Back to Work

I could seriously eat this child up.

Our little love muffin, who basically has about a two hour time limit as to how long it's acceptable to be away from Mommy, will be spending the day with Daddy tomorrow.

I prepped her for it and this was her response.

I feel ya, baby girl.

On that note, we decided to break the news to Joey in the morning.

He can actually verbalize his thoughts which, I'm learning, makes this sort of thing about a trillion times harder and sad for the parents.

Please say a prayer for all involved as we nagivate this transition.

Ugh.

My Curly Girl

 When I was pregnant with Joey I hoped he would come out with dark curly hair and blue eyes.

He came out with blue eyes and blonde straight hair, which we didn't even think was possible.
Actually, he basically for all intensive purposes had no hair until he was fourteen months old.

By the time Grace was growing in my belly I was just hoping for hair, any type of hair :o).

You know .. hair for bows.

 And my girl was born and she deliverd, a mop of almost-black hair topped off her tiny little head.

She looked just like I had pictured her brother would look.
She had her George Costanza phase, as we called it, where all of her hair on top fell out.
It quickly came back though, just a little lighter and equally as eager to curl as before.

 As her hair has grown longer it has become possible to let it curl a little bit without it quickly transitioning into a little mohawk.
And so I let her sport her curls from time to time :o).
With her bright big blue eyes, her firecracker personality, and her curly little hair that lets me satisfy my longstanding desire to adorn a tiny little head with not-so-tiny bows .. I just could not love her more.

Wacky Winter

This Winter has been so crazy mild. There has basically not really even been one big snow storm.

Joe so desperately wants just one big storm with Joey.  He wants to build snowmen with him and drag him around, but I'm not so sure it's going to happen.  He talks about it like every other day.

 We took advantage of decent weather last week and took our two to the park.  We've done this in Winter before but I can't ever remember doing it and not seeing a speck of snow on the ground.  I thought it was so funny when I looked at this picture and noticed that they both have 'bear' outfits on.. That was not intentional, but we refer to them as brother and sister bear so it caught my eye :o).  Sometimes when Grace is upset Joey will go, "Don't worry, Sissy. Bru-zur Bear is here."  It's one of my favorite things.

 I could just eat him right up.

Sometime between last Fall and now, Joey has become a complete master at the playground. He can do everything now, at 2.5 years old. He was good last Fall but there is such a marked difference now.  He doesn't want help with anything.  I think My Gym has been great both for his confidence and his ability.

Grace was sitting in this swing like this as I chatted with a mom who was pushing her son next to us. She was wearing houdstooth mary janes with bows, ruffle socks, and a big furry panda vest that has a bow on its head.  You can't see it in the picture but she also has bows on her sleeves and a bow in her hair.  We were talking to this mom for about ten minutes before she asked if Grace was a boy. Ha! Maybe it was because she wasn't wearing pink?!?

 Sissy loves the swings. She's a wild child.  She is going to be so much fun at amusement parks.

Joey made it to the top of the rock wall all by himself for the first time.

There was a grandfather there with his grandson who was the same age as Joey.  They were both trying to climb the wall and go down the slide.  Joey had the grandfather laughing and through his laughter he got out, "Well, Joey is a ham!" He wins people over everywhere he goes. :o)

Ta Ta Taaaa! Translation: Ta Da!

 Joey and his waterfall. :o)

There is no such thing as a trip to the park without a visit to the 'waterfall.'

Mild winters aren't all bad but I have to admit I really am hoping for at least one big snow storm too! :o)

Show Me

A Smile Face

Happy

 Sad

 Angry Eyebrows

 Lovey

 Angry Again (it's my favorite)

 Scared

 He is seriously just the best.

What Happens When Your Husband and Mother Have Blue Eyes

Balentimes Day

Our Valentine's Day this year was like something out of a tv show, seriously. The night before, we realized that we had both, without letting the other know, planned the whole day for our family. We both had planned a special breakfast, we both had bought presents for the kids, we both had ... you get the idea.  It was completely a moment of you.did.what?!?We had different ideas for the day -- he wanted a 'Mommy is everyone's Valentine kind of day, as he put it, with breakfast in bed for me and the list goes on (incredibly sweet, I know) and I had planned more of a family day with Joe and I doing things for all four of us to enjoy together

We have always alternated with who plans Valentine's Day. And while I know Valentine's Day isn't everyone's cup of tea, we really enjoy the holiday.  We realized this year that with two small children, young and close together, and all that comes along with that, we probably need to communicate a little better before hand about our plans and forgo the idea of surprising each other -- if only for a little while.  Ha! Growing pains.
We worked it all out in the end and ended up with a great day for everyone.
Joe cooked a breakfast (complete with pink heart pancakes!) for all of us to enjoy together.

 We visited our mothers at work so that Joey could bring them flowers and hand out the "balentimes" we made for their co-workers. Joey had to reach down deep to summon the strength to give away the lolipops that were attached to his valentines.  It was a growing experience, but he did really well after he understood what was going on.
 Somehow Debbie escaped my camera even though I had it with me! ;o)

  We came home and Joey finally got the special Valentine's lunch he had been asking and asking for, wait for it ---- macaroni and cheese.  Special, special. :o)

Joey mixed with sugar.
My mom watched the kiddos for us so we could go out to dinner alone.  We went to Samario's this year and it was sooo good! It's starting to get harder after nine Valentine's Days together to find someplace new to go :o).  We exchanged presents -- flowers and jewelery for me and games for Joe since he has a new love of 'game night'.  The babes lucked out in the whole deal of course since they ended up with presents both from Joe and from me. Ha!

It was a happy Heart Day for out little foursome, indeed.