Language Lessons

Welcome to Cassidy-101. Cassidy has always had a knack for making up songs, friends (Wendy, her best friend based loosely off of Peter Pan) and even names for pretend (she still says to call her Marshmallow on occasion), but today she went to new heights. Yesterday we had a conversation about Spanish, since the Spanish word of the day was Hola, which means Hello. We talked about what other Spanish words she knows. Rojo means Red. Azul means Blue. Numbers 1-10. Adios means Good-bye. I was so proud of her interest in learning another language. After Cassidy's dance class we have made a tradition of eating at a local diner, which has a train going around the top, a bike mounted in the middle and other kitschy stuff. During the middle of dinner, she shouts, "That boy just said the bike was 'duntz'!" "I'm sorry, sweetie, I didn't understand you. Did you say 'duntz'?" "Yeah." "What does 'duntz' mean?" "Mommy, 'duntz' means bike. ... in Spanish."

Sick-Wife Days

Last night as we were putting the girls down, it hit me. My head started to swirl and I was just exhausted. I fell asleep at 8:30. I'm not sure, but I think I fell asleep before Keira. Overnight, my condition did not improve. This morning when Keira woke up, before the legal limit, I told Jeremy I still wasn't feeling well. He answered the call, and let me sleep in, taking care of the girls. When I finally made it downstairs (after 12 hours of sleep, woohoo) he was starting a load of laundry and told me that he had called in "Sick-wife" today.

Banana Ice-Cream!!

Recently Cassidy had a little 'set-back' in the toilet training arena. Perhaps it was b/c of the move, or it could be she just deicded to get lazy. She only seemed to have an 'accident' if she was too busy playing outside. So we put off trying for no diaper at night for awhile. I had mentioned a few times to Cassidy that if she made it through the night that she would get a special treat. She promptly grinned and said, "Ice-cream?! Banana Ice-cream!" The first night, no luck, the next night, no luck. Then she came in the next day, and ta-da! But we didn't have time to make it to ice-cream store. Yet, she did it again the next night, still no time to get to store. Last night we had the baby sitter, and Cassidy decided to forgo the diaper, and she did it yet again!! Banana Ice-Cream for everyone!!

Keeping up

Keira is trying to be a 3 year old. When Cassidy was this age, she was happy with who she was. Loving life as a toddler with no siblings. Keira on the other hand, watches what her sister does, and thinks, "Why not me?" She climbs into the kitchen tables and wants to eat there (even at restaurants, she threw a nice fit last night). She climbs into Cassidy's bed and will lay down if she wants some quiet time. And today, I found her climbing on some brick decorative pieces we have out front. Cassidy was climbing them yesterday and again today, so Keira just did it. I didn't know she could climb them, as I'm sure she had quite a reach to get to them, but she did it. And boy did she look proud! I should have snapped a picture, but that would have involved getting the camera, and I wasn't going to leave her up there!!

mmm...Awmmy

I'll be honest. I have not been keeping track of when Keira was saying her first words, or even what that word might be. We are always doing stuff and she makes lots of 'noises'. I kept saying, when she decides to talk it will be in full sentences. Well, it turns out she has been talking, we just haven't been listening (sorry Keira). So we are heading out this week, and I crate Buddy, Keira is to my unlearned ear mumbling, "Doh. Doh. Uddy." Me, "Uh-huh". Keira comes up to me in family room while I'm petting Mischief, "At. Itty" I point to Jeremy, "Who is that?" "ddd..Addy" Now I must point out that her ddd is very soft, almost under the breath, so it sounds more like a mumbled something. "Who am I?" "mmm...Awmmy" Again with the under the breath thing. Point being, we suddenly stopped this week, and listened to her. Turns out she has been talking. I wonder what else she's saying. "Eee eee..quals mmmm see squ...aired"

Busy Days

Phew! Cassidy just had a very busy day, which means Keira and I have been very busy too. We started out slow enough, Cassidy playing, Keira napping, me doing laundry, and then we got the call to go over to CJ's house for a pool party (kiddie pool). So we played there and had some fun, then it was a quick run home for snacks before we headed off to Cassidy's 1st Dance Play class. Keira and I got to leave her in there (otherwise Keira would have joined the class or screamed through it) and we did some walking around outside. Then we met Jeremy for dinner and then it was off to Cassidy's tennis class. She loves it, but 45 min is a bit long for her to focus on the court. I am beat, Keira's been asleep for almost an hour, and thankfully Jeremy is putting Cassidy down now. How she is still awake, I have no clue. The rest of the summer should be more low key. We just had an overlap of classes today and the start of a heat wave. I know, 80's doesn't seem like a heat wave, but for us it is!

Table Dancers and Beauty Queens

So Keira has hit 18 months. My life keeps going faster and faster. Every day I race and run until the girls go down. Keira has learned to climb and her favorite thing to do right now is climb the kitchen chair to then climb on to the table. She usually stands once she's up there, which takes less time then you might think. I was a little worried about her future when I caught her dancing up there, but I think it was coincidence. As if that wasn't bad enough, Cassidy pulled a new one on me. I had been wearing her plastic princess earrings in the morning (don't ask) and Cassidy put them on later. Then she comes and finds me to tell me, "I think they are prettier on me, Mommy." My ego is crushed.

Being a singer

So Cassidy asked me yesterday if the woman on the CD was a "singer". I said, "Yes, just like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz" (the Muppet version in case you are wondering). Cassidy then quoted part of the moral of the movie, which is that you are whatever you want to be. So to encourage my daughter I said, "You can be a singer too, you just have to sing." Well, that's all that she needed. She burst into song. A mix of 3 songs that we had just heard. It went something like this, "Oh pretzels, and you turn into horses, and you have a lot of fun. Everyday, everyday, everyday. And cookies." I pray she doesn't try out for American Idol!

The Adventures of Pineapple

Yesterday morning Cassidy asked if I would like a story about dinosaurs or pineapple. She had already taken one of her books and read a dinosaur story (meaning, she made one up). I chose pineapple to mix it up a bit. She then told me the story of "Pineapple". Here it is as best as I can remember. One day "Pineapple" was walking on some ducks. It hurt the ducks when "Pineapple" walked on them and so they decided to eat "Pineapple" all up. That made "Pineapple" sad and he cried. (Flip a page.) "Pinapple" was walking on some chickens, and it hurt the chickens, so they ate "Pineapple" all up.
Moral of the story, don't walk on anything that can eat you!

Back On-line, Again

After Verizon closed our service call ticket to have someone come out and check the line to our house after doing a 'remote' test, they actually sent someone out this morning. So I am On-line again. Phew! The move went well, and the house is great. The girls are adjusting, as are we. Mom and Dad came for a quick visit to move boxes and help us get ready for the 4th of July. We had our old neighbors and some other friends over for some food and fun. It turned out great and all the little kids ran around and had fun. The best was all the 'guys' set up under the deck by the baby swings and 4 men sat around pushing one baby. It was perfect weather and showed off the view, so it was great. I have lots of stories that I need to blog, so after I sort threw all my emails I will get to posting.