Two Peas in a Pod

I just had to share this picture I took today at gymnastics. This is Annalise and her beloved friend Emily. They are so cute together and just adore each other.

We met Emily's family at a neighborhood block party in September. We had no idea such a great family was right around the corner! We're so happy to have met them. Emily also has a little brother named Ryan, age one. We look forward to when the age gap closes a bit with the two Ryans so they can become great friends, too!

You're Never Too Old To Want Your Mommy

It's been quite a week around here. Annalise and I have had bad colds, pink eye, and in the past two days, we've battled a stomach virus. Friday it hit Annalise, and at exactly 6:00 a.m. Saturday, it was my turn. I'm still battling it, but I'm starting to feel a bit better. I'm hoping I'll be well soon, as Annalise was a new little girl the day after she got sick. (And please, Lord, don't let Ricky & Ryan get sick!)

Anyway, this morning when I woke up sick, Annalise and Ryan decided to get up early as well. Ricky was working, so I was alone. All I can say is suddenly I felt like a little girl who wanted her mommy! That sounds pathetic since most moms just rally their strength and get through situations like this. However, I'm blessed to have my parents just five minutes away. So, when called upon, my mom immediately came to my rescue. And my Dad, too. Mom came over at 8:00 a.m. and sent me straight to bed. Meanwhile she fed and entertained the kids and she sent my dad to the store for all the essentials - Gatorade, chicken & rice soup, and crackers. She stayed at our house for eight hours until Ricky came home.

Mom, if you read this, I remember that every time I got sick as a child, you would sit next to me for the longest time, gently stroking my hair. I loved it. It was one of my favorite things, and had you not been busy with my little ones today, I may have made a request for you to do it again! (No I'm not kidding.) No matter how old you get, I suppose there is nothing like the love you get from your Mom & Dad. Thanks for all of your help, you are a true gift from God!

My Sweet Dad & Mom

Four Months of Ryan

Before Ryan came along, I used to (jokingly) say, "Girls rule, boys drool." Well, even though the drool part proved correct -- at least in Ryan's case -- I retract that statement. Ryan is four months old today, and I just love having a little guy in our family. Not that having a newborn boy is that much different than having a newborn girl, I suppose. But, I love my "Mama's Boy" and I'm looking forward to all the Tonka trucks, dinosaurs, and superheroes that are bound to start making their way into our home soon. (Annalise already has cars and trains covered.) Happy "Four Month" Birthday, Ryan! We love you!

Some Sweet Ryan Faces

A Very Happy Easter

This year we celebrated Easter in St. Augustine with Ricky's parents. Ricky's sister Meg & her husband James, were there as well. As always, time we spend with them is full of belly laughs!

We were only in Florida for two full days, but we had a great time. Ryan did pretty well on his first "road trip" and Annalise just had a blast the entire weekend. It was her first trip there to sleep in a "big girl bed" and she was very excited (though a tad nervous) to have her own room. We colored eggs and Annalise was very excited that the Easter bunny left her a basket even though we weren't home. She asked me if the Easter Bunny had a car, and when I said "no," she was concerned that he would drop the baskets hopping down the street, but I think he did okay!

I made Annalise & Ryan their first coordinating outfits. They looked so cute and I was hoping to get the perfect, frame-worthy photo, but it didn't happen. Oh well, enjoy the ones I did get!

Family Flewd, NOT Family Food

This made me laugh so much that I think it's worth sharing. Last night my mom (Annalise's "Nee") was over, and I turned on Family Fued, which Annalise calls "Family Flewd." I said, "Annalise, look what is on." She said, "Family Flewd!!!!" My mom misunderstood her and said, "Oh, this is Family Food?" Annalise said, "No, no, Nee, not Family Food, that's for lunch. I said Family Flewd!" Haha!

Annalise's First Movie!

