stay. Rhett got in on the action chasing the kids around pretending to gobble them up with his mechanical hand. Henry was especially skilled at getting the clamps caught in his sister's hair and just issuing a general amount of grief to his cousin via the "picker".

This vacation was just as it should be, relaxing and enjoyable for everyone. I won't be needing a vacation from my vacation.