Sand Monster

We had a few hours to relax at home, so we headed out to the deck.

Addie loves playing at her sand table, being outside and people watching.

The weather was mild and she enjoyed every single minute of the afternoon!

Alley was sitting at the door acting all pitiful and frail, so I scooped her up and brought her outside with us.

Next thing I knew, I was coerced into wrapping Alley like a baby for my baby to hold.

Poor kitty!

~~~

May 19, 2012

Popcorn?

Well...

tonight wasn't the evening of running around that I cared to have.

We ended up heading out for dinner and shopping right after work.

When we pulled into the shopping center for dinner, Addie must have been starving because she kept making sure we were going to "eat".

As we approached the restaurant, the nearby movie theater obviously caught her eye, because the next thing we heard was "Popcorn?".  

I don't even remember the last time we went to the movies - it has been a while, at least a year.

I didn't really believe that is what she meant, so when we left the restaurant I had Chris slowly drive by the theater and then when we got right smack in front, Addie pointed and asked again, "Popcorn?".

I have no idea how my child has any recollection of having popcorn at a movie theater or that she even remembers going to a movie theater!

We are just in shock.

But

this weekend, I'm taking my Baby Girl to see a movie and get some popcorn at the movie theater.

She just earned it.

My Big Helper!

My Little Monkey absolutely adores helping me in the kitchen.

It is rare that we get the opportunity, but I made the time this evening and got home early enough to actually cook dinner.

As soon as Addie saw me move her tower over to the sink, she started beaming with joy and holding up her arms for me to pick her up!

I showed Addie how to wash the potatoes and had I not been watching her so carefully, she probably would have scrubbed each potato until her little fingers bled.

She was so thrilled to be my helper!

I won't even talk about the places the water ended up around the kitchen - it was worth it just to see her so happy.

I love to see her take pride in everything she does!

She makes me so proud!

When she finished washing the last potato, I looked over and caught the little Monkey doing this!

She is such a mess!!!

Perfect

My brother came to visit - from Detroit - which made the graduation and the days following - perfect.

In the order of how we fall in the Brady Bunch Plus One Drama Series -

My brother - child number one

Me - child number seven

My other brother - child number five.

I would graph it out for you, but I would probably have to alter the HTML to make it Blog Friendly, so it's just not worth the trouble.

Wow...I remember when I thought my brothers were so incredibly tall!

They have to be shrinking.

I used to think Julien didn't take after my side of the family...but I think he has a smidgen of my genes in there too.

~~~

May 18, 2012

Happy Graduation To My Oldest Niece

I have no idea how the time passed so quickly.

Holy cow.

My oldest niece just graduated from high school and was graceful enough to fall just before prom and seriously injure her ankle.

Nothing like accepting your hard-earned diploma - gimp (verb) style.

Prior to graduation, we all met for dinner.

I was able to get my newest favorite picture of my babies!

My brother and Mary Rose picked out the Monkey hat for Addie and she was so thrilled over that silly hat!  I didn't even mind her sporting it with her purple flower dress.
The gift couldn't have been more perfect!
My nieces. 

I'm in heels and Julien is still that much taller than me.

He's got to be standing on his tippy toes! 

Dork and dorky-er.

I love this picture!!!

~~~

May 18, 2012

Settling Into Summer...Ugh.

Julien made it safely to Colorado.

He rubbed it in that it was a blissful 48 degrees in the mountain pass.

Chris and I took Addie to the park yesterday during the "cold front" that came in...and she ended up with a little bit of a sunburn from an early morning hour at the park (story later).

I think I need clarification from our local weather man on exactly his definition of a cold front, because mine doesn't include sunburns, sweat dripping from my brow and the bottom of my shoes melting to the kid friendly playground surfaces.

Addie has only asked for Julien about fifteen times.

Addie is going through another round of not sleeping at night, as well as crying every day when we drop her off at daycare.

I have no idea if it's from the changes in her classroom and overall daily routine.

Whatever it is, it's got to stop because most certainly just as soon as I figure it all out, big girl school will start and we will have another new routine to get Addie accustomed to.

~~~as a random side note.

I was laying - quite medicated in an effort to relieve a migraine last night - while watching 48 Hours.  

A man was accused of killing his estranged wife.

The man's mother was on explaining that there was no way that her son forged the suicide note left by his wife because her son would never end a sentence with a preposition.

All I can say is that I'm thrilled that I'm married to a man who would never pick up on my grammatical inefficiencies because they are all over this blog - every single day.

Westward Bound

Please keep Julien in your thoughts and prayers as he embarks on a vacation to Colorado today.

He will be gone for 17 days and will have an absolutely amazing time!...but we cannot wait for him to return home safely!