St. Patty's Day!

Before I get to the day, I've got to recount something Dani said to me this morning.  When she was born, a friend sent her a Mr. T rubber duckie--it's literally a rubber duckie with Mr. T clothes and beard and jewelry.  We've always called it Mr. T.  Dani apparently saw Mr. T doing an Old Navy commercial recently, and announced to me, "Mommy, Mr. T isn't just a toy, he's people!"

Now, on to St. Patrick's Day....our little leprechauns started the day off by sleeping late!  Woo hoo!

 Beautiful spring day filled with outside play, and mugging for the camera, dressed up because, even if they're not Irish, their names sound it!

 My traditional fare of corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes was soundly rejected in favor of the rainbow cake Dani and I made.

Since they couldn't have green beer, they had green cake!

It's time to be a knight and do it right.

Dani's been more than a little obsessed with Mike the Knight lately.  She's always pretending to be Mike, and assigning each of us characters on the show.  (Like usual, I'm always the mommy, but everyone else in the house gets to be a dragon or something fun!)  It's been weeks, so I had to spring for some knight gear for them, which arrived tonight.  (Somehow this face reminds me more of Zoolander, though.)

She fought, and won some epic battles today.

 Exerted dominion over her serfs.

 And had an all-around knightly good time!

By the king's crown, it sure was fun!

Outside, Outside! Outside everybody, Outside!

Poor Tommy--he had his first two trips outside this weekend; Saturday was windy and cold, and I put him on the swing to get some fresh air.  He was not a fan of being bundled up and swung.

 

Fast forward one day.  It's 60 degrees and we don't even need coats.  So we take the posse to the playground.  At 12:45pm, we step onto the playground and are the only 5 people there.  Literally, within 5 minutes, there were 15 kids who showed up with their families and the place was hopping.

 We swung. We ran.  We played.  Even Big Man chatted with other parents. 

The only awkward moment was when Tori walked up to someone else's daddy and hugged his leg and wouldn't let go.  I was standing there telling her it wasn't daddy and we needed to go, but she was clinging on to this tall man.  He was there with his kids so seemed used to random toddler attention.  Tommy just chilled in his carseat, and when he got bored, I walked him around and he loved watching Dani and Tori.

We had to drag them off the playground for lunch and naps.  It's nice that it's only a few blocks away so we can go back a lot!

Pee pee on the potty!

Somebody is making real progress! Unfortunately, it's Tori, not Dani...

Forty, a Tori guest post.

Hi Daddy, it's Tori! I'm posting tonight to wish you happy birthday! Mommy says you're 40. I don't know how many that is because I can only count to twelve. I don't think DiDi can even count to 40, so I know 40 must be a lot because she can count really well.

Me and Dani and Tommy want you to know that you're the best daddy ever. We hope you liked the card we picked out because it plays the Mickey Mouse song and that's our favorite. We opened it and played it for you dozens of times today and it was so fun to hear over and over and over, don't you think? It was fun until you put the card up on the mantel where I couldn't reach. I think if I move my high chair I can get it all by myself and play it for you again tomorrow, so don't worry!

Your cake was really yummy too. But I don't understand why there are only four candles on it. I am not a big kid but I know four is not forty. I heard mommy say something about a fire hazard if we used all the candles but I don't really understand what that meant.After your cake, it was snuggle time. Then you and mommy took us upstairs and got us ready for bed. Mommy was still taking pictures. Mommy's always taking pictures. Why does she take so many pictures, Daddy?

And, I even peed on the potty tonight, just for you. Don't tell DiDi but I think I'm going to be out of diapers before she is. Anyway, Daddy, I smiled extra pretty in this birthday picture for you. I love you Daddy! Happy Birthday!

Snow angels.

