Nana and Papa!

Nana and Papa came to visit for the weekend! The kids were thrilled...they haven't seen Nana in a while, since she has been enjoying her Florida winter. Not jealous or anything... But the weekend was a whirlwind of fun and busyness:) We took a field trip to the train museum in Ellicot City. It's ok, nothing too exciting, but it was nice to go someplace new. And then...they changed the faucet....sounds easy, but with a little teamwork, we have a beautiful, new, drip-free faucet! YEY!!!! Here are some pics from the weekend....

Papa and Skyler...best buds:)

Family pic! Where's Sadie? ....

There she goes! Couldn't sit still for a second. It's still so exciting for her to be able to GO!

Kiddos wanted to help so badly....

Papa went back to work, so Nana and I took the kids to the fun playground in VA. They had a BLAST!

She just pooped out after running and running and running and running. Love the face....

More outside time in the yard!

Sadie loves her Nana.

Boy time:) Skyler LOVES to play in the yard with his daddy.

Just...

Not much to report...but I don't want to get behind on my pictures or forget the little things that have been making me smile. We have actually had a fun week despite the cold weather. It snowed....again....but thankfully, it wasn't too much and I'm hoping it was the last snow of the winter. We still went out, the crazy rebels we are:) Skyler thought I was pretty cool driving on roads with snow (just our neighborhood). I will be sad the day that he doesn't think I'm so cool anymore...I'm sure that will happen sooner than I think!

I kept Skyler home from school on Wednesday, don't ask, I'm nuts. But I have to say, I LOVED it! He is usually home on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but it felt so different having him play hooky. We went to the bookstore for our field trip, just like we used to do last year before this whole school thing started. Only this time Sadie was in tow...she was quiet yesterday but loved the experience too. We explored books, I taught him the difference between fiction and non-fiction, had story time, picked some fun books, and headed home for lunch. I realized how much I MISS this time with Skyler. I even started to consider homeschooling him next year....but, he is such a social boy that it would do more harm than good. He loves the school experience and I would never be able to do that for him. It was just another confirmation that I made the right decision keeping him home when he was two.

Sadie gave me a heart attack the other night. I forget how fragile these little kiddos really are. She crashed into the edge of Skyler's dresser (thankfully, it's blunt) before bath. When I picked her up I almost passed out with the size of the lump. I'm so thankful Michael was there to take her until I got it together because I lost it....hard to explain but it hurt to look at it. Thankfully some ice did the trick and made that lump smaller...but I have to learn how to deal with myself when something really bad happens....because let's face it, things always happen....So, after waking her every two hours that night, she was fine! Although still has a lump and a bruise on her sweet little forehead.

Skyler is working on writing his name...he did this on his own with only a little prompting! YEY Skyler!!

They were eating lunch the other day and their feet looked so cute...had to get a pic:)

I don't remember the point when his feet started reaching the floor!!! I'm home all day with these guys and I still miss some of the important things:)

Party!

We had a birthday party today! Skyler seemed to have a good time and I was able to hang out with some friends. So it was probably more for me than Skyler, but shhh, don't tell him!

I chose to make this party a 'date'. It was nice to have some time with just Skyler. I feel like we never get to do anything together with 'just us' these days. Michael watched Sadie and I received photo updates on their daddy/daughter day together. Overall, good morning! Except Skyler has hit his breaking point, he's exhausted, and he is tucked into the couch until he's rested:) I kind of wish someone would tuck me into a blanket on the couch with a good movie! Oh well, until then, I will be the 'tucker'.

Here are some pics from today!

Skyler made this for his art project. He wasn't into making a pirate hat so he chose to design his own:)

I told my friend that I was going to start collecting pics of these two so I can make a collage for their wedding:)

My friend Alanna was very impressive with hula hooping considering her baby bump!

Pics From Our Warm Weather Days!

Well, the warm weather has come to an end...for now at least. The wind is so crazy today that I swore it was going to knock over Sadie. Let's just say she didn't argue with me when I picked her up and ran inside! We tried to take advantage of the warmth yesterday while we had it. The playground thing didn't work out, for reasons only a 3 year old can provide, but we still played in the yard until the sun was setting and it started getting chilly. We have hunkered down in the house...again...and will wait it out until we get our next warm tease:) Here are some pics from the past couple of days.

He was blowing bubbles...but I love his face in this pic because he was definitely up to something.

This is one of my favorite pics because it's so random...they are all doing something different!

Sweet Sweet Sadie.....

Hey, Madison does it, Skyler does it, why shouldn't Sadie....

