Wordless Wednesday: Hippity Hoppity Peter's on his way...

[caption id="attachment_413" align="alignnone" width="1024" caption="Easter 2008"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_411" align="alignnone" width="1024" caption="Easter 2009"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_412" align="alignnone" width="1024" caption="Easter 2009"][/caption]

And I thought I didn't have to worry about this for several years...

Both of these windows look out into the front of the house. And both of the girls were looking out the windows at the same time. Karl was the one that noticed the girls intently watching out the window (I was enjoying the peace). For those who can't tell what is keeping their interest...



Yes, two middle school aged boys playing basketball!!! like I said, I thought I had several years before I had to worry about my girls "boy-watching"!!! And the fact that they were both doing it but in separate rooms, kills me even more. Let's hope they had their eyes on separate boys ;) Just kidding!

SUCCESS!!!

Let me tell you about my achilles heel of motherhood... POTTY TRAINING!!! Yes,  I would rather go through labor again, then try and conquer potty training. We have been at it for over a year, and for the most part can say Brady is potty trained but only when she is awake. I don't know why I thought this would be an easy process but it has been everything but.

So I have learned to count my blessings by baby steps when it comes to potty training. Our latest battle had been in morning when Brady would wake up she would immediately fill her diaper/pull-up with "stinky" even though she knows good and well to go to her bathroom. We figured out that she didn't feel like she could leave her room without our permission, so I came up with the idea of putting a little potty in her room. I resisted with this idea for awhile since she had never had a little potty before (she trained initially on the big potty with an insert). Well, the little potty in her room worked! Okay, here is where I am excited about posting.  Over a week's time,  I slowly moved the little potty towards her door, and then it spent two days in the hallway. About a week ago Karl figured out how to clip it onto the big potty, it is only the top half with the bucket.



Now, every morning without fail she walks out of her room to go "stinky"!!!! I love it!!!! The best part is when you ask her if she is using her little potty or her big potty she tells you it is her little potty but it flushes now!

Next battle, keeping her dry at night,  I think that is a battle I will win in 2-3 years (no kidding)!

Cheap, yet Beautiful Art

I got an idea from Disney's Family Fun magazine. I took a profile picture of both of the girls. Cropped it in, printed it large in black and white and cut it out. Then using fun scrapbook paper,  I created adorable profiles that make art for our walls. Here are the results...



I was so excited about the results that I tried using profile pictures of two of my friends' newborn babies. I thought this would be the perfect congrats gift in the future for all my friends that had babies.  I was wrong. Both of friends have the most beautiful girls (and one has a twin boy too, but I only cut out the girl first) and when I did the pattern, it just didn't look as sweet as the girls. I guess newborns don't have the hair and neck that is needed to make this work... here is the pattern for the newborns... (T, if you are reading this S is on the left, and M if you are reading this R is on the right)

I have this friend...

I have this friend, that doesn't come to see me but once a month, maybe less. Lets use the term, friend, loosely here. I really don't enjoy these visits very much. I actually ball up on the couch when this 'friend' comes to visit and wish the time to pass. Why do I maintain a relationship with this friend, you ask? Well, it is out of my hands... However, as much I talk negatively about this so-called friend,  I will tell you I can not stand it when my 'friend' is late for one of our get togethers!!!

Thank you 'friend' for finally coming to visit...next time, don't wait 37 days between visits, that tends to stress me out a little...

Wordless Wednesday: How do you keep a 15 month old happy @ a restaurant...go to one that is COMPLETELY empty!

break a bone...make a wish...

I got a rotisserie chicken about a week ago for the family. When I was cutting it apart Karl snuck the wishbone out of it without my noticing.



He was so excited to break the wishbone with Brady after dinner. Can you imagine the look on his face when I told him that you have to let it dry out before you try to break it...

So a week later after the bone marrow was all dried out, Karl explained the tradition of wishbones to his eldest. Brady says "oh." (This is a common reply for her).



