Mini-visit-ors

We were all sooooo excited to hear that Uncle Brad was going to arrange his schedule so that he could work in Pittsburgh!!! Not only would we get to see Uncle Brad, but we would get to see Aunt Becky, Molly and Ford!!! It turned out to be a "mini-visit"...as they were only able to stay for one night...so we made the best of our time together...and made them promise to come back when they could stay a little longer!!!


A visit with the cousins wouldn't be complete without the "babies in the tub" picture. Here, Lexie 'helps' Molly get ready to have her hair washed!
The girls are getting squeaky clean...or maybe they are just playing with the bath toys...either way, they look like they are having fun!
Ford joins in for some fun! Looks like there is room for more...anyone want to join them?

Just before the Houchins made their departure back to the other side of the state...we tried our best to get a few pictures of all the kids....T R I E D being the operative word!!!
So darn cute!!!
The 'babies' chattin' it up...don't you wonder what they are saying!?!?!?
From the looks of this picture, it is hard to believe there is almost 6 months age difference between these two cuties!!! They are both growing up soooo fast!

We can't wait for our next adventure with the whole Houchins family!!!

Two Peas in a Pod...er, uh...crib!

Lexie LOVES to help me get "sissy" up from her morning nap. She knocks on the door and says, "Sissy--Olib-i-a, time to wake up". Then, without fail, she instantly asks to get in bed with sissy! It is too cute!


Olivia is just waking up...not too sure what to think, while Lexie is so excited she doesn't know what to do with herself!
Love my little lovies--they are soooo adorable...and SO ORNERY!

You are my sunshine!

Goofing around with daddy--Olivia tried her big sister's sun glasses on for size! What a cutie pie!

While the Parents are away, Nini and the girls will play!

The girls had a blast staying with Nini while Russ and I were in Mexico! Here are some pictures from their visit!



Olivia peeking through the window of the "house".

Looks like Lexie was having quite a good time! Look at all of those blocks in the background!
Giving some hugs...er, uh--strangle holds--to her little sister. They both LOVED to play in the 'house'.
Olivia looks so cute here reading her book!
THANKS AGAIN MOM...YOU ARE THE BEST! The girls had a great time...and Lexie can't wait to come back!

Oh..Oh Mexicoooooh!

When I found out LAST year that the AMSSM conference was going to be held in Cancun...it wasn't even up for debate as to whether or not I would be going along with Russ! The only question was if we/I would be bringing the kids with us! Luckily my mom was gracious enough to take some time off work and watched the kids so Russ and I could enjoy some much appreciated time alone! We sure missed the girls, but knew they were in good hands!
The weather was less than desirable the first couple of days, but that didn't ruin our fun! The clouds rolled out Saturday morning (just in time for the conference to start) and it turned out to be a beautiful day! Sunday was much of the same, which made it harder for me to leave! Luckily, Russ was able to stay and enjoy more of the ocean waves, and beautiful sunshine---ummm.....I mean conference! It was soooooo nice to get away, but it is great to be back and snuggle with my girlies!!! Thanks again mom!! Lexie is ready for another weekend at Nini's already!


We have arrived!!!! Waiting...and waiting for our bags in Cancun.
Finally to the resort and enjoying the local cuisine!
The view from our balcony...
Russ taking advantage of some down time.

In the hot tub at the spa. They had a "tropical oasis" type setting just outside the "relaxation room".
The 'relaxation room'
Russ, still in the hot tub...braving the elements! At one point the relaxation room looked more like a car wash by the way the rain was pelting against the floor to ceiling windows!
Relaxing after our couples massage!!
A view of the outdoor "oasis"
View from the front of our room...no those aren't water hazards...just standing water from all the rain!!!Even the clouds can't ruin this photo...a picture of the infinity pool...ahhhhhh!

A view of the resort from the beach
Russ and I took a stroll down to the beach...we almost got blown away!

The swim up bar...Russ thinks we should have one of these in our backyard! Riiiiight!
Ready for a night out!
Day two...more overcast--we decided to venture outside of the resort. First stop...Margaritaville!

After looking/walking around, we headed back to the Hilton and went to the hot tub. It wasn't sunny, but it wasn't raining either. We stayed in the hot tub for about 3 hours...met a really nice couple that we ended up going out to dinner with...and Russ got FRIED!!! Even through the thick thick THICK layer of clouds--he got burnt!

