Catch Up Part One

Phew...it has been awhile since I have blogged. We have been quite busy and now that Ethan is on the go, we are constantly going. Remember when I said I wanted him to walk? Ok so now that I know he can, he could give me a breather. I am going to try and catch up as best I can. I thought I would start with the flower girl since there have been many requests for pictures and also on how it went.

Things to keep in mind when you have a toddler in a wedding:

1. Do not expect your child to know that this is the most important day of someone else's life. As in any day, they expect to be the center of attention, all things revolving around them.

2. Do not expect your child to pose for any picture. Admit it. You hate holding a grin on your face more than two times in a row. Imagine having to do this 100 times being tired and hungry with a strange man making goofy and annoying comments at you.

3. Do not expect your child to sit still. Do they sit still for extended amount of periods at home unless being visually stimulated? No. So how can you expect them to watch two people stand in front of room talking to each other about things you don't understand for longer that 3 minutes?

4. You need to make anything that looks like it could have a fun aspect to it fun. That includes having juice in a fancy cup ( a wine glass ), using the fancy accessories in the bathroom, ( a little hairspray never hurt anyone), lightly sticking their finger in the cake to taste the icing (only to have this be one of the few times the photographer can get them on film), playing hideseek under your table, and doing the enitre hokey pokey and chicken dance with everyone at the reception with the child in the center.

5. 2 key elements. Nap & Snack. In this case the ring bearer fell asleep under the head table with his legs sticking out under the table cloth, and the flower girl passed out while sitting on her Honeygram's lap. We also bribed for one more minute of good behavior with fruit snacks and pretzel sticks. (several times)

There are many more tips, perhaps I should write a book.

Kendall did great for being a flower girl. I totally kept in the forefront the reality of the situation and that is simply that she is 2. So with that fact out there, she did splendidly for 2. The rehersal went well. She walked down the aisle to Daddy hand in hand with the ring bearer, Roberto, with the thought of a princess as a reward for doing this as her motivation. At the dinner she was spotted digging her fingers into the cake for a little taste long before it was time for dessert, but a minor incident that was fixed with the spaghetti coming to her spot. I think the bottom line was that it was 8 p.m. and she was hungry and if that meant she sank her teeth into some cake, well thats what she had to do for nourishment. For her presents she was given a butterfly necklace and a little bracelet that had links the shape of little hearts. She was also given a tee shirt with her name on it with flower girl on the back in 'sparkles, mommy,' that she wore the morning of the wedding with all the other girls in their special tees. She also was given a willow tree of spring that has an angel holding flowers, much like a flower girl.

The following morning we went to meet the bridesmaids at the bride's home to ride to the ceremony in the limo to the ceremony and to also get ready with the girls. I think that once Kendall walked in and saw Heather in her gown it all finally made sense to her. So she eagerly got into her princess dress and joined the other princesses in the 'whimo.' This was a great treat for Kendall since she did not have to be in a car seat. For the first five minutes she sat very still next to Heather and then she warmed up to her surroundings and thought that this was the greatest opportunity in her short life thus far.

Kendall did o.k. for pre pictures in the bridal suite. She cooperated for a few and opted out of a few and when it was time to go to the ceremony site outside I think she started getting a bit overwhelmed. Roberto decided he wanted to walk down with his mom, a bridesmaid, and so he did. So I knelt down next to Kendall and pointed to Daddy when it was her turn and said, 'there is Daddy, go and get your princesses from him.' She excitedly said, ' I see him,' and took off down the aisle.

I hurried to me seat and as I sat, I heard laughter, and then heard Kendall cry. My parents later told me that Kendall had stopped mid way and must had heard the harp that was not at rehersal, she began to dance right there in the aisle and then when everyone laughed she froze and cried in embarassment. Andy went and scooped her up and the cries got louder. He handed her to my mom who had an aisle seat and then went to the back. After a few loud sobs she was quited down. It was a beautiful ceremony with a little memorial to Heather's mother who had passed away only a month before the wedding of cancer.

