A Texan Misplaced

Spanish class

2012-02-09T18:32:00.000-08:00

I signed the girls up for a Spanish class this semester.

I was really getting lazy about speaking to them in Spanish. Mostly, because every time I did, Olivia became very upset. "Mom, talk English!!!!" She would demand it in a stern voice and then if I continued it ended in her either crying or screaming.

I thought that if the girls saw other kids speaking the language that they'd be more open to it.....the plan worked! They absolutely love it! Last Saturday morning on the way to class, Isabella said, "I wish we could go to Spanish class everyday." Ahh....music to my ears.

Now, instead of Olivia getting upset when I speak Spanish, she welcomes it. She frequently asks, "How do you say ___ in Spanish?" So, now I'm trying to speak only Spanish to them all morning and then we do English the rest of the day. The other day I overheard them trying to converse in Spanish while they played.

I'm so happy that they seem to be embracing the language!

what they're saying...

2012-02-07T19:10:00.000-08:00

Before we started dinner the other night this was the conversation I had with Isabella:

I: Mom, can eating a lot of food sometimes make our bellies big and round?
Me: Yes, it can.
I: Well, why hasn't that happened to me yet?
Me: Isabella, it's because you usually eat healthy food and because you are still young.
I: I'm not young!! I'm a big girl, I'm 4. Young is when you're 1 or 2. I'm 4...I'm old.

Also, the funeral brought out a lot of questions about death. Isabella was very curious about death and what happens to us and what happens to our bodies. Many of the questions were serious but some were not so serious, "Mom will there be food in heaven? Will it be good?"

Houston Zoo

2012-02-07T18:48:00.000-08:00

Spending the morning at the Houston Zoo was another highlight of our trip. After seeing only highways, buildings and strip malls, the beauty of the landscape at the zoo was refreshing.

The kids were absolutely in heaven. They loved running free, the petting zoo and spending time with Aunt Geri and Uncle Steve.

Our BBQ Fix

2012-02-03T12:02:00.000-08:00

While we were in Texas we had to get our BBQ fix. So, we went to the Swinging Door. The ambiance was great and the food was absolutely amazing!

Let me begin by saying that Clark is obsessed with balloons, I'm not exaggerating. We were at a table at the back of the restaurant and as soon as Clark sat in his highchair, he started pointing to the other side of the room and it was obvious he wanted to get out of his seat. I let him out and he ran to a small window, pointed and said, "ball, ball, ball." Little did I know that in the room next to ours was a huge dance hall and they were having a birthday party. The room was filled with balloons. I probably would have never noticed it, but he seems to have a 6th sense for these kinds of things. I knew this was not good. He started yelling, "ball, ball, ball" and then started screaming and throwing a fit. His screams filled the huge restaurant and made quite the scene. We had to go outside until he calmed down. We were able to get one balloon for him, but instead of wearing it on his wrist, he wanted to hold it. He had it in his hand for a second and then the balloon went up into 20 foot ceiling. Awesome. Let the screaming resume. In the meantime, everyone was seated, enjoying appetizers and great conversation. I knew he wouldn't let this go, so I took him to the nearest grocery store and he became the proud owner of his very own helium balloon (with a weight attached). Finally, the screaming and the crying ceased and I was able to join our family for the best BBQ I've had in a long time.

Traveling with the kids

2012-02-03T11:39:00.000-08:00

Let me begin by saying that if my sister had not joined me on this trip to Houston, I know I would have broken into tears at least once, if not 12 times. (slight exaggeration)

Isabella and Olivia were absolute dreams to travel with. I brought the iPad because I thought the girls might want to watch a show, but they were able to self entertain that I never used it. They are in a great stage of imaginative play and can play and play for hours on end.

Clark on the other hand was out of control. He does not sit still and the 4 1/2 hour flight seemed more like 8 hours. Unfortunately, he also doesn't sleep well unless he's in his own crib so the nights were rough, but we made it through.

The last night was almost comical. The girls went to bed late because they were hyper and excited about flying the next day. Clark was also restless most of the night and as soon as he was fast asleep (around 2:30) I started to smell a strong natural gas odor. I called the front desk and they were going to check things out. At 3am there was a janitor and another hotel staff in our room to investigate further. At 3:30 they called to tell me they figured out the problem and then at 4:30am we were all departing the hotel for the airport. Perfect

Overall, the girls enjoyed the flights. Isabella is such a rule keeper, she makes me laugh sometimes. There was a lot of turbulence on the way to Houston and the seat belt sign was turning off and on. She was paying careful attention and as soon as it lit up, she quickly stopped what she was doing to put on her seat belt and made sure Olivia did the same, so cute.

Gran

2012-02-01T19:09:00.000-08:00

Last week I took an unplanned trip to Houston for the funeral of my sweet Gran. She was not my biological grandmother, but definitely the closest thing to a grandmother that my sister and I ever had.

I have such wonderful memories of her. I vividly remember sitting at her kitchen table and her serving us lunch -- mac n'cheese with homemade banana pudding for dessert. My sister and I absolutely loved that meal. She made it for us several times. We grew up with her biological grandchildren, Scott, Amy, Lydia and Clayton.

My sister and I would spend all summer at their home, playing and playing and playing with Amy and Lydia. When we were lucky enough to stay after dark, we'd gather all of their shoe boxes and flashlights and catch frogs. I remember filling at least 10 shoe boxes with huge frogs. We loved it. We'd jump on their trampoline for hours, play in their dollhouse and we knew that if we needed anything, Gran was always there.

She was such a wonderful person and will be missed. I'm so glad that my sister and I visited her the last time we were in Texas. We reminisced about old times, she played with Isabella and Olivia and we shared some banana pudding (this time we made it).

Her funeral service was inspiring. It was truly a celebration of her life. I came away wanting to be a better person. It made me realize just how much influence and power for good one person can have.

Gran will be missed but I will never forget the wonderful memories she left behind.

(The photo above is of the 4 girls who grew up together)

dusting off the camera

2012-01-20T13:27:00.000-08:00

I always slack off in taking pictures of the kids in the winter. It's hard to get great pictures indoors and so I just resort to using my phone or not taking any pictures at all.

Today I dusted off my camera and captured of a few shots of Clark.

Jason's B-day

2012-01-20T13:21:00.000-08:00

We tried to make Jason's Birthday special this year, even though it's on New Year's Eve and sometimes gets overlooked.

I think he enjoyed the family celebration and we all definitely enjoyed the chocolate cake. Yum!

Clark at 18 months

2012-01-12T06:50:00.000-08:00

Clark is all boy, boy and then more boy...

