Last night I told Anika that it was time to do one of her chores and she got SO excited! She said "Thank you!!! Thank you for letting me do my chore mommy!!!". If only I could keep her this age forever! I'm sure she won't be saying that in 10 years!!

What kind of chores do you have your kids do?? I feel like I should be giving Anika more to do - especially since she's so willing! But it's just SO much easier to do it myself. These are the chores that I have the girls do:

Anika:
* Put away clean silverware, kitchen utensils, measuring cups and spoons.
* Gather all the garbage cans for Daddy on garbage day.
* Help clean up toys.
* Put away her folded laundry.

Keslie:
* Put away clean lids.
* Help clean up toys.
* Put away her folded laundry.

What do you think? Am I being too easy on them??

Keslie is SO not allowed to use markers anymore!! She was purposefully coloring on her shirt, hands, and face. SO busted!!

Odds and Ends

So, I think that we have all gotten really comment lazy lately. Myself included. I like to consider myself "in touch" with a lot of you but when we aren't commenting back and forth it hardly counts. So - I promise to recommit myself to commenting more often. And if you are visiting my blog then say hi!! I don't care who you are - relative, friend or lurker!!

If you've been reading my blog from the beginning you will recognize this picture from Anika's potty training days! It's such a jewel I had to use it again!! So, 2 days ago while I was in the kitchen I heard Anika run in to use the bathroom. A few minutes later I headed that way to make sure things were under control (we have a hand washing obsession in our house right now. I shouldn't complain - but is it too much to ask that they not get soap puddles all over the sink??!). I ran into Kes halfway there and she had her diaper off and her pants down to her ankles. She turned around and ran back to her little pink toilet and started talking about potty. I had her stand up and sure enough she had gone! All by herself! I guess her and Anika are potty buddies now. She hasn't gone again. We put her in panties and had a few accidents so we went back to the diapers. Now that I know she can do it I really just want to get it done. But I don't REALLY want to do it! Potty training is such a pain. =)

I keep trying to upload videos but I google video uploader isn't working for me and the blogger video thing is SO DARN SLOW. Does anyone know of any other good video uploader places?? They have such cute little voices!




Anika is such a chatter box!! I think I've pretty much decided that we are going to put her in Kindergarten next year! YIKES!! I feel like it's the end of an era. I'm not ready for her to be gone all day! I guess I have 6 more months. She is so sweet. I was so proud of her on Sunday when her primary teacher told me how reverent she was! She asked me if she could take her home because she is such a sweetheart! She's been having a hard time seeing her clothes be handed down to Keslie lately. She says "I don't want to get bigger because then I won't play wiff toys anymore! I just want to get littler!" But then she starts talking about getting married. Today our conversation in the car went like this: "When I get a liddle bit bigger and Connor gets a liddle bit bigger we can get married in a liddle kid temple and have liddle kid rings!" Everything is said with an exclamation point! She's so cute. When she sings the ITSY BITSY spider she says " the ipsy dipsy spider...".



Kes is at such a cute stage! She is saying so much and it's adorable! I've gotta get these videos uploaded!! It is so cute listening to her put together words and say full sentences. She is obsessed with the Olivia books! Both her and Anika have them memorized. If you haven't read them you should check em' out!







I watched the Oscars last night because I love the red carpet!! HOW CAN I GET TICKETS??

* Should I star in a movie?? Can anyone get me a part?? =)
* Start designing?
* Singing? Miley Cyrus actually presented - What is that all about???
* Maybe I need to send in an essay to Oprah and win her red carpet contest!

Anyway, wish me luck on that!

Snow Day = PJ Day!!

I love when it snows!! I love the change from barren and blah to winter wonderland!! We are having a PJ day today! I'm trying to think of fun winterish activities we can do indoors because I still don't like taking them out to play in the snow without Nathan. We will probably end up making cookies and eating them ALL. =) Maybe we will make mini snowmen with the snow from the porch!! I'll take pictures if we do!

