A Break

Sorry I haven't been posting lately...things are hectic with school and all the studying that goes with it. I am doing a horrible job this semester with keeping it all together, and falling so behind in my statistics class. It's been difficult balancing the needs of my schoolwork with the needs of my family...and I am so afraid I am failing at both. sigh

So I probably will not be posting again until after December 6th....the day when these classes are finally over and I can breathe for a bit. I just pray that I didn't just struggle this semester for nothing..and that I'll have to take this class over! I cannot wait to "just" be a mom again, to enjoy the moments with the girls without a cloud of tiredness washing over me. Can't wait.

So wish me luck, and I'll catch up then.

Can't help myself......Looking Back

2005
Analese

2006
Analese and Mara

2007
Analese and Mara

2008
Analese, Mara and Rose

Pumpkins, Pumpkins

I am a bit behind in everything these days, but I wanted to post some pictures of the past couple of weekends...which involved pumpkins, pumpkins and more pumpkins!

First, there was the Great Mother Earth Harvest Festival:

Analese-dancing during the drum roll

Then, the pumpkin festival at the nature center:































The girls had a blast! Analese loved running into her teacher and showing Daddy her classroom.










And then our annual trip to the pumpkin farm!As you recall, we do this every year, see post Greg's parents went with us this year so we actually got some family photos...which rarely happens so that was nice!






Mara picked out her own clothes to wear and got herself dressed today. the sweater was too small, showing off her adorable belly and her skirt was inside out :) People would look at her and smile..

The day after....

Such joy.

I don't think it matters who you voted for...you have to admit, last night was magical. Such a great moment in history. I found myself so emotional yesterday, watching the long lines and such hopeful faces.

And today?

I haven't stopped smiling.

We still have a long way to go, but I feel like we've taken a step in the right direction.

Remember to VOTE!!!

My fingers and toes are crossed today........

praying for a good outcome.

Remember to vote today......let's vote for CHANGE and get America back on track!

Costume Photos

The girls are still sick and now I have been lucky enough to get it. I knew living on 3-4 hours sleep for the past 2+ weeks would catch up with me!

The girls have been wearing their costumes all morning, so I decided to snap a few to share. They still are not feeling well, especially Analese. I am sure Greg will take much better ones outside once they are better. And Rose slept through the photo session, so no photos of my sunflower at this moment!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Rose-15 weeks!!

I hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween!! The girls are sick today, so fun will be at home :(

A week in the life of me-Thursday

Yes, I am now a day behind but posting each day is hard! WARNING: I was very camera happy today..lots of photos :)

Anyway, Rose decided to mix things up a bit and wake up on and off from 1 am on...since I went to bed around 1, not much sleep for me! She was so needy, it seemed like she just couldn't get close enough to me :)

So Mara is up at her usual 7:20, but fortunately greg got her up before she woke Analese up. Mara has absolute no volume control, and I laid in bed giggling over her talking-quite loudly, to greg and hearing him try to convince her to talk softly. She was quite upset over the nightgown she had on-the same nightgown she was so proud of last night!

I get up as soon as Greg leaves, and find Mara studying our cat Chloe's bottom. As I walked in, she said "Does Chloe have a butt? I can't see it!"

We snuggled on the couch together as we talked about what had butts and what didn't. I love hearing what's going on in her head!


Today we have our reggio class from 1-3. You would think with it being in the afternoon that we would have plenty of time to get ready for it, but its still a struggle. My girls are so unmotivated and time just flies by on mornings like these.

With Analese now up, it's time to make breakfast! Mara is all about helping me, and sweeps the floors and even wipes up some spills she notices. I have to get them to wash the floors more often!



Baby Rose wakes up before breakfast preparations are complete, so I have to take a break in order to change/feed her. I am hoping she will sit and watch me for a few minutes so that I can finish cooking!






She looks happy, doesn't she?





So, she starts out in her bassinet

She lasts 5 minutes.

We try her papason:











Nope.


So then we try her floor gym:

I give up. Thank goodness for my collection of wraps and slings!




Breakfast is finally ready and we can sit down and eat. I always try and sit and eat with the girls, I think its an important time to be able to just talk with them. This morning Analese is all about fairies, discussing what kinds of things fairies do....I love hearing her ideas!


After breakfast, Rose goes down for a nap. I love how easy it is to get her to sleep!
I clean up breakfast, and get the girls to pick their clothes out and get dressed.










I also take the time to get myself ready.

I throw some laundry in, prepare the diaper bag, and start thinking about lunch! The girls are never ready to eat lunch at 12, as we usually eat around 1, so I attempt small, calorie-packed lunches to help them get through class.


For class today, we had to bring in a variety of hats. Analese had so much fun searching the house for hats!


Mara thought she would help...gathering ALL their coats and sweaters and piling them up by the door. She did not want t o hear that we were looking for hats, and kept telling us no.





Rose is now up so its time to get her dressed and ready to go. Isn't she a sweetie?




Until we get her dressed....how dare we try and change her before feeding her?


I read the girls some stories on my bed while I nurse Rose.











And we're off to class!





Of course, the girls are getting tired and really need a nap instead of class!
It's about this time that I always questions why I am taking them.



But we're off!




The girls are fine by the time we get to class. Class goes well. Mara has to go potty and wants to use her potty (that we keep in the back of the van) So I lug her and Rose downstairs and race her to the potty. She makes it, only to have peed on her skirt! So she gets a new outfit....



After class, its a struggle to get the girls into the car to head home. They love it there, and never want to leave.

Once we get home, I decide to get them outside. We're all tired, and need the space to do our own thing...it's beautiful outside too!


Our neighbors comes home, so I went to talk with her while the girls tended to their "grass garden". It's
always nice to have some adult conversation!













And the best part of the girls' day?


Daddy shows them a snake he found in a bucket. He found it last night and kept it to show the girls today. Afterwards they went down to the compost and let him go.


While they are doing that, I run inside with Rose and get ready to go. I have to go to a fiance meeting for the girl's school. I am so braindead at this point and have no desire to go, but I am in charge of the money so I really don't have a choice.

Rose and I kiss the girls-and Daddy goodbye and off we go. Analese has an especially hard time with us leaving tonight, and cried hysterically out the window. I hate it, it makes me feel awful.

I get home in time to kiss them goodnight and then hit the books. Such a long day, and now an even longer night!

Congrats if you got through reading that!