April 30, 2012 PICS

Our little bird friends are growing fast!!

I tried to get a picture of both of them sitting at the top...unsuccessfully. :)

Flora loves her "wee-oo"s!

Sammy and his steering wheels!

It is very difficult to get two 2-year-olds to stay together and hold still while playing the harmonica...but you get the idea. :)

April 30, 2012

Name: Flora Date: 4-30-12 Arrived: 7:15am Breakfast: 7:20am, some cereal and milk Snack: ---- Nap 1: ---- Lunch: 11:45, all applesauce, all veggies, all blueberries, 2/3 of pizza, most of hummus Nap 2: 12:50-1:50 Snack 2: 3pm, cereal BM: 3pm Special notes: I keep forgetting to tell you that Flora needs more wipes when you think of it. Name: Samuel Date: 4-30-12 Arrived: 7:30am Breakfast: already ate Snack: ---- Nap 1: ---- Lunch: 11:45am, all yogurt, a few apples with PB, a little bit of sweet potato Nap 2: 12:30pm-2:00ish Snack 2: 3pm, pretzels and 1/2 slice of bread BM: not yet Special notes: Sammy was pretty grumpy after we got home from the park…I really think some days he is just tired early. This turns into not eating well at lunch, but I think it all worked out. By the time we hung out in his room and read stories, he actually asked for a nap. He was ready. Maybe we will start trying napping earlier…I know you (Andrea) and I have discussed this before. We can talk about it again! :) A few things we did today: We went for a lovely walk this morning, then we headed to Hanover Park. The kids had a great time! We also played outback after naps as well as played a little bit with the hose…THAT was fun! The kids just giggled and giggled! General notes: Hanover Park is a really nice place to visit with the kids. I still get a little bit nervous now and then when the kids get a little farther apart and one of them starts to climb a little high, but they are definitely getting better at climbing, and I’m handling it a little better (at least I think so!). I was so impressed…I saw a lady at the park today and talked to her very briefly; she had 5 kids with her, all probably 4 and under, and she brought them all together in a vehicle! Crazy. I thought it was hard enough rounding up two little guys. But it also gave me hope for babysitters that even if you have more than 2 kids, it is still possible to go out! :)

April 26, 2012 PICS

Here are a few pictures from the last few days...

A little update on the baby birdies...not exactly "cute," but beautiful in their own way...maybe... :)

The kids love to read in the little mat box.

One day Sammy decided he would take his snack out of his snack cup and tote it around in his wagon...

April 25, 2012

No Pics Today, but I do have a couple pics from the other day...I will try to post them soon. The kids were great today! We went to the Community Park and walked around for a while, then played on the small playground. From there we stopped by Moon Co-op, then came home and hung out. Both kids ate a decent lunch (no morning snack), and both of them had super naps! Sammy fell asleep about 1pm and slept until 4pm, and Flora fell asleep about 1:20 and woke up at 3:20. Crazy!! Not much else to report today.

April 24, 2012

No Pics Today. Name: Flora Date: 4-24-12 Arrived: 7:10am Breakfast: 7:15am, just a couple bites of muffin Snack: 9:30, 3 banana cookies Nap 1: ---- Lunch: 11:45am, most grapes, most applesauce, all cheese, all veggies, a big banana cookie Nap 2: 1-2:15pm Snack 2: 2:30, banana cookie BM: 12:30pm Special notes: Name: Samuel Date: 4-24-12 Arrived: 7:30am Breakfast: already ate Snack: 9:30, 3 banana cookies Nap 1: ---- Lunch: 11:45am, all melon, a little applesauce, all cauliflower, some bread, big banana cookie, some chips and guac Nap 2: 12:55-2pm Snack 2: 3:45, graham crackers BM: not yet Special notes: A few things we did today: We took a trip to Kroger, then came home and made banana cookies for Flora’s birthday! Also did other things around the house: played with stickers, played with play-doh, sang songs, listened to music, practiced the alphabet, etc. General notes: We celebrated Flora’s birthday with a very big cookie and two candles. She did great blowing them out, and then she kept singing the birthday song. :)

