A day w/ Mom...

Nanni & Poppy got Eva this swimsuit life jacket combo a few weeks back and after an evening of wearing it and a melt down b/c Daddy didn't want her to wear it to bed, it had been in hiding -- but the girls found it today. And of course Eva wanted to wear it, she was over the moon when she told me "bed" and pulled on the front of it -- like "I'm wearing this to bed (nap)" I said okay, and got a HUGE grin! Clearly I'd understood her and she liked the answer. She looks like a little body builder wearing it.

They came to open the pool today, I think both girls thought that meant they could go swimming -- Daddy of course said no b/c it's FREEZING!

Hi Five...

I have been working w/ Eva and working w/ her - even trying to TRICK her to get her to say her name, and she just won't do it! If you ask her what her name is, she'll say "Five". I think b/c Grace has spent so much time saying, "I'm FIVE!" that Eva now says that to b/c of course she wants to be just like Grace:-) Dad even tried to trick her and said, "Is it Grace's birthday" and Eva would say "No, mine" He would say, "Who's birthday is it?" Thinking she might say Eva's, but no... the only response he'd get is ME, MINE, No Poppy - Me! And of course the party line "Five". He even start saying "Hi-five" and she would look at him, like.... you are so not funny.

I love her personality!

Eva's 2nd Birthday...

I can't believe Eva's turning TWO -- crazy! Seems like just yesterday Grace was a baby, my baby can't be that old:-( But sadly she is so I'd better get used to it! And wow, it seems like over night she's grown up - she talks more, and she's actually saying things! She wants to be just like Grace, and I know I got them for her for her birthday but, ugh, they make her seem too old -- her little flip-flop sandals, too cute! She can't get them on her feet correctly every time, wrong feet and often not between her big toe and the next one but two on one side and three on the other. But she keeps wearing them, even though they have left some pink marks on her little feet. She's been stealing Grace's flip-flops for a long time, so she probably has walking in them down pat. But they make her seem sooooo much older.

Grace, Matt & I got her a little Little Tikes basketball goal, it was hard to find something that she didn't already have access to from Grace's previous toys, but this seemed to be a hit w/ both girls. Hope nothing in the house ends up getting broken!

Josh & Erin's Wedding...

Oh my gosh, Josh & Erin's wedding was so nice and soooooo much fun! After the rehearsal Matt and I weren't sure if Grace would be willing to walk down the isle or not -- she got a huge case of stage fright, but on the day of the wedding she was a total Rock Star:-) She looked so grown-up to, and did a wonderful job staying w/ Breanna & Erin while Mia & I went to take pictures in the church. I'm torn b/c I love seeing how she's turning out as a person, all grown up but I hate thinking before I know it she'll be the one getting married. Sometimes I wonder if my mom felt that way, like it was just yesterday when I was a little girl. I want to enjoy it and a lot of times it seems like everything is rush rush rush, run to this, go to that, and no just sit back and for lack of a better phrase, "smell the roses".

Eva spent the day w/ Gram's & Kim b/c she didn't need to be at the church until the wedding started - they said she did well, I think this might have been the first time she stayed there w/out Grace. And when she got to the church she looked so pretty, sweet little dress and a halo of curls! She sat in the aisle where I was crouching to take pics as everyone came down the aisle, at one point she tried to make a break for it and follow Grace to the alter, but Brenda caught her. Good think too b/c she nearly knocked me over w/ her determination!

At the reception both girls had fun dancing and playing w/ all of their cousins. And let me just say I have no clue where Grace learned to dance! Mia said she has to get it naturally -- if I didn't know better I would think she'd been watching the dancing scene from the movie Hitch- she's definitely mapping her own style, but LOVING it, and that's what counts.

A BEAUTIFUL flower girl...

Eva still sick...

Still sick, Eva's not much better and worrying that we'd go into the weekend w/ the wedding, etc... that she would get worse we took her back. This time they did give her an antibiotic (which of course she is HORRIBLE at taking) but they gave her one... so maybe she'll do better.

Poor, barking Eva...

