Wonderful Weekend

Everyone duck and watch out for the flying pigs...My father left his cozy little island (in an actual car instead of his trusty golf cart) and ventured to VA/MD/PA for a week!  He and Vik made their way up here Monday, stayed with Deanna & Matt until Wednesday, then with us until Friday, when we all went up to PA for G&G's funeral and other family activities.  It was an awesome weekend!  Cesar and I both commented when we got home that this was the best weekend our little family has had.  The girls absolutely LOVED hanging out with Grandpa and Grandma Vikki, the weather could not have been more perfect, we got to see so many family members that we rarely get to see, we stayed at a beautiful and relaxing B&B, the girls slept well, played well, and for the most part, behaved well all weekend, and we just all had such a fantastic time!  We are going to have to work on Grandpa doing this every couple years instead of...well...umm...the "never again" as he has in his plans! 

We actually got some pictures of Grandpa this visit (unlike the spring break trip when he somehow avoided them all).  Here are some highlights from the weekend...



Grandpa and the girls eating lunch on the deck






Story time with Vikki

 




Bella trying to finagle a bit of Grandpa's "special drink"
Not for 20 more years my dear!

 






Isabella and Grandpa having fun at the playground




Leah hitching a ride home





Daddy and the girls at the B&B

 




Grandpa's little ducklings

 




Kai & Isabella

 




Morning explorations

 


New fashion statement...footy PJs and sandals!



We didn't have time to give the girls a bath after the long day, so we gave them a little sink bath...they had a blast!



My little beauties!





Always curious about the computer





Sunday we went to longwood gardens...what an amazingly beautiful place (and the perfect weather didn't hurt either!).

 

Melissa and the boys joined us for the morning



Isabella thought this was hilarious...she kept doing it all day.





Siblings!



Cesar would comment that this is a typical "Taylor" picture...no hugs, no arms around each other, just arms down straight and smile!  Ha Ha Ha



Our little family!





Daddy and Leah in the giant tree house




Isabella and Geneva





Longwood gardens had a little kids section with lots of water and the girls had a ball!!  The perfect little place for them :)  I really wish it was closer to our house!

                            



Great uncle Jim showing her how to "catch" the water





Bonsai!  Cesar used to grow bonsai trees and had a good time seeing all the ones they had on display.




A very cool little bonsai forest!





Look at Leah, my little ham!

 



Me and  my girlies!
(Notice Bella's finger up her nose...there were some people standing next to us who were laughing hysterically as we were taking pictures becasue the girls kept doing that.  Yuck!).

 

Cereal

As I said earlier, I am horrible at making my kids use utensils to eat with.  However, I have really been trying to get them to use them as much as possible.  So, this weekend we tried eating cereal (with milk!!).  And...they actually did pretty well.  I was terrified that they would try to dump their bowls over, but they were so excited at the new challenge that they didn't even think about that.  They sat in their chairs for 20-30 minutes eating and having so much fun!!  We'll see how it goes once the newness has warn off!



Oops...this clearly isn't a picture of cereal eating...don't know how this got mixed in, but I love it, so I'll keep it on here!



Isabella...mastering the spoon!

Leah..at first she kept trying to sneak her hand in...

But, then got the spoon thing down...

Only Isabella would pose while eating cereal!

DO-A

OK, so I am officially a failure (again!)...I have finally given in!  My kids are officially TV watchers!  Uggghh...I HATE to say that.  I have been ADAMANT about the fact that I do not want my kids watching ANY TV until they turn 2.  Others have told me that I should lighten up but that is what the doctor recommends.  That is what the "experts"recommend.  So that is what I was going to do! Period!  Exclamation mark!  No exceptions!

Well...that was before my kids turned 20 months and decided they needed my attention EVERY second of EVERY minute that I am around them...especially around dinner time when they start to get hungry and tired.  I can't get up to go to the bathroom without them FREAKING out!  So...in order to get dinner made at night, I have decided that Dora (or Do-A as the kids scream whenever she comes on the TV) will grace our presence for up to 30 minutes so that I can get dinner ready.  (Why Dora?  They have a Dora book that they LOVE and the first time I turned it on the TV they were very excited to see her move around.  They even climbed up behind the TV to see where she was coming from... have to admit..that was VERY cute!) 

 Ugghh...did I mention that I am a failure.  I hate that I am "that mom" that parks her kids in front of the TV so that I can get something accomplished.  I would have judged a mom that does that a few months ago.  I wasn't going to be that mom.  I was going to calmly teach my children that they need to find things (books, educational games, push-ups..whatever) to occupy their time while Mommy makes dinner.  So...I tried that.  For weeks.  And guess what...it wasn't working and I was going crazy.  But guess what did work...Do-A!  Do-A!  D0-AAAAA!

So, I conceded...Yuck!

The good thing is...after about 5-10 minutes, they usually turn the TV off themselves, say "all-done" and find something else to play with.  I think they just need a few minutes to focus on something other than me and then they are fine and can go back to playing on their own.

So...judge me as you wish...I would be judging me if I were you...but I have come to terms with my failure...

Hi, My name is Tricia and my kids are TV watchers!!

First Family Hike

On July 4th, we took our first family hike.  The girls really seemed to like it.  They love to walk and run, and they love obstacles, so this was a perfect activity for them!  We went to Gambrill state park in Frederick and did a mile long path.  They lasted a long time...probably more than 3/4 of a mile before they wanted a break for a little.  I am excited to take them there again!  It was a good way to get out energy too...they slept GREAT last night :)

(Oh...and I KNOW that we need better hiking shoes...thanks Mom for being the first one to point that out!)



We went to the playground before heading out for the hike




The girls did this on their own...they love to hold hands all of the sudden!





Checking out the trail




A little break on the rocks





Daddy & Leah





At home before we left





Bella tried to sit on a sharp rock.  Whoops!




Daddy and his girls



Looking for bugs



Cesar went on a ride after our hike!