Cruisin' 09

So the Theriot family has decided that an adventure is in order. My dad's family is booking a cruise sailing July 2, 2009 to Cozumel from New Orleans. Those of you who attended our wedding probably remember how much fun the Theriot family is. They PARTY, if you are into that sort of thing. :) Anyway, Mike and I are going, as I think I mentioned before, and leaving the kids at home with my mom. The family is inviting all kids of people, including friends and distant cousins. And so I wanted to extend the invitation to you, my friends. Anyone who is interested in possibly attending, email me and I can give you more details. It promises to be a REALLY fun time.

Birthday boat day

We had an AWESOME time today on the boat. We rented a boat for 4 hours from a marina. Well, actually we went through a marina, but they set us up with an individual and we met him at his house. Mike thought the whole thing sounded shady, but it ended up working out really well. We were actually late getting there so he let us keep the boat a little longer. I remember when I booked it, I was thinking 4 hours on a boat with 3 kids (Stacy and Landon were with us too, as well as Steve and Ronni) was going to be interesting. That was not the case. The kids were GREAT and we could have stayed out longer.

We started out heading to a beachy little island in the middle of Lake Norman. We ate our sandwiches and the kids played in the water for a LONG time. Then we went tubing. This is me:
I know lovely, right? Here is Mike:
And here is Stacy:

And how adorable are these munchkins?




We are so getting a boat...

Happy Birthday to You....

Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday, dear Mikey,
Happy birthday to you!

Happy 30th birthday, my love.

30 is the new 20.

Isn't he hot?

Odds & Ends

Two nights ago, we had SUCH a bad storm. Tiffany called me and said, "Did you know your swingset fell over?" We looked in the backyard and sure enough, it had fallen over backwards! Yikes! We haven't picked it up yet because everyday since, it has been pouring rain when Mike gets home from work. I guess we'll get to it this weekend.

We have this book called Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Manners. In it, Mama Bear says that if you call people names, you have to do a chore like dusting or something. This morning, Leah was calling Erin silly things like Bubbie and she turned and asked, "Mama, is that name-calling?" I had to convince her that it was okay to say silly things. Just not when you are mad. She is so cute!

I get reprimanded EVERY time I use the word stupid. I never use it when I am talking TO Leah, but I still say with with adults. EVERY time, I hear a little voice say, "Mama, that's not nice to say stupid." While I love that she is so aware of that, it is pretty annoying to stop my conversation to apologize so often. I guess I need to get out of the habit of using "bad" words. :)

Milestones

Erin has been rocking on all fours for a week or two now. Today for the first time she took one "step" on all fours, then army crawled to a toy. She has never even army crawled before! She usually just rolls and twists around until she gets to where she wants to go. Anyway, without further ado, here is the video.

Our little gymnast

Leah had SUCH a good time at gymnastics! She climbed, jumped, swung, balanced, flipped, and snacked on pretzels. For two hours she never acted like she was done. She was always ready for the next activity. Here's a quick video clip of the obstacle course.



At the end of class, the teacher asked me if she had ever done gymnastics before. I said no and she said "She's got some talent." Of course as a mother, I almost burst with pride. It's ridiculous because she's 3, right? But I was having visions of competitions and travel and such. Not the Olympics, though. Because really, I don't think we want that lifestyle. But high school and maybe college? Bring it on...

Very busy week

My mom arrived on Wednesday night. We stopped for dinner at On the Border and went to Michael's before heading home.

Thursday went to PF Changs for dinner and then on to Symphony in the Park where the Charlotte Symphony played all-American music and there was a fireworks show after. Erin HATED it! Every time one of those loud ones burst, she would whimper and crawl all over me. I eventually got her to sit fairly still with my hands TIGHT over her ears. I ended up in a chair behind a tree so I couldn't see the fireworks very well. :( Leah, on the other hand, declared "It's not scary!" after the first few bursts. She laid on the blanket with Ian and discussed each one.

On Friday, we were supposed to go to Carowinds (bring a friend for $19.99!) but Mike came down with a 24 hr stomach bug, so he was in bed most of the day. Mom and I took the kids to Chick-fil-a for lunch instead. I made Shepherd's Pie and berry trifle for the Larsens and Maddexes.

By dinner Mike felt well enough to go out with us. We ended up going to the farm with the Larsens and Maddexes. Their church owns 110 acres in the middle of nowhere that the members can use to farm. Tiffany's family has tomatoes, watermelons, and zucchini among other things planted. We set up on a tiny stage and Bryan and Brandon lit off some pretty cool fireworks over the field. We built a fire and made s'mores. Again Erin was agitated with the loud noises, but when it got late, Mike set up her pack-n-play in the back of the van (IT FITS!) and she went to bed with her music playing at high volume to drown out the fireworks. We got home at midnight. My poor girls had been up late for two nights and needed more sleep!

Saturday my mom had the stomach bug. :( She was in bed most of the day so we stayed around home. Mike and I took the girls to Sam's Club for diapers and formula (last can, I hope) and they ate all kinds of samples. Key Lime cake is yummy! The girls went to bed at 7:30 and we watched Premonition after that.

So that was our weekend in a nutshell. Everyone seems to be well so far today so I don't know what the plan is yet.

A little about me

I got this from plasticplease. Love it! You highlight what you have done. Now you guys do it! Leave a blog comment so I can come read yours.

1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabatized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hotel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter

Erin's 10 month photos

Just got them today and they are super cute. Check them out at G-Rated Life. Click on photos in the upper right hand corner, then on Portraits from the list on the right. You will have to scroll through them all to get to Erin's most recent ones.

Pre-teenage children

I was watching my DVR'd Supernanny last night and this episode centered around 11 and 8 year old sisters who were complete pills to their poor practically single mother. The dad traveled for work Mon-Thurs every week. These girls were CONSTANTLY fighting with each other and the mom. Everything the mom said was subject to argument and a battle would ensue. It made me a little nervous.

Then the 11 yr old said, "My mom just doesn't know how to communicate with me. All I want is for her to love me." Mike asked me if I thought it was true or the girl was just being dramatic.