A few of his favorites lately:

Hitting people (he doesn't discriminate, he hits everyone)
Hugging people (almost as often as he hits, almost)
Dancing (the other day I was getting him out of his car seat when a car alarm went off and he started dancing to the beat)
Running away from me whenever I want to change his diaper
Emptying my pantry and every drawer in my kitchen
He's obsessed with balls and balloons
He throws everything
He loves being outside
He loves dogs
He's very social with other kids
He loves protein, especially cheese (so far his favorite is gouda)

Clark is a boy with a lot of spunk. He is like a bull in a china shop sometimes. I love to watch him play because he is always in motion. I hope he never loses that excitement and zest for life.

simple pleasures

2012-01-09T06:44:00.000-08:00

It's a new year and it's already turning out to be a busy one.
Jason is flying out this Thursday for an unplanned trip to Singapore. He's home for two days and then he's off to California for 5 days.

My mom returned to Texas before Thanksgiving last year and Olivia and Clark are going to Miss Mindy's (in-home childcare) and Isabella started preschool last week. I started a new job in December, which I do enjoy. So, last week Jason and I found ourselves doing what a lot of working families do, getting the kids up and ready and out of the house by 7:45am so that we could both go to work. We only did it for 2 days and we were all exhausted by the end. I couldn't imagine doing it 5 days/week and luckily we don't have to.

This morning as we were all enjoying french toast at 8am with the kids still in their jammies, I was grateful for relaxing mornings. Isabella starts kindergarten in Sept and school becomes more demanding for me, so I know that our leisurely weekday mornings are numbered.

a very cool gift

2012-01-05T18:33:00.000-08:00

Lytle inherited all of the creative genes in the family. I love how she comes up with cool gifts for the girls. She decided to make them a tent for Christmas this year. They love it, but we can only bring it out when Clark is asleep, otherwise that little Godzilla will tear it apart in seconds.

First snowman of the season

2012-01-05T18:21:00.000-08:00

So far, this winter has been very mild compared to the last two years.
The kids were super excited when they awoke this morning and saw that everything was covered in a thin layer of snow. Isabella definitely prefers to admire the snow from the window, but Olivia and Clark love to play in it and get messy. Luckily, there wasn't too much of it this time.

Christmas morning

2011-12-30T18:34:00.000-08:00

I love Christmas morning. I've also decided that I get way more excited about it than the kids do (I think). Of course they were excited to open their gifts, but I think I was expecting more jumping up and down with excitement, maybe some screams of joy and delight, but that didn't happen. They are still young and are just taking it all in as they figure out what Christmas morning is all about.

So far the dollhouse has been a big hit with the girls. It's now in their room and they spend time each day playing with it. Clark loves the set of instruments Grandma sent and I love the Shun knives that Santa gave me.

Christmas Eve

2011-12-29T19:23:00.000-08:00

Because I wanted to continue the Mulliner family tradition of eating clam chowder on Christmas Eve, I thought it would be even more fun to share the night with a few friends. I made clam chowder, corn chowder and the infamous tomato soup. Yes, Olivia made the tomato soup a dish to be remembered.

As I was blending the hot soup in the Vitamix blender, Olivia became very curious and decided to move the dials and turn it on high while the lid was off. In a matter of seconds, there was tomato soup all over her, the kitchen cabinets and the floor. Lytle noticed what was happening before I did and rushed over to turn off the blender while slipping on the wet floor. Olivia was of course in a total panic and burning. Luckily, the soup wasn't scalding hot. I ran her upstairs and dunked her in the tub for a cold water bath. She suffered only minor burns to her scalp but the rest of her was unharmed. She now knows never to touch that blender. We were lucky, it could have been much worse.

We did manage to have a fun Christmas Eve dinner with our friends, despite the accident. The kids enjoyed participating in the Nativity and singing Christmas carols. Also, thank you to Katie for the kids' new pj's. (I love the expression on Clark's face)

Christmas weekend

2011-12-29T19:12:00.000-08:00

Lytle and Darwin came up for Christmas weekend. We all had a great time lounging, playing, watching Elf (love, love that movie) and of course eating.

12 years

2011-12-20T11:03:00.000-08:00

Two days ago, Jason and I celebrated our 12 year anniversary. Well, I think that "celebrate" is a probably not the right word to describe the day.
It was a Sunday. A busy and at times, hectic Sunday. We didn't do anything special to commemorate the day, but that's just fine. I think that's part of what makes our relationship work, there is rarely an expectation for pomp and circumstance. We are just an ordinary couple raising 3 young kids and giving it our best shot.

There are countless reasons why the last 12 years have been the best years of my life. Not always the easiest, but definitely the best.

I love him and he loves me, just the way we are. It's simple and it's good.

Happy Anniversary!

Olivia's Birthday Party

2011-12-14T18:46:00.000-08:00

I decided a couple of weeks ago that I would throw sweet Olivia a Birthday party. Because her birthday is on Christmas day, she obviously gets shortchanged.
We talked about party themes and a Santa Claus party is what she wanted. Surprisingly, the princesses didn't win this one.

She was so excited for her birthday and couldn't stop talking about it several days before. There were about 8 of her little friends here and they all had such a great time.

The party began with decorating gingerbread houses, which was definitely a hit with everyone. We then played a chaotic game of unwrapping Christmas presents (empty boxes with wrapping paper) that the kids seemed to enjoy.

We ate pizza, spinach salad (for the moms) and fruit salad.

Olivia really wanted a Santa Claus cake so an easy way of doing this was to decorate the top of the cake with a Santa ornament. She loved it.

She loved being the center of attention for a day and I loved watching her soak it up.

As always, I wish I'd taken more pictures but at least I got a few.

nightly video

2011-12-08T12:43:00.000-08:00

Our Church has made some beautiful videos entitled The Life of Jesus Christ. The kids have enjoyed watching the videos about Christ's birth each night. It's nice to have another way to remember what Christmas is really about.

boot season

2011-12-08T12:36:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the first day of the season I wore my boots. Looks like Olivia wanted to get in on the action, too.

dinner party

2011-12-08T12:30:00.000-08:00

We invited a few of our closest friends over for a dinner party last weekend. Instead of cooking an entire feast and slaving away in the kitchen all day, our friend Marcus an incredible chef prepared the meal. It was delicious.
It was also a lot of fun to get a close up of a chef working his magic in the kitchen.

A few highlights of the night included the food, the white elephant gift exchange and a rousing game of Guesstures. The night really flew by and before we knew it, it was 11:30, way past Clark's bedtime.

'Tis the season

2011-12-06T19:27:00.000-08:00

For the first time in a long time I am really feeling the Christmas spirit. I think it's because it's the first time in several years that I'm not pregnant or haven't recently had a baby. I can focus more on doing fun things with the family.

We're filling our calendar with a lot of holiday cheer. I've definitely decorated the house more this year than ever. We've already made gingerbread houses and every weekend is packed with events. Christmas music can be heard any time of the day. The girls also really enjoy reading their Christmas books and watching a few classic movies.

Potty trained

2011-12-01T19:12:00.000-08:00

I returned from California on a Monday night. When I awoke on Tuesday, Olivia decided that she didn't want to be in a diaper anymore. She took her diaper off and hasn't put one on since. She is completely potty trained. Even though we've been encouraging her and promising her the sun, moon and stars for over 6 months, she wanted no part of it. When it was finally her idea, she did it, it was that simple.