Roberto, the ring bearer

Kendall enjoying the bubbles post ceremony, about the only thing she enjoyed at that hour of the day

And here comes a major meltdown

After the ceremony there was group shots which Kendall and Roberto outright refused to participate in. It was an early morning for them and lunch and nap time was looming. We had some snacks in the suite to wait for the announcement of the bridal party and then I scooted out to my seat. Kendall loved the loud music and I was told by Andy that as she waited outside of the ballroom for her name to be announced she kept getting more and more excited. She was announced with the best man, her daddy, the maid of honor, and Roberto, and she came running in twirling and dancing around. Quickly after lunch Kendall fell asleep in Honeygram's arms.

When she woke up from her nap, about an hour later, she was a new woman. We asked the d.j. to put on the Hokey Pokey for her and she danced for about 2 hours until the end of the reception. She also loved the chicken dance.

Kendall dancing with Bruno, the groom

The puffy dresses. Kendall loved that she and Heather had on such puffy dresses. I love this shot of Heather's dress.

She still talks about the wedding when asked or reminded. So all in all it was a really fun day and a successful one for the two year old flower girl.

Oh and if you were wondering about E, he was at my aunts home playing all day, never the wiser that he was missing his sister's debut moment as a flower girl, which made the day so much easier for me.

Thanks Aunt Amy.

He can walk!

It's about time, huh? I think we have been waiting and saying he was going to walk any day now for about 3 months. I am so glad he is walking, the whining has reduced by 50%, its wonderful. (even though he is coming up the stairs, whining right now, upset I am sure about something that isn't worth being upset about...oh and here comes his sister right behind him, gotta love it.)

I thought I might blog about E today since I am about to download some pictures from the wedding on Saturday, and they are going to be all about Kendall. He deserves a blog to himself also.

Ethan has got his second top front tooth coming in and it has made for miserable sleeping. He has his two eye teeth already. They came in first, so for awhile there he resembled Baby Dracula, or Eddie Munster, as I called him.

As far as speech goes, he is getting pretty good. He LOVES to say words that end in 'ck', so he says, sock, duck, truck, quack, stuck, book, (ok that one doesn't end in ck, but sounds similar), rock, and I can't think of anymore right now.

Here is a little clip of his showing us his favorite book. It is a book about farms and all the things on a farm. He only loves the pages with a tractor or truck on it right now.

He is in love right now with anything truck related. When walking in and out of the car, if a large truck speeds by he stops, turns in the direction of the truck whizzing by and yells,'TRUCK!!', while shaking excitedly.

His best friend is of course, his sister, and he just loves to be into everything she is into. This at times frustrates her to no end but other times she loves to show him new things.

I cannot believe how fast he is growing. He is such a sweet and energetic little boy and now that he is on the go, there is no stopping him!

Ok and I couldn't resist. Here is a video of Kendall singing a new song she learned.
It is. 'Where is Thumbkin' for those who can't understand her.

Our Friend Filled Weekend

We had a pretty busy weekend which is always good for wearing them out and also keeping them pretty happy since all activities were for the most part, kid-friendly.

Saturday we woke to Daddy being away celebrating Bruno's Bachelor Party. This coming weekend is Heather & Bruno's wedding and Andy will be the Best Man and Kendall is the Flower Girl. Her dress is adorable and if she cooperates for one picture, I will be happy. Andy has got his work cut out for him though. It will be him who will have to get her to pose for pictures, since he will most likely be in them with her. So he will have to be in her good graces all day long. Which is somewhat difficult since 2 years old can, as you have read, be testy and temperamental. I plan on buying her these little princess dolls that she has had her eye on. I wanted to give them to her for being potty trained,when we really get on her about this, but I believe they come in a pack of 8, so 4 can be kept for that 'special moment.' I was planning on giving two to Andy to stuff in his pockets so that I can say, 'Daddy has some princess dolls in his pocket, go and get them,' and send her on down the aisle. And they are small enough that he can give them to her to look at while they are up there, without being a distraction. And if she becomes one, hopefully I will have a front row seat so that I can grab her and play with her in my seat. The ceremony will be short and sweet, so I think she might actually make it.