So I started thinking about the book I read a while ago called His Needs, Her Needs. I talked a little bit about it here. Let me give you a quote from the introduction:

"Marital conflict is created one of two ways: (1) Couples fail to make each other happy, or (2) couples make each other unhappy. In the first case, couples are frustrated because their needs are not being met. I call it failure to care. This book addresses the failure to care - failure to meet each other's most important emotional needs. Ignorance contributes to this failure because men and women have great difficulty understanding and appreciating the value of each other's needs. Men tend to try to meet the needs that they would value and women do the same. The problem is that the needs of men and women are often very different and we waste effort trying to meet the wrong needs."

How does this relate to the Supernanny episode? Well, I think the same can be true of any relationship, even if it is not man/woman. A parent/child relationship may have the same issues. This girl needed to feel loved. And even though the mom loved her, she was not showing it in such a way that the girl understood. The way to meet the girl's needs was not what the mom thought it was.

My hope is that if you establish the lines of communication early on and work with your child at each stage to understand what their needs are and help meet those, not just what you think they should be, it is a little easier when you get to the sticky part. Kids need to feel that they are being heard and they are respected too. When that doesn't happen, that is when you see the disrespect get out of hand. Not that I am saying that kids don't get nasty sometimes for no reason. Of course they do, but I like to think those times are limited and you can get through them if you show that you respect their needs.

It will be SO interesting for me to go back into the classroom with middle schoolers now that I have all these philosophies and see how it pans out.

SYTYCD Week 3

This was last night's favorite.


This one was a close second.


I think I have a sinus infection so I took Benadryl last night. I was kinda out of it for some of the dances. But these stood out...

Brain Dump

I liked Erica's concept the other day, so I am stealing it. :)

- At 4:30am Mike and I heard some whispering. It sounded like Leah, but we did not have her monitor on. We thought maybe she was in Erin's room, because it was coming from the monitor. I got up and checked on Leah; she was still in her bed snoring away. Erin was whispering in her room. I didn't know she knew how to whisper! It was freaky.

- All Erin wants to do lately is stand up. She hasn't figured out how to pull herself up anywhere but using my fingers in her hands. So she constantly wants me to be holding her up. This little girl is demanding! She lets you know when she wants something and right now the screeching is not okay with me. If this is what the future will be like with her, we better watch out. :)

- Leah has been potty-trained for a while now. But at least once a week she has an accident. Now that I think about it, it is always at our house. Maybe it's because I don't suggest going to the potty when we are at home like I do when we are out. It seems like when she does have an accident, it is because she just waits a bit too long to go and can't make it to the potty. It usually happens when we have some commotion going on like visitors or whatnot. It's kinda annoying.

- Yesterday I just put in a reservation for a ski boat for July 11th. We are getting it for a half-day to celebrate Mike's birthday. His parents and sister will be here. It should be lots of fun.

- We are going on a cruise! Granted it isn't until NEXT July, but I am super excited anyway. My dad's family is planning it and so many of them will be there. I don't often get to hang out with them so it should be a BLAST! My mom has agreed to come up here and watch the kids. It will be our first vacation without kids! (if nothing come up before then, which I doubt it will) My kids will be almost 2 and 4!!! That in itself is freaky.

- We are still not definitely going to have another kid. But if we do decide to do it, we were either going to start trying late winter/early spring 2009 for a baby born in the late fall OR the following year. Due to the aforementioned cruise, it will probably be 2010. I am NOT going to be pregnant on our first vacation without kids!!!

A shirt issue (I know, it's odd)

Here is my dilemma: almost every shirt I own has hole(s) in the bottom front right in the center. They are right where a button would be on pants or jeans, maybe even a little lower. These shirts are from all different stores: New York and Co, Target, Old Navy, and one is a Disney T-shirt I got from one of those random touristy places last October. The one from NY & Co actually had a hole the third time I wore it! This never happened to me before I moved to NC.

Is anyone else out there having this issue? Why do you think it happens? Is there anything I can do to prevent it? If I were to get rid of all the shirts with holes, I would have like 3 shirts left to wear! HELP!

Week 2 SYTYCD

This one was great!



Update: You know, the more I watch this video, the more I realize that there were a LOT of mistakes/missteps in the dance. I think I loved it because I loved the concept and choreography more than the actual dance.

I also loved the Argentine Tango but I can't find the video out there. You will have to find it yourself if you missed it.

Leah Ballerina

Leah started her "pre-ballet" on Monday. OH MY GOSH! Those little girls are so adorable!!! There is only a regular door to the studio and ALL the mothers were crowded around trying to watch the entire 45 minutes. The teacher was amazing with them. She had them doing plies, standing with happy feet (first position), and walking on little mouse feet (on tiptoes). She had so many props. They played with wands and crowns, baby dolls, and a little stuffed bear. At the end of each class she gives them a lollipop. I can't wait to enroll Leah for the fall! Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure.

Q & A #14

I am finally getting into the habit of flossing every night. If you knew my teeth, you would know how necessary this is in order to avoid high dental bills. So I put this question to you.

What is your most beneficial habit? Do have any habits you would like to get rid of?

My MOST beneficial habit is probably wearing a seatbelt. I put it on EVERY time I get in the car. I don't even think about it. Sometimes I realize my seatbelt is on and I don't remember putting it on. That's how much of a habit it is.

I am also slowing forming the habit of drinking at least 48 oz of water a day. I eat so much less when I drink enough water.

Bad habits - not putting on sunscreen every time I am out in the sun. I do put it on when we are going to the water park. But if, say, I am outside with the kids swinging or riding bikes, I almost NEVER put sunscreen on myself. And I don't put it on the kids EVERY time either. Erin is usually put in the shade somewhere, but still. This is something I need to work on.

Father of my children

I couldn't have chosen better. I love that you are teaching the girls to be well-rounded. I love the things you are able to introduce to them. I love that we are on the same page with our kids, yet you always bring a new perspective when I am burnt out. I love knowing yet not knowing what the future holds for us as a family.

All three of your girls adore you.

Get your priorities straight...

A while back a friend's then-fiance asked me what advice I would have for a couple about to get married. And the advice I gave him keeps coming back to haunt me as the best advice out there for newly married couples. Here it is...

