Just a Lazy Sunday

Thoroughly enjoyed this incredibly lazy Sunday! It was so nice to have Justin home ALL day, which doesn't happen often with his crazy work schedule - so I really soaked up all the time I could get with the big guy.


Haha - but first, needed his help with some stuff! :)

How wonderful it was to go to the grocery store with just ONE child! Henley and I were able to stroll aisle by aisle and casually shop for our food for the week....unlike most weeks when I drag both girls, and have to be fully prepared to entertain Hudsen the entire time. Luckily, if she is hungry, she will eat a few snacks....but if that snacksize bag of pretzels goes dry - I could be in for a major meltdown!

Justin had dropped Henley and I off at the door to the grocery store - LOVED THAT! Then he took Hudsen to the Bread Co for some coffee and conversation. Hudsen of course just had water, but they enjoyed some quality time together. I texted Justin when I was in the check out line, and within minutes was picked up again at the door, and he loaded up the car while I got warm inside.

Its the little things like, not having to put the carseat back in, then run around to the other side to get Hudsen strapped in, then loading the groceries into the back only to realize that you had left the large stroller in the back so now, groceries need to be stacked on top of each other....OH! but watch out for the eggs....better find a safe place for those....then scramble to put the cart away (and I probably didn't park close to one of the racks), all while keeping an eye on your kids, and making sure no one breaks in and steals them....and then race back to the car and I am now covered in snow....only to start the car, and then hear that Henley's paci has fallen out, which I better get out and go put back in before I pull off the parking lot which will help reduce the risk of hysterical crying on the 5min drive home.


By 10am...our day was now complete! :)


Time to relax, so we watched some football, took naps, and made some videos...(of the kids, of course) :)

Here is Henley talking today!....its a solid 3minutes so you may have to clear your schedule :) hahaha!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KCUG59SiU8





And Hudsen then wanted in on the action, and earned some camera time by singing (and recalling) some of her favorite songs!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7zdV51mnxw



I wish EVERY Sunday was this much fun!

Tiny Dancer

I am literally still laughing out loud about our morning.

It started out normal, Justin's in the shower, I am getting myself ready, and then on cue at 7am, both girls start crying...Luckily, Henley just needed her swaddle a little tighter, and Hudsen was doing her standard hollering from her big girl bed making her routine morning announcement: "I'm up Mommy! Get up and Play!"

Hudsen has always obeyed the strict rule of 'staying in bed' - as we didn't want her wandering around her room at night, so in the morning, she patiently stays in her bed until given further instruction to get off :) I believe that she thinks she is on a boat...she has a select few 'friends' (stuffed animals), and a couple of books that she can take to bed with her, but if something falls off, its gone. There is no getting it back (until the next day). So she is pretty careful not to knock anything off...for fear it will 'float away'.....

I head into her room to get her out of her pj's and into her clothes for the day. At night, I am usually putting some laundry away, so have always made it a habit to lay both girls clothes out the night before (mainly so here is no confusion in the AM and I don't have to stress about tights matching bows, etc) :)

Hudsen loves all of her clothes, and always gets excited to put on anything I pull out. But this morning, I found her to be a bit more demanding. I helped her get into her tights, and then was pulling on a cute, cotton, navy skirt....when suddenly, she shouted:'No skirt Mommy, TUTU! TUTU! I'm a ballerina!'

I laughed, because yes, she does think she is a ballerina sometimes, but I continued on with the navy skirt, thinking she must just want to talk about ballerina's wearing Tutus...but NO, she meant it! She was a ballerina, and was going to dress as ballerina TODAY!

I may do all the bows, tights, girly accessories, etc.....but I haven't really thrown her into the Tutu world just yet. I think because they are just so delicate and cute, and seem so fragile, and just figured it would be destroyed at some point during the day. I always felt that I was saving them for something other than a random Wednesday.

This all changed today...

Justin was having breakfast when I 'presented' his Tutu-clad daughter to him this morning....and he looked so proud! Hudsen twirled, and bowed for him, and then hopped up onto her booster seat for some yogurt and some good conversation.

Justin may have seen a little glimpse into his future with his Tiny Dancer this morning....recitals here we come! :)

ps. Hudsen and Henley are headed to Carmi's for a few hours this morning while I go to the salon....(so Real Housewives of St. Louis of me, I know).....so I don't think the Tutu will get out in the general public today....but don't be surprised if she is wearing one the next time I see you :)

Happy New Year!

Hmmmmmm.......what to do with an 2 month old, and a 2 year old on New Years Eve..... it's slim pickin's but we think we found a fun way to ring in 2011.

New Years Eve Day: Justin is OFF work!! So the day starts with breakfast and then we grab some coffee, and run some errands with the girls. I have to take advantage of having Justin's help, as shopping has been tricky alone, since we are still waiting for our back ordered double stroller to arrive. Miss Henley is tiny, but she gets pretty heavy lugging her around in her car seat, meanwhile, chasing after Hudsen who has become wishy-washy on whether she will cooperate and ride in the cart....however, if I remember to bring pretzels, I can usually keep her strapped in and distracted long enough to get what I need.

We exit Wildwood, listening to the radio talking about the tornado that may be rolling in our way. We continue on...knowing that it would be unlikely for a tornado to really come into our neck of the woods. Sky gets a bit darker, rain a little harder, and we hear more sirens and alarms going off so we end up turning around, and head home. Didn't get much done on that family outing, but at least we are all safe and sound and made it home!

The house was very calm this afternoon...literally, the whole family napped (except me)....at one point, I heard Henley starting to stir, but I knew I had to press on with the blog entry :)

Tonight we went out to dinner with the kids, and then back home for some quality TV time. We tried to find something to rent at Blockbuster, but there wasn't much to choose from. So we decided to stick with 24 (for after the kids go to bed of course), as we are trying to finish up the last season...and are anxious to find out how Jack Bauer will save the world this time.

As 2010 comes to an end, I can't help but reflect on what an amazing year it has been for myself and our family. I could go into a detailed, photographed, chronological list of every enjoyable moment, but I wont...for 2 reasons:

1. Emotionally, I don't think, rather, I KNOW I wouldn't be able to get through it, and would be crying my way into the New Year
AND
2. My devoted 9 followers would be bored to tears (again, don't want myself or anyone crying their way into 2011) :)

But I do want to mention of few things about the year.Watching Hudsen grow from an infant into the busiest, funniest, cutest, sweetest, smartest and most caring toddler has been incredibly fun. She surprises Justin and I everyday, and is always making us so proud.

This year I was also so lucky to have enjoyed another wonderful pregnancy that lead to birth of our daughter, Henley. We are so blessed to have her in our lives, and it was very exciting to have 2 little girls during the Holidays. Hudsen was what we thought, a perfect baby....good eater, great sleeper, and really only cried when she was hungry or tired....Henley, if possible, has been just as perfect. She smiles at us all the time, and one little smile from her keeps me smiling all day long :)

I am lucky to have had this year dedicated to raising Hudsen, enjoying a healthy pregnancy, and now taking time to be with both girls. Everyday is different, and I am always learning something new. Our oldest sees the world in an unique way and I love seeing her look at it with such amazement. I look at the world in a different way, everyday, because of her.

I have high hopes for 2011. It will be tough to beat this past year, but since meeting and marrying my best friend 5 years ago, somehow he continues to bring on a better year....every year. I wonder what he has in store for our family this year? :)

Unfortunately, I did not make it till midnight...Justin did wake me and the girls up for a New Years kiss though :) Next year I will make it to Midnight...that is my New Years Resolution! :)

The Backsmeyers wish you a Very Happy New Year!