Wednesday, September 28, 2011

So Happy Together


Anna Claire and Mallory have been playing together marvelously lately. They have their little imaginary "games" they like to play {Toy Story, Princess,...} in which they portray characters and "act out" scenes from the movies. They also like to play with their baby dolls, particularly feeding them in their doll high chairs. And, this past weekend, they actually sat on the living room floor and played a complete game of Go Fish! Sure, I sat on the floor beside them to help and they showed each other their hands {gotta work on that}, but they still played cards together. Wow!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Ketchup and Mustard?

 
Today we bought the fabric for Anna Claire and Mallory's Halloween costumes. They insisted on carrying the bolts themselves.

I'll give you two guesses what they're going to be ~ and the answer is NOT ketchup and mustard! 

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Prima Ballerinas

Can there be two prima ballerinas? Yes, I think there can!

Anna Claire and Mallory started taking their first dance class last week. As you can probably tell, they are very excited!
 Don't let Anna Claire's expression fool you.
I went back and forth all summer trying to decide if I thought we were all ready to get involved in extra~curricular activities {I actually considered soccer. I know nothing about soccer}. I had pretty much decided we were not ready, but as soon as school started {and after a couple of friends got me really excited about the idea} I began to regret my decision. At the last minute, I found out dance classes had not started yet, so we talked to the girls about it and made the decision to get them signed up ~ best decision ever! They've only had one class so far, and they absolutely love it.

Their class is called expressive dance and is a multi~age class {2~4 year~olds}. They go once a week for an hour and learn ballet and tap through imaginative play. It is wonderful. I wish I could take pictures during class.

I was glued to the two~way mirror last week watching. All the little girls did very well. Anna Claire and Mallory were so excited to get started, they both walked right in to the studio without looking back {I won't lie; I was a little worried about Anna Claire}. They participated in every activity and seemed to listen and follow direction very well. The best part is they are constantly asking when they get to go back to dance class!
 Well lookey there...Mommy made it into a picture! {Thanks, Grandmom!}
 Remember our recent trip to People, Places, and Quilts? I decided to make the girls' ballet bags...
 ...with my new embroidery machine! {Thank you, Granny and Papa!!}.
 The finished products...
I appliqued ballet shoes on one side and embroidered the girls' monogram on the other side.

I am still learning the ins and outs of machine embroidery and applique, but so far, it hasn't been too frustrating, and I've got tons of ideas for projects for the girls!

Monday, September 12, 2011

My First Baby

Our sweet and sassy Tanner went to dog heaven today. We miss him so much already. Tears are still flowing over here, and Cody is just beside himself. I don't think he knows what to do without his big brother.

Tanner's surgery last December had us hopeful, but over the last month, I think Walter and I knew things were not OK. After trying prednisone and an antibiotic for a little while to treat what we were hoping was either kennel cough or asthma, an x~ray last week showed cancer. Knowing that there was absolutely nothing we could do this time made us face the decision to have him euthanized sooner than we would have liked.

If there is any good news it's that, though Tanner has been uncomfortable for a few weeks now, he was never in terrible pain and still had that sparkle in his eyes and plenty of wag left in that crazy tail of his up to the very, very end. While that made it very difficult to say goodbye today, I'm grateful we were by his side the whole time, and I know we did the right thing {we will always be thankful to Chad for all the house calls he's made, the care he's taken with Tanner, and the advice and comfort he's given us; he is a good friend and a great vet}.

We spoiled Tanner rotten this weekend. He got lots of lovin' from all of us, we took tons of pictures of him with the girls, and I'm thankful the weather was cooler, because there's nothing Tanner loved more than sitting outside in the mornings watching over the backyard. He got to spend a lot of time outside this weekend.

Sunday afternoon he could not have been happier sitting in the shade in the backyard watching the girls play.
The girls...they know Tanner has been sick, so we've told them for now that he had to go to the doctor and stay for a while because he wasn't getting better at home. Our plan is to let them know this weekend {when we're more in control of our emotions so as not to upset them}, that he has gone to dog heaven because only God could make him feel better, and that heaven is so wonderful a place that once you're there you don't want to come back. They have an understanding of God, Jesus, and Heaven for their age, but not as it relates to death, so we're treading lightly here. I think as simple an explanation as possible will be best {any advice?}. This afternoon Mallory asked where Tanner was and I reminded her he was at the doctor. She asked when he was coming home; I told her we didn't know yet, and she was OK with that. I don't think this will be terribly difficult for them because they are so young, but I do want to give them an honest answer that's age~appropriate.

