Lexie's loving the cereal!

Lexie has officially started to eat with a spoon. She did really well and only a little bit of it ended up on her face. Now, we can't wait to start with the veggies and fruit.

Brother keeping her occupied while I get her food ready.

It all ended with one very full baby who passed out!

The Trio

Trees and Flowerbeds

Here are the late pictures of all of the hard work done by Eric and his Grandfather Lapiz's

Before

After

This is before the deck and the landscaping. This is how it looked when we moved in.
What a difference it makes.

How I Became A Pirate

Last week we went to the Magik Theatre and watched 'How I became a Pirate'. Ethan was looking forward to it all week and I think he really liked it. Gracie did really well even though I knew she would of rather seen Pinkalicious again. We saw the Pinkalicious play two months ago and she really liked it but was a little confused when the pirates came onto the stage and not Pinkalicious. However, she sat through the whole play and did really well. Sorry, some of the pics are out of focus, I was holding Lexie in the carrier on my chest. Trying to take a picture and hold her head correctly was a bit of a challenge.

With some Pirates after the show

Ethan and his buddy Jeremiah

Gracie

I am a person that happens to be a Mom!

I painted this painting at a recent 'girls night out' event.
I have always hated art in school but this was so much fun!

I love being a stay at home mother. There is nothing I would rather be doing then watching my little ones flourish in front of my very own eyes. However, I never thought I would have been the stay at home mother kind of gal. I always thought that I would go to work and enroll my first born into the first respectable daycare that we could find. That was until I held my baby boy within moments of his birth and realized like most mothers it would take a pack of wolves to tear me away. I recall my own mother (who not by her choice was a working mother) telling me that I should be grateful for being allowed to stay home and to never take it for granted. Even now, when she calls and hears screaming in the back ground and me yelling towards the screaming, she in that somewhat irritating motherly voice reminds me to not to take it for granted. But, in all honesty I do enjoy my job. I have some “mom” friends who stay at home and some who work and I know that we all do the best we can do to be the best moms we know how. I remember reading a book where a mother recalled a day with her three year old child as the most excruciating root canal one could basically have and that made her reaffirm her decision that she wasn’t the type to stay home. I know it must sound bad but I say good for her to come to terms with that. I am sure there was some reservation in her heart when she realized that as a mother she enjoyed maybe a few hours a day instead of the whole day with her child. I think having an affectionate day care teacher is much better than a withdrawn mother.

As if this topic could be in disagreement with anyone but in my opinion every mother is a working mother. Period. I have never worked so hard in my entire life but the rewards are endless. Some days are definitely better than others and those are the days I can understand why the cocktail hour was introduced. In our house I can go from almost pulling my hair out to snuggling with three of the most important people in my life. I enjoy when Ethan comes to my room every morning and asks with such an innocent grin “What are we going to do today?” Because even though I am a “stay at home” mom, we seldom ever really find ourselves at home. We are either at a play date, zoo, pool, park, or some place that is fit for kids, and then when afternoon comes around after a busy day, Ethan asks once again “Well what craft are we going to do when Gracie takes a nap?” I don’t think there are enough craft materials in this world to keep this kid from wanting to do another craft. I have created a craft monster! Well I should at least be grateful that my kiddos would rather have busy hands or be out in about than stuck in front of a TV all day.

Now here is my point and trust me I got one. Even though I like being a stay at home mom, I enjoy my “me” time. There are mothers out there that can’t bear to be away from their little ones for any amount of time and I salute you! But, I am not one. I enjoy remembering that my name does not begin with Mom, that I am my own person and can finish a coherent sentence with another adult that has words with more than 3 syllables. I enjoy talking and learning from other woman without one of us having to stop every couple of seconds to make sure hell hasn’t broken loose. I enjoy dressing up and enjoying a night out with good friends who have that same ‘I know what you mean’ expression on their faces. I enjoy the moment I move my wallet from the diaper bag to my teeny tiny black purse. I really enjoy when I get to take my husband on a date to a non-kid friendly restaurant and instead of asking for a table for 4 with highchair we can sit together in a booth and act like love struck teenagers. Because after all that, I come home refreshed enough to relish my little creations and ready to take on whatever parenting obstacles that may appear. It not only makes me a better person but a better wife and a much better mother.

However, without the loving support, and yes, the financial support of my Eric, I would not be able to stay at home with my little ones nor would I be able to enjoy those nights out with the girls. He is such a good guy; I think I will keep him ;)

Rainy Day Crafts

It poured today and did not let up, so I pulled out some paint and we got work.

Making Monsters using straws

Gracie trying her hardest

Ethan really enjoyed it

Ethan named his monsters

Gracie picked her name too

Finger painting is always fun

Anytime Gracie got too much paint on her hands she would say, "It's okay Mom, it's okay"

Letter recognition using a box lid, markers and corn starch.
I really liked this because if he needed help I could show him, shake the box and then he could do it on his own. It was better than wasting paper and we got to use our hands.

My little picasso hard at work....notice his face.

Thelma & Louise

Rylee and Gracie playing

2 monkeys jumping on the bed.......

Yo ho, the pirate's life for me!

On Friday, our playgroup friends came over for a pirate play date. We ate some pirate theme foods, played with pirate toys, hunted for treasure in the rice table and made a pirate eye scope craft. Everybody had a great time and we enjoyed some pretend play. Then on Saturday we got together with some good friends for a barbecue at the lake. I thought it was a little too chilly for swimming but Ethan and Gracie decided that I was wrong and took a dip anyway. You know kids, weather doesn't ever seem to faze them. Despite the chilly water they weren't too keen on getting out. However, once I saw their teeth shaking, I knew that they had enough. Then on Sunday, I enjoyed a wonderful Mother's day spending time with Eric and our three little creations and opening my gifts; which were classroom made and store bought. It was a great day that just went by way too fast.

Looking for Treasure

FUN Times!

We love crafts!

Ethan making his craft and what looks like a serious conversation.

Gracie in full concentration

I wish I could take credit for this delicious cupcakes but I can't

Strawberry Pickin'

We met our playgroup friends at a local strawberry farm today and picked the freshest, yummiest strawberries... at least that's what Gracie was thinking when she was stuffing them in her mouth.