Wordless Wednesday

Reading a magazine under the tree.  My People magazine with the Royal Wedding on the cover.  She has looked through it several times now. 

Birthday Party Fun

So we also had a birthday party this past weekend.  Lauren's buddy from school, Seth, turned 5.  This is another friend she has had since she was a little baby.  He also has a baby sister named Macy and totally cool parents that Mark and I love to hang out with.  The party was at A Flip Zone (Lauren's gymnastic place and where her 5th birthday party was held.)  The girls had a blast and it was fun to walk around and visit with the other parents at the party. 

Do you see the Dora band aids?  They have to be there at all times.  If they come off she freaks out!

The kids were so sweaty when it came time for the cake.  They spent over an hour in the gym laughing, running and playing.  Lauren is sitting next to her other buddy, Killian.  Look at the excitement of their faces!!

And little Addison.  She was feeling a lot better on Saturday afternoon so she was able to enjoy the party...although she is still not quite 100%. 

The birthday kid gets to sit up on the mats to open presents.  Then the parents can take a picture of the birthday boy after they open the present from the guest.  I really like that about the party.  When Lauren climbed up there (since she is Seth's friend and all) Addison was right behind her!  It was so cute.  Happy Birthday Seth.  Thanks for a great party!

Mother's Day

We had a great Mother's Day at our house.  I actually got to spend a ton of time with the girls over the last 4 days.  Addison was sick Thursday (fever, cough, puking) cuddling on my lap, watching TV with me so we got a lot of quality time together.  She was feeling better on Friday, and Lauren stayed home with us on Friday.  We had a great day together.  Saturday morning/afternoon Mark went golfing, so it was more Mommy/Daughter time.  I loved it!  The girls were awesome and we had a great 4 days together. 

We went to church Sunday morning and enjoyed dinner Sunday afternoon with my family. 

Lauren made me this card at school  She was so proud of it.  She brought it home Thursday night and wanted me to open it then. 

I opened Addison's projects from school on Sunday.  They were so cute!  She was so proud. 

Mark and the girls made me a shirt for my upcoming run in June (Hospital Hill.)  So creative and so thoughtful.  He work on Lauren's side Thursday night, and then did Addison's side Friday night.

Complete with glitter and all.  Lauren was SO excited to give it to me Sunday morning.  I also got a gift card to Charming Charley's.  A grown up Claire's is how I describe it.  I can't wait to go shopping and get some new jewelry.  Thank you Lauren, Addison and Mark. 

I made a scrapbook for my Mom of the girls. 

I thought this was the sweetest picture.  The girls were sitting out front watching Gramp's and Nana, Aunt Jen and Uncle Steve leave.  They had a blast playing with Claire and everyone Sunday night. 

Thank you Mark for making it a wonderful Mother's Day. 

A Sneak Peek of Addison's Room

It is painted...

New curtains were put up....

New lamp...

New night light...

New rug...

and a new basket for all her bows...

Now all we need is a new bed!  The crib makes out into a double bed and I have an adorable comforter for that as well that matches the room.  Addison is sleeping fine in her crib (not trying to climb out) so I am holding off on buying the mattress until I have too.  I also have several things that will go on the wall, but I am not sure how I will arrange the room yet so I don't have things up on the wall quite yet.  More to come...

Weekend Fun in Des Moines

So we travelled up to Des Moines last weekend for Calvin's first communion.  Mark is the God Father so we had to be there!  We love going to Des Moines.  We have so many friends from college up there that it is always a good time.  We can't wait to go back. 

The God Parents and the family.  Sorry Tammy (Todd's sister.)  I guess she did not realize I was snapping a picture as well!  The other one of Mark looked horrible so I posted this one.  Such a fun family. 

The girls has a blast all weekend.  I was so excited they got to wear their Easter dresses again. 

Lauren and Riley had  blast running all over the yard, playing and hiding in the trees from Davis (Riley's younger brother in the yellow shirt.)  Hence the huge scratch on Lauren's face. 

Addison also had fun with Davis.  These two played in the play room for almost an hour.  They were so quite and so good.  They are both the second child and can entertain themselves for hours. 

