SAHM I am

When I thought about being a SAHM today was the kind of day I dreamed of. There was nothing extra special about the day--it had its usual ups and downs. The morning, after a slow start, was filled errands. I had mentioned after errands we might go to the playground. When the errands took longer than expected I definitely had to uphold my end of the bargain and work in a trip to the playground. But it was getting late. I think it was probably almost 12:30 when we finished our errands. So we stopped at the store, grabbed some items for a picnic lunch and we rolled out a blanket under a tree at the park. Then we played. Then we headed home, skipped naps in favor of reading and more playing. (The non-napping would lead to mini-meltdowns later but it seemed like a good idea at the time.) These are the days when I really, really love my vocation as mother.

Local celebrity

So here is an article in today's local paper. Of course I have an extra critical eye coming from the business so I noticed a few mistakes....like the fact that I was called the "mother of three" (no, that is by no means an announcement) and somehow mentioned an all-star baseball team (I did not even know we had one!) But that's all okay. I certainly could have done without the photo...eek. I knew I should have let one of the kids wear the apron then the photo would have been of them instead!

Coming clean

We have a dirty little secret that I am almost embarrassed to admit here. But it is cause for celebration and the only way to celebrate is to tell the secret. Well here goes. Madelyn still had a pacifier. Oh yes, her beloved paci, one that she has had since she was an infant, has been the magic tool in her nap time and bedtime routine. Perhaps it was why she has always been such a gem of a sleeper.

It's not that we had not tired to take it away. We did. Many times. The paci fairy came. We put them in an envelope and tried to mail them to babies. We just took them away and endure the sleepless nights of weeping and screaming as she mourned like she had lost a precious love one. We tried to bribe her. We snipped the ends to make it less desirable(thus the "brokey" was born and added to the mix!) But nothing worked. Until last week.

Remember my post last Tuesday. Actually I did not get into many details of the day but it was a bad one and she was big time on my list. As a punishment, I had to take something she really valued and I knew the thing she holds the most high is her paci. So I told her no pacis for her nap. Fine. She did it. She was going to cry herself to sleep anyway.

So when she woke up from her nap sans paci she declared it was time to get her dollhouse (One of the bribes we offered in exchange for the paci.) No, no, no my pint size friend, there was no paci as a punishment not then to get a huge reward. So I told her now that she knows she can sleep without the paci if she continues she can get the dollhouse.

She has no looked back since. I can say it loud and proud, my daughter is paci-free! Please never mind the fact that she will be 4 in a few months! OMG. But I was a thumbsucker (the secrets just keep rolling here!) so I guess the whole paci thing I just feared she may go to the thumb and then what...you can't take that away! So I am happy she has done just what we had hoped all along, given it up on her own terms. I was really afraid of going to her first dentist appt. next month and admitting she still has a pacifier.

So that very bottom of the barrel day last week had a really positive outcome.

Back to normal, for now

Well we had a crazy run and I think we are all almost back in order now. We all got so run down from a busy weekend. We just aren't as young as we once were....the grown-ups and the kids! The rest of the weekend was filled with visits with friends we have not seen in a while, family night and a baby shower. Plus all the extra must-do errands. No wonder we were all so run down.

Now we are starting to anticipate our trip to Chicago. We're driving. Eek. I am already getting myself very worked up about it. But usually that works for me because I really play things up in my head and they can never be that bad. It's really Abigail that will be the worry. She was so unhappy on the way to and from Hershey and that was less than 2 hours in the car! Then we were hoping to make the extra 5 hours each way to see my extended family in LaCrosse which is more time in the car and two less days to see and do all we want to see and do in Chicago. We just cannot win. See my blood pressure is rising just typing about it. It will all work out. No matter how long we stay anywhere I never seem to have gotten enough visiting in for as many people and as long as I want to. That's just me. We were supposed to be leaving this weekend but pushed it back a week. The big fun for the trip will be an anniversary party for Glamma and Grandpa---it was 40 years in May! So that will be a festive occasion that we are all looking forward to.

