I hate Tuesdays

Some people get the case of the Mondays.  Me, I am not a huge fan of Tuesdays. 
Most Tuesdays I have early morning meetings.  They start at 7:00 am and last until 9:30 or 11:00 (depending on the meeting that I am at on that day).
The meetings aren't bad and as far as meetings go, most of them are appropriate for me to be at.
What I hate is coming back to work and not finding a place to park.  I get to work late enough that there are NO spots left.  Not in the lot and hardly any on the street which means I am left to park in the surrounding neighborhoods.

At least the weather is getting better and it is isn't snowing or raining on me.

Just wish I wasn't running in to go to another meeting :-(

Draw Something

It's always something.

With our iPhones, iPads, computers, the numerous amount of apps that one can get hooked on....there's always something to find that will waste fill hours and hours of our time.

Most recently it is the App-Game Draw Something.

You find another user to play with (through sign-up on the app and then knowing their user name or through your Facebook friends).  You are given three words to choose from- worth 1, 2, or 3 coins.

You draw the picture, it is sent to the other person, they have to guess what it is.

They are given some letters and the blanks to fill in.

Once they have gotten it right you both get the coins.

So, you want them to get it right.

Coins can be used to buy color groups or bombs.  Bombs can be used to blow up some of the unused letters or blow up your word choices and gives you new words to choose from.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

7:30 am
Girls wake up and find their Easter Baskets
Hailey's was in the corner, next to the couch, behind the table
Hannah's was in the linen closet

Hannah got Peeps, Pop Rocks, Pez, Swedish Fish, Peanut Butter Eggs, Headbands, a Big Time Rush T-Shirt, and a baby carrier with stroller

Hailey got Pop Rocks, Pez, Swedish Fish, Peanut Butter Eggs, Pony Holder, Big Girl Undies, and a baby carrier with stroller.

12:30 pm

Lunch at Grandma Bauer's

Egg Hunt

Lots of pictures and time with AUNTIES!

Jennie's attempt at a chickie egg- it's cute because I know what it's suppose to be :-)

My Bird's Nests- super cute  but apparently not too tempting since hardly anyone ate any :-(

These girls made out like bandits!  FULL ice cream buckets!
Hailey LOVED running through the yard- More! More!

Poor Hailey- a little too short for Grandma to notice that she was down there

These are my PEEPS!  LOVE. THIS. PICTURE.

4:00 pm

To Grandma and Grandpa Parmley's!

Crafts

Dinner

Egg Hunt

More pictures....

Hailey's Chick- made 100% by herself

Hannah's Bunny

The Girls

First picture of the Cousins- Eagerly waiting for the egg hunt to start and being photo bombed by grandpa!
Hailey- little goof ball :-)

First mow of the year

The first mow of the year!

I have a picture of Hannah mowing the lawn with her daddy when she was about this age.

Today Hailey was playing with the bubble mower, she saw her dad mowing the lawn and started to join him.

It made me smile.

We also colored eggs this afternoon- this year we went with the Glitter ones.

It was a Good Friday

Today is Good Friday.  Jackie's is closed so I am off with my girls today- using my paid Easter Holiday.

Kim and Kristin were also off today so we decided it would be a good day to hang out.  They came over around 10:00 am.  I didn't tell the girls they were coming.  I was in the kitchen and all of a sudden heard Hailey yelling "Hi" out the front window.  Hannah went walking over to see who she was talking to and in a very confused but excited voice said "Kimmy and Kristin are here!" 

A few minutes into their visit Hannah was checking out Kristin's bird earrings.  They started talking about the earrings and how/when Kristin got her ears pierced.  Kristin whispered in Hannah's ear and then Hannah came walking towards me.

Hannah:  "Mom, can I get my ears pierced today?"
Me:  "Huh?  Are you serious?"
Hannah:  "Yeah- can I please?"
Me:  "Well, let me check with your dad."

I texted Brian and he said it was fine so I told Hannah we could.  She was super excited but I was convinced that she didn't really know what she just asked me to do so to be sure we sat her down and explained what would happen. 
"Hannah, they are going to put little guns by your ears and then poke the earrings through.  It is going to hurt a little bit.  They won't hurt forever but it is going to hurt for a little bit.  You sure you want to do this?"

She was.

