Total Toddler Makeover

With birthdays, family, and pictures coming up, I decided it was time to get Rachel's hair cut.  She really couldn't see in the mornings if I didn't pull her hair back immediately after she woke up.  I didn't think it was going to be a big deal, but afterward she looked like a little girl, and she wasn't a baby to me any longer.  Not that at 17 months she is a baby, it just hit me how much older she is.  She wasn't really bothered by the hair cut itself, she just sat there and enjoyed the lollipop.  I got her picture taken and framed, with a little certificate with a lock of hair for her first haircut.  Yes they do that for parents just like me, for just $3 more!  I got go to back to the store later that day because I left my wallet there that morning, but I was thankful no one took anything out of it.  

We went to the mall afterward, because that is one of Daniel's favorite places to run around, and he is helping me keep Rachel in check.  Sometimes I think Rachel has two moms with how Daniel looks after her.  He is a big help.
There is this dog that is a display at Sears, and the kids have to give it a hug every time we walk by.  

Today Kevin and Daniel got their haircuts at a more manly barber shop, and we were able to enjoy some outdoor time.  I feel bad that I physically can't keep up with Daniel, he looks up to me and asks me if he can run and I have to ask him to walk with me, but on the weekends with his father around he can get all that excess energy out.  

On top of my daughter's first haircut, Daniel is turning three this week.  I am getting excited for my parents, sister, and nephew to come in, and we have a bowling party planned for next weekend.  Sometimes I think an outdoor thing would be nice, but  you never know with this weather.  This week will be prep time for the party and guests.  The presents are already rolling in, thanks Thorsons and Memere and Pepere, we are happy to spread out the joy.  

Snow, snow go away!

After beginning the week with a Nor'easter, we are almost up to 60 degrees today! Crazy New England weather!  Not that I am complaining, this morning the snow was up on our back porch, now we can get down to the ground and grill this afternoon.  I have so many different jackets for the kids hanging up, if it is really cold, kind of cold, and not cold at all, and they have all been used this week.  I did take it easy with the kids this week, so I don't have many pictures from the week itself, but this morning we went to the Children's Discovery Museum and the kids had a good time there.  Here are the pictures below from our outing.  

I am ready to take a nap now, we are teaching the toddler class at church tomorrow, losing an hour of sleep tonight, so even the thought of that makes me sleepy.  

May I introduce you to...

Daniel and Rachel, but as you probably don't know them.

I have the hardest time getting Daniel to eat vegetables, and although he is getting better, there is one thing that I am surprised he eats....Hummus.  I have a very simple recipe for Hummus, and he enjoys making it and eating it with pretzels.  He often licks it up with his fingers to make sure he gets everything.  

And take Rachel.  Some evenings I have a hard time getting her to eat dinner, but recently I was startled when she wanted to eat the pasta dinner I made for Kevin and me.  I thought it would be a little too much for her, it was a white cream sauce with cut up mushrooms, spinach, and chicken in it over angle hair pasta.  She loved it and had it two evenings in a row.  

I guess they don't always do the typical toddler diet, and I should often have them at least try something new or have a little of what we are having.  And they teach me something new about them every day.  

Kevin and the Engine

Here is a picture of Kevin and a very large plane engine.  He had the cool picture of the week.  At work he is working on a "re-engining" project and got to go and talk to some of the contractors and see some of the things they do.  I can't really explain it all, but I know it is very expensive and since he is the cost chief he should know!

The sun came out at the end of a cold week.  I mean cold in a few ways, we were all battling the cold, and it was cold.  In this picture below it does look like they are playing together nicely, but a few moments later there was tears and crying with who would be playing with the wagon. 
The object of the week was an orange and blue Dora soccer ball, and it was Daniel's favorite pick of the week.  I think kids just like anything that is a ball.  He got mad when it got dirty, maybe he is not quite ready for organized soccer, but it is funny to see what he is concerned about.  Rachel did get her own princess ball, and loved it just as much.  
The two pictures below seem to summarize my week with Rachel.  She was pretty clingy and sometimes it is hard when you are in the middle of something to take care of a persistent child.  I think taking pictures of her like this helped me to smile at these moments especially when I need to smile and not get mad.  I keep trying to remember that the kids are not this young for long, and these moments that were difficult now will be fondly remembered later.  (Thanks Mom for continually reminding me!)

Other than that we were blessed with a bunch of cute spring and summer clothes for Rachel and the upcoming season, and Kevin is going out and getting our taxes done today.  We usually do Turbo Tax, but with the property in NH we wanted to be sure we were doing things right.  I think March will come in like a lion and out like a lamb.  

Mini-Van!

The big thing this week is that we found a Mini-Van.  We did end up finding a good price on a Honda Odyssey, it is a 2004 with only 43K miles on it.  Hardly broken in.  I was a little sad saying good-bye to our "Blue Car", our Ford Escape treated us well for the most part, but it was time to go.  I am looking forward to all the trips and extra space we will have, and the automatic car starter is a nice bonus on these cold mornings.  We just need a big Virginia Tech decal or something to distinguish it from all the other Odyssey's out there, but we are happy.  Daniel now says hi to the new van, and asks how it is doing.   

Other than that, it was business as usual around here.  Kevin has been pretty busy at work, the kids have kept me busy at home, and I am just waiting for the warmer weather.  Today was our last day of the swim lessons, and overall it was good.  I think by the last one Rachel just started to warm up to the idea of swimming, but Daniel was all about it right from the start.   

Enjoy the last week of February!

The Mushroom Man

Now I don't know who the Mushroom Man is, but anytime Daniel is acting out a big mean character, he starts calling it the Mushroom man.  For example, we have a puzzle we are putting together and Daniel comes up to the puzzle pieces, takes a few and starts playing like they were little action figures.  He gets in a low playful tone and says "Mushroom Man, Arrrggg".  He repeats this with puzzle pieces, cars, shoes, whatever he thinks the Mushroom Man is at that moment.  Pretty interesting game.

Rachel is entering the slightly more difficult stage.  This is where she is just tall enough to reach on tables or counters or just find a way to create mayhem in general.  The harder part for me is realizing that she needs discipline.  I feel like I didn't recognize it in Daniel soon enough, but I am realizing I need to work on discipline a little earlier with her, lucky her.  Although when did the kids get old enough that they needed the discipline?  

This is the face that Rachel enjoys making and it is funny when she does it.  

Kevin has a four day weekend this weekend and we are just relaxing on this Valentine's Day.  I like the four day weekends. I got a haircut today, thanks Jenny for the recommendations and help, and the kids have only one more swim lesson to go.  I will be sort of happy to have that Saturday morning back, but we are all usually up around 7 anyways.  

This is the best way I could figure to get the ultrasound picture on the blog.  There is the little guy with his little profile.  We took Daniel and Rachel in during the ultrasound and Daniel was only slightly interested, he kept repeating that it is a boy, and Rachel was having too much fun with the equipment in the room. But none the less, there he is!!

It's a...

Boy!

And we are very sure about that.  I have a bunch of great pictures, but I am not sure if our scanner is compatible with our Mac so it will be a little before we can show you.  But until then, he is a healthy, wiggly, baby boy.