Eve's Birthday

Our little Eve turned three years old today. She's been practicing holding up three fingers all day (it's infinitely harder than holding up just two.) Even though we won't be having her party until Saturday, we tried to make her day as special as possible. As tradition in our family (begun by Grace) we started the day with bringing Eve breakfast in bed. We even put a candle in her muffin! Eve chose to wear a pink tutu all day to commemorate the day of her birth. After our usual morning at the gym, Eve and I went to a special Halloween story time at the library. Later in the afternoon we watched " It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" and carved our own pumpkins (well actually more like I carved 3 and a half pumpkins...Grace did some of her own.) After dinner when Daddy got home we built ice cream sundaes.

I was realizing the other day that there are no longer evidences of a baby, or even a toddler in our house. No more diapers. No more booster seat at the table. No more bibs. Not even a sippy cup. The only glimpse of my baby comes at bed time when I hold her close as she sucks her thumb. I kiss her soft cheeks, and there is only a slight pudge to them now. Where did that sweet baby fat go? Well, at least she still has her curls!

Field Trip

Grace's Kindergarten class went on a field trip to the pumpkin patch last week. The most exciting part for Grace: riding on an "actual school bus!" Eve and I got to meet her there.

Who would have thought that getting two kids to look at a camera and smile at the same time would be so insanely difficult. Believe it or not, after taking what would have been half a roll of film (back in the good old 35 mm days) this is the best that I came up with. At least one of them is looking and half smiling!

Olive and Learn

So, I was really proud of myself when I found a way to use up my leftover marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and Italian sausage from the Lasagna that I made the other day: Mini Pizzas! Of course, I had to open a big can of olives to make the pizzas just right, and now I have a new problem: What am I going to do with all of the leftover olives?

All On Her Own

I have tried to teach Grace to tie her shoes in the past, but gave up thinking it was a skill she'd just have to learn in the future. Then a couple of days ago Aaron showed her how to do it again and she caught right on. The next morning I found her tying her own shoes without a bit of help! I guess sometimes Dad just has the right touch! Thanks Aaron!

My Titles

There are a lot of things I could call myself. My titles are endless:

• Book reader, critic, and repairer
  
• Lullabyer
• Silky finder
• Button sewer
• Dish washer
• Moderator
  
• Tear wiper
• Potty trainer
• Life Coach
  
• Chubby cheek kisser
• Floor moper
• Lawn mower
• Bike rider
• Toddler dance partner
• Tummy tickler
• Culinary artist
• Referee
  
• Shuttle Service
• Energy conserver
  
• Interior decorator
• Personal shopper
• Rule enforcer
• Reading, Science, Math, Social Studies, and Religion teacher
• Shoe tier
• Creative Art director
• Handy (wo)man
• Love sharer
• Life giver
  

With all of these titles I've given myself, I have never labeled myself a "home-maker." I don't know why I've been afraid of the term. Maybe because it always sounded old-fashioned (almost Betty Crocker like.) But I've never really analyzed the term before. Home...maker: someone who makes a home! That is me! All of my combined titles equals some one who creates a welcoming home environment. Someone who is there to kiss my little girls' owies, or hug my husband when he comes home from work. And although it is still not my favorite term, I am more than happy to be a "home-maker."

Fingerpainting is Therapeutic...

I found a non-intimidating artistic outlet today in dipping my fingers into some primary colors! I thoroughly enjoyed sitting with my girls and simply creating with nothing in mind. I highly recommend it!

My Day

Julyssa has inspired me to document my daily life. She took pictures of her daily doings for a whole week and sent out a challenge for others to try it. I am amazed that she had the stamina to keep it up for seven days (I had a hard enough time trying to take pictures of everything for one day!) Of course I wasn't able to document everything, but I think you get a pretty good idea of what my days are like.

6:37 a.m.

Choices, choices. choices...

Getting set up for my step aerobics class (Eve's helping me before she goes to kiddie care in the other room.)

The girls conducting their "apple experiment" (The day before we checked a book out from the library about apples. Grace was fascinated that there are so many different types of apples and said she wanted to try them all. I told her that I would be happy to buy every kind I could find the next time I went to the grocery store. The store only had 6 different types (we learned there are actually thousands of varieties), but that was enough for our experiment!

The girls like to play princesses in the front yard while I mow the lawn.

Grace often helps put Eve down for her nap.

I finally got a shower!

Eve offering me a "present."

Daddy's Home!

Many of these things happen everyday like taking grace to school, going to the gym (although my class varies each day), doing dishes, and a lot of the other normal routines...but my days may also include such fun things as playgroup, Costco, library, soccer practice, etc...

I Love My Husband!

I don't mean to be cheesy...I just really, really do love this man! Aaron turned 31 this past weekend and we had so much fun celebrating. We did nothing grand, nothing exciting; we just got to spend a lot of time together playing as a family, watching conference, and talking. All of these things reminded me just how blessed I am to have him. I don't usually like to express these things publicly, but I just want him to know that he is indeed, my dream man.