Abby says "I wanna talk to Daddy"
Abby picks up phone and screams in it "hello Daddy"
Abby looks at mommy and says "Daddy no talking to me"
Abby looks at phone and says "I need to push green button"
Abby pushes button and I hear the dial tone and she screams into the phone again "hello Daddy"
Then she looks at Hannah and says "you wanna talk to Daddy Hannah?"
Abby hands Hannah the phone and Hannah says into it "hello daddy, you working? have a good day. I love you"
I hear the fast dial tone....and they have moved on to their paper dolls for now....
So sweet - the girls love their daddy (who is actually at a client meeting in Chattanooga today - good luck - smiley face).
A Half
We are now at the stage when "a half" makes such a big difference. This past week - every time someone has asked me the girls ages, when I reply 5, 3 and 2, Lexy QUICKLY corrects me that's she's "5 and a half", then Hannah quickly chimes in also that she's "3 and a half"....and they are right....but it's funny to me how important that half is - smiley face!
Rainy Day FUN!
Abby after she woke up from her nap...all three girls have worn this dress that my mom made - LOVE IT - smiley face!
Hannah had to get in on the photo opp - smiley face!
Thanks Aunt Meredith for the spin art painting - we LOVE it and look forward to warmer days (b/c mommy won't let us use it inside - smiley face)
Music Class
The girls looked so cute in the scarves at Music Class...Maggie & Ani Dunkerley, Abby & Hannah Faklaris and Lindsey Crosby....smiley face!
so sweet....hannah & georgie
George was so sweet - his mom told me that when they were out shopping, he picked out this snow globe to give to Hannah for Valentine's Day. He was SO EXCITED to give it to her, when we picked him (and Elizabeth his sister - Lexy's playdate) up from school, he tore through the tissue paper to pull it out for Hannah....adorable - smiley face!
Happy Birthday Kaia!
Had to share two of the pictures...Abby smiling in one & Hannah in the other - hee hee!
It was the girls cousin's 5th birthday (yes - Kaia is the same age as Lexy, but the same size as Hannah - our girls are sweet, lovable giants - smiley face). She had a Fancy Nancy tea - no boys allowed, but Uncle Chris did crash it - notice how hard he was concentrating on the beading for the necklace & braclets he was making for the girls (too funny that he was left doing their craft - hee hee)....love the tongue hanging out and all - smiley face! We were unable to stay for the family celebration, but thanks to Nana & Papa for keeping them overnight (the girls had a ball - smiley face) - we had a date night out & enjoyed the cirque show Kooza - it was INCREDIBLE!!!! My hands hurt from clapping so much, my shoulders were tense from worrying about them doing such incredible acts and my mouth hurt from smiling/laughing so much...but it was all good pain - smiley face. Such a fun night - thanks for planning it Chris - you are the best!
"The best playdate ever"
Hannah had a fun playdate at Jane Brooks house with Maggie & Ella too - so I had Lexy invite her BFFs over for the afternoon - Sam, Kate D and Josie. It was a BEAUTIFUL day outside - so we had a scavenger hunt...as I was sending the kids downstairs so I could hide everything and mark the map - I heard one of them say "this is the best playdate ever" - I think it has less to do with me and all that I was doing and totally with the fact that they are the best of friends - so wonderful....I wonder what next year will bring when Lexy & Sam start kindergarten in one school and Josie & Kate in another?! I can't let myself worry about it too much - although trust me, I do try too - hee hee! Good times - good friends - that's what life is about - smiley face!
Daddy's outing....
The girls were adorable in their sunglasses (it was really bright) as we gave daddy his day and went up to the lake to do what else, look for homes to invest in - smiley face! Dare I get excited?! LOL buddy - smiley face - we love you & all you do for our family - fun and future all in one!!!!
Routine
Sweet girls one Friday morning before school/gymnastics (yes - Hannah & Abby have their leotards on under those clothes - smiley face).
Hannah showing the sweet ballerina Georgie gave to her via Lexy & Elizabeth - so thoughtful - smiley face!
Lexy wearing her Inaguration Day hat she had on for her parade around the preschool. Notice the girls wore Red, White & Blue that day - such a patriotic mom I am, huh? purely coincidence - smiley face!!!!!!
Abby posed for the camera one COLD day - and put her hand on her hip and said she had "sass" - seriously cute - smiley face! Her teachers were funny this day & said they had never seen her in jeans before....I'm all about girls being cute as long as I can help it...hee hee!
