Today...

We are off to see the WIGGLES for our 2nd year in a row! I am so excited to see Lauren's face when they take the stage. Last year Avery's brought tears to me eyes with how star struck and excited he was. He is still in to the Wiggles and of course so is little sister Lauren!! She knows about every dance move they have and it is too cute to watch her! We are 7th row this time around. If you have never been to a Wiggles show and have kids - you should go. They really do put on a great show!!!!

Happy 21 Months Lauren!!!!

Yes, that is rice in her hair!

Wordless Wednesday - Practicing for Halloween

Because every great trick or treater needs to have that bag carrying practice!

Avery's 3rd B-Day Party

Even weeks later I still can't believe that Avery has turned three already. WOW! We had his birthday party on his actual birthday again this year. This year I went with the Disney Cars theme. He fell in love with the movie over the summer and that is what he actually chose for his party. We had hot dogs and chips and of course cake and ice cream. It was a great day filled with lots of fun and gifts for Avery. Of course most of what he got was Cars related, but he LOVES it all!!!!

The Pumpkin Patch 2009

I love October. Not really for the cooler weather, but more so for the pumpkin patch and all the orange! There is just something about seeing the kids wander through the rows of pumpkins. My mother and I took them the first weekend of the month. The weather was great - warm and great. Lauren walked with my mom checking out the animals, the people and of course the pumpkins. I chased Avery around as he sped past the animals and the people. He did like checking out the pumpkins though. We plan to go back again soon and this time take the wagon!

Our Beach Trip

My future lifeguard??

Lauren and little friend she made on the beach!

So I had been wanting to take the kids to the beach for a while. This woudl be their first trip. Yes Avery went to Myrtle Beach when I was pregnant with Lauren, but it was Thanksgiving so we didn't actually go on the beach. And yes, we went to Charleston in February, but again it was February so it was chilly. We decided to go for a short weekend to see how it went, so we went the weekend after Labor Day. You know, less crowds but still warm! It was a perfect weekend!

I just knew Avery would love the water and Lauren would love the sand. I was right! They had a blast. The hotel/condo we stayed at was great. It had two indoor pool areas complete with pools, hot tubs, lazy rivers, kiddie play areas and indoor water slides. We divided our time between the ocean and the water play toys!

Brian and I even felt like kids and had a great time. One of the nights there, his mom and step father watched the kids and we went to the indoor water park to lounge in the lazy river and ride the water slides. I don't do water slides, but I did the smaller ones at this place. It was so much fun. When we were the kids going down (just Avery) he would go down by himself and then I would follow. That must have been the funniest thing to him because he would just crack up!

I can't wait to go back. Everything about it was great and so much fun. The good thing too is since this condo had all the indoor things we don't have to wait for warmer weather!!!

Wordless Wednesday - At The Beach

My beach bums!!! Another teaser I know, but I promise, promise, promise to post more beach pictures and all about our trip!!!

Happy 3rd Birthday To Avery!!!!

A picture from our recent beach trip. I'll post more from that and pictures from Avery's 3rd birthday party. I can't believe he is already 3. His birthday was yesterday so I have backdated this post - for journaling reasons to have it right!!!

Wordless Wednesday - Reading and "Other" Things

Lauren Is 19 Months Today!!!

This little girl is 19 months old today!!! My how Lauren does LOVE to boogy down! She is SO fun to watch. And, the girl has some rhythm and can break it down with the best of them. I have a video of her breaking it down with the Wiggles. (Yup here we are a year later in life and still the Wiggles are ever present in our world). I will work on getting it uploaded.

Lauren is growing up so fast right before our eyes. I think it has to do with having to deal with her older brother. She is such a monkey see monkey do with him. There isn't much he does that she can't do too. But she does take a lot from him. As I am currently typing this she is sitting in the floor watching Wiggles and Avery is riding his ride on 4 wheeler across the floor bumping in to the back of her. Poor girl. Poor Avery when Lauren gets bigger - that red hair definitly comes with a temper!

I am trying to work some with her and potty training. She has used it once. Ah how happy I was! Maybe she can motivate her brother to get with the program!

Where Have I Been?

Sorry I have not posted in a while! My brain is on overload. I am trying to potty train, keep sibling rivalry in check, get the dog to refrain from trying to tear the wheels off of the toys, keep my legs shaved (and my sanity), work, refrain from drinking an entire bottle of wine each night before bed... you know, the usual!

On another note...Lauren went to the doctor today for her 18 month check up (a few weeks late). She weighed a little over 25 pounds and was about 34" tall.

Avery is getting used to his new class and doing well. He moved up last week to a 2/3 transition class. You know, no 3K til fully potty trained...uggh! At the rate we are going it may be 1st grade before he's trained! I think we are dealing with stubbornness more than anything. He's super smart, but boy is he S.T.U.B.B.O.R.N!!!!

Well off to give baths and get ready for bed!

Whoa...

What in the world? Recent conversation with Lauren (yes that almost 19 month old daughter of mine):

Me: Lauren, put that down.
(she just stares at me)
Me: Lauren, put it down. Do you need to go to time out?
Lauren: No

Well....

Brain Pickers ?

OMG! Did the editor's of Parents Magazine take over my brain or what? I checked the mail today and had the September issues waiting on me! And WOW does this issue seriously address a lot of what I have been dealing with and thinking about lately.
For example, one of the articles is called "The Terrible Threes" - otherwise known as the "trying threes". Alternately titled "Amanda, read this - Avery turns three next month"! Yes, my son who fell to the floor in the hallway of the daycare this morning and then proceeded to push himself down the hall on his belly and slide himself across the floor. Lovely! I know now the real reason why they teach you those breathing techniques when your pregnant.
And with my monkey see, monkey do "AKA Lauren", we need to work on this as much as possible. Pronto! She is already becoming Miss Bossy at times - and the kind that screams!
I continued flipping through the magazine only to come upon the article "39 Things Every Mom Should Know". This one will surely come in handy!

Wordless Wednesday -

Holding on. This is from our trip to Olcott Beach, NY and the cute little carousel park we found. This carousel was from the early 1900's and was so neat. This was about Avery's 3rd ride and Lauren's first. She was ok the first couple of times around - then not so much excited anymore. My sister is with her - they both looked like they were holding on for dear life... I had Avery - we were much more calm! It was fun!

Lauren Is 18 Months Old!!

My little girl is 18 months old today – a whole year and a half. WOW! She is something else too. Such a joy and fun loving little girl. She has so much personality. She loves to dance and is very good at it. If you know the song by the Wiggles called "Rock A Bye Teddy Bear" then you will know that it’s the cutest song and Lauren does all the moves so well. I have to get it uploaded!!
She does get quite the temper or frustrated fits – love that red hair! She eats like you wouldn’t believe. My dad wonders when her tail will start to curl up! Her mouth is filling up with teeth so I guess she figures she might as well use them – all the time!
Her pretty red hair was starting to fill in so thick – but she has this addictive habit of twirling her hair and has caused it to thin up and even fall out in some places. I sure hope she gets out of that soon and lets that pretty hair grow back!
I need to weigh her and get her height later today for her record book… We don’t go for her check up until later next month.
HAPPY 18 MONTHS LITTLE GIRL!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!