Oct 23: Fakers

Here are the girls on the couch - pretending to be asleep :)

Oct 23: Decorating Pumpkins

With little kids, I thought the idea of coloring pumpkins sounded much better than carving pumpkins. But precautions still needed to be taken as these were permant markers we were talking about. I put a protective layer over the table, and craft shirts on the girls. I tried to explain orange marker on orange pumpkin wouldn't show - to no avail. (Calli still thinks white crayons are "broken" because they won't color on white paper.)

I drew a face on Mari's - so she would have something to start with. By the time she finished, it was almost completely covered over.

About halfway through the art project, Mari decided it was more fun to cap and uncap the markers than to color. But her aim isn't so great and she ended up with colorful hands. (She also drew two large lines on her face, but I didn't waste time taking pictures and immediately tried to get those off as best as I could with a baby wipe.)



Mari's finished pumpkin



Calli's finished pumpkin

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Sorry to go so video crazy - but for those of you who wish you could have been there in person - this is for you:

Oct 22: Why we LOVE the bank

1. Because they give lollipops at the drive through :)


2. Because last week my girls opened Junior Banker accounts and each got a free piggy/dinosaur banks respectively (See this entry)


3. Because we went in today for something else, and they notarized my document and photocopied it for me for FREE !


4. Because when Calli went to get a closer look at their Fall display of apples - the receptionist said the girls could each have one
   
   
5. Because after they notarized and copied my document, the personal banker said the girls could each take a pumpkin
   
   
   
   

I must admit it, First Bank and Trust, you are really making me reconsider my long term relationship with CHASE (previously BankOne, previously NBD)

Oct 21: Jello Shapes

I thought this would be a fun family activity - Yup!

Oct 21: Two Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

A great video to see my silly girls in action!

A shot of the three of us!

Oct 20: Breathe Easy

This week marked an important milestone of growing up: Mari's first trip to the ER. She got a cold, and for some reason had a really hard time breathing. She was working so hard to breath that she couldn't sleep, and her little chest was heaving in and out. After staying up with her from 12-4am, I took her to the ER. They gave her a couple breathing treatments, which helped both immediately and immensely. We got this machine to give her additional treatments at home. The first time, we had to hold her hands down, but on her second night - she actually moved her face into the mask and stayed there the whole 5 or so minutes. It was sooo sweet! And the praise is that she is doing great and doesn't even need the treatments any more!

Thank You God!

Oct 20: Colorful Walk at the Forest Preserve

Today must have been the perfect day to walk the trail at the forest preserve. The leaves were changing, but the temperature was still warm. And the girls loved it!

A few minutes into our walk, Calli decided she and Rich needed walking sticks. She would watch him closely to see how to use a walking stick.

Mari soon made it clear she did not want to ride in the carrier - she wanted to walk around and explore! She especially loved the gravel on the trail, and would often stop to examine it.







Mari and I look at the duck in the river, while Calli gets leaves to throw off the bridge.

We saw several families getting formal pictures taken. We found a kind stranger to take a few, but Calli was much more interested in watching his boys, than looking at the camera. I'm guessing that will only get worse as she gets older ;)











Below is my favorite picture from the day!

























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Oct 18: Calli's Idea

This was a unique moment, because Calli volunteered, "Mamma, we will sit on the bench, and you can take our picture." I can't turn that down!

Oct 17: Are my ears deceiving me??

Yesterday, we were walking into the house, and looking at our chalk drawings from the day before. I had drawn my standards: a flower, a baby, and a hopscotch. I asked Mari to find the baby, and she walked over to it saying "Der-she-is". Then we went to the hopscotch and I went over the numbers (1-20) with Calli a couple times. She is great up to 14 - but then misses a few. Calli and I headed to the door, but Mari stopped. I went back to her and she points at the three-square and says clear as day "Three, Three". I'm sure it was only a coincidence, but still!!!

Then tonight, I was nursing Mari, and Calli was on the bed with us. She was stroking Mari's head and back. I was about to tell her not to touch Mari, but thought since Mari didn't seem to mind - I'd let it go. So I just smiled at Calli. And Calli says in a quiet voice, so as not to disturb Mari, "I really love that she's my sister." I almost cried it was so sweet!

