Dallas Trip (American Girl Place)

Lunch

Exhausted after a full day!

Okay, so the real reason we went to Dallas was to go to the American Girl Place. I think Matt and I like it as much as the girls (he's a really good dad). I know I do! I'm worse than them. I want to buy everything in the store, only the cost holds me back. And even then.... I know that it is high quality stuff (the doll stuff anyway, the little girl stuff doesn't seem to be as good a quality), because my girls love to play with my cousins American Girl stuff when we are at one of my aunt's houses. We did mostly make them spend their own money (because they still had a lot left over from birthday and Christmas and Regan is about to have another birthday). The big thing that they wanted was matching pajamas for Kit and Ruthie, which they bought. There was a little drama, because Addison's Ruthie pajamas had to be ordered. I payed for Kaylee and Ruthie to have their hair done (Kaylee was in major need). And I had to buy them a hat, mittens and gloves for their trips up north this fall and winter. We couldn't have them with bare heads. They might catch cold! Ruthie also got some glasses to match Addison's. It was the highlight of the trip and I think the girls have worn the matching pajamas every night since.

Dallas Trip (Great Wolf Lodge)

You know you're on vacation when mommy lets you order a milkshake with your dinner.

Story time

When she finished she said "I did it without Mommie's help!!"

Who can argue with a free popsicle on a hot (and I mean hot!!) day

We decided to do something a little different for vacation this year. As you probably already know, we usually go to the beach in the summer. But we have had one to many summers of being at the beach and our children wanting to be at the pool the whole time. And they think that all beaches have pools. I think that Regan would play in the sand if that was all there was, but Addison has very little love for sand. She has definitely improved from when she was a baby, but it's still not her idea of fun. That is not to say that we won't go back to the beach next year, but we decided to try something different this year. Variety is the spice of life, right? So we went to Great Wolf Lodge. It's a resort with a water park inside. It was fun for the kids, although we were probably there one day to long. On the last day Regan said she was tired of the water, which are words that never pass my children's lips. I think it will be more fun when they get older. I think we'll definitely go back in a few years, but we'll try to go with another family. Addison was to young to do most of the stuff, which was fine with her because she has no interest in big water slides. She says they'll make her dizzy. She even does a motion with her body to emphasize her point. She does, however, enjoy a good lazy river. She particularly liked the one at this place because she could stand up in it. She and Regan also really liked the wave pool. Addison loved diving into the waves, which gives me hope for the future in regards to the beach. Poor Regan was forced to ride the slides with Matt and then with me. She was a good sport about it but by the end she told Matt that she didn't want everything she did to be on a slide. I particularly liked riding with Regan, because while I was whoo hooing she was providing a running commentary on what was coming next. We only used the outdoor pool once, because it was unbearably hot. The ground literally burned the skin off your feet and I had to completely cover the chair to be able to lay on it. Which makes me think next time we'll go in the colder months. The lifeguards do walk around frequently outside and give out free Popsicles, but that still didn't make it appealing for the kids.

I couldn't help but compare this water park with the water parks that I went to as a kid. This one was highly regulated with lifeguards and red/green lights to let you go when it was safe. I know there were lifeguards at the one that my cousins and I went to, but I don't remember ever seeing them. There were definitely no red/green lights. We would purposefully load up together and fall on top of one another. Much more fun than the regulated way, but not as safe. Ah the good ole days!

Swimming Update

Matt looked up the final results for the last swim meet that Regan did. She was the fastest 6 year old in the butterfly. She was the second fastest 6 year old in the breast stroke. I guess she likes the hard strokes best.

Addison continues to make the lifeguards at the pool nervous. She's so tiny that when she jumps in the pool I see the lifeguards grab their flotation device and look like they're planning to jump in to save her. Addison is also a very friendly and outgoing kid that lately is making friends everywhere she goes. A grandpa came up to me at the pool and told me that she was playing with his granddaughter and how much they enjoyed her and couldn't get over how well she swims. I think he was ready to sign his granddaughter up for swim team.

Happenings and the Fourth

We have had a busy, busy summer so far. The first few weeks were a little to busy for my liking, but we have since settled into a good routine. I'm practicing tennis with my new team and playing in a summer league. Regan is enjoying her piano lessons and they are both still doing swim team. In-between we are meeting friends at the pool and having lots of play dates. I think we've struck a good balance.