Jim taught Lauren how to fly a kite..and the kids had a blast playing in a few boxes Jim and Tammy had laying around. 

Addison took a break from the playroom to swing outside. 

The girls enjoyed breakfast in bed (that is a smile on Addison's face) in a great hotel that Mark got us on priceline!  Way to go Mark!

We went swimming too!

and had fun playing on this cart.  It was a great weekend. 

Parenting

So there are several blogs that I like to follow.  Some of them include DIY (do it yourself) projects. Some include organization of your home (boring to some, very cool to me.)  Several that I read are heart babies here at the hospital that I take care of.  There are a handful of blogs that I have found that are incredible mothers sharing their views and ways on parenting.  Sarah on Clover Land recently posted this post and it is amazing.  I am always looking for ways to be an incredible mother.  I like this.  It is a long post, but worth the time to read it. 

History

So history was made today with the death of Osama Bin Laden.  As you all know this is huge.  This weekend we travelled to Des Moines to see some friends.  We got home around 7:30, rushed around to get the car unloaded, clothes unpacked, girls to bed, etc...Finally when I was ready to crash into bed I heard the news.  Well I heard breaking news, the President will speak shortly, and the ideas of what it would be.  Mark totally called it about 20 minutes before CNN announced it.  He is so smart!  So I stayed awake as long as I could to learn about the death of Osama Bin Laden.

So when Lauren woke up this morning Mark and I were still talking about it.  I really want my girls to know the happenings of the world (to some degree of course.)  I want them to know history (as I am really just starting to appreciate it after the 9/11 events) and I want them to know and appreciate cultures.  For example,  yesterday morning at breakfast (at the hotel) Lauren noticed the "brown boys" (African American gentlemen.)  She asked "why do those brown boys have their ears pierced?"  "Do you think it hurt?"  So over breakfast yesterday morning we were talking about why some boys choose to get theirs ears pierced, yes it does hurt, and that it was not polite to stare and point. 

Each day you have hundreds of opportunities to teach your kids about the world, about life, about culture, about current events, about manners, about whatever you want to teach them.  They are a sponge and the breakfast table is a perfect place for a conversation. 

So this morning I told Lauren a very bad man was caught. 

• I told her that the President told me and that this was a huge deal.  First she said "did the President call you Mommy?"  I told her "No" of course.  I shared with her how he talked on the TV all over the world to everyone.  She said "like to our friends in Des Moines, Kansas, and  Nebraska."  Yes.  Exactly. 
•  She asked what the bad man did.  I hesitated for a little bit and then she said "Did he sneak up on people."  I told her "yes".  Something like that.  He snuck up on people. 
• Then she asked if he went to Heaven.  I said "No" and thought I really don't want to get into a conversation about Heaven and Hell right now.  She did not ask another question.  Thank goodness. 
• Then she said "he will not be alive again.  Only God can be alive again because God is special."  She really listened about the Easter message this year at church huh? Makes it worth dragging the kids to Church every Sunday.

So, I wanted Lauren to know history in the making.  She is five.  Will she remember this conversation?  Probably not.  But today I continued teaching Lauren.  Every chance I get for a learning opportunity I embrace it. 

Is Spring Finally Here?

Seriously?  It is going to be a long, dirty summer...but I will take it!

Kindergarten Round-Up

So it was nothing like I expected it to be.  Well, maybe a little bit but to be quite honest, it was a little bit of a let down.  There was really not much to it.  Lauren did awesome.  She was a little bit nervous and shy, but she warmed up very quickly.  

We had no idea where to go when we got in the school.  There we no signs pointing where to go, no one greeting us in the halls, nothing.  So we just wandered around until it looked like we should to into the gym.  We showed our proof of residency and Lauren's birth certificate was copied.  Nothing big.  No information given to us. 

Next was the health desk.  I provided the nurse with a copy of the cardiology visit from Lauren's Dr.  Did I ever talk about that?  She was checked out by Dr. Bingler and was found to have a normal heart.  She has a very loud murmur that she will always have (it is not the kind she will out grow) so I knew the nurse would freak out if she ever had to listen to Lauren.  The nurse was impressed that I provided that documentation.  I just smiled :) 

Next was the PTA table.  Man they want to suck you in early.  I signed up.  Just for general help and the health fair. I really want to be involved in Lauren's school (as much as I can working full time and all.)

