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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Craft time!

Aunt Pat and Uncle Vic bought these for the girls for Christmas, and we took advantage of this cold December day to color and decorate them! The girls had a great time, and got permanent marker all over my kitchen table! Tis okay, I hate that table anyway!

 
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Saturday, December 17, 2011

December update

We had a great Halloween, though I didn't take any pictures. Abigail was a beautiful Snow White, and Olivia was Buzz Lightyear! They both really enjoyed trick-or-treating this year, and really seemed to understand the concept.

We've already had a few rounds of runny noses and coughs this season. Being stuck inside is hard on all of us. The girls have been bickering a bit, and hate to clean their rooms. I am trying to come up with some fun indoor activities for us, and hoping that crafts and games will help entertain them.

We're staring down the barrel of Christmas now. We're in good shape - have most of our stuff done. Our Christmas cards went out in the mail today, and it feels good to cross that off my list. I haven't figured out what to do for Mike yet...

Tomorrow, we're going to get our Christmas tree. I am really looking forward to that, but I feel bad for Olivia and her snotty nose. I am wondering if her and I should stay home and let Mike and Abby get our tree this year. I remember going with my Dad to get our tree, and always enjoyed that (of course, Mom made him take me because he was grounded from going with Rick - but that's another story).

The girls have started gymnastics since the last post and they both love it! Abigail really seems to enjoy it, and I am really happy about that. I was a little worried that she would be too scared to try the skills, but I have been pleasantly surprised. Olivia runs wild through the gym and climbs on everything that she can reach. This week, I glanced her direction and she was hanging on a bar with her feet dangling two feet off the ground. That baby knows no fear!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Wow - it's been a while since I posted!

The rest of the summer came and went, and we're staring down the barrel of the holidays! I can't believe how long it's been since I blogged, but I have been focused on a lot of other things - Tomorrow's Treasures, our anniversary, preschool, and more.



This includes most of the stuff we did this summer - a lot of playing in our backyard or the girls riding their bikes and their jeep...but a camping trip with the Williams family is included, too!

I will do another post for our autumn images soon!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

July 4th and Glasses

On July 2nd, Mike and I took Abby to get her glasses. We took her to LensCrafters, because they could do them in an hour. She picked out a cute purple pair of glasses, and we picked them up after dinner. She's been really good about wearing them already - she wore them all day yesterday. She isn't used to it, so it's still normal for her to not wear them. When she first put them on, she looked over at me and exclaimed, "Mom, you have teeth!!!". I had no idea that her vision is as bad as it is. The doctor told me that her level of functionality for her lack of sight is astounding. He told me that she was going to have to learn how to see. Her brain is going to have to learn to interpret a new way of seeing.

Yesterday was July 4th, and we spent the afternoon at Holly's. After dinner, we went outside and started lighting fireworks. Holly held onto Olive so that Abby could participate in the festivities. This was the first year we have let her light smoke bombs or bottle rockets. I don't think she's ever seen a sparkler. She was very focused yesterday, and the pictures show her concentration and excitement at the fireworks. I went out last night and bought more, so that we could spend a few more days letting her light stuff. It was really neat to see her intense concentration.







Sunday, June 26, 2011

Staycation is over

On Tuesday, we went to the City Museum with the girls, and we all had a great time. The girls were running and climbing and sliding all over the place.



We spent most of our time in Toddler Town, because it was more contained. There was a ball pit and a few slides - enough to keep the girls busy.





We also spent some time in the Art Center - painting. We stopped by the Skate Park, too. The girls were tuckered out, and Livi took a great nap that day.

Wednesday, we took the girls to a few parks to play in the morning, meeting up with Trish and Jase and Gabby.

By the afternoon, Abigail had come down with a stomach bug, and it kept us homebound for the rest of the week. We had great plans to do more fun stuff with the girls, including the spa day for Abigail and me, but we postponed all of it and spent a lot of time watching movies with Abby.

Friday evening, Mike and I went out to Joannie's for pizza, and then found ourselves at the International Tap House. We had a great time and the weather was wonderful!

Yesterday was Pam's wedding. Abigail's stomach wasn't fully recovered, so I stayed home with the girls while Mike went to the ceremony. My mom stayed with the girls while we went to the reception last night - that was a lot of fun. Pam was a beautiful bride, and I can't wait to see her pictures! I only took my point-and-shoot camera, and didn't take very many pictures with it. It felt really nice to be a guest at a wedding for a change!

Today is the last day of Mike's time off, and we're going to have dinner with friends that we haven't seen in a long time. I am not ready for Mike to go back to work tomorrow, but all good things must come to an end. He starts his new job tomorrow, and I am very excited for him - he's waited a long time for this!

Good luck tomorrow, Babe! I love you!

Monday, June 20, 2011

2011 Staycation

We are enjoying our stay-cation this week! We spent last weekend visiting with Holly and Gary and the boys, and Danielle and Steve and Shelby. It was a very nice weekend with friends and family.

Yesterday was Father's Day, and we all celebrated with ice cream at Ginny's after dinner. Yum! The girls made quite the mess with their cherry sundaes - their choice! Abigail finished her sundae and moved right on to my Oreo concrete!

Today, we took the girls to the pool, and they wore us out. It seemed backwards - I thought it was supposed to wear them out - that they were supposed to come home and nap. Boy, was I mistaken!

