Cousins by chance, Friends by choice

Today Kari, the boys, and Grammy Chris came over for lunch and a swim.
Hannah could hardly contain herself all day and it made me wonder (again) why I tell her what we are doing for the day.....when I do, she spends the whole entire day asking "Is it time for the boys to be here?" "I hear a car, do you think that's the boys?"  "Mom, I should proally (probably) sit on the steps and wait for the boys."

They finally arrived (right on time but it felt like we waited FOREVER).

The kids had mini corn dogs, french fries, watermelon, and mac-n-cheese for lunch.  Tin enjoyed dipping his french fries in ranch dressing- a  new found favorite condiment for him.  The boys always eat really good at my house which makes me happy because Kari often talks about how they don't eat so well.  Glad to see that I make them things that they seem to actually like (or at least have REALLY good manners).

After they were done swimming and driving the Mustang, we thought we would try to get a picture of the 4 of them.  They actually did really good - all four kids facing the same way, looking at the camera, half way happy!  We'll take it!!

Didn't take any arm twisting here to get Hannah and Kas together for a picture.

These two just melt my heart!

Watching them play together makes me sad that they don't get to see each other (in person) more than once a year.   I hope they keep this special friendship forever and ever.

At the lake, Day 2

Today was much better weather than yesterday.

The sun was shining and it was warm- not hot.

We spent a good part of the day down by the lake digging in the sand and jumping off of the dock.

Later in the afternoon Grammy Chris took the kids for a tractor ride.

Text from Brian: 

My husband is amazing!

Together again

Here they are, together again!

Today we packed up and headed to Pine City.  The boys and Kari love to be at the cabin on the weekends so typically during their time here that's where you will find them/us Friday through Sunday.

It rained most of the day today so we went into town in the evening to a local and family favorite pizza joint, Pizza Pub.

They did get a chance to play in the sandbox between the rain.

Kids say the darndest things

Lately Hannah has had some pretty funny things to say.

Sunday, July 3rd

We had spent the day at the lake.  On the way home I looked to my right and saw a beautiful sunset.  It was the perfect way to end a perfect day.  "Hey Hannah, look at that sunset.  Isn't that beautiful?"

Hannah replies "I think it looks horrible."

Funny thing about this is that she wasn't being a cranky-pants about it.  She was just ever so serious, made a comment, like no big-deal.  Made Brian and I giggle.

Short while later she was going on and on about random things.  Talking about her time with her grandmas (this includes both Gma Judy and Gma Chris).  At one point she said "Mom, remember when Grandma took me in the weeds that day?  We had so much you fun wouldn't even believe it!"

When we were eating lunch she walked over to me (shaking her hips from side to side and using her right hand to move the hair from her eyes)  "Ma'am, can I take your or'da (order said with an East Coast accent)?"

Sunday, July 10th

Last night we had a little get together with the neighbors out in the driveway/yard between our house and Chris and Steve's.  Around 9:30 or 10:00, Steve and Amanda (Brody's mom) came home from their golf outing.  They had been at the bar and Amanda had had a little to drink.  She kept yelling to Chris to make her some food.  It was obviously 'coming-home-from-the-bar' talk.

Today as Hannah and I went to get the paper she looked over to the yard.

"Whoa- look at the mess our party made!"  (still a few random beer cans that didn't make their way to the recycling can)

Later today as we were cutting up a watermelon she put her knife down (one of the 'circle knives' 'butter knife) and looked to the ceiling as if to be in deep thought "I wonder if Brody's mom ever got food?"

Same day, came home from Target.  Walked in the door and saw the syrup from breakfast still sitting on the counter.  "Mom, you forgot to put this away."  "Your right honey, could you do that for me?"

She replies with "What do I look like?"

A little later that day, "Mom, did your party juice (Midori, Malibu, and Watermelon Vodka- that I called mom's beer) make you sleep good last night?"

Emerson's Mom

Hannah and I were in the car on the way to gymnastics and I got a phone call.
I answered the phone and my side of the conversation went like this...
Me:  "Hi!  No, it's no problem, I am driving Hannah to gymnastics so I have a few mintues to talk."
from the backseat
Hannah:  "I not Hannah, I Emerson's mom!  Tell her that I Emerson's mom."
Me: "Oh sorry, I am driving Emerson's mom to gymnastics.  Emerson's mom.  Hannah has a baby doll, Emerson, and so    "
Hannah:  "She a baby!  Not a doll.  Tell her Emerson is a baby."

When we got home from gymnastics and as we were jammying up we were talking about her babies.

Me:  "Hannah, why don't we call this one Soda and this one Emerson?"
Hannah:  "No, they both Emerson's."
Me:  "How about we call this one Changing Baby Diaper again so we know who is who?"
Hannah:  "I not Changing Baby Diaper's mom.  I Emerson's mom."

Ok, after we get the babies dressed I would like to take their picture.

Hannah:  (while rocking them in her arms back and forth-the stand up sway that you probably find yourself doing still even though your kids are growing up) "No, not tonight.  Littles (her nickname for them) needs to go to bed.  You can take their picture tomorrow."

I finally convinced her to let me take their picture. 

Hannah:  "Let's take the picture with their mom."  "Sit here Littles.  Now say Cheese and smile."

When I asked how she decided which baby got to wear which outfit her response was this "This baby will wear the monkey one because she loves monkeys.  Whenever we go to the zoo she always tries to get out of the stroller to get the monkeys.  This baby loves the flowers and when we go to the zoo she points to them and says Uhh (kinda grunt-ish).  They love them!  How did you know?"

