My Lenten resolution.

Being the good Lutheran girl I am we have always gone to church (ok at least when I was little) during the season of Lent. I don't know where exactly the "giving something up" came from - Catholics, Lutherans, or both, but I seriously debate what to do. It is pointless for me to give up chocolate or caffiene - I don't have much of either. I also start thinking about things I could start doing, but stop because it isn't a New Year's resolution. Then I start thinking, "Maybe I could stop being such a control freak when it comes to my family." Yeah right - we don't want absolute chaos, so that is out of the question. I know that you give something up as a sacrifice, but what could I get rid of that I would miss, but not miss so much I would crumble? I think I have it- for Lent I am giving up buying clothes. My friend Amy did this for the month of January, so I decided I could give it a shot. Now mind you, I am not really a big spender when it comes to clothes, but I have been know to buy stuff for both me and my family if it is a really good deal. Well, no more (at least until Easter). My kids and I have enough clothes to last us until then and it can only help our bank account. Wish me luck and please don't invite me to any themed parties that require special attire that I don't have in my closet!! Thankfully Lent doesn't fall anywhere near costume parties, ugly sweater competitions, or BUNCO theme night!!

Welcome to the Big Top!

The Schaefer household felt like more of a circus than a home tonight. When Brad got home from work he decided to start doing acrobatic tricks with the kids. Teagan has always enjoyed balancing on Brad's hands and now Tate is joining in the fun.

Next up are the strong men (actually boy and girl). Tate about gives himself an anurism while showing his muscles. It is hilarious!And finally the show was over and everyone got ready for bed. I love my little circus clowns.

Tate did want to send this message to his best buddy Griff. He loved yesterday's blog and wanted to join in on the fun!On a more sad note, I finally caught up on Housewives of Orange County and was saddened by the loss of Jeff. Good-bye Jeff. I will miss you and Gretchen will miss your money. Whoops - pretty sure she is getting all your money so scratch that!!

I take it back!!

Ok, so maybe I wasn't fair to my kids in my blog on Saturday. Today they were absolutely sweet, and thoughtful, and precious. Well, maybe precious goes a little too far (since Tate is launching blocks at me as we speak!). Anyway - the afternoon started like any other Monday - getting Teagan to dance by 5:00. We managed to get that done, plus get supper in the oven. When we got home Teagan distracted Tate with ring-around-the-rosie (pak-a-wosie for those of you who know Teagan back in the day!). This is Tate's new favorite game and they get along while playing it - BONUS!

Tate yells "pay" (play) and they go around in a circle and Tate decides to yell "down" and pulls Teagan to the ground. They both laugh and get up for more! Ah, the simple days!
After supper Brad took Teagan to the basketball game while I got Tate ready for bed. We played with blocks and tractors and I had one of those mom moments where you just stare at your child and are amazed that you get to be a part of their world forever. Tate is learning so much - he "speaks" to us when he wants something and sometimes it is understandable! He is the ultimate copycat, but knows so much already.

Teagan comes home everyday with new things to talk about too! She has always been all about knowing people and wanting to know what is going on (hello, Brad's daughter!), but now she comes home writing the names of her friends and wants to know what everything spells. I have to remind myself that everytime she asks she is learning and we all did the exact same thing. She is really into 8s right now and writing our family names.

She also really into "love" and professing it for us - even if her crazy 5 year-old moods tell us different sometimes!

Ok - I'm done gushing about my kids, but they really are amazing. For those of you with your own, don't forget to slow down and just enjoy them because it really does flash before your eyes. For those of you looking forward to kids in your future - enjoy your time now so that you can appreciate the time your children require.

I have to add this one of Tate before bed! Yes, he is playing at Teagan's Ariel salon with a bus and an upside down pacifier. Thats just the way the kid rolls! Goodnight all!

New Addictions

It's official - I am a Twilight addict!! I couldn't put the book down and it was all I could do today to not start the next book. How am I supposed to clean out my closet when all I can think about is "how can Bella cut her finger on some tape and throw the entire family into turmoil?" I can't wait to start!!Yet another addiction of mine - fittingly enough- is Intervention. I have about 5 episodes waiting for me, plus a new show is on tomorrow night. Hopefully Brad takes Teagan to the basketball game so I have a little time to catch up.My last obsession (and longest - I have watched every season since it started) is the Amazing Race. I don't know what it is about this show, but I want to do it!! My sister and I have always talked about doing it and seriously we need to! How cool is it to race around the world, seeing some of the most amazing places, and have the chance of winning $1 million in the process? It's the best of all worlds. My sister has informed me she has some ideas for audition tapes ( makes me a little nervous), but I need to get off the fence and just do it!!

I mean really - how could they say no to a 31 year-old mother of 2 from Iowa who teaches delinquents and reads tween books about vampires. I am a shoe-in!!

What ARE little boys & girls made of?

That is my question of the day. We have all heard the rhyme

What are little boys made of?
Snips and snails, and puppy-dogs' tails,
That's what little boys are made of.

What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice, and everything nice,
That's what little girls are made of.

I'll tell you what both my little boy and girl are made of : piss and vinegar! (a good old quote from my Grandma) I haven't had the chance to look at the moon lately, but is it full because my kids are up to nothing but trouble! Not only is Tate his usual 18 month old self, but his sister has completely started feeding into his naughtiness.

