That Thing You Do: Business Cards

We talk a lot about the things we do...like activities... 

I want to do a better job at giving you guys short snippets into the other things you do...like collections and interests and hobbies.

So, I started a new column called "that thing you do."

Julia, ever since Mimi took you to a magical place called "Tuesday Morning" and you picked out the most bedazzled, bejeweled, shiny, shiny, shiny buisness card holder I've ever seen, you've been collection business cards!

Couple that with the wallet you got for Hanukkah, and you've been filling up your pockets with business cards wherever you can find them, and from whomever will give you some.

You are a business card collector! You also have 'coupons', a few old credit cards, and some 'tickets.' But mostly you have CARDS

You know who gave you each card, whose work it corresponds to, and where each one goes. Sometimes you look at 'em, sometimes you try to find a missing one, but mostly, you collect 'em and LOVE 'em!

There you have it. That thing you do...business cards!

Chinese New Year 2017: Year of the ROOSTER

On a cold January morning, we bundled up, grabbed some lunches, grabbed some dragon food (aka dollar bills), and went to Downtown Dallas for our annual pilgrimage to the Chinese New Year Dragon Dance and Street Fair!

This year, your Mama came too!

This year, Julia, you said you would NOT be afraid at all!

This year, Aidan, you were hoping to not get your butt bit by the dragon!

The show was AWESOME! 

You both were brave and bold and fed SEVERAL lion dragons!

There was a little trepidation, of course...

But those frowns quickly turned to smiles!

We ate and felt the rhythm of the drums:

And took the show home...you both were drumming and dressing like dragons for days. You both made Chinese New Year masks- Julia you spent hours and hours on yours!

And the results were frighteningly good!

2017 is the Year of the ROOSTER! I wish you a happy new year full of good luck, good health, and--

HOLY SMOKES a dragon!!!!!!!!

DANCE PARTY

Sometimes on a Friday night, you just gotta let loose and cut loose. Foot loose. It's a Dance Party, people!

Sharing a song

On a cold Saturday in January, I witnessed something amazing and beautiful and adorable. And I hope Disney will let me post it!

Aidan, you grabbed your iPad and timer; and Julia you grabbed your sewing kit.

Embriodering a Strawberry- Photo and foreground legs by Aidan

You guys cranked the Moana, and just sat upstairs doing your own things....but singing....together...

The moment was so beautiful in it's serenity and simplicity. You both have your own interests and will always have things that make you unique, but I pray and hope that you can always come together as brother and sister to share that which you love-- and be with whom you love.

You are both Moana. #Strength #Dignity #Identity #Coconut

Arcade: First time

It was a Sunday. And you guys had cabin fever.

A lot of cabin fever.

So I took you somewhere very special, where you'd never been before! The Nickel Arcade!

Armed with a cup of nickels, and drawn by flashing lights and desire to win tickets, the three of us went up and down the rows of awesome games winning, and losing, and having a lot of fun!

With your winnings, Aidan, you bought a squishy fish and some Finding Dory gummy snacks. Julia, you bought the same gummy snacks, a Chinese finger trap, and two tiny plastic puppies. But those rewards pale in comparison to the joy on your faces when you hit the jackpot in Pac Man and watched your tickets stream out of the machine.

The Arcade is a loud, bright place. There's a lot of options- too many options. Disappointments are possible and lurk around every corner and in the prize cabinet. Probably not the best place to bring sensory kid, or any kid really. But I was SO proud of both of you: you rolled with the punches, losses and wins were taken in stride, and the prizes you could afford were good enough (and at least in the case of the squishy fish) are still treasured. 

Ready, player 1 and 2. Ready!

Super Awesome Snowy Sunny Birthday Weekend

I turned 35 on a Friday. You both didn't have school. So I took the day off. And I am SO glad I did!

Like all good birthday parties, there was face painting (by your Mama)!

Then, for my birthday, obviously, you guys wanted to take me to Jumpstreet! As we left, it started to snow! So we played in the snowflakes, and then bounced a bunch!

By the time we were ready to leave Jumpstreet, it was a bona fide SNOW DAY out there! So we frolicked in the snow even more!

Mama re-joined us and then we went to dinner all together!

My birthday weekend continued with some amazing fun and food!

There was a trip to the theatre: 

...the playground...

...and a super-duper cool restaurant, which inspired you BOTH to be chefs, called Benihana!

Thank you for a wonderful birthday weekend! You made my wishes come true!