Spring Has (Almost) Sprung

Funny Bunny and Silly Children

Today is the first (it was when I first started writing) third day of spring and it is cold.  Maybe not by northern standards, but since I am officially claiming North Carolina as my state, it's COLD.  This past Saturday, fortunately, we got a brief reprieve from the cooler weather.  What did our family do?  We packed the day as full of outings as possible because it is now clear the Groundhog lied.  Spring did not come early and we needed to come out of hibernation.  Our initial plans included a brief breakfast with the Easter Bunny and a hop on over to the Planetarium for Legopalooza, but we were having so much fun we added on to each event.

Easter Breakfast Art

In the morning we headed over to University Mall for Breakfast with the Easter Bunny.  Edmund and Evie both enjoyed having their pictures made with him.  Edmund also had fun coloring and doing a spring craft.  He was very proud of his finished works of art.  

While at breakfast, we were told there would be a magic show happening shortly on the opposite end of the mall.  After a short debate about whether or not to insert the show into the morning's plans, we decided to take the plunge.  It turned out to be quite the elaborate ordeal for a free show, and we were glad we stayed.  In case anyone is looking for a magician, his name was Jeff Jones, and he was fabulous with young kids.  At one point when the children were getting a little overeager to go toward the stage, he commanded them to "criss-cross applesauce."  Magically they all sat down.  This is a teacher's trick too, but I'd never seen it work so well before, so must be magic.  Edmund was very excited when mom was called up to the stage to help with a trick.  Evie was probably excited too, but the expression on her face was asking "what is going on here?"  At the end of the show the children were given adorable bunny bags with little magic tricks inside.  Edmund's bag included a whoopee cushion, and the "whoofee cushion" as he calls it, has been summoning much laughter around our house the past few days.

Lego Master at Work

Next it was off to Legopalooza.  At this event members of the North Carolina Lego Users Group create Lego structures over the course of the weekend.  Visitors can then "ooh and ahh" at the creations they come up with on the spot.  There were castle creations, a town, an amusement park type structure, and a scene from Ghost Busters.  The creations were really fun to see and it was amazing to see what could be done with Legos.  Edmund even tried his hand at making a few of his own Lego creations using the Legos provided for kids and kids at heart.  Steven and I realized that if we go to this event again next year we should go at the end of the weekend because the creations will be complete and even more awe inspireing.  Still it was amazing to see what the guys and gals of NC-LUG came up with.

What Pretty Flowers!

For a family with a 4 year old and an infant Legopalooza doesn't take long.  Edmund, and if you can believe it,  Evie don't have the patience required to build an elaborate structure yet, so we had time to kill before lunch.  As it was such a beautiful day we decided to wander around the Arboretum on UNC's campus.  I somehow always forget what a lovely spot it is to visit.  We got in a couple of springy pictures of the kids sitting among the flowers.  Others had the same idea, but they brought along a professional photographer, not an I-Phone.  Our stint here was short-lived because a hungry Edmund is a cranky Edmund.  Next time I'll have to remember to pack a picnic so we can enjoy this treasure of a place even longer.


 I'm glad we got to have such a fun family outing that included daddy.  Now that we know we'll be in North Carolina next year and that Steven will have a predictable schedule, we look forward to having more of these family outings.  For now we'll take what we can get, both in the weather and in the daddy departments.

The Start of Evie's Adventures

Evie Enjoying Music and Movement

I've decided it's time for some honesty about my life with two.  I sincerely want to keep up with this blog.  When Edmund was a baby I'd sometimes get in one post a day.  As he got older it got closer to once a week or two times a month.  Now with two kiddos I'm doing well to get in one post a month and I'm sure my small "readership" has dropped because of it.  But this blog is really more for me to document these fleeting years with my children than to become "blog of the year."  If I'm being honest, I could probably write a post every other day.  Evie takes a nap in the morning, but that's my time to get things done around the house.  Both kids generally take an afternoon nap and I could write then, but nap time has become sacred mommy rest time.  If I am going to make it until bedtime with my balls of energy I need nap time to zone out and recoup.

Chef Evie

It will come as no surprise to most of you that I love babies, so sometimes it makes me a little sad I won't have as much to show Evie about her early years as Edmund will.  Not to stereotype (well maybe a little), but Evie will probably be more interested in seeing her baby pictures than Edmund will.  Edmund's first few years were documented to death, between the blog, his baby book, and the massive portfolios I kept on him at the preschool.  Edmund has a plethora of movies featuring him and pictures galore.  This week I realized it had been almost a month since I took a picture of Evie.  I have a camera on my phone that is with me almost all the time, but I justify not taking it out because I'm afraid I'll miss a moment with her or because in reality by the time I actually get the camera out fussiness starts or the moment has passed.

