Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
'Remorial Day' anecdotes x 2
Yep, my girls still refer to Memorial Day as 'Remorial Day.'
They enjoyed watching some of the Washington, DC Memorial Day concert last night on TV with Dan. They never tire of hearing about his days as a "soldier."
We've been enjoying just being together. Maddie had a nice 3-day weekend, and so did I. It would have been even nicer if Dan had also had off with us, but 12 (and even 16) hour shifts have been the norm for him lately.
We had a neighborhood cook-out on Saturday afternoon before Dan had to leave for work, and it was really nice. Rhonda got out the hose, which was a treat! (We also had an impromptu cookout tonight for dinner when our power went out unexpectedly). The weather has been hot, hot, hot but we will gladly take it! Girlies and I spent the afternoon wading in the little stream. It was perfect with the shade from the trees. They have been begging to join a pool this summer, but it's just too expensive for us. So I try and find any water source available for them;)
They enjoyed watching some of the Washington, DC Memorial Day concert last night on TV with Dan. They never tire of hearing about his days as a "soldier."
We've been enjoying just being together. Maddie had a nice 3-day weekend, and so did I. It would have been even nicer if Dan had also had off with us, but 12 (and even 16) hour shifts have been the norm for him lately.
We had a neighborhood cook-out on Saturday afternoon before Dan had to leave for work, and it was really nice. Rhonda got out the hose, which was a treat! (We also had an impromptu cookout tonight for dinner when our power went out unexpectedly). The weather has been hot, hot, hot but we will gladly take it! Girlies and I spent the afternoon wading in the little stream. It was perfect with the shade from the trees. They have been begging to join a pool this summer, but it's just too expensive for us. So I try and find any water source available for them;)
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Big day in the life of my Crannie
My big girl is a bike rider... no training wheels!!
She could not be any prouder. And, I don't think I've ever heard myself squeal so loudly in delight before from being so proud. Maddie's first thoughts were "now I can ride with Donovan! Now I can ride with Dad!" She is quite happy;)
I wanted to take them to the Reiffton playground this afternoon, and it was Maddie's idea to bring her bike along for practice. The paths are perfectly flat there, so I thought that'd be a good idea. Faith brought along her scooter, and Abrie her stroller with Snow White doll of course.
Maddie is my runner. The girl has speed and endurance, and I think she will be a star track athlete someday. But, her athletic "prowess" ends there;) So, I could tell she was beyond thrilled that she figured out the bike riding all by herself this afternoon (with just a little help from me, but she had it pretty much down pat within a few tries).
She could not be any prouder. And, I don't think I've ever heard myself squeal so loudly in delight before from being so proud. Maddie's first thoughts were "now I can ride with Donovan! Now I can ride with Dad!" She is quite happy;)
I wanted to take them to the Reiffton playground this afternoon, and it was Maddie's idea to bring her bike along for practice. The paths are perfectly flat there, so I thought that'd be a good idea. Faith brought along her scooter, and Abrie her stroller with Snow White doll of course.
Maddie is my runner. The girl has speed and endurance, and I think she will be a star track athlete someday. But, her athletic "prowess" ends there;) So, I could tell she was beyond thrilled that she figured out the bike riding all by herself this afternoon (with just a little help from me, but she had it pretty much down pat within a few tries).
Friday, May 20, 2011
Pirate night
What do you do in honor of the Pirates 4 movie coming out today in theatres? Why, have a pirate night of course.
Girlies had been looking forward to their pirate night for awhile now. They helped me make a treasure chest cake yesterday, and we set up pirate stuff this morning- drawings, books about pirates, pirate maze books, etc. I poked holes in red cups for them, and they folded their aluminum foil to make pirate hooks (which they thought was priceless!). Dan had to go in early *again* (ugh) tonight, so we had our treasure hunt right after dinner. The neighbors caught wind of what they were doing, and joined them for the fun. Abrielle and I went and taped up the 5 riddle clues in different spots on our street and back alley, and I was impressed with how quickly they figured out where to go next for each of the steps. Their prize at the end was the cake, and some pirate booty (seashells and jewels).
We watched "Peter Pan" tonight, and my three pretty ladies passed out within 2 minutes of laying down for bed.
