Tuesday, November 24, 2009
2 Years Ago
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
A Little Me
While I was doing dinner dishes tonight I observed the cutest thing. Queen Aubrey was sitting on the couch giving directions to Ainsley to organize the coffee table. I heard statements like "It's right in front of you Ainsley, I know you see it." and "You need to pick up five more things to be done." and "All the figurines too, Ainsley, they need to be in a basket."
Now the funny part is that Ainsley rarely picks up toys willingly. It is always a battle. But somehow, Aubrey got her to do it. Ainsley was even calling her "Your Highness." Dude. I was a little bit jealous at that part. Then I heard more, "Two more toys Ainsley and you can pick a treasure!" So Aubrey was bribing her... with bingo chips. Yup, that was the treasure! Aubrey was totally imitating all of my parent talk. Sheesh, nothing like a 4 year old parrot letting you know how you are performing your job. Luckily she was giving direction and offering incentives. That's good stuff! And don't worry. It's some sort of game so Ainsley has been the Queen too, just not while I was doing dishes.
Now the funny part is that Ainsley rarely picks up toys willingly. It is always a battle. But somehow, Aubrey got her to do it. Ainsley was even calling her "Your Highness." Dude. I was a little bit jealous at that part. Then I heard more, "Two more toys Ainsley and you can pick a treasure!" So Aubrey was bribing her... with bingo chips. Yup, that was the treasure! Aubrey was totally imitating all of my parent talk. Sheesh, nothing like a 4 year old parrot letting you know how you are performing your job. Luckily she was giving direction and offering incentives. That's good stuff! And don't worry. It's some sort of game so Ainsley has been the Queen too, just not while I was doing dishes.
Toddler Drama
Our little Ainsley is fighting hard for her rights.
... the right to suck her thumb.
... the right to use the potty for number one, but not number two.
... the right to leave her room continually after being put to bed.
... the right to sleep with Mommy and Daddy for a good portion of each night.
We are trying to fight back, really, we are. She is PERSISTENT and we are TIRED. The new saying in our home is "She won't always be two." April 20th cannot come quickly enough. We are anxious for the three year old version and praying that it resembles the sweet compliant girl we used to know. Sad side note. She has an "owie" on her favorite thumb and can't suck it currently. She is devastated and it does break my heart a little bit. At this point I would gladly have a thumb sucker if she would give up the other three vices.
... the right to suck her thumb.
... the right to use the potty for number one, but not number two.
... the right to leave her room continually after being put to bed.
... the right to sleep with Mommy and Daddy for a good portion of each night.
We are trying to fight back, really, we are. She is PERSISTENT and we are TIRED. The new saying in our home is "She won't always be two." April 20th cannot come quickly enough. We are anxious for the three year old version and praying that it resembles the sweet compliant girl we used to know. Sad side note. She has an "owie" on her favorite thumb and can't suck it currently. She is devastated and it does break my heart a little bit. At this point I would gladly have a thumb sucker if she would give up the other three vices.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Unexpected
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Geez!
Monday, November 09, 2009
On the mend
All four of us are through the worst of whatever that was. It was a special kind of virus that just kept kicking us when we were down. Although we still have stuffy noses and lovely coughs, our voluntary quarantine is over. Wash you hands and take your vitamins, these germs are nasty that are going around.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Harvest Parade
Monday, November 02, 2009
Mommy Brain
I had planned on making Butternut Squash Soup for dinner on Halloween, but I had neglected to buy heavy cream at the store so I made Tortellini Vegetable soup instead. Today I bought heavy cream so I could make my butternut squash soup, BUT, I used my stock making the Tortelini soup on Saturday. I guess we're having fish sticks instead...
