A Life Unfolding

Art and homework time

2012-02-05T10:39:00.000-04:00

h loves to color!

H working hard on her homework!

Snuggling sisters

2012-02-05T10:35:00.000-04:00

Princess Tea

2012-01-28T23:10:00.000-04:00

This morning I took the girls to a princess tea. It was really cute and the girls really enjoyed themselves.

2012-01-28T23:08:00.000-04:00

This is the best pic I could get of me and the girls!

Memories.

2012-01-27T10:28:00.001-04:00

I rarely get time to actually sit and write down my thoughts between working full time, parenting full time, trying to exercise and the million other things I have to do on a daily basis. However, this is one of those things I just had to write down….

Hadley received her first progress report yesterday. Mike and I were so proud to read how well she is doing academically and outside of needing to work at times on being a good listener (she likes to chat with her friends!) she had nothing noted that she needs to work on.

Hadley is a true joy in our lives and also a child that pushes us to the brink of our exhaustion at times with parenting. She is simply amazing in how her little brain works and she often thinks she is much, much older than she is. Mike and I have both learned the limits of our patience at times, but have also learned what it is like to have your love for a child make your heart overflow.

Last night, Hadley and I went out for a hot chocolate at the local coffee shop to have a little mommy and me time. I sat there watching her smiling little self thinking that this is all that truly matters to me in the world. It was one of those moments that I will take with me in the depths of my memories until my life here is done.

Paul Simon was playing over the speakers and Hadley looked at me and said “dance with me mommy”. I told her that I was kind of embarrassed to dance in the middle of the coffee shop. She said, “mommy, sometimes you just need to do these things”. I looked at her and said, “you are absolutely right H”. In my head I was thinking, who cares if these people look at me like I am crazy, all that matters is that in this moment, my little girl wants to dance with her mommy. So I got up, danced with her and soaked in every inch of her little smile.

On the way home, from the back seat of my car, my little girl’s voice came forward and said the following…

“Mommy, that was the most fun ever, spending time with you at the coffee shop tonight”

I will never forget this night. This is what life is all about.

A trip to the library

2012-01-24T15:56:00.001-04:00

This was harper's outfit choice to go to the library last night.

Valentines Day

2012-01-23T10:11:00.001-04:00

V-day is a big deal in our house. Growing up my mom loved it and still does. Her love for heart day was passed right on down to me. It's also fun because my mom's bday is the day before and H's bday is the day after. Here is the start of the preparations...

Snow arrives!

2012-01-14T09:50:00.001-04:00

The girls were thrilled to see that snow had finally arrived. While mom would be fine with skipping the white stuff this year, they love to make snow angels, forts, snowmen, etc. and daddy loves everything snow, skiing, even loves shoveling it! So, here are the gals ready to go play!

Feeding her babies

2012-01-14T09:46:00.001-04:00

Harper LOVES babies. I think I've said this before. Things haven't changed. She loves them. Here she is feeding her baby. So adorable. And, disregard her outfit. We don't really dress her like this, there had been several outfit changes at this point!

New Fish

2012-01-14T09:42:00.002-04:00

Last saturday we woke up to a rather disturbing scene. Cardinal, our fish, had somehow landed on the carpet. Outside of his bowl. We are thinking the cat is the culprit, but either way, things didn't end well for poor Cardinal.

So, what did we do? Got a new fish. With a tank. That has a top. Meet April, our new fish. Hope things go better for this one!

Popcorn movie night

2012-01-14T09:40:00.000-04:00

So cute.

2012-01-14T08:52:00.001-04:00

Moms favorite Christmas gift

2012-01-14T08:51:00.001-04:00

Car

2012-01-14T08:50:00.001-04:00

This is how my kids roll in the car! Babies/stuffed animals all around!

A yearly tradition

2011-12-28T16:33:00.001-04:00

Each year we have a Christmas visit with Mom's good friend Melanie from high school. It is so fun to see the kids together!

Sleigh ride, I mean hay ride....

2011-12-28T16:31:00.003-04:00

Since there was no snow for Christmas this year, what was supposed to be a sleigh ride, turned into a hay ride! It was just as much fun though!

2011-12-28T16:31:00.001-04:00

Love my babies...

2011-12-28T16:26:00.000-04:00

Xmas at Mimi and Papa's

2011-12-28T16:23:00.000-04:00

Santa comes!!!!

2011-12-28T16:22:00.000-04:00

2011-12-28T16:19:00.000-04:00

Xmas at Gma and Gpa Schwenzen's

2011-12-28T16:15:00.000-04:00

Xmas at Gma and Gpa Jankowski's

2011-12-28T16:14:00.000-04:00

Reading with Dada

2011-12-18T09:42:00.000-04:00

Matching jammies and the X-mas tree

2011-12-18T09:40:00.000-04:00

Daddy gives the best rides....

2011-12-18T09:39:00.001-04:00

St. Nick's night

2011-12-11T09:32:00.001-04:00

Everyone in this house must have been good this year because St. Nick filled all of our stockings with fun goodies!

Breakfast with Santa #2!

