Random, again.

Today I saw this and it made me smile.


He likes to eat his feet.


Michael had a basketball game at Shelly's high school last night. I texted her, "I'm at your school. No reason to tell you that. Just felt like it," while we were in the commons having a snack during halftime. I'm taking pictures of the girls and the next thing I know, there she is! She had conferences. Totally did not expect to see her, it caught me off guard, oh but what a fun surprise! Also, I'm glad I sent her such a random text.


The girls have been putting together quite the outfits when dressing themselves. These were Mondays' looks. I meant to take a picture of today's as they were equally colorful.

Swim lessons ended Monday. Emma can move up to what is essentially the same class, just for older kids. But really, we just need to work with her on her strokes, holding her breath and her confidence. She can swim, she just thinks she can only go so far and then stops. She could go so much further in the pool if she'd just keep going.

This one was promoted from beginner to advanced. On one hand, not surprised since the beginner class is just to get them acquainted with the water and that's no issue for her. She loves it and is not at all afraid. On the other, it makes me laugh because whenever Taylor had her on her back and Mac was supposed to be kicking, she'd instead just let Taylor pull her through the water. I'm thinking she's going to have to work a bit harder in the next class.

This is how we entertain ourselves. Michael comes up with random stuff for the girls to do. In this case, it was practicing both their long jumps as well as high jumps. Emma was so into it. She's competitive. Very.

Ryan in the exersaucer at the gym's Kid Park. I think he likes it. (Of course it could be that he was happy to see me. Just sayin'.) Bonus, extra time working on his trunk/head strength. No worries, though, he gets plenty of time being held by the wonderful women who work there. He's quite the ladies man already.

Photo 365: 1/24/11 - 1/30/11

1/24: The deer in the woods behind our house. Took this from my kitchen window with my new zoom lens. Loving the new lens.


1/25: Mackenzie's snowman. She, Emma and Olivia were drawing during the basketball game. I love seeing her learn to draw things now, as opposed to just scribbling. Although she does a lot of that still, too. But I think that's a mighty fine snowman.


1/26: Playdate with Olivia. Lots of silliness going on while having a snack.


1/27: oops, missed a day.

1/28: Mackenzie was here.


1/29: We went to see Tangled. It was wonderful. Emma now loves Rapunzel and all things Tangled. She was so into the movie, just transfixed by it. This was the best shot I could get of Emma when the movie was over. She dressed herself: Steelers jersey, cardigan, flower headband, and jeans. She's definitely got her own sense of style.


1/30: This was a busy day. Church, then Caroline's bowling birthday party, then preschool open house for Mackenzie. She's all signed up for next year. She's so looking forward to school and was excited to be able to go and play for a while rather than be rushed out the door during drop-off.

Photo 365: 1/17/11 - 1/23/11

1/17: Sledding at Kelly's after boot camp. That's Sam in between Mackenzie and Emma. The best part of sledding was Mackenzie going downhill with her eyes closed. She told me it was so the snow didn't get in her eyes, and she seemed very proud of that solution to her problem.


1/18: A sweet sleeping baby.


1/19: Land's End box shoved in my mailbox. Attn mailman - it doesn't fit.


1/20: An awake and happy baby.

1/21: Saying goodbye to Grandma McIntyre.

1/22: Family Play Day at our Church. Well, not actually at the church itself, but at it's warehouse/Loft space. It's a potluck/playtime for the kids on bounce houses.

1/23: My boot camp workout for the next day. It's my turn to lead and of course I waited until 11pm the night before to type it all up.

Ten on Tuesday

1. I've got a lot of blog catching up to do. I'd like to say I'm going to post every day until I catch up. But probably not.

2. The girls put the Nativity scene together for me this year. Once it was complete, Emma promptly hid the baby Jesus. Because apparently that's what you do. (And as I'm typing this, I feel as if I've already shared that.)

(12/2/10)

3. The fitness center held their annual Winter Wonderland earlier this month. (Again, feeling like I'm repeating myself. Which I do often, by the way.) Attempted a picture of the girls and Ryan with our neighbors and friends, Caroline and Jack. Mackenzie was being grumpy and didn't want in it.

(12/5/10)

3.5 But then she did. See her face? Grumpy. And blocking Jack.


4. Then Jack made Ryan smile and it was cute.

5. Please let me show you the football hold. Our kids have always liked this.

6. We did some Christmas shopping with my mom. Six hours the girls walked the mall - and with no meltdowns! I was so impressed we had Auntie Ann's pretzels before leaving.

6.5They rode the train. It drives them all around the mall. They loved it.

(12/9/10)

7. Six hours of shopping meant six hours of bags. Which meant Ryan got held towards the end...

8. And the bags went in the stroller.

9. The nicest man sat in front of us at our church's Christmas concert. He was so kind to the girls, chatting with them, not getting annoyed at their frequent moving and talking. Emma even shared her Twizzler with him. When it was over, he offered to take a picture for us. We're missing Grandpa Sweeney and Ryan was in the nursery.

(12/10/10)

10. But here he is. Snoozing. With the program. Because I'm still taking pictures of him with things on his lap. It's still amusing me.

Because it amuses me, part two

@ the library, 11/12/10


@ Steak and Shake, 10/31/10


@ the pediatrician, 10/18/10


@ Dairy Queen, 10/16/10

Because it amuses me.

I've started taking pictures of Ryan in his car seat when we're out and about. (When I remember to, at least.) Pictures of him with things like my lemonade at Penn Station.

(Taken 10/3)


At Dairy Queen with my caramel sundae. Ok, so my sundae isn't in this one. But it is in the one I took with my cell and sent Michael, so I'm pretending.

(10/1)

With Michael's football at Emma's soccer game. I think this was his first outing at 6 days old. Michael started this whole thing, by the way. Him putting the football ball there is what gave me this idea.

(9/25)

Visiting friends at the fitness center. We're getting him started on a workout routine early on. Side note - is that not the tiniest weight ever? It's one pound.

(10/4)

Also starting him on Target early.

(10/4)

My camera battery died before I could give him something football-related yesterday while we were at Michael's game. But I did get this one of him on the track. Please note he's wearing the cutest hat ever made.


(10/13)

I don't know why I find this so entertaining but I do. I'm sure one day I'll hear, "Really Mom? You did this to me? This is what you did for fun?" And I will just say, "Wait until you have you own kids. It's amazing what will amuse you!"

ten on tuesday

1. Emma's into posing lately. Which is usually funny (except when I'm trying to get a good picture). But what's funnier is when Mackenzie tries to copy her. Hee hee.


2. Trampoline jumping at my sister's.




3. Posing? Or just making funny faces? Sometimes she thinks it's the same thing.


4. Michael built the girls a new sandbox. Very cool. Very big (6ft x 6ft). Currently holding over 1 ton of sand. Mason sand which is perfect for building roads and castles and such. They love it.
Love. It.




5. Also, it's very dirty. This is not quick-brush-off-before-going-in-the-house sand. It's hose-them-down-and-they-go-in-naked sand. The girls now have 3 sets of sand clothes. Did I mention how much they love it? And how much I love that Michael built this for them? That it makes us happy seeing them so happy playing it?


6. Watched the Twins Day parade Saturday.


(When I was taking this, she was telling me "Go sit down Mommy.")

7. Got my new lens and filters Friday. (Thanks, Marie.) Wondering why it was necessary to package them like this:



8. My Mom.



9. I'm pricing things for my garage sale this weekend. This pile is done. Now to pull out the two boxes in the laundry room and start them.


10. Michael got me flowers for our anniversary yesterday. He even remembered I'm not a rose fan. :) Love the mix of flowers and colors.