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Pumpkins
Then I noticed the two very small pumpkins the girls got on our pre-school field trip to the pumpkin patch the day of the first freeze. They were about 6 and 8 inches tall. We crossed our fingers and went for it. Aubrey wanted a sad pumpkin, which looks kinda scared. Ainsley wanted an angry pumpkin. Although they refused to help scoop out the seeds, they enjoyed the activity. Carving small pumpkins is really fast which is great for a short attention spans, mine included.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Wow!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Winter Cold
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Healthy Start to the Day
I tend to cycle through different breakfast foods. I used to be addicted to Special K cereal. There was also the oatmeal with raisins and sliced almonds stage that lasted through the summer. Last month it was whole wheat toast with cinnamon sugar. I know, not the best start to the day, but oh so yummy. Now I am on an eggs kick. I have been making egg sandwiches daily for a few weeks. I think I perfected it this morning, cutting out a few extra calories. Today it was half of a high fiber english muffin, a slice of warmed canadian bacon, and an egg over medium. That's only 135 calories, which leaves lots of room for coffee creamer. :) This week I plan on adding a side of fruit too. I am loving this combination and hope I can get my kids to try it out. What is your morning breakfast ritual?
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Meeting Cousin Mary!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
How do you celebrate having a car again? Even if it is just a borrowed one...
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Boo!
Making Cakes
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Mommy Daughter Time
Aubrey's class earned a pajama party earlier this month. All the kids wore pj's to school today and had a popcorn party while they watched Veggie Tales. Mike's not sure why we are paying for our kid to watch movies, but I assured him that 30 minutes of Veggie Tales doesn't negate all the good pre-school is doing for her!
When I picked her up (solo, since Mike and I are sharing a car and he was working from home) we had some Mommy Daughter time. I also brought a change of clothes so she didn't have to go all over town in fleece pj's. We went to Michael's, (not a great idea since she wanted everything) the Dollar Tree, (where she did get to pick one thing, a Halloween Poster Painting kit) Fantastic Sam's, (where she got a trim and I got some unsightly hair removed off of my face) and the grocery store. It's amazing how much I truly enjoy my kids when they are not together!!! It's also a pleasant surprise to see that Aubrey dropping her nap isn't the nightmare I imagined. She does very well with her quiet time and enjoys having time to herself.
Sadly, I didn't really have any quality time with Ainsley today. She watched The Never Ending Story while I paid bills and sorted through stacks of papers. She was thrilled though, for some strange reason she loves that movie.
When I picked her up (solo, since Mike and I are sharing a car and he was working from home) we had some Mommy Daughter time. I also brought a change of clothes so she didn't have to go all over town in fleece pj's. We went to Michael's, (not a great idea since she wanted everything) the Dollar Tree, (where she did get to pick one thing, a Halloween Poster Painting kit) Fantastic Sam's, (where she got a trim and I got some unsightly hair removed off of my face) and the grocery store. It's amazing how much I truly enjoy my kids when they are not together!!! It's also a pleasant surprise to see that Aubrey dropping her nap isn't the nightmare I imagined. She does very well with her quiet time and enjoys having time to herself.
Sadly, I didn't really have any quality time with Ainsley today. She watched The Never Ending Story while I paid bills and sorted through stacks of papers. She was thrilled though, for some strange reason she loves that movie.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Pumpkin Fun
Well, that wasn't on my To Do list!
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Costumes
Aubrey has told me with great conviction that she would like to be Cinderella for Halloween this year. I've made comments like "We have so many princess dresses, wouldn't you want to be something else?" and she has relented and discussed fairies, witches, and a cat costume, all with princess style dresses. Today I was convicted. There is nothing wrong with Cinderella. I just hate how expensive and poorly made Disney costumes are. I also seem to be pushing Aubrey to abandon princesses. Why? She's four. Their is nothing wrong with it. So today I picked up a Cinderella costume to surprise her with after school.
And for Ainsley... she was conflicted between Darth Vader and the Incredible Hulk. I totally played the gender card and told her those are for boys and directed her to the girl costumes. After some debate between a storybook witch and Tinkerbell, she choose Tinkerbell. Now we just have to get a warm day at the end of October to wear these. Chances are I will be pushing the cozy monkey costume for her on the actual day.
And for Ainsley... she was conflicted between Darth Vader and the Incredible Hulk. I totally played the gender card and told her those are for boys and directed her to the girl costumes. After some debate between a storybook witch and Tinkerbell, she choose Tinkerbell. Now we just have to get a warm day at the end of October to wear these. Chances are I will be pushing the cozy monkey costume for her on the actual day.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Fall
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
sNOw
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Almost a Date Night
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Not Her Too!
