Rawhide

I took the girls to Rawhide on Thursday. It's a very touristy, replica of an old western town. They, especially Hayden, had a great time. Taylor was a little burnt because she wasn't big enough to ride the Burro's.

A sad Taylor couldn't stay sad for long once she saw my camera come out. She LOVES to cheese it up!

Gettin' ready for the best Burro ride in the west.

I think this was Taylor's favorite. She really loved talking to the "doggies"!

Hayden struck it rich panning for gold.

It's Electrifyin'

Waiting, Patiently

A typical morning in our household usually starts around 8-ish, give or take a few! Tay's an early riser (well, those that know me real well know early is anything before 9a)! On average I hear her stirring around 7:30 but she doesn't really get going until about 8. Hayden on the other hand, can sleep like her Mommy....during the winter, that is. Now that it seems (note: SEEMS- because I won't open my eyes that early to check) to be getting lighter sooner, she's waking up earlier. And earlier, and earlier. In fact, she's surpassing Tay. Yesterday I came stumbling out of my room around 8:10 and there sat Hayden outside of Tay's room waiting, patiently for her to wake up. She had a couple of toys and even a bottle ready for little sister. I'm assuming she got the bottle out of the sink from the night prior...I know I didn't make 2 oz of day old formula that early in the morning!

I was able to snap a quick photo before she heard a tiny little squeal and ran into the room to start what has been a morning ritual for the two of them the last couple of weeks. They turn up the radio is Tay's room as loud as it goes, and start "cooking" breakfast on her stove. Then, they bring me my "eggs" (in bed, of course) and turn on Disney Channel. They sit here for oh, about 2 minutes and then they're off!

Their energy is boundless....my eyes are puffy....and Chloe is totally annoyed (she's not a morning person, er...Dog, either). It's a fun start to another day and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Budding Photog

Look out Annie Leibovitz, here comes Tay! Taylor (23 mos.) took this picture of her Daddy!

Ooey, Gooey and Oh So Yummy

The girls had a blast roasting marshmallows in the backyard!

They had even more fun eating them!

This One's for the Girls!

In celebration of International Women's Day, I just want to thank all the girls in my life. At some point you've all laughed, cried, vented, squealed, wished and dreamed with me. Thanks! (Of course, not just limited to the ones in pictures!)

Railroad Park

On Saturday, March 1st, we took the kids to the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale. It happened to be the busiest day of the year (lucky us), as they were having a carnival. It was crowded, but the girls had a blast. They got to get into a fire truck and pet some cute little animals at the petting zoo. We also went on a couple of train rides and a carousel. Hayden said the carousel was "dirty and not as pretty as the animal one at the zoo", however, she rode it twice. Must not have been that bad!

Miss Dina

The girls' OT, Miss Dina, sure is a blessing to the field of occupational therapy! She's such a great asset to our family, and both of the girls absolutely LOVE Thursday's when she comes to "play", as Hayden calls it. Whether it be finger painting with shaving cream in the bathroom, making snow out of water and some science experimental (it seems) powdery stuff, or just snapping into a green body sock, my girls have a blast. They don't realize that they're actually 'working' on their senses,but it's a good thing, I'm sure. If they knew it was work, they wouldn't want to play!!

Hup 2, 3, 4

Besides the fact that I'm tired of being the 'fat girl in a bathing suit' (queue Tommy Boy's: fat guy in a little coat!).....I can't quite figure out what in the world possessed me to join Boot Camp! My friend Bonnie invited me to join with her. She's done it before, even took home the prize last time she did it. 15 minutes into the first session as I'm stuck in a chair-sit position against the air, NOT a chair, I couldn't get the thought out of my mind....'friends don't let friends suffer, let's go get a drink!'

I mean, obviously, I knew when I signed up that this wasn't going to be a stroll around the mall looking for the latest trends in pretzels and lattes. But good God did it kick my butt. I guess a dose of reality...a Super Sized dose, was what I got. Being an athlete at the top of my game for more then half of my life, I think I've lived the last 13 years or so still categorizing myself as that. I really, truly think that in the way far back nether regions of my mind, I thought, oh that's no biggy, I could get off the couch and train for a month or two and be superfit if I wanted. I'll take a couple laps around the track and sign up for the next PF Changs 1/2 marathon. I was a swimmer, and a runner, I'm built for endurance, piece of cake. WRONG!! For the first time ever, I was bringing up the rear....the true caboose! And let me tell ya, this caboose was definately weighed down with some extra coal. Wait, I think coal goes in the front? Well, whatever...I was slow, heavy footed and huffin' and puffin' as if I'm a 2 pack-a-dayer!