Now, we're getting ready for our evening out. I am taking Olive to dinner with family, while Mike and the girls are heading out for a 5:30 dinner reservation (at Chick Fil-A!). Should be lots of fun!

I have to get us all ready now - we're going to get some pictures of this before we head out the door!

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Happy Father's Day to my Dad - and the 1982 World Series!

This Father's Day, I decided to share my favorite story, as told by my Dad. Please enjoy! It was Game 7, of the 1982 World Series. Dad and his brothers had gone to see the game. They were seated in the upper level. During the 6th inning, my dad and his brothers began discussing how to get closer to the field, in hopes of the Cards win. They all walked down to the railing, at the lowest part of their level, and Dad turned to his brother, Donny, saying, "Hold my beer." And over the railing he went! He turned back to Donny, with his hands held out in front of him, "drop my beer!" - and he did. One by one, his brothers did the same thing, and they moved down to the railing of that section. They did the same thing again, until they were finally down to the front row of seats. Dad, a friendly and outgoing person who was loved by all, approached an older man sitting in the front row, watching the 8th inning. "Excuse me, are you going?" The older man looked at my dad, and said, "Going where?" Dad said, "On the field...when we win, are you going?" The guy smiled, and said, "No, I am not going out there." "Can I have your seat?" Dad replied. I don't know how, but Dad talked this guy out of his seat, at Game 7, during the 8th inning. Dad watched, as Bruce Sutter pitched the 9th inning. He watched the first two strikes of the final out, but as Sutter pitched the final strike of the final out, Dad went over the wall. He never saw the strike called. He was already on the field, running directly to Sutter. In the video, you see Sutter pitch, and all of the Cards players rush to Sutter - and the whole group of them are celebrating and jumping up and down. In that scene, my Dad runs into the group of the Cardinals players - the only one not wearing a jersey - and join in the celebration. The camera cuts away before Dad made it to Sutter, and when he did, he grabbed his hat (and, according to Dad, a healthy handful of Sutter's hair). As he turned to run with his souvenir, a cop finally caught up with him, and knocked him out with his night stick. Dad said that cop hit him, and he saw his feet fly out in front of him before he hit the ground. When he came to, the hat was gone. Poor Dad (and poor Sutter, who had less hair than what he started the game with)! I have tried a hundred times to find this video online, so that I could post it to Facebook - but I have had no success. Anyway, this is my tribute to my Dad, on Father's Day. I love you and miss you, Dad!

Monday, March 21, 2011

Spring!


We are ready for spring!  The girls are ready to play outside,  run and jump,  go to parks and feel the sunshine!   I am ready, too!   They've bounced off the walls,  beds,  floors,  and couches all winter.   They've watched tv and movies, and colored almost an entire ream of paper.   We have danced,  sang,  played games and tickles for hours on end.   It's been a long winter in this house,  complete with several rounds of runny noses, and head colds.

Now,  we have been playing outside,  and it feels great!  Duke, who spent most of the winter in his own seasonal depression,  has spent the past few days chasing his favorite Frisbee and chewing on sticks.   He has also taken notice of the squirrels in our yard,  and it seems to have stirred him up a bit!

Abigail is a bit more adventurous than she was last fall,  and will explore the yard without me,  if I don't stop her.  I have already had to holler her name as she runs around the house.   She is 3, going on 8.  She is still a very affectionate girl,  and always finds ways to surprise me.  She tries very hard to learn new words the first time she hears them.   Today,  she asked what it meant to be confident. 

Olivia is also mastering words at an astonishing pace.   She strings words together to make 3 or 4-word sentences.   She follows Abigail all over the place,  and mimics her every move.   She is the happiest person I have ever known,  and loves to make people laugh.   She is sure that she is too cute for trouble,  and will often try to melt me with giggles.

Between them,  I do have my hands full!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Abigail and Olive


They are growing up so fast! 

Abigail is enjoying preschool!   These past few months, she has really been playing with others more and seems to be developing more social skills.  She finally enjoys being around other kids, and even plays with Olive.  We have been trying to get her to read,  and I think she can,  but she doesn't always cooperate.  She memorizes her books and recites stories to us without looking at the pages.   She has a large vocabulary,  and often surprises me with her newfound words and phrases.   She has recently told me that she misses dance class,  so we are going to find another activity for her.  She is a very lovey girl, and is happy to share hugs,  kisses, and germs!  Abigail is funny, loves to make people laugh.  She wants to play all day, and hates cleaning her room.   She loves to do crafts,  and thinks that scissors,  glue,  and tape are the recipe for fun!   She hates sleeping; she sees it as a waste of great play time!   And stubborn... I don't know where she gets that!   But,  quick to forgive,  doesn't hold grudges.   The way to her heart is through paint,  puzzles and play!

Olive is growing and changing right before my eyes.  She doesn't seem like a baby anymore.   She has her own ideas and opinions on everything, and shares them freely.   She climbs wherever she wants to be and knows no fear or limits.   She believes herself cute enough to melt trouble away with giggles and kisses.   She is still the happiest person I have ever known,  and doesn't dwell on bo-bos or hurt feelings.   Her cries are brief and never without cause.   She loves Abigail very deeply,  and stands next to her in time-out,  voluntarily.   Her latest words are Shrek, bed, outside,  brush, up,  and down.   She has a handful of words that she has been repeating lately, but I haven't figured out what they are.   I am trying to get her to say "I love you", without success.

Mike and I are very blessed to have such beautiful girls!  They definitely keep us on our toes.