April 19, 2012

Had a couple pics, but not sure if they are post-worthy. May post them another time with other pictures. Name: Flora Date: 4-19-12 Arrived: 7:10am Breakfast: 7:15am, some oatmeal, some applesauce Snack: ---- Nap 1: ---- Lunch: 11:55am, some cheese, most of couscous, all grapes, rest of applesauce, half of yogurt Nap 2: 1pm-3:30pm Snack 2: left with Dad BM: 8am Special notes: Flora woke up just a few minutes after falling asleep and seemed pretty upset. We sat together for a little bit, then I put her back down. She seemed ok. I noticed today, though, that her eyes were often a little red and watery, and her nose was constant today. Do you think maybe she has some kind of allergy? I would normally have thought it the end of her cold, but with the red watery eyes today, it made me wonder… Name: Samuel Date: 4-19-12 Arrived: 7:30am Breakfast: 7:15am, all eggs, slice of bread, most of banana Snack: ---- Nap 1: ---- Lunch: 12:05pm, some mixed fruit, most muffin, most cauliflower, all yogurt, all strawberries Nap 2: 1pm-2:20pm Snack 2: 2:45pm, rest of banana, rest of muffin BM: not yet Special notes: A few things we did today: Today we stayed around the house and did things such as coloring, playing with the mats, going for a walk, singing, etc. General notes: The kids were really great again today. They especially loved the mats today for some reason. We built a box, and they loved going in it with their books to read as well as hiding in it.

April 18, 2012 PICS

From a while back... :)


This was taken a while back at dinner, when Sammy was trying to wink like Pappy.


We found a robin's nest in the back yard. It will be fun to keep an eye on it!


Though a little fuzzy, you can see the kids had fun today playing with our "limbo" stick.


Flora was so close to blowing dandelions by herself...however, pay close attention and you'll notice in the second picture that she couldn't quite keep it off of her lips... :)


Just for fun while I was on the floor with the camera. :)

April 18, 2012 post

Name: Flora
Date: 4-18-12
Arrived: 7:10am
Breakfast: 7:15am, half whole wheat blueberry pancake, half oatmeal
Snack: no snack
Nap 1: ----
Lunch: 12:10pm, rest of oatmeal, all applesauce, all veggies, most cheese, I think that was it…? Seems like there was something else…
Nap 2: 1:10pm-2:40
Snack 2: 2:45pm, crackers
BM: 8am, 12:45pm
Special notes:


Name: Samuel
Date: 4-18-12
Arrived: 7:30am
Breakfast: 8am, some oatmeal, most banana
Snack: No snack
Nap 1: ----
Lunch: 12:10pm, some more oatmeal (most of the rest from breakfast), all carrots, all pizza, all melon, half pineapple, a little rice and cheese
Nap 2: 1:20pm-3pm
Snack 2: 3:15pm, mix
BM: 12:45pm
Special notes:

A few things we did today: Walked to the library!

General notes: I was a little nervous to try walking all the way to the library…I knew it could backfire if the kids got upset at the library and then we had a 35-minute walk ahead of us. Instead, it turned out beautifully! The kids were absolutely wonderful the entire way there and the entire way back, and we decided to stay for “story time,” which also went very well. The kids didn’t cry or whine or anything and just really seemed to take it all in. It was a lovely morning. Lunch was much better today, too, and they both went down for a nap with no hassle. Why can’t every day be like this?? :) Feel free to commend them for their outstanding behavior today. They really did do a super job.

April 18, 2012

Internet does not work at the house right now, so no post for now. I have a post ready if it comes back, as well as a few pictures. I am now accessing the web from my IPod at Ben's.

April 17, 2012

No Pics Today.

Name: Flora
Date: 4-17-12
Arrived: 7:10am
Breakfast: 7:15am, most of French toast
Snack: 10:30am, just a little bit of crackers
Nap 1: ----
Lunch: 12:15pm, most of blueberries, all of cheese, most of veggies, a bite of banana, all applesauce, some hummus
Nap 2: 1:40-3:15
Snack 2: with Grandma
BM: 12:30pm
Special notes: Had a small snack today because other kids were snacking.


