Cookies, Slides and Horses.... Our Day Off

I had an unexpected day off today. Our nanny had her wisdom teeth out on Tuesday, and I had planned on working from home Tuesday and Wednesday figuring she would be back today. She let me know last night that she didn't think she would be able to make it today because the teeth were giving her problems. So, considering my parents are out of town and Andrew is traveling for work... That left, Me! But that's ok, because I love my days with my munchkins.
Emma was battling a stomach virus earlier this week, and the poor thing was scared to eat anything because of it. I don't blame her... But she seems to be doing a lot better, and has a little of her appetite back, so we went to the bakery for breakfast! This bakery (or, 'makery' as Emma would call it) is amazing! It is definitely not something you can frequent, that's for sure. Well, I guess you could... But, anyway.

Those were just some trees out front that I really liked. =)

Giant cake Cupcakes

This place is huge! It goes on forever. It's dangerous.

I let each of them pick out a donut (They have miniature donuts) and a cookie. As you can probably imagine, that was not an easy decision for them to make.

Drew's airplane cookie

Emma really liked this little statue guy...

So, we sat down and ate, and they amused some of the older folks that were also having breakfast there.

It was supposed to rain for most of today, so I was just trying to get them out of the house for a bit. But, the sun was shining and it was really nice out, so on our way home we stopped at a park. It's not the park we usually go to in our neighborhood, but we were driving by it and I remembered them really liking it when we took them there one other time. Apparently every other mother in town had the same idea. But, thats ok because they loved being able to play with all of the kids. Most of the kids there were their age. And I think I may have been the only woman there that wasn't pregnant. = /

This is only about one third of the playground - it's big.

On our way home we stopped to see the horses. The guy that owns (or used to own?) Arlington Race Track has tons of land and a lot of horses that we drive by all the time.. so usually I will pull over and let the kids see the horses for a minute, but today there were a few that were right up at the fence, so we got out and watched them for a little bit.

I kind of had to hold on to Drew most of the time because he was seriously trying to climb over the fence and jump right in there with them! My kids are fearless.

We got home and the kiddos took naps, and in a few minutes we are heading back out to take a walk.

We are looking forward to Daddy coming home from his trip tonight!

This weekend we will be walking in the American Cancer Society's Walk & Roll event raise money for cancer research!! We're really excited to see what we have been able to do as a group. We have raised $140,000 the last two years with this event, and hoping that this year will be just as successful! If you haven't already, and wish to donate to support us, click on the link below and you are able to make a secure, and tax deductible donation! Remember, every dollar makes a difference! Cancer has personally touched us recently, and I can say that it is something that no one should have to deal with. My hope is for my kids to live in a world where cancer is not such a threat.... and people can celebrate more birthdays!! So we are out to kick cancers butt!!

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/WalkampRoll/CFPFY11ILWalknRoll?px=14535537&pg=personal&fr_id=34385

I would also like to say, once again, a HUGE THANK YOU to those of you that have supported us, or donated on behalf of our family for this event the last few years!! We really appreciate it!

Happy Mothers Day

I'm a little behind on my blog, usually I post them on Sundays. But, what can I say?

We had a fun Mothers Day weekend. My munchkins even learned how to say 'Happy Mothers Day' to me. (My mom taught them)

After work on Friday, Andrew was golfing, so I was hangin' with my babes. It was a gorgeous afternoon/evening so we took a long walk around our neighborhood, and then played on the grass hill.

 

They got nice and dirty, and at one point I made a comment about needing to take baths as soon as we got home, and as Emma is digging in dirt, playing with bugs and worms and rocks, she says to me "No mom, there won't be time for baths when we get home, it will be too late."

There have been a few nights that we've gotten home late and Andrew & I will have a quick conversation about it being too late for baths, because we still have to do dinner, pj's, etc... and we can do baths in the morning. Apparently she tunes in to those conversations.

Saturday we celebrated Mothers day with my parents, because they were leaving for Jackson Hole on Sunday.

Emma & Mommy

Emma & Mimi

Mmmm.... Wine and Cake

Once again, we had quite a few takes on this picture. Generally it takes several before we can get one where we're all looking in the same direction and not making a really weird face.

My boy - My little love.

Emma & Aunt Shauna

Emma dancing with Daddy

I love my babies.

Sunday was another beautiful day, so when I was done doing all of my weekend running around (Costco, grocery shopping, etc..) I took the kids to the park. We have really had a crappy Spring so far, so I try to take advantage of every nice day that I'm not in the office.

Miss Emma going down the big twirly slide.

Drew found a softball on the baseball field, so he had a blast being a 'baseball player.'