The Sweetest Day on Earth

And we just keep going......

Today we took a trip to Hershey Park! Kevin won two tickets (we are big winners these days) in a newspaper contest so we cashed them in for a super day. It was a ton of fun and highly caloric...hello, chocolate everywhere! Madelyn's best friend Ella (who was celebrating her birthday today!) and her family joined us which made the day extra fun. The girls were very brave and went on pretty much every kiddie ride--multiple times! Madelyn and Ella were in the "Hershey Kisses" category for height/ride availability so they had lots of options. Their favorite was the pirate ship. Very brave girls! Abigail, who was in the "Hershey's Miniatures" category could ride many rides by herself, and some with a grown up, but she was more limited. Her favorite was the vehicles shown below (she rode at least 4 times!) Her face was just magical---she was absolutely thrilled and was "driving" furiously.

I think it is the first time I have ever been to an amusement park that I only went on four rides and none left the ground. I was eyeing up one of the new roller coasters that climbs straight up, drops straight down, rolls over many loops and corkscrews......when I had absolutely NO desire to even go on it, it was then that I felt very old.

It was of course a very hot day so we enjoyed some time in the splash park areas. The water was freezing though so the girls did not last long. It was refreshing and gave us a second wind for the rest of the day. Our friends had to leave early but we stayed until 7 p.m.! Can you believe it?




What's an amusement park without a character? This one was cute. To my surprise Abby leaped out of the stroller and ran over to the giant Reece's Peanut Butter Cup. But when the new friend waved to her she screamed in sheer terror and ran the other direction. So there is no one in the photo with the character.....

Here's to a really sweet day!

...we all screamed for ice cream!

The neighborhood ice cream party was a blast! The weather was perfect! There was plenty of ice cream! (Unless you got there more than 40 minutes late.) I think the final tally was about 160!

What a really fun time. I gave a little toast to the neighborhood and read my essay*. I was also interviewed by a reporter for the local paper. It's so odd because I am used to being on that side of it...asking the questions and writing furiously as the subject provides little nuggets of information.

It was just a perfect summer night to get out and visit in this perfect little neighborhood. I only had one bite of an ice cream bar myself. Bummer. Abby had at least three servings though (including the rest of my ice cream bar.) She just had her bowl and was at the table begging for more...she's so cute I think other indulged her.

The only potential downside is one of our neighbors said they saw Abigail sitting a tree that had poison ivy on it. Poor kids were scrubbed and scrubbed when they got home...I hope we do not get poison ivy! EEKS!

We are pretty much exhausted so I will let a few photos say the rest. I had two cameras going---mine and the disposable camera that came in the prize package---so here are a few shots of all the fun from my camera.

The girls helped me hang a few signs, just so everyone would know about the party:












* The winning essay:

Sometimes I think about what our neighborhood was like in 1941 when all the homes were brand new. But then I stop to look around and think, I bet it was not that much different than it is today. Dunmore truly is a neighborhood that seems to stand still in time. Yes, the faces have changed and either the original residents have grown older or new families have moved in. But it seems that Dunmore has, on the surface, stayed the same. It's the kind of place that after the moving truck pulls away a new neighbor will likely find someone stopping over with a freshly baked cake. This is a community that has a small parade around the neighborhood each Fourth of July (led by a kazoo band and powered by a flock of children with decorated bikes, scooters and wagons.) This community has a reputation around town. But its something to be proud of. We have a women's group, a playgroup, yard sales and lots of neighborly evenings where the adults gather on someone's back deck to chat the night away. And yes, we still have an annual block party each year that is an event not to be missed. Having an Edy's Ice Cream Block Party this year would just put the cherry on top of our sweet neighborhood sundae.

