Tonight, we had a first. The girls "helped" me make chocolate chip cookies. We took two step ladders and I started the cookies while Wes did the dishes. The girls stood patiently on their stools and only fussed when they couldn't see what I was doing. They loved watching me stir the ingredients and when I sifted the flour I told them in was snowing. They both said snow and then we talked about the snow storm this past winter.
When the cookies were still baking we turned on the light and looked in the window and Wes counted down with them the last 10 seconds of the first batch. They were so excited about the whole process and loved eating the cookies. We all sat around the table eating our milk and cookies talking.
It was really fun to do with them because they understood what I was doing and what the outcome would be.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
On the Road
Over the July 4th holiday, we went on a road trip to Alabama to see Wes's side of the family. It is a 12 to 13 hour drive so we broke it up over 2 days each way. It was an adventure. Wes and I worried for weeks about having the girls trapped in the car. They have been know to scream the whole back from Oklahoma City to Dallas.
Anyway, we loaded up the car with snacks, toys, the dvd, and a couple of videos. It turned out way better than we expected. The girls slept, watched the movies (they watched Up several times), and played with their toys. They seemed to enjoy looking out the windows at all the passing cars.
The trip in Alabama was good too. We enjoyed seeing all the family and swimming in Tutu and Papa's pool. They also fell in love with Cousin Sean. He's 12 and they thought he was wonderful. Gracie would drag him around by the hand everywhere.
The girls also saw fireworks for the first time. We kept them up and sat in a Kroger parking lot to see them We knew it was a good spot to see them because the parking lot was full and the store was empty!
It was a great trip and it made me realize that my babies were growing up. They did so many big girl things.
Anyway, we loaded up the car with snacks, toys, the dvd, and a couple of videos. It turned out way better than we expected. The girls slept, watched the movies (they watched Up several times), and played with their toys. They seemed to enjoy looking out the windows at all the passing cars.
The trip in Alabama was good too. We enjoyed seeing all the family and swimming in Tutu and Papa's pool. They also fell in love with Cousin Sean. He's 12 and they thought he was wonderful. Gracie would drag him around by the hand everywhere.
The girls also saw fireworks for the first time. We kept them up and sat in a Kroger parking lot to see them We knew it was a good spot to see them because the parking lot was full and the store was empty! It was a great trip and it made me realize that my babies were growing up. They did so many big girl things.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Big Girl Beds
We put the girls in their big girl beds the day after their birthday party. The beds are antiques that were given to us by Wes's grandma Harris. One of them was the bed I slept on when I first went to visit his family in Alabama. That's when he announced he was getting engaged to me. The beds have always been special to me and I couldn't wait until the girls were big enough to sleep on them.
The girls were very ready for their beds. They have slept great in them for the last two weeks. The only issue we had was when Lizzie fell off the foot of the bed. She ended up with a pretty good shiner. We think she was trying to play with the radio and reached too far.
Night Night, Lizzie
Night Night, Gracie
Our beds
First time to sleep in the beds for Gracie
Lizzie's first time in the bed
In other news, we finally met with a pediatric pulmonologist. He changed Gracie from a nebulizer twice a day to a puffer once a day. Meaning for us, no more 10 minute breathing treatments twice a day, only one puff on an inhaler once a day. Yea! The doctor thinks that it's more of a virual issue so we won't really know the right course of treatment until cold and flu season starts around October.
The girls were very ready for their beds. They have slept great in them for the last two weeks. The only issue we had was when Lizzie fell off the foot of the bed. She ended up with a pretty good shiner. We think she was trying to play with the radio and reached too far.
Night Night, Lizzie
Night Night, Gracie
Our beds
First time to sleep in the beds for Gracie
Lizzie's first time in the bedIn other news, we finally met with a pediatric pulmonologist. He changed Gracie from a nebulizer twice a day to a puffer once a day. Meaning for us, no more 10 minute breathing treatments twice a day, only one puff on an inhaler once a day. Yea! The doctor thinks that it's more of a virual issue so we won't really know the right course of treatment until cold and flu season starts around October.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
The party!
