A Girl After Her Daddy's Own Heart

Brian has been playing the piano since he was 3 or 4...so he loves that Molly loves the piano.

Good Redneck Joke?

Have you seen those funny redneck joke pictures? Well, this one can be added to your stack. I was pulling out of my driveway this morning and this is what I saw. You know the neighbors we have talked about that don't mow their lawn? Well, here is their cat's resting place for the day. Laying on the basketball goal that is laying over in their driveway. Do we live in the projects or something?

Trip to Home Depot

As I have posted several times, Brian and I are working on "updating" our house. Yesterday, we made a trip to Home Depot to look at light fixtures and fans. If only Walmart had buggies like this!!! It would keep them busy for at least a few more minutes. Right?

If she only knew...

If Molly only knew that it is so much easier being a child. She loves to play in my shoes and dress up like her big sister. Stay little as long as you can, my sweet babies.

Happy Grandparent's Day

To my mom and dad - I can't even find the words to describe what you mean to Macy and Molly. You are their world! Macy wakes up asking if she is going to see her Nomie today. I love how she loves you. I love how Molly runs to you if you are across the room from her. I love how she points you out in pictures and grins so big with your pictures. You both help us out so much that I don't know how other families do it. We are so blessed to have you both so close and so involved in their lives. What a blessing and a privilege it is for them to have you as grandparents. Happy Grandparent's Day!!

To my mother-in-law and father-in-law - Words cannot express what you both mean to us either. I know that it is harder to live farther away from your grandchildren, but you don't let that stop you. Thankfully it is only a hour and a half, but you always make the effort. It is wonderful how you take the one on one time with each of them as well. That is so important that they each develop that special bond with you. It is such a safe haven at your home and we always know that we can come, be loved and be loved on and I couldn't ask for a better family to have become a part of. I love you both so much and I know that Macy and Molly do too. I hear about wanting to call Nienie all the time.

And the most important thing that I am thankful for today is for both of our families becoming one family to support us, to guide us, to teach us and for our children to grow up having both sides of the family at almost every function. What a blessing that most couples don't get to experience. Thank you for being such wonderful people and wonderful parents and outstanding grandparents!!

Ready for Night Night

Our sweet dog, Gizmo, has this sqeaky dog that he HAS to have when he goes to bed...in our bed!!

PTL for Mother's Day Out

(My 200th post, by the way...) I was so excited for today to finally get here. No, it did not matter whether or not my girls were excited. They started back to Mother's Day Out today. But yes, they were excited. Macy wanted to wear her new backpack, which just about knocked her over backwards with her lunchbox attached. She pranced down the hall straight to her class and walked right in. Ms. Keri and Ms. Candy were so excited to see her. She had a great day, painted a beautiful picture for me, and even got a sucker for being so good.

Molly had a little harder time. She seemed very excited after we dropped off Macy. She was running down the hall, you know the way little kids do where they are almost hopping instead of running. She stopped to see the birds and the fish on the way....and then she did a halt as we turned the corner. She began to say, "no, no, no." So, I walked past the class and put down her bag hoping this would help. We turned around toward the door and she again said, "no, no, no." So, I reluctantly handed her to the teacher knowing that she was going to cry. I knew that in a couple of minutes she would be fine. When I picked her up, her teachers said that she did really well, but that she did not like to be told no. Hmmm, I thought...I hope she didn't show them the temper I get at home where she screams, tightens her arms and throws herself on to the floor. Neither one of us mentioned it...and I hope it stays that way!! HA

Mommy had a fabulous day of quiet, getting things done, and daddy even came home for lunch. A great day was had by all.

"Labor Day"

One of the blogs that I read on a regular basis is hosting a "meme" today in honor of Labor Day. I meme is a list of questions to get to know you better.

How long were your labors?
Macy - 10 hours
Molly - 5 1/2 hours
Look out if I had another one!!

