No Shilly Shally!

Last night we made rootbeer floats for our belated Family Night. (We then watched The Blind Side, which was AMAZING!) Libby helped make the rootbeer floats.


While we were drinking them, she decided the moment reminded her of one of her favorite scenes from the Happiest Millionaire. (I tried to find it on YouTube, but I didn't see it...if you find it, let me know.) Anyway Mr. Duke and John are in the bar putting a few back while dancing and singing "No Shilly Shally, and No Dilly Dally and Let's have a drink of it NOW!" Then they slam their drinks down on the bar. Libby sang out and then slammed her rootbeer float down on the table. It caused a small tidal wave that splashed all over. She sat there stunned, as if to say--that isn't how it happens on the show! They don't get rootbeer in their faces! It was hilarious. I even chuckled this morning as I mopped the floor.
Cheers!

Night Night?

I am not sure if I would want to sleep with a bag of gravel for a pillow, but I guess someone does.

Heigh Ho Penguin...

Libby LOVES the penguin that Emma gave to Sarah for Christmas. It has been a dance partner, a sleeping partner, and a friend in many ways. Yesterday it became a horse/frog. Not something I have seen before, but Libby is sure that penguins can be ridden like frog/horses.

Accessories!!!

Libby is into accessorizing. She has rediscovered the sun hat that she refused to wear when she was younger. She also thinks Derek's socks are pretty fun to wear.

Home Project III

It never rains but it pours. I guess I should say it never drips but you have to call a plumber. Ouch. The third home project started with trying to replace the washers in our shower and ended $2000 later. For the record, we didn't cause the problem, but when we tried to fix the leak, the seat valves that were in our shower faucet decided to show off how they had stripped the pipes inside. Anyway, our shower looks very lovely now. Grrr.

Home Projects II

Derek got to do the outside projects. He wanted to remove all the rocks from the edge of the yard (he deemed them a safetly hazard). With a little of my help he built a new retaining wall on the back side of the garden. Then a small new border on the front of the garden. We brought in what seemed like tons of gravel to provide support for the new walls, and to level out our brick path. Then in came 5 yards of topsoil. This year we should have a bumper crop of everything!
Before:




After:



A special shout out for Clark--he helped Derek move most of the dirt while I took care of the girls. But I did take a few wheelbarrowfuls myself :)

Home Projects

This year we decided to put our tax return back into our house.
I got to do the inside.

Family Room:
Before

After:


I got really into the red accent color because I also redid my desk in the dining room:


Living Room:
Before:


AFter:





You will recognize the couch from the former living room in the new family room. The big chair from the living room is now in the garage looking for a new owner on Craig's List.

Already?

Libby said today, "Mommy, I want my own cell phone."
Ugh!

Libbyisms

Tonight Libby was saying her prayers. Derek was kneeling over her bed. She said, "We are thankful we could go to the gymee (aka gym)." Then she stopped, opened her eyes and said, "You didn't go to the gymee daddy!" with this accusatory tone. Oh my. I am raising a fitness nazi! In Derek's defense, he worked his regular shift, then went downtown to work scalping patrol for the Mariner's opening game (which they lost). So after 18 hours of work, I didn't even expect him to go to the gymee. Libby has higher standards :)

Potty Training Progress

Hooray! It is working! Day 1 was rough. Lots of accidents (I gave up on having Sarah do it too...I couldn't watch them both, or clean up after both). But day 2 was better, and today, day 3 was AMAZING! Until we had to go to the gym this evening. She had 2 accidents in the childcare there. But here at home she only had one accident today and it was in the bathroom as she was trying to get to the potty. Nights haven't been good. She has woken up super wet. So tonight I put "night-time panties" (Derek's suggestion to call it that--brilliant) on her (a pull-up). Right after I put the pull-up on her, she asked to go to the bathroom and wet in the potty! Hooray!

Potty Training

Ugh. On Thursday I was about to fold a load of laundry. So, like every Monday and Thursday, I vaccuumed the family room and then dumped out the clean laundry on the nice clean carpet. But then Sarah needed a diaper change, so I changed her and decided we should shower to give her rash some air time. When I came out of the shower, I was greeted by a naked Libby. I asked her where her diaper was. Then she said the words that froze my heart (that was for Dave). "I don't know." I searched the house and found a clean diaper. But Libby's bottom showed some evidence of other activity. I found the activity on the clean laundry on the clean floor of the family room. Let me just say that neither was clean any more. Neither was the couch. But, to her credit, only a bit on the floor, only a bit on the couch, and the majority on a few hand towels. Thank you, Libby, for not wiping on the actual clothes.
So, we are doing the 3 day potty training. Starting this afternoon. Libby and I will be attached at the hip. For 3 days. I may go insane, but at the end of it, the Potty Training Queen promises dry days and nights. I am thinking of trying with Sarah too. Wouldn't it be nice to be done with Diaper Rash forever? (The Potty Training Queen recommends 22 months, so I am still on the fence....advice?)

Libby and Daddy Make Brownies

So it wasn't exactly a spectacular success. While Libby was helping to add ingredients, they somehow managed to omit the oil and part of the water. Also much of the brownie mix itself flew out of the bowl with Libby's exhuberant stirring. Anyway, if you enjoy the flavor of a brownie with the texture of a swedish pancake/jellybean, I suggest you try this recipe. Also, leave the pan out while you are preheating the oven and Libby will come and sample the batter...and get it all over herself and the floor :)

Sarahisms

I really didn't know I would be putting Sarah-isms up so soon. But here goes. Libby asked me the other day while we were singing "The Wheels on the Bus", what do the Daddys on the bus say? My brilliant response. "I don't know." So I thought up a lie and I thought it up quick. "The daddys say, "move your feet." Why? I don't know. But Sarah LOVES this part of the song now. I had forgotten all about what I said until I heard her singing it yesterday. "Move your feet, move your feet." Why did she remember that?

Also, there is a classic Trish story where I was hanging out with my college friend and her nephew. I suggested we sing the "Tubby song." (I don't remember why). He was like, "What tubby song?" So I called my mom and she admitted that she made up the tubby song (which no longer gets quotes--since it is NOT an official song). Anyway, I have passed on the joy of the tubby song, and maybe the embarrassment later when they expect others to know the joyful song. Anyway, Sarah sings it with gusto while in the tubby :)

Easter Video

Here is the video of Libby and Sarah discovering what the Easter Bunny left. Their pajamas are amazing. Libby strips off her pjs now every night, so it is always a suprise what she wakes up wearing. On Easter it happened to be 2 dresses. (Last nigth it was nothing...yikes.) Sarah was wearing some cute summery pjs. (Not sure what I was thinking.) She woke up freezing at about 2 am, so I put sweats and that hoodie over her pjs. Anyway, focus on their cute responses, not their bad outfits and crazy hair ;)

Happy Easter!

We had a blast yesterday for Easter. It was a summer themed day. The girls got a swimming pool, picnic table set, summer clothes, and sunglasses.




(You can see the new furniture and stuff in the family room that has been my most recent project.)

Libbyisms

Today I was in the front room putting together a shelf while Libby and Sarah were having a snack.
I heard Libby say...
"Sarah, what happened to your food?"
"Did you push your food on the floor?"
"Sarah, don't do that! That is not okay."
It was like listening to myself talk. It was very scary.
And adorable at the same time.