TGIF!

I am so glad it is Friday. Hurray! Usually we have "Family Fun Night" on Fridays, but tonight we are double dating with old-friends-that-we-haven't-seen-in-ages. I'm super excited about it.

Last week's "Family Fun Night":

We made homemade blueberry muffins and egg puffs.

Alaina loved rice cereal right away, she didn't love butternut squash so much.
We played cards (golf).
Lainey played with her ball.

Liz loves this card game. I love that she can play with little or no help from us.

Last Saturday we also had a "Family Fun Day" at the American History Museum. Loved it.

BLING

Today I got a gold crown. That's right GOLD. I have total mouth bling now.

It all started a little over a year ago when I had to have a root canal (luckily between pregnancies). I was 30 and I kept thinking "welcome to your thirties." I thought stuff like this wouldn't happen until my forties or fifties. Oh well.

So, December 2007 I had root canal and then a month later I bit into a chip cluster (several melded together) and part of my tooth fell off. FELL OFF like I was a freakin meth-head!

What followed was a year of a partial tooth and fillings that fell out every few months--the last one was this Christmas. Then, the decision to get a crown, an afternoon in the dental chair during which my new dentist wanted to chat about jewelery and marvelled over "the tiniest 'temporary' (tooth) ever" as she made it, and today, the whole saga finished (I hope) with the crown. I wish that I had been able to prevent the problematic cavity in the first place, but it is what it is and mostly I'm grateful. As I laid for hours in the dental chair alternately examining random details around me--the dentist's eye makeup, hygienist's earrings, speckled ceiling tiles, fingerprints and splatters on the overhead light--I thought, I am so grateful for dental professionals and advances technology and insurance and babysitters and whatnot. I'm pretty sure when I was a kid the dentist didn't numb my gums before sticking the needle into to further numb my gums. Even just that Q-tip with numbing gel is a blessing.

And, I'm hoping to help my little girls avoid my dental fate (just as my mother did with me). So far so good. Alaina especially likes having her gums brushed (giggles and smiles).

On another note, how cute is this?!

I love that Lizzie loves to feed Alaina:

How did this happen?

Today I decided that it's time to get rid of Lizzie's badly scuffed up shoes because they're gross and I'm pretty sure her toes are about to break through the front of her favorite pair of sparkly pseudo-tennis shoes. The shoes are horribly worn out, but Liz wants to keep them because "they are beautiful and I want to look at them." No go. Goodbye to these: As we were rummaging through her shoes I was a little surprised to see just how many she has. Twelve remaining pairs! Not counting the black Sunday shoes and sparkle flip flops that I could not find. Also not counting her water shoes, slippers, cleats, tap shoes (borrowed at least), ballet slippers, ski boots, and too-big cowgirl boots that are meant for dress ups, but often get worn out-of-the-house because she loves them so much. I keep thinking. 12+ pairs!? How did this happen? All I can think it SALES. I'm a sucker for sales.

And Drew is a sucker for Vans. Last week when he let Liz pick out a pair of shoes, he did so after he had already bought some Vans for each of his little girls:

They are definitely not necessary, but Andrew was sure excited about them and now we can teach Liz how to tie shoes. Plus, I think this pair for Alaina . . .

will be easier to put on than the pair we bought for Lizzie when she was baby:

Tie shoes for a one year old? What were we thinking?!

Yesterday's Playdate

Yesterday Lizzie had her friend, Jordan, over. Together they played ponies and dolls and mommy/daughter, and had a tea party with popcorn, water, and goblets full of raspberry jello.

Then, Jordan put on some roller skates and Lizzie put on her snow skis and tried to "skate" around the apartment. I was surprised Lizzie could put them on (and take them off) by herself. Yesterday was the first time she has used her new skis at all (first time even trying them on). Hopefully she can use them in snow soon.

Back to Normal

Things are pretty much back to normal (though the apartment is still recovering--it's hard to keep up with housework when the kiddos are sick). Andrew's back and Alaina is no longer sick. I thought RSV would last LONGER and I'm sooo glad it hasn't.

The Trip

Last week while I was dealing with RSV, plumbing, and school projects (and having a wonderful visit from my mom), Andrew was enjoying his annual ski trip:

He looks forward to this trip all year and he had a fabulous time. Great company. Recently updated cabin. Multiple resorts. Lots of snow. Family. I'm jealous of the cabin and family time, but I'm really glad Drew had such a good time. Love ya Babe.

Typical Liz

Monday night we went to the mall and Lizzie came home with new shoes. I heard her saying to Drew as I slipped off to diaper Alaina, "I want to try on shoes. It's fun." What?! When I returned Liz was picking a pair to purchase. Andrew said she could get one. Naturally she tried to get away with one style in two colors. So diva.

Tuesday morning Lizzie wanted to wear the new shoes. Drew cut the tags and Liz decided that the now-virtually-unreturnable shoes felt "weird" and refused to wear them. So, after a succession of time outs we got Liz, teary-eyed and tardy, but in the new shoes, to school. There was such DRAMA and it was all so familiar (having played out with multiple pairs of shoes, socks--oh the daily sock issues!--tights, dresses, jeans, shirts, and hairstyles).

After school when I picked her up she bounced happily into the van and said, "Mommy, I love my new shoes. Can I wear them again tomorrow?" So typical it made me laugh.

It reminds me of when we had to force feed her the first bite of baby food at nearly every feeding. She would scream for a second then lick her lips (finally tasting the food), smile, and ask for more. We had no idea then what we were in for (and still don't, I'm sure).

V Day

Nana left yesterday. We were sad to see her go, but glad she could spend some time with Papa on Valentines Day.

An hour after Nana left Lizzie missed her. They had some fun times together (and I had some much-needed breaks).Since Drew wasn't around for Valentines I spent the evening helping Lizzie make and deliver some treats to a few friends. It reminded me of when I was little kid and we left cards on our neighbor's doorsteps.

I figured Drew and I would celebrate when he got back, but while he has been gone he has surprised me with daily love notes and some treats and presents hidden all over the apartment. Each morning I couldn't wait to check my email to see where to look next. "Look in the cooler in the hall closet." "Look behind the Barnes Family picture in the front room." "Look between Lainey's changing table and the wall."

.

This has definitely been one of my most memorable and favorite Valentines to date. The other Valentines day we were apart was memorable too. It was our first one as a couple and I was in Israel. Andrew managed to get me flowers and a phone call. So sweet. In general I prefer to be together for the holiday, but being apart every now and then isn't too bad. This year it forced us be more creative and I think we both appreciated that.

For Drew: Your Girls

Valentine Messages for Daddy:

100th Day of School!

Today was Lizzie's 100th day of school so they celebrated with projects and a parade. It was super cute--especially the hats.

Alaina seems to be doing much better: breathing regularly, no vomiting, nasty cough not as nasty as yesterday, voice mostly back, gobbled up rice cereal, interacting with us again (laughed, smiled).