the written (and published) word

My girl loves books. Correction, both my girls love books - but the older one was at school and therefore, unavailable for photos early this afternoon.

Anywho - back to books. I love books. Always have. If I had to pick between a watching really good TV show, movie, sporting event or finishing a really good book, the book wins HANDS DOWN. I am a book junkie. Right now, because I have been busy doing spring stuff - like hanging out with my kids OUTSIDE - I have limited myself to starting a new book every other week. Otherwise, I would be a hermit. You would only see the part of me that isn't buried inside the crazy plot lines of yet another intriguing story.

The cool thing is, this whole book loving thing has been passed down. I was overjoyed when Emily fell in love with the written word, but Paige too? Too much. Lucky, I am.

Even more cool? Emily can now READ books. She even surprises herself most days. She has pretty much moved on from all of her level one readers, and can now read just about any of her books from her shelf. I have caught her on many occasions reading to her stuffed canine friends, and not just making up the words. That is just so amazing to me.

And Paige is on the same road. We read her books so much, that she has memorized a lot of them. I often catch her reading her books to her baby dolls. In fact, that is what she is doing in the following photo. She is "reading" the Sushi book.

And it looks like she caught me spying on her......
"Whatever Mom. I am going back to my book."
"Seriously, are ya done yet?"

life in the 'hood

I remember my very first Mother's Day. It was in May 2003. We had a brunch at my house. Eric cooked omelets for everyone. Emily was five months old, and really into her Exersaucer. It was a good day. After everyone left, I went shopping with my Mom. For the three hours that we were gone, I was overcome by an immense amount of guilt. Here it was Mother's Day, and I was not with my child. I was out doing something for myself, and I felt guilty. What kind of Mother was I?

Fast forward a few years, and I laugh at that story. Actually, I laugh a lot at some of those things I did in the early motherhood days - screaming at Eric for mixing brands of formula, obsessing over whether or not my child had any protein that day, freaking out about dirt or messiness, freaking out over a mild sickness, wondering if I let my child watch too much TV, and GUILT, GUILT, GUILT for anything and everything.

It was when I gave birth to Paige that so much of that changed. I relaxed. I didn't worry so much. I let go of the guilt. I even left my two children and husband for a couple days to go to Florida by myself. Did I miss them? Yes, of course I did. Did I feel guilty? I can't lie, I did at first, but then I remembered that the girls, when asked even right now, would probably not remember that I was even gone. Actually, Emily would probably remember, but she would probably tell you more about the nail polish kit I got for her than actually missing her old Mom.

Motherhood is the most challenging thing I have ever done. That's not exactly earth shattering news to most Moms, but it's so true. I admit that there are days that I wonder why I decided it was a good idea to have kids - but then they do something so amazing, like draw me a picture, or hold my hand, and I forget that thought all together. I even think, some days, that it was the best decision I ever made.

Anyway - that's just my story.

Hope you all had a good Mother's Day.

i LOVE freebies!!

So, I NEVER win anything. I am sure most people say that. And I can sympathize. I did not inherit my Grandmother's luck. If there was a contest or a giveaway within 5 feet of her, she won it. 

So last week when I entered the contest on Elizabeth Dillow's blog, I pretty much thought it would go like all the other contests I have entered....a no win for me. No big deal. Except that this time I WON!!! I was shocked to see my name the following day - April 29th. And, she was giving away a choice of three prizes - I picked the stamp set, thinking, the other two winners would probably want that too. The other prizes were cute, and I would be happy with them as well. Today, I got my package - it was the stamp set!! She also sent a special Simple Scrapbooks issue, and a $5 off coupon for a class at Big Picture Scrapbooking.

Seriously, I know that this is not all that interesting to most of you - but it is VERY COOL to me. I am a lucky girl in many ways  - I am healthy, have the love of a good man, two smart and sassy daughters, a wonderful family and a good life....but now I can say I actually WON something.

Yea for ME!!

just dandy

It's really too bad that I cannot accept this gift from my sweet girl. She does not know what those flowers can do to me. She wasn't there many, many years ago when I fashioned my five-year-old self a crown of dandelions, placed it on my head, and was promptly whisked off to the school office because I could no longer see. A major allergic reaction. Those dandelions, never to be touched by these hands again.

But, I thanked her just the same.....

And really, must you, sweet Emily Jean, grow up a little bit more each and every day?

just a few things...

These pictures are mostly from last week. We have been so busy enjoying the gorgeous weather, that I forgot all about them. Some of the stories have absolutely nothing to do with the pictures...but I won't tell if you don't.

Paige is going to be two in a matter of months. Two. I remember Emily at two. She seemed so BIG. So grown up. And that is exactly the direction that little Miss Paige is going as well.

