Some letters just don't work out

Yesterday was our third try to have a Q day. None of them went well and I've decided to just give up on that letter and move on.

Try #1 was when we were visiting Nana in South Carolina. We made crowns so we could be queens for the day, but that's all we got around to. Try #2 was about a week ago. We tried to make quilted cards, something I have never done before with a sewing machine I almost never use. I managed to start an example card whilst Liz picked out her material. Then the thread came undone and I had neither the time, nor the patience, to pull out my instruction manual and figure out how to rethread it.

Try #3 was yesterday. Instead of making new queen crowns we each picked one out of the dressup bins. Naturally the girls fought over them. Once I put out that fire, I started another one by serving quiche for lunch. Neither girl would try it. Liz even opted for a nap instead of taking just one little bite. After all the whining and wailing at lunch I was just done and didn't even attempt the paper quilling I had planned. Hopefully we'll have better luck next summer.

Just because:

More letters

We are plowing through some more letter days this week, though with all the other things we have going on we haven't managed to do many letter-specific activities.

Tuesday was M day. We went to a free kids movie in Kingstowne then while the babies were sleeping Liz and I roasted mini marshmallows over a candle. They were yummy.I did this in college after a dance date only we made mini smores with teddy grahms and chocolate chips. Also, my date made a mini bonfire on our kitchen table and left a scorch mark that wasn't caught during the end of the year cleaning check because my roommate left an open book on top of it. But, back to my current life . . .Yesterday was our B day. The girls wore blue, made blueberry muffins, and we visited a bounce house where we all had fun on the slides (well, maybe not Alaina).

Alaina was really excited about sitting next to the baby.

She even insisted they wear bows (that she picked out herself). She changed her mind after just one picture.
Better.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAPA!

More 2 Week Old Pictures

2 months old

Gabriell is two months old now. It has gone by so fast. She sleeps pretty well at night (if she's in her SwaddleMe), she's social smiling, and she's gotten nice and fat. Love the baby chubs. Her 2 mo checkup stats: Head 15 1/8", 50%; Height 22"%; Weight 11 lbs 9 oz, 75%. I wonder when she'll catch up (and pass?) Lainey height-wise. Now, here's a look back at Gabrielle when she was just two weeks old:

Our P Day Activities

Play-DoughPuzzle sandwiches

(more impressive when half is white bread and the other half is brown)
Painted toast
(milk & food coloring, new paintbrushes, toast them when done, totally edible & a big hit with both girls)
Not P-related, but pretty cute. I put Alaina in her crib with a dozen books this evening while I was doing other things and then kind of forgot about her, poor thing.
Not pictured P activities: visits to Pirates Cove Water Park and Gabrielle's pediatrician, and packing for our uncoming Cali trip. Yeah! I can't wait to go!

Our R Day

I started off last fRiday day with rainbow pancakes. I was really excited about them, and then I took a bite. Halfway through her rainbow Lizzie said, "I think you put in too much coloring, Mommy, because I can taste it. If it's okay, I'm not going to eat anymore." I was also excited about red toenails. I painted mine, but Liz wasn't interested. After breakfast we went to the gym, where in the spirit of R day, I ran on the treadmill for the first time in probably two years. I know, pathetic. Even more pathetic, I'm still sore a full two days later.

Next, we went to our last day of swim class. It doesn't start with an R, but let's just say that I was relieved that it was over. Keeping Ellie cool was super stressful for me. Below is a shot of the kid's towel tent. They spent a lot of time in there which I think indicates that they were also ready for class to be over.

Laina loved her pool time, but when I had to feed or hold Gabby she was happy to play with the foot washer and the decorative rocks.

Lizzie finished off and turned in her reading program charts to the local library, Barnes & Nobel, and Borders. At first I told her that she couldn't write the same book on more than one chart, but with the last few books I definitely changed my mind.Additional rest and reading time:

Liz is "reading" the American Girl catalog. She wants one of those dolls real bad, but she didn't even know they existed until the dumb catalog showed up. Darn them and their overpriced dolls and accessories.

We survived another week of swim class . . .

and honestly, I'm looking forward to a bit of a break from the pool next week.