Deserted my Blog

Ok, so I've deserted my blog. Here's a smattering of photos to make up for it...

Who wants to sleep in a nice bunk bed? Not Ace.  More likely than not, I go in to wake him up from a nap and find him on the floor, having made a pallet.

 They are getting along because they (a) don't have to share a pillow and (b) 'cus Lily's got the tv and Ace has the iphone.

 5 mins of lovin'...because undoubtedly it doesn't last.

 Somebody LOVES her some swimming!  She's gone from crawling up to the top of our heads to avoid putting any part of herself in the water, to jumping off the poolside into our arms.

 Doing his first chore: putting away the silverware.  And it only cost me 5 cents! (He's real in to nickels.)

 She REFUSED to sit in her highchair for lunch today and was very happy when Mommy caved.

 This poor monkey takes a beating.  Lily and Ace love to pounce on it.

And what's up with us?  Work, work, yard work, carpool, work, sleep and work.  Add a few naps in there too and that's the whole of it.  Summer is lazy and we like it that way.  Jonathan's trying to teach Ace to swim and we are armed with Sea World/ Aquatica season passes.  Lily Kate is repeating EVERYTHING we say and getting too smart for her britches.  Jonathan is training for a marathon in November and trying to talk me into the half...which he won't do...but maybe I should because we also started "Summer Cookie Weekends" where Ace gets to pick a cookie to bake each weekend.

Lunch hour is over now. Back to it.

Happy Kids

K. I will repeat for the thousandth time that, if they never say anything else of me, I hope my kids say that they know they are loved and adored.  I love hearing from school that they can tell Ace and Lily Kate are siblings because their friendly/ snuggly personalities are similar.

 Ace is SUCH a great big brother lately.  Lily Kate has many "unreasonable" moments and he helps me try to calm her down in a million different ways.  He will show her videos on my phone when she's irate.

 Not that this princess EVER gets irate.

(Funny story about this outfit.  We decided to take an Easter treat to our neighbors right before the holiday.  This is how Lily Kate was dressed.  We had never met them before.  What's even better is that the only pair of clean bloomers I had were brown with white polka dots...and the size is 12 month so she looked more like an "adult" snow white with poopy-colored britches.)

Personality trumps all people!

Ace is in TBall for the second time.  We are really proud of how he's doing.  As a parent, you never want to have the whiney kid, or the one that's picking flowers, or the one that eats dirt.  Well, we went through all that last year so we could only go up, right?  He still has his moments (not eating dirt though, thank goodness) but he's making it around the bases and making some clutch plays.

Nothing beats these two in my book. 

Let me take a moment to give Jonathan some props.  He has taken on more than his share this past tax season and I'm really thankful for every bath he's given these two, every poopy blow-out he's changed and every bedtime he's handled.  He's come a long way from our early parenting days.

Lily Fits

Our tax software is undergoing an update so I am taking my 5 free minutes to share something that makes me laugh. Lily Kate throws the MOST hilarious fits. Typically, they start if someone tells her no. If you aren't around her very much, you may think that someone is amputating one of her limbs but NOPE...just a tantrum

I closed the door to the bathroom that she wanted to go into.

Fit Phase 1: Throw yourself on the ground.

Phase 2: Wallow and scoot around. Yes, this has happened on the floor at Walmart, restaurants and even (gasp) a public restroom. It's amazing she hasn't contracted a disease.
Phase 3: Look around to see if anyone is watching.

Phase 4: See if watcher is going to give you what you want.

Phase 5: Now that I have your attention, I will try and lure you to give me what I want with a smile.

Phase 6: You will?

Yep. She pretty much gets everything she wants.

Pictures I'm loving

I take so many photos with my iPhone and only ever share them with my family via text. Here are some that are just too cute not to share with everyone.

Ace, wearing my robe.

Lily Kate at her school Valentine's Party. Come on, how could this NOT make you smile?!
My sweet boy in the front seat in morning car line.

These two are just irresistible and have SO much personality. Neither of them ever quit talking.

Happy Valentine's Day

I love this little FACE! Doesn't it just say, "Kiss me!"

Saw these on Pinterest and had to make them. It was tricky figuring out how to cut them without tearing his little hand up.

Here's the close up, minus the dum dum.

I had zero hopes of getting Lily Kate to do any sort of posing for me. She's started saying "cheese" whenever I hold my iPhone in front of her but it's the same face she makes when she's doing her business so I've got some smile practice ahead of her. =) I think I'll let Ace teach the smiling class. I mean, LOOK at that FACE!

Funny Man

I am madly trying to finish Ace's 2011 yearbook to take advantage of Picaboo's 50% of coupon that expires on the 7th. I came across this photo and had to upload it!

At the Kiddie Park, back in December, Ace got his actor on and hopped in the roller coaster. Of course, it's just a stationary car. I love my crazy over-actor!

Barely Here...

Well, I'm still alive...only barely. Just updating the blog to prove it.
Poor, poor neglected blog.

Let's see...what's on my plate?
Starting tax season, flag football, single-parenting, school, house selling, house hunting, mortgage shopping, budgeting, constant house cleaning for last minute showings, mommy duties (too many to list)...you know...the same things that are on EVERYONE's plate except I'm incapable of keeping all the balls in the air with grace.

So, if you find one of the balls I've dropped...well, I'd say return it to our home address but who KNOWS what that will be?! In the meantime, your prayers are coveted!

This is a big week. We have a house appraisal on Monday that determines if our current contract will go through or if we have to put the house BACK on the market. We will also find out if the house of our dreams is a possibility from the sellers and our mortgage lender.

Life is a roller coaster and I can only assume that my heart is aging by the milisecond. Thank goodness the Lord is driving this roller coaster or stress would surely have overcome me by now.