Thursday, October 25, 2007

Ditto

Lately Abby loves to imitate everything her big "sissy" does. It's rather cute actually. This afternoon Lexi was coloring at the kitchen table when Abby pulled a chair over and was executing "The Great Crayon Heist 2007" much to Lexi's dismay. After a bit of bickering, I gave Abby her own piece of paper to doodle on. Notice Abby is holding the crayon perfectly...what a prodigy. I'm sure every proud parent says that though.

We have Lexi's attention


Now we have Abby's


Sit on your bum bum, Baby Girl


Lexi gives up...Abby doodles on

Our Little Pumpkins

Sunday was the day to go to the pumpkin patch. This year my friend and her family joined us. As usual we went to the local dairy farm, but this year the selection of the gourds was rather slim. I was embarrassed that we invited our friends to such a dismal patch but we made the most of it and took the obligatory pictures to freeze the moment in history. I don't know why but our girls can never take a picture where they are both looking at the camera so I had to take quite a few in order to get both of their faces.

What are we lookin' at?


Could we look any happier?


I guess this'll do


Umph...don't think I can lift it!

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Lexism of the week

This week, while we were on our way to dance class, Lexi asked me if we could move. I asked her why and she said that she wanted to live some place new and started dreaming of bigger and better things elsewhere. I told her that we were not going to move for a long while but she persisted. This was strange to me, so I asked her why she really wanted to move. She said that she wanted all of us to move except Abby because she doesn't want a little sister anymore. I guess Abby is encroaching a bit too much on Lexi's time, space, and affection. I suppose every older sibling goes through this at some point because let's face it...having a new kid in the house to have to share with kind of stinks and is a huge adjustment. Regardless...tough cookies, Lexi. She's here to stay. Sorry.

UPDATE: On Saturday, we were in the car and Abby reached for Lexi's hand. Lexi grabbed her hand and it was the cutest thing ever. Lexi then said that she "loves having a baby sister." Fickle girl!

Friday, October 19, 2007

More climbing escapades

Today, I removed the tray from Abby's highchair (I still use it with her because it keeps her contained. Stefan on the other hand prefers the table) to clean it in the sink. I didn't replace it soon enough because she brought over her little step and decided to scale the high chair. She did this about 3 times before I was able to capture it on video. Apparently, she was hungry although she says she isn't. "No" is her answer to everything these days. Fun times.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Light the Night

Last Saturday Stefan, me, and the girls participated in the Light the Night Walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. We met up with some people from Stefan's office. Lexi was very upset by this stop because we had told her we were going to Atlanta. She didn't make the association that Daddy's office is in Atlanta. Once that was explained she was still a bit confused because there were no tall buildings (skyscrapers) around. We were able to show her some in the distance but that was not satisfactory to her. She wanted to be among the buildings.

Once everyone arrived at the office we all caravaned over to Centennial Olympic Park. We were there a couple of hours before the actual walk started so we looked around at the many tents for the various companies with walking teams. There were also memorial walk tents set up for families with affected members to post their posters and pictures memorializing their loved ones. That was pretty sad, but I think it was good for Lexi to see. It helped her to understand that some diseases can take peoples' lives and it helped to make the point that we were raising money for people like them and their families. She has such a good heart and this point was very easy for her to comprehend and just got her even more pumped up for the walk ahead. What else got her pumped? The balloon that she got to carry. It had a blinking light in it and she thought that was the coolest. Everyone that walked was given one. There were three colors--red for supporters, gold for memorials to loved ones, and white for survivors. Lexi, of course, got red which was exactly what she wanted because it is the closest to pink--her favorite color.

Unlit...



Lit



At dark, the event coordinators had everyone gather at the start finish line and held us there for about 20 minutes before finally opening the floodgates and allowing all 5,000 walkers to swarm the streets of downtown. It was funny. You could look around you and you didn't feel crowded--everyone was pretty spaced out. But once you started the climb of the initial hill of the walk you could look in front of you and see a sea of people and balloons which was cool, but when you looked behind the view was the same and that was even better. Spread out, 5,000 people didn't seem like much, but crammed into the narrow streets of downtown surrounded by the much anticipated (on Lexi's part) skyscrapers, 5,000 seemed like the entire town came out in full force. Very cool.

