T-Total Craziness

So, the Hostage Situation went completely down hill on day 3! I had a conference call that morning and Travis had to meet with a builder.I thought...it's fine. I can totally make this work.

I asked Emma to watch Catherine. She said she could. I went in my room, got on the call and closed my door. A little bit later, I heard BANG BANG! Then, Catherine started yelling "HEEEY! MAAAAMA! HEEEEYYYYY!! MAMA! PEEASSS! IIIINNNN!" I am sure that was much appreciated on my call.

The girls did a little painting (Catherine used it like make-up), had a dance party in their room (which is a TOTAL mess right now) and just went a little nuts. I went a little camera happy. I am sure we did some more stuff around here...but its all a blur!

Finally, today, the sun came out and we were able to get out of the house. The girls got dressed in their cute outfits from Aunt Candi and Uncle Blake and we headed to the mall. We shopped a little, ate lunch and came home to nap. After nap, we went to Reece's birthday party at Fun City. The girls had a blast and ran off some energy.

I have been in bow making mode out of sheer boredom for fun. Hopefully the stuff that is supposed to hit tomorrow and Monday misses us. We just can't take much more togetherness winter in our house!

The Great Snow Hostage Crisis of 2011

It's hard to believe that this past weekend we were busy doing this:

(Not sure what's up with the camera...maybe it was a wrong setting...or maybe it was in total shock of the bright sun!)

But, Tuesday morning, The Great Snow Hostage Crisis of 2011 began. It started off with sleet. Then, it started snowing. The snow was coming down so fast and heavy, it was insane. It kept snowing and we got 3 inches in the first hour.

The snow lasted ALL DAY and we ended up getting between 7 and 8 inches of snow. Yesterday, it was SO cold and windy. The girls never got out in it and were not really interested.

We had a pretty good day at home. I had to work a bunch. But, we also played Guess Who?, Operation, Uno Moo! and Apples to Apples. Then, the girls painted, played with play-doh, played dress-up and had a whole Zoobles/Littlest Pet Shop City in their room. It was a good day. We all kept our sanity.

We are on day two now. Things are getting a little out of hand around here. Travis bundled the girls up to go play outside while I was working. That lasted about 20 minutes. We made Valentine's cupcakes, a cake with sprinkles and cookies.

Finally, we were out of ideas. The kids came up with their own idea.

Not the safest thing we have ever let them do, but hey, they were entertained...and happy...for approximately 45 minutes. And...school is cancelled again tomorrow. I have a feeling things are just going to get more insane as the cabin fever outbreak continues to spread throughout the family.

Well, I must go break up a fight in the next room. I think Catherine is beating them up...

"Look, Mommy! It's Christmas!"

Last week, we got our first big snow. We had some snow a few weeks ago, but nothing to play in and enjoy. But, finally, last week, we got about 4 inches of snow.

Last year, Hannah hated the snow. I am talking crying-blubbering-please-don't-make-me-even-look-at-the-snow hated it. This year, however, totally different story. She saw the snow and immediately, "Look, Mommy! It's Christmas!" (Cut her some slack. Two of her past three Christmas mornings have been white ones!)

Emma loves the snow. She has always loved the snow. At 6am when we found out school was cancelled, she was begging to get bundled up and go play outside.

Travis and I finally got everyone dressed, even Catherine. (This was like a 30 minute ordeal too!) However, Catherine didn't like her snow suit, so I freed her from it and she stayed in with me. (Have I mentioned that I am not a snow fan either?)

Travis, Emma and Hannah all headed outside to play in the snow. They had so much fun! I ran out to snap a few pictures of them and ran back inside.

During Catherine's nap time, Travis took the girls to this huge hill and they went sledding. Hannah's first trip down, she flipped over and face planted into the snow. That was the end of her sledding. She just played and watched Emma. Emma, however, LOVED IT! The faster she went and the harder she crashed, the more she wanted to go again. They stayed until dusk and came home with little red noses and cheeks.

Here are some pics and a video. (Travis took the video on his iPhone and I cannot get it to rotate)

AH HA!

As a Mommy, I think that life is full of those "Ah Ha!" parenting moments. I have them ALL.THE.TIME with the girls. You know what I am talking about, right?

Like the time Emma tried to stick a bobby pin the in an electrical outlet. "AH HA!" Time to cover all the outlets because my six year old has lost her marbles become very curious.

