Silly Saturday

Playing together in the tent!

I am a Princess who likes Peter Pan!

Give me the Booty! The Pirates Booty that is...

Threw the anxiety out the window... Ellie smashing Booty on the new carpet!

So it is Saturday....
We are all home, I had to work until 2:30pm today but for the most part we were all home all day. It is evening now and we just got done with bath time. The girls and I took a bath. Daddy got it ready and man was it HOT... but it felt great. We have the kid tunes cranked, not sure this is appropriate for 8ish time of night, they might get more wild but who knows. I am sitting in the chair writing this blog, Hadley and Ellie are playing and Robert is changing oil in the boat. The girls both have new PJ's on. Ellie's new favorite thing besides crunching her favorite snack of Pirates Booty on the floor is climbing on the new smaller ottomans. She has already fell once, but didn't cry.

Hadley's new man is Peter Pan, she loves the book and loves the movie. She also love the Jungle Book.
Ellie's loves to do everything Hadley does, so it begins at one and I tell Hadley is will continue forever, until you are best friends in your 20's.

Both girls are playing and Robert and I simply enjoy this new upstairs layout... we have a recliner, TV and lap top if needed. The girls play and we can relax, at least a little.

Quickie

Couple things...

• A cute item first, the other morning Hadley woke up around 7am, walked into our room and switched blankets with Ellie. Apparently Ellie had ducky blanket and Hadley had monkey blanket and it is supposed to be the other way around. 

• Cheek update... well Hadley still picks it... been a year, hopefully this won't continue until she is 18 but who knows... maybe we need to see a dermatologists. We have told her she can have a bounce house, ears pierced, a movie and a barbie if she stops picking it and it heals. 

• Ellie is super cute with her point and her one word which is, dah... she points and says it for everything. She also says uh oh... when she drops something.

• We found a deer tick on Ellie... uh oh! Yeah, we found a small tick on Monday morning and brought her to the clinic for removal. It was a small deer tick and in the stage where the most tick born disease comes from. So we are now on Lymes watch for the next 3-10 days which includes fever, rash, aching muscles... by the way she just had one year shots and that can also include rash and fever. Plus... she is teething which also includes fever. Sooo... fun huh?

• Hadley is learning new words all the time. Today she said she was disappointed because she missed Grandma... new word, not the right usage, but we talked about how it is used and who knows maybe she will use it correct the next time. I attribute this learning to cartoons, she said she learned it from Team Umizoomi.

Good Bye

This morning I was comparing the results of lemon cleaners effectiveness on e.coli and m.roseus and all the while my dear friend Nicole was saying good bye to her father Ben. He took his final breath today, the morning of April 13th. I don't know the details but I do know he passed away peacefully. He is now pain free and is with the love of his life in heaven.
I first met Nicole in 2000. She was roommate number 4 when I transferred to SCSU. We shared one side of the apartment and we had so much in common. I met Ben and Shirley that fall. I most remember making a big pot of chili with them. Shirley had this recipe for chili and it was good. It wasn't standard just like she wasn't. It was bold! A good word for her demeanor. Both Ben and Shirley were wonderful to be around. They loved me instantly, as I did them. They were true, honest, friendly, real and most of all loving. They wanted the best for their daughter Nicole, who ended up in Central Minnesota beyond their wildest belief's.
Of course time went on and we both graduated from SCSU and we (Nicole and I) grew closer. We each filled a missing hole in our hearts. Neither of us having a sister of our own, plus it helped tremendously that we could share clothes and shoes. But really we just fit together, it was meant to be...
Some of my best moments with Nicole include one of her parents...
We (Shanessa, Nicole and I) spend a fourth of July weekend in Illinois and it was amazing. I will never forget our fun day in Chicago. Coors Light can on the train... you had to be there.
When I think of Ben and Shirley another amazing weekend fills my mind and that is my wedding weekend. Nicole, along with her parents and her Grandmother spent the weekend in Two Harbors celebrating Robert and I's wedding. There is this picture that I need to get my hands on from the Friday night party so to speak. It is of me, my mom, Shanessa, her mom, Nicole, her mom and I want to add another set in there, but I cannot remember. However, it recaps that night to a tee. We had so much fun... too much! There is also a picture of Nicole and her family from my wedding that captures their true love for each other. It is three generational love... Nicole grew up in a home that cared for their loved ones and she did just that for her father. She was her father's true caregiver. And I am so proud of her.
I have memories from her graduation party at the Red Carpet. I have memories from a special night at her townhome in Hugo when I drank too many martini's with her mom. I have special memories from the last time I ever spent time with Shirley in White Bear Lake and we shopped and had breakfast. I have special memories of Nicole dancing with her father on her wedding. Her dance was breathless just like her Father's love for her. Ben had this look he would give you... sorta a twinkle in his eye type of look and I am thankful I got to be there for his 70th birthday party this past October and I got to see the look.
In February I visited Nicole and she said, "I hope you don't mind, we have to stop by and visit my Dad for a bit before we shop." I didn't care,  actually had this image in my mind that we were going to visit him. Anyway, I am so thankful we did. Because, that was the last time I visited with Ben. Brief, but nonetheless I saw that glimmer! I heard that accent and I felt that love.
I am so sorry Nicole for your loss today. I know that your father is now pain free but I will miss that glimmer!
I love you Nicole like a sister. You are in my heart always. Please know that you are not alone and I will always be there for you... forever.
You will be greatly missed Ben. Give Shirley a hug for me.

Very Hungry Caterpillar First Birthday Party

Happy Easter!

Today (Saturday) we went to an egg hunt! The girls got some candy, a book and lunch. Then I had to work and Auntie Michelle came up to hang out and watch them. I got home at 10pm. Put Hadley to bed, rocked Ellie because she woke up and put together the Easter baskets. This year the Easter Bunny is hiding Hadley's basket behind the curtains.