Mimi & Papa

I LOVE being a mom, but I think about what it will be like to be a grandma someday. I know it will be amazing. When R&R were born my mom said it was so wonderful to see her baby become a mother. I know I'll feel that way too. Reese & Ryan love both sets of granparents SO much and we are so blessed that they all live so close to us.

Scuba Reese

I love this age :) This is what a tantrum looks like in our house. It starts after bath time where Reese refuses to put a diaper & PJs on for over an hour. I say "Reese, do you want to put on your PJ top or diaper first? What would work best for you?" "NO MAMA!!". She then finds her blue goggles that have been floating around since summer and puts them on. It's hard to see everything through the blue tint, so she steps on our dogs, they freak out, and then she freaks out. This is the photo of her next to the stuffed dog. She then proceeds to drag the dog down the hallway. Finally, she snaps back to happiness in 2.2 seconds and I'm standing there wondering what changed. They say 3 is worse than 2. Brace yourself!

Be still my heart

I love Taco Bell. I think it is the best fast food EVER!! It runs in the family. My mom worked there when she was 15 and tells stories about how she locked the place up at night and came home smelling like beans. Yum! So I can't deny my heritage and have passed the TBell love on down to our girls. The bean burritos w/ green sauce and cheezy rollups are the fave right now. I know what you're thinking. I have to say we really eat healthy 95% of the time and I cook a lot, but you can bet that if I'm hungry and only have $5 in my wallet, then we're making a run for the border. We have the girls' 2 year appt. next week and I'm sure she'll ask what kind of food the girls like to eat. I haven't decided if I'll tell the pediatrician that Reese and Ryan love Taco Bell and have been able to hold a bean burrito since they were 17 mos. old. Some things are better left unsaid.

This Real Estate Market

It gets brought up every day--how bad our economy is and how much this market sucks. I talk about it waaaay more than I would like to, but it seems that it is affecting everyone. It's a trickle down effect, a domino effect, whatever, it's bad. I always try to stay opitimistic about things, but there are days when it seems pretty bleak. The question I get asked the most is "When will it turn around?". If only we knew. I predict it will be a few years and I'm not sure how many people can weather the storm. I'm so grateful that Cory & I get to work under my dad at a great company like Remax. We have good months and then there are bad months. If I don't budget our money, I may end up looking like my Aunt Carol on Halloween, only not dressing up :) Seriously though, it could always be worse. We have a wonderful family and we're all healthy and happy. Those are the things that we need to focus on when times are so bad.

Our new Chuck Taylors

We got some new shoes yesterday and they're about a size too big, but who cares? Could you die at how cute they are?!?

That's Ry on the right. What a poser!

Now I lay me down to sleep

This age (2 year old toddlers) is tough for me and I find myself doing things I never thought I would do as a parent. ( ie: sleeping in our bed or wherever they may fall, watching episodes of Dora back to back, eating candy on Halloween and staying up until midnight) These are just a few of the lovely things I've been letting our children do the past week. Check out naptime today in our bed.

Two 2 year olds

These are a few photos of their recent 2 year photo session.

Fall Fun

This fall has been busy for us--we had my 30th bday party a few weeks ago, the girls' 2 year bday is approaching next week, we went away as a family to Rocky Point, and I left town 2 weeks ago to visit Dana in NYC. Craziness! It's been fun couple of months and we've been totally enjoying watching the girls grow & change right before our eyes. It seems everyday they are saying new words and phrases. We are constantly trying to decipher the toddler speak. Today at the park, my mom and I were playing with R&R and Ryan ran toward my mom and said, "Coming Mimi!" It's so cute to hear those words. I'm always amazed at how much their little brains are absorbing right now.

Fun with friends

We went to the Allans for dinner tonight and had a great time hanging out with everyone.  The weather was gorgeous, food was delicious, and the kids had so much fun playing together.  They are all so cute at this age.  I could eat them up.  

 Ryan striking a pose.

Reese & Zackary.

Four little cuties.

 Reese & Zackary seem to have a fondness for each other.  They kept trying to kiss and Reese would close her eyes.  The two Ryans were annoying each other while Reese & Zackary were smooching in their own little world.  This had us all cracking up.

 

 Misty & her cute pregnant belly.

 Look at that sweet little face!

Avery's 2nd birthday

It was a butterfly theme and Holly did a great job decorating.  It was so adorable.  The girls had a great time playing with friends and celebrating.

 My hands are dirty!  Help!

We love cake!

Defeat

She finally gave up and passed out.  It really is a battle of wills sometimes with little Reesie.

Sedona

We spent the weekend in Sedona with Andy, Holly, & their girls and it was an amazing weekend.  The weather was so beautiful.  It was great to escape the summer heat and enjoy the Sedona scenery.  There was a HUGE thunderstorm on Saturday that had lighting bolts cracking all around our hotel.  The thunder was so loud and the lightning seemed as if it would strike right on our balcony.  I've never been that close to a big thunderstorm.  We went hiking after the storm cleared and had some fun adventures.

 Reese the rock climber.

 Daddy's girl.