A Good Week

I took this shot of Libby with her teacher last week when I got to take her to school. She loves her teacher!

This was a good week. I finally started to feel like I was getting (a little) caught up at work (not ahead, mind you. Just not so far behind.) and like I might be able to pull off being a working mom. It's all I ever talk about, I know. It's just that I'm totally caught up my own world over it. I question every minute if I can hack it, and this was a good week.

On Wednesday I picked the girls up and brought them back to school to get some work done. They usually fall asleep in the car and last week it worked out perfectly. I managed to get them from their car seats into the stroller without waking them. Then, I wheeled them into my classroom and turned the radio on to some white noise to drown out any other noise coming from the hallway. They slept this way for about an hour and a half. It was so peaceful. Then, by the time they woke, we were ready to head home.

Crashed.

When we got home I ran a broom over the floor and had the girls get into the corner to get outta my way. The light was so perfect, I set down the broom and grabbed my camera.

We just ordered Libby some new shoes from Zappos. I'm putting Zappos on my list of things I love. I ordered them at 4:30 on Monday. They arrived at 2:00 on Tuesday. Shipping was free. She wore them to pose for a picture and hasn't touched them since. Sigh. I guess Peyton can wear them eventually.

Dr. Peyton listens for a pulse?

Puppet theater. Only it killed my knees to be in there.

Look who's gonna be a junky. Just like her momma.

Thursday night meatloaf by Grammy Jane. We've been eating a ton of sweet corn lately, too. Soooo delish. I do love corn in the fall.

Corny.

Yesterday as we ran errands we came across this HUGE nest on top of a streetlight. The girls were impressed, but we wished we could've seen the birds....

I was going for the shot of my little scientists spellbound by such an enormous nest. What I got instead was a whole bunch of (almost) four year old goofiness caused by pointing my camera lens in her direction. She's a total poser these days.

Peyton takes it all in.

This child WILL NOT keep her clothes on. Every time I turn around someone is naked and needs to be dressed before we can leave to go do anything. And it's not just Shane. The girls are just as bad. Ha! Bah dum bah! Seriously though, I asked her, "Peyton, where are your clothes?" Her reply, "My backpack!"

Sum, Sum, Summertime

The warm weather not only opens possibilities for ways to spend our day, but it also gives us livable square footage. I likey more square footage. Here Libby serenades the neighborhood at the top of her lungs. She went through every song in her repertoire. I was, at one point, tempted to ask her to turn down the volume, but then I thought better of it. This kid has a need to perform. Check out her socks. Very Wicked Witch of the West. Broadway, look out.

Monkey see. Monkey do.

We've just taken the bouncy house out of storage. Hello, toddler energy zapper. I have missed you....

Monkey see.

Monkey do.

I wonder if it gets old to look at pictures of my kids making bubbles.... I never get tired of it.

I can't remember the reason for that head of hair, but I'm going to assume Peyton had just woken from napping. I mean, wow.

Fetch.

Every year at this time the Lutheran church down the street has a Scottish Festival. I always wonder about it, but we've never gone. This year we did. We paid nine dollars for two hot dogs and sat in the grass to listen to some music. It was great. First, we listened to the Eugene Highlanders play their bag pipes. I couldn't help but think of my Grammy. She absolutely hated the sound of bag pipes. She'd say, "That's the most God awful sound I've ever heard. Why anyone would like listening to bag pipes....." Anyway, I had a little chuckle and thought of her as we sat and enjoyed (a shaved ice and) the bag pipes.
Peyton's working on the potty and sometimes the feeling strikes when we're riding bikes in the driveway. We don't fret it, though. Grunden provides privacy. Sort of.
Hello summer of no pregnancies and no breast fed babies! I'm back! Do you like lemon drops? I make a mean one! The other night I had two. Only two, but I had the headache in the morning to prove it....
The indoor playground where we're members had their summer kickoff party last week. Shane took charge of painting our girls' hands as Libby didn't want her face painted. And Peyton wants whatever Libby wants. Always.
The party did Peyton in. She slept like this for at least an hour and kept sleeping after Shane put her in her bed.

Cinnamon toast. Yum.

This is my child. And this is how she arrived at the dinner table one night last week. Wearing nothing but a swim suit and a pair of boys underwear on her head. To each their own.

Things I love (and a few unpaid product endorsements)...

I got the idea for this post from a few friends, starting with Boog here. It's a little braggy, so if you're not in the mood for my gushing, turn back now. Just know I'd rather gush about my kids here, because I feel more comfortable than doing it to your face. Except, I'll still probably do it to your face. Somebody stop me. I can't help myself. I've become that mom.

I love the sun. I haven't seen it in a while, and I'm so glad it's back. It floods the kitchen in an obnoxious blinding way in the afternoon this time of year, but I managed to get this shot of Libby against the kitchen cabinet before it set the other day. I plan on trying for more shots like this, but getting both girls to hold still is about as easy as herding cats, or combing the back of Libby's hair.

I'm obsessed lately. White cake with white frosting. Y-U-M.

This next one is a life saver! Peyton wants to sit on the potty and have my undivided attention for about 30 minutes at a time. That's a lot of time on the potty, considering up until now she doesn't produce.....well, much. My friend Anna posted this seat with a built in training seat on her blog, and I HAD to have it. Now, Peyton can sit for as long as she likes and I'm confident she won't fall in if I'm not there. And (insert drum roll) GUESS WHO POOPED ON THE POTTY TODAY! Well, yeah Shane, but guess who else! Peyton! Woot woot! Happy birthday to ME! If you need to buy a baby gift for someone....I'm telling you. Bemis Next Step. Home Depot $29.99.
Libby is starting to write her name. The spelling isn't always perfect, but who cares. Yesterday a little boy at a birthday party asked her name and she said, "Libby."

"What is it?"

"Libby."

"Huh?"

"Libby. L-I-B-B-Y!"

I acted all casual, but the teacher in me teared up a little.

I think the fact that it's written on toilet paper with a marker only adds to its charm.

Another of my not-so-new obsessions are flash mobs. Seemingly random gatherings of people dancing and singing for the sole purpose of making me happy. I would think that it's a lot of prep on my behalf, but I'm glad they go to the trouble. You can search flash mobs on you tube and watch all day long, or you can save some time and watch this one. It's my favorite.

Last, but not least is the Strider Bike. Oh little Strider, we love you. We got this for Libby when she was a year and a half. We put it together, set her on it and let go. She tipped over, cried and wanted nothing to do with it for a long time. Leave it to us.

Still, it's the sole reason she has gone from this, to this, to this in the course of one month with very little instruction from us. We can ride bikes together now, and we are loving it.

She doesn't need it anymore, and look who's taken it over....

Strider Sports, call me. I will plug you to the masses with nothing in return except lots and lots of money.