Icey Day Entertainment!

It's been pretty cold here in the "Big D" this week! We have been home bound because of ice, so that means no park, shopping, or outside adventures. I have been trying to keep Eloise entertained indoors and was running low on options. We had done Play Dough, painted, colored, read, watched plenty of noggin, had a tea party, played dress up, etc. So, I was desperate for a new activity. Today I got creative. I let El pull out all of the Tupperware and make Tupperware towers! It ended up being one of my favorite activities we did this week!

The mess begins!
The tower is taller than Eloise!
Right before the tower tumbles!

Afterwards Eloise got creative and made a Tupperware "chair" (Too bad she wouldn't smile for the camera!)

Tummy time and smiles!

Lucie has been doing tummy time a lot lately. We are trying to get her "trunk" (Neck and back) muscles stronger! She doesn't love it but, the other day when she was doing tummy time in bed she rolled over! I was a bit shocked, honestly. She has yet to do it again. I wonder if it had something to do with being on a soft mattress? Who knows, but her mommy was SO proud of her!

Lucie has also started smiling at us! I love it when I walk up and she gets a big grin! I think she may have inherited mommy's dimple too (but it isn't showing up in pictures!)

El kissing "sissy" during tummy time

Smiles!

BIG Smiles!

Story time with Daddy

The other night I was cleaning up after dinner and it was unusually quiet for our house. I wandered around looking for the family and found them in the guest room reading books! I took a picture because I thought it was so sweet to see my three favorite people readng together!

"Down to the river, and through the woods, to grandmothers house we go!!"

Last weekend we went to my parent’s river house in Seguin. It is so relaxing there and Eloise loves it (one day Lucie will too!) We had fun visiting, sitting by the campfire, hitting the after Christmas sales, going to the park, feeding the ducks, and taking tractor rides! On Saturday my parents watched the girls so Patrick and I could go on a date! We had a great time and can’t wait to go back again. Here are a few photos from our trip.

The view of the house from the river

Papa feeding the ducksCoCo and El down by the river!

Eloise LOVED duck watching!
Lucie stayin warm and napping in the portable swing!

At the park

Patrick and Eloise on a "tractor ride" with Papa as the driver!

A visit from my best pal, Holly!

While in Houston last week, we were lucky enough to get a visit from an old friend! Holly is one of my dearest friends! We have known each other since middle school, were roommates in college, and served as bridesmaids in each others weddings! I feel so lucky to have her in my life and am so glad that my girls will know her. Thanks, Holly, for always being there!

Pigtails!

El's hair is getting a little bit longer, so I experimented with pigtails! I had to distract her by letting her play in the bathroom sink while I styled, but I think they turned out cute. I can't wait for it to get even longer so it looks even better!

10 Random Facts About Yours Truly!

I was tagged by my friend, Katy, to share 10 random facts about myself. This is going to be hard... but here I go!

1. I secretly miss small town life. I always griped about Lubbock and Waco, but somewhere deep inside me, I liked it. The best things about small town life are less traffic, less road rage, and nicer people (who open doors for you and wave... even when you don't know them!)

2. I can't stand it when people don't spell check their posts or e-mails. Occasional errors are understandable.. but not frequently. Tons of misspelled words make you look ignorant. It takes 2 extra seconds people... it's worth the time!

3. I love to play dorky games like Scrabble and Sudoku. When I was on bed rest with Eloise my husband bought me a Nintendo DS so I could play these games in bed! :) Isn't he a nice guy?

4. I am a huge klutz... not a big surprise to some of you! Once in college I flipped backwards over a handrail in the middle of a packed lecture hall. I was jumping up to sit on it, and over jumped. BOOM! There I was, laying on the ground... too mortified to get up because so many people saw. These kind of things happen to me all the time!

5. I have never been able to nap! I wish I could, but my mind can't rest. I lay down and start thinking of all the things I need to be doing instead of sleeping. The ONLY time you will ever see me napping, is if I am extremely sick!

6. Ever since my pregnancy, I can't eat grilled chicken. I have to cut it up into tiny pieces and saute it! There is something about the fibrous texture of a huge piece of chicken that grosses me out!

7. I love to watch crime TV (something we have in common, Katy!) I love to watch "Cold Case Files", "Snapped", and other documentary type crime shows! Also, fictional ones like "Law and Order: SVU"

8. I am falling out of love with "Grey's Anatomy." I don't like the storyline anymore, and the actors on the show all seem so whiny. I am thinking about not watching it anymore.

