Our weekend

Chris' parents were here so the guys could go to the Memorial Golf Tournament on Saturday.  Since it was both of the guys' first trip to a PGA tourney, I thought we should document it.  So, like you would for your kid's first day of school, we took their photo on the front porch steps.  They had an awesome time, and were able to see many of their favorite golfers.  Grandma and I kept the girls busy by taking them shopping.  :)  Other than that, the weekend was spent trying to dodge the rain drops and finish up the swingset.  It should be totally finished this evening...whew!!  Chris has done a great job, but I don't think either of us realized just how long it would take.  The kids are just itching to play on it- we gave the swings a test run last night.  We have to attach the rock wall and get all of the tools out of the way, and it's all theirs (an early birthday present)!

Another busted lip

I think there is some sort of magnetic force pulling my kids' faces towards hard objects.  We have already had so many busted lips!  I'm sure there are plenty more to come.  Yesterday we were outside playing, and the girls wandered over to play with our neighbor.  Lena kept insisting on climbing up and down the concrete steps on their patio.  I pulled her off a few times, but then Maddie started in.  I was busy watching Maddie and I saw Lena tumble down the last step face first out of the corner of my eye.  She managed to get one hand down, so she softened the blow.  Her face still smacked the ground, and she immediately started crying.  She lifted her head and blood was running down her mouth and chin.  I checked to make sure all her teeth were still intact, and then we cut our play date a little short.  I think she was more mad about going inside than she was hurt by her fall.  She is a tough little thing.  There weren't many tears, but she has a pretty swollen lip this morning!

Memorial Day Weekend

My mom and dad were able to join us for a long holiday weekend.  We were busy the entire time they were here, it went by so quick.  We made a trip to the outlet mall (something I've been wanting to do for a while, but just me shopping with the girls is never very productive), played at the park, went to feed the ducks downtown Gahanna, swam in the backyard, went out for dinner and ice cream, and hung out at the neighbor's Memorial Day BBQ.  I love when our parents come to visit, because I can always do more with M and L than I can do on my own.  We played outside a lot, and it is so much easier with an extra set of eyes to watch them (and an extra set of legs to chase them).  Our neighbors gave us their son's big kiddie pool.  He has outgrown it, and the girls already loved being in it last summer.  Between the pool and the splash table the girls spent most afternoons submerged in water.  We also bought a clubhouse swingset that Chris is trying to finish up building.  We worked on it most of Sunday and Monday, but there are still some things left to do.  Hopefully it will be done next weekend.  M and L are already trying to climb on it.  One evening my parents took the girls and I to dinner.  First we took a loaf of bread to feed the ducks (turned out to be mostly greedy geese).  I had a goose chase me while I was on a run this spring, so I am a little terrified of them now.  I was a bit uncomfortable with how close they were coming to us, but my dad assured me we were bigger and stronger than them and not to worry.  Anyway, there were so many, and the kids loved it.  Maddie ended up eating the bread, so we left to grab a bite to eat.  We stopped by Cold Stone on the way back to the car for a sweet treat.  The girls LOVE ice cream.  You can see that Lena wanted some so badly she couldn't wait for Grandpa to give her a bite.  She stuck her face right in his bowl!

Maddie and Lena are really wanting to be independent.  They rarely want help with anything unless they are tired and cranky.  They want to completely feed themselves.  They want to drink out of a bottle or cup on their own- even though they end up soaking wet.  They try to climb everything.  They don't like to ride in the grocery cart.  They want to walk on their own and not hold hands.  This is a tough age for both mom and little ones.  I want to give them room to grow on their own, but they just don't understand when something is not safe.  We are still figuring each other out!

I meant to jot this down a while back.  When the girls look in the mirror, they say the other one's name.  I guess it probably is a little confusing to see your sister in the mirror.  Even they think they are identical!

Potty training

Chris and I found Maddie like this today. Do you think she is telling us she is ready to potty train?!?

This little piggy went to market...

Maddie getting her own "piggys!"

Happy birthday, Daddy!

Happy birthday, daddy!  Today is Chris's 32nd birthday.  Unfortunately, he had to head back to work this morning, so there wasn't much of a celebration.  The girls and I decorated a little this afternoon,- M and L did the paint with water pictures- then we waited for Chris to get home.  We made some of his favorite foods (shrimp cocktail, buffalo chicken, and a great big chocolate chip cookie cake).  As I was icing the cookie, the girls were standing on chairs watching.  Maddie was telling me how yummy cake is, and Lena kept pointing and saying, "Two, three!"  It is so cool that they are starting to recognize their numbers.  She also had her finger up her nose most of the day...not as cool.  Why do kids do that?  Both of them have figured out their finger is the perfect size to fit right in there.  Yuck.  The girls were extra whiny this evening, so we waited to have dessert until after they went to sleep.  We just enjoyed a low key evening watching sports and relaxing.

Sunday after church

I just love these dresses.  They are the last of our baby shower gifts.  We have a family friend that gave the girls outfits from newborn through 2T.  You always receive so many newborn items, that you almost don't make it through them before the kid is too big.  I thought it was so clever, so I have started doing that when I buy gifts for moms-to-be, too (thanks for the idea, Linda!).  I remember Chris bringing them home from the shower in Michigan (remember he represented me at that one since I was on bed rest?).  I thought they looked huge, and I couldn't imagine my babies ever being big enough to fit in them...well, the time has come.  I guess they aren't really babies anymore, but now I have little ladies that wear the dresses :)