TPT? or just resourceful...

Yes, we are blessed to get to spend time at Grandma and Grandpas mountain home...Most of the time the girls "swim" in the hot tub...but with summer approaching and dreams of diving boards in their heads we had to make some changes.

In comes the pool in the truck...

And the lawn chairs seated near the car with music blaring for entertainment

And the pool on the driveway

and the Size 3 Kate Mack that is STILL being made for diaper wearers

thus creating a very attractive sags in the rump

Hey at least we clean up well...

Time to go to bed

What time do you go to bed? Your kids? You know they say bedtimes are important. We have bedtimes in our house and we adjust them accordingly by age and need for sleep - however sometimes they fail us miserably.

Case 1:

Hailey -

3 years old -

Bedtime 7pm

Natural Wake Time - 6am

Hours slept per night: 9-10 (on a good night)



Case 2:

Lauren -

8 Years old -

Bedtime - 8:30

Natural wake time - 6:30 weekdays, 7:30 weekends

Hours slept per night: 10 -11



We have attemped many scenerios to increase the sleep hours to the recommended number in case #1. Though we fail, because she wakes up a lot in the night and if she sleeps even 5 minutes in the car during the day she won't fall asleep till well after 8pm. Desperately hoping her tonsils are part of this problem and a natural change will occur after her surgery!

Case #2 was ticking and rolling along just fine about about 10 days ago when she became difficult to wake on school days and no longer represented a natural wake time during the week.

Our solution? Case #2 will get a new bedtime, a bit earlier - moving to 8:00 for the rest of the school year to ensure she gets the sleep she needs and the we get the peace we need! Lauren is NOT happy about this change of events - but I am not going to spend the next 10 years dragging her butt out of bed everyday!


So - what are your bedtimes? Are they working for you?

This is how they do it

Lauren and Hailey are worlds apart in so many ways. I have always wondered what the best way to show that on the web would be. I could talk about it for hours (in fact I do - sorry friends) But I am so happy, I can finally really SHOW how different they are!

I purchased these fantastic pop-beads after seeing them on another blog - When Lauren sat down to play she immediately sorted each bead by shape and size - she considered doing color as well, but decided their was not enough room in her work space.

When Hailey sat down to play she


So there you have it


Night and Day

Apples and Oranges

Tomato TomAAto - however you wish - they are different and I LOVE every minute of it.


ALMOST

Liquid, Solid, Liquid and Visa Versa

These two sisters are sharing again. Just not the kind of sharing we like to see.

Lauren shared her runny nose, her sneezes, her cough and her fever with Hailey.

Now, you tell me, how sweet is that? Hmph.

So I had both girls home today...a whole week without a single hour alone in my house. A preview to summer?

So today we did some Liquid to solid and back to liquid then some solid to liquid and back to solid...

We started with Ice Boats - I have to admit these were WAY FUN!












Then we moved on to Chocolate Circles. These were fun for the girls - and yummy too!











So here's hoping everyone goes to school next week! With my luck our school will get a case of the "today's name flu" and close for a week!

In the mountains

We are going home in the morning. I love coming to Beaver Creek. My parents have a wonderful home and they let us run amuck so to speak.

We make messes

play in the hot tub and take walks

put together puzzles

finish school work

We get sick, we get better, we even give our germs to Grams and Daddy(sorry guys)

We watch TV and go sledding

We sometimes get to see plays like Annie or concerts like Clint Black.

We get dressed up to go out to Mirabels for a fancy dinner

(the girls love this, especially Lauren)

Wait, WE didn't go to Mirabels...only THEY did! Grams and Gramps took the girls to Mirabels and I stayed HOME ALONE.

I took a shower, packed up the car, ate cereal for dinner and enjoyed about 90 minutes to myself! I LOVE IT.

And so do THEY!

If you haven't had time or haven't read it yet, please weigh in on the two questions below...I am anxious to put it all together and make a statement in a compilation post!

It's over...

The Nutcracker is over for this year. It sure was fantastic! Lauren was so worn out come Saturday she fell asleep on the way to the theater before her last show...

However that didn't last long and before you knew it she had half her first costume on and was getting autographs from the other little ballerinas! I never did snap a photo in her other costume but when we get the video I will post snippets of it and that will be fun!

A big shout out to the wonderful people who came to watch on Saturday! Mark and Bonnie brought the boys Connor and Alex, all dressed up and ready to see their first ballet (see Bonnie's post) - they brought Lauren a beautiful bunch of Pink Roses and a goody bag to wish her the best!

And Lauren was kind enough to share a rose with Hailey. I guess sisters can be nice to each other every once in a while!!

