2nd Annual Farm Days

Last year we took the girls to Farm Days at Janoski's. A local farm near our house. It's so much fun, you take a hay ride to their fields where they drop you off to pick your own veggies. We picked tomatoes, onions, peppers and green beans this year.

Kayla in the tomato field

Chloe picking beans

Chloe, Kayla, and their friend Caitlin on the back of the fire truck.

I still can't leave them alone!

This is why I've been such a blog slacker. If I spend more than 30 minutes on the computer this is what I find.....

seriously, they see nothing wrong with this picture!!!

Sonograms and Vicks Vapor Rub

A few weeks ago my sister was going for her 20 week u/s. I thought since the girls are so into pregnant belly's and babies that they would get a kick out of going to the appointment. So the girls and I entered the appointment towards the end. The tech was putting gel on my sisters belly and showing the girls the heartbeat. I really didn't think the girls even got it.

Later that night after we got home they were upstairs in their room playing. I was peeking through the door hole (because there is no door knob, different story) and I saw Chloe laying on their hope chest. Kayla had tucked a towel in Chloe's pants and was using a pencil to move around her belly. So I opened the door and asked what they were doing. Kayla said Chloe has a baby in her belly and they were looking at it. Then she shows me the Vick's that she was using as the "gel" to rub all over Chloe's belly! I guess they did "get it"!

By the way, my sis is having another girl!!

Happy 4th birthday to the peanuts!

I had this scheduled to post on the girls birthday, yesterday, but it didn't for some reason.

Anyway, happy birthday to my beautiful little girls. I love you!

Pierced ears

So the girls have been asking to get their ears pierced for a few months off and on. I would kind of ignore the subject because I planned on doing it when they were between 8-10 years old. They brought it up again on June 20th and for some reason we ended up at the mall that day to get their ears pierced.

Kayla sat in the chair first. The girl let them each pick out their earrings. Kayla picked red for her birthstone and Chloe picked blue. I asked the girl if she had a co-worker that could help. That way they could pierce both ears at the same time. She said they could do that.
Kayla was such a big girl, she sat still and she didn't even cry. Even though she totally looked like she wanted too. Actually, I cried, but I didn't let her see me!!!




For some reason I can't get Chloe's video off Shawn's phone. She did cry only for a minute. I felt really bad. Afterwards they were happy, I was happy and they did look really cute.
They give me a hard time everytime I have to clean them, which is a pain since I'm suppossed to do it 4 times a day. I'm lucky if we do it 3 times. But they look really good, not infected for anything. I only have 30 more days to clean them!!! UGH!

Congratulations to the City of Champs.

First the Pittsburgh Steelers win the Superbowl. Now the Pittsburgh Penguins come through with a victory against the dreaded Detroit Red Wings to win the Stanley Cup. Last year we came so close to winning but fell short against the same team. We history was repeating itself the Penguins knew they had to change the outcome. In the game 7 with the series tied 3-3 the Pens had to win a battle in a building where it never seems like the puck goes their way. But they persevered, dominated and came out on top to become the Stanley Cup Champions. Sidney Crosby the youngest captain at age 21 brought his team to victory. The city of Pittsburgh is excited to have two champions teams in the same year. The Pens truly deserve this win and congratulations for an excellent hockey season!!!!

Hershey Park

Last week we took a little vacation to Hershey Pa. We visited Hershey Park, Chocolate World, and also went to Lancaster to Dutch Wonderland and Amish Country.

Let me just say Hershey Park is amazing. The girls were able to ride so much and the rides are scattered all over the park. So you're not just stuck in "kiddie land". They were "Reese's" so they were able to ride alot of bigger rides. Like the Falcon Flyer, The Comet roller coaster, The Whip, The Howler and many others. They absolutely love rides that spin in circles. Me on the other hand, I like to hold the purses.

If you go to Hershey Park, a visit to Chocolate World is a must, just the smell of chocolate when you walk in is worth it!!!

It was a great time of year to go because it wasn't crowded at all. It was a little chilly and looked like it was going to rain, but the rain held off.
The girls on the Frog Hopper, they probably rode this at least 5 times!!!

Chloe, Dad and Kayla on the Turtle Whirl at Dutch Wonderland.

We went on a horse and wagon ride through a little off the Amish Country in Lancaster. The girls really enjoyed that and the views were beautiful.

Our horses Mike and Ike....good boys!!!!

