Skating!

Katie and Maddie's 1st trip to the Roller Rink!

It brought back fond memories of my younger day.

We went to Rock N' Rollers in Avon. They have Preschool Skate on Tuesday from 9:30 to 11:30. They had fun music playing and the lights on. Katie was all into it. She even made a skating buddy. Maddie was not a big fan of skating. She walked around the rink holding Katie's hand in her socks.

As I watched Katie skate and Maddie play with finger puppets, I thought wouldn't it be great to have a MNO at the rink. I haven't put on skates since 96. I might need a walker or a brain scan, before and after.

I was also remembering the day I went skating with my dad. We were skating along holding hands with two other father/daughter skaters. Everyone was happy and having a good time. When all of a sudden I fall to the ground taking everyone with me. My front wheels came off and tripped another pair of skaters, which tripped another two pairs. There were piles of people everywhere. If there was a camera rolling it would of been a great video.

The last thing I have to say is "YMCA!!!"

Daddy's sick

Today, Tony took off work because he was sick. He thought he had walking pneumonia. He had the 24 hour flu. He slept late, sat and watched TV, smoked some cigarettes and then had to go off to school at 5:30. The girls left him alone for the most part and made sure that he was taken care of. They keep reminding me to give daddy good food and help him get better. So with that when I get sick, who will care for me?

He didn't want any pictures, so I took two!

Lilo

Here is Maddie pretending that she is Lilo. She loves the show. She was reading a book and all of a sudden got up and took her arm out of her sleeve. She then yells "look at me, I am Lilo!" I couldn't stop laughing.

She was so proud of herself.

MOPS

Tonight I had MOPS, and boy did I have a great time. We had a speaker that was a blast. She said that when her second child was 18 months, he got sick all over the car and they had to return to her parents to clean the car out. Her dad said "This is the best time of your life!"

She looks back now and said "That was the best and worst time of her life!" Her oldest is 11 and her youngest is 5, she was four total. She says she misses the preschool stuff.

This makes me think about the funny, sad and crazy days I have and will have. I have to say that in Katie's 4.5 years the time has really flown by. Maddie's 2.5 years is going by even faster. Each day thyey do something different and sometimes more crazy then the day before.

Today was one of those crazy days. I was taking Katie to school, and her and Maddie were talking up a storm. Maddie was asking for a movie and Katie was asking about everything. There were two cranes by the bridge and Katie was wanting to know what they were for . I said they are making the bridge bigger. She ask why and what will happen to the rest of the road. Maddie wanted to know where the birds were?

I took the picture while driving done the road. What happy kids!

No one complained about their seatbelt, that a blessing in my world.

Birthdays!

We finally celebrated my dad's (2-13) and Tony's (1-7) birthday as a family. Odd thing is that Tony was not there. He was on a Pub Crawl with my cousin. The girls had a great time singing Happy Birthday twice. The night was an odd on for sure. In the middle of dinner Katie coughed with a mouth full of Hot Chocolate. It went right across the table and went all over my brother. Do I wish I had a camera rolling. Next, Maddie was playing with my mom's hutch (1ft x 4ft and about 40 pounds). She is looking inside and we tell her to leave it alone. I must say I have to thank GOD and all other saints., The hutch goes forward, my brother yells her name and she just moved to the side. It missed her by inches. The whole family was all there in the room. My brother and I saw her but couldn't get over my grandmother. Luckily she was OK just a little scared. The whole family was in shock and cleaning up glass for an hour. Next Tony comes home for the night and forgets his keys. He is outside freezing and calling on the phone, no one answers we are all asleep. After about 10 minutes my mom hears the phone and lets him in. Two dogs slept through the whole thing. Such watch dogs they are!

still sick

Katie has been sick now since Monday and I am going crazy. She has a fever of 100 to 103. I never realized how much I hate to be stuck in my house. I look outside and can't stand the cold and snow. I look at the house and can't stand it all, the toys, mail, dishes, etc. I look inside and can't stand the lack of direction. I want to do so much and have no idea where to start. I think of all the things I need to be done and all I want to do is get out of the house and do something else. Having Katie and Maddie at home for the week is driving me crazy. They don't want to be near each other and then they don't want to be separated. They both want to sit on my lap, but don't want to touch each other. I need a little bit of space, maybe a closet.

