December 27, 2012 by lisasff

December 27, 2012

Just after Santa arrived

We had an awesome Christmas, with too many presents for babies, too much good food. And snow. We had a white Christmas.

Teagan and Ashlin each got to make treats for Santa, and Teagan dictated a note for him. Ashlin did a great job making her treats, maybe better than Teagan, who just wanted to mix the ingredients all up.

We went out to celebrate LaLa’s birthday, and came back to change into Christmas pj’s, and head to bed, because of course, you need to be asleep or Santa wouldn’t come. We were hard pressed to get all the presents under the tree, and not all the stocking stuffers fit in the stockings. Some extra went into peppermint candy bags.

Teagan loved opening her presents, and as many other people’s presents as would let her. I gave her some of Ashlin’s to open, reinforcing that she was helping her sister, as Ashlin ran out of steam way before her presents ran out.

After a nap, the girls went outside to play in the snow, and Ashlin loved it. The first thing Teagan did was make a snow angel on the walkway. I ran to get my phone, but by the time I got back, Ashlin had walked through it.

The girls had a big Christmas, hopefully one that Teagan will remember. Hopefully one that will leave Ashlin with some warm fuzzy memories too.

Goofy Christmas Princess

Rudolph’s Replacement

On our way home, accidents and traffic forced us to reroute and we drove through Sandy Hook. It was heartbreaking. So many memorials, so many tributes. Luminaries. Christmas trees. Signs. Stuffed animals and flowers. Such a beautiful town to have such evil happen there. We ended up going back onto the highway before the road was clear, it was so difficult to see all the tributes. And then I snuggled my girls when we got home. I’m so glad they still like to snuggle

Snuggles on the sofa

PS. Teagan did get her copy of “The Princess and the Frog.” Ashlin is doing much, much better, though still isn’t sleeping well.

December 15, 2012 (lisasff.wordpress.com)
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October 14, 2012 by lisasff

October 14, 2012

2012 10 – Apple Picking & Pumpkin Patch, a set on Flickr.

Today we went pumpkin and apple picking. Yay! Thankfully, we met up with some friends, who helped us corral the girls, who were bouncing around like pinballs from pumpkin to pumpkin. Looking at the donkeys, the hay, the ghost pumpkins, the mums. We were lucky it was such a lovely day, we didn’t need heavy coats or boots. It was nice to be out in the fall day, without being cold.

Trying to get a nice picture of the two girls by the pumpkins was like trying to herd cats, they both kept going off in different directions, looking somewhere else. Eventually, with Stu helping along with some fruit chews, I was able to get one or two good ones.

Teagan got to ride on the donkey again, with her friend. Ashlin was very upset that she was too small to ride the mammoth donkey, but she just wouldn’t have been able to stay on. Next year, she’ll get her donkey ride. This year, she had to be content with a ride in the wagon, surrounded by pumpkins.

We lost one friend as we headed off for the apple picking – nap time! – but we still had a good time. Ashlin was really funny, she could not stop eating apples, she was obsessed. She was toddling around, holding her apple with two hands, taking a bite and saying “apple! Apple!” over and over. Teagan turned out to be a very good apple picker, once she understood not to pick the ones from the ground, and to check to see if there were blemishes on the ones on the tree before they went into her bag. She ended up picking almost 10 pounds of apples all by herself!

Ashlin did pick one or two, and put them in a bag for later. We were hard pressed to convince her not to eat them right then and there. Teagan also loved eating the apples right from the tree, she’s never really had a whole apple before. Somehow, I’ve always sliced them up for her. I guess it’s time to stop, both girls are more than capable of eating a whole apple.

So, we now have four pumpkins and some twenty pounds of apples. And some good memories of the day.

July 3, 2012 by lisasff

July 3, 2012

More fireworks tonight! We had gone to a local show on Friday, had a blast. Today, it was just us. We decided that we’d leave to get there just in time for the show. The girls got to bed a little early, and were woken up about an hour or so later. Both were very groggy as they were loaded up into the car and off we went.

