Happy Heavenly Birthday Princess Alexa

Today would have been Alexa Aigner's fifth birthday. She is celebrating but in heaven. Her Mom posted a birthday video today on her blog and it is beautiful.

I took the above picture of Jordan and Katelyn and sent it to Crys. I wanted her to know we were thinking of her family and her on Alexa's birthday.

Crys and Zack continue to honor their daughter in a wonderful way through the Princess Alexa Foundation. Take a look and continue to support it if you are able. Trust me when I say they are doing wonderful things. As part of the organization, I can see this all the time.

There are so many beautiful sweet little kids out there that deserve to be happy. As the foundation motto states "Happiness is Healing"!

Ballerinas

The girls' ballet photos arrived!

Jordan in her winter princess ballet outfit. Jordan loves dancing. She tells us right now that she wants to be a ballerina when she grows up. I will say "doctor"? She will then say "No Mom. I said ballerina!" I think she would be a great ballerina when she grows up because she is so cute now!

Katelyn in her first ballet photo. She was so funny. She cried and did not want to go in to get her picture. I showed her a sucker and I told her if she went in and took her picture she could have the sucker. My Katelyn loves candy. She looked at the sucker, immediately threw the dance room door open and went in to get her picture. She was back out in a matter of minutes but they got the picture and she got her sucker. Ha!

Two Adorable Piglets - Toot and Puddle

Tonight was our monthly visit to Barnes and Noble for the book reading. The stories tonight were the "Toot & Puddle" books by Holly Hobbie. I love these stories. Toot & Puddle is a terrific series of picturebooks about the travels and adventures of two crazy little pigs. These books are a great way to introduce kids to geography. Jordan and Katelyn's friends, Sarah and Alyssa, came to the event tonight as well.

Alyssa, Sarah, Katelyn and Jordan with Toot and Puddle.

After reading books, B&N always has a craft for the kids. Tonight they made pig masks.

The girls with their pig masks on. They had a blast. Notice Katelyn is right in there with them! She loves the big girls.

The above video was taken of Katelyn at the Toot & Puddle event.

Katelyn saying good-bye to Toot and Puddle.

Phish Food Please!

Ben and Jerry’s locations across the country gave out a free ice cream cone to each customer yesterday. They give out free cones every year to celebrate and call attention to Earth Day.

CHH had class and Aunt Jill was not feeling well so it was the girls and Mommy for dinner. Jordan wanted rice and soy sauce! That is the Japanese in her coming out :) I took the girls to a sushi place next to Ben and Jerry's. Jordan had her rice and Katelyn ate edamame. Katelyn does not like rice and would not eat any. How can that be?! Her Japanese heritage is not coming out yet obviously :)

After dinner and after talking to some people who had stood in line and got ice cream, I decided I would do so for the girls. They both wanted ice cream. The picture above is the girls waiting in line.

Yes, we were back around the corner. While waiting, I had several thoughts of how easy it would be to jump in the car, head over to Baskin Robbins or Paciugos, PAY, and be on our way home. I stayed though and the line actually went fairly quickly.

CHH had stated the same thing when I called and told him I was thinking about not waiting. His comment was "how long can it take if they are just serving a single scoop for everyone?". He was correct!

The girls loved it and we got to chat with various people while waiting in line. It was a nice evening and as always great to be with my girls.

Sleepy Weekend (At Least for Me!)

Saturday after Jordan's swimming lessons, we drove around a bit and visited a couple of hotels. CHH wants to take a look at a couple of places to possible stay one weekend away from home sometime. It was rainy outside; I was tired; and I almost fell asleep in the car. We had fun exploring though.

Here is Jordan inside the Gaylord Texan Resort by one of the indoor gardens. It was so cute with this miniature town displayed among the flowers.

Katelyn, CHH, and Jordan in front of one of the water fountains inside the Gaylord.

We then went to see the Great Wolf Lodge. We wanted to see the indoor water park we had heard so much about.

The girls in front of the Bear Claw Cafe inside the hotel.

