Potty Training!!!!!

We set last weekend aside to have an intense potty training weekend.

And I am proud to say...THEY DID IT!!!!!!

Here they are practicing on their potties the night before the big day!

Grace seemed to take the easy approach much of the time...just no clothes at all. Easy access to the potty. And don't worry, they can still wear their fancy princess dresses and go potty!our first outing with big girl pants on!!! we took a walk to get dinner...Greg and I were going crazy staying inside!
So to say this was an easy task, would be a lie. We started this process last Friday morning. We have been taking about it for WEEKS, preparing the girls, talking, talking, and talking about big girl pants and NO more diapers!!!! They were ready, I was ready, (and Greg was at work all day and had to be out that evening! But I was determined!!!!!) It started quite rough, so rough, that by nap time I was DONE. They were NOT ready, BAD idea, I obviously needed to read up on how to potty train...I was looking up every book there was out there.

But the girls must have had sweet potty dreams. They woke up and they were ready to go!!! And they have gone and gone since. The "pee-pee dance" has been danced and sung over and over here, lots of special treats have been given, and we have had only a FEW accidents! I am so proud. The pooping...well that has always been an issue here, but we are working on that. They ask for pull ups, poop, and we are good to go again.

As great as it is, I must admit, I was a little sad to see them in their big girl pants, because...they did all of a sudden look like even BIGGER girls!!

sickies...

And to make their potty training even more impressive (at least to me!), this was the first week ever that we have been to the pediatrician twice in one week, for both girls. When we started the process, the girls allergies were starting to act up, which over the next few days lead to bad colds and pink eye (which lead to Greg getting pink eye), which lead to worse colds, awful coughs, double ear infections for BOTH, and strep throat for Greg and I (and I am guessing the girls but we didn't test them). Pretty darn pathetic times here. We have never ALL been on antibiotics (it is sure a week to be SO, SO, SO thankful for my awesome insurance!!!!)

The girls and I had a trip planned to Michigan for the weekend and thankfully we went. I started to feel REALLY bad short after we got there, thinking it was just sinus junk. My parents were able to help with the girls while I was able to take care of myself some (thank you SO, SO much dad and mom!!! Again, I don't know what I would do without your help and love for the girls...and me too!), and Greg got some rest here (and did his work stuff he had to do).

Isabel enjoying Papa and Gigi's front porch and doing some serious thinking!

The girls and I got back this afternoon, all of us feeling a little better.

We headed out on a walk, had some yummy pizza at a restaurant close by...

and enjoyed the first of hopefully MANY beautiful summer days to come!!!

Sesame Street Live!

On Saturday, the girls and I were lucky enough to go see Elmo and all his friends with BOTH Gigi and Grandma!!! As always when we do things like this, it is so fun to watch the girls experience it! More fun for me to watch them than the show!

Isabel especially LOVED the show. She sang and danced and danced and danced.

Sweet little thing she is!!Grace was more interested in making the chairs next to us go up and down.

Gigi, Grace, Grandma and Isabel who did NOT want to have her picture taken!!

Words can't describe how lucky I am to have such an awsome mom and mother in law. I can't say enough about their amazing dedication, love, example and patience. Thank you both. We all LOVE you and appreciate all you do for us over and over and over again.

Mother's Day

What an amazing day I had!! Greg left with the girls after they got up and let me sleep in!! What a special treat!! The came home with presents (that THEY had thought of and had picked) out and some pretty flowers for me. Of course they had to help open the presents.

You may be wondering what it is I got...
Pencils, pretzles, and a pillow
(that they ran out with from their bed because they couldn't find one at the store!)

The absolute.
sweetest.

gifts.

ever!!!!

They were so proud of themselves. And I could not have LOVED their choices any more.

We still can't figure out what made them think of these things, and why they all started with "p", but when Greg asked them, this is what they came up with, so that's what I got.

I LOVE it!!!

the rest of the day...

We headed out to spend the rest of the morning/afternoon with Greg's parents. What a BEAUTIFUL day it was!!! The girls had planned what they wanted to do.

Ride their bikes first... Grace

Isabel

Then they planted some sun flower seeds, like they saw with Elmo the day before! Just standing around looking alike.

Then Grandpa played his guitar and the girls sang along. They LOVE to sing these days!!

"the baby on the bus says shh, shh, shh"

"old macdonald had a farm"

hugs and kisses

my ending to a WONDERFUL day!!

How lucky I am to be the mama of two amazing girls who sure know how to make me crazy these days, but I wouldn't want it ANY other way!!!

(And they are lucky to have such an amazing

daddy who helped them to make my day extra special!!)

movie night

Friday Greg had to work late, so the girls and I popped some pop corn and watched Mama Mia again!!!! Their babies even got in on the fun and watched with us.

And then they fell asleep in our bed...
oh how I love these girls!

my isabel and i

sweet, sweet girl

lucky, lucky me

a perfect day for...

a picnic at the park!!

today was a PERFECT weather day!!

The girls and I enjoyed the day and spent the morning shopping. Then we headed to the park for some swinging and a little picnic!

their babies even joined us and they got lots of swinging time in!!!
Grace even gave her baby an underdog!!!

And Isabel's baby went on the big girl swing!

And then they all wanted to go VERY high.

I seriously think these girls could swing forever!!!

a few times down the slide.

then we headed home.

And this is what I found after a later afternoon walk.

oh how I love that our girls fall asleep almost anywhere!

I have a feeling today was just the start of the outside fun this summer is to bring!

weekend

This past weekend, Isabel and I headed down to Springfield for some special "Mommy and Izzy" time! (also, to have some fun with Laura at her first wedding showers!!!!!) The girls rarely have alone time with us, so we thought this was a perfect opportunity. And boy did Isabel love EVERY SINGLE MINUTE of her time without Grace!!!! (though they did talk on the phone to each other SEVERAL times and when we did get back, they had MANY hugs, kisses and many of their "twin talk" conversations!! SOOOOOO sweet)

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this picture of my mom and sweet Isabel!!!!!

Ella and Laura

Isabel LOVED all the presents Laura got!!

Isabel had lots of fun doing what she and Grace both LOVE to do these days!

swing, swing, swing!

doesn't she look like she is having a great time!

cute Lydia and Doug having some fun
and some more present opening fun!!
And Grace had just as much fun here with her daddy and her Grandma and Grandpa!!
(but I forgot to send the camera with Greg! :(

isabel

my sweet isabel.

the fancier the better.

but no matter what she wears...
the silver shoes MUST be worn!!

sweet daniella turned TWO!!!

such fun party for such a little cutie!!

new plants

a few weekends back the girls went shopping with grandma and grandpa carlson and got some very pretty flowers. they are trying to take good care of them and LOVE to water them!!!