Smoochie Smooch

I took Gia to my hairdresser yesterday to get her first professional haircut. I had high hopes that it would go well because each time I asked her if she would get her haircut her response was "yes, I do!". Well, I couldn't have been more wrong. She screamed, kicked, squirmed, cried, and did everything except sit still.
I was planning on putting a picture up of her new do, but since she has a bow in her hair, you can't really see it. Miraculously, it actually turned out quite cute even though she was a moving target.
While I was taking pictures of the girls in their new dresses, they turned to each other and kissed. I'm glad I captured the moment!
The dresses were on the final mark down rack at Penney's for $4. I just had to share that since, as we all know, I am a proud clearance shopper!

Busy days

Today was a busy day. First we went to play group. The kids had a fantastic time and took a great nap. They woke up happy so I decided we should bake cookies.
Here they are waiting a whole 9 minutes for them to bake.


As you can see, Tia won't nap in her clothes. She needs to be 'cozy' in her jammies at nap time.

After the cookies, they decided they wanted to color with markers. I dug through my bin of markers to find the ones that say "Washable".
Here's why that was so important.


I wish you could see the palms of her hands, which are completely green. I wonder why writing on your body is so much more interesting for a toddler than writing on the paper.


Tia decided to work on one of these little wooden puzzles. I picked them up last year at Michael's craft store for .12 cents each. I think I bought 20 of them. They really come in handy on days where I have no ideas left and really don't want to watch more TV. She's pretty proud of herself that she can color in the lines and will work on these for an hour or more. She has always had strong attention to detail as well as great fine-motor skills.

It's only 5:30pm. I'm hoping they will be ready to eat dinner any minute now because I've run out of ideas and am ready to pop in a DVD!

Patience Please

Today was a bit of a challenge at times. After lunch, Giuliana decided to try her hand at throwing food on the floor again. I thought we were just about past that stage. I asked her calmly many times to pick up her mess. She refused. I put her in her crib twice. Finally she decided she'd rather pick up her mess than go back to her crib a third time. Tia asked if she could help. While they were both picking up the mess Tia looks at me and says "See Mommy, when we share, it makes everyone feel better". Talk about putting things in perspective!

Later this evening it was Tia's turn at being naughty. It's so rare that I tend to forget that she has the ability to purposely disobey. She was really pushing my buttons so I put her in the naughty chair. When she was ready to get up, she asked "Can you just be more patient with me Mommy?". I said "Sure Tia, if you promise to listen to me better next time". Her response, "Deal".

How can a 3 year old be so logical? I don't get it, but I like it.

Happy Valentine's Day

We celebrated Valentine's Day in a big way this year. Mostly because the girls are old enough to get excited about it, but also because their Nonna and Papa are visiting from New York.

When D.R. and I were Christmas shopping we found a great deal on these sleeping bags. We really had enough stuff for the kids to open, so we put them aside for Valentines Day. I also picked up a cute red outfit for each of them. Two gifts each, that's enough for Valentine's Day, which isn't even really a kid gift-giving holiday anyway. Right?


Well, other people in our family had the same idea.
On Wednesday they got a big package in the mail from Aunt Sheila. Lots of cool stuff that any little girl would love, including candy of course.
On Thursday a package arrived from Aunt Kimmie. They each got a purse filled to the brim with girlie accessories and treats.

Here's Gia insisting on carrying everything all at once!


Then D.R. came home with roses for each of them (and a dozen for me of course!).


Gia decided to try to eat hers. We weren't a bit surprised about that!


Then last night after they went to bed, we decorated with red and pink balloons and set up the table (Nonna's idea) so everything would be ready when they got up this morning. Here's how it looked.

Tia said "This is a nice birthday party". I told her it's not a birthday party, it's a Valentine's party. She said "It's nice, and you did it for me!".


They opened their red outfits from Mom and Dad, and a home made sweater from Nonna and Papa. We had a special breakfast together complete with homemade scones, Nonna style. Yum!

I should mention that D.R. and I were able to go on a date yesterday, lunch and a movie, for the first time in a very long time. We filled ourselves with sushi, then went to see "The Reader" which was a great movie. We had a great time together and were still home in time to put the kids to bed.

We'll have a fancy dinner in the dining room tonight. I know Tia will love it, she loves being fancy!
This is turning into the Valentine's Day celebration that never stops. I wonder if the kids will think it should happen like this every year from now on.
What have we done!?

School Days

Today we went to take a tour of Tia's preschool. She will start in September but they begin registration now, so we had to go check it out.
After seeing her in action in the class today, I'm pretty sure I will shed more tears on her first day than she will. She was right at home, as was her sister, doing everything the other kids were doing.


Tia has been excited, talking about her new school since our visit. She got to meet the teachers and get a feel for what it will be like.
I know she's definitely ready for a school setting, and will do just great. I just think she's growing up way too fast!

And here is Gia ready to teach the class herself!

Play group Wednesday

We go to a play group every Wednesday morning. In the cold months, the group meets at our homes instead of the parks. This week it was our turn to host the event.


Tia was very excited about having our friends visit us. She made cookies, and dressed for the occasion.
Definitely the hostess with the mostest!

