Handsome As Can Be!

Owen is as HANDSOME AS CAN BE! He is such a doll! Sometimes I want to pinch myself to wake-up. I cannot believe that I'm the mother of these two beautiful children. I feel so young and yet I'm the one who cares for them and is bringing them up - what a responsibility! I'm proud as can be, but I'm thinking that pride in your children is acceptable! Can't wait to see how he grows up and the woman he'll marry!

LIVELY AMONG THE LILACS

You probably won't believe it, but this was our first year experiencing the Lilac Festival.

I think Mommy enjoyed it most, with the kids tied for 2nd and Daddy in dead last. We should have communicated beforehand about our hopes for the afternoon. Mommy wanted to stay among the blossoms and soak in the smell of the blossoms and Daddy would have enjoyed a nice family walk along the paved path.

Despite our differences we got some cute shots of the kiddos. It was crowded and hard to keep ahold of the two as they wanted to run all over and given that the bushes are on a hill we had some tumbling and rolling with laughter mixed in. "LIVELY AMONG THE LILACS" is how you could describe Lauren and Owen. I think their listening was impaired because their eyes and noses were overstimulated by the vision and fragrance of the lilacs.

Gorgeous Garden Girl!

This year we planted many veggies in our first ever garden. Lauren absolutely loved helping us and didn't mind getting dirty at all. She's our little GORGEOUS GARDEN GIRL and even liked the bugs. She picks up worms and all sorts of critters and get this...she calls them cute. It's a good thing she's willing to handle them because her momma isn't. Wearing boots like her Daddy and willing to "dig" right in, I hope she continues to be helpful all her years long!

Ripley's Acquarium - Myrtle Beach, SC

We enjoyed a wonderful family vacation in April to Myrtle Beach, SC. One of the days on our own we took the kids to Ripley's Acquarium. They both enjoyed it immensely.

SAVED BY THE PHONE

Alright....getting kids to eat their vegetables is a struggle! As an infant and toddler, she ate most all veggies and now as a pre-schooler I can't get her to eat but 1-6 pieces (not bites) total. I've tried a new tactic...you don't get up until you eat 3 (your age). This evening was green beans and it was rough! If you don't know it....Lauren is strong-willed and stubborn! Anyway, she was crying so bad that her dad came down from sleeping upstairs and gave her a talking to. It didn't work. She still had to sit there. Dad went back upstairs and still no progress. Just gagging, whining, you know how it goes. The phone rings....it's Andy's cell number....he asks to speak with Lauren. They talk for some time. I wish he had convinced her to eat her green beans - he didn't. She was SAVED BY THE PHONE and didn't eat the veggies, but she also went straight to bed.

BEAUTIFUL, ISN'T SHE?

Sweet when she wants to be...and BEAUTIFUL, ISN'T SHE??

Disclaimer: Other times-an attitude not so pretty and yet the same gorgeous face.

STUNTS!

Owen is just full of STUNTS!

Again....I'm convinced....boys just get into more and try more! I'm watching Owen's personality blossom and loving the opportunity to see the difference between boys and girls! Get a kick of the things he does. He's quite the climber. I should be more concerned with getting him down, but I have to get a picture. (You understand, right?) The one with the grate shows his ingenuity. He opens the vertical cupboard and grabs out whatever he can and walks around the house with it AND get this....he even puts it back - most times without asking. This picture was just to show you all how incredibly handsome he is!

DARE-DEVIL BIKER TRICKS

Boys sure are different! We got a kick this evening when Owen hopped on his 3-in-1 bike and started rocking. That wasn't all though. He went all out and showed us his DARE-DEVIL BIKER TRICKS by climbing up onto the seat and then by letting go with one and both hands. It's funny....the things you don't have to teach your kids. He's cool stuff and made his Dad proud!

Jerk Chicken Nachos & Asparagus

I really am enjoying my new job, if you can call it that. Being a Pampered Chef consultant has so many perks, not least of which (for me) is that it can help you learn to cook and have recipes galore. JERK CHICKEN NACHOS- Andrew didn't think this was dinner. So they are normally more of an appetizer, but if you want dinner tonight then you'll eat them - and ASPARAGUS. Owen didn't think so much of the asparagus (yes, he's spitting it out). It was actually the first time that I have ever prepared this veggie. It was yummy - we'll keep trying on Owen and Lauren. And well....Lauren enjoys being like Mommy and wanted to cut the lime with the kitchen shears. With supervision - there's no harm! Here's to hoping that my kids learn to eat healthy and don't turn out picky like me!

Get These Shoes Off Me!

Owen began walking on 12/24. He's quite the little motor man and is amazing at stairs. Up to this point we've just had him in those Robeez (slipper-like) shoes. Well, we thought it'd be better to have something a little warmer for his feet this winter. Daddy tried putting his shoes on him and he WAILED like I've never heard before. I laugh now thinking about it, but our little man wanted nothing to do with those sneakers. He kept screaming, "GET THESE SHOES OFF ME!"

