The D Family Blog

Cooper's got legs!

2011-01-08T19:43:00.003-06:00

Someone learned a new trick! And, he likes it!!!

That's right, Cooper got his legs and learned how to stand up without help. He now can stand up without using any assistance. He then laughs and claps - the movement sometimes knocks him down... Really, just so cute!

And, Erin & Evelyn could not be more proud!!

It won't be long before the little man is walking and we experience true terror!

Red Velvet Cake

2010-12-28T19:36:00.000-06:00

Erin and Ev love helping cook and bake.

Erin seems to be my helper when I make Red Velvet Cake. I'd never made it, but took the plunge for Christmas evening - and man was it tasty!! When you cut it open it is just beautiful and the taste makes it even better.

Cake

2 1/2 cups (250 grams) sifted cake flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons (15 grams) regular or Dutch-processed cocoa powder

1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 1/2 cups (300 grams) granulated white sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk

2 tablespoons liquid red food coloring

1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar

1 teaspoon baking soda

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 - 8 ounce (227 grams) cream cheese, room temperature

1 - 8 ounce (227 grams) tub of Mascarpone cheese, room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup (115 grams) confectioners' (icing or powdered) sugar, sifted

1 1/2 (360 ml) cups heavy whipping cream (contains 36-40% butterfat)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Butter two - 9 inch (23 cm) round cake pans and line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper. Set aside.

Red Velvet Cake: In a mixing bowl sift together the flour, salt, and cocoa powder. Set aside. In bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter until soft (about 1-2 minutes). Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla extract and beat until combined.

In a measuring cup whisk the buttermilk with the red food coloring. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk to the butter mixture, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour. In a small cup combine the vinegar and baking soda. Allow the mixture to fizz and then quickly fold into the cake batter. Working quickly, divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans and smooth the tops with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 25 - 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean.

Cool the cakes in their pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Place a wire rack on top of the cake pan and invert, lifting off the pan. Once the cakes have completely cooled, wrap in plastic and place the cake layers in the refrigerator for at least an hour (or overnight). (This is done to make filling and frosting the cakes easier.)

Cream Cheese Frosting: In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese and mascarpone cheese until smooth. Add the vanilla and confectioners sugar and beat until smooth. Using the whisk attachment, gradually add the heavy cream and whip until the frosting is thick enough to spread. Add more sugar or cream as needed to get the right consistency.

Assemble: With a serrated knife, cut each cake layer in half, horizontally. You will now have four cake layers. Place one of the cake layers, top of the cake facing down, onto your serving platter. Spread the cake layer with a layer of frosting. Place another layer of cake on top of the frosting and continue to frost and stack the cake layers. Frost the top and sides of the cake. Can garnish sprinkles or whatever you think is pretty!

Serves 10-12 people.

Waffles!

2010-12-12T19:49:00.000-06:00

Snow!

2010-12-04T19:22:00.001-06:00

This morning I woke up to Erin saying in a quiet voice "ha.............." slow and quiet. She looked out her window and saw a beautiful snowy back yard!

I don't even think we made it to 8:30 before the kids were outside in all their snow gear. One of the highlights was both of the girls taking turns to pull Cooper in his little sled. He LOVED it. Laughed and giggled in glee. Even when he got knocked over he was as happy as a clam. Erin just got him back in his sled and off they went. It was really the cutest thing ever.

We felt so blessed that winter kicked off on a Saturday morning and Dave could be part of the fun. He was such a great sport and spent hours with the girls building a FABULOUS snowman. We used oranges for buttons, a nice blue scarf, avocados for eyes, a pine cone nose, stick smile and it was just precious!

Gobble Gobble

2010-12-01T19:56:00.001-06:00

Erin & Evelyn made some beautiful Thanksgiving decorations and I wanted to share them with you.

We had a hectic and eventful week of Thanksgiving. Unfortunately at Cooper's first birthday party on Saturday he got sick and threw up. Happened again that evening and then he was peachy fine.

On Sunday Evelyn was not feeling well - and of course caught the bug.

Monday was Erin's turn.

Tuesday they were both in bed most of the day - not sick, just resting. Ev had lost her energy and I was quite concerned for dehydration. At 7pm we met with our doctor and we were so close to heading to the ER. Our pediatrician gave us some meds to keep her liquids down and get her to take in more. Of course he is a miracle worker and she pepped up by Wednesday morning and was on the road to recovery.

We were all healthy enough to enjoy Thanksgiving with our family. And, though nobody had been sick since Monday ... pretty much everyone we were with on Thursday evening got sick.

This was a bug that lingered................................................

Happy to report that everyone is happy and healthy now!

Cooper's Stats

2010-11-20T14:27:00.002-06:00

I've been holding onto a piece of paper and I want to throw it away.

At Cooper's 1 year appt, he was 23 pounds, 15 ounces and 31.75 inches long.

Whew - there, now can I please throw it out?

Cooper is ONE!

2010-11-18T14:52:00.000-06:00

I almost named this post Cooper is a Rock Star. Because yesterday you would have thought he was a rock star. From the moment he woke up, the girls were loving him and praising him even more than usual. They were so very proud that their little brother is ONE YEAR OLD! I can't tell you how many kisses he got - or how many times he was sung to. But, it was very sweet and special.

I just don't know where the year has gone. It FLEW by at warp speed and now my little guy is a whole year old. What will I do when he goes to Kindergarten? I'll probably freak out.

He is such a great little guy. Crawling and walking while holding onto furniture - and using anything he can find as a walker. He loves to play with trucks, balls, books and anything else he can get his hands on. He is a BIG eater!! Loves grapes and strawberries, chicken and hot dogs, noodles and rice!

One of his favorite games is dropping stuff and saying uh-oh. Not so cute if you ask me. But, I love him anyway!!!

Evism

2010-11-18T14:38:00.000-06:00

My girls love to draw and color. They have a few jumbo coloring books - Hello Kitty and My Little Pony. The sheets are twice as big as a normal book - and the pictures have a lot of detail. White I sit working on the computer the girls come by and show me their work - and it really does look pretty! Ev was working on a Hello Kitty page - all in blue. I asked if she wanted to finish the sun, flowers and clouds. Her response was that they are allergic to crayons. Yes - the coloring book figures are allergic to crayons. She informed me that in 30 minutes the allergy would end and she would finish coloring.

So, who is talking about allergies so much? Perhaps she has a kid at school that is allergic to everything or talks about it a lot? I just don't know.

Regardless - so funny!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Cooper!!

2010-11-17T20:09:00.002-06:00

What a fast year it has been. Dave and I really can't even believe Cooper is one year old! Don't know where the time went. But, it has been a great year! He is such a nice little guy - so smiley and happy!

One of the biggest blessings we've experienced in this year is how amazing our girls have embraced their little brother. Never jealous. Never hurtful. So very helpful. So very loving. Such praise they give him. They shower him with kisses, hugs and love. True unconditional love. It really is amazing.

On his birthday he got to enjoy cake - and boy did he like it!

The Zoo!

2010-10-14T20:18:00.001-05:00

One of the girls favorite things is to head to the zoo. They'd go every day if I had the patience (and time) to take them. I did make it a point to take them this fall - just me and the girls. Cooper hung with my mom so I could really spend nice quality time with Erin & Evelyn. We packed a picnic and had a great afternoon! They had a great time seeing all the animals, riding the carousel, walking around the beautiful grounds and playing with their good friend, Ellie. On our Drive home we did something extra special. It was about 3:30 or maybe 4pm and we went out for ice cream ... that's right, before dinner!! They thought it was just fabulous and so special. Ev had mint chocolate chip. Erin enjoyed strawberry and I had my favorite - peppermint. We all tried each others and it was a really special outing. I told the girls how I think peppermint ice cream tastes like Santa. Erin told me strawberry ice cream tastes like summer. She is right!

Separation Anxiety...

2010-10-08T21:04:00.000-05:00

Cooper is almost 11 months and with the flip of a switch, he has major separation issues! Even when I have not left him, he only wants me. So funny how quickly this came about. Literally in the past 5 days it hit.

We had lunch with a good friend -he sees her at least a few times a month. I was holding Cooper and standing close to her. He literally stuck out his chubby arm and pushed her away!! Cooper, this is your godmother, you better be nice to her!!! At lunch a few times he looked at her and started crying - it was so funny............

funny.............

2010-10-08T20:54:00.003-05:00

Today is October 8th and it is nearly 80 degrees!! So nice.

Ev asked if she could wear her short sleeved pants.

How cute!

Hmmmmmmmmmmm...

2010-10-07T20:54:00.001-05:00

Ev told me that when she has kids they will never have a bedtime.

Erin told me her kids will have to take a bath EVERY day.

Gee... who does not like to go to bed and who loves baths????

Evie's Picture Day!

2010-09-20T21:33:00.001-05:00

Cooper is 10 Months Old!

2010-09-17T20:32:00.000-05:00

Today Cooper is 10 months old. The weather has turned chilly - he is wearing jeans, a long sleeve shirt and even shoes!! He almost never wears shoes. I am not one of those moms that dresses my babies super cute - more like super comfy. But, with the cooler weather shoes become more practical.

So, he is 10 months old and has 4 teeth. His favorite past time is ... standing! All the time. His favorite thing to say is "mama", "dada" and even "uh oh". His "uh oh" is not related to something dropping or anything - just a fun way to put words together.

The boy can eat. Seriously, he eats like mad. He'll scream at you if you don't feed him fast enough! He LOVES blueberries and cheese. Turkey, pizza, pasta, grapes, chicken, broccoli and cous cous are also some of his favorites. But, nothing beats a blueberry.