Evie spends quite a bit of time in the car whilst we take Edmund to and from sports, lessons, and school.  However, now that she's older Evie and I are slowly finding activities to do together.  Recently Evie and I discovered the Southwest Branch of the Durham Public Library is a few minutes from Edmund's preschool, which makes it the perfect place for us to go right before morning nap.  This particular branch has something for children almost every day.  I can't say I'm deliberate in planning when we go.  Whatever happens to be occurring on the day we stumble in is what we attend (granted Evie fits the age range.)  Those who know me well will know stumbling into anything is not my style, but at least with library visits it's working for me.  So far Evie and I have attended several lapsit story times and music and movement classes.  Evie's still a little young to really "get" music and movement, but she loves the instruments, especially the egg shakers, and watching the older toddlers dance around.  To see the smile on her face you'd think the whole class was designed just for her. 

Delighting in Prepared Meal

With Evie's morning nap and Edmund's school schedule I think it will be a couple of months before Evie can do something more formal like Gymboree or Kindermusik.  I love my "big buddy E" to death, but I am also looking forward to the start of kindergarten so that Evie and I can have a little more mommy and Evie play time.  Many friends have told me it's hard to really get to know the second child, so I'm hoping that next year will be a time for me to get to know Evie's likes and dislikes and what makes her tick.  The start of our adventures is just around the corner.  And so my little Evie, you are just as loved as your big brother with or without the pictures to prove it. 

Space Travel

My laptop of 8 years died on me a couple of weeks ago.  It is beyond resuscitation I'm afraid.  I had plans to write about our Disney trip, but haven't gotten the pictures sorted since I am now sharing a laptop with Steven.  Posts will probably be intermittent until I figure out what to replace my laptop with.  However, Edmund said something so cute yesterday I just have to write it down.

Steven and I have one garment bag hanging in the closet.  Edmund noticed it yesterday and asked what was inside.  Steven replied "my suit."  Edmund thought about it for a minute and asked "your spacesuit, daddy?'

As much as we talk about space with Edmund you'd think daddy's former space travel would have come up by now.  This also informed me that we don't get out enough.  Perhaps we'll start working on it.

In Evie news, Evie is working on eating little pieces of food.  She still isn't crawling, but is a roller extraordinaire.  She can stand up very well if someone puts her in the position.  She also has chosen a few favorite stuffed animal friends to sleep with now.  I went in to get her up from nap yesterday and she looked so cute snuggling with her sock monkey.  I went to get my camera, but by the time I came back the moment had passed.  Evie is now waving and it is the most adorable thing I have seen.  We have strangers stop us everywhere to comment on her eyes and smile.  Then she waves at them and they about die.  Of course I think my baby's cute, but she really does seem to have an effect on people.

Franklin

A couple of you have already heard this story, but it's too cute not to record.

I attended an open-house for Edmund's preschool as a parent representative recently.  I don't often get the chance to talk to Edmund's teachers, so it was nice to be able to chat with them between fielding questions from perspective parents.  During one of the lulls Edmund's teacher, Ms. Robin, shared this very funny story with me.

Here's a bit of background.  Over the next two weeks the class will be learning about space.  A field trip to the planetarium will wrap up the unit.  When the field trip form went home I made the mistake of getting really excited and telling Edmund about the planetarium trip before I realized it would conflict with our trip to Disney World.  Upon realizing my mistake I informed Edmund he wouldn't be able to go with his class, but that he had already seen the show, "One World, One Sky."  This made him feel better about missing the trip.

This brings us to the exchange between Edmund and Ms. Robin. 

Edmund said to Ms. Robin during centers.  "I can't go to the planetarium because I'll be in Disney World.  But do you know the planetarium isn't in Durham?

Ms. Robin replied, "I do, it's in Chapel Hill."

Edmund said, "That's right, it's on the street named after the turtle."

Ms. Robin exclaimed, "I didn't know there was a street named after a turtle."

Edmund said, "You know, Franklin St."

And I bet you all thought it was named after a founding father.  

