Oh Addie....

You know this adorable little girl...

Well shes a wild one but can also be as sweet as sugar. Her new favorite phrases are "Mommy look at Addie" or "Come on Zach lets run" or "Mommy look at this" or "hey lets dance"
Usually when she asks me to look at her it could be for any reason. Sometimes it is because she is sharing her food with Zach. Sometimes it is because she is spinning her self in circles in the bathtub and finds it to be hilarious. Sometimes it is because she is feeding monkey. She is also huge into running around the house with Zach. They play chase, which is really her just trying to catch Zach and/or Alex. She loves to run around with them and I can not wait for this summer when they can all play at the park together. Or when we have a backyard and I can let the crazies go play in the yard to get their energy out.

She looks so innocent but I can tell when the wheels are turning in her little head. She is quick and if you blink at the wrong moment it might mean there is a disaster waiting for you. She knows what she wants and when she wants it and lets you know. And she talks...oh my god does she talk. From the moment she gets up and greats me with a "hi mommy" to the minute she goes to bed and asks for "my thomas book" she is a chatter box. But I love her...I mean how could you not!!!! And I am sure she will keep me on my toes for a very looooooooong time!

Fun Fridays

The last 2 Fridays my twin Sarah has been off work so we have been having fun Fridays with the kids. Last week we took the little ones Zach, Addie and her daughter Ellie to the forest preserve for a nice walk and some great pictures and then had a day of playing at my house, and a night of shows and more playing with the kids.
Yesterday it was a little too cold for the forest preserve so we meet for breakfast at Egg Harbor ( super yummy) and then let the little ones play at the mall for a bit. They had a blast. Going on the slide and climbing on everything. Zach and Elle were chasing each other around and playing together the whole time. Addie just did her thing and then every once in awhile she would ask Zach to go on the slide with her, which of course he did....someone loves their little sister.


After the mall we came back to my house so the kids could play some more, have some lunch and Addie could nap. While Addie was suppose to be napping ( totally did not happen) Zach and Elle played with trains, our play kitchen and the cars from the movie CARS. Then they decided it was time for Lion King. This has been their new thing lately. They watch it up to the part where Simba meets up with Timon and Pumba. And then they decide it is time to play lions. For awhile it was quiet though.

Once Addie got up from her " nap" she was hungry and decided it was time for some chips and guacamole. I swear she is the only 2 year old I know that loves guacamole. But at least she looks ADORABLE eating it!

Overall it was a great day that ended with Zach sleeping at Ellies and another fun day planned for today. Hope everyone else has a great weekend.

Rough Days=Quiet nights

Today we had a VERY rough afternoon. Mondays and Tuesdays are hard in our house because Addie doesn't nap, Alex is tired from being up early and Zach is still recovering from our busy weekends. I usually pick the little ones up from daycare and get home around 3:20. Alex gets home around 3:45 from school and it is a toss up how the afternoon will be.
Because Addie does not nap on Monday and Tuesday she is usually very crabby by 4pm. And when she is crabby she likes to cry and whine and also pick on Zach. Anything Zach has she HAS to have and will take, which of course makes him yell at her, and her cry and me want to pull my hair out.
Today was especially bad. Addie was really crabby, Zach was really crabby as well, like really really crabby, and then Alex got home and all hell broke loose. Alex didn't want to clean his room so I got a garbage bag and started throwing everything on the floor into it which of course caused more tears and me probably gaining some gray hairs!
So after I wanted to stick ear plugs in and pretend my kids weren't around the house calmed down. Addie and Zach took a bath which always makes my kids happy and Alex decided to go lay in bed and watch you tube videos about trains. Addie passed out not to long after her bath, and less than a hour later Zach was asleep. After a little while I realized Alex was being really quiet and when I peeked into my room at 7 he was sound asleep.
Which means that even though the afternoon was really crappy at least my night is going to be a little better since all the kids are sleeping and the house is nice and quiet.

Day off work...

Both Sarah (aka my twin) and I had the day off work today so we decided to gather the little ones up while Alex was at school and go for a walk in the forest preserve. The kids had a blast running around the trail, throwing leaves, finding paw prints, and also pointing out poop. Yes, I said pointing out poop...must be nice to be 4. Here are a few pics of the kids from today...

Addie and me


If that doesn't melt your heart this will...


See I told you!!!


Sarah and Ellie

New House...picking options

So today Rob and I had a appt at the design center to pick all the options for our house. It was tons of fun and a real eye opener into just how expensive building a new house can be and is. We decided to do a full basement, my ultra bath for the master bedroom, upgrade all our lights, picked all our floors, cabinets, counter tops, upgraded siding, shutters, and some other small upgrades and tid bits. Here are a few pictures of what we have picked.

This is the color of the house and the shutters and front door will be burgundy...it looks more red in the picture but it will be darker


Hallway and foyer lights


Lights in the powder room


Light over the kitchen table




Kitchen and bathroom cabinets with a sample of the counter tops...The counter tops are a little darker than they look in the picture




Tile in our shower and around the soaking tub



carpet on the top, the left is the downstairs flooring and the right is the bathroom and laundry room flooring




another picture of the cabinets

Our Valentines Day

Both Rob and I are not very big into Valentines. I mean we have been together for so long it is basically just another day. And honestly I would rather be surprised on a random day with flowers or something instead of on a day that he feels pressured to buy me something.
But I do have fun doing things with the kids.Both the boys had parties at school and Alex could not wait to give Olivia ( his girlfriend) the bear that he bought her. And Zach was excited to give all his friends at school their valentines. Our daycare lady also did a party to Addie made a bunch of crafts all morning and both Zach and Addie left with a goodie bag a a big balloon.
When Alex got home from school I surprised the kids with a bunch of balloons that we blew up and had a big balloon party. Lots of volleyball with them and soccer and even a little dance party.

