A huge success

Youth Villages' Soup Sunday was yesterday and it went off without a hitch! I am so proud of Aaron and all he did to plan, organize, and prepare for the event. The day started at 3:45am for him and he didn't lay his feet in our home until 5:05pm.

It was a LONG day but a successful one. A special thanks to Konica Minolta for being the presenting sponsor. Here's the picture they took of our family at the event.



The face painting was a huge hit for my little princesses...along with the "jumpies" and hot dogs! :) Thank goodness for Back Yard Burgers and their kids area. Leighton did try duck for the first time and loved it, I might add.

Also, a special shout-out to Isaac and Michelle for coming along to support Aaron. It meant so much to him that you guys could be there. Thank you!!

A momma's love

I remember being pregnant and worrying about getting to the point where I could hear a heartbeat, where I could feel a kick, to get to viability.....whatever the worry of the moment might have been. I am a worrier by nature...I can't help it. During one point of worry, I vividly remember my mom telling me that as a mom you never stop worrying, your worries just change as your children grow older. That is exactly true. But for me, it's when I'm worried about my baby and I can't help that the stress is too much.

This week has been trying. Aaron has worked 12 hours most days to prepare for Soup Sunday, which has left me with the role of mommy, taxi cab, house cleaner, SLP, bath giver, bed time story reader, chef cook and bottle washer...okay, you get the point. Aaron is all consumed (and rightly so) with work and this morning as he left early for an interview to promote Soup Sunday I realized Ainsley's cough had gone from annoying to deep and she was wheezing. Thank goodness for the weekend clinic.

Ainsley had a 10:00 appointment and after a few minutes of being there she needed a breathing treatment and had an ear infection. My poor baby. I can't take this pain away from her like I want to. I wish I could just put the mask over my face so she wouldn't fight me to keep it on. I wish her wheezing would magically disappear. I just feel helpless when my babies are sick. Ainsley's a trooper, though. And I'm ever thankful that this illness will go away (just praying it does with outpatient meds and a hospital stay is not in our future)!

Here's my little trooper...



My photo this week is of Ainsley so I thought it was fitting! :)
Week 8 of 52

Absent minded

I started posting my weekly pictures but have left two out and thought I'd go back and upload them. Mostly, this is for me to document my year and see how I have improved...or not. LOL!

The first picture is my attempt at capturing bubbles. It's not my favorite but that's all I got for week 5.



Week 7 fell on Valentine's Day, so I thought this picture was appropriate.



P.S. Not that you are wondering...but if you're curious and think I skipped week 6...I really didn't. Just scroll down a few posts...it is the snow flake picture! :)

There...I think I'm caught up!

Five on Friday

1. It’s been in the mid sixties most of the week. It is hard to believe the beautiful spring weather we’ve had after the 3 inches of snow we got a week ago but I’ll take it!

Leighton enjoying an afternoon at the park

Ainsley in her wagon on one of our family walks.

2. We have 23 days until Disney!!

3. Leighton and Ainsley think eating snow is the best thing since sliced bread. We have made it a habit to make snow cream once they are finished playing outside. Can you believe that neither Aaron or I had ever had snow cream growing up!?

Leighton enjoying some freshly fallen snow.

Ainsley must do what her sister does!

Both of them eating away...

I love this shot of Ainsley licking the snow as it fell on her

My sweet Leighton so happy to play in the snow.

4. I tried a new recipe this week. Success! Everyone liked it.

BAKED ZITI

Baked Ziti Ingredients:

1 pound dry ziti pasta
1 onion, chopped
1 pound lean ground beef
2 (26 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce
6 ounces provolone cheese, sliced
1 ½ cups sour cream
6 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes; drain.
2. In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef over medium heat.
3. Add spaghetti sauce, and simmer 15 minutes.
4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish.
5. Layer as follows: 1/2 of the ziti, Provolone cheese, sour cream, 1/2 sauce mixture, remaining ziti, mozzarella cheese and remaining sauce mixture.
6. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until cheeses are melted.
8. Serve with a tossed salad and toasted buttered rolls.

5. Leighton was finally able to do her “back walk-over,” on the floor (meaning no mats to prop her legs), without any help from her coach! Aaron and I were so proud of her. She goes about her rotation like it’s nothing, though. I am so proud of her sweet humble personality. Here’s my little gymnast (forgive her hair...I forgot to put it up so her coach did the best she could)!

Things that make you go....AWE!!!!

I love nature. And there are certain things that just make me stand in awe. One of them is a rainbow...especially double rainbows. I can so vividly remember seeing my first double rainbow. I was in the car with my mom, going down Jay Hill. We literally stopped the car to stare. There were cars zooming past us but we both took in the moment and the beautiful creation we were witnessing.

Snow fall is the other natural creation that is simply awe inspiring to me. Even after living in Maine for 12 years, I am still in amazement of snowfall. I can remember, as a young girl, sitting with my family in front of the wood stove just watching the flakes fall. Nothing is more prettier than the day of a snow storm. Now, let me be clear here. It is not always pretty. Once the sand and salt trucks come by, followed by the snow plow, the snow isn't so white anymore and not pretty! But, seeing the fresh snow falling is not dull...it is bright and simply breathtakingly beautiful!!!

Did you know every snowflake is different? And that each snowflake has 6 sides (hexagonal crystals, to be specific). I had to look that little fact up! :) I was determined this year to capture a snowflake, and that I did!

It happens to the best of us

I decided to actually write this Friday. I may be in deep doo-doo (pun intended here) if he ever finds out I did this…but here’s hoping he never will.

For you mother’s out there…have you ever had to change one of “those” diapers? You know, the one that can knock you out as the child walks by? That once you open the diaper you realize you’re in big trouble? The one that you think you might need back-up in case it gets on the changing table, or the carpet, or whatever you’re changing your kiddo on? Okay, so you know JUST what I’m talking about, right?

In this case, we saw the look on her face as she “did” it, smelled the smell, but I thought it could wait just a second as I finished cleaning the kitchen. Isaac and Michelle were visiting and McPoopy Pants (a.k.a. Ainsley) decided to snuggle up to Isaac. At first glance she was just loving on her uncle. But then, her whole demeanor changed. She wasn’t just snuggling…she looked as though she was dancing…only her booty was ON Isaac’s chest. We thought it was odd and so we laughed. As we laughed, she got closer to Isaac and rubbed some more. This cycle continued several times until I panicked. I remembered her look and the smell that had just nearly knocked me over. I ran to get her. I laid her on the floor to take care of business. I took her pants off. I didn't even need to open her diaper. There was green seeping out. And when I did open her diaper...I found nothing solid about what had just happened. Crap (yes, pun intended again), I needed to expose the truth. Isaac looked down at his shirt and there was a “stain” on it. Uh, um, “Aaron,” I yelled! Come smell your brother’s shirt. Yep, Aaron confirmed it. Ainsley had just POOPED on her uncle. Sorry bud! Welcome to the world of kids.

Here’s his undershirt to prove it.

I have to admit we laughed for days…yeah, we are *that* immature and think potty humor is funny. My sweet Ainsley, you thought it was hilarious too. I’m afraid, though, someday when you have your first boyfriend, or get married, payback may be sweet revenge for Uncle Isaac.

Happiest Place on Earth

40 days...and counting!!! They are so ready!

So excited to be "Mimmie" as Ainsley calls her... :)



Not the most flattering picture (not sure what the arm business is but she does it in almost every picture these days) but she sure thinks she looks beautiful! Ha!



Ariel and Minnie ready to meet the "real" ones!