Confessions of a Paper Chick

Bless me bloggy for I have sinned.
At the urging of another sister I have to tell the full story and confess a little sin or two.
The other day we went to McD's to have our ice cream treat. Me, I had an ice cream cone (even though I must confess I was coveting a m&m McFlurry), the girls split a cup of ice cream. We were halfway through our treats when we finally connected with Lorie on the phone. She said that she would run pick up CJ and be right there for us. Lorie lives only about 4 miles away and Kendall had been really wanting some french fries so I thought that we would wait for her then Kendall could eat fries when she got there. We waited and we waited. Finally Lorie called and said, "Where are you?!" I answered, "At the McDonalds by my house!" Her response, "Ahhhh, I forgot about that one, I went to the McDonalds in {another town}" That town was four miles from her house in the opposite direction" I told her we would still wait but that I was going to get the girls the fries because they were growing restless. Well, I couldn't be expected to sit there empty handed and watch them eat so I got another ice cream cone. Yeah, that's right, you got something to say about that?! I ate TWO ice cream cones while sitting there (gluttony?). Finally Lorie and CJ get there and CJ goes to the counter to buy his McFlurry (covet, covet) and Lorie's cone. He comes back empty handed and says, "They are out of ice cream". Lorie says, "What, how do they run out of ice cream?!" So I say, "", well, I said nothing of course, just presented my best look of shock. CJ went back up to order fries and they were actually able to coax enough ice cream out of the machine for his McFlurry (covet). Lorie sat and visited with my girls while I managed to hide my guilt and my dirty little secret. Before we left they had made more ice cream and Lorie was able to have a cone though. And NO I did not have another. But now my secret is out. Phew, what a relief to have that off my chest. Now the trick will be getting it off of my thighs (the ice cream that is).

Almost There

Last night before bed Kate took a step! She actually did it twice in a row so it wasn't a fluke. She kept walking back and forth between me and Kendall's chair, it was the first time she actually showed interest in walking.

Oh, and don't you hate it when food falls down your shirt?

Hot and Cold

We've been taking full advantage of this fabulous warm weather. Yesterday after my work out we met friends at the park for a picnic. The girls took great simultaneous naps. After nap time we went up to McD's for some special treat ice cream. Kendall picked out a few accessories and special shoes and socks to wear for the fun occasion. Kate was just happy to be given ice cream!

All of the excitement encouraged random outbursts of love between the girls. To top it all off Aunt Lorie and CJ came by to have ice cream too.

Today I woke up with a monster of a cold though. We've been staying inside and for the most part the girls have been really good and entertaining themselves with only the occasional outbreak of the whines. Kendall is trying out the crayon apron that I made awhile back.

Great Day Warning Lots of Pictures

We had such a fun day today! We started out at story time at the library. Kate is hitting the age where she is starting to participate. She always claps with the other kids but today she tried to do "Itsy Bitsy Spider". Of course she just smiles the whole time and laughs really loud. Afterwards our friend that was there invited us over to her house to play. We ate lunch together and then we all played outside. I WISH I had my camera. Debbie took pictures so hopefully I'll get some from her soon. They have one of those motorized little cars and David drove Kendall around everywhere. They both had their sunglasses on it was the cutest thing ever. They also had a little motorized four wheeler that Kendall really loved and drove herself around.

We came home for naps then pulled out Kate's little baby pool.

Kendall had fun but Kate was still too tired from the big morning.

She really just wanted to make a few phone calls and be left alone.

After a snack and some bubble blowing we ran up to the gym so I could take a class and then over to Aunt Lorie's for dinner. After dinner Kendall jumped on the trampoline. I'm expecting some GOOD sleeping tonight!

So Sweet

She is one of the sweetest girls in the entire world. I love how she can get so busy working. Today it was cutting and she was serious about it. I like to watch her play with her baby dolls, she is just so sweet to them. She squats down close to them with her hands on her little knees and asks them questions, "You want me to hold you? Yeah? (shaking her head) Okay, I'll hold you, come here sweet baby". Yes, she says that. She melts my heart. When Brian comes home she asks, "How was work honey?" If we're in the car and Kate falls asleep she whispers really loud to let me know. She asks questions NON-STOP and even though it could drive you nuts it is cute too. She is just a good kid and she is growing up way too fast.

So You Say it's Not Your Birthday

I saw this idea on another blog and even though it isn't my birthday I still wanted to do it.

