Memorial Day weekend/part II

So, our back-deck-christening, grilling, new water table, swim suit wearing, sunblock, sun-sunny of a day did not come to fruition.  I was not about to let the poopy weather rain on my Memorial Day parade!  So, I told Jason to back the cars out of the garage so the girls could still play in their swimsuits and at least pretend they were outside.  I don't think they minded very much and they could play sans the addition of greasy sunblock.  

Our Memorial Day weekend '09/Part 1

Happy hour at the clubhouse Friday night turned into many happy hours when our friends Noah and Christy showed up! They joined us  and invited us back to their house afterwards and we accepted!  

We watched Zoey ride her bike for awhile in the cul-de-sac.

Hanna LOVES Zac and Zoey and has an especially deep love and connection with Zac.  

Christy and I agreed that this shot would a perfect one to show on their wedding day. ;-)

Christy was pushing screwdrivers and I was an eager participant.  Yummo!

The studdlies.

And who thinks that they won't end up together?!?!

Happy Anniversary Baby........

Wow, has it been 8 years already?!  As the saying goes, "Time sure flies when you're having fun!"  We've come along way since '95;  moving to AR, braces, wedding, moving to Toronto then back to AR, and two beautiful girls later.  I can't wait to see what the next 8 years will bring!  Happy 8th Anniversary J!  I love you like no other!

Mother's Day 2009

The only thing I wanted for Mother's Day this year was to not cook anything the whole day.  So, Jason took us out for breakfast Sunday morning and then we came home and went for a walk.  We ended up going to the mall later and had a little snack in the food court.  Jason made reservations for dinner the day before and told Hanna but asked her not to tell because it was going to be a surprise.  Well, the girl can't keep a secret to save her life.  She told me we were going to "Root's".  I didn't have a clue.  So, we went to "Root's" Chris for dinner and had a wonderful meal and the girls were very well behaved.  Whew!  

We snapped some pics afterwards but H & H weren't being very cooperative.  Little H was being a toot and wouldn't even look at the camera as you can see.  I thought the mischief in her face was too irresistible not to show.  We did manage to get a couple good ones of the three of us.  I have since cleaned off the glass on the fireplace.  Sorry if the greasy fingerprints are too much of a distraction in the background. 

What a great day!  I wish we could celebrate Mother's Day every weekend!  I've got plenty more to come and I'm sure they just get sweeter with each passing year.

Bedtime snack

After Haley's bath the other night, she took off to the pantry before I could get her dressed.  She loves going in there and grabbing whatever package she can reach off the shelf, usually goldfish crackers or yogurt covered raisins since these are her favorites but any box will do.  She will come to me carrying something and hand it to me blabbering away and wait anxiously while I open it.  She took these out of the box and wanted to carry the bag around.  I tried taking them away to dress her but was met with much anger and resistance.  After awhile, I realized that she wasn't actually eating them but taking them in and out of the bag instead.  She put one in her mouth occasionally but for her, the fun was moving them back and forth.  Even after getting her into her pj's she still insisted on carrying the bag around and had to wrestled to get them away for bedtime.  

Robots playing basketball

So, you've seen Hanna's robots before but never like this.  She found some basketball stickers the other day and was sitting and drawing.  I really didn't notice what she was doing with them.  A couple days went by and I was cleaning up and started looking through the index cards she'd been drawing on.  I had to call Jason at work because I was certain that he'd been drawing with her or came by and placed those stickers.  When he denied it I started laughing so hard I was crying by the time we got off the phone.  They just looked so comical to me with their little sneakers and ball in hand.  I will keep and treasure these ALWAYS.

Krispy Kreme's

Erin and I took the girls to Krispy Kreme's for breakfast one morning.  Our timing was perfect as they had hot, fresh doughnuts waiting for us.  They quite literally melt in your mouth when they are that fresh.  Kind of spoils you for anything but.  Hanna and Delaney enjoyed watching the doughnuts travel along their path to the waterfall of glaze.  Amazing how quickly the sugar starts to go to work!

Before doughnuts

Enjoying doughnuts

Post doughnuts

The little ones thoroughly enjoyed their tasty treat

The great outdoors

Sunday, April 26th

My sweet little Haley would live outside from morning to night if we allowed it.  Anytime the door leading into the garage is opened she makes a bee line towards it, knowing that it is a portal to the outside world.  She gets very upset when she is stopped from sliding down the brick steps.  If she knows we are about to go outside, she will try and find some shoes and bring them to you.  She will sit down and lift her little legs up to help get those shoes on.  Mmmm, it is the sweetest thing.

While outside, her main goal is to make her way to the road.  I don't know why.  Maybe it's because she knows we don't want her to.  She is very much trying to be in control lately.  She also loves Daddy's yellow golf balls and loves to throw them and "run" after them.  She is quite impressive with her speed especially if she sees that you're after her.  Sometime in the middle of her fun, she fell and dug her bare knees right into the concrete.  It hurts my spine to think about it!  I take full responsibility since I ignorantly let her out in a dress.  She didn't cry for long and after being medicated, bandaged, and adding some pants she was ready to go back out.  

She also loves Hanna's old baby car and the little compartment in the front.  If Hanna gets a juice box, forget it.  She HAS to have one as well.  I was cracking up at her with the magnifying glass and didn't even capture the funnier faces as I was laughing too hard.  I just love her so much and look forward to what new and exciting thing she'll do tomorrow.

Flower girl

We have wanted to plant some flowers for the past two weekends but Mother Nature or other plans prevented it.  Finally, on Sunday (while Jason and Haley napped) Hanna and I were able to get our hands dirty!  She LOVES anything to do with outside especially if it involves planting/watering/helping.  I bought for her, her own set of gardening tools and watering jug, super cheap at Wal-Mart.  Amazing how a $5 purchase can bring such happiness, priceless.  She really was a great helper and company.  She would bring me whatever color I needed next and did so right up until the end.  At about the last plant, she exclaimed (with a sigh and hand on head), "Mommy, I don't think I'm feeling very well.  You have to get the flowers youw-self.  I'm just gonna go sit down for a minute."  Drama.

After she rested up, she was ready to plant her own special flower that she picked out.  She was very proud of all the work we did and helped water our new little babies when we were all done.  She was very excited to show Daddy our flowers.  I loved my special time with Hanna. She is growing up way too fast so I am trying to cherish my alone time from this day forward.

School program

Hanna's school (MDO) puts on a program for the parents this time every year.  Last year I sat at the opposite side of the stage from where Hanna stood, so I really couldn't see her at all. Obviously, my pictures and the video I tried to take simultaneously did not turn out, at all.  She wasn't even 2 1/2 at the time so most of them didn't really participate in the singing.  It was still lots fun to watch.  

So, this year Jason was able to come with me and all I can say is, we were very proud parents! Some little ones cried when they got on stage and others wouldn't even get on stage.  Hanna marched right up there even after seeing us and waving at us.  They performed The Itsy Bitsy Spider, which we've seen her do a million times but not on stage in front of hundreds of strangers and another song about spiders that they used drums for.   I could even hear her among all the others.  They were all so cute even down to the little ones that cried for their mommies.  I even welled up a little.

They have a sheet for us at the end of each day letting us know what they learned and talked about for that day.  They also always include what your child enjoyed, or something funny they said, or just something special.  Hanna's read, "Hanna really enjoyed singing for her Mom and Dad today."