Dad's Night at Preschool

Tonight was Dad's night at Noah's Ark Preschool

Both Daddy and Alli seemed to have a fabulous time!

The preschool set up a ladder style climbing course and Alli had 

loads of fun showing Daddy how great she is at climbing :)

 She also took the opportunity to show him how well she plays with other kids in her class.

This is huge as last year she wouldn't talk to anybody.

Now it appears she doesn't stop talking!

No surprise that dress up was on the to-do list ;-)

Together, Alli and Daddy decorated a plate and enjoyed ice cream sundaes.

Both seemed very happy when they got home and looking forward to next year's Dad's night!

Fun "new" PBK chair

Today, my mom graciously agreed to go shopping with me to pick up supplies for Alli's upcoming birthday party.  She mentioned that our local bookstore was going out of business and everything was 50% off so we decided to go.  We got there about a half hour before it closed but it was packed.  Well, it turns out that when they said everything was being sold, they weren't kidding.  They were selling furniture too.  We found a Pottery Barn Kids Anywhere Chair (big size) with the red slip cover.  We have the smaller one and both kids love it.  Mom has been wanting to get us a second one as she thinks they shouldn't have to share ;-)  I told her what it would cost so she decided if she could get it half off, it would be a steal.  She asked if it was for sale and was initially told that it was already sold but then told she could have it for (are you ready for this????)

$35

I just about choked when I heard that.  Wow!!!  Obviously, she bought it.  I was kinda wishing I had asked first but then she said she bought it to give to us.  Don't I have the BEST mom???  As soon as I got home, I showed the kids what Ducky Gramma bought them and they were so excited.  Apparently it is perfect for sitting in to have a snack or using as a jungle gym!  They love it and even more than that, they love that we now have two chairs and like to sit next to each other ~ so sweet!

How cute are these two????

I am . . .

 

I got a call from a very dear friend today wanting to know how I'm doing.

Such a difficult question to answer.

So I told the truth . . .

I have good days

and

not so good days.

Miscarriage is such a common occurrence and yet if feels like it's taboo to talk about.

But I need to talk about it.

My heart aches for the baby we lost.

I need to share my feelings, I need to know others care.

Even if they cannot understand.

In my heart, I feel like the mom of three.

Of course Alli and Eli bring me great joy

~ more than I could have ever imagined ~

But they do not make up for the one we lost.

I feel like our family is missing someone now.

I want to meet my baby, hold, rock, cuddle, kiss him or her.

That brings up more pain ~ we don't know the gender

so our baby will forever be known as "Wrinkle"

the nickname G came up with because the pregnancy put a wrinkle in our plans.

In an attempt to get out my feelings, I shared my story here.

I know that many people don't know what to say.

Honestly, there is nothing you can say that will make it hurt less.

Shoot, half the time G doesn't know what to say or do.

Just try to understand that there will be good days and not so good days.

Just because I'm smiling does not mean that the hurt is gone.

Please be patient with me.

It no longer feels so raw, but little things creep up and make me sad.

I suspect that only time with help this wound ~ notice I did not say heal.

I do not know if I will ever completely heal, at least not until we are reunited in Heaven.

What I do know is that I am now part of a club I never wanted to join.

Pink Fish is Graduating & I got fired!

From swimming lessons, that is ;-)

Did I scare you????  Gotta love my sense of humor!  I am still very much employed :-)

This week, I've been the one to get in the pool with Alli for lessons.

G and Eli had the pleasure of watching from the warm sidelines.

On Tuesday, I noticed she seemed to be touching the bottom of the pool so I asked her to try walking.

Sure enough, she can do it.

That was all it took and she was off!

Seriously, last night, she kept telling me to let go of her so she could do it by herself.

She was NOT happy that I was holding the noodle and I had to let go, which I did.

 Yep, I got fired . . . and I never thought I would be so happy about it!!!

Our Pink Fish is moving on up to the Starfish class, meaning we don't have to get in the pool with her.

Of course, one of us will still be getting in the pool because the

Blue Fish has decided he's had enough of the sidelines

Gotta love that grumpy little face!

clean, clean, clean

What is it with our kids and vacuums??? 

Seriously, they seem to fight over my new Electrolux stick vac ~ an AWESOME Christmas present, which I love!  As a compromise, when one has the vacuum, I typically get out the Swiffer for the other.  Yep, Mommy gets to sit back on the couch while the kiddos fight over vacuuming and mopping my floors.  Not sure how I got so lucky but I like it ;-)

Pink Fish is back in the pool

On January 4th, Alli started swim lessons again at the SK Pool.  Although we've spent lots of time swimming at pools, she hasn't been in formal lessons since July 2009!  Because lessons are Tuesday/Thursday evenings, G agreed to be the one to get in the water since I'm typically in Boston on Tuesdays.  I had the pleasure of watching our 'lil pink fish on her second night of lessons and she was very excited to show off for Mommy & Eli ;-)  I was so proud of my little gal with her straight leg kickers and getting in and out of the pool all by herself with no problem!

 She's not a huge fan of being on her tummy in the water but is getting better at it.

 Toys and balls are the best!

Turns out that she definitely does better when Mommy is there to watch.  Lessons were cancelled on Tuesday due to snow and I had a CPR Thursday night so I wasn't there to watch.  Let's just say she missed her Mommy and wasn't too keen on swimming that night.



sweet babes

They have become such great buddies!

Here they are snuggling before bed. 

They decided to share a chair while watching Night Night Praise Baby.

Too sweet!

Happy Birthday Garrett!!!

Happy 25th Birthday

(again!)

to my favorite guy!

How fun to have a birthday on

1.11.11

party time!!!

Today, we piled the kids in the car, put on some Praise Baby, and made the drive to Maple Valley to celebrate our friend Julian's 1st birthday. 

The kids did great in the car and had a blast at the party.  They were both a little shy when we first arrived but quickly warmed up to playing with the other little ones and eating lots of yummy food and cupcakes.  I think Eli was trying to show Julian how to really enjoy a cupcake the way he was shoving them into his mouth ;-)

Of course, neither kid really slept on the drive (in either direction) the way we had envisioned.  Eli fell asleep 10 minutes before we got to the party and then 10 minutes before we got home ~ little stinker!  We decided that he must need at least an hour to unwind before sleeping in the car ;-)

Silly fun