Panther pride

Eric promised CJ that he would take her to the 'big pool' after her nap today. Well, he didn't leave work early like he thought he would, but that is hard to explain to a 2yr old. So after playing hide-n-seek, dancing, singing and all the things that 2yr olds like to do I pulled out the tatoo kit. She had lots of fun and daddy gets to do bath tonight!



That's right, a UNI paw print!

We had too, too much tatoo fun!!

I couldn't leave Panther out of this one!

pictures

Laurelei gets so excited when she watches us eat...she literally attempts to jump out of her chair --possibly another dare devil on my hands --so we have been giving her a bit of rice cereal at supper with us. She loves it! She grabs for the spoon and fusses if it isn't in her mouth.



CJ is the big helper!




She loves to feed her sister and help make cookies...




she got caught with her hand in the bowl!









I just love this picture!

Pool Fun

Anyone who was around between January & March know that CJ had developed a fear of getting her head wet and washing her hair. It just kinda came and THANKFULLY it went away. She has always loved to blow bubbles and play at the pool, but this winter it was not looking good for future water fun. Well she has gotten way better, and will wash her own hair, several times, during a bath and loves to have water poured on her head.
Yesterday we went to the main base pool --I think the shallowest part is 4.5 feet -- it is really big. CJ wore her life jacket for awhile but then played without it most of the time. Yesterday she began lowering herself underwater! Aunt Jenny and Aunt JoJos, she is looking for some more fun swim time with you!

Trapeze Artist

Trapeze artist, dare devil, thrill seeker. Whatever you call it, I
catch CJ doing this kind of stuff all the time. I tell her she causes Mommy to have mini little heart attacks all the time.

Busy

We had a busy weekend. Eric turned 30 on Saturday and we had a BBQ scheduled. However, CJ got sick during the night so we postponed till Sunday. Eric went golfing instead Saturday afternoon. Sunday we had a nice get together with some friends and people from Eric's API class. A few couldn't make it since we changed the date, but still had a good crowd. A nice way to celebrate Father's day too.
Eric had Monday off so we took off to visit Mobile AL. It was a nice drive over there and we went to the Science Center...what a fantastic place! Everything is hands on so it is great for families. We all stood in a wind machine that simulated hurricane type winds, CJ loved the pulley system that she was able to lift herself off the with, and we finally saw the IMAX move, Hurricane on the Bayou. I say finally, because it has been playing at the navy aviation museum, but we always elected not to see it. It is a great film that focuses on the lost of our wetlands --we loose an acre everyday! --and was suppose to be a warning for what if the big one came, well before they had finished the movie, Katrina hit, and they were able to include it. Very moving.
We finally got a much needed soaking of rain and drove back in rain the whole way. CJ wanted to watch Mary Poppins and playing outside was not an option. Eric is apparently not familiar with the movie. The questions began with, is she (Mary Poppins) blowing them all away? How? So is this real or they just pretending to be in the picture? When will they sing zip-a-dee-doo-da?--wrong movie buddy. I thought he (Bert) was a chiminy sweep. What's a toppin and what are they talking about? The questions were endless and he was serious. He didn't believe me about the song and finally went to check it out on the internet. At one point I was laughing so hard my side began to ache and I had tears running down my face. I promised him we'll watch it again and he'll "get it" next time.

Today Eric has his briefing about redneck parasailing, and then tomorrow morning he'll be off doing it. Friday he is done with this class! He begins ground school for the T-34s on July 9th, and then he will be super busy with really long days. CJ has music class at 10 and I promise to get pictures, father day gifts and everything else in the mail today.

4 months

We got a clean bill of health at Laurelei's check up today. CJ managed to not cry, until during the shots. An improvement to past check ups where CJ cried beginning the moment we weighed Laurelei. Today she weighed in at 13.8lbs and 24inches long. Laurelei gets to see a pediatrician off base and it was nice to be in a civilan facility again. She recommended that we wait on solids until she is 6months. We'll see, she is eyeing our food already, so I'm not sure she'll wait 2 more months. The doc. also mentioned how social she already is...she is certainatly trying to keep up with big sister.

Yesterday we celebrated our 8th anniversary. We got a sitter for CJ --she did well, got scared when the wind picked up and branches started falling all around, but otherwise, no tears. And Eric and I (& Laurelei) went to the Spiderman movie. Eric was a bit frustrated that I don't keep my comic book characters straight and that I didn't memorize the first two Spiderman movies so I could keep everything straight. I had wanted to see a comedy, but Spiderman was the only one playing during the time we had a sitter...Eric also got me some nice flowers.

As I post this, I hear CJ reading to Laurelei, who is sitting in the high chair. My magic high chair. It puts the girls to sleep nearly every time I put them in it. With CJ, I think it might be due to being forced to actually sit still. But it is a nice trick to have up my sleeve when the girls are tired and not wanting to sleep.

