My shopping buddies

Oh my gosh, were they really this little?

Today was a wonderful day. Weird in a way. I had the most amazing fun day with my girls. I needed to go shopping for the girls summer stuff and I had to take them since I would need Ruthie who is so hard to shop for so she could try stuff on. With the closest mall being 25 mins away, it was easier to bring them with me, than to buy stuff, bring home, then return. The first store, we PILED our arms with clothes and away they go to the fitting room and they must have tried on about 100 different items. At that point they both had huge smiles on their faces and said they were having SO MUCH FUN!

***Funny side note, Lucy has decided she will not wear anything unless it has yellow, orange, or pink in it. She even went as far to pick out the brightest orange Keen's you ever did see. Great, may as well embrace it with her. Ruthie even picked out a few dresses!

Then off to the mall, we went and tried on more clothes, where we had even more fun. At one point Lucy says to me.... Mommy, shopping with you is SO MUCH FUN!





Off to the carousel for a ride and then McDonalds in the mall.





They were having the time of their lives, while this shopping trip was something I was dreading, they were the best sports and I had a huge smile on my face.


Yes I know, this is not exactly a great thing and I had huge fast forwards of when they are 16 and 17, but today was a wine and I am taking it and putting it in the WIN column. Check summer shopping off the list.

Thank goodness for friends and family coupons!


***** LUCY is hysterical. Not only did she have a great time last night after her shower we couldn't get her to put on anything other than her new clothes and yes my friends...... SHE SLEPT IN THEM!!!!!

LUCY The Great!

At the very old age of 3 years and 11 months, Lucy road her bike without training wheels this week for the first time! What a big kid! She is doing so totally awesome!





She REALLY wants a new disney princess bike and has been kinda talking about it alot. Simon and I talked and decided we weren't going to get her one until the summer once she has been riding her bike a little more frequently. So since she wouldn't stop talking about it we told her that maybe we were going to wait until she could ride without training wheels. Seeing as we never really tried to do that and her balance is not necessarily her strong suit we thought we had a good few months.



Monday while Ruthie was at school and it was beautiful she brings up the bike again and she gets the same response from me..... "Well, Lucy how about we get you a brand new big kid bike when you ride without training wheels." She looks at me and at Ruthie's old Dora bike we brought out for one of Ruthie's friend last week and says "Well then lets go!"



She started just going down our driveway balancing, without pedaling then after a few runs of that she started pedaling! Then she was off. The first day was rather comical as she couldn't turn very well so she would end up running into all the snow banks on the side of the road but that girl was determined!



She was soooo funny, she said "When daddy gets home and watches me he is going to cry!"



Now that she has a few days under her belt she is starting and stopping all on her own and turning too! Ruthie has been working with her because she feels like if you are on your bike you need to ride as fast as possible, yet Lucy is a little more cautious!



Ruthie's Bike Story



I can't believe my girls are getting SOO big!



Of course now, she is like..... Ummmmmm, where is my new bike? Guess that plan backfired!

Sunday Night Dinners

We have started a new tradition and that is picking out a recipe for Sunday night dinner and we all make it together. Last Sunday Ruthie picked a chicken on a stick recipe with mashed red skins.

The girls had a great time making dinner, and helping set the table, it took a good hour to make everything, I was exhausted and when we sat down to dinner, all that anyone did was complain that they didn't like the meal.

I sat there exhausted with tears in my eyes and said to Simon, "You can see why I always order pizza, they will eat it and it doesn't take so much time and energy". His response is they will eat it when they are really hungry.

So this Sunday came and Simon wanted Chicken Marsala. To the store, to get ingredients (Amanda, I soo wish I had you on speed dial. Can you believe they don't even sell marscapone cheese in our town?) Giada's recipe calls for marscapone cheese. That goodness for all recipes showing you how to make a substitute! And for good neighbors who look things up on the Internet for you while you are at the store, not knowing where to find Marsala wine, and cheese.

The girls again had a blast cooking, Lucy LOVES her some bread and butter and this meal was received so much better. Simon loved it wants it more, I thought it was good bud rather heavy, and the girls even enjoyed it!

I will give it another try this weekend.

Ruthie

Ruthie has been really funny lately. She got invited to a Princess party of one of her friends and has been all things princess all the time. Which is really not her, but we are just going with it. Not acting overly excited, because I would love for her to just find whatever it is that makes her happy and do that instead of doing what she thinks she should do.

She still LOVES Buzz Lightyear and Woody, and wants a new Buzz Lightyear for her birthday but has really been experiencing the girl side of things. She spent a few hours yesterday playing barbies with Lucy - (i am really trying, but it is hard!). She got a Barbie in her stocking for Christmas and said Santa made a mistake and that it wasn't for her, so in just a few months, that is a big change.

We talked to her about her birthday and asked her what she wants, she said.... A new Buzz Lightyear, Princess stuff (because it is sparkly), some new clothes for my Bitty Baby and a new American Girl. While I know this can change in the next 5 weeks, what a shocking difference from her Christmas list. She even asked for those Skecher light up shoes because she thought they looked cool. Talk about the powers of advertising.

