M is for Madness!

     Madness. That's what Saturday was. Just plain madness. First, we had t-ball opening ceremonies at 11am. Then Thing 1 had her very first t-ball game at 1pm. To top off the madness, Thing 2's birthday party was scheduled for 2pm.

     I'm sure you're wondering, "why did you schedule the party for the same Saturday as t-ball?" Well, we didn't know what the t-ball schedule was like until the Thursday before it happened. Needless to say, party invitations went out a long time before that.

     Opening ceremonies went well (even though they were running behind). Thing 1 liked being down on the field waving to everyone. After opening ceremonies, we had a present for each of the girls.

Left - Thing 1 opening her present

Right - Thing 2 opening her present

     They each got a new charm bracelet. On their charm bracelets, were Thing 1 and Thing 2 charms that we got them while we were at Universal.

     Then, it was time to go to Thing 1's first t-ball game! Even though I live in a highly competitive town, they don't keep score or count outs. Every kid gets to bat and every kid gets to run all of the bases. Thing 1 had a blast and actually made it to first base before the other team got the ball there (that was her goal).

     Her game ended at 1:50 and it was time to rush to Thing 2's party. Thing 2 had a great time and was very excited about each present that she opened. She also enjoyed playing with everyone that came to celebrate with her. After the party, she told me "I want them all to come over every day!:

Thing 2 in her tutu.

Cake time!

F is for Family Fun!

   
     Today is Thing 2's birthday. So, we're doing whatever she wants to do. So far, we've danced around the living room, watched Barney and colored.

Thing 2 - one week old

     Right now, they're having ice cream for "lunch". We're really having corn dogs (as per Thing 2's request), but they're having a little bit of ice cream first.

     Later, we're going to go jump on the trampoline and play t-ball. We also have plans to hook up the sprinkler and have a little fun.

     Tomorrow, my cousins and I are taking our kids to play miniature golf. Thing 2 doesn't remember the last time that we went, but I think that she'll really enjoy it. 

Thing 1's 4th Birthday Party

     Thing 1's party was a great success and actually, not that stressful. Mostly what she asked for were Barbies, so she got a LOT of Barbies. Below are a few pictures. She had a great time.

Thing 1 with her Bell cake

Opening presents

Daddy reading her the card

Playing with her new ponies

"The toy I've always wanted!"

Excited about her sandwich cutter

Pinata time!

Thing 2's turn

Playing Barbies with her cousins

Friday Fun? Thing 1's Birthday

     Today was Thing 1's birthday. She woke up very excited. She knew that we were saving presents and cake for her party, but she was very excited about being 4.

     We started the day with breakfast and a few shows on Sprout. After that, we did a few worksheets from her school folder. Then, we played Barbies, had a tea party, and had a tickle war. Basically, we did whatever Thing 1 wanted to do.

     After all of this fun (and tiring) playtime, it's time for lunch. Thing 1 wanted more cereal for lunch. Usually, cereal is only for breakfast, but since it was her birthday, I let both girls have more cereal for lunch. While they were eating, Thing 1 and I had the following conversation.


     Thing 1: Mama, you know how we call people on their birthdays and sing 'Happy Birthday' to them?

     Me: Yes, baby.

     Thing 1: How come no one has called to sing to me?

     Me: I don't know baby.

   
     At this point, I didn't know what to do. So, I changed the subject. I asked her if she wanted to go get a slushy monkey. Of course, her answer was yes. Both girls got purple slushy monkeys. They really enjoyed them. Although, neither girl finished them.

     Now, it was nap time. For some reason, I had a killer headache. I decided that a nap would be good for me too. So we all snuggled in my bed and took a nice long nap. While we were napping, Scout's grandmother did call to wish Thing 1 a happy birthday. She's the only one that called. All day.

     Is it really too much effort for her grandparents to pick up the phone and tell their granddaughter "happy birthday"? I guess that it is, because none of them called. Not 1. That's something that I will always miss about my mom. Birthdays were a big deal. You know, a day to specifically say "I'm glad that you were born." Since Thing 1's first birthday, my mom would come pick her up and take her to a special lunch. She would never not call. And neither of my grandmothers called. Well, not true. My mom's mom, J, called. When she said "I can't believe that she's going to be 4." I said, "Well, she's already 4. Today is her birthday." And do you know what she said?!?! "That's nice." There were a few expletives that came to mind, but I resisted.

     I then took the girls to my high schools homecoming football game. They had a blast playing with my cousin's kids, watching the cheerleaders and seeing the "girls in pretty dresses". Our team won, which they always do.

     So, I spent a lot of the day crying and missing my mom. But, after we got home from the game and enjoyed a brownie, Thing 1 declared that this was "the best birthday ever!".

2 weeks worth of updates

     I have more time for an update now. But it's been a crazy 2 weeks.

     Thing 2 is doing great. We have another follow-up on Thursday just to make sure that we're in the clear. Other than that, she's her normal, hyper, daredevil self.

     Scout's grandfather passed away on October 2nd. His services were Oct. 7th (rosary) and 8th (mass). I didn't go to the rosary. I have never been to one. I couldn't say a Hail Mary to save my life (too cheesy?) and (according to Scout) "there is no way that the kids would sit still for an hour and a half of the same thing, over and over again." The mass was beautiful. The girls were awesome. Thing 1 sat and chatted quietly with two of Scout's cousins (they are 12 & 10) and Thing 2 stared at the millions of ceiling fans in that sanctuary. The girls got a little crazy playing at the lunch. But after an hour car ride and a mass and military honors that totaled more than an hour and a half, who can blame them? After 3 hours of sitting, I didn't want to sit anymore either...lol

     We also took the girls fishing. They love fishing! Well, let me clarify. They love casting. They love the thrill of catching something and reeling it in. They aren't so excited about the fish themselves. They also love to catch more fish than Daddy.

Thing 1 and one of her fish

Me and Thing 2 with one of her fish
(I made the background blurry so that the other kid's face wouldn't be recognizable)

     Lastly, my baby brother turned 3 on the 8th. It was hard because it was his first birthday since our mom passed away. I'm not going to lie, between the funeral and Little Man's birthday, I spent all day the 8th crying. Luckily, we had his party on the 9th. He was so cute. Any time he opened a present that was in a box, he would say "What's this?!?" We did a Thomas and Friends party, so he also spent a large amount of time saying "Look! Trains!"