Dear Mother Nature, please keep the weather this beautiful!

The weather has been so nice lately.

We have been able to play outside.

A new favorite game these days is the Mickey Mouse Tag game that she got from Chloe for her Birthday.  There are four characters that you hide around the yard and then when the game starts, it calls out a characters name, when you find the character, you cover it with the Mickey peice, then a new character is called out. 

The game times you so you always want to try to get the best time.

I wish you could see this

If you look really close you might be able to see the handprint on the side of her face.

Talking Baby slept with Hannah last night.

It appears they were cuddling for the majority of the night.

Here she goes....!!

It happens so fast.

One day she is your little baby and the next she is starting to walk.

Hailey is determined.

Tonight she wouldn't stop.  She would take a few steps, then fall, then stand up and try again.  The look on her face was priceless. 

Once again, as I wait for her to get big so we can celebrate her milestones, I feel sad inside realizing that I am getting 4 steps closer (literally) to her never wanting to crawl again.

Came across this picture and it made me giggle.

Hannah was invited to Katelyn's birthday party. 

 It was a bowling party.  Katelyn is one of Hannah's friends from daycare.

Hannah and Olivia were waiting for their turn to bowl and they found the air.

Do you like how Hannah's comb-over is blowing in the wind :-)

Happy Anniversary!

This is not a very good picture of us but it is the only one that I have handy that will not require me to get my lazy self off of the couch.

Hard to believe we are already celebrating 7 years of marriage!

Looking forward to another 60...or more if we are lucky!

Res-tur-lant

Mommy:  "Hannah, will you take this downstairs to daddy to see what he wants for breakfast?"

Hannah:  "Sure mom."

(pitter patter down the stairs, mumbled conversation to daddy, giggles along with the pitter patter on the way back upstairs)

Hannah:  "Here mom, this is what daddy picked from the res-tur-lant."

Caught!

So, that's how she does it!

Hannah is always telling us that she needs to brush or teeth or wash her hands and then she's off to the bathroom.

We will hear the water run.  It turns off and out she comes.

This morning, I saw how she reaches the sink.

Pond clearing

While making toast for Hannah this morning, we noticed that the bread was starting to get a little stale.  I made a comment to her that we would need to throw this bread away and open our new loaf.  She responded with "No mom, how 'bout we save this for the ducks at the duck pond.  That a good idea?"  We agreed that her idea was better than mine.
I dropped her off at Jackie's and sure enough when we met up again 9 hours later she remembered our 'good idea'.
She would not stop talking about it until finally I gave in and off we went.
We started throwing the bread peices to 5-6 ducks that were sitting in the grass.  Soon after, the ducks starting coming out of the pond and running over to us.  All together there were about 40-50 ducks and geese all around us, quacking and begging for bread.   Note to self:  next time you go to feed the ducks, bring enough for everyone.

Dinner Art

It is always a joy when I am feeling overwhelmed and then I finally get a chance to sit at my desk and actually do work.  For those of you that know me, you know that I am a list writer. 

I don't always need the list but I always like to have one, just in case.

I also take lots of notes and attend a lot of meetings.

It would probably be snart to develop some type of note taking system, but for now, notes are taken on paper.  Most times I don't need the notes that I have taken and the reason I have written so much is just to distract me from the meeting anyways, gives me something to do so I don't say too much or get too involved (or sometimes upset).

Then when I have time, I like to go through all of those notes taken at meetings and log them electronically or complete the 'things to do' that came from the meeting.

Anyways, I was having one of those 'clean up the list' type days and came across this, all mixed in with my work notes.

Dinner Art.

Last Friday Brian and I took the girls to 5*8 Grill for dinner.  Hannah wanted to play Tic-Tac-Toe (how does she know about that?!....I guess I paid for that too at the price of $340 a week).

After our Tic-Tac-Toe game her and daddy wanted to draw lines.

I am glad for this blog, so I can take a picture of this page....to remember these nice days of going out to eat and spending time together as a family and then throw that paper away.

It really isn't worth scrapbooking....

Birthcontrol

Sorry for the horrible image.  My camera does not take good pictures but when you are having a moment like this to share, you have no time to get the real camera. 

If this were a good picture, you would see that not only is the Beef-a-roni all over the highchair and her face, but her hair is orange, her shirt is covered, her hands are actually smooshing noodles in her hair as this picture was taken.

I guess that's what I get for playing peek-a-boo during dinner.

Oh well, nothing a bath won't fix :-)

Project Talk

This is the conversation I overheard while Hannah was working on her project tonight.

Brian:  "Hey buddy, whatcha workin' on?"

Hannah:  "My project.  It's for my dance party."

Brian:  "Your dance party?  When is that?"

Hannah:  "In 7 weeks."

Brian:  "Oh 7 weeks, huh?"
Hannah:  "Yep.  7 weeks to the dance party, then all the people will come to my party. There might be elephants there that will dance with us."

Brian:  "Wow, really?"

Hannah:  "Yep, in 7 weeks.  First I need to finish my project."