But back to this weekend, since Andy had the Bachelor Party, I headed down with the kids to my parents since we would be meeting some friends there, but also because we had church and a birthday party down there on Sunday as well, so it only made sense to save on gas and just stay over.

So once we got there my dearest friend Kellie came over with her two girls, Emma & Meghan. (her hubby Scott was also at the Bachelor Party) Meghan is the same age as Kendall and Emma is 4. The three of them get a long pretty well with Emma leading the way. We ate some Happy Meals together and then headed over to the Kids Castle in Doylestown.


The kids had a lot of fun there. They had a "Touch a Truck" activity set up for kids. All the township's vehicles were on display for exploration. So there were dump trucks, a trash truck, loaders, backhoes, an ambulance, lawnmowers, and a bunch of other, 'worker guys', things. Ethan loves looking at them but was a little bit nervous about going in them, that is my nervous nellie for you. The horns were honking, kids were screaming, it really was a little boys dream come true, and I think the girls enjoyed themselves too. In the castle the girls and Ethan, with a little help, raced around in and out, up and down. At times they were so fast and the castle is so big the grown ups would have to split up to find someone who had raced up some ladder or incline not waiting for the group. Kendall loves the big slide that is there. It is a twisty slide that goes down from the top of the castle. In one part of it, it is pitch black and you are going around and around and Kendall insists upon going down by herself. You can hear her giggle echo all the way to the bottom.

After we came home everyone played, Ethan slept for a little bit, while Aunt Michelle gave all the little girls manis and pedis.I don't think during the entire day there were any tears from anyone. Well until it was time for Emma & Meghan to go home. Everyone was overtired, and Kendall can get quite nasty when tired. Emma wanted so much to give Kendall a hug and a kiss goodbye and Kendall just would not do it. She would run away and say, 'nope,' knowing that this was upsetting Emma more and making Emma cry even harder. Poor Emma. In the end Emma didn't get her kiss and Kendall was quite sad when she left saying, 'I was so mean, I sorry.' Well too little too late. Lesson Learned.

Later that night my Mom, Michelle, Ethan, and I went shopping for my Mothers Day gift. (a dress to wear to the wedding this weekend). Kendall stayed and played with Pop Pop. The trip was successful, and Ethan and Kendall went to bed WAY best their bedtimes at 11 p.m.!!!

On Sunday we went to church. Ethan slept through the service and Kendall went to Sunday School with all of her friends. We then went back to Mom Mom and Pop Pops and waited to go to Molly and Brynn's 3rd Birthday Party. Kendall would not nap for fear that she might miss it. Kendall LOVES playing with her cousins and did this for the entire day and into the night.We even lost her a few times as she raced around playing with everyone and everything. The girls got princess outfits for their birthdays so the three of them decided to dress up and Kendall and Brynn stayed in these outfits for most of the evening. Ethan also loved playing all day.

The Girls: Kendall, Molly & Brynn in their favorite spot of the night, the dessert table.

Ethan's best friend is his Pop Pop and when he knows he is going to see his Pop Pop or just saw him he will repeat over and over again, 'Pop!' He will whisper it an entire way to their house if I tell him we are going to see Pop Pop. So the majority of his weekend was spent with Pop Pop. When he sees Pop Pop after being away from him for a mere 5 minutes, he will act as if he hasn't seen him in weeks and make this silly face while either crawling really fast to him, or screaming for him.

The "Come Here Pop!" Face

So today I got the time to type this blog as Ethan sits and plays with his trucks and Kendall has slept in. It is now 10 a.m. and I think I am going to let Ethan go and wake her.

Happy Monday...we are going to get some good naps today!

Why?

