Updates... 2

After doing my post yesterday, a couple of new things happened that I wanted to add :)

• Madeline actually played in the water at the pool! Since she has fallen in twice this year, and I mean the scary, silent fall in with eyes wide open in fear, she has not wanted to get in the water.  Yesterday this changed! She came in the water with me and walked around! It was great :) She was so excited to be in the water!
• I made another dress!! This one for Brooke, so I just had to share! This was much harder than the other one I made.  I used one of Brooke's other dresses for a "pattern".  Which means I looked at it and just kind of figured out how to make it (there were some things that I did wrong... but I will do better next time!)

And yes, we are still taping Brooke's fingers to get her to stop sucking them!

What's new?

I have been kind of busy lately and haven't done a real update blog in a while... so here goes!

• The girls have had a busy summer so far.  They have been to 2 different church camps.  We have spent a large amount of time at the gym & it's pool.  We have been to the beach a few times.  And we are only 1/2 way through the summer!

• I made my first dress!  It is a pillowcase dress (just the style... some are made from pillowcases).  I made this one for fall, but it was cute so Hana wore it on Sunday.  I have more material and plan to make another one.  I also have some Christmas material for 3 Christmas dresses (I didn't know how long it would take me to make the dresses, so I wanted to be sure they would have a chance to wear them!)
• Jack and I had our TEN year anniversary!! I can't believe we have been married for 10 years! In some ways it has gone by really fast, in other ways it seems like forever.  We went out to dinner with some friends.  And we have a trip planned for a couple of days in Charleston in August. 
• I have had strep throat twice in 3 weeks.  Hana and Brooke had it, and we have found out that they may be carriers, since they didn't really have any symptoms.  Fun fun :(
• I have not heard anything about teaching at the preschool for the fall.  Sad.  But I guess it just isn't the right time.  I am trying to work more on my photography businesses.  (I have some deals running now! Check out the blog if you are interested!!).  I LOVE doing it, I just haven't had much time to focus on it lately. 
• I am still leading a Moms group on Tuesdays. It is going well! I really enjoy doing it.  
• Madeline is a tiny, crazy, adorable almost 2 year old.  She talks up a storm! (in fact at church they suggested that we move her up to the 2 year old room because she was so far ahead of the other one year olds.  We did, she did fine, she is just so tiny!!)  But she can say anything.  And she puts about 4-5 words in sentences regularly.
• We are working on Brooke's allergies.  We got her a new mattress and a mattress cover.  I am trying to wash her sheets regularly.  I will also be steam cleaning the carpets.  She says that she isn't as itchy now.  Which is great! We got some stronger cream for her spots and she looks SO much better!
• Hana will be in first grade soon! So hard to believe! She keeps telling me that she misses school and her friends.  I am not quite sure she understands that when she goes back she will have a different class and teacher.  I am praying she has another great year and a great teacher!

Ok that is it!! :)

Fireworks!!

Every year we have people over to our house because our neighborhood has amazing fireworks.  A lady that lives on a street over from us puts on a very impressive display.  The only problem was, last year she said it was going to be her last year.  So we weren't totally sure what was going on for this year.  But we found out on FRIDAY that the display was on.  So I told everyone that they were on... for the 4th and we started getting ready :)  Well at about 1:00 on SUNDAY the 3rd, we were hanging out when our neighbor stopped by and informed us that the fireworks were today! So I sent out messages, texted, and called people to make sure everyone knew the change of plans.  Not as many people were able to come.  But that was OK, we were still able to have a great time with some close friends!! And once again the fireworks were amazing!!! We think they are as good as the ones the city puts on downtown, everyone who comes to our house agrees!!

 pre-firework hugs :)

posing!

We killed time waiting for the fireworks with... bubbles!!

 

 some of the patriotic food :)

waiting for the fireworks!

 Hana and Madeline were doing, what we thought was, an interpretive dance to the fireworks.

Well when I asked Hana this morning, she told me she was pretending to have magic powers and was controlling the fireworks!  (I think I liked interpretive dance better ;)

 And the fireworks!! Always impressive!

