When my mom was here, she bought Jason and me a WiiFit for our combined birthday present. We had fun playing it one night while they were here. I really like the balance exercises, especially the hula hoop one (which feels REALLY strange to do in front of an audience!). I'm hoping I can start doing the yoga and strength training exercises this weekend when I have a little more time. Thanks, mom!

I am loving seeing Easton's personality emerge these days. The other day we were in Target and a group of teenage girls came down the aisle we were on. Easton waited til they got close to us and looked at them and said "How you?" What a flirt! He really does funny things these days just to get attention. One day earlier this week I was at my computer desk in the dining room and E was in his high chair eating lunch. All of a sudden I look over and he's just sitting there staring at me as quiet as could be with his teddy bear on his head just waiting for me to notice. Crazy boy! :)

My mom, Bonnie, Ryan and Tyson came for a visit last week. Oh my goodness, we had fun! We went to the Discovery Museum in Winchester, had Italian ice at Rita's, met Jason for lunch at Backseat (YUM!), watched the kids play in shaving cream and then rinse off in the sprinkler, made homemade pizza and ice cream, played school with the pizza and ice cream lesson plans from when I taught the 3s, went to D.C. for an all-day capitol-museum-White House-monument-viewing adventure, got Ry and Ty some new school clothes and supplies at Target and took about 1,000 pictures.

Ryan sure is growing up. She watched Audrey and Easton for us so Jason and I could go on a date. We weren't a bit worried about leaving our kiddos with Ryan. She changed diapers like a pro, put Easton to bed without a hitch and really just did an excellent job. I was so proud!

Tyson and Easton had a blast playing together. Easton calls Ty "Ty-seen". It is pretty cute! By the end of the days, the boys had played so hard that Easton was just completely worn out. It makes me look forward to the time when Audrey is big enough to play with Easton. Well, I'm not in any real big hurry for that but it sure would be nice for him to have a buddy around (or a cousin) to play with.

All of us waiting to get on the Metro.

The Capitol building

The Washington Monument

Tyson at the Capitol

The White House. Or as Tyson calls it "Barrack Obama's house".

Audrey checking out the sights in D.C.

Ty and E at the Discovery Museum

Audrey and Aunt B at the Discovery Museum


Easton's favorite exhibit at the Discovery Museum.

I think he would have stayed here all day if he cold have.

Mama and E at the fountain in downtown Winchester.


Ryan playing w/E and Ty in the wading pool filled w/shaving cream.

Ryan and Tyson meet their newest cousin

Oh how I wish I had the time to blog lately. I miss it. Really. I do. But right now it's 12:07 am and I need to be getting my hiney to bed. (Hiney is the word of the day around here. E thinks it is hilarious and says it a lot.)

Things I really need to blog about:
My mom, Bonnie and Ryan and Tyson's visit here. FUN!!!

Daily cute stuff my kids do to attract attention. Especially funny stories about Easton at Target.

My new WiiFit. Thanks, mom!

Audrey's 2 month check-up.

Jason's out of town trip.

Next month's trip to Mebane. With NO KIDS!

But this tired mama will have to write again tomorrow or sometime soon. I'm worn out! Sorry to be a tease but my hiney will be dragging tomorrow if I don't get in bed pdq.

Add these to the list of things I never thought I'd say:

• Easton, we don't type on our sister! He was putting his keyboard on top of sissy in her bouncy seat. All I could see was her little arms and legs hanging out from under the keyboard. She was ok though.
• Easton, peas don't go on your head! I have just mopped the kitchen floor for the second time today and I don't want to be picking up peas!

I know there are others I've forgotten and many more I will add to this list in the coming years. He's such a funny boy!

National Night Out - Tuesday, August 4, 2009

We met some friends at the National Night Out on Tuesday. I wasn't sure if there would be anything for a little one like E to do but he had a blast! He got to meet McGruff the crime dog and get a stick-on sheriff's badge, throw a beanbag for a prize, pet the animals at the petting zoo, meet the Chick-fil-a cow and spin to win some free chicken, and play t-ball. He LOVED that and didn't want to give the bat back! Here are some pictures from that night. Thanks to my friend Jessica, who had her camera!!!