Teagan was excited, but sleepy. Ashlin napped most of the way down, though did wake up and sing a little. There was a bit of trouble parking, but eventually we found a spot, and headed to the beach. I love watching fireworks on the beach, over the water. You can also see other towns’ shows, with the ocean in the background, reflecting the bursts back up to the sky. Unfortunately, you often miss out on the concussive blasts, the bang!, of the displays. Sometimes I think I am happy having beach beneath my feet, other times, I need the explosion.

Ashlin pointed at the fireworks for a while while Stu held her. But soon enough, she got fussy. I had her for a bit, then put her in the stroller. Teagan watched the show for a while, then got distracted by the sand, and a couple of Hispanic girls nearby who were throwing sand. She tried to throw some, but I told her she was not to throw sand. ”But them girls is throwing sand.” I sounded just like my mother when I replied “Just because someone else is doing something, doesn’t mean you should.” I followed with a “maybe their mother doesn’t see what they’re doing.”

The finale got her attention again. It was a nice finale, lots of bursts and some lovely, loud explosions.

We loaded up the stroller, then the car, and braved the traffic. As we crawled along at a hungry caterpillar pace, she asked if we could go see more fireworks. Tomorrow. With Guthrie, and Emaline and Eric. With a picnic and music. Then go to the beach. I guess Ashlin and the other moms can go have drinks and stay in air conditioning. He he he.

Maybe we’ll get to go to another show this year. Probably not though. It would be nice. Maybe we’ll try the same thing Friday, if there’s a show close enough. Dinner, early bed, wake up and load into the car to get there in the nick of time.

Maybe we’ll get to sit closer. So we can feel them.

June 30, 2012 (lisasff.wordpress.com)

June 30, 2012 by lisasff

June 30, 2012

Unsure

Today was Teagan’s first swim lesson. Ashlin’s too! I ended up going in with Ashlin, but before I did, I got to take a few pictures of Teagan and Stu.

Teagan, our penguin at bath time, was very unsure, unwilling to go in the pool, once we got there. I don’t think she realized that she’d be going in alone, without one of us holding her. Stu stayed with her, slowly encouraging her to get closer and closer to the water, to get her feet in, to kick along with the rest of the class. Eventually, she went in, and went whole hog! There was green light/red light kicking! There was backstroke! There was splashy ball! The other kids needed a three count, Teagan jumped in at the count of one. She went half the length of the pool and back in the back stroke, kicking better than any one else. I wish I had seen it. Stu said she did really well, once she got over her initial reluctance.

Noodle

Ashlin, well, didn’t do quite so well. Class was just about nap time, and we were out late last night for the fireworks. She was very fussy. She cried almost the entire time in the pool. I did not let her get out, I’m such a mean mommy. There were some times she was happy, or less unhappy I should say. There was singing. She liked that. We sang modified versions of “If You’re Happy And You Know It” and “The Wheels On The Bus.” She was perplexed by the word changes, but happy for the songs. I couldn’t turn her so she could look out, she just wanted to snuggle in, hugging. I would move in to the group when she quieted, and move away as she geared up crying. Towards the end of the class, I sat her on the gutter, counted one-two-three and she lent forward, not quite diving towards me. Quick spin around with extra happy voice and I put her down again. She did it again. And again.

Both girls napped at least two and a half hours after swim class.

Next week, we’re going to try to nap her before we go. Hopefully being more rested will work better for her.

I’m looking forward to watching both of them in the pool. I really can’t believe how big Teagan is getting. How grown up.

June 19, 2012 by lisasff

June 19, 2012

“You an angel momma.” My preschooler greeted me at the door, followed by a big hug. One of the best ways to come home after a day at work. After the love and sweetness she quickly asked “Can I have one?” She wanted one of the Angel Wings I had gotten for a treat and left on the counter in eyesight. Even though she was home sick, she had eaten pretty well. ”Ok. One,” as a put a small piece on a plate. ”At the table please.” Compliance was almost a guarantee, for two minutes, as she was excited with her treat. To keep her there, Stu needed to turn the movie off. They were watching Peter Pan, with Teagan was following along with her Little Golden Book.

