3 of a Kind

How cute is this picture? This morning we had a guy that Warren knows come and dig for a patio next to the pool deck, and a trench for a gas line for the pool heater. The "kids" were watching intently as Mark worked the digger thingy (I will have to ask Warren what that's called) out Gracie's window.

For some reason, last year when we had mulch and top soil delivered, Ellie called it "stinky hoe" and cried about it. We still have no idea where the hoe came from, and those of you who have ever smelled a pile of mulch know where the stinky part came from. We really found it (although inappropriate) to be hysterical, and she still calls it stinky hoe to this day. So this morning, I said to her, "Isn't that the truck that delivered the stinky hoe last year? Maybe he is bringing us more stinky hoe!" To which Ellie replied, "Why would he do that? That would just be stupid".

Marker Madness

Today's drama involved the most purple of all Crayola markers. Ellie has used (washable) markers dozens of times, she LOVES to use them. Today she was sitting at the kitchen table coloring with markers while I cleaned the kitchen and talked on the phone to my Mom. I had my back to her while I cleaned the coffee pot at the sink, and spun around when I heard the cries, "I DON'T WANT IT IN MY MOUTH ANY MORE!!!!" I abruptly got off the phone with my Mom when I found Ellie with a mouth full (and I mean full) of purple liquid. I could only imagine that the marker had somehow exploded in her mouth, but when I began cleaning up the mess of purple saliva that was everywhere, I realized she had just been sucking on the stupid thing. I even had to use the washcloth on her tongue! I started to tell her we were going to the bathroom to brush her teeth, and then quickly decided to grab the camera first. So this picture is AFTER being cleaned up quite a bit. And the shiner on her eye was a playground swing incident...

I spoke to Ellie sternly, reminding her that she knows better than to put things like that in her mouth (yada yada yada), she finished crying, and started back to her masterpieces. 5 minutes after all of this...she was covered in aqua marker! Needless to say, markers washable or not, are not going to be used in my house for a while!

Scoby Hill

My Dad's family owns a cabin in Springville, NY on the Cattaraugus Creek. It has been the site of many a family and friend gathering over the last 20 years. In the past year or two, they have started doing monthly (or so) get togethers centering around a food theme. They have had chili, and salsa to name a couple. Everyone brings their version of the theme, and everyone samples it. This Saturday it was Burgerfest. It was the most beautiful day here, 87 degrees in Buffalo, in April?? Unheard of! We have not made it to one of these food fests, and wisely decided to go this weekend.

"The Cabin" as it is known in the family, is a really amazing place. My Grandparents (Gramma and Grampa Emerling) and my Grampa's siblings (and families) have put a lot into the place. The accommodations there while rustic in some senses, are perfect for everyone to get together. They have even built a shelter to seat everyone comfortably together. It was a beautiful day and wonderful time for all of us.

We brought Ellie's Barbie fishing pole with us. Normally, Ellie freaks out when she gets her hands dirty. She was elated to go fishing, but to be honest, I thought like a lot of things, that it would just be the idea of it. She had a riot! Warren did the casting and Ellie mostly played in the mud, but the pictures were too good to pass up. I couldn't believe she was interested in holding much less kissing the fish, and picking up worms? Could she be more like me?? Ellie really enjoys playing with her cousins (I don't know, 3rd, 4th or removed? I have to ask my Great Uncle John) their names are Julia and Alaina and they are just amazing with her! I don't honestly know if Ellie has ever been more dirty, but she had the time of her life.

We're Baaack!

Well, we have been back for over a week. Truthfully, between getting things back to normal (oh my laundry and cleaning to do) and the weather finally being nice around here I have been completely neglecting my blogging duties. We had an awesome time on vacation! We have such a good time whenever we all get together. It always makes me miss my brother and sister in law that much more after we spend time together. I love Sarah, and it is too funny that my brother married someone who is that much like my sister and myself...we drove him nuts as kids (and still do) we have such a riot together.

It was a pretty low-key vacation, and by that I mean we didn't do a ton of activities. Living where we do, it was enough for us to be able to spend time outside in the warm sun just playing. I think that is the one thing that I really loved the most was not having to worry about all the usual day to day things I get bogged down with. I enjoyed having Warren around, with no work and no projects, and for all of us just to be together was the best. We took Ellie and Gracie to Siesta Key beach (best sand EVER). Ellie LOVED the sand and the waves and Grace couldn't have disagreed more. She hated the beach! The rest of the time we just spent as much time as possible outside by the pool which both of the girls really enjoyed.

