Wicksteed

The girls and I met some friends out there today. We had fun and it was such a beautiful day. A lot of people had the idea to head out there but we still had a blast. The girls enjoyed being with their friends and Bells was a champ as always. I seem to have more pictures of Madison than Hannah...oh well.

Madison was so brave and did this ride by herself! Her friend who was going to go with her was too short to go....but Madison did it anyway...and then 2 more times after that. She would have kept going if I didn't say that we were leaving.

I was done at 5:15! I was exhausted! I'm getting old or something...perhaps it's being pregnant. I forget I am...like I was ready to ride a ride and then I was like oh yeah...I shouldn't. Such a fun day and we can't wait to hit Lego Land this weekend....well at least those who can ride the rides.

Some happy girls

Happy 1st Birthday Isabella!

I can't believe it's been a year. It goes by so fast. Bells was grumpy on her special day...I think she's battling a little cold. She really didn't show any interest in opening the presents...she liked the balloons much better. We spent about 20 minutes looking through the balloons with her and talking. I think that was the highlight of her birthday. Now that she's one...she feels she needs to walk and wants to hold our hand everywhere. I really need to just such it up and get into Clarks to get her some new shoes. She also has found her temper...isn't it a little soon? I think we are already in the terrible 2's...or having a glimpse of them. Bells has always been a talker...she says words already but now she does this, "yabba dabba dabba yabba do," thing...it's pretty funny. She does it for a really long time and I think she's trying or thinking she's singing. We all love our Bells and couldn't imagine our lives without her. She makes us smile and laugh every day. Dan showing Bells what to do....

She didn't want to let go of the balloons.

Bells was finally getting into looking at her new toys Dan was opening.
She loved Aunt Nicole's books.
I didn't catch her face while she tried her new bike out...she was loving it.

I think she was most excited about this animal train toy. Bells had seen it and even played with it in the box before her birthday. It made her day it was finally out of the box and Dan couldn't open it fast enough.
She didn't want to touch her cake....

She wanted the plate.

And then the fork made things better.
She had about two bites of her cake and then she was done and wasn't messy at all. That's my kid!

And another...

Her 7th tooth has finally come out! She's been wiggling that tooth for weeks.

On a side note...today while we were headed up to the doctors for Hannah's sports physical, Madison said the cutest thing. It went like this:

"Mum, you're only going to be 36 when I'm 15. That is like so young."

"I guess. Is that a good thing?"

"Yes. That means you'll be with me longer so that will be good."

Letting me have a moment

I am tired! I didn't sleep well at all last night and so I'm a little on edge today and the girls are of course being a little difficult. I convinced Madison to keep Bells entertained for just a little bit while I just veg out for a minute. Hannah is preoccupied with the bug catcher my mom sent in the mail today...she's outside capturing creatures. I was cleaning up the room when this came in the room....

Dan Brown = Amazing

I'm so super proud of Dan. He's a great dad and husband and he's doing well at work. Today, he was recognized by his commanding officer for his job well done with making changes to a brief they use. He received another command coin, this is his second, but this time it was the Captain's personal one. That's Dan, willing to make changes to something that is fine but knows it can be better. I know I said this already but I am so proud of him!!!

In other news...the girls did tennis lessons today. Madison did them when we first got here but she wasn't that into it after awhile. This time Hannah is doing them as well along with some of their friends and they had a blast. I think we may have to continue the lessons during school.

I had to take some pictures for my mom of the girls today and Bells gave me this face....goodness she's so cute! I love how she smiles with an underbite to show her two teeth.

They love pasta

Yes, that is my baby covered in spaghetti...The picture is mostly for my sister...she knows I hate the girls getting all dirty.

In other exciting news...Dan is off the watch completely! No more having to go in and cover for people....YAY! He only had to do it a few times with his last job but every time it was when we had something planned so it was a major bummer.

4 more weeks

We had to go in and get a scan done with the baby. Unfortunately they weren't able to tell what the baby's gender is...the baby was all over the place doing acrobatics...and then decided to go horizontally face down. The baby was measuring just about right...2 days smaller than the 16 weeks according to the due date...but I was just happy to see the heart beat and see it moving around. Miraculously the somethings that were a concern with my health disappeared...just like my heart murmur...and so that was a relief! It still cracks me up every time I go in and start talking to the tech, they ask me if it's my first. If they didn't get it right then they just assume it's my second. Then I tell them it's my 4th and I get the whole, "Wow! 4 kids! You're like a pro at this." I guess Dan has been getting the same at work when people find out his wife is expecting and they assume it's his 2nd...and then when they find out it's his 4th he gets the "Whoa!" I guess 4 kids is a lot....after 3 I've come to the conclusion it's all the same...you're out numbered anyway so it really doesn't make a difference how many you have from there on.

