My Warm and Fuzzy Place

When I came home the other day to completely new floors, I had to put everything away that we had pulled out of closets and corners and tables. It was a good excuse to “organize.” If you know me very well you know that I.LOVE.TO.ORGANIZE. Ask my mom, when I was a child, she used to find me hiding out in my room, alphabetizing my books. Doesn’t say much for my social life as a child now, does it?


On the flip side, although I love a good bargin, nothing makes me crazier than clutter or say…a garage sale. Oh my, schlepping through piles of other peoples trash makes me want to set something on fire! I figured this out one year as I was helping out with a church wide garage sale/fundraiser. That musty smell that emanates from a garage sale is like some kind of crazy drug for me. It makes me cranky and obnoxious.

Okay, breath deep, think happy organized thoughts. Back to my organization happy place. So yesterday, I put aside my normal tasks of making dinner for my family and bathing my children and cleaned out closets and shelves. I hauled out three bags of papers and what-nots. I have no idea where it all came from. I’m not all done, but I got a ton done. And frankly, I’m glad it’s not all done, because I like to visit this warm and fuzzy place every once in a while…


P.S. Mom, I apologize for “cleaning and organizing” your basement that one summer I was home from college and you were away on a trip. I apologize for taking THREE WHOLE truckloads to the dumpster. I apologize for throwing away those ruined moldy old precious baby clothes.

But just for the record, I’d do it all over again!

Goodbye to my Household Nemisis

As you might have read on Facebook recently, Conrad and I made a last minute decision to replace our white vinyl floors. I have wanted to forever because…well…it’s white…and it’s vinyl…and I have two small children, who’s sticky little footprints show EVERYWHERE. I LOVE LOVE LOVE hardwoods, but in our current home, we weren’t going to spend that kind of money. But we happen to run across a deal on wood laminates. Amazing deal, by the way. Then we “bid” our job out on craigslist, only to find someone to install them for .75 per square foot. Well…we couldn’t beat that! Less than a week later…wah la. *Sigh* This makes mama very happy.


Before


After

Isabelle-ism of the Day

We were in the car tonight on the way to run some errands. Isabelle isn't feeling all too well today and has been a bit crabby (ahem). She wanted to go into the grocery store with her Daddy. I said, "Isabelle I don't think you even like Daddy and Mommy tonight. Why do you want to go into the store with Daddy?" She replied, "I do. I do like You." I responded with, "Then can you be kind to us?" There was a few seconds of a pause before she responded diplomatically, "Well...I like you." At least no one can call the girl a liar.

To Grace, at 18 months old

Dear Grace,

I decided to write you a letter today, so you can look back and read it one day when you are older. This week I took you to your 18 month doctor's appointment. You were in the 50% percentile for weight and 75th for height. As is usual, with my girls: tall and skinny! You didn't get this lucky trait from your Mama!

I also thought I'd tell you a little about yourself at 18 months. You are the delight of our lives! At every stage of your development I mourn your growth more than a little. Although I'm so excited to watch you grow up and change, I also really hate to see the little baby disappear more and more each day. You were the best baby. You were pleasant and sweet and always ready with a smile and a laugh for everyone.

Now that you are a toddler, you are even more fun! You are totally entertaining. Daddy and I miss you when we are away from you for even a few hours. You smile and laugh easily and say "Hi" to everyone, including total strangers. You win friends easily! You love to entertain people and work hard for praise and laughs from those you love. You dance to all music, including this hilarious booty shake. You also lip sync to songs. If a song comes on, you close your eyes, and move your mouth like you are singing the most serious ballad in the world.

In the last couple of weeks, you have tripled or quadrupled your vocabulary. There isn't a word you won't try to say. Much to our chagrin, you call both Daddy and I (and anyone else you know and love) Mommy and Daddy indiscriminately. You call your sister, i-bell. You can also repeat books that we read you every night, your favorite is probably Moo, Baa, La la la, where you an say every sound the animals say. You also love Five Little Monkey's jumped on the Bed. You love saying "No No No' When the doctor says "No more monkey's jumping on the bed!"

These days you are starting to get a little independent. If you don't get your way, you have been known to throw yourself on the ground, in a full fledged temper tantrum. You go at this whole heartedly for about 15 seconds, before you stop, get up, smile, and resume whatever you were doing. So funny!

These words don't adequately describe how amazing and wonderful you are. How much pleasure we get from being your parents, and how we love to watch you grow and change. But I hope it gives you an idea of who you were.

We love you with our whole hearts,

Mommy and Daddy

Happy Number 2 Abby!

My lovely neice Abigail turned two a couple of weeks ago and the Michael’s traveled to Abby’s house to celebrate it with her. Since it was Easter weekend, my sister, Jona planned an easter egg hunt and all kinds of fun for the kids. They had a blast and Abby made out like a bandit with all of her family and friends bringing bounty to lay at her feet!

My Good Lil' Eater

In Indian culture, they emphasis good eating habits with children, like American’s emphasis good sleeping habits with children. My theory (and I’ve got plenty of them!) is that food hasn’t always been plentiful in India, so getting enough food is very important. And likewise, in our culture sleep always seems to be lacking. How many articles have you read on the need for sleep for good health and smart children?

