Reunion Part 1

The Fam together at Lincoln Park Zoo

Big big fan of ice cream

L to R Mia M., Sophia, Brinkley, Kaylee, Lucy, Mia G. and Marie

The Girls

Twirling in the Lobby

Cousin-palooza

Lovin' big cuz Luke. Luke and his family spent the weekend of the 4th at our house.
While the big girls and their dad's checked out the Blue Angels air show, Marie and Luke went out to the Big Lake and spent the afternoon at Lake Michigan. Marie and Luke had fun playing together - this consisted mostly of eating together, sharing popsicles and jumping. Ah...the fun of ages 2 and 3!

Beautiful Baby Butt!

"NO Mama! NO pictures!"

"Momma didn't bring me a suit. Foolish momma. I will go in anyways. "

Marie's two older girl cousins spent the week after the 4th with us. One day, we met Aunt Dottie at the beach to collect rocks for painting. I was told, quote, "It's like a fall day here," so I didn't bring Marie's suit. Thankfully, I did bring the big girls' theirs as they both went in swimming. The water was gorgeous and wavy - the girls had a blast. Then they had pizza and painted their rocks. It was quite the creative splurge by all. A small portion of the rocks are now decorating our front walk in memory of a great day!

Yet Another Reason...

...why I love my husband. He is a caring and thoughtful man, handsome and strong and oh-so-ironically ticklish. Little kids love him and love to discover his ticklish secret (perhaps with some big hints from others.) These little girls were entranced with "Jim-antics" for a good half-hour last night. Marie today insisted on watching the videos over and over. Oddly enough, she had a diffiult time sleeping last night after all this hammock hoopla. I wonder why???

Summertime

In the middle of the picture, you can see the tiniest, mini-baby-toad. It was one of many, many teeny-tiny toads that are all over right now. I was walking back from the pond when I first saw them. I had grabbed a chair and was going to go sit out by the pond for a few quiet moments - little did I know that every single mosquito in the entire Midwest was in that area where I was trying to have a quiet moment. So, I quickly returned to the world of toddlerhood and on the way back I first saw the toads. They were everywhere - tens of tens of little tiny toads all jumping around around my feet. We went for a walk and saw them all over. Impossible to catch on a picture though as they are so small.

Jim and Marie next to the oh-so-popular "choo choo tracks." There is actual mini-steam engine in the middle of town. Marie has absolutely no desire to go for a ride on it but can spend a good hour watching it go around the little park. We walked over to it Saturday morning after going to the Farmer's Market. I love living in a smallish town. You can't go anyplace without seeing folks you know. The second we got to the Farmer's Market we saw a woman I used to share a classroom with. Then, further on we saw the city manager and his wife. More teachers further in...you get the point. It's fun for us but the tourists get annoyed with us locals clogging up the aisle talking and catching up. We compromised by putting Marie in a backpack rather than trying to push a stroller through the maze. Got some strawberries and herbs. There isn't much out there yet and what is there is pricey. The herb plants were a good deal though at 12 for $12.

While Jim and Marie were choo-choo watching, I dragged our stuff down to the beach and started a new book, "The Glass Castle." I got them to join me after the choo-choo "went to bed." It was fun to watch kids run into the water and then get a glazed, surprised look on their face when they realize how unbelievable cold the water is. We had to do some 2-yr old negotiations when Marie wanted to "be naked" at the beach. I know, I know but everyone else had a swimsuit on. We compromised with her wearing her swim shirt and swimmer diaper. In any case, we had a great time at the beach till the storm clouds rolled in. A nice way to spend time on a Sunday afternoon.

Snack Time Concert

Silly but cute. After our walk today, Marie had a little PB snack, which the remnants of are visible on and around her. Then she decided to sing. Anyone know the first tune? Anyone???

Father's Day 2008

Father's Day started off with some greatly appreciated chocolate milk.

Marie made this shirt with me yesterday. She kept telling Jim about it all day but he didn't catch on, thankfully. "Marie painted Daddy's shirt!" sounded to him like something else, I guess. Or he was being gracious. However, while her vocab has grown tremendously, usually I am the only one that can fully understand her so perhaps he really didn't know.