What a Wednesday

There were lots of good things about today. First of all I have been up since a little before 5 a.m. after actually not a super great night of sleep. You might wonder how that can be a good thing but I actually like getting up early (I just don't like going to bed early so it hardly ever works well!) I just love feeling the thrill of so much accomplished before 10 a.m., when I am typically just leaving the house. I was on produce pick-up (and ordering) duty. It is a 5 times a year thing (but really only 2-3 times a year when you divide it with your produce partner) and today was my last time for the year! Once I get out of bed and get moving I kind of like being out by myself when it's still mostly quiet, in and out of the car. After coming home from sorting the produce I arrived home to find the children still sleeping and Kevin with a few extra minutes to spare before heading off for his dentist appt. So I went for a (very hot and steamy) run and checked off my workout for the day. Showered and ready for the day and it is all before 8 a.m. I love it.

After dropping Madelyn off at camp we were on to the big task of the day, the reason I was so motivated to workout beforehand and not stay at the gym today, my camera was ready to be picked up! I was so happy to get that call. Yippppeeee. Oh and it is wonderful, works just like the day I first got it. New rule: no more little hands on it. Seriously Abby was eyeing it up in the store (I guess she was happy to see it again also!) But no way Jose.

To make the day better yet, we arrived home to find the ice cream (for the ice cream block party I won) was on the doorstep. Thankfully it was packed in dry ice so it was safe even on this hot, hot day. Oh what fun. The party is tomorrow evening. I am hoping for nice weather. Eek! So here it was in the box..........
..........and now it is all packed in our freezer! They sent all kinds of flavors. It does not look like a lot in the photo. It's 12 cartons and 4 boxes of ice cream bars. Plus I have gift certificates for a few more flavors. I hope it is enough to go around. I am very concerned about that. Keeping me up at night concerned but let's just hope it all works out. Last count we were up to 138 attendees! Everybody loves ice cream, especially free ice cream apparently.

Then we had an afternoon playdate where there were no tears or injuries. It can be done!

Can the day get any better? Happy Wednesday!

We had a day

Here's a parenting tip: when choosing a name for your precious bundle of joy, pick something you really, really like. I mean something you will not mind saying 100-150 times a day in various levels of emotion. I love the name Madelyn Grace. {I probably already told you this but I love it so much that when we found out we were having another girl and had trouble coming up with the just-as-perfect name I wanted to go with Grace Madelyn. (Weird, I know.)} Well thank God I love that name so much because I said it probably 200 times and few of those times were through tears of joy. That girl! Oooh, we had a rough one.

Oh, and in addition to being thankful we chose a name I like to say (in any tone of voice) I am also thankful red crayons are washable, especially when applied to couches.

Madelyn Day

Well if Friday was Abby Day today was Madelyn Day. My mom and I took Madelyn for an afternoon at the movies. This girl loves the movie theatre! She was so excited. We went to a matinee of Wall-E. It was pretty cute. It kept me awake and that actually says a lot (I have a habit of falling asleep during movies, even in the movie theatre!) I think she especially loved the box of gummi bears she inhaled. The box was nearly empty shortly after the opening credits were finished. That and the chocolate milk she had at family night dinner with the whole gang at Macaroni Grill and she pretty much called that dinner. Oh and a little ice cream for dessert. Oh to have the metabolism of a 3-year-old again.....

She ended her special say with a video conference with Glamma and Grandpa. We are still working out the kinks but the girls just think that is the funniest thing ever. In fact Madelyn was reluctant to talk on the regular phone because she was waiting for the video. What a modern gal! Pretty soon she will be teaching us how to figure out all this new fangled stuff.