Thankfully, Cooper sleeps really well. Goes down around 7:30 and usually up around 6am. We'd love him to sleep another hour, but not really too sure how to make that happen. Still taking 2 naps a day - and most days does a pretty good job going down. Funny how when he does not nap that is not a big deal to me - I just pack him up and do some errands. Everything just seems easier with one!

The girls are still just great with him. They are so proud that he stands - they go nuts! They also love talking with him whether that means saying "uh oh" or even just making baby talk with him. They make sure toys are not too small for him and are just great.

A Family Vacation......

2010-09-11T21:20:00.000-05:00

We had a busy summer and never really had a chance to have a family vacation. So, we spent 3 nights in Lake Geneva as a family. Nothing to do but hang out as a family. We never made it to town or really did anything special. Just took rides on the trolley to the park, swam in the pools, rode the water slides, played games in the lobby, rode the lazy river, visited the game room, made homemade dinners, took walks, visited the petting zoo and enjoyed each other. The girls were so tired by the end of the night - they melted into their pull out couch and snoozed the night away. Cooper's pack and play fit nicely into a closet - don't worry, there was plenty of space and ventilation! He's fine!

Grandpa Andy..............

2010-09-05T21:35:00.000-05:00

The girls don't get to spend too much time with Grandpa Andy. Today they got to see him - and ride the tractor! How cool was that!!! Both Erin and Ev love all of their grandparents. They are lucky to have so many adults that love them so much and are so kind to them!

Evie's Summer!

2010-09-01T21:14:00.008-05:00

Evie had a great summer! She was thrilled to be back at summer school! One of her "best friends" from last summer, Isiah, was in her class again. The memory of a 4 year old is amazing. I wonder how she can remember a kid she met over a year ago. Both girls surprise me with the minute details they recall. As expected, Ev loved school. Her speech has developed very well. It seems her recent surgery has paid off and having tubes in her ears and her adenoids removed has improved her speech, hearing and most importantly, her confidence.

She is such a cool kid. Just so independent and strong. She does not care what anyone thinks of her - just does what she wants and is so strong in doing so. She is also exceptionally creative! She will get the job done, but often in the craziest possible way. Not a bad way - just not the way everyone else does it. She is so tender with Cooper - loves talking to him and trying to communicate with her little friend.

Erin's Summer

2010-09-01T21:08:00.000-05:00

Erin turned 4 this summer and my how she has grown! She had a super fun summer and one of the highlights was summer camp! Our local park district had a 3 hour camp every day where she got to make friends and spend the morning on many adventures... all without Evie! This was a good experiment - and I think will help her adapt to the upcoming school year, where she will be in a different school than her sister.

She made a best friend... okay, a few. She even had encounters with a bully. But, she's still here and she's just so strong. She loves rules and the way things are supposed to be. She thrives on order and doing things they way they are supposed to be done. She enjoys singing and doing crafts. She is tenderhearted and kind. It'll be so much fun to see how she continues to grow as time passes..

Family Party!

2010-08-25T20:56:00.000-05:00

There are a LOT of kids in our family........... This photo is missing many of them, but a good representation of some of us. A cute crew!

At this family party my brother or cousin brought baseballs and footballs and a helmet - which my girls loved!

You probably also know that we hosted an exchange student from France. She was super nice and we had a lot of fun with her. She got to see so many fun things in the city - beaches, Great America, Shedd Aquarium, Botanical Gardens, zoo, Michigan Ave, the Planetarium, Museum of Photography, Art Institute, Millennium Park, pools and so much more! Here's a pic of our expanded family!

And, finally, my 2 favorite girls!

Cooper is 9 Months Old!

2010-08-17T20:24:00.000-05:00

My how time flies by. My little guy finally has a tooth! And, it did not seem to be too painful for him. That's good news! Erin always was a pro, meanwhile Ev alerted the press that she was teething - it was bad! He is officially on the move and crawling all around. His crawl is kind of silly, but it gets him around just fine. We try not to push him too much - we know that he'll move at his own pace and there is no big reason to rush. He is eating up everything in the house and has not yet found anything he really does not care for. One thing he really enjoys is going on the swing at the park. The girls enjoy pushing him and are relatively gentle. He'll just swing and swing...........

The girls are just wonderful with him. To this day we are amazed at how easily and well Cooper just fit into our family. Seems to have been destined.

Singing on the Pot

2010-08-10T13:47:00.004-05:00

I am not sure when child innocence ends. I hope it stays forever! My girls have taken to singing while in the bathroom. Does not matter if they are at home or a public restaurant. Apparently, they don't care that stalls do not go floor to ceiling.

Well, the other day Ev had to use the potty - about 10 minutes after the first time she had to use the potty. I took her and while she was doing her business, she was singing - at the top of her lungs...

Oh, I really like Chipotle.
I think that it tastes super yummy.

But, I love Sweet Tomatoes.
Yes, I love Sweet Tomatoes.

I am glad to report that we were at Sweet Tomatoes, so the song was only somewhat embarrassing. There was a woman washing her hands during this serenade - and she laughed. How could you not?

Maybe we need to stop eating out?

Build a Bear...

2010-08-07T20:47:00.001-05:00

Auntie Suzie & Uncle Mike gave the girls gift cards to Build A Bear. This is a cool place where kids can pick out their new stuffed animal, put a heart in the guy, choose how much stuffing, select clothing, name the "guy" and really bring him to life. We finally found time to have a lunch date - at Red Robin (yum) and hit Build a Bear. The girls didn't know what they were in for! They were a little overwhelmed with the choices, but had a lot of fun selecting their new "guys". Ev chose a blue peace bear - she named it Abby Kiley (after 2 of her friends). It has peace signs all over it. Erin has a panda named Kevin (after her cousin). Even their little cousin got to make his own bear... I think he chose a dog.

Chocolate Party!

2010-08-06T20:42:00.010-05:00

The girls went to a fun birthday party - at a chocolate factory! They got to make chocolate pizza, chocolate suckers and everything else that can be turned chocolate! So many cool ways to celebrate a birthday!

Happy Birthday, Sarah & Tristan!

Cooper got a Tooth!!

2010-08-05T19:29:00.000-05:00

This morning Dave and I were playing in bed with Cooper. We felt his mouth and kept saying how he is NEVER going to get a tooth. The boy is nearly 9 months old - he should have a tooth, right????

Well, fast forward 4 hours and I am giving him watermelon for lunch. He opens wide for a bite and I see something white...... I feel in ... and it is sharp........... Little guy got a tooth!!! He didn't cry, winse or fuss at all!! Just popped one through. Let's hope this is how my little guy teethes. Erin was a champ - Ev ... not so much.

It's about time!!

A big wet kiss...

2010-07-27T22:04:00.000-05:00

This morning Dave and I were hanging out with Cooper in bed. Cooper grabbed my cheeks and pulled himself toward me to give me a big wet kiss right between my nose and lips. So wet and so cute!!

Summer Fun to Remember

2010-07-20T20:46:00.004-05:00

Somehow I know in about 9 years, Erin and Evelyn will be too embarassed to hang out with us. When that day comes, I think Nancy and I will have to come read this post again. Ah, the good times. Summer fun in the yard with the hose.

We love you girls!

Cooper is 8 Months Old!!

2010-07-18T20:43:00.002-05:00

Hard to believe, but my little man is 8 months old! He is still the best little guy ever! Really, there is nothing little about him. He is so long and although not pudgy, he is not little. He is solid and strong! He loves to sit and play with his toys. He scoots around in circles to see what's around him. And, if he'd give it a try, I am certain he could crawl or scoot around! He seems to want to have tracks, but just not the patience or energy to give it a try. I am sure any day he'll just get to it!!

We think he finally has the 'sleeping all the way through the night' thing under control. He goes to bed around 7pm and wakes areound 5 or 6. If he wakes at 5, he'll chug a bottle and sleep till 7. Life is good!!

He is also a great eater. Though peas are not his favorite food, he really does seem to like most everything else. He is not a big fan of much texture yet, but loves the purees I make. I just made him a spinach, lima bean, corn, carrot, green bean mix and he is all over it! Sometime I mix it with yogurt or applesauce - but he loves it!! He is also pretty good at putting food in his mouth - nicely developing pincer grasp!! In fact, he just ate his first teeting biscuit - what a mess.............

Coop smiles a LOT. He loves to laugh when the girls dance for him. He smiles back at you when you smile at him. He also gets the biggest kick out of splashing in the tub. He can sit in the tub now all by himself without a seat and can navigate pretty well with bith Erin and Evelyn bathing with him (so far, only 1 incedent of sibling to sibling peeing).

A bump in the road.....

2010-07-05T20:59:00.041-05:00

Well, Cooper had his hat taken off a few days after surgery and has been recovering well. Unfortunately, we had a bump in the road - and, thankfully although it was frightening, he is doing just fine now.

Tonight we had a wonderful time at my cousins home. We got to spend time with many family members we don't get to see often. Family from near and far... Arizona and even Japan!

We got home and quickly wanted to get the kids to bed - it was well past their bedtime. Dave took the girls and I was in charge of Cooper. I sat in the glider and gave Cooper a bottle - the usual drill. I noticed he needed a diaper change, so took care of that stinky mess and back to the bottle we went. Quickly, he got fussy - and started screaming. I took out the bottle and tried it again - thinking he is tired or not wanting it or ... just not sure what's going on. The room was dark, so I could not see anything. I tried to give him his bottle again and he screamed again - and then I felt a strange feeling on my elbow. His head was resting on my elbow and all of a sudden it did not feel "normal". I saw a bump from the very limited light in the room and screamed for Dave. He came in the room and I told him to turn on the light... He did and boy did we see a bump. More than a bump, it looked like he had a golf ball under his skin (literally that size). I passed him to Dave and called 911. He ran to get help from the neighbors. By this time there were 2 bumps that were merging into one. Probably about 3 inches long - stuck out like a golf ball - looked like something out of this world. Something I never want to see again.