We had a really good Fourth of July weekend. On the third we went to a local firework show. They had pony rides and face paintings. For the first time ever Regan didn't want to get her face painted. She said she was to hot. Which was fine with me, because the lines were long. I think the line was a deterrent for Addison. She barely made it in the line for the pony. We set up our chairs early and had an excellent view for the firework show. Afterwards they had a dance party with their friend while we waited for the traffic to die down.

On the fourth we cleaned and organized the girl's room and the playroom. That night we went to dinner as a family at one of my kid's favorite restaurants, Carrabas. They call it the dough place, because they give them dough to play with. Before we even sat down Addison said to the hostess "Can we get some dough, please.". I also got the nicest note I've ever received from a complete stranger.

Please ignore my foot in the picture.

Weekend in New Orleans

Lunch with the Fam

We have had a very nice weekend in New Orleans.

We came on Thursday, because Regan had a swim meet at St. Martin's on Friday evening. We had a successful afternoon family nap which was good for Regan, because the swim meet wasn't over until well past her bed time. I think Addison actually naps better by herself, but we all have to make sacrifices. : ). Regan had a great swim meet. Her dives have improved immensely! She is diving out and streamlining past the flags which gives her an advantage. Right before her breast stroke swim she told me that you don't kick during your streamline for breast stroke. She was telling me, but it was like she was verifying. I told her that she should do whatever her coaches tell her to do, because I don't know how to swim breast stroke. She won her heat in butterfly and swam a personal best in free style and butterfly. In this swim meet she was swimming against 7 and 8 year olds. We are really looking forward to her swim meet in July when she will only be competing against 6 year olds.

After the swim meet we went over to my cousin's house for pizza and beer while granny babysat (thanks granny). We had fun, as always. I had planned to go to lunch with Meredith by myself the next day, but when the girls heard that Meredith was here they wanted to go.... So we all went and then Meredith and I went to coffee afterwards. : ). I'm amazed Meredith got to eat at all, because the girls wanted to sit next to her and I'm not sure that they stopped talking the entire lunch. Especially Addison. Meredith said that at one point Regan said to her "I like to do art. What are your talents?"

We had a wedding on Saturday for one of Matt's former co-workers and granny babysat again (thanks again granny :)). We met a very nice couple that the wife of that couple is still in public accounting. We were reminded, as we always are, of how glad we are that Matt is no longer in public accounting. It's great experience, but a very hard life. We are glad we got that out of the way before kids.

Future Foodie

Addison has been interested in food and cooking since birth, it seems. When she was a baby she would stand at the stove and "help" me make her egg. Today while I was cooking dinner, she pulled up a chair and was watching me cook and asking questions. Eventually, she wanted in on the action and helped put in ingredients and stirred.

Library

Computer Time

Three weeks into summer and we finally made it to the library and signed up for the summer reading program.

Conversation of the Day (yesterday)

Yesterday we were driving home from swim practice and Regan started to ask me about when Matt and I first met.

Regan: Mommy did you and Daddy meet at UNO?
Me: yes
Regan: How old were you when you first met?
Me: I was 22 and Daddy was 20
Regan: Did you have play dates together?
Me: No. We went on dates to restaurants.
Regan: And you decided to become best friends?
Me: Yes.

Fun Weekend

Nail Salon

Baseball Game

Some of the Phil Manning's came to visit this weekend. The boys took the kids to a baseball game while I went to get a mani-pedi. After the game we had a dance party that was both hilarious and fun. Regan had a salon birthday on Saturday. They were picked up in a limo and taken to the little girl's house for facials and nails. It was cute and right up Regan's alley! Saturday Matt and I had a party which required a lazy Sunday. We went over for dinner to our Scottish friend's house. His wife and kid's are in Scotland for the summer and we have had him over a few times and he wanted to return the favor. Even though Regan and Addison are missing their friends, they were perfectly happy to play with their toys without them.

Finally this week we start our low key (for us) summer. We will still be on the go with swim team, piano and my tennis. But it's much more laid back than camp or school.

Another Busy Week

Regan and a friend

For some reason the two camps I signed the girls up for fell in the first weeks of Summer. This past week Regan did a sports camp and Addison did a camp at the school that she is going to in the fall. They both had a really good time, but their camps started at 8am and 8:30am. Which is not easy for me to get them there on time. We made it, but Mommy is ready for a break next week. Regan may do another camp in July, but for now we are done with camps! Camps are hard for us, because the girls still have swimming three days a week in the afternoon and Regan has piano one day a week. Throw in a play-date or two and it is a recipe for exhaustion.

