On Hello Kitty

One of Hadleigh's birthday presents from Papa and Nana (she opened them while Nana was here visiting) was a Hello Kitty umbrella. I had encouraged Mom to get her a HK bag that would go along with her HK jacket that she got from Aunt Angie for Christmas. Along witht he bag Mom picked up this umbrella. Hadleigh LOVES it. Last week we went out and played in the rain, it was tons of fun. Check out Hadleigh's head to toe ensemble...nice.

A year ago one of Dave's coworkers gave the girls a Hello Kitty waffle iron. We never used it until Hadleigh got her HK jacket and I realized she really liked HK. Now she is obsessed with the waffles. The girls eat them with blackberry jam on them, so here you can see they have enjoyed themselves.

First Time in 5 Years

It is almost impossible to surprise Dave. In the 5 years that we have been married I have tried multiple times.

For his birthday the first year we were married I was going to surprise him by taking him away to Strasbourg for the weekend. Somehow before we left he managed to figure out that I was going to take him somewhere, and then although he played dumb, as soon as we got on the road he figured out we were going to Strasbourg...ugh!

A couple years ago I was so proud because I was going to get him a wine fridge for Christmas...I had emailed my bro for some suggestions, and dumby me put "wine fridge" in the subject of the email. Of course Dave figured that one out!

So about a month ago I had an idea to surprise Dave. I told no one. I emailed no one. My mom was here visiting and a couple days before the day I wanted to surprise him, I asked her if she would be willing to keep the girls overnight and part of the following day. At that point I started telling some random people. So a couple weeks ago Dave came home from work. He thought we were going out to dinner, and on the way I had him pull into this ritsy hotel parking lot (got on priceline! $300 room for $75!). He was SO confused and so proud!

We dropped our stuff off, walked to dinner (which was mediocre at best...unfortunately), and walked back to the hotel. The next morning we slpt in until 7.30, ordered breakfast in bed, went to get massages (which actually turned out to be bad because the chic that massaged Dave ended up cramping one of his muscles), and then we went to Oakland Cemetery which is the oldest cemetery in Atlanta. We had a wonderful time strolling around, and then ate lunch at Six Feet Under. The time was glorious! That was our first night away in 2 years. As we walked through Oakland Cemetery holding hands we were trying to think about the last time we were able to stroll along during the day like that...it's been a while.

Anyway, it was like a little teaser because in a couple of weeks we are going away for a long weekend without the girls. They are staying at home with some of our good buds. I cannot wait!

Why I Think Scotch Works

My girls are sick. Well, actually Annelise is sick with a horrible cold, cough, snot, the works. I am sure that Hadleigh is going to be sick any moment because she has insisted in sharing cups with Annelise, despite my pleas.

The past 3 days I have woken up with a sore throat and a tickle that makes me cough. And the past 3 days I have taken a shot of scotch first thing in the morning. Is it bad to be drinking at 6am? I am not driving anywhere! Anyway, after I took the shot my throat stopped hurting. Last night I took one serious shot and then went to bed. This morning...no sore throat!

Just for the record I have tried this on 3 other occassions and each time the stuff seems to do the trick. Forget Airborne...get the real stuff!

Compost Begins

It took us a while, but we finally are getting a compost pile up and running. The previous owners left this huge pile of yard debris in a corner of our yard, and last fall as Dave was trying to make it more manageable he discovered a 10x16 concrete footprint for what we can only guess was going to be a shed (they even ran it for electric). They also left enough brick to build the shed (ok not really, but almost). We had been planning on putting my compost pile out there, but never got around to it...like we didn't have anything else going on! I had been a little bummed because I was planning on using the compost to begin my garden this spring.

Sunday Dave went out back to build me a mini compost and when he began to clear some more of the debris he realized that we have a huge MOUND of compost from the leaves and whatever was in the pile. I am so thrilled. And now I have a real place to put my compost pile, made by Dave. YOu can see it in the above picture, and I guess having the yard waste is nice because I will have plenty to mix my food scraps with. Compost here we come! Now I just need to work on finding the perfect spot in my yard for the garden.

Ohio

Hadleigh and Annelise with Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma

Annelise chilling on Great-Grandma

I just have some major catching up to do here! Two weeks ago my mom flew in from Cali and we loaded the girls in the van very early in the morning...and drove. My grandparents were celebrating their 60th anniversary, seriously! So, mom said she would drive with me so that I could attend. Since it was a 10 hour drive, and neither of my girls sleep in their carseats, I thought it best to divide up the trip. The first night we stopped in Lexington, KY. I went to school up there, so it was fun to see some old stomping grounds. I would have liked to go to Asbury, but time did not allow. We did get to visit with Joe and Julie and their two kiddos, Will and Lauren. Julie and I actually grew up together and both went to Asbury together. Hadleigh has a great time playing in the snow (her first time) and playing with their HUGE dog, Molly (who is very sweet), and of course, playing with Will and Lauren! They were dancing all around to music before bedtime, it was pretty hilarious!

