Udderly Adorable

The girl's are saying the cutest things everyday.  I would love to just walk around with a tape recorder tied to my neck because I cannot remember at the end of the day all of the cute things that they say.  But this one I remember.  I was getting ready for a YPO event when Emma came to check on me in the bathroom.  She loves to come in and watch me get ready.  This time she came in and just stared at me with this look on her face like she was really trying to figure something out.  And then she said,  "Mommy, you look just like a cow."  Now I realize that most of the cute things they say are not as funny when you are not in the moment and don't hear it come out of their mouths but maybe a few pictures will help you get this one.  

This is the sweater I was wearing. Here is a closer look. And I think she is right!!!!

Pre-school at the beach

A lot of Emma and Meilynn's friends have started pre-school this year.  There are many reasons that they are not at pre-school right now.  One is that I was just not ready.  I know, usually going to pre-school is based on whether your child is potty trained and can work in the environment that the school sets.  After raising two daughters to adulthood already I know how fast this time goes.  I don't want to miss it at all!  I already missed out on eight months of Emma's life and two years and two months of Meilynn's.  I missed so many firsts, I don't want to miss any more.  My second reason is that Meilynn has only been home one year.  My third reason is that I taught pre-kindergarten for 5 years and am a credentialed elementary teacher so I should be able to teach them everything they need, right?  They get enough socialization in their many activities.  Fourth,  I am temporarily living here at the beach for probably three months.  

So with that being said I am embarking on the idea of doing a little bit of homeschool pre-school.  Just trying it out a little at a time.  There are so many teaching moments in the day that I can't get through a quarter of my ideas.

One of our many walks down to the beach.  I can never seem to get a good picture of both of the girls.  Meilynn is the one with the sun in her eyes. I love when they walk together like this Come on Mommy! Meilynn loves walking on the beach Practicing our letters "Mommy, look at this" Emma inventing the quill pen It wasn't even my idea.  She just took the feather and started writing with it.  I love how I get to see them rediscover things that were invented so long ago.  (I really like how her little toe is gripping on to her shoe) I don't know why I buy them clothes or even attempt to dress them.  Someone, usually Emma, has removed most of their clothing. The first time Emma wrote her name!   (And I was there!) Beach sisters P.E. class

Making Cookies

We love making cookies with Mommy!

We each have our own bowl because Emma doesn't like Chocolate and Meilynn loves chocolate!

"Let me see if you have more than I do?"

The hardest part of making cookies is waiting for them to be done! And waiting!   (Notice Emma's clothing or lack of.  She was in between changes.  I think she changes clothes at least three times a day.

That one is mine

Mine has no chocolate!

Update on our remodel

Just a little update on our remodel.   It started like this.  We decided we needed a playroom and then it just grew!  We gutted our kitchen and totally changed it.  We are adding a master bedroom above the playroom and kitchen nook along with a master bath, a guest room and guest bath, we are making the girl's bath a little larger and we took the window seats out of the girls rooms along with a few other changes in our house.  The one thing I am really excited about is a laundry shoot.  I have always wanted one.  This will allow me to just throw the clothes in it in the girl's bathroom and have it come out in the laundry room.  Now if only I could figure a way out of folding them and putting them away!  A girl can dream!

Here is how it started in April.  We are expecting to be done in November.  It is hard making the decisions from here.  We get back to our home about every one and a half weeks to check on things.

Here is the granite we chose for the kitchen. Another view.  I like the "motion" in it.  A lot of people prefer a more uniform spotted look but I love the naturalness (is that a word?) of the wave in the stone.

And here is our kitchen as of Monday.  The arch is looking into the playroom. The guy in white is standing where the stove and oven will be.  Next to him is our vegetable prep sink and then the pantry.  The island furthest in the picture will have our main sink.  It will have the trash compactor, dishwasher, double recycle trash cabinet.  On the left will just be cupboards and drawers with one long counter top.  On the right will be the oven, convection,microwave.  The refrigerator, the wine refrigerator and more cupboards. The island we can sit around.  It also has the warming drawer on the right side.  I think it will be great for parties. This is not a very good picture of my new bathtub.  I will try to get a better one next time. I think it is coming along great!   

