Call him the Pied Piper...

Rays of Sunshine

Lately my job has become a little more stressful - more responsibility, more to do, more projects, and more people to 'follow-up on'.  I knew last night I was stressed from work, so we played outside and enjoyed the nice weather instead of immediately starting our 'routine' when we got home.  That put the girls to bed a little later than normal, equaling a slower start this morning.  I knew today would be as stressful, if not more, than yesterday, so I decided to savor a little of my funny-bunnies this morning...hoping to post and look at their picture throughout the day today in order to keep my sanity.

Oh yeah - matching skirts, coats, shoes - and Harvard t-shirts I picked up last week while in Boston.

Tumble Upon

Last evening was parent's night at Taylor's tumbling class. She really enjoys the class, and it was interesting to see how she interacts with kids that she doesn't see everyday (not like the kids at school).  She was still talkative, but also not forceful.  That may not make sense, but this is the situation.  There is another girl who is ALL about the tumbling (so is her momma) and she would finish her turn and basically 'cut' back into line in front of anyone who wasn't right there ready.  Not necessarily her fault because she was super eager, but it was interesting to see Taylor be so patient, wait for her name to be called and not complain if someone went ahead of her.

Ribbon Dancer

During 'Stretching' where Taylor was constantly talking

Little Sis cheesing it up.  She did a great job sitting and watching the class for 45 minutes.  Totally goofy mood.

On the balance beam

Ribbon dancing again.  I should try and remove the hands of whomever was in front of us.

Sitting with the class waiting for their certificates

Miss T on the podium all by herself. She told me later the only part she didn't like was when everyone had to clap for her by 'her own'.  Still a little shy I guess.  She still loves tumbling though, and we've already signed her up for the next round.   Good Job Taylor, we are so proud of you!!

Wired....

I don't know why, but I am completely awake right now.  It doesn't make sense, because I was up most of last night with Connor as she fights what seems to be 4 new teeth coming in at once.  Maybe I had too much caffeine today in anticipation that I would be struggling at 7:00, or maybe I'm just getting used to living on 4 hours of interrupted sleep a day.  Who knows, but I've got a lot of pictures to show ya....

Taylor helped my mom decorate Valentine's Day cookies....and mostly eat a lot of the icing.

That same weekend we went to a Japanese Steakhouse for dinner and had a great time.  Not only was it a first for the girls, but also for Andy.  We all really enjoyed our 'chef' (not sure if that is really what he was called) and the food was really good.  

Taylor and my dad laughing at the 'chef' making her shrimp.  Every time he would put food on the girls' plates, he would call them 'Shrimp Baby' or 'Chicken Baby'. So fitting....

HEY!  They can play together for short spurts now without fighting. Sometimes.

Yep - Chicken Baby.

And Shrimp Baby.

Oh, how nice of Grandma to let them have a picnic of warm chocolate-chip cookies on her light colored carpet.  

Taylor has been taking a tumbling class through our Parks and Rec department.  She loves it...she is also one of the youngest in the class, but clearly not the smallest.  The two other girls on the beam with her are about to turn four.  Next week is 'parent's night', where I get to sit in the room and take pictures or video as much as I want.  Hope to have lots more footage of T in action.

 This weekend my mom treated the girls (and I) to the circus.  They loved it....Taylor was SO serious while she watched the trapeze artists.  But she declared that the 'Rapeze' was her favorite part.  And yes, Connor shed her shoes and socks about 2 minutes after we set down.  She felt right at home.

 I look a little dazed and confused in this picture - it must have been all the light up swords/butterflies/wands.

 Connor loved the 'Dog Show'.  The Dog Lady cracked me up (think Kirstie Alley in a yellow & pink sateen suit, parading dogs around in a circle - making them jump over/through/around each other...)  Connor was too cute adamantly clapping for the 'ogs'.

 Taylor rode an elephant!  By herself! Unfortunately, I was at such an odd angle with the other people/cords/circus apparatus that I was never able to get her face above or around the bar.

After the elephant ride...very happy.  

The girls all loving on Grandma at the end of the circus.  They even behaved excellently.  Thanks for the fun day Grandma!

Picture shuffle....

This is the most random sampling of pictures....














Look at all of these mini-cupcakes we made for the girls' Valentine Day parties. Each topped with a pink-strawberry heart marshmallow. I am sure all of the other parents were reeeeeallly happy with me.














In the bath --Connor thought Taylor's silly faces were hilarious.














One of Taylor's Valentines included a mini watercolor kit.  She enjoyed it - but I forgot to take the after picture where she was entirely covered in the water color water and paint.  I'm sure you can imagine...

Snow Days

In the last two weeks, we've had 3 snow days. I've been able to work from home (mostly) during these snow days and stay home with the girls...but trying to work and give the girls the attention they need is quite a struggle. To help offset the time that I had to be focused on work and not playing, we did try to do some fun things...
















We baked cookies late at night, after bedtime. Connor didn't/couldn't make it that late - so it was just T & I cooking/eating.






While I had to be on conference calls, I pretty much just let the girls destroy/play with whatever they could in the living room while I was able to work and watch them.

Aunt Lisa made the girls these aprons - they both enjoyed wearing them while we made pasta one night - good news, the stains came right out :)

Finally, Taylor was able to play in the snow.  The first week of snow, I couldn't let them get out in it because they were both fighting ear infections.  Last week was a rough one for Connor - she wasn't able to go to school at all, due to a 'viral temperature' and still lingering ear infection.  She did a lot of clinging to me like a leach for about 20 hours of the day.  She seems to be so much better now, no more fever - back at school and we are all sleeping again! 

OH and finally... I helped Taylor paint her toenails one night, and she asked if she could paint Andy's. Without hesitation, he peeled off his socks and told her to go for it.  He is now sporting 10 sparkling blue toenails :)

A Baptism and A Snow Storm

 The second weekend of January, we set out on a road trip to Minneapolis for cousin Anya's baptism.  We left ON TIME (I know!) and only stopped once, halfway there.  Great trip up...the girls did great.

We stopped at Lego Land when we arrived....it wasn't near as 'hands-on' as I remember it being, but Taylor sure did love this Giant Woody!

The Wagner's and the Godparents of Anya.

A reeeeeally tired girl that semi-behaved during mass.  If she only knew all the snow that was falling at our house while she was inside.

As our good friend Marc would say, when you travel always pack your swim trunks.  Well, Andy & the girls were successfull at that.  I apparently managed to pack only my top, so no swimming for me.  I also managed to completely leave my wallet and the cash I had withdrawn specifically for travel at home on the kitchen table.  It, and 8 inches of snow, were both waiting for me when we got back.