Pajama Party

Regan's school had a pajama party tonight and it was so cute! I am so mad at myself, because once again I forgot my camera. But luckily I had friends who took pictures for me.

The pictures make it look like there weren't a lot of kids, but actually it was pretty packed. They must of all been getting milk and cookies when these pictures were taken. The kid's and the teacher's all dressed up in pajamas. They gave out milk and cookies and the music teacher sang her songs. It was really adorable. The kids loved it. I didn't know how Addison would do, but she was in the mix dancing her heart out. There were even some bigger kids that were playing with her. And some kids from her class (who have older siblings at Regan's school) that she was dancing with. Of course, Regan LOVES a party. Especially a party with a theme, so you know she had fun. A good time was had by all! It's these kinds of things that make me really love Regan's school.

Race for the Cure

Matt and I ran the race for the cure yesterday. Our friend's Mike and Katy were kind enough to babysit for us. We were very nervous about how Addison would do. She has not been liking strangers or men lately. We had them over for dinner on Wednesday and Addison cried the whole time. Thursday and Friday I talked with her a lot about being nice to them and not crying. Thankfully, it seemed to have payed off. We came home and Katy was inside with Regan while Addison was outside playing with Mike. Needless to say, we were very relieved!

Thanks again Mike and Katy!!!

New York, New York!

Regan and I recently took a quick trip to to NYC. I have been wanting to take Regan to see The Little Mermaid on Broadway since it came to Broadway. I found really cheap airline tickets and Regan had a day off from school and away we went. When we were on the plane the flight attendant gave her some wings. He was talking to her about how he was giving them to her because she was such a good flyer. When he walked away she said "Mommy, does he KNOW me?" When I reiterated to her that he was giving her wings because she was a good flyer she said "Well, I was a good flyer before he gave them to me." She was very excited about the wings, but mostly because they were shiny. It was a nice trip, but I think a little overwhelming for Regan. She kept commenting about how all of the buildings were tall. And seeing as she hasn't been on a trip with just me since she was 18 months old and she is very much a home body... she really missed her dad. I think she also missed Addison, but she would NEVER admit to it. Neither one of my children are like me. You mention the word go and I was sitting next to the door with my bag packed. We went to FAO Schwartz, the Central Park Zoo, The Children's Museum of Manhattan, Little Mermaid, and The American Girl Place. Her favorite was The American Girl Place. Before she went all she talked about was going to the Central Park Zoo and seeing Alex the Lion (Madagascar). Of course, Alex the Lion wasn't there... but she didn't seem TO disappointed.

At The American Girl Place we had her doll, Kaylee's, hair done. Then I let her pick out a new outfit for Kaylee and then it was on to lunch. The lunch was so cute! They have a chair that hooks onto the table and they give the doll a mini cup and saucer. The food was good. Even Regan ate it. There was a little girl sitting next to us who was visiting her aunt. She was having a birthday party with her aunt and her aunt's mother and gave a party favor to Regan.

The Little Mermaid Musical was her second favorite. It was a little long (2 hours) and they changed some parts, but she liked it. When it was over she said "I guess they didn't know how it goes."

Meredith was able to join us for Saturday and part of Sunday and we were very happy to see her. : )

Released!

Addison has been released from Speech Therapy! We are very excited.

Backyard Picnic

Weekend Guest

We will have our guest for another night. They can't get her little sister's oxygen levels up to an acceptable level. Other than Regan not sleeping very well last night, it has gone pretty well. All of the girls have played really well together. I'm starting to think I should have a weekend guest every weekend. There has been little to no fighting and the kids have entertained themselves. Matt took the pictures above.... they were having a "dance party." Regan's new favorite party to have.

Zoo

We took the girl's to the zoo and met up with some friends this morning. One of our friend's little girls (who is about 6 months older than Addison) was hospitalized yesterday for low oxygen levels. They think that she has pnemonia. So, my friend dropped her older one off to one of our other friend's this morning and we all went to the zoo. I brought the little girl home from the zoo (she's very good friends with Regan) and she is going to spend the night with us as it looks like her little sister is going to be in the hospital another night.

Bach Lunch

Addison and I went to Bach Lunch today. I used to take Regan when she was this age. It's held downtown in a little park every Friday in the Spring. They have different bands come perform and local restaurants sell lunch for $6. Unfortunately I forgot my camera, but fortunately my friend brought hers.

I just have to say that...I have come so far... or gone backwards... however you want to look at it. Because I never would have let Regan play in the fountain in her clothes and I certainly wouldn't have let her run around in just a diaper in public. My friend who had two before I did always used to tell me that you let a lot go when you have two. I never believed her, but I certainly do now. Afterwards, her friend Emory was kind enough to let her borrow a t-shirt. The shirt says "baseball player." I told her that she would make her father very happy with that shirt.

Conversations that actually happened...

Scene: Me fixing Regan's hair in the morning.
Regan: (singing jesus loves me... finishes singing)
Me: You are a good singer
Regan: (very serious) That's because I'm getting prettier


Scene: Manning family eating dinner at the dinner table
Addison: (putting bites in her mouth with a fork) I put a bite in my mouth
Me: Good Job
Addison: (continuing to eat) Take a picture of me putting a bite in my mouth.
Me: (having no intention of moving from my food) Okay
After a few minutes... Addison: Where's your camera?

It starts so young....

They can't be comfortable (they were originally Regan's) and they are definitely hard to walk in (they have hard soles), but Addison loves these shoes. She has insisted on wearing them all weekend.

We have been playing a lot of hullabaloo this weekend. Addison has done pretty well, considering she is only 2. She is very confident in her abilities and every time Regan won and exclaimed that she won... Addison would say.. I win! Regan, of course, let her know that she didn't really win... but Addison was undeterred. And even when she stopped playing and was sitting on the couch... when the machine would proclaim the winner... Addison would say happily... I'm the winner!

