While the mice are away....

So, this cat has been free for a few days. The girls spent some time with Grandma and Papa. Momma got a much needed break from potty training, the terrible 3s and temper tantrums.

So what did I do while they were away?

Day 1
I got up and decided I was going to go to a couple of thrift stores. I keep reading blogs about people who get really cute stuff for really cheap. So, I found a couple of places to try. The first place I went, I found a couple of things but nothing I loved. The entire time, I keep thinking about where these clothes might have been before they found their way into the store. The longer I was in the store, the more I thought about it and got grossed out. I left that store and went to another one that wasn't as nice. I then decided to head to Grapevine Mills and found some really cute jeans.

That night, I went to yoga and then met Wes at the movies to see the last Harry Potter movie. It was a fun date night!

Day 2
I slept in until almost 9 am! I haven't slept in for a long time. Then I made a discovery. I don't normally flat iron my hair, but just started recently. I have been using this huge flat iron and burning my fingers in the process. I thought I had another smaller one but couldn't find it until I followed a cable and there it was! YAY! No more burned fingers. These are things you can do while your children are away.

Needless to say, I was pretty lazy the rest of the day. I did a little cleaning and a little laundry. That night, we went to a lecture from a yogi on fear.

Day 3
I headed to OKC to pick up the girls and spend a couple of days. We napped and had a fun dinner with the family.

Day 4
I met my cousin downtown at her office so she could train me for a part time job I am starting. It is so awesome, I can work from home on my own time! Yay for me! Love her!

While I was being trained, grandma, papa and the kids went to see Winnie the Pooh. The girls pigged out on popcorn (Gracie told me she ate so much it made her knee hurt, ha ha). That evening we went to see Grandma and Grandpa Potter where the girls laughed and played which made the Potters laugh! So much fun!

Day 5
The girls and I went home. Wes was sick almost the entire time we were gone so he was really happy to see us!

What's New?

Notice something new in this picture? Lizzie is sporting a pony tail! Her hair is now long enough for a pony! So exciting.

The girls are "playing checkers" at Grandma and Papa.

Good Things About Being 3

So, I blogged a couple posts ago about the terrible 3s, but there are some good things about being 3. I thought I would write them down to help me through the tougher times.

• The girls are more independent. They are able to dress themselves, shorts may be on backward, panties may be on sideways (yes sideways not just backward) and shoes may or may not be on the right feet but they can do it them selves.
  
• Their imagination is so wild, anything can instantly become a phone or microphone. Just yesterday, they took turns playing with the garden hose using it as a mic while the other sat in a chair and watched the "performance".
• They also share fairly well. Most of the time when there is a disagreement, we can get them to agree and take turns.
• They tell us sweet things all the time like, "love you mommy/daddy", "you look cute", "thank you mommy/daddy" and when we run out of anything they say "daddy go buy it". That's because Wes does most of the grocery shopping, so he usually does "go buy it".

We have our good times and our more challenging times. I try to spend my time thinking more of the positive times than the frustrating times.

Third Anniversary

Today is a special anniversary for us. Its the third anniversary of bringing the girls home from the NICU. They were there 5 1/2 weeks (40 days). We spent the night before terrified "rooming in" at the hospital with the girls. That means we spent the entire night awake in a room next to the NICU on a pull out couch. We would take turns every couple of hours to watch them because we were too freaked out to sleep! They were born at 4 lbs 10 oz (Lizzie) and 3lbs 10oz (Gracie). They left at 6lbs 5oz and 5lbs 1.5oz (when they are that small every tenth counts).

The other crazy thing about this date is it was my second due date. I had two due dates. A forty week due date (August 11) and 36 week due date (July 21). The goal was to get to the 36 week due date, the girls and my body had other ideas about goal setting.


It was 100 degrees out that day and they are wearing long sleeve onsies with 2 hats on. They were still working on keeping themselves warm.

This when we got home. Who would have thought then that these tiny burritos would turn into.......

These crazy girls! If anyone had told me what kind of ride we were in for, I would never believe them! They are so funny and keep us so busy but we love them so much and wouldn't trade any of it!

The Hardware Store

This weekend we went to the hardware store. The aisle we were in was next to the kitchen cabinets. The girls loved running from kitchen to kitchen and opening drawers and doors. It was so funny because they kept saying, "another kitchen" or "I found it". It was so funny!

The Terrible 3s

Well, we thought we were through the worst but 3 has started off worse than 2 ever was. It seems that the minute they turned 3 they became more difficult. We started with whining and throwing huge fits.