The two of you probably want the same things out of life. That is an important foundation in a marriage. BUT. Your priorities in everyday life may be vastly different. If you can learn to compromise and/or understand and accept that, things may be easier for the two of you.

I still struggle with this one.

Congrats & TV suggestions

First of all, congratulations to Jason & Nikki on the arrival of baby Elena. We are so happy it went well and can't wait to hear more about this new miracle.

Next, Leah has been watching Word World lately. It is on PBS and it is AWESOME. It teaches letters and spelling through a unique format. You have probably seen the toys that go with it at Target. Now that we watch the show, I will be looking at the products more closely to see if we could use any of them at home. Anyway, I highly recommend this show.

The other show we love that is finally on TV is Signing Time! We have learned SO many new signs from borrowing the DVDs from the library. Now we will just DVR them and make our own DVDs. You can check out their website for listings in your area.

Q & A #13

Mike and I were talking the other night about expectations. Some examples we brought up were:

Marriage - If you are a romantic, you may idealize marriage as this thing where people are so in love all the time. I guess you think it will always be like the beginning. Even if, or maybe especially if, you have lived together before marriage, you may think it will be more when you are married.

Having kids - Mike was the first one to say this exceeded his expectations BY FAR. He had always thought that having kids would be SO much work and you would lose the ability to do anything you want to do. While that is all true, he did not realize the reward you would get in exchange. He claims it was all worth it, ten times over. :)

Teaching (for me) - Right now, being a bit bored at home, I am currently romanticizing teaching. I am always thinking about how much I miss it and how much I liked my students. Of course I am never thinking about the days (many) where I came home saying I was so done with those flippin' kids and when was the next holiday?

So my question to you all is this: What has met or surpassed your expectations? Has anything been more difficult than expected?

Nudity: Good or bad? Let's discuss

I was listening to the Cooper Lawrence show on the radio tonight on the way home from the playground. (Mike met me there, then he took the girls home while I ran to Arby's to get him some dinner.) The discussion was that men love to see women naked. Any woman, any time. Strangers, people they know, whatever. But women do not usually want to see men naked. I mean they don't object to seeing their significant other, most even enjoy that. But to just see men naked, as in Playgirl or something like that, most women are just not interested. Cooper Lawrence was trying to get to the bottom of it by taking calls.

So I wanna know, do you agree? If you do, why do you think that is? One caller gave an explanation that made sense to me, but I wanna hear you ideas before I spill it.

SYTYCD (c'mon, you know what that means)

This was my favorite dance of the night.



How 'bout you?

Swim lessons

Leah attended her first swim lesson yesterday. I was a bit worried that she would still be scared of the water, but the water park has pretty much cured her of that (except in the tub, what's up with that?). So it went very well. The instructor had them float on their backs and bellies while she held them. Then she taught them "monkey arms" where they reach for their bananas. They have to keep their fingers closed so they don't lose their bananas. How cute is that? While they wait their turn on the side, they have to kick their feet and splash. At the end, the instructor has them do something to get their faces wet, either Ring-Around-the-Rosy or jump in. I have been very happy with it and may actually sign Leah up for the next level, which starts after this one ends. It's nice that the lessons are at the gym too because I can put Erin in the gym daycare and just concentrate on Leah.

Next week, ballet camp. :)

Blowing bubbles!

The choo-choo is leaving the pool

Q & A #12

Here's the question I referenced yesterday. Describe your relationship with your parents during your teen years. Was it more harmonious or more harmful? What do you think your parents did that was successful during that time? What absolutely did not work? Try to look at it from your current perspective, not from your teenage perspective.

I have already described my parental relationship in a previous post. It was pretty far from harmonious. There were good times too though. It wasn't as bad as it could have been. I was loved, no doubt about that.

Successful - forcing family time on me. They may have overdone it a bit, but I have enough fond memories of family time that I think it will be something I expect from my teenagers also.

Did not work - being outrageously strict, being wishy-washy on rules, forcing babysitting on me without asking or compensation, making me do MANY chores but not my sisters, not allowing me to have my say

Ha, ha I'm bored

Got this from Erica… looks fun. :)

COUNTRY WESTERN SINGER NAME: (mother & father’s middle names)
Lucy John

NASCAR NAME: (first name of your mother’s dad, father’s dad)
Benny Whitney

STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name)
Galan

DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
Blue Hippo

SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)
Cathleen Metairie

FLY NAME: (first 2 letters of 1st name, last 2 letters of your last name)
Anrs

GANGSTA NAME: ( fav ice cream flavor, fav cookie)
Rocky Road Peanut Butter

ROCK STAR NAME: (current pets name, current street name)
Lily Lexington

STRIPPER NAME: (name of your fav perfume/cologne, fav candy)
Truth Snickers

PORN NAME: (1st pet, 1st Car)
Penny Tercel

AMERICAN GLADIATOR NAME (model name of your current car)
Odyssey

Firefly Lane

So I finished this book last night at 1am.

It began as most of these coming of age stories do. Two girls, at their most awkward and troubled, befriend each other. They share men and dreams. Somewhere in the course of their lives, the dreams change. One goes on to become an anchor on the early show. The other one becomes a stay-at-home mom to a pre-teen daughter and twin 5ish year old boys (I say 5ish because the story spans time).

Anyway, I won't spoil the ending but I cried for the last 50 pages. I was trying to keep quiet because I didn't want to wake Mike up, but man, I was full out sobbing at some points. Nose dripping, vision blurring crying. I have not done that in a long time over a book. It felt good. :)

In the book the mother and pre-teen daughter have knock-down, drag out fights. I started thinking about Leah and Erin and what our relationships will be like at that time. I got a little nervous, I won't lie. So I have a Q & A for tomorrow that will be about your teenage years. Get ready.

PS Check out my Goodreads sidebar if you want a link to the book.

Taking a break...

on Q & A's for a while. Comments are starting to slow down and I am running out of thoughts. I will compile a few and start them up again in a bit. If you have any suggestions for interesting questions, feel free to let me know...