Hot Fun in B'more

It was so HOT this weekend. I know it is the middle of summer and all but it's HOT. This weekend was Baltimore's Artscape festival. I swear it is always the hottest weekend of the year. We have not been in the past few years just because of the logistics of naptime, crowds, etc. but this year I had a strong desire to make it. It just seemed like a fun thing to do. Plus we knew two of the crafty "vendors" and we wanted to be sure to show our support. As usual we seemed to have a loaded weekend so we were not sure when we'd make it down there. We had had plans with some friend for dinner but they decided it would be fun to all go to Artscape together. So it was a two family trip. It was a great time and, besides the heat, the kids had a great time. There was a whole children's area that has various activities like painting, playing the violin, making paper stained "glass" and much more.

At the main stage while we were there Mario was performing. The crowd was going wild! I had to ask who it was and when this woman told me, I said, "Oh yeah, he was on Dancing With the Stars last season." She looked at me like I had two heads. Different worlds I guess. He is a Baltimore guy so that is pretty cool for Charm City to have one of their own, who has made it big, for the big festival.

There was so much to look at. The girls were entranced by the potter's wheel and even got to take a sample home. The art cars were the coolest. These crazy cars were all decked out and well, arty. Our favorite was the car that has thousands of singing fish on it, including a lobster conductor. Madelyn was brave enough to push some buttons to lead the chorus. Really funky stuff here in B'more!





We got home late (as usual) and were so grateful we were coming home to an air-conditioned house.....though the late night run through our neighbors' sprinkler was a nice summer treat.

The Fish

Pretty soon I might get a reputation. We had a dog for 7 weeks (Summer of 2003) and it just did not work out. Then the very next pet we had was this prize fish that we won last week. Well after three days of living in my salad bowl (that was the only thing we had big enough to hold this guy besides the bathtub or toilet bowl) we found him a new home. A bigger home. A happier home. He was adopted by Jason and Kelly who have a wonderful pond in their backyard. So not only does he have a bigger, lusher, natural home he had friends! We really think this is a better place. Madelyn is 100% okay with this. And if she asks for another fish, we will gladly get her a smaller little fishy friend that can fit in the proper fish bowl we have. But she hasn't asked yet.

Abby Day

Friday was kind of an Abby Day. She and I had some quality Mommy and Me time and it was fun! (Kevin took Madelyn to swimming lessons in the morning and then she spent the night at Nana and Pop's.)

But Abby Day started with breakfast at Bob Evan's. It was a MOMS Club outing. An outing that I might not normally attempt with the two children but was more the possible with one. It was a lot of fun, and dare I say, relaxing? I mean I actually got to chat with my fellow moms. Kevin called it a business meeting and that is just about right. Maybe not your typical business meeting but these ladies (and all SAHMs) are my co-workers and this is serious business.

Abby looked so cute in her little ponytail. I actually convinced her to let me take a photo. This was one of my all-time favorites of her.


After lunch and naps I took both girls over to swim at my parents' house. The water was glorious on such a hot, hot day and it was fun to see Madelyn's swimming lessons are paying off. She was so into it--kicking and swimming all over. In fact she made it all the way across the (width-wise) pool! I was amazed and happy. Though I thought having her learn to swim I would feel more secure, in some ways I am more nervous. She has the amazing confidence and desire to just go, go, go so even if I am not looking she is likely to jump in and take off. She still needs us close by. But it sure is amazing. Miss Pearl has done it again....another happy customer.

Abby ended her special day with ice cream. Oh did she ever:

Who thinks chocolate ice cream is a good idea for such a messy eater?

First Haircut, take 1

One of the things I adore about Abigail is her hair. Oh those curls! Too precious. But as her hair is growing out (or in) it is in need of a little trim in a few areas just to keep it looking more put together. Madelyn was around this age when she had her first haircut and she had so much less hair. But the haircut really seemed to get it growing so I thought that might be the case for Abby.

So we went to the same place where Madelyn went, Cartoon Cuts. It is a great first haircut place. They do it up with a certificate (and an envelope with a few locks) and all. The high price includes the cartoon of your choice, ride in the snazzy chair, lollipops, stickers and for little girls, a special barrette.

