We're Ba-ack!

So, yeah, as you can see the weather was BEA-U-TI-FUL in Arizona! As someone who suffers from self diagnosed S.A.D. this is just what the doctor ordered. I got to shop, swim, sleep, read, eat and relax. As much as I missed the girls I am a better mother for the time I spent away.

I think I have Bill almost convinced that this is where we will be buying our next home (that is, one the kids have graduated and we can have a MN home as well - we can dream can't we??).

It was pretty cool to be back in a place I was once so familiar with. Even though it's been many moons since my stint there in college it felt quite a bit like another home. Some good memories and good friends were made there.

The pictures above are of the view from the pool (including the mountains and the golf course), the pool itself, and Bill and I doing our very best tourist imitations.

I want to extend a VERY SPECIAL thank you to my aunt Minda who had the girls for the entire weekend! My Dad and Marilyn could not make it out of Fargo on Saturday due to bad weather. So, thank you Minda, we owe you big time.

Now, when's the next vacation...........................................................................................................

"Parenting" Tips

No, not directly from yours truly! My cousin was kind enough to get me subscriptions to both Parenting and Parents magazine. Sometimes I flip through and don't find a ton of interesting material, but my latest Parenting has some good stuff that I thought was worth sharing.
"Kids and Germs:"
Giving your child something that has fallen on the ground is no worse than if it had fallen on a countertop when it comes to catching the latest cold or flu virus.
Skipping the bath is not only OK, but maybe suggested. Apparently we tend to overbathe our children so a bath and hair wash once or twice a week is sufficient (before puberty, of course).
Urine is sterile. Not changing the bathwater if they pee in it is perfectly safe. As is the public pool.
A sleeve for a hankie will not spread germs. The dried-on crusted stuff really cannot infect.
"MOP Advise:"
For us Mothers of Preschoolers, I found an article on why our 3-5 year olds may ask us to do something for them that they are fully capable of doing themselves. One reason is that they don't want to get it wrong, another is if they're in an unfamiliar situation, or - more eye opening for me- they're afraid you'll stop taking care of them.
"Video Game Alert:"
For those 5-8 year olds you may be surprised to hear that exposure to violent media is liked to youth violence (as stronly as poverty, substance abuse or abusive parents!!). VIDEO GAMES HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT OF ALL!

So that's it, food for thought.

Arizona Bound

Bill and I are taking our annual trip to attend his company's annual meeting this weekend. We're flying to Scottsdale, AZ Thursday late afternoon and won't be back until Sunday.
The girls will be in very good hands while we are gone, but it doesn't make my anxiety of leaving subside all that much. I can't really put my finger on the exact reason why I get so uptight. I think it's all the little things rolled up in to one big WORRY. There's the "rules": keeping gates shut, no climbing on furniture, no rough wresting (especially near corners of walls and hard table legs), keeping bathroom doors shut, etc, etc. Then there's the "meal planning": This and that for breakfast (not to forget fruits and veggies), this and that for lunch, dinner, snacks, meal times, where to find cups/spoons/bibs, etc, etc. We have "Laney language 101": Peese (please); could mean all done, more and you have to ask to be sure, Hungee/rubbing tummy (hungry), mook/hand pumping (milk), and so on and so forth. "Routine": bed times, teeth brushing (not to mention where to find toothbrush, who's is who's, etc, etc). But, the biggest of all, "Where's Mommy and Daddy?": The fear that Delaney (not too much Cecelia at this point) will wonder if we are gone for good. Luckily, we have what we call telecommunication or more commonly referred to as the telephone. I hope that hearing our voices will reassure them that we are very much still around and miss them very much! And one more last completely irrational fear of something happening to both Bill and I while traveling. The likelyhood of this happening is zilch, I know, but the thought still crosses my mind.
So, today, not only am I packing for the trip (because it's the only day I have time to do it) but I will also be typing up my overly excessive "How To" manual for our very generous, very kind, and very giving caretakers.
Man, I'm a freak.

Baby Alex

Here he is!! Now Cecelia AND Delaney have boyfriends!!

Welcome Alex

My best friend, Melissa, gave birth to her second son just this afternoon!!!

Baby Alex came in at 8 pounds 10 ounces!!

Above is a picture of her and her oldest, Anthony. Erik and Melissa do make good looking children.

Pictures and details to follow.

Congrats Tortorice Family!

Not to forget baby #3

Baby in belly is getting bigger now - about 3 1/2 inches, or the size of a lemon. The baby apparently can make faces and may even be sucking it's thumb (and since it's a Heer baby it probably is. For more info see: http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-images-14-weeks

Here's what the belly looks like in a tight fitting ensemble.

Cold Weather=Homebound

Although I actually got out of the house quite a bit this weekend (dinner with friends, hair appt., work, Tastefully Simple party), the kids were cooped up all weekend. It was just simply too damn cold to even transport them from one location to the next.
Even with my "happenings" I did spend the majority of the weekend at home with the family. When you spend that much time together, inside, you get to really see what the kids are up to and in to.
So, here's a little breakdown of the kids and what's new:
CECELIA:
*Never wants to eat * Constantly singing and dancing - still * Bugs her sister * Likes to play on the computer (this is new) * Has lots and lots to say, whether it's a real story or a made up story * Is in to dress up * Reads lots of books *Pretends to be teacher * Likes to give and receive backrubs * Mimicks Mom quite a bit - in language and behavior
The funniest part of hanging out with Cecelia is just waiting to see what she's going to say next. As most of you know, the mind of a 4 year old is quite imaginitive. As we speak she is telling Delaney to "quiet down because she's trying to make her grocery list".

DELANEY:
* A little parrot - will try and say whatever word you say last * Eats a ton * Loves to do anything her sister is doing * Very cuddly - but mostly with mom.....* Mommy's girl * Wears socks on her hands * Walks around with her eyes shut * LOVES to brush her teeth * Likes to look in between her toes and anyone else's who will let her * Plays with baby dolls * Spins in circles until she can't stand up * Doesn't like strangers
This is a big age for growth and change and we're enjoying watching her transition from baby to kid. Right now she is both.

Oh, what fun.