Q & A #11

Another of my favorite things is reading. Any of you who know me in real life know that I have an uncanny ability to speed-read. Not quite like you may see on those old TV commercials where the guy is trying to show you how to read faster. I just naturally read quickly. If I am uninterrupted, I can finish a regular length novel in an afternoon. So here are my questions:

What is your favorite genre to read? Do you have a favorite book? A least favorite? Is there a book that made you think more than usual?

My favorite genre used to be romance, but I don't read as many of those as I used to. Nowadays I really like either fantasy/science fiction OR books about women/families and their lives.

Favorite book... that is a hard one. At the risk of being a nerd, I REALLY liked the Harry Potter series. I think my favorite of those was the Half-Blood Prince. I liked reading Dumbledore's part in it all. I also LOVE the Anne of Green Gables series. I know, I know, kids' books are where it's at.

Least favorite... have to agree with Rhiannon that Grapes of Wrath is my least favorite of all time. It is rare that I can't get through a book and that was one of the majors.

I just finished the Golden Compass series. I have to say that the trilogy made me think a lot. Also the book, His Needs, Her Needs made me think pretty hard too. That one is a book about relationships. I recommend these books to all who like to think once in a while.

My favorite things...

Well, at least one of them. I LOVE going to the Taste of... festivals. I used to love going to Taste of Bay Street in Tampa and now we have Taste of Charlotte this weekend. Actually the girls & I are driving up there this afternoon and meeting Mike. We can tour around and have some linner (you know, lunch and dinner together) before the crowds arrive after work and on the weekend. It is supposed to be HOT! Oh well, we can handle a FEW days of record heat, but hopefully not too many. I will post about all the yummy food I eat (I think I am obsessed with food, that is why it is so hard for me to lose weight) when we get back later tonight.

Speaking of weight, I am now only 8 lbs away from my pre-pregnancy weight! I was the same weight pre-pregnancy with both kids. So that would make me really happy to get back there again. So close!

Q & A #10

Today's topic is routines and schedules. Do you have a daily routine? What does it consist of? What ONE thing could you NEVER skip in your routine?

My routine is very loose. We get up around 6:30-7. Breakfast at about 7:30. Leah gets to watch a show with breakfast. (We have been watching Word World, Britt.) We play a bit inside. Erin naps at about 8:30-9. I try to do my daily chores during Erin's first nap. Leah usually helps me. When Erin wakes up is when I do any errands I have to do for that day.

This is where the problem has been. I haven't had any errands so this time is fairly empty. We play inside some more, but we really need to be out doing something.

Lunch is at 12-12:30. Leah can watch a show during/after lunch while I put Erin down for her second nap between 1:30-2 (hopefully). If it is any earlier she has a hard time staying up until dinner. Then after Leah's show, she has rest time in her room for 45 minutes. During this time I try to scrapbook unless I have some other pressing thing I HAVE to do. Many times Leah will be summoned outside by a neighbor right after rest time. We tend to play outside from like 3-4:30pm, unless it is super hot.

Once we come inside, we all play together on the floor for a while, then Erin plays in her exersaucer or jumper and Leah watches her last show while I make dinner. We eat when Mike comes home, generally at 6:15. Then it is straight to bath and bed for Erin. I try to get Erin to bed between 7-7:30. Leah sometimes goes up with her and sometimes gets to swing on the swingset with Daddy for a little while before bed. Leah is usually in bed by 8pm.

Then Mike and I get 2 blessed hours to OURSELVES! We watch TV or do yard work or just swing on our porch swing.I would love to be in bed at 10ish, but it is usually more like 10:30-11.

There is my routine. I would not skip eating as a family. Even though Mike gets home a little later than I would like as far as the girls eating dinner, we just make do because I think it is important for us all to eat together everyday. On wakeboarding day though, we eat out just us girls. I like that time too.

Q & A #9

I am looking for free things to do with the kids. I am SO bored. We do the same things ALL the time. Play outside in the cul-de-sac, go to the playground, go to the library, etc. Anything new to do out there?

Q & A #8

Mike posed this question yesterday. How do you feel about the whole nature vs. nurture debate? Do you feel a child's environment influences him more or his genetics?

I agree with many of you, that nature plays a smaller part than nurture. Looking at Leah, she goes right up to kids on the playground that she has never seen before and HUGS them. No one taught her that. That is just her personality. On the other hand, she is throwing less temper tantrums and uses her words much more. That is learned from us. As time passes, we will see many more of her behaviors that she has learned.

I think inherent qualities like shyness are predetermined, but how you deal with your shyness depends on how you are taught to deal with it. Over time you can alter your personality by learning ways to cope. I bet most of you wouldn't believe that Mike was more of an introvert as a kid and preteen. He changed his behavior when he moved to FL and was able to alter his true personality. Now hanging out in groups and being active are part of who he is. Strange, but true!

Q & A #7

This weekend we sat down and looked at Mike's vacation days to plan out our trips for the rest of the year. So it got me to thinking, what did you do on your favorite vacation you have ever been on?

I'm having a hard time deciding for mine. It was probably going to my uncle's lake house for a week when Leah was 3 months old. We got to spend a few of the days on a pontoon boat. There were lots of people to help with Leah. It was really fun.

I also really liked the trip last fall to Orlando. We went to theme parks and saw lots of friends and family. It was our first vacation as our little family of four and it was fun trying to figure out the logistics of having two to care for.

The second part of my question is this: what would you do for your ultimate vacation? No parameters, any length, any place, doing whatever.

I would like to go to an all-inclusive resort like Beaches or something that is family-friendly when my kids get a little older. I would invite other families too, so that the kids could play together. But then a few of the nights, I would send the kids to the babysitters they have and go out as adults. To be fed, watered, and have childcare, that would be the ultimate.

My 3K

Motivated by all that talk in my exercise post, I went to the gym on Friday and took a class called, ironically, "Boot Camp." We cycled for 15 minutes, jogged on the track for 15 minutes, did step for 15 minutes, THEN did tricep dips, situps, and pushups. I am a bit sore. :)

Saturday morning, Mike and I put the girls in Laurie's jogging stroller and ran in our gym's 10th anniversary 3K race. He ran ahead with the stroller because he has significantly longer legs than me and I don't think he could jog my speed if he tried. I finished in 24 minutes. That actually put me on track for about a 40 minute 5K which would be my fastest time ever. So for a road race with a few inclines, that is quite an improvement on my treadmill time. I was so proud of myself.

