A day in the life

Yesterday was crazy.  Unglamorous.  Tiring.  Typical.  It started in the morning with Erica begging me not to leave her before I'd finished getting her dressed.  It was really whining which is in fact worse than begging.  There were tears and "me miss you" cries when I dropped her off at daycare.  I'm pretty sure they have a toddler handbook that explains explicitly how to tug at your mom's heartstrings because she's a pro.  And when Daddy picked her up from daycare later that day, she didn't want to leave because she was having so much fun.  Figures.  When I got home from work, she had fallen asleep.  It was 5:30 - PM!  Did I mention she refuses to nap at daycare?  Such a little stinker.  I couldn't wake her up no matter how I tried and she was still asleep two hours later - even after I loaded her into the car so we could go pick up Erin and the carpool dancers.  She clearly still needs a nap everyday.

I drove Erin and her dance friend halfway across the valley to where her friend lives, chatted in the driveway with her mom, my dance mom friend, while the kids basically screamed at each other through the back window and everyone yelled at their toddler to stay out of the street.  Because we stayed to chat, we got behind.  I had to rush home to get dinner shoved down their gullets before it was bedtime.  It WAS bedtime when Erin realized she had homework that was due the next morning.  Of course it was math homework and they are teaching a new math curriculum so, even if I could remember my own elementary school days and learning math over twenty years ago, I still couldn't help her because it's all different now.  Awesome.  At 9:30 Erin made the decision to get more help the next day and turn her assignment in a day late.  And I emailed her teacher pleading for a math book to be allowed a trip home daily so I have at least a slim chance in hell at helping her figure it out.

I tucked both girls into their beds - a half an hour late - and hoped like hell Erica was tired even though she'd had a two hour nap two hours before.  Erin was asleep quickly, Erica cried for an hour off and on.  All I wanted was to go to bed myself.  Instead, I gave in and rocked my baby to sleep while watching the season finale of Fringe - that's been on my DVR waiting for me to have such a free hour alone to watch it... since May.

The life of a mommy is so glamorous, don't you think?  I sure wouldn't trade it even when I have days like this one where everything I had planned to accomplish is still waiting to be done when I fall into bed after midnight. 

Fundamentally different

It struck me tonight at bath time just how different my two children are.  Erin, at two and a half and still to this day, marvels at the perfect whirlpools created by the tub drain.  She would sit in silence and wonder watching the spirals and reverently bidding the water goodbye.  Erica who is currently two and a half takes great pleasure destroying the same perfect whirlpool.  And not just once, but over and over again each time it struggles into existence.  Her current nickname is Devil Child... 

Time flies, kids grow up, babies aren't babies anymore

Newsflash - I'm a blogger slacker!  But, I just downloaded all the photos from my phone so here's some recent pics to show how big the girls are getting.  Erin is 10, Erica is 2.  How the hell did that happen?

 Erin playing in the spring snow

Erica is the newest Ragnarian... or maybe she should wait a few years.  She still loves Daddy's hat

 Erica and her BFF Chayse sporting their hats after an evening of playing

Erin and her BFF Brooklyn sporting their bump-its

Erica has decided she's a big girl who can climb up on the chairs and get her own crackers.

Mommy turned 40 - here are the balloons to prove it.  Erica thought they were her balloons and I didn't have the heart to tell her no.

Sisters - and mom's new cool camera app!

Erica and cousin Zoey in the toy cupboard instead of the toys

Erica got her ears pierced for her second birthday.  She cried until she got a sucker and then she was fine.

Sisters snuggling in their jammies before bed.  So sweet!

Erica and BFF Chayse eating dinner at the little girl table together.

Erica is potty training - and pretending to pass the info along to her toys.  The bear is on the little potty and Mickey is destined for the big potty.

We just finished our nightly kitchen dancing with Mommy - everyone loves Katy Perry music!

Mom's work from home day - Erica sets up her own laptop and pretends to drink coffee just like Mommy.  It cracks me up every time!

Neighbors in the driveway - summer is on it's way!

Pictures from our trip to SoCal - lots of beach and Disney fun!

 Watching the boats in the harbor

 Beach day with nanny Kayla

 Disneyland!!!

 Erin rode the roller coasters with mom - I think I was happier than Erin but she was a trooper!

My favorite picture of the girls together at Disneyland outside Minnie's house

This is what Erica looked like when she saw Micky Mouse in the parade.  Made the crazy long hours at Disney totally worth it.

Erica and her nanny who makes life easier on all of us

 Clint was the big winner at the annual St. Patrick's Day Poker Tourney.

Erin is still my favorite little dancer at Synergy and is starting her second competition season there.

First backyard fire with the neighbors already under our belts - even though it's snowed twice since then.  Only in a Utah spring!

 Erica loves dress-up AND mommy's sunglasses

 She can sign "I Love You" all by herself now, and loves her hair done pretty

Erin at her first competition of the season - two first place wins when it was all said and done!

Erica and Zoey just chillin' out on the couch.  This is the life...

Now you know what goes on when I'm not blogging - lots of living and loving and having fun!

Update through photos

I've been a total slacker here on the family blog so I thought I'd post some of my favorite photos from my iPhone by way of update on what's been happening at House of Luft.

The girls in the summer

My and my sis at Cherry Hill - round 2 with the parents

Our water babies at Cherry Hill

Erin miniature golfing on the same course I learned on as a kid

Guess who loves corn on the cob!

Erin at her very first concert - Selena Gomez

Erica loves her blankies... must have learned this from her big sister!

Hanging with the neighbors watching Utah Football - go UTES!

Neighbors who run together, stay together!  Ragnar training Sunday runs...

Erica loves her Daddy!

Erica's first time with the dress-up shoes

Poker tourney at Rayster's

Look, cool hair that I took the time to straighten - better get a pic!

Erica lounging in the Ariel chair - probably watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Styx and REO Speedwagon concert at USANA

I'll post more later... but right now I have to go change out the laundry, clean a couple of toilets and get the dog to quit barking.