50 minutes into this session called Boot Camp I was visualizing the characters of the Biggest Loser. I feel really bad, I'm so critical of them. When they stop running halfway through their challenge, I'm yelling at the tv..."kick it in the butt, you've only got 20 feet left"! Now I know how they feel. Although, I never quit! I never walked! I never sat down! I perservered and pushed through every ounce of pain that my mega jiggly quads were feeling! I literally feel like I hit a wall....like my legs had cinder blocks in them. But they didn't, and I played a true game of mind over matter with myself. 60 minutes later and we finished. I completed my first night. I felt proud, accomplished. I've never been a quitter, and I wasn't going to start now, but it truly challenged my mind, body and spirit.

As the day after has progressed, I can hardly move! I make slight moans and noises, but, I went back to the gym this afternoon for a good, brisk workout on the treadmill and some stretching exercises and I'm looking forward to night 2 of Boot Camp. Did I just say that? Yah, you know what, I'm looking forward to it, I can't wait!!

(bleep)!

Big Girl Bed, Update

With a nap and bedtime, day two went just as well as the first day!

Big Girl Bed

Today was bittersweet. We took down the crib and put up a big girl bed for Tay. We bought her new bedding and a fluffy pillow and got it all set up after naptime. I've gotten choked up a couple of times over the course of the day. It makes me kinda sad that we're done with a crib...forever! It makes me more sad that Tay is becoming a big girl.

My emotions aside....she LOVES her new bed! She walked into her room before I even had the sheets on and she was so excited. She's such a shorty so I had to lift her up to even get on the bed. Once she was up there, she was rollin' around and kickin' her legs, she loved it! Hayden ran in and said "Cool Taywa...you got a big girl bed like me". That made Tay go even more nuts! So, as much as I think she's my baby, I sure don't give her enough credit...she get's it, she totally gets it!

I have to say, I expect the worst and hope for the best; that's my motto lately. So, after their shower tonight, we put Hayden to bed first. Taylor loves to copy Hayden, so I wanted her to see that we lay Hayden down, give her kisses and hugs and leave the room. Same as it was in the crib...but I wanted her to see for herself that nothing changes in a big bed. After we put Hayden down, we went and put Taylor down, and that was it! Now, I'm a realist, so I know that tomorrow could be different (or not). But I've just gotta say, night number 1 was nothing like I expected it to be. Hayden did so good her first night in a big bed that I just expected the exact opposite. So, I'll close this post with some pictures, and a quick knock on wood that Taylor loves her big girl bed tomorrow, just as much as she did today.

Tay waking up from her last nap in a crib, and Daddy wasting no time taking that sucker down and making room for her new special bed.

Seeing her new bed with the pretty quilt on it for the first time, she was anxious to get up on it. Albeit a little short!Very sleepy and ready for bed. Nigh-night Taylor!

Sugar Bear

Sugar is the cutest little curly, blonde teddy bear. It's the mascot in Hayden's preschool class. Hayden brought Sugar home last Friday, 2/15. Boy oh boy, did she take her responsibility of Sugar very seriously. Sugar was like an extended member of the family. Sugar basically went everywhere we did for five days! He went to Serrano's with us, and apparently he loves chips and salsa! He ran errands, played outside and even tried to help clean Hayden's room. Hayden even brushed his hair and teeth two times a day so that he "smelled and looked pretty" and his teeth wouldn't get "boo-boo's like Daddy's"!!

Hayden did not have school on Monday because it was President's Day, so she had Sugar for an extended weekend. On Tuesday night we reminded her that Sugar would be going back to school on Wednesday. That did not make her happy. On Wednesday before we left for school, Sugar had to go to each room in our house to say goodbye and Hayden cried her way through the tour. I tried to explain to her that another friend would get to take Sugar home this weekend and love and care for Sugar as well as she did. She didn't quite grasp that!

