Blueberry Pancakes on Sunday

Costco has the big, huge blueberry clamshell right now for eight bucks. So, I have been on a blueberry kick. We have had blueberry pancakes for the past few weekends. They are so yummy. I even like them cold - right out of the refrigerator for a snack...we always have a few left over. Paige and Emily love them as well. Paige ate one and a half pancakes all by herself. I think she may have wanted more, but I am not sure if she just thought they tasted good, or she was really hungry.



Emily has been staying up pretty late the last few nights. She is not real good at sleeping in, so I think her fatigue has finally caught up with her. She was ULTRA crabby at breakfast this morning. She was crabby at dinner time too. She went to bed at eight tonight - and I think she was sleeping by 8:15.



Since Paige's birthday party is next weekend, I have been on the hunt for the perfect gift. What do you get a one year old who doesn't really need any toys because her older sister had every toy known to man? Well, I decided that since she doesn't really know or care too much about gifts, we would get a bike trailer that is on sale at Target this week. Of course, it's already put together, and had it's maiden voyage this afternoon....we couldn't wait - and it was a BEAUTIFUL day, so why not? Paige was strapped in beside her sister, and was fine for the first twenty minutes, then she was over it. I was riding my bike with a trailer containing two children who were not very happy for at least half a mile. Paige wanted OUT, and Emily wanted silence. Oh, Family Fun. (no picture yet...it's hard to take one when you are riding a bike)

Some good news - it looks like Emily's old school may not be closing. We ran into Emily's teacher, Ms. Pfeiffer, at Panera this afternoon. She told us that the owner bought the school building and they plan to have it up and running for the fall. They did cancel summer camp because of low enrollment. Not a perfect situation - but at least those teachers and staff still have their jobs. And that's GOOD news.


Yes, this little thing will be turning one in eleven days. My, how time flies. Have a great week everyone.

Week End - I so need you

So, I don't know why - maybe I like a challenge - but I decided to change Paige to one mid-day nap AND remove two of her beloved bottles - all in one week. I am crazy. I am also VERY TIRED. Add to that a very massive, and strange allergy attack, and you have my week in a nutshell.

I don't know if Paige is crabby because she misses her bottles, is screwed up with the whole sleeping thing, or is teething. Whatever the case, she is running me ragged. She is not happy with the idea of milk in her sippy cup - she keeps throwing it on the floor every time I give it to her. Fortunately, she loves yogurt and cheese, so she is definitely getting enough dairy - add that to her one remaining bottle that she gets at nighttime....which is going away in a few days.....I told you - I like a challenge. Poor Paige. Poor Mommy.

The allergy thing - I am not even sure that it is what I have, but it seems to be the only likely answer. I have been getting these little pin prick pains all over my body - like little annoying itches. They are EVERYWHERE. It is driving me crazy. I took some allergy medicine, and it did seem to make it a little better, but it's still there. Anyone ever have this?

Pictures from the week:




Two crazy Tiger fans all the way at the top of Comerica Park. Yes, all the way at the top. It was a GREAT game. We went with my cousin, Kelly. The Tigers were losing for the first seven innings, and then they started hitting. They ended the ninth with a two run homer by Cabrera. Very exciting. Oh, and the orange Detroit hat is new - you like it? Went to the store right before the game and I got two t-shirts (this gray one, and a blue one with Pudge's name and number on the back) and the hat - twenty percent off. Yay me. I so should have switched places with Eric for this picture...not a very good angle.

View from out seats. With all the bad press Detroit gets - it looks so cool and pretty from up here.


Emily and Paige at a Lemonade Tea Party with Jenna and Noah.


Before the tea party. They were told to wear dresses. I guess I was supposed to wear one as well.....ummm, not happening.


First picture: Paige after dinner on Tuesday night - Rigatoni a la Vodka. She loved it. It was everywhere. In her hair, mushed in her hands. I even found some in her diaper right before her bath...how did it get there?
Second picture: Paging Dr. Paige. She loves to wear Emily's Dr. cap. She brought it to me and asked in her very Paigey way to put it on her. So I did. Too cute.