I definitely want to try and go back there again next year! It was great and not a far drive from Pittsburgh.

Dance recital

Last year when we started dance the girls absolutely hated it. They wanted nothing at all to do with it. So we waited until January and signed them up at a different school. There were only 6 girls in the class which was great. The girls ended up loving it! They never complained about going and they seemed to enjoy it when they were there.

Their dance recital was on June 6th and June 7th. All the girls came out and danced. They may have changed it everytime, but at least everyone came out and did something. It was really cute.

Chloe and Kayla

The predance class...Kayla, another Kayla, Natalie, Riley, Lexie, and Chloe

Last day of school...

The girls last day of preschool was May 19th. It was a long year, but it did go fast. It started out difficult for them leaving me or my mom. But after a while they realized it was fun. They learned alot and made lots of new friends. 1st day of preschool!

Last day of preschool, they look so grown up!

Kayla wearing her Pap pap's shades! She's so cool!

Sunny days..

We were able to set the pool up a couple of weeks ago. It was really hot and sunny. The girls had a great time be out in the warm sun. Eating popsicles and just being kids!

Popsicle faces!

Chloe watering her strawberry plant!

I'm hoping for alot more sunny days!

Powder Puffs!

Something told me I better go check on the girls, it sounded like they were in my bathroom. As soon as I walked into my bedroom I smelled baby powder. I knew it wasn't going to be good. I get to the bathroom and they have the door locked. Once they opened it, this is what I discovered.



Pretty much an entire container of baby powder was emptiedl on them and on my bathroom floor. That was a fun mess to clean up.

That will teach me to keep baby powder up higher and check my emails when they are sleeping!!

My last day...

Today is my last day at the job I have come to for the past 15 years. Over those 15 years I have met some really great people and have made some great friends. Although my actual "job" isn't really that rewarding, spending time with my co-workers was. I'm going to miss them and hopefully we will keep in touch. Even though I know how that works too. You keep in touch for a while and then eventually drift apart. Which is sad when you think about it, all the great people you come in contact with in your life and some come and go. I've been thinking about all the time I've spent here and how many life events have taken place. Some of my memories that took place in my life during the time I worked for American Express.

1. getting layed off from my very 1st travel agent job back in 1994 and my then boyfriend encouraging me to apply at American Express. So thanks to Dave I applied and got hired.

2. Getting engaged to Dave in 1995, planning the wedding, then calling it off 3 weeks before. My friends at amex were there for me.

3. Deciding to move to Virginia in 1999, transferring down there with amex. I met one of my greatest friends, Yvette. If I hadn't met her and got to work with her I probably never would have stayed in VA that long. When I moved back to Pittsburgh in 2001 it was hard to leave her since we were such great buds, but I still to keep in touch with her.

4. My travel buddy Maureen. We took so many fun trips together, Aruba, San Diego, L.A., New Orleans, Florida a few times, Boston, Philly, Amsterdam, Ireland...we always had a great time.

5. All the fun trips I've taken with co-workers to NYC. Going to Barcelona with a great bunch of co-workers, we had a blast. That was my 1st flight after 9/11 along with most people that went on the trip. I know most of us were thinking about that day when we boarded our flight.

6. Working in Chicago for week with Yvette, spending our evenings hanging out in that cool city on Rush Street or the Navy Pier. Good times.

7. Working with my friend Leigh was always fun too. I remember our "beauty days" at work, those were fun! Hanging out with her outside of work was a blast too.

8. I met Shawn while working here, got married.

9. Found out I was pregnant and due the same day as my great friend and co-worker Jenn, August 30th. We didn't plan that!!

10. Found out I was having twins, spent 42 days in the hospital before they arrived on July 6th. Jenn's baby was born on time August 31st!!

11. My 3 remaining grandparents all died while working here.

12. I bought my townhouse, sold my townhouse, then bought a house.

13. I bought my 1st car a 2001 grand am. I loved that car. Sold it when the girls came and
bought a family car.

14. Was able to take the girls to Disney World twice and they are only 3, thanks to my travel benefits.

15. Working with my great friend Alex, sitting next to him for 5 years was always a treat! You name we talked about it, food, gardening, family, friends, kids, music, movies, politics, sports. We argued, laughed, complained...he was like my "work husband" some people would say.

It's been fun but I'm done. Moving on to the next chapter!!

