Where Are Your Manners?

The other night Juli requested we have mac and cheese for dinner. So we had mac and cheese and hot dogs. I had the hot dogs on their plates and was waiting for the mac and cheese to cool down when Juli said, "Mommy, where ARE my mac and cheese??"

I turned around and said, "Juli, where are YOUR manners??"

To which she softly replied with a smile, "In my heart."

Spoon Noses

Katie joined us for dinner tonight. We had crockpot chicken for dinner. The girls were not too interested in the chicken. They did find a new use for their spoons. Juli somehow got it to stick on her nose and then couldn't figure out how to do it again. She finally figured it out.

Look Ma, no hands.

Of course, Katie needed to do it too. Uncle James helped her figure it out.

Hopefully this is a trick that falls to the wayside!

West Chester Railroad

I have been pretty sick with strep throat (yes again) so Juli spent a lot of time with her aunts this weekend. She stayed overnight with CiCi, Katie, Maddie and Aunt Karen D. on Friday. On Saturday Aunt Jenn came to watch the girls for a while. On Sunday Juli went to the West Chester Railroad with the gang. She had a really good time and hasn't stopped talking about it. Here are some pictures, more can be found on Karen's blog since that is where I stole these from anyway! LOL.

In this picture: Karen, CiCi, Maddie, Chris and Diane, with Juli and Katie in the front obviously, lol.

Katie, Maddie & Juli

Katie, CiCi & Juli

LOVE this picture of Juli & Katie.

Loved this one of Maddie too!

All aboard!

I'm on a train!

That's all folks!

Love & Laughter

We were having thunderstorms tonight and the power was dipping in and out. Juli and I found some flashlights and prepared for a blackout. We never exactly got a blackout, but we did have a bunch of fun. We tried to do some lightwriting for an assignment for my photography group, but I learned we stink at that. This picture came from me setting the timer on my camera and running and hopping on the bed before it took a picture. Apparently this is really funny to a 3 and a half year old.

Wordless Wednesday 7.23.08

Keeping Cool

This weekend was pretty hot! We tried to stay in the house and find a lot of fun things to do inside.

Juli danced.

Livi got into the baby food drawers.

Juli did some coloring.

Livi did too.

Yes, that is my dining room wall. Don't worry, it came off super easily with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Livi was a real imp that day. Luckily for her she's cute.

Happy Birthday Pop

If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden. ~Claudia Ghandi

It's been 16 years since we lost my Pop. He has now been missing from my life longer than he was in it. Somehow though, I don't miss him any less than I did the day I lost him. He was such a big part of my life, he influenced me in so many ways. Of course I miss him like crazy.

I also miss him for my girls. It saddens me that they will never know him. It saddens me that they will never get to spend time with him. I know they would have been the apples of his eye.

I miss him for my husband. It also saddens me that James will never know him. I think he would have really liked James. They would have had a lot in common. They would have had a great time going out on the boat. Then again, maybe two captains on one boat, might not have been such a good idea!

Our Great Adventure

Today was a crazy day. We were all set to go to Great Adventure for my dad's birthday (Happy Birthday Dad!!) with our whole family and my aunt and cousins. The tickets for all three parks were purchased weeks ago. I ran around like a nut last night and this morning packing and getting all of our stuff together. We hop in the car bright and early this morning and we get 3/4 of the way to my mom and dad's house to meet Karen when Olivia throws up ALL over herself, the car, her carseat, just everything. Juli had also been coughing a lot and gagged a few times. We were 2 blocks from my brother and sister's apartment so I gave them our tickets and had to head home. Luckily they found someone to give them to.

Juli was REALLY disappointed that we couldn't go. Livi fell asleep on the way home and I guess it made her feel better. She was fine the rest of the day.

When we got home I pulled the carseat out of the car and hosed everything down. I had a scrub brush and a toothbrush for scrubbing the crevices. Once I was finished I put them down to rinse the carseat. When I turned around Juli had pulled her scooter out of the garage and was cleaning it "just like Daddy does to his bike".

Since Livi seemed to be feeling better we decided to go out in the little pool for a while.

Juli found this flower and put it in her bucket and told me she had a beautiful present to make me smile. It certainly did and I needed that today.

Rice Krispies Thieves

I ran to the dryer to get the clothes out and I came back to find a mess in the family room. Somehow the girls got into the Rice Krispies. They are usually on a shelf in the pantry, so I'm not really sure how Juli got them down. I'm not sure I really want to know!