The gym had food and rides for the kids in their parking lot to celebrate their anniversary. We played a bit, then went to the water park. Erin LOVED IT!
She splashed with Daddy and sat for a long time in the shallow end just having a grand ole time. I was so proud of Leah!!! She was actually going down the slide by herself by the end.

While we were there, Leah saw a little friend of hers from school. Mike and I started talking to the parents while the girls played. They have 4 girls, ages 7, 5, 3, and 11 months. Their kids were adorable! I could see them joining in on our barbeques and stuff. Now I totally understand why all my parents' friends were always the parents of my friends. When you are this age, many of the people you meet are through your kids. You bond over preschool, sports, dance, whatever your kids participate in.

Last night we went with Bryan, Tiffany, and Brandon to see the new Indiana Jones. It was our first time with a babysitter who was not one of our parents!! Our next door neighbor's daughter, Deja (not sure if I'm spelling that right), came over to sit while the kids were sleeping. She has been GREAT with the kids out in the cul-de-sac so I trusted her. Plus I did not anticipate anything happening, so I wasn't worried about it. Well, at 11:30 she calls me to say that Erin woke up crying and she changed her diaper. But she wouldn't settle down. UGH! When we got home, Deja was rocking Erin in her glider and my baby was WIDE awake at midnight. I hope Deja wasn't too scarred and will consider sitting for us again, because she handled the situation well, I think. Although if I were going to have someone put the kids to bed too, I would ask someone older and with more experience. Deja is only in middle school. So we survived another milestone, our first babysitter.

Q & A #6

To lighten the mood, I decided to go with something more fun today. What do you like best about summertime? I like taking my kids in the water. Well, this year anyway. Leah was afraid of water in her face last year, so the water park was no fun.

Really my favorite thing to do in the summer is go boating. I LOVE being in a boat. I love the speed, I love the wind, I love stopping somewhere and swimming around. We have a boat in our not too distant future because it is something that Mike and I both love and want to do with our kids. So in the next few years, come visit us and we will take you out in our boat!

Q & A #5

Here is one that really does require deep thought. I probably won't have as many responses because of it, but that's okay too.

What one event/decision (if you HAD to choose) do you think most influenced where you are in your life today? How has it affected you? Here is my story:

I was born in Louisiana. My parents divorced when I was 2. My mom remarried when I was 4. I saw my dad every other weekend for many years. Once I hit 4th grade, I moved around a lot with my mom, step-dad, and sisters. I did not get to see my dad as often.

Once I hit the pre-teen years, my home life deteriorated fast. It was more than just a teenager's angst. There was not a lot of harmony in my daily life. I spent a lot of time in fear (not physically) of going home.

When I was 15, we were living in Tennessee. I had a great group of friends and all I could ask for as far as drama in my social life. I was as happy as I could be under the circumstances. My step-dad decided it would be best for our family to move to FL.

To say I hated him and was miserable was an understatement. Not only did I lose my friends at 15, I also hated being at home. It was the worst summer of my life. So when my dad asked me to come visit for a month, I jumped at the chance.

It was such a different life with my dad. Of course, I was his little baby and he did not see me often, so I was a bit spoiled. BUT. There was so much harmony in his house. No one lived in fear to come home. I was so at peace there. If I was going to start over, I might as well do it with my dad where I was comfortable instead of in FL where there was non-stop tension. So I called my mom and told her I was moving to Louisiana with my dad.

And she lost it. My mom was devastated. She begged me to come home and talk about it, but I was firm. No need to come home, I was set. So my mom threw in that if I came home to talk, we could go up to TN to visit my friends. Well, that was the deal-breaker. I was so desperate to see my friends, I would have done almost anything to go back there. So I flew home with the understanding that I was going back to my dad's in something like 2 weeks. I didn't.

I remained in FL for the rest of high school and college. I met my husband in college and made some friends there that we were so close to, we moved to NC with them. I believe my life today is the way it is in a large part due to the fact that I decided not to move to Louisiana.

I know I have probably made a lot of decisions in my life that have led me to this point. But I truly believe in my heart that my entire being would be different had I moved to LA.

So there you have it. Anyone out there have anything to share?

Q & A #4

here's one for ya. How many kids did you/do you want to have (if any)? And why? And if you've had one or more already, has the total number you want to have changed? Why?

I have always wanted 4 kids. There were 3 of us growing up and I think odd numbers are tough. Someone is always left out either because of gender or the other two are closer (usually in age). It took Mike a bit to warm up to that idea, but by the time we were talking about actually having them, I noticed he was saying 4 also. Just after we had Leah, Mike said he wasn't sure he wanted anymore. Newborns are tough, as most of you know. :) By the time Leah was 18 months and grown out for the baby stage, Mike was ready for another.

Neither of us are saying 4 for sure anymore. We have decided to reevaluate after each child and see how we feel. It probably does make a difference that we have 2 girls and no boys. We would be more likely to stop now if we had one of each (not definitely, but more likely). We feel like we need to try for at least one boy. Also, just like Leah, as Erin gets older it becomes easier to say that we might want another one. I just don't know if we are going all the way to 4 still. i like the IDEA of it, just not sure about the details.

Funny story, I took my girls and Ian and Chase to Chick-fil-a by myself for dinner last night (I was babysitting). I decided that it's not having 4 kids that is tough, it is more than one baby. I do not want multiples. As long as I stair-step the kids' ages, I should be okay. :)

Thanks for the overwhelming response

I really love this Q & A series. I have gotten so many ideas on how to make my life more enjoyable along with some practical advice. I have not decided about the boot camp yet, but I will take Chelsi's advice on the one night a week yoga. I looked at my schedule and my night will be Mondays. Mike wakeboards every Thursday, weather permitting, and I do dinner and bed for the girls by myself. He can take a night to do it by himself too.

You guys are the best! I am enjoying this. Look for a new Q & A tomorrow!

