Party at the Zoo!

Madeline and Ella's cousin, Mary Elizabeth, celebrated her 2nd birthday at Lowry Park Zoo. I have to say it was one of the coolest kid's parties I have ever been to! We sat in one of their educational classrooms and the zookeepers brought in animals for the kids to learn about and some were friendly enough to pet;) Of course Ella was hesitant with the snake, but not my honey badger Madeline. I think she would've taken that thing and swung it around like a lasso if we let her. They both loved the bunny and the parrot was entertaining with it's little tricks. However, the one-eyed owl...I could've lived without seeing. A little on the creepy side. It's been years since I have visited that zoo and it definitely didn't disappoint. The girls had an awesome time and the birthday girl was as adorable as ever. Loved being able to spend the day celebrating with her and the rest of the family. 

Baby bunnies

Ssssnake

I captured his good side.

Birthday girl and her daddy

Wallabies

Make me a bird...

The only thing Ella really wanted to see!

America

These goats wanted to eat our children!

Ella and her Magen:)

Love her

Waiting for the camel...

Camel ride in a dress. The things we do for our children when the husband is deployed.

Dancin' Away!

A few weeks ago Ella's dance teacher invited the parents into the class to watch the dance routine for the upcoming recital. Anyone who knows Ella knows she is as shy as can be. I figured she would NOT be ok with me in there watching and revert to her usual self. Instead, the opposite happened. I was able to see her completely in her element, dancing with a huge smile on her face. She wasn't a bit shy. She did every move, listened to every single direction from her teacher and made me a really proud mama! At one point, I got a little teary-eyed when I watched her. When did my tiny six pounder grow into this beautiful four year old? I swear it happened over night.

Just a couple of videos to see how stinkin' cute this class is...oh and how cute my kid is as well!

Holy Hiatus!

Where has my life been the last month? Apparently my last post got the best of me. Maybe the girls have continuously been winning every single day. Haha yeah right! Sort of. Let's just say I am very, very ready for their daddy to come home on R&R. The last 8.5 months without him have been really straining on me.  As much as I miss him, there are so many other things I miss about our life, too. I miss our house in Oklahoma and all of the space it has (do not mistake this with me missing the actual state of Oklahoma). I miss being able to yell at my kids without having my parents thinking I am caraaaazzzy. I miss the nights just snuggling up with Tom. I miss playing outside with the girls and seeing Tom pull up in the driveway after work and the girls so excited to see him after a long day. The list goes on and on. I think the only GREAT thing about deployments are the reunions. I absolutely can't wait to finally breathe again, knowing he is safe in our arms.

This was the last time Daddy held his girls over 8 months ago! He is going to be shocked at how much they've grown. 

And the winner is...

Today definitely wasn't one of those days filled with rainbows and butterflies. It was a hard day in the motherhood. It was one of those days that made me question my sanity. Am I sane? I don't really know anymore. Let's see...Throughout the day I do talk to myself. I fly off the handle yelling crazy things when the kids won't pick up their toys, or when Madeline flat out refuses to stop climbing on tables or jumping from the coffee table to the couch.  I often stare into space pretending not to be around. I look forward to retrieving the mail because it means twenty-two seconds of uninterrupted peace. Sometimes, I find myself thinking that a psych ward can't really be that bad. So yeah, maybe my sanity is questionable.

After Madeline ripped out Ella's hair for the millionth time today (I think she's trying to stash away enough for a wig), I just decided I was better off in hiding. I jumped in Ella's little bed, pulled the covers over my head and sniffled to myself. I was tired of the enormous mess they made, the screaming and fighting, me screaming at them. I lost control somewhere after lunch time and I knew I wasn't gaining it back so I was better off invisible. Oh, did I mention Madeline has double conjunctivitis? Yeah, that was part of our day as well. Needless to say, I felt defeated. The kids won today. To be fair, the score is typically Kids-0, Mom 1349558676+ so I will let them have their sole win...For tomorrow is a new day in the motherhood. And I will come out victorious.