I rode in the ambulance with Cooper while Dave drove behind so we could get home from the hospital. My parents met us at the hospital, where Cooper had an MRI to ensure he was no longer bleeding internally. The ER doc spoke with Coop's surgeon and she said to make sure the MRI showed no bleeding and give some time for the bump to go down. All in all, we were there about 3 hours - and then were sent home once the bump got a bit smaller.

The next day I was back at the doctors office so she could check him out. She has only seen this twice in her 20 years as a surgeon. Normally, it would have happened within 48 hours of surgery - not 7 days which is why he was wearing his funny bandage hat. This doesn't normally happen at all but when it occasionally does happen in the first 48 hours, the hat keeps everything in place and doesn't let things bulge out like this.

So what everyone believes happened is that Coop may have strained a bit with that last diaper and popped a blood vessel that was still healing from the surgery. The internal bleeding caused these bulges that stretched the skin. It was absolutely amazing (looking back at it now) and scary (at the time) how much the bumps protruded from his head and how quickly. It was like an alien was trying to climb out of the back of his head. We didn't take any pictures because we were just too frightened and focused on what was going on, and if you hadn't seen this I don't think words can really convey how this reshaped his whole head in a matter of minutes.

Thankfully, he is fine. His head could use a little reshaping, but time will heal it and get it back to "normal" in the next few days.

Cooper's Melon...........

2010-06-29T20:41:00.001-05:00

Okay, from the beginning...

A few days after Cooper was born, his doctor showed us a small mark on the back of his head. He never made a huge deal of it, but monitored and measured it. Well, as his head grew, so did the mark. When Coop was 4 months, we had a referral to a pediatric dermatologist to confirm that the mark is a nevus sebaceous. That means a collection of oil glands. The mark was not very noticeable - flesh colored, slightly textured, raised a bit and would never grow hair. Not a big deal today, but some day has a likelihood to turn cancerous - especially due to the size of Coopers. Currently, it was about the size of a nickel with a tail - looked like Idaho - upside down.

So, the ped derm wanted it to be removed immediately. Her rationale for removing it when he is so young is that he has more skin on his head than he'll ever have - and his recovery will be easier now than if he has it done later in life. Two weeks later, we are at Children's Memorial Hospital having the mark removed.

He handled everything like a champ!! The hardest part was not eating when he woke and until everything was complete. This was a long stretch for him. He was a champ until about 9:40 and then got pretty mad about not eating. Thankfully they took him away and finished in about an hour. I got to hold him while he was in and out of sleep and thankfully, we were finally able to feed the little guy!

He even got to wear a silly hat! When Ev saw him, she said "Hello my little unicorn!" So cute!!! We got a lot of funny looks about his head - he looked like he had brain surgery - not just a simple mark removed. We felt very lucky to be leaving Children's Memorial Hospital and not needing to return. So many other parents are not that lucky...

My girls are 4!

2010-06-23T20:31:00.001-05:00

It is hard to imagine that my baby girls are no longer babies. They are 4 years old - so confident, so beautiful, so funny, so different and just wonderful little people. I really do find it hard to remember back to the days when they were babies or even toddlers. Sadly, everything is such a blur - that's why I enjoy keeping the blog - it helps me remember the little things... and the big ones!

We had a few parties to celebrate their big day. A family party, playgroup party and friend/classmate party! Each was very different - simple family, bounce house and gymboree - but each was also just wonderful. The magical thing is that the girls enjoyed our family party that had no outstanding bouncie or magician or anything crazy just as much as they did the party at gymboree or with a bouce house. They just love to have fun - and don't compare things to a standard of what fun should be.

We are blessed to have these little girls in our lives and it does make me nervous knowing all the different things I need to teach them and expose them to so they can grow up to be productive, moral, successful, women. But, I already know that each of them is both special and beautiful inside and out. I can't wait to see what lies ahead in the next 4 years - heck, in the next 4 months!

Happy Birthday Girls

2010-06-23T19:50:00.003-05:00

Four years have come and gone. What wonderful years they have been! We have come up with some pretty strange nick names for you in this time. So far we have cycled through

Evelyn = Ev, Evie, Peanut, Pippie
Erin = Pumpkin, Air-bear, Pedro

Erin, you are very responsible and take care of your dog, Buddy, every morning. Most mornings you will go into the garage, get a cup of food and pour it into his bowl. After a few minutes you let him out into the back yard too. Ev, you have come to accept Buddy T. Dog and might I dare say even like him a little bit. You help feed Buddy in the morning when Erin decides to be on the lazy side.

In just the past few weeks you have both really taken to your "big girl" bikes and love your training wheels. We go around the block either walking or riding almost every night after dinner and you ALWAYS wear your helmets. In just the last day or so you are now comfortable riding this new tandem contraption I can add to my bike. Now all three of us can ride together on one bike without any training wheels. Erin, you were pretty freaked out by this for several days but then suddenly almost like it was a mental decision you said, "I think I am used to it now. Can we try it again" and it was like you were riding it for years. I think it had something to do with the fact that you saw Ev and Kate Hamilton ride it without crying the other day.

Let's see, what else? You two are adorable with Cooper. You love him so much and treat him so gently and kindly. Never a word of jealousy or meanness towards him, even though he sometimes takes a lot of our parental attention. You always run and get diapers and wipes for us. Pretty soon you may even be able to feed him all by yourself.

Both of you started summer camp this week. Erin and Ev, you two have been split up and are going to two different schools. Erin gets dropped off and picked up by Mom, and Ev gets to take a shuttle-bus. Ev has remembered some of her friends from last summer like Isiah, and Erin has already made a new friend and set up a play-date with someone called Winnie. How that's going to happen we're not sure since neither set of parents know each others address yet, but I guess we'll have to figure that out.

We are both so proud of you. You both are smart, kind, considerate, funny and most importantly happy children. It's been a pleasure so far being your parents. Hope your birthday was the best one yet, and may your next birthdays be even better!

Love,
Dad

Cooper is Seven Months Old!!

2010-06-17T21:30:00.001-05:00

Hard to believe that little Cooper is already 7 months old. He is still the best little guy ever!! Our girls just love him to pieces and he is so good natured. He is right about 19 pounds - and super long! Not the chunkiest kid ever, but he has a good double chin.

His newest skills are:

Rolling - he can no longer be left on a bed. He'll roll off so quickly you might not catch him! Thankfully, he has yet to hit the ground.
Sitting - he is a good sitter. Of course, he does fall on his face occasionally - and he does not like that one bit! But, he has come a long way!
Sitting in a high chair and grocery cart!! That's right, my little guy sits in a restaurant style high chair and the grocery cart! I try very hard to make sure he is not sucking all the nasty germs off the chair/cart.

Coop loves to eat!! We just started puffs, but he mainly eats our homemade baby food - and enjoys it!!

He will be having surgery on Monday June 28th to remove a nevus sebaceous from the back of his head. Basically this is a birth mark - or collection of oil glands. As he matures and hits puberty there is a good chance it would become cancerous. Therefore, it needs to be removed. Due to its large size the surgeon wants it gone immediately - while he has ample skin on his head and would be bothered least by surgery and stitches. Say a prayer for him!!

Nothing else to report. We just love him to pieces!

Cooper is 6 Months Old!!

2010-05-17T10:28:00.001-05:00

It is so hard to imagine Cooper is 6 months old! Seems like he has been here forever - and yet also such a short time. Time is a funny thing.

Well, my little man is just amazing! He is a great sleeper - sometimes waking for a 5am bottle, but that is happening less and less. He loves his solid food - except peas... But, he does enjoy rice, oatmeal, bananas, apples, pears, carrots, mangoes, sweet potatoes. And, he just loves his sisters. He laughs and laughs at them - and they love putting on a show for the little guy.

He is starting to sit up on his own - falls over after a little while. He is rolling very well from his back to belly and finding the other way a little more challenging. And, he talks up a storm - squealing with delight!

His official stats... 18 pounds, 1 ounce (60%) and 28.25 inches long (95%).

I pledge of allegiance...

2010-05-17T09:31:00.000-05:00

When was the last time you said the "Pledge of Allegiance"?

Seriously, do you know all the words.

Well, I had not said it in about 20 years until recently. A few weeks ago I heard Erin mumbling something, but she would not share - words sounded like the pledge. Well, they have both stepped forward and are fully able to recite the pledge! When does one say the pledge?? Well, just about all the time - before meals, bedtime, in the car, while riding bikes.

I need to buy some flags to make things more official. But, it melts my heart to hear the say our pledge...

Update on Ev's Ears.....

2010-05-05T13:32:00.000-05:00

Well, after 6 months of trying to figure out what's up with Ev's ears we have a plan of action in place. She has cronic fluid in her ears and it is affecting her hearing. Therefore, she'll be getting tubes in her ears in a few weeks. This should allow the fluid drain and help her hear better.

She'll also be having her adenoids removed. The ENT stuck a camera up her nose (ouch!) to determine they are enlarged and likely affecting her speech. So, she'll have them removed at the same time she has her tubes in place.

Getting tubes only takes a minute per ear and the adenoid removal is about 5 minutes, so the surgery should be quick - and the recovery is also supposed to be very quick.

I am just glad to have a plan in place - we've been going through options and waiting for cold season to be over for a long time so we could get a good look at the situation and I hope this is a good plan for her. Hopefully it does not curtail swimming this summer.

Determination............

2010-05-05T13:27:00.001-05:00

Last week we went to a birthday party for little Paul. It was a beautiful day and we got to play on their huge driveway! The kids loved riding big wheels, running around and acting like maniacs. Ev proved once again to be a determined little girl. She spent about 90 minutes learning to ride a bike. She was kind and let others take a turn when they asked, but the second their bottom got off the bike, she was back on it. She completely on her own figured out how to ride - start to finish. And, she is great at it!