When Conal picked her up from school on Wednesday the teacher's said that she had a minor meltdown when it was time to give Sugar up and advised him where to get her very own. Because Daddy has a hard time saying no....she called me from the parking lot asking me if she could go to Target to get her own Sugar. Goodness.....I'm sure you know how that one ended! I know I'm a big meanie! Surprised?!

Beware

Turn your back on a four year old and a one year old for ten minutes, and this is what you get. Yikes!

Super Sleepover

Last Friday, February 8th, Hayden had her cousin Morgan down for a sleepover. Here are some pics we took to capture the fun!

Chick, Chick, CHICKEN!!

It was a momentous day in the Marquette household yesterday...Valentine's Day. No, not because Conal bought me a mini sized heartbox of six chocolates, and when I came back from Target he left me ONE and ate all the rest. But because Taylor got the green light from her allergist to try chicken! Boy, was that music to my ears....and her belly! The experiment is to see if her body can tolerate a chicken protein. She's mildly allergic to meat proteins and very intolerant to them due to her EE.

So, to celebrate I took the girls to Joe's BBQ for a nice v-day lunch. And Taylor got to eat....off the menu! She looked like such a big girl with a plate in front of her! I ordered them a kids lunch and split it. Hayden wanted the side dish of mac-n-cheese and Taylor ate the WHOLE chicken breast. Boneless, skinless, seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic and paprika. We're on close guard to watch for any reactions, but to be quite honest with you, I think we're in the clear. She typically has a reaction right away internally with a belly ache and fusiness, and then her outward reaction within 12 hours with bad blisters all over her bottom. And so far, we have no belly ache, no fussiness, and no blisters! AND....to make matters better, when she woke up from her nap yesterday she wasn't fussy and needing to eat right away. She had a few sips from her bottle, a fruit strip and was able to wait and eat dinner with us! That was a first too!

Hayden wanted her picture taken too!

Back to Mommy

Boy, was I cranky last month. Overtired, overstressed and overworked. There were so many days and nights that I was dreading, well, the days and the nights! I told Conal numerous times that I wasn't cut out for motherhood. He just shrugged it off and told me it was a little too late to be making that decision! :) I was beating my head against the wall (figuratively --don't worry, I'm not going Britney Spears on ya!) because I felt out of control, personally. Unfortunately, my family had to suffer the brunt. Now that my crazy month is over, I realize that, for the first time since I've had kids, I was working full time and trying to maintain a household, nurture my two girls, cart them to their various activities, be a woman, a mommy and a wife. Good Lord....props to those women who are able to do so. Obviously, I'm not as great of a multi-tasker as I thought! Well, maybe I can multi-task, but my family suffered. I definatley love my job, although, I must admit, I'm so glad it's back to part time. Now that we're on the upswing and everyone's starting to get well...we're enjoying each other again. We've spent a lot of time together lately and I missed them. Thank goodness they're not mad at me, instead they're showering me with lovins. I think they're glad that I'm back to Mommy again.

Photo Courtesy of Pam Cox

By Popular Demand

Thanks to everyone for your calls and emails, seeing if I survived last weekend, Superbowl weekend. I did...although it's taken me a week to recover! It was fun and exhausting. And, by popular demand, I'll name-drop....just a bit ;)

John Travolta, Marshall Faulk, Jerry Jones (boo Cowboys!), Doug Williams (yay Redskins!), Sara Evans, Willie Nelson, NICK LACHEY, LL Cool J, Alice Cooper, Catherine Bell, Troy Aikman, Alicia Keys, Ivander Holyfield, Jerry Rice ( I recognized him from Dancing with the Stars, forgot he was a football player! lol), most of the NFL owners, many past and present players, along with a bunch of other celebrities. I'm terrible at remembering who.....my brain gets mushy at work, especially on about 6 hours of sleep for the weekend! Needless to say, it was fun and exciting and really great to be in the heart of the hottest Superbowl parties in town.

Happy Birthday Pam!

I hope you enjoyed your day, immensely! Happy birthday to you!!!You know you're 2*, which is almost late 20's ;) ha ha!

Wasting Away....

We've collectively lost 16 1/2 pounds in the first two weeks! Look real hard at the picture below....we're the two sticks standing by each other. I know, it's hard to see us we're so small....You might try squinting!

Could the extra poundage have anything to do with the fact that I've got a drink in front of me or in my hand in every picture I have of myself?!?! ;)