28 Things I've Learned About Life and Myself in 28 Years

1. I love to laugh.....loud.
2. My kids make me laugh a lot.
3. Good friends are a blessing.
4. I'm drawn to transparent people.
5. God is good.
6. It is fun and good to look forward to the future but it is better to be content with the now.
7. TV is a time waster (unless you are watching Survivor which is an education social experiment...as are some other reality shows).
8. Focus not on the mountain but on the Mountain Mover.
9. Coming from a huge family is the best.
10. I'm bad with finances, so it's good that Brian can balance me in this area.
11. Nieces and nephews still grow up even if you aren't there to witness it.
12. I actually love to work out, to see what my body is capable of, to see it change and grow stronger.
13. C-sections aren't that bad.
14. I don't ever want to stop learning
15. Doing creative things fills me.
16. Think about it before you buy it (okay I'm still learning this one).
17. I'm a list maker
18. There is still a lot left to experience
19. I'm happy with the decisions I've made
20. A hot bath + a good book = a good night
21. I love my husband
22. I'm the one that gets toothpaste on the bathroom mirror not Brian.
23. If you try to sneak broccoli into his food he will know it.
24. I enjoy Spring Cleaning
25. Even though I wish it weren't true I am really bad at sending birthday cards and thank you cards but not because I'm not thinking of the person or thankful.
26. I am blessed beyond measure
27. My car is never clean
28. Being a stay-at-home mom is not 'easy' but it is the best job in the world for me.

On the subject of birthdays, this morning Kendall and I were snuggling in bed and I asked her what kind of birthday party she wanted and she said, "hmmmm, probably cheese". Ha, after further discussion we decided on a 'picnic party' but maybe we'll have to have some cheese there too.

I haven't been in the computer mood lately (I have a huge stack of books that I want to read) so I'm behind on emails and blogging.

Yesterday we went to Noah's birthday party and had a great time. We are so blessed with good friends! Poor Kendall has now been to three parties and is not so patiently waiting her own. Just a couple more weeks! Her birthday wish list includes:

Her own iPod. Seriously, she wants her own but don't worry she will not be getting one.

Her own car. She broke the news to me as we were in my car. At first I thought maybe she wanted a Cozy Coupe like our neighbors so I said, "A car like Logan's?" and she said, "No, a red car like that one" and pointed to the car in front of us. Well, that is a great big NO.

A Dora phone. She carried one around Target with Aunt Lorie the other day and wanted it so desperately. Aunt Lorie has already gone birthday shopping and she has her all set in Dora stuff including the phone.

Finally, I have been hearing about this one NON-STOP since Anna's party. She wants a scooter. Anna received one for her birthday and Kendall instantly fell in love. We already bought her a pool though but I'm going to have a hard time not going to Toys R Us and getting her this Radio Flyer one.

Phew

Guess what is going out in the mail today?

A big 'ol box of handmade wedding invitations!!

Say What?

So Brian has been out of town since last Thursday. Despite the distance he still surprised me with a couple of 'awesome husband' moments. Yesterday flowers were delivered because it was the anniversary of my baptisim. So sweet. He came home today and on the way home he stopped at the Ralph Lauren outlet and bought each of his girls something. I got a pink Polo shirt and khaki capris. Tonight I tried them on and studied them in the full length mirror for awhile. They are an odd length. I think that they should be a little shorter so that they aren't mistaken as just too short pants. Well, I came downstairs to model them for Brian and he said, "Are they pants for fat people?" Suddenly the sweet husband was no more and I give him the evil eye as we locked eyes and stared at each other for a full three seconds then we both realize that he meant to say something else ("Are they pants for short people?") then there was uncontrollable laughter.

Going and Going and Going

My mom was here this weekend and we kept going and going like little Energizer Bunnies. Here are some scenes from our weekend.

Shopping in the cutest little toy shop, we played with more toys then Kendall did.

Kendall looking at photos with one of her cousins on the farm. We went up for dinner one night and Kendall got to sit on a tractor and see cows up close. She was excited and speechless all at the same time.

I organized some albums today and Kendall had the best time looking at and talking about all the pages in the scrapbook.

Kate has done SO MUCH just in the last couple of days. I caught her taking a step between two pieces of furniture, she did sign language for 'milk' and 'more', she said, "uh-oh" and "baby" and she climbed on Kendall's little horse and pushed off a little.