Part of the promise included a trip to Chuck E Cheese. She has been proud to tell everyone she knows that she is a big girl because she goes poopy and pee pee on the potty, so cute.

A girls trip to Santa Barbara

2011-12-01T19:02:00.000-08:00

The sisters trip to Santa Barbara was wonderful!

We spent time talking, talking and talking some more. We dined at some incredible restaurants, shopped, went on long walks and attempted a hike but were met with a rainstorm.

We loved the uninterrupted time together to get to know each other better. I'm so grateful to have such wonderful sisters and supportive families who ran the show at home so that we could take some time out of our busy lives to connect with each other.

Trip to LA

2011-12-01T18:48:00.000-08:00

My trip to California seems like it was ages ago. As soon as I returned home, life has been nothing short of a whirlwind, which is why I've neglected my blog.

I landed in LA to visit my wonderful friend, Meghann. She and I met in 6th grade band, both played the clarinet and both found the same kind of comedy in the everyday. Although, Meghann is a lot funnier than I am. This explains why she does improv for Second City and well, I don't.

It was great to catch up with Meghann, meet her sweet dogs and enjoy her beautiful home.

this is serious

2011-11-07T19:17:00.000-08:00

Isabella has been taking piano lessons for about 5 weeks and is really enjoying it. After a bit of research and talking with friends, we decided on the Suzuki Method of study. In addition to her weekly private lesson, she also participates in a group lesson with students in her age group every other week.
During the group lessons, the kids play games related to understanding the piano alphabet, different songs and rhythm games. The kids also perform a song each time.
Today, a little girl who was probably 6 played a song beautifully. As she was playing I was amazed at her technique and skill level as this was a very difficult song, especially for her age. When she finished, she took her bow and walked over to her mother. I thought that her mother would be incredibly proud of her daughter. Instead, she held up two fingers and sternly said, "You made two mistakes." When the class ended, the mother told her daughter to return to the piano and play the piece again, without mistakes. Wow.

I wonder If I will insist upon that level of perfection at such a young age, although, this is Suzuki, so maybe.

J's Bollywood debut

2011-11-07T18:44:00.000-08:00

We know our fans have been anxiously awaiting this video. You can check out Jason's mad skills during the last 5 minutes of the show. Happy viewing!

amazing

2011-11-06T18:48:00.000-08:00

My sister invited me to join her and her friend, Marvi to see Blind Pilot last week. Let's just say that after that show, I'm hooked. They are amazing.
I was transfixed and felt transported to another place during their performance. It was incredible. They are my new favorite.

a Diwali Celebration

2011-11-06T03:42:00.000-08:00

Good friends of ours, Ramesh and Aarthi invited us to take part in their annual Diwali Celebration. The celebration is filled with dancing, music, acting and amazing food.

The last act of the night is a play and Jason and I were asked to take part in it.
Jason played Rajiniknth, a famous Bollywood actor and I played a heroine. Jason was able to show off his dancing skills, which was a lot of fun to see on stage.

The kids had a wonderful time playing with their friends and taking in a new cultural experience.

Halloween pre-game festivities

2011-10-30T18:02:00.000-07:00

Even though Halloween isn't until tomorrow, we have already amassed a sizable candy collection.
The girls dressed up in their their princess costumes for the church trunk-or-treat only to dress up the next afternoon for Jason's work Halloween party. Before getting ready for the company party, Isabella said, "Mom, I'm tired of going to so many parties."
They are excited to go trick-or-treating tomorrow with their friends. Oh, don't let me overlook the fact that Clark makes the cutest little pumpkin.

published!

2011-10-23T18:50:00.000-07:00

A study I worked on about two years ago will be published this January in the American Journal of Critical Care.
I could get used to seeing my name in print :) (Really guys, that's a joke)

Grandma and Grandpa cont..

2011-10-23T16:57:00.000-07:00

Visit from Grandma and Grandpa

2011-10-23T16:53:00.000-07:00

Grandpa and Grandma made the long trek from California to visit us last week.
We just loved having them here! The girls were in heaven from all of the attention and baby Clark also enjoyed a larger audience.

A few highlights included:

Dinner at The Capital Grille
A night at the Philly Orchestra
A trip to the Aquarium
A driving tour of Philadelphia
A visit to Longwood Gardens

Above all, the kids just loved hanging out at home with Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma brought a suitcase full of special surprises and they were in heaven.

Thanks for such a wonderful visit!

Johnson's Farm

2011-10-09T19:06:00.000-07:00

We took the kids to Johnsons Farm on Saturday. We took our sweet friend, Clark (we call them Katie's Clark and baby Clark). The place was packed but the kids had a blast playing on the playground. Baby Clark topped the trip off with an apple cider doughnut (still on his face) and was fast asleep within minutes.

Clark, almost 15 months

2011-10-06T19:46:00.000-07:00

Wow...where do I begin? This is absolutely my favorite stage (12 - 24 mos). I just love watching Clark's personality grow and evolve. I feel like I discover something new about him every day.

He loves making people laugh.
He's very physical. He loves to jump, climb into or onto anything and everything.
He loves to play with balls.
He loves to be outside, especially if there is dirt involved.
He's very affectionate.
He loves Jason.
He's super social and enjoys being the center of attention.
He's always on the move.
He loves to dance. Anytime he hears music, his body starts moving, it's automatic.
He enjoys throwing food.
He gets giddy over animals in person or on television.

Latest phrase (he doesn't have many) "I want dat"

conversations

2011-10-06T19:31:00.000-07:00

Today while we were driving around town, Isabella says:

Isa: Mom, I'm scared of getting pregnant when I get older. (where did that come from?) Me: Oh really, Isabella, why?
Isa: Because when the baby comes out of my belly, it will really hurt.
Me: Who told you that it will hurt?
Isa: You did. (I have no recollection of this conversation)

Today before the girls ate lunch:

Isa: Mom, how do the chicken nuggets turn into the shape of a dinosaur?
Me: (I proceed to tell her about processed food, chicken scraps, water, salt and preservatives)
Isa: Oh, I don't think I want to eat these anymore.
Me: Oh, okay. (awesome)

Words of wisdom

2011-10-05T19:40:00.000-07:00

I think everyone should watch this. Amazing.

new and definitely improved

2011-10-04T19:45:00.000-07:00

We are definitely loving everything about our new family room. It is clean, fresh, and clutter free. I'll post more pics and details later, but here is a sneak peek at one of our favorite rooms in the house.

Apple picking

2011-10-02T15:42:00.000-07:00

We had a fun time apple picking with a few friends this week. I'd like to report that I've made jars of applesauce and a few pies, but the apples are still in the bag. I think I'll be more inspired tomorrow, maybe.

Oh, as an aside, Clark found a sweet girl that he just couldn't stop hugging, literally. He followed his little friend around and as soon as she was within reach, he lovingly wrapped his arms around her neck and wouldn't let her go. So cute.

pre Halloween

2011-09-28T09:05:00.000-07:00

I know it's still September, but if the girls had it their way, it would be Halloween all year long.