Livi has that "Oh crap, we're busted!" face, or is she just mid-krispy??

Lightning Bugs

After helping James with his bike the other night, Juli noticed that the lightning bugs were out. She quickly ran into the garage to get her bug house. She immediately caught one and shoved lovingly placed him into the bug house. When we were ready to go in the house, she asked me if her new buggy friend could come in and watch Blues Clues with her. Since it was only a lightning bug and nothing resembling a tarantula I agreed. It was only in the house for about 5 minutes, then we took it out to get "fresh air" on the porch.

Juli and her new friend.

Buggy Buddy.

Daddy's Little Helper

The other night I went upstairs to put Livi to bed and Juli was sitting on the deck having a snack. I came out and James was cleaning his bike - looks like he found himself a little helper. Juli's practicing for when she gets big enough to get a purple motorcycle. LOL

She had an old toothbrush and was just going to town.

Wow, look how fast she's scrubbing! LOL

Daddy showing her the right way to do it!

The photographer, LOL!

Wordless Wednesday 7.16.08

Kids Castle

Yesterday we took the girls to a park in Doylestown. This is just one of the playground sections called "Kids' Castle".

Juli waiting patiently for me to go in.

There are all different little themes throughout the castle. Juli is at the puppet show that had a little mini amphitheater seating below where she is standing.

We had to go all through the castle to find this slide. Then I had to find a quick way out to get to the bottom without losing Juli! Luckily there was a quick exit to the right.

There was so much to see that she only lasted about 30 seconds on the swing.

The castle in all it's glory. I think it said that it is six stories. I don't really remember, we didn't make it all the way to the top. That's Juli walking up the plank of the pirate ship.

Livi loved the slide at the firehouse section. It goes down into a sand pit where the girls played for a little while.

Here's Juli in the sand pit with her concentration face on. She gets that face from her dad.

It was sweltering hot out and it was only about 10 AM! You can see Juli's cheeks are all red. We promised to return again soon, so we were able to leave without much of a tantrum!

Sleep Eating

While Juli was still with my parents, James, Livi and I went out to eat for dinner on Saturday night. Livi must have really been tired. She fell asleep eating her dinner!! Yes she really is sleeping while still chewing on her pickle!

Edited to add: I forgot I had this video too!

Independence Day

For the 4th of July we went down to the campground to visit with Nonna & Pop. The girls had a great time in the lake and the pool. Juli and Katie stayed for the weekend. Can't wait to hear how much fun they had!

The Three Amigos. Katie looks smaller than Livi here, but she had her butt down in the planter!

Pretty Livi.

Katie, Livi and Pop blowing bubbles.

Livi in the lake. She looks like she is crying, but she was really laughing and clapping!

Katie & Juli puttering around the lake. Karen is out there with them, I just didn't get her in the picture.

Livi giving kisses to the fishies.

Splish Splash!

After the lake we went to the pool. Katie was hanging on the rope on the kiddie side of the pool.

Juli in the kiddie side, Katie trying to escape! (Don't worry, Pop and Karen were both right over on that side!)

Livi had a blast swimming around with Pop (and Aunt Karen too).

Katie and Livi hanging out.

Livi looking smushed in her lifejacket.

All that activity was tiring! Livi didn't even make it all the way back from the pool! She fell asleep in the wagon.

A neat picture of the campfire.

MeMe

My friend Des sent me this MeMe game so I figured I would play along. ;-)

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The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

What was I doing 10 years ago?: Finishing college.

What are 5 things on my to-do list for today?

1. Work
2. Pick up the girls
3. Pack the girls stuff for the weekend
4. Maybe try to find sneakers/clothes for Juli. She suddenly need a bigger size.
5. Make dinner.

3 Snacks I enjoy:

• Cheese and Crackers
• Tortilla Chips with sour cream and salsa
• Anything sweet

4 Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

• Pay off the house
• Buy a new car
• Go on a trip around the world
• Quit my job!!

5 Places I have lived:

1. Wildwood, NJ
2. Philadelphia, PA
3. West Chester, PA
4. To make five I'll count Staten Island, NY - since I spent so much time there with James!
5. Willow Grove, PA

6 Jobs I have had:

1. Babysitter
2. Deli Clerk at Acme
3. Cashier at Kmart
4. Waitress
5. Billing Clerk at a Law Firm
6. Administrative Office Manager at a Brokerage Firm

I want to know more about:

• Denise
• Karen
• Kim
• Danielle
• Laura

Wordless Wednesday 7.2.08