THANKS LIZ!

February 26, 2008

Yesterday Liz, oh sorry CARLY, sent the kids a package. They were VERY excited to open it but I made them take a nap first. My kids are TERRIBLE to wake up. Well, correction, Max is difficult Maggie jumps up like you lit her butt on fire saying, "I awake Mama, I awake". Anyway the package is a great incentive to get Max out of bed. But first, when I went to wake them up this is what I found...

How funny is that? I guess his power ranger costume was in his room because he didn't go down for his nap like that... too funny!

The big reveal...
You can't tell here but there was TONS of oohs and ahhs!

Maggie immediately claimed "half naked Barbie". I seem to recall Liz referring to the doll in such a manner and it's true... she is missing half a shirt. A true Mardi Gras Barbie! Max claimed the "dinosaur" which is really a frog. Maggie tried a bazillion times to tell him it's a frog but he wasn't having it! Mike asked why she sent it all because now he is sad and nostalgic... aw.

Thanks a million Liz and Carly! WE LOVE OUR PRESENT!!!! Oh, and I was a bit shocked... that was one HEAVY and jammed full box. You guys must have TOTALLY made out :o)

Family

February 24,2008

Last weekend my little sister, Amy, came in town for a visit. She lives in Manhattan, not too far, but left for a trip to India and Sri Lanka not longer after we moved back here so this was the first the kids and I had seen her. We had a nice time but because our house is on the market we had to leave so we made our way to Eastern Market for lunch. We got lucky with a BEAUTIFUL DAY! Unfortunately it rained later but we were almost home so no big deal. Here are a few photos...

From the left is my sister Amy, nephew Joshua, sister Natalie and my Mom.

I think Amy and Maggie resemble each other. They have the same sad, droopy eyes and face shape, along with the blond hair.

Max is REALLY into tracing, writing and cutting these days. Here is some of his work!

Cutting is tough but he's getting there!

Look how well he is tracing!

Go here if you want print some pages of letters, words, phrases that YOU pick. I printed Max's name for him to practice. I printed them in dots for him to trace. Also easy letters like p, t, l, o... Another page is here where you can print shapes and objects to trace and cut out, full page size. Oooh and my other favorite is here where you can practice basic computer skills like clicking and dragging with the mouse to decorate a house etc. Have fun!

My Celebrity Look-a-like

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

The old adage "nothing in life is free"

February 21, 2008

Well let's just say today proved, once again, that nothing is free! I was really excited about my afternoon. My mom was coming over to watch the kids while Mike and I went to a French restaurant for a 7 course meal courtesy of the DIA. And it truely was a very scrumptious 7 course meal and we did, in fact, not pay one cent for our meal. The catch you ask? Three long hours of discourse on which fork to use, the role of the hostess, when you can begin eating, how to serve yourself from a buffet platter etc, etc, etc. Which still would have been manageable, EXCEPT I kept getting served really well prepared courses only to stare at them for half an hour while the "instructors" told us how to eat, or not to eat, the course along with an anecdote of the time Major Mistake took, dare I say, 2 peices of bread! All kidding aside some of it was informative, especially for those with no formal dining experience, but it was painful... long and painful. Food was good though so I highly recommend Le Begerie to anyone visiting Old Towne Alexandria, Va.

Open House Review and other stuff

February 18,2008

Whew! It's over... at least the first open house. Seems all went well. We had about 30 people come through on Sunday, the first actually came on Sat. afternoon, one today and another couple is coming for their second visit tomorrow. YEAH!!! Sure looks promising. Now, of course, I'm a little nervous it will sell too fast. We are not supposed to report to Bogota until July. I know, I'm never satisified - LOL!

And to Ms. Morgan... yes, it's a lot of work but we have lot's of fun too!!!! You crack me up ;o)

Finally my little sister came to visit today. I haven't seen her since I adopted Maggie, and for those of you who don't know that's about 2 years now! We had a wonderful visit but it was waaaay too fast. I'll post a few pics tomorrow. Right now Mike is loading some photos and his camera is such high quality, and we don't have all the software, that it takes FOREVER to load. By forever I mean the 80 photos he's trying to load have been going since 3:30, that's 4 hours ago, and it's maybe halfway there. Ugh!

Check it out!

February 15, 2008

Well the time has finally come... our open house is on Sunday. If you want a final look at the house go here! Keep your fingers crossed it sells fast so we can buy the dump, er beautiful victorian, down the street a ways :o)

That's my guy!

February 12, 2008

For Christmas my dear sister, Natalie, gave both my kids a pair of snow boots. THEY LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THEM!!!! Of course there is no need for snow in order to wear them... heck, Max thinks they look AWESOME all by their lonesome!

Brief update

February 11, 2008

Hey all (Liz :o), we've been CRAZY busy getting the house to go on the market. We didn't even get to bed 'til about 4 a.m. this morning! But, everything is done and our first open house will be this Sunday. I will submit photos of the 100% completed house soon but right now I need to finish my spanish homework and GO TO BED!!!!!!

Out of the mouths of babes...

February 6, 2008

"Mom can you turn the light out so my popsicle won't melt"

"Mommy I have tummy ate... tooooooo much cookie huh"

Mom - What kind of pie should we buy?
Max - A doggie pie.
Mom - EWWWW!
Max - Don't worry Mom, there's no poop in it.

At the coffe shop Maggie stands on her tippee toes and peers over the counter and asks barista for "coffee kweeze I no like it hot".

After peeing in her Elmo underwear, "Oh no Elmo nooot happy me. It okay mom, right? I get princess underwear. No no pee pee princess cry".

And one of my favorite Maggieisms when in trouble (like the time she threw a cup down the stairs and Papa told her that was bad) she will hang her head low for about 5 seconds with a pouty lip and then look up with a smile and say "it was really funny though"! Usually she's right... it may not have the right thing to do but it's usually pretty funny ;o)

Answer from the kids; "Papa did it"
Questions:
1. Maggie why is there milk on the floor?
2. Maggie did you take mama's keys?
3. Max why is Maggie crying?
4. Max and Maggie why are the sofa cushions on the floor?

Are you seeing a trend? Doesn't matter what the question the answer is always the same "Papa". Poor guy...

My Three Greatest Gifts...

February 1, 2008

On days like today I remember my three greatests gifts in life. In chronological order they are:

The day I married the love of my life...

The day my baby boy was born...
against all odds...
PERFECTLY HEALTHY!

What a proud Papa :o)

And last, but definitely not least, on this day 2 years ago my baby girl officially became MY BABY GIRL forever and ever. The following post shows how the events unfolded. From her birthday and rough first few days, to the day I first held her and she last saw her parents, to meeting Max and then, of course her Papa (who was in Iraq, AGAIN) to a few months later when we signed the papers and she officially became ours! It's a wonderful life and I'm so very lucky to call it my own. I love you all!!!

Happy Anniversary Baby Girl