So far, Regan is really enjoying piano. She practices on her own and will work at it until she gets it. It is amazing the difference in her determination in something she wants to do vs. Something we want her to do. Take learning to ride a bike without training wheels, for example.

Funny Conversations

Some delightful conversations that I have had with my children lately.

Me: Meredith is a College Graduate.
Addison: Oh. She's a grownup now?

Me explaining to Regan that we lived in Mandeville and worked in New Orleans
Regan: You lived in Mandeville and worked in New Orleans?!?! That doesn't make any sense! You must have had a long drive to work!
Me: Yes, we did.
Regan: And Will and Mia must have a long drive to swimming because they live in Opelousas and swimming is in Lafayette. And one time we had to go all the way to Opelousas for Will's birthday party.

Addison: I'm going to swim like a shark, a dolphin, an octopus ( etc...)
Regan: (deadpans) or any Ocean Animal

Swim Meet

Today was Addison's first swim meet and she did awesome! She swam the whole way for backstroke and free style. She also got ready when they blew the whistle and started when the horn blew. She was so cute and little that everyone was impressed that she made and were high fiveing her. She was thrilled! Poor Regan did not have her best swim meet, but she managed to rally. She was in every heat with the coaches daughter, so did not get any coveted heat ribbons. She will get ribbons, but that won't be until Monday. All of the kids have a hard time when they don't win heats. They don't care how they do overall. I think it's a hard concept at this age. Luckily, the coaches daughter will age out by the next swim meet. It was a hard life lesson today and it wasn't helped by the fact that we have been going strong for two weeks. She has a much harder time dealing with things when she's tired, much like her mother.

Vacation Bible School

Regan and a friend at the pool

You're probably wondering why a post that is titled Vacation Bible School starts with a picture of Regan and a friend at the pool. No, VBS was not at the pool (although, it could be argued that it would be better if it did). The girls loved VBS. They love crafts and singing, so VBS is right up their alley. I volunteered this year and all I will say is I was right not to go into education. And anytime I am in a situation that resembles teaching it makes me have that much more respect for teacher. Every one should try some form of teaching (especially small children) once so that they can see how hard it is. I was exhausted!

I put the picture of Regan and her friend up, because we did something every day after VBS. We were exhausted by the end of the week and it really came out today. The girls had a swim meet and we had an enforced and much needed family nap. Regan resisted, but we bored her down.

Meredith Graduates

Whew! It has been a busy two weeks! Last week I traveled to Vermont for my cousin's college graduation. Seeing as she was five and my first college roommate when I started college, it made me feel more than a little old to attend her graduation. The girl's were with Sue during the week and Matt met them in NOLA for the weekend and took the girl's to see the Broadway version of Shrek. I think the girls had a really good time spending time with Sue and their cousins (thanks Sue!). I was glad to see Vermont and to see Meredith graduate.

NOLA Children's Museum

Regan getting measured

Dancing

We met up with some old friends today and went to the Children's Museum. I think the last time we went there Addison was a baby. The kids had a ton of fun and the adults did, too. : )

Shopping

Regan being silly

Regan's new shoes

Reading

Regan and I went shopping today. Addison didn't want to go, so she stayed with Granny. She may never make that mistake again. Regan got new shoes and Addison was not happy that we didn't get any for her. My kids are starting the whole it's not fair bit. I'm trying to teach them that life isn't fair, but I guess it takes a long time to learn that. She was trying to make me promise to take her to get a pair tomorrow. Ahhh. the joy of having two girls. It was nice to have just Regan. I don't get a lot of alone time with her. Plus she can get herself in and out of the car (a big plus) and she can keep up. Addison likes to tell me that "she's tired of walking.". The shoes were not a planned purchase. But her friends have had them for a while, so when she asked for them I figured... Why not? They're cute in a flashy sort of way.

Parkway Bakery

Hot Roast Beef Poboy

The girls

Matt

In the interest of trying new places, we went to Parkway Bakery for lunch on Saturday after our haircuts. I had a delicious hot roast beef Poboy in college and I've been chasing the taste ever since. Unfortunately, this one didn't measure up either. But it is always nice to try something new. The busboy gave our girls fry hats, which was fun.