Ride 'em cowgirl.

Happy Birthday Gregy!

My big old (wink) brother is turning 50!!! I hope it's a really special day, you old man you.

Teach 'em Young

Today Kendall did this

and Kate did this

while I did this

This is Kristy's Chicken and Veggie Soup, actually I think she calls it "My Chicken Soup can Beat up Your Momma's Chicken Soup" or something like that. It is good!! Try it. Afterwards we cleaned up. Aunt Lorie & CJ came over for a visit too. Then Lorie took CJ to soccer and took my girls with her to give me some alone time. Actually, it was 'cleaning' time not really alone time. I had to clean because my Momma is coming tomorrow and we're very very excited!! Oh and Lorie bought Kendall a Dora watch, soon the daughter of an anti-character woman will be fully decked out in character clothing.

On another note. We had Bible Study at a friends house last week. She has one of these.

Since then Kendall has asked me MULTIPLE times for a "jumpoline" of her very own.

So She Said

Kendall has always had a hard time saying the word "girl" it has always come out really odd sounding, something like "ghurr". About three weeks ago we were in the car and she was talking to me and said 'girl' in a sentence then she said it again and again and finally said, "I can't say that word". I heard her in her seat mumbling trying to pronounce it correctly. We would work on it every few days. I would repeat is slowly and over pronunciate it and she would try and try and try. Well, last week out of the blue she said it correctly. I made a big deal out of it and we kept saying it and now sometimes she says it out of the blue. Like today, I was cooking and she was at the bar and just said "GIRLLLLLL" with a big grin on her face. Then she created a couple of random sentences with "girl". I can tell she is proud of herself.

68 and Sunny

It is beautiful out! This morning we went to the park with the Anna family. The girls had a good time despite a couple of wipe outs. Kendall managed to fall off the swing and land with a thud that I was sure would knock the air out of her but we escaped with just some dirty clothes and minimal crying (it was the big girl swing not the baby ones shown below).

We ate some lunch while Kate entertained herself.

Now were home and I'm getting some much needed cleaning done with the windows open. I love Spring!

He Said now She Said

Kendall has a new phrase but I know she heard Brian say it. Tonight Kendall was in time out and Kate started to crawl over to her and I hear Kendall say,
"Get out of my grill"
I was in the other room but had to laugh out loud.

Draggin'

It has rained so much that here is the state of our "garden". I pulled the tree and even drug it to the front yard on trash day. I think that the people that drove very slowly by the house as I was trying to pull this around the house got a good laugh. The sad thing is that the trash men didn't take it so it is currently looking awful in our driveway! If it stops raining long enough I'll have to drag it back to the back yard to the "woods" (for those of you that have seen my backyard, stop laughing). I will say, that the sight of that green green grass does make me happy. I'm so ready for Spring!

Tonight I have big plans of staying up till all hours of the night working on invitations so I can check them off of my list. I have a girlfriend coming over (probably) to keep me company. I don't foresee finishing them tonight but I will get pretty close I think.

And because I can't have a blog post that only has a picture of a hole in my yard here are a few random pictures. Kate is a climber, lately she has been climbing into the baby doll stroller. And here is Kendall petting her Chia-pet from Jenn and Justin. I need to take another picture of it because it has a nice little flat top now.

Sport Day

Last night was the sports night for Lorie's preschool. I wasn't going to go but as we left the gym Lorie called and was really close to us so I just met her and gave her Kendall while I ran home to feed Kate and put her to bed. Brian came home so I ran back up to play and bring Kendall home.

Kate learned to clap this week too. At her one year check up she ranked in the 3rd percentile for weight (same) and moved up to the 10th percentile for height.

Hear Me Roar

Today I did this:



This tree has been slowly dieing for a year and we decided that this spot would be good for my garden. I had a moment today where I was feeling especially strong so I decided to pull it up. Kate sat and watched with a curious look on her face and Kendall stood (so as to not get muddy) and offered both encouragement and suggestions.


"Do you need help?"
"Good bouncing Mommy!"
"Do you need help?"
"Shake your bottom Mommy."
"Do you need help, I need my gloves."



One more Kendallism: She has a little playhouse on our deck and it has a small stove in it that she calls her "cook". "Mommy, get the water off my cook" she is also loving the sand table but my poor little landlocked child keeps calling the sand snow, "AAAAAAAA, I ate the snow" or "There is snow on me, I'm all wet"