Cabin Fever

We've been indoors for a few days because Tia has had a cough and cold. Today after their naps I decided it was time to have their snack outside in the sunshine. They loved it, even though it was only for a few minutes. It was fresh air and different than inside!

Stranger talk

I've been thinking a lot about how to talk to Tia about "stranger danger" and what to do if we ever got separated. She's not quite 3 1/2, so how do you talk to her about something so serious, without scaring her?
Then, D.R. and I watched the movie "Changeling". If you haven't seen it, it's a heart wrenching true story of a boy, abducted and presumably killed by a psychopath. Well that's enough to freak a mother out! I decided I couldn't put it off any longer.
Here's what I decided to do. I'm not even entertaining the idea of discussing 'strangers'. I figure we'll start out slow, with the basics. I told Tia that if she ever got lost and couldn't find me, she needed to ask someone for help.
I have told her she needs to say "My name is Tia, I live in Huntley, and my Mom's name is Ronda". I figure that should be enough to get her started, right?

Here's what she tells me when I quiz her:
"My name is Tia, I live in Hunwey, my Mommy's name is Wonda".

You gotta' start somewhere.

Tia and the Tooth Fairy

Tia had her very first appointment with the dentist this morning. I was originally supposed to take her with me so she could watch me get my teeth cleaned, and then she would go the following week.
Well, I got a call yesterday from a local dentist who does free dental visits once a year for children. They call it "Give a Child a Smile Day". They had 2 cancellations and wondered if I would like to bring Tia in. Well, YEAH! Free is good. I didn't have much time to prepare her so was a bit concerned that she would be scared or uncooperative.
Nope, not a chance! This kid is a pro through and through. She hopped up in that chair like she lived there. Look at her all decked out for the occasion.


When the hygienist gave her sunglasses to wear during the cleaning, she said "I look like a movie star". She did great. She didn't fuss one bit, and did everything the hygienist said. She has great teeth, and no cavities. Hooray for faithfully brushing twice a day!


After the dentist came in and gave a thumbs up, and a big high five, it was on to the prize room.

The "Tooth Fairy" was on sight to have pictures taken with all the children. She gave out goody bags with lots of new brushes, tooth paste, floss, and stickers. She even made sure Giuliana got everything that Tia got. They wanted it to be a positive experience all around.


There was a clown there doing balloon animals and face painting but Tia wanted no part of that. Funny, she wasn't afraid of the dentist, but was afraid of the clown!
Thinking we were done, we started to head out, but the receptionist came out with big basket of prizes to choose from. They each got to pick 2 things.
We left there with 2 bags of 'stuff', no tears, and no bill!
That's my kind of dental visit.

Jelly Face

I know I have a picture just like this one of Tia. I am thinking I will dig it out and put them in a double frame together. I'll have 2 jelly face girls!
The funny thing is that it drives Tia crazy to see her sister so messy, and I have to remind her that she was that way once too.

How Parents get into Trouble

I was on the phone with Tia's prospective pre-school the other day, making an appointment to go tour the place. I was also cutting an apple for the kids, while talking on the phone. Just like most moms, I'm a big multi-tasker. While I was trying to talk to the woman about the school, of course Tia started asking me questions. They never need anything when I'm not on the phone, isn't that how it goes? Anyway, I put my hand up to indicate to her to stop talking while I was on the phone. I still had the knife in my hand from cutting the apple. She said to me, as loud as can be, "Mommy, don't put that knife in my face!". Great, the pre-school teacher now probably thinks I threaten my kids with a knife!

We were all at the library over the weekend. D.R. was trying desperately to put Gia's coat on, she was in no way cooperating. She finally threw herself on the floor as D.R. tried to catch her with one hand. Tia yells, in the middle of a quiet library, "Daddy, you pushed her down!".

This reminded me of when our friend Dena was a little girl. She's a mom herself now, but when she was little, she was having a tantrum in the store. Her mom picked her up and carried her out, with Dena screaming the whole way "Somebody help me, this is NOT my mother!". Looking back, I think it's pretty sad that nobody intervened, even though the little stinker was lying and just trying to get attention. But what if she was being kidnapped? Nobody seemed to care.

I can see how parents could get into trouble for doing nothing wrong! Thankfully most people who have kids understand that these things happen, since they've likely been through it themselves.

I know I'll look back at these things and laugh like crazy.

Snow Day

Today Tia played in the snow for the first time in her whole life! Last year she wouldn't play in the snow because she couldn't stand the way it crunched under her feet. I had to carry her to and from the car or she would cry!
This year has been totally different. She has been wanting to make a snowman and a snow angel for months. The problem is that this year we have had such frigid temperatures, I just couldn't let her.
Well, today was our day. It was about 34 degrees out, and she was ready.

First, a little walking around in it to get used to the idea.

Then, we dug our bird feeder out of the snow and left a treat for our little friends.

We weren't out there for very long. Just long enough for her to be happy about making a snow angel, and to ask for a cup of hot chocolate once we got back inside. She learned that from watching Curious George.
Oh, to be a kid again!