The kids

Tessa has learned a couple of new expressions. One of them is 'again' and the other is 'because'. Pretty much everything I say is anwered with 'again?". This morning she asked What is today, mommy? and I replied 'Tuesday' and she said 'again?'. In addition to that, everythings is because of something. I'm thirsty because Tinkerbell is laughing" or Ellis is poopy (AGAIN) because he's not listening. And sometimes it just stops at because and then I ask 'because why' and she just says because I said so.

Tessa is taking soccer this summer and so far really likes it. She said she really liked her coach, Diego. I asked if he was cute, she said yes. I may enroll. Mike asked her if he was Mexican, I explained that was not appropiate. Tessa wasn't waying attention as she was taling (again) about doing toe-taps. We've also started Tessa with some swimming lesson. She's had two and already she thinks she's Micheal Phelps. She always wants to swim without her swimmies, she wasnts to go down the water slide (despite her major slide accident) and wants to go off the 'jumping' board. Her swim instructor keeps commenting on how great she is and unafraid of the water.

Ellis is still a little unsure of the whole pool thing. He likes the baby pool since she can stand. We have a little pool at home we bust out sometimes that has a little slide in it. He likes to splash around in there until TEssa comes barreling down the slide and knocks him down. Then he's done and wants out. In the big pool he just clammers on to whoever is holding him. The more we go, the more comfortable he gets. I try to hold him away from me and let him float some. He talks up a storm, but I have yet to decipher what he's saying. I swear he said Princess the other day when pointing to Ms Princess' classroom. He's really ready to move up to the new room.

At the end of the summer there are two kids moving up from the toddler class and then Ellis will move in there. He LOVES it in the room. If I let him walk back to his class, he always veers to the left instead of the right for his room. Ms Laura siad they are working with him on sitting down and staying seated since they do Circle Time in the toddler room. Ellis like to walk too much, so this can be a challenge. He loves to copy Tessa. Whatever she does, he tries to do. If she hides in the closet, he goes and tries to hide in there. If she runs down the hall, he does the same thing. It's SOOOOO much fun watching the two of them together.

Fun weekend and lots of GREAT news

I had a GREAT Saturday night up in Greenville celebrating Sam's 40th Birthday with a big group of Ladies. There were 15 of us women and Wade cooked a fabulous 5 or 6 course dinner. I think i'm still feeling some of the effects of the alcohol. It was great hanging out with a bunch of great women and NO KIDS! I really that night away.

Mike had the kids (by himself) Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning and did great. When I pulled up to the house, Ellis was in the swing and Tessa in the pool in the front yard. She cam running up and was so excited to see me. We tried to go to the pool after thier naps, but the thunderstorms closed the pool down early so we just had dinner and hung out.

Great News #1 - Kirsten is leaving Iraq today! She should be on route by now and we just can't wait for her safe arrival home. We won't get to see her until mid-July as she has some affairs to tend to in Del Rio, Texas. BUT the important thing is that she makes it back to the Good Ol' U-S-of-A.

Great News #2 - Mike is back in Atlanta working for 2000 Concrete again and is actually working on a job in Atlanta (Kennesaw to be MORE exact which is about 10-15mins from the house). After 17 months of being out of town, he will come home every night. I am SOOOOO excited. Of course I'll have to get used to the snoring again, but I'll have tons of help with the children duties and cleaning the house and taking out the trash, etc. It still doesn't seem real. Of course, we have a TON of projects that need to be addressed, so I'm sure we'll stay busy over the next couple of months.

So far - life is good!

Sweeties

I think I have blogged about this before, but I think it's worth mentioning twice. Tessa and Ellis are very different. I'm actually quite surprised by how different they are. I never believed in the inherit gender differences, but they seem to be living up to some of them. I mean no matter how hard I tried Tessa's favorite color is purple! Although, she did ask for Spiderman this afternoon and has been doing Spiderman moves, so I feel partially vindicated. Even physically, Tessa and Ellis have very little in common. TEssa has pale blue/gray eyes and is on the smaller side. Ellis has dark brown eyes and is large for this age. But one thing they both do that just warms my heart, is that they both play with their hair when they are tired. As soon as I see one of them pulling their hair I know it's either nap or bed time. How is it that they can be so different, but then have that one thing in common?