Hannah:  "How about we do one more with a silly face?  Make silly faces babes!"

Hannah:  "Let me see.  Ooooohhhh, that a good one!"

How could I want to get anything done in this house?!

This is the type of stuff I would miss if I spent my time doing what I should be doing....I have the rest of my life to do that other stuff. 

Hold this

I was working at the computer and the girls were downstairs playing.

Hannah needed to go upstairs to tell Brian something.

Hannah:  "Here mom, hold this.  Just like this.  Don't smell it and don't move.  OK?"

She must not trust me too much because after she turned the corner she came back just to check on me.

She has recently told me that she really loves her Dankie and she wants to keep her Dankie forever.

I told her it was fine and she could keep Dankie forever.

Hannah:  "Even when I get bigger, I want him.  I love him so much!"

Me:  "That is fine, Hannah.  You can keep him forever, just remember that    "

Hannah:  (while pointing in my direction) "I know, no bringing to places and no bringing outside."

Conversations like this make me really happy that we never let her bring her Dankie to daycare.  I couldn't imagine how we would be sending her to school in a few years without that thing......I mean without him (sorry Dankie).

Emotional strollercoaster

Baby strollers.

The reason for so many smiles and so many tears.

Hannah has always been crazy about baby strollers and since Hailey wants to do everything that Hannah does, she is now obsessed with them as well.

The girls got new double strollers for Christmas.

They are the exact same stroller but you would think that one of them was covered in chocolate.

I remember when Hannah was younger she would sit and play with the buckle on the stroller.  She would clasp it and then have us unclasp it and then she would clasp again, etc.

Just like her sister, Hailey is now the one spending day after day clasping and unclasping.

She gets really excited when she gets it clasped- raises her hands above her head and makes a sound that sounds like she is saying 'I did it'!

The double strollers each have two buckles and if Hailey gets both of them clasped on 'her' stroller and we aren't quick enough to notice and get them unclasped, she is waddling off to find the next victim.

That causes her sister to either scream, cry, or lash out in a way that sends Hailey to tears.

So usually one way or another someone is crying.

Playlist

Kimmy gave Hannah an iPod Shuffle for Christmas.
It was something she had won at work and wasn't going to use so Hannah was the lucky recepient.
We loaded it up with some of her favorite songs.
Hey, Soul Sister by Train
Splish Splash by Bobby Darin
Party in the U.S.A by Miley Cyrus
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Theme
Misery by Maroon 5
Kiss me Thru the Phone by Soulja Boy
(Taking My) Life Away by Default
Free to Be Me by Francesca Battistelli
Alright With Me by Kris Allen

Try to find me

Hannah loves playing Hide and Seek.

When we play Hailey just usually follows us around pointing and grunting to the seeker, most of the time giving away great clues as to where the hider is located.

Brian and Hannah left to go to Menards.

Me:  "Hailey, do you want to play?"

Hailey:  pitter patter pitter patter pitter patter

 I was walking behind her to see where she was going and find her in the kitchen, under the chair.

I guess we are playing Hide and Seek.

Two peas in a pod

Here is a picture of Hannah and Olivia from May 2009.

Their relationship is special.

After I signed Hannah up for gymnastics I had found out that Olivia's parents had signed her up as well.  Olivia's mom and I talked and decided that for the next session we would sign them up for the same class.



Olivia's mom is pregnant and went into Labor on Wednesday.

On the way to gymnastics I told Hannah to prepare that Olivia might not be at class tonight.

She was very concerned.

We were sitting in the waiting area at gymnastics and Olivia walked through the door.

Her grandparents brought her tonight since the baby hasn't come yet and she was very anxious to come.

When the girls saw each other they ran into each other's arms and hugged.

Then they just stood there looking at each other and giggling.

This is going to be Olivia's last day at daycare.  It breaks my heart that Hannah won't be seeing her special friend everyday.  She lives close to us so hopefully we can get her information and keep in touch.  I would hate for these two to lose what they have together.

RRRAAAAARRRR!

We start with Hailey thinking that I am taking a picture of her with my camera.
It quickly turns into our newest 'thing'.
She is so adorable!

Hailey and Hannah will sit across the table and roar at each other.  It will always turn into lots of giggles.

Mom, I can't do it

Hannah:  "Mom, see I can't do it.  I can't put my jammies on myself."

From a girl who has been dressing herself for over a year. 

She went through all of this just to have me help her get dressed.

And yes....that is her underwear on her head.



The kind of kid you are

Bean Machine

You are the kind of child that any mother would be proud of.

You are sweet, compassionate, caring, helpful, silly, smart, and adorable.

You light up whatever room you are in with your personality and shining eyes.

You are a great big sister and Hailey is so lucky to have someone like you to look up to.

When I see the smile on your face everything makes sense.

Hailey Monster

You are the kind of child that everyone dreams about.

You are easy going, content, observant, sweet, loving, and my heart melts a little everytime you smile!

You are the perfect addition to our family and we couldn't imagine our lives without you.

I can't wait to watch you grow up.  I can't wait to hear what your little voice sounds like.

You have made us complete (for now....).

Who is raising this child??!

We have our moments.
We also have our fair share of evidence that messes don't always get cleaned up.

We also have our fair share of moments like these.
I was washing dishes and Hannah came to me asking to use a towel so that she could help clean up the kitchen.  She brought the dishes to the sink, tossed the trash in the garbage can, washed and dried the table,  and filled Nash's water dish.  Such a big helper!