U - V - W - X - Y - Z

OK I guess this is technically throwing in the towel but one must prioritize! I am Unbelievably busy with work right now so doing a daily post is just to much. Vanessa is teething so every Waking moment I am booked! I wish I were an X-men with super powers of keeping one kid from startling the other up by Yelling. That would at least help at night. But life is a Zoo and I love it, thanks for joining me on the A-Z challenge next week we will go back to our regular schedule!

Have a great week!

Tooth

Sorry A-z friends the end has got me sloppy. This should have been Saturdays post but hey it was a holiday weekend. Cut a girl some slack.

T is for tooth. The teeny tiny little front tooth that Nessa popped on Friday! Bye bye toothless smile my girl has her 1st tooth. Explains the recent sleepless nights. Go Nessa!

T is for toddler. I have one of those "typical" toddles! She is sweet and adorable and mean and crazy and loud. I love my Maise!

T is for truth. To be honest as much fun as A-z has been I will look forward to getting back to weekly posts. I made a commitment to finish but substance is starting to lack. The truth be told I will be glad when the challenge is over. Although I love my new A-Z friends!

That's all for T!

SAMSONITE!

Ridiculously Rude RN Raising Rotten Runt

REALLY? I was nearly floored today (well yesterday since I published this late) when I pick up my kids from the sitter to find out that the mother of the twins that also go there left angry because Maise scratched her sons face. Hum, normally I would understand except for the fact that in less than just one week my kid came home with a bite mark on her arm followed by a bite mark on her face. This little boy I have witnessed being aggressive, smacking and hitting at other kids. I never said anything about the bite mark because they are kids. Kids rough house and play hard sometimes, in my opinion I just didn't think it was worthy of stopping the presses.

My sitter said that the woman seemed mad at her and not Maise. Still it upset me because I think my sitter is golden! I love her and more importantly the girls love her. We could not be happier with the situation so I guess it bugs me that someone would. Ok RANT over - I feel much much better!

Q is for...

...eh I got nothing! I am so burnt out and overloaded but in the spirt of the A-Z challenge I must post something. So here is a clip of my favorite cartoon character starting with the Q.

Pancake Breakfast - May 1st

My life is all about my girls and family. Their main competition at this point is the PANCAKE BREAKFAST. This is an event I am helping to plan for my work and is a huge deal. I never knew the amount of work and planning that went into an event like this. We will serve well over 500 guest and all proceeds go directly to support our agency programs including our 3 CILA's as well as out DT Center. The event is a lot of fun! We eat pancakes and enjoy coffee with our friends but we also gamble!! That's right we know how to have a good time. We have 3 raffle tables going a Pick Your Own with 20ish AWESOME PRIZES, The Big Raffle with over 100 prizes and gift certificates and then the Silver Dollar Raffle with over 300 prizes for the kids! We wrap up the event with our grandest raffle the $10,000 pot. That is right, $10,000! The thing that is so great about this one is that there are only 250 tickets sold so your odds are pretty darn good considering other than the $10,000 you have 7 other opportunities to double your money!

I invite you all to come! If you are not in the area you can still support Austin by buying a ticket for any of the raffles including the $10,000 CASH RAFFLE (winner need not be present).

45th Annual

Pancake Breakfast

Sunday

May 1, 2011

8:30 am - 1:00 pm

Austin Special Work Center

5414 W. Diversey, Chicago

Mmmmm.. 
                        fluffy Pancakes, sizzling Sausage, fresh Juice, and piping hot Coffee!

ADULTS $6.00

CHILDREN $4.00

Oh no you didn't!

Oh yes I did! Remember when I was talking about Maise needing a bang trim. Well my mom told me how easy it was and suggested a technique and yeah I tried it. Lol, the first day she looked kind of silly but the look grows on you. I am not counting this, as the first hair cut either this was just a bang trim. But I did save the tiny scraps.

Oh yes she (Nessa) did! Vanessa was caught standing and holding on to the side of the couch. She did not go anywhere but she sure was standing nice. She may walk as quickly as Maise. Let's see where the next couple of months take us.

Oh yes she (Maise) did! Maise is a big climber she has already made my heart stop when she attempted and masters the ladder. Well in less than like 5 seconds she scaled her high chair with the tray on. She got to the stop and stood steady on the very weak and unstable contraption. Oh My! Do I have my hands full! Oh she also learned how to use the play station remote to replay her Elmo's. Oh YEAH!!!!!!

Oh BTW keep your fingers crossed we are going to try and make it for bunny pictures tonight!

New Award

Thank you randomdanni at Random Thoughts By Danni for the following award:

Here are the rules for the acceptance of the award:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you the award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 15 other bloggers.
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award.

