Outside Play

We have spent TONS of time outside already. I am sure we spend LOTs of time out there this summer, as the girls have really taken a liking to riding bikes and riding the jeep and playing with the dozen or so kids that live on our street. Thank goodness it is a quiet street for the most part. Although watch out in about 10 years when they all start driving within a few years of each other!! Our grocery store had a Family Fun Day no so long ago. We took the girls to check out the animals and play the games and then got a free lunch. Couldn't beat that! The girls really enjoyed petting and holding the baby chicks. I am not sure where they got the love for doing that, because this mommy ain't having NOTHING to do with touching them. I don't even step foot in a petting zoo! GROSS!!! Jenny, you are a more amazing mother than I with the salamander for Leo!

A local carnival came to town. I have to swallow my fears and let them ride a few rides within some limits. They each got to pick 3 rides...one of the "rides" they picked was to jump in an inflatable house! Ella unfortuantly had to sit in the stroller...too little. We used lots of hand sanitizer and made sure not to look at people for too long that were either dressed much differently than us and smelled much grosser than us!!!!

Be sure to keep scrolling down, more pictures posted below!!!

Wow, it is has been 2 months....

Seriously, where does the time go? You would think with the hiatus that from bloggin I would have all these grand adventures to tell you about, rather we have just been playing, riding bikes, going to school and being busy!! Here is what you have missed in the last 2 months:

We went to the Shrine Circus with some friends. Had an Easter Egg hunt at Grammy's house:

We had another Easter Egg Hunt at Mamo and Bampo's house, tried to take cute pictures of the girls together:

Olivia has learned how to ride her bike like a champ. Although still nervous yet ready to take those training wheels off. This summer we will!! Ella runs around with her chair, and a forshadow into the future with Addison:

I have LOTS more to share in the next post!! Check back in a little bit!!

Beauty and the Beast

One of our local high schools musical was this weekend. Beauty and the Beast. The girls really enjoyed it and got over their fears of the Beast rather quickly.

Happy St. Patricks Day

Roller Skating Party

We have had a few firsts lately...roller skating has been amongst the newest! It was fun, challenging and scary! The girls were invited to a birthday party at the roller skating rink. They were excited to go. Skates on, wheels locked and out to the skate rink we went. Sweaty hands, mom sweating holding preschoolers up, more sweaty hands that tremble when I let go to wipe my hands off. Eventually they worked up some courage and I could feel my hands again and they weren't sweaty! After a few times around, it was time for some games. Neither of the girls were brave enough to try that, I probably wouldn't have been either! It took me a while to get my bearings straight and my footing. I can not remember the last time I was on roller skates. It was a little awkward at first. Especially as I went skating across the slick floor to put our shoes away. Bout feel on my behind!!! We did have fun though and the girls really enjoyed and have already been asking to go again!

Growing Up....

She is growing up right before my eyes. Got the call today for Kindergarten registration and orientation! Am I ready for this? Is she ready for this? We are...bring it!!!!

Sunshine Yesterday, Rain Today and Snow Tomorrow

We have spent the last 4 days in a cloud of dreariness, cold, rain and today snowflakes. We are supposed to get 2-4 inches. You gotta be kinding me! This is crazy. The girls are so anxious for the nice weather. I think I get asked weekly if it is summertime yet and if they can wear flip flops yet. Yes, we have a bit of cabin fever. We had a few nice minutes one afternoon and therefore spent the ENTIRE afternoon outside. Trying not to get to muddy, and just enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.

Check out the fun:

Vulnerability

Do you ever feel vulnerable? The conference that I went to in Atlanta I found this quote and I really liked it:

"Vulnerability is often seen as a weakness; it's actually a sign of strength. People who are genuinely open and transparent prove that they have the confidence and self-esteem to allow others to see them as they really are, warts and all. There is something undeniably magnetic about people who can do that".

