big girl hair cut

Look how long Maren's hair has gotten! It's so beautiful but it gets pretty tangled at the ends. I figured she would benefit from a hair cut and not one that I give her standing on the toilet after a bath. I scheduled an appointment for her at Kids Hair in Highland.

She was very brave and quite excited.

It didn't occur to me that Lilly would want her hair cut too. 

(of course she did she wants to do EVERYTHING Maren does)

10 minutes and 20 dollars later she was done. She even had a cute waterfall braid. 

aside: The cut- not happy with, the cost, not for the quality of the cut. A friend told me there's a better stylist there. I'd suggest requesting your stylist...

Happy Birthday, Maren

My oldest is now four years old. Four! I can't believe it. She does act fourteen sometimes so it is a nice reminder that she is really only four. We did pizza and cake here at our place. I took the night off work and we invited a ton of family. We had a great turn out and Maren loved it! I let her stay up late and play with friends. She hauled in a ton of gifts and couldn't be happier. Thanks to everyone who helped make this day special for her! HUGS

Potty Training

Oh yeah, that's the point we're at right now.

By doing cloth diapers mom gets sick of the whole diaper thing maybe quicker than those convenient disposable diapers.

So we had a discussion in ECFE about the window being 20-24 months for starting potty training. Okay! We're there. Let's go.

It didn't start well and I kept saying, "Maren was so much easier."

We had to bribe Lilly with candy. 

After two weeks I am HAPPY to report that Lilly is doing amazing and no candy bribes are needed. 

We even took a trip to Sam's Club today and Lilly was dry all morning and even went in the strange big potty at the store! Yay, Lilly!

A new chapter

My daughter will be three and a half this week. Three and a half and this is her first day of day care. Boy, I am so lucky to be able to say that. She's been babysat and taken care of by family before by never day care. And Lillian she's 15 months old and she has the same story. I am very lucky to be able to say that. I am lucky that I was the one to mold their young minds in the safety and security of our home for so long. 

Now, a new chapter.

Here's their first-day-of-day-care breakfast.

Maren called them snakes. 

I found a gal, Kelly, in St Paul just south of downtown that has an in-home day care. She is a licensed Pre-primary educator with her Masters degree. She is super laid back and I felt at ease after one visit. She has two boys of her own both about 6 months behind my girls. She doesn't mind that I don't know my schedule for the week until sunday evening, and get this, she's even cool with Lilly's cloth diapers! I know! Awesome! She's real reasonable and is only charging me 50 cents more an hour than I make. So tips is still all extra. I had no anxiety leading up to this day. Thank you, God.

Drop off:

Binky and Blanket go with, of course.

Lilly's dressed to the nines with her beads. She is always wearing beads.

It took them all of 3 seconds to hop on the bikes and ride off. I stayed a few minutes but wasn't noticed so off I went!

It felt a little odd leaving them behind but before you know it I was back to pick them up and Kelly said they had a great day. They were there for just over 4 hours and I didn't worry about them for a minute. What a great find! This week they went swimming in the kiddie pool out back and they painted and did   sidewalk chalk. Thanks, Kelly! 

What Lilly Says

Wanna see how quickly Lilly is growing up? Check these clips!

Clip 1: Of course our kids are into Darth Vader. 

Clip 2: Yo Gabba Gabba is a total fav around here. It comes across odd but it's really great if you watch it.

Clip 3: Lilly loves bubbles. This was while Dad was fishing in Canada. I was running out of ways to get things done. This worked for me to get dinner made.

And She's Walking

Yesterday was our last ECFE class of the school year. We were in the infant toddler room and Lilly just took off! She walked from me to the book shelf, about 5 or 6 feet! What? Wow! I'm glad Harneet saw it too or I may not have believed it. Unfortunately Dad wasn't home to help be get a video of that first day of walking but today I had help.

Here's a compilation of the videos ending in Lillian loving her lovie and Maren not to be outdone loves her blanket too.

Happy Birthday Baby Lilly

Birthday celebrations began after nap. Once guests started to arrive Geena barked (as always) and woke me up. I was a little groggy to begin with but once the watermelon was in my hand the party began. Kids love watermelon.

 We were lucky to have great weather and were able to be outside. I like a leisure swing now and then.

 Then my cousin Blake sat with me. I tried to give him a hug and cuddle with him back there.

That big horse at Gramma and Grampa's isn't as scary to me as it use to be. Now I'll even get on and bounce-a-bounce-a-bounce.

 Then it was time for dinner cake. I was playing nicely at the sand and water table with my cousins and mom came over and ripped me away. Boy, did I raise my voice at her. I even pulled out a crocodile tear.

I ended up back in my seat - that's always good. People sang a tune, that was a little scary, those people can't sing. I tried to blow out a candle on a cake with a kitty on it. Then came the cake. I gave it a try.

Pure deliciousness. I'll stuff my face with that.

 I think there's room for a little more. 

I found out later that there wasn't more room, a little had to come back up. Just a little though. Then a leisurely ride home. Not such a bad day. I'll take this birthday thing. Thanks to all of you who helped me celebrate my first birthday. What a party!