Friday Five

So....I kind of skipped over all of May. Not June though. So far this week:

1. Summer haircuts. Emma's been asking for a while to get her hair cut. Mackenzie chimed in today that she'd like hers cut too. So this afternoon we went to Snippets where the girls walked in like this,


And out like this.



Emma wanted it to her shoulders, that's what she kept saying over and over. Mackenzie just wanted it short. And then shorter. I asked her at least 10 times, are you sure? I kept explaining that once she cut it this short there would be no more ponytails or braids (which she's been very in to lately) but she said she knew. In fact, her words were, "it's okay Mommy. I don't need a pony." She handled it much better than I did. I went between the two stations with my heart pounding and my hands shaking. Mackenzie's only had her hair trimmed three times and Emma's hasn't been this short since, well, ever. We've, or I rather, have always just let it grow. But it's their hair. It's summer. Time to try it and go short. And they love it. Emma's will be easier to brush and Mackenzie's will make for much easier mornings since she won't be crying every time I brush/style it. Plus, it's really, really cute.

2. Today was Mackenzie's Little Gym program.


3. And Emma's Safety Town graduation.


4. And this guy, well he needs a whole post to himself with all he's been up to lately.


5. Wednesday was Emma's Little Gym program.


and a Tball game.

There was also two trips to the pool, playtime outside and with friends, an evening at the outlets, eating on the deck, mornings at the fitness center/kid park, errands, summer Bible study began, family here for programs and to visit, and more. It was a fun and busy week. Which is just a preview of the summer to come, I'm sure!

Code Yellow

Did you know Target has something called a Code Yellow? Apparently, it's what happens when a almost 9-month pregnant woman walks up with her 4 1/2 year old and asks for help finding her almost 3-year-old who decided to run away. Oh yes. This is what happened today.

Today we were in Target with my mom. We were in the shoe department, Emma and Mac standing by the cart with Grandma while I was looking. I heard, "Mackenzie, come here. Mackenzie!" Then Emma saying, "She went that way Grandma!" and I see my mom go down the aisle after Mackenzie. But then she comes back without her. See, she's fast. Faster than Grandma and faster than me at this point. So off we go looking and when we don't see her immediately I realize the best thing to do is ask for help before she decides to just walk out of the store. Because she would do that. She has no fear. She would just walk out, with purpose, and with my luck no one would stop her.

I headed to the toy department and when she wasn't there I walked up to the Target security guy and an employee standing in the music department. The conversation went a bit like this:

Me: Hi. Could you help me find my almost three-year-old who decided to run away? She's short. Blonde. Wearing a pink Minnie Mouse shirt and she's fast. Faster than me.

Them: (Concerned look on their faces) Sure, we can help. Where was she last?

Me: (With a crazy smile on my face) In the shoe department. But no one took her. She's okay. She just decided to run away. She's fast. And fearless.

Them: What was she wearing again? Okay, you stay here, we'll go look.

Now I wasn't afraid. I think my mom probably was, but I wasn't. I really wasn't concerned anyone had taken her. I was just annoyed (and yes, amused, hence the crazy smile - a cross between Ican'tbelivethisishappening and ohsheissogoingtobeintroubleforthis and thisisalittlebitembarrassing) that I actually had to ask for help to find her.

I think if she wasn't found quickly then I would start to get nervous and start to panic. And I'm sure the Target employees would do the same, because inevitably, you'd think someone actually did take her. But it wasn't more than a minute before I heard the crackling of the walkie talkie and someone saying they had her in diapers. I walked over and there she comes, walking toward the diaper aisle from the baby clothing, holding the hand of a female employee, and SMILING! Yes, smiling. She saw me, yelled Mommy and jumped in my arms. She then squeezed me as tightly as possible and hid her head in my shoulder. Embarrassed? Aware she was in trouble? Happy to see me? Who knows. All I know is what Code Yellow means at Target, thanks to my very cute and very mischievous almost 3-year-old.

And because every post needs a photo, here are the girls during a better time, AKA, at the mall before Mac ran away in Target.

4 hours

Four Hours. That's how long Emma played with the play-doh I'd just made. Mackenzie made it about 2 hours before she decided to take a nap. But the freshly made pink and purple play-doh entertained Emma for twice as long. In fact, she probably would've kept on playing except that I made her clean up because we had to leave.

corn on the cob

Tonight Emma helped me shuck the corn.


And while they both love eating it, Mackenzie made an extra special mess of it tonight.




I can't quite figure out where the dirt on her belly came from. I'm thinking she will need to eat corn on the cob in just a pull-up from now on. Her clothes would've been a mess!

It finally stopped snowing this afternoon.

For a while, that is. It's snowing again now, although not nearly as heavy as it had been. I did actually leave the house today though. Since our street is a hill, it's tough to get up when there's a lot of snow. So much that it's entertainment to just stand at the living room window and watch the cars attempt this.

Yesterday when we were out, three cars in a row were struggling. It was the craziest thing. Car A stropped in front of our driveway and we about to help push her car when she got going again. The she stopped again and Car B decided to go around her (because that's always a smart thing to do) but slid towards the other side of the road and that's when car C passed them both! All three struggled to the top of the hill but eventually made it, no pushing required.

