House hunting???

Two houses across the street from our house had open houses today. Ellie and I went tot check out the houses after church--in hopes of getting a few new ideas about how to remodel our kitchen.

Houses in Charles Village ALL look completely different inside--which is the charm of this section of town, but currently my vice. Both kitchens were very cute, quite different, but would not work for ours.

Elllie liked the first house better--probably because they gave away cookies and lemonade:) Great PR if you selling it families:)

First Night

Last night we put the girls in their big girl bed. It was quite the night with Elli and Maggie staying up past midnight. I am so glad we had a dutch doors put on their room with the door handles reversed. GREAT way to keep the girls in their third floor bedroom.

I am sure the novelty of climbing out of bed will end in time---though it is a little frustrating to hear her call for us to put her diaper back on her after she takes it off to potty in the kiddie potty every 5 minutes:)

Trip to Ikea

Little did I know that a trip to Ikea could be so much fun. Everything from checking my potty trained kids into the children's play area toa chealp lunch (where four of us at for 15 bucks).

The most fun was picking out Ellie's new bed. (Seen here on the left). Maggie was equally happy--as she will be out of the crib and into a big girl bed... YEAH!!

Maggie's new potty ritual

A few months ago, Maggie began shoing an interest in the potty. We, of course, were thrilled. No more diapers means more money in our pockets. Maggie would sit and go and then be on her merry way. She was by no means potty trained because unless you asked her, she would prefer to go in her diaper.

I have decided (note this i my decision--not hers) that this potty training
thing needs to get a move on, so last night I began asking her every 15 minutes
or so if she needed to go potty. The fun happened this
morning:)

I take off her diaper, ask her if she has to go, she runs to the potty, does three drops, pours it into the toilet, then puts the bowl back in the potty, and sits on it again. She goes potty again (about 3-5 drops), pours it into the toliet, then puts the bowl back in and sits again. I think the girl did this 8 or 9 times (which means a 15-20 minute process). I hope that at some point she will allow it all to just flow out at once!

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Gran left today--the girls are quite bummed

Ellie and Maggie ran into the house today after school looking for Gran. I told Ellie that she headed back to Chicago after they left for school. To which she responded, "Oh man." Poor Maggie doesn't really get the concept of visits yet. Gran will be back at Christmas, which Ellie reminded me about at dinner, after dinner, and when going to bed. I jsut hope she doesn't start a count down:)

JT's Birthday

I can't say my wonderful, wonderful, wonderful husband had a wonderful birthday today. We spent the day at two Urgent Care Centers in VA, a super Walmart, and sitting in traffic on the way home from VA. Not such a spectacular day.

Ellie's blister popped and then proceeded to get infected--really infected. Last night when we removed her shoe, it was swollen and red--we put some ointment and a band aid on it--but it was too late. Saturday morning it looked like the infection was going up her foot--time to visit the local urgent care--which isn't so local when you are in Culpeper, VA.

So at 10am, we hit the Urgent Care in Locust Grove, VA which was booked till 4pm then drove 10 more miles to Fredricksburg, VA where we were admitted without much wait. An oral prescription was prescribed and we were on our way to the local Wally world for socks, loose fitting shoes, nonstick bandage pads, paper tape, vinegar (for the foot soak), a bribe book (which we promised Ellie if she would stop screaming the doc office)--and a cooler and some ice to keep the "Keep refrigerated" prescription cold.

See--this isn't turning out to be the best 36th birthday for the boy is it? He HATES shopping with me at Walmart and Target. I do think that is one of his least favorite things to do with me.

After we made it home, we did get Thai food and I did buy him a Carvel cake with those yummy black crunchies--maybe that made his birthday a smidge better.

Gran is in town---HOORAY!!!

The girls are beside themselves because Gran (my mom) arrived today. It was a night filled with her showering the girls with lots of presents---lots of workbooks for Ellie, bead kits, and coloring books.

We discovered that Maggie is quite good at stringing beads--who would have thought that a 22 month old could make a necklace with pretty small beads...not me.

The night came to end when Gran told Ellie she could sleep with her. After we broke the news to Ellie that she couldn't have all her stuff animals, blankets, books, and other assortment of things in bed with Gran, Ellie decided that sleeping with Gran was not so great after all. So she headed up to her own bed.

I knew it!!

Ellie knows the whole Rain Forest Adventure CD--she even knows the track numbers and yet--come Sunday when it is time to sing. My child refuses to sing. What is this craziness???

I do not get my three year old. It's such a losing battle--the more she senses that I would like to see her upfront--the more she makes a fuss. Why God, why me? Patience is not my strength---no comment JT if you are reading this. I know this, realize, and sometimes even claim it. But it really does kill me that on the way to church she tells me that she can't wait to sing the songs. Do three year olds know how to tease? Because I am SURE mine does.