9. I LOVED the Twilight book series. Seriously, a book about vampires?? I shocked myself with this one. I read the entire series in 2 weeks! I can totally understand why any adolescent girl is completely in love with the main male character, Edward Cullen.

10. My pet peve is seeing non-college-aged people wearing their old sorority/fraternity t-shirts. Get over it; it's time to get some new shirts! However, hypocritically, I can't bring myself to get rid of my old sorority t-shirts. I hold so many fond memories from college. I have said I was going to make a quilt out of them numerous times, but haven't done it yet. I will not wear them anymore. So, for the time being, they are taking up valuable room in one of my closets!

OK, I tag Vandi, KC, and Wendy! I hope this is easier for you guys than it was for me!

Bathtime!

Eloise got some cool bath crayons as a "Big Sister" gift from her cousin (totally cool idea, BTW.) I took some pictures of her using them. They write on both the tub and skin; plus, it wipes off with a wet sponge! (My little neat freak loves to clean it, too!) Anyhow, I just think it's the coolest invention since sliced bread!

I am also posting a few pictures from Lucie's first bath (she wasn't a big fan!) And, NO... it didn't happen just yesterday! They are old pictures from several weeks ago, however, I haven't posted them yet!

ALL ABOUT PATRICK

OK, my friend Vandi tagged me, so here I go.

All About Your Husband
1) Where did you meet? In Mass Communications Theories class at TTU. I was a sophomore, he was a junior.
2) How long did you date before you got married? 2 1/2 yrs.
3) How long have you been married? 5 years
4) What's your favorite feature of his? His smile
5) What's your favorite quality of his? His patience and sensitivity
6) Does he have a nickname for you? not that I can think of.
7) What is his favorite color? Green
8) What is his favorite food? He has several... Steak, Honey Baked Ham, and Pumpkin Pie
9) What is his favorite sport? Texas Tech football
10) When and where was your first kiss? In the driveway of his college house.
11) What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? Travel and play games
12) Do you have any children? 2 girls- Eloise Noelle and Lucie Rose
13) Does he have a hidden talent? He's a great dad and does really well with kids. He also makes a mean spaghetti!
14) How old is he? 29
15) Who said "I love you" first? Horribly, I can't remember! I bet it was me... He was so shy!
16) What is his favorite type of music? He likes lots of types of music, but his favorite artist is Nickelback
17) What do you admire most about him? His patience and ability to forgive and forget.
18) Do you think he will read this? Yes!
19) I tag... Holly, Lisa and Nissa

I DID IT!!!

Today was my first day, all alone, with two kids and no help!

I have been lucky. Because I had Lucie during the holidays, I got a little spoiled! Patrick had off work a lot and we had plenty of house guests that were able help me get adjusted to balancing two kids while nursing.

We had a good day! It was raining and icy outside, so we didn't get to do much, but we survived the day with no major meltdowns! Which is reason enough to celebrate.. SALUD!!

Eloise trying to soothe "sissy" by giving her a pacifier!

Lucie's getting sleepy!

Eloise "hammin' it up" for the camera.

4 Christmases!

Sorry it's a bit late, but I think my excuse is a valid one! After all, I am trying to get used to being a mother of 2 kids under the age of 2!

Christmas was different this year. We didn't travel to see either family, because Lucie was only a week old. Eloise, also, had a very high fever on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the day after; therefore, she was a little crabby.

Although it was unusual, it seemed Christmas went on, and on, and on. We had 4 Christmases this year (just like the movie!) The first on Christmas morning at our house, then my parents came the day after Christmas, we did another gift exchange with Patrick's aunts and uncles, ending with our last package opening with Patrick's parents. WHEW! It was exhausting!

Eloise was spoiled by both families. She got everything from new baby doll supplies such as cribs and strollers (to name a few) to tricycles and a motorcycle! Lucie got lots of great winter clothes, blankets and baby gear!

Unfortunately, I didn't get pictures at all of the package openings. So, if you did, send some to me and I will post them! Here are a few pictures of our Christmases....

I got my double stroller!! WATCH OUT Stonebriar Mall, here we come!

Eloise sporting one of several new pairs of jammies and slippers!
Yes, that's right, she has her very own motorcycle!


Playing with her new train set... Now it's her favorite word!

Lucie Goose (AKA Lucie Lu) doing what she does best... sleeping! She got lots of great gear too!
Eloise was really excited about her new tricycle! (She doesn't look thrilled in this pict. b/c she has a fever and she's tired... but I promise, she loved it!)
Patrick got a new electric hedge trimmer!! Look out HOA... Yard of the Month is in our future!

Eloise Playing with her new Magnadoodle!