 

 

Happy 4th of July!!!

ahhh allergies

  

Brooke has had eczema since she was born.  We have been to the pediatrician numerous times and to two dermatologists to keep it under control.  We are managing it better now, but I wanted to find out what is causing it.  Eczema is the symptom, it is not the actual cause.  So today I took Brooke to an allergist to figure out what she is allergic to.  So that way if we can keep her away from the things she is allergic to, it should keep her eczema from flaring up.  That may be nearly impossible.  What is Brooke allergic to??  trees (and anything that comes from trees), grass, dust, dogs, cats, mold, and fish.  I am thankful that we will not have to alter her diet too much.  We don't eat a lot of fish and she has already had several kinds with no reaction (although they did give us an epi pen for it).  So the main thing I am focusing on is the dust.  Hopefully, if we can keep the dust under control then she will start to get better.  The main area to start with is her room.  Between sleeping and playing, she spends the majority of her time in there.  We plan to get her a new mattress and pillow.  We have to limit the number of stuffed animals she sleeps with (if you know her bed time habits, that will be a problem!) and I have to wash her bedding every 7 days.  I also have to vacuum and steam clean her carpet a lot more often. And for the foreseeable future, we will not be getting a dog.  We will most likely never be able to have cats and she will not be able to be around them very much (she reacted very severely to the cat). 

All in all it is not a horrible diagnosis, I mean we don't have to change our diet, but I certainly do have to clean a lot more!)

a, less than wonderful, trip to Greensboro

Now, don't let the title fool you, I am sure my kids had a wonderful visit to Greensboro... it was me who didn't.  Why you ask? two words... strep throat.  I had strep a lot growing up, so I know the symptoms.  Although the beginning of this one didn't feel exactly the same, I knew enough to take myself to an urgent care.  But I am getting ahead of myself...
So we headed up to Greensboro on Thursday afternoon to meet my sister and her kids, with her brand new baby Eliza! The trip was fine and everything went great.  Thursday was good, the kids played and we ate :) Then I woke up Friday morning with a sore throat and body aches.  I went to the urgent care, found out it was strep and got antibiotics.  I felt bad on Friday, but not as bad as I had in the past with strep.  I even loaded myself up on meds and went with the crew to see Cars 2.  Not a great idea, by the end I felt horrible.  Saturday was a blur of feeling horrible, body aches, ibuprofen, and a very sore throat. Sunday, yesterday, I felt a lot better and was able to drive home.  Today I am certainly on the road to feeling normal.  I am not there yet, but it won't be long. 
So... that was the trip from my sick perspective.  I know that my kids had a blast (and I am VERY thankful to my sister and parents for taking care of my girls while I couldn't!!) and here are some pictures to prove it!! I of course didn't take these ;)

 

 

I am sure my mom won't appreciate this picture, but hey I didn't take it!! 

And aren't the kids cute??

I am thankful again to have a great family to take care of my girls while I was laid up in the bed!!!

Legacy

Our church has a great baby dedication program.  You get to listen to 4 messages and answer some questions about how you want to raise your children.  It then culminates with a celebration in which you invite people to join you. They are people who are committing to helping you raise your children to love God.  We had some wonderful people at our table and a great experience :)  (My friend Marla who was sitting at our table graciously agreed to take pictures... it helps that she is a great photographer :) Thank you everyone who joined us for our day!!!

 drawing during the ceremony

 Hugo talking

 Madeline... listening??

 some of the group

 talking with Mimi

 playing with Daddy

 praying for our kids

 filling out their certificates

 

 our table!

 playing with Daddy after wards

 

 our fam!

 I guess being with three girls wears out Grandparents!!!

 

What a wonderful day!!

Kindergarten Graduation!!

On Tuesday Hana had her Kindergarten graduation! It was really cute, I can't believe that she is DONE with Kindergarten! ugh!

 Madeline and Brooke watching :)

 walking in to the graduation song

 so happy :)

 walking up when they call her name :)

 the whole class with their "diplomas"

 a proud hana

 walking out, high fiving the principal!

 

 3, mostly happy, sisters 

(2 out of 3 is good on any day!)

 Hana with Mrs. Stinnet (we love her!)

getting the award in her classroom... "Great Participation"

 I can't believe my baby is going to first grade!!