The girls have been busy pretending all morning. I LOVE the age they are at! They are best friends and play and play all day together. It's so fun to listen to them using their imagination. Yes - they do have an imagination in case you were wondering after my previous TV post. They play a whole lot more than they watch TV. While they played I did watch last night's episode of LOST. I can't wait until everything becomes clear for me because right now I can't figure anything out. =)

Keslie had her first haircut today!! I'm not sure how well I did! She held really still for me but I couldn't tell how long anything was because of the curl factor. =) I round brushed it to see what she would look like with straightened hair. Pretty cute - but I'm partial to the curls. =)






Yesterday we finished up the girl's Easter crafts that Nana brought for them. Anika really did do most of the work. =) When we started it I wanted to make it look just like the pictures but then I realized that it's so much more fun to just let her go at it and it actually turned out really cute! Keslie had fun sticking the eggs and flowers on her tree. =) We've got some crazy hair going on!



Here is Keslie with her stroller. She likes to tromp around in rain boots. =)

Oh Indy. I love you!

Yes. I'm sitting at the computer at 8 AM watching movie trailers. The girls are busy pretending to be puppy and master - so here I sit. I am SO excited for these ones:

Does this get anyone else's heart a pumpin'?



I loved the first Batman and this one looks like it will be just as awesome! Heath Ledger is SO scary as The Joker. And Christian Bale - I've loved him since he was Jack Sullivan in Newsies!



I am such a sucker for these fantasy movies. Can't wait for this one:



This one looks really cute:



And lastly - Jack Black won me over with Nacho Libre. Hopefully this one will be as fun!



K - girls are DONE being puppies and are now begging for an apple. I better start being productive! G'bye!

Please meet our grass head guys! We've had them for a couple weeks now but their hair is just starting to grow in. I didn't want them to be embarrassed, so we waited until they looked their best to take pictures. =) These were such fun to make! I got the idea out of our family fun magazine.



The girls are napping so I thought I'd post a couple things!! Haha!

Our weekend with Nana and Papa West was great! It was even better than usual because they were able to stay an extra day! On Saturday the guys worked on our computer while the girls went shopping! We hit Target, Michaels, and The Build-a-Bear workshop. It was so fun and the girls got their Easter dresses! They are adorable! For lunch we just HAD to go to Jimmy's pizza and the Argentine bakery! It's tradition after all. Plus, it's DELICIOUS! When we got home we watched the movie No Reservations. It was pretty cute. =) I predicted the EXACT outcome! I know my chick flicks! Carol made chocolate lollipops with Anika after that. Nathan and I got to go on a date that night! It was so fun to go out with just us. When we got home we watched Martian Child. I thought it was excellent. We were pretty lay low on Sunday. We made cookies and worked on a little Easter bunny house that Nana brought for Anika. On Monday we walked up to the bakery again and the girls jumped in puddles. They are so different! Keslie plows into the puddles and doesn't care at all if she's wet. Anika takes really tentative steps and every once in awhile she lets loose but then gets nervous that her pants got a little water on them. They were both so cute. Anika was thrilled to be walking with Papa! Nathan did a little procedure on Carol's lip that afternoon. Pretty cool! Then that night we went to The Cheesecake Factory. IT WAS SO TASTY!! And then we went to bed. It went so fast but it was great to have them here. It will be so nice when we are closer to family. But I am going to be so sad to leave CT.





I've had a few people ask me how I have time to read with 2 girls. I promise I don't neglect them! I usually read during naps and after they go to bed. When I was sick I read ALL day though. The girls play really well together so they were running around entertaining each other or watching PBS. I LOVE PBS. Most of you know about my crush on Ted, the man in the yellow hat. I realized a couple days ago that he looks a lot like Nathan! =) There are a lot of great kids shows and some REALLY annoying ones. I love:

THE MAN IN THE YELLOW HAT from CURIOUS GEORGE







Guy Smiley from Sesame Street











I DO NOT like: Big Bird, Org from Dragon Tales, Caillou, Baby Bop, Bob the anteater from It's a Big world and Teletubbies (the girls love em' though).

I also really like The Wiggles, Blue's Clues, Dora the Explorer, Clifford, Super Readers, and Little Einsteins. I've come to the conclusion that it's okay for kids to watch TV sometimes. Not 24/7 OBVIOUSLY - but nowadays they make so many great educational shows. So, I love them. We read all the time and do lots of other fun things so I am tired of feeling guilty when they watch TV. From now on I will say it LOUD and PROUD - I LET MY KIDS WATCH TV! It comes in awfully handy when I need to clean or get ready for the day!

My sister (Kelyn) and I realized that we quote Disney movies ALL the time. Does anybody else do that? Those shows have the best one-liners. Anyway - where did all this come from?? I'm done!! Hope you all are having a fabulous day!!