My sister picked up these costumes for them at a thrift store and they were in love. The girls wouldn't take them off the first day. They loved the attention at the grocery store.
Sometimes I don't indulge their princess fantasies as much as I should, perhaps I'll reconsider.

children's museum

2011-09-25T18:31:00.000-07:00

There is a new dinosaur exhibit at the local children's museum and it was a huge hit with the kids. We spent over an hour touring the new place. The kids loved digging for dinosaur bones (despite the look on Clark's face) and playing on the the jungle gym.

"scared of the dark"

2011-09-25T18:25:00.001-07:00

Last week during our bedtime routine, just after tucking the girls in and walking out of the room to taste a bit of freedom, one of the girls yelled, "Come back, I'm afraid of the dark" and then the other said the same thing. I tried convincing them that there is nothing to be afraid of, etc but they just screamed and cried when I walked out of the room. So, the 3 of us piled into Isabella's twin bed and I laid there until they both feel asleep.

I'm not convinced that they are really afraid of the dark. But, they have figured out that it is an effective way to get me to stay in bed with them. Often, I too fall asleep with them. This new routine has cut into my "me" time which is partly why I haven't been blogging consistently. The other reason is that school has taken up a lot of my free time. I do enjoy it and strangely enough, the hours spent in the library seem to fly by.

Even though I do love seeing the sweet faces of two sleeping girls, I hope we can put an end to being "scared of the dark."

returning home

2011-09-16T16:32:00.000-07:00

Jason has been in Japan all week and the kids couldn't wait for him to return home tonight. They were very happy with the presents he brought, two little notepads with paper dolls on the cover.

Jason also brought home an amazing Japanese knife. I've never used a sharper and lighter knife in my life. Anyway, Isabella was looking at the box the knife came in and was very interested in the Japanese alphabet.

Isabella: "Does daddy know how to speak Japanese?"
Me: "No, Isabella, he doesn't"
Isabella: "Then what was he doing in Japan? Was he listening to everyone talk the Japanese alphabet?"
Me: "Yes he was, we should ask him what he learned."

my Olivia

2011-09-14T18:34:00.000-07:00

Just when you think you have this whole parenting thing figured out, your kids decide to make things challenging.

From early on, I knew Olivia would be the child that I'd have to exercise the most patience with. She has a very strong personality. The last 4 months have been rough at times. She's developing characteristics that make life challenging, more for her than for me.

She has always been shy in new environments but lately she has become uncomfortably anxious when placed in certain social situations. I remember vividly, about 8 months ago, we went to the grocery store and she began to cry and throw a normal tantrum in the store. When people started to look at her and gave her unsolicited attention, she yelled, "Don't look at me!" and gave them the evil eye.
At church on Sunday, she cried and screamed when we walked into the chapel. She burrowed her face in my chest and would not let me put her down. We did have to walk out, leaving Isabella sitting there by herself (J is out of town). As I was trying to reason with her to go back inside, she said that she just wanted to go home. When I asked if she was upset because she thought people were looking at her, she said yes. I assured her that no one was looking at her and that we needed to go back inside. She finally conceded and did well the rest of the meeting.

Olivia also has to be in control at certain times and in certain situations. For example, she has a certain way that I have to tuck her in at night. There is a particular bedtime routine and if we change that routine, she has difficulty coping and insists it be done according to the routine.

Sometimes, especially when she is tired, this becomes problematic. Case in point, we went to Philly the other day and Olivia screamed and cried because she wanted me to undo her car seat instead of my mom. Because my mom unbuckled her she proceeded to scream and throw a fit for the next 10 minutes. She insisted that we walk back and that I put her in her car seat so that I can be the one to unbuckle her.

Olivia is wonderful in so many ways but I know that we will have to work through some of these issues and the process will be painful at times. Potty training is currently the hot topic and I'm not making a lot of progress with this one.

aging

2011-09-08T18:46:00.000-07:00

My first class of the semester was yesterday. The campus was teeming with undergrads who for the first time seemed so much younger than myself. I know I'm not old by most standards, but I'm definitely older than those 20 yr old students. There was a lot of energy on campus which made me feel like part of something bigger than myself. I think that is a reason I enjoy school. I feel like I am progressing toward a goal. It is something that I do for myself and no one else.

I'm excited about this class. The material is interesting to me and each week there is a different expert lecturer. The big project is a 15 page research paper. Penn really pushes their students to churn out papers, their goal is for every grad student to publish before graduating. I'm not sure if I will, but there are plenty of opportunities.

Now, back to feeling older. Well, "feeling older" might not be the correct phrase but lately I have felt like I need to seize every moment. (didn't help that the first class lecture was about medical management of the elderly patient)

Anyway, Jason made the comment the other day that in 14 years Isabella will be in college. 14 years! Oh my gosh, that doesn't seem like a very long time. 14 short years.....can someone please slow this down? That time will go by in a blink of an eye and pretty soon I'll be that elderly patient in the hospital bed.

I know I can't change the fact that I too will get old someday and that Isabella will be in college in a few short years. But, I can cherish the time I have with these precious little ones. Today I was so grateful that I decided to keep Isabella home with her little sister and brother instead of rushing her off to preschool. We love our time together. I love talking with them, reading to them, playing, shopping, cooking and just simply living life together. I love listening to them play together. It makes me so happy. So, even though I don't look like I'm still in my 20's, that's alright. I love where I am right now and wouldn't change a thing.

progress

2011-09-05T05:55:00.000-07:00

So far the projects are going fairly smoothly, sort of.

mama's boy

2011-08-25T19:20:00.000-07:00

Clark is growing up too fast. Isabella will often say, "I want Clark to be our little baby forever." I feel the same way. He's so darn adorable and so fun to cuddle.

My wise mother-in-law gave me some great advice, "All boys are mama's boys until they discover girls." I love that quote and I'm pretty sure she's right on with this one.

Well, I'm going to love every minute of it before I'm just second best.

Franklin Square Park

2011-08-23T19:11:00.000-07:00

The weather this week has been absolutely gorgeous. Clear skies, breezy and in the 70's. There is even a crispness in the early morning air, Fall is around the corner.

We're spending a lot more time outdoors than indoors. Yesterday we checked out Franklin Square Park and the kids had a great time. There's a great park, a carousel, and a pretty yummy burger and shake place, what's not to love? We were there for several hours and Clark especially had a blast. He was just walking around everywhere and climbing all over. He fell asleep on the way home and napped for 4 1/2 hours. He's walking the majority of the time now and is a much happier little guy. It's so adorable watching him walk all over and discovering. Love.

an inquisitive mind

2011-08-23T18:20:00.000-07:00

Isabella has always been an inquisitive little girl. The "why?" phase lasted a very long time but now her questions are more specific.

The other day I was in the kitchen talking with the contractor while the girls were in their room playing. I didn't hear anything for at least 30 minutes so I run up to check on them expecting to see them doing something I disapprove of, but to my surprise they were just quietly "reading" their books. Isabella was reading her "Bible book" an illustrated book about the Old and New Testament which she absolutely loves. Anyway, she looks up from her book and asks, "Mom, how did Jesus walk on water?" Hmmm...good question Isabella, "Jesus can do anything."

