A quiet day at home...

Although I usually find somewhere to go, I opted to stay home today and let the kids play. Lisa called and asked if Adrian could come over since she needed to take Jonathan to the doctor, so Lily had a playmate for a little while this morning. Ty slept during most of his visit and Adrian occupied himself so it was a pretty easy morning. I attempted to have quiet rest time for Lily but Ty wanted in there and then we started reading a story and then Ty decided to crawl into the basket at the end of the bed...and Lily, who never misses a beat hopped into her hamper next to it. They are quite a pair! Todd is at UF all day today and for the rest of this week so even though he's in town, I can't get a hold of him easily and it makes it seem like he's far away. I did get most of the laundry done today and the house is fairly picked up...and the sun is shining! One more day until we go to Venice--I can't wait!!

I want a pink nicholas!!

Today was good--although Todd and I are super tired from our big night out! We had a hard time getting up this morning, but we did and made it to church fairly late...but we were there. We stayed for Lifegroup afterwards and we were very glad we did--good group today, lots of exciting things on the horizon. We had lunch with Amy and Jeff, Julie and Matt and kids at McAllister's and then stopped over at the mall so I could run into Gymboree and check out their sale on their winter stuff--I got 16 items for $100.78!! We stopped by home to change clothes, romp around in the now-dry pool, and restock the diaper bag and then we headed over to Rasa's and Arunas' house for a Lia Sophia jewelry party, which Lily was SO excited about! All the way over she was saying, "I just want a pink nicholas (necklace)!" She was on her very best behavior and was a pleasure to have at my side the whole time. Todd sat on the porch with Ty and the boys and waited for the girls to finish shopping. We stopped at Publix on the way home and the kids were so cranky and tired!! No wonder--we had been out essentially since 9! We had a quick dinner and bath and they are now settling into bed. Todd and I plan to turn in early tonight too!! This will be a super busy week so we're trying to start it off right! OH!!! And we got a new camera last night!!! LOVING IT!! These are some of the 100s we already took with it today!!

I Love Saturdays!

The past two days have been busy and I neglected to blog anything yesterday--but, I am committed to catching up! I went out with the girls from my Bible Study last night to Chili's and it was nice to have some adult conversation. Todd and I slept in somewhat this morning, with Lily ending up in bed with us and the TV on. She is so cuddly in the morning! After we got up and ate some breakfast, we laid around and played most of the morning. Todd blew the pool up and Lily and Ty went out to play in it before it was filled with water. Then, after lunch, Lily decided she wanted to accompany me to my haircut so away we went--and she was an angel!! She was looking at herself in the mirror and the way it was set up it looked like quadruplets! She could only see 2 of herself and she kept saying, "There's TWO Lily's!!" She went pee pee on the potty there so we went over to Main Street Sweets and got some ice cream to celebrate. We came home and she got in the pool to rinse all the ice cream off--she was covered in it! Ty joined her and they had a great time splashing around. The weather is still a touch chilly so we cut short the swim session and came inside. Lily is quietly resting and Ty is playing--and Todd and I are getting ready for a night out--just the two of us!! Jen is coming at 5:30 and we're headed for the Melting Pot! We'll probably shop some afterwards--we need a new camera since I dropped our little one in NYC. That's all folks!!

A clean house, messy kids...

Edna arrived this morning bright and early to clean my house--LOVE THAT!!! She was here about 3 hours and the house just smells so fresh! Plus, on the days she comes I buckle down and do laundry and straighten up. Lily and Ty are always fascinated with her too. Lily asked me, "Is she in my room making all my friends clean?" Ty follows her around when she's vacuuming. After Edna left, we went over to Natalie and Vallarie's house for the girls to play--Ty had fun over there too. Jen fixed lunch for everyone and it was nice having some adult company. When Ty got cranky, we headed home. He does have an ear infection in BOTH ears AGAIN!!! This is four or five infections since November. He's on amoxicillin again, so hopefully it will knock it out. Lily actually fell asleep in bed with me this afternoon watchin "racoons"--I was very surprised! She slept until Todd came home and then we headed over to the mall (Lily's request) and had baked ziti. She and Ty played in the play area and then we headed to Bath and Body Works to get some soaps and some lip balm for Lily (who is seriously addicted). Both kids had dinner, markers, dirt, and who knows what else all over them...and now we're home and waiting for both to conk out...

Cleaning out, cleaning up...

Todd was around this morning until I left for moms' group and it was wonderful! I felt really sane when I left the house! He helped me get everyone up, fed, dressed, in the car and smiling! And moms' group was good today--all about acknowledging that you aren't supermom and being realistic and asking for help. Lily pee-peed on the potty at church and we had a nice lunch at Atlanta Bread Company after that. I love Tuesdays! I bought a blow-up pool this afternoon and attempted to use our compressor to inflate it--I lack some innate guy skills and could not get the darn thing to work. Daddy will have a job when he gets home! Ty got really cranky this afternoon and I couldn't figure out what the problem was--he's in his crib now quieting down. Lily was so funny last night--about 10 pm I could hear her in the doorway of her room and she was un-velcroing a shoe. I went over and asked her why she wasn't in her bed and she said, "because there are cows in my room and they were eating hay!" I couldn't help laughing! Even this morning she swears there was a cow in there--hmmm, maybe living in Alachua is having some kind of weird effect--ha!Lily has also had an obsession lately with little things--confetti, beads, scraps of ribbon--anything tiny. They are her "treasures" and she has some of them with her everywhere we go. She also still has a thing for my mint lip balm--she goes and gets it, unscrews it, applies and generous helping to her lips, and reseals the cap. Start 'em young, that's what I say... Ty has also been climbing--A LOT!! He also used the sign for "more" today, which is really the first sign he's used. I'm always curious how he'll sign since he has to adapt each sign to his set of equipment. He has just been so expressive lately--I think the language explosion will happen soon. Todd returns tomorrow--I miss him already! I have been cleaning out toys this afternoon and rearranging furniture to make the house look a little less "kid" and a teeny bit more "adult." The balance will be kid for several more years, but we were being taken over! HA!

