spring?

Today, right now, it's about 67 degrees and sunny. A taste of spring. Of course, it's still winter - and will be for the next few weeks.  But as we inch closer to the end, we keep getting these little samples of what is hopefully to come.  Sooner than later I hope.

No heavy jacket today - and if there was no wind - there would be no jacket at all. Emily was so excited, she skipped all the way to the bus stop this morning. Her friend, Nina, who is at the same bus stop, came out of her house yelling, "I love spring!". Very cute.

Paige is cutting a few more teeth in the front - hence the fingers in the mouth. She also loves all of Emily's much neglected baby dolls. She has Bitty Baby with her in the picture below. I am so happy about this - that doll was not cheap, and has been pretty much ignored before Paige. Yea! Of course, her love for all things baby may translate into a love for all things American Girl - but, I secretly covet those dolls, and would be more than happy to buy a few in the next few years. Let's hope she likes the same ones I do....knowing Paige, probably not.

Paige also loves to draw. After a few incidents with crayons on the wall, we have put all writing utensils out of her reach. But, I did give her this mini doodle pad that used to be Emily's and she LOVES it. In fact, Emily and her now fight over it. Of course, it was collecting dust in Emily's room for years.....but now that Paige wants it.....sisters.

Have a great week-end!

ice skating

As most of you already know, I broke my little Canon point-and-shoot camera.  About the dumbest thing I have ever done.  I used that camera almost every day.  I was using it to take my picture of the day for Project 365.  But now it's gone.  Pretty much non-repairable.  And so my picture taking abilities are hampered.  Don't get me wrong, I love our Nikon D200 SLR.  Love it. I especially love my 50mm lens.  But to take it places - it's a bit cumbersome.

Why am I telling you all of this?  Because Emily had her very first ice skating class today, and I have nothing but a story to show for it.  Lucky for you, and me as well, she's going again for the next seven weeks, and at some point I will either have a replacement for my Canon, or I will have to lug the Nikon into the ice rink.

I don't want to bore you with ALL the details, but she did fantastic.  I was a little worried when I laced up her rental skates - they were really grubby and gross looking, and I have since ordered her own skates - and she could not walk AT ALL.  I thought we may be in trouble. But since we arrived very early, her and Jenna - her buddy from across the street - practiced walking, and Emily got the hang of it in no time.  Phew.  But, you know, ice is MUCH more slippery than just regular old floor.....

Well, as soon as her skates hit the ice, she ALMOST bit it - but in total non-Emily form, she didn't.  I was SHOCKED.  She did, however, request that I put her bike helmet on her.  And then she was off.  They learned how to "march" on the ice, how to fall, how to get back up from a fall - a valuable lesson in my book, and they played a few games.  The lesson ended with her teacher - Mr. Fred - pulling each student around on the ice while they held onto a traffic cone. Emily said that was her most favorite part.

She is already asking how many more days until her next lesson. Money well spent.  Pictures next week - I promise.

some monday pictures

Just goofing around today after Emily got home from school.  Paige was NOT into getting her picture taken.  Hence the blurry, overexposed photo above.  But, I think it's still cool.  It captures them - right now - growing up in a blur before my eyes.

Emily finally had her six year check up today.  She is in the 95th percentile for height.  Wow - she has always been around 50 or at the most 75.  Her doctor thinks she is going to top out at 5'7" (did I do that right?).  I told her she would be taller than her Mom.  She thought that was pretty funny.  And here's the shocker for me - she is now old enough that she does not need to go to the doctor every year......growing up way too fast.

If you look closely at the picture below, you can see her top front tooth on the right side sticking out a bit.  I think it's going to fall out any day.

Paige has been having a bit of a word explosion lately.  She pretty much repeats anything you say to her.  Today she handed me her hat and said, "Here, Mom".  She picks something up that belongs to Emily and says, "Ah-Lee's shoes", or "Ah-Lee's book".  She LOVES her big sister. Her eyes light up when she sees Emily's bus drive by our house - she says, "Ah-Lee's bus!".  

It's so neat to finally get a glimpse of what she is thinking.


Have a great week!!

snapshot of the day

Eric went to his Train Club's show and sale today - so I was home with the girls.  They both had a lot of fun this morning helping me out with my chores.  Emily helped clean up the kitchen after our breakfast - blueberry pancakes.  And Paige helped out with the laundry.  Such good little girlies I have.

it's 50 degrees today

Let's break out the sun dresses....but don't forget the snow boots.  It IS Michigan, remember?
Emily was not into getting her picture taken.