Erin has also learned how to ride on her bike (with training wheels). The first time out we could not find helmets and that kept Erin at a snails pace. But, once we found our helmets she sped up and is doing quite well.

However, Evie is the speed racer in the family. She goes super quick and then gently presses the brake to slow down and see what is taking everyone else so long. She even "hot dogs" it with some tricks. It is really fun to see her excel athletically - and to see her just love riding her bike.

Rub a Dub Dub...

2010-04-24T21:01:00.001-05:00

Three kids in the tub...

After a nice Saturday of going to the tree house in Norhtbrook Court, lunch at Potbelly's, quiet time and lots of family time we thought the kids could use a bath. Cooper was not seeming to be in the mood - he's not too fond of the tub. After a little milk, his mood improved and in he went! All 3 kids in the tub together - same way it usually happens. But, tonight was different..........

For a while now, the girls select one dissolvable color tablet for the tub. They each pick either a red, blue or yellow tab to put in the water and we talk about color mixing as their bath fills up. Well, today Erin picked red, Ev choose blue and Cooper added yellow. But wait....

See what I mean is that while Cooper was getting washed, I guess the warm water must have worked its magic because he aimed right over in his little bath seat and started peeing on Ev. At first Ev just looked at what was going on stunned and wordless. Nancy didn't notice this, but I did. Ev looked at her belly, looked at the stream, looked at her belly, and then looked at Cooper trying to figure out exactly what was going it. It stopped .. but about a second later Cooper reloaded for another dousing. This time Nancy saw it just about the same time Ev was able to put it all together. Nancy and I were SO good at not bursting out laughing when Ev started getting this really disgusted look on her face.

Nancy broke the silence by asking "Ev, what just happened?"
"Cooper peed on me!" she said.
"Well, that's not using his manners is it?" Nancy said between giggles tryinig not to make a big deal out it this.
At this point Erin who didn't really see anything started laughing as she learned what had just happened.
Ev was a good sport at which point we all pretty much broke down laughing.

Last week, Erin fell into the toilet ... which is another story (I mean completely fell in the toilet complete with a wet bottom and all!), but in short order both Erin and Evelyn have good bathroom stories to tell.

Cooper is 5 Months!!

2010-04-18T10:21:00.000-05:00

Little Coopie is already 5 months old! My how time flies by. Here are a few pics of him recently... Pretty soon he'll be eating solids - which I am sure he'll love. He's a big guy - so loooong!! And, he is just the best baby ever! Dave and I have had a chance to enjoy him as a little guy more than we could the girls - things are just easier with one - less hectic and stressful. We enjoy every minute with him!

Looking Good!

2010-04-07T15:10:00.003-05:00

One of the girls favorite places is Kohls Childrens' Museum. They just love it! The love working at Potbelly's and the grocery store. They love taking care of the babies and animals at the veterinary clinic. And, they LOVE making over their little mugs at the face painting area... Take a look......

Cooper's First Laughing Fit...

2010-04-06T21:42:00.001-05:00

Cooper game us all a very sweet Easter gift. In the evening we were all upstairs in Erin & Evie's bedroom getting ready for the girls to go to sleep. We got them into their pajamas, brushed their teeth (Evelyn first with Colgate and Erin next with organic strawberry toothpaste), and started reading our three stories. After the three stories were finished, Erin asked if Cooper could have a story too, so we selected Pajama Time.

But I told the girls I would read the book from the glider and they would have to go sit on the bed along with Nancy and Cooper. When the girls climbed up on the bed next to Coop, his face lit up with the biggest smile. Doctor Levin asked us if Cooper has started to show signs favoring one parent over the other. Nancy and I don't think he has, but he definitely likes the girls (perhaps more than us).

Anyway, I started reading Pajama time and the girls (who were still a big giddy) climbed down off the bed and started dancing. At this point Cooper busted out laughing. Erin thought this was cool so she kept dancing which made Cooper laugh even more. Evelyn got into the act too and both were now dancing (performing actually) for Cooper and he reciprocated with more laughing.

Nancy was practically crying this was so cute. Both Nancy and I discussed how this was the very first time Coop laughed at something he saw. Previously, he laughed but only when he was ticked. But here through his laughing he was telling the girls he liked the crazy dancing he saw and they danced more. It a really sweet way it was the first time he communicated with the girls directly.

Nancy and I are so lucky to not only have been there to see it, but see it together and to recognize it. I hope that this will be the first of many, many, many, many happy times Coop and the girls have this sort of connection.

The blog goes private..........

2010-04-06T11:56:00.000-05:00

For a number of reasons, I have decided to make this blog private effective May 1st. If you want access, please just let me know and I am sure you'll be granted access.......

Cooper's New Friends...

2010-04-06T10:05:00.000-05:00

I think Cooper's best friend is his thumb - so cute how he pokes himself in the eye while sucking on it! And, he also found his feet and is trying so hard to reach them in his mouth and suck on them - I think his torso is just a little too long! We can only hope that one day he'll be able to suck on those toes...

And, the pterodactyl has landed. This boy loves to chat it up - especially at 5am!! I wish I could say it is cute - but man I want some sleep!!

Swimming Lessons!!

2010-04-05T23:57:00.001-05:00

Today was our first day of swimming lessons. The kind of lessons where the parents don't come in the pool. Actually, we are not even in the pool area. We watch from a viewing area! They are getting so grown up!

They thought it was so fun to wear their swim suits and cover-ups to the lesson. And, since it is in the evening, they came home in their nighties, complete with wet hair - this was super cute!

They both did great! Ev ran away from us so she could be the first in line - this is VERY different from her usual ways. Normally she will be the very last in line. Not swimming. They had 3 instructors and about 10 kids and had their lesson in the zero depth pool. They wore bubbles on their backs, floated on noodles, worked on blowing bubbles in the water and even had a treasure hunt! They can't wait to go back next Monday night!!

I'll add pics to this blog soon!

Cooper, Cooper, Cooper!

2010-03-26T15:42:00.000-05:00

Cooper, Cooper, Cooper! You'd think that's all this blog is about lately!!

So, here is an update on Erin & Evelyn! They are both doing really well! They love school and have a great time learning new things, going to the resource center (apparently that's what you call a library these days) and having music class. We had parent teacher conferences a few weeks ago and got wonderful reports for both girls. We did learn that Erin is trying her hardest to be helpful to Evelyn and answers on her behalf and corrects her - how annoying would that be! Therefore, we've decided to separate them next year. This will be a major pain in the neck, as I'll have to drive them to different schools and deal with 2 different ways of doing things. But, it will hopefully help ensure Ev has her own space to learn and grow. After much reserach, I found a nice methodist preschool Erin will attend 3 mornings a week. Not sure if Ev will go in the morning or afternoon, but at least I know she'll have a program to attend and we'll just take it from there.

The girls really enjoyed the few warm days we had about 2 weeks ago. When it got cold again Erin asked if summer was already over! I sure hope not! We are excited for the summer! We're going to welcome a French foreign exchange student into our home. I think it'll be a great experience for the kids and we're looking forward to learning about another culture and having a new member of the family!

Birthday parties are starting up here. Seems like everyone we know has a summer birthday. Tomorrow we have an Easter egg hunt followed by 2 parties - so the girls will have a blast eating cake and getting into b-day party mode! We're planning on renting a bounce house for the girls party - they'll love it!!

On another front - Cooper is just wonderful!!

Cooper's recent dr visit!

2010-03-25T15:32:00.001-05:00

We took little Coop to the doctor a few days ago for his 4 month check-up. He is doing just great! A full 16 pounds (75% percentile) and nearly 27 inches long (90% percentile). No wonder he is in size 9 month clothing! He's so tall!!

The doctor said everything looks great! He said no more middle of the night bottles - thankfully he does not take them often - very infrequently. Normally he wakes around 5:30am or so, has a bottle and sleeps another hour or so.

We got a referral to a pediatric plastic surgeon for the "nevus sebaceus" on the back of his head. She is supposed to be a great doctor. Not sure what will happen. Our appointment is not until June!

One funny story... The doctor asked if he is rolling over. We said no - he is not on the floor too often - most 3rd kids aren't! So, Dave put him on the table and what does he do? Of course he comes a hair from having his first roll. The doctor just laughed at us - would not be the first time!

Other than that, it was a very routine visit - I'll take that any time!

Cooper is 4 months!

2010-03-17T13:23:00.000-05:00

Well, Cooper is now 4 months old! It is hard to imagine life without him. Hard to remember what it was like to have 2 kids - and even harder to remember life before the kids joined us.

He is the most amazing little guy. We love every minute with him. He sleeps like a charm and is growing out of his infancy - holding his head up nice and high and having much better control with it. He has not yet had any solid food - we'll probably wait at least another month. But, I am certain he'll love it! The boy likes to eat. He also loves to talk. Morning time seems to be his most vocal time of day - he just talks and talks - so cute! He no longer wakes and cries - now he talks up a storm. Not a big fan of getting baths - that's his time to yell and tell us he'd rather be doing other things. So goes life......

His sisters love him to pieces and are constantly giving him kisses and telling him how much they love him - which is sweet to see.

All in all, no complaints - not a single one!

Cooper is laughing!

2010-03-10T16:31:00.003-06:00

Well, little Cooper is officially laughing! Auntie Luci is the one who started it with tickles on his belly - and it is the most precious laugh you've ever heard. I am hoping to replicate it for Dave...

The Pet Store

2010-03-05T16:29:00.003-06:00

My girls are so lucky to have a great babysitter! She is excellent. Today she took them to lunch and the pet store. At the store, they got to see snakes nice and close up. Ev enjoyed petting it - and it even gave her a kiss. Erin - not so much! She would not go near it. She was afraid it would eat her.