Here is the resulting halves...





So I wonder what Karl wished for?

What would your one wish be?

Five dollar footlong

Brady is currently singing to me, as I type this, "five dollar five" ...

You know that commercial for SUBWAY they are airing right now with the mermaid and the jello word "any"? Yeah, that really annoying one that is always on... Well Brady loves it. The television has been on a lot lately when she is awake due to all the basketball tourneys. So the commercial has been on a lot for her to hear. She can be in another room and she will come running into the room and say "five dollar five."  One day I was cuddling with her and she heard it come on and she starting kicking and flailing to get out of my arms to go see it...

Not a clue what makes her like that commercial... I oughta contact SUBWAY marketing and tell them they did a great job drawing in 2 years olds!

How crazy is this...

Andi had me watch this episode of Parks and Rec. She told me to go to around minute 14 second 30. Be patient, you have to watch their ads.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/135125/parks-and-recreation-park-safety#s-p1-so-i0

Here is the bio...

http://www.pawneeindiana.com/parks-and-recreation/staff.shtml

HOW CRAZY IS THAT!!!! It is still blowing our minds...

Who let the dogs out?

Our next door neighbors have two dauchshunds...sound familar? Well when we moved here they only had one. I think we may have inspired them to get a puppy. They brought home "Cricket" a few days before Super Bowl Sunday, so she is only a couple months old. We have had a couple dog playdates with all 4 dogs.

Since both Danielle and Jeff work full time, Jeff comes home during lunch to help with Cricket's house training. He is unable to for the next 3 weeks so they have asked me to go over whenever I am I can to let Cricket out for the next 3 weeks. Brady LOVES her new puppysitting 'job'!

Chick-A-Lay

For those of you who haven't heard Brady say "Chick-fil-a," you are missing out! It is the cutest word she says.  I know that you aren't suppose to love when they say words incorrectly but when we get in the vincinity of the fast food joint (which is 30 minutes from my house) and she sees the giant C; she hollers "CHICK-A-LAY"!!! I just love it...

Okay, let me confess, the reason I love it is becuase when she is saying it I am getting to have one of my favorite meals... ;) You got me...

Yesterday, we brought Daddy 'chick-a-lay' to his work. It was so nice to see him at work and meet a few of his co-workers. I wish we could do it everyday!

[caption id="attachment_353" align="alignnone" width="390" caption="Eating lunch in one of the classrooms...look at big girl Reese!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_354" align="alignnone" width="390" caption="BOO checking her email on Daddy's work computer"][/caption]

Wordless Wednesday: When you give too much independence...

Fun with Grandma and Uncle Jason

Grandma came to visit for a week and Uncle Jason was in town for a few of days.  Having family visit now that I am in FL is such a special time, and the whole family looks forward to it. The time with Grandma and J overlapped some but there were nights that it was just one and Karl said he enjoyed the one on one time with them becuase he felt like he got to know them better and his relationship grew...

Here are pictures from our great time with our family...

[caption id="attachment_335" align="alignnone" width="390" caption="picture taken by Brady...but I wanted you to see the dress my mom made for Reese"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_336" align="alignnone" width="390" caption="one of Brady's favorite things to do with Grandma"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_337" align="alignnone" width="390" caption="Anti-wrinkle lotion...you can never start too early they say!!!"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_339" align="alignnone" width="390" caption="picnic in the front yard"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_340" align="alignnone" width="390" caption="Perdido Kids Park"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_341" align="alignnone" width="390" caption="the whole time Jason was here, Reese would carry one book after another to him"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_342" align="alignnone" width="390" caption="Goodbye hug"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_344" align="alignnone" width="390" caption="Engineers hard at work"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_345" align="alignnone" width="390" caption="cooking bacon and eggs...her favorite thing to do with Jason"][/caption]

Our Own Alice

When my mom came to visit last week (which was just so much fun) we went on a girlie date one night after the kids were in bed. We started with the Melting Pot...YUM and then headed to the movies. We wanted to see the new Nicholas Sparks movie The Last Song, well it doesn't come out until March 31st so we decided on Alice in Wonderland.