I have lately felt like I am in a vulnerable state with different aspects of my life. I have been deep in prayer about a lot of things. When the time is right I will share. For now, just keep me in your prayers! Tony and I are doing lots of praying about the future. Will you pray with us and for us?! And PS, for those who may be wondering, don't worry we are all doing fine. Just got some things deep on my mind and in my heart!

A True Mommy's Helper

I have recently acquired a great helper with so many things. I am trying VERY hard to make sure she knows just how much I appreciate her help, and how proud I am of her. It actually makes me proud and sad all at the same time. It means my baby is growing up. She assures me she will never get married, and will always live at home with me; I hope she still feels like that when she is 15!!! I can't believe how much she has matured and grown up in the last 6 months. The things she does to help out; the things she does out of the kindness of her heart; and the things she does simply because amaze me. Take for example tonight at dinner; Liv waned the Tinkerbell spoon that I had already given to Addison. Liv through a huge fit; crying screaming, and whining. Addison so politely just switches spoons with her. I try to explain that she does not have to do that. Liv can have the Tinkerbell spoon next time. Addison can keep it. "It's okay mom, she can have it...I a okay with that"...Addison, I love you so much and you amaze me each day!

Harder Than I Thought

So finding the time to blog EVERYDAY has proved to be more of a task than I anticipated. I would say that I am doing pretty darn good though! You can comment and let me know what my grade is so far!!!

We were able to spend the ENTIRE afternoon outside yesterday. It was great and the girls; except for Ella; slept great! Had to wake Liv to get her ready to leave for daycare this morning! That doesn't happen all that often! I tried to snap lots of pictures. I will save them for my Sunday post because they are still on my computer! Tonight we took in a free Veggie Tales movie at the girls preschool and Addison won a free copy of the movie; "mom, I am so excited. I have never won anything in my whole life"!!!! And of course Liv, "but mommy, I didn't get anything like a movie"...mommy politely says, "we can't all win something. Maybe next time you will win Liv". Poor Liv, she just wants to be just like Addison and sometimes she just wants to be like Ella. It's tough being a middle kid! (Insert snide comment from my siblings) (And by the way; 2 different days in these pictures, same outfit. It is her FAVORITE: it is Hannah Montana and it is purple. If it's purple she'll wear it, if it's not, she'll throw a fit!)

Check out the video of Olivia trying to get some attention around here:

Bring on the nice weather....

Life continues to be anything but slow for us!! Sometimes I feel like we are constantly on the go; running here or there; with barely time to sit down and spend time with just the girls. Well this weekend, the weather is supposed to beautiful. We plan to take FULL advantage of it and get outside, clean out the girls, play in the backyard and head to the park! I can't wait. The girls got invited to a roller skating birthday party on Saturday morning. We will probably let them go; should be quite comical I am sure! Ella will get to stay home and probably hid in her new spot! She has been so much fun lately...the words she is saying, the things she is doing, the way she bluntly tells me "no" when I ask if she slept good...I can't wait for you to all see her. Although I am not sure who "you all" since I am not quite sure exactly who all is reaing this outside of immediate family! But regardless, she is at such a funny stage; I could do without the waking at 5am every stinking morning. She is defiantly taking after Addison is so many things!!!

Happy Birthday

Whose birthday is it you might be asking...well Dr. Seuss' of course! And we were in full Dr. Seuss mode this morning singing happy birthday!

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

Love,

The Grinch; aka Addison

An Overdue Return

I warned you I would not have my computer with me! But now I am home...

A trip down south was supposed to mean warmth and sunshine. There was hardly any warmth!! Glad I took my winter coat. The adventure to Atlanta was great. The conference was excellent and the company great. I think the girls and Tony survived. Had to call in back-up for Liv's full head of thick hair!!!

Just so you can all know that I could survive in the "big" city. We rode the MARTA (a railway tram) from the airport to some street that was supposed to be close to the hotel. What hotels in 2010 don't have shuttles? Well apparently we found the one! So we get off this railway and what do you know. It is about 40 MPH winds, 25 degrees and get this, yes it is MIDNIGHT!!! And we have to walk about 4-5 LONG blocks to the hotel!! I think outside of the time I spent in San Fransisco I haven't seen so many homeless people in a long time. My feelings are always mixed for them. Anyway, the walk at midnight was just that; long, cold and sort of a run!

