Splishin' and a Splashin'

The warm weather allowed us to break out the pool for the first time this season on Memorial Day. Sophie was all excited to get her bathing suit on and hit the water. That is, Sophie style. Which translates to standing in the pool, splashing water, but refusing to sit down. Mason was actually terrified by the pool and cried. After about 15 minutes we were able to coax him in with a bucket and he had a great time. He also would not sit down. It's only May...we have all summer!

The Birthday Celebration Continues!

What a fun day yesterday! We started our day by having brunch with good friends that moved to Michagan 2 years ago. It was a fun morning and they brought the kids fun birthday gifts..a cool bubble machine for Sophie and a boat for the bath or pool for Mason!

Later that day we had lots of visitors to celebrate the kids birthdays. Susan, Jeff, Shelley, Jerry, Phil and Miriam all came down for a fun afternoon of visiting, hot weather, opening tons of birthday presents and yummy birthday cake.

The kids loved their Blues Clues cake and ate every bite!

The celebration continues this week as Sophie turns 4 on Wednesday..with a big party on Sunday!

Happy Birthday Mason!

Mason celebrated his 2nd birthday yesterday! We brought in cupcakes to school to celebrate with all his toddler friends. Nana and PopPop came down yesterday to celebrate with noodles and ice cream, Mason's favorite foods. He got his first bike from them. His feet reach the pedals, but he needs a little help in that department.

A long weekend, but a busy one. Today we had the kids birthday pictures taken..they came out cute..will post another time.

Tomorrow we have Brian's side of the family coming down to celebrate with Mason and Sophie who will be turning 4 on Wed.

Aloha!

Aloha from the big island of...Fallston. Today was Hawaiian Day at school. The kids were decked out in their island wear. I thought I'd have to fight Mason putting the lei on, but he really liked it and wanted to wear it!

Thank goodness for Friday tomorrow!

Hanging Out in the Backyard

Not too much to report today. The best way for the kids to eat their dinner quickly without nagging is to promise them outside time after dinner. They love it!

Brian and I started to refinish adorrondeck chairs for the kids last August. I finally finished painting them today. Yes, it took 9 months. So, in the time it takes to grow a baby in my belly, I painted 2 small chairs. Anyway, the kids loved the finished project and lazily sat in the backyard.

We are lucky cause our next door neighbors have a great swing set for their kids. They told us our kids can go on it whenever which is so great. Sophie's new favorite pastime is the tire swing. Mason loves to climb up to the top, but then won't come down on the slide. So, someone has to rescue him.

Tomorrow is Hawaiian Day at school. Check back for pictures. I looked all over for a coconut bra for Mason, but could not find one!

Off to watch Idol results!

Crazy Hair Day!

It is teacher appreciation week at the kid's school this week and they have something fun planned everyday. Yesterday was pajama day. Mason looked oh so cute with his jammies full of diaper. He clearly had a bubble butt.

Today was crazy hair day. So with a little gel, I spiked up Mason's hair..he looked so cute! Sophie decided to go with multiple ponytails. We did 2 pigtails and a ponytail in the back. The teachers were decked out with their crazy hairdos and funny hats.

On another positive note...It appears that Sophie is finished her crying stint in the morning. We had a talk last night and got to the root of the issue. She told me she really doesn't like morning time. She misses me. I told her she can change her mind about morning time, cause it can be a lot of fun. She woke up this morning, said "I changed my mind about morning time" and proceeded to have an EXCELLENT morning..from wake up to drop off. She was really quite proud of herself and cannot wait to get back her flip-flops that I took away because she was crying in the morning.

Brian had his last class of the semester last night. One more class to go, and he is the proud owner of an MBA, with an emphasis on marketing. Anyone got a job for him?

Winding Down the Weekend

Another weekend comes to a close, and as usual it went by so fast.

My foot feels great, I can't believe that just 5 weeks ago I was in so much pain. It is amazing how the body heals itself.

Brian and I had a babysitter last night, so we can head out for our bi-weekly dinners sans kids. We went back to our favorite restaurant, Roy's. http://www.roysrestaurant.com/ Funny story from way back...Brian and I went to Roy's last year in March. Our service got a little poor at the end of our meal and our waitress never came back to take our coffee and dessert order. We informed the manager about it and he gave us his business card with an offer for free coffee and dessert for the next time we dined there. So we did. Last November we went for our anniversary. We gave our waitress the card and the manager came over, so impressed that we held onto the card and came back to dine there on our anniversary that he wrote "forever" on the card and told that as long as we dine there, coffee and dessert is on the house for the rest of our lives. Wow..on the way home we joked about laminating it, putting it our will, bequeathing it to the kids..etc. We tried to use it last night. Our waiter looked at it..said "Forever..great"..came back with our check, no charge for dessert and coffee..but they confiscated the card. Game over.
So, we were a little bitter.

Not much on our plates today..did some yard work, made some treats for teacher's appreciation week at the kids school, and worked on refinishing some chairs. I also tried my hand at grilling pizza. The pizza crust totally burnt, but it had the workings of something really good.

The kids loved playing outside today! They had fun in the sandbox and we had to drag them inside for their much needed baths!


Six more weeks of school!

I need the Super Nanny!

Craziness in the house again. Because of course, things can't be normal. I am now cast free and enjoying 2 shoes. I can't wear my fancy wedge heels..but I'm happy to wear flat comfortable shoes.

Anyway, now that this injury is behind me, things should be coming up roses. The school year is almost over, the weather is nicer, our patio is done..etc.. But, no. Sophie has to decide that all of the sudden she doesn't want to go to school and wants to go to work with me. All this started on Monday. This translates to crying in the morning getting ready and basically me throwing her in her class at school. So much fun. All of the other parents look at me with that "I feel bad for you" look. You know the look. I have no idea what is going inside that head of hers. I promise her things for having a happy day, I take away things for having a bad morning. Nothing is working right now. If anyone has some good ideas I'd love to hear them. The teachers tell me it's mostly the morning, with maybe a crying episode popping up during the day here and there. I could understand if she just started there, but she has been there since January and loving it!

Super Nanny...are you coming to Baltimore any time soon? Please?