Hiding in the Cupboard

Lauren started it you see. She must have recalled from younger days at the old house how she climbed into the cabinet and realized that our newly installed easy reach cabinet was going to be just as much fun (or more because two could fit) to play in. She opened and climbed in first and her brother was right behind her. I wonder if one day when they are playing hide-n-seek if I'll find them HIDING IN THE CUPBOARD??!!

Winter Wonders

Rochester got hit hard with snow on 12/19. Dad went out to snow blow the inches of accumulation off the driveway so we decided to go play in the snow for a bit too. Oh my goodness....the snow was coming down so hard and fast. It was absolutely beautiful though. There is just something about the crisp, whiteness that is breathtaking. And then you have my two gorgeous WINTER WONDERS!

Just to Make you Smile

Have you ever seen a happier baby???? Every time I look at this picture I can't help but crack a huge smile. So...this is Just to Make you Smile!

Rub-a-dub...Two Happy Kids in my Tub

It's so fun to have the kids be able to take baths together now that Owen can sit well on his own. Lauren does very well with him in the tub with her. She's so affectionate with her baby brother and loves to pick him up and hug him.

I'm thankful that they both love bath time! Rub-a-dub...Two Happy Kids in my Tub. They'll look back on these pictures and wonder why I took them, but they are beauties that I'll cherish forever that portray their innocence and sweetness. You can all say, awwwh!

Ten Dollar Bills

Daddy always told Lauren that as soon as she could count to ten that he would give her ten dollars. She had been successful for a couple of days so Daddy had to make good on his promise. Before bedtime on July 6, Daddy handed Lauren Ten Dollar Bills while she counted from 1 to 10. We were so very proud of her! It was adorable that she fanned the money to

flaunt it in her excitement. Then sh

e proceeded to lay them out one-by-one and count really loud, "O...n...e, t...w...o, t...h...r...e...e, etc. This was so much fun and a tangible way for her to realize that we count every day.

Little Sweet Tooth

While I was pregnant, I had such a sweet tooth. Actually for both pregnancies. We don't do it often, but when the Keebler's chip deluxe cookies are on sale I love to buy them. I enjoy dipping the chocolate chip cookies in a glass of milk.



Well....my kiddos also have a Little Sweet Tooth it seems. For snack before bed one night in July we got out the cookies and Owen, despite the fact that his binkie was in, decided that he had to get ahold of those cookies.



He reached and reached and Lauren encouraged him as he nearly jumped out of Daddy's arms and toward the bag on the table. It seemed that no matter how far away we moved it that we was going to climb on the table for it. And he pulled so hard on the package that the plastic torn down the center.

He loved trying just a lick of it on Daddy's lap, but wasn't a happy little guy when we took it away. Poor guy! Just wait for that birthday cake in several months.

Enough Cereal Already...Just Give Me the Good Stuff

Owen is so funny! He does so many things that make us laugh, but his smile alone is enough to light up my world. We started him on rice cereal and oatmeal around 5 months. It wasn't but 2 weeks and he really had the hang of it and was opening his mouth for more. We quickly introduced all of the fruits and vegetables (no, we didn't wait the 3 days in between each one) and he loved all of them. Peas are probably his least favorite.

He'll still tolerate the cereal and baby

food out of a jar, but if he sees something headed for my mouth, in my hand or on my plate...he's reaching for it. Owen will even grunt and make sweet noises extending his arm as far as it will go and opening his mouth wide for added effect. It's as if I can hear him say, "ENOUGH CEREAL ALREADY...JUST GIVE ME THE GOOD STUFF!"

Notice how he grabs right on with

his hands? He's certain that he

wants to get ahold of what we've got.

Before long, little guy, before long!

Miss Pouty Face

My adorable little Lauren is not always so adorable. You see...she's a very strong willed little girl who is committed to her goals and persistent beyond belief. We struggle with disciplining her because nothing seems to work.



Anyway, when you put her strong will and discipline together -- what do you get....MISS POUTY FACE!

We love her so....mean scowl, intense eyes and pouty lips! You know, I wonder if I was anything like her when I was her age?

Let's Dance!

Lauren's really getting into dancing. It's fun to watch her start jumping and twirling around the room. I observe that she likes to watch her reflection in the TV or mirror. It doesn't matter the song, she can boogie to anything. I have to be a little careful though that she doesn't get carried away and step on her brother. This particular day I had to catch her in action because as the song started she wanted to engage Owen (aka Owie)and ran over and grabbed his arms. LET'S DANCE! She gently swayed him side to side and he adoringly smiled up at her. She's quite the entertainer, but sometimes her volume is a little loud. She gets in his face and yells, "Hi, Owie!" She's great with her brother overall. I can't wait to see how they'll interact when they get older. I pray that they are the best of friends!

Ready to go

Cory was visiting New York and we were getting ready to take the kids on a walk to the park. I was running around getting drinks and other items when Cory stopped me and said that Lauren was ready to go. She pointed toward the end of the driveway.

What do you know...Lauren had taken her stroller to the end of the driveway, hopped in and buckled herself. She sat there patiently feeding her baby all READY TO GO. Since when does a child go on ahead and get themselves ready? It made me laugh so. I wish she was as independent and determined when it comes to potty training.