The next morning we left early again, and drove the rest of the way to the small town where my mom grew up. Both drives went fairly smoothly and Annelise actually slept both days! We actually stayed at this great bed and breakfast that had little cabins. It was nice to have a quiet place where the girls could sleep. And the breakfasts there were AWESOME! The girls enjoyed sitting on the porch playing with the cat who was really friendly and liked to come into our room.

It was fun to go out to my grandparents farm and play. HC got to play with Buttons the dog, Henry the bunny, got bitten by Peaches the parakeet, and loved to watch Rusty the horse and the chicken (not sure what her name was). Now, all the bunnies in our house are called Henry. She also enjoyed playing with my cousins Sabrina and Lacey who live with my grandparents. Annelise was definitely along for the ride. She liked the animals in theory, but didn't want them to come near her.

(Mom, Pam, Debbie, Nancy, Amy with my grandparents)

This was also the first time the girls had met their great-grandparents on that side of the family, and their only living great-grandfather! It was fun to see them interact with them, and all their great-aunts (my mom has 5 sisters), and who knows what number cousins (are they second cousins...or).

Sunday after church the sisters had planned a special lunch for everyone. I think it was enjoyable, I myself was pretty busy trying to keep the girls happy and fed. But I think it was a big hit.

Sabrina and Annelise

One other fun benefit of being in OH, was that I got to visit with my good bud, Ashleigh and her second little boy, Josiah who is a super sweet boy! She drove up from Columbus to visit with us. The last time I saw Ash was at my wedding, so we had a lot of catching up to do. It was such a blessing to see her, and we stayed up WAY too late talking, but it was worth it. She is such a super cool chic and it is always neat to hear what the Lord has been doing in a dear friend's life. Love you Ash! Let's not wait another 5 years!

Ashleigh, Josiah and Hadleigh

Mom and I decided that since the girls did such a great job on the drive up, that we should at least try to drive all the way back to Atl in 1 day. We were on the road at 5.45 and just flew through the drive. Annelise slept a couple times. Mid-way through TN HC had a major melt-down which led to her sleeping for about 30 minutes. Once we past Chattanooga she freaked out again, but I managed to appease her with some twizzlers! I mean once we got to Chattanooga there was NO WAY we were stopping. It was a great trip overall and I am so glad that I was able to go, and that Mom flew out so that I could go (no way I could have made that trip without her).

Miss Hadleigh Claire is 35 Months

I am working on Miss Hadleigh's 3rd birthday party. Wow.

What a trip my girl is! She says such funny things! Sometimes she is shy, sometimes she cannot stop talking.

She loves so many things it is hard to name them all. She LOVES animals. When she walks into a new situation she hangs back and observes things. She assesses the situation, and then when she feels comfortable she holds nothing back. When she meets a dog, cat, bunny, chicken, she hangs back for a minute and then pets and hugs and loves. Seeing her with animals makes me want to get her a pet...almost.

For the first time in 1.5 years I saw her sleep in her car seat, that was an amazing moment. She only slept for 30 minutes, but she slept.

One of our friends sent us this video. It reminded him of Hadleigh and Dave, and when I watched it I laughed so hard that I cried, it is TOTALLY Hadleigh.

She gets really upset when Annelise has to take a nap, she just always wants A to be up playing with her. And she is learning more and more about being a good big sister. She is the best big sister that ever walked the planet.

She loves to look forward to things. I always tell her what we are going to do tomorrow, or what other fun thing might be coming up in the days to come, a visit from Nana, etc. I cannot tell her too far in advance because they she asks about it every second of the day!

We still read to her every night, but she has not been so addicted to books as she has been in the past. I suppose this is just a phase.

She sings all day long. She makes up songs, and sings songs she already knows.

Recently she has been saying, "God is patient". I am not sure where she learned this, but it has been a good way to teach her about patience. I will tell her she needs to be patient, and then I'll ask her who else is patient, and she will say, "Mama and God". I usually correct her and remind her that I am actually not patient, but God is definitely patient.

We have also been working on the whining. Oh my, help me! I just know I have to do this now becuase I do not want her to be a 25 year old whiner. This past month she has also had some trouble getting to the potty in time which has resulted in several accidents. Oh my goodness, it has been painful. I think she just gets so into whatever she is doing that she doesn't want to stop. So, we are now reminding her to go at key times of the day, and not taking her word for it when she says she doesn't have to go.