She was chanting "Kick ball" as she ran around.

SCORE!

Spring????? Um, just a tease, but we LOVED it!

So the good news? The temp was 67 degrees for most of the day. YEY!!!!! We played outside this morning in our yard, which Sadie loved, but Skyler? So bored.... It was warm...no jackets....lovely:) But I dragged a screaming and kicking Sadie into the house for lunch and a nap. Not happy. But the bonus was that we had a double play date with Jackson and Rebekah (Skyler was in heaven) this afternoon at a PLAYGROUND!!!!!!!!!! I mean, think about it. We have been cooped up in houses for months. ALL of the kids on the playground were CRAZY. Poor Addie was knocked over. Movement was constant. Skyler did not stop having fun and running for 1 1/2 hours. Sadie? Well, let's just say that she ran and played and moved and LOVED the playground experience. Smiled the whole time. At one point, I was telling my friend that this is good therapy for my germaphobe self since Sadie was touching everything and is a master thumbsucker. Well, Sadie thought she would kick it up a notch for me and lick the floor of the play ground equipment and then follow up with a dessert of mulch. She looked up at me with a filthy mouth and said, "yummy". I am assuming she will cure me for life;) We finally called it quits when it became "chilly". Skyler's cheeks were pink for the first time in months. Looking forward to Spring!

Here are some pics Jenn took of the kids. Do you think he's happy?

On the move...my body feels like it's been through a marathon!

They played like this for at least 1/2 hour until the big kids booted them from the swings.

This is pre-mulch dessert....she was covered from head to toe, inside and out!

Valentine's Day! and then some...

We had a really good time for Valentine's Day. Obviously, Skyler was really into it. But then again, he is into any day that we deem "special" and that includes lots of treats! It all started with Skyler hearing everyone on our favorite radio show talking about Valentine's Day parties. "Why can't I have one too?". So, I took it as my mission to make this day special for him. Then, there was a mom handing out contraband valentines in the parking lot. Our school doesn't celebrate it because of the whole St. Valentine thing, so Skyler was a little disappointed. But he was totally in awe of how wonderful it was to get a little package of goodies from his friend. I had the kitchen set up with presents, candy, and a red table cloth (Skyler's idea actually). He was happy with this:)

Updates on the kiddos....Skyler is getting SOOOOO big. Seriously, I keep looking at him and wondering when, exactly, has he been adding inches to himself?! He's crazy smart in a very subtle way. I sometimes don't think he's speaking clearly, but actually he says the words perfectly, I just don't expect what he says to come out of a 3 year old mouth! It's insane. Michael and I always look at each other and laugh because where the heck is he learning about these things?!!

Ah, Sadie. My little 'Miss Personality'. She makes me laugh so hard sometimes. She's funny and sweet and has a strong sense of self. But, I wonder what the neighbors think of us. She is usually screaming from the house to the car because I'm not letting her run around the yard when SHE wants to! (like in 20 degree weather!) OR when I pick Skyler up from school and she insists on walking all by herself like the big girls, and although this is cute, it's not so cute in a parking lot. Bribes don't work...nothing works to make her happy at these moments. SO, I usually just sling her under my arm and keep going with a screaming toddler. Lovely:) She definitely knows what she wants and we love her for it.

So, Sadie and Skyler are happy. It's 60 degrees today!!! Skyler plays and is ready to go in...but not Sadie...she wants to stay out there every waking minute. She'll definitely be an outdoorsy girl. And happiest when it's warm for good, and not just a tease.

We had a sweet tooth last weekend and made more brownies.

This is the only picture I could get them to stop moving for. I wanted a sister and brother valentine pic...oh well!

He is obsessed with this giant heart filled with chocolates. He studies it and has memorized every piece of candy and the order he wants them in. He is allowed 1 piece for dessert but it makes him SO happy!

This was Sadie's valentine gift. Not such a success after this pic and the kitty started walking and meowing! We are currently desensitizing her..... Sorry it's blurry...hmmm, what a difference a new lens would make, eh Michael?!

Here kitty kitty....

Skyler digging into his presents.

Michael came home from work bearing gifts for everyone! The kids were so excited. Once again, sorry for the blur...(a lense with VR might help, right Michael????)

Sadie digging into her present from Daddy. The book Pinkalicious which she loves!

It was a balmy 45 degrees the other morning so I decided to let Sadie FINALLY run around in the yard while Skyler was at school. She had a blast.

Happy girl!

Photo catch up!

