Happy Birthday Mom!

I need to start of this post by saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the most amazing woman in my life...my mom.  We have always had a very close relationship and although my parents live a few states away and we don't see them but every few months, I talk to her EVERY day on the phone. She is the most giving and self-less person I have ever met and she would do anything to help the people she cares about.  After becoming a mother myself, I have a greater appreciation for all that she has done and still does for me.  It's not that I didn't appreciate it before, but now I can totally relate to her, being a mom myself.   She is a wonderful grandmother to my girls and Handley just loves her Mimi!  Today, Handley, Harper and I talked to her today via Skype and Handley even sang her version of Happy Birthday.  We wish we could be closer so that we could really celebrate with her, but at least we got to see each other face to face.  

Happy Birthday MOM!!!

Next up, I just wanted to say thanks to all the moms who commented about cleaning toys.  I've always been pretty laid back when it comes to germs and I guess that is why I've never even thought to clean/disinfect our toys.  Handley has been really healthy in her 2 years of life and I guess I attribute that to a strong immune system.  My motto...a little dirt never hurt!  However, I will be using some of the tips that you all shared, so thank you! 

And lastly, just a quick update on pre-school.  She LOVES it and asks to go every.single.day.  As soon as we pull in the parking lot she exclaims, "There's my school!"  When we walk down the hall to her classroom I have to remind her to stay with me because she is literally skipping/running to her class.  I watched her this morning as she went in and started her arrival procedure.  I was SO proud as she took off her raincoat, put her lunch box on the shelf in it's spot, found the cubby with her name on it and put her school bag in it ALL BY HERSELF.  When did she get so big?!?!

Question for all the moms...

Do you clean your kids toys an a regular basis?  The reason I ask is because today at one of our playgroups we got into a discussion of cleaning toys.  1/2 of us did and 1/2 of us didn't.  I honestly have never really thought about cleaning toys (and I mean really cleaning...soaking them in bleach and water, running them through the dishwasher, etc.).  

Tonight, I went around with my Clorox Wipes and wiped down most of the hard surface, plastic toys that I could.  I also ran most of the bath toys through the dish washer.  I'm just not sure I can even remember to do this on a regular basis, much less find the time to actually do it.  

SO here is my question for all of you....Do YOU clean your kids toys?  How often do you do it and what do you find is the quickest and easiest method?  If you are like me and don't regularly clean them, please let me know that too!  Tell me I'm not alone!!!   

Ballerina Batman

Last night when I was putting Harper to bed Handley was playing in the playroom and discovered the dress-up clothes (which she hasn't played with in some time).  She kept coming into Harper's room and showing me some of her cute combinations. As soon as I was done feeding Harper, got her to bed, and grabbed my camera this was what she was wearing!

She just cracks me up!

This morning when I woke her up for school she literally jumped to her feet and was so excited about getting up.  When her feet hit the floor she ran over to her dress she'd picked out last night and started pulling her pj's off.  Think she was excited?  YES!!!  The whole ride to school she kept telling me "bye-bye Mommy" and we weren't even there yet.  She ran into her classroom and was happy to see her friends and teachers.  I'm so happy that she's enjoying her time at school.  I knew she'd love it and her teacher told me today that she's quite the little helper.  I can just imagine.  

Teething

Harper is getting her first tooth!  I thought I might have seen a tooth under her gums on Friday night and now I know that is definitely what a saw.  She has ever symptom/side-effect to go along with it too...diaper rash, lots of drool, runny nose, and is super fussy.  The only thing she is missing is the slight fever (which Handley always got when teething).  Last night I dug up the Orajel and Tylenol and this morning I tried giving her a frozen teething ring.  She really liked chewing and sucking on it, so I guess it helped her feel better.  

Of course, when Handley saw it she immediately started complaining that her mouth hurt too.  

She also told me it was "too cold" and asked if I could "warm it up."  That's why she's holding it with a washcloth.  

Weekend at the Lake

We spent the weekend at the lake and had a lot of fun.  The weather was perfect and it was so nice up there.  We're trying to take advantage of the warm weekends while we can. 

Handley has finally realized that her life jacket actually serves a purpose and will keep her afloat, so now she is all about "swimming" all by herself. 

She is also wanting to do EVERYTHING by herself and doesn't want help from us at all.  

As a result, she looks adorable with her hat on backwards!

Considering a weekend away with two kids, two dogs, and two adults, there was a lot of things I needed to remember.  It never fails...no matter how organized I am and how many lists I make I always forget one important thing.  Here's  a rundown of some of the things I've forgotten in the past: 

• One time it was the sound machine.  Both girls sleep with one and we only got up there with one of them.  Robby ended up rigging the monitors so that they could both hear the one
• Once I forgot Handley's PJ's.  She slept in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt that I told her were "special" pj's one night and we got her some from Wal-Mart the next night. 
• When we spent a week up there last month I forgot Harper's bathing suits!!!  Um, hello!  We are going to the LAKE to go SWIMMING for a whole WEEK and I forgot her bathing suits?!?!?  Thank goodness my friend Kathy who was there with us let her borrow one of her daughter's and it worked out  fine.  
• This weekend I forgot a hat for Harper.  She has so many adorable sun hats and I usually leave one in the pool/lake bag along with the sunscreen, etc. but I guess I had taken it out to wash and forgot to put it back in.  I had two of Handley's hats with me and was able to make one of them a little smaller for Harper using a hair rubber-band in the back.  
  

After reading this list it doesn't seem like I'm very organized, but I swear I am. 

Harper and Handley both sporting their hats!  

I got them for $1 each at Wal-Mart on clearance a few weeks ago. 

Harper loves the water and the boat as much as Handley does.  

You can tell by her big grin below. 

Toddler Talk

Handley is just like me...she can function on not much sleep (she's back to not taking naps again), she's got a major sweet tooth, and she's very particular and loves things put in their place. 

Today when I was trying to get her to come in the bathroom so I could fix her hair she yelled out from the playroom, "I'm coming...I'm just getting organized!"  When I peeked around the corner I realized he was referring to all of the stuff she carries around with her.  She has a special way she likes to hold her Be-be and Lambies (all three of them she needed today)  and she was getting it just right before heading my way.  

Happy Birthday Robby

Today is Robby's birthday!   He is out of town for work and won't be home until late tonight so we'll be celebrating tomorrow and this weekend at the lake instead.  Handley is excited to help me make cupcakes so that we can light candles, sing happy birthday, and watch Daddy blow them out.  She just LOVES birthdays.  

We love you!!!  Hope you are having a fantastic day! 

Because Gizmo (Robby's parent's dog who we are keeping for the week) made her way into the above picture I decided to try to include Sydney in one too.  This was the result...not very successful!