Christmas wishes already

Piper has been saying "I want that" to every toy commercial she sees - imagine that? Well for the past few weeks I've mentioned that she should remember the things she "wants" for Christmas ideas. This evening she brought me a piece of paper and a marker and told me to write some things down for her. I didn't make any suggestions, just dictated her wishes. She'd like some games and something else and the sweetest things she wished for was a trip to Chuck E Cheese and to stay with Grandma and Papa and go to Florida. What a little sweetie.

Potty training?????

So I got a wild hair to try out some potty training today just to see if Reagan would respond. We have never had cleaner floors, they have been fully scrubbed a few times today but just a few minutes ago Reagan (while actually wearing a diaper) sat on her potty and looked upset so I took her diaper off and she sat back down and pee'd a little. Wow! Now if I can buckle down and actually follow through maybe there is hope for early training. We will see, this is NOT my favorite thing to do but I am hopefully that I can give it a good try while she's in a cooperative stage.

We're in trouble now

I'll have to get a picture but Reagan has started climbing. She figured out that she could climb onto the kitchen chairs today and help herself to Piper's food (after she's done eating her own). With her new skills of course there are new slips and bumps. Her forehead finally healed from bumping Piper's dresser and then she tumbled down a few of the stairs just a few days ago and got a new goose egg and bruise.

I have been telling Piper for months now that once Reagan can climb we are in trouble, she won't be able to keep any of her things out of Reagan's reach. Now she's going to have to really make sure her markers and crayons are put away. More work for both Piper and Mommy.

Another beautiful day of fun!!

The girls and I decided to enjoy the gorgeous weather today. Mom invited us out to her house and we went to lunch and then over to the park and beach to play. We played in the sand for an hour and then headed over to the park, we were outside all day and it was so nice. On the way back to Mom's we stopped at Licks for some ice cream to complete our day. Thanks Mom, we all had a lot of fun!

When we showed up there was a bulldozer leveling out the beaches, he left mounds and tracks, perfect to play in!
this is the prettiest park with the lake in the background
Reagan was in rock heaven!
"funny face" had to come out for pictures


all 3 of us enjoyed the seesaw
No lifeguards were on duty so Piper and Grandma took a turn - Piper was terrified to be up that high and wanted down immediately, she's white knuckling it here

1st week of school done!

Well Piper finished her 1st week at her new preschool. She loves it and had a great time all week (except for the egg). I decided to have a fun Friday and took the girls to the zoo since it was relatviely nice outside. We decided to take a path we haven't taken before and found the farm. We got to see a milking demonstration and then baby calves, pigs, goats, chickens, and rabbits.

Reagan has had a pretty rough week adjusting to the new schedule. She's been hinting at one nap per day so I thought we'd start it out while Piper's at school. We drop her off and come home to nap until it's time to pick her back up. It works great for me but Reagan is really ready to nap around 11:45 and I have to keep her awfully busy until 12:40 when we get home.

Saturday, Jason and I decided to take the girls to the IMAX theatre for a 3-D movie. Piper didn't want to wear her glasses at first but then she got the hang of the idea and was reaching up to grab things flying at her. It was pretty funny. Reagan made it through the entire 90 minute movie, just supply her with snacks and she's pretty content. I have never seen a 3-D movie and wasnt' sure how I'd make it since I get motion sick so easily. I came out feeling pretty good but as the day went on my head starting killing me. I liked it but don't think I'll sign myself up to go back anytime soon.

Piper on the tractor
Reagan watching Piper on the tractor
Piper holding down a table for us
Piper's new friend Gabbi, it was Gabbi's 3rd birthday and she was going to Chuck E Cheese for dinner, Piper was so jealous, I think she wanted to crash the party.

Humpty Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty..... Piper had to bring a hard boiled egg to school today. I think I built up her protecting the darn thing a little too much. At school they played Humpty Dumpty and tossed their eggs off the wall. Well Piper brought her egg home, her teacher said that it looked like she was going to cry so she let her keep it intact. Well it made it home and we took pictures of the cute little "she" egg......

here she is, a proud egg Mommy
Ooops - I knocked it out of her hand by accident and all he!! broke loose. She was so upset, poor little thing. I had to agree to make more this weekend but I warned her that it was going to be egg salad sandwhiches. We will see how that goes.