How did you know you were in labor?
Macy - Water broke (was scheduled to be induced the next day)
Molly - Scheduled for induction, but was in labor when I arrived

Where did you deliver?
At a great hospital

Drugs?
Most definitely - with both!! My doctor was so great that I got my epidural very early on the process and never really had to feel anything. With Molly, they gave me a little too much drug and I almost passed out.

C-Section?
Nope. My friends hate when I talk about my two birthing experiences because they were a breeze. Pushed twice with Macy and three times with Molly. I must have those "child bearing hips."

Who delivered?
My doctor did not deliver Macy because she was on vacation, but a fabulous doctor in her practice did. Thankfully, my doctor did deliver Molly.

If you want to play along with this, just cut and paste the questions into your own blog and leave me a comment.

Outside Finished

After three VERY hot days of working outside, the backyard is complete. I helped some, but I have to give all of the credit to Brian. He started this plan about two months ago when he drew it out on a piece of paper and color coded it into phases. We still have Phase 2 and Phase 3 that will be coming (the expansion of the deck that I mentioned before, some additional trees and some work on sprucing up the swingset). I am sure that many, many hours will be spent outside in our backyard this fall. This first picture is to the right of the backyard (from the view from the deck) - evergreens and in front there are two cherry trees. I can't wait for them to bloom in the spring.

This is against the back of the house.

This is to the left of the backyard - evergreens and two red bud trees.

In our Phase 3 plan, we are going to square in the swingset and either put mulch or pea gravel underneath it.

I think the most beautiful part of the backyard is the fountain. It was tedious, but it is awesome to sit and listen to the water. It is very relaxing. This is at the back of the yard.

Several months ago, I bought this swing from a friend's garage sale and it just adds to the relaxation in the backyard. And the girls love it!!

Home Projects Finished, well kinda

It has only taken me three months (AAAHHH!!), but I have finally finished the projects that I started JUNE 1ST!! It all started with painting, then sprucing up the dining room, then the kitchen valences and recovering the kitchen chairs, and then it was the guest bathroom. I actually made the shower curtain right after the house was painted...which was at the beginning of June. And I have been meaning to finish the bathroom ever since. Well, today I did and I must say that I LOVE IT!

The last picture is my favorite. I have never had pictures printed in the sephia color before, but it is just perfect in the bathroom with the brown.

Now, I see other things that I want to change. I want a new ceiling fan in our living room. The current one is very outdated. I want to paint our master bath. Brian wants a new light fixture in our bedroom. All of those things have to wait while we recover from the current projects. Ha

Do you remember when Brian changed the landscaping in the front of our house? Well, guess what? He is at it in the backyard now. I will post the "completed" pictures after the weekend. Today, he planted two new trees, created two new flower beds, and started working on the fountain. Yes, I said fountain. At the back of our fence, there are very large rocks that we think the previous owners were trying to make into a fountain. Well, we are going to succeed. Tomorrow and Monday will be spent planting two more trees, making one more flower bed and hopefully getting the fountain "just perfect." In the fall, we are going to expand our deck and make it twice as big as it is.

Dance Class - Week 2

I didn't mention last week that Macy had a really hard time at her first dance class. I really hoped that I wouldn't jinx it by saying anything. She was so upset that I had to sit with her in my lap for the entire class. She watched, cried most of the time and would not participate at all. I was really bummed and hoped that we would not have a repeat this week. And PTL that we didn't. It was really my fault that she was so upset. It was total chaos when we got there, we were right on time (almost late), and we just kind of pushed her into the class and shut the door. Let's just say, she was not happy about this at all.

Tonight was an entirely different story. We got there REALLY early, watched a class dance for a while, and then she wanted to go into "her" room. There wasn't a class already in there, so we went in and she began to dance. She watched herself in the mirror, tapped her toes (like she had seen last week), did several pirouettes (like she had seen last week), and loved every minute of it. As other girls in her class began to arrive, she gladly welcomed them in and begged for them to dance with her. What a difference coming early made. She said goodbye when it was time for the class to start and was smiling when the class was over. She loved it!!

Here she is doing the "hot dog roll."