Not quite ready for potty training.

Something tells me that Ana isn't quite ready yet.

 

 

"OH NO!!!!  I STUCK!!!  I STUCK!!!"

 

The House that Zoe Built

First off... someone should have reminded me that putting together a gingerbread house is no simple task.  There should be a warning on the box or something.  "Do not attempt to build this house unless you want to be highly agitated and aggravated.  Attempting to build this house WILL cause stress, tension, crying and cursing." 

But, Zoe was beyond thrilled to put together and decorate her gingerbread house.  She was slightly upset when we found out the 2 roof pieces had cracked.  But I promised I could fix them and I let her eat a decoration gumball and all was fine.

With a little (LOT) of effort I was able to get that house together and standing up straight.  Zoe VERY patiently waited for the icing/glue to dry. 

Even after the suggested 10-15 minutes of setting time (we waited 20 even) that house didn't want to stay up straight.  It kept drooping at the roof peak.  I ended up covered up to the wrists in paste, er, icing.  It is very hard not to lick your fingers when they are covered with what looks like yummy icing.  Let me tell you... that icing is not yummy.  But Zoe... she stayed smiley.

We did eventually get the house to stay together while we smooshed each piece of candy into place.  Putting those gumballs on top cause it to collapse more than once.  I warned Zoe multiple times that we might not end up with a house.  It might just be a mess.  But she kept smiling... and eventually we were done.

And we built that house.

Zoe LOVED it.  She was so excited to show that thing to every single person that walked into our door.  It sat there on our dining room table for a whole month.

 

And then... after Christmas and New Year's were all over... we enjoyed smashing that thing with a hammer.  (Honestly... that thing is lucky I didn't smash it while it was being built.  I see you laughing at me little gingerbread men.  You weren't laughing when I hit you with that hammer.)

You know what?  We'll probably do it again next year if Zoe asks.  As far as she's concerned it was a fabulous thing to do.  But next time?  Next time I'm building that house the day before so it REALLY has time to set and dry before the decorating begins.  Maybe that will help?  If not... we always have a hammer.
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The day the chair covers get washed...

 

For more photos visit Wordless Wednesday or 5 Minutes for Mom.

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Snow Pants

Some photos from the first time Ana got all bundled up in snow gear to go out into the weather with Zoe. 

December 5th (ack!  how was it that long ago???).  It was just after 5pm.  It was dark.  But, they had a blast... for about 10 minutes.

 

 

 

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Oh Christmas Tree

Yes... I know it's January 20th.  Christmas is long gone... and forget about tree trimming.  That was ages ago.  But as I uploaded and edited photos that were collecting cobwebs in my camera I decided "heck with it... I'm posting them anyway."  On the bright side... I missed the overload of Christmas posts... so now I can pretend I'm special.

So, without further ado...

Ana seemed to be thrilled at the fact that she was participating in the decorating.  I think in the beginning she thought she might be able to climb the tree.  That isn't really surprising since she climbs absolutely everything else lately.

Ana insisted on wearing her hat the entire time we were decorating.  I took it off a couple times and she immediately leaned her head over to me yelling "hat, hat, hat" so I would put it back on.  The combination of the hat, that face, and that pot belly are almost too much to bear.

 

Zoe took decorating VERY seriously this year.  I think she would have been happy if we let her decorate the whole tree by herself.  She definitely didn't like Ana's version of decorating... which was to put a pile in a "hole" in the tree.  Zoe spent a bit of her time redistributing Ana's efforts.

 

 

"Isn't the tree I decorated just LOVELY?"

 

Christmas 2009... the first year we decorated the tree with all 4 family members participating... and we lived to tell about it! 

 

(and we only consumed a very reasonable amount of beer and wine to do it. lol)

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Yesteryear Coming Right Up

So yesteryear.... that means last year right?  Yesterday was the day before today.  So, yesteryear should be the year before this one.  Right?

Anyway... I have so many things from December that I never got to post (because I'm a slacker).  So you're now going to start being subjected to posts like... Visions of Christmas in January, and Ana's First Haircut (a month ago), and Ana's Ears (which were pierced the day before her first haircut), and The Big Snow (which was on December 20th or something), and Aunt Pru's 84th Birthday Cake (which we ate on December 30th).

You'll forgive me for being a whole month behind right?

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Screwing up my blog... again

I just can't seem to leave it alone.  The comment system I was using was annoying me because it seemed like everyone was having problems getting it to recognize their sites (or people weren't figuring out how to enter their site info).  Anyway... it was too confusing I think.  Plus I started using it because it allowed CommentLuv and then that service got discontinued.

So now I'm trying Disqus.

1. You should be able to log in with just your name and e-mail... and add your website if you like (just like any other normal Blogger/Wordpress/etc comment form).
2.  OR you should be able to log in with your Facebook/Twitter/Disqus etc. id.
3. It should allow me to respond to comments via e-mail.
4. It should send you an e-mail of my (or anyone's) response to your comments on my posts.