Girlies had been looking forward to their pirate night for awhile now. They helped me make a treasure chest cake yesterday, and we set up pirate stuff this morning- drawings, books about pirates, pirate maze books, etc. I poked holes in red cups for them, and they folded their aluminum foil to make pirate hooks (which they thought was priceless!). Dan had to go in early *again* (ugh) tonight, so we had our treasure hunt right after dinner. The neighbors caught wind of what they were doing, and joined them for the fun. Abrielle and I went and taped up the 5 riddle clues in different spots on our street and back alley, and I was impressed with how quickly they figured out where to go next for each of the steps. Their prize at the end was the cake, and some pirate booty (seashells and jewels).
We watched "Peter Pan" tonight, and my three pretty ladies passed out within 2 minutes of laying down for bed.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
29
Memorable moments of my 29th birthday:
* My beautiful handmade cards that Maddie, Faith, and Abrie all made for me.
* getting off from work and hopping into the car to be serenaded by 3 little girls in the backseat with a sweet keyboard in tow-- priceless. Best part was Abrie singing "Ohhhhh, Momma!!! Ohhhh, Momma!"
* coming home to a cake made by Dan and Faith (and decorated with Maddie and Abrie's help) in a MEATLOAF pan. I couldn't stop laughing! Apparently, Dan "forgot" what pan I use to make cakes.
* my Disney Parks DVD from my sweet girlies and husband-- now I don't have to put this on request from the library 1,000 times in a row;)
* My beautiful handmade cards that Maddie, Faith, and Abrie all made for me.
* getting off from work and hopping into the car to be serenaded by 3 little girls in the backseat with a sweet keyboard in tow-- priceless. Best part was Abrie singing "Ohhhhh, Momma!!! Ohhhh, Momma!"
* coming home to a cake made by Dan and Faith (and decorated with Maddie and Abrie's help) in a MEATLOAF pan. I couldn't stop laughing! Apparently, Dan "forgot" what pan I use to make cakes.
* my Disney Parks DVD from my sweet girlies and husband-- now I don't have to put this on request from the library 1,000 times in a row;)
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Past week ancedotes
This past week has been busy actually, I just haven't felt like jotting things down at night. But, I have made a mental note to remind myself so this is my catch up time:
One of Faith and Abrie's favorite things to play together in the mornings is "grocery shopping at the faraway store." Yes, that's what it's called. Faith will ask Abrie, "do you want to play grocery shopping at the faraway store?" and Abrie gets so excited with an emphatic "Uh huh!!" They gather up as many groceries as they can between a stroller and a grocery cart, and walk the length of the alley until they're at the "faraway store." They then pretend to get exotic ingredients for their "chef specialties" that apparently can't be found elsewhere. It's cute:
We went to Welkinweir on Thursday and had a nice morning there. We stopped at St. Pete's on the way home for a hike and a picnic lunch. Faith most certainly has allergies though, and the hike through the woods made her poor little eyes so itchy for the rest of the day. Her eye was actually swollen and purple by the evening, and we had to go get her some over the counter Claritin for kids. She's been much better since then, and we'll avoid hikes for awhile. But, it was a nice time.
One funny story: as we were hiking up the rocks at St. Pete's, Maddie was reading what some kids had graffit'd on a few of the rocks. She was behind us and we could hear her reading, "#%ck off!" I couldn't stop laughing and cringing at the same time-- awful words coming out of my 6-year old sweet, little girl!! Needless to say, we ended up having about a 10-minute conversation about people and their poor choice of words/ bad words that we NEVER repeat!
Abrielle ended up at the doctor's on Friday for a croup-y sounding cough that started Wednesday night. She wound up with both an ear infection and croup, and since they put her on amoxcycilin for the ear infection, I can only presume that she will also wind up with a yeast infection by week's end. Poor baby. She always gets yeast infections when they put her on antibiotics. But, she's sounding better so that's a good sign.
We went up to Captain's Cove for dinner on Friday night with Dave and Rhonda. It was our first Captain's Cove trip of the season. Oh, how we love that place. The pirate theme is PERFECTION for these pirate obsessed girls too.