Not cryin' over spilt milk

Last night as I made supper, I turned to catch CJ pouring milk into her cup and about half of it onto the floor. This reminded me of a story about Albert Einstein I read in a biography of the man over 15 yrs ago. Einstein recalled when he was about 3 or 4 he had tried to pour milk out of the pitcher, but instead ended up spilling most of it onto the floor. Instead of getting upset, his mother filled the pitcher with water and took the young Einstein outside. She told him to figure out how to pour the pitcher without spilling it and to practice. Not only did he figure out how to successfully pour from the pitcher, he developed a life long desire to problem solve and to think creatively, which he thanked his mother for fostering. From the moment I read that story, it struck a chord with me and often am reminded of it.

I didn't say a word as I watched CJ spill the milk (the jug was almost empty). She then put the empty jug into the sink, grabbed a towel and cleaned it up. With a small prompt, she then put the towel into the laundry. A moment I'm sure I will remember for a long time.

Now if I could just get others of the household to do the same. So Gma P., how does this fit in with your theory about her getting up so early every day?

Toot Toot

Eric had his last academic test today. For the next two weeks they will be doing out of the classroom work, like redneck para sailing. They go to Alabama to do it, so I'm thinking it could be illegal here in FL, but they para sail behind a pickup truck...can't get more redneck than that. Hopefully the next two weeks he will be a little more relaxed. He's worked really hard, and the academic classes will start up again July 9.

CJ is always offering up "I help Daddy study airplanes". He gave her one of his completed books and she had fun highlighting and writing just like Daddy. Her favorite new phrase is "See you later Mommy." She has gone thru a growth spurt lately and really is looking more and more like a little girl.

A month ago I joined Curves. I love the way I feel after the workout and the energy it gives me. Yesterday was my weight and measurement day, and while tooting my own horn, I have lost a total of 14.5 combined inches and pounds. Perfect motivation to keep going despite the hot muggy weather outside that makes you want to stay home and not even think about getting into your steaming sauna of a car. I have a wedding in July that I am hoping to wear a dress that Eric got for me 3yrs ago and I only wore once before getting pregnant with CJ. I seem to be in between sizes and I can't wait to drop and rediscover my clothes.

Laurelei loves the exersaucer, standing up and watching everything going on. She and CJ were "talking" in the van yesterday and Laurelei had CJ laughing so hard I was afraid she would pee her pants. The two of them get along great and it is really fun to watch them together.

simple pleasures

I love this picture! When CJ was a baby, I tried and tried to get a cute feet shot, but she would move and it was blurry, it just never turned out. Well one day CJ suggested that I take a picture of their feet...and it turned out great! Well I'm partial to it anyway.
Another great simple pleasure are the peanut butter ice cream sandwiches that I found. I found at that chain store I hate and it even the store brand...but my pocket book can afford the prices found at the supercenter, so that is where I end up...I can't wait till we get another choice here in town...looks like soon! But check them out...if you like chocolate and you like peanutbutter, a great afternoon treat when it is hot. Of course it isn't helping my quest to get slimmed down and toned up, but that is okay, sometimes a little peanut butter and chocolate can solve a lot of problems and melt away that stress! Enjoy life's simplicity.

Pictures

Silly Mommy. CJ’s favorite phrase. Well this weekend was Memorial day and I wanted to go camping. Eric had a major test on Tuesday that he was studying for all weekend with study groups. I told him that the girls and I were still going camping...he offered to keep the dog. While he was at the study group I attempted to put up the tent. Now I am experienced at this, and even though it was a new tent, tents are tents-how hard could it be? But with our new one, unless you have an arm span of at least 15 ft, you can not put it up by yourself. I realized this after I had begun to get the poles in it only to discover my first choice of camp sites had fire ants everywhere. Silly Mommy, she didn’t scout the site very well and had to drag the whole thing to a new area. Check out our tent --It’s HUGE!! Eric can stand in it!

I convinced Eric to come home and help me put up the tent, at which he was surprise that we were camping Friday and then surprised that it was in our own backyard. I’m no fool. A 2yr old and an infant...right. Also, FL is so dry right now we couldn’t have a cool campfire or have a way to cook, unless I used our kitchen. Out of practice, camping is work! So there you have it, the girls and I camped in the backyard where it was cool, since our AC didn’t get fixed until Tuesday, while Eric slept in the hot house with a fan blowing directly on him. Oh and CJ slept until 7 both mornings!

Laurelei has discovered her feet and is always playing with them. She is also reaching for toys, talking, and on the look out for CJ to come and play. Oh, and she loves to read!


Remember the butt cream day? Here is that fun photo.