We got our first measurable snow today. It was nice, wet and heavy, so perfect for snowmen. Dani and Tori have been so excited about the prospect of snow this year--and none really came, until today. They were already scheduled to go to Miss Ruth's for the day, so we packed their snow gear. I was little disappointed that I wouldn't be the one playing outside with them today...but Miss Ruth cheered me up by sending pictures to my phone while I was in court.They had a blast. This was Tori's first time playing in the snow, as she was just a baby last winter. They made snow angels, and rode on sleds, and probably consumed half their body weight in snow.

Dani told me she made five snowmen, but that one was a snow bunny and one was a snow Mickey (mouse).

I'm really hoping it doesn't all melt before Saturday so I can go out and play with them too!

Six months, a Tommy guest post.

Hi, it's Tommy! I had my six month doctor's visit today.

I'm growing!

I don't know if mommy has told you, but I'm kind of a super baby. Did you know that I crawled way before Dani and Tori did? (**editorial note from mommy: But Tommy, you still lag behind your sisters in the critical sleeping through the night category.)

I'm also bigger than they were at their six month doctor's visit! I'm 28 inches long and I weigh 19 pounds and 12 ounces. Dani was only 26.5 inches long and 15 pounds 2 ounces and Tori was 26.5 inches and 17.5 ounces at six months. So, that means that I'm the biggest. Don't tell Dani and Tori but I think they like me best, too.

The doctor told daddy I'm in the 90th percentile for everything. I'm already getting straight A's and I'm not even in school yet. Cool, huh?

Oops, a Tommy guest post.

Hey, it's me, Tommy. I snuck on the computer so I can tell you about mommy's big scare this weekend. It started out simply enough...

....we were all in the playroom, me, mommy, Dani, and Tori. Daddy was upstairs in the shower. We had grandma and grandpa on speaker phone and Dani was talking a lot! Well, I saw this neat Hello Kitty card under the rug, and, when no one was looking I decided to taste it. It was pretty yummy.

But then something happened. I couldn't breathe. I tried to cough, but it didn't work. Mommy heard me and scooped me up into the right position and tapped in between my shoulder blades, and ran me upstairs to daddy. She was yelling for him while she ran, and I've never seen her move so fast. Whatever she did worked, because when she opened the shower door, daddy told her I was breathing and okay. She layed me down on her bed and I opened up my mouth so she could take the card out. And I was just fine. Mommy brought me downstairs and just held me and cried for a while. She sure seemed sad, and I couldn't figure out why. I was just fine. I'm pretty tough you know.

So, I talked to Dani and Tori about cheering mommy up; they agreed it was a good idea. We would start right after lunch. All that excitement made me hungry! Dani and Tori got booster chairs this weekend so they get to sit right at the table instead of in a high chair like me--they are so BIG! This means that now I have the high chair all to myself, which is good, because I like to eat. A LOT. And Tori always used to leave sticky stuff in it anyway. So, back to my story. First, they decided to sit right at the table and behave, mommy always likes it when we are good. Tori even used a fork, instead of her hands, so you can see we were really trying!

Then, we decided that some laughs were in order. We decided to be silly to cheer mommy up. Dani broke out the old 'stache. That's always good for a laugh or two.

And Tori, she's always super silly. She dressed up like a flower and just danced around until mommy was happy again! Then it was time for my nap. I like naps, almost as much as I like eating. Hmmm, I'm getting hungry, so I'm going to go fuss a little so mommy fixes me a bottle. Bye bye!

Silly!

Gotta love Target for having the super cheap kid goodies at the front of the store! I took Dani and Tori there (holy outnumbered) on Sunday, and we loaded up on stuff to occupy them while shopping.

Behold the masks; they loved the masks!

We also broke out the ol' ladybug tent for fun. The kids spent a TON of time in it. Here's Tori eating a "nino" (tomato) and teaching Dani and Tommy poker. (Notice how much hair the kid has? He's so big, he practically has to shave.)

Never a dull moment here.

Fun lunch.

Here's an easy, fun lunch idea, that my kids love! Slice a hot dog into quarters. Poke 5-7 strands of uncooked spaghetti through the length of the hot dog; boil per the pasta instructions. You end up with an octopus-like hot dog piece that they can eat with their hands. Serve with veggie sides and dip (if your kids need dip/ketchup) and enjoy a fun lunch!

