Duck Photoshoot

Yesterday we took the girls to go get

some pictures with baby ducks.

They turned out ADORABLE!!!!

Clare ~

She was a little scared of the ducks without

her big sister or some books around her.

Maddy ~

A bit shy with someone else taking

her photo, still cute as hell!

Clare, Leah and Madeleine.

Leah ~

She totally hammed it up with those blue eyes!!

Confetti, Confetti, Confetti!!!

While there was house work going on and Clare was napping,

Maddy and I made confetti out of the Sunday Funnies!!

Playtime With Dad

Even though Greg is working nights and

working his butt off on his days off around here.

He still has time to spend with his best girls!

Play-doh with Maddy.

Hanging in the rafters.

Listening to music.

All Work And A Little Play

Even though there is hard work going

on in this house, there is some play mixed in!!!

Maddy and Grandpa on the balance beam she made.

Doesn't everyone cut drywall with a

chubby baby sitting on it and another

little girl coloring off to the side??

I think it's the only way!

Drawing.

Playing with real building blocks, covered in saw dust!

More Demolition

It was time for the entryway and hallway

to come down and the old duct work in it, as well.

We had some new flex duct installed and they

properly balanced the split of our two units.

Getting started.

Love insulation.

Cleaning up!

Our kitchen was open to the attic for

several weeks while Greg was doing electrical

work and adding canned lighting.

After the new duct work was added, we finally got

some dry-wall up there and it is niiiiiice!!

Drywall up!

Entryway also has the drywall up.

Before. After.

The old drop ceiling was also removed from the master bath.

One of the hall bathrooms.

There was a gold shower door with a

mirror that was removed, the ceiling was raised

and the shower wall is coming out next!

McCormick Railroad Park

Today we got to spend time with

Sarah and Autumn (and Grandma Karen)!!!

The entire drive to the railroad park Maddy

was chanting Autumn's name.

Six weeks is too long for these little girls...

Maddy and Clare

Waiting to go on the carousel.

Ready to go!

I just love watching these two together.

They are so sweet and have so much fun together.

Choo choo.

Look at that happy face!

(and that growing boy in the belly)

Sarah and I noticed her at separate times.

Busy Phillips.

Some videos of the day:

Riding the train.

Wagon rides in the park.

Goofy girls.

Max Turns 2!!

Max had a party at Peter Piper Pizza

for his 2nd birthday and it was fuuuuun!

As soon as Maddy got there she needed

to know where Max was and when she found

him they ran around together and climbed

and rode the carousel together,

Clare joined in on that action!!

Maddy and Max

Clare and Maddy

Happy Day Buddy!!!

Maddy's Rough Day

Maddy had a pretty rough day today.

She woke up not feeling very well and

didn't want to eat anything.

I finally got her to have a sip of juice

which she threw up, then she immediately

fell asleep on the couch.

After she woke up she was still not feeling well,

so I gave her a little tylenol which she threw up.

Then I put her in bed with Greg while Clare

and I went to go get her the new Silverlicious book.

When we got home and she woke up said she

didn't want to be sleeping anymore so

we went to the couch and I read to her and she fell asleep.

Again.

She took her regular nap and finally started

feeling better and actually ate some dinner.

I hope tomorrow is better!!

I know she is only sleeping in the videos, but she looks so sweet.

Some Videos Of The Girls

The Girls And Babies

My friend Megan and I have been friends for over 20 years.

We grew up swimming together and have

remained very good friends over the years.

No matter how far apart we have been.

Megan went to teach in Egypt about 5 years ago

and ended up falling in love, getting married

and having this little smooch!!

With everything going on over there,

Megan and Habiba were evacuated.

Luckily for me she came to live with her Mom

who lives about 4 minutes from our house!!

Habiba (4 mo)

Maddy (almost 3)

Clare (14 mo)

The next day we finally got to meet Ella!!

She is a teensy little thing that

looks exactly like her Daddy!!

Ella (5 weeks)

Clare, Maddy and Ella

Kisses for her baby cousin.

Clare

A few weeks ago Grammy got Clare

her very own shopping cart!!!

Now we have two loud rumbling shopping

carts in the house and a little less fighting

about the one cart we did have.

Yeah

New cart and blanket.

What could be better?

This kid is so stinkin' funny these days!!

Maddy

We decided to grow out Maddy's hair

last summer to see how things went.

It looks cute.

When she let me do something to it.

Mostly it was a fight to comb it and do anything to it

so we asked her if she wanted long or short hair.

She said short.

Short bob.

Drawing.

Electrical Work. A Lot Of It.

Greg has spent a lot of time climbing

in and out of the attic, pulling out old wires that

weren't attached to anything and adding new wires

so we can have three-way switched where we want them.

He hates the electrical work but has done a

really great job figuring it all out and saving us tons of money!

He added canned lights in the kitchen

and our bedroom and they look great!

Placing the lights in the kitchen.

Maddy taking a picture for her camera.

All done.

Greg has also changed out the old switches

to new ones, same goes for outlets.

old

new