...And we're off!

Hopefully by the time this entry hits the presses, we will be on southbound I-75 headed to Walt Disney World! Assuming we don't lose our minds on the treacherous drive down (seriously - the more I whine and fret about it, the better it has to seem in comparison - right?! :)) we will be blissfully arriving at our home for the week well before lunchtime tomorrow! Check out our digs.

We'll be home sometime on March 9th, with more pictures and stories than you care to see/hear! ;)

Playgroup

This morning, after a busy morning (last-minute P&G survey to start), we were finally able to make it to playgroup, for the first time in weeks! Malia and her mommy, Amy, had us over - along with Stacy, Anna, Avary, Karen, Sidney & Sam! It was so great to see everyone, but of course my "brand-new" batteries took less than one picture of the group. Hopefully I will get some via email to share in the future... it sure was a cute bunch!

We had a picnic on the kitchen floor, marched in a marching band (where the adults were much more enthusiastic and entertaining!), and played with lots of great toys - including the coolest kiddie kitchen on the block!

Avery freaked out at first whenever I would so much as try to set her down (because she's a goober), but by the end of the morning neither girl wanted to leave.

Thank you, friends, for another fun play date!

Time to catch up!

(On my SD cards, that is!)

You know we're heading to WDW in just a few short days, so it's time to clear off my photos and video. Surprisingly, nothing is more than a week or two old this time!

Without further ado, for your viewing pleasure --

Cute girls playing with Daddy

New foods (and/or a very clear new word for a familiar food)

And finally, a few sneak peeks at the girls "performing" with The Laurie Berkner Band. They LOVE the "oo ah show" (as they call it), and I'm trying - without much success - to get more video of them. They know almost all of the motions after seeing it just a few times, and many of the words. So cute! Until then though, this will have to do. (Still cute, if I do say so myself.)

Valentine's Day

As I've alluded, Valentine's Day weekend (and either side of it) we were all sick in some combination. The girls wore several cute outfits (many from Nana, Pappy & Cassi), went to a fun dinner with the Lawless family (including Ben), and had a great visit from Grandma Shelly, Grandpa Mike, Uncle Justin and Aunt Kelly. Unfortunately, we only have a few pictures from the entire holiday! Far cry from last year's multiple entries, no? :) Anyway, here you go!

A few more in Picasa!

Snow Days, part 2

If you're local (or, actually, anywhere in 49 of 50 states that had snow at the same time lately (stupid, pretty, warm Hawaii)), you know that last week sucked with regards to the weather. (And illness, at least around here. So pretty much just in general, hence the lack of posts. But I digress...)

The girls forgot that snow = really cold, so they were excited to go out again. I knew it wouldn't last too long, so I just shoved layers (and shoes!) on top of (footed) pajamas, and we were off.

Of course, Avery realized as soon as the door opened that she really didn't want to go out.

Elise thought it was awesome, temporarily.

After a quick sled run around the front yard, Elise was ready to come in, too!

With snow like this --

Avery really has the right idea, if you ask me! :)

More pictures to come, check Picasa!

Thanks, Mama!

My girls LOVE bracelets. Love them. Imagine my delight when I found a pack of 20-something for $0.50 after Valentine's Day!

Lucky for you, you don't have to use your imagination to see Avery's delight:

Special Gifts

Aunt Sherry and Great Grandma Lawless brought Elise and Avery two very special gifts a few weeks ago. Uncle Doug had this bench and rocking chair when he was a little boy, and the girls get to use them for a little while. The bench is at our house, while the chair joined a super special heirloom (the small wooden rocking chair I had as a child, and my dad had before me!) at Nana & Pappy's house, in hopes that there is less fighting. (I know, yeah right.)

They love them both!

20 months!

Just a quick update on some of the girls' favorite past-times these days, now that they're 20 months old!

• singing "The Wheels on the Bus" while making various stuffed animals do the motions - absolutely hysterical!
• singing random parts of the ABCs and recognizing several letters
• singing (noticing a theme here?) all kinds of new songs every day, and picking up the words so quickly! Current favorites: "I'm a Little Teapot", "Row Row Row Your boat", Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", "When I Walk Along the River" (Laurie Berkner) and "The Itsy Bitsy Spider"
• singing (no doubt they're our kids, right?) along with theme songs from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins, and My Friends Tigger & Pooh and saying hello to all the "friends" on each show
• insisting on a bowl and spoon for their (dry) cereal
• looking for everyone they know (still), but now by calling out more phrases: "_____, where are you?" and then, upon finding said item or person, "There it is!"
• coloring and "writing letters" (scribbling while saying whichever come to mind)
• recognizing and saying the names of various shapes, including oval, square, triangle, and circle... oh yes, and octagon. (That one not as consistently accurate, but it cracks me up that they even say it. Thank you, Melissa & Doug puzzles!)
• fighting over Curious George, bracelets, and necklaces

Avery also has the most awesome shocked face, yet to be caught on film. Hopefully before it goes away! :)

True to form about a week or so before our trip, both girls have been sick (as have Kyle and I, this time!). We were up last night with a croupy Elise, trying to figure out how to get her steroids without spending hours (and hundreds of dollars) in the ED for a $2 squirt of medicine. Here's hoping that, Avery's one-day-behind illness, and my killer sore throat are gone quickly. Oh yeah, and the 2 feet of snow we have can also disappear.