I was lucky enough to seat near the Campbell's for most of the show and was totally impressed with the boys! Alex and Connor both sat still and watched the whole show - Alex with quite an intensity in his eyes! it was very neat for me to see! Since I had seen the show 6 times already I think I watched the boys more than the show!

Amelia and her mom, Beth, also came to watch on Saturday and blessed Lauren with a beautiful red rose as well! I took the cutest picture of Amelia and the rose before it was given to Lauren.

Again thanks to everyone who supported Lauren and came to see her dance. You have no idea how much that meant to her (and us) but mostly her. Many of you know Lauren to prefer not to be the center of attention or accept things from others but in this case she was in "her element" and she loved every minute of it! It warms my heart to know we have such wonderful, thoughtful friends!

How did I get so lucky? Actually, what I really want to know is if your all burnt out or gearing up for Peter Pan in June? (insert mommy giggle here)

Black Friday = Sick Friday

Oh my goodness. What a treat. We never go shopping on Black Friday, I am not sure there will ever be a sale so good that would get me out into that madness. We got up and prepared to take Hailey in to see the new Dr. Young to get that ear checked. When Lauren got up she laid on the couch like a lazy bum, refused breakfast and in general just seemed way off. I took her temperature but it was normal. So I sent her off to the shower and took Hailey to the Dr. Hailey's ear infection had in fact returned - a quick chat with Dr. Young, a prescription for the pink stuff, a brief mention that I might be back with my oldest daughter and we were off to Walgreens for the drugs.

In the meantime daddy sent me a message letting me know that Lauren had just been dozing in and out of sleep since her shower but that she claims to be fine, just tired. Now, I knew that just wasn't right and was starting to plan a course of action for her as well. Hailey and I got home and we chatted with Lauren who's temperature was still normal but looked like a ghost. We decided to trust Lauren and move on with our day - it was time to get ready to go to Build a Bear with Grandma.

Shoes on, Coats on, Everybody ready? Lauren? "I think I'm gonna throw up". So three head out the door for Build a Bear and two take the shoes off, the coats off and settle in with a bucket. She was sick but it was not stomach flu sick it was major nasal congestion sick...Called the Dr., took her in at 12:30 to find out that she too has a double ear infection, major congestion and all this time her temperature was rising and was now settling in at 102.5 - Oh my goodness. Another quick chat with the Dr., another trip to Walgreens for more Pink Medicine - you know the stuff. and we were home for the day!

Daddy, Grandma and Hailey brought Lauren home the moose she wanted from Build a Bear that was VERY Nice. We spent the afternoon checking on Lauren, putting up Christmas decorations and watching movies (Fred Clause and Wall-E). Lauren was up ALL night doing her classic "Ghost Walking" and Hailey has apparently slept all night.

We did have a WONDERFUL surprise though when at about 7pm, contrary to the DRY forecast, it started snowing, and not just a little either. We probably racked up a good 2 or 3 inches and it was beautiful with the Christmas lights on! The sad thing is the girls are going to want to run and jump and play in it but with 4 infected ears the answer is going to have to be no.

So, to recap -

2 Trips to see Dr. Young (who I have decided is probably not too bad but I still prefer my regular doc)

4 Infected Ears

2 Trips to see the nice people at Walgreens Pharmacy

4 Bottles of Pink, must be refrigerated, Medication

3 People went to Build a Bear

2 movies were watched

3 inches of snow to make me smile

Don't know what today will bring but it is sure to be better than yesterday!

Is it Friday Yet?

So, you know I have been looking forward to 3:00 Friday since, well since Sunday when it was decided the girls were going to get to Grams house for a night of DU Hockey, Grandma, Grandpa and loads of fun...as you also know the plans were almost axed as early as Monday when Hailey got a fever. I felt so bad for myself because I was not getting a night off for Hailey because she wasn't feeling well and was so looking forward to going to Grandmas. Well, she quickly overcame her fever and moved about the week in deeply hiding an impending ear infection and bronchial trauma perfect health!! We were all very glad the girls were getting their night out and mom and dad were getting to enjoy a quiet house and perhaps an opportunity to get some things done for Christmas! Yes, Christmas...I am anal, psychotic and more when it comes to figuring out Christmas...what comes from who (if you know what I mean) how many, how much etc. etc. etc. so I couldn't wait to get a chance to assess the situation and plan out a clear path of progression for the next six and a half weeks!

Friday came...and boy did it come! Friday started out very early and very sad...at approximately 5am I started trading emails with my friend Becky and quickly ended up throwing on some clothes and rushing of to the Vet ER to support a friend in her time of need.