It was definatly nice to be home; although I was exhausted. We were up at 3:30am eastern time to cathc our flight home. I think I was in bed by 7:55pm Saturday night, took 2 naps on Sunday and barely made it today!! So now, we are home, I have snapping pictures and have all sort of goofy ones to share with you! I am hoping to get a GREAT one tomorrow of Addison!!! I can't tell you why...will ruin the surprise! Check back in about 24 hours!

I got to finish going through the girls backpacks and find thier March calendars. As Olivia told me earlier tonight her calendar was missing and I needed to find it so I would know what was going on at school. And according to Liv; "my calendar isn't on the frigerlator mom"....

Miss these girls....

I am in Atlanta for a few days for work and I miss these girls like crazy!! Sure hope Tony is hanging in there and the girls haven't ganged up on him yet!

What a difference 16 months makes!!

"Spring, where are you"?

Going on a jet plane....

...don't know when I'll be back again!! I am actually leaving tomorrow for Atlanta. Hoping that the weather is nicer than here and not windy. Although I am not hopeful. The weather forcast today is 55 degrees, tomorrow (we get in at 8pm) 54 degrees, Thursday 43 and windy, Friday 40 and dreary...great!! Guess I'll have to pack my winter coat still!

Hoping that Tony and the girls will manage fine. I have left enough food for them, gone to the grocery store and left the ouse clean. We shall see what it looks like when I return on Saturday!! Thursday is a busy day for Tony, Ella has shots, Addison has gymnastics, both girls have Father/Child night at Preschool....should be an interesting day for him!! :)

Hopefully I can still manage to post soemthing while I am gone. I am NOT taking my computer though!!

Miss Me?

Did you miss me yesterday? I know I am a slacker! We were busy though! Took the girls on Saturday to the National High School Cheer and Dance Competition. They LOVED it! Olivia wants to be like the dancers, and Addison wants to cheer because they do gymnastics!! It was so much fun to watch them, and to watch Olivia dance along!! No pictures to share though, sorry.

Tony and I got to have a date on Saturday night, a quick dinner and a movie! It was bliss! Thanks Grammy for watching the girls and getting them to bed! On Sunday, we awoke to snow and more snow. Apparently it was yucky out this way, so Grammy stayed an extra day because of the weather. We had the Kelly's Kids Clothing Open House, what cute stuff!!

We awoke this moring to quite a scare. There was an oder in the livivng room. After sniffing it out, it was concluded that it was coming from an electrical outlet next to the couch. An outlet that is not even used. Tony took the cover off and there were sparks and the lights in the kitchen kept flickering. Tony was meeting with the electrician this morning...this should be interesting. We have had lots of electrical "issues" with this house. We probably need to have someone come out and go through the whole house and check it out for us.

Have a great week and check back soon.

It's Tough Being Ella

She LOVES to play with her toes!

Loves to say "cheese" for the camera...but wants to see herself and won't let me take it of her!

"What you talking bout me for"????

"Mk, plzzzzzzzzzzz"

Poor Ella gets to stay inside with mommy while the girls played in the garage!

That One Nice Day

So today, it is cold, snowy and slick outside! I have fallen walking across campus twice now. I am okay; in case you wondering!! :) But yesterday, it was WONDERFUL!!! Remember I told you the girls got to play outside for a little bit? They took to riding bikes in the garage, spraying the snow that was still sticking around. Chalking it up and having a grand time exerting energy. (And in case you read my post from yesterday, they slept in until 6:07am!!! I walked in the door from teaching my class at 6:17am, and all 3 were just walking out of the bedroom and into the kitchen!!)

Never mind the mess, look at the cutie!!!

Liv enjoyed spraying the snow and just running around!

Addison was anxious to get back on her bike; goal this spring: get those training wheels off!