Kendall has begun asking, Why? This started on Friday and has produced no signs of ceasing. On Saturday morning, as I was attempting to get her dressed, the conversation went like this:
M: Kendall, please come up here so you can get dressed.
K: Why?
M: Because we are going to Mom Mom & Pop Pops.
K: Why?
M: Because Mommy is bored.
K: Why?
M: Because Daddy isn't home.
K: Why?
M: Because he is at Bruno's Bachelor Party.
K: Why?
M: Because he is the best man and Bruno and Heather are
getting married.
K: Why?
M: Because that is what you do when you love each other
a lot.
K: Why?
M: Because that is the way God designed it.
K: Oh, he designed it?
M: Yes! Now please get up here and get ready.
K: Why?
M: I told you why, now move it!

I have been trying to just adjust to these multiple why questions with each conversation I have with her and be patient keeping in mind that this is how she is going to figure out some things, but man, does it drive me crazy!

Tantrums R' Us

ugh.


Nothing makes me more tense then hearing my child whine and/or cry for no good reason.

Or what i deem is, no good reason. Waking up from a nap and crying bc your pillow is vertical instead of horizontal is, no good reason.

Yesterday at Target we experienced another episode quite like this one bc she wanted to be in the cart not out, and then not in the cart but walking, not walking but holding on to the side.And it spirals downward from there.

Some would say, 'well Melissa, don't give her an option, you tell her she is in the cart.' or others might say, 'this is her only way of communicating right now, you need to get down on her level.'

puhlease.

Is there a right way with a two year old?

Oh and i love this one: if your child tantrums in the store you simply desert your cart and leave. Ok. and who's being punished then? Because it wasn't Ethan who said, 'Hey you know Mommy, I am in real need of some diapers, could we go to Target and pick some up?' And it certainly wasn't Kendall who opened the fridge saw we were out of milk and decided we need to go to the store get some since she really needs a glass of milk.As they are acting out in the store am I supposed to say,'Hey, you better knock that off or Mommy isn't going to get her tampons because we are going to leave!!' Because I am sure that is a real threat to them. If I were to leave the store in the midst of tantrums it would be just what they wanted because no child enjoys being restrained in a cart, or forced to walk aisle upon aisle to stock up on 'grown up stuff,' because my children have no idea that toys could actually come home with us from the store. They still think that they are just there to look at, and that the people who must live at this store play with them. (so I may have the upper hand with that one) So bottom line, I need these things that are at the store, and I am not leaving to try and come back later. Have you tried to 'come back later' with two toddlers. By the time you get home you have had it.

And I have since learned that raising my voice does not work on anyone in my house but the cat, Lily. Both Ethan and Kendall, are much like their father and immune voices being raised. They all look at me as if I am speaking in a normal tone with no urgency or threat involved. That should work out really well when they are teens.

And so as we are checking out after moving at warp speed around Target, the cashier is saying, 'oh my...oh my goodness, well someone isn't happy, oh wow...' Over and over. And my inner voice is just about ready to scream out at her, 'hey lady, just do your job and check me out !' And then of course she would have thought or said, 'hmm...I wonder where they get it from?' But her comments were actually more annoying then the shrieking coming from my cart. She might as well been wearing a sticker that said, I don't have any kids.

So I have found when nothing else works, ignorance is the best medicine for my nerves. I just let the tantrum happen sometimes and in the end sometimes that is more conducive then putting them in time out over and over again.

There have been more humorous moments then negative in the day this week and for that I am grateful. Kendall wore pull ups this week because she has begun to become a little more "aware" of what is going on. Not only that she wants these princess dolls for being a good girl and going on the potty. The humorous part about this is not that she actually goes in the pull ups more than on the potty, she calls her pull ups, hula hoops. To her it must have sounded like hula hoops when I told her she had on her pull ups, and so she is telling everyone she is wearing, 'hula hoops.'

Kendall also has a doll house that she plays with a lot, so of course Ethan is going to be interested in anything her sister puts so much time and effort into. However, Ethan is only interested in playing with the little toilet it comes with. So as Kendall sits and plays with the house, Ethan can always be found with the potty in his hands.