They could not be more different!

Cooper is 3 Months Old!!

2010-02-17T16:09:00.000-06:00

It is hard to imagine Cooper is 3 months old. Time is really just flying by. All Dave and I can say is that he is the best baby ever! Seriously, he eats, sleeps and is just a champ. He even likes to go to sleep on his own - just turn on his friends - the projector fishies - and he is fine on his own. We are so lucky - and we know it!

We did not have a doctors appointment this month, so don't know his stats - but he's a whopper! He is already in 6 month clothing and most 3 months stuff does not fit him. The guy is looooong! I am opting for footless outfits to try and get more use from them! We are so lucky to have friends letting us use hand-me-downs!

Cooper has a lot more control of his head and neck - can't wait to hear what the dr says at the 4 month appointment. He is looking all around and even swatting for things in front of him. Tons more smiling and I just can't say enough about him - he's the best!!

Marco Island

2010-01-19T15:08:00.001-06:00

We've been going to Marco Island since I was a little girl - like 6 or so. Every year my family goes - and the past 10 or so years the family has grown to the 18 it is today! My 2 parents, 2 brothers, 2 sisters-in-law, 2 nieces, 5 nephews, Dave and 3 kids - that's a big group!

Some highlights from the trip include:

- Running on the beach!! And swimming in the pool were a blast! The girls can touch the bottom of the pool which made things really nice! Ev really took to swimming and Erin also had fun in the water! I am excited to sign them up for swimming lessons when we return home!

- One of the most special things about the trip was the girls being able to have quality cousin time. They just love being with their cousins. They get all rowdy and have a blast trying to act like the big kids. They seemed to especially enjoy spending time with my brother Brian's kids. They live in Arizona, so we don't get to see them often. The kids just loved playing together.

- The girls loved chasing birds. Erin had a lot of fun with this - until the birds flew! That scared her pants off!

Cooper is 2 months old!

2010-01-17T10:05:00.002-06:00

Boy is time flying by! It is hard to imagine little Cooper is already 2 months old! We had his 2 month check-up today and he is just about perfect! He is weighing in the 70% at 12 pounds, 8 ounces and is in the 90% percentile for height! I think he is tall, but my parents think that sounds funny - maybe he is long. The only area for improvement is his neck - the dr says its strength is "less than impressive". Perhaps that is because he thinks tummy time is really nap time.

He's stared smiling - although it might still be exercising his muscles. Regardless, it is super cute. He is a very good, and super quiet kid. Sometimes I have to look in the rear view to make sure I did not forget him somewhere! He's got a pretty good schedule. I usually wake him so we can get the girls to preschool. His morning nap is on the go while I do errands or sit at Panera working. We pick the girls up and head home for some awake time. He naps from about 1-4pm and then is up until bed time around 7pm. Typically he wakes once a night - maybe twice, but that seems to happen less and less. But, a quick bottle or nursing session and he is back asleep.

The girls just love him and are really great with him. I still think that it is a perfect age difference. I really have not seen any regression or them acting up because of the little man. They treat him with such love - it is really nice to watch.

Guess who is smiling???

2010-01-12T20:30:00.000-06:00

Super Dooper Cooper!!!!!!!!

New Year Resolution Update

2010-01-05T06:54:00.000-06:00

I've been told to create a new blog for this - so as not to intermingle family and hobbies. So, please visit my new blog at: http://www.trynewrecipes.blogspot.com/.

Is this a 3rd child or what?

2010-01-04T17:25:00.001-06:00

New Years Resolution

2010-01-04T12:19:00.001-06:00

Last year I was ambitious. I got rid of something using freecycle every day. This year my plan is weekly - and not freecycling, but cooking a new recipe. I'll post the recipe with my thoughts on it. This is nothing too creative, but I want to try some new recipes - and this might keep me on track!

Tonight will be Buffalo Chicken Casserole - I wanted something spicy!

Cooper is a Catholic!!

2010-01-03T22:53:00.005-06:00

That's right. Today was a very special day for little Cooper. We celebrated his baptism. We were thrilled to have our close friends Luci and Larry act as his god parents, and we were surrounded by so many friends and family members. It was a great event. Cooper was in great spirits - actually, he slept through most of the party. But, he was great at the ceremony - just hung out through it.

The deacon that celebrated the event is the same family friend who married Dave and me and baptised the girls. He is our own personal sacrament administrator! We are so lucky to have him as a friend. The ceremony took place at my family's church - Saint Philip in Northfield. This is where I was baptized and had all sacraments with the exception of marriage.

Christmas Eve

2009-12-25T19:50:00.000-06:00

What a special time. This is the first year the girls really get Santa. They liked ripping paper and opening presents last year, but this year they finally understand HOW they get under the tree. We've been reading Christmas stories all month (a good balance of Santa stuff and Baby Jesus stuff).

So we get our PJ's on, brush our teeth, read our stories. We talk about how important it is for the kids to go to sleep right away because Santa is very magical and he does not want kids to see him. Only his helpers in the malls can see little kids. The girls very enthusiastically jump into bed and tell me to leave the room so they can go to sleep (can it be Christmas eve ever night please?).

About 10 minutes later, Nancy and I hear this blood curdling scream. "DADDY.... AAAAHHHHH, DADDY!" I poke my head into the room to see what was the matter.

"We forgot to put out cookies and milk, Dad" Erin reminded me.
"Oh, that's a good point, Erin." I answered, "I wonder if it's too late to put them out. What if Santa is already here? We can't let him see us."
"Let's go very quick, Dad. We have to give Santa our snacks. He'll be so hungry if we don't" was her reply.
"OK. We better go downstairs and put the cookies out in that case. Do you think we should do this fast so Santa doesn't see us?" I asked.
"Yes, let's go really really fast"

Erin, Ev and I tiptoed down the hall (at 7:15 PM) and started walking down the stairs. As we came half way down the stair way I stopped to ask the girls "Is he down here? Can you see him?" Erin leaned way far over peaking her head down the stairway looking into the family room as covertly as I have ever seen her act.
"No, he's not down there."
"Are you sure?"
"Ya."
"OK, let's go... quick!"
Erin and Ev ran the rest of the way down the stairs directly to our fireplace and told me to get the cookies and milk. We placed 3 cookies and a glass of milk on the girl's craft table next to the fireplace.
"We need to put out a carrot for Rudolf, too" Evelyn insisted. So I grabbed one from the fridge.
"Are we all set, girls?" They nodded. "OK, let's get upstairs quick before he gets here."
The girls scampered upstairs ran down the hall (no tiptoeing at this point), slammed their bedroom door shut and jumped into bed. I can only imagine the dreams of sugarplums (and other things most likely) dancing in their heads.

What a nice Christmas Eve adventure to remember.

Work that Neck!

2009-12-22T20:57:00.000-06:00

Cooper is in his Bumbo - what a great invention! He is still working on his neck, so he can't be in it too long without fussing. But, it is super cute to see him sitting and looking all around! It is also nice for him to join us at dinner or while I am cooking.

Cooper is 1 Month Old!

2009-12-17T20:46:00.002-06:00

Little Cooper is not so little anymore! Well, actually he is still pretty small considering how big the girls are. But, he is finally growing very nicely! At his one month check-up he weighed in at 10 pounds, 4 ounces. He is also super long!! It seems his little body has finally unfolded and he now is a long, lean boy. In fact, he is already end-to-end in his 3 month clothing and needs bigger onesies! Those newborn and 0-3 month items don't last long at all! His vision is getting better every day and it seems he is seeing more and more - discovering ceiling fans and all kinds of lights around. He sleeps like a champion - and I really can't complain about a thing!

Poor little Cooper thinks Goofy's nose might give him some milk!

And, I just love this photo of Ev and Cooper. The look she is giving him is so filled with love.

Watch out Cooper...

2009-12-14T20:38:00.002-06:00

Your big sisters are going to do all kinds of things to you. Things that some day you might not like. Right now you don't know what the heck is going on. But, rest assured one day you'll be bigger than they are and you'll be able to get your revenge!

SNOW!

2009-12-04T20:46:00.002-06:00

"Snow!! It snowed today! Mommy... Daddy... do you see the snow?!?"

Erin was just thrilled there was a dusting of snow on the ground this morning. I think she and Ev will really flip out when they see the beauty of a true winter wonderland.

Seeing the Christmas season through the girls eyes is amazing. The joy they take over each home with lights is just precious. They compliment the homeowners telling me what a great job they did putting them up - if only we could get ours up! I am sure it will happen. And, if it doesn't, so goes life...

Cooper is 2 weeks old!

2009-12-01T14:37:00.001-06:00

It really is amazing how quickly time flies by! Cooper is now 2 weeks old - and just the cutest little guy. He has so much platinum blond hair! I love giving him kisses on the head. He is a good eater - I think he'd eat constantly if he had the choice. And, he loves to be held. Not really one for the swing or bouncer yet - he just likes to be in your arms. It is funny to hear what other kids call him - kids that can't properly pronounce Cooper. Our neighbor calls him Scooper and a kid from the girls preschool calls him Cupid. I guess that's why people name their kid Bob - it is easy to pronounce!!

The girls are still being just wonderful with him. The both really love giving him kisses and holding him. He lays in their arms during story time and they like that. Evie holds his hand in the car when he cries - and she gives him his pacifier. That's the benefit of a car where all car seats are smooshed together!! But, it works, and makes little Cooper Happy.

I can't believe December is here - and Christmas is just around the corner! That's very exciting. The girls are so happy about the Christmas season. They are just loving all of the decorations, trees, lights and magic of Christmas! I wish I could bottle their love and enthusiasm - it is so genuine.

Little Baby Cooper...