The mariachi band at Distileria! Great food! Great Company! Great Fun!!!
Saturday brought plenty of sunshine...just in time for the conference to start!!! Russ elected to take an advanced diagnostic ultrasound course--I elected to go to the pool!
We managed to make it most of the day without any rain...though the clouds rolled in just as the sun was setting!
Tommy and Russ ON STAGE, for the MALE REVIEW at Margaritaville!
All of the male workers up front...Russ and Tommy hiding in the back!
Kristy and I at Pat O'Briens
Our waiter with all of the drinks we ordered on his head! It was CRAZY!
He motioned me over to pass out the drinks...
I was a nervous wreck!!! I kept asking him over and over again what my instructions were! I didn't want to end up with drinks all over the place! "Okay...you want me to just take 1, right?"
The emcee at the bar balancing a HUGE hurricane on his head...and YES, it was full!!!
After a fun night on the town, we woke to a beautiful, sunny sky! Too bad I had to pack up and leave! Russ went off to his lectures, while I packed up then met Kristy for breakfast! We had a great time!
Waiting in the lobby for my car service to the airport...I snapped this photo though you can barely make out the AMSSM logo!

P-O-T-T-Y-T-I-M-E!!!

Just when I thought Lexie was going to be the only little girl that would go off to college still wearing diapers...the light bulb went off. I have to admit, I really don't know what I was thinking trying this 3 or 4 days before Russ and I were to leave for Mexico, but something inside my head just told me to go for it.

There are as many ways to go about potty training as there are parenting styles....there's the bribery method, or the use of positive reinforcements, the taking away of toys/tv time if you don't go on the potty, the let's just wait until they are about to start pre-k and hope they get it method...the list goes on and on!!! After talking with a few of my friends that have "been there, done that" in the potty training department, two VERY similar stories seemed to stick with me...and so I decided, "what the heck--I'll give it a shot!"

Now, I must warn you...when I read up on this, I didn't know if I had it in me to pull it off! It is a VERY VERY VERY unorthodox way of potty training, but--my friend's pediatrician assured her that if her daughter was ready (physically) it would work. She spent MONTHS agonizing using pull ups, bribes, you name it she tried it--and I for one just didn't have it in me to do it! After using a version of this method...it was a matter of a few days! I am BEYOND THRILLED to report that by the end of the second day, we were well on our way to POTTY SUCCESS!!!

Day one: 2 accidents, Day two: 1 accident, Day 3 and 4:0!!! Then it was off to Nini's house!!! I thought for sure we would have a few setbacks...but she was great! (SUPER thanks to my mom for 'playing' along while she had the girls!!!)

We started here:
And now we are here:
Keep your fingers crossed for continued potty success!!! We have only had ONE accident since Sunday! And yes, I am sure Lexie is going to want to kill me when she is older, but these were too cute not to post!

10 months--what????

These last 10 months seem like a whirlwind! I really can't believe Olivia is on the brink of turning a whole year old!!! Here are some cute pictures we captured on her "10 month Birthday"


SO so smiley!



Trying soooo hard to walk on her own...not there, YET!!! But OOOOOooo so close!

Spring Fling!

The weather was nice, so I decided to get the girls out for some Springtime fun!!!

Here is Miss O...
She's my little snuggle bug...though Lexie gives me some good snuggle time too!!!


This is Lexie's new favorite thing...well at least for about 5 minutes or so! She LOVES to play hopscotch...or her version of it.

How do they do it?

It seems like only yesterday we were bringing Lexie home from the hospital...and now, our first born is 2 and 1/2 years old...already!!! How do they do it...how do they grow up so fast????



Happy Half Birthday Lexie! WE LOVE YOU!

EASTER SUNDAY

Most of Easter Sunday was spent driving across the beautiful state of PA, but before we headed back home, we Barbara and Miss Erna at Church. We got the kids dressed in their Easter best and headed to church. During the service, Lexie joined the other little ones for the kids' message...then she happily went off to the nursery. Olivia stayed with us and was great throughout the entire service! Shortly after the service let out, we were stopped a few times on our way back to the Pancake Breakfast. We got SO many compliments on how ADORABLE the girls looked! The woman that offered to take a picture of the whole family even mentioned that she and the girls working the breakfast voted us the 'best dressed family'! I had to laugh---but was VERY flattered! I think we clean up well, though I am biased!


Russ and Lexie at the hotel getting ready for church.
Olivia joins in for some fun!
Russ with his girls! I just love this picture!

Me with my two BEAUTIFUL babies!!!!
Looks like Olivia and Russ were singing!
Such a happy baby!
She found something to keep her busy toward the end of the church service!
Such a cute but ORNERY look about her!
Special thanks to the woman at the pancake breakfast for taking this picture! (Not sure why Russ is squatting, but a pretty good photo none-the-less!)