Piggie Tails

Today Caitlin wore piggies for the first time...and I may be biased but I think you'd be hard-pressed to find another kid who wears pigtails as well as Miss Caitlin Bug does!  ;)

And just for fun...here's a picture of Abigail's first time wearing pigtails.  She was about the same age, but if you adjust her age she was about 2 months longer.  She always had longer hair, as you can see by her LONG bangs in this picture!  I think you could tell their sisters, but I don't think they look that much alike.  Abigail has those big, brown round eyes (Caitlin's are still hazel)....and Caitlin has the cutest baby cheeks ever!!!!

We had some pictures taken today for Abigail's 3rd bday (a little behind) and we got a couple really cute ones!!!!  Will post them soon!

72 hours of....

There hasn't been much to blog about because

we have been STUCK

in the house

since Wednesday

(really Tuesday)

 because of this:

Abigail has had a cough and fever. 

Caitlin a fever.

At first, it was GREAT! 

Lots of relaxing

bonding

playing

 cuddling.

  Now we are over 72 hours in the house

starting to go a little stir crazy! 

 Here's what we've been up to the past 72 hours.....

Staying in PJ's

Playing with toys 

LOTS of puzzles

followed by a "yippee" everytime two pieces get connected 

Playing on the cars 

and racing 

which has lead to lots of  

Timeouts!

Lots of TV 

especially Sesame Street

getting excited for our vacation this summer!

Lots of laying around

by all members of our family 

and Mommy spending a lot of time in here 

making breakfast lunch dinner

cleaning up breakfast lunch dinner

repeat....

repeat...

repeat!

And mommy discovering I can get a little break by spending time 

on the other side of the wall!

More playing! 

And lots of time looking in here for our next

game

playdough

coloring activity! 

I have learned my girls are:

talkative

playful

creative

cuddly

sweet

best friends

able to push each other's buttons!

Today, Friday, we are finally healthy

can't wait to get out of the house!!!! 

But then we saw this:

And it looks like another day of playing,

laying around,

watching tv,

LOTS a few of timeouts,

enjoying our time stuck inside together! 

Thinking we need some "sun"...

may have a beach party in our bathtub!

Hope your week has been warm and healthy!!!!!

Are you ready to.....

Bear Down, Chicago Bears!!!!

I have to start this post off with the BIG win on Sunday againt Seattle!  In all my life, I can't imagine a more fun Bears game than the Bears Packer playoff game, with the winner going to the Superbowl!  This is the game that Bears fans have been waiting for YEARS for!  My parents have been season ticket holders since sometime in the 1980's....and I'm so happy they will get to be at this game..it's really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (although I heard today on the news tickets were going for $10,000.....WOW!).

We haven't decided how we are going to watch the game....but I'm thinking we may have to take the kids somewhere to watch it and be in a "group"....maybe a sports restaurant!

We watched the Bears Seattle game at Nana and Papa's house, with a family friend.  He was amazed that I both my girls had Bears gear all the way to their bows...little did he know I have 2 more Bears bows at home!  You can NEVER have enough Bears Bows! 

I have to say, this time of year really makes me miss teaching.  Last time the Bears were in the playoffs (the Superbowl year), I taught my kindergarteners the Bears Fight Song...they were so cute singing it and performing it for the school. The whole school wore Bears gear, it was adorable!  Abigail has been learning the song, but let's face it, she'd rather dance to the song than sing it!  ;)

GO BEARS!!!!

Last week was a fun, busy week.  On Thursday, Abigail had PJ day at school.  She thought it was so cool her teachers have pajamas too!  Caitlin started Baby Bug gymnastics last week...and she LOVES it!  She walked the beam the whole time, it's her favorite.  We sort of have a private class (only one other kid in it)...I really wanted more socializing, but we are starting library class this week so maybe we'll get more kids there.  But Caitlin loves gymnastics so far!

On the way to PJ day at school and gymnastics.

Saturday Abigail had her first tap class.  She loves tap.  She also sort of has private ballet lessons..there are only 2 other kids in the class. Here is a picture of Abigail with her tap shoes.  You can see a bunch of kids/moms in the background.  That's the class that goes into the recital...we are the class that doesn't go to the recital.  I didn't think Abigail (or daddy) was ready for a recital yet..and when I heard my friend just paid $70 for her 2 year old's dance recital outfit, I think I made the right choice!  She loves her private class!