A couple of days ago we were sitting at the kitchen island eating lunch and Isabella asks, "What happens to our food after we swallow it?" I knew much more about this topic than about her previous inquiry. So, we spent a few minutes talking about digestion and then I pulled up several videos about digestion on YouTube. She spent the next 20 minutes watching a couple of them over and over.

Today we were at the park with our friends and I experienced an earthquake for the first time in my life. It was very mild but definitely one of the weirdest things I've ever experienced. I was standing at the park watching the kids when I suddenly felt dizzy (I get motion sickness very easily) and then realized the ground was moving. At first I thought it was just me, but then I looked at the cars and they were rocking back and forth and knew that it wasn't just me, that it was an earthquake. The girls were busy playing with their friends and didn't realize what happened.

Because the earthquake was the hot topic the rest of the day, Isabella was just dying to know what causes an earthquake. So, when we got home I pulled up some videos about earthquakes and what happens under the Earth's crust. Later in the evening, we were all outside and I noticed Isabella digging in the front yard. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "Mom, I'm trying to find the plates that make an earthquake." Isabella, the tectonic plates are very, very deep and you will never be able to dig far enough to see them. "Well, what if I use a shovel?"

another renovation

2011-08-21T18:52:00.000-07:00

We're taking another plunge into the world of renovation. This time we're tackling the powder bath and family room.
If it wasn't for our contractor who we absolutely love, I'm sure this wouldn't be happening. It's hard to find someone who is amazing at what they do and reasonably priced.

The pic is of the tile we're using in the powder room. Tomorrow is demo so I'll have the after shots in a couple of weeks.

Happenings

2011-08-21T18:46:00.000-07:00

The summer is flying by.
We've actually been taking it pretty easy and haven't gone on any major family trips this summer. (I think we're still recovering from our Florida trip)
We're hitting our usual spots, the children's museums, the aquarium, parks, play dates, etc. and I feel that it's a good mix of fun and relaxation.

Lytle and Darwin came down last weekend. We had a nice time just hanging out. Ever since Darwin started his internal medicine residency we never see him so it was great to catch up. The girls have especially missed him.

I enrolled Isabella in Kumon so we're going to the Kumon center twice/week. I wanted a bit of structure while she's at home this year before she heads to kindergarten. So far, she's enjoying it and making good progress in her math and reading.

Olivia is busy as usual. She goes a mile a minute and it looks like Clark and her are just two of a kind. Usually, while I'm sitting at the dining room table working with Isabella on her homework, Clark and Olivia are in the living room making each other laugh hysterically. It's pretty funny. Olivia loves to entertain and Clark loves to be entertained.

master bedroom

2011-08-16T19:23:00.000-07:00

After our master bath renovation, my next project has been our master bedroom.
The progress is slow because of my 3 little helpers, but I'm so excited about it.
I'm using the line of fabric, Dwell Studio for Robert Allen and think that it's going to come together nicely. Our bed is being delivered on Friday. I'll post pics when the project is done, but it will probably take me at least another 2 months. (fabric I want is on back order).

Clark ....

2011-08-16T19:06:00.000-07:00

Where do I begin? He is by far the most challenging little 1 yr old out of the three kids. From the moment he gets up to the moment he goes to sleep at night, he's either getting into something he shouldn't be, climbing onto something or screaming for me to hold him.

Clark's latest tricks:
Playing in the toilet water (we already had to call a plumber to remove a plastic toy he threw inside)
Opening the kitchen cabinet and emptying the recycling bin
Climbing onto the fireplace hearth
Screeching/screaming loudly to get attention or to get something he wants
Emptying the dishwasher and crawling in
Walking everywhere, he's getting pretty good at it

I do love Clark but sometimes I feel he pushes me to my limits.
For example, Sunday morning I awoke at 5:00am to work on a lesson for Relief Society and guess who also awoke at 5:15am ready for the day.

Today, we spent the morning running errands and he fell asleep in the car for about 20 minutes. I thought for sure he would fall asleep around his normal nap time which is usually 3pm. Nope, he was just pretty grumpy until he finally fell asleep at 4:45. I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief and catch up on a few things. Well, then at 5:15 he was screaming hysterically and wouldn't go back to sleep. Awesome.

Hopefully tomorrow will be better, hopefully.

Instagram

2011-08-09T18:32:00.000-07:00

Now that Instagram has entered my life I've gotten very lazy about using my Nikon. I'm feeling a bit guilty about this, but Instagram is just so convenient and fun to use.

buds

2011-08-09T18:28:00.000-07:00

See what I mean about the girls being best buds. Isabella is showering Olivia with kisses and telling her, "I love you so, so much."

view of the city

2011-08-09T18:25:00.000-07:00

Today we went to the Camden Aquarium with a few friends. Before we went in, the kids spent some time enjoying the view of the city.

a day at the park

2011-08-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

We spent Saturday morning at Smith Playground. I love that park. We had such a great time hanging out together on a Saturday morning.

I've been thinking a lot about how the girls' relationship has evolved. They are the best of friends. Lately, they love to run upstairs and play forever either in their bedroom or mine. As soon as they hear me coming up the stairs, they run and hide. Today, they got into my lotion and used it as shampoo. I love hearing their long and complex imaginations at work, although I could do without the lotion.

week recap

2011-08-06T11:59:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been a busy week for us.

This week I'm grateful for wonderful neighbors and the fact that I have marketable skills in this economy. Let me explain...

Our tenant of 4 1/2 years moved out at the end of July. He was several months behind in rent so as compensation, he was going to do some repairs/updates to pay for rent.
After I received the photos of the work he did and several photos of the inside of the house, I was very upset. The laminate floors he put in were poorly executed as were the other repairs. He also left the home in a state of utter filth and disgust and turned off the water without telling me so the drought has killed a lot of our grass.

My sweet, sweet neighbors came the rescue and are heading up the cleaning and repair process. She is taking care of everything from cleaning the home, steaming the carpets, getting bids on painting, window washing, etc. She and her husband are also trying their best to revive our yard. I am so incredibly grateful for them and their willingness to take on these projects. It is difficult if not impossible to be a landlord in another state. Luckily, there is a family that really wants to move in and are able to overlook the current condition of the home.

On another note, I've been thinking about heading back to work. I feel that the kids are in a good spot and can handle me working 1 or 2 nights/week. I also want to keep up with my clinical skills because once I begin my clinical rotations for the NP program, I need to be competent and the only way to do that is by working.

So, I decided to call one of the local hospitals just to ask a specific question regarding certification that I need for the job, just basic ACLS (Adult Cardiac Life Support) stuff. She asked which position I was interested in and I told her. She asked if I had ICU experience and without even submitting my application online, I was scheduling an interview.