So, we packed up and headed out.  There was definitely a little bounce in her step as her and Dankie made their way inside (Of course I let her bring her Dankie- she was going to freak out after all and I needed her to have something to help her deal with what was about to happen).

We talked about it one more time.  (I was glad she didn't see the girl before her leaving the store screaming and crying while her mom carried her to the car- yikes!)



She climbed right up

Sat perfectly still while they cleaned and prepped the area

Looked at me while they counted 1, 2, 3

And left with earrings and an "I just got my ears pierced sticker!"

She was crazy brave!

We called Brian right after so she could tell him all about it.

In her words "I was so brave.  I didn't even cry one drip!"

Mom on the other hand....I may have shed a few.  The feelings overwhelmed me while I was sitting there in front of her holding her hand while she was sitting so brave getting her ears pierced.  When did my little buddy grow up so big?  I was so proud of her and I was a little nervous that she was going to freak out- when she didn't I realized how much she probably is 'ready' for and wondering if I am really ready for this.

I think those girls injected her with a little more self confidence that day.  The questions have begun as my little Bean Machine wants to know everything about what this new bling means to her over the next few years.

"Do I sleep with my new earrings?"  Yep

"Can I shower with them in?"  Yep

"Will I have them for my Birthday?"  Yep

"Oh cool!"

I was 10 yrs old when I got my ears pierced and I remember that day.  It was my birthday and we were at Maplewood Mall (pretty sure).  We went to Circus pizza and I got my ears pierced at a place in the mall- not sure if it was Claire's back then too.  It's amazing how it instantly makes you feel like a different person.  You are SURE that everyone around knows what you just did and convinced that you MUST be blinding everyone with your new ear candy.

Hannah was that same way today.  She is so proud of herself and is so exicted to tell anyone and everyone!

Guess what buddy- Mommy and Daddy are proud of you too!

Kim and Kristin were AMAZED at what a good job she did- they let her pick out 3 packs of new earrings- cupcakes, dangling hearts and flowers- it's gonna be a long 6 weeks waiting to change these.  Until then- wash you hands very good with soap if you wanna touch them and clean them two times a day.  Wiggle to the front, wiggle to the back, spin, spin, spin, spin, spin, spin.



I must make this look fun

Everytime I vaccum the house, the girls fight over who gets to help vaccum.

I remember not too long ago both of these girls were scared of the vaccum.  Whether it was too loud or they thought it was going to suck them up- they would run from it and a few times even broke down into tears.

I must make this look pretty fun because now I have two little girls willing to help and take turns to clean the floors.  Not gonna lie- sometimes I wish they were still scared and would run into Hannah's room and hide- get done a lot faster that way.

Best Daddy EVER!

Brian:  "Hey Hannah.....nevermind."

Hannah:  "What daddy?  What were you going to ask me?  I'll do it for you."

Brian:  "Nothing, nevermind."

Hannah:  "Daddy, what were you going to say?"

She followed him into the bedroom and then came running out.

She stopped in front of me and starting running in place.

Hannah: "Daddy said we can go get me a new bike tonight!"

She ran over to Brian, wrapped her arms around his legs and shouted out "You are the best daddy ever!"

She was so excited that before the rest of us had our shoes on she was already out in the truck starting to buckle up.  During all the excitement Hailey followed Hannah out to the truck and soon there were screams coming from the garage.  Brian found Hannah in the truck, closing the door- on Hailey's finger!  OUCH!

Hailey came in and as she was showing me her 'broken finger' she looked over to see Brian walk back outside- she started freaking out because she thought they were leaving without her.

It took her all of 30 seconds to forget about her throbbing fingers, jump back in the truck and off we were.

Hannah got a new bike and Hailey got to pick out a new helmet and bell for her bike- Dora of course.

Calling clock

There are some nights when the girls just won't eat.

They are usually being silly or talking too much. 

Few times they are actually being defient or naughty about it.

During these nights of no-progress-being made at the table, we will 'set a timer'.  "You have until the hand points to the ^insert number^ to finish eating or there will be no treats tonight."

Lately the girls have been 'calling clock' on each other- part of their being silly instead of eating behavior.

Hailey will make a silly-grumpy face at Hannah and then point to the clock and say "cock!" and then they both breakdown in a sisterly gigglefest.

It's hard to watch them 'taunt us' at such a young age- we gotta watchout for those two!  At least I like to see they are sticking together.