7 Things about me:

1. I am a Libra

2. I love my mini van

3. I wish I played sports

4. I love the show Modern Family

5. I like having weekends off

6. I am addicted to reality tv

7. I hate cell phones

Neil Patrick Harris

N.P.H. is way funny! I loved him in the Harold and Kumar movies. He really seems to be able to have fun with himself. Check out one of my favorite N.P.H. clips, of course from Seseame Street:

Long Day and Momma Mommmmm

Today's post is a 2’fer in the A-Z Challenge.

L is for LONG day and yesterday sure was. The next few weeks are incredibly draining with the big fundraising event I am helping to plan as well as the other fundraiser I am wrapping up. Yesterday I worked almost 10 hrs straight with no break. My choice but still, LOT's going on. Then it is home to maximize time with the girls! Come on May...that's when I get to slow down...ahhhh!

M is for MOMMA! Vanessa the MAGNIFICENT is now saying MOMMA, and not just a fluke, it seems to be her favorite word. Ok in all fairness it is her only word but so cool. This week has been huge! Not only has she been saying Momma and adding other syllables together; she is now finally rolling from tummy to back and starting to scoot. She is right on target! Go Vanessa! You MARVOULUS girl!

***Sorry for not keeping up with all my new blog friends i promise to catch up when I finally slow down!

Kiddieland

Kiddieland in my generations Riverview and it is gone and while I still have unbelievable memories I am so sad that my girls will never experience it. I remember one time going on the Little Dipper 13 times in a row. True story my brother was with me. My grandma would buy a ticket to sit and read in front of the arcade and we went wild. It felt like we owned that park. There was so much to do and it was big and fun and you could run at will yet it was small enough not to be frightening to a youngster. The Little Dipper is now at Great America so in some small way the girls will get a taste but it is not the same. What will their Kiddieland be? Great America? That kind of makes me sad also because Great America was always a special treat. A once a year shot. The park is huge things get expensive it's a bit more of a drive...yadda yadda yadda. All that aside as cool as Great America is; Great America has got nothing on a park with the essence of a Kiddieland or a Riverview.

Just Jazzy on this A-Z Journey

Just this morning I wake up to an email from a fellow A-Z blogger http://astorybookworld.blogspot.com/p/awards.html
awarding me a Beautiful Mommy Writer Award.

Beautiful Mommy Writer Award
received from
http://astorybookworld.blogspot.com/p/awards.html 

This is so cool! I am a new blogger and have been having so much fun sharing The Adventures of Fish and Pants. It feels great to get recognition from other bloggers. Especially the ones that are already developed and successful. I joined the A-Z Challenge just for fun and to see if I could keep up daily. I knew going in it was an incredible opportunity to discover new and interesting blogs. But I really didn't grasp how many new friends we would all make along our journey. What jolly good fun!

Since today's letter is J I must bring up Juice. Wow I remember as a kid drinking so much more then they let kids drink these days. A lot of parents struggle with getting their kids to slow down on the stuff but I can't get mine to drink any. She will drink water but wants nothing to do with juice. I am not concerned because she eats fruits and veggies with out any hassle. I just find it somewhat strange that a kid does not like juice. I thought it was a given, but I guess that was just an error in judgment.

"Jake and the Never Land Pirates" would like to bid you farewell for this Tues-J! Check out Maise's new favorite:


                                       

I's of Mommy

I am tired
I am hungry
I am stained
I am busy
I am hurried
I am crafty
I am loved
I am fun
I am a teacher
I am happy
I am running
I am jumping
I am a photographer
I am a coach
I am a provider
I am an example
I am there
I am the boss
I am the student
I am learning
I know it all
I am the bus driver
I am the storyteller
I am the bath giver
I am the cook
I am the maid
I am the boo boo kisser
I am a songwriter
I am a dancer
I am a hugger
I am #1...in their eyes! And that is all I need to be!

What are some of the I's that spell mommy to you?

Happy Harry Hardon

It's not what you think! Come on this is a family blog. Happy Harry Hardon is the pirate radio name Christian Slater gave himself in the movie "Pump up the Volume". A classic from 1990 and the feature film of girls night tonight!

Maise, Vanessa and I are headed out tonight to join our friends Lisa and Liz for a Slater Fest! Totally random but very exicting. There will be popcorn and nail polish and I am sure very bored kids. Ok I must admit tonight is more for the moms, the movie selections are over their head. But that's why there are three kids so they can play. Smiles! Tonight the girls have there first "sleepover".

Go! Good Job! Get Out! Get it!

It is so funny listening to Maise use more words and phrases. Some things she picks up without help or coaching and it always impresses me. G is used a lot in our house; Maise is always telling one of us to Go! or Go away! it is usually Puddlestaking the heat but she knows the word go and when she wants you to go. (How interesting the have a sneak peek into her developing personality). She will say Good Job when she does good or if you do good. She is great at encouraging others. Get OUT! is very similar to go away but yes this is another favorite phrase of my “princess”. Get it is usually used after the word Maise. Just like Maise do it.... Maise get it. Vanessa while limited in vocabulary at this point does goo and gaa. Gee those are some good G words used by my great girls! 

