Crazy Love Gamble-Style

Oreo. He's fat & happy. And the last pet standing. And oh so very tolerable of these kids. Maybe he got the memo about what happens to the pets that get on our nerves... That should keep him in line.

Well, I don't hate all kid food. I LOVE mac & cheese, I just know better then to eat it, much.   Truthfully, I steal several bites when I make it.  (those calories don't count right?) I shouldn't even be making mac & cheese. It's not good for them! Just because I pair it with peas & applesauce  doesn't make it healthy. I really struggle with kid dinners. I know, as the mom, we are supposed to encourage our children to eat the meals  we cook. This is something I just plain suck at. It's not because I have something against  forcing them to eat something they are not thrilled about. In fact, I will admit it, I take a tiny amount  of joy knowing Ava won't eat something, but making her sit there for years on end  anyway, while she plays her little game.  It keeps her out of my hair for a long  period of time and I'm just mean like that . But the only reason I am mean ...

What a nice weekend.  Not only was the weather great, we were super productive.  John got the yard all pretty, the backyard nearly BBQ ready & the garage super clean!  We hit up two parks and got some fun  family time in too.  John & I took the kids to fly this little wooden airplane and try out our new Stomp Rocket.  While we were there we got to watch this  guy flying his very cool remote control  airplane in the field.    It was pretty fun to watch. The guy even had a runway set up in the field  & he kept practicing landing his plane, it was cool. Norah dug seeing the plane in the air.  Ava had a nice time playing on the playground equipment.  This is a special place, someday it  will be HER elementary school.  She was pretty excited about the prospect of that.  John wants one of those big planes. ...

 She might be too little, but that didn't stop her from trying. I had to put her up there,  this bike is huge compared to her.  It's a good thing I put the helmet on her, that would be a long way to fall.  Norah just can't wait to be big enough. But we can wait, our little baby is growing up so fast! Too fast if you ask me!!

I used to be accused of not letting Ava do anything that was messy. I still sort of struggle with that but... I think I may be getting slightly more relaxed about it.

Last year I did a mini photo shoot with Ava & Norah out by the flowers in  front of our house.   The flowers just looked so beautiful I  couldn't resist, plus as you know I  sort of like taking pictures of my girls. It's funny to look back on that picture and see  how much they have changed.   Here they are now:  So grown up!! Then:  Now:  Then:  Now: Here is Ava, same time 2 years ago, before there even was a little Norah:  Two years later:  She has grown into such a beautiful young  lady.  We saw our neighbor outside yesterday and Ava says "Hi Heidi!  How was your Easter? What did you guys do?"  So mature.  And you know how I feel about this girl.  Her cuteness pretty much kills me.  And she's done, and dirty.  Love these girls.