She was definitely feeling better.

Stu had been keeping me informed with little bits of their day, that she napped, cried before the nap that she didn’t want, went to the store, watched movies.

Turns out that she is not deaf, she does listen, and actually hear some of the stuff we tell her. And she remembers it too.

Yesterday, after I picked her up from day care, we watched Booty and Beast, aka Beauty & the Beast. The first scene with the Beast always – still – scares her a bit, and she snuggled up. I said something, a throw away line about how he was ugly on the outside and the inside. A bit later, during Gaston’s song, she said “him not nice.” ”No, sweetie, he’s pretty on the outside, but ugly on the inside, like the Beast, but the Beast learns what’s important, which is being pretty on the inside, and that breaks the witches spell, and makes him pretty on the outside too.” I really hadn’t thought she heard the conversation, let alone understand it.

Stu and she were watching Booty and Beast today, and she tells him that ”him look like a man, but him beast too.” Reading that update made my heart sing. So happy. She’s such a sweet girl.

May 27, 2012 (lisasff.wordpress.com)
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May 20, 2012 by lisasff

May 20, 2012

It’s a swing set! Still a little bit to be finished, it still needs to have the slide added, the last two steps of the climbing wall added, the over the slide platform, and be anchored down.

We’re pretty sure it’s where it needs to be, but we’ll see how putting the anchors in goes. It may need to be scooched a bit. Once it’s anchored, we’ll get a bunch of mulch, probably, to make a softer landing area. Teagan has already tried the existing landing area, and found it a bit hard. She fell off the back of the swing, turned, and somehow landed on her face. Ouch. She’s ok though, just a little scratch.

We’ll also get a bunch of sand to go under the platform. It may be necessary to dig a little hole, make the sandbox a bit deeper than the 4 or 6 inch deep frame. I’m not sure if the girls can handle the excitement of a sandbox. They’re already super excited about the swings. Teagan loves her big girl swing, Ashlin loves being swung. We’ve moved the toddler swing from the cherry tree to the backyard.

We owe a LOT to our friends. It would not be done if they hadn’t come over to help. Teagan got to play with a friend, Stu had knowledgeable help getting the swing set assembled.

It’s going to be nice having this in the back yard. I should be able to do a bunch of stuff in the house and yard while they’re playing. Maybe just sit on the deck, with a nice drink (a mojito!), and watch them. It’s going to be a nice summer.

April 30, 2012 by lisasff

April 30, 2012

Looking for bugs

Looking for bugs! Teagan is fascinated with bugs. At daycare, they did an art project where they drew the bugs they wanted to be. She said she wanted to be a fly. But if a fly is in the house, she wants it outside. Ants, well, they’re fun to watch, and she’ll pull some grass and put it down for food for them. But she’ll stop on them if they’re on the patio. A contradiction this little girl of mine.

Oh, and she was great today, and we got a report that she was well behaved at day care too. Yay! I told her at dinner that today, she was my friend. And she made me happy. Stu gave her a marshmallow.

Fingers crossed for more marshmallows in the future!

April 18, 2012 ~ Peeps for Poop?! (lisasff.wordpress.com)
February 6, 2012 ~ Teagan Dreams & Desires (lisasff.wordpress.com)
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February 28, 2012 by lisasff

February 28, 2012

Teagan’s head is going to explode when she sees this! LaLa & PopPop have gotten both girls a swing set for their birthday. Such a wonderful gift. We have an infant swing hanging from a cherry tree in the front yard, and both girls love swinging. Teagan is a bit too big for the seat now, so this will be a very welcome present.

Now, the trouble is getting it to the house, the store manager told my mom that it wouldn’t fit in the car. And then we have to figure out how to get it up. I have no idea how to safely install this… Hopefully, there’ll be some instructions about how to anchor it down securely.

It’s going to be a fun summer!!