Trying to fill Daddy's shoes, but pretty darn cute at it! Maybe thats my problem - he is starting to act like Dad! Just kidding honey!

It started with my attempt to go to The Children's Place for about 20 minutes just to look around. Of course I should have known better than to take the 2 hoodlums there by myself, but being the wonder mom I am I knew I could handle it. All was well until Tate remembered that he could walk and wailed to be out of his stroller. So I obliged just to test the waters. He didn't do too badly, but wanted to push the stoller which did not make his sister happy since that was her job. After trying to carry around the 30lb tank that is my son and helping Teagan steer the stroller with my one "free" hand I called it quits and loaded them to head home. By they way some great deals on clothes!

Once there you would think the confines of our house would slow them down - yeah right! I started making grilled cheese and SpaghettiOs (i know the supper of champions, but by this time I am all but defeated for the night). I get it made Teagan sits and eat and I turn to see Tate eating his SpaghettiOs with his fingers. No big deal, right? Wrong! He was eating them with his plate upside down as they all dripped onto his highchair. Its like time stood still because in the time it took me to get the papertowels he had managed to smear them all over the tray and himself. You might wonder why there are no pictures of these events, well it is because it was all I could do to not shut myself in my room and pray that Brad would magically appear (yeah right again!)

So, we cleaned up and I threw the kids in the bath. Quite time? Not so much! Tate completely drenches me and the bathroom floor. And annoys the piss out of his sister in the process! This was the point when I decided everyone was going to bed early. So, that is where I am now. Guess what? That didn't happen either! Tate is talking to himself in bed and Teagan is lying on the couch watching TV. I surrender - neither of them are bothering me, so I will take it!

Tate is obsessed with weighing himself. Pretty sure it is because he throws it on the floor and lights start flashing. And yes, he is playing with himself - nothing new!

While getting Tate ready for bed I left the camera in the bathroom alone with Teagan. One of her favorite things to do is take pictures of herself. Not to bad really!

And she loves to take pictures of random things!!! And yes that is a dirty diaper in the background. I have since cleaned up the bathroom!

Is anyone else feeling this lately or are my kids just hitting their stride of what looks to be a long February and March for me? Help!! Don't get me wrong I love them to death, you mother moms know what I am feeling!

In other news - my blogs may be further apart for awhile as I am officially joining the Twilight bandwagon. Not going to lie - I am hooked!

Happy LOVE Day!!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!! I hope on this Saturday you get to spend a little time with the people who mean the most to you. I know I get to!

Going out for supper with friends. Always a good time and I sure that tonight won't be any different!

We got quite a bit of snow here last night - more than they said!! Teagan and Tate love watching Brad scoop the driveway. They knock on the window, he throws snow at them, the laugh hysterically. That was my Friday night!Here is Tate licking the window while watching Daddy. Notice the snow still on window.Teagan is always willing to help us with Tate (whether Tate wants her to or not)! This picture was taken while Brad was supposed to be getting the kids ready for the day. Who is parenting who here? Just kidding honey!

Have a great day everyone! And maybe if your lucky your significant other will be saying this to you

All about the kids

A couple blogs ago I talked about how obsessed I am with blogging. Since some of my blogs lately have had nothing to do with my kids I decided to devote this one to them. Lucky me - they were in fine form tonight!!!It all started with supper. Tate has been treating supper as a kind of buffet lately. He eats for a little while and then hands over his plate and says he is done. He runs off to play only to return to look for his plate on the highchair and graze. We have put the kabosh on this, but tonight was kind of crazy so I let him.
While Teagan was supposed to be finishing her lunchable (I know not the best, but like I said it was an off night) her and Tate decided to play "peek" under the table. Notice in this picture how Teagan is getting her brother to finish the cheese she is supposed to be eating. I am not sure this will ever change - Tate will take food from anyone!!

Once Tate tired of that game (a whole minute later!) He got out his new shiny, red car from Uncle Shane and Aunt Lindsay. I wish I could put these in one of those animated books because the pictures in order are hiliarous. He loves to drive anything with wheels and makes a great engine noise!

This one is my favorite. Look at those cheeks!!


All done driving the car!
Whats up homie? Nice pants!

After supper was finished, and I use that term loosely, we moved on to baths. Teagan thought she would teach Tate how to blow bubbles. Mind you, Teagan just got brave enough to do this in the tub this fall, but believe me, she is an expert!!

After the bubble lesson Tate was on to torturing Teagan with splashing. I usually freak out because there is water everywhere, but I turned off the mom radar and just let them be kids. Teagan got a little tired of the splashing. Tate you ask? Never!! Please ignore Tate's obsession with himself at the end. Those of you who have boys know what I go through everytime his diaper is off!!

Trying to upload video.

Also - the screaming at the end is a daily (if not hourly) occurance. It is bordering on ridiculus!!

Since some of you don't get to see the kids too often I thought I would let you hear some of Tate's newest words. He is quite the talker! He has to be to keep up with his sister!!

Never mind this right now - I am having problems with uploading videos. Maybe later

Once Tate went to bed Teagan and I hung out for awhile. She doesn't have school tomorrow so we had a little girl time and painted her nails.

Has anyone seen my little girl? She was small and smiley with chicken fuzz hair. All of a sudden there is this grown-up wanna-be living in my house!