Girls just want to have fun!

Look, mom, I can do it!

" I did it!"

Grace spending time with the cousins

Learning to use a hula hoop

Daddy and Jenn cuddling :)

We had a short school week with Thanksgiving being on Thursday. We stayed at home a lot, which was really nice for me, and did house cleaning. We threw our first Turkey day feast, where Ryan and I cooked a whole Thanksgiving dinner, we did pretty good, if you ask me!! This year I was overly Thankful for so many things mainly being my family, who has helped us survive in more ways then I could ever imagine. Friday the girls and I left home and went to stay and play with some of our cousins, the girls had way to much fun!! Jenni was a little sick, so she stayed pretty close to me for the most part, but Grace went to town, they hula hooped, played school, restaurant, and ate more food then I thought possible :) When we got home Daddy missed us, and took advantage of the pre-bedtime snuggle for the night, nothing wrong with that!!

**Jenni learned to zip her jacket up this week, and Grace had a more then amazing review at her first parent-teacher conferences!! She is very far ahead of her age and her teacher Ms. Wanke was very proud of Grace and applauded us for our hard work at home.

Weekend Bliss

The girls playing tea, while in the background Cole playing truck!

It was a cold one outside.

Personally, I think this kid should be a model or something!

He is a cutie!

How high can you throw that thing Dave???

This weekend my brother and his son, my nephew Cole, came down for a weekend visit. We had a really good weekend just letting the kids run around, make a mess, and have a good family bonding weekend! We went outside for a short time, it was freakin' cold out!! We took the kids to a local model train club display, Cole loved it, as did Grace and Jenn. We just had an all around really good relaxing weekend where the kids got to bond that cousinly bond. I got to talk and hang out with my brother, who by the way is an amazingly loving and wonderful dad! I can't wait to do it again, SOON!!

Testing Mommy!!

Jenn sleeping in her crib!

Reading to themselves before nap time!

Jenn discovering the "push the chair over to the counter" trick

Waving at a train going by

Grace helping me to compost the pumpkins for next years garden

This week I am feeling totally exhausted!! I feel like the girls have been pushing every button they could manage to push with me, and UGH, I am glad the weekend has arrived!! Not that the weekend ever really makes a difference in our house, Ryan still works weekends, but my brother and his family are coming down for a weekend visit!!! Grace and Jenn get to play with their cousin and that always makes for good game time for the adults :) I know I am not the only mom that has her patience tested and her will kicked in the groin, but sometimes it just feels like I am alone in the mommy world.

This morning Grace got herself dressed and ready for school, she even put on her own socks and shoes. I got teary eyed, and Ryan just laughed at me. For me, this is one less thing that she will need me for, one more advance to her growing up faster then what I am ready for, it made me sad. I looked at her the other day and I just stared at her for a long time, she says to me "mom stop looking at me, you are so weird." I immediately apologized and looked away from her, I was just in shock looking at her and wondering where my little Gracie went.

Jenn on the other hand is 18 months old and is smarter then Grace was at 18 months, I know she is watching Grace and learning from her, but that is supposed to be my job! I taught Grace and I was supposed to teach Jenn too, but I guess sometimes I am a little slow. Don't get me wrong here, I still teach Jenn, but I know she learns a lot from her big sister too, I taught my little brother things ;) I look at Jenn and get sad knowing that she very well could be my last baby, and she is just not a baby anymore, shoot she is trying to go on the potty already!

Life moves to fast, I know I have bad days and get frustrated and upset, but I also know that I don't have to many more days until Grace will not need me to pick out her school clothes in the morning. I also know that Jenn will be out of her crib soon, these are the things that seem so crazy and annoying, but someday, someday soon, they will be gone and I will for sure cry more tears something new changes or goes away!

Nice Fall Days

The beautiful birds nest we found!

Jenn was sleeping so soundly, I couldn't help myself!!!

School was canceled, so we make a few art projects!

Jenn got in on the art projects too!

Taking advantage of the sunshine!!

Jenn makes the Lions look good!!!!!

This week the weather has been unusually warm for November! So we chose to take full advantage of it as winter is on the way and we will be locked inside the house where it will be much warmer :) We went outside and Grace helped me and daddy put Christmas lights up on the house and in a tree, in that tree we found a birds nest which was empty, but I left it in the tree because it is just beautiful!! Grace had her first play date with a school friend, Jenn and I went with Grace to her friends house and we had a BLAST, we are hoping to have another play date soon at our house. Grace also had her first school cancellation, so we made it into an art project day, Grace made her Grandma Kathy a snowman for her fridge (as she requested), and then we got ahead start on making a few Christmas gifts. Busy weeks are making time fly by, sometimes I will admit I want time to go fast, but usually, I just wish it would slow down these girls will be big, and not want to hold me hand before I know it!!!

Jenn has decided to hide from me!

Jenn watching her big sister! I love this!!

Grace just waiting

On Monday the 1st, Grace went on her second field trip with her preschool class. They went to sing for the residents of the Grand Court and then go trick or treating. Grace was so excited about it because she knew that is where Gammie lives. I got to sneak in to help Gammie get up and go see the kids. Gammie LOVED it, Grace said she had a lot of fun also. I guess it was a success!