Valentine's Day

I know it has almost been a month since Valentine's Day and I am way behind. I have about three more posts to catch up until I am current. I don't know why I seemed to have less time than normal this past month and didn't get it done. So I am on my way to catching up.

Being bribed with M&M's to get to sit still for pictures. Not a great picture but I had to show the whole adorable v-day outfit from Grandma!


Best one I got of both of them together. It is a very difficult task now a days to get them both to smile together for me.

One smiles....

or the other!

Wednesday thru Saturday that week Eric was away so it was just me and the girls. Alan was gone too so we had Grandma Brenda's help a lot which was a wonderful treat!

Here she comes, get ready for a hug!

Before making cookies at April's with their cousins. Livy liked the rolling pin the best. Rachel wasn't interested very much in the whole process. I thought it was a fun v-day thing to do! thanks April! We missed Eric but had fun without him! The girls got to eat candy all day with their new pez dispensers and I got a free time treat from Brenda who took them Saturday morning so I could go and shop! Thanks so much Brenda for all of your help!

Crap, Friends, Cheese and Pebbles

These are the things that make our days go smoothly. Livy has the duck and paci to the left and everything else is Rachel's.

Rachel always has lots of stuff with her. Like my mom tried to tell Eric, some kids are just collectors. That's Rachel. Livy is content to have her duck and paci. She rubs it on her nose and it comforts her. Rachel used to be content with just her cat but not anymore. She has to have her two babies with her, the pink bottle with the whole in the middle, and they their blankets too.

And this is everywhere she goes. To bed, to the car, upstairs, around the house, etc. so of course it is a pain in the butt when trying to leave the house. We tell her to leave the blankets and she will do that willingly. Then Eric always says "you have too much crap" or something to that effect. And guess what Rachel says now. When she is getting all her stuff together and trying to pick it up she says "crap, crap, crap, crap" for everything she picks up! It is seriously hilarious to hear her because it usually sounds like "cwap" and it is just funny but I try not to let her hear me laugh. And of course I tell her not to say that! :) Luckily Livy hasn't picked up on it yet!

Last night she gave me all of her stuff to hold and sat next to me and said "friends, Niny (Livy) too, friends." so I guess that's what we are now, friends. It was really cute though. And all of us "friends" sat together for a picture. Pebbles is Livy's second best friend now too. She loves playing with Pebbles and is always running around the house with her and playing ball.

Livy and Pebbles are buddies. she hugs her all the time and always shares her snack with Pebbles, even before she eats any. So cute. There she is rubbing her duck on her nose. She offers it to me and Eric all the time in case we want to rub ducky on our nose too. A rubby she calls it.

I can't just take a picture of Livy any more either. I say "cheese Livy" and she smiles and then says "cheese ducky and cheese paci" and both have to have their own pictures. This is "cheese paci."

One of the precious babies

Ducky's cheese

Another one of ducky's pictures. This one taken for her baby book to show her favorite things.

Livy has been Rachel's keeper the past week. She shushes her all the time when Rachel gets loud. points her finger at her, tells her no, and quiet. Repeatedly until she stops or I tell both of them to stop. At least she stopped calling her bad girl. The shushing I don't mind. It's pretty funny.

Rachel's new face for when I say "cheese."

Just cheesing it up for the camera!

Friends!

Now about Pebbles. Dogs are not loyal. I thought they were but Pebbles has proven me wrong. I am the only one who feeds her, walks her, bathes her, gives her treats, brushes her or takes care of her in any way, OK except for Livy, but this is just between Eric and I. And Eric does nothing for her, no good food, no playing, no walks. anyway, it doesn't seem to matter. Whenever Eric and I are kidding around and I poke, hit (not a real hit), touch him or even hug him she starts growling at me. She has to stand in between our legs if he hugs me or kisses me. We have him fake "attack" me and nothing. All she does is growl and bark at me if I touch him. Eric thinks it is hysterical and I have to laugh too at the whole thing. Oh well. Better luck next time I guess!

