Snow Day!

We woke up this morning to a full -fledged snow storm! I was shocked, as I haven't been paying any attention to the weather forecast lately. Normally I would NOT be happy about a snow storm on March 31, but I am today because it was so bad that Monte couldn't get to work! The snow plow didn't even go by until 2:00 this afternoon.




Isabella is a total cling-on to her daddy when he's around! It's so cute to watch, she has to do whatever he is doing. He's been studying like crazy for his upcoming insurance licensing exam on Friday. He took his crop insurance exam about a month ago and passed, that is what his background is in. So he is nervous about his upcoming propery/casualty test since he has no background in that. He was glad to get an extra day of studying in today, but Isabella was never very far away!

The Weekend

My parents decided to make a trip out here, they came yesterday evening and left this afternoon, it was so good to see them. My mom makes it out here quite often, but my dad is usually busy with farm work, so I was glad he could come out this time! They brought Isabella this toddler table, which she is very excited about, and I love it because the top lifts off, it's got lots of storage in it. They also brought A LOT of new clothes for Isabella, I'm so excited! My mom (the bargain shopper) hit an awesome sale, she brought me two huge bags of clothes, size 12 months - 4T!

She got in on an end of winter clearance, and bought each complete outfit for 70 cents to a dollar! Is that amazing or what! They're all just as cute as this little camo outfit, but Daddy likes this one the best. This outfit, along with 4 others she got, is size 12 months. Now I'm freaking out a little because I went shopping for some summer clothes for her a couple of weeks ago and bought all 24 month clothes! If she doesn't go through a major growth spurt, they are going to be way too big. I don't know if I should take them back or not, it's so hard, it seems like every brand is different (some run small, some run big). Speaking of clothes, here is a picture of Isabella in her Easter dress, size 6-9 months!

I actually feel like I got a lot accomplished this weekend (believe me, I usually don't get a lot accomplished in a weekend). I've been in a complete spring cleaning mood lately. Friday night I cleaned out our bedroom closet while listening to Lorie Line radio on Pandora.com. It was an experience I thoroughly enjoyed. Listening to Lorie Line makes me want a piano SO bad, I also got to play at my sister's last week, I can't wait until we can buy one someday. I don't think it will be anytime soon, though. I got rid of a garbage bag of my clothes and a tote full of purses (purses are my weakness, although diaper bags and big tote bags are slowly taking that over)! And now the once pathetic looking closet with things thrown every which way looks so wonderful, and nicely organized that I leave the closet doors open just to admire it! I also cleaned out Isabella's toy box, I packed up all her really "baby" toys (rattles, teethers, etc.) Sniff, sniff . . .

And today, after my parents left, I got to work on Isabella's closet. It was in the worst state of any of them! I should have taken before and after pictures. I knew I had to do it on the weekend while Monte was home, because she was a little too much "help". I finally had to shut the door and not allow her to come in, then it went a lot faster. It often seems like she was just a tiny, little baby, but yet today while I was packing away all of the baby things, it felt like forever since we used them. I found our Baby Bjorn carrier, which hasn't been used since last summer, and Isabella found this pacifier she used as a newborn. We thought it would be funny to take a picture of our big girl with her baby stuff before packing it away to hopefully be used again someday. Doesn't she look like a big, goofy giant!

Kissing Cousins

Moving in for the kiss!

Later in the day, they were at it again.

Two pigtailed girls.

I thought this was just too cute! They both wanted to sit in the rocking chair, they started hugging and kissing. They were doing it for so long I had plenty of time to grab my camera. I talked to my sister last night, she said ever since we left, Rachel has been walking around the house saying, "Anga?", "Baby?", just like she is looking for us. We are missing her too!

What a Day!

Do you ever have those days where you have all sorts of things you want to get done, and it ends up being the most unproductive day ever?! Our internet has been down for the past few days, so I called right away this morning. I literally spent Isabella's entire 3 hour morning nap on the phone being put on hold and talking to IT support. I finally asked if someone could come out, and they told me I had to bring our computer to them (for those of you imagining me carrying a pc AND a baby into the phone company - not to worry- it's a laptop:) ). So when Isabella got up, I loaded her and the computer up and spent a good chunk of time waiting at the phone company where I was told our computer was fixed. I got it home, only to find we still had no internet. So I spent more time on the phone, and finally the guy said, "Why don't I just come out." Yes, thank you! All of this took place over a period of 8 hours, so that was my day. But now we have the internet again, and for that I am thankful.

Packing Up

Isabella and I have been enjoying the past few days at my sister's house. Both the girls are sleeping now so I just packed up and we'll be leaving after lunch to go home. I think I speak for quite a few moms when I say that as fun as it is to go somewhere, it's always good to get home and get your child(ren) back into their routines and their own beds. The first night away is always the hardest for us. We had a long, fun day at Monte's sister's for Easter. Isabella didn't get any naps until the car ride here to my sister's in the evening. She had a hard time settling down and didn't get to bed until 9:30 (she goes to bed at 7:00 at home)! And my sister was the one who got her to go to sleep (Isabella LOVES my sister). And why is it that the later a child goes to bed, the earlier they wake up?? I knew she would be getting up early, but she was up for the day before 5:30 a.m! I am definitely not used to that, I was borderline comatose for the rest of the day. In fact, I fell asleep rocking my niece a few hours later!

The cousins are having so much fun this time! I can't believe how much my niece talks (she's only two months older than Isabella). We thought Isabella could say a lot, but Rachel says everything - honestly she can say any word you ask her to, it's amazing! She even says Isabella (Bella) and she calls me Anga. It's so cute to watch them play, they just sit on the floor handing toys back and forth to each other, and as each one gets handed a toy they say "thank you". Precious. Of course there were also a couple of spats over a doll stroller and a big, fat lip for Isabella (although that had nothing to do with Rachel, just her own clumsiness led her straight into the path of a rocking chair). And they must be really wearing each other out, because after our first night here, they've both been sleeping a lot. And taking naps at the same time - it's glorious!

First MOPS

Isabella and I attended our first MOPS meeting today. I was quite nervous with the thought of leaving her all morning at the little daycare they have there. We have never left her with anyone other than family members and Sister. I didn't know how she would react, but that little girl made me one proud mama! She just stood there with wide eyes as she watched other moms leaving as their babies were crying, and I was just sure she would do the same. I was waiting for it, but nothing happened. She just stood there and stared at me as I left (she was probably in SHOCK). When it was time to go, I went in there and she was playing so nice. I asked one of the ladies how she did, and she said she was great. I asked, "Did she actually play with any of the other kids?" And she told me that she played with them great, and that she must have older siblings at home. I couldn't help but laugh. She also said they always knew what she wanted because she would come up to one of them and do her signs (apparently she ate A LOT while she was there:) ).

Anyway, it was a good day, I'm glad I decided to go, and I think we'll continue to go. I met lots of nice SAHM's. And the best part was that I met a lady from our town (MOPS is in a bigger town about 20 miles from us) that said there's a group of 20+ SAHM's that get together with their kids every morning at the park during the spring and summer! That's a lot, considering how small our town is. I doubt we'll go every single day, but it definitely will be fun!

Cure for a Mullet