Just like daddy does

Hailey went to put her shoes on.  She ran into the kitchen, grabbed the shoe horn and stepped into the shoe.

WHAT?! 

Another reminder that these little ones are watching and copying our every move.

Breakfast with a Bunny

Each year my work hosts a Breakfast with the Easter Bunny event for employees and their families.

Loriann and I were talking about it and both were going back and forth about whether or not to go and finally decided that we would go.

We had a waffle, egg, and sausage breakfast and then the girls got their faces painted.

Then we were off to an outdoor egg hunt and pictures with the Bunny.

Hannah, Marlee, Talon, and Hailey taking a break from hunting to take pictures for their mommies

St Paul Fire Dept was there with a fire truck that the kids were able to climb inside and check things out.

Surprisingly Hailey climbed right up there with Talon and Hannah and started chatting with the fireman.

The firemen were fun and you could tell that they were enjoying their time with the kids- excited to show off.

I take it you were cold...?

The other morning I was in the bathroom doing my hair and makeup while Hannah was laying in my bed watching TV.  When I entered my room to get dressed I found this...

My Competition

Brian has been working a lot lately.

Early mornings, late nights, weekdays, weekends.

Last night while the girls were at their grandma's I finally got to meet my competition.

It starts wtih drawings like these.  He creates these on the computer.  His 'puzzles' as Hanah would say.

 

It soon becomes this.  Big enough to walk inside.

This particular unit fills tractors with oil.

I would NOT have the patience for all these wires- yikes!

Makes my head hurt thinking about how smart you have to be in order to design and build something like this.  He's pretty amazing although I am ready for him to be done with this thing.

I want my husband back.

Don't answer that

I went back to work today after being off since last Tuesday.  The girls went to Grandma Judy's.
Brian was working late so I was home alone most of the day.

Is it crazy that as I sit here I am actually thinking about going into their rooms to smell their sheets?

Don't answer that....

On the way to Grandma's this morning we turned to the street where you could see their house and Hailey yelled out from the backseat "Mom!  Blue eyes.  Mack (match)!"
Yep, Grandma Judy has blue eyes, just like her.

 (pictures taken using the photobooth app on the iPad)

I called to check on them earlier.

Me:  "Hi Hannah!  You being good for Grandma?"
Hannah: "Yep."
Me:  "I love you and miss you.  Are you missing me a little bit?"
Hannah:  "No.  I'm not missing you even a little bit.  Not at all.  Why did you call me?"
Me:  "Well, I was just calling to check on you and see how you are doing, if you needed me.."
Hannah: "Well, I don't need you and I am not coming home today.  I'll come home another day but not today.  Maybe tomorrow.  Now, can you talk to Hailey while I talk to grandma about something?  Here Hailey sweetie...."

Don't get me wrong....I LOVE that they love to be at grandma's.  But not at all...?

Goodnight, Sleep tight

Grandpa Dan told Hannah to take good care of the puppets that he brought her.

As you can see, she took those directions very seriously...

First she made them use the bathroom.

Then she fed them bottles and read them stories.

Sleep tight ladies, sleep tight

I'll tie that for you

The girls got to see Brody today.

His shoe came untied and as his grandma was chasing him down to tie it, Hannah spoke up- "I'll tie that for you."  Brody took off running but as you can see Hannah had him cornered.

Reminded me of when I was in Kindergarten.  I got in trouble with Mrs Linz because I was tying Tyler Peterson's shoes because he couldn't yet.  I didn't want him to get into trouble because he couldn't do it but I guess I missed the point. 

Playdate!

Today the girls and I went to the Sumner's for a playdate.

Mommy got to hang out with Tammy and the girls got to play with Chloe.

It was LONG overdue.

The girls played so good together.

Hannah and Chloe took great care of Hailey and Chloe is quite the little host.

They put on a fashion show, played with play doh, did crafts, barbies, babies, played house, had a dance party, and I am sure did more that we weren't aware of....after all, why mess with quiet kids.

I wanna hold your foot.....?!

Hannah definitely has my feet.

I realized this once again tonight as I looked over at her and saw her like this.

Funny how we think this is normal because it comes so natural.

Hello...My Name is_____

The other day Hannah was walking around with this 'nametag' on.

This is one of Brian's senior pictures