Ruthie loves all of her stuffed dogs and takes really good care of all of them. Many times they are all in bed with her.

This picture is her and the dogs all watching TV. She thought they would like to sit on the bubble wrap, cuz it is more comfortable.

Also, this picture is of her ironing with Simon. Simon loves to iron in front of the TV in our bedroom, and I think that nothing makes him more proud than her copying his cleaning and organizing.

This picture is of her wearing my bridesmaids dress from my sisters wedding, and my race swim cap. This picture makes me proud! I want her to know that she can do it all!

New Bikes

Simon and I got new bikes! SO exciting. I got a road bike for the 2 races I plan on doing next summer and I generally like road biking a ton better than mountain biking. Simon got a mountain bike. He has really been enjoying (in the summer) the trails at the nearby state park and has even taken Ruthie on the easy trails a few times. We really feel it is so important to show and experience healthy activities with the girls. I dream of taking a multi-day family bike trek through Vermont during the foliage. But that may take a few years.

Simon is the best person to buy a present for, if you get him clothes, say a shirt, he must try it on immediately, with every pair of pants he owns. Shoes same thing, he is rather funny and like a kid on Christmas with EVERY thing you get him. So, I was not surprised at all when we came home on Friday night from dinner out and the bikes were calling his name in the garage, I couldn't find him and there he was riding his bike in the garage since there was too much snow outside.

Reminds me of the infamous mini-van story.

While some people nest when they are pregnant, I shop. So there I was with a 11 month old baby, and a baby expected any day and I panicked, I needed automatic doors, couldn't live without them. Thus the mini-van was a must. Three days before Ruthie's 1st birthday and 4 days before Lucy's arrival, I went out and bought a mini-van, called Simon at work and said... "Umm, I traded in the Explorer, and bought a mini-van. I am driving it right now, can you swing by after work and sign the paperwork" Ohh, my husband soo loves me.

Anyhoo, we didn't really have a chance to fully check it out and get a great understanding of how it worked and all its function before Lucy arrived. So, we are home from the hospital for a day or 2, I need Simon for something and can't find him anywhere. I am yelling for him, have both the kids crying and I am trying to find my way, and he is nowhere to be found.

I finally found him in the garage in the 3 rd row seat of the mini-van watching a movie. He said, he wanted to see how good the TV was and would never get a chance to ride in the back of the car. Oh Simon.

I love him.

Snowman

The girls and I worked really hard for 2 days to make this snowman. The snow was SOO heavy we could barely lift it. It stayed in our yard for over 2 weeks even in direct sun.

Then Ruthie and I decided to knock it down and use it as a platform for karate kicks. So much better of an idea.

Lucy however....."You guys go on outside, I will watch you from the window, it is too cold"

Great, already a diva.

Snow Tubing

We met our neighbors at a local snow tubing place a few weekends ago. We had a great time, although, I would really like it if there was a way to get a ride back up the hill everytime! Especially when you are draggin the kids up with you.

crying.....

Lulu upstairs yelling at her sister.......

Lulu - "Ruthie you get in here right now and make my bed"

Ruthie - "No"

Lulu - - "Ruthie NOW"


And she is now upstairs sobbing. Gotta love that girl. She cried so hard, now Simon has gone uptairs to help her make her bed. She got what she wanted. She didn't make her bed.

Looks like I am rubbing off on her, minus the crying!

WHAT THE FEBRUARY!

Seriously people, I feel like I am in a time warp.....

I know February is a short month, but where has the time gone?

We have been extremely busy, and with me without a computer (did I forget to mention that Simon accidentally stepped on my laptop?) posting has been really difficult..

Some updates.....

Simon is currently taking credit class to equal 33, which leaves him with one class, Summer session, and then he will have his MASTERS in Philanthropic Studies from Indiana University!!!!!! Did I mention that he has received all A's or A+'s on his papers this quarter so far? He totally rocks, and if you ever need him to write you some papers, his specialty is History, I totally kicked History's Behind the 2nd time I took it when Simon "helped" with my papers.

We have been snow tubing - pictures to follow

Built a snowman as tall as me - 5'11" built by the girls and I.

Had a fabulous wine Night, hosted by yours truly and our neighbor - no pictures G rated site, plus, at 3am noboby looks good on film.

Celebrated Simon's 35th Birthday - He totally rocks! He celebrated by, being exhausted form the wine night, went and got fitted for new running shoes, received a bike rack for a present and then went out and picked out his new bike at our favorite bike shop. Although, I am sure if asked he would tell you his favorite thing was going to Red Robin with the family and having them sing to him. Oh how life has changed!

The girls and I fit a trip to Cleveland for a long weekend in, while Simon was out of town for a week for work, Arizona and Washington, DC. Although, one would be jealous about Arizona, he said it rained THE ENTIRE TIME!

And now, we are topping it off with more snow than we know what to do with and....

Ruthie has a cold and PINK EYE.

Awesome.

Pictures soon!

One More Picture

Ummmm...... I so think Simon's muscles are bigger!!!