Double Trouble

Dear Henry and Hazel, 
Today you had your first double time out.  The two of you had been working on the other's last nerve all morning, playing and then pushing or throwing stuff and then hitting...so at Hazel's last hit Daddy decided you both needed a time out!  Either side of the fireplace your butts sat, Hazel, you stay in place but aren't bothered by a time out.  

Monkey see, monkey do; you put your head in your lap trying to look sad about it.  When time was up you hopped up and said your sorries then Hazel smacked you again. 

UGH! So she is starting this new years taking a much needed nap and some time a part from you. I love you two rascals.  
Love, Mama

WHEN I SAY I'M IN LOVE YOU BEST BELIEVE I'M IN LOVE, L-U-V. #mistletoe

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Is Santa Real?

Dear Elfies, 
Oh!  The holidays, they can throw the best of us off and when the best of us are at our worst the sweetest Christmas pictures are hard to accomplish.  Hazel, it was you this time.  You were off your smiling game...  We went for Santa pictures.  Mommy told you both ahead of time that you do not have to sit on Santa's lap just stand near him...I mean why would I ever require you to sit on some guy's lap you don't know?  Wouldn't I normally saying that is not a good idea?  However, Henry, you let me know you were going to and so was Hazel.  No wait in the Santa line was perfect for the mood we were feeling in the late afternoon the day before Christmas Eve.  Hazel, you were not wanting to go near him so Henry hopped up on his lap and froze, forgetting to smile for the picture before a reminder from the sidelines.  Hazel, I sat you next to Henry...Hazel you stopped screaming when we told you that Santa would give you a candy cane and exchanged the wails for a sad getting through it expression.  

After, you both got your candy cane and the pictures were done, you'd think you'd be happy...Hazel you were but Henry let Santa know it wasn't fair that the only candy canes left were broken.  

Santa shook the bag and said, "That's all I have so if you want one, take one."  Subtext, "Or get the hell out of here kid!"  Whatever, Hazel yelled, "Thank you," and was willing to give Santa a high five.  Speaking of Santa.  I'm pretty certain we won't be able to crank another year out of the narrative. 

   At the Independent Adoption Center Christmas Party you declared that Santa was weird because his beard is just too white.  He, however, had large unbroken candy canes of various flavors...you gave him points for that.

Hazey, you could care less...wouldn't go near Santa but you did try to color pictures and I came around the corner to get our coats and you were entertaining a room of people by dancing to Frozen's, "Let It Go!" 

Hazel and Nick

You both enjoyed all of the kids, running the halls and coloring pictures together.  It was good seeing Hazel's birth brother and his brother, Nick and Ryan. 

Nick, Keegan, Ryan and Henry...Hazel in the way back

Hazel and WW

After the party we had a very nice dinner with your birth mom WW, Hazel, Nick's family and our best buds Eunice and Keegan.  Wendy bought you a great little tent just your size and Henry a remote control car.  So sweet.  We gave her an angel and a little sign with words about being family forever no matter what.

Henry, you later told me you did not trust the IAC Santa, more about the white beard making him not real, it should have a little brown in it.  
Then, this year a school chum mended a major fissure in a no Santa tale another scrooge from school tried to put in your head.  I loved the reasoning your buddy B came up with to not believe K.  The other day in the car you told Mommy that K told you and B that there is no Santa Claus, he isn't real.  Well, You and B were not buying that...and I don't know if K asked you all to prove it or not but B's logic in support of a Santa being real was, "There has to be a Santa Claus or else it wouldn't be fair if your parents eat all those cookies by themselves, so there definitely HAS to be a Santa Claus!  Parents wouldn't do that."  That worked for the time but now you've asked me every day since.  Not wanting to lie, I pulled a switch-a-roo and asked, "What do you believe?  It only matter's what you believe."  When a persistent, "BUT IS HE REAL," screamed across the car I thought quick and said, "YES, St. Nick was a real guy and over the years it has taken on bigger and changed meaning." Shew.  But Sorry B...the parents do eat all the cookies, we even throw some out the back door if we can't eat them all.  It may be worse finding out the latter than the true facts on Santa, or lack there of.  Love, Mommy     
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Merry Xmas from DJ Hazel T! #fisherprice

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#tbt 10th grade inkwash art project, 1989/90. Slime Balls banner, check. Lucero deck hanging on wall, check. Room covered in flyers/stuff torn out of Thrasher, check. #slimeballs #johnlucero

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Who among you hasn't let a gummi fruit stuck to your cheek just stay there awhile unnoticed

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You never forget your first Chocola. #chocola #milestones

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Breakfast with my favorite guy.

