Thursday, November 12, 2015

Never Did I Ever

So there is a game/ice breaker that people play called "Never Have I Ever". The goal of the game is to learn about your friends (or make new ones) and laugh regarding topics that typically don't come up in normal conversations. For example, someone could ask "Never have I ever snuck out of the house at night." Anyone who has done the activity must sit down or lower a finger (if giving 5/10 opportunities) and is out of the game. The winner is the last one in the game.

Ok, now that I just gave you an icebreaker for your next gathering...my big NEVER HAVE I EVER IS..."had a BLAST with a 4 and 5 year old boy!" I am shocked at just how much fun I had! It was a wonderful experience taking Alex on his first flight and watching him interact with his cousin Ryan.

So here's the detailed experience...
The primary goal of Never Have I Ever is to learn about your friends and have a few laughs, so explore topics that don't typically come up in normal conversations. As an example, ask questions like, "Never have I ever sneaked out of the house at night." If your goal is to win, choose questions that keep you safe and penalize many other players, such as a girl declaring, "Never have I ever shaved my face," during a game with several boys.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_4450702_play-never-have-ever.html
provides a great opportunity to learn about your peers and have fun in the process. The game also breaks the ice with new acquaintances and helps you make new friends.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_4450702_play-never-have-ever.html
provides a great opportunity to learn about your peers and have fun in the process. The game also breaks the ice with new acquaintances and helps you make new friends.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_4450702_play-never-have-ever.html
Airport arrival

Walking thru the airport like a PRO! He was walking in front of me like he knew where he was going. When security asked him his name, he responded and when they asked him my name, he responded as well. He responded like are those supposed to be tricky questions.

Closest he'd ever been

Enjoying the moving sidewalk. Again way ahead of me. I think he liked hearing the sound of his suitcase on the grates (I don't know what you call them).

Some random pose

In our seat. He looked for seat 18 and then entered the row.

I never buy candy...in his presence. However, I purchased this EXPENSIVE bad of Sour Patch Kids in the airport as a way to get (and keep) him chewing during take off. Success! No ear trouble. However, I forgot about the decending. He did feel the pressure then and by then didn't really want any more candy. Hahaha. So we talked about yawning. Which worked!

Wonder what he's thinking?
However, I did write down some of the things he said as we took off...
"Whoa this is amazing!", "Up, Up & Away", "Look at those teeny cars.", "I love going up into the sky."
"Mommy, Thank you for taking me on an airplane and someday I'll take you somewhere."

GREAT 1st FLIGHT!

10 mins into the car ride...he was asleep!

That night Ryan and Alex created a Halloween Gingerbread House.

You can see Ryan (yellow), Alex (green), Rob, Ashley, Tameka (red) standing at the door.

Charles and Alana were already in VA, but Charles wanted to hear his reaction when he found out what he was going to be dressed as.

Reaction to hearing what his cousin Ryan would be!

Happy Trick or Treating!
From Bumblebee and Optimus Prime

We went to a great big neighborhood for trick or treating. Alex is just now getting into candy (he prefers chocolate) so this was his first time trick or treating.
Isn't Super Mario great there also!

I've never been trick or treating with so many kids or people. The kids rang the doorbell at one house and the man jokingly went back inside b/c about 12 kids were at his door.

On Sunday, we went to Aquatica, Sea World's Waterpark.


And boy did we have FUNNNNNN!

This little (not really) play area right here was too much for me! It was HUGE. Too much "random" water shooting out. I told Rob he had to handle this one by himself.

Ryan came down the slide.

Then Alex, then Rob

Chilling in the wave pool, with their goggles and life jackets, you couldn't tell them anything.

Cousins for life!

Never Did I Ever think I would have so much fun!!

Winding down together...literally. In the same chair. Why? Do you see all that empty seating. Hahaha

As we boarded the plane, he said to me "seat 18 right" (that's just his memory) and I explained no we're on 20 this time.
Thanks Florida! You Rocked!
As did Rob, Ashley and Ryan for having us!
EXCELLENT TRIP

So you say...Alana didn't go to Florida?
Not this time!
 
She and her daddy were hanging out in VA. Seeing family, eating good and getting lots of rest


And don't forget getting her hair done by Nana! 

We are trying a little more each month to get her use to sitting down and letting someone do her hair. How's it going....<insert side eye>. Hahaha Sike it's not that bad. She's getting better.


Now before we left for Florida, we did do a couple of things like GO TO THE STATE FAIR!!!
I'm pretty sure this was the first time he tried a candy apple.
But please believe this was not the only thing he ate...
2 corn on the cobs, 1 candy apple, a couple bites of the big turkey leg, some funnel cake and some a couple bites of a pickle. Why not right?