A Sad Day

Today in the mail we received a letter stating that Emily's old school - old, as of last Thursday - is closing on Friday. Closing for good. Their enrollment for Summer and Fall was not very good, and their lease on the building was just too expensive. So, they are closing as of July 11th. Somehow, I feel like we have lost a good friend.

We had not planned on sending Emily there for Kindergarten - a decision that both Eric and I struggled with. And we only sent her to Summer Camp for three weeks. I am sure that I am not responsible for the closing, but I sure do feel guilty. And Paige, who would be going there in a couple of years, will not get to go at all. That just stinks.

I try to not watch the news at night, so I don't have to be reminded of how bad the economy of our country has become. But when you get something like this in the mail, it's just a BIG reminder of what's going on out there.

So, here's to two wonderful years at Schoolhouse Montessori. Here's to wonderful teachers - Ms. Pfiffer and Mrs. MacMillan, who were so kind, and patient. To Mrs. Thomas in the front office who always had a smile for everyone. To the director, Mrs. Partyka, who always has such a positive attitude, and a great love for all her students. And to all the other aides and staff - thank you for taking such good care of my Emily. From all of you she received such great tools for learning and achieving academic success. We will miss you greatly.

Emily with her teacher for this year - Ms. Pfiffer

Just another Manic Monday

This is our first official day of summer vacation. No summer camp, no swim lessons. Just us, hanging out at home. It was pretty cool. And I would have been much more fun if I hadn't gotten completely sucked in to this book that I started a couple days ago. I was on a mission, I had to finish it. So, I read while the girls played on Paige's room. That worked out for about three minutes. Paige kept pestering me to read her Baby Einstein Baby book, or the Dog book, or any other book she has. She literally grabs your hand, and places the book in it. What could I do? So, I finished after she went to bed. It was good.

In case you are wondering, it's "Itty, Bitty Lies" by Mary Kay Andrews. It's been on my shelf for quite some time, so I decided to pick it up on Saturday, and whammo, I was hooked. If you like chick lit with a little bit of John Grisham intrigue thrown in - you should read it. I am going out tomorrow to get her other two books.

Emily decided that she was going to put on all her necklaces, bracelets and her coolest sunglasses so that she could be a SuperStar. Paige was in awe of her. It was really quite adorable.

One more thing.....she picked Jesse? Is she for real? Those of you who watch know what I am talking about. Poor Jason. I am shocked.

The three B's of the fourth of July

I know that I said that Thanksgiving is my "new" favorite holiday, and it still is, but I think the fourth of July comes in at a close second. Especially this year. After a long, cold winter, a crappy cold spring, and a very SLOW start to summer - the fourth up here in these parts was pretty darn near perfect. The temperature almost got to eighty, the sky was blue, blue, blue, and there was the most perfect cool breeze.

Last year because of some crappy weather, we had Patriotic Meatloaf....no grilling, no fun. Our theme for this year was: Burgers, Beans and Bocce Ball. The burgers and beans were awesome - we also had pasta salad. We played girls against guys in Bocce Ball - and the guys won: 7-3.

Just like last year, we hung outside with our neighbors to watch some pretty spectacular fireworks going on around our neighborhood. The people that live around here spare no expense and go all out. Very cool. The kids did some sparklers, and had a blast just running around being crazy. The temperature dipped into the low 60's - so no mosquitoes - perfect. We put Emily to bed around midnight, and she slept in until almost 10am - a record for her.

Some pictures from the day:














Just also wanted to share a cute little Emily story:

Last week I was informed by my Mom that Emily was expecting an invitation for her sister's first birthday party to be coming any day. She saw that my Mom had one, and wondered where hers was......Luckily, I had a couple extra. I left one on her nightstand after she went to bed that night. She let me know the next day that she would be able to attend.

Oh sweet, adorable daughter of mine. You entertain me so. Love you munchkin.

Wednesday....it's no Thursday, but it'll do.

