Wednesday, June 29, 2011

First full day

Today was Hannah's first full day of summer vacation.  We celebrated by hanging out with friends, going to the fabric store, and having a playdate full of little girls.  Some friends of mine who are babywearers came over to go to the big fabric store a couple of towns away.  Then I offered that everyone could come here afterward because I'm the closest.  It was lots of fun, I got to touch a whole bunch of wraps I'd never even heard of, even using Li's new slate silk indio to wrap Norah for the whole thirty seconds she allowed it. 

Hannah and Norah had a great time playing with Sasha, and ogling Lola.  She's Sasha's baby sister.  I even got to snuggle her :)  She's not even 3 months old and still has that amazing baby smell.  They also enjoyed playing with Ebie, who is cute as a button with the most adorable curls.

If only tomorrow wasn't Thursday, I could do with more days like today.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Party at our house!

Yesterday the baptism went off without a hitch, so after church and pictures with Toto, we headed home to start cooking food.  Everyone stayed for a long time, and there was lots of eating and fun to be had.  Everyone finally headed out a bit before 8, and not too long after Daddy had to make another call to the tooth fairy.  Seems like we have a toothless wonder here.  They just keep disappearing.  So next weekend for the wedding festivities, there will be lots of toothless grins I'm sure.

It's funny, when they're tiny and they get their first tooth, you slightly lament the loss of that adorably gummy smile.  Then they have teeth and they're too cute and you get used to it.  Now Hannah's losing hers, and I'm not used to it again.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Rain

Raining too much here this week.  My kids are desperate to get out some energy.  They're driving me nuts, and with this lousy cold weather, I can't do much about it.  They wake up too early and are loud and crazy from the minute their eyes pop open.  I know they just need to run around and get the crazy out.  Hopefully tomorrow when it's nice we can do that.  Plus there will be a zillion people here for the after party from the baptism.  Someone can run them ragged I'm sure.

Yesterday Hannah had her play at the school.  She was the pig in the yellow hat, and all five kids were adorable and awesome.  I have a bunch of pictures on my camera, but I'll probably wait until after tomorrow to download it.  She was a fabulous yellow pig!  I am very proud of her.

The last day of school is Tuesday, and I know Hannah can't wait.  She is desperate to have the summer off to play with her friends and do fun stuff.  I don't blame her, I can't wait to do fun stuff either.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Summer Weekends

Starting this weekend, our weekends are FULL!  The girls are being baptized at church on Sunday, and then a huge barbeque here at our house full of family and friends.  They're excited to have a party and play with their friends and all the grandparents who will be here.

Next weekend we head up to NH to watch their favorite Auntie Sara and Uncle Zach get married (again!).  They are going to be the adorable, show stealing flower girls.  With pink, sparkly flip flops.  We have lots to prepare for that, including packing, getting food/flowers, and actually driving 3 hours away!

I thought we'd get a break the week after that, but Monday Hannah got an invitation to a gymnastics birthday party for one of her friends.  So of course she can head over to that, because she is good friends with this little girl.

And of course the weekend after that we'll try to celebrate my birthday, since it's a big one.  I was hoping for a party, but now I think I'll hope for a quiet weekend at home with ALL my family.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Crazy Kids!

Norah: When I don't live with you, I'm going to live with GOD.  All by myself!
Hannah: No, with your boyfriend!
Norah: I don't HAVE a boyfriend!


What on earth has posessed these kids?  Weirdos!


Speaking of Weirdos, Here is the shutterfly link to where all our photos are posted. I don't post photos here on blogger anymore because I'm afraid of running out of space before I run out of things to say!  I uploaded pictures yesterday from the weekend.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Busy Busy

Today was a busy day!  We got up before 7 and started getting ready to go to Grampy and Mimi's house.  There was a Fireman's Muster today in Holden, and we wanted to get there early so we could leave when we were ready.  After we got there, there was a lot of sitting and standing.  The girls were excited, and Steven hadn't ever been to one.  There was a parade with LOTS of candy thrown out, and all the races.  Even a race where each team had women firefighters shooting at targets, which isn't something I remember from watching as a kid.

Then when we were finished watching firefighters, we headed over to Landon's first birthday party, and the girls had a great time!  Landon is super cute, and actually looks just like Christopher did when he was little.  They were sad when it was time to head home, but a car nap perked them up.  Hopefully sleeping at 4:30 in the afternoon won't mess with their nighttime sleep too much. 

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Daddy

The Daddy who lives here is someone special.  Someone who loves hugs and playing chase.  Who tolerates kisses from all sorts of messy faces.  He works hard so his family can have enough of everything they need, and some things they don't.  He doesn't mind having small people crawl into bed early in the morning for some extra snuggles.  Obliges late night kisses when he comes in after bedtime.  Loves to go and do fun things as a family, as well as staying home and doing nothing.  Or as close an approximation of nothing, since no one with kids does "Nothing".

