With a Little Help From My Friends

Today I hosted another playdate for my friends. The second one in three weeks. So? Big deal. It's a big deal indeed. You see I have a little problem.... I am a clean-freak. Well.....more of a clutter free freak. I can not absolutely stand clutter. You will rarely see me at outlet stores, garage sales, or checking out the sales rack/bin area. You see those places will put me in a tizzy. And trust me, you don't want to see me in a tizzy.

But gosh darn it, those kids are just so good and carefree that I am able to release my grip momentarily when they are around. I mean look at them:


Who cares if the doll stroller ends up in the macaroni/bean sensory table or if the chalk takes a bake in the play microwave? Those things can easily be put back in their place. Which now leads to my new problem. Imploring that they make a mess, so I can clean it up. It's my new high. I know,I know.... I need a new hobby.

How Bizarre

Ava was in the bathroom doing some finishing touches before heading to bed when all of the sudden I kept hearing the toilet flush repeatedly. I hurried into the bathroom expecting to see the worst but found this instead:



She thought she had peed the color blue and could not understand why every time she flushed, it kept coming back blue. She was getting frustrated and turned to me and exclaimed "Mom, I want the water to be white again." I replied back "Yeah, I do too. Talk to your dad about it."

Freeze Frame

When Ava was 6 mos old, I decided that I would start a tradition in which at every half birthday we would spend the day doing something special and at some point in the day stop to get our picture taken in a photo booth to mark the occasion.

Well today it was finally Ruby's turn.

Getting ready for her big day.

We stopped at the photo booth first.

We strolled around looking at the peace exibit, did a little shopping, stopped to watch tap dancers perform all the while she slept.

Then we left and sat under a shady tree and ate some icecream.
It was a good day :)

Jump Around

Ruby has a great fascination with jumping. Anytime she is on her feet she is compelled to jump, even more so if there is music playing. She has rammed me in the face a few(hundred) times while performing her mini mosh pits on my lap. But that's probably more my fault since laughing in hysterics only encourages her to jump with more vigor.

Here's a small example in her beloved exersaucer:

Walk This Way

There is no doubt that on the surface the girls look like me. What you don't know is that they have inherited a lot of Ian's various dominant genes.

Ian has a birthmark on his head that turns a patch of his hair lighter and Ruby has it too. Ava has a great sense of direction and a memory that I wish I had a fraction of....just like him. They both have his fine hair, his ears, and most notably (bordering on bizarre) this:

Long second toes....longer than the big toe. Weird.

Step By Step

Shadow Dancing

Say It Isn't So

I was in the kitchen washing the baby bottles when I spotted Ava hopping up and down with her knees knocked and holding herself.

Me: Ava do you have to go potty?
Ava: No.
Me: Then why does it look like you are doing the potty dance? Why don't you just go and try.
Ava: Mom, I'm just holding my "lady business" and dancing.
Me: oh okay, Michael
She turns around and walks away stating matter-of-factly " I already went......in the bathtub."

That would be the same bathtub that we were just in, sharing a bubble bath. I know they say that pee is sterile but ewww!

The Power

That smile

and those eyes



alone have the ability to turn me into a "yes- dear-whatever -you -want " mom. You sneaky girls, I'm onto you.
Well kinda, it's a work in progress. I'm progressing......just slowly.

I'm Gonna Crawl

I'm thinking by the end of next week...my life as I know it, will never be the same.

By My Side

When I don't have a little person attached to my side, I have this:

What's that big black blob camouflaged by my "mommy uniform", you ask?

it's my 13 yr old baby, Murray.

So Long, Farewell

For the entire school year Ava and I attended a Year Rounders Class. You could call it a pre-preschool of sorts.

We met every Monday for a couple of hours. Our day usually started with playdough or in the housekeeping area where she would "cook" me breakfast. After 20 minutes or so the parents would leave for about 45 minutes to discuss different issues/topics with the parent educator.

The mommies in our group were great and I found them to be very helpful and insightful. At the beginning of the year , it was very hard for most of the children to separate but by the time the half year mark rolled by, the children had grown accustomed to us leaving. When we would return (bombarded by hugs) we sang songs and delved into messy but fun art projects. We usually ended our day in the muscle/large motor room or when it was nice...outside.

Miss Katie was a wonderful teacher and the children loved her as well as her para, Miss Kathy. Ava will be starting preschool next year and a few weeks ago we found out that Miss Katie got the preschool teacher position (woot!woot!) and I am now certain that Ava will adjust to preschool smoothly.

Come Together

Yesterday we met up with our friends for a fun day at the "new"(character changes) and "improved"(wallet breaker) fun park at the Mall of America. It was so good to see everyone as we missed them terribly.We went from seeing them every week to not seeing them for nearly 2 months because I was trying to keep them from catching the dreaded mono.

I look forward to the playdates just as much as Ava does..... it's been my sanity saver. I am fortunate to have found a group of cool friends and an added bonus is that our kids get along famously!

Bicycle Race

I was inside feeding Ruby when I heard screams of delight outside in the front yard. Last time I checked, Ava was in the garage with Daddy fiddling with his bike. I know this to be true, because it was only moments ago that she had come into the house to retrieve a Phillips head screwdriver for him. So I thought.......




I found Ava and Ian racing around the yard- Ian on bike, Ava on foot. I can only assume that her pants fell off due to the high winds created from her lightning speed....right, honey? For it was only days ago that I chastised you for letting her out in the frontyard in her undies. Backyard.okay. NOT.THE.FRONT YARD.

Yummy Yummy Yummy

Now that Ruby is 6 months and has finally popped that bottom tooth, I decided it was time to start her on some "real" food. This is how our session went.

I think she really liked it, don't you?

Skills to Pay the Bills

Mia who?

From the Heart of Me

Hard Times

Box of Rain

What do you do when mom's not feeling so hot, it's raining cats and dogs and you're absolutely bored? Why you have daddy bring in a large box into the living room and go crazy. Forget about spending your hard earned money on toys when all you really need is a box and some imagination. Today the box served as a train, boat, bed, baby corral, and tunnel.