In Pictures

I'm heading to Houston in just a few minutes, so may be quiet on the blog front. So here are a few pictures to hold you over! We've been busy enjoying the new toys from Fiona's birthday, learning some of our new games (Ellie - the Clifford game is AWESOME!), and hanging out in the abnormally warm weather.

Hockey season is revving up for daddy and trips to the pumpkin patch are on the horizon. We're ready!

Kickin' It

I've played on a kickball team with some friends from college for ten a couple years! It's a kids game and our team is there [mostly] to have fun. Don't get me wrong - we're pretty good and have won our share of championships. But we know that it is kickball - not competitive fast pitch. Anyway ... I digress.

When Mike moved down here, he joined the team too. Since we had kids, we share a roster spot as it's a 20 minute drive from here to the game. And late games just do not work with the girls. Lucky us, this season, there are a lot of early games. Last week AND this week, we had 6:15 games. Those present their own set of problems as that is dinner time, rush hour, and squeezed right at the end of the work day.

We feel so lucky to play on a team with friends who not only are truly excited when the girls show up, but actually encourage both Mike and I to play in the field at the same time and willingly watch the girls. There is a reason why our roster hasn't changed much over the years!

Last week, Uncle Dan and Uncle Z sent Mike out to the field. I played catcher to keep an eye on the goings on in the dugout. Mike left Q and she did not appreciate the desertion. I had to laugh at the looks of sheer panic from the honorary dugout uncles. I directed them to our bag and told them to pull out a yogurt pouch for Q (I heard, "Yes - we can buy happiness!"). Uncle Z handed it to her gingerly (like one would with a rabid dog) and she bellowed back at him. I laughed and reminded him that he did need to open it! Once opened, they were bestest friends.

I did also have to remind Uncle Dan a few times (jokingly - he would never) that the gummy bears on the bench were not for the girls. You know, because they were soaked in vodka. I love our team! No shortage in creativity on how we can make kickball an "adult" game. For the record, I thought the gummies were delicious!

This week, the girls were more comfortable and therefore a bit more wild. They were still really good, but Q's goal in life was to get on the field of play. Buggy was running around, tripped (with a sandwich in each hand), and smacked her forehead on the concrete. We played out in the field less and tried to keep the fan base under control. They are still great fans and love to cheer on Mom and Dad - and the rest of the team!

Birthday Blues

THREE!

Fiona is THREE! Say what!?! When did that happen!?!

She is so excited to be three and is definitely navigating the transition from toddler to preschooler. There are areas of her life where she is truly enjoying the independence that her new skill sets bring. There are other areas where she's not certain she's ready to grow up. Able to play downstairs on her own. Awesome. Required to put on her own footwear. Big fat bummer.

The birthday weekend whirlwind is coming to a close - but it has been a great one. And she still has most of her presents unopened downstairs. The party was just too much fun to interrupt. This may be my last year of getting away with doling them out for a few days - but I'm going to do it while I can!

Fiona finally chose her birthday party theme last weekend. Blue. Yep ... just blue. So Mommy and food coloring had a good time. We had blue striped cupcakes with blue icing, blue pasta salad (I dyed the noodles), blueberry wands with watermelon stars, blue chips, and not-blue pulled pork. It was a creative challenge, but was fun to be able to deliver something that wowed her!

We kicked off the celebration early with a family outing to kickball Thursday night (an upcoming post will be about that). Then birthday proper was feted with a day care party and a visit by Gma and Gpa J. We had the most gorgeous fall day yesterday (not quite warm enough for the pool she requested) for her party and at one point, had fourteen kiddos ages 6 months to 6 years running around the yard. So fun!

Then this morning, we met cousins Spencer and Abby at their hotel for a morning in the pool. No wonder the girls were ready for naptime.

Thanks to all for making our 3-year-old feel special and loved on her big day. I asked her what the best part of her party was and her answer was "seeing all my friends and playing."

I asked Fiona these questions before her party and here are her newly three answers:

Favorite color: Blue
Favorite friend: Jack & Cooper and Brad & Cheryl ... and Teemu
Favorite show: A silly Sofia [Sofia the First]
Favorite book: Curious George
Favorite food: Mac & cheese
Favorite thing to do with Mommy, Daddy, and Quinny: Tackle them  

Bonus Round ... a picture of baby sis at the party - saying "ta-da" and giving Mommy a heart attack as she fearlessly navigated all the climbers in the yard. Again. I don't think the pink cast (which is off by the way) will be the last cast for the small daredevil!

It Takes Two

Some moments, it would be easier to have one. Or none. Like when, even though there are at least a dozen babies in this house, they both need the same one. Or they both need the blue car for the racetrack. Or they both need to look at the same piece of recycling. Sweet mercy!

But honestly, those moments pale against the moments where you can see the genuine love between them. They are so sweet to each other (when they think we aren't looking) and we are so excited to watch their bond grow.