Right after church, the two of them put on suits, sun-sauce and hit the lake. Marie put her own shoes on, can't you tell? The weather is predicted to turn stormy so they wanted to swim while it was still sunny out. They were in the water by 11am. Marie has a new rashguard to help deal with the sun. However, as I look out the window, it is alrelady starting to cloud over. Hopefully, they go to at last dip their toes in!

The Best Laid Eggs (I mean Plans)

Have child

Want Lawn to play in

Move to New House with Lawn

Winter Passes

Lawn Dies

Daddy plants new lawn

Lawn Grows

Momma Turtle Arrives to do her business...

Momma finds turtle and screams

Momma and Marie watch turtle for an hour while Marie drinks chocolate milk

Thus Day 2 of summer va-ca passes.

The Best Impulse Buy Ever

Went to Menard's to get a storm door for the front door. I am going slightly nuts not having a screen door AND the "door knob" on the front door is actually a handle. A handle that is easy for little, two-year old hands to open; a handle that can be opened from the inside even when it is locked. This has led to Marie being on the front porch, in her underwear before I can get across the kitchen to stop her. So, we are getting a storm door with a lock and a fancy screen. It is a glass pane that can be pushed down and a screen unrolls from the top, turning it into a screen

door. But I hugely, grossly, digress. Menards is brilliant in that they have an enormous play area in their garden area; it is truly advertising of their products but it kept Marie occupied long enough that I could buy plants. One of the items they had was the yard roller coaster. I had to have it. We don't have a swing, no slide, no pool as all of those items are literally right down the road at the park. (less than 1/4 mile away). But this was unique. She can do it all herself and would be hard pressed to get hurt. And the neighborhood 7 year old girls tried it out too. They were not as impressed as Marie but agreed it was a good toy.

Had to through in a popsicle shot too. Marie literally asks for a popsicle 3 or 4 times a day. She is averaging one for every 3 days right now.

Right now she is napping and then we will try the beach this afternoon!

Summer...sort-of

If you ignore the turtleneck Marie has on and the 50 degree weather, it was a gorgeous summer night this evening. I thought she was going to hyperventilate on the bubble-blowing.

Marie has decided that Daddy is the bomb. She has to give him his vitamins in the morning, asks for him first thing when she wakes up, wants to know when he is coming home from work and, this is the one that gets me, has HIM hold her and read bedtime stories. Momma has been usurped. That's okay, Daddy. In just a few weeks she is Momma's all day long...

Marie Funny!

After bathtime, we have our little nightly pre-bedtime routine. Jim was holding Marie and getting ready to say prayers. He did the Sign of the Cross and we have been encouraging her to do so as well. Instead, she decided that her little bear, "Yellow Pooh" needed to do it. So she got his tiny little stubby arm that doesn't even reach to the top of his fuzzy head and before she would let Jim begin, she had Yellow Pooh do the Sign of the Cross. Then he put his little paws together in prayer.

A clip from tonight's bath...

Mother's Day

Chillin Out and Watching "The Wiggles"

Mother's Day Feast

The Three of Us

Marie trying out my new chopsticks set.

I woke up this morning alone. Not a good sign. That happened Wednesday too when I found Jim on the couch, so he could be close to the bathroom. We both ended up with stomach flu for 2 days that time. So I went downstairs to find him. Not on the couch. Peek out the window. No car in the drive. Oh no...Jim got paged and had to go in to work. If someone had to go into work at 5am on a Sunday morning, better him than a mommy though!

My mother and I were surprised with flowers from Jim, even with his rough start. After church and a nice dinner, Jim and Marie gave me some kitchen gifts I wanted. A sweet day. Now, I am sitting with an upset stomach because the chips I had bought for myself (for when I was theoretically going to sit and read today) are definately not settling well.

Marie is struggling with independence. Knowing something is hers yet having to share it. Wanting to do something by herself yet not having the coordination yet. Wanting a popsicle and snacks instead of a meal. Test, test, test...momma, do you really mean this boundary or no???

Anyways, we think of all the Mom's today...especially those who are struggling and those Moms who aren't with us anymore.

Happy Birthday!

Belated Birthday wishes to Aunt Dottie. She is saying "Cheeeeese" as I started filming.

Visitors

Look who was right off our back deck last night. Can you see both of them?

