Vacation Photos

B found a crater in the sand that the girls spent the next 2 days playing in and making deeper.
I asked A to line up the shoes by the door. I was thinking pairs together, she though of a different way

Fun at the park

So darn cute!

getting ready for a game of catch in the water

So Far So Good

I love coming here. I swear that the world stops while we are here. I forget that other people do really have a life. For us it is all about the pool and the beach. Throw a few things to eat in there and you have our entire day. It is so relaxed and easy. The girls are good and the hubby does a lot.

Today we started at the pool. I sat at the edge and the girls pretended that they were dolphins and I was their trainer. I had them do a "show" for daddy. It was nice. Don't get me wrong. The girls still fight and play just like they do at home, but overall they are closer. We have payed a bunch of UNO as well. This is a new game for the girls and has quickly become a loved one. B was the big winner yesterday which A did not find fun. Today was a different story. A was the big winner today. Funny, B did not like it either. She was the one who said that A should win today, yet when it happened more than once, not so happy.

We were all looking forward to going to the Botanic Gardens here in Naples today. Unfortunately it is closed for the year do to major garden overhaul. This is so sad. B was really looking forward to taking some flower photos. SO to help make up for it we went to the beach today too. The girls had fun looking for shells and digging a huge hole to China. They also finally got to fly a kite with Daddy. It was a good time.

We all have been relaxed and I have to say I am not ready to think about going home yet. B didn't even talk about school today. Wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Vacation Time

After a week of are we going?/ are we not going? Hubby decided to "just go". This meant I had to do some quick planning and packing. We again decided to drive to Naples. For many they find this decision NUTS. For me I love it! I love not having a time run trip. No schedule to worry about, or other people for that matter. It is just us in our car. The girls travel very well, and the drive was fine. We were all happy to have finally arrived last night. The weather should be in the 80's all week!

My only problem this time is the condo condition upon arrival. We are not used to being the first ones here for the season. Now I know why I don't like it. There is a lot more cleaning to be done. Plus the smell of a closed up house for months is not a favorite. The girls too were a little unsure. But another day or so of open windows and laundry and it will be perfect.

B has been a little under the weather so we are watching that and hoping for the best. It would suck to be sick down here.

Well that is it for now I have to change loads of laundry and get things ready for the beach.

Huge Step For B

We have been trying lots if not everything to get B to quit sucking her thumb. A finished in just days of using the thumb guard. B, not so much. I figured most of the problem was the fact that she still has her lamb for night time. I know 6 1/2 with a stuffed animal lovie? Hey! I have friends who are in their 30's who still have their lovies. I just didn't have the heart to take it away from her.

Things have been getting worse with the thumb. She was doing so well about not sucking it during the day. Now she is falling off the wagon and has her thumb in a tad bit more often. the other day I washed sheets and forgot to bring up clean lambie. When B got in her bed she noticed of course. I fibbed and told her it was not dry. I would bring it up to her in about 45 minutes. I was not sure she would fall asleep without him. She did! I was so proud of her.

Yesterday we decided to try again. I promised her that if she slept the rest of the week without lambie I would buy her a box of lemonheads (her new wish). So far so good. She has made it 2 nights so far! I am really proud of her. this is a HUGE step. I only hope that the thumb will begin to go away too.

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY

I did not buy the girls special shirts for the big day this year. I figured since B is in a uniform why bother. Plus I had decided to not send out special cards this year since I just sent out the Valentine's Day ones. Well wouldn't you know it, B has a non uniform day so she can show her Irish pride. Great! My plan seems to suck now huh? B was able to find a plain green tshirt that I bought, just in case. She ran downstairs at 7:30(right before bed) to tell me that the shirt was ok, but could she trace a shamrock on it. I said I will work on it and have something in the morning.