Family - Fun - Friends

F strarts so many great words! For todays post I would like to illustrate 3 of my favorite F words in photos :

Family, Fun, and Friends!

The above are all pictures from this weekends trip to the park. While this is not Vanessa's 1st trip to the park it is her first trip to the park out of the stroller. She loved it! Below is a snap shot of sisters being friends. I only hope they stay this close forever!

Early - Excited - Epidermis - Elmo

Oh it was EARLY when the kids woke up today. Nessa slept terribly up 3 times the last time being 5am. Then Maise was up at a 5:45am asking for candy in a bowl. Seriously? That so did not happen, but we compromised. All that compromising did nothing for the lack of sleep. Today should be interesting!

I am so EXCITED not only did we decide on a father’s day trip but our trip is turning into a meet up. I am so excited to be able to meet with my high school locker partner this June at the Cincinnati Zoo!! How cool is that? I can't wait! Not to mention I hear the zoo is EXCELLENT!

"Your EPIDERMIS is showing"...smart ass kids! Ever get that from someone when you where little?  It always drove me nuts! Makes me think; what kind of horror stories of playground hell will my poor girls come home telling? Kids are mean I have been an adult for so long I forgot that.

ELMO! Now we could not let E go by without mentioning the coolest 3 year old monster in the world. I would like to end today’s post with a Maise favorite:

Have a good day! Thank you and Welcome to my new A-Z friends!

Damn Dog

Damn Dog! No I really don't mean it. Puddles is a great dog and we are lucky she is so patient. Although she has her moments, Puddles and Maise go way back. They are best friends/ friendimies if you will. They love to play and wrestle and chase each other around but each has a secret desire to sabotage the others meal plans. Gosh Maise is a nut cake for dog food. (Sad to admit but I hear that came from momma. Mom and Dad both tell me I did that when I was little. ) She does not eat the dog food but she will feed Puddles one pebble at a time or throw the stuff everywhere. Or my absolute favorite! She will splash the water everywhere. Nothing is worse they stepping in a mystery wet spot when you are getting ready in the a.m. So back to the point of my ramblings, Damn Dog! Puddles lurks around Maise waiting for scraps or for Masie to turn a blind eye. Puddles is the Queen of the Hash brown Snatchers. Thank goodness they are only a buck a piece because I honestly buy them for Puddles. Puddles also like pizza, and sausage, and cookies (I know a no no), crackers, bread you name it! But Puddles really really likes McDonalds Chicken Nuggets. And wouldn't you know last night Maise was really eating well (something that is a struggle from time to time). She was not farting around and almost ate every last bite. Yeah that was until Maise came and sat by her momma with her last half a nugget in palm half asleep almost ready for goodnight and that DAMN DOG snatched it right out of her hands creating mega bed time drama and sadness. Poor Maise!

Crackers! Yummmmm!

Oops this was monday's C but yadda, yadda!

Vanessa is 4 days away from turning 7 months and this girl is ready for the next step. She wants to do everything that mommy, daddy or Maise do. Even eat! I tease that she is ready for a pork chop but this girls really is ready for something. I have been giving her fruit in her teething bag and she enjoys that and daddy gave her a cracker. And guess who LOVED her cracker? We know it is early, and we sit on top of her while she eats and removed big pieces, but she really doesn't need much help. She loves sucking and gnawing at it. I hope she keeps up this openness to food as we move forward. Although I am leery considering Maise ate much better when she was on baby food.

We went to breakfast yesterday and Vanessa started to fuss. When nothing could console her we asked our waitress for a cracker. And the cracker scored!!!

Oh Nessa and her crackers.

Bed Head and Bangs

This was to have been Saturday, April 2nd post

Oh I think the time has come... My Maise needs a trim!

I wanted to do it before her 2nd Birthday but I chickened out. I know once we cut it, we will loss all those curls. Oh it's so unfair she is so stinking cute with them. But she is nearly blinded by those long hippy bangs of hers and no matter how hard I try her hair always looks like she just rolled out of bed. She is still a beauty in my book but the bangs have got to go. Maybe we will just leave the back for now...

April's - A to Z Challenge

This was to have been Friday, April 1st post.

For the month of April I am participating in a challenge to write something to correspond with the letter of the day. Sunday is the only day off so starting April 1st (actually the 4th I started late) I will be posting 1x a day. After April I will be going back to once a week.

What I hope to get out of the challenge is the chance to discover new topics to write about. I am also hoping I can keep up. My goals for this challenge is to keep it family related. My extra goal will be to try and have my regular weekly post fit the letter of the day so I won't have to double post.

You can find more details on the challenge here: http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/2011/01/very-special-and-exciting-announcement.html