Tap dancing shoes!  Aunt Katie, are you gonna teach her some moves from your days of taking tap dancing at University of Dayton (now that's some expensive tap dancing classess!)?

 A look in the door..I think they were galloping.

Saturday afternoon/evening was the FOUR party day!  We had a 4th birthday party, followed by a 40th bday party!

We started with a 4th bday for a friend from college's son.  It was fun because there were a bunch of friends from college there and it was the first time all the kids were together!  It was at an indoor play place!

Caitlin having a FUN time!  Abigail had a great time too..she was with her BFF Brooke (Fanny's daughter, anytime they are together they are attached at the hip) and I never saw her!

I call this "A Whole Lotta Valpo!"  Kacz, De, Fanny, and my kids all having lunch!  So cute...we are working on a big ole play date...one in which the daddy's come get the kids and the mommies have drinks!  ;)

After the bday, we headed to the city for our friend's 40th bday.  It was a great party at the James Hotel in Chicago.  We were in a private room with a private bar.  There was a "roast" in his honor and it was a lot of fun.  We ended the night dancing away at JBar till MUCH TOO LATE!  But we dont do that very often anymore, so it was worth it!  The girls had a sleepover at Aunt Julie, Uncle Joe, and Lucy's house which they thought was so cool!  In the morning, all the girls (Aunt Julie, Lucy, Abigail, Caitlin, and mommy) laid in bed and talked and drank coffee...it was a great moment!

Well...that's a catch-up on life!  Go Bears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Resolutions

I made 3 New Year Resolutions this year. 

My main one is "Take an extra minute!"  This sort of encompasses everything!  Take an extra minute to put something away the right way.  Take an extra minute to pick up the girls' rooms before nap.  Take an extra minute to listen to communicate and listen to Rob.  Take an extra minute to cuddle with the girls before bedtime.  Take an extra minute....

My second one (which has not been done yet although I have had the chance numerous times) is to start using recyclable bags when grocery shopping (although not 100% because our buddy Kramer still needs those plastic ones)...Rob says it takes 21 times for something to become a habit so looks like I have 21 more times to go.....

My third one (which I'm sure was my one last year too) is quality, not quantity.  I am with my girls 24/7 now...and in one way it's a sacrifice, in another way, it's the easiest thing ever.  Although they loved going to "daycare" one day a week, I had so much guilt.  I want to spend the next few months really focusing on quality time.  It doesn't have to cost a lot to make memories....but this time is going so fast and I am holding on as tight as I can!!!!  Here are some pictures that capture some "quality" time from last week....

Last week we decided to have a special lunch....Princess Tea-Party Style!  We had so much fun!

(She wanted to be called Princess Fiona)

Princess Tiana

On Tuesday  morning Caitlin and I spent some great time together while Abigail was at school...on the way back to school I captured this adorable picture of her:

Last Friday we met Jules and Lucy at the Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago.  It's a FREE conservatory and it's a great place to go...especially in the winter.  It was wonderful to walk around and take in all the fresh air and beautiful scenery.  They have poinsettas everywhere and I'm thinking next year we'll do some holiday pictures there!

Checking out the coy pond

Caitlin would have gone in had I not been holding on tight to her pants!

Jules and Lucy...we love Friday playdates with them!

Sisters...sharing a single stroller (If I bring a double, Abigail wants to walk...if I bring a single, Abigail wants to ride....)

We had a really great weekend.  On Friday, the girls went to my parents house so Rob and I could have a date night.  We were going to see a movie, but Rob had a really long day at work and was afraid he'd fall asleep at a movie.  So instead, we went shopping!  ;)  We had gotten gift certificates from my parents for Xmas so we went shopping and gots LOTS of things we needed and wanted.  Perfect date night if you ask me.  We then went out for a nice dinner in which I didn't have to get up once the whole time to take someone to the bathroom, so that alone made it amazing!  We then headed back to get the girls but instead, decided to stay there due to weather, so Rob went to bed and my parents and I stayed up way too late having wine and talking...great night!!!!  Thanks so much Mom and Dad for our gift certificates...and also for watching the girls for us!!!!

Saturday started with a family trip to the park district for Abigail's 1st ballet/tap dance class!  Next week she uses her tap shoes and she's so excited!

Then, daddy and Caitlin headed home to do somethings around the house...and mommy and Abigail had a "date day".  We went to the Wheaton library to see a performance by Jim Gill (Children's singer).  As a kindergarten teacher, I was very excited about this!  We had so much fun together...lots of singing and dancing!!!!  She has been singing his songs all week now so I think I'm headed to the library today to get some CDs!