Jordan inside Cub Club at the Great Wolf Lodge. This little reading area was too cute.

My Jordie Bear relaxing on the bee cushion inside of the Cub Club.

My sweet Katelyn relaxing as well on the bee inside the Cub Club.

Big mistake! I think CHH was going to kill me. The girls wanted ice cream and we said sure; however, I put it on cones instead of in cups. Of course, they both wanted chocolate and it was a huge mess. The good thing is we ate inside the resort before leaving to go home and got to wash up :)

After looking at the hotels, we headed home where Mommy, Jordan, and Katelyn all fell asleep. It was nice to take a nap!

Sunday, we met Katelyn's best buddy, Emerson, and Jordan's buddy, Jackson, at the movie theater to see the Disney movie, "Cars". Disney is releasing some of their older movies at the theaters this summer to watch on the big screen for brief periods of time.

Katelyn and Emerson at the movies! Katelyn was so excited to see Emmy and they were so cute hugging and holding hands. They both almost made it through the whole movie. There still a little too young yet in that they can't sit still and get bored. We tried though and I think they had a nice time even if we had to leave the movie early.

Jackson and Jordan were so good and cute together as well. They were just as excited to see each other.

I woke up this morning not feeling good and took Tylenol Flu medicine that I found in an old medicine bag. It wasn't in a box with directions so I didn't realize that the one I took would make me sleepy. It must have been nighttime medicine. I told CHH over breakfast before the movie that I was about to pass out. Several cups of coffee later, we headed out. After the movies when we got home, I did pass out. It was the best sleep I have had in forever! I never sleep on the weekends because there is no time to do so -- too much to do. It was wonderful to do so this weekend though!

Purple Cow with a Friend

Tonight we had dinner with Aunt Jill and friends at Purple Cow. Jordan has been asking about her friend, Elio, for awhile now and wanted to see him. We met Elio and his Mom along with Jill at the Cow and had a great time. It is always nice to catch up with others and find out how they are doing.

I have been down now for a couple of weeks between work and our friend/neighbor passing away. It is weird because I can usually shake it. Anyhow Monday at work was really hectic and stressful. I remember driving and just thinking, thinking, thinking. I got to the school to pick up my girls and my whole mood changed. I realized later Monday night after laughing and having fun with my girls and my husband that my home life is truly a whole other world and one I'm so blessed to have.

Today when I got to the school to pick up the girls, I followed my usual routine of walking through a classroom to get outside to get Jordan. At that time of day, she is always out on the playground. The classroom I walk through is next to the gym where Katelyn is usually playing. Anyhow as I was walking through the classroom, I heard crying in the gym. I kept walking and then I suddenly stopped. The crying sounded like Katelyn. I turned around immediately, went back out of the classroom, and walked to the gym door and entered the gym. There was my baby girl lying on the ground just bawling her eyes out. I did recognize that cry!

I bent down and picked Katelyn up and she clung to me crying and doing the hiccup thing. Apparently another little girl and her hit each other. The teacher was busy talking to the other little girl about nice hands which left Katelyn upset and crying. While holding Katelyn, the teacher than came over to talk to Katelyn about "nice hands" as well. Both little girls said sorry and were fine. It broke my heart though when I first walked in and saw her on the ground crying hard. The Mama bear came out in me and I was ready to take someone to task before finding out what had happened.

Another event in my day today is our Jordan learned how to snap her fingers today. She has asked CHH and me several times to show her how. She got it tonight! She was so cute dancing and snapping away. She is so funny lately because she has been singing all the Barney songs from Katelyn's DVD. It is the only DVD that Katelyn will watch so Jordan now is familiar with the songs. She will sing and do the cutest dances.

Happy Easter and Much More!

Friday, both girls had Easter parties at school. Here Katelyn is with her class eating yellow and blue jello.

After Katelyn's party, there was an Easter egg hunt out in the school yard for the kids. I had the biggest grin on my face when she screamed in excitement and went running for the eggs. She knew what to do and had a blast collecting eggs.

Katelyn with some of the kids in her class after collecting eggs.