Up and Down and Flipped Around

To start, sorry no fun pictures this week. Just words. Last week was a down week. I felt like I was loosing my mind with two almost two year olds who don't listen to a thing I say. After 500 times of telling them not to touch the dog food bowls I find them together hovered over the dog bowl with mouths full of food. OK, either laugh now or make the gross face. I have gotten both reactions. And mine at the time was a full fury of anger towards my beautiful little girls. I don't know why I was so enraged but I just was. I yelled and tried to punish them in a time out corner but they don't seem to get it still. They sat for a while and then straight to bed. Then I cried. I was mad that they don't listen to me and I was mostly mad at myself for being so mad at them. Why did it make me so mad? I know they aren't even two yet and I know that not listening is what that age does best. I happened to be texting my cousin right after and she was the first one to laugh at them. OK, now almost a week later I can kind of see the humor in it but mostly I am just grossed out. And no I didn't snap a picture before I cleaned their mouths out. Silly me, I wasn't thinking of the photo op! They there was a few more days of anger for non listening and bad behaving children. The good news is that I have finally gotten control of myself and I am not getting mad anymore. I am happy to say that I feel much better this week, not overwhelmed, and we are happy. I just felt like I was loosing it and totally out of control and like the worst mom ever. So that was up and down.

Flipped around. That is about the girls. Two posts ago was about how Livy was testing me. Now it's Rachel. Most of last week was her acting out and Livy was so sweet and caring. She shares, gives Rachel anything she wants if Rachel cries, gives Rachel her snack first, etc. Such a sweetie. And Rachel is pushing, crying, and hanging on me. No terrible temper tantrums but still and intense switch. At least they switch so one is up and one is down and not both down at the same time. But they are wonderful little girls and always make me smile.

They both love reading books right now, the same ones over and over and over again but good that they want to read. Favorite books are the I Spy books. All Rachel wants to eat is junk food. She ate cheese doodles for dinner last night. Livy likes all food and will eat her main food as well as her snack. Rachel is also attached to Eric when he gets home. Cries when he leaves the room. Livy is totally into me kissing her boo boo. She always comes over to me with her boo boo and a little kiss sends her on her way. Rachel doesn't even try and do it. She doesn't care. They love to sing church songs and their favorites are I Love to See the Temple and Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam. Livy always wants me to see that she has done something so she comes right in my face and says "Mommy I do it." So proud of everything she does! Rachel's favorite thing to say is "I don't want it." A different version of no. And the funniest thing she says is "I do yips." Guesses on the translation....she means she will zipper it. All I say is "zip" when I do her pajamas. And that is what she started saying to me when we put the pajamas on.

Glad to be feeling happier and more in control, or accepting of the uncontrolled craziness. Hope you are having an up week too!

Until We Meet Again

My Great Grandma Rose passed away on Friday night. She was 99 years old. She had a stroke and never woke up. It was a relief that she didn't have to suffer. They are having the viewing and funeral in Farmingdale yesterday and today so I am feeling kind of homesick.

This was Christmas 2007. That was the last time I saw her. This is our 5 generation picture. Pretty cool. hopefully we get those Psillos genes that let us live to 99! I am so happy at times like this that we have the gospel and knowledge that we will be together again. Now she will get to be with her husband who died 40 years ago (or close to it), her son (my Grandpa), and lot of others too. How happy she must be! Bye Grandma Rose. We will see you again! Love you!

Since We've Been Home

The girls did really good getting back to our regular routine of just them and me all day. They were totally spoiled with attention in NY so I didn't know if it would be really hard to adjust when we got back but the did good. They played really good with all of their Christmas toys they didn't get a chance to use before we left.