I Heart Faces ~ Week 18 ~ "LAUGHTER"

This is my 1st time joining i heart faces it seems like fun and I have nothing to lose.

I just love this picture of my girls and their two little friends. They have so much fun together and I think this picture shows pure enjoyment and laughter!

Little Turkey Hunters

Shawn is bound and determined to make sure his girls are into hunting just like him. Honestly, I hope they do enjoy this hobby with their dad. However, the first time their dad actually "gets something" in front of them, not really sure how they will react! But, ya never know they might like it. Me, I just don't get the whole "hunting" thing, but I didn't grow up with it either!

He took them to Mountain Gander as Chloe calls it to buy new camo for the 1st day of Turkey. They did go hunting for about 45 minutes in the woods behind my moms house. Shawn said the girls were very good, they whispered in the woods and even practiced their turkey calls! But 45minutes was their limit, they were done after that! At least it's a start. And they did look so cute!!

Kayla, Chloe, and Shawn

Kayla (doing a ballet pose, that fits, right??) and Chloe looking at her silly sis!

A new job, SAHM!!!

After working for the same company for almost 15 years I am being let go. I'm in the travel industry (corp. travel to be exact) and work for the largest travel company in the world, however with the economy, corporate travel has really dropped off. Since last year our call volume has dropped over 60%. There are 12 people on my team and we knew this day would be coming. For the past six months during work I've been reading, blogging, scrapbooking, watching movies and playing games. Every now and then there would be some real work to do. I wasn't the only one doing all that stuff either. Everyone was! Management decided to reduce our staff by 1/2. In the back of my mind I knew I would be going, but in the back back of my mind, I thought maybe not, maybe I'll get to stay. They annouced their decision last Wednesday, I was told I was one of the ones impacted. I guess because it was kind of expected I wasn't too upset. My last day is Friday. Although I will miss coming to work everyday and seeing my co-workers who are really my friends, I've known some of them forever! I am looking forward to staying home with my girls. My company is generous enough to give me a decent severance package that will allow me to stay home for about 6 months without any financial impact. It will definitely take some time to get used to being at home, but it will be good. I just have to figure out how to be a sahm!!!! My goal when the girls start kindergarten is to work at their school in some capacity. That way, I can have the same hours and days off as the girls. Granted the pay will stink, but Shawn is willing to take on more hours to make up for it. So it's all going to work out great, I hope. I'm looking forward to my first summer home with my kids!!! I can't wait to go to the pool and the park. I can't wait to actually have time to make dinners and clean my house without being stressed out!!

What they say..

Last week I was rushing the girls, as usual to get ready for school and

Chloe says - "mom, hold your corn"
Me - excuse me?
Chloe - hold.your.corn!
That phrase compliments of their dad, not sure where the heck he got it from!!

Then I was putting her coat on and
Chloe says - Arrgh, my sleeves all jacked up.
Me - Okay, I'll fix it.
Chloe - Arrgh, my other sleeve is jacked up.
Me - (thinking - I better quit saying jacked up)

Later that day we were driving to the vet and Chloe sitting in the back seat
Chloe says - We're going to that place that has blue and white, oh, my bad, white and uggg, I keep messing up, red and white strips on the roof!

Honestly, I didn't know what she was talking about. Then we pulled up to the vet and next door is Rita's Italian ice and it has red and white strips on the roof! Who knew....my bad!!!!!

Wordful Wednesday - Best Buds!

Recently Shawn took the girls to the Zoo. He said they spent most of the day holding hands. That is so sweet. I love that they love being with each other. It seems they are involved in a little conversation too. So cute!

For more Wordful Wednesday visit...angiescircus

Pay it forward...

I go to the same coffee place every morning before work. This particicular morning I was 2nd in line waiting to get my fresh brewed java. There was a man in front of me who was ordering 1 pound coffee and some other stuff. He looked back at me and said are you only getting coffee and I said yes. He told the girl to add my coffee to his bill. I told him he didn't have to do that, but he said he wanted to pass on some positive mojo. So since he did that, I put my coffee money in the tip jar. He said...see it worked!!!

Wouldn't it be great if everyone could do random gesture for a stranger and make their day! He made mine.

Wordful Wednesday - Snowbunnies!

The girls love playing in the snow. I have to admit I think I had as much fun as they did. I forgot how fun sledriding is!!!!

For more Wordful Wednesday visit Angie at angiescircus

Have a great Wednesday!