We are supposed to go to Chicago again tomorrow but it all depends on the weather and Katie. We will just have to see.

So to make me get my butt in gear, I am making a short list of things I need to do by the end of the month.

1. Spot paint (need white and yellow paint)

2. Put away valentine's stuff

3. Schedule relay team meeting

4. Clean out car

5. Make dish for Kim

6. Do 6 donation letters

7. Organize linen closets

8. Organize pantry

9. Organize TV room

10. Organize play room

For those of you wondering organizing means clean in my world. I need to get a dumpster for the toy room.

I just keep telling myself that Spring is coming and that one day the snow and cold will stop. This is a picture of my mom's garden last summer. The girls loved playing in the little cottage.

Tuesday

The girls are in bed, Tony is at school, the laundry is being done and here I am typing. Katie was sick today, which makes for a long day. I need to unpack and then repack, and then do the dishes. All things that I really do not feel like doing. The Relay is only 108 days away. We now have five team members. Tony's work gave a donation of $100. We are trying to put together a Scrap-A-Thon. So keep an eye out for the date so you can come. My mind has so many ideas that I don't know where to start. I should have a notebook attached to my arm so I can take notes as the day goes on. I am the one was has to go upstairs when I am downstairs and vica versa. Maybe I will just start writing on my arm. I will most likely need more arms.

The Zoo!

Today we were on our way to Sam's Club and the weather was great. The sun was shining and the wind was gusting. OK, the wind could of blown us away. The sun was calling and we decided to head to the zoo. When we got there we had to renew our membership. To tell you how windy it was, my diaper bag got blown off the counter by the wind. Once we get our membership we ran to the dolphin show and got to see a great show. We then ran to see the Savana animals, most were not out. We did get to see a family of Baboons all huddles together. The lions were out and pacing.

Watching the polar bears!

Kisses from the Walrus!

I'm Back!

The week has been a full one. The girls took it a lot better then we thought. Not seeing Cheeta was hard on them. They wanted to know where he was and why they couldn't see him. Grandma Benji, there were many questions. Why does she feel like plastic, why is she hard, when will we see her, where will she go, and so many more. Katie went up to the casket at least 15 times. She would sing and talk to her. She was very comfortable with the whole situation. We spent a lot of time with family and had some good laughs. It was good to see all the cousins together talking about old times. We are planning two summer get togethers and a x-mas party. The family needs to stay together.

On another note, it is amazing how much people will talk and tell you stories about themselves. Some real truths came out.

I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day. We are celebrating on Monday. We are having a party for the girls. Katie is all excited, she can't want to see her friends.

I also have to start back in the planning of the Relay Walk. I want to do some fundraising and I need to find more walkers. We are hoping for 15 people. I missed our first captions meeting but Paige went for me, which was a great help. Thanks!

Before we left the girls went to a gymnastics playdate. They had a great time on the trampoline and riding pretend horses. Their friend Ellie got to go too. The can't wait to go back next month.

What a day!

I don't know where to begin.
Tonight I was at a Women's Day Out event and got a phone call from a family member. She called to sadly tell me that Tony's uncle died. I call my mom and ask her what to do. They were in the car coming here. While on the phone with her, Tony calls all upset. I think something happened to the girls. He says have your parents turn around and go home. I think what is going on. Who called you? He says my dad called. I am trying to figure out how his dad found out. He says he was there. I am confused. He then tells me that his Gramma died this evening. I say ok I be right home. I am in amazement that two loved ones died in the some week and that the phone calls arrive within 5 minutes.
We are leaving tomorrow morning to go to Chicago. I am not sure what is going to happen or when. We have to tell the girls tomorrow. What will I say? Katie takes this all very hard. Death has hit us hard this week. Tony is in a kind of shock. He is still trying to process it all. I am trying to figure where to begin. So please keep us in your hearts.
I make me think about the importance of friends and family and how you shouldn't take anything for granted.
Having friends like all of you makes life so much better!
Give your loved ones a hug and kiss and then plan some fun activity with them. Cherish the smiles, their laugh, their tears. When they are driving you up a wall, be thankful that they are here. I must go do laundry, pack, dishes, and find the fancy shoes and snow boots. They are calling for a lot of snow in Chicago again.

