Rainy days = clay days!!

Last week it rained.

And rained.

All day on Thursday. And then they said it was going to rain Friday, too.

Just when I thought the rain would drive the insanity right out the back door of our house, a new favorite past time erupted right in our kitchen.

CLAY!!!

That's right.

Clay.

We tried clay about a year ago and my kids wanted nothing to do with it.

Nothing.

Then, on Thursday evening, after it rained ALL. STINKIN. DAY. I pulled it out again and tried to give it another whirl.

Have mercy, people. The kids took to it like nobody's business. They made all of these items BY THEMSELVES! They stayed busy at our kitchen table for at least an hour and a half.

Did you read that?? AN HOUR AND A HALF!!

Take a look:






Pure awesomeness.

In case you didn't notice, I'm a bit artsy and I would really like it if someone in the Theo household could have a little artsy bone in their skeletal makeup as well. After seeing these creations, I do believe we are well on our way.

If you haven't tried clay with your kids, you should. You totally should.

We bought ours at Michael's (thanks to Ms. Sophie who so lovingly guided my clay shopping experience). It's made by Fimo and you bake it so that it will harden.

The kids are STILL playing with their creations.

Happy clay-ing.

So proud!

This girl makes me smile.



Actually, they both make me smile, but the one I'm referring to currently, is the dark-headed, 17 year old. {*Ahem* excuse me, 18 as of tomorrow}.

She's my niece, Kaylyn, and she just graduated from Dorman last Tuesday night.



I just cannot believe that she is old enough to graduate high school and head off to college. Sheesh, where does the time go?

I clearly remember her birth, her first birthday, her first words sentences (she never spoke just words...it was always complete, concise sentences), her first songs, her graduations, her recitals, her programs, her riding in my car to get icees when she was two and I was SIXTEEN. {Note to self: probably not a good idea to send any precious baby riding around with a sixteen year old in a Nissan 240 no matter how mature and responsible the sixteen year old seems - what were we thinking???}.

I certainly haven't been the best aunt in the world, but I hope I've at least been there for her. In the end, that's what we all need, is for the people we love to be "there" at the exact time we need them to be.

She's a beautiful, talented, smart young lady heading off to find her future. She's passionate and caring, loving and inquisitive. She has the whole world before her and she's ready to make her mark.

We could not be more proud!

So, go get 'em Kay Kay!

We love you!

This could be the problem....

We went to Whit's end of the year celebration and Kindergarten graduation last Monday.

It was, well, a typical end of the year celebration and Kindergarten graduation. It wasn't outlandish nor was it mundane. It left me fulfilled and wanting nothing more. Honestly, I'm so glad to be done with this year that I wanted to run screaming from the building like my bra was on fire, only it wasn't and I maintained.

There were lots of proud moments in the classroom.


There was lots of smiling while on stage (or, rather, on the floor).


There was lots of waiting.


And then there was this:


I'm thinking Whit may lack the self control to hide it when he's bored to tears.

What do you think??

Play-ing

Olivia is really into the plays we've been seeing lately, so when our BFF next door neighbors invited us to see Cinderella with them at the Peace Center, we jumped at the chance.

We had to leave bright and early Saturday morning, which ended up being 15 minutes past bright and early because the Theo family is allergic to being on time for anything. Period.

Actually, the tardiness all boiled down to an outfit.

This outfit, in particular.


I don't know. It's cute and all, but there's a little part of me (maybe the sophisticated, cultured part) that thinks we should move on from wearing our dress-up clothes out of the house. For any reason other than Halloween.

But, whatever.

She chose to wear the outfit and the shoes and we moved on.


Who's happy here? Obviously not her.

Show's about to start...now we're happy!


The play was fantastic and Olivia enjoyed it entirely. She especially enjoyed when Prince Charming laid one on Cinderella at the ball. The entire theater was quiet and when they kissed, someone {who SHOULD'VE known better} chuckled out loud, which led to other snickering from the crowd.

I want you to know my sweet angel shot her head around, pointed her finger at that section and whispered in her most hateful/disturbed/"I can't believe the absurdity of those people" voice, "THAT was NOT FUNNY!"

I'll try to remember that when she's 17, on my front porch kissing her beau goodnight! Don't interrupt that girl's kiss. She means business.

After the show, she patiently waited in each line to get autographs and pictures with the cast.

She was totally twitterpated with Prince Charming.


She wants to be Cinderella, "when I'm a teenager," she told me.


She loved all the other cast members, too. Especially the evil step-sisters. They rocked!


And, Prince Charming's mom and dad, The King and Queen.

Some sweet little dancers who were eager to sign autographs, too!


Next show: The Golden Ticket {Willy Wonka}. We might be up for it. We're waiting to see what the neighbors decide to do.

We'll definitely be at Sleeping Beauty, during the 2009-2010 season. Anyone else?

"What's this?" I say.

Here's a little background. My children have never, and I mean NEVER, played well or easily together without some assistance from me. Whit is too rough with Olivia and has very little imagination. He's all boy and loves to rough-house with whomever happens to be in his line-of-fire. He's more the brainy, scientific, play-by-himself-type when he's not practicing his "Flying Jimmy Snooka" off the side of the bed (that's old-school WWF, people). Olivia, on the other hand, has imagination enough for all of us. She loves everything girly, including singing, dancing, dressing up, doing her hair and nails, playing 'mommy' and taking care of anything of the living/breathing variety. Whit can walk in the same room with her and she just falls apart. The only activity they both enjoy together is story time at night, and even then I have to separate them into two piles (Olivia and her animals and 'friends' and Whit and his animals and 'friends'). I mean, they don't even like to be near each other, really. It's hard to watch, but it's true. Take a look at these pictures and you'll see...

This is not a new phenomenon...it dates WAY back...
Look at Olivia high-tailing it off the bed...she's trying to get away from Whit. Check out the face...
So, recently (like in the past month), I've noticed them playing more peacefully together. Whit is a little more easy with Olivia and is trying (very hard) to play "her kind of games." and Olivia is actually enjoying the wrestling, pouncing and body-slamming a little more. HALLELUJIA!! The prayers I've been praying for so long are being answered.
And, then, on Sunday (as if it would be on any other day), I see this scene in our garage...
Cue sound of needle scratching off record.
That's right...we are on our way out the door to church (not a coincidence) and I find my two precious children hugging! Thank you, God, for small miracles such as these!