And lastly, Kendall has a cabbage patch at my mom's that can come in the bath. She has named this doll Nancy. But Kendall thinks that Nancy's expression is quite odd, and she said to me, 'Mommy, Nancy smiles like this.' It is hilarious because it looks just like a cabbage patch smile. So upon request when she is asked how Nancy the doll smiles, she gives us this...

Now I am off to hunt down someone who is whining about something ridiculous.
Have a great weekend.

The Library

Kendall LOVES the library. We go at least once a week for browsing, drop offs, playing, and picking out new books and movies, and then on most weeks a second day for story time or play time with other kids their ages. If you have a library near you that offers kids programs, you should look into it, Kendall and Ethan love this time. The story time is just about a half hour with music games in between, and each week they get excited to walk in their 'classroom.'

This past Saturday we spent some time there and Kendall was so excited because she had all the toys to herself, well she had to share with her brother, but it seems as though we went during everyone's nap time on a rainy Saturday. I was relieved there were no other kids there because I didn't want to have Ethan flip out bc he had to stay in the stroller and not interact bc I was fearful he was contagious since he wasn't acting like himself that day, and they doctor had thought he might get what Kendall had. So he was able to run free, well, crawl free.

Kendall as I have said before loves books, and Ethan is growing fonder of them with each story time and time spent on my lap reading to him. His favorite is an interactive book about horses. No idea what appeals to him about this because he is scared of real horses.

The children's librarian is named Ms. Biddle (perfect librarian name, I know) and since Kendall has learned her name, she shouts upon entering the kid zone, 'I here Ms. Biddle' whether Ms. Biddle is there or not. This woman even looks like a librarian. If I were to see her somewhere other than the library I would know that her profession was a librarian. She even knows each of the kids by name...and of course likes to reiterate over and over again the importance of not letting your children watch ANY t.v. and just read, read, read. Well, Ms. Biddle, we have failed you in that area. How else would I keep my sanity on some days?

On the sick front it seems as though everyone has escaped the worst of it, but good old mommy. I have had this stomach virus thing for the past three days, killing my appetite and making me just feel yucky. (no, I am not pregnant, not only that it would be impossible to feel anything since it would be way to early for symptoms. but never the less, whenever i have stomach illnesses everyone gasps and asks, are you pregnant? NO! can't a girl be sick??!?) On the bright side, maybe I will drop a few more pounds. Ethan again has a runny nose, cold stuff going on, I think that was his end of Kendall's illness. He has a hoarse voice which I tell him is from crying/whining too much.

Ethan got his one year immunizations yesterday, finally! They were put off again, and again, and again, from his ear infection. It has finally cleared, the threat of tubes put off for at least one more infection, and he has got his boo-boo patches. He was so mad after he got his shots that he swatted at the nurse and growled at her. I think we have got a temper on the rise. And Kendall asked when it was over, 'are we done Mommy?' and I answered, 'yes.', to which she replied, 'good, let's get out of here!'

Today we are off to the, you guessed it, library, for story time, then to good old target for some bum supplies, and random things I remember I need, and then hopefully some naps.

Now how am I going to make this hair presentable?!?!

Kendall INSISTS upon wearing her friend Meghan's jammies every night! We had to borrow jammies one night and now every time I get them through the wash and she spots them she is reminded of them and shouts, 'I wear Meghan's jammies to sleep!!!' I think I now have to hide them and then try to remember where I stashed them so I can return them the next time we see them.

I don't feel good...