The place we stayed in was really nice for all of us! Warren and I had a one bedroom apartment with its own kitchen and a pull out couch in the living room. Chris & Sarah and Lisa & Brian stayed together in a two bedroom place, and my parents and Patti and Claire had the main house. The main house had room for all of us to eat dinner together and hang out at night. And, hang out at night we did. We sat up together and played one game after another every single night. Lisa and Brian brought guitar hero (and I want it sooooooooo bad!!) and we had a riot playing that too!

A couple of Patti's friends from junior high school (and beyond) came to the house a few nights. Marissa and Amanda both live in Tampa now, and it brought back a lot of memories to see those girls all together again. Ellie referred to them as the "other Aunt Pattis" that's how much they are peas in a pod. One of the nights of staying up late with my siblings and playing drinking games, my Mom had to come out and shush us (or maybe it was just me...) for being so loud. It made me giggle because it reminded me of having slumber parties when we were kids! And, of course there was the traditional game of rock paper scissors for punches in the butt between Warren and Patti. (Loser gets their butt punched by the winner...don't ask...) I will be getting pics of that from my sister, and then I will be sure to upload them for everyone to see!

Getting Away...

We leave tomorrow for a family vacation in Bradenton, Florida. My Parents, siblings (sorry Jamie! He can't come due to work obligations and we're all bummed), and my Aunt Lisa and Uncle Brian will all be there. This is the link to the place if you want to check it out, its a pretty nice place.

http://dingoproperties.com/florida.htm

We have not been on a family vacation all together since 2004, and it's really exciting. When Ellie was a month old we took her, but Patti wasn't able to make it then, and besides it was really tough with Ellie being so little (and then there was the colic). My Aunt Lisa is Warren's age (quite a difference between her and my Dad age wise) and when we were kids, she came with us on a few family trips, she has always been very good to us, and we loved it when she came with. I am looking forward to hanging out with her and Brian, we haven't really done that since the kids. It will be good for Ellie and Gracie to spend some time with them too!

I am sure we will return with tons of great memories and pics, but the blog might be on hiatus until then...we'll see how ambitious I am. Warm weather and fun...HERE WE COME!!

First Hair Cuts!

Before
During

Ellie has never had her hair cut. When she was around the age that Gracie is now, her hair was kind of course and wavy/a little curly, and even though she wouldn't really keep hair ties or clips in it, it wasn't much to keep it out of her face so we just let it go. Gracie on the other hand, has really fine hair, and I can't keep it out of her face and she pulls out anything I put in it. Because Ellie's hair is so long at this point, we were thinking of letting it grow a bit more and then donating it. The problem is that, while she has the 12 inches needed to donate, she would have really short hair if we cut it all off. She is constantly complaining when I brush it, and put it in a pony tail, I can't wait for it to grow much longer. My kids often walk around with (although clean and brushed) rag-a-muffin hair. My sister is a hair dresser, and an amazing one at that. I am so so so lucky that I don't have to go to a salon to get my hair done, and she cuts Warren's hair at least once a month, more like every 3 weeks or so. Today, Aunt Patti gave our entire family new dos including the girls first hair cuts! And she does it in our house to boot!

Check out the before and after! Gracie's mullet is gone with a few snips (easy for me to say) and her hair lays so much nicer now. And Ellie's mangy mane is now tame and she looks older...about 6 inches off the bottom. SO CUTE, thank you Aunt Patti! (Ellie and Gracie's Mom really loves her hair, and so does their Dad!)

Waiting for Spring

Buffalo winters are just too long for almost anyone you might ask. The Herdics are no exception to this. I am not a winter person, I don't do outside in the snow or cold, and I haven't since I was a young kid. In the summer, I have the girls outside as much as possible. I think it was hard for Ellie to understand that Mommy just doesn't go outside when there is snow out there, and she has been longing to be outside. Warren and I have started taking the girls outside for a short walk after dinner within the last few weeks whenever the weather permits. As long as it's not freezing cold, or as long as there is not precipitation we load them up in the wagon (in snow suits if necessary) and go for a nice walk. Warren says his Dad would say we're "blowing the stink off" and I have to say it does really feel like we're doing that! This morning, it has to be in the 50's (maybe close to 60) and I opened the door to let a little light and air in. Check out the girls plastered to the door, it cracks me up!

Another sign we are waiting for spring is that Warren has already started with the projects around the house. This is a man who goes so crazy that he can't actually DO work in the winter that he spends the entire time planning all his summer projects. We had 5 trees taken down 3 were pretty substantial pines and the others were kind of weary in comparison. Check out the pile of brush that is in front of the house, the picture doesn't really do it justice, it took Warren the better part of an entire day to get it all there with just a little help from me during naptime. Looks like we are building a pine fortress!