We got her in the chair and I asked for a tiny trim to even it out, adding "please don't touch those curls!" Madelyn was really cheering her on but Abigail just wasn't going for it. She perked up a little bit when the stylist (?) offered a lollipop up front. But really it was a no go.....



Madelyn cried also through her first cut but not like this. People were staring. So she got a a free lollipop and a water spritz and that was about it. For her sake let's just hope the wild look is still in. Better luck next time.

Local Fair

If ever there was a true summer day today was it. We spent the morning at the pool and the evening at a carnival.

A little community near ours is having its annual carnival this week. When we passed by there yesterday and the kids got a load of the rides they went bananas. So we decided to take them there tonight. It was a very fun evening! The girls got a real thrill from the rides. My rule was just anything that stayed on the ground. Madelyn was eyeing the Zipper---eek! Will she be a thrill seeker when she gets older?




The very last thing we did was play a game, just one little game. On her first turn, Madelyn threw a ball right into the bowl and we are now first time pet owners. The name is currently out to the jury. Goldie and Dorothy seem to be early front runners but it could be anyone's game.

Special Helper

So today we had Kate at our house when Lisa was able to reschedule her appointment from last week. Abby was looking forward to it so much and it was all she could "talk" about...Kate, Kate, Kate. So not to be a third wheel in all the almost-2-year-old play/fun I tasked Madelyn with being my special helper and told her she could be by babysitting assistant. Boy was she great! She helped Kate with her shoes when we went outside, pushed her bike around, poured her a snack, retrieved her cup, brought her toys.....a real gem, she was. But this is my question, her very own sister is the same exact age (give or take a few days!) Why can she not always be the super helpful? My day-to-day life would be a true dream then. It certainly could not have only been the promise of a lollipop as payment. I guess it is just a sister thing.

The downside of the morning came later when Lisa came to pick up Kate. Caroline, Madelyn's friend in that sisterly duo, was with her. It was a nice treat for Madelyn after a long morning of "hard" work. They got right into playing and having their usual fun. I knew it was almost time for Madelyn to take a bathroom break but she was so reluctant to do so (a common occurrence.) When I went in to the bathroom, where they were filling up a water pen, to give Madelyn one last reminder I realized I was too late. This potty training thing is still a struggle in this house and it is DRIVING ME CRAZY! I really do not know what to do. I am trying so hard not to guilt her into it but come one already, it is time to be fully independent in this department!! I think we have, once again, go back to the basics. I am really starting to wonder if Abby will be fully trained before Madelyn. I would not be surprised. I cannot get that girl OFF the potty! Woe is me.

With all the stress and excitement, and the desire to break the cycle of the late night bedtime, I decided to skip naps and hit the gym for a late afternoon playtime for them, workout for me. What a super idea! My neighbor told me this was the best time to go. She was so right. There were so many less children. I think in the 30s, as opposed to over 100. Of course Abby was entertaining the group when she apparently took all her clothes off (her new trick). I am sure it was an attempt to get into the bathroom. I am not sure if we can go everyday at that time but I sure would not mind going every once and a while. It was truly the best medicine for a wild and crazy.

Now let's see what time they get to bed....and then get up tomorrow morning!

Monday motivation

We had a fun filled Monday. I was desperate to get to the gym this morning. Motivation will get you far. We were out the door and at the gym before the crowd really got there. Boy is there a crowd there now that it is summer. Sometimes I am a little uncertain about leaving the kiddos there now. How can they possible keep ALL those kids safe? When I am supposed to be working out and relaxing, I have these terrible visions of the kind of trouble they could be getting in to. I am not so much worried about Madelyn but Abigail. Abby also still cries every time I leave her. It's so sad. But you would think eventually she would get used to it. She knows all the ladies and they all know her. It's so funny really. I always have trouble finding her when I go back to pick her up. Today I found her sitting at the craft table just watching all the kids get their face paintings done. So funny!