Kendall has taken up residence in our bed because, she doesn't feel good. She woke up Wednesday night with 103 fever. It got so high at one point that she was seeing dogs run around her room, and polka dotted balls bouncing off our walls. It was scary and funny at the same time. She was so very alert for 1 a.m., and I just knew she wasn't having a dream, she had a fever and it was making her see things. I took her to the doctor first thing yesterday morning and her ears were clear and it looked like she might have some sores on the back of her throat. He said to continue with the tylenol and that she has a virus and that it is no longer contagious since she has broken out with the sores, but that Ethan most likely is carrying it. yuk. So we shall see if he breaks out with a fever in the next couple of days. Kind of puts a damper on the weekend. But so far they have the same energy and food consumption levels as before. However, Kendall has learned how to milk an illness and woke up again last night and I went in and said what I usually say to her 5 out of 7 nights a week (she is a TERRIBLE sleeper), 'Kendall, it isn't morning time, go back to sleep,' and she turned to me and said, ' I don't feel good, I sleep in your room.' I asked her where she didn't feel good, and she responded, 'my elbow.' So needless to say I scooped her up and brought her in, because what if she really didn't feel good? She has got us wrapped around her finger.

UPDATE: Upon waking Kendall announced, 'I feel good today.'

In other events, it seems as though the landscapers are again attempting to give us some grass in the patchy areas. Do they not realize our soil is embedded with rocks and needs to be tilled? Well whatever, it is keeping Ethan busy as he stands and watches them work. So when they come back and have to do it over again, he again will get to be busy watching them and I can get some things done as he yells 'Tractor!' and 'Truck!' Over and over again.

Gumballs

What's your candy of the day? Ours are gumballs. Kendall LOVES them. She is also pretty good at letting me know when it has lost its 'favor', (flavor) and will throw it out. She also needs to be reminded that E can't chew them yet, but I still have to watch her like a hawk before they go into her mouth, she likes to show him some sympathy.
His face says,

'I know I wasn't supposed to have this, so I will pretend I don't have it in my mouth.'

Mom Mom (Mom)

I have always adored time spent with my Mom Mom. Her and I are a lot alike. We are both silly, adventurous, random, and nosey. When I was younger I spent a good amount of my time at her house, and always felt as though it was my second home and really attached myself to her.My parents were young still working to establish themselves and a good home for us. My mom was in nursing school and my dad working as an apprentice, so Mom Mom helped the best way she knew how, and would watch after me when they needed her to through much of my toddler and preschool years. I have learned how to cook from her, how to take care of and love animals from her, how to make a home from her, how to just be goofy and not care what anyone thinks from her, a lot of random things like ride a bike, swim, roller skate, plant a garden, run a race, swing on a swing, and so on, and the importance of family from her. She has a presence about her that just makes me comfortable, and when I am in her home it is that feeling that you just want to curl up sip on some tea and fall asleep in the hammock, it is that kind of comfort I get from her.

My Mom Mom will drop anything if I need her and is always thinking of little ways to help me, from doing my laundry when the pile has reached its limit, sewing dress ups back together, will scrub and scrub to get the worst of stains out of my favorite shirt of Kendall's, watching my kids so that I can run here or there, making tuna casserole for me when I have had dental surgery and she knows that I will not want to cook for my family and also won't be able to really chew much.She has gone above and beyond for me.

My Mom Mom is 72 and still keeps up with her yard work on her 10 acre farm, has only a little bit left of the Appalachian Trail to hike, just climbed to the top of a 20 foot tree yesterday to attach a cable to it and the ground because it was leaning and threatening to fall, goes and works out every other day, is the first to roll down a grassy hill to show Kendall how to do it, plays golf at least once a week, and the adventures don't end there.

She is a fine example to my kids that possibilities are endless. That an adventure can be found around any corner. That each day can be more fun than the last. To conquer fears and to live life to its fullest.For my 16th birthday she gave me a gift to fly in a bi-plane with an open cock pit with my best friend because I wanted to do flips in the sky in a plane. I was able to do just that. For her 65th birthday she took a hot air balloon ride.