Moon Festival

Last night we went to the Moon Festival.  At our Chinese language class I met another family that had adopted from China and since she heard that I was down here in Carlsbad while we are awaiting our remodel to be completed she invited me to the FCC Moon Festival here in San Diego.  It was a picnic at the park and a lantern parade and mooncakes.  We stopped at a pick up styx and bought our dinner to take.

Emma running at the park.  I think she looks really tall in this picture

Meilynn running at the park

The girls with their star lanterns.  Meilynn kept putting her hand up like this whenever I took a picture.  I asked her, "Why are you putting your hand up like that?"  She says, "Because I am so cute!"  

We bought those little lights you put in your pumpkin at Halloween so they would light up.

Emma with her lantern Daddy playing with the girls The whole group Walking in the lantern parade The mooncakes Our moon Happy Moon Festival

From the Motorhome to the Beach House

Reflections on our time in the Motor Home:  I learned a few things while living in our motor home for 5+ weeks.  First is that you can get by with a lot less than you think you can.  I even had clothes that I did not wear during that time.  You don't need as many kitchen gadgets as you think you do. Gymnastics should never be done in a motor home.  Keep the girls fingernails short.  Being that close together can get on every one's nerves after awhile!  We had a beautiful place to stay close to the beach but I was so ready to get out.  The last week everything just kind of came to a bursting point.  The girls were not napping and going to sleep at night was becoming more difficult for the girls.  Even with getting out to the beach, swimming, gymnastics class and Chinese language class the close quarters were getting to us.  Their behavior was getting worse.  Emma was getting back at Meilynn's teasing with her fingernails and hitting. Behaviors that I thought we were over were coming back.  Emma was doing her gymnastics off the  couch in the motor home and getting hurt.  Mike and I had no time when we could be alone together.  I will have many fond memories but I am glad to be here at the beach house where we can spread out a little.

My Mom and Dad came for a visit one day.  We had a great day.  This is where the girls played in the day.  We brought down their little play kitchen and a lot of toys so they would feel at home. Here they are on one of the bike rides that we took.  Emma on the left and Meilynn on the right.  Meilynn is sporting a new helmet that swoops down in the back.  I think it makes it hard for her to sit in the bike trailer.  Emma's is too small.  She got a new one for her birthday. We went to the new Aquarium at Lego Land.  Emma was afraid of the lego characters.  She has trouble with mannequins, statues, sculptures, and now that Halloween is here just about every store has some set up that she is terrified of.  We are working through this with her.  I tell her she can look the other way, cover her eyes, etc.  It is so sad to be in the grocery store and hear her scream, "Mommy cover my eyes."  "Lets go Bye, Bye"  "Mommy take me away from the scary things."  She remembers what stores have statues and does not quit talking about them.  Our favorite type of food is Thai and most Thai restaurants have a statue of a Thai girl with praying hands.  It doesn't look scary at all but Emma is terrified of it. She is aware of every store that has a statue.  Try going to any store without encountering some kind of a figurine.  It is not easy!  We did have a good time at the Aquarium as long as I didn't take her to any exhibits with Lego Characters in the tanks.

Meilynn posing with the Lego mom and baby.  Emma was screaming and  shaking next to me.

Looking at the fish. The girls first experience in a fast food playground.  They were a little timid at first but soon got into the swing of things. At the beach with Daddy and Grandpa One night at the pier The sun was bright Mae, Mae came down with her friend to visit us in the motor home.  The girls put makeup on her. I told you things were getting rough.  Meilynn decided to decorate the sheets and bedspread in the motor home with pen during her nap.  Living in such close quarters things like a pen that would not have been in their bedrooms at home were easily accessed.   I kept finding things that she drew on.   She wrote all over her shirt and her pillowcase and later when I gave her a shower I discovered that her tummy also had her creative work on it. Eating in the motor home

I am ashamed to show this, but by the end of our time it was hard to keep this small area organized.  This is also the area they slept in on the fold out couch. The shoe spot