After returning home I had to have a quick conversation with Daddy about whether or not Hailey should attend school even though she seems to have Laryngitis and most likely we will find out she has croup if we take her to the Dr. We decided, "no fever, healthy appetite" might as well head off to school, so I rounded up the troops to rush off to the SUPER QUICK shower, dry the hair, throw on the clothes and rush off to school. After dropping Hailey off we got to
make a slick U-turn and head back home for Lauren's D@^^n retainer!

On my way home from school #2 (insert mommy guilt here) I called the Dr. to grab an appointment so Hailey could get checked before she goes to Grandmas house...after 10 minutes on the phone with the nurse that rubs me the wrong way and finding out that all the "good" Dr's are out today and I was going to have to face the "new" one...after telling Nurse Rub Wrong that I was not happy about that and I could not believe she could not offer me a Dr. that already knew my children and listening to Nurse Rub Wrong say "Oh, Mrs. Emerson I remember you"
ha ha ha ...no seriously she hates me, anyway I got an appointment for 20 minutes after preschool lets out.

At 11:30 I picked up Hailey and headed to the Dr's office to face Nurse Rub Wrong and New Doesn't know my child Dr...waited in the waiting room for 30 minutes (D@^^m) with a hungry, voiceless, tired child (insert more mommy guilt here). Finally we got to see the New Dr. Her name? Dr. YOUNG. That is SUPER encouraging! Well, NEW Dr. Young looks in right ear, says it is PERFECT, looks in left ear and says "Oh she is quite infected" (Mommy guilt mounting) - listens, looks, pokes, prods...Prescribes Antibiotic for Ear Infection and Steroid for Bronchial trauma. OMG. I keep telling you that mommy of the year award will never be mine. Do you believe me yet?

Quick, call Grandma and beg her to still take the girls for the night, ask her kindly and give her plenty of opportunity to back out. Feed Hailey at McDonalds the picture of HEALTH FOOD for my sick child, drop into Walgreen's where the fantastic pharmacists know us by name and pick up DRUGS!

Once home, it took both mom and dad to give Hailey 1 1/2 pills that have to be crushed and mixed in yummy food to get down...Hailey can not be tricked she knew what was coming and it was more like restraining a horse than a 3 year old. Not sure how much of that steroid she got (probably ok though since GRANDMA OF THE YEAR said the girls could still come!)

Now comes the GOOD part...I picked Lauren up from school (Hailey slept the whole way) dropped two VERY happy, excited and barely looking or acting sick children off at Grandmas where GRANDMA OF THE YEAR had the most amazing snack plates on the table for them and I headed home, alone, in the car, listening to MY station...(not very much mommy guilt here)

I arrived home to box on my porch from my dear friend Becky...and in it: A beautiful tower of goodies from Harry and David. and the best part. I am Home Alone and I don't have to share, nah nah nah nah! YUMMY! Please go meet Becky if you have time, she is new to the blogging world and embracing it with open arms!

And now you know more about why Becky is one of my favorite friends and if you know me at all I have VERY few friends and they are all favorites because I am sort of picky, a little...maybe a lot.

Daddy and I headed off to dinner at Outback (THANKS GRANDMA MARY!!) for a quick dinner (sans children) and we did NOT get seated at a table close to screaming toddlers...we did get to sit very close to Lauren's second grade teacher though!

Home (still not very much mommy guilt) tackle the craziness of Christmas in the basement, jump on computer and type this post...my only interruption came from Grandma of the Year when she sent this LOVELY photo from her blackberry. I think she was so proud, I can just hear here saying "let me send mommy a photo so she can see you guys are fine and having fun". Well Mom (Grandma) next time you might want to look at the picture before you send it!

So now, Friday night is almost over, The girls got to go Grams, I got some quiet time and I will head off to bed (insert mommy guilt again) thinking about my girls, my evening and pondering this fantastic thought:

"When did quiet time at home trump going out and having a blast with your husband?"

Thanks for listening (reading) if you made it this far!

Now go back and hit all those hyperlinks they aren't to be missed!

Wordless Wednesday

The Very First Leaf Jumping Experience

The girls finally got to REALLY jump in the leaves! If you missed round 1 I really suggest you visit it here then come and back to watch the video of the real event!

I hope you enjoyed the video!

If you are lucky enough to be viewing this when it posts as scheduled I am currently at the dentist, laying back, mouth wide open, in some pain (at least mentally) getting a crown put on...Big Fat Bummer for me!

This is what happens when

This is what happens when Big Sister helps Little Sister create a Christmas list:

BEFORE:
Little sister wanted a radio for her room and Pink Retro phone from American Girl....