Happy Father's day to one of the best dads I know.  The one who lives here.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Tooth Fairy

Man that tooth fairy is becoming a regular visitor at our house these days.  Hannah had this one loose tooth that was ridiculous.  So loose you could see the top part that was supposed to be up in her gum.  But still attached somehow.  Finally Saturday I told her it was time.  It needed to go, and she had my permission to go to it and get it out.  She hates the idea of anyone touching her teeth or wiggling them.  She wants to take them out herself, and save one, she always has.  Until Saturday.  She wiggled, and she twisted, and it was GROSS!  Eventually I told her to head to the bathroom, that grabbing it with a tissue was a much better plan.  So I got a tissue, and showed her what I meant.  I put the tissue in my fingers and her tooth in the tissue and then I said "then you say OK, and you count to three, like this:  One.... Two...." Yank!  And that was the end of it.  She shrieked when she realized I'd actually done it myself.  Then she told me later that she was so glad I pulled it for her. 

Apparently Kayla texted the Tooth Fairy (aka Heather) to tell her to make a stop.  And sure enough, Sunday morning there was a surprise waiting for her when she woke up.  I just can't get over how different she looks with that one gone.  I think it makes a bigger difference because it's one of the top front teeth, which are bigger in general.  Today she had her spring concert at school and even across the gym, you can see the gap.  My baby is growing up, and I can't stop it.... but I think it's getting tougher to "enjoy".

Monday, June 13, 2011

Full

Over the weekend we had a houseful, but mostly full of girls.  Amanda is here, since she needs someone to stay with when college says she can't stay there.  Apparently Heather and Kayla like it here too, so they came over Friday night and left late Sunday after dinner.  Add to that Amanda's friend Ashley coming for a visit, and Steven was sorely outnumbered.  And you know what, I don't think he minded one bit.  I think he thinks it's nice to be "needed" by someone.  I love him, but I don't "need" him the same way teenage girls with cars they don't understand do.

Speaking of Steven, he was offered a fantastic opportunity to join a new company, and he took the offer.  He'll be leaving his current job in about a week and a half, and he's already started training for the new one.  He started Friday night and while he was supposed to be home around 11:30, he was good enough they kept him most of the night, not walking in until about 3:45 Saturday morning.  That makes for a long day, but so far he says he enjoys it, and he's actually there, and Hopefully will be home around 11:30.  We'll see, but he does have a regular job to head to tomorrow... so we'll hope.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Walking!

A year ago we were in the hospital with Hannah after her surgery.  Today she walked the entire course at Six Flags excepting one short piggy back ride!  In fact we didn't even SEE her for probably 2/3rds of the walk because she was hanging out with her friends.  I'm hoping someone will be sharing pictures, because I only have a couple of her.  She had such a good time, despite the weather being less than stellar.  We got drizzled on, and sprinkled on, and it's unseasonably cool.  Fortunately, everyone turned up to walk anyways!  We had a great time, and Mimi was a fabulous ambassador!  They told us that to date we had raised over $50,000 total for all of New England.  That's wonderful and all the money will stay right here, which is even better.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Purple Sock Monkeys

We're walking with the Purple Sock Monkeys again this year for A Walk In the Park at Six Flags.  The walk is this coming Sunday, and the girls are both really excited!  Hannah has totally blown away her goal of $50 thanks to generous donations from people who love her and Mimi.  I'm so proud of her, and of Mimi for fighting and looking good doing it!  Hannah has such a big heart, I'm sure that it will stay with her as she grows up.  Next year Norah will be old enough to start raising money also, I love these girls, so I know she'll do just as well with Hannah as her example!

Monday, June 6, 2011

Busy!

So things have been a bit crazy here.  On June 1st, we had three tornadoes touch down here in our little area.  No major damage to us, besides some crazy hail dents in my car.  But some of the surrounding areas haven't been so lucky.  There was a ton of damage in several other places, and they said on the news this morning it was an EF3 that cut a 39 mile path through the state!

Despite that, we had a fun weekend.  We went to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, and Hannah got her Strega Nona book signed by Tomie dePaola.  She was over the moon excited, and she even got a picture with him. 

Yesterday we headed up to Grampy and Mimi's house for a bridal shower for Auntie Sara and Zach.  The girls had a great time playing with everyone, and eating a ton of food.  I can't believe they'll be leaving today and back in three weeks to start the countdown to July 3rd!  We booked our hotel, and Hannah gets out of school a couple days prior, so it all works out great.

Speaking of school, Hannah has to go to school until June 28th to make up all the snow days we had this winter.  She's a little unhappy she won't still be getting out on the 20th, especially since some of her friends had the same amount of snowdays, but get out on schedule next Wednesday.  I don't know why the city doesn't plan some days in, but maybe they will now.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Countdown

Hannah's looking forward to the summer.  Unfortunately, after the winter we had, her summer doesn't really begin until 4th of July!  She's going to be in school through part of the last week in June.  Which sounds ridiculous to me.  Yes I know they started late, but why on earth can they not start earlier?  Start the last week in August, or the first in September. This year her first day was the 13th of September, which is crazy.  Add a gazillion snow days, and we can't do anything fun until after Auntie Sara and Zach get married. 

She's having a concert in a couple weeks, and she's also the yellow pig in a play.  However they have yet to be bothered to tell anyone when this play takes place, only that they don't know yet.  How is anyone supposed to get time off work to be there to support her?  I'm really frustrated with her school and how they run things.