Then on to swimming lessons. We had a little "touch up" with Miss Pearl. It was the best I have ever seen Madelyn swim! That was what I was kind of expecting at the end of the intensive. Maybe she just needed a break to let everything soak in (so to speak.) We did practice a little but more just playing (which is good) and less of the lessons work. But she was a little show off in the pool today for sure. It was so great to see her go! We have three more "touch up" lessons in the coming month so we will see how things progress.

This evening we had a little HOOT event. That is a term coined by our MOMS Club for Husbands Out Of Town, though this friend is a MOPS friend not a MOMS friend. Her husband is out of town also so we got together to have dinner and let the kids play. Everyone got along *mostly* well. Hopefully we can do it another time soon.

Despite the fact that it is bath night and typically when Daddy is out of town the kids go to bed even earlier than usual, I just wasn't ready for them to go to bed so we colored a birthday card for one of our neighbors and delivered it. It was right in the middle of the cake part of the celebration so the girls scored a second dessert...and some more playtime. So when we got back, had baths, said goodnight to Daddy, ready books and spent the obligatory "I don't want to go to bed" back and forth time it was after 9:30! Geez summer schedule is crazy. We really are still on West Coast time.

I better go to bed, you never know what tomorrow will bring.

Video chat

Oh we are so high tech now! We finally figured out how to have a web chat. Is that what the kids are calling it these days? Maybe a video chat. Internet call. Ah, who knows! But Kevin is in Chicago tonight for an early morning meeting tomorrow and we are trying to set up this webcam for his parents. It's just not so easy. But it sure is cool. I roused Madelyn out of bed. She wasn't too happy but I am sure tomorrow she will think this is very cool. Oh there is another video call, I better take it.

Friday Fun

Oh I am in a bad mood now. I was just shopping on the Land's End website for a new swimsuit. The virtual model tool is really cool. You can "try on" swimsuits without even leaving your home. The problem is I still cannot find a suit that looks good. Not even on my virtual self. This is not good. Grrr. Maybe I should call one of their swimsuit experts for an emergency consultation.

Moving on.

Maybe a little blogging will brighten my spirits.

Today was an excellent day! We were scheduled to have our friends Caroline and Kate over today when their mommy was going to get her hair done. Everyone was so excited. The girls get along well (usually). The little ones are not yet at the age where they can run off and play but the day is coming and that will be really sweet.

We we underway with out playing---dress up was already underway and we were about to move on to PlayDoh when the doorbell rang. It was our friend and neighbor Michelle, her two girls, their neighbor Isabella and her nanny Marta. Instant playgroup! Seven little girls who all really like the same things. It was so much fun and I got some adult conversation. Not long after the phone rang and it was Lisa who's appt. was canceled (what a bummer!) But the good thing was she came back, joined the party and we had some more time to visit.

Madelyn and Abigail have summer colds. You would think that might mean more sleep than usual. So not the case. Sp since their naps were so abbreviated we suited up and joined Nana in her pool. So it was a very refreshing end to a fun summer day of play.

Tomorrow I am attending an all day scrapbook event in honor of Jeremy Morse (the event where the bows will make their big debut in the silent auction.) So I better get a good night's sleep. I am not sure if there will be more scrappin' or yappin'.

Wallet Wonderment

I have a terrible habit of losing my wallet. Actually it is not that it really ever gets lost, just transferred to different bags and not transferred back to the one I am using. I have been caught without a wallet a few times at the checkout too. The worst is the store when all my groceries are already on the conveyor belt. So annoying.

Well today was one of those days. We were at the mall meeting up with Kara and her boys. It has been so long since we have seen them and I was all excited to hear about their cross country (driving!!) trip. That and I was gathering up the thank you gift (baked goods and homemade cards) to drop off at the fire house. So I left in my usual flurry.

