[Addi and Libby cleaning up after I let them play "office" - pull out all our surplus office supplies, throw them on the kitchen table and let their little imaginations go to town]
Addi: Libby you are not helping me clean up!
Libby: YES, I am!
Addi: No, you're not! Do you want me to tell Mommy and get you in the doghouse?!
Last night, Bryan and I painted the town red!
Or, at least as red as we could get it for 2 Thirty-Somethings with 2 kids and one on the way drving a minivan!
So, really more a shade of pale, pale pink.
We met another couple for dinner at N9NE Steakhouse and, let me just tell you, this pregnant stay-at-home mom was feeling oh-so-out-of-place amid all the "Dallas Big Hair", 4-inch heels, and 4-inch miniskirts. But they had food and food makes me happy. Plus, the girls spent the night with my grandparents and, as any stay-at-home mom would agree, a night (every once in a while) without kids is like a spa vacation.
The girls were wired and ready for a Night o' Fun when Bryan and I dropped them off last evening. Maybe a little too wired since they didn't go to sleep until 11:30. Apparently there was lots of waking in the night also. According to Addi, "Libby needed to sleep by herself because she kept waking me up hundreds of times!"
Did I mention it was their first time to share a bed?!
My grandmother did say that she left the bathroom light on for them, but wasn't sure they really needed it because they certainly knew their way to her room. Don't worry though, "John just slept right through it all." I couldn't help chuckling and stating that "somehow the men are always able to sleep 'through it all'!" I have a feeling Meme is snoozing as I type this catching up some of her lost sleep courtesy of the Parker twosome :)
That's exactly what the twosome's doing. Each in their own beds this time.
It warms my heart that my children will have memories of their great-grandparents. These are my mom's parents and they lived about 5 minutes from the house I grew up in. My brother and I were their only grandchildren for quite some time and they spoiled us rotten. Papa always used to try and get us to say we were "mean and rotten". Meme would always say, "No, you're not. Tell Papa you're sweet and precious." Of course, we always told Papa we were "sweet and precious" I remember this going on with my cousins also and was happy to hear Libby tell me today she was "sweet and precious", but "Papa mean and rotten!"
I don't know that Meme and Papa will ever be up to keeping the girls for us again, but we so appreciated that they did last night.
Addi has been very frustrated lately by her sister. Libby copies everything Addi does. Everything.
A few times I've asked Addi to answer a certain way because I knew Libby would also give me the same answer. For instance, I might ask, "Addi, would you like peas?" And she, obediently, answers, "Yes!" I can almost be guaranteed the same answer from Libby.
Obviously there has to be a little bit of secrecy for this to work.
And, obviously, I realize this favorable situation is not going to last forever, so I'm taking full advantage while I can. I've learned a few tricks over my almost 5 years of mothering.
Now, Addi has taken to telling me her answer to any question in secret, quickly adding, "but don't tell Libby. I don't want her to copy me." For instance, at lunch today, I asked the girls if they wanted some chips with their sandwiches and strawberries. Libby immediately said she did. Addi ran to me and whispered, "No, but don't tell Libby. I don't want her to copy me."
Ooookay.
I've also learned not to point out that while Libby might fall for the pea trick (only because Libby really does like peas), it wouldn't really matter what Addi had to say about say chips or candy or ice cream. Libby knows good junk food when she sees it and any adoration she feels for her sister isn't going to change what's in her blood:
Chips trump peas any day of the week!
I feel the need to explain Addi's hair...she loves that neck-warmer/scarf thing and only wears it on her head. It isn't something I ever put in her hair, but sometimes I have to choose my battles :)
a picture of a goof-ball:
and a picture of a princess:
When I picked Libby up and out of her bed after her nap today, I noticed her nose was all bloody. She really wasn't concerned, but to console her Addi said, "It's okay, Libby. Whenever I pick A LOT of boogers my nose bleeds too!"
Libby got these markers in her Easter basket this year. Really, I only bought them because I was buying Addi some markers and Libby had just started wanting everything Addi had.
Addi's were regular sized and had a different color on each end. Last week we had to throw hers away because they no longer had any color left to them.
So, Libby has been graciously sharing her markers. (I think Libby would share anything with Addi as long as it meant she got to spend time with her.)
The past two mornings, the girls have camped out in the playroom with lap trays and the bag of markers between them.
About now is when you're thinking I'm crazy.
She lets her 23-month old loose with markers!?
Yes, I do. I like to live on the edge.
You see, these markers are better than any other markers we've ever had. They're small, they last, and (the best part) they are completely washable.
Believe me, we've tested their washable-ness. Yesterday, Libby coated her arms, legs, and hands in green. A wet paper towel took care of the mess. Then again, last night she got after her belly with red and brown. I threw her in the bath and within 30 seconds, you could see no trace of marker. And that was with no scrubbing or even soap. She's also tried jazzing up the wood floors...wiped right up.
