Smiles

Parents Just Don't Understand

Lucy is 3 going on 13. She talks to me as if she is a teenager, but only when Kevin is out of the house. She hates to do anything to disappoint him, so I guess she takes it all out on me. The other day at Walmart she threw a fit because I told her she couldn't have another coloring book. We got home and I asked her if she wanted to tell Daddy about her tantrum. She replied, "No Mom, I don't think Daddy would like to hear about it."

Fast forward to this afternoon. Kev was playing golf, I was trying to get her to take a nap. She was acting like a baby and I told her so.

With hands on her hips, tears in her eyes, she cried, "I AM 3 YEARS OLD. I AM NOT A BABY."

This went on and on. She is rudely telling me that she isn't tired, doesn't want to take a nap, etc. She storms away towards our bedroom, stops in the little hallway, stares me down and says,

"Mom, you just don't understand." I am sure that this is a phrase that I will hear hundreds, if not thousands more times.

At this point, I was having a hard time keeping my composure. Sure, I was mad at her attitude, but it was just too funny. She was so tired and I knew that was fueling the fire. Before she finally settled down she said,

"I'm running away." Again, I'm sure I'll hear this many more times as well.

Bubbles!

Kevin took the girls to Lawrence this weekend for some time with the grandparents, so he could play golf and I could, well, just hang out. As much as I hate being away from my babies (all 3 of them) I do cherish the time I get alone...at home. I get lots of free time away from home alone, but there is something really nice about getting to hang out in your own house alone.

On Friday, Mom and I went small town shopping. We had a few little stores that we wanted to check out and they weren't worth our time. But I struck gold at the flea market store on the same block. I was able to score a Strawberry Shortcake juice glass for Lucy, an electronic Disney princess alphabet book and the best of all...A Little Mermaid bubble blower! It is the coolest thing! I was going to wait to give it to her, but I was too excited! So, I bribed her tonight with it to take a bath! You put bubble solution in the little shell, then Ariel's hand moves down and dips the wand, then she blows bubbles! I really need to learn to how download video to show this! Lucy loved it and didn't want to get out of the tub!

The Carnival comes to town

Our town had its annual Fall Festival this weekend. It is like a mini fair. There are rides, games, crafts, food and there was even a parade Saturday morning. We missed the parade this year, but I am going to mark the calendar for it next year! We managed to head out Saturday evening to enjoy the beautiful weather, and to let Lucy ride the rides! She saw them being brought into town and has been looking forward to it! She was really looking forward to the big Ferris Wheel, but I think she got a tad nervous about exactly how big it was...and the lines were long, so we happily skipped that one! She did ride the kiddie rides over and over though. Her favorites are the ones that let her go high in the air, and of course the carousel! She rode them all by herself too!

One this ride, she rode on the elephant and then rode the dragon about 4 more times!

Checking out her ride all you want wristband!!

She wouldn't stop talking and giggling with her friend from school and the Y for me to take her picture! It was so funny, we didn't know the little girl, but I thought she looked familiar and then Lucy told us all about who she was!

We also played some games....only because Lucy saw the CareBear that she has been wanting. She has told everyone that she wanted Share Bear from her movie. So, of course that was the biggest prize on this game. The game was where you pick up 3 ducks that have numbers on the bottom and you add the numbers together for a prize. You can keep playing and adding numbers till you get the prize you want. Lucy's CareBear needed 90 points! She kept handing her tokens to the lady and picking up the ducks as fast as she could from the little river. Finally, after 5 tries she got enough points! She was so excited, and Share Bear has been the center of play today!

Rub-a-Dub-Tub

Lucy loves to help give Laney a bath. Laney loves to stare at her sis.

Trying to capture a smile. Will try again!

Rain, Rain Go Away

As of 2:30 pm Friday afternoon, we had received right around 6.5 inches of rain, with more in the forecast. My school let out early, encouraging parents to come pick up their children, as the district didn't want to put kids on the buses if they didn't have to. The roads were horrible, most people have to try 2-3 different routes to make it home. One of my friends is flooded in her neighborhood. All the roads in and out are closed. Our town was only accessible by 2 ways...neither of them very convenient. This evening we went out just to see how much water there was (and so I could take pictures to blog). We ventured out to pick up pizza, but not in our town because the carryout time was 2 1/2 hours...and the guy wasn't sure it was safe to actually get to their parking lot.

This is someone's backyard.

Dirt road...currently a river.

The entrance to a parking lot

As he drove further, the water got deeper.

Don't think they'll be playing soccer in the morning...maybe water polo?

This truck is for sale. There were 2 smaller cars there this morning, they may have floated away.

Sign says it all.

Three Months

Look at me! I'm three months old now! Mom and Dad decided to open up my new exersaucer! I'm still a little small for it, but I love looking at all the cute things! And of course, I love that it is PINK! Although, I do have to share with my sister....she loves to play with it too!

Work....

I went back to work this week. Just Thursday and Friday. It was ok. Overwhelming is a good word to describe my feelings. I missed my girls like crazy. I hated leaving in the morning while they were still sleeping and coming home when they were napping. The only positive is that they are always with Kevin or my mom.

Since I went back to work, it meant Kev's work got a little tougher too. He had his first days of being home all day with both girls. I think he was a little overwhelmed too.

We've decided that we each have to think of each other when I'm at work. I have to think that he has been away from us for weeks at a time during baseball season. He has to think that I have been home with the girls for weeks at a time during baseball season. It all works out.

The Special Spot

Our fridge has a great little spot in the door for keeping...well, I guess I'm really not sure what it is for. However, Lucy's cups fit in the door perfectly. We try to keep a cup of milk and water in there all the time, so she can get it if we are busy (Lucy is not always patient).

Today, Kevin and I were sitting on the couch watching football and feeding Laney and Lucy was supposed to be resting in her room. We hear her footsteps, she goes straight to the fridge, opens the door, gets her milk, closes it and returns to her room. She never even said a word. It is so cute to watch her do things by herself....even if it means she is growing up.

Licking the Spoon...

and the bowl...and her fingers after sticking her hand in the brownies!

Lucy loves to bake things. Yesterday, we (I) decided to make brownies. Lucy got up on her stool and helped me poor the oil, water and eggs into the bowl and then helped me stir it all up. I think she only likes to help so that I'll let her lick the spoon and bowl. She also loves to sneak her finger into the pan to get one last taste of the batter before it goes off into the oven. I think she likes the batter more than the actual brownie. We certainly enjoyed our brownies with vanilla ice cream last night, and can't wait for more tonight!