As I unloaded the girls from the car I realized there was a good chance I did not have my wallet. Great. In addition to lunch I also had to purchase a few baby gifts. No wallet. Grrrr. It was too far to go back and Kara had just called to say they had arrived also. Grrrrrr.

We had a great time though and Kara spotted me some cash (Thanks again, buddy!) so the children could eat. That makes me sound so sad and unfortunate. Ha.

I am really not sure where the wallet is but I am pretty sure it is somewhere kind of safe. Probably on the kitchen counter? Maybe it fell out of my bag at the MOMS Club meeting yesterday? Well anyway it is bound to be safe. Or should I call the credit card companies? I try to replay the last time I used it.

As we are driving home it comes to me. I last used my wallet at the Wal-Mart (ick!) Tuesday night and I used my pink purse. I tell Madelyn this. It's not like she was asking but I am an extrovert. She takes it in.

As soon as we get in the doors she rushes to locate my pink purse and sure enough inside is my wallet. She excitedly declares it found. Good news. In a way it was a blessing because I probably would have spent a lot more $$ had I had my own cash/credit cards. There were lost of good sales out there. Maybe I should leave my wallet behind more often.

The topping on this story though came later this afternoon when we were running out this afternoon and Madelyn, instructs, "Don't forget your wallet this time, Mama!"

Carnival Day

We went to a carnival today! Madelyn even skipped camp (which she loves!) for it. Yes, our MOMS Club board (of which I am a part) put together a carnival. It's so funny because a few weeks ago when the board met we said, "we need an easy meeting idea...something we can pull together quickly." Unanimously we voted on the carnival idea. What were we thinking??? I did not even bear the brunt of the work and it was overwhelming a little bit. But it was FUN.

I was in charge of the fishing game and the how many candies are in the jar game. I could not believe no one remembered the fishing game from their childhood. That was my favorite! You know, you throw a stick with a clothespin over a sheet and it comes back with a prize. The kids today loved it. Boy, some of them have pretty good arms too---heaving it over my board that was decorated with little foam fish. I almost got whacked a few times but luckily there were no injuries on either side of the fishing wall to report.

Despite the fact that it was a MOMS event Kevin got roped in to helping me prepare last night. God bless him for counting the 966 Skittles I had in the jar. I should have chosen a larger candy that there would have been less of but the Skittles were so pretty. I kind of felt bad for the mom whose daughter won (guessing 866!) because she won the right to take them all home. That's a lot of Skittles. Kevin knows, he counted them. Though there may have been a few less than that actually because I caught Abigail with her hand in there a few times. Luckily the winner did not count through to make sure I was accurate.

Since we were running the games there was a little free-for-all atmosphere. I made sure to dress the girls in coordinating colors so I could spot them easily. Every time I spotted Abigail she had a different lollipop. She obviously frequented the lollipop tree! Yikes. I told the moms who were standing over there that she was cut off. Then she moved on to the duck pond in which she put her whole hands and much of her dress in the pond. Well at least she got all the lollipop stickiness off of her.

Unfortunately I did not have my camera but you know what it was so chaotic I am not sure I would have gotten any good photos. I will just have to have the photo in my memory and hopefully my words described it enough for you to picture all the fun.

Bow Adventure?

Since Day 1 of being a mom to a little girl (and now 2 little girls!) I have always loved the hair bow. This is no secret. You are hard pressed to find photos of Madelyn for sure, and usually Abigail too, without a bow. Even before they had hair I had those little headband things and clipped bows to it. I love the hair bow look on little girls! Well as time has gone on I have started making the bows. My current "specialty" is the korker bow. That is the first one I learned how to do. While it is time consuming, it is easy to do. I think I almost have the big loopy (butterfly or boutique-style) bow down too.

Anyway, this weekend I am putting a few of my bows in a silent auction and my friend who is organizing the auction was encouraging me to make some business cards. I do not know if I have the strength and energy to make a business out of the bow making but maybe. If nothing else it could offset the bow expenses in my own house. With two girls we have a lot of bows. HA!!! We will see if there is any interest at the auction. I made a bow holder and 7 holiday bows.