About 5 minutes into the movie they show a little girl who is suppose to be 6 years old.  I immeadiately lean over to my mom and tell her that I think Brady will look like that when she is older. Here is a picture of her..

[caption id="attachment_331" align="alignnone" width="200" caption="Her hair was curlier in the movie but this is the only photo I could find of her"][/caption]

 

My mom said she was just thinking the same thing. So after the movie, which by the way I did really enjoyed even though I watched the 2D version, I kept looking at Brady and seeing her as a little Alice.

Then it all came together about 4 days later when we were walking around outside and came across a giant tree with a rotted out hole in its trunk. Brady on her own just started looking down in it to see what was there...



Now in this pictures, everything Brady is wearing is actually hot pink (her favorite color) but my mom photoshopped it becuase we thought it was too funny.

For those who haven't seen the movie, here are two clips from the movie that I am referring to.

The Trifecta

Karl has always been a great dad but one of the things I love that he does for me is bathing the girls. It is great time for the girls to bond with him and I get to clean up the dishes from dinner at the same time.



After the bath, he wraps them up in one of their fun towels with a hood. They have a few fun ones like a mermaid, kitty kat, monkey, duck, etc. They love running around the house in just their towels to come give mommy hugs. A lot of times Reese ends up with no towel on her head but just loves running around...



Well, tonight we were trying to get the girls into their PJs in Brady's room and Reese ran off (naked) into her room. By the time we made into her room to get her, Karl found the TRIFECTA!!! So the baby that had no diaper and that occasionally spits up if she has had traces of wheat, gave us the ultimate present. I will say it was the first time I had to clean up all three at the same time...

True colors shine through

One of my favorite things about being a mother is getting to learn the individual personalities of my children. Each day, week, month you learn something new about them. Once a baby starts walking, however, I believe a whole lot comes flying at you about their personality...they choose which toys to go play with, when to go to their parents legs and beg to be picked up, when they want to eat by going to their high chairs, etc.

So recently I have learned that Reese is a homebody, just like her Daddy. She is happiest at home when she can get  up and play with toys/books and roam around at her freewill. I have already had to stop in the middle of grocery shopping twice because it was better that Reese be at home. Also, she is a schedule baby...nap at 9:30, eat at 7:30, 11:30 and 5:00. If 5:00 hits and there is no food in front of her....WATCH OUT!

Well, here is the tough part, Brady and I love to be out and about everyday! So I am currently working on finding a balance of the mixture of personalities (as far as daily activities). How do I go out and about so Brady can get the social interaction she needs (since we still don't have friends down here yet) and yet stay home so Reese is in her happy comfort zone....hmmmmmmmmmmmmm...taking suggestions...

Wordless Wednesday: Guess who is glad Grandma came to visit...

To preschool or to not preschool...

Brady turns three in June which means I need to make that big decision this spring... do I want to send her to preschool this fall? This question as simple as it seems, has caused me to do several hours of self-reflecting, conversing with fellow mothers and Karl, and research. When is the right time for Brady to start preschool, which preschool is right for Brady, how many days a week is right for Brady?

• I ask myself all these questions, and then I try to make sure I am answering them for Brady's sole benefit and then people are telling me I should also consider the benefit of my time away from her and Reese's extra time one on one with me.


• I also ask do I want a preschool that has a great curriculum. Or a place that is average and that will give her a proper foundation for kindergarten...if the curriculum is too good will she be over prepared for kindergarten then be bored in kindergarten because she already knows everything?


• Do I want to pay some place to teach her all this stuff when I personally feel like she has gotten a great foundation at home. She still has 2 years until kindergarten so I can always wait another year. Am I 'ready to give her up'? Or do preschools provide a social benefit that I simply can't mimic at home?

