348 months...9 days

That is how old I am today...if I were still to state my age in months. My mom likes to do this because it makes her feel younger. I think that I will continue this tradition as my kids age.

Happy 2nd Birthday to ME!

Add on 28 candles and we are all caught up to today.

Eat that cake.

(almost) Thirty

Since my 30th birthday is right around the corner (i.e. this Thursday) I thought what better way to commemorate then with a trip down memory lane. And-if nothing else-my mom will enjoy it and maybe get a little teary eyed. 

 Back when we were still a family of four...

Oh hi Caroline...

I mean seriously. I know my mom kept saying the Caroline looked like me but I just now 'got' it. 

Haven't had your fill?? 

Don't worry-we still have 3 more days of the 1980's / 90's to enjoy :)

Money Shot

Yesterday, I had an eye doctor appointment. I also had to take the girls with me.

Brooke could have cared less. She sat, 'read' her books and was overall on her best behavior. Caroline was devastated. Totally distraught that she was not receiving 110% of  my attention and could not physically sit on my lap for the 5 minutes I needed for the exam. As I was getting the old poof in the eye, she decided that she really needed to tell me something. When I didn't respond to her liking, she decided to go in for the kill. Next thing I know, she has pulled my shirt down (and part of my bra) giving the eye technician quite a show. Thank goodness Molly (not Mike) was on shift that a.m. Don't worry-she also narrated the event by yelling "Boobie" while totally humiliating her mom.

Next up, Target. When I saw a doll on clearance for $5.00 I thought I would be mom of the year and get it for Caroline. She was SO pumped. When we went to check out, she couldn't wait to open it. I had to take the baby out of her hands for 1 second so that I could pay...and she was not happy. I guess she had figured out what worked (to get attention) earlier in the day so she went for it. Next thing I know, she is trying the old pull down half of mom's shirt routine. Luckily, I caught her in the act and was able to save myself from a room full of Target employees laughing at the video reel.

Caroline.

Always keeping things interesting.

Twenty

We are officially four months away from the the terrible TWO's. Crazy huh?

I am pretty sure that this was just yesterday...

Now she is a big girl...saying a million words and wanting to do EVERYTHING that Brooke does.

I can only imagine what the next four months will bring...

Goodnight Prayers :)

Last night, while we were saying our prayers, Brooke & I went through our standard list of people that we always pray for. After praying for our grandparents, aunt, uncles and cousins it was time to go to bed. Before I could walk out of the room, though, Brooke stopped me.

Brooke: "Mom-WAIT. We forgot someone."
Mom:    "Ok, who else do we need to pray for?"
Brooke: "Parker & Finley!"
Mom:    "Brooke, that is perfect. We will pray for Parker & Finley."
Brooke: "WAIT! and Katie Perry. Don't forget to tell Mary that we pray for Katie Perry."

Pool Hopping

I feel like my life has been totally un-blog worthy lately. Anyone else?? Are we really that lame...??? Maybe. Or, it could be that we are just so freaking hot! I have gone to more pools in the last few weeks then I think I have ever been to in my entire life (since, as most of you should already know, I am not the biggest public pool fan).

The girls love it.

Brooke loves to swim and has gotten pretty good at it lately.

Caroline digs it for about 1/2 the time we are there...and also enjoys people watching from the safety of a lounge chair (takes after her mother).

I also decided to officially cross over to the mom world and purchased my first one piece. It took me almost four years, but I decide that me running around in a two piece chasing my kiddos does not equal attractive. Quite the opposite in fact. So, I have saved everyones vision and picked up a little number from Target. No, I don't have pictures. No, your not disappointed.

Today we are back at it again.

Off to the pool , followed what will (hopefully) be a super long nap for Caroline.

Trip Planning

Gary and I are not big travelers. As I have mentioned before, we never went on a honeymoon and our first real trip together was this past May in Mexico. We had a GREAT time...but traveling is expensive and leaving your kiddos is hard :( Even though they are always in the best of care, we spend lots of our time talking about the kids, looking for souvenirs for them, etc. Are we totally lame?? Bottom line is-it takes an important something to get me on a plane.

It just so happens that something has come up! One of our good friends from college is getting married in California and we really wanted to make the trip to celebrate with them. As we started pricing the trip out, we realized that by making it more of a long weekend, we would actually be saving a bit of $$$...and who doesn't like that??!! After consulting with our daughters amazing grandparents, we realized that we could make it work. 

 

So...we are booked.

 Las Vegas to start, followed by what I am positive will be an amazing wedding in Manhattan Beach, CA. We decided to keep our spending to a minimum and chose a hotel located in the center of the LV strip. We have family and friends that have stayed at the Flamingo so it seemed like a good choice! I have only been to LV once-as a nanny, when I was 18...so I have a feeling that this trip will be a bit different. Any recommendations from regular Vegas travelers? Thunder from Down Under?? Donny and Marie??

As for California, we booked a hotel called the Belamar. It has been described as Mad Men by the beach. How can you go wrong right?? I believe that we are going to have one free night and definitely day time to check out the area. Any recommendations for Manhattan Beach and the surrounding?? You know I am not going to want to simply lounge by that public hotel swimming pool....unless Don Draper happens to be tanning in which case I will make an exception.