Stress for the Dress

So, I'm trying to pick out a coordinating Easter outfit for Andrew and Madelyn. Apparently it's not as easy as it looks. I've got three ideas- green, blue, and pink. What do you like? I'm planning to go shopping on Saturday!

The Green Option

The Blue Option

The Pink Option

(This has a white sweater vest with brown piping and a pink button down, but it got deleted and I'm too lazy to upload it back)

Waiting...

Jason had a business trip in Lake Tahoe this weekend and he invited me to go, and who am I to turn down a trip? We loaded up the kids to meet Mom and they headed to Conway. They have been there since Saturday and we are ready to see them! Thankfully, we're getting them back tomorrow. I don't know what to do in this spotlessly clean house! (I scrubbed it down before we left on Sunday-after dropping off the kids!) Here are some pictures of Andrew and Madelyn and some of the fun they have been having in Conway.

Catching Up....Valentines, 3 months, and a sick boy

We had a very nice Valentine's day. Jason and I got a babysitter for Friday night and went and ate at Bordino's. We haven't been there in forever- they don't have high chairs! Saturday we just hung out and let the kids open their gifts, because Sunday is always such a busy day. Madelyn was totally into it! Ha!

Andrew really enjoyed his Sesame Street Valentine's gift. He got Elmo foaming soap, Elmo bath drops, an Elmo book, an Elmo movie, and a stuffed Oscar the Grouch. The boy LOVES Elmo!
Jason read Andrew his new book.

Then, Andrew helped Madelyn open her Valentine gift.

She loved her new clothes!

Andrew really enjoyed his bath with his new color changing bath drops.

He splashed and splashed!

Madelyn turned 3 months old on the 13th. She is doing just great! She loves to suck on her fist and she is just the happiest girl- always smiling and laughing! She is such an easy baby girl!

I kept trying to get her to smile for a picture, but she wouldn't! She also has started pulling her bows out. I am kind of surprised at that! That's why her hair looks so wild!

Still no smile. It's surprising, but typical I guess, because you can usually just say her name and she grins and wiggles all over and starts cooing.

Andrew passed out in the bed the other night. I had been feeding M and we were watching Elmo (as always) and he just was out! Turns out, he has a virus. He has had a VERY upset stomach and cough and congestion. Thankfully, he is not dehydrated and he does not have pneumonia like they thought. He's just taking some antibiotics and trying to get better. Poor boy!

More changes for us!

No, not another baby! We're quite content with just the two! Ha! This is more of a career change in my department. Ever since Madelyn was born I explained to Jason that there was no way I was going back to work if I couldn't take Madelyn with me. Easier said then done seeing how I am a kindergarten teacher. I also know that being a stay-at-home-mom is just not my specialty, so I was kind of at an impass. Well, the week that Madelyn was born I found out that the director position was open at Andrew's school, which happens to be at our church. The funny thing about that is that I had told Jason that being the director would be my "dream job"! I was approached by some church members to consider the position, but obviously I was having a baby that week and so my thoughts were kind of consumed! Before Christmas I spoke to my pastor and let him know that I was very interested in the position and would love to interview for it. After the new year- and all the snow days- the interview process started. They were very tough interviews, including one where I taught the staff inservice. Jason and I prayed very hard that God's will would be done for our family, because we really felt that this would be the best thing for us. I would be able to be with my kids all day and do a job that I love. Plus, I would have some flexibility that I didn't have with my current job. So, yesterday I found out that I was chosen for the director position!!! I am so thrilled to be able to do this job and be there for my kids at the same time. The most difficult part was telling my principal and assistant principal that I would be resigning from my position. I was very nervous to tell them, but it could not have gone better. They said that I would be missed, but they understood that this was the right thing for me to do for my family. In the meantime I am working on a letter of resignation and getting prepared to start in as director March the first. I am so excited, because I am going to get to design the curriculum for the preschool, which is something that I absolutely love doing! I am also looking forward to being on staff at our church, which I love! So, more changes around our house, but definitely for the better!

A Weekend Away!

This weekend we decided to take our family to Gaston's. We've been a little stir crazy with all the snow (and the new snow that is coming today) so it was a great time to go. I will have to say that I wasn't to thrilled about the idea the day of, because it had been a pretty crazy week. In fact I was down right mad, because the house wasn't cleaned the food I had planned to cook wasn't cooked, and we got a much later start then we had planned. About an hour and a half down the road, I heard Andrew say, "Gracey all done car." I just kind of ignored him, but he kept repeating, "Gracy all done car, Mommy." So I turned around and this is what I saw..