Bowling Party!

We went to a bowling birthday party today for little 4 year old Liam. It was the first time we've ever gone out in public as a family (ie outnumbered by the kids) and the first time Dani and Tori have ever been bowling.

They had a blast. Cake, bowling, kids, pizza, oh my!

Tommy rocked a cool hat and hung out like a champ.Dani mastered the 4 pound ball, in her party dress, of course.

Tori wanted to pick up every ball, every minute. The concept of taking turns was lost on her.

She also enjoyed both hers and Dani's cake.

All in all, we were a little worried going out en masse, but it wasn't so bad. It was actually kind of fun!

Old like Daddy.

A very overtired Dani got teary on my lap tonight before bed.

"I don't want to get old, Mommy!" she said with tears welling up in her eyes.

I had no idea where that came from, or what she meant by old. For all I knew, she could think 5 is old. So I assure her she won't be old for a long time, and ask her what she means and why she's upset.

Her response: "Like Daddy. I don't want to get old like Daddy."

At dinner we were talking about Big Man's 40th birthday which is coming up very soon...I guess she's decided the big 4-0 is too old!

A Valentine from Tori.

OH NO! I forgot it was Valentines day!

I don't have anything to give to my mommy or my daddy or Dani or Tommy.

I mean, I'm not even 2, I can't be expected to remember these things!

Hmmmmm, what should we do?

WAIT! I have an idea!

It's really kind of advanced for my age, too.

We can do interpretive art for mommy and daddy. We just need to cover ourselves in red food, because red is for valentines! That will make them so happy!

You go first Tommy!

Good work Tommy! Really smear it all over yourself.

Okay, Dani, now it's your turn! Great smirk!

OK, now me!

Happy Valentines Day everybody!

We turned ourselves red just for you!

Uh oh. Mommy says we all need baths now. Gotta go!

Nom nom nom.

NO DANI NO, DON'T EAT THE BABY!

Mmmmmmmm, tasty baby.

Just kidding mommy. Kisses!

Sisters.

I don't have any sisters. Growing up, I could never figure out why I would want one. I had a brother, and that was all I knew. When we were little, we were the best of friends and the worst of enemies all in the same hour. He bedgrudglingly played with Ken or a GI Joe when I played with my Barbies; we played CHiPS (he was always Ponch), rode bikes, played tag and all kinds of stuff. As we got older we were different and really weren't friends through middle and high school (and well, to be honest, we were never really close until we started families); we hung with different crowds and were just different kids. Sure, we'd punch each other from time to time, but basically we were indifferent to each other at worst. But, a sister? All my friends who had sisters, hated them. They were always fighting over stuff, and clothes, and chores, and boys and god knows what else. Maybe I didn't always like my brother, but I was sure glad he didn't have boobs.

I'm starting to rethink my theory.

It's an hour past bedtime, and they are up there talking, and singing and giggling. I went up twenty minutes ago to tell them to quiet down and go to sleep, and Tori was at the edge of her crib facing Dani, and Dani on the edge of her bed talking to Tori. Now they are more boisterous.

They are the best of friends, and at times, the biggest rivals. We hear lots of "my turn" in this house, because if you do it for Tori, whether it's a quick toss in the air, or a silly rib tickle, Dani will insist that it's her turn next. Tori does the same. If Dani sees Tori doing something naughty (usually of the mess making kind), Dani will begin the same naughty act, just because Tori is doing it.

They share their snacks, toys, and hiding places, chase each other around, and mimic each other's silliness. Sure, there's the occasional bite (by Tori) or kick or shriek (by Dani) but for the most part, they just seem to enjoy each other's company a lot.

It's pretty magical.

Sure, I know they are going to fight, over who has the better hair, or the cuter boyfriend, or about who got to wear their favorite pair of jeans last, but I'm starting to finally understand the joy of having a sister.

