Cool Mama

The thumb totally cracks me up. It's her new thing to give me a thumbs up and say "cool mama." Even when she's dog tired after a hard day at an amusement park, she still manages to whip out the coolness. She's totally gonna be too cool for me in a couple of years! 

Story Book Forest

So Story Book Forest is part of Idlewild park and it's EXACTLY as the name implies. A forest, doted with little houses and characters from classic stories. It's ADORABLE! Sophie's still a little young to know the classics but she still had a wonderful time running through the little houses and giving Goldilocks, Little Red Riding Hood, and Snow White hugs. 

Gracie and Sophie on a Magic Carpet Ride

Little Bit and Goldilocks. I love how Little Bit has her hand in her pocket!

"There was an old lady who lived in a shoe..." 

Snow White. Sophie is playing the part of the wicked witch in this one. 

How cute is this! 

The Zoo

Wow catchy title. And catchy post. This is gonna be one of those quickie posts. I realized that my zoo pics turned out like poo poo! Grrr!

So nature photographer, I am not. Out of all of the animals at the zoo, this was as good as it good. I blame it on two things, number 1, 99% of the animals decided to take a nap while we were there to visit them and number 2, Kimmy needs a new lens for her camera. But here's Mr. Penguin who decide to swim up for a close up. 

And Bit to total awe of the penguins, again, just like last year. The girl loves her some sea creatures. Which maybe explains her new found love for the Little Mermaid. 

The daddy. She's killing me with this new "smile" of hers. Who in the hell closes their eyes like this when they smile? Seriously? 

Jesus, Steven and Sophie look like they are in pain in this one. Come on guys, it's the sting ray exhibit! Maybe they have visions of the crocodile hunter, god rest his soul, dancing in their heads. (And on a sad note, Jacob, Steven's twin brother wasn't able to join us at the zoo. He decided to start his summer out with a bang, and broke his arm the day before. Poor kid, what a way to start your summer, a cast all the way up to your shoulder!)

Hitching a ride from Aunt "May-me" (that's Sophie speak for Amy). 

Two tired, haggered, worn out girls at the end of the day. 

Non-Stop

That's what this weekend was. Non-stop. We hit the Pittsburgh zoo early on Saturday morning. And then the next morning we hit Idlewild park. And we are all exhausted! Gracie and Sophie of course had a blast. I'll post all about it throughout the week. But for now, here was the best part of the zoo. Who needs animals when there are gigantic slides.

Chuck

I forgot to mention that on Sunday morning, instead of going to church like we probably should, we instead took Sophie to Chuck E. Cheese. I think you can find God in there though. I heard with my own two ears Steven say "Dear god, get me outta here!" That place is nuts! I've gotta say that I'm a bigger fan of the ole Billy Bob's Pizza. We seriously only stuck around for 15 minutes and then headed for the door. So I didn't get very many pictures. But here is one, of the Soph with Chuck riding shotgun. 

The Big 3

On Saturday we were able to celebrate Emma and Ethan's 3rd birthday at the park. The kids had a blast but man was it windy! We even had to tape the plates down to the table! Little Bit of course decided that she was having too much fun on the jungle gym to stop for 2 minutes and go pee. So instead, she just decided to pee all over herself. Definitely the logical choice, seeing as that ended her fun all together. 

So for their birthdays I decided that the Ethan should be a super hero and Emma a pricess. So here's Super Big E and Princess Emma. Another fabulous find from Etsy!

26 Months

Dear Sophie B,

Slowly we are inching our way into summer. You've been able to play outside a ton so far and you love every minute of it. Especially riding your bike and Dora four-wheeler. But I must say that there are two particular incidents from the last month that are etched permanently in my mind. By the way, I sometimes wonder if by posting this stuff you'll one day be ticked off at me. But then I remember that you are my daughter so you'll probably not give a rats hiney about much so you're sure to get over it.

So the first shining moment was when your daddy and I decided to take you out for pizza one evening. The place was packed, and I mean packed. Two little league teams and their parents had crammed into the place. And you looked at me and said, "mama, I go peepee!" like you do in anyplace that has four walls and a roof because it might possibly contain a toilet that you've yet to christen. So off we go and what happens? Without warning, you spew chunks across the ENTIRE RESTAURANT. Then walk over to the ever so clean toilet, stick your head way too far in and say "I puken' mama." Ya don't say? Out we go, no pizza in hand with huge appoligies to the guy with the mop bucket who has to clean up the atrocity. And that's why you should stay in school. Minimum wage does not pay enough to make cleaning up puke worth the paycheck.    

Well we get you home and make you a sick bed on the couch. And you are of course pathetic and too weak to even lift a cup of sprite with a straw up to your lips. But then, you made us forget about the embarassement. You looked at us with sad puppy dog eyes and said "Soap-ie's sick, guys." Just laid it all out for us, in case we hadn't noticed. And because to us you are the cutest thing on earth, we tend to over look many of your antics. In fact, a lot of people over look your antics. 

Case in point the second incident, which we didn't get to witness first hand, but not to worry, the entire day care did so we got more than one eye witness report. Apparently you were playing on the playground and something came over you. Probably like how the apple hit Newton in the head and viola Theory of Gravity! So a lightbulb goes off in your little dome and I imagine it went something like this "I've got a FANTASTIC idea. I'll take off ALL of my clothes, including my crocs and Dora panties, and I'll run around this place like an escapee from an insane asylum." And that's exactly what you did. Pot belly sticking out like you own it. 

What my dear daughter are we going to do with you?  In only 26 months we can tell that you you 100% live for the moment. And you have NO CLUE what's that going to do to us when you are a teenager or when you are in your 20's and find yourself swinging from a chandelier at college I will tell you what we aren't going to do. We aren't going to live in denial and pretend that that part of you doesn't exist or that our little angel would NEVER do anything crazy. We are going to embrace your uniqueness, call you an idiot to your face, and pray. Lots and lots of praying.