Another 1st day of preschool

Piper had another 1st day of school today. This time she's enrolled in a really great preschool here in Bloomington. Her teacher said while she was one of the youngest she kept up really great and they didn't need to scale anything back to a lower level (I think she was just talking about art mainly). That's what a Mom wants to hear. Go Piper go! She was so excited to put on her backpack and she just ran right up and into class. It was not at all like the old school where I had to walk her in and give her extra reassurance and then she would have to run to the window to wave goodbye.

She even smiled nicely and didn't do her "funny face". What a cutie!
And Miss Reagan, she decided to head butt Piper' dresser right before we went to school, she wanted a nice new bruise to celebrate Piper's 1st day. This is such a rare photo of her smiling, I rarely catch her smile in pictures.

A day with Papa Miller and Jill

We went out to Dad's house on Sunday and enjoyed some sunshine down by the lake. Piper and I went out on the jet ski for a nice long ride while Reagan dunked her head in the lake and decided that wasn't as much fun as sitting on the stairs throwing rocks. Piper spent the night and was spoiled rotten. They went to the park, ice cream shop and saw a movie. The next day she got to go swimming again and got to pick out treats at the store before coming home and going to bed at 6:30. I think she was worn out from all the fun. I just love it when they get to have some one on one time with anyone, especially Grandparents, I wish I could have a day where I could say yes to every request. Maybe someday when I have grandchildren of my own, or a niece or nephew.

"funny face" and "silly pants" are the names Piper's created for herself and Reagan
too cute!

She loves her barbie poll but I think I loved it more, it was so much fun to throw the line out and catch a fish within seconds only to reel it in and have my Dad take the fish off and get me all set up for more. We filled a bucket of sunnies etc for bear bait.
such a serious toddler

misc

I know, I know, I go weeks without updating this and then I put everything up at once. These are just misc recent photos

This morning I finally got out and into the garden we've neglected all summer long. I pulled more crabgrass than vegetables. We have 3 tall broccoli plants without any broccoli - hmmm? We did pull about 10 carrots (big crop, I know) and a bunch of beets. I also pulled our peas as they have been dead for weeks now and saw a couple of beans sprouting so at least we'll get some new beans before the season is done.
the girls had so much fun digging in the dirt
Saturday morning we had some art time, as you can see below Reagan decorated her face. She was pretty neat until I showed her that she can use her hands. I showed her this and then left Dad in charge while I showered. Lucky Daddy, he has all the fun!

more coloring time with Papa Lonny
my final cake for course 2. We made the flowers from Royal icing and let them dry and then we learned the basket weave technique and placed our flowers on top. I missed a week so I didn't have as many flowers but I think there were plenty, I just wish I had a bigger variety of colors.

more cabin photos

Piper driving the boat
Reagan didn't really "enjoy" the ride but she didn't cry the entire time eitherNate and Harley - I think this was Harley's 1st boat ride
a rare picture of her looking at the camera, Reagan smiles all the time but it's hard to catch that on film
"look Mom, see my rock"
Reagan will sit and relax with anyone but Mommy

my happy girls

Cabin weekend with friends

August 22-25, we had the opportunity to go up to the cabin with Heather, Brant and Aydan and Nate, Lisa and Harley. It was pretty cool outside but still beautiful and sunny. The kids all had a lot of fun.

Aydan loved the elephant
the kids all lined up for lunch, we had a little assembly line going
even though it was cold Piper and Aydan went for an impromtu skinny dip after dinner one night
Aydan getting her diaper changed, I was in charge of distraction for her Mommy

Harley's 1st 4-wheeler ride
they are so easily entertained at this age, they had a lot of fun playing in the sand
both Heather and Brant had a rare minute to sit down at the same time

Piper was sharing her snacks