Here comes fall

The leaves have been falling fast.

The colors have been extra breathtaking this year (in my opinion).  When we got home from work tonight, it was such a nice night that we got out the rakes and made a little pile in the yard.

Hailey wanted nothing to do with it.

Hannah head straight for the tree, giggling while I was raking.

Me:  "Hannah, what's up over there?"

Hannah:  "I waiting to jump into your leaves."

The Circus....really was a zoo

I saw an advertisement for the Shrine Circus on a billboard recently.

I can not remember the last time that I had been to the circus.  For some reason, I feel like the last time I was there it was with school.  Is that even right?!  Did we take field trips to the circus?

I wanted to take the girls.

Kim, Kristin, and Grandma came with us .  Jennie got us buy one get one coupons even though she couldn't make it :-(  . 

 I didn't buy tickets ahead of time.  I figured we would just get tickets at the Box Office at the Target Center.

Turns out everyone else had the same idea.

It was crazy!  The line went out the door and around the corner. 

It ended up moving pretty quickly (20-30 minutes probably) and eventually we had our tickets and were on our way in to the show.

Everyone had a good time.  Hannah can't stop talking about the elephants and how I missed seeing the biggest one stand on his tippy-toes and twirl in a circle, like this (insert demo).

Dear Cub, I really do appreciate this...

Dear Cub Foods,

Unlike the car shopping cart (that is the size of a real car), I really do appreciate these child size carts.

tired

I am so tired of commuting.

I am trying to make it into work for a meeting. 

I am on the freeway.

I am not moving.

Must be a girl thing

Are babies just naturally a girl thing or what?!  It is hard to know whether Hailey loves babies as much as Hannah because she watches Hannah and is just copying her or if it is just natural for girls to adore their baby dolls.    Hailey got this baby for her birthday from Grandma Judy.  Hannah just happened to get the exact same baby from 'Grandma Joyce'.  Hailey carries this baby around with her...well, actually drags her, everywhere.

More mommy moments

I had another mommy moment this morning. 

I opened my purse and this time didn't find a dirty sock but instead

• A french fry
• 1/2 of a stick of gum
• A Nuk holder
• Gerber Puffs

Family

We were able to get a few good pictures at Hailey's party.

What I love about this picture:

1.  Brian is actually smiling.  Lately when I ask him to take pictures he is making a face or messing around so that we don't get a good shot.  Thanks honey for working with me today to get a good picture!

2.  All of us are looking in the same direction.  Even though it isn't the greatest picture, we are all looking in the same direction.  Anyone with two small children knows what a difficult task that can be.

3.  Hannah is smiling and not making a face (she takes after her daddy, you know)

4.  I am smiling and not talking.  Usually I have some goofy look on my face when pictures are taken.  I am trying to get the kids looking in one place or ordering out directions for everyone as to where to look, when to smile, getting their attention (how bossy~)

Too cute for words

Seriously?! 

Is she too cute for words or what??

I have a feeling we are going to be late for daycare tomorrow...

Daddy and me

Tonight I brought Hailey downstairs to get her ready for bed.

We played downstairs for about 20 minutes before we realized that Hannah and daddy never made it down.

We went upstairs looking for them and it was a ghost town.

We went outside and there they were...sitting on the edge of the truck, talking away, just hanging out.

Happy Birthday Hailey Monster!

Today was Hailey's Birthday Party

We had about 30 people at our house for the party.

The weatherman had been telling us for over a week that it was going to rain all day so we didn't plan to set up the party in the garage and didn't set up the 'outdoor' toys.

It turned out to be a beautiful afternoon!

Hailey had a good time opening her presents, watching to see what was inside of each one.
Presents included:

Hannah, Mom, and Dad:  A teaching turtle light up toy
Grandma Chris:  Little People Dollhouse
Grandma and Bob:  Dress, that matches the dress that Hannah got for her Birthday
Jennie, Kim, and Kristin:  My first tea set, adorable pink sweater dress, tights, and two pair of shoes
Grandma Judy and Grandpa Denny:  A baby doll, Hailey name puzzle and Minnie movie
Jennifer, Tom, and the kids:  a gift card to make an 8 x 8 photo book, Minnie shirt and black pants
Karri, Greta, Mike, and Courtney:  Owl outfit and Mickey Mouse book
Stacey, Shane, and kids:  Little People Dollhouse
Tammy, Josh, and kids:  Pink and Brown Plaid vest and Gap shirt
Grandma Joyce and Don:  My Pal Violet

(I hope I didn't forget anyone or anything...that was from my memory)

Hailey especially loved her cake!  So happy Jennifer took pictures for me so that I could enjoy this moment!



Deal of the year

Where:  JCPenney
What:  These Sketcher tennis shoes for Hannah purchased for only $4.99
How:  They were on sale for $19.99, I had a $10 off of a $10 purchase coupon, they were a little dirty on the inside of the heel and when I asked the checkout lady about it she said she would give me $5 off because they were dirty.  Grand total after sale, coupon, and dirty-off = $4.99

Spa Day

Hannah:  "Look mom, I am painting my toes!"