Paige on the move outside. She has officially gotten used to the grass. And isn't my Emily just the prettiest girl? She continues to amaze me everyday. Her last day of summer camp is tomorrow. She, the girl who wanted nothing more than the summer to sleep in, watch tv, and just relax, is upset that she only has one day left. I just can't win.....

She is big time into monsters and giants lately. She makes maps of all kids of places where the giants and monsters live. Don't know where she got this - but she is certain that some giants live in the center of Michigan. She loves to look at the local section of the newspaper every morning so that she can see the weather page which contains a map of Michigan and the United States. She lets us know where the giants are that day, what color we are for the day, and looks to see if it's sunny, cloudy or rainy. Our own little meteorologist.



Swim lessons are going quite well this time around. They have combined the two level one classes into one class. They usually have at least three teachers for twelve kids. And this time, the teachers actually make the kids do whatever it is that they are teaching. This week it was two young guys - only nine kids showed up - and they were very cute. A little young for me, but Emily seemed pretty enthralled with them.

Have a lovely day!

Fireworks, Flowers, Tigers and Trouble - OH MY!

It's already past ten p.m. I am so ready for bed. So ready. However, I have not posted in quite a few days. The pictures and stories are starting to pile up. As it is, I have twelve photos ready in raring to go in my "uploads" folder. So, lucky you, I am staying up, posting, for your viewing pleasure.

Last week our niece, Sara, came to visit us. Unfortunately, we didn't get to do many outdoor activities because of the yucky afternoon rain we have been having around here. It feels like Florida - but without the humidity. So, Sara got to see a movie with her Uncle Eric, played a lot of Wii, did some swimming in the indoor community pool, and went shopping at the biggest mall she has ever been to - Sommerset.

We did get a chance to see the superb fireworks display in Mt. Clemens on Friday night - her last night. She went out with a bang. Hahaha.....Hey it's late - you have to cut me some slack.

Emily thoroughly enjoyed the fireworks. She asked about 8,000 questions about them during the show, and on the LONG walk back to the car. I tried my best to answer most of them - and did ask her at one point to save her questions for later and just enjoy the show. Yeah, that lasted for all of ten seconds.

On Sunday, my Mom and I got a chance to go to a Tigers game with the Marcikics. It was my Aunt's 29th birthday - again. Despite the fact that Pudge didn't play, we got rained on and my nachos got VERY soggy, and a bird pooped on my Aunt's finger, we had a great time. Kelly got super fantastic seats - second row - so we were right in the middle of the action. Clete Thomas - my most favorite rookie - was just feet away from me...and of course I left my camera at home...oh well. The Tigers swept the Rockies with a 4-3 win. Eric, Kelly and I are going to a game next Wednesday. So excited for that.

Eric and Emily watching the Tigers nail biter on Saturday night - they won - despite a very CRAZY ninth inning. Aren't they so cute in their hats? Notice the coordination of hat color and shirt/nightgown color.....too much.

Today started out as yet another rainy day, but the afternoon brightened up considerably. I took the opportunity to go and take some pictures of the pretty blooms we have around here.

Paige's first birthday party has been set - July 19th. It's just unbelievable that a year has almost gone by. She is walking better and better everyday. She now stands up almost completely by herself - no longer relying on something to pull her up. She has been getting into trouble right and left. I am thinking there's no way I am going to get away with not getting some kind of gate for the upstairs. At least to use while I am up there. You turn around for one second and she's heading for those stairs.....

Tonight, I was giving Emily a bath. I had just finished giving Paige her bath, and she was all cute and smelling so clean in my favorite pear pajamas. Paige was with us in the room, playing with bath toys on the rug. I reached up to hang a bath towel on the hook, and BAM!!!! Paige dives head first into the tub. Umm....haven't you already had a bath? She was so surprised - as was I. She was fine - just a little soggy. TROUBLE - cute, adorable, squeezable TROUBLE. And, I had to change her pj's.

That's all for now - I am going to bed. Have a wonderful day/evening...........