We then got a tour of the school (after Lauren got her picture taken) while Lauren worked in the classroom with some of the teachers.  I assume they were teachers (none of them introduced themselves to us.)  They just said "kids stay here, parents take a tour."  I was completely lost in the school.  I had no idea where the front door was, how to get to the Kindergarten rooms, etc...Mark of course knew North, South, East, West.  How does he do that???

So my message to you:  Don't let your day to day activities that are new to someone else go without explanation.  For example:  I work in cardiology. I work with families that have very sick babies.  I work with families who's child has had a heart transplant.  I know this stuff.  I know it well.  I do it every day.  But to these families it is new to them.  They need a lot of teaching, a lot of education, A LOT of questions answered.  It is very simple to me, but a whole new experience to them.

Tonight at Kindergarten Round-up is was a new experience to me. I had several questions that I did not get to ask.  We had no idea where to go when we arrived.  The tour of the school was given by 6th graders (which was actually kind of cute) but I would have preferred an adult.  I would have liked to have met the potential Kindergarten teachers, and of course the Principal.  Is that too much to ask?

I am thrilled Lauren liked it.  When we left she asked if she started Kindergarten tomorrow.  Very cute. She is very excited.  I know she will excel (since the readiness packet given to us Lauren has mastered probably 90% of what will be covered in Kindergarten.)  So for that reason I am happy with the night. Lauren saw her school, lunch room, gym, and possibly her classroom...and she loved it. 

Wordless Wednesday

Pickles

So this morning on the way to work I stopped with Addison at the donut store (Lauren went to the dentist with Mark...more on that later.)  It is administrative assitance week so I thougth I would bring in some donuts for our secretaries.  I told Addison we were going to stop at the donut store.  She said "I want pickles."  I laughed and said "you want pickles on your donuts?"  "Yes Mommy, pickles." We laughed and laughed and went back and forth for a while talking out pickles on your donuts and how silly that is. 

Well when we got to the donut store she ran in and pointed to a pink donut with SPRINLKES.  She wanted SPRINLKES on her donuts. I love it! 

I needed to have a surprise for Lauren at daycare this morning after her dentist appointment.  I took her to the dentist a few months back and she was very scared and uncooperative, so Mark took her today.  There is no messing around with Daddy.  We spent the last few months talking about the dentist, reading Dora and Little Bill books about the dentist and basically letting her know there was no choice about the dentist.  You will go and you will get your teeth cleaned.  End of story. 

Mark said she did great.  Sat right up on that chair and was completely cooperative.  So she had a donut waiting for her at school.  Cake donut, choclolate icing with M&M's on top...her favorite. 

Easter Weekend

We agreed to spend Saturday at home doing nothing.  After last weekend (Our Crazy Life) I told the girls we were staying home.  Lauren said "like we are going to play with our toys and play outside."  Yes.  Exactly.  We made cupcakes for Easter....

We planted flowers. 

and we enjoyed eating our cupcakes.  We also enjoyed another trip to the yogart place.  This place is way too good and way too close.  It is now our second trip in 2 weeks! 

Beautiful girls on Easter Morning. 

We headed to church first thing in the morning.  It was packed.  I love church on Easter morning. The Easter bunny stopped by while we were at church and brought the girls some candy.  They also got new swimsuits.  Addison got a dress, some books, and of course another bunny.  Lauren got the Justin Beiber CD (the wrong one though!) a couple pairs of shorts and shirts, a new swimsuit and some jelly beans! 

We spent the afternoon at Gramp's and Nana's house for a wonderful meal (ham, potatoes, veges, fruit and dessert.)  The girls had fun finding Easter eggs. 

Don't you love those boots and another bunny?

The girls got some new bubbles which were a hit!  Lauren loved them.  We had to change out of our fancy Easter dresses to play with bubbles. 

Thanks Dad for taking a great family picture.  We had a great Easter.