Gracey had decided that she was going to join Andrew and Madelyn in the back seat!
I just died laughing and said "Oh, Gracey." She took that as an invitation to hop on over and plopped down in between Andrew and Madelyn.

This is how she rode for the rest of the trip!

When we got to the cabin, I attempted to get a picture of Andrew and Madelyn together, but he wasn't going to have any of that. He was too busy checking everything out!

Madelyn didn't mind posing for me!

She was such a sweetheart!

Andrew got to work cleaning the cabin.

Then, he decided to do some cooking.

He enjoyed watching the boats go by and the people trout fishing.

Madelyn just relaxed in front of the fire!

They both understood that the purpose of this trip was for us to get some much needed rest, so they took good naps!

Yes, even Andrew napped!

We got out and walked around for a while. Andrew enjoyed watching the water.

Here is our attempt at a family picture using the self timer!

Andrew enjoyed his corn at dinner. Once again, he refused to sit in a high chair.

We had a great mini-vacation and have realized that the kids are good travelers. Madelyn slept the whole way there and back. Andrew was fine on the way there, but got car sick on the way home. That was pleasent! We came home Sunday afternoon and got ready for our Super Bowl party with our Sunday School class. I didn't take any pictures though. It was a fun weekend and now we're looking forward to a week with more snow!

Has anyone else had a day like this?

Today started out as any other Thursday. A 2:30am feeding for Madelyn- who has quit sleeping through the night- and then spending 20 minutes trying to get the goo out of her poor little baby nose. Waking up to a screaming Madelyn who was starving at 7:40. This event has thrown off my day. My alarm usually goes off at 7:40, so I can throw some clothes on, get A dressed, load up the kids and take him to school. Well, I had to feed M so I didn't get A up until about 8:15. He actually woke up on his own, so I thought that it wouldn't be a battle to get him ready. Wrong! He didn't want to get dressed, he wanted to build with his Sesame Street blocks. I bribed him every step of the way with phrases like, "If you put your jeans on, I'll build Elmo for you." So 30 minutes later, he was dressed and throwing a fit, because I was not going to put Ernie back together. I picked up my kicking and screaming child and put him in the car, went in to grab Madelyn and put her in the car, sat down in the driver's seat and hear "I want sausage, Mommy." So I went in, made A some sausage and poured him some orange juice (all this entails is me putting some little smokies in a bowl, heating them for 20 seconds and handing them to him in his carseat- and yes, I am the only mother who sends her child to school an hour late with their breakast). I got him out of the car and carried him to the covered porch since it was raining, then got M out. I dropped him off and visited with the sweet little toddlers who came out to greet us. I talked to the women from the church who were going to Bible study (I should be going, but opted out of this session). I finally got in my car and headed home around 9:30. I got home and fiddled around on the computer (another bad choice), did my workout, got my shower, and made my grocery list- because today is wal-mart day! M woke up and I fed her and we got in the car. I realized it was already 12:50 and I had to pick A up at 2:00 (and I am ALWAYS late for that). We got to wal-mart and there were no parking spots close to the door or the carts, because those are the best spots. Finally, I found a spot! After I waited (and waited and waited) for the women in the spot next to it to get in her car- she was standing in my empty spot and looking at me waiting (with a smile on my face). M and I made our way in and I put her in the cart. I looked at my phone and realized we had 50 minutes to get everything on my list (I make a list for two weeks at a time, so I only have to make two big trips a month). So we got to work. Well, I quickly got side tracked by the Valentine aisles. I forgot that it was next weekend and no one had cards or gifts. This occupied 20 minutes of my time, so then I only had 20 minutes left to get all the other items on my list- all the food, diapers, etc... Well, it seemed like every grandmotherly lady was in wal-mart today and wanted to look at M. I didn't want to be rude to anyone, so I let them look and ohh and ahh about how precious she is (which is totally true!). I looked at the clock and it was 1:50 and I didn't have any meat or veggies. I get most of my meats at the neighborhood market (because it's better) so I just decided to get the veggies there too. We checked out and loaded up the car. Got to A's school only 5 minutes late! Well, everyday after school the teachers have to vacuum and mop their classrooms. You can imagine how enticing this is for my cleaning loving boy. After getting him away from the vacuum and mop, we head for the door. "I want down (which means up) Mommy" he screams at me. So, I pick up A in the left arm and M in her carseat on the right and stumble to the car praying that I don't keel over and die! I get M in the car and A goes to the driver door and says "I drive car, Mommy." I am explaing why he cannot drive the car as he is kicking and screaming while I try to get him in his carseat. I have to practically sit on him to get him buckled, which he immediatly gets out of as we exit the parking lot. Oh yeah, we have to go back to wal-mart to get meats and veggies. So, we get out at the neighborhood market and A starts screaming through the parking lot "I want down, Mommy" (again, down means up) repeatedly as all the women loading their cars are looking at me. I try to explain to him, in my nicest voice, that I cannot carry both him and Madelyn, as my arms were still burning from the trip to the car earlier. We get to the carts and I pick him up to put him in and the kicking and screaming start. I let him walk- huge mistake. He helps me put the veggies into their bags- after pulling a whole roll of plastic bags off the roller. Then, he helps me push the cart. He wants to run while pushing and poor Madelyn is rocking back and forth in her carseat. He spots the Valentine cookies and screams "I want cookies". Not willing to fight this battle, I give him the cookies, which he proudly carries over to the meat counter. I order the meat, while saying "Andrew, be careful with the cookies." "Hold the cookies gently Andrew. I would like three pork chops." Then I hear, "uh-oh". The cookies had spilt and Valentine sprinkles were all over the floor. "Vacuum, Mommy." He says. I salvage what's left of the cookies and give the dirty ones to the meat guy. He looks at me like I am an idiot for letting him hold the cookies in the first place (I would agree with him). We move on and Andrew is holding his hand out running it across everything on the aisles- knocking off select items as we go. We're almost done and I am breathing a sigh of relief as Madelyn starts screaming. Oh yeah, time for her to eat! Andrew finds a package of goldfish and I let him have that (I am pretty sure he can't get it open!) and we go to checkout. I set the goldfish on the convayer and the tears and screams and stomping start. Once again, all eyes on the unfit mother on aisle 5. The checker (who's sister works for Jason, of course) gives Andrew the bag of goldfish and we pay and make our way to the car. I am pretty sure Andrew is no banned from the neighborhood market. If not by the management, then for sure by me! Thankfully, God smiled upon me and Andrew passed out in the car! I got Madelyn fed and went to unload the groceries. I was almost done and then the bag breaks with the milk and this is what happens...

