Orange Tree

Speaking of blossoming... We bought and Dave planted a little orange tree. It's our first fruit bearing tree. I think we need to buy a lemon one too!

Zoe

6 days ago I wrote how out of the blue Zoe started using the potty. 4 days later this girl is totally potty trained! She pretty much did it all on her own. Like I said, I wasn't ready for it so I wasn't pushing... The whole family went to Tempe on Saturday so I took the potty seat and diapers- just in case. Well, she stayed dry the entire day and has been ever since! She even used the bathroom at the restaurant, without the seat (she actually went 5 times there)! And we totally skipped the pull-up stage, which I never intended to do. I'm truly amazed by Little Miss Z.

Yesterday I was reflecting on how much Zoe has blossomed this spring right along with all the other flowers and trees. Then I got to thinking about her name. From the Greek, Zoe means life. Her name suits her well.

Zoe has been practicing riding her scooter. She can go pretty fast and make turns!

Dave thought it was important that we teach the girls to drink out of the hose. Zoe thought it was pretty cool.

"I am unhappy at 4am"

So, Dave mentioned to me that my 4AM post the other day made me sound unhappy. My response? I am unhappy at 4AM!!! Good thing I had some R&R in Tempe, because this week we've had a 4 o'clock morning, a 4:30 morning, and a 2,3, and 5 o'clock morning. Kayleigh will fight naps tooth and nail making for some really long days, so today I took charge. I rented Princess and the Frog and am holding it hostage until she takes a nap! :)

Anyways... Here's another feel-good post to make up for the one unhappy one...

A clean-for-me pantry makes me pretty darn happy! Kayleigh's help made the work easier.

Another reason to be happy... A girl that can clean her own room (and looks cute doing it).

A fresh-cut flower can always make me smile :o)

A weekend in Tempe

For the first time ever, I spent a night in Phoenix without my husband/kids... Of course I missed them, but I was in need of some me time. It was a perfect weekend. We went to Ikea, got hair cuts and colors, shopped in Scottsdale, ate yummy food, drank some wine, played dress-up, ate more yummy food, and went on a lovely bike ride around Katie and Shana's University area neighborhood. Katie and Josh were great hosts! I may have to go up to Tempe one more time on my own so I can visit Shana... :)

Ready or not, Zoe's potty training!

For a few months now we have been the potty talk. You know the words... big girl, pee pee in the potty, panties. Sometimes we would even practice.

I don't know why today was different than the others, but it was and it was awesome! I had planned starting the process in the summer so I was a little unprepared for it today, but we can't stop now! She did two number 2's, two number 1's and one accident.

She is determined to "I do it" and climb on the big potty. She moves the stool over, puts the seat on, and climbs right up. And she's not interested in pull-ups- she wants to be a big girl, just like her sister.

Sweet!

Enjoying Spring

In the midst of all the craziness we do find time to enjoy things :) Lately, it's been enjoying the weather. We've had a few picnics in the park with friends, played with super soakers with the neighbors, a trip to the Desert Museum with Grandma Jan and Dave's neice, Racquel, planted herbs and flowers, and took a family bike ride to the park.

It's so nice to see our bikes parked outside rather than the garage.

Fire Station Tour

Our town's Park and Rec department is hosting tours of various places each month. March was the Fire Station. We went with friends. It was fun for the kids. I was a little dissapointed that only 4 families came... Next month it's the sky diving place near our house- can't wait for that one!

I really do love my life........

The last two weeks have been hard for everyone in the house. Last week, Zoe was up almost every night at 3 or 4 in the morning for a couple hours. Once waking her sister up, the other keeping me up until Dave woke up at 5:45 to go to work. The week before last Kayleigh had a gymnastics recital that we didn’t get to because she only wanted to wear a spaghetti strap leotard and flip-flops. It wouldn’t have been so bad, but it was like the coldest day of the week. It was a very dramatic day.

We’ve also had some very nice days, weather wise. So nice that one day I decided to take the girls for a bike ride. Well, we take 45 min to get the right clothes on and out the door. We ride about 7 houses down and Kayleigh decides to give up. Then Zoe decides to cry because we aren’t going to the park, I decide to ride a head so Z and I could have some sort of a ride, Kayleigh falls off her bike, she cannot stop crying, I yell at her to get up and be tough, her bike keeps falling down because the training wheel broke. OH BOY. We get home and the first thing out of Zoe’s mouth is, “I’m hungry.” She at an hour and 5 minutes earlier! She then cries to get in the swing, I get a rag to clean it off, put her in, give her one push and she wants down.