It's a constant reminder to me not drive when it's like that. Well, that, and our own experience getting stuck and the run-in with the mean tow truck driver that scarred me. I just don't leave when the road conditions, well, suck.

10 am yesterday


1pm yesterday. Michael had a snow day.




Mackenzie is on the sidewalk leading to our front door here.


Next to our driveway.


Our deck at 6pm.

And while I think we've got plenty of snow to last us a while, we're supposed to get more. Awesome.

Ten on Tuesday

1. Love the look on her face. (On Sunday)


2. And here, too.


3. Monday night Mackenzie fell asleep at her door, calling for me to come get her out. Gotta love that she's climbing out of her crib. Last night she got out again and this time Emma opened the door for her, then they both came down giggling. She eventually fell asleep on the floor by her door. I wonder how many more nights of this are to come.

4. My EK Success notebook paper border punch broke last night. That was annoying. I've only used a few times, too.

5. So I went to a jewelry party last week. I've been invited to them before but have never gone because I'm not really a jewelry girl. I wear my diamond earrings, my wedding ring and my necklace with my girls' birthstones. But Kelly had a babysitter so we could take our kids (a big play date for them, Emma and Mackenzie loved it) so I went. And I bought a necklace and booked a party for January. Seriously. Apparently, I'm turning into a jewelry girl.

6. Emma posed and wanted me to take her picture after church Sunday.


7. Emma finished up this last session of swim lessons last week - and she was promoted! Next session will be Preschool Advanced. Very exciting. For me. She has no idea what that means and really doesn't care.

8. Got Emma's school picture today. And it's so good! She has such a nice smile in it. Not the cheesy grin I usually get.

9. After dropping Emma off at preschool this morning Mac and I went to the fitness center then to the grocery store. I thought I had plenty of time. But after getting in a very slow and long line it was finally my turn to put my items on the belt. I had about half on and was still waiting and waiting and waiting when I realized there was no way I was going to make it to pick Emma up on time. So I put what was on the belt back in my cart and had to ask someone to hold my cart until I came back. Yep, I had to go back and pay for everything after picking Emma up. Never had to do that before.

10. Scrapbook Sunday will be Scrapbook Wednesday this week. I finished a mini-album one year in the making and will post it tomorrow.

Mom, I love the paths!

When I was a kid one of my favorite things to do was make paths in the yard with the leaves. For some reason, it was just fun. So Tuesday, I made some for the girls. They loved it. Emma was so excited for them to be finished that she was just following me around while I made them. Once they were done they just ran and ran, then we got out a couple riding toys and they used those. Emma also was playing "town" as in over there was the grocery store, and over here was her house and right here is where you park your bike. I love it. I love her little creative mind, her imagination. I love watching them play. They're awesome.



This one will be two Sunday. My, oh my...

Catching up.

I haven't blogged much lately, it's mostly been scrapbooking. Which means I've got a lot of pictures to post and stories to tell.



My mom, sister, niece and aunt came over yesterday and we headed to the outlets to get Emma some fall clothes. I got some great deals at Carter's and Osh Kosh as well as the perfect, fitting, so her, shirt for Emma. If you know her, you've probably guessed it has something to do with talking. And you're right.

The girls (especially Emma) love the outlets because of the ducks, the playground and being able to run. I love this picture of the two of them walking back to meet my mom and aunt. They're getting so big. And Emma's got some long hair.



After only going to the pool once or so in July due to sickness and crappy weather, we've been then twice so far this month.

(Emma and Bree jumping in to Michael and Tim)

Lots of playground trips. Trying to hit all the parks in our area.

Emma fell Monday night at the park. It was very traumatic for both her and I, even though she wasn't really hurt, more scared with a sore bottom. To soothe her (and Mommy) we got some ice cream. We kept pushing Coldstone on her, but she was insistent on a chocolate cone with sprinkles from DQ.

This summer brought the girls their first treats from the ice cream truck, which also happened to be Mackenzie's first popsicle. Mackenzie and I got junior bomb pops, Emma had a Dora ice cream pop and I can't remember what Michael had. I'll ask tomorrow.

Mackenize ate her's shirtless and it's a good thing since she had blue all down her chest/stomach. She ate a little more than half of it, decided she was done so I threw it away, then proceeded to eat the rest of mine.

I babysat Caroline and Jack last month, always fun for the girls, especially Emma. She loves having Caroline over.

Celebrated my sister's birthday.

Tomorrow we're going to Deer Park, Emma is excited to see lots of deers, hee hee. This weekend is Twins Days and we're going to the parade Saturday morning. We haven't been to the actual festival yet but if the weather holds up we might check it out. There are fireworks Saturday night I'm hoping we can see them from our house because that would be great.

Still to come (I hate playing catch - up!) - the zoo, camping, our family reunion, the work we've done outside around the house this summer and a bunch of other stuff I've got to get down before I forget. :)

Somewhere, under all this snow...

is our deck.