This picture is of Livy's right arm. It has a bite mark on it. Rachel bit her when we were at the mall a few days after we got home. Neither of them have done that to each other yet. This was the first. And Livy has not forgotten it. She calls Rae Rae "bad girl" every chance she gets. It is getting bad now. I have to tell her at least a few times a day that we don't call Rae Rae that. She says it about everything. If Rachel takes something or does anything that Livy doesn't like she calls her bad girl. She call Pebbles bad girl when she doesn't play how she likes, and she calls me bad girl when I make her do something she doesn't want or take something from her. Terrible habit, if habit that is even the right word for it. She also has fits about everything and still throws herself on the floor or couch. She is going through an learning phase. I guess.
These are some pictures of the girls loving each other. I love when they play together and laugh. They just love being with each other.
I have to add one more thing in Livy's defense. I know it sounds like I just picked on her today so I want to add something she is really good at. She says I'm sorry like nobodies business. She bumps into the table, I sorry table. into huge stuffed Dora, I sorry Dora. and of course to me all the time if she even touches my leg on accident, I sorry mama. She really is a sweetie. It is so adorable!
Rachel is so sensitive to others feelings. She is so sweet to Livy. When Livy has something Rachel wants too, we say it is Rachel's turn now, Livy cries and usually Rachel looks at it for a second. Says, Niny, as she calls her, sad. Niny crying. and proceeds to give Livy back whatever it was that she was upset about. Bad at reinforcing Livy's crying but so sweet that she doesn't want Livy to be sad. She is so easy going like that. And it goes perfect with Livy's not so easy-goingness. Perfect pair.

Picture for mom. These are the dresses you got them this summer that are fitting now. The sweaters Tina got them a while ago are a perfect match and cover for the no sleeves. Last story. Last week was the first time I was out with them when I actually thought about crying. I was at the church bookstore and they were terrible. Livy was having a fit because she wanted to play with all the temple pictures they have on a rack near the front door. She wanted to take them all out and put them back in repeatedly but they have them all separated into the different temples so I was trying to stop her. She was just a monster. When I finally dragged her out of the store by one arm kicking and screaming, she continued her freak out on the sidewalk laying face down screaming and kicking. Lovely. I think we might be banned from the book store so watch for our picture next time you are there. Then from there it was off to Kroger where there were more meltdowns about seating arrangements in the cart and Rachel threw the carton of eggs and enough said. I was glad for nap time that day. I think I was so mad and upset about it because they have never acted like this, this bad I mean, before when we were out. I'm over it now. Anyway enjoy the photos of my lovely children! They are lovely most of the time and I love them a ton!

Still Catching Up, Part Two

Here is the rest of Christmas. It was a fun year because they were excited about the presents. They don't get that Santa brings presents yet but they like the presents. They were not into opening them at first but once Livy got started we couldn't stop her.

Rachel preferred to sit in her cardboard box and hold her already opened toys and then just piled her wrapped toys in the box too.

They helped daddy open some of his too. (The cupcakes they are holding are not his :) )

Rachel only wanted to open one if she liked what Livy got then she would get out of her box and say she wanted one too and then she would open hers. It was a great Christmas.

The next day my brothers wonderful girlfriend Michelle flew in from California to help us fly to NY. Thank you so so much Michelle!!! The flight went relatively smooth. We only had an hour delay on the plane. We got to NY on the 27th and stayed until the 7th.

Rachel and her Pop pop. Her BFF until daddy showed up and she was then his shadow. My dad can't get any work done when we are there because they always want to play with him. Usually Livy, but always one of them was having Grandma carry them around. They can't get enough of their Grandma and Pop pop. They don't really even want me there!

Grandma Rathgeber and Gilgo were there when we got there but left two days later so we didn't get much time with her. We had a packed house. All of us were there plus Erin's parents and Grandma. Wish you got to stay longer Grandma!

Mmy mom got Hannah and the girls matching dresses. They looked adorable but we didn't get one good picture with all of them looking or smiling. Danny is so happy in this one. He loved having everyone home. Rachel was his buddy again and always wanted to swing with him and feed him. Lots of toys for the girls to play with too. They were taking over the living room. Sorry guys. Hopefully it is not so crowded now!

She is eating the dot candy that is the sugar dots on paper that you have to pick off to eat. It was bribery for pictures. They ate the candy and the paper. Oops. They lived!