AFTER:
Little sister now wants, a pair of flowery clogs, an American Girl Just like You doll, Table and Lamp set, Snuggly snow pj's, toasty pink boots, 5 outfits for the bitty twins, a diaper bag, a ballet barre, spinny dresses, build a bear, Sleeping Beauty Movie,

The funniest part? Big sister only had 5 things on her own list.

Is it too early to start telling them that Santa is watching?

Sisters sharing, How Sweet!

A quote from perhaps my favorite friend after I told her Lauren was starting to run a fever and her teacher was going to think I was liar (more in a minute) Becky says "Sisters sharing - how sweet!" this because Hailey was Sick all weekend...started with a fever. Sharing. HA! Thanks Beck, I needed that big smile that rolled across my aging face!

So anyway...this afternoon I made a fairly strong case for wanting to pull Lauren out of school a little early tomorrow so we could get up to the mountains before dark! Now, when (if) I call her in sick in the morning, her teacher is going to be thinking "yeah right, mom just wanted to get to the mountains before breakfast" ARGH. Thank goodness for Queen Becky who will relay the message in its entirety and let dear teacher know that mom is not a total flakey, irresponsible parent...just has really crappy luck when it comes to trips to the mountains (one of the children ALWAYS gets sick and I mean ALWAYS) Urgent Care in Avon has more of our money than their pediatrician does. It is nuts.

Lauren will cry if she can't go to school in the morning and that will be a big drag too...who cries when they can't go to school? Lauren. That’s who. We are going to wait and see how the night goes - the fever is just at 100.2 and well...it could just go away right?

Hmpf. I will update in the morning!

UPDATE:
She is fever free! All Morning...Hi Ho Hi Ho it's off to school we go! Usually I follow the 24 hour rule but I think in this case it is best to just let her go...

Pink Ladies

Grandma just couldn't pass these up (and who could blame her) - adorable Poodle Skirts!! Way to go Grams!

Leaf Jumping

Ok, so the girls are anxiously waiting for the big leaf jumping day. Mid October cannot come fast enough for them...each year daddy spends hours blowing leaves into the BIGGEST PILE so they can run and jump and jump and run and jump...they LOVE it! We have done it for years. Hailey was the first to bring it up this year...and has been talking about it for 2 weeks. Well, the leaves are starting to fall, slowly, and she is so anxious....tonight in one of "those moments" daddy said...You guys go pick up all those leaves and make a pile and go jump in it...

Well, they did. They wandered around the yard for 30 minutes picking up any leaf they could find and putting in a pile...

Then they jumped...

BUSY BUSY BUSY

We have spent this last week before school staying very busy! I wish I had fun exciting thing to blog about but I don't. I still need to post the photos from the berry picking farm and the coggy doggy Lauren built but haven't found the time. We bought our new lunch boxes and backpacks this week and Hailey carries hers with her just about everywhere we go! Lauren found out she has a different teacher than she was expecting on Thursday...so we swallowed that and moved on. She also found out a girl that she thought was not returning to school this year is in fact coming back...neither good nor bad news just news. I am wondering if CBS is going to tell Renny (Big Brother 10) about Gustav and New Orleans being evacuted? Just two more days before we hit the daily grind again...(Wednesday) WOW - Summer went by fast. I am glad the girls got to do a lot of fun things this summer though. I suppose I should stop typing my random thoughts as I really have nothing important to say!

Summer Flying By...

We are more than half way through summer now. We have managed to stay very busy with trips to the mountains, sports, concerts, shows, the pool and more.

Lauren is doing pretty good with her expander, but she hates it. Won't show it to you - we visit the orthodontist on Thursday to get it "checked" I think it is too soon for an estimate on when she gets it off but we will certainly ask anyway!

Next week is the last week of sports (except Ballet) - Jonas Brothers Concert is Saturday night! High school Musical Play is Tuesday...

Today - we stay home - Jeep in the shop - Laundry, clean playroom and play outside - FUN FUN.

UPDATE:

I don't know what's worse...a day at home with 2 kids that can't seem to play nice together or the $400 electric bill coupled with the $71.00 tank of gas I got this week...Between electric, gasoline and water I think they total about the same as our mortgage payment each month! Ok...maybe not quite - but we are certainly getting close! I mean come on - $400 for electricity...ridiculous. Guess we'll be bumping the AC up a couple degrees. Actually, I told the girls they were going to have to start sleeping naked with no covers so we could save electricity - HA! Too bad they didn't believe me.

So yes the children had trouble getting along this morning - what a pain - honestly I wanted to climb back in bed at 9:00 cover my head with the blanket and pretend I didn't have kids - somehow though we survived and by the afternoon they were playing nice together (could have had something to do with Hailey's 2 hour nap!!!)