One of Faith and Abrie's favorite things to play together in the mornings is "grocery shopping at the faraway store." Yes, that's what it's called. Faith will ask Abrie, "do you want to play grocery shopping at the faraway store?" and Abrie gets so excited with an emphatic "Uh huh!!" They gather up as many groceries as they can between a stroller and a grocery cart, and walk the length of the alley until they're at the "faraway store." They then pretend to get exotic ingredients for their "chef specialties" that apparently can't be found elsewhere. It's cute:
We went to Welkinweir on Thursday and had a nice morning there. We stopped at St. Pete's on the way home for a hike and a picnic lunch. Faith most certainly has allergies though, and the hike through the woods made her poor little eyes so itchy for the rest of the day. Her eye was actually swollen and purple by the evening, and we had to go get her some over the counter Claritin for kids. She's been much better since then, and we'll avoid hikes for awhile. But, it was a nice time.
One funny story: as we were hiking up the rocks at St. Pete's, Maddie was reading what some kids had graffit'd on a few of the rocks. She was behind us and we could hear her reading, "#%ck off!" I couldn't stop laughing and cringing at the same time-- awful words coming out of my 6-year old sweet, little girl!! Needless to say, we ended up having about a 10-minute conversation about people and their poor choice of words/ bad words that we NEVER repeat!
Abrielle ended up at the doctor's on Friday for a croup-y sounding cough that started Wednesday night. She wound up with both an ear infection and croup, and since they put her on amoxcycilin for the ear infection, I can only presume that she will also wind up with a yeast infection by week's end. Poor baby. She always gets yeast infections when they put her on antibiotics. But, she's sounding better so that's a good sign.
We went up to Captain's Cove for dinner on Friday night with Dave and Rhonda. It was our first Captain's Cove trip of the season. Oh, how we love that place. The pirate theme is PERFECTION for these pirate obsessed girls too.
Bird sitting pros
Failed to mention that we're bird sitting a cockatiel named Eno! We have him until next Tuesday, and my girlies couldn't be more thrilled. After all, in their words, "a bird is a pirate's best friend!" Hahahaha.
Maddie is especially fond of Mr. Eno. She just adores him. She's been keeping a little notebook full of "facts" about Eno, and she is jotting things down constantly. She and Faith also made enormous posters to hang next to his cage. Maddie's is especially funny; it has a picture of her and Eno and says "Parlay? What the heck!" (as in, "parlay" from the pirates movies).
Eno is quite entertaining actually. He raps (complete with head bops) and is very social. Maddie loves when he gets on her shoulder, and she and Faith love having him on their hands. They put winter hats on their hands because they're still unsure of the feeling of his claws on their arms. Abrie is fascinated by Eno, but doesn't like him too close. She'd rather sit and watch him in his cage.
Maddie is especially fond of Mr. Eno. She just adores him. She's been keeping a little notebook full of "facts" about Eno, and she is jotting things down constantly. She and Faith also made enormous posters to hang next to his cage. Maddie's is especially funny; it has a picture of her and Eno and says "Parlay? What the heck!" (as in, "parlay" from the pirates movies).
Eno is quite entertaining actually. He raps (complete with head bops) and is very social. Maddie loves when he gets on her shoulder, and she and Faith love having him on their hands. They put winter hats on their hands because they're still unsure of the feeling of his claws on their arms. Abrie is fascinated by Eno, but doesn't like him too close. She'd rather sit and watch him in his cage.
Pirate Flop
Been busy doing nothing, really. Re-reading one of my favorite books, "Mitten Strings for God" and quietly reminding myself everyday to enjoy the simple, ordinary aspects of daily life with my girlfriends. I've been feeling lately like I have to do so much in a day with my girls all together, and with each of them individually, and I'm trying to remind myself that it's the simple memories that they'll have that might bring the biggest smiles. It's hard when all I want to do is just be here at home with my family.
*****
On a different note, I enjoyed my trip to Target this morning with my girlfriends. I had to return some dresses, and I told them that they could go see if the pirate movies were still on sale with the free Pirate figurine (from the upcoming new movie). Faith had gone a few days ago with me when the sale was going on, and she was as happy as could be that she got a mini- Jack Sparrow figure! Well, the deal wasn't going on today. Instead, Maddie and Abrielle each picked a princess/fairy (respectively) make-up mini-set, and what did my little Flop pick???? Why, a foam pirate sword of course. She's been living it up pirate style since then!