Thank you God for tender, and possibly intelligent girls!

August 31: At the Zoo with Dillon

Today we went on another trip to the zoo with Dillon.

These pictures of the girls wearing Rich's hat crack me up!

August 30: Last Playdate with Ashleigh

As I said, Ashleigh and her family moved to Western Springs on August 31st. So, we played with Ashleigh while her mom packed up. We went downtown to Millenium Park for the kids concert in the morning.


Then we played in the fountain.


After lunch, we went back to the Target Kids tent where we got to paint our faces.


We miss you already Ashleigh!

August 27: Stories and Basketball

The girls reading a book together.


Mari playing basket ball at the park

August 25: Not Exactly a Nap

Calli no longer has "nap time", she has rest time. But 99% of the time, she keeps herself busy playing and reading books during rest time, so she won't fall asleep. Well, this time she was too sleepy, and finally gave in.


This time, she discovered a good way to kill time is to take out every Kleenex from a newly opened box!

Oct 16: Oh, my Butterfly

At Gymboree, the girls were butterflies. Mari was doing it too, but stopped - of course- once I got the camera.

The video finally uploaded correctly! Yay!

Oct 15: Skype me Baby!

We have used Skype for the last several years. But lately, we have been saying goodnight to Grandma & Grandpa over Skype several nights a week. The girls LOVE IT! and I get the feeling Grandma and Grandpa do too :)

I used to have them sitting on my lap - but they are so squirmy. So now they sit strapped in to the high chair and booster seat. Here is a funny picture of them after they Skyped with Grandpa. (Grandma was here for a visit.) Calli was being silly with her arms switched in her shirt.

Oct 14: Dora Party

Today we went to the Skokie Library for a Dora Party. We missed the Dora story, but watched a little of the Dora video, got Dora braclets and waited in line to see Dora! Our previous experiences with life-sized characters haven't gone so well. But Calli said she wanted to give Dora a hug, so Rich waited in line with lots of other parents. When it was our turn - the girls did amazingly well!

Our Moment in the Spotlight

Calli gave Dora a big hug!

And then, Mari, unbelievably gave Dora a kiss! (Actually, this was the second time she did it because the first time the picture didn't turn out well.)

Oct 14: A Rainy Day

Today, it was raining when we left church. We weren't prepared enough to have our umbrella with us, but once we got home, Calli wanted to play with her Dora umbrella.


Then she and Mari played under it for a while, and even let me snap some pictures.


I love Mari's expression in this one!

And one self-portrait of the three girls

Oct 12: So much to say

Mari's list of words and phrases is growing all the time. It now includes:
Mo(re)
All-Done
No (for yes)
Aught-Oh
Sank-You (thank you)
DeeVee (for DVD)
Toy
Apple
Cheeeese
Jewww (Juice)
Awa (agua)
Aboo (a book)
Lov you (love you)
MINE!
Pull
Is-hot (it's hot)
Help
Up

and I'm sure many others I'm forgetting!

Oct 10: A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned

After several years, we finally went to the bank and opened "Junior Banker" accounts for the girls. Calli fell asleep on the way there, and slept the entire time. Mari wanted to review the interest rates and fees on each type of account.



It was really cute, they gave Mari a dinosaur bank, and Calli got a piggy bank. They also got a little record book, and a coloring book about saving money.

A special thanks to Grandma & Grandpa, and Grandma & Grandpa Keppen for their financial contributions!

August 22: BathTime

We have traded babysitting with Jason and Kristen since Calli was born. Every other Tuesday, we watched Ashleigh, and every other Tuesday, they watched Calli (and Mari once she was born).

This is one of the last times we watched Ashleigh before they moved. I know you shouldn't post bath pictures, but this one is innocent.

August 21: Bubbles and Astronauts

As you know, we are now Gymboree "regulars". But this was our first introduction to it. Skokie library had a Gymboree class and we tried it out.







Then we saw the Curious George display, and became astronauts.