Andrea's Daycare

The days I watch my nieces, it's pretty crazy around here.  I always have a craft for the big kids to do.  Sometimes the little ones get to do one too, but usually they get stuck just coloring.  As you can imagine, it's hard to do all this AND take pictures.  However, this one day I decided I was gonna take a few.  

This was the day after Valentine's Day and we had already done a V-Day craft the week before, but I saw this and just had to do it.  I made a heart stamp out of a toilet paper roll and some tape.   

Then got some paint and let the kids stamp away.

Later that day, we made a fort.

After awhile, Fia took a quiet break to read her new favorite book.

Zoo Trip with Daddy

Andy was off for President's Day so we wanted to have a Family Fun Day together.  We tried taking the kids to this new indoor jump house and playground place, but it was so packed they actually told us we couldn't come in.  Madeline was understandably extremely upset so we needed to figure something out fast. It was beginning to be a beautiful day so we decided to head to the zoo.  It started out a bit cold at 37 degrees, but with the sun, we hardly noticed and we had a wonderful time.  I'm so glad that other place turned us down.

The polar bears were loving the cool weather.  We stayed here for awhile and watched them since one was swimming around.

I captured Fia's face right as one of the polar bears jumped into the water.  She loved it!

We finally made it to an indoor exhibit so we could defrost a bit.  According to Fia, all the animals in this exhibit were polar bears too.  The manatees were sleeping so Madeline determined they were just big rocks in the water.  So she headed to the interactive video screens.

While Madeline did that, Daddy had some fun with Fia Bia.

Daddy tried to get Madeline to touch this walking stick.  She put her hand up, but she just couldn't do it.  I don't blame her, I wouldn't do it either.

Fia stopped to check out Monkey Island.

This picture cracks me up!  Fia saw me with the camera, turned around and posed and said, "CHEESE!" and then went back to watching the monkeys. 

Andy hadn't been to the zoo with us before so it was a blast having him there with us.  Even though our originals plans didn't pan out, we had an awesome day together.

Tastefully Simple On Tour

Over the weekend, I took a trip to Louisville, KY to attend a regional conference for Tastefully Simple with my team.  I had an absolute blast and learned so much!  The first evening we were there, we learned all about the new Spring/Summer items coming in March.  Then we got to try them at dinner and boy are they good!  I'm sworn to secrecy for another week so I can't share the details just yet.

Here we are the first night.... from the left it's Trisha, Wendy, Jennifer and Me.

Uncle Steve and Aunt Mary let us shack up with them so we could save on hotel fees.  While we were there, we had a "meeting" in the wine cellar.  

The next morning we were treated to a surprise visit by our CEO, Jill Blashack Strahan.  She was only with us for 30 minutes, but it was awesome to get to hear her speak. She is such a down-to-earth woman.

We had a lot of great training, but one of the highlights of the day was award recognition.  This is a picture of  my sponsor up on stage being recognized as a Top 10 Sponsor in 2011 (she is farthest to the left).  

Later that day, my teammates and I took advantage of a break and had a practice session for when we get to be up on stage.  Our goal is to get there for National Conference in August.  The goal is set... now it's time to get to work and make it there!

A letter to Sophia on her 2nd Birthday

Our Dearest Fia Bia,

This has been the year of change for you!  A year ago, you had just started to crawl.  It took you awhile to walk, but now you run laps around the house.  However, when we all play together, you don't like it when we run around too fast because you can't quite keep up yet.  You've also begun to talk much more.  You still call Mommy, Daddy, sometimes.  But that's okay. It seems like every other day now we hear a new word out of your mouth.  Like messy, red ball, hands, book, flower, teddy bear and more.  You say "Where?" when looking for something.  You've even started putting words together like "Gimme some" and "Do it".  You are a demanding little thing.

When we are out and about, you yell at us to "GO!" when we get stopped at a red light and you love to wave and say "Hi" to strangers.  You aren't shy at all like your sister was at your age, especially when it comes to men.  You go up to your Uncle's and Grandpa's almost more than the women in the family.  But there is one little lady that you are in love with, and that is Dora.  You flip out in excitement when we turn on her show and request it immediately when we go to the Grandparent's houses.

