4th of July Weekend

I love three day weekends when we don't have to travel and we can just enjoy all the fun and exciting events right at home.  Saturday night my sister had a great party with tons of kids and lots of activities.  Sunday afternoon we headed over to my friend Aimee's house for a little 4th of July gathering.  Then on Monday we took the girls to my parents house and Mark and I enjoyed lunch and a movie, and a little shopping too. 

Some family pictures before heading out to the parties.  These are great pictures of Lauren that I just love.  Addison would not cooperate and take a picture with anyone.  In fact, she really would not even sit still long enough for me to capture the one above. 

Although Lauren is pretty scared of the water she had a lot of fun in Aunt Jen's little pool. 

Lauren LOVED the fireworks this year.  She especially loved the parachute ones that she would run like crazy to catch.  We also got some smoke bombs, and little snappers that she liked. 

Addison is our little fish that will be swimming long before Lauren ever will.  She loves the water. 

A rare picture of just the two of us...

Both nights the girls were up until almost 10:00 and they did awesome.  Addison just sat and watched the fireworks show that Uncle Steve put on.  She did not fuss, did not cry, did not freak out, NOTHING, and it was WAY past her bedtime.  Love this little laid back, go with the flow, sweet little Addison. 

Sunday night we headed over to Olathe to my friend Aimee's house.  We swam for a little bit before grilling out.  Then the kids enjoyed some small fireworks (since we really were not supposed to be setting them off in Johnson County.)

The smoke bombs were a huge hit!

Addison, just chillin, watching the big kids...

Although it looks like Lauren is crying in this picture she is not.  She did really well with the fireworks this year.  She was not as scared as years past.  Addison did not make a sound.  Just sat and watched, both nights.  She did not seem to be bothered by the big booms.  Grant and Sydney had fun too. 

What a weekend.  I am exhausted.  The girls were up way past their bedtimes all weekend, but really had a great time.  They slept in both mornings so it really worked out great.  It is these fun weekends that will make the greatest memories.  Happy 4th of July everyone. 

 

Baby Cohen

Mighty Cohen is a baby in Texas that was born with several complex heart defects.  Since this is what I work with each day, and is truly my passion in nursing, I took a big interest in following this blog through the end of the pregnancy and after Cohen was born.  Sadly, he died less than 2 weeks after he was born.  The things these parents went through in the 2 short weeks while he was in this world are the devastating things the parents go through that I work with each and every day. 

From a professional perspective I don't think about the feelings and the sadness surrounding these parents.  If I stopped and thought my job each day and now incredibly sad it is, I could never do it.  I try to provide parents with the answers to their questions and the knowledge to care for their child with a complex heart defect.  I know my job well and I do my job well.  I am respected by the Cardiologist that I work with, and the other RN's in the department and hospital.  That is what keeps me caring for these babies with complex heart defects and providing the parents with the support that is needed. 

I felt compelled to post this as Cohen's Memorial is Thursday July 1st and the family is asking for a day of silence to remember Mighty Cohen.  Although many of you reading my blog have no idea who Cohen is, his parents are suffering and are devastated with his loss.  Please take this day to remember the parents who have lost a child, a child taken from this world to quickly, and all the babies born with congenital heart defects. 

If you would like to learn more about Cohen you can click on Cohen's Blog

Addison's Favorite Dinner

Every night while I am getting dinner ready Addison will eat her yogurt.  I think she really likes it right now because it is easy for her to use the spoon and feed her self (since she is little miss independence.)  She literally licks bowl clean,  and before I can get to her she usually has yogurt in her hair and all over her face.  Luckily it cleans up very easily. 

She also loves oatmeal.  Lauren has been eating a lot of oatmeal lately as well.  Recently, Addison has had yogurt and oatmeal for dinner.  She eats the whole thing of yogurt, and then a whole package of oatmeal.  That girl can eat!   Lauren can too.  Tonight she had yogurt, oatmeal, watermelon, chicken and ranch, and a chocolate chip cookie!  I don't know how my girl stay so small.  Hope it sticks with them as they grow up. 

Trying Something New

I am giving this signature thing a try..took me all afternoon to figure it out and it is still not exactly what I wanted...but here you go. 

Slip and Slide

The little baby pools were not going to cut it this year for Lauren, so we got her this slip and slide.  It took her a few weeks to really understand how much fun it would be, but now she loves it! 

Addison was not real sure about the slip and slide.  But, she has to do EVERYTHING that Lauren does so she tried it out, just by getting wet. 

Zoe even had a little fun. 

This was all the farther Addison would go, even with her big sister helping her out! 

Commerce Day at the K

was a HOT one but a FUN one.  We met Lauren's little friend, Killian, and his parents at the game.  Mark and Killian's parents work for Commerce Bank at the downtown location, so we were all able to go to the game together today.  It included lunch under a huge tent, with a visit from Slugger, and then tickets to the game. 

Lauren and Killian had a blast in the Kids Zone.  They played in the water before we went to our seats and got a little wet.  When we hit the playground a second time they both ended up soaked, Lauren more than Killian though.  I am sure it felt so good at it was almost 100 degrees.  I wanted to run and play in the water too! 

More fun on the playground! 

Last year Lauren and Killian also got sno cones.  Killian remembered that Lauren got a blue one and he got a red one.  Round two this year! 

We did not have seats with Killian and his family, but we were able to sit with them for a little while before we got kicked out.  They had a blast eating their sno cones and watching the game.  Lauren has always loved watching baseball.  She really gets into it and can tell what is going on. 