I don't know why, but I love just rocking with either one of them when they are tired and watching them play with their hair.

Fun Weekend

We had such a fun, relaxing weekend at home. I mowed the lawn on Saturday and we set up the "water park" for the kids. It was so much fun just hanging out in the front yard most of the day. We grilled hamburgers and just enjoyed being at home together as a family. On Sunday, Tessa went over to Omi's house. She took Tessa to the pool. We just ran some errands with Ellis and got some stuff done. Then Omi and Opa brought Tessa back and we grilled pork tenderloins with Black Beans & Rice and just relaxed. We relocated our porch swing to the other side so that we can set up a table to eat on the front porch. It was just a perfect lazy summer weekend.

(Yes, that's Ellis holding a Budweiser can - just like his Daddy)

Jekyll

I was very lucky to be able to represent my company, Turner, at the GAPPA conference in Jekyll Island. My dad attends the conference every year also, so my parents went as well. The whole family got to go and that place is amazing. It's so beautiful and there is so much History there. We got some great history lessons while we there also, since my mom has worked on several of the Historic sites there. After breakfast we would go for a little walk, and then the remainder of the day was spent at the pool.

This place is just so amazingly beautiful.

Tessa's Birthday

Tessa's Birthday was a really crazy day for us. It was the same day that the Puppies that Kirsten helped rescue from Iraq arrived in Atlanta. 11Alive (local news station) was filming at my parents house and then came to the airport with us. It was just a crazy, hectic day and on top of that, it was my sweet baby girl's 3rd Birthday.

We put her down for a nap at my parents house before we went to get the dogs. We kept hearing her jumping around upstairs, but didn't think much of it. I finally decided to go check on her and when I walked in the 1st thing I smelled was baby powder. Then I started to search for the source and noticed the jar of baby powder scented vaseline next to Ellis' diapers. Then I noticed the entire bottom half of the room covered in vaseline. It was on the walls, the door knob, the windows, the mirrors, Tessa's hair (hence the sweaty look in all of her pictures). It was literally everywhere. I was so mad, and scolded her and made her apologize to Omi and Opa, I almost spanked her, but then it was her Birthday and I've never found spanking to be very effective in her case....now Ellis may be a different story.

Anyway, by the time we got back from the airport, we were pretty drained. So we had a quiet dinner, some cake and presents. She was so excited about her cake and her presents. The next day she got cupcakes and balloons at school. Ever since she makes us sing Happy Birthday anytime she eats a cupcake. I can't believe she's already 3!

Behind

I am so behind on posting and updates. I still have to do Tessa's B-Day pictures and Jekyll Island. Hopefully I'll get those out this weekend.

Ellis is growing up so fast. He walks and climbs everywhere. He loves to climb into laundry baskets, and if he's really lucky Tessa will push him around. Last night he climbed into the little baby bathtub we have sitting around (even though we don't use it anymore) and Tessa was pulling him up and down the hall. Nothing like watching my 31 pound 3-yr old pulling my 24 pound 1-yr old around. Then when he got out she climbed in and said "my turn". Ellis "talks" all the time, but I don't understand any of it. He says Dadadadada mostly, he sometimes says Mama, but not to me. He can say ball and dog, and will sign "milk" and "more". He does really like the book "Llama Llama Red Pajama" and will try to say Mama Llama.

He is a big snuggler. He loves hugs from anyone and snuggles right on in when you hold him. On the contrary, he has an awful temper. He gets so angry if something doesn't go his way, and he'll clench his teeth and scream.....and then he's over it, definitely a little on the moody side. As much as I hate to say this - he's a bit of a momma's boy. But he's sweet and he's my little man and I am going to get all of the hugs, snuggles and kisses I can get now while he's still young. I know there will be a time when it's SOOO un-cool to love you mom......sniff sniff....don't cry.