After the fair on the way to pick up Alana, we told Alex about his upcoming airplane ride to Florida to hang out with Cousin Ryan. This picture doesn't even capture the joy and excitement that was expressed. I remember him saying "WHAT I get to go to Florida and see Ryan and play with his Transformers."  Charles and I just looked at each other and shook our heads.

Here's Alana just hanging around on a Sunday afternoon. She knows hats go on your head.

She allowed her brother to sing her to sleep.

This is the Frog birthday card that I referenced in the last blog post that still makes her smile even now.

Well that's probably it until after Thanksgiving! Catch ya later!

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

1 Time 1 Time...Part 2....FINALLY

I know.
I know.
I DID NOT intend for it to take this long to post Part 2.
Delay no more....

She woke up from her nap;
Got her hair done by Aunt Tasha;
and came on the scene with Grammy.

All these people. Nawww I'll stick with my daddy for a minute.
 

Daddy Daughter Time!
 

Ohh this was the first time I got to meet William.
 

Most of my Greensboro crew came thru. The others were busy OR 9 months prego!
 

Alana and Mrs. Keasha - her hairstylist if I can't get it together!

So we had a Milk and Cookies themed party!
I was really excited about it when I settled on it and Charles approved, BUT on the invitation I REFUSED to say Milk and Cookies. I knew if I put Milk and Cookies on the invitation EVERYBODY would come in our house talking about "I want some milk and cookies", quoting one of my favorite movies Kings of Comedy...Bernie Mac's section. Although funny...I didn't want to hear that 20 times. For confirmation that it would happen, I asked just a couple of my friends and SURE ENOUGH the first thing they said was....."I WANT SOME MILK AND COOKIES"  UUUGGHHHH GO AWAY!!! Hahahahahah!! And they confirmed that others would do the same.
So I created the invitation myself, without mentioning milk and cookies and with colors that would match the shirt Alana would wear on the day of the party ("My First Birthday").
Winning!!
 
 The set up was perrrrrfect!
Even down to the straw dispenser.
 

Yes, I ordered glass milk bottles (with lids) for this Milk and Cookie party!
 

Customized of course!
 
And a few special ones too!
Man, this theme came together nicely. I might just randomly do it again!!
 

Kids playing together
 

Tell me
 

she's not
 

EXCITED!!!
 
Chicken and Butternut Squash
 

Ya'll know our kids are good eaters.


Ms. Charlotte in the house
Maybe Alana will call her Charla like Alex did for a while
 

and Aunt Clarice
 

Papi and Uncle James
My brother is SUCH a techie! He's not gonna get it James, just do it for him!
 

Here we go
 

AGAIN!!!
One of the happiest kids, as her Daddy says.
 
Alana and KeKe (William's mom...the big little boy from above)
 

You wanna play huh?
 

Dancing...She gets that wide leg stance and goes to town.
 
She was into the presents. I don't remember Alex caring at all.
They are truly different. See the bottom for more differences.
 

You see that frog card. It "croaks" the Happy Birthday song.
To this day it still makes her laugh.

Full of expressions
 

So we tried cake again.
Not the whole thing, just a slice.
 

Same results (peep that face)

Dig in the icing and then extend your hand to someone for them to take it off.
 

Her Dad "force fed" her some cake.
That's what she did with it. Kinda pushed it back out of her mouth.
If we would have given her some sherbet, she would have been all about it!
 
We gave her a fork.
I thought she was going for it. Fork in one hand and cake in the other
 

But...she just did a switch-a-roo.
Put the cake and fork in opposite hands.
 

Nanaaaaaaaaaaa
 

Clean up outfit
 

She likes tunnels and crawling thru things.
 

Is that grass in his mouth.
Hahahahaha!
 

I mean Alex looks like me right??!!??
 

Oh well. People say we look like!
Team Siblings!
 
OOOOHHHHHH
 

I had a great birthday!
 

See you next time Aunt Tasha
 

In addition to having a great low key party, I wanted a picture with Alana walking down the street holding hands on her 1st birthday just like the one I had with Alex.
Hopefully I can zoom in and get closer later.
 
Here's the one with Alex on his 1st birthday!
Oh my heart just skipped a little beat, but look at the differences
 
1) the 1st child wore clothes - the 2nd child did not
2) my hair looked nice with the 1st child - the 2nd child it did not; at least my tank top and shorts outfit is consistent
3) blurry picture with 2nd child probably b/c 1st child was doing something crazy behind us
 
Additional differences between Alex and Alana
- Alana opens kitchen cabinets, Alex did not
- Alana will stick her hand in the toilet if you let her, Alex didn't care
- Alana EATS and then might want you to share your food, Alex didn't until he was older
- Alana is a dancer (on beat), Alex not so much
- Alana can appear quiet, Alex NEVER
- Alana isn't really into books, Alex was all about them
 
More good stuff coming soon.