She is still the most inconsistent child ever. Some days she sleeps like a champ. Other days, not so much. Some days she eats anything and everything. Other days, I am lucky if I can get her to eat a goldfish cracker. Some days, she is in the best mood ever - all smiley, and cute, and full of personality. Other days, you look at her in the wrong way, and she flails herself on the floor in a crying fit.

In other ways she is so consistent:

She LOVES books. She loves it when you read them to her, or she is perfectly content to sit in her room and look at every book on her shelf. I have even started to catch her "reading" them.

She LOVES babies. Real or doll. She is quick to point them out everywhere and anywhere.

She is really into doing things herself. This is great - except when I am in a hurry, and then it's just a battle.

She mimics anything and everything. Words, actions, behaviors. The word thing is great, but I draw the line at turning on appliances all by herself, getting her own food from the pantry, sampling the dog food, running into the street, turning on faucets, pulling tissues out of the box, stealing treats from my desk drawers, helping herself to my scrapbook supplies...I could go on and on.

She loves music, and loves to sing. Her favorite show is "Yo Gabba Gabba", and Elmo. She can pretty much sing the "ABC song" and "Twinkle, Twinkle".

And, she loves clothes and shoes. She already has definite opinions about what she wants to wear.
Her new and exciting trick this month has been doing puzzles - which is good because that was Emily's favorite thing - still is - and we have lots and lots.

After a long winter, and no practice at all, we are very excited to be out riding bikes again. And even though Emily didn't believe it, you really don't ever forget how to ride a bike. Last week, we went on our first bike ride of the year - Eric and I on our bikes, Emily on hers, and Paige in the bike trailer. Let's just say that convincing Emily that she could actually ride her bike was a bit difficult. She was scared, and would not believe that she could do it. She had a HUGE crying fit in the driveway when we threatened to just leave her and her whiny self at home while we went on a ride. 

Luckily, Eric has a lot more patience than me, and talked her off the "ledge". She joined us, and only complained for the first block or so. She freaked out when she had to go around a parked car, or had an itch on her nose. But she did it. Made it all the way home, without a scratch.

That's my girl.

Saw this from the parking lot at the game on Wednesday. I believe the phone number is 313-831-8000, if you are interested. It may be a little drafty......but summer is coming. AND, it's walking distance to Comerica Park.

And this is the "Eat 'Em Up Tigers" guy. He's at every game. Eric could tell you his whole story. He even has a fan club on facebook. Eric is fascinated with him.

That's all for now....thank goodness right? Have a great weekend!

a little problem...

So this is Paige's current shoe collection. Only six pairs - not too bad. EXCEPT for the fact that this collection is for someone who is only 20 months old!

But let's be fair - those brown ones up in the top right corner are pretty much done - brown Mary Janes are so fall/winter. And the cute pair of sneakers right in front - she's almost grown out of those. So that only leaves four pairs for the spring/summer season.......

I can't help it. She LOVES shoes. And they are so cute on her. Especially those pink Mary Janes(right side) - an impulse buy at Target.

I won't even go into Emily's current shoe collection. Paige is rubbing off on her.

Also - the plant in the picture - another one I didn't kill. It came back!! Yea for my black thumbs.

April in the D (lots and lots of pics)

Please pardon my giddiness. It has been a REALLY long winter up here. If there's a flower blooming within a one mile radius of me, I will take a picture of it. If there's a kid wearing sunglasses within a few feet of me, I will take a picture of them. If there is any outside fun happening, it will be photographed. Why? Because before we know it, we will be INSIDE again, escaping yet another cold winter, and I want to remember all of this. Warm thoughts, warm thoughts, warm thoughts.....

It is seriously windy today - but it is a very warm wind. In a few more hours it will be raining, so I am taking in all the sunshine today - and the eighty degree temps. We will be back in the sixties tomorrow. Which, by the way, is the normal high for this time of year.

We took a walk this morning - and stopped to take a picture on this rock. Emily loves this rock. We planned our whole walk just so we could sit on it.
Paige is now over her "baby" swing. She only wants to use this one. Only she uses it Superman style. A trick she learned from Olivia next-door.

Fun fact about Paige this week - her new phrase is now "I need....." instead of "I want...". She used this one at my cousin's surprise 50th b-day party this past Saturday. We were all eating cake, and Paige comes up to me and says, "I need cake."

Of course you do darling. We all NEED cake.


Some of the flowers we saw on our walk this morning -

And these are the blooms on the tree outside my office/scraproom/playroom/guest room. It exploded since last Friday. The tree, not the room.

And for those of you who live in warmer temperatures year round, wondering why the heck I would ever leave that....look at those dang tulips!! Look at them!! A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. 

Just so you know, these are not my tulips. I took their picture on our walk this morning. Come next spring - I will have my own tulips. I will be planting the bulbs this fall. Don't let me forget!

Have a wonderful Monday!!! And really, I haven't had any sugar today. I am just high on SPRING. :)