Quote

“Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you.” ~ H. Jackson Brown


“While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.” ~ Unknown



Tuesday, March 29, 2011

We have a coyote...

For the past few days Adri has gotten on the ground like a dog and begun howling up a the sky. I couldn't figure out why in the world she would do this so I asked her this morning.

"Are you being a wolf?" I asked her.

Sigh. "No, Mommy...I'm a coyote." Was the response of my way too smart almost three year old.

"A coyote huh? Why?" I prompted her.

"Because I'm howling at the moon. Owwwww!!! Ow! Ow! Ow!!!" Adri howled as she bent down to eat some of the left over breakfast I hadn't gotten to on the floor.

"Coyote's eat off the ground." she informed me.

"Yes they do, but little girls don't. Get up and go get dressed while I clean up the mess from breakfast."

After I had finished cleaning up Sam's daily breakfast mess littering the floor I happened to look up and see what was right in front of my face. Adri's circle birthday decoration was still hanging from the light fixture, looking just like a full moon. Ah, so that's why she was howling at the moon! I still have no idea why she chose a coyote though.

We visited the new Java Gym today. I sincerely wish that I was creative enough to think outside of the box and begin a business combining my two favorite things; kids playing and coffee. I think the new gym is going to do fabulous, especially with the stay at home Mommy crowd in the winter. Who doesn't love going to a place where your kids can get out all of their energy while you can see and supervise them from any point in the play place while drinking your coffee?

Adri decided to go into coyote mode while we were waiting for our friends to get out of the bathroom. There were crackers under the table from Sam Man's discard process. Adri got under the table, began howling and eating the crackers on her hands and knees. After each cracker she put her head back up to the "moon" to howl.

"Look Mom! I'm a coyote!" Adri howled.

"Adri! What are you doing, get up off the floor!!! Don't eat those crackers from the floor, that's disgusting! Oh Adri!!!" I said through gritted teeth while trying to hold on to Sam Man and collect all of our things to leave.

"I'm eating crackers. Coyotes LOVE crackers!"

"Get up off that floor now!!!" I growled at her all the while looking around at the people taking in Adri's show. Little kids from all over the play place were coming over to see the howling dog they thought someone had brought in to visit.

"No, Coyote hungry."

"Oh my gosh! Get up!" I said, finally just picking her up and bringing her over to the shoe area. I wanted out of there and away from the stares of the "perfect" parents who never have children that act like that.

While in this incident I was completely embarrassed and mortified. Everyone was staring and making comments about the little girl on the floor and she was mine.

Now that I'm thinking about it though, all I can think is "Wow, Adri is really creative! What an out of the box thinker! A coyote howling at the moon, I don't think I've seen that one before". It really was funny and she didn't harm any one. I'm sure the floor she decided to eat off of was clean, I mean it's practically brand new. :)

And, someday she will be mortified when she sees the coyote video. :)

In case you need to see her in the act:

Monday, March 28, 2011

Adri and Lilah visit the butterflies...

Adri and Lilah have been friends since Adri was born. I think we may even have pictures of Lilah holding Adri when she was born, that's how far back they go. Lilah's Mommy, Kylee and I go back years and years also, meeting at our training for Old Kent Bank. We lost touch for a few years and then picked up where we left off about four or five years ago. She's the kind of person that you know will always be there and that you can always come back to. :)

Sunday, Kylee and I decided to take the girls to go see the butterflies at Meijer Gardens. They were ecstatic to go there together! They were so cute holding hands and hugging that I could resist taking a million pictures of them.

Two little butterflies:
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Come on Adri, smile at the camera...It's getting hot in here and I want to leave!
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Trying to get the butterflies to land on them...Too bad they didn't hold still for longer than 2 seconds at a time.
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Happy Happy Lilah:
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Adri and Lilah got lucky enough to hold a butterfly. (A guest picked it up near the window of death and let them hold it...I swear it wasn't us!)
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Lilah tries to get the butterfly off her hand to let Adri hold it...
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Say birthday cake!
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Happy Birthday to Adri...

We held Adri's 3rd Birthday party last Saturday. Mommy worked hard on the preparations, but in the end everything went smoothly (thanks to Matt) and we had a great time. Adri even told Daddy that it was the best birthday EVER. (I love that she's able to make such a qualified judgment given that she's only had three birthdays, two of which I'm sure she doesn't remember.)

Thank you to those of you who came over to celebrate with us. To those of you who couldn't make it, we missed you and hope to see you in a couple of weeks to help us celebrate Sam Man's birthday!!!

Adri's Happy Birthday video:


Here are some of my favorite photos from her party...

A shot of her clean room...It's a rarity to see it like this. :)
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Kitchen decorations:
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You have to decorate the tv!
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Adri patiently waits for everyone to arrive at her party...Where are they Mama?
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Why isn't anyone here yet?
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Might as well enjoy a cookie while I'm waiting.
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Oh, I love opening cards!!!
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Oooh!!! Scooby Doo! How did you know I love this show???
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Thank you so much for the Scooby Doo movie P-Pa! You and Boo Boo ROCK!
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Sammy and Boo Boo check out the present that Aunt Shannon brought for him to open. Adri got to it first and opened it though...There's no stopping a three year old when it comes to unwrapping presents on her birthday.
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Might as well have another cookie...
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Princess Nana and Sammy enjoy a little cuddle time:
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Walk Sam Man, Walk!
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Princess Mama:
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I'm a boy! I don't want to wear pink!
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Adri's buddy, Lilah Boo!
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Princess Lilah Boo
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Beautiful, Beautiful Tanishka:
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Sushma and Tanay...One of the cutest little boys we know...
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Adri's dolphin cake. She chose dolphins because "dolphins are beautiful and amazing" according to her.
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Happy Birthday Big Girl!
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Adri and Tanay:
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Have to blow all those candles!!!
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Sunday, March 27, 2011

Sam Man's first haircut...

The events of this weekend were so exciting that they are totally deserving of two posts, so stay tuned for the one detailing Adri's birthday party. :)

After too many crazy hair days (which would be pretty much everyday for Sammy-hair sticking straight up and out or having to tuck the long pieces behind his ears), I decided to get his hair cut. I've been procrastinating on this milestone since he's my little baby boy and I wanted to keep him that way for as long as possible. And, quite honestly, I just wasn't ready for him to look like a big boy yet.

With Adri's 3rd birthday party yesterday and milestone pictures coming up for both of the kids next Friday, Sammy needed to look his best (not that he doesn't always...I mean, look how darn cute he is!). So, he had his first hair cut.

I can't believe how well he did! No screaming, no tears, no moving around, nothing (the antithesis to Adri's first haircut, which required three of us to hold her down while she screamed, cried, and flailed). You'd think it was an everyday event for him. His hair looks great, and it really helps to show off his beautiful ears... :)

Me, on the other hand, I kept some of his hair for his baby book and I'm slowly coming to terms with his new "big boy" look. He really is a good looking little man.

Sam Man came with me to finish up the final details for Adri's birthday party. It was at this moment, when he was surrounded by balloons and his hair was sticking up everywhere that I decided it was time for a haircut. Lucky for me, he didn't object.
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Really Mom, if she's going to pull my hair like Adri does I'm not up for this...
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Do we have to go through with this???
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Ok, so this isn't so bad. Nothing like what Adri does. It kind of feels like when you run your fingers through my hair and pet me Mom...
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Hmmmm...I wonder what the final result will look like?
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I bet I'll look pretty dapper...
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I'll be picking up all the little chicks now...
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Boy am I patient!
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Final result, ADORABLE!!!
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