Unfortunately, I've let me NJ RN license lapse because after working in Philly, I didn't think I would have the need to work in NJ, oops, big mistake. Now, I'm scrambling to catch up on my CEU's, reactivate my RN license and update all of my certifications.

This experience made me reflect on how fortunate I am that I have the necessary skills to secure employment in an uncertain economy.

Can't say enough about wonderful people in the world willing to lend a hand and the importance of an education.

7 Regent Lane

2011-07-31T18:39:00.000-07:00

I spent time today shooting a quick video with two friends, the brains behind 7 Regent Lane.
More to come....

Marvi's visit

2011-07-31T18:07:00.000-07:00

This weekend, Marvi, one of my sister's friends from college came to visit us. We had a wonderful time. Marvi is such a sweetheart and the girls loved her.
We spent Saturday walking around Independence Hall, we visited the Constitution Center, had a delicious lunch and topped it off with ice cream at this place.

We spent 6 hours in the city and the girls were troopers. Unfortunately, my double BOB stroller doesn't fit in the trunk of my minivan, so they did a lot of walking. Hanging out in Philly on a perfect summer day makes me wish I lived in the city. Well, at least it's only a quick 20 minute drive.

Gone fishin'

2011-07-29T05:15:00.000-07:00

I took the girls fishing at a nearby pond yesterday. They've been asking to go for quite some time and both were really excited.
Isabella was a bit saddened to find out that the worms would be used as bait for the fish. We had beginner's luck and caught a small catfish on our first cast. I wish I would have had another person videotaping the girls while I reeled in the fish. They were jumping up and down with excitement, so cute. Luckily, I was able to get the hook out of his mouth to toss him back into the water. The girls had fun and told me that they want to go again.

what they're saying these days

2011-07-28T06:24:00.000-07:00

Olivia: Each time I tell her something she doesn't like she interrupts me and says, "No, don't say that, no." (with a scowl on her face of course).

Isabella: "Mom, you need to stay with us forever." "Mom, Heavenly Father gave us such a cute baby (referring to Clark). He gave him to us because he knew we would love him."

1 year stats

2011-07-28T06:20:00.000-07:00

Clark had his one year well check yesterday. He received two vaccinations and was pretty fussy and tired all day. Poor guy.

Height: 48%
Weight: 68%
Head: 93%

Guess who's one

2011-07-26T14:33:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe little Clark is already a year old.

We celebrated with a few friends on a Sunday evening. Clark requested a decadent carrot cake so that's what he got.

The kids played outside in the water and Clark was a wet and happy little guy. He also timed his first few steps perfectly, right before we sang Happy Birthday.

Clark's personality at a year:

He's into everything
He loves pulling drawers open and emptying the contents.
He loves climbing and is more physical than the girls were at this stage.
He stands by himself and has taken about 10 steps total.
He has to be entertained. He's not good at solitary play. He prefers to be surrounded by his sisters or other kids at all times.
He's a fairly happy kid, but can be pretty grumpy too.
He loves throwing his food on the floor
He is a talker and often says "mama, dada" and now tries to mimic other sounds.
He gets a lot of attention when we're out for his red hair and the most commonly asked question by friends and strangers is, "Where does his red hair come from?" (still not positively sure)

Clark is such a delight and we adore that little baby. Happy Birthday, Clark!

what we've been up to

2011-07-21T11:56:00.000-07:00

We're really enjoying the summer, even though this last week has been nothing short of sweltering.
We've spent time at the children's museums in the area and are busy crafting away when we're at home. The girls are taking swimming lessons and loving it. Isabella is putting her face in the water and Olivia's swim instructor says that Olivia is just all arms and legs.
Clark is a busy little guy and tries to keep up with his sisters. Most days he'd rather be playing with his sisters in their room rather than hanging in the kitchen with me. Tomorrow he'll be 1, can't believe it.
Jason is also enjoying life and can finally come home after work, relax and enjoy the kids. He definitely doesn't miss school.

beautiful

2011-07-21T11:34:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't it be nice to have a hydrangea bush the size of a small car in your front yard that produces hundreds of gorgeous flowers. Well, my sweet friend Katie does and she sends me home with a few. Love them.

dinnertime

2011-07-13T18:39:00.000-07:00

Jason has been telling me for several months that I don't need to make grandiose meals for dinner and to just keep it simple. I don't cook elaborate dinners every night of course, but I do like spending time in the kitchen. Last night, after juggling the demands of the three kids while trying to get dinner ready, I finally realized that Jason is right.
I did enjoy making the watermelon/arugula salad with homemade dressing but if I'm doing it while Clark is clinging to my legs and crying and the girls are running around the house fighting, it kills the whole experience.
Today, while Clark napped I basically made dinner and am putting this pasta salad at the top of my list. It meets my new criteria, simplicity and prepped ahead of time. It was also a hit with the kids.

latest read

2011-07-13T04:59:00.000-07:00

So far, the latest book club book is a wonderful read. Just wish I had more time to spend immersed in it.

I still heart Austin

2011-07-11T19:21:00.000-07:00

I took a weekend trip to Austin (sans kids) and had a wonderful time. The main reason for my trip wasn't to party it up with old friends, but rather to check in on our rental home. Our tenant of 4 years is moving out and we're handing the rental over to a property management company. The house needs a little work, but it's still in great condition.

While I was in Austin, I checked off several must-do's:

1. Catching up with old friends
2. BBQ: The line at Rudy's was out the door so I opted for PoK-e-Jo's, so delicious!
3. Tex-Mex: Guero's Amazing
4. Morning run on Townlake
5. Stroll down South Congress
6. Trip to Whole Foods Flagship store
7. Shopping at The Domain

Being back in Austin brought back a lot of memories. I do love that city, but I absolutely love where we live now and I have no desire to call Texas home again, really.

Thank you to my friends for a wonderful trip!

Happy 4th of July

2011-07-04T18:54:00.000-07:00

I love the 4th of July.

The Haddonfield parade followed by ice cream is a fun way to celebrate.

My Isabella

2011-07-03T20:01:00.000-07:00

Warning...this is a post about how wonderful Isabella is.

My friend jokes that Isabella is a 35 yr old trapped in a 4 yr old body, allow me to explain.
The other night I was in the kitchen preparing dinner while Jason and the girls were outside playing. They were snacking on cheese and crackers. Isabella tells Jason, "I'm going to put the cheese and crackers away now because if we eat too much we'll be full before dinner." So, she brings the food inside and tells me what she told daddy.
She has an overdeveloped sense of right and wrong. She's quick to tell me that Olivia is doing something she shouldn't. The other day the girls were riding their bikes down the sidewalk and I told them not to pass a white car that was parked down the street. Isabella obeyed me while Olivia kept going. I heard Isabella yelling at Olivia and jumping up and down, "Olivia, come back, Olivia come back!" She runs inside and tells me that Olivia is riding down the street and that the cars might run over her. I ran down the street chasing after Olivia and yelling for her to stop, but she just kept going (she was in a lot of trouble for this stunt).
Isabella is very caring. She shows genuine concern and love to others. She adores her sister and brother and is usually wonderful to them.
She loves preschool and her teachers commented to me that Isabella is mature beyond her years, both in her behavior and her academics.