Lazy Day!

Yes, Maddie's clothes are on backwards. Katie is already a computer junkie!

Today was one of those lazy days. We could not get ourselves moving. The weather has turned cold again and I am tired of taking the girls in and out of the car. Hearing about the seatbelts, the movie, what has fallen on the floor and whatever else takes place in a ten minute ride. I need a nanny just for travels. If anyone has a mother's helper please share her with me. I am really thinking about finding a young girl to hang out with us for the summer so I won't be the slave anymore. I have chart for so many things I can't keep it straight. So today I decided we are only going to focus on our listening skills and learing our ABC/phonic skills. Maddie will have a potty chart of sorts. She goes only when she feels like it. Somedays she can be dry for the whole day and ask to go. What do I do? Go with the flow.

Finally, we did get out and went to a playgroup. The girls made Valentine's and had a lot of fun. We went to the library and got some books and then to the dance studio to drop off flyers.

On Tuesday the girls and I went to Chuck E. Cheese and we were the only people there. It was kind of odd. There was a pair of shoes and socks in the shoe bin and some coats hanging on the coat rack but there was no one else in the building. After about ten minutes a boy and his gram came out of nowhere. So then the five of us had the place to ourselves until 11:25. It was nice. We left shortly after that.

I started a new book "The World Without Us." I will have to tell you how it turns out. It is kind of a bazaar book. I borrowed it from the library, I have to read fast. There will be many sleepless nights.
Anyway, I have to go "Lost" is on.

Rain, Rain Go Away!

The fog has finally lifted and has now been replaced with rain and thunderstorms. The girls and I went to Chuck E. Cheese but wanted to play outside, but the ground is so wet it feels like a sponge. They did get to ride their bikes in the driveway when we got home. They wore their spring jacket. It felt like it should be April out there. The temp was around 55 for a good part of the day. We are very lucky compared some friends and family. The have snow, rain and then more snow.

The Bucket List!

This weekend Tony and I got out to see a movie. Yes, an adult movie, at the theater. We saw the Bucket List which I loved because I have been really working on my life list. I do like the name bucket list now. So anyway, I have been trying to make a list of 43 things to do. I am at 12 so far. Which gets me to ask Tony what his list is, he has nothing. Nothing! I said could you at least do five, he said he would think about it. Now I am asking everyone to list 5 things they would like to do. Tell me and I will help you if you help me.

My list is:

1. go up in the Sears Tower

2. take the kids to 48 states and Canada and Mexico before they move out

3. Take part in the Brownsburg Relay for Life

4. Make a difference in someone's life

5. Do something above and beyond myself each year or more often

6. Open a Bakery/Cafe

7. Complete 2 scrapbook pages a week

8. Drive a race car; the girls at least got to sit in a race car

9. Keep on top of my blog

10. Eat better

11. Only have sweets that have been made in house,

harder to eat junk food if you have to make it

12. This one is a real challenge for me: get organized

So here is my list so far. I have just started some and have been working on others for about a week. No time like today to make a change.

Waiting!

Today we waited around for the furnace guys to check on our furnace. What a waste of time. They still have no idea why the temp is so questionable. Katie didn't go to school today because they had a daycare day because of the snow. Which was very little. I hope everyone I know who did get snow is staying warm. The girls were hoping for a lot of snow so they could make snowmen.
Something good thing did came out of today, I have a Massage Therapist set up to come and donate massages for the relay. I will be the first in line.
I also have my first walker signed up, thanks Paige!