2011-12-11T09:29:00.001-04:00

We were very lucky this year and got to go to two Breakfasts with Santa! Great Grandpa invited the girls to come to Breakfast with Santa with him. It was a really fun time with lots of fun activities!

2011-12-11T09:28:00.000-04:00

H has her very own Christmas tree

2011-12-09T21:37:00.001-04:00

When I was little I always had my own Christmas tree and it is one of my very favorite Christmas memories from childhood. So this year I decided that H should have one of her very own in her room. So, what did she pick? Of course, PINK!

Sesame Street Live

2011-12-03T09:42:00.002-04:00

Hadley and Harper invited Grandma and Grandpa Jankowski to come to Sesame Street Live with us. We all had a great time. There is nothing better than watching excitement on your children's faces!

Breakfast with Santa

2011-11-26T18:33:00.001-04:00

A yearly tradition, we attended breakfast with Santa this morning. Take note, there is no picture with the little h and Santa, she would have NONE of that. She was terrified of him! Poor kid! It was a fun time as usual though and the big H filled the big S in on what little h would like for Christmas this year.

2011-11-26T18:32:00.000-04:00

Turkey

2011-11-24T09:48:00.001-04:00

H made this turkey at school. Mom and dad were invited to watch a thanksgiving play and then enjoy a feast. It was so fun!

Coloring

2011-11-24T09:46:00.001-04:00

Harper loves to color!

Randoms

2011-11-13T17:54:00.001-04:00

Cool! I fit in here!

I don't think this needs any commentary....

h loves to "write"

Say "cheese"!!!

Cuties...

Carving pumpkins

2011-11-13T17:52:00.003-04:00

I just realized that I never put these pictures on here! Here is us carving pumpkins this year!

Bunk bed!!!!

2011-11-08T23:09:00.001-04:00

H got a new gorgeous hand me down bedroom set. So, we sold her old one. The new set came with bunk beds that were not safe. She was so excited about the bunk beds we decided since we paid nothing for the bedroom set we could buy new bunk beds. H is in heaven and they look great!!!!

Halloween!

2011-10-30T21:12:00.001-04:00

Sisters

2011-10-25T17:11:00.001-04:00

Fall.

2011-10-24T19:15:00.000-04:00

2011-10-24T19:14:00.000-04:00

2011-10-24T19:12:00.000-04:00

Junior pom pons

2011-10-08T21:08:00.002-04:00

Hadley was able to march with the Port Pirate Dance Team for the homecoming parade and then do a dance with them at the tailgate before the football game. She had an absolute blast!

2011-10-08T21:07:00.000-04:00

Run to stop family violence

2011-10-08T14:41:00.001-04:00

Mom did a run this morning with some past co workers. It was nice to see them all again and a great reason to run.

Picking apples

2011-10-07T14:21:00.001-04:00

The girls went apple picking the other day. We had such a good time. Harper loved the apples so much, she ate three of them in a row!!

Pumpkin #1 at the Schwenzen house

2011-10-07T13:58:00.001-04:00

More to come when we carve!

Haunted house

2011-10-01T18:35:00.001-04:00

H made this today!

Bookworm Gardens

2011-10-01T14:49:00.002-04:00

We are so incredibly lucky to have this amazing place so close to our home. The girls and I had the absolute best time exploring all the different gardens, some themed after some of our favorite books! It is a very special place!

I'd also like to note that Hadley dressed herself today, that will likely be apparent as you see her outfit. I think it's adorable.

2011-10-01T14:44:00.000-04:00

2011-10-01T14:28:00.000-04:00

2011-10-01T14:25:00.000-04:00

2011-10-01T14:21:00.000-04:00

Cuties

2011-10-01T14:20:00.000-04:00

I am a big girl!

2011-10-01T13:12:00.001-04:00

Harper prefers to sit at the table like her big sister!

Fall fire

2011-09-30T21:27:00.001-04:00

We had our first fire of the fall tonight complete with dinner outside and s'mores. It was much fun!

I can read my colors!

2011-09-29T20:35:00.001-04:00

H made this book at school. She loves to read it to us!

Loving to read

2011-09-29T20:33:00.001-04:00

Harper picks out books and then reads them in her own chair. It is quite cute!

A fall walk

2011-09-29T20:32:00.001-04:00

Hadley likes to ride her bike around the block while harper prefers to push her baby.

My three loves.

2011-09-24T19:52:00.002-04:00

Every once in awhile, I can't resist that I can dress H and h the same. I tried to get pics of just the two of them after this, that has become a challenge lately. Someone is looking away or not smiling, or whatever!

Then

2011-09-18T15:02:00.001-04:00

This is what the front of our house used to look like....

Now

2011-09-18T15:00:00.000-04:00

This is what it looks like now. Hard to explain how happy this makes us...

Walking to the park

2011-09-13T20:42:00.002-04:00

H and h walking their babies to the park.

September 11th

2011-09-13T20:39:00.002-04:00

I took Hadley to a silent parade to honor the 10 year anniversary of September 11th. Trying to explain that event to a 4 year old is an interesting experience. I tried to explain it in the least "scary" way possible, but it is hard to soften the blow of our country being attacked. Hurt my heart when she said, "well, I am going to sit up in bed and not go to sleep in case they come back".