You are finally starting to read books now instead of eat them which has been so much fun.  The books can't have a lot of text though, because you don't like to linger too long on any one page.  Your absolute favorite is Moo, Baa, La La La by Sandra Boynton followed closely by a Dora bedtime book. 

While you aren't completely fearless, you are definitely reckless.  You will make yourself fall backwards on the floor and actually start laughing.  Other people will gasp and say, "Oh no, is she okay?"  And we'll just sit back and laugh right along with you.  You are one tough cookie.

You have become "The Tickler" and love to run and tickle us all, especially right after dinner.  You also love to sing.  Your favorites are Happy Birthday, Twinkle Twinkle, and The ABC Song.  When you aren't being silly, you can count to 10 with minor assistance.

We aren't sure what happened to our laid back baby, because you now have the patience of your Mother and start to whine when we take too long to do something.  Also, you certainly have your opinions and say "No" while shaking your head vigorously when you really don't want to do something.  You are very curious still and don't listen well to us telling you "No", so the house is still full of barricades, gates and locked doors to keep you out of things.

While your independence is growing, you are still our cuddler.  You will rest your head on our shoulder or the crook of our neck and we eat it to pieces.  You are still Mommy's little girl, but your love for Daddy is growing great.  When he gets home from work, you join Madeline in running to him and yelling "Daddy!" with a huge smile on your face.  

Happy Birthday Fia!  We love you and look forward to another year of wonderment with you.  

Much love,

Mommy and Daddy

Fia's 2nd Birthday Party!

Fia doesn't turn the big 2 for another few days, but we had her party this weekend.  We had lots of family over and had a great time.  She is so obsessed with Dora that I just had to make that her party theme.  She was acting a little out-of-sorts but she still had a blast.  (She's been teething lately and I think they were bothering her again.  Those darn 2-year molars.)

As you can see, she LOVED the clothes she received.

Almost on a daily basis, she will sing Happy Birthday.  It's one of her favorite songs.  But she was totally weirded out when everyone was singing it to her.

She had some help blowing out her candles.

So apparently there have been too many "open-mouth" shots of the kids lately and I hadn't really noticed until my sister Jackie said something at the party.  The reason is because I tell them to say pizza.  Cheese isn't fun enough for them to say but they love to yell pizza.  I guess I need to find another fun word.  Maybe "money" will work.  Oooh, or blueberries.  They love blueberries.

Here Fia was singing Happy Birthday to Nana.

Makeup

Andrea's Daycare

I started watching my sister's kids one day a week starting with the new year.  It's been great so far and they have a blast.  I always have a craft planned and I do a circle time with them too where we sing songs and read books.  The first day they were here, we made New Years Hats. (Little Ashley made one too, but she refused to wear it.)

One day, the bigger kids made a snowman.

And what else is there for girls to do but play dress up?

Here they are waiting in their Princess Tower for their Prince....

First Snow of the Season

Needless to say, the kids loved it!

Don't interrupt story-time

Tonight, Andy was reading Fia a bedtime book in her room while I gave Madeline a bath.  Madeline wanted to play longer in the water so I stood outside the bathroom to watch her and then started talking to Andy about something.  Well, apparently I was interrupting a darn good book because Fia closed the book they were reading, got off his lap and went and closed the bedroom door on me.  No kidding!  Then she walked back to him and continued to read her book.  Little stinker.

Trip to COSI

Over the break between Christmas and New Years, the kids and I took a road trip to COSI in Columbus with Jackie's family and my Mom.  I miss having that place so close.  Anyway, we mostly went because they had the Dora/Diego exhibit and we knew the kids would love it.  Fia loved it the last time we saw it and she's even more bonkers over Dora now than she was then.

Fia gave both Dora and Boots a hug and a kiss.  It was so cute.  After this group shot, they all took off in their own direction to explore.

Fia LOVED getting dressed up in the space costume again.  And she insisted on Madeline wearing one with her.  As you can see, Madeline obliged begrudgingly.

Then we headed off to check out the rest of the museum.

Towards the end of our trip, we ended up by a stage so my Mom and Madeline decided to put on a show.

Eventually Alexis and Fia joined in.