Fun w/ sidewalk chalk...

Down at the lake for Daddy & Uncle Rob's birthday... some how it seems like when ever we are here the sidewalk chalk is always out! We don't seem to play with it much at home, but maybe that's just b/c it doesn't go well drawing at home on someone else's driveway - but here at the lake sidewalk chalk is a staple. And of course, Eva always tries to eat her chalk, & why not - it's not much different from a crayon & she eats those! After trying to eat one, she took to creating her own art & drew on herself. Andrea & Brittany (Kevin's girlfriend) both had fun helping the girls color.

On the attack again....

Okay so we all know Eva's taken to biting at Brenda's w/ the other kids to either defend herself, or more likely b/c she's learned that after biting she gets her way. That might be b/c the kids are terrified of her, or as they are crying licking their wounds she grabs the item she wants. Well today, she was on the attach all day long! We went shopping looking for new shoes for her, apparently she was tired of shopping so rather than learn to talk & tell me that, she decided the message would be much clearer if she just bit me repeatedly! Luckily these were through my shirt (she was attacking my upper arm & shoulder) felt like a mild pinch. When that wasn't working she would either grab my hair or try to pull my nose off. It's hard to believe that otherwise she is so sweet.

The biting doesn't stop there... I was cleaning strawberries, Grace & Eva were eating them almost faster than I could clean & cut. I bent down to give Eva one, she was dancing & bumped my thumb nail into the base of her nose. I apologized, but she must have still been mad b/c she bit me through my jeans hard enough to leave a small (only b/c she only has 4 teeth - otherwise it would be huge!) bruise on my leg! I knew it hurt, but I was shocked to see the mark she left behind - little stinker.

She managed to keep this up the rest of the night, anytime she wasn't getting her way... out come the teeth. Typically she is slow enough that you see what is coming & stop her. I'm not sure what we're going to do, at this rate she won't have any friends!

We have officially entered the WHY phase...

I knew it would happen, I mean it had to she's my daughter & I still have vague memories of saying, "why? why? why... why... why?????" Well again, one of my Dad's wishes (I hope you have a daughter JUST like YOU!) has come true....

Grace has officially entered the WHY phase - and OMG, it can drive you mad! It's one why question after another, it's never ending. I know, right now you'd love to say "but why?" But I have to just look at her & smile - knowing that behind each & every why question, is a little mind that works just like mine:-)

The Magic Eraser... nothing magic about it...

A crazy evening.... Matt wanted to talk about some house things & the girls were interrupting, wanting me to hold them, etc... so we decided to go on a drive. While driving Grace wanted something to write her name w/ so I gave her one of Matt's red ink pens (crayons weren't available - don't I wish!). I had no clue she colored all over herself.

When we got home Eva was tired so I took Eva in; Matt took Grace. 10 minutes had passed & Grace came up crying saying it hurt... Matt is saying, "Did you know she colored all over herself? Why did you give her an ink pen!???" I was like, "I had no clue she colored on herself..." He said, "I had to use that thing of your Mom's to get it all of..." I immediately felt sick, and was like... "The Magic Eraser??!" He said, "Yes".

Several months ago - heck, maybe a year! I received an email saying - never let your kids use a Magic Eraser b/c it can cause a chemical burn - not to mention never use it on them. So we immediately undressed her & put her in the bath tub to ensure the chemical was all off of her. But by then her chin was all red & her legs where she had the ink. She was crying saying it burned.

Matt felt awful, he had no idea it would hurt her. I think he felt even worse b/c he was pissed b/c she'd colored all over herself, but had no clue cleaning her with that would hurt her! It took her FOREVER to go to sleep, she kept saying her chin hurt... crying:-( We put burn cream on it & rotated ice packs... she even took Motrin, which she rarely agrees to take. She had a temp of 103 a few months back & refused to take the Motrin, but took it last night.

I felt so bad for her & for Matt. I mean tomorrow is his birthday, we opened his presents this evening & then this... what a way to have a birthday.

Update 7/1/08: Mom & Matt both said it looks like she has a rug burn on her chin this morning & on her legs. I guess it could have been worse b/c the pics in the email warning look awful - like 3rd degree burns.

The Baby Contest...

Today we took Eva to the baby contest at the Shelby County Fair. Grace did it both years when she was little, the first year she got Reserve Grand Champion, and the second year... not sure, maybe a runner up? But Eva got stage fright - on the stage she just froze w/ her finger in her mouth. Poor thing, she was of coursethe cutest! But didn't get anything, 40% is looks, 40% personality, and 20% something else? I so wished she had gotten up there and waved, or did her little dance where she shakes her bootie, but oh well - she's our hidden gem!

It was funny though b/c as we were registering, Grace pointed to the race track and said, "what is that Mommy?". I told her, "it's the race track", she looked at me VERY SERIOUSLY, and said, "they are going to have the babies race out there?" Still makes me laugh! She's too cute! Prior to the contest all Grace talked about was how Eva was going to win the "context' - I liked asking her about it just so I could hear how she says contest!

America's Next Top Model...

Jess & Ella came over so we could go walking (and to the playground!) Plus I needed to take some pics of Ella for her birthday invites... It was so funny b/c I asked Grace before they got to our house if she would mind helping Ella pose "pretty". In general Ella never wants me to take her picture, its like she gives me this look that says "Tina - you an inconvenience to me, don't you get it I'm P-L-A-Y-I-N-G!!!" So I wanted to get Grace on board helping, which she loves to do! Grace said, "Sure! Oh I have a good idea, it would look great if she put her feet up on the house." Not sure where she was going with that but I said sure. So when Ella got to our house Grace was great at helping. She even tried to teach Ella how to pose & Ella bless her heart tried to do whatever Grace did but it didn't quite look the same... see pics below! Jess & I both agreed Ella looked like a bad contestant on America's Next Top Model! I was laughing so hard I thought I might pee my pants:-) Good thing they are all so cute - they can pose however they want & still win hearts!

From there we went to the playground, little Eva didn't want to leave - threw a fit when I put her in the stroller... for someone so little she sure has a TEMPER! Whew! I hate to think about what she will be like as a teenager - yikes! But she settled down quickly, we walked over to Brenda's addition for a little change of scenery. While there I thought I saw a real owl, so the girls were checking him out - while standing there Jeff, Brenda, Breanna & Jarrod pulled into the addition. The girls had to go see them... they had so much fun running around over there, Jeff lit the fire & got out fish food. Eva was Breanna's little side kick, it was hard to get them to leave. And when we did leave, neither Jess or I could believe how long we'd been there - day light savings sure throws you for a loop! We didn't get back to our house till almost 10 p.m., and it was just starting to get dark! CRAZY!!! Jess's mom called & said, "what are you doing w/ my baby out so late?!" Funny - Jess told her mine was littler & she was still out. But the girls had great fun, it was kind of nice to just enjoy the evening & totally lose track of time - makes me feel like a kid again:-)

A star in the making...