0 degrees and counting

Here's a picture of a just awakened Madee, with her best Daddy face on. Her hair even looks like his bedhead!

I love those lips.

Again with the lips. Showcasing her "I am so cool" posture.
She leans in to things.
And really settles in.
She just seems so grown up now.
We hit a quarter merry go round at the mall. Only it costs a dollar.

So we got the family's money's worth.

The Hygiene Queen just after a bath.

Head suds.


Oh this smile is to die for.

She gives a lot of good face lately...



and oh that hair!Happy Birthday GrandDaddy!

Fun with Friends

So today we went to the Gymnastics Academy here in Duluth for open Preschool Play Gym. It was AWESOME!

Look at all these friends!

The time is alotted for kids 0 to 6, so both of the girls had so much fun! Madee got to run around and jump on a trampoline and play in a foam pit, and Eden practiced crawling all over stuff.


And baby push ups!
We also learned that when Madee gets nervous she takes her clothes off.

I don't even think she was hot, and I kept showing her the other kids who were wearing clothes and explaining that is just how things are done outside the house.

Although it did make her the cutest kid there.

There were all sorts of bounce stations and fun and kids running around. What a great way to spend some time and energy! It has been a while since they have been well enough to play with others, so it was long over due.

Even though it -7 degrees when we pulled into the parking lot.

You have no idea the drama, trauma, and crazy mama that goes on trying to get these 2 in and out of clothing and cars and buildings.

It is seriously a lot of physical and mental stress to keep everybody pulled together and usually, at least one of us is crying.

It is also fun being the novelty mom that just moved here from Southern California. Oh the looks I get! Mamas just can't believe I would even agree to something like coming here in January.

Yes I said -7 degrees this morning.

As in feels like -22.

Like I could tell the difference!
Here's Eden's home workout...obviously I figured out video again.

Cute little monkey!

Crayola Vendetta

So sweet for an art supply assassin...

I don't get it. I seriously don't understand her problem with crayon tips, her play-do and chalk food cravings, her need to suck the dirty water off the watercolor paintbrush.

It grosses me out.

But mostly it makes me crazy.

I didn't really have to share art supplies when I was a kid, since my sisters were born after I was 13, and I am not good at it. I want my own.

Of course every time I buy my own anything she finds it and it disintegrates in her fingers. She is a master of seeing something that wasn't there before.

Yesterday we went to Shopko and spent some of Madee's birthday money on art supplies and inside fun. I was so excited to show her the new color pencils and crayons and paints, because she seriously loves that kind of stuff.

Within minutes we were in time out. Not for eating the goods, but for eating them after I had just told her not to. At least 5 times. Everybody has their breaking point.

Anyway the awesome thing is she is just attracted to and hungry for my make up.

Everything she touches breaks. Even my brain.
Not that it was as sharp as those brand new crayons.

Oh, and can you see that new tooth on top? It loves crayons too. Only she doesn't get a hold of my crayons.
She is too busy giving Madee's a taste of her own waxy medicine!
And the fighting begins!

Bananas

Eden LOVES to eat. She has been having yo baby yogurt and avocados and bananas lately. She also had Madee's roast beef sandwich yesterday.

She loves Zeus.

He loves her back.

She loves having her sister jump on her belly and give her tickles. They roll on the floor laughing.

She loves being cute.

She also loves sharing.
All of YOUR stuff.

and she can't wait to make fun of Madee's plumber crack.

Max and Ruby

I can't stand that show. Ruby is so bossy and Max hardly ever talks and little bunny voices are annoying.

Says me.

However, Madee is over there CRACKING THE HECK UP in a building laughter that culminates in a wild obnoxious cackle and ends with "Oh Max, max MAX! ha ha Max and Booby!"

And I am SO reminded of myself.
Watching AFV.
During an awesome "large people trying to parasail" montage.

Of course when I want to get a picture of her this is all the enthusiasm she can muster.


No, seriously. That is the enthusiastic picture.

MInnesota

So I have to say that Minnesota has been rather warm compared to what I expected. It snowed all day today, and strangely enough it was still like 34 degrees and a lot like Tahoe snow.

Madee just had to get out for some play time with Dad.
Eden is getting over a cold, so we stayed in the truck and played Beastie Boys Album Cover.

Almost there. Cause Eden in so in your FACE!

Nice one...

Finally figured out

After a lot of struggling...

here are some pictures I have not been able to download for a week or so. Madee of course, had her birthday right before we left Tahoe, and she thinks cakes are the best part of birthdays for sure.
And she also loves baths finally. But still isn't keen on the whole hair washing thing...