Q & A #3

How do those of you with kids find the time to work out? I am struggling with the idea of hauling 2 kids everywhere. It is such a huge amount of work to get two kids ready for the gym daycare (everyone need a snack and drink). I really like doing yoga and would do videos at home (which is not as fun as a class with other participants, but still), but I can't get enough quiet time in my day. I make Leah have rest time in her room everyday for 45 minutes. I can't squeeze another minute out of that. Trust me I have tried. But once I leave her, I usually have one or two things to do before I can do yoga. Quieting my mind at that point is hard and then I don't have the time to do a whole series.

I am considering registering for the Charlotte Adventure Boot Camp for the 5:30am session 3 days a week. I have never been a morning person, but Mike will still be here and I won't have to even think about the kids. i just want to see results!

Q & A #2

Here's my newest deep thought. I wanna know what everyone out there is eating for breakfast. I am so bored of cereal and oatmeal. Any other good ideas?

Q & A series

Lately when I have been doing something lately, whether it is with the kids or by myself, I find myself thinking about the other women I know and how they would be doing the same thing.

For example, I have been able to scrapbook off and on lately. So I wonder how you ladies, if and when you get free time, like to spend it.

Another example is that we are deciding about dental insurance for Leah. And I wonder what you guys with kids think about dental insurance for kids and when you will/have taken your kids to the dentist.

So this is my first post in a series I will call Q & A. You can answer the above questions in your own blog (link me to it) or in my comments.

Whenever I think of something like that, I will post it under Q & A. All bloggers welcome. I would love to pick your brains. Isn't diversity fascinating?

Bike riding for babies

Okay, so I just read this article on riding bikes with your baby. I am kinda concerned. They don't even make helmets that size for a reason. Erin's head circumference is 16.5 inches and they really don't come smaller than 18 in. I don't know if we should continue to ride with her. Keri, does Corgan wear a helmet? Where did you get it? We do have a bike trailer that has NEVER tipped while riding with us. Maybe we should just keep her in there until she is big enough to wear a helmet.

Memorial Day weekend in review

Our weekend was exhausting but lots of fun. It began Saturday morning. Leah and I went to Kenna & Andy's dance recital. The theme was Under the Big Top and all the acts were circus-related. The girls did a GREAT job. I got so giddy thinking about Leah possibly being in a recital next year. The kids were SO adorable! In the lobby they had carnival-like games. Leah & Ian loved the popcorn and lollipops.

Saturday night I made black bean, corn, and avocado salsa and pepper jack and spinach quesadillas that were all freaking delicious! Arielle (who took Leah's bday pics) and her boyfriend John were staying the night so Bryan and Laurie brought the kids to sleep over so we could play games. Ian & Leah proceeded to play in Leah's room until at least 9pm. So much for the sleeping part. We drank chocolate martinis (thanks, L) and played a very rowdy game of Loaded Questions. Fun was had by all.

Leah woke up Sunday morning to Ian in her trundle bed. She was super excited to see him there. They got up and Mike made them waffles, which they ate in the playroom dressed as princesses. We played outside a LOT in the AM and went to the water park for the first time this season that afternoon. The water was pretty freezing, I did not get in more than sitting in the very shallow end to let Erin splash.

She sat on my lap and put her feet in because I did not want her rash in the water. I don't know how chlorine would affect it but I didn't want to take any chances. Leah had a ball!

She went down the slide with Daddy and jumped in MANY times. Once she went completely under for a few seconds and she cried. But within minutes she was right back to jumping. She has come SO far! I am so proud of her.

Today we headed to McAlpine Creek Park for a picnic and bike-riding. On the way there we stopped at Wal-Mart to buy child carriers for the back of our bikes. They took FOREVER to assemble but the girls were really good. We got them loaded up and took off on the trails.

It was lots of fun and we will be bike-riding much more often now that we have these carriers. (Mike's pic was taken later at home. I could not sit with Erin and take pictures.)

We headed for home and the girls fell asleep. Just as we were passing the Dollar Ice Cream Cone place they both woke up. SO we stopped and ate some ice cream. Then Mike said, "Well, now that everyone is awake, let's go the the skate park." So we did.

Waxhaw has a tiny skate park next to a playground. Leah ran around for a while, then put on her skates to ride with Daddy. Check this out!
I could not believe that she was brave enough to drop in on the half-pipe. She had a blast skating with Daddy. Maybe we do have a future X Games participant on our hands. Mike is already talking about upgrading her to real roller blades when her feet are big enough and taking her to skate camp in Pennsylvania. Seriously!

So that is our weekend recap. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

PS I just uploaded the pics Arielle took at Leah's party and more pics from this weekend to our website. Many thanks to Arielle for a wonderful job!

Out of the mouths of babes

I overheard Leah in the playroom just now saying something that sounded inappropriate. I poked my head in and asked, "What did you say?"

Leah said, "I said Zam it."

Well, Zam it!

Update

For those who have RSS feeds, I updated Leah's birthday post with some pictures.

My big 9 month old!

Inspired by Keri, I need to post about Erin.

I think she was signing "more" water here.

Erin is finally starting to roll a bit more. Often when I go to pick her up from a nap, she is on her belly looking up at me. If I give her my fingers, she will pull herself up to standing. The peed is not worried, she said Erin is probably just content doing what she is doing (AKA lazy).

Now, this kid can EAT! She eats so much more than Leah did at this age. She weighed in at 19lbs 15 and a quarter ounces (90%) but was only 26 1/2 in (10%). Leah weighed 8 ounces less at this age, but then she didn't gain ANY weight between 9 and 12 months. She practically stopped eating. I don't see Erin doing that any time soon. Today for lunch she downed a quarter of a turkey and cheese sandwich and a carton of Yo-Baby yogurt and still snacked on some goldfish.

Yesterday we were eating lunch and Erin's unfinished bottle was on the table. She looked at it and signed "milk!" It was the first time she made a sign completely on her own in context. That was very cool.