The girls party was on Saturday. I think we ended up having around 13 kids show up plus parents. It was a big crowd to put in our house. The kids went from inside to outside and back. They all seemed to have a great time! I stressed over everything and made some stuff myself. We had our house and our yard ship shape. Wes and I made the birthday banner, the invitations, pin the nose on the monkey and the square crayons. Making the crayons was really fun. We melted then together. The best part was that we had LiaLezon take pictures to help us remember everything!
The banner. My mom, the artist drew the monkey.
Banner
Pin the nose on the monkey
Crayons
Crayons hot from the oven
The banner. My mom, the artist drew the monkey.
Banner
Pin the nose on the monkey
Crayons
Crayons hot from the ovenFriday, June 11, 2010
Babies Second Birthday
Today is the girls second birthday! We are so excited. The girls are staying home today with Grandma and Papa and celebrated with a McDonald's breakfast.
This year has been a blur. It was a difficult one for the family but we made it through. Wes is now happy in his new job.
I thought I would just try and keep a record of what we've faced and accomplished
This year has been a blur. It was a difficult one for the family but we made it through. Wes is now happy in his new job.
I thought I would just try and keep a record of what we've faced and accomplished
- Stopped nursing at 12 1/2 months
- Transitioned to milk and all table foods
- Started walking at 15 1/2 months
- Started talking
- Went back to daycare
- Transitioned out of our bed room and into theirs
- Stopped taking a pacifier
- Started running
- Mommy and Daddy are always tired
- Gracie's seizure and ER visit making it necessary for us to always have a thermometer and Motrin on hand
- Gracie's breathing issues and ER visits to get it under control
- Lizzie's follow ups on the tubes in her ears - no new surgeries scheduled
- The girls both being on allergy medicine (we thought we were done with medicine every day after the Previcid but I guess not)
- The girls awareness of everything - the way they love their dog Molly and try to chase the cats
- Their love of family - they love their cousins, aunts, uncle and grandparents
- They can put on their boots
- They can take off socks and shoes in 2 seconds while sitting in the car
- They know "No", "Please", "Thank You" and "Milk"
- All stuffed animals right now are "Melmo" (Elmo) or "babies"
Monday, May 31, 2010
Memorial Day
What a great weekend! Wes and I took Friday off and had a four day weekend. My family had planned a family vacation to Beavers Bend in Oklahoma. The plan was to meet my parents and my sister and her family and spend the weekend together having fun!
We started the weekend on Thursday night by going to my Grandma's house. We hadn't seen her in a long time and decided since we were close and had the time we should visit. We got to her house really late and didn't have the pack-n-play set up. Wes and I decided that we had luck once with the girls sleeping in big kid beds we would try again. That was not a smart decision. Because the girls slept some in the car and were excited to see Great-Grandma, they did not want to sleep. They both SCREAMED for a couple of hours. Good thing is that great-grandma and great-papa are hard of hearing and didn't hear any of it. Finally, around 1:30 we all got to sleep.
The next morning, we got up and had breakfast. Around lunch, my parents and niece and nephew showed up. Then later that afternoon we left for Beavers Bend. Again, the girls fell asleep in the car and screwed up the nap schedule. We met up with my sister, Laura, that evening in Beavers Bend.
Day 2 of our adventure started with horse back riding. This was the first time the girls were really up close with a horse. Every time they see a picture of a horse, they bark like a dog. Anyway, they rode double with Wes and I. They loved it. Lizzie got a little tired and fell asleep on the horse toward the end of the ride. We rode for an hour on a trail and then had cotton candy and slurpees. Right next to the horse ride was a miniature train. Of course, we had to ride that too! The kids all love it! So many smiles on all of them.
That afternoon, we decided to go swimming in the hotel pool. We all got ready and grandma went ahead with Lizzie while Wes and I were with Grace still in the room. We were getting ready to head out when Sydney (my niece) came banging on the door saying that Grandma fell in the pool with Lizzie. Wes bolted (as he always does when it comes to the girls) for the pool. I was left with Grace and Sydney. It turns out, the railing on the pool steps was loose and grandma slipped in the pool. Lizzie went under and took in some water, but no serious injuries (only trauma). Lizzie was so traumatized that the rest of the pool time, we were all trying to get Lizzie to like the water again.
