Meet The Tickle Shark

Chandler has a new game that she likes to play with Mommy and Daddy. It is called tickle shark. She will put her hands above her head and make a shark fin and start singing the Jaws theme music. She then says "the shark is going to get you." Then she will try to tickle us. Earlier this week she was really hamming in up with Jeremy. She was telling him she was a tickle dog, tickle goat, tickle bug, you name it. I had just taken her hair down from a pony tail and her hair was really crazy, so Jeremy told her she was a tickle monster. In the photos below he is trying to put her hair in front of her face. I love how happy she is playing with him.

I love this one.

Almost done...

Our tickle monster!

Jeremy actually had to bribe her with the promise of a chocolate banana if she cooperated.

Wordless Wednesday

Staying Busy

I saw a sign the other day that said there were only 27 days until spring. Somehow when the highs are in the single digits, I just can't believe it! It has been a long winter but Chandler and I have been trying to stay busy. My best friends daughters birthdays are this month. They are turning 3 & 5. They are both really into dress up so I thought tutus would be the perfect gifts. So I made them each their own.



They received them on Monday and Jenn let them open them up. I was told they LOVE them! I am so happy. Makes the time worth it.

We were running errands one day and Chandler was in a great mood. Maybe it was the lollipop? Anyway, she told me that she wanted me to leave her there and come back for her after dinner. She thought that was the funniest thing, as you can tell.

Due to all the snow during the winter, there is always a lot of salt on the roadways. That in turn makes for salt all over our cars. So even though it is winter, we have to wash the car often or the salt will eat away at the paint. Chandler and I headed to get the car washed one afternoon. It was not during lunch hour and this was the line behind us!

We got in line at 1:12 and exited the car wash at 2:02! Chandler was a trooper and ate her lollipop, sang along with Elmo and played with her zebra. She is such a wonderful big little girl!

Baby K

On Tuesday Sparky and Aunt Mo Mo left for Ethiopia. They will both be spending 6 weeks there, volunteering at a orphanage for HIV/AIDS children. They chose to do this because the little baby boy, whom I will call Baby K, that Aunt Mo Mo and Uncle E are adopting is in an orphanage close to where they are volunteering. This means that Mo Mo will get to see Baby K for the next 6 weeks. We found out yesterday that Baby K's first court date is this coming Thursday. His final court date should be 4-6 weeks after that. Please pray that all documents are in order and he passes court. That would mean that Mo Mo would be able to bring Baby K home with her when she leaves in 6 weeks. Which would be so wonderful. We have received a few e-mails from Sparky. She said that Baby K is an angel. He has yet to cry, just mews like a little kitten when he is upset. He is a great sleeper-which will be awesome for a first time mommy. I am not sure of his exact age, but I think somewhere around 3 months. We have been sent a few photos of Baby K and know his real name, but due to legal issues I am not allowed to post them until the adoption is final. I have thought about Sparky and Mo Mo a million times since they left. I am so excited for them. I think it is wonderful that Mo Mo is getting to spend a lot of time in the country where Baby K is from and learn about his culture. We know that this is an amazing experience for Sparky and Mo Mo to share. We can't wait until Baby K is brought home!

Wacky Wednesday

It has been so cold here. We are ready for spring to arrive. It is too cold to do anything outside, so we have been going to the library a LOT!! Sometimes up to 2 times a week. After we come home, Chandler loves to dump all the books out of the bag and then lay down on her stomach and read them.


I was cleaning/organizing her closet yesterday and found these wings that were a gift when she turned 2. We opened them up and Chandler had a ball running around wearing them.

She even found a wand and proceeded to say "bibbty, bobitty, boo" and then tap either Jake or myself on the head with it.

We are so ready for warmer weather. We 3 (Jake included) need to get outside and play.

Farewell to Mo Mo and Sparky

Aunt Mo Mo and Sparky are heading to Africa for 6 weeks in the morning. More details on that later. So Chandler made them a video to watch before they leave.

My Valentines

Jeremy and I don't really celebrate Valentines Day. We did not get each other any cards or expensive gifts. In MOPS we made some frosted etched glasses. I made one for Jeremy and had Chandler make one for Jeremy. He also got some candy that had been in the pantry for a few months. He probably never noticed it in there.


But I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get Chandler some I love you gifts. She also got some great cards & stickers from Maya and Cousin Hannah painted her a picture. She was pretty excited to open all her gifts.



We got a babysitter last night and Jeremy and I had a date night. We went to a trendy restaurant in downtown. The food was great and they had some yummy ciders on draft.

Chandler had fun evening with Ms. Brittney. They ate pepperoni pizza, played kickball in the basement, played with the dollhouse and even watched Beauty and The Beast. Chandler has been asking about Ms. Brittney all day today. She wants her to come back over and play.

Storytime by Sparky and Pops

Chandler received a Valentine in the mail from her Sparky and Pops today. She was a bit confused but excited when she opened it. So this one is for you Sparky and Pops!

Cha Cha & The Peas

No, your eyes are not playing tricks on you. This is our Cha Chi eating something that is green!!

Jersey Hill

We got about 4 inches of snow yesterday, so this morning we took Chandler to go sledding at a park called Jersey Hill. After sledding down the hill one time with Mommy and one time with Daddy, she asked to go by herself. I thought she was too little. But Jeremy convinced me to let her try. So here is our Big girl sledding ALL BY HERSELF at 2.5 years old!!

The Simple Things

It really is the simple things in life that can make you happy. So I thought I would list a few of my favorite really simple things that make me so happy.

* warm sheets on my bed, flipping the pillow over to the cool side, catching all the green lights,
a stocked fridge, not being woken up once during the night, an empty laundry basket, a hot bath, mail man delivering my favorite magazines, finding $$ in the back pocket of a pair of jeans, rainy Sunday afternoons, my DVR, sitting on the floor with Jake's head in my lap, eating warm cookies fresh from the oven. Ahh such joy and bliss from these little things.

Little Ballerinas

I meant to post these photos last weekend. This one is Chandler and Maryn at Maryn's party last Saturday. They were anxiously awaiting more guests.

My little ballerina patiently waiting for her turn to jump on the big trampoline.

Cutie

All for Mr. Brad

Today is Mr. Brad's 31st birthday. Brad is a friend that works at State Farm that use to live in TN and now lives up here in IL. He is not married and has no family up here, so tonight Jeremy, Chandler and I took him out to eat for dinner.

Chandler was very excited that it was his birthday and colored him a picture yesterday evening.

Then today she helped me make him some cupcakes. Chocolate with lemon icing, yummy!

At dinner we let Chandler play one of the computer games. It was a coloring game and she colored this one in honor of Mr. Brad's birthday.


I think she loved the cupcake.

Posing with the birthday boy.

When we were driving to dinner I asked Chandler where we were going. She said "to Mr. Brad's birthday party." I said what are you going to tell him when you see him (urging her to say Happy birthday). And she says" I love you Mr. Brad." Too freaking cute!

Miss Mary Mack

This video is mainly for the grandparents. We all know Chandler LOVES to read. One of her favorite books is Miss Mary Mack. She can recite almost the whole thing by heart. One night last week she was reading with Daddy and I caught this video of her. You can't hear all the words clearly, but if you are familiar with the rhyme Miss Mary Mack at all you might be able to make out some of what she is saying.