Things that have been seen or overheard recently:

• Fiona to Quinn: Oh, my dearest. I just love you.
• Quinn's most important task of the morning (according to her): Bring Fiona the pink sippy of water.
• Over the monitor as I started writing this: Good night, Quinny bot.*
• While I was getting Q out of the tub, Fiona brought in a tiny baby because I thought it make Quinny feel happy. Then Q cried when Bugs left and searched for her until I called her back.
• Fiona when I told Quinn "no": Don't tell her 'no.' She's my sweet pea.

From two parents who love their own sisters very much, we say "carry on, girls!"
*yes, we call Quinn "bot." No, we don't know why.

Boot Dance

I'm exhausted. Round 1 of Mommy vs Fiona and the pacifiers was a 45 minute battle of wills. I snipped her pacifiers today. She was NOT having it. We ended with her "borrowing" a pacifier from Quinny - but just one. So the teeny tiny step we've taken is that she has one instead of two pacifiers in bed with her. And two snipped pacifiers are sitting banished on the counter.

Before our wills collided, we had a lovely evening - complete with Mike trying to teach Fiona how to line dance ...

The PRP

At work, we have a thing called a "PIP" - performance improvement plan. You don't want to be on a PIP. It's basically a shape up or ship out kind of thing.

Fiona has been placed on a "PRP" at day care ... a "pacifier reduction plan." Yep, still trying to remove the pacifiers from her world. It's obviously not going well.

Back in July when I took Bugs to the dentist, he shared a brilliant bit of wisdom for kicking the paci habit. [Well, we'll see if it's brilliant. We're hopeful!] He suggested cutting a little bit off the sucking section every few days, so that it basically gets down to nothing. But she can slowly transition with it. And if she wants to hold the flat, unsuckable piece when we're done ... well, who cares.

So on Monday, Fiona's pacifiers for nap were snipped in half. Next week, they will be reduced by half again. Hence, a literal pacifier reduction plan.

Once we convert on naps, it will be on to the overnight. Stay tuned ...

Sleepover

So excited

My sister rocks! She called us a few weeks ago and asked if she could have Fiona over for a sleepover. Buggy has been super excited (as was Auntie). I packed up Mike's old backpack and she thought was amazing. She "jekyll and hyded" a bit on me on the way north. "Mama, I can't wait to see Auntie. I don't want to go. It's gonna be so much fun. I wanna go home with Daddy and Quinny." For forty minutes. It was a long drive.

Once we got there, she did great. She transitioned well and barely gave me a kiss when I left. She and Auntie had lunch, she took a great nap, they played at the park, had mac and cheese dinner, and watched Cinderella. I did get a FaceTime call from a very sad Buggy right before bedtime. She was trying so hard not to cry, but lost it when I told her I missed her (rookie mom mistake!). I fought my urge to send Mike to get her and instead we talked it out and she did great. She was very proud of herself this morning and has told me all day how much fun she had! Thank you, Auntie!

Quinn enjoyed her one-on-one time very much too. I think they both loved being the center of attention. But judging by their play downstairs and in the tub tonight, they are thrilled to be back with each other!

We're "Fall"-ing

Kissing her baby

No, no one else has fallen here - except Q, who continues her quest to conquer all things climbable. Cast or no cast. Her latest trick is to sit on the floor, throw herself backwards so she lands flat on her back, and giggle while enticing her sister to tackle her. Strange baby!

What I actually mean is that we are ready for fall. It's a favorite season around here (we do kinda like them all - best part of living in the north. FOUR seasons!!!). Fiona and I spent Q's morning nap today putting away the flower decoration and pulling out leaves, acorns, and pumpkins. We headed to the library and needed hoodies. We're discussing Halloween costumes and pumpkin patches. Life is awesome! So many things to look forward to. Plus, it's just early September so we know we'll get a few more hot days - just to fill our banks for February.

Ice fishing at the Children's Museum

I had a bit of guilt this morning as Fiona and I checked out all the pictures of kids heading off to school on Facebook and she looked at me sadly and asked why she wasn't going to preschool. Next year, my darling, next year. We would send her this year, but since she'll be almost six before she starts kindergarten, I'm just not sure she really needs THREE years of preschool. But my, she is ready!

Speaking of, here is her latest joke. I tried to teach her a new one. It just got blended with the old. I give her an A for creativity if nothing else ...

F: Knock knock.
S: Who's there?
F: Why did the chicken cross the road?
S: Why?
F: I don't know.
S: Impatient chicken
F: Moo!

Oh yeah - Q uses a plate now!

Yep - we know. It makes no sense, but she bursts out giggling every time.

I know this was a random post. Not much new and exciting is happening here. Just the same old wild craziness (just ask Auntie, who said FaceTime with us last night was like a tilt-a-whirl ride). Happy Fall!