I just stood their speechless and motionless as I watched the milk spread across my garage floor. I couldn't even think of anything to say (which was probably a good thing, because I'm sure it wouldn't have been very kind). I could either laugh, cry, or scream at this moment because of all that had come before. I chose to laugh, because anything other then laughter would be to much of a chore! I went in and looked at the clock and realized, it's only 3:30! What will happen next?

Andrew hold her Malyn, Dinner with Dad, and Simple Pleasures

The other night Andrew said "Andrew hold her Malyn." Which means that he wants to hold Madelyn. I, of course, let him. Anytime he wants to hold his little sister I let him do it. Madelyn has really started to smile at Andrew. He thinks it is just the greatest thing and laughs so hard when she smiles at him! I am so glad that he loves her...most of the time!
Andrew's eating habits have been kind of odd lately. He does not want to eat in his high chair. He wants to eat at the table with us in a regular chair with no booster seat. If he does not get to do this he will not eat. This is kind of a process, because he gets in and out of the chair and moves around the entire time, so he doesn't get much to eat and he's being kind of picky about everything. The other night, we decided to let him eat his dinner at his picnic table to see if that would help. I usually don't let him eat at the picnic table, because it's in the living room on the carpet, but he needed to eat. He sat down and said, "sit daddy." So Jason sat down and ate his dinner with Andrew. Later, Andrew invited Elmo and Cookie Monster to eat with them too. I didn't get a picture of that. After dinner, Jason and Andrew made and decorated sugar cookies!

I have been reading a few people's lists of simple pleasures and I started thinking about mine:

* Smiles from Madelyn

* Andrew's voice when he says "Hi Mommy!"

* Finishing my "to do" list

* Both kids napping at the same time- right now!!!

* Learning something new

* Having time to read something I enjoy

* Singing to Andrew and Madelyn (they think I am excellent!)

* A clean house- if only for a moment!

* Being early to anything

* Waking up and not being tired (don't know when this will happen again)