This plain shirt just won't do

So I took out my heat set bling and got to work. About half way through the gems and the outline of the shamrock I figured I would not have enough. So a 8:45 I was heading to Michale's to grab some more gems before they closed. Well again, not my day. Michale's was totally out of any bling what so ever! Now what was I going to do? Ran next to Target to see if they had any type of green shirt. Nope, nothing! Well they did have one St Pat's shirt left but since it was about a pub, I figured not right for a Catholic school. Back home to see what I could do.

Well now the Irish gods worked with me. I had exactly enough gems to finish the outline at 9:30pm. Now to finish hiding the leprechaun gifts and lay the trail and I can go to bed.

Some Irish Bling!

Next morning B of course wished that there were a few gems around the shamrock, but she was happy still. Thank Goodness!

As for little A she wanted one too, but all I could find for her was a turtleneck with shamrocks all over it in the hand-me-downs from B and the funny glasses. Wouldn't you know she would have to wear it on the warmest day so far!? Oh well she only has school till 11:00.

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY TO ALL!

Rainy Day Activity

Tuesdays are supposed to be lunch at Grandma and Grandpa's for A and me. I look forward to this time each week. Not only do I get to have my Mom make me a yummy lunch, but they get to spend time with A. So this week was no exception and since it was a gloomy day I was looking forward to it more than usual. Well my dad called to say my sister was sick and we should not stop by for lunch and germs. What? No. Please don't take away my after school activity! Well on second thought high fever, and more? Ok, we will not be there. Thanks for the call.

Well now what am I going to do all afternoon with A? We can't go outside, I don't have a playdate set up, it is cold AND rainy, YUCK!!!!

Enter the memory of shaving cream. That is it! I will let her play with shaving cream and her plastic princesses. Oh what a great idea. I put a bunch of shaving cream right on the art table and once her smock was on it was go time. She played in the cream for about 1 HOUR. It was great.

Then came time for clean up. I brought up a dishpan of water, a few towels, and let her give all the princesses a bath. Before I knew it another 45 minutes were gone. She had so much fun. I highly recommend this activity. A can of shaving cream is rather cheep and is used for multiple days of fun. I still missed my lunch made by Mom, but at least I got through the afternoon.

Earn Your Keep

B has been on a money earning kick. She is all about doing house hold chores as long as there is a payment involved. I am ok about handing out some coinage if the job is done without the common whine. B went as far as making a list of all the chores she would do and the amount of money she would earn for doing them. (You know like 10 cents a day for making her bed) Well this was day one of the list. She and A were happy to complete the emptying of the dishwasher.

I swear I remember a time when A couldn't even see in the drawer let alone put stuff in it.

Well now that a few days have passed. The thrill is gone. I did not think this would last long, but I figured more than a week. I'm sure it will pick up again the next time B wants something from the store and mean mommy won't buy it for her.

Bad news for them is that I have decided to make them do this chore anyways...money or no money. It is now time for them to earn their keep :)

Special Child Week

B was finally picked to be the week's special child at school. She had to write answers to background questions,(who knew she wants to be a swim teacher when she grows up?) bring in photos of herself over her long 6 years, bring in a treat for the class to eat, and pick a special person to read to the class.

The list was easy for her except for the special person. For her this was a hard one. I told her I didn't count since I am there all the time. So then it was between Daddy and Grandpa. Well that all changed when big cool cousin Mike came to dinner at our house on Sunday. He is the cousin that plays football for Northwestern. The girls totally love him. When I told Mike's mom about B's special week she said B should ask Mike to read. I didn't really think he would want to, (what 22 year old male would?) but he said he really would do it. B thought this was a great idea.

Cousin Mike reading book #1, B feeling special

So today was the big day. Cousin Mike, all 6'8 of him, came into B's class and read not 1, not 2, but 3 books to 22 adoring first graders. They though he was so cool and big! The best part was at the end we were just about to leave when the questions was asked. "Can I have your autograph?" Oh it was so cute! There Mike was signing 22 autographs for the class. They were so tickled. I think this was a great day for B. She sure felt special. I think Mike did too.