"Take it to the bank"

Ever since we opened a savings account for the girls in January, Brady will point out the building as we drive by and say, "That's the bank, that's where my pennies are." The girls recently received a twenty dollar bill each from Grandma for Easter. So I decided to take them back to the bank so they could have the experience of depositing the money into their account. So both girls picked out a purse...



Then we headed off the to bank. They were so proud of themselves and their purses as they were walking into the bank. Reese kept holding her purse up for everyone to see and Brady kept sticking her hand inside to make sure her money was still there. (Very fitting of their personalities).



They did a great job waiting in line for their turn. I also gave them their member access card that they had to keep up with in their purse. I believe they enjoyed the responsiblity.



After depositing the money, Brady and Reese eagerly anticipated getting to have hand sanitizer. Yes,  I turned the teller's lollipops, but let Brady further her OCD tendencies by getting hand sanitizer!

The bank trip was lots of fun...I love it when fun comes from learning!

Bradyisms: Chapter 3

• 3/17/10: I was explaining to Brady that Mrs. Danielle was coming to our house since Mr. Jeff was out of town. Brady being the observant one, knew his truck was still in the driveway next  door. So she asked me "Did Mr. Jeff walk to town?"


• 3/23/10: We went to go see Cricket and Cody again today and Cody didn't have his collar on like he normally does. Brady asked me "Where is Cody's underwear?"


• 4/1/10: Brady politely asking for something over and over. It was one of those moments, I just couldn't place the word due to context. "I want ______ Bitty Baby". Well when I was finally able to put it all together she was asking for the video monitor to she her baby doll, Bitty Baby, whom was 'napping' in her bedroom with the door closed and the music on.


• 4/1/10: Brady-"What are you doing Mommy?" Me-"I am giving Reese medicine since she is breaking new teeth." Brady-"My teeth are broken,  I need medicine too!"

20 facts about the Orthners

Remember these are all dictated by  me (Christy)...

Karl:

1. Looks amazing in his new glasses, yes, I posted on this earlier, but I still can't get over it!

2. Currently coaches the softball team for his work.

3. Is an amazing husband and father, the more I am around other families and meet new people I realize that we really do have something special (and just so you know I am not saying this for brownie points, Karl doesn't read the blog).

4. loves the show "Big Bang Theory".

5. drinks a tall glass of chocolate milk every single day.

Christy:

6. loves to eat. Especially eating out!

7. thinks being a mother is best feeling in the world. Especially those hugs where their heads are nestled into my neck!

8. used to be able to function on no sleep at all...now I get an average of 9 hours of sleep a night.

9.  wishes I could travel more than I do. But doesn't mind the sacrifice since I get to be a stay at home mom.

10. I had the hardest time coming up with facts about myself. I love bragging about my family more!

Brady:

11. Still sucks her thumb.

12. Has the most compassion for other children I have ever seen in a 2-year-old.

13. Loves sticker books.

14. Enjoys people watching and discussing what those people might be doing.

15. Has only watched one movie ( Monsters Inc.)  in her life,  but she was watched it at least 8 times.

Reese:

16. Says please all the time, so much so I don't know what she is asking for. And says her own name but it comes out "Ice".

17. Says the name Elmo, Ernie, Abby, Cookie but she doesn't get to watch TV.

18. Is able to have conversations with Brady. Yesterday they had a 3 part exchange. It went like this:

Brady: You need to finish all your milk before you play. Reese: Grabs her milk and says "ilk" Brady: Do you play inside or outside? Reese: Looks outside and says "side" Reese: "dog" Brady: Reese, the dogs aren't outside right now, they are sleeping.

(I didn't translate for either of them for the entire exchange!)

19. is slowly turning into a Daddy's girl, when Karl gets home, she runs to him saying "dada dada dada" reaching up!

20. wears the same size clothes as her sister that is 18 months older than her!

How many of these facts did you already know?

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...