My girl is crazy, and I love her.

Because I Don't Want to Do the Things I Need to Do

100 Things
Bold the things you have done...

1. Started your own blog...
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band. When I was in 4th grade, I played the flute!
4. Visited Hawaii. It helps when you live in CA.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland. The original and the best
8. Climbed a mountain. Most memorable was Schilthorn Hut in Switz, we started with shorts and ended up in snow.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo. I'm not saying it was pretty.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris. Our first kiss was on a bridge overlooking Ponte Neuf.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty. I have at least been to the island.
18. Grown your own vegetables. And I am about to try again.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France. With Dar and Sar and Dave...my last trip to Paris. As we stood in line to pass by ML this old Korean lady kept pushing my butt.
20. Slept on an overnight train. Numerous times...in Norway, in Switz and Italy, and Zimbabwe.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you're not sick.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb. In Israel!
26..Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise. From Italy to Albania.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person. With Jen and Elaine!
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors. Krakow, Poland, and Moscow, Russia.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37. Had enough money to truly be satisfied.
38. Seen the leaning tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo's David. With Jess, Jamie, GIna and Dave. D took one look at ans said, "why isn't he circumcised?"
41. Sung karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa. Twice and had malaria! Zimbabwe and Mozambique the first time and Tanzania and Kenya the second time.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight. With Dave in Slovenia.
46. Been transported in an ambulance. Because I passed out in the pool at a swim meet!
47. Had your portrait painted. in Moscow.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person. with a crazy Italian tour guide that wouldn't let us go to the bathroom!
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business. When I was 12 I had a craft business with a tax license and everything!
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served in a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.
62. Gone whale watching. But I didn't see any whales because I was puking the entire trip.
63. Gotten flowers for no reason. Dave...
64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma. I can't anymore because I have lived out of the country, but I used to...I even squirted once and almost made the other guys with me pass out.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp. Dachau.
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the changing of the guards in London.
77. Broken a bone. My pinky finger.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Been to the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the paper. When I was 11 my whole fam's pic was in the paper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had Chicken pox.
89. Saved someone's life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a lawsuit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.

The Elf is 15 Months

Annelise is 15 months. There is nothing baby about my girl she is ALL toddler. She is walking really well these days, and it is so cute. She will be walking around and then see me, or Dave, or someone she likes and then she makes a bee line straight for us, and falls into our arms. So cute.

She weighs 22 pounds and is 30 inches tall, which puts her about 25% for everything. It was an interesting doc appointment. I love our pediatrician because he is SUPER laid back about everything, but at this point Annelise doesn't care for him. At one point doc said, "does she always hold her breath?" It was a weird question to me. I thought, well, only when she is really upset. And as I was answering I thought, oh my, she holds her breath! Anyway, then doc asked, "has she ever passed out?" Good grief...I know he is laid back and I am fairly laid back with the girls, but I prob would call him if Annelise had passed out! He then gave me some tips for "breath-holders". Wow...I am telling you, my girl, she has got a temper! She came out of the womb mad and purple! She knows what she wants and she apparently did not want to be touched by doc last week. Ah well, after our appt he mentioned that he was nervous to see what she was going to do at her 18 month appt...ugh...hopefully she won't pass out!

Annelise got her first haircut this month. She actually has hair that needs to be cut! It was looking a little straggly, so when I took Hadleigh in, I had my chic trim up Annelise. She did so great, no holding her breath with CJ!

It is amazing to realize more and more that Annelise is a toddler. At our playgroup last week she was playing with the big kids. She got bumped around a lot, but she had such a blast. She loves to play with Hadleigh and just calls for her constantly when Hadleigh is out of the room. So sweet, I love having two girls.

As crazy as she can be, Annelise is one of the most loving kiddos in the whole world. She gives me kisses all day long, and loves to cuddle up and chill. The girl knows what she wants lots of kisses and hugs and cuddles and attention.

Annelise added two states to her count. She is now up to 9. We added Kentucky and Ohio in the last week. That is another story for another day, but she also met some important people this month. She met her only living great-grandfather, and her third great-grandmother. She also met lots of cousins...or second cousins...er...or some kind of family, I don't really know what happens past cousins...like my cousins children are what? Ah well.

Did I mention that she calls everything "puppy"? Her blanket is puppy, a puppy is puppy, a cat is puppy. She LOVES saying that word and it really is cute. The other funny thing is that every time she hears a noise in the house she says, "Daddy!" She loves her Dada. That is my girl!