A couple of weeks ago, Wes and I went to Target to get some stuff. We all went in, got one cart and put the girls in the basket. The girls acted up a little while we shopped but when it came time to check out the girls melted down and were screaming while we walked out. Wes and I pretended not to notice that it was our kids screaming.

Because we are stupid people and don't learn our lessons, we head back to Target a week or so later. This time, the girls want to "walk" and not sit in the cart. They both start running in opposite directions and Lizzie pushes the limit and LAYS on the NASTY Target floor (laying on the floor and throwing fits is her new thing, lovely). Wes takes both of them out of the store for a time out. They all come back in and we go to check out again. Lizzie is messing with the end of the cashier stand and TURNS ON the conveyer belt. I quickly turn it off but not before the cashier notices and gives me the DIRTIEST look. I think I better get use to that.

Today was no exception. We were suppose to meet friends at the mall to play. I try 3 times to get Gracie to pee and poop in the potty. No luck on either which means I could get a surprise at any moment. I finally get the Gracie dressed and her hair fixed. Then its Lizzie's turn. I get her dressed but when it comes time to fix her hair she flips out and won't let me. I end up putting her in time out, shut the door and tell her we are leaving. Finally I get her hair done. We are now 20 minutes late to our play date. I know, I know, I should have let the hair go. The problem was that it was half fixed. She only had one pig tail.

To end the day the same as it started, we took the girls up to Wes's work for a party. Lizzie throws a temper tantrum about 10 minutes after we get there. Wes takes her to time out and she calms down. In the 2 hours that we are there, the girls spill 2 glasses of water, run around crazy and Lizzie throws another fit over dessert. She has 3 choices and wants all of them and none of them at the same time. To time out again she goes, when she comes back she is still whiny but finally picks one and eats it. At this point, I'm terribly embarrassed for myself and Wes. As we leave, everyone tells us how sweet the girls were. HA HA!

Lizzie and Changes

Lizzie and changes don't mix. If anything is not like how she thinks it should be, she gets really upset. Here are a few examples:

• As a treat for the girls, we will drive thru McDonald's and get a McDonalds Water for the girls. They think this is the best water on the planet and its a real treat. Anyway, I usually pour a little out before I give it to them because they tend to spill ALL OF IT! Today, I was lazy and decided to just give them the whole thing. Lizzie threw a fit. She said it was too full. So, when we got home I poured some of it out.
• If we are at a restaurant and the waiter comes and tries to take her plate, she freaks out.
• Certain things are "hers" and if Gracie gets them, she will wrestle her to the ground to get them back.
• She's really into orange right now and wants everything orange. I give them a gummy vitamin and all that was left was pink. So, I had to explain that there were not any orange left and she was ok.
• She always wants to sit behind momma in the car when we go places, we have to make her take turns with Gracie.

We are working on trying to help her be a little more flexible.

Silly Girls

This stage is so fun and exhausting at the same time. One moment I can't believe how cute they are and the next I'm yelling at them because they are into something they shouldn't be. The girls' imagination is really developing and they are always pretending.

This morning I walked into this. They were being cute and were laying in the same bed. They were pretending to sleep.

Here the girls are posing in some new pjs they got for their birthday. Thanks Chris, Angie and Kassidy! The girls love them!

This was on Wes's birthday. We sat outside the restaurant while the girls played ring around the rosie. They would sing and then fall down! So funny.

When we can, we spend our time outside in the pool. The girls love to play in it and they think the water hose is fun too. Gracie was making Lizzie spray her with the hose. She kept telling where to spray. It started with her back and then each arm and leg. They are so silly.

Sharing

Wow. We have turned three for sure. The girls have their cute and monster moments. They either share really well or not at all. A poor defenseless cow was the victim this morning of a wrestling match between the girls. They take after Wes who wrestled in high school.The poor cow was put in time out.

Other times, they share so sweetly. Like in this picture. They took turns pushing and riding. There were giggles galore!

Each day is an adventure, I just hope I make it to their fourth birthday.

Crafting again

I got the bug again to create. I'm working with my clay again to see how to make different flowers.

My mom gave me a ring that was a flower and I tried to recreate it with clay

Also, I started experimenting with a mold. I bought it ages ago and tried to use it once. The directions say to put corn starch on it so the clay comes off better. All it did for me was get EVERYWHERE. This time I didn't use the corn starch and it came out fine. The other thing I experimented with was blending two colors. I really like how they turned out. I'm tempted to use this method to make beads for necklaces and bracelets.

Another one from the mold but instead of a ring, I made a pendant.

This is another pendant I made at the last minute. I had marbled clay left over so I rolled it out, etched a heart into it and then distressed it.