When I asked Isabella what she wanted for her birthday this year she said she wanted princess lip gloss and an identical teddy bear for her sister. She told me that Olivia loves her bear and she wants her to have one just like it.

She is nothing short of an exceptional little girl. I adore her more than words can express. I look forward to celebrating many more birthdays with my little sweetheart.

Isabella turns 4

2011-07-03T19:13:00.000-07:00

Isabella is the big 4. She's been looking forward to her 4th birthday for quite some time. As soon as she woke up she came downstairs and asked, "Am I really 4 today?" (yes, you are) "Oh, I am so excited, I can't believe I'm finally 4!"

She started off her big day by playing with the balloons that filled the living room. I made blueberry pancakes, sausage and eggs for breakfast. My sister came down and Jason took the day off and we all headed to the magical Storybook Land. Isabella's last time here was last year with her cousin, Kate. I'm not a big fan of amusement parks, but Jason and I both agree, we love this place. The park is beautiful, full of towering trees, rarely crowded (we never waited in line), and actually a relaxing place to be.
The girls were super excited about celebrating Isabella's birthday at Storybook Land. We all had a wonderful time. The girls both braved the roller coaster, enjoyed Turtle Twirl, the small water park and the animals. We made our way through the entire park and topped the visit off with refreshing water ice.

Isabella's only dinner request was mac n cheese. So, that's what she got. We enjoyed dinner in the backyard and devoured the cake and ice cream.

This was the first time I didn't throw a big party and I'm a fan of a special day with just the family. We had a fabulous time and Isabella had a memorable 4th birthday.

Blueberry love

2011-06-29T19:28:00.000-07:00

I think that blueberry picking is now one of my top favorite things to do.
We headed to Wells Blueberry Farm this week and the girls had a fun time picking berries. I loved the drive there. When we got out of the car we couldn't hear a thing, just the sound of birds and a few grasshoppers.
Picking blueberries is therapeutic, I love the challenge of finding the ripest and largest blueberries and one by one, putting them in my bucket.
Clark wasn't a huge fan, I think he ate more sand than blueberries but once we put him in a shady spot, he loved it.
We picked about 11 lbs of berries. I froze most of them and tonight made the best blueberry cobbler ever, really.
The blueberry season only lasts about 2 more weeks and we've decided that we're going back again before it ends.

2011-06-27T19:20:00.000-07:00

Clark is only one month away from his 1 year birthday, so hard to believe.

I will admit that he has definitely been a more difficult baby when compared to the girls. He will sit and play for about 10 minutes at a time, but when he sees me or hears my voice, he forgets about how happy he was and wants only for me to hold him.
He's such a social little guy. He loves to people watch and to interact with strangers.
He's still a great eater and prefers protein over any other food group.

my little rainbow

2011-06-27T18:47:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine made these comments about Olivia the other day while at a birthday party.

"If Olivia could be any color, she would have to be a rainbow. Her personality is just so vibrant. She embraces life with such zeal. She knows how to live life to the fullest."
I thought her observations were very insightful. She summed up Olivia in a few sentences.

Today, my mom couldn't resist and had to take a few pictures of Olivia playing in the backyard. She has her shoes on backwards (as usual), her bag (in this case a scripture case), her sunglasses and a diapered baby. She is a lot of fun and already has an eccentric personality. I can't wait to see what she does in life.

adobe lightroom

2011-06-27T10:17:00.000-07:00

I just downloaded a free trial of Adobe Lightroom.

Before Lightroom

After Lightroom

Grounds for Sculpture

2011-06-25T19:33:00.000-07:00

This area of the country is filled with little gems.
We visited Grounds for Sculpture this past week.
It is a magical place where art and nature intersect.

The girls had a fun time figuring out whether some of the life-like sculptures were real or not. We could have spent all day there but after several hours of walking/running around the grounds, they tired out. I definitely want to go try out the restaurant.

USS New Jersey

2011-06-25T19:14:00.000-07:00

This was our second year attending a 4th of July celebration on the USS New Jersey.

The weather was beautiful and the kids had a wonderful time running all over the ship.

mobile man

2011-06-21T19:17:00.000-07:00

Clark is quickly mastering the crawl. He's following the example of his older sister and does it crab style.
He pulls himself up to a standing position at every chance.
I'm discovering that he's definitely a social little guy. He loves hanging out with other kids his age and a bit older. I've taken him into nursery during church the last couple of Sundays and I've almost forgotten he's in the room because he's so involved with playing with the toys and the other children.

berry picking

2011-06-21T19:02:00.000-07:00

One of my other favorite summer activities is berry picking. Unfortunately, I was studying when the girls picked juicy strawberries and sweet blueberries. We're definitely going to go again.

a Sunday walk

2011-06-21T18:52:00.000-07:00

We are outside more than we're inside these days and I absolutely love that about the Spring and Summer here in Jersey.

Isabella is getting really great on her little bike. We decided to walk to a nearby pond to catch frogs this Sunday and Isabella insisted on riding her bike. I thought that I would definitely have to carry her bike on the uphill home, but she rode the entire way.

We didn't have any luck catching a frog, but we did spot a huge one. Isabella tried to get him, but he got away.

master bath after

2011-06-17T07:31:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love everything about our new master bath. It's bright, clean and calming. The closet is also a dream.

master bath before

2011-06-17T07:17:00.000-07:00

we just underwent a total overhaul of our master bath.

These are the glamorous before shots....

I will not miss a thing about that space.

school is out

2011-06-16T19:29:00.000-07:00

Isabella's last day of preschool was on Wednesday. The kids sang several cute songs and were so proud of the certificates they received. The room moms threw a party afterward complete with games and a pinata.

I know Isabella will miss going to school but that just keeps me motivated to make our homeschooling experience a lot of fun.

Olivia

2011-06-12T19:24:00.000-07:00

I just love how the camera captured Olivia's huge personality in these photos.

true feelings

2011-06-12T19:12:00.000-07:00

I hope this isn't how Clark really feels about his doting sister.

day at the beach

2011-06-10T04:44:00.000-07:00

This week we took our first trip of the summer to Ocean City, NJ.
The girls were super excited and have been begging to go to the beach as soon as the weather started to warm up.
Unfortunately I didn't snap any pics while we were there. The photo above was taken after the kids had an intense scrub down in the bathtub after their day of making sand castles and sand angels.

Olivia absolutely loved the water, the harder the waves, the better. Isabella seemed to love every minute, especially since some of her friends were there. Clark was also a fan of the water and the sand.

PR day 4

2011-06-03T04:52:00.000-07:00

(the little lagoon is the Biobay)

The last day in Puerto Rico was definitely the most memorable, unfortunately I didn't snap any photos.

We started the day with an early morning swim, which was rejuvenating. Jason gave me a few tips on how to improve my form and I really enjoyed swimming. I think that I need to incorporate it into a weekly exercise routine.