Well, every good Indian mother will sit down and force feed their child from the time they are very small. It’s sooo contrary to what we know that it’s down right funny. And the funny thing is, they are mostly skinny skinny people. It just goes to show you what happens when you take chicken McNuggets out of the picture (again, one of my oh so informed theories)


Isabelle is just not that interested in eating. She’s a skinny girl and (Lord help her mamma stay out of the way) I hope she stays that way! Grace, while not anything more than a little “baby chubby” enjoys her food. She get’s that from the Payne’s, poor kid. And what I love about Grace is that she’s an adventurous eater. Here is a picture of her decided to taste my iced coffee (I wish I would have gotten that face on camera!) and then trying Pad Thai. She loves noodles!

Hello Sunshine

Hello Sunshine, old friend.

We are so happy to see you. Can I tell you that again, love? We are SO. HAPPY. TO. SEE. YOU. Really. It's been too long. I know absence makes the heart grow fonder, but it's been a cold, dark, winter and we needed to get out of the house, air out, shed some layers...run! Or actually, the kids needed to run. So everyday you have been out, so have we. And oh have we been making the most of your visits!

Love,
The Michaels

A Trip Down Easter Lane

I love Easter and I knew my kid’s would love Easter too. When I was growing up, we got up early and went to “Sunrise service”, followed by regular church at the regular time a couple of hours later. In restrospect, I believe that Pentecostals created the sunrise service mostly to make up for the fact that we didn’t have church that particular evening (shockingly neglectful!)so families could spend time together.

Anyway, everyone went out to breakfast together in between services Easter morning. My parents used to make us a deal, if you go to Sunrise service, you get to go to breakfast, if not, you stay home. The novelty of breakfast out on a Sunday worked until we were…say 12. Then it was no competition. Sleep in, alone, in a quite house, or eggs and bacon at the local diner? No contest really. I know, we were very spiritual children.


But I also loved the Easter baskets. Oh the lovely pastel wicker with goodies and toys. My mom used to wrap them in cellophane (I have no idea why) and tie then with a bow. But oh how we loved the crinkle of the paper…it was like opening a present (maybe that’s why?) I think we still got Easter baskets up until…well, until we had kids! Then, come 2006, Baby Isabelle shows up, no more baskets, no more Valentines cards, nada! No soup for you!


This Easter is the first year I really participated with the girls. I made baskets, and even made a concentrated effort NOT to get much candy…well, except for Peeps, but a child HAS to have pink fluffy sugar shaped like chicks for Easter. I even hid the baskets and made them search for them. It didn’t take long and Conrad and I were rewarded with appropriate squeals of delight and surprised faces. Some of which I happened to capture on camera.

New Robes from Oma

Thanks, Oma for the pajama’s and robes in the mail last week. Grace really loves hers and here is a picture of both girls in their robes. I don’t know why they stand next to the trash can, but they love to do that too. Maybe because it’s shiny…or holds untold treasures. I’m not sure. But Isabelle doesn’t like her robe too much. She told me to tell you the following, “Take it back. I never wished for one of these.” Well, you can’t win them all.

Hiding His Word in Her Heart

Accessorizing

"The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize" Clairee in Steel Magnolia's

First Week Down

Isabelle and Grace successfully finished their first week at the new babysitters! It just so happened that I was out of town for work all week and had to leave at 0 dark thirty, so Conrad took the girls to Ms. Shelley's in the morning. Umm...I think he was glad he didn't have to deal with MY first-week-at-a-new-sitter-morning drama. Anyway, they seem to be doing really well. They love Ms. Shelly and who wouldn't? Day One: trip to the local huge Play Place at Isabelle's preschool, Day Two: Morning at COSI, Day Three: Trip to YMCA for Music Maker's Class. Everyday is something to look forward to! Ms. Shelley emailed us some pictures from their day at COSI.

Mommy Vacation

Since we had a little babysitter snafu (did I spell that right, snaphu, snafoo?) We scheduled the girls to go have a grandparent vacation week. I went with them since I worked up in Northern Ohio till Wednesday. Then I had to come back to the office to work on Thursday, but on Friday...well, I took a Mommy Vacation. I love love love my babies and I miss them like crazy, BUT I have really enjoyed my Mommy Vacation. Conrad had to work so I leisurely got up, went to work out, get ready, run some errands, then enjoyed a lovely massage, followed by a slightly painful brow wax. *Sigh* I forgot how bright the world looks after a full nights sleep!

I had to tie Conrad down to keep him from going to get the girls. He hasn't seen them since Monday and misses our little chickens. I told Isabelle we were coming early to get her and she whined, "awwwww." She's obviously suffering at Oma's house. And Grace...well, she's doesn't care who else is around, as long as Granny is there. Laughing at all her little antics and giving her anything her little heart desires. It's a rough life.

Isabellisms of the Day

Talking to her dad on the phone, she tells him, "Daddy, I don't have any time on my watch to talk to you."

She was playing with her cousin Eian and Eian's mom, Shannon, told those two to stay in the back yard. Isabelle crossed her arms and turned toward five year old Eian and said, while glaring at Shannon, "Tell your mom that I am MAD at her."

As we passed a Krispy Kreme store, she asked, "Momma, is that the place where the donuts live?"