*****
On a different note, I enjoyed my trip to Target this morning with my girlfriends. I had to return some dresses, and I told them that they could go see if the pirate movies were still on sale with the free Pirate figurine (from the upcoming new movie). Faith had gone a few days ago with me when the sale was going on, and she was as happy as could be that she got a mini- Jack Sparrow figure! Well, the deal wasn't going on today. Instead, Maddie and Abrielle each picked a princess/fairy (respectively) make-up mini-set, and what did my little Flop pick???? Why, a foam pirate sword of course. She's been living it up pirate style since then!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Privileged
Mother's Day.
How can I not get sentimental about this day?
I don't think I've ever done anything extraordinary in my life to have deserved the privilege it has been to be Momma to my three darling girls. And yet, I thank God every single day that I've been granted this extraordinary privilege.
There is nothing in this world that will ever compare to the feeling of hearing "Mommmmmmmmma!!!!!"
How can I not get sentimental about this day?
I don't think I've ever done anything extraordinary in my life to have deserved the privilege it has been to be Momma to my three darling girls. And yet, I thank God every single day that I've been granted this extraordinary privilege.
There is nothing in this world that will ever compare to the feeling of hearing "Mommmmmmmmma!!!!!"
Friday, May 6, 2011
My early Mother's Day present...
... to myself!
Pictures of course.
I requested some new spring pictures from my girlfriends for Mother's Day this year, and they were more than willing to oblige. I've got three little girls that love to dress up (and, I should add that Abrie is over the moon that she doesn't have to wear tights anymore since it's warmer out.. she HATES anything tight on her skin!) and they would wear dresses every single day of the year if they could. Maddie and Faith requested "curlies" in their hair too. And, I took a few extras of Abrie with her new birthday chair that Rhonda gave her for her birthday. She loves this chair:
My favorites:
I got home from work yesterday, and I think Faith was overly excited about a card that she had made me for Mother's Day (at least, I suspect that it was intended to be for Mother's Day). She gave it to me with a huge hug. Her message was so sweet and she had drawn a picture of the two of us together:
It brought tears to my eyes.
I don't need anything special for Mother's Day; I already have the best gifts in the world.
Pictures of course.
I requested some new spring pictures from my girlfriends for Mother's Day this year, and they were more than willing to oblige. I've got three little girls that love to dress up (and, I should add that Abrie is over the moon that she doesn't have to wear tights anymore since it's warmer out.. she HATES anything tight on her skin!) and they would wear dresses every single day of the year if they could. Maddie and Faith requested "curlies" in their hair too. And, I took a few extras of Abrie with her new birthday chair that Rhonda gave her for her birthday. She loves this chair:
My favorites:
I got home from work yesterday, and I think Faith was overly excited about a card that she had made me for Mother's Day (at least, I suspect that it was intended to be for Mother's Day). She gave it to me with a huge hug. Her message was so sweet and she had drawn a picture of the two of us together:
It brought tears to my eyes.
I don't need anything special for Mother's Day; I already have the best gifts in the world.
When I'm as big as Freddie
This was one of my most favorite books when I was little: "When I'm as big as Freddie." We always used to say that Aunt Lisi was the oldest brother, I was the middle brother, and Tia Rosa was the little sister. Even though the gender was different in our case, I still loved this book. I requested it from the library for Faith because I always tell her that she reminds me of this book in that she always wants to do everything that her idol, Maddie does. And, of course, she has fallen in love with the book.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
What do you do on a rare day off together??..
.. why, take little sisters on a "field trip" in the morning, and pull big sister out of school early to spend the afternoon at the lake, of course!
Dan and I were both off today, and we made the most of it. Of course, he was called in to work early tonight, but it was still a great day. We had originally planned on keeping Maddie home from school today to take our girlfriends to Kitchen Kettle Village, but we forgot that today was Maddie's school field trip. She was really looking forward to this day. They went to a local dairy, and she always looks forward to riding the bus on the school trips and sitting with her buddy, Leo. So, we did the next best thing to keeping her home-- she got to go on her field trip, and come home from school early!