But my question is, if a start a small business or even simply make business cards for this auction, what is a cute name I could use? I need some ideas. If you have any, please let me know. I was thinking of something with "princess" since we are everything princess here. Or maybe MA' s Bows (as in Madelyn and Abigail and Ma like Mama). Or something like Kissed by a Bow (because they are like sweet little kisses on the head). If I am going to do this I need some good ideas for a snappy little name. Hmmm.

The pool is cool

We enjoyed a morning at the pool today. I swear, it is really so much prep work for so little time in the water. I intended to get a workout in first and then we could all go to the pool. But by the time we got to the gym (after 10 a.m.!) it was really one or the other. The getting all three of us in our suits, applying sunscreen, securing hats, making sure we have towels......seriously a lot of prep! But the water felt great and I was proud of myself for taking them both to the pool by myself. I was a little nervous but the gym outdoor pool is very child-friendly and I am more confident in Madelyn's abilities. If she'd fall she would know how to get up. She knows her bounds and did not venture out without me. Abigail is a whole other story----that girl is wild in the water and just leaps before she looks. No fear!!! But after an hour it was almost time to get changed and packed up and heard home for lunch. Maybe next time I will b able to plan enough in advance to bring a lunch. HA! I already marched in there with two HUGE bags....bringing lunch too might put me over the edge. Just kidding.

Joke's on us

We are working on joke telling in our house. There is a renewed interest (I may have mentioned this joke thing previously) due to the fact that Popsicle season is full on. For those who have not had a Popsicle lately, I will tell you, there are jokes printed on Popsicle sticks these days. Madelyn always wants to know what the joke is. Nana and Pop read a few for the girls after dinner last night. I am not sure what is funnier.....the jokes themselves or the kids' reaction. Well yes, I know what is funnier (because the jokes, super funny they are not.) Usually the jokes are a play on words and that just does not go over with the 3 and under set.

Abigail is funny because she just laughs as soon as you ask the first part of the joke. A kind of "a-ha! I get it" laugh but before the punchline is delivered.

Madelyn waits for the punchline but then looks puzzled.

Last night's joke was (kind of poorly written so the adults were a little confused reading it!) But basically it was,

What is the difference between an actor and a baker?
One makes rolls and the other has roles.

See what I mean? Hard for a 3-year-old and even harder for an almost 2-year-old.

So today on her juice box there was a joke. Oh great, more practice! So I ask them, the classic question,

What is the difference between a piano and a fish? (or something like that...)

And Madelyn, says, "a fish!"

No, no, I say. What is the difference between a fish and a piano?

"A crab!"

Totally lost on her. I was really looking for...."you can't tuna fish" but I was never going to get there.

I won't even get started on the confusion over knock-knock jokes. But it is all very humorous so the jokes have accomplished the main goal, laughter. We'll keep workin' on their stand up routines.

July 4th 2008

Hope you are having a wonderful 4th of July holiday!! We are enjoying the day....and there is still more fun to come. The parade around the neighborhood this morning was lots of fun as usual. We love this neighborhood. I swear it must have been a record turnout! WOW. Madelyn rode her bike so well. Her only problem was she has not yet mastered stopping, especially going down hill and she was going so fast! So there I was running after her in flip flops. Everyone pretty much cleared out of the way when she was coming. But she was determined to ride her bike and ride it she did. Abby (reluctantly at first!) rode in the wagon with her best friend Kate. They were so cute. I think Abby wanted to ride a bike too. Probably next year so watch out world! It was great fun though. Nana and Pop were able to join us and helped by taking photos since Kevin and I were both in the parade this year. I'll post more photos later but here are a few.

Happy 4th of July!!

(That's face paint on Madelyn's forehead.....not a boo-boo from the bike ride)