We've gotten back into our routine - it took sometime after the fun holidays (I can't believe it's already Jan 26 - where did the month go) and I'm still trying to catch up on a few things (juggling too many balls right now with all my commitments - and of course I create more for myself by wanting us to do so much....Chris was just saying last night we want the best for our family - we want to enrich our lives by traveling, enjoying cultural nights out, him learning spanish - but we also want to contribute to the church and community (volunteering, making sandwiches, teaching, etc) and be there for the fun unplanned moments in our girls lives...all while trying to be successful in our professional life and beyond - how do we find that balance?! smiley face).
Anyway...back to my point about routine - we are getting there...I just have to kick myself into gear with my workouts again - smiley face. Chris was awesome and tried to help last night by making lunch for the girls and picking out their clothes the night before - only to find out we really have no lunch bunch on Monday nor set plans so I didn't have to rush in the morning - sweet, sweet man - smiley face!
Mondays - Lexy to school, run by the bank & allergist, work out at the Y and go to playgroup.....afternoons have playdates sometimes or Mommy time others, but lots of fun while Lexy has tennis lessons/matches (and Hannah & Abby have a ball playing with the younger siblings on the sidelines) - and as much as we can - a family dinner around the table - blessing and all. We were fortunate to have that growing up & think it's so important today - it grounds us & brings us all together....who knows what the years to come will bring, but it's something we will always strive for - eating together at the end of the day - smiley face
Tuesdays - all girls to school, hopefully I'll start working out before school again - oh the best laid plans -smiley face....while I run errands (always the bank these days - smiley face - but I'm not complaining at all), maybe play a bit of tennis or go to bible study (depending on the day) then back to the preschool to pick sweet Abby up by noon. Lexy & Hannah stay late on Tuesdays for artSmart and cooking classes. Nice weather brings lots of fun outside in the afternoon for us - smiley face
Wednesdays - Lexy to school, run by the bank and get Hannah & Abby to Music Class (I can't believe I've been doing this class for 5 years now - with summers off - wow! The girls just LOVE it, but I'm looking forward to May when it's finally over - ha ha!). Hopefully get to the Y if I don't make it before school or have a meeting at church....maybe have a playdate or two that afternoon while Abby naps then head up to the church at 4:30 for Hannah's choir. Since it's so cold out now, we've started going to the church library while we wait instead of the playground (they have boardgames up there too)....then we switch while Lexy has her choir practice....and off to dinner (I've been trying to be good in the New Year and cook for us more - traditionally we have gone out to eat on Wednesdays b/c I'm sick of casseroles and that's all we can cook ahead of time since we are gone during dinner prep time b/c I'm not a crock pot mom - smiley face).
Thursdays - All girls to school again - tennis for me - and the bank occassionally - Thursdays are usually my day off for the bank - hee hee - back to pick sweet Abby up at noon. Hannah has ballet and Lexy stays late with her to play with her friends.....Thursday nights seem to be my nights for fun - dinners out, book clubs, neighborhood get togethers....lucky me Chris is so amazing and enjoys bath & bedtime for the girls - smiley face!!!!
Fridays bring Lexy's show & tell at school (usually I'm scrambling to figure out what to bring that's educational but fun and also coincides with the letter of the week), as well as another bank trip....hopefully time to go to the Y - but usually not. Then off to gymnastics for Abby & Hannah. Playdates in the afternoon for the girls and some fun family time that night.....
Saturday and Sunday bring family time, working around the house and church....I love that we do everything together on the weekends - smiley face. I know soccer will soon start and that will take up much of our Saturday - and tennis for Chris & I on the afternoons on Sunday - but for the most part, we are a family unit Saturday & Sunday....with dinner parties & what not thrown in there for Chris & I....lucky us we have great grandparents who the girls love spending time with to help on these often occassions - smiley face!
Life is busy, busy, but oh so good - I wouldn't trade it for the world -s miley face!
Big Day!
Not only did we go panty shopping for Hannah (she made it 3 nights with a dry pull up - and we are now on night 2 of dry pantys - woo hoo - think of the savings we are going to have), but we also went to the mall to get cookies as a treat for everyone - Abby ate Spaghetti - a FIRST!!!
Chris told Hannah that when she made it three nights with a dry pull up she would get to wear panties to bed...we've made it 2 nights many, many times - but the third night always brings a wet pull up so we've never made the transition. Chris gave her an extra incentive that when she made it - she'd get to go panty shopping and pick out her own (yes - all she has now are Lexy's hand-me-downs, but it's quite a good selection if I do say so myself - smiley face). She did it - woo hoo!