2009-11-30T17:27:00.003-06:00

Little Baby Cooper is happy as a clam! He is a good little guy. We can't complain about sleep, as he does a 6 hour stretch at night! That's pretty amazing at 2 weeks! And, he's been doing it for nearly a week. We're still trying to figure our his feeding routines - the dr would like him to gain weight faster than we're at. But, all things considered, everything is wonderful!

We discovered the magic of the baby sling! He loves it - and it gives me arms! We brought it to Thanksgiving dinner and it helped us all have a much more peaceful evening! In fact, he is in it right now as I type this.

The girls are just loving him. I really think them being nearly 3.5 yrs old is the perfect age difference! They understand when I need to feed him and are very patient. They are also nice and gentle with him when they give hugs and kisses. And, they have not yet asked for him to be sent back! All great news!!

Cooper's 1st Bath at Home!

2009-11-24T20:35:00.000-06:00

Well, Coop has had his first bath - and I don't think he even cried! That's a big success!! Our small bathroom was very full with the girls in the big tub and Dave tending to them while I gave little Cooper a nice, warm bath. It feels like things are all falling into place with 3 kids.

Welcome Baby Cooper!

2009-11-17T17:17:00.001-06:00

We are thrilled to announce that Little Baby Cooper was born on November 17th at 5:58pm. He was 9 pounds, 2 ounces and 21 3/4 inches long! The delivery was relatively uneventful - considering all the crazy things that can happen. Actually, it was very boring for the first 6 hours and then pretty crazy for the last hour or two. Thankfully, I only had to push for about 15 minutes - if only my epidural was still working - that would have been nice! But, he is here and we're thrilled!!

Almost Ready for Baby...

2009-11-10T17:14:00.000-06:00

Well, my doctor told me I'd deliver so early - the baby is so big! It's looking like she was wrong! She scheduled me to be induced and then canceled it - the nerve! I guess s/he is just hanging out and not ready to enter the world! My ultrasound said the baby is 8.5 lbs! That's a whopper. Let's hope s/he comes soon!

Santa story...

2009-11-07T12:44:00.001-06:00

Ho Ho Ho! I just read there are 44 days till Christmas - that's pretty crazy!!!

On our way to dinner tonight we asked the girls what they'd like Santa to bring them. Erin immediately chirped up saying she hopes Santa brings Evie a belt - because her pants are always falling down and her buns are hanging out.

That really made us laugh. But, we also thought it was sweet that her initial reaction was a gift for her sister. We'll see how long that kindness lasts!!

The Baby is Coming ... soon.........

2009-11-02T07:28:00.001-06:00

It is very hard to believe that in just a few days our family will grow and we'll have another child in the house - not just another child, but an infant. The past few weeks have been so nice. We've been so lucky to have some really great time with the girls. Nice leisurely mornings in bed and fun as a family before bedtime. Sometimes we read our bedtime stories in the nursery - and they like to lay down in the crib and pretend to be the baby. They really seem to "get it" - that a baby will be with us. And, they are so excited. The don't know enough yet to be threatened or jealous of the changes that will be coming. They just have so much love for this little one - it makes me love them even more. We're so lucky to have the family we do have and the anticipation of bringing another into the family is really exciting. I'll just be happy when s/he is with us. Let's go!!

Happy Birthday, Rainbow Dash!!

2009-10-25T10:16:00.001-05:00

Erin's favorite pony just had a birthday! Yep, that's right... We've had Rainbow Dash for a year. What must you do to celebrate a birthday?? Have a birthday party! We had a celebration dinner and a wonderful pumpkin cake - with blue frosting! All the "guys" or stuffed animals joined us and there were even presents! Erin says Dashie turned 5.

Our Annual Trip to the Apple Orchard...

2009-09-30T20:26:00.005-05:00

This was our 3rd annual trip to the apple orchard. We've made it a yearly outing with Dave's family - and it is really one of our favorite family traditions. Dave's mom could not be at the orchard this year due to school, but we were with his dad and little brother. The girls don't get to see Dave's dad too often, so it is really fun to watch his relationship with them. They are very physical with him - they just love to jump on him and give him huge hugs!

We had one new face this year, as we brought our little friend Kate with us. She is just a few weeks older than the girls, so we had triplets for a day! Her parents were at a wedding out of town and we hung with her - and had a sleepover!! Kate only wanted green apples, so she and Grandpa Ed had a lot of fun scouting them out.

We thought it was going to rain - the forecast did not look good. But, we had a great day! We were actually a little warm! Our jackets never made it on our shoulders. The girls wore rain boots in case it was wet and that was really pretty unnecessary.

We found a little furry caterpillar - apparently that's called a woolly bear. Of course, Ev wanted to hold it - she is always the little daredevil. Erin would not touch it - no surprise there.

We had a wonderful time on the train and carousel as well. Topped the day off with dinner at Grandma's where we got to see her Halloween decorations and chickens! The girls just loved it all! They both made sure to eat their meals so they could enjoy a huge cupcake!

Man were we tired by the end of the day. Perhaps it was because I am so darn pregnant, but I was just wiped out!

Oops...

2009-09-28T20:12:00.005-05:00

Today was a rainy, icky morning. The girls woke a little later than usual. I thought to myself today would be a great day to play hookie and not go to preschool. But, we busted our tails to dress, have breakfast and be out the door by 8:15. Sitting in the driveway I opened their backpacks to put their snacks inside. Lo and behold, I see a reminder note that there is no school today! Yikes - how could I have forgotten! Here is the conversation that transpired...

Me: Girls - there is no school today!

Erin: Then why are we in the car?

Ev: Why are we wearing our preschool shoes?

Me: (silently) What the heck are we going to do at 8:15am!!!???

I called Dave and asked is we could visit him at work. The girls had never been to his office. Of course he said yes - and the girls loved it there! Since he works in a "fun" field - gambling or gaming - there are many fun things to see and do at his office. They loved the magnets in his cube and his little dart board. They liked seeing their art work on his walls. And, just about everything else.

We then headed to Old Orchard mall to play there. I was very surprised the stores don't open until 10:30 - I thought everything opened at 10??? Whatever. But, they had a blast running on the dragons in the play area and hiding in the tunnels.

We made a great day of what started as a bit of a disaster! Glad we can be so "go with the flow."

Preschool Update

2009-09-17T20:22:00.004-05:00

The girls are loving preschool! My favorite part is when I pick them up. Every day Erin runs to me and SCREAMS! She is so happy to see me. She gives me the biggest hug ever. Ev just waltzes over - very much her style! I got this cute note from one of their teachers - it sums up their personality.

I was just thinking about the girls... I wanted you to know what a great job they both did and have been doing in group. Evelyn answered questions about the book on her own in a 10 person group setting which I thought was great for her. Also, they both made associations with the book. Erin asked, "is he a grown up?" and evelyn asked, "why doesn't he take a shower?" In the story Mr. Gilly, the trashman, takes a bath at the end... both girls worked together and made the association of grown ups taking showers and kids taking baths... it was really cute and thoughtful.

Weekend Get-Away!!!!!!!

2009-09-13T12:48:00.004-05:00

This weekend we planned on going camping. But, it was chilly! At night it is getting into the 40s - and I think that's a little much for the kids (and me!). So, we had to make a plan b. We took the train downtown and had a weekend in the city!

It was the girls first train ride - and they really liked it! They liked looking out the windows and seeing all of the people. It was a fun experience for them!

We stayed downtown for just one night and made the most of our time! Our first adventure was taking a trolley ride to Navy Pier. They loved the trolley! Erin had her arm out the window waving and saying hello to everyone we passed - which was precious!

Navy Pier was pretty chaotic! But, we saw a Omnimax 3-D movie - Under the Sea. Obviously it was all about sea creatures. Erin was next to me and enjoyed much of it. However, when the sea snakes got in her face (due to the 3-D glasses) she was in my arms wigging out! Ev on the other hand, turned to Dave and said "I like those guys." My girls could not be more different!!

Next stop was the pool!! The girls have not been in the pool for a few weeks, so they were thrilled to put on their swimsuits and jump and play in the water! Their favorite is the hot tub which we held off on because I can't enjoy it - boo hoo.

Sunday we walked to Millennium Park and they had fun watching themselves in "The Bean" and playing chase in the park.

All in all, a terrific weekend away!

Daddy's on Duty...

2009-09-12T12:36:00.002-05:00

Today was my twins club resale. This means last night I had to help get everything set-up and today I had to work the event - morning through mid-day. This leaves Dave responsible for the kids. Dave does a great job, but there are always some strange things that happen while I am gone.

Namely, on this day I found Erin's pants to be very tight - they were 2 sizes too small. And, Dave sent me this pic of Evelyn. Please keep in mind it is September and about 80 degrees outside!! She's got on a winter hat - and has completely painted her face at the Kohl's museum.

Oh boy. Good thing I am home.

Happy Birthday to Me!

2009-08-25T20:35:00.002-05:00

Today was my birthday! Dave was kind enough to get me some really great gifts - the digital photo frame was my favorite! But, the very best part of the day was having Erin sing Happy Birthday to me about 5 times. She has the sweetest little voice and I could listen to her sing all day long! Ev did join in and sing - and she also has a kind and sweet little voice.

Both girls singing really made my birthday special.

The big walk is nearly here...

2009-08-06T21:03:00.001-05:00

I have not been good about posting my training efforts for the walk - so sorry! I have been training, although not as much as I'd like to of. But, I am going to give it my all and not push myself too hard. I never thought when I signed up that I'd be pregnant - never mind six months pregnant. But, I'll do my best and take it one step at a time! I'll keep you updated on the big event......

Ouch...