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I HOPE IT'S SAFE TO DRIVE HOME WITH THESE CR@ZY EYES L@@K! BEEP BEEP STAY OFF THE SIDEWALK! #dilated #pupils

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Hey.

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MINE!

Dear Hazie, 
A couple of weeks ago I took pictures for a local preschool. The kids were all super cute and you got to come alone with me and play.  You've loved it. You're ready for a little preschool, but I am not ready to let you go a few hours a week yet.  Anyway, you integrated into each room as if you attended every day and the kids were your best friends.  Every so often, just in case I forgot you would come stand in front of a kid I was trying to get a picture of...and a couple of times while my hand was fixing a child's hair or adjusting a shirt you jumped between us an said, "My mom! MINE!"  or you'd stand behind me and wrap your little boa constrictor arms around my neck while I took shots of the kids.  You even pushed a girl sternly looking them in the eye repeating, "MINE, MINE! MY mommy."  I am not one of those parents who views my children as possessions but for these moments I felt pretty grateful you were feeling possessive of me.  

My heart swelled a little, because yes, in fact, I am your mama.  So grateful, always to WW for this chance to be the mom of such a sweet little loving sasspot baby girl.
Love, Mama

Toofie Toots

Dear Henny, 
Since just before your 5th birthday your mouth has been under construction.  You've lost five teeth!  First fell your bottom 4, ole number 1 made its appearance at 19 weeks.  

Two of the bottom have been replaced by some bigger teeth your little boy mouth can hardly contain, crowding out number 3 and evicting number 4, which we sadly lost on the car floor and before looking for it I took the rare occasion to vacuum my car...poor toothy.  No worries.  You had yet to put 1-3 (and 4 in spirit) under your pillow because I had not finished the tooth pillow you designed and requested I make.  When number 5 started hinging straight out I got off my butt and finished off tooth dino-dragon and you placed three safely inside.  Sometime in the middle of the night I heard a, "AAGGA!"  This was soon followed by, "YES!" proceeded by foot steps down the hall proclaiming, "The tooth fairy came!"  We read the note to you and you were excited over the 2 dollar bill, and the dollar coin and that your tooth fairy was notified by the car wash place and retrieved number 4 and left an additional dollar bill.  The note was signed, Wanda!  Such excitement this brought you.  When you returned from school I asked if you told anyone and you said you did, even both lunch ladies!  This morning number 5 was barely hanging in there and before leaving for school we HAD to get it out.  You readied the toothfloss and the remote control car and I tied it on...and one, two....three! POP! It flipped to the floor. Done.  

At the grocery this evening you told the young check out guy, "I lost my tooth, see!"  He said, "Cool little dude."  I asked him what his tooth fairy's name is...and you piped up, "Mine is Wanda."  He said his was always anonymous.  So, tonight you cozied it away, being thoughtful, you left it at the edge of your bed and pillow.  A new note awaits you as does a two dollar bill.  Hopefully this part won't be disturbing to you because while you're learning to read, by the time you're capable of reading this post it won't spoil anything...but I am in fact Wanda the tooth fairy.  Wanda was a name Bahboo use to call me.  I don't know why, he just did.  I think it means he thought I was a lil wacky.  This is a fun little game and I am sorry that "Wanda" was busy and didn't come sooner, but at this rate your teeth are going to keep coming and you'll have a big boy mouth in no time.  For now, I enjoy the goofy lil face you have with your lil smile.  

I showed you the other two pictures and you thought you looked pretty goofy, too.  You cracked yourself up for a few solid minutes. At dinner tonight you were talking and I nudged Daddy...just too much cuteness. I took a mental snapshot.

I love you growing boy.
Love, Mama