Erin LOVES her big sister. Nothing makes her laugh quite like Leah talking gibberish. They crack each other up in the car. Leah is always shouting, "Mom, Erin is smiling at me!" I love how close they are even though Erin is still a baby. Leah always wants to be the one to get Erin up from a nap. She climbs into the crib and helps Erin sit up. Then they wait for me to come get them out.

When Erin lays down to sleep, I give her her blankie. She always immediately pulls it across her face. She likes to fall asleep with a blanket over her face (I know, safe, right?).

Things Erin hates: getting her face wiped, seeing a bottle but not drinking it, having a diaper rash

Things Erin loves: taking a bath, her sister, eating, reading books before nap or bedtime, swinging

She lights up my life!!!

My big 3 year old!

Leah's birthday was an exhausting but fun-filled day. We woke up and came downstairs to the pile of presents on the fireplace.

Leah got her big girl bike! And beginner skates! And a V Smile video game system! (just to name a few) We immediately got dressed and went outside to ride bikes. The ENTIRE family had to be on bikes. It was fun. Eventually the cul-de-sac turned out to ride bikes too.

Leah tried the skates and definitely needs to HOLD on to someone all the time.


Finally it was time to get ready for Leah's party. I don't have very many pictures because Arielle took them for me! Yes, I had a professional photographer at my kid's party. :) She will be back here next Saturday to give me the disc and I will post them then. We had tiki torches tied to the deck, a treasure hunt for green stones (Leah's birthstone) in the new sandbox and all kinds of blow-up toys in the pool (thanks to Ronni).

The cake, which I did not make, was a volcano and tasted delicious. Everyone snacked on Chick-fil-a chicken nuggets and Polynesian sauce, meatballs and pineapple, fruit kebobs, exotic chips, and pineapple sherbert punch.

I had to add that picture because it cracks me up. Tiff and Laurie are cheering for themselves. :)

The kids had a blast hunting for treasure. I didn't know it would be so popular. All the kids got a bucket/shovel combo with their name on it to put their stones in and they put their candy from the tiki pinata in it. They got a treat bag with stickers, a squirt seahorse, and candy to put in the bucket at the end. All in all fun day...

Leah is so smart, logical, helpful, and particular. It is a joy watching her learn new things and correct me when I don't adhere to her logic. As much as I complain about Leah, you all know I am so fascinated by her and adore her to no end. Most of the time, she is a lovebug and wants to cuddle. Happy Birthday to my big girl!

PS Leah's 3 yr checkup was great. She weighs 30 lbs 6 oz (50%) and is 36 1/4 in (50%) tall.

Yoga

If you are at all interested in doing yoga at home, I highly recommend Adrienne Reed's Power Yoga. I have done it twice now at home from my DVR and I love her style. The ones my TV are 25 minutes and when you are done, it feels like you just ran for 25 minutes.

Ahhhh, exercise!

Is she 2 already?

So Erin has a pretty bad diaper rash. Starting today, I am going to give her 3 baking soda baths a day and coat her with Desitin and Lotrimin (for possible yeast) often. Today in the bath, I handed Erin a cup of water. I thought she was going to maybe pour it out. She put it to her mouth and DRANK SOME. The first sip choked her a bit because I think the water was unexpected. The second sip was right on.

Leah would not drink from a cup until she was 2.

I have never given Erin a cup before. How did she know what to do?

I called Mike right away to tell him and he said, "Oh she's been doing that for a couple of weeks. I didn't think it was any big deal."

Well, then...

Stiff... leg?

Not to leave my Er-bear out. :)

That child LOVES to stand now. She will grab my fingers and hold on while I pull her to standing. She likes it when I do that in her crib and she can hold on to the rail. But she WILL NOT BEND HER KNEES. I keep trying to get her to take steps while I am holding her hands, but she will fall over forwards before bending her legs. Even in the Johnny Jump-Up (the thing that hangs from the door frame and kids can bounce in it), she will stay almost stiff-legged and and just kinda spin around on one toe (future ballerina? no, those silly plies will get in the way).

What's up with that?

PS She is waving hi now and laughing a whole lot more, especially at Leah.

You know I love her...

Time for a confession...

Leah is driving me absolutely insane. No, it's not because she is being bad or anything. She just WILL NOT LEAVE ME ALONE!!! When she is home, unless she is watching TV (and sometimes even then) she has to be ON me or talking to me ALL THE TIME!!! I am about to lose it with her. And I feel bad about it because most of the time she is so sweet and lovey and she tells me she loves me all the time. But I am dreading the last day of her school (May 22nd). It is only two days a week, but it gives me 6 Leah-free hours a week. And that is WONDERFUL! Erin naps for part of that time, and the rest of it she and I can play and cuddle uninterrupted. I really treasure that time she and I get alone. I am NOT looking forward to this summer having Leah around all the time. With her not napping anymore, it is so hard. I am trying to institute that "rest time in your room" but she is out every few minutes asking if her time is up yet. I need to put that door guard on again at rest times just to get some peace.

Thank goodness school next year is 3 days a week. I can't wait!!!

A dinner quote

I was going to make hamburgers for dinner. I had a 2 lb tube of ground beef that I used a little bit of earlier in the week. I thought I had put in back in the fridge to use tonight. When I got out all of the ingredients, I realized that I had in fact put the meat in the freezer. I could have defrosted it in the microwave, but hamburgers do not form well with bits of cooked beef in them. So I was frustrated things were not going according to my plan.

Leah says: You know who has hamburgers that are not frozen? (pause) McDonald's.

And that's where Mike met us for dinner.

Dead asleep

Mike & I fell asleep right after we put the kids to bed last night at 7:30 in our clothes.

Maybe we haven't been getting enough sleep...

In the bathroom

Leah said:
My poop looks like a bridge. With an alligator on it. A poop alligator.

And you know what? It did.

Mother's Day post #2

Today was fabulous! After my 1st Mother's Day post, we went to New South Kitchen for brunch. They were serving Crab Cake Eggs Benedict, Buttermilk Fried Chicken Tenders, and Peach Cobbler! It could not get any better for me. After that, we walked around the Arboretum. Mike and I both bought new shoes and Mike let me stroll around Michael's and buy a few new scrapbook things. Then we headed home and I rearranged my craft area so that I have more space now that I have my Cricut. I scrapbooked until Erin woke up and then we played outside together. It was so windy that one of the swings hit poor Leah in the mouth! :( Then Mike put the kids to bed while I went to pick up sushi. Now we are watching Desperate Housewives while eating brownies (yes, I am multi-tasking).