Addi's happy with them, Libby's happy with them, I'm happy with them. We may buy stock in Crayola Pip-Squeaks
Bryan's grandparents gave this obnoxiouscute keyboard for Addi at Christmas of 2003. It has needed new batteries since January of 2004. The other night, Libby dragged it into the living room and hoisted it onto the couch. At that point, Bryan irrationallywisely thought to replace those Duracells. After all, he reasoned she might possibly be a musical genius. We quickly gave up our dreams of raising the next Bach as we learned her favorite mode of performance is to jump on the keys.
The other night, a friend dropped by and surprised us with doughnuts. Addi couldn't wait for breakfast the next morning. She woke up early and made her way downstairs to prepare breakfast for the rest of us. Bryan found all the doughnuts cut up and scattered on various plates. As appetizing as the picture may look, I must admit the sweet pastries lost some of their appeal in that presentation, especially since a few had bite marks. Addi watches Food Network like it's Disney Channel. I think she has a ways to go before we start saving for culinary school.
I wanna say Happy Father's Day to my wonderful husband who has lived up to the High Daddy Standards set for him long ago by my dear father. Bryan, you make me love you more every time I see you with our daughters. Dad, thank you for setting those standards so high. You are incredible. And, of course, Chris, thank you for being such a great daddy to Bryan. We are truly blessed people in the 4 Texans household.
The main ingredients in my recipe for a Summer O' Fun include:
I think I'm as prepared as a momma can be to dive head-first into the deep-end that is summer. It's sink or swim time and I'll be swimming sans floaties.
Have you had enough of the analogies?! I will try and resist any more that pop into my head, but really they're the most clever things to be posted on this blog in a good 6 weeks :) Here's hoping, for you, my blog-break was good for my creativity.
Back to the topic at hand...this summer...and distractions diversions entertainment.
Until this past weekend we had a well-used play set that included 2 swings, 1 baby...ahem, Toddler (as Addi reminds anyone who dares refer to Libby as a mere baby, "She! Is! A! TODDLER!") swing, a trapeze bar, and a glider swing. Saturday, we inherited a gently-used playset with a "rock" wall and a ladder, a bumpy slide and a twirly slide, a platform, a bench with picnic table, 2 swings and a glider swing. Quite the upgrade, as you can imagine!
It is worth hours upon hours of entertainment for both girls and will be a welcome relief to my ears from hearing Libby yell repeatedly, "MomMyy! OutSIIIIDE! Sing! Side! OutSIIIIDE! MomMyy! MOMMY!" Bryan's made plans to use all the mulched up wood, from the 9 stumps he will be grinding any day now, around it. And our old swing set went next door to our neighbors' backyard. My neighbor runs a home daycare and told me this morning that the swing set was a hit yesterday. All the parents came in telling her that their children couldn't stop talking about the swings. It's a win-win(uhh,-win-win).
Once we get the toddler swing, telescope and pirate's wheel added, I may not be able to drag the girls back InSIIIIDE!
If you know us, or have read more than this post, you know that we recently spent a week and a half in Texas. All of our family lives in Texas, most in the DFW Metroplex. We flew into DFW airport and over the course of a week or so, saw almost all of our family members.
You may think that is the torture I am referring to.
Of course not. Depleting all our Vacation Fund to spend time in the not-so-tropical-or-mountainous area of Dallas is really our idea of a relaxing trip. Seriously, we love being able to spend time with family and are thankful that our girls get this opportunity a couple times a year.
The torture I'm talking about began when we stepped off that plane a few weeks ago and will end...when...when will it end?!
You see our daughters spent all that time in Texas surrounded by grandparents. 24 hours a day of complete spoiling...Cookies for breakfast...New clothes...McDonald's every other day...New outfits...Dessert every night...New dresses...No naps...New swim suits...Movie after movie...
Anything a little girl could want was doled out in excess.
And, that's fine. That's what grandparents are for. At least, that's what my mom says. We've done that before and after a week or two of detox, the girls are back to normal and no longer demand their heart's desires.
However, this trip was different. This trip ended for Bryan, Libby, and me 6 days before it ended for Addi. She stayed with my parents for 3 days and Bryan's parents for 3 days all by herself. At one point, my dad was bragging on her by telling me that she never whined or complained about anything. To which I felt compelled to ask if she was ever told "No". My dad's reply: Of course not!
I think you're catching on.
Bryan's parents flew back with Addi last Thursday and have been our guests since then. I don't know if Libby remembers life without a grandparent around. And Addi doesn't want to.
They will leave in a few days and I will begin the systematic process of un-spoiling my children. Although necessary, it is not something to which I look forward. It could be a long summer around our house.
Recently some of our best friends decided they would start blogging again.
Dress-up has been a long time favorite play activity for Addi. Recently, Libby has really started enjoying all the glamour and now I'm not sure who's name to call out when I hear the clunking on my wood floors :)
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