Making Valentines

The girls were quite excited to make Valentines for their grandparents and aunts and uncles.

 Lillian growling when Madison tried to take her stickers.

 Madison making a special Valentine box for Daddy- she filled it with his favorite sweets.

The best Valentines of all... our two girls

A Day in the Life of...

Tuesday has become one of our stay home days each week.
More often then not, Tuesday is a day for cleaning and around the house chores.
It is a day to stay in our JPs and catch up and prepare for the craziness of the rest of the week.

Each week I alternate cleaning (dusting, organizing and scrubbing) the upstairs or downstairs of our home. This week it was time to conquer the downstairs.
(Lillian loves cleaning downstairs because it means watching the BIG TV.)

While I am bustling around downstairs, Lillian has an agenda of her own.

First she has to bring the baby chair all the way from the kitchen to the living room (quite a feat for our pint size daughter). This task alone can take up to 20 minutes. (I would gladly help but Lillian always says, "No I do it")
Once she has it placed exactly where she wants it (by the ottoman but not too close), she puts her baby in the chair.

 She makes sure that Baby (the doll never has gotten a name) is buckled in safe and sound (watch your fingers or it will get pinched).

Before she prepares breakfast for Baby she must first go to the grocery shop to get food. (This includes having her grocery cart and groceries spread around and deciding what to buy).
The area rug is covered in small cardboard boxes and plastic containers of play food and she must have a plastic bag to hold what she buys.

With a bowl and spoon collected from the kitchen, Lillian makes and feeds Baby breakfast.

 It has to be the airplane spoon or Baby won't eat.

 After Baby has had breakfast and is happy watching Arthur (the current favorite show), Lillian heads to the kitchen to sweep. Watch out if you are in her way, she will bop you with the broom.

With the sweeping done, it is time for lunch (chicken nuggets of course). Sitting cross legged on the ottoman, Lillian enjoys a picnic and one episode of Barney before nap time.

Most days, Lillian awakens from nap in time to watch Sisie walk home from school. (In the winter, we stand at the front door and look through the glass when Madison heads to the bus stop in the morning and return to the same spot to watch for her to come home).
The roads are very slippery from last weeks ice storm and Lillian is very worried that Madi will fall (she shouts from inside the house for Madi to be careful).

 It is Madison's job to bring in the mail on her way inside.

 Like all things Madi, she does it with style!

 Madison heads straight inside to sort her folder (pile for Mommy, homework, and recycle) and have a snack

 Before tackling her homework.

When homework is finished, the girls head upstairs to play (their favorite game at the moment involves building tents in the family room using every pillow and blanket from upstairs they can find) while I begin preparing dinner.

Sometimes I get to the end of the day and feeling frazzled (and sometimes overwhelmed) wonder what we actually did that day (if anything at all).
It is so easy to fill your day with Have To's and forget to do a few Want To's.

But today wasn't one of those days.
While this is probably one of the least exciting (and quite mundane) post I have put on our blog, I smile because there are is still joy and memories on a boring stay at home Tuesday.

A Lesson Learned

Someone reminded me recently that what I really wanted to be when I grew up was a MOM, so why wasn't I enjoying the opportunity.

I had a lot of excuses (I called them reasons) for not seeming to enjoy what I said I wanted.

While it is difficult to admit it, the person was right and thus I have tried each day to enjoy the blessings of our two wonderful daughters and the time we have together (I know so many women who wish they had the flexibility to stay home as I do).

Its fun to put aside the chores and To Do lists and play with the girls. It is a joy to sit down with a cup of tea and listen to their giggles from the next room. And while sometimes overwhelming, it is even nice to hear them squabble together, because even though they aren't getting along they have each other.

I am blessed to be Mom!

Baby Button Update!

It is hard to believe that 17 weeks have breezed by (I wish)  and I am well into the second trimester of this pregnancy.

Our appointment this month went well. Baby Button's heart rate was 145 and going strong.

Next month is the ultrasound and the burning question on every one's mind is whether or not we will find out if Button will be a brother or a sister for Madison and Lillian.

The answer is.... undecided but we will keep you posted :)

Thank you all for your prayers and support.

Candyland

Wednesday evening we decided to attempt to teach Lillian the game of Candyland. (It went so well that the girls enjoyed playing again Thursday morning with a promise of another game after nap).

 Like Madi, Lillian loves getting the special cards... especially the candy man or the lollipop lady.

 This is Lillian waiting patiently (hands folded in her lap, sitting quietly) for her turn. She knows that if she is too wild,the game will be put away and we can't play anymore. (So far so good).

 High fives for a GOOD GAME! Lillian won again (she seems to have a knack for board games).

Ice Storms in Indiana

It is certainly winter here in Indiana!
We have been home bound for the last 2 days due to a terrible ice storm.
Other then a short power outage Wednesday evening (just as the girls were going to bed), we are all doing just fine.

 This is a branch of our tree in the front yard. Like all of our trees and bushes, it is a total icicle.

 The girls enjoyed a day off of school yesterday and today.
Both girls were quite excited to join Daddy outside to help him clear the driveway.

 Lillian is helping Daddy break up the ice on the driveway to avoid it turning into a skating rink while Madison was slipping and sliding down by the mailbox in an attempt to come inside the house. (Mommy was inside staying warm and cleaning the house).

 Even the grass is frozen solid and a sheet of ice!
Lillian was a real trooper and  eager to help Daddy on the driveway.

With the driveway cleared and their cheeks rosy pink, it was time to come inside to warm pajamas and a snack.
The girls enjoyed a lazy afternoon of watching movies and building tents in the family room (a new obsession of both girls).