Since I last wrote

A lot has happened in the year since I last wrote. Among the highlights:

Regan started and completed the first grade. She had a great year and learned many things that I couldn't believe that she was capable of learning much less learning. School has changed a lot since I was in the first grade. (although, Matt reminds me on a regular basis that I went to public school in MS). One of my favorite things about the curriculum is that they learn about other countries and cultures. She still doesn't completely understand as she still asks us if Lafayette is a country. But when it does finally click I am happy that she will understand that there is a great big world out there. She also had to run a mile and take the Stanford Achievement Test. We discovered that she likes running and have since signed her up for a few one mile fun runs. She did really well on the SAT scoring above average in everything except listening. Matt and I were thrilled that she was average in listening and not below average as she tends toward well below average in listening at home.(I have no idea where she got that trait from)

Regan has continued on the swim team and has since been joined by her sister. Addison hasn't competed, yet. The coaches think her group is ready, but children don't usually swim as well as they do at their young age so they have had trouble convincing the people in charge of the meets that they are ready. I'm assuming that she will compete this summer. I, for one, am in no rush. Regan has competed in a few meets. Her last meet was one of her best meets and we are looking forward to the meets this summer. She is at the top of her age group, so we are looking forward to her doing well this summer.

We had Thanksgiving in New Orleans with my mom and Matt's mom. We were at Aunt Carla's for Christmas and we were joined by Philip and Meredith. Meredith brought down all of her American Girl stuff from the attic for the girls to play with. They were thrilled, of course.

After Christmas we went to Disney World for six days. OMG was it busy. They are not kidding when they say that it is the busiest time of year. Pop and Lil came with my mom for one day and rode rides with the kids. That was fun and we got some good pictures (if I get a chance I'll post some pictures). My mom came the other days and then took the girls the last day to spend the night. That was fun for them and us. Although, we will never go during that time of year again. We are thinking we will go back in 2013 when they finish all of the construction in Magic Kingdom. That is if we have any money left after we build our dream house....

We decided to buy a lot to build on. It's in a neighborhood that is close to where we live now, but a lot more convenient as far as getting places. The girls don't completely understand the concept of a lot, but are excited about the idea of a new house.

Before I close I guess I should mention a little more about Addison. : ). She finished the pre k-3 program at Asbury. We had a little drama with lice and the neurotic parent in me pulled her out a few weeks early. She is happy to stay home with me and is easy to have at home, so it actually worked out for the best. She will start at "the little red school house" in the fall. Which I am very happy about. I've missed it this year now that Regan has moved on to the "big school.". Even though she definitely has her own personality, she seems to be following in her sister's footsteps as far as Academia is concerned. It helps that she will be one of the oldest and she wants to be her sister's age so bad. She gets mad when she can't do things that her sister can do. I have to remind her that Regan is older than her.

They both took dancing this year. Regan still loves it. Addison is ready to move on. Addison says that she wants to take gymnastics this fall. We'll see. I think she is to cautious to be a gymnast, but I'm going to let her try it. I've told her that she could just do swimming, but she insists that she wants to do gymnastics.

Speaking of activities.... Regan is trying piano this summer. Because what we needed was another activity. She has been expressing interest for a while and her music teacher e-mailed me about starting this summer. I think she e-mailed everyone, but it worked. So we'll see how that goes.

Addison got glasses. They're adorable, but she's not thrilled about them. Although, she does really well for her age. We didn't think she could get any cuter, but she did!

That's about it for catching up.... Matt and I are still running and ran our first full marathon in February and are planning to run our second one in October. I am playing tennis in a 2.5 league, which keeps me very busy when I'm not busy with the girls.

Memorial Day Weekend

Our youngest niece (isn't she the cutest)

Yummy vegetables that Matt grilled

We had a lovely Memorial Day weekend. Friday we went to dinner with my cousin and his roommate, which is always fun. Saturday we got haircuts and went to dinner with Aunt Linda and one of her friend's. They were in town for the wine and food festival. We had a fabulous dinner, as always. We went to Matt's brother's house on Sunday for a lovely afternoon. And on Monday Matt's family all gathered at his mom's house for a barbecue. A busy weekend, but fun!

Testing

I haven't done this in a while. I don't know if I know how to do it anymore. : )
I guess it's appropriate that I'm starting back up again almost exactly a year later. Now that I have an IPad, I'm sure I'll be better about blogging. We'll see.