Monday Monday...

Although we had a pre-dawn date with Ty (who was hungry and ate 2 nutrigrain bars at 5:30 am!), both kids slept after that until almost 9! Heavenly! Lily was actually in our bed from 6:30 until that time, but she did not peep! Usually she asks me to turn on "raccoons" (cartoons). We had a leisuirely morning and then got in gear around 10:30 to run to Target, Old Navy, and Michael's, as well as grab some lunch at Chick Fil-A--YUM!! Ty was grouchy and crying the ENTIRE time we were out so I did my best to keep smiling and get what we needed. We came home and he was already sacked out in the car before we even started driving. Lily played around and used the potty multiple times and then finally went to sleep--this is so strange to have both of them napping simultaneously!! I made bows and flip-flops to fill orders and before I knew it, Ty was up--grouchy and crying! Not sure if this is teeth, a cold, ears, being 1, or what...we'll see. He settled down after I gave him some motrin and then Zuzu wouldn't leave him alone--his feet are plenty clean now!! He also has been such a big boy walking around the house! I just know life is not going to slow down!!

A Blustery Day

We woke up this morning to strong wind, rain, and some hail pounding our house--we haven't even had a lick of rain in months so this was unusual. Supposedly a tornado touched down somewhere close by, although I haven't heard anything official. Lily and I are recovered from yesterday's bug and the whole family made it to the 9:00 service only a little late. Lily wanted to stay with us but we insisted she go to the nursery--we're having to reset some boundaries with her so even though she would have been fine with us, we had to draw the line. After church, we had lunch at Moe's and Ty sampled some black beans and rice. He has also figured out how to furrow his brow and then open his eyes really wide--a little game we played with Lily too. He was entertaining us all through lunch. After stuffing ourselves, we stopped at the mall to let Lily burn off some energy and for Todd to pick up his suit at Jos. Banks. Both kids played in the play area and as usual there were about 10 or so kids who were a full foot taller than the recommended size--and they are always the ones jumping off the structures dangerously close to Lily's head or Ty's hand! But, L and T seemed completely oblivious and we returned home all intact. Todd did the yard as it was sunny, breezy, and chilly this afternoon and the babes and I did our Publix run, complete with chocolate chip cookies for both. Lily got to try fish sticks for the first time tonight and declared that she "loves them!!" I broke down at Publix and bought them along with frozen chicken nuggets--it's time to make my life just a tiny bit easier :) Both kids are in their rooms now (7:10 pm) and I am waiting for Todd to emerge so we can fix dinner for ourselves. TTFN

Throw-up, errands, and throw-up oh my!!

Today started out innocently enough--Todd let me sleep til 9, the kids were fairly tame and I felt like paying attention to the long-ignored shrub beds. So Lily and I headed out to "weed." She also had her Easter chalk to decorate the driveway, so weeding wasn't top priority. She and Zuzu went in and out several times and finally chose to go in--and I filled 2 garbage bags with weeds--and am not even done! Maybe the homeowners' association will crumple up their warning letter to us for overgrowth! Anyway, I came in out of the heat and wisely had a cup of hot coffee and some steaming hot grits--and then proceeded to throw it all up. After a little rebound, I chalked it up to the heat and we set out to run errands--and we got the new sit and stand stroller I have been wanting (Lily was chomping at the bit to ride in it!). It's funny how something like a stroller can have such a profound effect on my mood during my daily adventures. Plus, it's clean--any mother out there can appreciate a clean stroller. After errands and a rest at home, we went over to Wy and Lisa's house to have dinner with them and their boys Adrien and Jonathan. They had a kiddie pool and Lily and Adrien went wild! They played in it before dinner and then again after--and we had a great time watching them. I envy the sheer enjoyment she gets from the sprinkler and getting wet! She was freezing cold and soaked and squealing with delight! And after a lot of food and play, we loaded up and started to head home (just around the corner because they live in our neighborhood) and Lily says, "I just threw up!" Sure enough, she had and we cleaned her up and came home. I think she and I have a bug...and when I checked my e-mail when we got home, the folks we had dinner with last night have been sick today too--BUMMER!!! Ty just recovered! I am praying that he doesn't get this and that Lily and I are better tomorrow! Here's hoping...

A Good Day

Today was a good day--we are a little tired from last night (Lily waking up and screaming around 2ish) but all in all today has been a good one. Lily returned to Ms. Sherry's class today after a week and a half away and she actually sat on Ms. Sherry's potty and went pee pee!!!! She also went to school wearing big girl underwear and stayed dry the whole time! This is such an accomplishment!!! Ty made another visit to Dr. Beebe today to check out his cough and his ears--just another upper respiratory infection but only viral. He was so talkative today, saying "cah," as we passed the cars in the garage, and saying "dis" when he wanted me to spin a particular globe in the doctor's office. He is almost fully recovered from his stomach bug--he had milk today for the first time in a week. He also had fun (as did Lily) in Venice for a week with his cousins, Katie and Samantha--not to mention the fact that his first birthday was very recent too! We have been very busy lately! Here are some photos of the most recent adventures!