It was packed at the stadium, mainly with Cardinals fans (BOO.)  The coolest thing was the crowd chanting "USA, USA, USA" after the soccer team scored and tied the game 1-1.  Too bad the US didn't pull off the win!  Mark and I said that was about the coolest thing we had ever experienced in the world of sports.  Both teams coming together chanting "USA."

We left around the 5th or 6th inning.  I can't really remember since we were out at the playground most of the time.  Lauren fell asleep in the car almost immediately and took a cat nap.  We headed to my parents to get Addison.  She spent the day with Gramps and Nana and had a great time.  She can really be such a great baby.  She goes from one extreme to the next.  Super sweet, or temper tantrums.  But boy did we miss her this afternoon when we were at the game. 

Zoe and Addison

Father's Day

We had a great day on Father's Day.  Mark grilled out steaks and chicken and we had my whole family over.  Mark enjoyed golfing on Saturday with one of his college buddies, while the girls and I hung out.  We hit the pool Saturday afternoon and cooled off. 

This is the project that the girls made for Mark.  It is his tree of love with all the things that Lauren loved about Daddy. 

These are the girls trees that were planted near Father's Day the year that the girls were born.  We take pictures of Mark and the girls each year in front of their tree and see how much both of them have grown (the trees and the girls, not Mark.)  The smile on Lauren is pretty fake (or not there at all) because just a few minutes before she was throwing a fit, crying like a baby, about something with her piggy bank.  But, I still like the picture, it is very sweet. 

So, Happy Father's Day Mark.   I will say it again, you are incredible Husband and Father to these girls and they absolutely adore you (as do I) 

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to the man I adore and love more and more each day as Lauren and Addison grow.  Mark truly loves being a Daddy to two girls and he is absolutely incredible with them.  He can do anything I can do, whatever the girls need he is there for them.  It might seem like small things, but he can get them dressed and ready for school, hair fixed (a little messy, but fixed) sunscreen on and out the door.  He can give them baths and put them to bed at night (he usually does Lauren's bedtime routine and I do Addison).  He does laundry, cleans out the dishwasher, picks up the house, and many other things that make him an incredible husband and Father. 

There are several reasons why Lauren loves Mark:

Daddy takes me to the park
Daddy puts sunscreen on me
Daddy shares with me
Daddy takes me to the mall
Daddy takes me to school
Daddy protects me from the thunder
Daddy reads books to me

If you could not tell those were all straight from her mouth! 

Here are some of my favorite pictures of Mark and the girls.  There are so many, but I just chose a few. 

This is Lauren (the date on the picture gives it away, huh?)

This is Addison.  They look so much alike.  Lauren has more of her Daddy's features, and Mark's personality.  Addison, well she is another story (a little pistol!)  

Weekend in Omaha

This past weekend we headed up to Omaha for a much needed visit with Mark's family and all of Lauren's and Addison's cousins...we had a GREAT time. 

Lauren helped me pack Friday night.  At first I was asking her to put her clothes on my bed, her swimsuit, shoes, etc...Then she took it upon herself to decide the snacks we needed to take to Omaha and took each one out of the pantry and brought it up to the bed.  Fruit snacks and cheez its are an all time favorite snack in our house.  Breakfast bars and oatmeal for breakfast for both girls.  Syrup because Grandma's syrup is not good (not sure why??), honey for our bread (we have not had honey on toast for months) pudding for Addison for snack, Dixie cups for water (because I guess she thought Grandma did not have cups.)  A book for Addison in the car, and sunscreen so they don't get burned.  It was so incredibly cute and adorable that she figured out everything we needed for Omaha. 

We drove up Saturday morning in the rain and arrived around 2.  The girls took short naps in the car so they were ready to play with their cousins shortly after we arrived.  Uncle Pat had a BBQ Saturday night for us which was a lot of fun.  The kids swam in the pool and played downstairs with their cousins. 

Sunday we went to church and hung out at Grandma's house.  We went to the park in the afternoon for about an hour since the weather was so nice.  The kids had a great time. 

Monday before leaving we headed to the zoo.  All the cousins joined us which added to the fun.  Here is Rea Ann holding Addison, Emma next to Lauren and Nate in the back.  Kate and Eve are the diva's in front in the sunglasses.  Such a great picture of all the cousins. 

I think Mark was telling them to roar like a lion to get them to smile (really Mark, great idea???)  So Lauren and Nate did....it got the other kids laughing at least. 

My favorite animal at the zoo. 

Little Diva...love this girl and  her piggie tails and spunky self.  Man she makes us tired, and at the same time makes us laugh and just love her to pieces. 

When we finished in the aquarium we were heading to see the monkeys and these ladies stopped so the kids could touch the turtle shell.  All the kids thought it was the coolest thing. 

Emma, Lauren and Kate.  Those three laughed, ran, and did not listen to us for much of the trip to the park.  But, they had a ton of fun. 

Rea Ann loves to be the little mama and watch Addison, and we love having Rae Ann be the little mama.  Thanks Rae Ann. 

Rae Ann, Lauren, Emma, and Grandma Harding.  Such great memories. 

We hoped a day at the Zoo would wear the girls out and they would sleep most of the way home.  Did not happen.  They were both asleep within minutes and Lauren slept for 20 minutes, and Addison for 30 minutes.  Man it was a long drive home.  But a wonderful weekend and worth the drive.  Can't wait to see everyone again.