Date Night

We helped some of Neil's friends celebrate their new marriage this past weekend. It is always fun to meet people Neil has known for years, and always interesting to hear stories about Neil "pre-Melissa." Makes me hope the kids take after me! I kid!
I love this picture of him!

The banker and his wife (inside joke). This is quite possibly my favorite picture of us to date.

Neil and the groom, Brian.

Us again!

"Love, love me do. You know I love you. I'll always be true. So please, love me do." The Beatles

Regrets

"Have any regrets?" People usually respond with "No because I've learned from everything I've done." Their name should be Liar because they are telling lies. I think most people have a regret or two. Just because you have learned from something does not always mean that you would have preferred it not to happen, or regret that it occurred. For example, my husband does not like McDonald's because of the McTummyAche that usually comes with it for him, but that doesn't stop him from eating it on occasion and then regretting it later. I too have regrets. A couple weeks ago Landen and I decided to hit up some garage sales just to get out of the house and spend some time together. We came across a Fisher Price 2-in-1 Giggle Vacuum in perfect shape and we both agreed Lana would like it. It didn't occur to me to ask why they were getting rid of it but I'm sure if I had the answer might have been, "Because it is the most annoying toy on the face of the earth," because it really is. Of course the kids really like it too. Here's some video of the toy I regret purchasing before it accidentally gets left on the curb...

Really, I think no one enjoys vacuuming as much as Cookie Monster does, nor should they.

Oh and I also regret not dressing my kids before taking this video because I'm sure one day Landen will be unhappy that I posted a video of him in his super-hero undies.

"Still you don't regret a single day..." The Beatles

Smile for the Camera

Our attempt at family pictures yesterday did not go according to plan. Lana cried the entire time. She was afraid of either the studio, the strangers with a camera in her face, the weird guy who kept shaking toys at her but not giving them to her, the flashes, or a combination of all of those. This was the only keeper. She isn't smiling, but at least she isn't crying. Landen looks absolutely adorable though (as he did in every single shot). Oh well...maybe next time.
My perfect family...

"Oh baby baby baby, blues and sorrow. And I love you tomorrow..." The Beatles

Father's Day

Hope all the dad's out there had a great Father's Day, especially the two most important in my life...my hubby and my daddy! I love you both!


"In my life I love you more..." The Beatles

Gymnastics, and T-ball, and Summer....Oh My!

This week both kids started their activities through the city's Parks & Recreation Summer Program. Lana has gymnastics Tuesday mornings and Landen has T-ball Tuesday and Thursday evening.

Lana did so great in her class. She didn't want to do any of the stretching and was a bit fussy during them (she wanted to check out all the other kids) but once we started going through the stations she really got into it. She completely understood the concept of each station and did well at them, especially considering she appeared to be the youngest in the class (she barely made the cut-off of being 18 months old by 3 days). She loved hanging from the "uneven bars" and swinging her legs like a monkey. She was not shy and ran to the teachers when they called her name (opposite of Landen who clung to me crying into my leg the first time he went to gymnastics class at the age of 2). We do need to work on sumersaults which she will gladly try at home, just not on the mat. She preferred to pencil roll down even wedge mat there was. The trampoline was also a bit tricky since she still can't jump, but she had fun bouncing. Oh and staying in line will take time too. She didn't quite get why she couldn't just do the uneven bars and balance beam the whole time. :)

Sadly this is the only picture I got...

It was impossible for me to take pictures or video while leading her through the stations. Hopefully Neil will be able to duck out of work for a while to come watch her and let me get better pictures.

Landen LOVES t-ball!!! They got team t-shirts which he thought was "so cool." Here's my proud Sporty Spider...

Landen continues to do so well at anything Sport-related. He has always been incredibly coordinated and so t-ball comes easy for him. Landen also has just about left his shy days behind him! He is great with the other kids and has become very talkative with his coaches. Yay!

We got to Thursday's class early since Landen was so excited and he was in full on silly-mode.

Look Daddy was there too...on the phone with Mommy...

Landen was posing as a true sporty spider.

I got him this insulated cup and he thinks it's the coolest.

Lana got her own too and well...Monkey See, Monkey Do.

Aren't I good at making babies?

I love her beautiful curls!

Action shot. I have to keep the camera ahead of him or I'll miss him!


"Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play?" The Beatles

What's that ringing?

I know! It's nature calling...and it's for Lana!!

Lana went #2 on the potty today!!! YAY! She patted her bottom, which usually means she needs her diaper changed, but this time pointed to the big potty and did her business like a big girl! Yippee!! I can see the end of diapers in our future! I'm so proud of my big girl (who will probably hate me for this post when she is older). ;)

"I'm just a child of nature. I don't need much to set me free." The Beatles

Kicking Off Summer

We had the BEST weekend! Super busy but super fun! Saturday we took the kids and Diogy to Funks Grove and did a bit of nature walking. The kids enjoyed the "Imagination area" where there was a tree house, a zip line, a creek, and a "horse" to swing on (that sadly I was too big for).
Here's Deen crossing the creek ever so carefully...

...and zipping across the zip line...

The guys (and Diogy)...

The gals...

Sunday we went to Glasener Beach to splash around and Comlara park where we rented a row boat to do some fishing. The kids loved the beach. My fearless Lana took right on off as soon as she saw the water (even before we could get a swimsuit on her). Both kids had a great time! And we didn't catch any fish but we did catch some rays...especially Neil's back (ouch!).

Beach babes...


If Lana would talk it would be something like this, "I want my hat back."

In between we spent a lot of time on our deck, cooking out, and watching the kids play in the yard. Lana tries her hardest to be grown up and do everything her bro, Landen, does including swinging like a big girl. I got some pretty funny video of her swinging while very sleepy and trying really hard not to laugh....


Landen and his $1 garage sale find...

Yumm...fresh mulberries...

"Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes. A four of fish and finger pies in summer, meanwhile back..." The Beatles

And it's only Wednesday....

Sometimes this stay-at-home mom gig I have gets tough. For instance, it's only Wednesday and I have already been peed on one and a half times (Pampers Baby Dry is failing to keep my baby dry), got thrown up on once (Lana will probably never chug juice again), cleaned up dog throw up (Diogy was almost thrown out on the street for that one), almost killed Landen's two pet mice by dropping their cage (yikes did Landen give me a lecture on being careful after that), and bumped my head about four times at the park chasing my toddler around the jungle gym intended for much bigger children that her (but smaller than me according to the sore spot on my head) making sure she doesn't plummet to the ground trying to be a big girl. And it's only Wednesday!!

I actually called Neil today and asked him to trade places with me for today...I'll go to work and he can stay home. But he had to switch at that exact second (mind you I was still wiping my leg down with baby wipes to get the throw up smell off).

But then I thought that this week we also did some fun shopping, went to the park on a beautiful afternoon, I watched the kids finger paint pictures for their dad in the yard, I pushed my baby girl on the big girl swings and heard her belly laugh, I pushed Landen on the big boy swings higher than he's ever gone before (while I constantly reminded him to hang on tight) and then watched him make new friends, I bought 200 childrens' books from a teacher for $50 and have been reading a ton to my two little ones who can't get enough story time, I played hide and seek with the kids, I picked mulberries from our yard and watched my children happily eat them until their faces were purple and messy, I've gotten tons of real kisses from Landen AND Lana (yay for no more big open mouth messy smooches from our tiny tot), and I've laughed until my sides hurt. And it's only Wednesday!

Go on...be jealous. These children are mine and I get to spend all day with them! Sometimes it gets messy around here but it's worth it all of the time!




"I love you madly. You really got a hold on me." The Beatles