And we've been playing the "vitamin game" for a few months now with Hannah and last night it worked with Abby too - WOO HOO, YIPPEE and HOORAY!. The girls LOVE their gummy vitamins (something I said I wouldn't give them when we just had Lexy, but oh how time changes things!!!) and their Voots (similar to Juice Plus vitamins - we started them b/c Hannah doesn't eat veggies (she loves her fruit though) and Abby eats nothing so we wanted them to be getting something good in their bodies). When we start running out of patience that Hannah hadn't eaten anything we decided to make it a game....we'd say close your eyes and guess what we are putting in your mouth - it could be a vitamin, voot or some of her dinner. Last night Abby let us play the game with her and she actually ate her spaghetti - PROTEIN and VEGGIEs in her body at the same time?! AMAZING - smiley face! The first bite was a bit funny - honestly I think Abby's biggest problem is the textures of foods - but once she realized she liked the taste, she closed her eyes and opened her mouth many more times.
We did celebrate - and Daddy was happy too b/c we went to the mall and got his favorite - BIG fun cookies (we got little ones - double doozie for him!). Good days - smiley face!
Chris told Hannah that when she made it three nights with a dry pull up she would get to wear panties to bed...we've made it 2 nights many, many times - but the third night always brings a wet pull up so we've never made the transition. Chris gave her an extra incentive that when she made it - she'd get to go panty shopping and pick out her own (yes - all she has now are Lexy's hand-me-downs, but it's quite a good selection if I do say so myself - smiley face). She did it - woo hoo!
And we've been playing the "vitamin game" for a few months now with Hannah and last night it worked with Abby too - WOO HOO, YIPPEE and HOORAY!. The girls LOVE their gummy vitamins (something I said I wouldn't give them when we just had Lexy, but oh how time changes things!!!) and their Voots (similar to Juice Plus vitamins - we started them b/c Hannah doesn't eat veggies (she loves her fruit though) and Abby eats nothing so we wanted them to be getting something good in their bodies). When we start running out of patience that Hannah hadn't eaten anything we decided to make it a game....we'd say close your eyes and guess what we are putting in your mouth - it could be a vitamin, voot or some of her dinner. Last night Abby let us play the game with her and she actually ate her spaghetti - PROTEIN and VEGGIEs in her body at the same time?! AMAZING - smiley face! The first bite was a bit funny - honestly I think Abby's biggest problem is the textures of foods - but once she realized she liked the taste, she closed her eyes and opened her mouth many more times.
We did celebrate - and Daddy was happy too b/c we went to the mall and got his favorite - BIG fun cookies (we got little ones - double doozie for him!). Good days - smiley face!
The ride home....
Fingers in her mouth, juice in her lap, frog & blanket nearby - the girl was cracking me up....Hannah was singing & talking so Lexy couldn't hear HSM playing so we got out the headphones...Abby's weren't even turned on, but she wanted to be like her sister so she had to have them on too....too cute and mezmorized by the movie!
The Fort
The girls looking out for pirates....
At the entrance....
The had a cannon demonstration - it was LOUD but the girls thought it was so neat - Hannah wouldn't get in a picture with the gentlemen though - she wanted to watch from afar
After our fort visit, the girls were SPOILED in Kilwins (our FAVORITE ice cream & carmel apple store in the world - smiley face) - the man working was giving them samples of everything (choc covered strawberries and more). Abby enjoyed her sorbet the entire way home (Chris has a funnier picture of her on his iPhone) - she was covered in it!!!It's hard to believe, but in all the years we've been going to St Augustine together, Chris has never been inside the fort....the history buff that he is waited until our girls wanted to go to enjoy it for the first time (I haven't been since high school). After a delicious big breakfast from Grandpa, we walked (the girls rode their bikes/scooters) across the bridge to downtown. It was fun - and the girls stamped their National Park passports from Grandpa & Granny too!
The beach in January
Lexy wanted to go to the beach so much and build a sand castle...while the water was FREEZING, the day was BEAUTIFUL (I didn't pack appropriately - luckily I had never changed the extra clothes I keep in the car so they had sundresses to wear, even if they aren't my favorite & a bit too small - they worked perfectly as emergency FUN clothes - smiley face). Winter Wonderland
Love this picture of Chris & Hannah....before we took off on our sleigh ride!
Now that's excitement Abby - on Aunt Meredith's lap for the sleigh ride
Lexy and Granny on the sleigh ride
Making some yummy smores!
Abby in the elf village...she loved running in/out of all the housesWe enjoyed another evening at St Augustine Beach's Winter Wonderland...we all went on a sleigh ride, enjoyed some smores and walked through the Elf Village....they had a little snow too (and of course some cotton candy - smiley face). Thanks for the treat Grandpa & Granny - next year we'll consider letting Lexy do the ice slide - smiley face!