After Addie went to bed ( she crashes early on Monday and Tuesday due to no nap) the boys and I decided to make some heart shaped pancakes and bacon for their dinner.



Both boys love to help me cook and bake and sometimes it is easier to have them mix stuff on the floor instead of the counter. It leads to less fights. And since both my boys love to just wear undies around the house that is what they wore while we made dinner. Overall it was a good day. The kids ate way to much candy, did not fight too much, and so far the little ones have gone to bed....if only I could get Alex to be crashed out by 7!

Things Alex Says

Sometimes that kid can crack me up! At times it is like talking to a 30 year old and at times it is like talking to a almost 7 year old that thinks he is 30. Here are a few funny moments from this week.

Me: Alex you need to clean your room and try to keep it clean
Alex: But why do I have to clean mine when yours is messy?
Me: Because I am the adult and I told you to
Alex: Well you should clean yours so you can lead by example mom
Me: Blank look on my face wondering when I gave birth to a 30 year old

( Funny thing about that is I once asked my mom why I had to clean my room when hers was messy....only difference I was about 13 or 14...hes 6 and a half!)


Alex and I were listening to the traffic report in the car and the announce said " the traffic is brought to you by Meijer"
Alex: Oh man! Now I hate Meijer! I can't believe they brought all this traffic
Me: Alex they sponsored the traffic report that's all
Alex: Ohhhh, okay I guess we can still shop there then


And last but not least
Alex: Grandpa its 20 degrees out
Grandpa ( my dad) Alex how do you know that
Alex: Because I am a meteorologist
Grandpa: oh really
Alex: Yeah and I also know that when it is under 20 degrees things will freeze
Grandpa: Well how do you that
Alex: Because I am a meteorologist..Geesh grandpa I just told you that!

working mom or sahm mom???

I feel like there is always a debate about which is harder. Bring a working mom or a SAHM. And I do not understand why...aren't both hard?I have done both. I have worked 50 hours a week while my kids were in daycare and I have been home all day with my kids. There are pros and cons to both, in my opinion, but they are both hard.Its almost like being pulled in 2 different directions.
1. When you work you want to be spending time with your child/ren, and when you stay home you want just 5 minutes to yourself

2. At work you talk to adults and wait till you can get home and talk to your kids and when you stay home you wish you could have a conversation with a adult...especially one without being interrupted

3. You commute to and from work is quiet yet you miss hearing your kids talk or sing, and when you stay home you wish you could have just one quiet car ride. Sometimes you even take the long way home to get the extra 5 minutes of a quiet car when the kids fall asleep in it.

4. When you work you love weekends because you can spend time with the kids and do fun activities. When you stay home you see weekends as a break because your spouse is there to help and you don't have to do everything

5.You wear dressy clothes to work, well unless you coach gymnastics, and you wish you could be in comfy pants and a hoodie. When you stay home you wear comfy pants and a hoodie and wish you could put on nicer clothes. But you don't because you know by the end of the day you will be covered in paint, playdoh, food and anything else that kids have put on you

I could go on and on but I think everyone gets the point. The grass is always greener on the other side. Both sides are hard. But in the end we are all just trying to be the best parents we can for our kids. We might lose our patience sometimes, and we might get tired and frustrated but in the end we all have the same goal for our kids. And no matter if you work, stay home, or work part time like I do its all hard.

Lessons I want my kids to know

1. Don't be a follower...be a leader

2. It is NEVER acceptable to bully someone or make fun of them...treat EVERYONE like you would want them to treat you

3. You can and will achieve anything you put your mind to

4. Just because something is hard doesn't mean it is not worth doing...it just means it might take a little longer

5. Speak your mind, your opinions and thoughts are just as important as anyone elses

6. Friends will come and go but your siblings will be your best friends for life

7. We might not always love your behavior but dad and I always love you

8. If you are dumb enough to do something illegal and get caught don't bother calling me...I will NOT bail you out

9. It is okay to make mistakes...sometimes they are the best lessons

10.Learn to save your money...instant gratification isn't that great and it stinks to be broke

11. Just because your friends are doing it doesn't mean you have to do it...think for yourself

12. No guy respects a girl that is easy to get with...be with someone because you love them, not just because you can

13. For Addie... dressing slutty only gets you negative attention...leave some stuff to the imagination, guys prefer that

14. Always have a good work ethic..school, sports, job...give it 110% everyday

15. There will be times when you don't like me and dad...and that's okay..when you get older you will realize that we are ALWAYS right

16. At times you might think we are being mean but really we are just looking out for what is best for you

17.Study hard and get a good education...you might not always like it but it will be worth it

18. Words can really hurt people so watch you you say even when you are upset

19. Always tell the truth. It might be harder than lying at times but people respect you more when you are honest

20. The truth ALWAYS comes out eventually so lying is a waste of time

21. Drugs are for idiots...you aren't idiots so don't do them

22. In a time of need you will learn who your real friends are

23. When it comes to food try everything at least once..you never know what you might end up liking

24. Travel..see everything, meet different people, learn different cultures... it will really open your eyes to the world

25. It is better to fight with words than fist...anyone can hit someone but not everyone is smart enough to use their words