Date Nights & Girl Parties

As we're back to the whole school season, which I will be "going back to" for the next 20 years,  we've been crazy busy with all of the fun things that school and fall bring.

On one particular Saturday afternoon, with Ellie at a birthday party, I had the pleasure of taking Parker out to dinner. Solo. I don't think Parker and I have ever done something just for fun and just for us. It was awesome. He talked his face off, played with the other kids without the super friend big sister to pave the way for him, and drank my whole milk shake. He's a sweetheart. And an excellent date. I got lots of kisses but all in all he was a perfect gentleman. 

You're welcome future grown-up Parker girlfriends. You're welcome.

Mr. Pope aka Mr. Baby

And as Ellie now goes to school four days a week, one of those being our Monday Funday, Derrick is able to stay home and sleep in with Parker while the girls get up and go to school.  Eliana LOVES the girl time. She calls them our "Girl Parties." And she races out the door to make sure it's just us in the car and she'll get every ounce of my attention. She started a great tradition and now I love Monday mornings, too.

My Litte Miss

I love that my little buddies like each other so much, but I love my time with each of them on their own. They are big, smart, amazing people stuck in tiny little bodies. And they teach me something new everyday.

Funny

Kick It!!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Favorite Things

@ Toast for Grandma Barbie's b-day

I have to write down the things that the little Popes love so I can remember when I'm 80.

Eliana:
Puzzles! She completed her very first one ALL by herself. She says she gets "distracted" from her other activities because she just wants to work on puzzles all the time.
Her friend Danika. Seriously. She has a BFF.
School. She loves it. She can't wait to bring Spinner the class pet home for the weekend.
Picking out her own clothes. This one has been a long-time coming as she's always been picky - but now she's out-grown pretty much everything all at once and I think I am actually going to have to take her shopping for the first time. How is this happening?
The library. She wants to go all the time. And she loves picking out Dr. Seuss DVDs.
Gum. She's old enough for gum.

Parker:
He loves music! He tells me what all of his favorite songs are. He says they're "pretty cool." His favs are LMAFO "Party Rock Anthem" (the Shuffle song) and Foster the People "Pumped Up Kicks."

One of my favorite things....

Veggie Tales. Oh gosh.
Spiderman! We've left the world of Batman and ventured over to Spiderman. He's Spiderman for Halloween this year.
Comic books
His Batman slippers. Okay, so he still loves Batman.
Jellybeans
Gum. He is not old enough for gum. He immediately says, "I put it in my tubby."
Asparagus. For real.

All That Happy

Lindsey's "Making Monsters" Cake!!

Somethings are better in your head. Others end up surpassing even your most optimistic expectations.  Our trip to Missoula, MT for the premiere of "Making Monsters" fell into that latter category.  Seeing everyone who worked on the show was amazing.  As as one person summed it up so wonderfully, "everyone was so joyful."

It was true.

I am grateful for my part in the show. I'm partial to episode 103 with the Roswell Aliens. I can't wait to see it!! But all of the elements came together to make a great product. (OK, I'm partial to the entire thing, but that's what you get. This is my blog.)

For starters, I'm moderately in love with everyone on the crew. What can I say, I have a lot of love to give. I love talented people. And there are a lot of them on the crew. It was fun to see them with their families and girlfriends and lives outside the warehouse. I think I hugged everyone 10,000 times.

Ellie and Parker stayed at home with the grandparents and actually watched the show too at their own little premiere party at our house. Eliana loved it. (I'm a little worried what will come up at her Christian preschool this week....) and Parker told me it was "Pretty scary but the monsters are just pretend." Good job, little man. And thanks to all of our family who make it so easy for us to get away for a day or two.

And as always, Mr. Pope was my biggest champion. He always has been. He stood outside the room where I defended my Honors Thesis ten years ago just so he could be the first to congratulate me on being a big smarty pants and getting to publish a thesis at 21. And he's still the exact same way. That blows me away....

It all makes me "joyful."