Pattishall Christmas Letter 2012

Sibling Love

Seasons Greetings Friends and Family,

If you are reading this then you got our family picture and may have wondered why our annual letter was conspicuously missing.  I'd love to say I directed you to our family blog in an effort to be more green, but in fact time was simply slipping away from me this year.  "Little Miss Evelyn," while our biggest blessing of 2012, has also taken up much of our time.  Of course that's how it should be.  I didn't want to have to choose between feeding my children and sending out Christmas letters, so writing it here was the compromise.  My family's hungry tummies thank you for understanding.  Without further ado I give you our seeming whirlwind of a year in a nutshell.

Soccer Star

February 2012 - After almost 7 years of teaching I decided to stay home full time.  It has been a bit of an adjustment, as I'm a person who likes the structure, challenge, and built-in friends the workplace provides. I do find ways to stay busy though.  Evie and I attend a couple of playgroups and I volunteer for several organizations and serve as room parent at Edmund's school.  Being at home has given me more rest, however, and in turn I have more energy to spend on the family.  Edmund also had a big change in February.  He left the school he had known since he was 3 months old to begin attending Resurrection United Methodist Church Preschool (or Jacob's School if you ask Edmund) in Durham.  The change of preschools went incredibly smoothly for him.  Both he and I have made friends at the new school, but still try to keep in touch with the old.

May 25, 2012 - We welcomed Evelyn Rose Pattishall into our family.  It is hard to believe she will be 7 months old on Christmas Day.  It seems like yesterday we brought her home, but at the same time we can't remember life without her.  Evie, as we call her, is an easy baby with just a little bit of attitude.  She adores her big brother Edmund, and Edmund is enamored with her.  Sometimes Edmund loves a little too much, but Evie takes it in stride.  Steven and I are delighting in watching the sibling relationship between them develop.

July 2012 - Steven began his third and final year of pediatric residency.  Our family also went on our annual Holden Beach trip, which marked Evie's first vacation.

August 2012 - Edmund tried his hand, er feet, at his first organized sport.  He played soccer for the Black Knights with one of his good buddies.  Time will tell if soccer will be a yearly occurrence, as he didn't quite understand why sharing the ball wasn't encouraged.  For now I think we may need to help him explore his creative side.

October 2012 - Steven, Edmund, Evie, and I took a road trip to see my Kentucky relatives.  I had fond memories of visiting Lincoln's birthplace and boyhood home in Kentucky, so we took the kiddos there.  Edmund is a Lincoln Log builder extraordinaire, so he was thrilled to learn about the person who inspired the name.  After time with Lincoln, it was off to Virginia to visit with Kay Kay and Granddad while Steven went on his first interview of the year.

Little Elf

December 2012 - Steven has completed several interviews, so now we are faced with the tough process of deciding where our family should be next July.  If there is one thing Steven and I have learned from this process it is that we sure like to stretch out our decision making.  We really do hope to know our plans for the next stage in our lives by the New Year.  

This year has been one of many changes for us, and for a family that doesn't handle change well, I'd say we're doing pretty well.  In a year of many changes I feel a non-traditional letter is fitting.  However, one thing I will miss about not having a formal Christmas letter this year is that I can't write a personal message to each and every one of you.  Please know that we think about you all often.  Feel free to call or write anytime.  And I do mean any time as Evie still thinks it's fun to occasionally keep her parents awake at night.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a sleep filled night!

Steven, Tabitha, Edmund, and Evie Pattishall 

Jesus Goes to a Monster Truck Rally

"Welcome to the Monster Truck Christmas Show"

My two good friends and I were having coffee this past week.  They mentioned they take baby Jesus out of their nativity sets and wrap him so the first gift the family opens on Christmas morning is Jesus.  I thought this was a great idea so I got baby Jesus from Edmund's Fisher Price nativity and put him in our bedroom to remind myself to wrap him later.  When I went back to retrieve baby Jesus I found him missing.  I asked Edmund if he took him back and he replied "yes."  I asked, "don't you think it would be fun to open Jesus on Christmas morning."  Edmund said "No, I play with him a lot and I'd miss him.  Come see mommy.  Jesus and the camel are attending my monster truck show."  And indeed they were.  Perhaps we'll trying wrapping him next year.

Baby Big Heads

It is no secret that my children have big heads.  One day I was commenting that Evie was a "baby big head."  Reminiscing I said, "Edmund I remember when you were a baby big head." 
Edmund said, "Mom, I'm still cute.  I have cute shirts."  
I replied, "Yes you do, but you have a cute face too."

Cute Boy Had Cute Shirts Even Then