Yummy in my tummy

I love watching Hannah's imagination come to life.

We were outside playing with some of Hannah's new birthday presents.  She really wanted to use her new pots and pans from the 'Madagascars' (what she calls the Busta's...they both start with Maddie, I guess).  We didn't have any food to cook but never you mind about that! 

My personal choice would have been leaves or sticks or rocks....this little one got along just fine with the batteries.

The greatest surprise ever

I am having a hard time believing that Hailey is already one.
Today is her birthday and on this day as we celebrate her I can't help but think about how much our lives have changed because of her.

Happy Birthday to our little surprise.  To our little life changer.  To our little angel.

More signs of motherhood

Got to work today, opened my purse and found this...

Right there- by the Target receipt- do you see it?  A dirty sock.

Hannah! Where did you put that ______?

One thing about having an overly helpful toddler, oh sorry- I mean big girl, is that you often find things missing.
I was trying to clean up the house a little this weekend and walked into the bathroom.  The light was still on, there were bath toys littering the floor, the old toilet paper roll on the vanity, hand towel laying on the toilet and the toothpaste-open toothpaste- on the counter.
Went to go and put the toothpaste away, wait....where in the world is that cap?
*sigh*
"HANNAH!  What did you do with the cap for the toothpaste?!"
"It's right here mommy"  (said with a huge matter-of-fact-smile on her face)

Oh, of course....how could I have missed that?

Push-hand-to-talk-baby

Hannah not only likes to read books to her sister, Hailey, but also to push-the-hand-to-talk-baby.
Push-the-hand-to-talk-baby sits much more still than Hailey.
She listens better too.

Although, she doesn't help Hannah turn the page...

Scrapfest

Today Karri and I went to Scrapfest.
Here is a sampling of the items that we made.

Mom, I'm ready

Last night Hannah took a bath before gymnastics.
I left her alone for a few minutes so I could go into her room to get her leotard.
I came back to the happiest three-year-old who had found my lipstick.

Signs of progress

I worked on Hailey's birthday invitations tonight.  Can you tell by my ink-colored fingers?

I hadn't taken out my stamps in so long.  It took me a few minutes to get into it but after I started working on them, I ended up being pretty happy with the way they turned out.

I made a few different ones using different colors and pictures.

Fritched Fratched @$%^*!

Why after 9 1/2 years does this dog decide to start acting up?!

Nash never used to counter surf. 

He never used to get into things that were on the counters.

Not that we left things out but if we did, we didn't have to worry.

Now, he is out of control.

It is like having a puppy around again.

This day he got into a FULL bag of semolina flour.  It is like corn meal so it is grainy and super fine and makes a huge flippin' mess.

Not to mention how bad the house has been smelling as this stuff works it's way out...

Not always so happy together

The girls have just started to play together.  They have always 'played' together but now I mean that every so often they will actually play together in the same room.  Play in the same room, together, and don't need me by their sides.  (Not much but every so often...)  Yesterday morning the girls were doing puzzles in Hannah's room.  I heard Hailey squealing a little and then walked in to see this....

Hannah was laying on top of her saying "I love you woman!"

Baby Blues

I can not get enough of these eyes.

So happy together

Hailey can not get enough of her big sister.

We were outside tonight and Hailey walked over to this car. 

She opened the door and then yelled to Hannah.

Of course you couldn't tell what she was saying but Hannah must have known because she walked right over and hopped in.

Hailey then walked herself (holding on) around to the back of the car and started pushing Hannah around the driveway, both of them giggling the whole time.

It is moments like this that parents live for...

Baby, Baby, Baby

Meet the newest addition to our family.

She has been called baby, Soda, new talking baby, bouncer baby, and (most recently) push the hand to talk baby.

Hannah was getting her dressed the other day and while she was working Push-the-hand-to-talk-baby's hand into the shirt I heard her say "Oh Baby, you look like a princess!"

Happy Birthday Hannah!

Three years ago today, my life was changed forever.

Brian and I were given the opportunity to become parents. 

It took us three years and some intervention to become pregnant.

You were worth the wait.

You have taught us so much about what it means to love.

You have taught us about the important things in life.

I love the way your smile can light up a room. 

I love the way your laugh can bring me to tears.

I love the way your eyes sparkle when you are happy.

Happy Birthday Bean Machine!

Like sister, like sister

Hannah got a Tag Junior for Christmas.  To use the Tag Junior you use the special books and that white thing that Hannah is holding in the picture. When she holds it on the book multiple things happen.  Depending on where on the page you hold it, it will either play music, read the words on the page, ask her a question (Can you find the red fruit?), things like that.  Up until now she really wasn't too interested in it. 
She has been playing with it a lot lately and a lot of times Hailey will sit next to her soaking it all in.

I always wonder at those times what Hailey is thinking.  Then I walk into Hannah's room to see this.

Hailey on the floor with this book on her lap.  She found a purple piece from another toy adn was holding on the book.  Copying her sister.

I think she is soaking it all in.