Easton's first snowcone. He said it was "ummy!"


Audrey along for the ride


Easton and the minature horse. He LOVED the petting zoo!

Here's a recipe we tried recently and liked a LOT. I used light or low fat ingredients to make it somewhat healthier but it's still not all that great for you. But oh man, it was good!

Toasted Tuna Melts

1/4 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 cans (6-1/2 oz. each) tuna, drained, flaked
1 stalk celery, chopped
4 green onions, sliced
4 slices bread
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

HEAT oven to 400°F.

TOAST bread. Place toast slices in single layer on baking sheet.

MIX cream cheese spread and dressing in medium bowl until blended. Stir in tuna, celery and onions. Spoon tuna mixture evenly onto toast slices; sprinkle with cheddar.

BAKE 5 min. or until cheddar is melted.

My class has started again, so I have even less time to blog than before. I am actually somewhat enjoying this class (Intro to Early Childhood Ed), even though it's very difficult to find time to do homework with two little ones needing my attention during the day. The best time to get that done is after their bedtime but by then I'm pretty much worn out. I've been getting up at 5 to work out before Jason leaves for work. It's been nice doing that together. We both feel better and have more energy but we'd better stop eating junk if we're going to see any results. And getting to bed before 11 would be nice too so I am not falling asleep by 5:30.

My mom and sister and niece and nephew are coming and I am so excited I can barely stand it. I've got lots of fun things for the kids to do and can't wait to spend time with mom and Bonnie. I'm hoping we can get the kids' pictures made while they're here. We need a new "cousins" picture since we've got a new little one here.

I don't have much free time but what little time I do have free, I'm trying to finish a quilt for Easton. I am still learning so it's slow going. I'm doing the easy part now (sewing the blocks together). The tricky part is finishing the edges. Maybe by Thanksgiving I'll have it done so I can take it to have grandma tell me how to finish it.

That's about it. Nothing too exciting, just busy, busy, busy. I miss having more time to blog but I am spending every bit of time I can trying to think of new fun ways to entertain E and A. Today we had a dance party in the living room. Audrey watched from her swing and Easton mostly just watched my terrible dancing and looked at me like I was crazy. But I sure had fun and hopefully they did too.

Easton,
Oh, my little ham. You are such a joy to be around! You are learning more words every day and even have learned a few sentences. The most recent sentence you said was "I see you" which you said when we were playing peekaboo and you thought was very funny.

I love the fact that I can ask you what you want for breakfast and you can tell me. You usually ask for eggs, which surprises me. Right now you are on a cereal kick and would eat Honeycomb for breakfast, lunch and dinner if we let you.

You have an amazing memory. We can read a new book one time and the very next time you are calling it by name and helping me read the story to you. Right now your favorite book is "The Ants Go Marching", which I love but is exhausting to read over and over and over. That is one LONG story/song! You also love "I Love You Through and Through", "I Love My Numbers", "We're Going on a Bear Hunt", and "Elmo Loves You".

Every single day, you give me something to laugh about. You make my world a much brighter place, simply by being my sunny, funny boy.
I love you, little stinker!
Love,
Mama

Audrey,
You are two months old now. These past two months have flown by in a blur of diaper changes, naps (for both of us), bottles and smiles. You are such a happy girl. Almost every night you have about an hour where you are smiiley and laughing and cooing at everyone around. It is very sweet and often it's the highlight of my day.

I'm very interested to see how much you weigh at your next doctor's visit. You have deliciously chubby cheeks and are so long-legged that you've graduated to your 3-6 month jammies. You love the swing and have even slept in it a couple of nights when you had a tummyache and nothing else would soothe you. You are sleeping through the night now and that makes us all a lot happier.

I love you, my little ladybug!

Love,
Mama