Playing outside

Ice cream cones

I was feeling adventurous, so I dipped up some ice cream cones for the girls last Friday evening.  They seemed a little confused that we were actually turning they lose with their own ice cream, but they quickly got the hang of it.  I ripped Maddie's shirt off, because it was white.  By the time they were done they had little chocolate goatees.  Chris and I carried M and L straight to the tub that night. 

Beach photos

I forgot we took a couple pictures from the balcony of our room- so, here they are.  The last one is the zucchini I picked last night from our garden.  Biggest one I have ever seen.  It tasted good when it came off the grill too.

I am officially an old lady.  I turned 30 yesterday.  I hadn't really thought about it much until the day before my birthday.  I am reading this book right now (Eat, Pray, Love- I highly recommend it.), and the author does a lot of reflecting on her life.  I think it has really got me thinking about what I have actually done in the last ten years of my life.  It is a little bitter sweet that a decade of my life has come to a close, but I really couldn't be happier about where I am and what I am doing right now.  I feel so spoiled every day that I get to be here with my kids to watch them grow.  I have an amazing husband that works so hard, and I am so happy to see him come through the door (most) every night.  Wait, let me clarify...I love to see him every time he comes home, he just doesn't come home every night.  Better?  I like to think I am always making good decisions now for my family (being a good decision maker wasn't necessarily my forte in my younger years- to put it mildly).  The void I once felt when I first stayed at home with the girls isn't really there anymore.  I am so busy with them I don't think I would even have time to notice it if it was!  Parenting truly is a full time job.  If the last little bit of my life is a prediction of how the next ten years will turn out, then bring it on 40!

Hilton Head

As a very generous birthday gift my mom offered to drive to Ohio to watch the girls, so Chris and I could take a little vacation...just the two of us.  We wanted to go somewhere neither of us had ever been, so after hearing many positive reviews, we chose Hilton Head, SC.  It was a great getaway.  We did a whole lot of nothing (which is maybe while we don't have many pictures).  We flew into Savannah, GA and spent a few hours wandering around there before heading to our hotel.  We laid by the pool and the beach for most of the trip.  One evening we went kayaking.  I was a little tired, so it took Chris a bit to convince me to go.  Once we got there and were out on the water, I was glad we went.  We saw so many dolphins swimming in the water near us- such a cool experience.  Of course, being the true midwesterner I am, I asked the guide more than once if he was sure those fins we saw in the water belonged to dolphin!  He jokingly told me we were in a shark breeding ground- obviously not funny-, but we actually were in a dolphin breeding ground.  Come to find out, Hilton Head is very much a family vacation spot, so hopefully we can take the girls back somewhere down the road. 

I take it back...about the teething causing Maddie to be cranky.  She has had a rash for a couple days now.  Since Chris and I are heading out of town on a little get away, I called the doctor to see if it was a concern.  Long story short, I took her in, and she has a double ear infection!  I can't believe we have made it to 22 months before either one had a problem.  She is on antibiotics, and acts like she is feeling fine.  The rash is viral, and it will pass on its own.  But, now Lena has it too.  Lena also fell from the second level of the playhouse to the first on her back last night.  She cried for a quick minute.  She stopped immediately when I gave her the bunny shaped ice pack.  I assume that means she is fine.  M and L are tough little cookies!  I hope they have all of their mishaps out of the way, and they take it easy on Grandma Smart this weekend.  We sure don't want to run off our free help.

Fun in the sun

We made another trip to Illinois this past weekend for a family wedding.  My brother and his family were in from Iowa, and my sis was down from Chicago too.  It was a great time.  We played outside quite a bit.  Since the temp was in the upper 90s the whole time, Grandma picked up a fun sprinkler and slip and slide.  Lena's cousin Jalynn helped get her interested in the water, but Maddie was content watching from the side lines.

I have been giving my dad a hard time, because he has been doing a lot of mole hunting lately.  They are tearing up his yard, so he has almost made a hobby out of catching them.  He thought he would teach David's boy Richard how to get them.  One of the pictures is Richard bringing back the mole that him and Grandpa killed...he is showing it to the girls who were a little less than thrilled.

The end of the trip was a little sad.  My Grandpa had to be moved from his assisted living to a nursing home.  We all know it is the best and safest thing for him, since he was wandering out of the assisted living.  He is getting settled into his new place, and he is adjusting well.

Maddie and Lena each have two of their two year old molars in.  Maddie was super cranky for part of our trip, so, once again,  I am going to blame it on teething.

  The new things the kids are learning are so cool!  They are starting to recognize emotions.  They say, "Crying! Sad!" when they hear or see someone cry.  When someone is smiling they say, "Happy!"  They are figuring out mad too.  It is so fun to watch them learn this stuff!

Firsts

I'm not sure why I never thought to add bubbles to M and L's bath before last night (probably because I don't want the process to take any longer than it already does), but they loved it!  They probably said bubbles a good fifty times while they were in the tub.  They were putting bubbles on each other and giggling.  Poor things, I found myself trying to scrub the dirt off the front of their legs, but they are just so covered in bruises they look dirty!  Maddie has had her "first" busted knee for a few weeks now.  She just keeps falling and scratching them.  She points to it and says "doo doo" (boo boo).  

The swing set is totally finished!  Chris finished it up last night.  The girls and I will give it a test run this afternoon.

We planted a garden this year.  I thought I would have enough time during M and L's nap to take care of it.  I planted tomatoes, cucumbers, red, orange, and green peppers, zucchini, and some herbs.  Our first tomato and pepper showed up a couple days ago.  Everything is growing really well.  I didn't realize how easy it was to take care of a small garden, or I probably would have had one sooner.

One last thing, the girls are getting their two year old molars.  Maddie has one completely through and a second has broken the skin.  Lena has one that has broken the skin and one that is almost through.  I hate to use it as an excuse, but dang these kids have been grouchy lately!  So, I am totally using them teething as the reason.  Isn't it crazy how everything happens for them at the same time...teething, crawling, walking?