HALLELUJAH!!

I'm so happy that our internet is fixed!! I have to admit it was nice to not have that pull to the computer for a couple weeks but, for better or for worse, it's up and running and I am thankful!

I'm also happy for a bunch of other reasons! We got to spend this last weekend with Nathan's parents- which is always fun! I have a friend coming to stay with me in a couple weeks and I can't wait! Yesterday was WARM so we went outside! The girls had a blast jumping in puddles. It was DARN cute! I'm happy because Anika has the week off of school. I'm happy because I'm feeling the itch to paint or do something fixeruppy. Two years ago I came home from Christmas vacation and tackled TONS of projects - I haven't felt the motivation to do much since. NOW I'm feeling it again! Maybe I'll finally tackle the wallpaper in the bathroom! Wish me luck! I'm happy because the writer's strike is over. Not that I watch that much TV - but I do enjoy The Office and Lost. I'm still feeling miffed that I won't get to watch my hero, Jack Bauer, in action until next year. *sigh*.

We have had a pretty uneventful month. We were sick for a couple weeks. I even got sick. When I get sick I pretty much lay around and do nothing. I'm not kidding - I read a book a day for one week. It was kind of hard coming back to the real world when it was all finished. Not that my real world isn't happy - it's just when you read about adventure and romance and vampires and princesses and happy golden days 24/7 it gets you floating through the clouds. I read a lot but I don't think I've ever read that many sappy, lovey, gooey books all in one week. =)

Well - I just wanted to say HI!! I'll be back very soon!! Happy Tuesday!!

Love Tag

Afton tagged me last week and I thought today would be a good day to do it since it's about my hubby. =) I've been M.I.A. for the last month because we were sick and then my computer caught the bug and we still haven't fixed it. I think it's been good for me. Now I only get to check my e-mail and google reader at night on Nathan's laptop!! I am no longer a slave to my computer!! I really wasn't too bad before but it's nice to not feel like I'm wasting too much time. =) I will get some pictures up and update ya'll on life as soon as we get internet back on our regular computer!! But, just so know - we are alive and happy! We really enjoyed our day of LOVE today!! Hope you all had a great Valentine's day!!

The tag:

What is his name? Nathan
How long have you been married? 6 years in MAY!!
Who long did you date? We OFFICIALLY dated for a month and a half. But we were joined at the hip for a good 8 months before he proposed. I love the way our relationship progressed. Because of our situation we went the friend route way (well, I guess not WAY - a few months.) before anything romantic happened. I think that's the way all relationships should be. We knew eachother SO well and I love the foundation we had when we began the actual courting process (courting??? SO cheesy!!) We had so much fun and could talk for HOURS.
Who eats more sweets? He digs the candy and I can't get enough cookies. =)
Who said I love you first? He did.
Who is taller? Nathan
Who can sing better? Oh - we are both incredibly talented singers. Haha!!
Who is smarter? School smart - Nathan. Everything else - me. =)
Who does the laundry? Me - but he hangs everything up!
Who pays the bills? Nathan - he is a budget guru!!
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Right now I do. But we like to mix things up and trade every once in awhile.
Who mows the lawn? Nathan usually.
Who cooks dinner? Me.
Who drives? I think I probably drive more often. I get car sick - plus I like to drive and he doesn't. But he is SUCH a backseat driver!!
Who is more stubborn? We take turns.
Who kissed who first? He kissed me first!
Who asked who out first? Him I think. Did he ever actually ask me out?? I'm not sure.
Who proposed? He did and it was so cute the way he did it.
Who has more siblings? Me
Who wears the pants? We both wear pants. =)

I love you Nathan!!

Correction.

Woops! The girls are 8 - not 9!! Good grief. I really thought I remembered them getting baptized LAST year. Sorry Baylie and Carlie! Love you!

Happy Birthday Carlie and Baylie!!!

My two littlest sisters turn 9 years old tomorrow!! I can't believe how big and grown up they both are. They are twins but couldn't be more different. They are so funny and say the cutest things. I love you Baylie Bop and Carlie Sue!! I hope you have a really fun birthday!!

RARRRRRRRRR!!!!

Yes. That is me GROWLING. I received a lovely virus yesterday that won't let me into my internet (I'm on Nathan's laptop) and has eaten all of our files. I am SOOO mad. Hey, if anyone knows anything about computers and what I should do about this, let me know.

Thanks!