Easter 2009

Well, this will be short and sweet but we had a great spring break and Easter. My sister and niece flew into Nashville and hung out for the weekend. Then my sister and I and all the little girls headed to Florida to stay with my mom for the week. The Daddys met up with us later. As we headed down, Big Sister and her cousin both discovered that they had a loose tooth. Oddly, it was the SAME tooth...and on the SAME day...weird. My niece called two nights ago to let us know her daddy had pulled her tooth. Big Sister called her tonight to tell her that our daddy pulled her tooth. (Of course she also wanted to know just how much money the tooth fairy brought.) The girls loved seeing their cousin.We had some cool weather in the beginning but eventually it warmed up and we were able to get some good time on the beach. On Good Friday the girls went to an Easter egg hunt and had a great time.

We colored eggs and amazingly, Little Sister managed to stay clean for the most part. There was one scary moment where she leaned on the table. It tipped and all the cups full of dye started to slide her way. Daddy and I were able to make a good save.
We went to the sunrise service on the beach again and once again, it was beautiful. I wrote about my experience last year which you can read here. Here are three pictures I took in succession. One to the east, one in front of me and one looking to the west. It was cool to see the moon and sun and all the colors in between like that.


After the sunrise service we ate breakfast a the world famous Oasis. Thankfully we didn't have to sit at the bar like last year. After filling our tummies we headed for home. It was a long trip but a great one. Hope you had a wonderful Easter too!

The Artist and Her Model

I don't know that much needs to be said here. The pictures kind of say it all. I could hear Annie saying, "Wait, be still, I'm not finished yet." This is what I saw when I came the corner.

Not bad huh?

The Next Food Network Star

So Daddy has been out of town at a "Math Conference". (yeah, I know, sounds thrilling doesn't it?) Anyway, I have been doing my best to keep the girls entertained while he's been gone. Yesterday we painted. Always an adventure in our house. Big Sister could paint without a smock and never get one drop on anything but her canvas. Little Sister on the other hand...

We also have a routine for our weekends that got changed up a little. Daddy and I have a deal. I get to sleep in on Saturdays and he gets to sleep in on Sundays. We both used to lie there at 6:15am when the girls got up wishing the other would get up and deal with them. We'd get irritated with each other and the girls and would both end up getting up and starting off the mornings wrong. Now, we each have our day to sleep in so when we do get up, we're expecting it and have better attitudes. Daddy started taking the girls to the Waffle House on Saturday mornings in their pajamas and robes. They're regulars now but since Daddy wasn't here, Mama decided to take them. It was raining like crazy, but it was fun. We shared the All Star Special. They ate the waffle and bacon and I ate the eggs, hash browns and toast. The ladies that work there were happy to see them.

We just now finished eating a light lunch while watching the Food Network. Big Sister started describing how to make her lunch and asked me if we could make a video. So here she is...The Next Food Network Star!

What a great recipe! Especially with the additional seasoning from the floor. Anyway, we are missing Daddy and praying he has a safe trip home.

This morning Big Sister didn't like what I picked out for her to wear to school. I was too tired to fight (she woke me up at 4:00am this morning) so I told her, "Just go pick something out and put it on then." Here's what she picked.

She didn't do too bad except I let her know I thought she might be a little cold. She assured me that she could wear her coat all day. Whatever. I did add the bow and I had to draw the line when she said she wanted to wear flip-flops. But I let her go in a summer shirt and pants that don't quite match. Does that mean I'm growing as a person? Or that I just haven't had enough coffee yet?

On a side note, I was trying to give Little Sister kisses all over her face this morning (her cheeks are just so yummy) and she told me in her most stern voice, "I don't want your kisses. They're too oooooey." In her defense, I haven't brushed my teeth yet. Maybe I'll try again later.

Baby Phillip

Little Sister has a new favorite toy. She calls it her "baby". She holds it lovingly, takes it everywhere with her, and speaks to it in her sweet little mommy voice. Here they are.

Can you tell who her baby is? Not sure?

Yep...it's a bobble-head. A bobble-head of my brother-in-law Phillip Wellman to be exact. The umpire scolding, base throwing, grenade launching Phillip. Still not sure who I'm talking about?

Ain't he sweeeeeet?

Friday the 13th

I don't really ever think about Friday the 13th being unlucky or anything like that but we did have some more antics yesterday.

Big Sister got to go to school early with Daddy for the Father/Daughter Valentine Breakfast.

They had a special time together. There was no Valentine Party but the kids exchanged Valentines. Big Sister had a great time doing them all by herself.

She did ask me to hold the candy and then had her one whenever she needed it. Daddy had inservice so he got off early and was able to pick her up from school. She took her time showing us all the Valentines and candy in her bag.

Meanwhile Little Sister was supposed to be taking a nap. Instead, we discovered she had found a brown magic marker and she was doing this.

No further comment.

We went to the Neeley's house with the Blackwell and Davenports to play games. It took about 2 1/2 hours to get through one game with all the constant interruptions. Little girls coming downstairs to show us fairy costumes with pirate hats, complaints about not sharing, spilled popcorn, bottoms that needed to be wiped, and so on, and so on...

But we had a great pre-Valentine's Day all in all...fun, crazy times spent with the ones you love.

Little Sister, Don't You Know?

Little Sister is STILL potty training. Why is it that kids find it harder to go poop on the potty? I don't get it. A couple of nights ago, we were sitting downstairs while the girls played up in the bonus room. We heard someone in the bathroom and they were in there a WHILE. So I finally said, "What are you doing?" Little Sister's voice replied, "I'm washing my finger." Okay, so I'm thinking this can't be good. She had pooped in her pull up and tried to clean things up herself. She was washing her hands but there was poop EVERYWHERE.

Yesterday afternoon I called my husband from work. He sounded busy and frustrated. When I asked what he was doing, he replied, "I'm cleaning crap off the toilet, wall and sink!" I knew exactly what had happened. And he is sooooo not good with poop.

Then I came home to find my husband and the neighbor vacuuming the driveway. (We had strong winds and the neighbors patio table blew over and the glass top shattered in our driveway) Little Sister was in the garage. I took her inside where she promptly announced, "I need to go potty!" I'm thinking, "Great! She's finally getting it!" But when I tried to go with her, she kept pushing me out the door and saying, "NO! I do it myself!" I immediately grew suspicious and when she turned her back, I saw that she'd done it again! Twice in one day! And she was trying to hide the evidence by "doing it herself". Believe me, if she were capable of cleaning up her mistakes I would gladly let her. But needless to say, those panties went in the trash.

So today, we will try again. And maybe, just maybe, we'll have her trained by kindergarten.