Now that we're grown, most of my friends with sisters tell me their sister is their best friend. Certainly as I grow and age, and friends come and go--our lives change so quickly that sometimes we just don't have enough in common to stay in close touch--and I miss them. But you always have something in common with a sister, even if it's only to commiserate on how crazy your mom was, as I am sure Dani and Tori will.

I'm glad they have each other, and even happier to get to watch them grow together.

Get Croupy.

It's been hard to have time to post lately, with all the sicky sick at the ol' homestead. Our poor little children are like those indigenous tribes in the rainforest, not exposed often to people or germs, and who, when exposed, are felled by a common cold virus.

Dani and Tori had a little friend over a few weeks ago, and within a few days, it was a house o'plague. Fever! Sniffles! Coughs! Oh my!

Everyone is, happily, on the mend. Big Man and I broke down and bought some new living room furniture, a couch and chair. Given the age of our kids and relatively pukiness of our cat, it was a profoundly unwise decision from a financial perspective...as there's just no way it is going to last a fraction of the time that one would hope a couch to last. But Big Man's old sectional was a fine bachelor pad couch, and withstood, no doubt, many years of big men watching football, only to be turned into a giant petri dish/trampoline for our kids. We had to get rid of it before it created a new life form. As it was being moved out of the house, toys and other goodies were literally falling out of the bottom of it. At least there didn't appear to be any creatures inside.

So the girls are turning the corner after over a week of sick. Little dude, is too. His croup came back, so we had a course of steroids and he's taking antibiotics for a sinus infection. He saw the doctor a couple of times. The 'roids are making him hungry and in two days (being weighed at the doc) he gained two ounces. The kid weighs 19 pounds 4 ounces, which I believe is more than Dani weighed at one year.

I probably shouldn't be terribly surprised he gets sick more than the girls, with all the kisses they bestow upon him, and the sly sucks of his pacifier they take while playing. I tell myself they're building up their little immune systems--somehow that makes cleaning up a bed full of puke at midnight minimally less horrible.

Sick or no, he is one happy little dude. And one big little dude. He's wearing 12 month size clothes in this pic...at 5 1/2 months.

Lots of other exciting, stressful and life-y events going here...hope to get to share them soon!

One big pajama party.

I think this 15 day hiatus is the longest I've ever gone without posting. It's been insane. Work is kicking my butt, Big Man's schedule has been crazy, and I'm just exhausted. Like going to bed mere moments after I put the girls to bed exhausted.

Blame the little dude.

Sure, he's cute. He's also 5 months old, and wearing 12 month baby clothes. You'd think he would be sleeping through the night, but no. Mr. Chowhound needs a bottle at least once a night, which is okay, because he fusses, I get him up, feed him, change him, and he's back to down in 15-20 minutes.

BUT, now he can roll over. He sleeps on his tummy. (GASP!) He has since he was just a few weeks old. (THE HORRORS!) The kid doesn't want to be on his back. Period. But now that little man can roll over, he does sometimes, usually 2-3 times per night when I'm sound asleep, and then he's crying, on his back like a little turtle that can't flip back over. It was cute the first night. Two weeks in, I'm the poster child for the dollar store verion of 5 hour energy drinks, and couldn't live without my coffee-on-demand Keurig.

He's been the easiest kiddo so far, so I can't really complain, but damn, I miss sleep. And even with this minor mishap, I know I've got it easier than lots of new moms. But being perpetually sleep deprived still sucks.

But if they are cute little monkeys. And the progress they are making...amazing. Tori's just shy of 21 months and is starting to communicate so well. She says the ABCs, and phrases, like "here you go Mommy" and other things that are just adorable. I promise an updated progress post on each little monkey soon, as long as Little Dude cooperates!

Grandma and Grandpa visit!

Grandma and Grandpa are visiting, so that means there are NO RULES! Ice cream before dinner!

Eskimo kisses!

Snuggles and hugs!

And starting to play before you are out of your pajamas!

Just lots of hugs and fun and grandparents love!