Bad Day.

This is how we spent most of our day. I don't know what to do with Kate. I've tried to "fix" her behavior by ignoring it, dealing with it, changing the environment, sticking to routine, explaining why that's a "no-no" and not saying anything at all. I've done the whole "Just love her through it" method. Well, I'm done with all of that. I'm now trying the "Merlot" method...Kate is still a monster but Mommy is feeling MUCH better. :)

Daddy's Home

It's been a loooooong week without Dan!  The girls and I really missed him and we are so glad he is home!

Stop and Remember

Happy October! I can't believe it is already the 18th and we haven't made it to a pumpkin patch yet! I think our trip to Vegas distracted us but we are home now and back to all things fall. Tomorrow I am making pumpkin spice bread, going for a long morning walk, and starting a new book! Tonight, I stumbled upon some old pictures of Ellie. She was two years old and it surprised me how much I forgot about her at that age. Little things really but special to a Mommy. Her hair was much thinner than Kate's and she could fall asleep in a stroller. She was afraid of a lot of things and didn't mind wearing coats. I looked at the pictures for a long time and realized there were many things about Kate that I notice in a day but haven't put into words. I am so aware of them now but I know they too will fade in my memory. So I added these pictures from today. I want to remember that she has beautiful hair that never holds in a barrette. She has pudgy hands and feet and likes to wiggle her toes. She often looks out the top and sides of her eyes with purpose and attitude. She never smiles for the camera unless I trick her and HATES to wear anything bulky. She learns everything from her sister including how to care for baby dolls. She doesn't like when her hands are "icky" and will only eat apples when they are whole. She is beautiful and likes to be helpful. Her. Eyes. Are. Awesome. So that is Kate in October of 2011. Our tough, snuggly, smart, funny, independent little Mama's girl. <3

18 Months Old

(Kate watching and waiting for Ellie to come home from school)

Oh happy day! Our Kate bug is 18 months old. Wow. Seems like she has been with us forever. Kate- you get cuter, smarter, and more stubborn every day. :) We love you so much. Thank you for filling our lives with LOTS and LOTS of laughter and sweet snuggly moments. Love, Mommy, Daddy, Ellie and Jaxie

Leaning Tower of Ellie

A New Day

This late afternoon, I took the girls to the park. We had a rather grumpy, whiny, disjointed kind of day and I was at the end of my rope so I thought the fresh air and room to run might help. Lucky for me, it did. We played hard for a long time and then went home for spinach and cheese pizza (Ellie's favorite), books and bedtime for Kate, and a popcorn and movie night for me and Ellie. Not a bad way to end the day!