My weekly Bible Study started up a couple of weeks ago so Ainsley is now a pre-schooler too. It isn't official pre-school, but it is a two hour program with Bible Stories, scripture memorization, music class, craft, and lots of other fun activities. She is thrilled to get to go to "school" too.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
To Do List
I keep adding more and more trips to my To Do list. There are many, so maybe it is a 10 year plan. The order is irrelevant, just how they popped in my mind.
Getaways for Mike and I
* Wine weekend in Palisade, Co
* A mountain getaway that includes climbing a 14er
* And of course, a return trip to Hawaii, but that dream lives outside my current scope of possibility.
Family Trips (excluding trips visiting family).
*San Diego! I so want to take a trip with the kids to Sea World, The Wild Animal Park, San Diego Zoo, The Beach...
*A quick trip to Wyoming. I want to visit a Dude Ranch and Wyoming is only a few hours away.
* Camping! It's been 4 years, we should really give this a shot. And I totally think the kids would love it.
*Disneyworld/Disney Cruise. This is a several years down the line dream, but I still like the idea of it.
Multi-Family Trips
*Return Trip(s) to the North Carolina Coast
* Winter Cabin Rental
*Camping Trips
What trips are brewing in your mind that you hope to take in the future? I hope I can check some of these off in the years to come!
Getaways for Mike and I
* Wine weekend in Palisade, Co
* A mountain getaway that includes climbing a 14er
* And of course, a return trip to Hawaii, but that dream lives outside my current scope of possibility.
Family Trips (excluding trips visiting family).
*San Diego! I so want to take a trip with the kids to Sea World, The Wild Animal Park, San Diego Zoo, The Beach...
*A quick trip to Wyoming. I want to visit a Dude Ranch and Wyoming is only a few hours away.
* Camping! It's been 4 years, we should really give this a shot. And I totally think the kids would love it.
*Disneyworld/Disney Cruise. This is a several years down the line dream, but I still like the idea of it.
Multi-Family Trips
*Return Trip(s) to the North Carolina Coast
* Winter Cabin Rental
*Camping Trips
What trips are brewing in your mind that you hope to take in the future? I hope I can check some of these off in the years to come!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
So Long Gucci
Well, all good things must come to an end. Gucci went back home on Monday. Aubrey was sad and her lip did quiver a little bit, but she is happy that we get to visit her from time to time. Ainsley was sleeping when Gucci went home and she asks about her all the time. "Hey, where's my cat?" We would like to get the girls a kitty of their own, but Ainsley may have an allergy. She had a cold pretty much the entire two weeks that Gucci was here and I often observed her with watery eyes. I think I will talk to her pediatrician about getting an allergy test before we bring a cat into our home permanently. And if cats are out I will have to find a cat size dog to fit the cat size hole in all of our hearts.
Monday, September 07, 2009
My Sweet Girl
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Funny Kid
Oh my goodness, my daughters crack me up. When we were potty training Ainsley, Mike started telling stories to help her stay on the potty. It has become a new past time around here to tell silly stories. Here is Aubrey's latest story.
Once upon a time I got invited to a Ball, but there were no potties there! So I went on the floor and nobody cleaned it up, and everyone had to walk in it. Then I danced with the prince and lived happily ever after. The End.
Is it just me, or is the hilarious?
Once upon a time I got invited to a Ball, but there were no potties there! So I went on the floor and nobody cleaned it up, and everyone had to walk in it. Then I danced with the prince and lived happily ever after. The End.
Is it just me, or is the hilarious?
Friday, August 28, 2009
Restoring Order
Man! Things have just gotten out of hand over here. I have been going 100 miles an hour for a few weeks now but simply running in circles. I am feeling very overwhelmed with the pace of things, but can't seem to find the pause button, or even a button that makes us move a little slower. Fortunately my plans for the day got canceled, so I am having a dedicated "find the floor" day. I am planning on filling my van with items to donate and making a delivery later today. I know, I know, we could sell the stuff and make a few dollars. I just don't have the time or energy to invest in that endeavor. But I desperately need to have less stuff, less clutter, less mess. So that's my goal for the girls nap. I will probably change out of my pj's and put on some "work out clothes" so the neighbors don't think I am a total mess.
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