Untitled

Sorry folks but I've got nada to blog about. And I blame it on the fact that I have been OBSESSED with reading World Without End, which is basically the sequeal to Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth. OMG if you haven't read either one of these books you need to go out right now and get a copy. I'm such a bookworm. Drives Steven up a wall. 

Little Bit did make some brownies the other day. But I  decide not to  take these babies to the office. Little Bit stuck a lot of little fingers in there!

Homecoming

So I got back from my mini vaca on Sunday. Definitely NOT long enough. But in 3 short days we managed to squeeze in shopping in Orlando, the beach, and a visit to St. Augustine. I'm so glad we were able to visit St. Augustine. Talk about a neat town! I did a lot of shopping and I'm proud to say that everything I bought, except for a $10 dress for Little Bit and a pair of shorts for Steven, was for M-E! Including a Coach purse that I couldn't pass up at 40% off. 

Little Bit seem to do just fine without me. Steven took her up to Pennsylvania so she could visit with all of her cousins. And according to Sophie is was "fun mama!" Steven said that the only time her mouth was shut was while she was sleeping. Other than that, she was on overdrive the entire weekend. But I sure did miss this little face.  You know I think that I've finally realized what the greatest mother's day gift is. Go away for 3 days, when you come back, you'll be greeted by the best and happiest welcome party on the face of the earth. 

Later Gators!

No photos tonight. I've been running around trying to get myself all packed and ready to go AND Miss. Sophie B.  She has a big exciting weekend too. She's going on a trip with her daddy to Pennsylvania to visit Grammy and PapPap, and all of her aunts, uncles, and cousins. But I have to admit that she's been breaking my heart. Every time I tell her that she and daddy are going on a trip she looks at me and says "mama go to?" I'm gonna miss her but I'm definitely going to enjoy a few days of shopping and laying on the beach! Happy Mother's Day to all of you mommies out there! 

Water Water Everywhere

Actually, that should read, Sand Sand Everywhere. Because somebody (not naming any names) doesn't understand that the sand stays on the sand side of the play table and water stays on the water side. DRIVES ME UP A WALL! 

But aside from driving me up a wall, Little Bit is in loooove with her birthday present. The weather has finally stayed warm enough for us to break it out. Thank god it has a cover because I'd hate to go outside one morning and find out that a neighborhood kitty hand turned it into a litter box! 

Mama Monday- Bedtime Routines

To change it up a little, I've decided to participate in Erin's "Mommy Mondays." This week's topic is bedtime routines. Since this is one thing that I feel we have absolutely positvely 100% done right with Sophie B., I thought I'd share my two cents. 

Our bedtime routine is really simple. Since Sophie was 3 weeks old bedtime has operated like the army's strictest boot camp. Bath, PJ's, books, a song, and bed. Period. No if, ands, or buts about it. When she was younger she of course got a bottle but dropping the bottle has been the only change to our routine. She's also always had a set bed time, which is 7:30. And I should mention that no matter where Sophie lays her head, be it GiGis, Grammy & PapPaps, the beach, you name it, the routine stays the same. 

We've never got into the habit of rocking Little Bit to sleep. After reading a few books we've always laid her in her crib awake. Sometimes she'll go right to sleep. Other times she'll scream bloody murder. But we NEVER get her out. Bedtime means bedtime. Mama's got some well deserved TV watching to do! We've handled middle of the night wake-ups the same too. We go into her room and check on her, but we don't chat it up with her.  

In fact, we have this routine down so pat, that we've some what brainwashed Little Bit. She can now sing along with Steven as he sings "What a Wonderful World" to her. She's heard it almost every night of her short little life! 

So there you go folks.  Bedtime at the Carr house. And since I don't have a bedtime photo to go with this post I'll leave you with another one of Sophie 2nd birthday pics. I like to call this one, "Rotten to the Core." 

Yard Sale

Every year my neighborhood has a huge yard sale. And the last 2 years I've made big bucks! So this year my friend Missy joined me and we were ready to make some cash! We'll be heading to Florida on Thursday so some extra cash is always nice! However, the high school decided to have an even bigger yard sale. So business was on the slow side and we ended up practically giving stuff away just so we wouldn't have to pack it all back up! But one person, Miss. Harley-Jane made some serious cash on her lemonade stand.

And seriously, how could you pass up .35 cents a cup, PLUS a cookies, AND no tax! 

When I was little, I think I would have given my left leg to have a REAL lemonade stand. One that people actually  stopped at didn't just drive on by. So needless to say, I think that yesterday was pretty fab for Harley.

Here's her little sister, Emmy. Sophie had some serious fun running around all morning with her.  I think between the two of them they had 15 cups of lemonade and 20 cookies! 

Mary Poppins

A strong wind just might come and blow her away! Not! Old girl is SOLID.  

So we almost came home with an 8  week old kitten. A teacher at daycare this afternoon had two of the most adorable little kittens I have ever seen! Sophie practically melted right then and there when I picked it up. She even looked up at me and said "I want it!" It was at that point that the director of the daycare looked at everyone in her office and said "she's one of our more "assertive" toddlers. Uh, yeah, you can say that again. We've been talking about getting her a kitten for awhile now. BUT the timing just doesn't seem right. We'll be going out of town a lot in the next coming weeks. And I wanted to have the big girl room set up before we brought in the cat because said cat is NOT sleeping with mama. I already have to share my bed with a 70 pound boxer.  Ugh, I'm torn. The lady said if we wanted it, she'd bring it back tomorrow. Decisions decisions!