Captain Marie (in the purple hat) on deck making sure all her passengers had their life jackets on.

Captain Underpants!

Her Big Entrance...

Not quite grasping the entire concept yet but enjoying the process.

Very Enthusiastic!!!

Showing the undies off to Elmo (which is important as he is on them!)

Marie went the entire daytime portion of the weekend in her undies! Dry!!!

Last weekend we tried them out, sort of a dry run (ha ha)...and this weekend we decided to go all day, diaper free. We got really tired of re-using and then throwing out dry diapers so we thought to just go for it!



In any case, what a great birthday gift for Daddy!!!

A Head's Up

Hey all you faithful followers...I am going to make the blog "invite-only." This means that only people I specify can have access to it. A few thoughts have crossed our mind about how much info about our lives is on this blog and just don't want it available to the general public.

So...if you want to have continued access, please drop me an email with your email address so I can send you an invite to read our blog!

Thanks, The Whalls

My Heart Melted!

(Pictures are totally unrelated to the post...but I thought these two from Florida were too sweet not to share!)

Today during the car ride home, here was the conversation that ensued.

Marie says, in her way, "I went to daycare today." (She actually says, "Lolo today!" referencing a friend at daycare).

"Yes, you did," I replied.

"Momma go to work."

"Yes, Momma went to work."

"But Momma back."

"Momma always comes back, doesn't she?"

"Marie h-a-p-p-y!"

And then I had to slow the car down as I had tears in my eyes.

Easter Gift from Uncle Jeff

Jumping up and down in excitement for the fun gift!!!

Trying out a snack in the new chair at the end of a long day...

Thumbs l-o-v-e-s the chair...as soon as Marie goes to bed she climbs in it!

Thank you, Uncle Jeff, for the wonderful Easter gift. Marie loves it a lot! She caught me sitting in it once and yelled at me, "No, Mama NO! Wee's (Marie's) Chair!" We will work on sharing later!

Wonderful Week - Part 2

As you can see, we spent a small amount of time in and around the pool during our week in Florida. For a full month beforehand, all Marie could talk about was her bathing suit or her "t-suit" as she calls it. While we were in Florida, every day all she wanted to wear was her bathing suit (although she didn't necessarily want to actually be in the swimming pool). This week here at home, she has attempted to put it on over her clothes, in fact. Not sure what the attraction is; Momma cringes when she has top put a t-suit on. But Marie loves to wear hers!

More than her love of her bathing suit, she loves being with her family. Her are some great photos of her time with them in Florida.

Marie having a story read to her by her cousin Sydney.


Marie and Daddy checking out the pool Tuesday morning.

Daddy, AKA the Best Uncle Ever, in the pool with his nieces.

Marie and cousin Luke enjoying some peanut butter crackers (an awful lot)!

The bigger cousins have left so Marie can start getting some one-on-one with Grampa.

We had a wonderful week in Florida (and Georgia too)! Momma got some cherished minutes in the pool on the tube, with a book...during nap time. Jim and I both thought it was fantastic to not worry about lesson plans or interfaces or any work blah-blah for a few days. We also thought it was interesting to experience the difference of vacationing with a child as opposed to how things were pre-child. Both are for sure great but a little different.

Today we woke up to a dusting of snow. Yes, it is April 12th. That just ain't right.

Part 1 - Wonderful Weekend

The girls and their pretend ice cream...and those legs are of the daddies behind them. I love how they are both right there!

Marie having a good laugh with her new friend. She enjoyed the boys a lot!

How many pre-teens will take time to play with the toddlers before he goes to school? Who knew that older brothers could be so sweet???

Friends eating together

We had a fantastic time in Atlanta with our friends. They were incredibly gracious hosts and spoiled us rotten. It was interesting...we have spent just mere days together before but we feel like we know them so well. We so enjoyed meeting "the boys" and seeing how Annalee has changed in the past year and a half. The last time I saw her was when we parted ways getting in a cab in Hong Kong! It was a privilege to see her now - you can see her mind working every minute as she learns something new. Had an awesome time playing air hockey, pinball, and football/bowling on the Wii. Never wanted to leave the basement! We hope to return the favor soon!

How Time Flies...

At the end of one week home...both she and the bear have changed a lot.

*sigh*