I bet you're wondering how we were able to manage two kids in this crowd. We brought the double stroller. What a God send! Abby sat and chilled out in the front while Lexi rode on the back admiring the buildings and chatting away.



Sorry it has taken me so long to post this. Stefan's been working overtime and I have had my hands full with school and the kids and have not been able to take the time to upload the pictures or the video. Thank you to all of our supporters...events like this are a better lesson for the girls in giving and charity than any teacher could provide in the classroom.

Oh, this video was taken right before the event started.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Proof There are Good People in the World

Today, Stefan and I took the girls to the mall for some necessities. When we got the mall, I put my purse among other things in the stroller basket. When we stopped in the Food Court for a quick bite to eat, I had removed my purse from the basket. We ate and continued with our shopping. When I went to pay at the next store, I realized my purse was not in the stroller. I retraced my steps in my mind and realized that I left my purse hanging on the back of the chair in the Food Court. I left Stefan and the girls in the store while I went to track down my purse.

I returned to the Food Court and began questioning the various workers about its whereabouts to no avail. I approached one worker whose job it was to clean the tables in the area that I left it. I said to her, "If I left a purse on the back of a chair and someone found it and turned it in, where would I go?" She then ushered me to follow her. I thought I was in luck until she directed me to high chairs. Not exactly what I was looking for, lady.

After asking many other people and being led to various offices and whatnot I was getting desperate. I remembered that the custodial staff had a office/storage room near the public bathrooms. I went there and staked it out until someone came out. I was asking that person if they had found my purse when someone overheard me and directed me to Guest Services.

When I arrived at Guest Services inquiring about my bag, the woman started asking identifying questions that I promptly and hopefully answered. Finally, when my answers reached her satisfaction, she produced my purse. She then asked me if I had any idea who turned it in to which I said, "No." She informed me that it was a fellow shopper. Not only did this person turn in my purse, but all the contents were still inside. I wanted to thank this shopper profusely, but apparently it is not protocol to take down the information of good samaritans (sp?). So, to the person who turned in my purse...thank you. Whoever you are.

I've Got Friends in Low Places

I have a budding friendship that is a source of amusement of sorts for Stefan. This friend is the mom of Lexi's best friend from Pre-K, Savannah. Her name is Julie and although she is 3 years my junior, we have too much in common to the point that Stefan has sworn that we were twins separated at birth. Evidence follows...

- Lexi and Savannah were born exactly one week apart.

- When Lexi and I went to Savannah's birthday party last year, Julie and I were both wearing navy tee shirts and jeans and our hair was cut and colored identically.

- We both thought that nursing was kinda gross with our first children, but gave it a shot with our second born, Abby (17 months) and Phoebe (4 months).

- While I am a Senior at KSU pursuing a teaching certificate for Middle Grades Education for Math and Language Arts, she also had pursued the same degree.

- We both drove Nissan Altimas until the births of our second children in which our cars became our husband's cars while we both got mammoth SUVs.

- We have similar tastes in music. The only non-recent song on my Zune is Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morisette and that is Julie's only grown up CD in her car.

- We watch many of the same shows--some that I would never admit to anyone else that I actually take the time to watch.

- We have similar tastes in books. In fact, one of my favorite authors, Nicholas Sparks, penned a book that Julie is now reading and she informed me that he has twin daughters name...Lexie and Savannah.

- She was in search of a new hairdresser and was considering going to a friend's girlfriend that he bragged up to her. It turns out that said hairdresser is the one I've been seeing for a year.

- We both married New Yorkers. Her husband, Jeff, is from Buffalo and Stefan is from Long Island.

I could go on, but this is starting to freak me out. It's weird how certain people drop into your life and you feel like you've known them for years but I am glad that Julie and I have become friends.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Lexism: Lexi's Word of the Day

After school today Lexi was doing her chores (cleaning her playroom and bedroom). She was working diligently and as I passed by the doorway to her playroom she gasped and said, "You startled me!" Startled? Her saying that startled me!