2009-07-28T21:01:00.002-05:00

The other day Dave took the girls to the park to play while I was at a baby shower for Dave's cousin, Kayte. While there, Erin got stung by a bee. Erin does not like bugs or mosquitoes - never mind bees! She swatted it away and gave herself a good scratch. But, despite the bite and it swelling and turning bright red, she handled it like a champ. Dave asked if she wanted to leave the park and she said she'd like to stay for 5 more minutes. Ev saw everything that was going on and her response was - "Daddy - I need more buggie spray." Smart girl.

At least we know she is not allergic to bees!

Summer Camp is Almost Over...

2009-07-28T20:54:00.003-05:00

Just 3 more days of summer camp for Evie. She's done such a great job at camp for the past six weeks - I think she will really miss it. She has so much fun with her new friends and also really likes her teachers. She'll be in great shape for preschool. She loves to talk about her friends - especially her boyfriends.

Thankfully, Erin will be attending the same preschool as Ev. It will make my life much easier to have them both in the same school - and classroom. Coordinating two schedules would have made life just that much trickier.

Since Ev has been in camp Erin and I have had time to do all kinds of fun things - crafts, errands, shopping, playing at the tree house, kids museum, local parks, attending music concerts and so much more... But, she is so excited to start preschool. Nearly every day she asks when preschool starts.

I recently bought them school shoes, jeans, tops and little fuzzy jackets. They love nothing more than trying on their preschool wardrobe, running in circles and jumping! It is really cute to watch. They put on a show for Dave a few days ago and it was precious.

Flirting at the park

2009-07-11T14:31:00.002-05:00

Over the weekend, the whole family went over to our local park for a small summer party. Anne and the kids were in from Arizona, so the entire Doherty clan came by. We played catch, ladder ball, ate pizza and played on the park equipment.

I was pushing Ev on the swings (which is a full blown commitment since she will stay in those darn swings for 45 minutes straight). Meanwhile, Erin was off doing her own thing. She has taken a liking to laying on the big kid swings on her belly and running back and forth.

After a while I walk over to the other side of the part to check on Erin and she is gabbing away with this other boy and his dad who were also at the swings. I was very shocked because Erin is not one to talk to strangers. But she really liked this other little boy.

A few minutes later, Erin and this boy were laughing and chasing each other like crazy. She was running around squealing with delight. Then the boy started hiding from Erin. She would run all over the park yelling "Jackson!!!, Jackson! Where are you? Daddy, where's Jackson?" I'd point to a tree or something else he was behind and she would run to get him.

I later found out from the dad that Jackson was 4 1/2 (really, Erin, you are almost half his age!). I also found out that the his name was not Jackson, but Collin. I have no idea where Erin got Jackson from, but strangely enough, he had taken to calling Erin Sophie. So in about 15 minutes these two already have pet names for each other.

No matter where Jackson/Collin would go, Sophie/Erin was like his little shadow. But she was far from being a pest. When I took Erin to the washroom, Jackson/Collin was apparently very concerned that she may have gone home. I guess he liked all the attention he was getting.

Now comes the "holy cow" part. I walking around the park equipment with Sophie/Erin as she and Jackson/Collin are playing, talking, and laughing and all of a sudden they are standing face to face (much too close) and Jackson starts to make his move. He actually went in for a kiss!!

I'm happy to report that Sophie/Erin had the good sense to put up her hand and push him away. That-a-girl, Erin! Chase the boys, make them interested and push them away. Keep up the good work, especially about 10-17 years from now.

Talking about an upcoming pediatrician visit

2009-07-10T16:28:00.004-05:00

The other night Nancy was telling Erin about her upcomming check-up.

Erin: "Why do I have to go to the doctor? Am I sick?"

Nancy: "No. Sometimes you go to the doctor when you are not sick, just to check that everything is ok."

Erin: "I don't want to go to the doctor."

Nancy: "You know, if you are a good girl the doctor might give you a lollipop."

Erin: "If I'm a really REALLY good girl can the doctor take the baby out of your belly?"

I find it especially heart warming to think that Erin considers getting a new baby brother or sister a higher reward than the promise of a lollipop. For a 3 year old, I think this is awfully cute.

Another Update from Camper Evie

2009-06-29T15:50:00.003-05:00

We were pulling up to the school, but there was a car in front of me getting its act together to pull out. I could not pull to the front for a second.

Ev:"Mom, stop the car."

I stop the car.

Ev: "Mom, let me out."

She then looked up for her teachers hand, took it and walked away. I guess she likes camp. But, she could have said goodbye! I guess I can't ask for everything!

Update from Camper Evie...

2009-06-27T08:45:00.004-05:00

Evie is doing much better with our drop-off at camp. She has not cried in a few days - just rubs her eyes for a few seconds and walks away holding her teachers hand. She really does have a lot of fun there. This week they have had a beach theme and made lots of art projects centering around fish, octopus and other cool beachy things. She is making friends - which is so cute to hear her talk about. She talks about Annie and Will - she has a boyfriend!

With Ev at camp for 2.5 hours every morning Erin and I are getting to do lots of fun things together. We went to the kids museum one day - ran in the sprinkler another day and she has spent time with her cousins. It is a lot of fun to hang with her all alone. But, that made me think of how I need to make quality 1-1 time with Ev. So, Friday morning we left for camp early and went to Dunkin Donuts where she had a chocolate donut with sprinkles for breakfast - she was thrilled! We'll have to continue to make time for 1-1 adventures.

It is too bad the weekend is here and we loose our continuity. I hope Monday goes well again!

Nighttime chatter

2009-06-25T08:42:00.001-05:00

Last night here is what I hear at 3am.

Erin: Rainbow Dash, you need to go back to sleep. It is night-night time - not time to wake up. Here are your blankets. Now, go to sleep.

Dave: She sounds so mean.

pause 15 seconds...

Dave: She sounds like you.

I think a persons true colors shine in their sleep. And, for some reason Dave does not like me in his sleep.

My Girls Are Growing Up!

2009-06-23T10:59:00.004-05:00

Today is Erin & Evie's 3rd birthday. It really is amazing at just how quickly time flies by. Feels like yesterday they were little babies - but forever ago that we did not have them in our lives. We are so lucky and blessed to have both of our healthy, funny, lovely kids. Really, there is nothing more we could ask for.

In light of their birthday I thought I'd post a few photos to walk down memory lane.

Evie Goes To Camp!

2009-06-22T11:01:00.001-05:00

Today was Evie's first day at summer camp. First day in a new place with nobody she knows - not even Erin. I think that had to be pretty overwhelming for her. She has been very excited to go to camp - we talk about it a lot! She tried so hard to be strong and brave. But, once we dropped Erin at my moms so I could take Ev she got pretty quiet. Once we got there she was stuck to me like glue. While I was there she was being so strong and working so hard to hold back the tears. Once I got ready to leave she was just so sad - and that was so hard for me to see. I can only imagine how alone she felt - even though she was with new friends and nice teachers.

She was thrilled to get a nice green tee-shirt - she put it on the minute we got home. And, she had fun doing art projects and hearing stories. She's looking forward to going tomorrow and is going "to try not to cry." She told me she cried "a lot" today and she said she was crying for me to come back - which of course breaks my heart. But, I know in time she'll jump out of the car and not want to leave camp because it will be so much fun for her!

I just hope we get there quickly!

The Farmer's Market is Back

2009-06-15T23:01:00.002-05:00

Last week our local farmer's market opened up for the summer season. Nancy had something to do so I took the little chicks to see all the action at the market. We were all ready to gobble up some freshly popped Lion's Club popcorn and if we were really lucky maybe even take in a song or two from a folk trio of Olde Town School of Folk Music students.

Well the weather was quite chilly. There were no fiddle, guitar, or banjo players in sight and to top it off the Lion's popcorn maker was broken. They said it would be another week before repairs could make it ready after the long winter season in storage.

So we tried to make the best of it by walking around a bit and looking at the fruits, flowers, jellies, jams, baked goods, homemade soaps and salsa concoctions available.

I recalled last year that the girls had some strange hard-core affinity for scones from the farmer's market so we went out looking for one to have a snack. Ev ran ahead to a booth that caught her eye. Before I could catch up to her, she had reached up and grabbed a cookie and took a big bite out of it.

I immediately reached for my wallet to pay for the cookie that Ev basically stole and I noticed that the price was only $0.75 which seemed way to reasonably priced for such a thing at a farmer's market. It was at this time that Ev spit out her mouthful of stolen goodness and reached up to put the cookie back on the table. It was only when I told her that she couldn't just put the cookie back did I notice one small detail of the booth we were at. Ev had copped and eaten a dog cookie. The entire booth was stocked full of home made dog treats that looked like regular baked goods!

There were dog treats that looked like crescents, cookies, there were even muffins complete with muffin paper. What kind of a dog needs their treats to look like muffins???

Anyway, Ev was not a fan of the dog biscuit (which I guess speaks to her taste in baked goods). And I told her that she should not reach up on tables grabbing and eating anything she can get her hands on. And that is really a lesson for all of us. Be careful of what you eat at a farmer's market when the Lion's popcorn machine is down. Your scone or biscotti might actually be a dog treat.

More Morning Chatter...

2009-06-15T14:50:00.001-05:00

Evie - "Sissy, stop bothering me."

Erin - "I can bother you. I am your sister."

Where they learned that I can't imagine! But, I thought it was hilarious!!

Hello? It's Erin. I'm awake!

2009-06-10T19:41:00.002-05:00

So we have this really nifty baby monitor that captures video as well as audio. We like to connect the monitor to our TV and watch the girls play and talk and eventually fall asleep. Our intention was to keep the monitor secret well into their teen-age years and keep a close eye on them (we fully expect Ev to pull out the rope ladder from under her bead and climb out the window).

Well our plans have been spoiled. Erin has fully grasped the concept of the monitor and has started using it to her advantage. On Sunday morning we were awoken to the following,

"Mommy, Daddy, Hello? Can you hear me? It's Erin. I'm awake."