Or the first time Catherine told me "NO NO!" when I tried to change her diaper. "AH HA!" Time for this to become Daddy's job because my little cooperative girl has turned into an opinionated wiggle worm (and can run even the toughest out of a room with that diaper)!

Last night (at 12:46am, to be exact), I had another one of those moments. I was sound asleep. I am talking mouth open, drool on the pillow asleep. (I was even sleeping through Travis's snoring...which is a miracle!) All of the sudden, I feel this tap on my arm. I open my eyes and little Hannah is standing there. The conversation went like this:

Me: Hmmp?
Hannah: Mommy, I need to go potty.
Me: Ok...you know where the bathroom is, do you need help?
Hannah: No. (still standing there.)
Me: Ok then...just go potty.
Hannah: Ok.
(Goes to my bathroom, potties, comes out.)
Hannah: Mommy?
Me: Hmmm?
Hannah: I used all the toilet paper, so you might want to put some more on the roll
Me: I will in the morning.
Hannah: What if I need to go again and there's no toilet paper?
Me: I'll give you $5 if you go back to bed and don't get up until morning.
Hannah: COOL! (Runs and JUMPS back into her bed.)

I am sure, (if you are still reading this), you are wondering, "Where is the "AH HA" moment? ". Well, there are several.

1. Remind the girls to potty BEFORE bed in hopes that someday I get to sleep all night again.
2. Tell them that if they need to potty and don't need help, no need to wake Sleeping Beauty Mommy.
3. Switch sides of the bed with Travis (in case they forget moment #2).
4. Make sure there is an ample supply of toilet paper on the back of the potty to keep Hannah from worrying.
5. My little "used-to-tee-tee-in-the-bed-or-need-help-going-potty" Hannah is turning into a big "I-can-do-it-myself-even-in-the-dark-without-tee-teeing-on-myself" girl.

After she scammpered back to bed, I laid there for a minute and thought about all this. It's hard to believe how independent she has become. I like to think this is because we did something right, instilled confidence in her and taught her how to be a functioning human being, (I mean...it couldn't possibly be because we both sleep like rocks and it was either do it yourself or drag Sleeping Beauty Mommy out of bed.)

I did end up getting up. I went to make sure she got back under her covers and to tell her I love her. Because after all, no matter how big they all get, I will always tuck them in (even if it means getting up in the middle of the night).

Weekend Wrap-up

This weekend was pretty low key in our house. But, we haven't had a "slow" weekend in quite a while, so it was a welcomed weekend.

(none of the pics of the girls are from this weekend. I never got out a camera. OOPS!)

Friday night, we went out to eat at one of our favorite Mexican Restaurants. Going out to eat with Catherine is getting SO difficult. She doesn't like sitting in her highchair, so we tried letting her sit in a booster hoping things would go better. It did not. She wanted down, dumped her rice all over the table, threw her fork on the floor and basically acting like a nut!

Needless to say, we walked out of there (after a very big tip left for the people who had to clean up after her) and I said "We are not taking her out to dinner again until she is THREE!" It's just a hard age with her when we try to go eat.

Saturday, the girls and I went shopping a little, (if that's what you even call it...we didn't buy a thing) and just played around the house. I let them paint some pictures, play dress up and I dressed and re-dressed American Girl Dolls until my fingers were bleeding.

Saturday night, I had a fun girls night with a great group of girls that I have gotten really close to over the past few months. We had a wonderful dinner. After dinner, we sat around drinking wine and just talking. Sometimes, its so nice to get away for a few hours and enjoy a night with friends.

Sunday was a day much like Saturday. It was semi-nice outside, so the girls played outside a little. Other than that, we just hung around the house. Even though the girls said it was "boring", Travis and I thought it was a nice relaxing weekend.

Inside Looking Out

A few days ago, the girls were DYING to go out and play in what little snow that actually fell in NWA. So, Travis bundled Emma and Hannah up and sent them out back. They were having a BLAST!

Poor Catherine couldn't go out, so she stood at the sliding glass doors staring longingly yelling, "NANA! MEMA! NANA! NANANANANAAAAA!". Emma and Hannah came over and did what any loving sisters would do: Threw a snowball at the back door right where Catherine's face was.

Enjoy the video of Catherine's reaction.

(Yes, we put her BACK up there and let them do it again. But, please keep in mind the door is closed people. Plus, I wouldn't have much content for this blog if I didn't laugh when stuff like this happens!)