Mardi Gras

We went to New Orleans this weekend and I am sad to report that I forgot my camera. I missed a lot of great shots. Meredith and I spent the afternoon downtown on Saturday while Matt took the girls to his former elementary school Mardi Gras parade. On Saturday evening we went over to our friend's the Liuzza's for dinner. We took Regan and left Addison with Granny, so that she could go to sleep at her regular time. On Sunday we went to Matt's cousin's house in LaPlace for the LaPlace parade. It was a fun filled weekend.

We spent Mardi Gras Day at our former neighbor's house who have now moved near the Lafayette parade route. It was a fun, but long day. It was Matt's first Lafayette parade and my second. I took the girl's to one last year.

I was surprised by how well Addison did with Mardi Gras. She kept telling us that she wanted to catch some beads. She also didn't seem to bothered by the noise. She kept saying... it's a little loud. It's noisy.

We also had Regan's Mardi Gras Parade last week, but I forgot my sd card. So, I am waiting for my friend to give me a disk of pictures.

Bu Bu "B"

The other day Addison wanted to practice her letter's on her draw. I drew the B, and Regan wanted to help her by giving her the sound that the letter makes. Fast forward to today, we are at the library and I am reading a book to Addison and it has a cricket in it. Addison said cricket, but not very clearly. So, I repeated it back to her and she says.... bu bu cricket.

Sweets

I guess they have been studying health and dental health at school. She has suddenly become interested in food and whether or not it is healthy or not. It hasn't changed how she eats at all, but she is still interested. So this morning she says to me..."Mommy; fruit snacks are not good for your teeth, but they taste good."

Swim Team

Regan (who is all about the costume) got her swim team cap at her last practice. She was very excited!

"The Art Place"

Tonight Regan asked Addison if she wanted to go to the "art place." Apparently this is the tent that Aunt Carla got for Regan a few years ago.

Soccer

Regan had her first game of probably her one and only season of soccer. As we suspected, our little princess does not care for soccer. Oh well! Maybe Addison will.

Dentist Office Field Trip

Regan's school took a field trip to the dentist office. Her teacher sent these home in an envelope that said on the front.... Mr. and Mrs. Manning. I'm not going to lie... getting an envelope home from school with that on the front makes my heart skip a beat. Anyway, Regan seemed to have fun. They watched a movie about plaque and your teeth and she told us all about it.

Growing Up So Fast!

My children are growing up so fast! I wish I could stop time. Addison learned to climb the ladder to the big slide in our backyard and slide down it this weekend. And Regan is finally learning to swing herself. I say finally.... when I am quite sure that I was at least 6 years old before I learned to do that. But a lot of her friends can do it... and up until now, she has shown no interest in it. I guess she finally got tired of asking us to swing her.

Park

The weather was so nice here today. To pretty to be inside. Addison has been wanting to feed the ducks, so we took the kid's to the park today. They had a lot of fun and didn't want to leave. Addison even slid down the big slide by herself for the first time today. Only she goes down backwards. Regan.... who never met a camera that she didn't like... posed everytime she saw the camera pointed her way.

Addison Funnies

Addison is a very funny little girl and has been extra funny lately... so I thought I would share..

1. The other day I was taking the girl's through the McDonald's drive through. I payed at the first window and proceeded to drive to the second window.... Addison says... We forgot!... So, I say... What did we forget?... She says... Our food! Mommy, we forgot our food!

2. Last night as I was moisturizing and diapering Addison she put her hands in my hair and said... You're beautiful. (She actually tells me this a lot. She's a very loving child... except when her sister taunts her... and then she has been known to hit her sister, but immediately hug her as soon as she realizes that I saw said offense) So, I said... Thank you. You're beautiful, too. She said... I not beautiful. I not dressed.

3. Tonight I was reading Duck and Goose to Addison and Regan. It's about a duck and a goose who think that a ball is an egg and at first they fight over who is going to protect the egg and then they decide to take care of it together. While they are caring for the "egg" and discussing what they will teach their baby... a blue bird kicks the "egg" and they discover that their egg is actually a ball. So, in the beginning of the book (that we have read several times before) Addison points to the egg/ball and says... What's this?... I say.. I don't know.... She say's... It's a ball.... in a voice that clearly says... you should know this.

Addison now recognizes the letters A - D. At least she does in the Alphabet Book. She is not quite the puzzle mastermind that her sister was at this age, but I think that has more to do with her being the second child and I don't have the time to work with her like I did with Regan. She does like peg puzzle's and we are working on jigsaw puzzles. She especially likes to pretend like she can't put pieces in the right way. I will tell her to turn it around and she will say... like this? With it upside down. I can tell she is taunting me because of the smile on her face. I may have a class clown on my hands.

Overscheduled Child

Well, we have officially overscheduled Regan. She has swimming two days a week and dancing one day a week. And now she is in Soccer for the Spring... which means practice one day a week (right after dancing) and games on the weekend. Matt wanted her to try soccer, because he really likes the game. So, we decided to start her in the Spring because it is a much shorter season than the fall (half). She had practice last night and we were amazed that she knew what to do with the ball. They must play at school. If she ends up liking soccer, she will have to make choices as to what she wants to do. Neither one of us can keep up with this schedule for long.

Aquarium

We went to New Orleans this weekend so that Matt and I could run in the Mardi Gras Half Marathon Sunday morning. My friend and running partner also came to run and we met up with our families on Saturday morning at the Aquarium. It was a fun weekend, but Matt and I are both hurting (as I am sure everyone who ran the race is) now. But we are both proud of our accomplishment.