Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Home for the Holidays: Dinosaurs in Space

Though I thought I'd be working this week, my inability to read a calendar means babysitters are all lined up for next week... When the kids are back in school.

Yesterday we took down decorations so we can head to Houston later this week with no to do list back home.

Today was a surprise day off and we've taken advantage by inventing the funnest of afternoons.

We've built a spaceship to take us to the moon where we're searching for the elusive human-eating black whale! He naps almost all the time until he smells humans and that wakes him up!

Zayd designed almost all of this so far and was pretty territorial at the beginning. By the end, they were an astronaut duo protecting stegosaurs in space. He even let her make zig-zags on his space ship. (Zig-zags are apparently the most offensive of shapes when you feel you've mastered all the letters and numbers.) And Zahra got to commandeer a few solo missions as well. The best news is that Zahra now feels that she wants to be an astronaut when she grows up (her only other answer ever had been "leopard").

He even said, "I don't want another brother or sister, I just want you." Welp, fear not kids. This baby won't be your peer for years to come. Then you can tell me what a disappointment the "baby" is. :)

Now we're of to the library to get some books on the moon. Happy holidays to everyone!

Thursday, December 24, 2015

A Little Announcement

It's Christmas Eve and I have the most fun things planned for tomorrow. But first, I should probably let my tiny blogosphere in on some news.

Yep, there's an onion sized little Z3 mama's cooking up right now. 

It's been so long! I'm a full 17 weeks along and happily into my fourth month. You've missed lots of nausea, and the grossness that comes with it. I'm just about emerging out the other side. (Fingers crossed.) The little lemon is approximately 5" long and should be just beginning to hear all of the joy and chaos going on in our little Mammen clan.

People always ask if the kids know. I think that's so silly, OF COURSE. They were the second and third biggest advocates of third baby for a full six months (except our silent partner Ella). And they've known and largely kept the secret for nearly as long!

We're all super excited and June 2nd will be here before you know it.

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Zahra turns 3, and everything looks different

One week ago, my little lolly turned three. We did it up big, if I do say so myself. She has been so excited for her birthday for about a month. Normally, she isn't going to talk to strangers, especially males, but throughout November she was willing to tell nearly anyone that her third birthday would be December 10th. It started, at first, like "tenff", but wouldn't you know that she had mastered the word in a few days.

And now, she is three. So, so three. I know nothing has really changed but she seems bigger, taller, smarter, sassier than ever. I think she really felt loved and special on her birthday which makes my heart sing. (Me-me-meeee. <- It's an inside joke with my sweet littles, in case they ever read all of this.)

To celebrate her birthday, we kicked off the day with neighbor brunch with only six little kids - the bigs are really growing up! We served homemade waffles and eggs per Zahra's request. The kids and daddy headed to the zoo  whilue Mommy snuck in a few hours at work. :( We ordered amazing Italian food (noodles!) in for Zahras birthday dinner and opened her three gifts: Baymax action figure with a baymax shirt, a new baby Dahlia with tan skin and big eyes, and the I Am Amelia Earhart book. I can't describe how adorable she was to watch while we sang to her. She was just beaming and amazed. Filled with wonder, I'd say.




Here is Zahra wrapping up day one of her birthday celebration.



The next morning we woke early to make something like 70 sprinkle pancake pops for school. We headed in to do Zahra's walk around the sun and celebrate with her classmates and her (new!) best friend Danuli.





Zahra wanted a Frozen party but I am a mean mommy and we settled on a Karaoke party where she could sing Let It Go into a microphone and dress up like a rockstar (if not a princess). I know the whole princess thing is coming, but I am going to hold it off just a couple more months. As long as its princesses and scientists, I think we will be fine.


And a special shot-out to Joe Joe for not only attending Zahra's third birthday but for bringing the world's most amazing Elsa pinata. My kids are lucky to be so loved by so many. And Sam and I are so lucky for the support.




Here she is for scale!






Thursday, December 10, 2015

Zahra's Last Day as a Two

Yesterday we talked a lot about Zahra's last night as a two year old. I figured she deserves a video where she hasn't just finished behaving badly.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Zahra the Artist

Well, Zahra strikes again. She has changed so much these past three months.




 And incase you have been missing the original naughty Zahra video...have at it.