Twenty-three

January 23


Jack and Mackenzie at Turle's before the mini-movers class. It was bring-a-friend week. On Wednesday, Emma went with Caroline, and today was Mackenzie's turn to go with Jack. Just prior to me taking this picture, the two of them were standing next to each other just fine. I get out the camera, and they both climbed off the bleachers. Mackenzie loved the class - especially the trampoline.

Twenty-two

January 22


See that white speck in the picture? That's Emma's sock. According to her, she was standing in Rachel's doorway (to the left of my nephew Michael), threw it, and it curved left and landed there. It's hard to tell in the picture, but that's a second story shelf thing, and you can't reach it without a ladder. So Michael got a pole out of the basement and used it to pull the sock to the edge and down to the floor below. It was hysterical. We couldn't belive she got her sock over there. She's got a good arm!

Twenty

January 20


Sam, Cody, Mackenzie and Emma waited patiently for the butterflies to fly out. Then they waited some more. And then a little bit longer before finally giving up and playing Hungry Hungry Hippos. I immediately placed C batteries on my list.

Seventeen

January 17


Mackenzie is not a fan of car washes. She actually cried and whimpered for a minute. Yet, when it was over, she joined in with Emma's cheer to do it again.

Sixteen

January 16


Emma sleeping with her nightcap on. Her Bitty Baby has a nightgown with a matching nightcap. Emma decided this Santa hat would be her nightcap, to, as she said, "keep my head warm while I sleep." She enjoys sleeping in her sleeping bag on the floor. Apparently, she finds it quite comfortable.

Fourteen

January 14


Tonight I cleaned up the mess in the basement, including this. Mackenzie entertained herself for quite a while by taking all these cards out of their boxes. At least she was quiet and not pushing a chair to the counter to get the cookies.

Thirteen

January 13


Mackenzie fell asleep about 3 1/2 minutes after leaving my mom's tonight. She was completely wiped out. She'd been to the mall (where she did very well - complete opposite of the earlier Target trip), played at Grandmas, visited with her cousins and aunt and had no nap. You can see the chocolate on her face from the last handful of M&Ms she grabbed before leaving.

Twelve

January 12


Today was a rough day. Mackenzie cried off and on most of the morning. She threw a fit in Target, kept climbing out of the cart and running away. At one point I left Emma and my purse in the cart in the shoe section and chased after her in my socks past the kids clothing and caught her in the rubbermaid storage section. I was in work-out clothes with sweaty hair and a red face and my big clumpy boots on. Emma had a fruit punch mustache and icing on her face and Mackenzie had icing on her face, in her hair plus tears and snot on her face. The target trip ended with me opening a bag of M&Ms in the checkout line to keep them quiet while we waited. (Because of course there was only one register open with 11 people in line.) I'm not above bribery and it ranked up there in my Top Five Worst Public Outings With My Children. Sigh...the whole day was a struggle. Some days are just like that with my two-year-old. Michael always jokes that sometimes we don't know if we should spank her or hug her. Or both. I always say it's a good thing she's so cute.

Eleven

January 11


I'm cheating today. I didn't take this picture. Obviously. My friend Melissa did. We all went over to Kelly's after boot camp. She has the perfect little hill in her backyard, it's just right for sledding with the little ones. Mackenzie decided to stay in the house with the two one-year-olds and play (while supervised) and I took Emma out. This was the only time she went down on a sled. While she liked it, she wouldn't do it again. Instead she walked up the hill dragging a small sled, then ran down with it. Shouting joyfully.

Nine

January 9


Emma had packed a bag full of stuff to take to the basketball game that night. I was talking to my mom in the afternoon when she dumped it all out so she could tell Grandma what was in the bag. I put my phone on speaker and set it next to her and she proceeded to tell my mom every item she had there on the floor.

Eight

January 8


My sister-in-law Abby made the most wonderful cinnamon rolls ever on New Year's eve. Oh my. They're were delicious. So today, I attempted them. I pulled out the bread machine, which hasn't been used in about 5 years, and made the dough. I rolled them out and stuck them in the fridge to bake in the morning. Emma thought the bread machine was pretty cool, she liked that she could see the dough through the little window.

Seven

January 7


I stocked up on the best caramel candy ever - Russell Stover caramel hearts*.

*completely interchangeable with caramel eggs, caramel santas and caramel pumpkins.

Six

January 6


New Sewing Machine project #2 - Christmas gifts for the women at Kid Park (@ the fitness center). Yeah, they're a little late. I'm just extending their Christmas season. They don't know it. But I am.

Five

January 5


Today is Caroline's birthday and we walked over to celebrate with her. Caroline and Jack got a bouncy house for Christmas (or as Caroline said, it's a bounce house - no y) and Larry set it up in the garage. I really thought Emma would go in after her breakthrough at Winter Wonderland. Alas, it was a one-time thing. She refused to go in. Mackenzie on the other hand, was all about the bouncy house. She had trouble getting up the slide to go in though, so she'd alternately yell, "Beth! Help! Beth! Beth!" and she'd push her up or "Caroline! Help me!" and Caroline would pull her in.

Four

January 4

I think we're good on snow now. I'd like to be able to leave my house and not worry that I won't make it up the hill and into my driveway.

Three

January 3

Goodbye tree. You were a very good tree. Perfectly shaped, small needles perfect for little hands to hang ornaments on and you smelled good. I hope you enjoy being in the woods where some cute little critters will make you their home.

Two

January 2

About two weeks ago I noticed our Christmas tree was growing new buds. I know I watered it every night, but I still didn't think it was supposed to actually grow after it was cut down.

One

January 1


It was just after Midnight at Marty and Abby's. We'd gotten the kids to sleep a little before eleven, and all of us had been struggling a bit to make it to midnight. I set my camera on the arm of the chair and set the timer. Ten minutes later, we were in bed.