South Carolina had a rough bowl game....
But not b/c it didn't have the support of our family - smiley face. Here the girls are in their too small outfits (yes, Hannah should be wearing Lexy's and Abby should be wearing Hannah's and Abby's should be retired - but we just haven't found the next size up yet....smiley face). You'll get 'em next year Gamecocks...b/c we know we'll see you in your favorite Outback Bowl again in '09! LOL!
The excitment some stairs bring....
Thank you Daddy for building steps for the trampoline Santa brought - the girls couldn't wait to use them, so pjs & all, they piled on their coats (well Lexy had a coat on), hats & mittens and went to jump first thing in the am. (Lexy cracks me up - she tells EVERYONE that Abby asked for it on her list (Chris & I kind of suggested it - hee hee) and Santa brought it so it's really Abby's trampoline but she shares with everyone - smiley face).
My Sisters...My girls
Sweet Abby - whenever she wakes up from a nap the first thing she asks now is either..."where are my sisters" or "where are my girls" - it's adorable!!!!!!!! Love her - smiley face
Aquarium Visit
The girls with Aunt Meredith & Gma
Look at all those fish (and yes - it was a crowded Dec 30th so they all dressed alike - it's so much easier to look out in a crowd and only have to look for one outfit/pink bow - smiley face). 
The girls with Depot (and Aunt Meredith b/c Abby wasn't going alone!)
I never tire of looking at the jellyfish
The girls with their cousins - Sean and Kaia
Enjoying the diver
Thank you Gma for our Christmas gift - annual passes to the aquarium - we've missed all the fun it offers our family - smiley face!!!!
Funny, but pretty gross story....
Potty Training
We have potty trained Lexy & Hannah over Christmas break at my dad & Judy's house...it's just easier on us b/c we are together and in a different place so it's sometimes easier to start new habits away from home - plus we aren't on the go quite as much. We knew we were only going to be down here for 5 days instead of 7, so I attempted to start at home before we left - it didn't go well. Granted Abby is slightly younger than the girls were, but I didn't think 2 months would make a difference.....We tried again when we got here (or Chris did - smiley face) - Abby has never gone on the potty - she sits on it - but she always waits until she's off it & has her panties back on before going....getting everything wet. Yesterday was no different....she had an accident while we were outside....
Chris had just taken Abby's panties off and before we went inside to get her more, she was riding around on her tricycle, she's our third child & yes, we are way more lax than we ever were - smiley face...well, I guess she wasn't done going to the bathroom...then next thing I knew, she was walking up the driveway with poop in her hand - OMIGROSS! (or as Abby says "OMIGOSH" - no idea where she learned that?! smiley face). As she was walking up, Hannah was trying to tell Daddy what was going on but she couldn't stop gagging enough to do it (is she taking over Lexy's gagging reflex?) and Lexy just kept telling her to "stop talking about it - we aren't going to discuss it - it's too gross."
I was laughing histarically but at the same time, was grossed out. As I cleaned the poop up all over the bike & driveway, Chris cleaned up Abby....fun, fun, fun. His next declaration - she's not ready to be potty trained....so spring break we'll try again (smiley face).
We have potty trained Lexy & Hannah over Christmas break at my dad & Judy's house...it's just easier on us b/c we are together and in a different place so it's sometimes easier to start new habits away from home - plus we aren't on the go quite as much. We knew we were only going to be down here for 5 days instead of 7, so I attempted to start at home before we left - it didn't go well. Granted Abby is slightly younger than the girls were, but I didn't think 2 months would make a difference.....We tried again when we got here (or Chris did - smiley face) - Abby has never gone on the potty - she sits on it - but she always waits until she's off it & has her panties back on before going....getting everything wet. Yesterday was no different....she had an accident while we were outside....
Chris had just taken Abby's panties off and before we went inside to get her more, she was riding around on her tricycle, she's our third child & yes, we are way more lax than we ever were - smiley face...well, I guess she wasn't done going to the bathroom...then next thing I knew, she was walking up the driveway with poop in her hand - OMIGROSS! (or as Abby says "OMIGOSH" - no idea where she learned that?! smiley face). As she was walking up, Hannah was trying to tell Daddy what was going on but she couldn't stop gagging enough to do it (is she taking over Lexy's gagging reflex?) and Lexy just kept telling her to "stop talking about it - we aren't going to discuss it - it's too gross."
I was laughing histarically but at the same time, was grossed out. As I cleaned the poop up all over the bike & driveway, Chris cleaned up Abby....fun, fun, fun. His next declaration - she's not ready to be potty trained....so spring break we'll try again (smiley face).
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