Buckingham Palace

Today while the girls were in summer camp...a friend and I headed down to London to see Buckingham Palace. I didn't think I had seen it but then I saw pictures when I got home and I have been there! To make it seem like I'm not a complete ditz...I had just had Bells and so I was lacking sleep and running on low....and to be honest...after awhile all the palaces and house start looking the same. We didn't take a picture in front of the palace...but I do have one from the time before so it works out. We did get one in front of oh goodness...I can't remember the name...it wasn't Hyde or Green...it was the other one. We then had lunch at the cafe in the gardens after a very vocal tour...Bells was very loud and then she got a little grumpy...it was lunch time. She scarfed down some of my sandwich and all of the strawberries...so delicious. We then hoped on the tube and headed to Oxford Street to do some shopping and eat at a little cafe...we needed a drink...it got warm...and of course a dessert. Bells was once again loud and she got a balloon for all her vocal abilities....we got lousy service...how many times must you ask for the bill....and then headed back to the Kings Cross. A fun day....although....I am so sore. I chose not to take the stroller just since it's a pain to hull it up and down the stairs all the time and I wasn't sure if it was going to rain and wet tires = super dirty pants on the back from carrying the front end of the stroller. It wasn't at all bad through out London...but when I got home...yeah...I was feeling it. I also was dumb and wore new shoes...so I have blisters. We caught the SLOW train and I was 10 minutes late picking up the girls but they were so understanding and my friend had called and told them our situation. Madison and Hannah were of course jealous we had been down to London...and Bells I forgot to mention was very chatty on the way home. Crazy kid....she's screech her high pitch screech and then notice something out of the window and be quiet. It was then followed by a very loud DAD. She's always calling out for him...I think she thinks he's just going to pop out of nowhere when she calls. And have I mentioned how sore I am....25 extra pounds in the front kills after walking around for 6 hours.

Things that make me smile

around 5:30 every evening this is what happens...

And she loves to dance...the cutest is in her car seat while I'm diving...I look back and I see this little body swaying and screeching.

Mum who?

This morning was chaotic...but at 8:30 I had all the girls in the car and we headed to Hinchingbrooke for Madison and Hannah's first day of summer camp. We went up to registration with lunches, water bottles and swimming kits in tow and as soon as the guy came up to take them to their groups they just left...no goodbye. I felt it was a "YES! No mum! All fun and no chores day!" And so I stood there with Bells in my arms saying, "Bye girls. Have fun." Yeah...I think maybe...just maybe I got a half way glance back from Hannah with her half smile.

So quiet in the house...Bells was taking a nap. I attempted to clean up the tornado mess that happened this morning. Seriously...how does my house get turned upside down in like 15 minutes? I was somewhat successful. Bells woke up...we came downstairs and she is loving the "Aliens Wear Underpants" book....it has such bright pictures.

I know..there is a flash mark on the last picture...I'm too lazy being lazy to fix it. She's yelling "Dad!" That's her word now...she says it all the time. She can say other words but she chooses to only say that one...she kind of likes him a little bit. And so she stares out the windows looking and yelling for dad. I can hear her right now....I think she's checking the back door incase he's out on the trampoline....crazy kid.

Um....no!

Madison asked me the other day about the movie Greece! I was like WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!?????? I honestly can't stand that movie. There are many reasons as to why....Road Show at church...yeah unless you were related to some people in particular, were a "like" interest of the people who you needed to be related to or were related to someone important like a member of the bishopric...you got a crappy part. I had a retarded part but I don't think as retarded as my last road show where I was a lame door...yes a door...and I thought I was going to get a better part since I was graduating high school that year...um....no...I was still not part of the above group and so they put me behind a door! Seriously...I wasn't that ugly! Anyway...I think it took me around 10 times at least to watch that movie in entirety. I've never watched it from beginning to end in one sitting....it is in fact like the Great Race...wait I can't say that since I have watched the Great Race from beginning to end and I DO like that movie...it's just like 5 hours long and I can't sit and watch a movie that long...where as Greece is just retarded. It's like that show Glee...I don't get it and couldn't watch a full episode. It's just not my genre. And so I told Madison no we're not ever going to watch that movie in our house...she's going to have to watch it at somebody else's house or after she moves out....and she was okay with it. I think I convinced her it is a waste of 2 hours. YES!

Bells

This kid makes me smile all the time....maybe since she's always smiling.

Happy 7th Birthday Madison!

Wow! I can't believe it....I have a 7 year old....I feel so old! Madison is one special girl. She is defiantly a daddy's girl but I know she loves me too. She is funny, sweet, such a great help and an excellent example to her little sisters and to me. I love how she will be all serious, look at you and then do her cheesy no tooth grin that looks fake but at the same time you know it's sincere. Dan and I were talking about that grin just the other day...it makes us smile. She's so thoughtful...always making cards for us, doing the dishes for me...yes, she unloads and loads the dishwasher...and she's usually willing to do what we ask of her. She says some funny, quirky things that just make us laugh...and us think...how and when did you come up with that?
Madison woke up to Swedish pancakes and sausage...her favorite breakfast even though Grandma Nancy wasn't here to make them...mine passed the taste test. She answered calls in the morning from family and then was able to convince us to let her open presents from extended family. Dan took Madison and Bells to Cambridge, Hannah and I stayed here and ran some last minute errands and decorated the house. Madison requested Spaghetti Bolognese for dinner....or as we like to call it....spaghetti boogienese and invited a friend over to spend the evening with us. We had ice cream cake, opened presents and then she played outside...the thing she likes doing best.
Dan doing what he does....

I love this crooked smile....

It's blurry...for some reason I focused on the strings instead of the girls...I still thought it was cute.

Hannah's present to her.
We wanted Madison to pick out a bike for one of her birthday presents....unfortunately they were unsuccessful...so Dan took her to Build a Bear....it made her day!
Making her wish.....A fun day full of lots of fun. Now it's time for a family movie...The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, followed by camping out in the tents again. They love those things.

Uh-oh!!!

I think with her sister's encouragement.....

I'm so not ready for her to be climbing up and down the stairs....the stairs are deadly in this house....Dan and I have slipped many times...they are way too steep. It's not going to stop her though.

I had to add this picture...my beautiful girls.