(She was so cute interacting with Jim Gill)

We went out for lunch and did some errands to finish our "date day". 

Sunday started with our new mattress being delivered!!!  It's my first new matttress since I was like 6, so I am so excited!!  Ahhh....King Bed!

Then, Caitlin and I did some errands while daddy and Abigail spent some quality time together...and LOTS of games of Go Fish I hear!  ;) 

Later, Nana and Papa came over to help with our Xmas gifts from them!  They really made a difference in our house!!!!

First, Daddy and Papa installed our new kitchen light!  It's so nice to have a modern-looking light!

Then, instead of throwing away the previous light, we decided to move it.  In our "foyer" entrance we used to have this boring light.... 

but we moved our old kitchen light there and it really looks great.... 

We also got our new coffee table/side table set up and they look great..and are a lot safer than our previous table with sharp edges! 

Thanks so much Nana and Papa for all our new presents....and for helping set them up too!  We really appreciate it!

We ended with a Packer win....I know, it's even hard to write that...but if the Bears and Packers both win their next playoff game, then there will be a Bears Packers playoff game at Soldier Field.....Can you even imagine?  It would be bigger than the Superbowl around here!  I'm thinking we will definitely have to have a Bears party for that game!!!!!!

New Year's Weekend

We started off our New Year's Weekend with a trip to Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells for some swimming! Instead of a bday party this year, Abigail wanted to go swimming!  We had such great family time up there that we planned a family vacation this summer while we were there...we are headed to Sesame Place outside Philly and I'm so excited!!!!!  Anyways, back to our weekend...

We got up there a little late and went right to dinner!

They had our favorite Wisconsin beer and cheese curds, so the vacation began perfect!

After dinner, we headed for some swimming!

While we had fun, the waterpark was FREEZING (go figure)...so our swimming was short lived.  Oh, and not to mention there was a MAJOR injury on the slide that involved Abigail's knee and a band-aid....that was it for the night!  :)

The next morning we got up really early, had breakfast in our room, and were ready to go again!

This day we headed to 2 different parks in the resort that then "cold" one the night before.  These were much warmer!  Daddy decided the whole family should go on a raft waterslide!  Mommy was "ruining" the fun by saying it wasn't a good idea.  We went down....and I think 1 second into it I heard Rob say "This might not have the been a good idea!"  A little dark and scary...and lots of crying...but at the bottom everyone was laughing so it was fun!  We also did the wavepool and Daddy did the big slides.  We had a really great day!

On the walk back, we passed the candy store and let Abigail pick out something for her bday!  A kid's heaven!

We had to shower and be out by checkout...and headed on our way to MooseJaw (brewery in the dells) to meet the Hackneys for lunch!  It was time to begin the second half of our weekend away!!!

A HUGE thank you to Grandma and Grandpa Muskovich!  The day we were leaving we received a surprise phone call that they had picked up our hotel room for the night so we could just go up there and enjoy our night!  It was such a great surprise...Thank you so much!!!

After pizza, beers, and games at MooseJaw, we headed to the Janik (Renee's family) cabin for the next 2 days!  Their cabin is in the dells, but in the middle of nowhere.  They have 7 acres of woods, ponds, and FUN!  The kids got suited up to head outside to play!

All the kids playing (Abigail, Caitlin, Luke, Jake, Alex)

The Daddy's built a sledding hill and it was time to head down!  Abigail had a blast and went down with all the big kids!  (This hill would later become the adults' entertainment after midnight when I got the great idea to go down it..we ALL paid for that idea the next day).

New Year's Eve the adults were mostly outside by the fire.  The kids stayed inside and played lots of games (hide n seek, monopoly, etc).  They had so much fun staying up late and being kids.  Abigail was really social...and had a bff, Olivia, who helped her out and was the sweetest girl ever!

Random sledding picture out of place!  Abigail and Uncle Jay

The next day was a LATE LATE start that involved Daddy taking the girls out for breakfast so the rest of the house (and mommy) could sleep.  Then, the mommies took the kids back into the Dells for more swimming.  We ended the night with another great bonfire!  It was a great weekend!!!!  Thank you so much Hackney/Janik family for everything!!!!!! 

The Wennerstroms started 2011 with a bang!  We can't wait to see what the rest of the year holds for us!!!

Happy New Year!