Faith was really looking forward to this day. She asks me every single morning, "Momma, are you off today? Is Dad off today? Is Maddie off today? How many more days until you are off? How many more days until Dad is off? How many more days until Maddie is off?" Poor Flop. She thoroughly enjoys and anticipates the time we get to spend all together, my sweet girl. She wants so desperately to either a) go with Maddie to school, or b) have Maddie here 24/7. Dan decided to take her and her Show Show on their own "field trip" this morning. We went out for breakfast at a family restaurant here that she just loves (she and Abrie shared the side of the booth opposite of Dan and I, and it was reminiscent of Maddie and Faith. They kept getting up together from the table to go look at the fish tank. It was cute) and then we went over to the museum. It was a good time.
(These pictures made me laugh. These were taken on the museum grounds, and Faith grabbed a "wish flower" to make a wish. She was wishing to go back to Disney, and then went to grab a bunch of about 3-4 flowers "to try again, since that is such a big wish!")
Faith was so excited to pick up Maddie this afternoon. She always wants so desperately to go INTO Maddie's classroom, but she was more than willing to negotiate waiting in the office for her big sissy. The school gym teacher came in to the office, and told me later that he knew right away that Faith was Madison's sister. He took her by the hand and said, "I think Madison is rounding the corner and you'll see her in just a second" and he led her out to the hallway. She ran right up to Maddie when she saw her.
We had a wonderful afternoon at our favorite lake:
After we finished swimming and playing in the sand, girlfriends started up a hilarious game of Pirates on the playground there. Their imaginations astound me; I just love it. They haven't seen any of the Pirates movies, but know a lot about them through the books they've read and the bazillions of questions they're constantly asking Dan and I about the movies. Needless to say, Maddie was Elizabeth, Faith was Capt. Jack Sparrow, and they had Abrie as Will Turner and they were headed to the Tortuga coast. Dan of course made a cameo appearance as Davey Jones, and what was I delegated to be? Why, a produce seller on the island of course;)
Picture of my cute mini- Will Turner:
Dan and I were both off today, and we made the most of it. Of course, he was called in to work early tonight, but it was still a great day. We had originally planned on keeping Maddie home from school today to take our girlfriends to Kitchen Kettle Village, but we forgot that today was Maddie's school field trip. She was really looking forward to this day. They went to a local dairy, and she always looks forward to riding the bus on the school trips and sitting with her buddy, Leo. So, we did the next best thing to keeping her home-- she got to go on her field trip, and come home from school early!
Faith was really looking forward to this day. She asks me every single morning, "Momma, are you off today? Is Dad off today? Is Maddie off today? How many more days until you are off? How many more days until Dad is off? How many more days until Maddie is off?" Poor Flop. She thoroughly enjoys and anticipates the time we get to spend all together, my sweet girl. She wants so desperately to either a) go with Maddie to school, or b) have Maddie here 24/7. Dan decided to take her and her Show Show on their own "field trip" this morning. We went out for breakfast at a family restaurant here that she just loves (she and Abrie shared the side of the booth opposite of Dan and I, and it was reminiscent of Maddie and Faith. They kept getting up together from the table to go look at the fish tank. It was cute) and then we went over to the museum. It was a good time.
(These pictures made me laugh. These were taken on the museum grounds, and Faith grabbed a "wish flower" to make a wish. She was wishing to go back to Disney, and then went to grab a bunch of about 3-4 flowers "to try again, since that is such a big wish!")
Faith was so excited to pick up Maddie this afternoon. She always wants so desperately to go INTO Maddie's classroom, but she was more than willing to negotiate waiting in the office for her big sissy. The school gym teacher came in to the office, and told me later that he knew right away that Faith was Madison's sister. He took her by the hand and said, "I think Madison is rounding the corner and you'll see her in just a second" and he led her out to the hallway. She ran right up to Maddie when she saw her.
We had a wonderful afternoon at our favorite lake:
After we finished swimming and playing in the sand, girlfriends started up a hilarious game of Pirates on the playground there. Their imaginations astound me; I just love it. They haven't seen any of the Pirates movies, but know a lot about them through the books they've read and the bazillions of questions they're constantly asking Dan and I about the movies. Needless to say, Maddie was Elizabeth, Faith was Capt. Jack Sparrow, and they had Abrie as Will Turner and they were headed to the Tortuga coast. Dan of course made a cameo appearance as Davey Jones, and what was I delegated to be? Why, a produce seller on the island of course;)
Picture of my cute mini- Will Turner:
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