Other than that, my mind is often occupied with thoughts of second birthday party planning, but I'm having a tough time deciding between a few themes. Can you believe my sweet, tiny babies are going to be TWO in the blink of an eye? It goes too, too quickly!

New Towels!

For months, I've wanted to get new hooded towels for Elise and Avery. The little Gerber/Circo/Carters jobs we had for them as newborns just don't quite cut it. Sure, we could just use big towels... but have you seen how cute the toddler/preschool hooded towels are? No? Ok, I'll show you.

I found these (and one more) on clearance at Meijer, and snatched them up. I couldn't justify spending the $15+ I'd seen (per towel!) elsewhere on something they didn't really need and would outgrow, but $3 each was worth it just for the look on my little tiger and bumblebee's faces! (And not the look Elise was showing in the picture. She was actually the most excited to see the towels (in the store, in the bag, and then in the mirror). It was just nearing bedtime, and if you have toddlers I needn't say more.)

Happy Valentine's Day

Today is not going exactly as planned, so we have no Valentine's Greeting ready for you. Instead, I'll share a picture of these cutie-patooties, because they make me smile. And do the same for you, from what I've heard...

I hope you have a great day, celebrating with the people you love! :)

Snow Days

Yes, even stay-at-home-moms have snow days. And, from what I've seen, we hate them as much as moms whose kiddos are unexpectedly home from school. Stroller Fit classes, playdates, errands, etc canceled... cabin fever ensues...

... but cute girls get bundled up and get to check out the snow for just the second time in their young lives!

Kyle took Avery and Elise for a spin last weekend in the sled they got from Great Grandma Marie & Great Grandpa Dick. Elise really loved it, for a little while. Until she did a (bare)face-plant into the cold snow. Avery was intrigued, but mostly hated being cold and didn't last too long outside. I don't blame her, really. They do still get excited when they see the sled in the garage though, so here's hoping for a little bit warmer day while the snow is still around, to give it another shot! :)

Next year, "real" gloves and snow pants. Until then, I could be done with the snow (she types, as 6 more inches accumulate).

Thank you, Grandpa Dick and Grandma Marie!

More pictures in Picasa!

Music and Movement and Headbands

My girls (Elise especially) are obsessed with headbands. One of mine was lying around (because my house is a wreck!) and Elise loved wearing it, so I bought a pack for them. Here they are, sporting them at Music & Movement this past Monday. (Which was, as usual, awesome).

Treasure Bottles

Since we're driving to Florida in a few weeks (ew.), I have been making even more lists than usual this trip - namely of ways to occupy our time (and that of our two toddlers) during the ridiculously long, boring, torturous journey. (Seriously, not looking forward to it.)

I have, however, gained a new favorite past-time because of it! I made Treasure Bottles for the girls, knowing very well that they wouldn't even understand the point of them at this age... but that we'd have fun with them instead. Case in point? The Child Life Specialists, Residents and Nurses who play with the versions at CCHMC that are there for children visiting the Emergency Room. Don't know what I'm talking about? Just come over, and you will, because I will be playing with one. And you will be hooked too - just ask Troy. And Kyle. And Cassi. :)

First, I colored lots of rice with food coloring and rubbing alcohol. It was SO pretty...

then it soaked in and dried, and is now sort of dull. But still somewhat pretty, and looking very much like fruity pebbles.

Next, I gathered trinkets. Lots of trinkets. Thanks to my parents and Cassi, for helping with the initial Treasure Hunt to secure items for the Treasure Bottles. That was fun, in and of itself!

After sorting through and narrowing down the items (from about 200 to 172... couldn't get much lower, the stuff was too good!), it was time to start assembly. Oh, wait, if only that were true. Instead it was time to take pictures (because our girls are 1, and are still pre-readers (in case you were wondering)). This turned out to be too irritating for words, and ended up requiring a homemade light tent and some post-processing skills... but two days later, I was pleased (enough) with the results.

It was time to start assembly! Oh wait, not yet. First I had to use a dozen home remedies to get the goo off of the Smart Water bottles. Eventually, it was time --

and then there was key-making --

and finally play!

In case you are concerned, we DO let the girls play. They're actually quite fun to watch, and "get it" more than we thought. We obviously don't give them the key/list or expect them to find the stupid freaking penny (don't ask), but we do have them look for things that are toward the outside, and they love pointing out objects they find and recognize.

And love giving the bottle hugs. (Strange girls :)).

I think this will be a keeper for years to come!

Babies & Karaoke

Last month (seriously behind here, I know!), the Med-Peders made the long trek up here to hang out with our family. We had dinner & snacks, and played with the girls until bedtime... then it was time for makeshift karaoke night!

Courtney is a karaoke junkie (and I say that with the utmost respect - you know I love it, too!) and has often orchestrated nights out that Kyle and I have never been able to make. This time, we busted out the singstar and belted out tunes for hours in the comfort of our not-so-comfortable basement. It was still fun, because the group is great. We're so thankful to have spent the last 4 years with them (though admittedly ready to split up if that means a) we keep in touch and b) residency is over). (Oh yeah, and c) they all have jobs. Especially Kyle.)

Do you have a favorite color...

... to eat? Apparently, Avery does. It's green.