Each week I try to get to Mom Mom & Pop Pop's home and spend the day there. Kendall and Ethan are already learning so much from her. Kendall is also goofy which is only brought out more when she is at Mom Mom's, her Mom Mom Mom. Kendall is also following in Mom Mom's sense of adventure and loves to take hikes in the 'forest,' and explore something new. They have recently made a play house in the trees on her property making rooms, furniture, and appliances out of rocks, logs, and things found outside. It is quite a little home and Ethan and I were able to come for 'dinner' yesterday, as long as I brought the butter, (dandelions with the stem taken off), for the corn on the cob (pine cones). We had that, some roast beef, (pieces of bark), and some salad, (moss), and ate with our forks, (sticks). Ethan was found with Mom Mom after Kendall and I had eaten our delicious dinner, in the corner of thier property overlooking a road just watching the cars go by. In typical boy fashion he would hoot and holler when a truck went by; the bigger the truck, the louder the scream. Ethan was also enamored by the fish in the pond and sat for close to an hour watching them feed. Mom Mom takes the simplest things and turns them into the most interesting things. The kids are usually exhausted by the end of the day and Kendall will talk about her many adventures with Mom Mom Mom until the next time we go there.



There are lots of animals there and Ethan has attached himself to the dog Jack, and he and Jack are usually found together as Jack sees it has his responsibility to watch over Ethan. They even have a nap time together. Kendall loves Elmo and Meghan, the donkeys, and thinks that it is her job to make sure they are fed and taken care of while she is there. I think they are just Kendall's speed. Not as big or as fast as a horse, she goes right into their fenced area with no fear. It is also Kendall's 'job' while she is there to feed all the animals their dinner. I think this makes her feel pretty special since they all flock to her while she is feeding them and she spends time with each of them petting them, calling them by name, and taking notice if one is missing.



Needless to say, I have many childhood memories that involve my Mom Mom and I know my kids will now have the same. They are so blessed to have some pretty awesome and hands on grandparents to spoil them, love them, and teach them all there is to know. Mom Mom is just one of them, but as you can see, she is pretty special and worth mentioning today.

Our Beautiful Day

We have been truly spoiled this week in regards to the weather. Spring has arrived and we love it! The kids and I have spent most of our days outside running around in our crocs, flip flops, tees, and crop pants. Today was the best day of the week so far and tomorrow is supposed to be even warmer, do I dare dress them in shorts?. All the windows were open, the sun again shining so bright! I almost didn't mind that Ethan only took an hours nap today. (argh)

Today we had breakfast and walked, well I walked, they wagoned it, on the trails to the 'castle park,' as Kendall likes to call it. We met our friends there and the time flew by. I looked at my watch and could not believe it was lunch time already! Ethan of course still is terrified of the swings. Some say, well perhaps he doesn't like that feeling in his tummy. Perhaps. But I rock him everday and not only that if you could see how his daddy whips him around and throws him in the air Ethan laughing hysterically the entire time, you might think differently and be as puzzled as me. Then there are some that say, well he is afraid of heights. But then sit him on the highest of slides, and he will go down all by himself. Ethan just doesn't like swings. Alright fine. I won't torture him anymore. But I loved the swings and Kendall loves to go so very high, and yells, 'under dog, mommy, under dog, HIGHER, HIGHER!' She is very brave in regards to almost everything. She will try everything at least once.







I forgot the sunscreen. Didn't even think once about it until about 10 minutes before we left, way too late. Their cheeks have now been christened by the sun. A healthy look that in fact isn't very healthy at all. So I got some new sunscreen tonight at good old Target, and placed it in the back pack.





photos were taken after dinner, and after some really yummy oreos!

Kendall has been giving me a hard time about bathtime all week. She begs me each night not to give her one, and then cries and cries while in it. Not sure what is going on there. There are no visible boo-boo's anywhere on her body, so I think this might be a phase. But playing outside all day leaves them oh so dirty, so I endure the crying for 5 minutes while I scrub her down. We are just about to go upstairs for a bath now. I have given her some notice, and of course, she said, 'no thanks, mommy.' At least she has some manners.

Tomorrow we have a playdate with some new friends, and Kendall and I are going to make some chocolate chip cookies after E goes to bed to bring, and we also just purchased some new sidewalk chalk to share with them as well. (also, of course purchased at Target, was there shopping done before Target, I can't remember, I love it there, there and Gap and Old Navy online, they have suckered me in)