I had about all I could take. I figured I deserved a break. I need to miss these kids. I decided to go to Phoenix by myself for some me time. I had a wonderful time with Katie and Josh. I couldn’t wait to get home.

It took an extra hour to get home because of two accidents on I-10. Kayleigh has pink eye. Zoe cried until 9:20 because she didn’t want to go to bed. She got up at 4-5 because she was scared, then wanted a ring in bed with her (I’m still up because I’m afraid she is going to choke on the dang thing.), then wanted to be Cuckerd up, she woke up her sister who had to pee…. It’s now 5:30 and Kayleigh closed her door turned her light on and changed into shorts and a t-shirt. Dave will be up in 15 min. and my day will have started at 4am… Oh, and my children cannot sleep in. No matter what. Up before 7 almost every day.

Welcome Home!

My children are the reason I wake up in the morning. The reason I want to breathe… and the reason my hair is turning gray, my house is a mess, and I’m crazy.

What Inspires You?

A friend of mine asked me to make a top 10 list of what inspires me. It was fun to think about. Here is my list.

1. For the most part I am inspired by people; Moms mostly. I’m inspired by the stay at home mom, the grandmother, single mothers, crafty moms, the type-A personality moms, and working mothers. I can honestly say that I have been lucky enough to have been inspired by every mom in my life.

2. I’m always inspired by nature- bodies of water, full-grown trees, black dirt, gardens, lush green grass…

3. Cooking shows, cookbooks, cooking magazines, the grocery store. I love food so I can easily find inspiration for the next meal just about anywhere.

4. Books. From historical fiction to chick-lit, I can almost always find something inspiring in a book.

5. Traveling inspires me to be open-minded and appreciative.

6. Music.

7. My sisters inspire my confidence.

8. As silly as it seems, I’m inspired by holidays and birthdays. They inspire me to be creative.

9. My parents inspire me on so many levels.

10. And finally, I am inspired by my husband and two girls. They inspire me to be the best me that I can be. :o)



So, the question is.... What inspires you?

Welcome to our home, Indigo!

When Kayleigh turned 5 she started to do chores around the house. For each chore, she earned 1 quarter. Early on she decided that she wanted to save for a fish. Yesterday she finally got one! She decided on a blue/purple/red male Betta and named him Indigo.

Kayleigh kept calling her fish a girl. When I told her that it was a boy fish she said that she was still going to call it a girl. But, that was short lived because today she seems fine with a boy fish. Kay was super excited to be able to hold the take-home cup in the car and kept singing, "if you're happy and you know it..."

We had to wait 24 hours before letting Indigo into his new home. Kayleigh felt that he needed toys and music so surrounded the cup with random toys, a musical snow globe, and even plastic corn on the cob (incase he were to get hungry). We weren't home most of the day today so Kayleigh was very worried about her fish.... "I wonder what Indigo is doing right now. I hope he's okay...." That girl is so sweet and caring. It warms my heart.

Here's Dave and K pouring Indigo in his new tank.

Kayleigh was SO HAPPY to see how excited the fish seemed to be with is new pad.

She knows she gets to feed him 4 pellets twice a day...

Indigo

SUPER HAPPY GIRL and her fish.

I'm very proud of Kay... She worked very hard cleaning her room, making her bed, cleaning Zoe's room, and clearing the table to earn her fish. She has been continuing to do her chores because she wants a toy for Indigo. So sweet!

Tonight was "Final Cake" night for course one. I decided that I am going to continue on with class two. I wasn't sure if I wanted to at first, but to my delight we will only have to bake/frost one cake in the course! Baking and frosting the cake took a lot of time away from the day-to-day...

Couple of random things to talk about

• Who the heck designed the outside of a toilet?? Why can’t they just be straight? The outside is so difficult to clean.

• I told Kayleigh that my butt hurts today and she responded, “Just do what I do. Shake it off.” I guess I’ve been insensitive one to many times.

• During a stressful trip to the grocery store today, Zoe spotted an older man with a long white beard. She yelled , “Wook, mom, it’s Tanta!” I was relieved that he didn’t hear her. As we passed by again she pointed and said too loudly, “Wook Dat!” That time he saw and heard. Thankfully he was a jolly old man and just smiled and waved.

• Must invest in blackout curtains for the girls’ rooms.

• Whenever I think I want a bigger house, I clean this one and then I realize this house is just right ;o)

Good Morning, Zoe!