Auntie Lulu. We are proud of what she does for a career.

Random pics

2011-09-13T20:36:00.000-04:00

Climbing a tree at Uncle John's

Ready for church

First day of 4K

2011-09-06T22:32:00.002-04:00

Hadley couldn't wait to start 4K. She loves school. She was very excited for her first day and she came home super excited about everything she did, her new teachers, and the new friends she made.

Mom made a sign since she couldn't be there for the first day of 4K.

Notice Harper's favorite thing to carry, mom's coach wristlet...

Carrie's wedding

2011-09-06T22:24:00.000-04:00

Special treat

2011-09-06T22:21:00.002-04:00

I returned to work on this day and missed my girls a lot. After Harper went to bed, Hadley and I had some special time, with a special treat. Playing Candyland in the living room while eating ice cream.

On a side note, the cutest part of playing Candyland with Hadley right now is that she could be one space from winning and will draw one of the picture cards that sends her all the way back toward the beginning. You would think this would upset her, but in fact she jumps up and down excited because she got one of the "special" cards!

34

2011-09-06T22:16:00.002-04:00

Turning 34 did not start out like I thought it might. At the exact moment the clock hit midnight, I was sitting in Children's Hospital with our daughter who had a fever of 106.4. It was a LONG night. After a few hours of sleep I decided to follow through on what I wanted to do for myself on my birthday, run a 5K. Bad idea. But, I did it and that's what matters. All of that, coupled with the fact that I had to return to work the next day after a fantastic summer, made for an emotional day. Anyway, here is a picture of me, at the end of the night, celebrating with the three people that make me the happiest.

Mini Me

2011-09-06T22:14:00.002-04:00

On "meet the teacher" night for 4K, Hadley was given an assignment for the first day of school. Bring a cardboard doll that looks like herself so she can introduce herself to her new friends. Here is what she/we came up with.....

Last days of summer....

2011-09-06T22:13:00.000-04:00

Oops

2011-09-06T22:11:00.000-04:00

Someone forgot to tell Harper that you don't climb onto the toys...

Harper LOVES babies

2011-08-25T09:06:00.002-04:00

Harper has a serious love for babies. This is no mediocre love affair, she is all baby all the time! The minute she wakes up she says "baby, baby" and then proceeds to find at least two babies to carry around or push in the stroller! It is adorable.

Trip to Chicago

2011-08-25T08:57:00.001-04:00

Hadley, Mom and Mimi recently took a trip down to Chicago. We rode the train, Hadley took her first taxi ride, we ate in the kitchen at Buca di Beppo, hit the American Girl store and saw the musical of one of her favorite books. It was much fun!

2011-08-25T08:54:00.000-04:00

2011-08-25T08:53:00.000-04:00

2011-08-25T08:52:00.000-04:00

Brewers game

2011-08-25T08:45:00.001-04:00

We recently went to a Brewers game with Lulu. Hadley was not a big fan of the fireworks, but outside of that, we had a nice time!

First ride in the Fiat

2011-08-25T08:44:00.001-04:00

Daddy took Hadley for her first ride in Papa's Fiat. She loved how it blew her hair in the wind!

Playing at grandma and grandpa Jankowski's house

2011-08-25T08:42:00.000-04:00

Little h

2011-08-04T13:46:00.003-04:00

This was supposed to be Harper's valentine outfit from Grandma Jankowski this past year, but it was huge on her! It is adorable!!!

Both girls love to read!

2011-08-04T13:45:00.000-04:00

Harper loves to "read"

2011-08-02T08:38:00.001-04:00

Door County

2011-08-02T08:33:00.000-04:00

Sisters and swimming

2011-08-02T08:32:00.000-04:00

Sunsets

2011-08-02T08:31:00.000-04:00

2011-08-02T08:30:00.000-04:00

Hiking and PC Junction in D.C.

2011-08-02T08:27:00.000-04:00

2nd triathlon

2011-07-11T10:58:00.003-04:00

Second tri.

Check.

Cookout

2011-07-11T10:55:00.002-04:00

The other night we went to a cookout at Grandma and Grandpa Jankowski's. Here are some pics...

2011-07-11T10:55:00.001-04:00

fireworks

2011-07-11T10:41:00.003-04:00

In order to get H to go to the fireworks, I told her she could listen to music on my iPod since she is scared of the loud noise. She now thinks that it is cool to listen to all the time.

July 4th

2011-07-11T10:39:00.000-04:00

2011-07-11T10:38:00.000-04:00

Popsicles!

2011-06-27T13:26:00.001-04:00

Last night was gorgeous! We ate outside and the girls had popsicles for dessert. It was harper's first popsicle and she immediately knew what to do and loved it!

2011-06-27T13:23:00.000-04:00

Strawberry Fest 5K

2011-06-27T13:01:00.001-04:00

Mom did her first 5K since having Harper. It felt good. The run was quite hilly and my asthma acted up, but I finished in a pretty good time.

Getting so big...

2011-06-27T12:59:00.000-04:00

Loves to swing

2011-06-27T12:55:00.000-04:00

Harper LOVES to swing!