Today Ricky and I decided to go ahead and take Annalise to see her first movie at the theater. We saw Horton Hears a Who. I got a little nervous when we walked into the theater, which was already dark and loud, and Annalise had big tears in her eyes saying, "I don't want to go in there!" Oops - I had prepared her to sit quietly & wait patiently through the previews, but I forgot about the darkness and noise level. Luckily she heard kids laughing and decided it would be okay.

Anyway, Annalise really enjoyed the movie! Or, well, she mostly enjoyed her popcorn, fruit snacks, and an especially rare treat - a Sprite. She repeatedly said to me, I'm having a soda!" Thankfully the movie was only 88 minutes, yet it outlasted the snacks and she began to get a bit antsy. However, all-in-all it was a lot of fun to take her and hear her squeal & giggle (particularly at parts that weren't even funny). She didn't ask me nearly as many questions as I feared, and she really did far better than I could have hoped. I'm looking forward to our next kid movie!

The Latest Annalise-isms

One thing I love about having kids is that I can count on getting a good laugh every single day. Annalise never lets me down and always gives me something to laugh about, even when I have to stifle the laugh.

Her latest:

While flipping channels last night, she heard two seconds of an American Idol performer singing "Eleanor Rigby." She said, "Mommy, is that the Beebles?" (instead of "Beatles"). I was very impressed that she detected a Beatles song, but I'm loving that she calls them the Beebles!

Ricky and I were talking the other day while Annalise sat playing on the computer. Out of the blue she said, while shaking her head in apparent disbelief, "Mommy, you are so funny. I can't even believe it."

While running around the house and barking like a dog, Annalise reassured me, "Mommy, I'm not a real dog. I'm just a pretend dog." Thanks for the clarification! : )

While watching the Brady Bunch she said, "Mommy, can we go to Greg's house? Does the Brady Bunch live far, far away?"

At church on Sunday, we were all standing, and Annalise said, "Mommy, pick me up, I can't see Jesus!" (The previous week, she said, "Pick me up, I can't see God!")

Why, why, and more why...

Annalise is nearly 3.5, and I had decided she may be old enough to go see a movie at the theater. Ricky and I had planned to take her to see "Horton Hears a Who" next week. I've really been looking forward to it, but I'm now having second thoughts. I'm sitting here with her watching "Home Alone," which she has never seen, and she can't seem to go longer than 10 seconds without asking me questions about what the characters are doing. I told her that if we go to the theater, she isn't allowed to talk. Of course she asked why. I suggested we practice being at the movies by quietly watching "Home Alone." Didn't work. Needless to say, it is not looking promising that she will have her first movie theater experience next week. We'll see!

My Latest Addiction!

There is always something new to be addicted to on the computer, and I'm like a junkie in search of my next fix. First it was making photo slideshows. Then MySpace. Then Photoshop. Then my blog. And now it's Scrapblog, which is more specifically an extension of my current blog addiction. It's like Blogger was the gateway drug and now I've become addicted to all things blog-related!

Earlier this week I was encouraged to blog my heart out when I discovered that blogs can actually be made into "Blog Books." There is a website where you can easily transfer your blog into cool layouts that are printed in a soft or hardcover book. Well, I stink at scrapbooking (a former short-lived addiction), so I was thrilled to know that while I'm blogging, I'm actually scrapbooking as well! Well, if my blog will become a keepsake, I must spice it up, right? Enter Scrapblog. Basically you make scrapbook pages with your photos. I used it for the "Ryan is Three Months Old" post. Below is another page I made. I love this thing! I can't get enough of it, at least until I discover the next habit-forming techno-drug!

Ryan is Three Months Old!

Feelin' the Love

Annalise woke up on Saturday with a plan. She said, "I have an idea. You can drop me off at Nee and Papa's house and then come and pick me up!"

I said, "So, you want to get rid of me?"

She said. "Yes."

I said, "Ryan doesn't want to get rid of me."

She said (in a happy sing-song voice), "But I do!"

Gee, thanks.