Day 3 of the trip was our lake day. We rented a boat for the morning. My sister was a little freaked but ended up loving the boat. She drove the boat most of the time. We had a blast until the girls got a little bored and wanted to head back. For lunch, we found a great picnic spot and grilled hot dogs. The girls played near the table while Laura and the kids went and played in the stream. I guess my sister will never get to old to look for crawdads. That afternoon we went swimming again. Gracie takes to the water like a fish. She loved it. Wes and I will have to get her in swimming lessons. Lizzie is still a tad bit apprehensive, but is warming back up to it.
Day 4 was our travel day home. We love our vacation and it was great. No family issues and everyone was happy. I'll try and post some pictures tomorrow or you can go here to our Picasa page.
We started the weekend on Thursday night by going to my Grandma's house. We hadn't seen her in a long time and decided since we were close and had the time we should visit. We got to her house really late and didn't have the pack-n-play set up. Wes and I decided that we had luck once with the girls sleeping in big kid beds we would try again. That was not a smart decision. Because the girls slept some in the car and were excited to see Great-Grandma, they did not want to sleep. They both SCREAMED for a couple of hours. Good thing is that great-grandma and great-papa are hard of hearing and didn't hear any of it. Finally, around 1:30 we all got to sleep.
The next morning, we got up and had breakfast. Around lunch, my parents and niece and nephew showed up. Then later that afternoon we left for Beavers Bend. Again, the girls fell asleep in the car and screwed up the nap schedule. We met up with my sister, Laura, that evening in Beavers Bend.
Day 2 of our adventure started with horse back riding. This was the first time the girls were really up close with a horse. Every time they see a picture of a horse, they bark like a dog. Anyway, they rode double with Wes and I. They loved it. Lizzie got a little tired and fell asleep on the horse toward the end of the ride. We rode for an hour on a trail and then had cotton candy and slurpees. Right next to the horse ride was a miniature train. Of course, we had to ride that too! The kids all love it! So many smiles on all of them.
That afternoon, we decided to go swimming in the hotel pool. We all got ready and grandma went ahead with Lizzie while Wes and I were with Grace still in the room. We were getting ready to head out when Sydney (my niece) came banging on the door saying that Grandma fell in the pool with Lizzie. Wes bolted (as he always does when it comes to the girls) for the pool. I was left with Grace and Sydney. It turns out, the railing on the pool steps was loose and grandma slipped in the pool. Lizzie went under and took in some water, but no serious injuries (only trauma). Lizzie was so traumatized that the rest of the pool time, we were all trying to get Lizzie to like the water again.
Day 3 of the trip was our lake day. We rented a boat for the morning. My sister was a little freaked but ended up loving the boat. She drove the boat most of the time. We had a blast until the girls got a little bored and wanted to head back. For lunch, we found a great picnic spot and grilled hot dogs. The girls played near the table while Laura and the kids went and played in the stream. I guess my sister will never get to old to look for crawdads. That afternoon we went swimming again. Gracie takes to the water like a fish. She loved it. Wes and I will have to get her in swimming lessons. Lizzie is still a tad bit apprehensive, but is warming back up to it.
Day 4 was our travel day home. We love our vacation and it was great. No family issues and everyone was happy. I'll try and post some pictures tomorrow or you can go here to our Picasa page.
Monday, May 17, 2010
It's finally up!
After several months of thinking about it, I finally launched my Etsy site, Monkeybee Designs. I only have 5 things posted right now, but more are coming. I really love the fabric rosettes right now, so expect more of those. I have several things made, but I wanted to start slow. Please check me out!
The name Monkeybee came from the girls. Lizzie is always a little busy bee and Gracie is our little monkey. That's how it's Monkeybee. My mom hand drew the artwork for the monkey and the bee and Wes worked it up in a graphic design software! It's truly a family effort.
The name Monkeybee came from the girls. Lizzie is always a little busy bee and Gracie is our little monkey. That's how it's Monkeybee. My mom hand drew the artwork for the monkey and the bee and Wes worked it up in a graphic design software! It's truly a family effort.
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