Thank you, honey for such a relaxing and yummy day. I love you!

My Three Mothers

Today I would like to thank the three women who are responsible for the kind of mother I am today. Each of them has taught me something invaluable that I carry with me every day.

Mom - You have taught me about unconditional love. I feel it from you ALL the time and I see it when you look at Lauren and Carly. I am able to share that unconditional love with my daughters because you shared it with me always.

Myrn - You have taught me about patience. I hear it when you talk about the kids you work with and I have seen it when you have spoken about Zac and Brittany. I try to emulate that patience with my girls. I feel a serenity in you that I would like to have in my own life. I hope that I can learn more about how you achieve that as time goes on.

Ronni - You have taught me about thoughtfulness. I see it whenever you call to tell me you listened to something I said and found the perfect "thing" to go with it. You are always thinking of your loved ones and trying to help with whatever they need. I would like to always be thoughtful of others and be considerate of their desires.

My three moms, I salute you today. These are only a VERY few of the things I have learned from you. I look forward to many more years of sharing and learning.

Mother's Day post #1

I have had a WONDERFUL Mother's Day so far. I got to sleep in until 8am and when I got up Mike had fed the girls, did the dishes, and was vacuuming up all the styrofoam that came from Leah's bed boxes. I rolled around with Erin, played Bingo with Leah (Thank you, Grammy!) while Mike put Erin down, then watched Dog Whisperer while Mike made me a mushroom and tomato omelet. Now we are just chillin' for a little while, then we are heading out for a Mother's Day brunch. I will let you know how the rest of my day goes. :)

Strawberry Fields Forever

I had to steal Tiffany's blog title because it was so appropriate.

We went strawberry picking with the Maddexes and the Larsens yesterday morning and the kids had a blast.

Mike wore Erin around and she did a great job.

Leah did pretty well picking out the ripe ones.

Chase did a great job in the backpack.

The crew

I made homemade strawberry ice cream for our Diez do Mayo celebration along with Erica's cinnamon tortilla chips. Then I cut up the rest of strawberries and put them in the freezer for future milkshakes/smoothies. YUM!

Big Girl Bed!

Leah's big bed finally arrived after 2 1/2 months! I put it together this morning and I LOVE IT! Here are some pictures for you:

Building a volcano

I am thinking of making Leah's birthday cake myself. The theme for the party is luau and I had a brainstorm today. I could bake the cake in one of those flat bundt pans and make it into a volcano! So now I need decorating ideas. What color would you frost it? How would you use edible items to decorate the top/sides/platform of the cake to make it look volcano-like?

All you creative types, let me hear from you!

A great book

If you haven't already read The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, you need to. It is such an interesting mix of science fiction and love story with a bit of philosophy thrown in. I have heard from many people prior to reading that this was a good book and they were right. Two thumbs up!

PS I just read that the movie comes out this Christmas. Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams are the main characters. I am psyched to see it!

Scrapbooking

I am still trying to catch up with my scrapbooks. It gets better for a while, then I fall behind again. Right now I am finished through Halloween 2007. So I am 6 months behind again. Anyway I wanted to share a few of my very favorite pages I have done in the last few months.




HA HA HA HA! Erica just pointed out to me that I put the wrong year on the Pumpkin Patch page. It should be 2007, duh! I will have to go back and change it. That is SO funny.

Leah's a jumper!

I am excited to report that Leah was jumping in the pool today! We went to the gym to their indoor pool. For the first time since she was very little, Leah wore her floaty swimsuit. When we were walking into the pool she did her usual routine of clinging to my leg and claiming she was done swimming. She held on for dear life for the first 20 minutes or so. Then I convinced her that it would be okay to try to float on her back. She used to be okay with doing that when she took swim lessons almost 2 yrs ago, but not since then. She successfully floated on her back with me holding her head and back. I kept trying to slowly take the hand on her back away. She was mostly floating on her own! She really liked it and kept asking to turn over when we practiced kicking.

Mike got her to jump to him when he was right next to the side. I think the floaty swimsuit gave her a little confidence. After quite few jumps, I had her "swim" while I held her tummy. Then I held onto the back of her suit. I was able to almost let her go when we were close to the side. She was jumping to me at the end. I was probably about 4 feet from the side. When I told her it was the last jump I let her go under a bit and I thought she would freak out. i figured we were leaving anyway so if she freaked it would be okay. SHE LOVED IT! She actually jumped that way a few more times before we left. Right after the last jump, she stood at the side of the pool and said "I have to pee pee," right before she went. And on that note we left. :)

PS My contacts are blurry and I am super tired so I apologize for any typos and the incoherency of this post.

Eating like a girl

This is what Erin has eaten so far today:

one pancake with syrup
stage 2 jar of peaches

one quarter of a grilled cheese sandwich
one-third of a pear, from a can

plus her usual 2 bottles.

This kid is becoming a less and less like a baby every day. I would have given her real peaches instead of baby food this morning if I had had them.

No means No

For the first time Erin responded to the word "no." We were all playing puzzles together and she started trying to chew on a piece of it. The first time I just said "No" firmly and pushed her hand away from her face. When I did it the second time, her face crumpled and her lower lip stuck out. Waaaahhhhhh! It was so cute I started cracking up.

In other news, when Mike's mom came to visit, she brought some old issues of Mailbox magazine. I LOVED that magazine when I was teaching. It always had such great ideas. It comes in different age levels and they have a preschool one. So I was looking at the April/May issue and there were bulletin board ideas. I haven't made a bulletin board in YEARS! So I got all excited. I bought a cork board and put it up in the playroom. Today I had the kids over and we made sombreros in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. I cut out "Celebrate Cinco de Mayo" on my Cricut. Tonight I put everything up on the board and it looks so cute!


PS I just remembered that today I found a hard-boiled egg from Easter in Erin's toy box in the living room. It was DISGUSTING!