No shouting, no whining, just a civil conversational tone. She knows that we are listening and now she expects us to come running. Yet another parental planning backfire!

What's been going on....

2009-06-03T09:28:00.002-05:00

Seems like things have been pretty quiet here lately - hence not many posts.

The girls are doing well. We've been dealing with some teething for Ev. She is just now getting her 2 yr molars and she does not teethe well!! She gets a temp and feels completely yucky. And, unfortunately we have to pay the price by being up with her at night and it is taking its toll on us! Other than teething, she is doing well and having a lot of fun.

Erin is doing great. She is as tall as ever and continues to grow like a weed! She talks a mile a minute and never runs out of gas! But, the conversations you can have with her are so much fun. She's got quite the imagination.

I just wish the weather would really turn and we could do more outside. It is already June and there is still such a chill in the air.

We had a fun outing over the weekend where we helped our cousin move. Thankfully they only moved a few blocks down the street from their old place. But, the girls had a blast helping. They got to eat lots of donut holes and all of the craziness was a great stimulant for them. They were real troopers all day long! They have 2 cats and a rabbit and Erin just loved them. Ev was hesitant at first, but warmed up (on her terms) and enjoyed looking at them and I think even petted them a bit. Evie is not the animal lover that Erin is!

I can't be trusted...

2009-06-01T20:08:00.000-05:00

I can't be trusted to do the grocery shopping. Why?? Well, I can't be trusted not to put strange and unnecessary items into the cart. Recently, my whims have included Chili Cheese Fritos, Nutella, Ice Cream and Pickles. With the exception of pickles, I don't ever buy any of the other impulse items I listed. I don't think I had ever even tasted chili cheese Fritos or Nutella prior to these purchases. And, I really only buy pickles if we are having burgers or a BBQ.

What can all this mean? Yep. I am 16 weeks pregnant...

Frequently Asked Questions...
Are you having twins? No.
Are you sure? Yes - we had an ultrasounds and there is only one.
Really? YES.
When are you due? November 15th
Will we find out the gender? No - we'll wait until s/he arrives.
Have you told the girls? No - 6 more months is a loooong time!
Are you feeling sick? Not now. I had a 2-3 week stint where I did not feel well and could not eat any warm or cooked food. That was strange! But, I am good to go now.
Are you tired? Of course! I already have nearly 3yr old twins!

A Loooong Weekend

2009-05-25T09:34:00.002-05:00

Dave had a 4 day weekend and we took full advantage of it!

On Friday we took a bike ride to the Wagner Farm and the girls had a blast looking at the cows and playing in the museum. It does not take much to keep them happy! We ended the day with a yummy Mexican dinner a LaLo's. Erin loves their chicken soup - it is so cute to watch her eat it - she loves it!!

Saturday was a great trip to the zoo! Our first visit for the year. I got a pass, so I think we'll be there quite a bit! It was really fun to see Evie's reaction to the monkeys. She went nuts when she saw them - nearly jumped out of the stroller.

Sunday we went to church and then met up with some friends and their kids at Lake Arlington. The kids had fun at the jungle gym, but really liked playing on the beach! Too bad we did not bring a change of clothes and they could have gone hog wild in the water!

We love 4 day weekends!!

Dave took them to Kohl's on Monday, as I had to work. But, they had a lot of fun there. The place was pretty empty, so there was a lot of space to have fun and enjoy the activities.

A few stories...

2009-05-11T21:27:00.003-05:00

After a long walk at Bally's I was trying to get the girls to leave - Ev wanted to stay and draw. I kept telling her we had to go home and have lunch!!! She would not budge and was crying that she wanted to stay. So, I told her I was leaving - one of my empty threats. That really got Erin. She started crying saying we can't leave Evie at Bally's. I just started laughing and picked Ev up and walked out...

The other day I was driving with the girls. We passed a cemetery. It was a pretty one where everyone seems to plant tulips all over and it was in full bloom. Erin looked out the window and commented on all the people dancing. I asked her where and she pointed to the cemetery - where I did not see one person! Ev said she also saw dancing. At least they were dancing!

Erin hurt her toe (or some other apendage) the other day. I kissed it and told her it would be okay. She kept crying and very dramatically said "yes, but it hurts now."

Ev is really enjoying the game hide and seek. The problem is that she is not really good at it! While being hidden she told Dave where she was hiding and was not covered by anything. She thinks it is so funny to have Dave search the house for her!!

Ev loves the swing!

2009-05-07T20:05:00.003-05:00

Some things never change. Ev loves the swing - and Erin does not like them one bit!

Dave took the girls to the park about a week ago and Susan captured a wonderful photo of little Ev in her glory on the swings. She just looks as happy as possible.

Where was Erin? Who knows probably in the sand box or maybe climbing somewhere. But, she does not dare ride the swings!

I promise more blogs...

2009-05-04T08:15:00.002-05:00

I Nancy Detlefsen solemnly swear to get back in the program and blog with greater frequency.

The Girls get a hair cut

2009-05-03T20:36:00.005-05:00

Today was a monumental day. After almost three full years, the girls got their very first hair cut. I'm not entirely sure where this came from since I've been wanted to get Evie a hair cut for over a year and Nancy would never hear of it. Suddenly today was the day and Nancy said... "This is it. Let's go get their hair cut".

After church we stopped by a place on the way home. They just opened up and there was nobody else in the entire place. I was a bit nervous that the girls would flip out. Would the think the scissors would hurt? Nope. They were champs.

Ev was first and she seemed to really enjoy all the attention. She got right up into the chair and liked watching herself in the mirror. In all Ev got about 6 inches cut off from the back. She got her hair blow dried and brushed under. I said it made her look like Shakespeare but Nancy disagrees. When Ev's hair settled down a bit it looked much cuter (in my humble opinion). I bet the lighter hair will feel really good for the summer.

Ev seemed to really know something was special. When it was Erin's turn she was so happy and running around in circles at the salon. Erin was also a champ. She sat very still and we made sure to make a big fuss about what a big girl they were both being. Erin got about 4 inches cut and with the length gone, we hope her curls will now be even tighter.

The first hair cut seems like one of those monumental growing up milestones. They were great and now suddenly look much older. I guess it won't be long before I'm walking them down the isle. "Where are you going, my little ones, little ones..."

Outch, I'm sore

2009-05-03T20:13:00.004-05:00

Spring yard work is fun but boy it's easy to take on a project that is bigger that one thinks at the beginning.

Nancy and I attacked the ivy that has been growing on the south side of our house. It's been growing there for over 30 years and today it was time for it to go. We got all of the vines off the wall and managed to make some HUGE piles of the stuff on the yard.

Jim was helpful in winding some of the vines up with twine so the yard waste folks would take it away. We didn't get to the part of the job where we dig up the roots. That will have to wait for another weekend.

We bound up several big piles of vines, but we still had lots of little twigs and leaves too. Luckily, Nancy promised the girls we would go for a bike ride after dinner and get some ice cream. On our way to Dairy Queen we noticed that someone had put 4 empty plastic garbage cans out on the curb with a sign that said anyone could take them. What amazing timing!!

After ice cream I came back with the car and picked up the extra garbage cans and now had a way to clean up the rest of the yard. Erin wanted to help out cleaning up so she would grab a twig and throw it in our new bins. She loves to be a helper.

Good tough rewarding work. Good weather. Great weekend.

Easter Egg Hunt!

2009-04-15T20:02:00.000-05:00

I know it is late, but better late than never!

We took the girls on a great Easter Egg hunt. We are so lucky to live in a community that has fun little events like this for the kids. It was within walking distance from our home right at the big park down the street.

The field was marked off in age segments - we were in the 2-4 yr age range. There were eggs everywhere. I think the workers just tossed them out there - no hiding! No place to hide - just eggs everywhere. Every color egg you can imagine - red, pink, yellow, orange, blue, green, purple - you get the point, right?

Well, the horn blows and the kids are off on a mad dash for eggs. Seriously, it was over in less than 90 seconds. It was the fastest thing ever! I finally look down into Evie's basket and what do I see??? Pink eggs. Only pink eggs. The girl walked past every other egg and only took the pink ones. I would not have believed it if I did not see it! And, despite only taking pink eggs, she got more than Erin!!

Neither of the girls cared much for the Easter Bunny. Initially when they visited him they would not even say hello. After the hunt they must have been somewhat thankful and decided to go back. Ev kissed him and Erin shook his hand. Super cute!

Walk Walk Walk............

2009-04-14T21:07:00.003-05:00

Well, I am back in the saddle. After a long hiatus due to a broken toe and cold, I hit the club today and walked my 5 miles. My toe was not perfect, but felt pretty good. But, it really just felt good to be walking again! I'll try for another 5 tomorrow.........

Fun at Chipotle

2009-04-14T20:35:00.005-05:00

Nancy, the girls and I enjoy going out to Chipotle for lunch. Did you know you can order off the menu and get a quesadilla there? You can get just plain cheese or with some meat added. Nancy always gets a cheese quesadilla for the girls to split and they really enjoy that.

Ev devourers the guacamole. Interestingly enough, we have Ev in speech therapy but she can say quesadilla, guacamole, and chocolate clear as a bell. I guess you just need the proper motivation. Anyway...

Evelyn has started this strange ritual with the bag of chips we always get. After promptly emptying the bag of all chips, she turns the bag over wears it on her head. Currently it fits on her head perfectly.

"Look at my taco hat!" she yells loud enough for the entire place to hear.

Erin has her 'Chipotle moments' too. The other day at a lunch stop she tapped Nancy on the shoulder and said, "Mommy, this is a really nice restaurant". Let's try and keep those expectations in check I say. I'm glad it's so easy to impress her. Let's see how long that lasts. It was very cute and definitely worth capturing here.