WHO buys that?

Have you ever found yourself in Costco wondering, WHO buys that? The answer is apparently us ;-) This bear, which Reilly has named Addison, barely fit in our car! Now she sleeps in the bed and sits at the dinner table. But she loves her!

High Tech Brooke

When we first got the iPad, Reilly took it over. She loves to play games on it, watch movies, go to the NickJr website. Well suddenly, Brooke is all over the iPad too. She really loves the Talking TomCat app, as well as this new animal app. Here is a video of her doing the animals.

She fell asleep in her dinner..really!

Reilly skipped her nap today - as she often does on the weekend...but she was telling us she was tired and planned to go to bed early. We had no idea early meant falling asleep IN her dinner...literally. :-)

Feeding Elmo

Mealtime is a battle at house (as with probably most houses). Either the kids don't like what we made, or they are too tired to sit and eat, or they just want to play. The other night, as we were rushing to get dinner on the table, we sat Brooke down first. She was unusually quiet. When I walked over to the table, I realized it was because she was busy feeding Elmo. Apparently Elmo was hungry for corn ;-).

Birthday Parties

Somewhere I have a picture of me, around the age of 4, standing outside of my childhood home holding a present and all dressed up for my cousin's birthday party. I love that picture - and every time the girls get ready for a birthday party, I think about it. So in honor, I snapped two pictures of Reilly this weekend before she went to her buddy Joshua's birthday party.

She won't be 4 forever

Mike and I often joke with Reilly that we wish she wouldn't grow up. The conversation usually goes something like this:

Mike: Reilly I wish you could be 4 forever!

Reilly: Nooooooooo!

Me: Come on, please!

Reilly: I can't, I have to grow up and be a mommy!

But in all seriousness, this childhood thing goes by way too fast - its not just something people tell you, its true! And while you are constantly running, and rarely have time to slow down - we really HAVE to slow down and enjoy it!

I have been feeling this a lot lately and getting sad. I'm not sure if it is because Reilly is now in Pre-K, and I know she will be going off to school next year, or if it is because Brooke isn't a baby anymore - or a combination of all that. But I just want to enjoy every moment!

One of my Facebook friends just posted a picture of her son's 5th Birthday and said in the comment, "He'll never be 4 again!" And seriously - my eyes welled up! We take too much for granted.

So yesterday - Reilly and I had doctor appointments, so I took the whole day to be with her. I didn't take a conference call, I didn't answer email - I just spent time with her. We went to the park, and I watched her laugh and play and interact with the other kids. She is growing up so fast...and I'm one proud mommy!

But seriously - 4 is great, I wish she could be 4 forever!

Pre-K and 2s!

Today is the first day of Pre-K for Reilly and Brooke moves into the 2's. For Reilly, she is with mostly the same group of kids as last year, and she already knows the teacher, so we are confident that the transition will be smooth. She is very much looking forward to being a "BIG KID."

Brooke is also lucky, she has 8 kids in her class, 4 of them are from the same class as last year, and one of her teachers is the same. Her drop-off wasn't painless, but she will be fine, for sure! The 2's were a big adjustment for Reilly, so we anticipate much of the same for Brooke. They move onto a different playground, more kids around, potty training, etc. It is a big year! - for both girls!

And, as is my tradition, I took a picture of them walking into school this morning. I was carrying 2 lunch boxes, 2 bedrolls and a backpack - so it isn't the best picture, but it will do :-)

And of course - another tradition of mine, is to take a look back ;-) So here are the previous year pictures.

2009

2008

2007

Orlando Staycation

The girls had two days off school this week as they transitioned from summer camp back into the regular school year. We decided we would take them away for a stay-cation. I mean, we live in Orlando - home of the great resorts, sunshine and pools! The girls were very excited. We took off early Sunday morning and a few minutes into the car we were hit with a terrible rain storm! Oh no!

But we were still optimistic. We arrived at the hotel and managed an early check-in. So after throwing our stuff down in the room, off to the pool we went! We were greeted by a CLOSED pool. Apparently, the pool closes when there is lightening within 5 miles of the hotel. The front desk then told me in a somber voice that it was an 80% chance that the pool wouldn't open today at all. So what do you do when you have two small kids and you are stuck inside in Orlando during a rain storm? You get creative! Luckily we brought some toys, so the kids made use of the crib and had some fun.

Luckily we lived by the 20% rule, and the pool did re-open...and closed again...but re-opened. Yeah! The girls had a great time playing with dad in the pool and lounging in the lazy river.

Each night the hotel had a swim-in movie at the pool. Reilly loved it!

On night 2, we even called her friend Charlotte and invited her to come to the pool. But the movie they advertised, Monsters Inc, was not playing. Instead it was Monster House - NOT A GOOD MOVIE FOR 4 YEAR OLDS! It was so scary, the girls couldn't watch - but we snapped a cute picture before it started!

To end the fun weekend, we took the kids to Reilly's favorite restaurant, Chili's! We had a great lunch - swim hair and all ;-)

Despite our luck with the rain and bad movie, we had a great time!

Last Day of Camp 2010

Today is the last day of summer camp for the girls - and the first time I got a picture of them in their camp shirts! Next week Reilly moves into Pre-K!!

Party Time!

I think most mothers can relate to this post.

I try hard to get away - alone - every once in awhile. Today I pulled away for a mani/pedi. Brooke was napping, and Reilly and Mike were resting by watching a movie. I figured I'd be gone for an hour. I ended up being gone two hours, and for the last hour I was feeling guilty. As a mom, you never know if you will walk in and things will be under control, or completely a wreck.

When I walked back in the house I figured everyone would be A. awake and screaming, or B. they would all be asleep. I hadn't prepared myself for the twist to B. They were all asleep. But Brooke was in her crib (no surprise), Mike was out on the couch (no surprise), and Reilly was asleep sitting up in her chair, in a party hat, a soda bottle and chip bag in her lap - looking like she crashed after a late night party!

Apparently they had been watching baseball while having a birthday party for one of Reilly's dolls. hee hee!