Compare

I haven't done a comparison shot in awhile of these two sisters. These aren't exactly the best pictures to be comparing, but I just looked back to when Ella was 18 months old.  It's hard to believe Madeline is the age Ella was when Tom first left for Korea. I am starting to think he just doesn't want to be around for this crazy 18 month old stage;) Maybe the thought of potty training scares him?  I used to think the girls looked a lot more alike, but I can now tell that Madeline is really looking more and more like her daddy:) 

Ella 18 months old

Madeline 17 months and 28 days. haha

Sporty Spices

Loving the weather we have been having here this month. We try to take full advantage of the nicest days and play outside. These girls keep me on my toes without a doubt. Ella is really into hopscotch lately (brings back memories of elementary school and recess!) and it's fun to watch her draw the board and try to write the numbers. They both love tee ball and Ella particularly loves to boss Madeline around, instructing her to chase the ball every time she hits it far. If only Madeline listened that easily;) She's usually too busy trying to steal the bat yelling "mine mine mine!!" 

And yes, Ella dressed both herself and her little sister. I'm digging the sporty spice look. 

Beach Day in January

Yes, you read that title correctly! And I love it. Last year around this time this is what we were doing...

Building snow playpens in Oklahoma. 

And this year we are having fun doing this at Clearwater Beach on a gorgeous day:

 "Ummmm ma? Can I get a push?" 

 75 degrees out, clear blue skies...I love FL

We picnicked on the beach!

 Yummy caramel rice cakes:)

And yummy apples and peanut butter

The girls enjoyed ice cream

 We walked down to the water...

 to go on a seashell hunt.

 They loved the water which was freezing!

I have to say it was one of the most enjoyable days I have had with the girls! They were so well behaved, happy and sweet all day. On the drive home I looked in the rearview mirror and saw my two peaceful, sleeping daughters and thought to myself "I want a dozen more of them"...but I hope God throws in a boy or two along the way;)

It's been a year...

...and I still miss you. The pain is very raw from losing you. I feel that ping in my heart when I think about those last few days with you and I wish more than anything you could run into the house on your four little legs and come snuggle with me. But I know that will never happen again. It feels like yesterday that I wrote my blog post about you. I miss my little buddy, my sweet companion. Ella asks all the time to get a new black dog and to name her Riley, but don't worry...you're not replaceable.  I hope with some more time this gets a little easier. Maybe another 365 days will go by and I won't cry big crocodile tears thinking of you. For now, I'll let them fall silently. A friend posted this beautiful article the other day and the timing couldn't have been more perfect.

After I read that, I had a little a-ha moment. From the second we picked Riley out of the litter to the morning she passed she was a loving little pup. Never hurt anyone. Never bit, always protective and sweet (although quite the barker if you came close to my girls). With Ella and Madeline, from the time they have been able to walk, I am continuously teaching them and reminding them to "be nice. be sweet. No hitting, no biting, no pinching." I never had to teach Riley those things...she came into our lives as sweet as pie and stayed that way always. 

I found a few pictures from back in the day with her as well. It was from when we lived in Germany. Think pre-babies so she was OUR only baby. It was nice to find them and reminisce on those years we had with her. It made me smile and well...I definitely needed that.

I think I napped with her daily. :) She was the perfect snuggler.

See? Tom really did LOVE her.

She hated the cold weather in Germany, but refused to leave the house in one of the many sweaters/jackets we had for her.  

Miss you Riley Roo!

Hello 2012!

Happy New Year! I think this picture above describes how I am feeling perfectly. Goodbye 2011...hellllllo 2012! I have to say I think it was one of the hardest years I have yet to experience in my 31 years of life. Between my precious dog passing away suddenly in the beginning of the year to my husband being deployed in the middle of the year...I was very ready to end the year.  The one good thing about 2011 was moving home to FL. Because after seven years of living nowhere near family, it feels good to be surrounded by them and my closest friends.

There are so many positive things to look forward to and keep us smiling this year. Lots of weddings, babies being born (not any belonging to us of course), Tom coming home for R&R in the spring, Ella's first dance recital in June, and of course, the most important of all...the deployment ending and Tom coming home this summer for good. The girls and I are anxiously awaiting that one!

I am hoping and praying this year is a heck of a lot better than last. So here I am, raising my glass of diet, decaf green tea (did I mention I am trying to be healthier? *chomping on Hershey's Kisses*) in a quick "cheers" to all of my readers: May 2012 bring us all many blessings, joy and love. 

Just about the cutest, sweetest New Year's Eve date ever.