Hopefully this will work out... and it will be less complicated but with some benefits that the normal Blogger comment system doesn't offer.

So far the only issue I'm really having is that all of my previous post comments seem to be listed 2 times (once imported from my Blogger and once imported from the previous JSKit comment system.)  I don't know yet if this is a glitch or an error on my part.  I e-mailed Disqus help and I'm hoping I can get it fixed without manually going through and deleting every duplicate comment.

Oh... and I'm not sure if I've got it set up properly to receive my comments via e-mail.  Wanna comment and help me test it out?

: )

Grace in Small Things - 86

1.  The fact that Ana seems to enjoy staying in her crib even when she doesn't feel like sleeping.

2.  Haagen Daaz Coffee & Almond crunch ice cream bars... in "snack size".

3.  Honey baked ham... I love ham.

4.  A day where the thermometer read 46 degrees... after it's been reading in the teens.

5.  Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling... mmmm

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8 years

8 years ago today I put on a big poofy dress and walked down the aisle to start my life with Nick.  We were surrounded by about 180 of our family and friends as we were married and then celebrated the beginning.

It is amazing how long and how short 8 years can seem.  8 years has definitely made a difference.  For one thing... 8 years ago we certainly were younger (and thinner).

We had a vision of what our life would be and we've worked for 8 years to be where we are now. I have to say our life isn't quite as I pictured (stay at home mom??? where did that come from?) but it is a pretty near perfect life.  We have 2 beautiful and healthy daughters.  We have a comfortable house in a wonderful neighborhood.  Nick has a good job that he likes.  We have close friends.  We have our family.  We have each other.

I have a husband I love... and who loves me.  I am a lucky woman.

Could we really ask for more out of 8 years?

Happy Anniversary Nick!!!  Here's hoping the next 8 years are as wonderful and as easy as the first 8.  I love you!
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100 Books

A lifetime ago I read a lot of books.

Before I had Ana I read a little bit here and there.  Before I had Zoe I read often.  When I was going to graduate school I read quite a lot... but more for research... less for fun.  While I was in college I barely read anything that wasn't assigned.  My freshman year in college I read a ton of books.  (I will never forget my very first semester of college... having 12 novels to read for 1 class, another 3 for a 2nd class the same semester,  AND textbook reading for other classes.  I don't know how I read it all.  My transcripts will tell you I didn't retain enough to test well.  Yikes.  Let's not talk about that.)  And before college... well, before college I used to devour books.  I don't remember a time I wasn't reading something.  I wish I kept a list of all of the books I've read. 

Lately I've been trying to read more.  Not heavy reading.  Light enjoyable reading.  The kind of reading I did when I had the time to lounge on my bed or on the couch and just read.  I miss reading.  (Although blog reading keeps me rather busy.)

My blog friend Laura from Synchronization of Us posted that she would be trying to read 100 (or more) books this year as a part of a challenge.  I read her post and immediately decided I would join her.  I commented and told her I was in.  I went to the challenge site and signed up on the link list.  I committed to challenge myself to read at least 100 books this year.
 
100 or more books in 2010.

That is quite a challenge.  That's multiple books per week.  It's only January 12th and I'm already panicking a little bit.  How in the world am I going to squeeze in the reading of 100 books?  I mean... I have an awful lot of TV to watch. American Idol is starting tonight.  And Lost will be back.  And Bones, and House, and Heroes, and...  ahem.  Breath.

Books.  100 books.  I am going to read 100 books. in 2010. 

I'm going to be keeping a list on a separate little blog I set up.  A Madison Mom's Reading List.  I'm not sure yet if I will just post the titles and authors or if I will actually take the time to write any kind of book reviews.  Maybe a little of both.  But, if you are interested in seeing what I'm reading you can check in over there.  If you have any book suggestions let me know.  And... if you're thinking of joining in the craziness give me a link to your list.  I'd love to check out what you're reading too!

Hmm... I wonder if it would be cheating if I put Goodnight Moon or Pinkalicious on the list?
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It's gotta improve... right?

So here is how my day started...

I went and bought a gift card this morning (at the bank) and I promptly and unknowingly dropped it out of my bag while chasing Ana out of the manager's office (at the bank).

(Side note...  One more way Ana is SO not Zoe. Zoe would have never randomly taken off at the bank and went visiting in the manager's office.  Ana is, like, all over the place ALL THE TIME.  Save me!)

So, anyway... nice right?  It's like I went and dropped $75 in cash on the floor and walked away.

Although I'm completely annoyed at myself and runaway Ana for the loss... I'm so thankful it was dropped at the bank.

By the time I got home and noticed I had lost the card the bank had already called and told me they were holding "something" I had dropped.  Now I just have to go wrangle Ana at the bank again so I can pick up the gift card that I have to have when I pick Zoe up from school in, oh, 20 minutes.

Wake up Ana, get in car, drive to bank, get out of car, get gift card, get back in car, pick up Zoe from school... and make sure I'm all smiley and happy when I drop off the gift to Zoe's teacher.

Ack... 20 minutes.

The day has to get better, right?