Poor Eva, heck poor Mommy.... (and I guess poor Daddy) - last night Eva started coughing, this awful bark like cough. She couldn't sleep and just wanted me so I let her sleep downstairs with me. Yes I let her sleep, which meant I didn't sleep AT ALL. She turns more than anyone I've ever seen! Sleeping has to be an be an aerobic exercise for her she turns so much, I would either be getting kicked, whacked, or nearly falling out of bed and when that wasn't happening I was concerned that at the rate she was spinning and rolling that she would fall out of bed, it was EXHAUSTING!

She still didn't feel well in the morning so even though I thought I knew what the doctors office would say I took her in - and of course they said what I thought... breathing treatments and steroids. Whenever the Tylenol would wear off Eva would get unbearable to be with and would actually come ask for Tylenol, so you know she didn't feel well. And I should have napped when she napped but of course I worked on getting laundry done and picking up -- why do I never learn??

AMAZING how Hannah Montana can movitate a girl!

AMAZING how something as small as a Hannah Montana movie can get a girl motivated... in just a few Letter sessions Grace has mastered writing her letters on a blank sheet of paper. She now can write all of them, correctly -- not backwards, and in a straight line (well close to a straight line any way). I'm soooooo PROUD of her!

Playing out by the playhouse...

Today the girls played outside on the playset and in the playhouse, this was one of the first nice days -- and the yard was dry, no mud! Yeah! The girls have soooo much fun playing in the playhouse and it's not even finished, I can't wait until the pool is open, the playset is in it's permanent spot and the landscaping is in. It's going to be a perfect location - I can totally see Matt and I relaxing in a few chairs by the fire pit while the girls play house:-)

Learning Letters...

Okay so I'm a little freaked out how Miss Rhonda says that Grace is doing a wonderful job every time I check in w/ her and trust me I check all the time! But then tonight when I asked her about a new letter they had worked at during school "W" she was just guessing as to what it was called.... So I told her she needed to stop playing and study (she was tired) but she still wasn't getting it right, so I suggested we write our letters and gave her a blank sheet of paper... well that didn't go over so well b/c I was shocked at how many she got wrong, backwards or had to ask about. So we decided right then that school work needed more time (no offense Miss Rhonda) and less art work. Grace of course didn't like that.

She has been dying to go see the new Hannah Montana movie so I told her if she could consistently get them all right, I'd take her.

That sealed the deal.

Note from Brenda: Grace thinks I should let her go outside and play with the big girls since she is going to be going to all day kindergarten. It was too cute when she told me that. She said she is a big girl now and doesn't need a nap but to go out and play.

I told her that was up to mom not me. She said you are the boss and your house. I said yes I am sort of kinda but I have to do what mommy's and daddy's tell me.

Easter

Decorating eggs at Brenda's...

News from Brenda...

They decorated foam eggs that (little) Mollie brought. We had an easter egg hunt in the living room. Breanna filled the eggs and hid them. Since the ages of the girls are so different, we told them they could only get 6 eggs.

Eva was hillarious, and yes she fould all 6 of hers. If she couldn't reach them she told us and we got them for her. It was so cute.

I also let them pick out their own little easter basket, let them put the grass in it along with the eggs they decorated from Mollie, and Breanna made name tags for them. We told them we would put them on the stairway and while they were taking their nap the easter bunny would come and fill them. Macey also brought stuff for all of them.

I can't wait to see Eva's eyes when she sees her basket filled!

Note from Brenda...

The girls are good. They both are still napping. They decorated foam eggs that Mollie brought. We had an easter egg hunt in the living room. Breanna filled the eggs and hid them. Since the ages of the girls are so different, we told them they could only get 6 eggs. Eva was hillarious, and yes she fould all 6 of hers. If she couldn't reach them she told us and we got them for her. It was so cute. I also let them pick out their own little easter basket, let them put the grass in it along with the eggs they decorated from Mollie, and Breanna made name tags for them. We told them we would put them on the stairway and while they were taking their nap the easter bunny would come and fill them. Macey also brought stuff for all of them. I can't wait to see Eva's eyes when she sees her basket filled.

Too cute!!!

Pic from Brittany -- Brittany & Kevin stopped by to visit w/ the girls... and they were of course doing what they love to do -- driving till the battery runs out!