Name: Samuel
Date: 4-17-12
Arrived: 7:30am
Breakfast: 7:30am, banana, slice of bread, eggs
Snack: 10:30, a few crackers
Nap 1: ----
Lunch: 12:15, 2 bites of rice
Nap 2: 1:45-still sleeping!
Snack 2: not yet…
BM: 10am
Special notes: Had a small snack today because other kids were snacking. Lunch was a trial. I am not sure what was wrong with him…just tired? He ended up telling me that he wanted to take a nap, so I just gave up on lunch after a long bit of crying and tried to put him down. He didn’t want that either, though (I think he was in one of those “I’m so tired that I don’t even know what I want” phases). I tried bringing him back down to eat, tried putting him back down. He cried for a long time. Poor guy. The story goes on (it gets a little crazy), but you can ask me about it later…

A few things we did today: Went Krogering, went to the park, and went on a walk. We saw Milo at Kroger, and then again at the park, so the kids got some play time together. :)

General notes:

April 16, 2012

No Pics Today.

Name: Flora
Date: 4-16-12
Arrived: 7:05am
Breakfast: 7:10am, about 1/2 of French toast
Snack: No snack
Nap 1: ----
Lunch: 11:50am, almost all veggies, all applesauce, all blueberries, a little cheese, some hummus, the rest of French toast
Nap 2: 1:10pm-3:10pm
Snack 2: left before…
BM: 12:30pm
Special notes: Flora is counting a lot!!! Pretty cool. :)


Name: Samuel
Date: 4-16-12
Arrived: 7:30am
Breakfast: already ate
Snack: No snack
Nap 1: ----
Lunch: 11:50am, all muffin, all sweet potato, all cauliflower, about half of apples (with PB), the rest of the hummus
Nap 2: 1:10pm-3:10pm
Snack 2: 3:30pm, graham crackers
BM: not yet
Special notes: Andrea, I paid attention to the “Soooooo…” on the mouse book. You were right! (For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, Samuel is beginning to say words in books before we read them on the page. Pretty fun!)

A few things we did today: Played in the house, music, read books, went for a walk.

General notes: I decided to just stay home today, figuring the kids would be entertained enough by each other after not hanging out much for a week. They were both wonderful today! Only a couple minor squabbles here and there, lots of giggling. When they wanted the tunnel out today, I told them they had to help me clean up first, and they were both fantastic helpers! I’m sure it will be nice when they get older and the parents can pawn some of the chores off on them. :) hehe We also had a lovely walk just as the rain was ending this morning. The kids are still rather obsessed with “Apples and Bananas” and I noticed that Flora is now singing almost all of the lyrics. :)

If you were wondering about snack time in the morning, I have noticed that the kids have not been asking for their snacks as much, and they also don’t seem very hungry at lunch, so I decided to try skipping the morning snack. Neither one of them asked for any kind of food until 11:45am, and they both ate really healthy lunches, so if it is ok with the Ruthers (I already discussed this with Andrea), then I think I might continue the no-snack mornings unless the kids are asking and seem really hungry. Let me know! I didn’t blog last Thursday because I don’t usually blog on the last day of the work week, but I also tried this the Thursday before break and it seemed rather successful.

April 4, 2012

No Pics Today.

Name: Flora
Date: 4-4-12
Arrived: 7:15am
Breakfast: 7:15am, muffin
Snack 10:15am, all crackers
Nap 1: ----
Lunch: 12:20pm, all cheese, some carrots, all applesauce, quite a bit of hummus
Nap 2: 1:50-3:20
Snack 2: 3:20, one of Sammy’s cookies and part of the bar
BM: sometime this morning…can’t remember when exactly
Special notes: I enjoyed watching Flora walk on our storm drain like a balance beam. :)


Name: Samuel
Date: 4-4-12
Arrived: 7:35am
Breakfast: 8:40am, eggs and banana
Snack 10:15, mix
Nap 1: ----
Lunch: 12:20, all sweet potato, all applesauce, all bread, all cauliflower, all apple, some PB to dip
Nap 2: 1:20-2:50
Snack 2: 3:20, a cookie and part of Flora’s bar
BM: 10:15am
Special notes:

A few things we did today: Today was finally a day of just staying around the house (gotta have one of those once in a while!). We went for a walk, and then mostly the kids played around the house and in the backyard.