A nice day in NY. A little snow still on the ground but warm enough to be outside without coats just for a few minutes. It only snowed once while we were there on New Year's Eve. We bundled the girls up and took them out in it but they didn't like it. It was cold, dark, and windy. Too bad it wasn't nicer with the snow. I wanted to see them play in it.

Eric flew into NY on New Year's Eve. His plane was delayed a little from the snow so we got home from the airport at 11. We just hung out at home with Josh, Katie, Rich, Erin, and Erin's parents and played rook and watched the ball drop. Exciting. Don't be jealous. My parents were asleep already. We had fun though. And it was like 15 degrees out that night. So no we did not got to see the ball drop. I have had that question.

At a mall there there is a carousel and small train that the girls love. They rode each 3 times with Auntie Hannah. She is their favorite. They love to follow her around and play with her and copy her. Especially her jump roping. They love to pretend they can do it now because Hannah does it.

She was the wrangler and kept them in line and tabs on them. We cant wait for her to come visit us in February!!

Aunt Hannie

Rachel the wonderful babysitter. She goes to Geneseo and happens to be home from school most times we are there and watches the girls for us so we can go to the movies, out to eat, or whatever. And she is a great hair stylist! She did the most adorable french braids in Livy's hair.

Jjust hanging out. poor charlie and Michelle didn't have a room to sleep in because we were so packed. Actually Livy and Rachel had their own rooms-one in dads office so not really a room. We tried keeping them together and they woke up five times that night and extra early so they got separated again and poor Charlie and Michelle had to find a couch or air mattress. Thanks guys. Sorry about that!

Hours of swinging with Dan and by themselves. Rachel's favorite thing to do.

It was so fun to have everyone around and nice to have so much help! My brother Rich had knee surgery two weeks before so he was home with us the most when others had work. It was so fun to have him there and it paid off because he was their favorite uncle this time. Sorry Josh all that work in October! They were scared of Rich before and the first day or two but that was it. It is just so great having everyone around. I miss my family a lot. I wish I could live near them to raise our kids together. None of them have kids yet so maybe there is still a chance!

And of course my parents, leaving them gets harder every time. The girls were right at home there. They literally got out of the car from the airport said hi and went about playing and running around like we just walked into our own house. It was great. They didn't get it when we were leaving but when we got home they kept asking for them. Livy said, Grandma, Pop pop house all gone. Her best description. And they were asking for Hannah for a few days. So sad.

And what can I say about my wonderful mom. She was such a dream, always telling me to sleep in and she will watch them. Or giving them baths and everything else too. She even had Eric and I stay at a hotel one night and she got up with them in the morning. We all went swimming at the hotel with the girls. They had a lot of fun but only wanted to be in the hot tub once they discovered it. Thanks so much mom, your the greatest!

Lots of game playing. This is their new game table int he living room. Richie and Erin are expert sequence board makers now. That is our favorite game, sequence. Even Hannah is great at it now. She wanted to hustle Eric and had me tell him she was no good and he should play her!

We had such a great trip and enjoyed lots of great pizza. Eric finally got to a few excellent Italian restaurants and can't wait for more. Thanks so much mom and dad for all you do for us. You are the most amazing parents. I miss you guys and I can't wait to see you in February!

playing catch up, part one

i know i am way behind on my posts and i dont have enough time before the girls get up to do it all at once so here is part one. it is from chritsmas but not all of christmas. anyway, here we go.

the table, one of their christmas presents. they like using the table but rarely sit in the chairs. and yes they are almost two and i know they shouldnt be using a bottle anymore but they wont drink their milk other wise. but i told their doctor they were done with bottles already so i wouldnt get yelled at :)
christmas at grandma and grandpas house with all the cousins. the two babies arent in the picture but here are all the big girls! we can never get one of them all looking never mind smiling!

livy and rachel got a horse from grandma and all the kids loved riding it.

this was christmas eve. erics family has a christmas eve tradition of having pizza and singing christmas carols. so this was on the way to grandmas to sing. the kids didnt care about it too much. it was more for the adult kids!

ok i know this wasnt much but i have to run. lots more to catch up on soon. the rest of christmas and trip to ny.