We spent most of the day on the beach. We did a bit of swimming in the ocean and spotted schools of fish, a 2 foot shark and huge hermit crabs. Jason had never ridden a jet ski so we rented one and had a blast riding around. We made it back to the hotel around 5pm, just in time to shower and get ready for our next adventure.

My sister told me that the Biobay is a must see, so at 6:30 we met a group of 30 people and all boarded kayaks for our 2 hour kayak adventure. It was dusk as we kayaked through a mangrove forest which was absolutely beautiful. The channel was narrow and many people in our group had never kayaked before which made for many collisions and some good laughs.
When we finally arrived at the Biobay, it was completely dark. All you could see were sillouettes of the kayakers and the glow sticks on the back of each kayak.
The experience in the Biobay was incredible. If you put your hand in the water or an ore you cause the algae to illuminate. It was cool to see fish swimming under the water because there was a glow wherever they swam.
After 15 minutes of enjoying the magical Biobay, we started our trek through the canal back to the open water. This time, the tour guide was already pulling two kayakers who didn't think they could make it back.

The kayak trek back was harder than getting to the Biobay. This time, it was pitch black and we were kayaking against a current. The experience of kayaking at night is something I will remember for a long time, we loved it. Halfway through heading back, a guy had an asthma attack and also had to be pulled. (The excursion sales guy never disclosed to anyone how physically demanding this tour was). We finally reached the shore after 9pm and everyone was absolutely soaked and dirty. It was a fun adventure and now I'm excited for our next trek. Maybe, this one.

Oh, and to top it off we met a wonderful couple whom we had dinner with after Biobay and hopefully we'll be able to stay in touch because they live nearby in Maryland.

PR day 3

2011-06-01T12:20:00.000-07:00

We basically spent all day Sunday hanging out by the pool. I read and worked on school work and Jason read a book that's been on his bookshelf for over a year.
We enjoyed seeing pics of the girls and knew they were having a blast with my sister and Darwin. The pic above was the view from our room. I miss the view.

PR day 2

2011-05-30T14:34:00.000-07:00

We took a trip to El Yunque Rainforest. The rainforest was beautiful and the waterfall was pretty cool. Even though El Yunque is a gem here in Puerto Rico, I must say that the hikes we did in Costa Rica and in Kauai are absolutely breathtaking compared to El Yunque; but it was definitely worth the trip.

PR day 1

2011-05-29T19:16:00.000-07:00

We spent our first full day here hanging out on the beach. We rented a kayak and paddled out to a tiny little island. Then, we topped the day off with a seafood dinner.

Puerto Rico

2011-05-28T19:36:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my sweet mom and wonderful sister, Jason and I were able to get away for a few days in Puerto Rico. We're having a fun and incredibly relaxing time here. The resort is beautiful and I could really get used to living near the water, the sound of the ocean is calming. Even though I do miss the kids, it feels really nice to not have to take care of anyone else for a couple of days.

strawberry season

2011-05-22T19:15:00.000-07:00

My sweet neighbor gave us this pint of delicious farm grown strawberries. I can't wait to try this recipe.

our first diorama

2011-05-22T19:11:00.000-07:00

I've never seen Isabella prouder than when she presented her butterly diorama to her family. She was beaming.

We started by making salt dough, rolling it out and cutting out the pieces. I baked the dough for a couple of hours and Isabella spent the next day carefully painting the pieces.

I think this is the first of many dioramas. We both really enjoyed working on it.

funny things

2011-05-20T19:27:00.000-07:00

The kids are really funny lately, especially Olivia.

Olivia's personality is larger than life, especially since the binkie is a distant memory. She talks nonstop and is constantly on the move. She's really into being a mommy. I am always "sister" and she insists on being called "mommy." She's very serious about her role as a "mom." She's always changing her baby's diaper and putting on desitin. Sometimes she will not respond to a question if I call her by her name, I have to call her "mommy."
Isabella is her best friend and she can conquer anything hand in hand with her sister.

Isabella is growing up quickly. She loves to sit and do crafts and she loves to explore outdoors. Unfortunately, she got into some poison ivy and broke out everywhere. She ended up on a steroid and is almost over it completely.
Isabella still prides herself on being obedient. Being a rule keeper is part of her nature. She's a sweetheart and loves her baby brother.

Clark is on the verge of crawling. He's saying mama and dada. He loves, loves, loves his sisters and of course his mom.

mexican dress

2011-05-20T18:28:00.000-07:00

My mom just returned from a trip to Mexico before heading our way. She remembered that I requested traditional Mexican dresses for the girls. Isabella absolutely loved hers and wore it two days in a row. She wanted to wear it for a 3rd day but I was able to convince her that after two days it was dirty.

more graduation pics

2011-05-15T14:49:00.000-07:00

The class brunch was held at the Penn Museum with a beautiful, well stocked koi pond. The girls had a fun time running around and playing with the fish.

graduation

2011-05-15T14:19:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that 2 years has gone by so quickly. Although, during the most stressful times, it seemed that school would never end and graduation would never become a reality. Today, Jason walked across the stage and received his diploma. Congrats, babe.

The graduate

Friends for life

And the women who helped make it all happen

Another fiery redhead

2011-05-10T18:47:00.000-07:00

Clark is 9 1/2 months old and turning out to be quite the handful.

Of course he's adorable and sweet but boy he can be high maintenance. He's not yet crawling but hopefully will start soon because as soon as he lands on his belly he freaks out and starts crying. He does scoot around pretty effectively so perhaps he'll skip crawling and go straight to walking.

I do love that he won't let himself be pushed around by his sisters. He fights back every time Olivia crosses him, it's pretty amusing.

Things he loves:

Me, me, and more me. He's as happy as can be if I'm holding him, tickling him, talking to him, etc.
He loves to clap
He loves to dance
He's still a big eater and thankfully eats anything I give him
He loves to go shopping and is an expert observer
He loves other babies his age
He love walks in the stroller

Things he dislikes:

My absence
Olivia taking his toys away

I feel lucky to be around all day to watch little Clark's personality grow. Even though he demands a lot of my attention, I still do love it because I know that one day I won't be the center of his world.

quitting cold turkey

2011-05-05T11:55:00.000-07:00

I decided that the binkie use in the house by Olivia was getting out of control. She went from using it only during naps and at bedtime to wanting that piece of plastic in her mouth all of the time.

Yesterday when I put her crib bedding in the washing machine I "accidentally" put her binkie in there also and when it came out, the entire tip was cut off down to just a little nub. When she saw her new and improved binkie, she was devastated. She insisted that I fix it, but after I told her there was nothing that could be done, she forgot about it. Last night she did ask me to dig it out of the trash (she threw it away) so that she could hold it. I did and now she is just happy to hold it before bedtime and then she's over it.

Even though she's now given up her nap, I know that kicking the binkie habit is definitely worth it.

Wharton graduation gala

2011-05-03T19:10:00.000-07:00

We got dressed up and danced the night away. We had a blast celebrating the end of a long journey. We haven't danced like that in a very long time.