Every picture I took during this bath, Eden had the same face, like she was just a little super imposed image.

She often looks a little worried during bathtime with Madee, since Madee really enjoys washing her hair, and she isn't so keen on that, just like her sister.


Pretty doe eyes.
Madee on the road in South Dakota. She is such a good traveler.

Eden's sweetie face. She is a good traveler too.


Sometimes we stop to get out for giggles and kisses.

Her hair is growing like crazy and has lots of wave in it like her dad. But she is getting closer to my color.
Dad's hot
Shoulder rides. (Same cow lick.)
Ear bites.
Seriously. Dad's hot.

Ariel Panties

More Potty News

Oh yeah.
2 times last night.
2 times this morning.

And today will be spent with no pants!

She is sitting at her potty now with the books I outfitted her station with.

She really loves being a big girl, and I don't think I have been this excited about anything EVER!

I even scared Eden during this morning's celebration.

I can't even tell you how cool she is!
I can't wait to pull ups and panties!

THIS JUST IN!

Oh I can't believe it!

Madee just went pee in her little frog potty for the first time EVER!
How freaking cool is that?

Potty is something we talk about all the time, but there has never been any pressure WHATSOEVER. It just isn't a rush for me.

So I think it is cool that she is just up and did it.

Such a big girl.

She rocks my world.

She's 2!

I can't believe it.
2 is awesome.

Sure she is loud and screamy and unreasonable sometimes.

But she's my sunshine.
You should hear her play the harmonica. She knows colors and some letters and she knows people's names.

She knows what things are, how things work, and she is such a great big help to her little sister.

She's a great partner in crime, loves chinese food, and runs like a goofball on purpose. She loves friends, loves to swing and play and is a conscientious caregiver to her baby dolls.

She growls like a tiger a lot - even sometimes she just talks with her growl voice, which is one of my absolute favorite things.
She's a headbutter, a hard snuggler, a song singer and a movie kisser.

I couldn't have dreamed up a more adorable person...(I say as she screams her head off in tenacious rage for having to put on clothes.)

We love her. Every little bit.

Stuff

Cute little face

Cutest toddler ever.sweetest dessert i ever made
coolest 1 year old on the 'ground until tomorrow!

coolest 35 year old on the playground

coolest sitter upper

Madee's little friend Anya


You have no idea how long it has taken me to upload these few pictures.

I would go into the details of the stupid laptop cursor, the intermittent internet connection, the screaming kids, the traveling all over CA, the moving to MN, packing up, tying up loose ends, selling things on craigslist, returning things our freinds' have left here, not to mention runny noses, coughs and aches, irritable-ness, and occasional angry outbursts - but we don't really need to do that, do we?

Let me tell you about how the stupid cursor for some reason keeps moving, deleting pictures, and royally hecking me off.

Technology is not my friend as of late. And I could seriously care less.
My phone isn't even working.

I feel obligated to let you know I am okay.

But when I am on a computer or the internet I am NOT okay - I am frustrated, hurried, screamed at by small children.

It has become the stupidest thing in the world, and I cannot even tell you.

Because of this stupid cursor.

Besides. My kids don't like the internet, and could care less if Mommy has time for it.

So blame it on the selfish kids for preferring me to play with them.

Now, onto more adorable kid pictures.
And if I loved you before, I still love you.
I just have no time right now.

I only have time for this.

I love the way her hair turned out this time.

This little Eden is still quite a goofball.

When I was pregnant with her, I couldn't wear anything tight - even a belt on a robe - without her kicking at it like it bothered her.

She still hates pants. She gets mad at anything that isn't super comfy.

She is so grabby now. You can't have anything in front of her without her trying to grab it and squeeze it to death. Like, keep your kittens away from Eden.

She grabs Zeus forehead skin and pulls until you can't see his eyes anymore.

We always hurt the ones we love.

She is all about togetherness, and prefers alot of 'sit in your lap' time. If she is playing happily on the floor, and turns around to see Madee in my lap, she starts crying.


All more of why I don't do the internet lately.

She is also mega-close to crawling and really making me unavailable.


Anyway, I have endured through this hecking cursor issue and let me tell you it hasn't been easy.

By the way, Madee is pretty fluent in English now. Sometimes I don't know what she is saying but if she is repeating you, she is good at it.

Ergo the "hecking".

Just doing our part to make sure the other kid's moms will still want to invite Madee and Eden over despite their wacky parents!

I am also having video issues, so I can't share the live stuff.
It is sad to be you. It is some really cute stuff.
I will work on it when I get a chance.
Ha.