Ok, so that was just a glimpse of the hours upon hours of thinking I have done about this first step towards education for Brady. Well, today I toured the Montessori School of Pensacola for a second time and I am ready to say I will be signing her up for the 2010-2011 school year. I am however only going to do two days a week even though they strongly suggest at least three days a week. The class she will be in has three to six-year olds, therefore she will have kindergarteners in her class and will be in the same classroom for kindergarten. I love this idea since we will be moving in the middle of her kindergarten year. So this will help make the transition a little more smooth...

Now that I have answered the question of the preschool or not to preschool...next up (to be answered in 3 years) will I get addicted to their philosophy and want to keep my girls in Montessori for grade school....to montesorri or to public school?

Reese's First Masterpiece

I bought finger paints the other day so that Reese could have the opportunity to paint like her big sister. I put Reese in our garden bath tub and left her do her thing. She had a good time. Here are a few pictures of the artist in action and then the final product...

FYI...easy way to follow blogs

My friend Tara has a blog that I love and read everyday. About a year ago she posted on her blog an easier to follow blogs (if you follow more than one) and I am so thankful for her tip. Now that I have a blog of my own,  I am going to pass the same great tip along. Hopefully it will help at least one person out and make your daily social networking a little easier...

So besides being able to sign up for email subscriptions to this blog that will inform you through email every time I submit a new post, there is a website that allows you to see all the new posts for all the blogs you follow on one page.

www.blogger.com   yes, it is the rival of wordpress.  I wanted to use them to do my blog but it messed up my photo website so I have to use wordpress for my blog.

Anyways, if you go to blogger.com you can sign up for an account or if you already have a google/gmail account you are all set. Just sign in and in the middle of the page, there is a section for "reading list" or blogs that you are following. So if you actively 'follow' a blogspot blog it will already show up. For all other blogs that you want to be on there, just copy and paste the website home address and add into your reading list.

Then everyday you can just check that one page and it will show you blurbs from news posts of each blog and then if you want to read the entire post you just click on the title...

I know I am not explaining it the best, but once you get in there and sign yourself up, you will love it...

ps-if I left something out of the explanation ask in a comment and I will reply with a comment to help you out!

Independence

Brady has been wanting to do more and more around the house. But the more we let her do the more she wants to do it all by herself.  I know that this isn't abnormal, she is a toddler testing her limits. We love watching her grow. Her latest thing is the dishwasher. Granted she has helped unload the dishwasher for well over a year now, but that would consist of her carrying whatever dish she picked up to me and I would put it in the appropriate spot. Now she wants to do every step from dishwasher to drawer. I love it, but obviously watch with the knives and get those out before she starts. Well, once we let that happen, not she wants to load the dirty dishes...I don't like touching them and didn't really want her touching them, but I don't want to say "NO" to an eager toddler wanting to contribute to the household chores.

So I washed all the dishes more than normal in the sink, placed them on the counter above the dishwasher so she could reach them. Brady dragged her stool over. And here is the result of her loading the dishwasher without Mommy's help...



Um,  I think she did as well as her Daddy does on some nights...

Wordless Wednesday: Choo-Choo

http://picasaweb.google.com/orthner/March2010#5444236550888647250

Eye Candy

I have always found my husband to be a very handsome man. With time,  I find that I think he is getting better and better looking.  For those of you that need a little reminder, here is a picture of Karl I took today...



Also, as many of you know Karl's sight isn't perfect, but good enough to only need to wear glasses when he is flying. I used to kid him that if he was wearing these glasses when I first met him,  I don't know that I would have dated him ;)



Well in the last year,  Karl realized that his vision was starting to affect him in his night-time driving of cars as well. So he decided to persue finding glasses besides the ones above to wear when not at work...Well today he came home with these (I didn't help him pick them out!)



Doesn't he look like he belongs in a Lenscrafters ad? Oh man, he is good-looking in these frames! I told him (to his surprise) today I think he is the cutest he has ever been!!! I didn't know that glasses could do that to me, I mean him...