Yey! I am finally catching up. How did I do it? After breakfast, I left Michael with the kids and locked myself in the computer room. Yep, didn't ask, just went. And I feel much better! And guess what? Everyone survived and didn't even notice I was missing...

Here is a snap shot of Papa surprising everyone. I think the placement of everyone is kinda funny, especially his true love Madison.

Cuddle time after dinner!

Superbowl party! Let's face it, this game doesn't do much for me. But Skyler was excited about having a party, hence the cake. We drew a line at including presents. But making the cake was kind of fun and eating it was even better. We even let Skyler watch the half time show. All of a sudden he started singing along and doing all the dance moves with Fergie. I almost peed my pants...

I have to sneak these pics of Skyler in...I think he poses with these eyes like this on purpose. Watch out ladies when he gets older! The remnants of lunch on his face remind me that his is 3.

Ok, she's 17 months, and guess what? I think she might actually be getting her first tooth! She walks around with her hand or a finger or her thumb in her mouth all the time. Plus she hasn't really been sleeping and easily cries. I mean, it's about time. She's missing out on so many good foods because she can't chew them yet!

I mean, really....I LOVE these PJs Skyler has on. He kind of glows on the monitor at night when he's sleeping and wearing these. Oh, and check out Sadie's dress. I went shopping for her at Nordstrom Rack (LOVE THIS STORE!) and pulled this dress out. I'm kind of getting overdosed on pink. But, she went CRAZY for it. I had to buy it for her because we started walking away and she cried, reaching for it. It's started. She loves clothes. She loves looking cute. I put it on her and she strutted, literally, all around her room. And spent the rest of the morning saying, "I pretty!". Yes Sadie, you are very pretty:)

Washing her hands before she cooks in her kitchen.

She kept grabbing the baby, hugging it, and then falling to the ground to cuddle. I had to snap a pic to remember this.

A before-grooming pic of Madison. This is a 2 dollar toy that she loves so much. I couldn't resist....

Post-grooming...notice a difference? Yeah, neither did we other than she smelled better. But I looked over and saw her sitting with this doll and she looked so pretty. She was actually sleeping on her but looked up when I went to take the picture.

Catch up!

So, this is the catch-up portion of my blog. I have been waiting for enough time to catch up on everything and post pics. But I have to face the facts, I just don't have time these days to do BOTH at the same time. As it is, I am sneaking in this update between bedtimes. Just put Sadie down and have a few minutes before Skyler goes up. Then I have an insane amount of laundry to fold and a shower to take, and maybe, I can read a couple of pages before I pass out. That seems to be how my days go....from one thing to the next, yet at the end of the day, if someone were to ask what I accomplished, I'm not sure what I would say! They just keep me really busy. And I am loving it. Knowing that one day things will be so different and I will miss how much they need me.

So, last weekend, Papa made a surprise visit for the kids. I didn't want to tell them in case it didn't work out. But they LOVED when he showed up and had a super weekend of keeping him very busy. It was great. We loved it. And they missed him so much when he left. I turned around in the car on Sunday to find a very sad looking Skyler. When I asked him what was wrong, he told me he missed Papa so much. I love that my kids have such a special relationship with my parents.

Updates on the kids. Sadie, growing leaps and bounds. Her hair seems to finally be growing and her vocabulary is insane. She talks a-l-l d-a-y l-o-n-g. We love it. The funny thing is that Skyler seems to know what she's saying when we don't! They have a connection. They play together a lot, drive each other crazy, and a lot of times I will turn around to see them hugging. As Sadie gets older, they spend more time together. It's amazing. Sadie also loves to sing. She sings along with the radio in the car. When I turn it off, she tells me to turn it back on. This is all very cool because she is becoming her own person. She also loves to sing with me before she goes to sleep. Her latest love is "Gookie" (Goofy) Go figure....She is always looking for "Gookie" in her books and for a "Gookie movie". Man, I love her.

Ah Skyler. What to say. He drives me crazy ALL THE TIME! He has decided that if he doesn't get what he wants the moment he asks for it, that he will throw a full blown crying fit as if I am slowly plucking the hairs from his head. But really, it is taking me a whole 5 minutes to make his breakfast rather than the 2 seconds he wishes it was made. AHHHHHHHH! That's all I have to say:) Yet he is such a warm kid...so sweet....and I often hear, "Mommy, I super love you." Of course this is followed by a command, but I have to look for the positive:)

Apparently it's supposed to be in the upper 40's next week! Do I dare hope for some playground days????? That will be such a RELIEF from the frigid temps we are having. I should start a countdown to Spring:)

I hope to post some pics within the next day or two.