I went to the brand spankin' new Carters store today - much closer than the one I used to go to. Bought the girls some additions to their spring wardrobes. Paige saw the bag when she woke up from her nap, and immediately wanted to try everything on. Such a fashionista that one.

BTW - the dress that Paige has on, is NOT from Carters.  Another ETSY find.

lucky girl

Anyone who knows my daughter, Emily, knows that she loves dogs.  If it has anything to do with dogs - she is all about it.  Of course, we have all the "Buddies" movies, we have seen "Hotel for Dogs", she likes to watch the Westminster Dog show, or any other show like that, we have tons and tons of dog books - and a few weeks ago, we went to McDonald's to get a Happy Meal because it featured....you guessed it, DOGS.  Specifically, little stuffed dogs from the movie - Hotel for Dogs.  We even bought two Happy Meals - one for Paige - so that we could get two dogs.  But, alas, they were the same dog - the doberman, Henry.  Emily seemed OK with that.

The following week, and we don't really make a habit of this, we went back to McDonald's to see if they had any more dogs Happy Meals.  They didn't - it was Hello Kitty watches.  Emily was crushed, to say the least.  She cried - really - all the way home.  No amount of consoling would make it better...that is until Daddy offered to help.

One of the members of Daddy's train club is a manager of McDonald's - the very one we go to. Daddy told Emily he would ask Mr. Buckley if there were any dogs left over.  Emily seemed happy about that, and her sweet little smiled returned as she enjoyed her nuggets and fries.

Fast forward to last night.  My wonderful husband returned home from his weekly train club meeting, with a McDonald's bag full of all eight dogs featured in the Hotel for Dogs Happy Meal.  Eric and I placed them on her place mat, and went to bed smiling - thinking about how happy Emily would be when she discovered them this morning.  And she was.  So very happy.

We even had a photo shoot with ALL her dogs.  I am planning on making her a little scrapbook with the pictures, so she will always remember.

Their names (in alphabetical order): Ashton, Bella, Bertie, Blackie, Bongo, Brownie, Chloe, Coco, Coconut, Cooper, Copper, Douglas, Dukie, Friday, Fudge, Furry, Georgia, Grace, Henry 1, Henry 2, Joey, Juliet, Kitty Cream (the only cat in the bunch), Lenny, Libby, Licky, Max, Paws, Pink, Polka Dot, Pretty, Romeo, Rosebud, Sally, Shep, Spotty, Strawberry, Sweetie, Wolfie and Wow.  

That's 40 dogs.  Each one has a story to go with it...but that would be a VERY long post.

I believe the one that started it all was Dukie (another McDonalds Happy Meal toy)...although, there have been so many, I can't really remember.  Dukie is on the left side, second row from the bottom, second dog - white and tan with a big black nose.  Do you see him?

Her current favorite - the one she sleeps with every night - is Paws.  At one point or another, they have all been her favorite.  It's usually the newest one.
And I thought I would sneak one of Paige in here....

love these girls...

In a few minutes I am going to bed.  When I wake up, the world around here will probably be white again - we will be under a winter storm warning that will probably bring us around a half a foot of snow.  Well, we enjoyed the "green"ish grass while it lasted.....

Things have been pretty quiet around here otherwise.  We are all still getting over the Gottlieb Family Cold 2009  - Emily and Paige are on their second rounds, but this round doesn't seem quite as bad as the first.

The above picture is of Paige wearing Emily's slippers.  Paige loves shoes....anyone's shoes.  She took these from Emily's room, and would not give them up for anything.

This morning I had fun watching them play with Emily's large collection of stuffed dogs.  Emily was playing the part of the dog teacher, and Paige was the official dog walker.  She would pick up a dog from Emily  - in the doggie classroom - and take them on a little walk.  She would return them, and get another one.  This went on until all the doggies had been walked.  It was pretty cute.  Good to see them getting along, working together - this is rare lately.
Giving her baby a drink.....
Taking some for herself....
Watching Charlie and Lola in my office - together.  This, however, did not last long.  Paige does not like to share the chair.......oh well.
Have a great weekend!