As for me, Walter, and Cody, I think we're all waiting for Tanner to come walking down the hall, to lick us on the arm, to rest his head on the arm of the chair to be petted, or to swat us with that crazy tail. He would wag his tail so hard he couldn't keep his back legs on the floor, and that earned him the nick~name Boogie~Woogie. Tanner was always the one who met me and the girls at the door every afternoon, and he was our watch~dog in the yard. He was the one who would come up and give the girls a big lick on the face. He was also the one who would pee all over you when he was excited to see you! He was our first baby and we will always, always love him.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Out and About

We had a busy and productive loooong Labor Day weekend. It's gotten easier and easier to take the girls along on errands and the great thing is, they seem to enjoy themselves and rarely give me problems.

Saturday, the girls got signed up for dance class {!!!}. After that we went around the corner to People, Places, and Quilts to get fabric and thread for a special project {I am ever so grateful for the little corner of toys they have that allows me to browse the bolts of fabric...and so are the girls!}.

After a quick trip to Target, we made a stop at Shoe Carnival for Keds. I got to spin the wheel {wish I had a picture of that!} while we were there because I was the only person in the store with a library card. The girls thought I had lost my mind when I dragged them barefoot to the front of the store waving my library card, but I won a $3 off coupon. Woot!

Later, we met Granny, Aunt Michelle, Connor, and Dylan at Cracker Barrel...
Sunday was grocery day and swimming at the pool. On Monday we found the new Talbot's outlet {60% off red~line} and the girls got ballet & tap shoes and leotards & tights. They are so excited about dance class...pics coming soon!

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

There's a Snake in My Boot!

The girls think this is just the funniest line from Toy Story. They'll say, "There's a snake in my boot!" and just roll on the floor laughing. Well,......
We were not laughing Monday when there was a snake in the yard! I still can't believe I walked out there and took. a. picture. Yikes!

The creepiest thing is that Walter. the girls, and the dogs were all outside {!!!} while I was finishing up supper. I heard Walter telling the girls to go inside and for the dogs to get on the porch. His tone seemed a little off but I didn't think much of it, then he I heard him tell Anna Claire to ask me to bring my camera outside. For a second, I think the thought of a snake flashed through my mind, but I sure did not believe it until I saw it...and it made me gag (seriously). I know that's strange, but there was just something about seeing that slithering snake that made me ill. I still managed to photograph him, though. You know, for posterity. May he rest in peace.

Side note: we have no idea what kind of snake this was. {Do you?} Walter was sure it was not poisonous, though. I asked him on what basis he was making his assumption, to which he replied, "I just don't think it is." Huh?

Thursday, September 1, 2011

September 1st...

...has been a very random day. It started out when I awoke around five am and realized Mallory had slept ALL. NIGHT. LONG.

A little later I walked onto the back porch to let out the dogs and it was cool outside. At this point I am thinking September is going to bring good things.

The girls had their first "show and share" at school today. I wanted them to take in something thoughtful and creative, but I was "schooled" in how show and share actually goes down in play school by Aunt Michelle so...they took toys. Needless to say, Anna Claire and Mallory were thrilled. Anna Claire took her Ariel lovie and Mallory took her Disney princess figurines. I quizzed them on what the other kids brought and, yep, they all brought toys. Oh, well.

I called to check on the girls after lunch to find out Anna Claire had a temp of 101.6. Talk about random. She kept the fever most of the day, but has seemed just fine otherwise...no symptoms other than being a little tired. Let's hope she isn't coming down with something.

Tonight was parents' night at play school. From talking with their teachers, it sounds like the girls are doing great. We haven't had much art work sent home yet, but there were multiple pieces displayed in the classroom, including the girls' look~alike dolls, so I snapped a quick pic with my phone because I never got an "after" picture at home. I was completely amazed by the number of "dolls" that had been done by parents. Shocking! While I did help the girls a bit, I don't think there was any doubt Anna Claire and Mallory were the artists here, and they had so much fun doing it!