This was shortly after we came home from the park (And it wasn't even 6 pm yet) -

That little girl was tuckered out.

My blog has basically turned from a blog with a few pictures (Which is what I think it's supposed to be like) to a full blown photo album. But, that's ok. My intent is to keep our distant family and friends in the loop, and I like taking pictures of the kids (Andrew thinks I take too many) - so I just have so many to pick from that I end up using a lot. My plan is to have the blog converted into a memory book for the kids some day. For us to remember 'the little things'. My mom took so many pictures of us growing up, and she has lots of photos albums, and I love looking through them. So I want my kids to be able to do the same thing. Even though times have changed and I can honestly say that I have very few pictures actually printed out.

A little off subject, I got some hanging flower baskets for our front porch this weekend. Andrew is watching to see how long I can keep them alive. I'm usually not very good at it. I definitely don't have the green thumb. I'm more like a flower/plant killer. I get them, because I really do love the way they look, and I want to have pretty flowers around, but they end up being his responsibility. But this time I'm really going to try my best.

So, I'll keep ya posted on that.

Inside, we always stick with the artificial, silk plants. But, for the Spring and Summer months, I'm really going to try to get flowers going outside. The plants, bushes and flowers that we do have in our yard don't require my attention. The rain and sunlight do it all for me. So, we'll see!

You Are My Sunshine

I love weekends, because I get two whole days to spend with my favorites. Unless I take Friday off, and then I have 3! I do that sometimes.
I'm really lucky though because I also love my job... which makes things much easier. I do really look forward to the weekends, to be able to hang with Andrew and the kids more than I can during the week, but I couldn't even imagine how painful if would be if I didn't like going to work, on top of not being able to spend much time with my munchkins during the week. So, long story short (or short story long) I appreciate that I like what I do for work, but I definitely appreciate my family time on the weekends.

Friday night, I got out for a little bit....and went to a friends Stella & Dot Jewelry party. http://home.stelladot.com/

I am also pretty certain that I broke my toe on Friday. Which really stinks. I don't think there's much you can do for a broken toe, but it hurts really bad.

We grilled Saturday and had my dad over. Mom's out of town this weekend.
Pop was giving Drew putting lessons -

We did a little playing outside yesterday

 I was at Costco yesterday, and this sample lady was trying in the worst way to convince me to buy these apple sauce in a bag things. I've seen them in the store and always just thought it was kind of gross. But, I caved. Because actually, it is more convenient and a lot less messy for the kids - and this brand is all natural, no sugar, yada yada.... But, the kids love them. Emma may or may not have had 3 of them yesterday. = /

Drew and I went on a little walk when Emma was napping. We stopped at this spot for a while so that he could play with sticks and rocks and ants. Such a boy.

This morning, we took our breakfast to go and went on a walk to the park.

On our walk to the park we stopped to meet and play with a new puppy at one of the houses on our way. It was a little baby yellow lab, 8 weeks old. They just brought him home yesterday. He was adorable.

When we got to the park, the first thing each one of them did was run up the steps and go down one of the slides (They each went down a different one) AND... there were puddles of water at the bottom of each slide. UGH. We had just gotten there - and with my broken toe I really didn't want to have to turn around right away and walk back to the house to change them, and then go back to the park again. Aside from the fact that when I even mentioned going back home to change they both threw a fit. So, daddy brought us some dry pants and a towel to dry off the slides.

He was at home working... he's been working all day.

We picked some dandelions

I tied a few of them together to make Emma and bracelet and ring out of them. So when I was putting it on her I said "Look... I made you a bracelet." So of course, Drew then handed me his and said "Mommy... make mine a truck please." Ummm.....????
Any of you that know Drew and his passion for trucks, that probably doesn't surprise you.
One day when we were having a conversation about girls and boys (It stemmed from Drew not understanding why he couldn't have his toe nails painted hot pink.) And so I was telling him that he was a boy, daddy is a boy, Mommy & Emma are girls... etc...
Afterwards I asked Emma what she was, she said she was a girl, and then proceeded to go around and point to all of us telling us what we were. She did pretty well actually. (This was several months ago.)
Drew's turn went a little like this "Drew, what are you? A girl or a boy?" Drew: "I'm a truck."

That was a classic conversation.

Anyway, when we got home from the park today, Emma walked upstairs, I figured to go play in her room. And a few minutes went by and I hadn't heard anything from her - no noise on the monitor... So the first thing I think is that she's probably getting into trouble, and I went to check on her.

And that's what I found. Totally crashed out. Which is very unlike her.... Lately she's been way too cool for naps. And, she didn't even make it to her bed! She must have really been tuckered out.