General notes: If you think to pack finger food tomorrow, that would be great! Thanks.

April 3, 2012

No Pics Today.

Name: Flora
Date: 4-3-12
Arrived: 7:15am
Breakfast: 7:15am, 1/2 banana muffin
Snack 10:15am, crackers (from yesterday that I forgot to send back with her)
Nap 1: ----
Lunch: 12:20, all grapes, all cheese, few carrots, all applesauce, rest of muffin
Nap 2: 1:55-2:45
Snack 2: 3:10 crackers
BM: I am having trouble remembering if she pooped when I changed her before nap time…I think so…? But now I am second guessing and thinking not…I remember her tooting while I was wiping her… ha…Don’t worry, I kept a straight face and didn’t laugh. :)
Special notes: Flora ate much better today. I tried a system Andrea suggested which was “If you eat this, then you can have some of this…” kind of thing. It seemed to work pretty well if I held out for a minute or two while she complained about it. She usually came around. Naptime was more difficult today, though. Well, not more difficult for me, but she had a harder time going to sleep. Yesterday I think she fell asleep after 5 minutes, but today she sat up there and talked to herself, pulled the mattress back, etc., for about 40 minutes before she finally went down (1:55).

I also attempted to do the saline solution, and I think I got some in, but she also got a treatment on her face, too, as I missed her nostril once or twice as she wiggled around. :)


Name: Samuel
Date: 4-3-12
Arrived: 7:45am
Breakfast: ate before
Snack 10:15, all graham crackers
Nap 1: ----
Lunch: 12:20, all broccoli, all cheese, most chicken, all yogurt, all applesauce
Nap 2: 1:20-2:45
Snack 2: 3:15, mini wheats
BM: 10:30am
Special notes: Andrea, you’re a genius. That totally worked to get Sammy to eat stuff. I lured him with cheese… :)

A few things we did today: Well, we went for a walk this morning (have a mentioned how much I love having warmer weather?!?!), headed to the Tri to play on the playground (a lot of the people who showed up for open gym are coming to the playground now, which is nice! We even got to see Milo briefly!), drove through the bank window, and went grocery shopping at Kroger. It was a good morning.

General notes: The kids were really quite well-behaved today. A good day!

April 2, 2012

No Pics Today.

Sorry, forgot to post! I'll do a quick overview.

So, breakfast was interesting, as I couldn't find Sammy's, and Flora didn't want her bread, so I made both kids oatmeal. Funny thing was, I later found Flora's oatmeal in the bottom of her lunchbox, and Sammy's oatmeal was in the freezer cooling off. :) Either way, they both enjoyed oatmeal this morning. Flora didn't eat a whole lot, but some at least. Sammy ate quite a bit plus a banana.

We went for a walk this morning, the we ventured out, first to Millet (yes, Adriane, we mostly just watched the buses...great idea!) where we sat in the grass and had a snack. We then went to Wal-mart, where the highlight was probably the fish in pet section. From there, it was back home to hang out for a bit, then lunch and nap.

Lunch: Neither kid ate much of anything. Sammy had a yogurt, 1/2 banana, and I think that was it...? Flora ate some oatmeal and I think that was it. I decided I wasn't going to fight with them (I suppose they know when they are hungry...and I know they aren't going to starve!), so we just had a short lunch, read a book, and took naps.

Flora's nap was short (about an hour), but she seemed pretty content so I let her stay in her crib for a bit. Sammy slept over 2 hours.

What was left of the afternoon was spent mostly in the backyard and on the back porch. Hooray for good weather!!!

I think that's about it.