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Party All the Time!!!!

Lexi celebrated her birthday with friends this past Sunday. She had her party at the local bowling alley and she had a blast! Afterward, she was so thankful and appreciative which makes it all worthwhile. Here are some pics.

Opening presents




The cake



Bowling

group shot



Corey (her cousin)



Mikayla (another cousin/Corey's sister)



Marissa (friend from school)



Abby (friends from school)



Sami (the daughter of Angie and Sam (friends of Mommy and Daddy))



Lexi in action



Abby and Daddy



Grandpa stopped by for a cuddle from Abby before his shoulder surgery that would prevent him from picking anything up for awhile



The after party--Lexi plays with temporary tattoos and her make up kit she got as a gift

She's a Dancin' Queen

Abby has improved her dancing abilities. She twirls to music now and keeps going until she gets dizzy and falls. Check out her talent below.


Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Mommy...WOW! I'm a big kid now!

After nine months in a high chair, Abby has graduated to a big girl table! This also means that now instead of eating directly off the high chair tray (hey, why dirty extra dishes?) she now eats from a plate too. Of course when she first saw it, all she wanted to do was climb the thing. That's what she thinks everything is for after all.

Ooo...what's this new whatchamacallit? I don't know, but I'm working so quick to figure it out, that I'm a blur!



Maybe, it's for climbing...




I'm Queen of the World!!!!!



After a few minutes of play, she actually used it for its intended purpose.

Hmmm...now what do I do?



Maybe I'll give it a try



Hey Man, a girl's gotta eat!

Lexi Is 6...AND Student of the Month!!!!

Current mood: Prouder than words can express

Where does the time go? Quite cliche, I know. I can't believe another year has passed since Lexi's last birthday but alas it's true. She's become such a big girl and I couldn't be prouder. In the last year she has become a reader, a dancer, a soccer all-star... I could go on. Seriously I could.

Yesterday was her birthday. I was seriously ill in the morning with a stomach bug.
Fortunately it cleared up in time for me to muster up the courage and energy to take her some cupcakes during lunch to celebrate with her class. Then, when she came home, she ran into the house wanting to open her presents screeching the entire time (as any 6 year old would do) as she ripped open each package.





This is a video of the one she was most excited about, a Penguin Pokemon character named Piplup.



Piplup! I think I'm going to watch this (Barbie as the Island Princess) movie with her. Cause this is the best. I think I'm going to name her Piplup. Cause that's the name.

In all the commotion, she neglected some big news. Apparently, she was named Student of the Month. We didn't find out until a certificate came home in her backpack today, but according to her best friend's mom (who was in the carpool line yesterday afternoon) Lexi's name was announced on the afternoon announcements...YESTERDAY. Stefan left me a message on my phone since I was in school. When I got home, I had a conversation with Lexi and it went something like this,

Me: Is there something you want to tell me?

Lexi: No. What?

Me: Did you get something at school today?

Lexi (excited): Ice cream!

Me: Did you get anything else?

(silence)

Me: Something to do with a month?

(silence)

Me: Something about Student of the Month?

Lexi: Oh yeah! I forgot!

Me: Why didn't you tell us yesterday?

Lexi: I forgot.

Me: Did you even know?

Lexi: No.

Me: You didn't hear your name on the afternoon announcements?

Lexi: No.


I guess these things don't mean that much to her yet. She has no idea.

Anyway, here is a picture of her certificate signed by the principal in recognition of Lexi's character, leadership and behavior.



Go Lexi!

Monday, October 01, 2007

Movin' on UP!

Climbing is Abby's forte. She climbs on anything and everything. Unfortunately, the things that she climbs are not always the safest. For that reason, Stefan and I agreed that she needed something meant for her to climb on and that would be safe. We began looking at used play sets on ebay and Craig's list. We hit the jackpot this weekend and Abby (and Lexi, too!) now have a new (to them) backyard toy to play on.

As you can tell, they absolutely hate it! (<--sarcasm here)






Oh! And here's a cute picture we took at a dinner last week. Just thought it was too cute not to share.