Jordan in her classroom getting ready for her Easter party.

Jordan and her buddy, Sarah!

Jordan and her other buddy, Alyssa.

Jordan hunting for eggs out in the school yard. She had a great time searching for eggs like Katelyn. After the parties, we went home to find the cousins had arrived. Both Jordan and Katelyn were so excited to see Zack and Jake. The whole gang went to see the new Monsters vs. Aliens movie in 3D. Katelyn actually did pretty good and didn't get too bored until close to the end.

Saturday morning, we went and had breakfast with the Easter Bunny. Picture of Jordan and Zack at breakfast.

The cousins! Jake (6), Jordan (4), Zack (9) and Katelyn (2)

The family having breakfast with the Easter bunny.

They served the kids hot chocolate in the cutest little cups. Jordan loves to pretend like she is having "tea".

The cousins with the Easter Bunny.

After breakfast with the Easter Bunny, the cousins played in the play area at the mall for a little while.

After the mall, it was home to dye Easter eggs. My Katelyn stuck her hand in the blue dye and it is all blue!

Everyone dying Easter eggs.

Jordan had a great time dying all the eggs various colors.

Mommy and her girls.

Jordan and Katelyn with their cartons of eggs they dyed.

Uncle Marty (Aunt Jill's husband) arrived for the fun. Katelyn LOVES her Uncle Marty.

Both girls getting a Little Mermaid story read to them by their Uncle Bob (Aunt Shery's husband, Zack and Jake's Dad).

Easter morning! The Easter Bunny arrived. In this picture, the kids are going through their Easter baskets.

Jordan and Katelyn exploring their baskets.

Katelyn received this book. I thought it was so cute since the duck's name is Katy.

Jordan reading one of her new books from the Easter Bunny. She still loves receiving new Princess books. She also loved her new Barbie Thumbelina DVD and has already watched it several times now.

Zack, Bob, Jake and Shery on Easter morning.

Zack and Jake. Yes that is Siam, Jordan and Katelyn's kitty, being held by Zack. This cat is so wonderful. He lets my girls lay on him and squish him and in this picture I can see his body twisted around. Even when the kids get off of him or put him down, he still hangs out with the family instead of fleeing the room like he should. Zack loves to hold Siam when he visits. His cat passed away towards the end of last year so he misses having a cat.

Easter morning breakfast. CHH cooked a wonderful breakfast for everyone and it was nice to relax at home instead of fighting the crowd some place. After breakfast, we had an Easter egg hunt in the house since it was raining outside. The kids had a blast. It was a nice family weekend. We missed Aunt Kara and the grandparents of course!

Daddy's Home from the Masters!

Jordan drew these bunnies. I saw her coloring while I was cleaning in the kitchen. When she handed me this picture, I have to say I was honestly surprised. She drew bunnies!! She is actually drawing instead of just coloring now. I think she did a fabulous job -- you can tell they are bunnies and eggs. I don't know why but I am truly amazed that she is drawing. My baby is getting big!

CHH has been out of town the last two days. I had the pleasure of getting the girls ready today for school. They have dance on Wednesdays at school and they go to school dressed for ballet. I have never seen Katelyn dressed in this outfit because CHH always get them ready and takes them to school -- I'm already at work in the mornings. I had to take a picture of the girls this morning dressed for ballet. Side note: The first thing Jordan said this morning when she woke up was "Mommy is this the day Daddy is coming home?" Both girls have really missed him.

Daddy's home! CHH arrived in time for dinner and gymnastics tonight. After gymnastics, he gave the girls their presents. When he spoke to them last night on the phone, he told Katelyn he had bought her some presents; I heard Katelyn say "Good, Good Daddy, Good." She was so excited and it was so cute listening to her talking to him.

Jordan with her pink bunny with the Master's Logo on it.

Katelyn with her pink bunny showing it's logo.

Daddy and his girls!

CHH also brought them each a really cool soft blanket. The girls love blankets and to snuggle in them. CHH is opening Jordan's for her while Katelyn is holding hers and watching.

Jordan with her blanket and bunny.