New Furniture

Once upon a time we needed new furniture. This was 7 years ago when we had one smallish, relatively quiet, immobile child and 2 lazy cats. So we decided to stretch our dollars and get more out of our money. That way we would have cash left over for activities like date night and going out to eat. Besides we were only going to be sitting on the furniture. It's not like we were uncivilized, swing from the chandelier, jump on the couch kind of people. Fast forward 7 years, 4 pets, and 2 children later. That couch we were only going to be sitting on has doubled as dining table, trampoline, jungle gym, bed, food storage, coloring book, scissors sharpener, scratching post, and the safe island in a sea of circling sharks. It has served as fort, tea party hot spot, doll house, boat, and fashion runway. Now looking a little worse for the wear but really not horrible, all things considered it is time to retire the old furniture. This time we knew that date night really means passing out on the couch after high fiving the success of early bedtime for the girls. And going out to eat? I'd rather cut my arm off than try to keep an over active preschooler contained in a booth so she can play with her overpriced preservative laden food. Our new furniture was delivered yesterday along with the new rules, #1 being we will eat in the designated eating areas. Designated eating area being defined as one with a table and chairs. Counting indoor and outdoor space as well as the bars we have 6 eating areas. Isabel looked at the new living room and said, "Oh good, you got little tables for us." Maybe I'll get to pick out new furniture again in 7 years. Meanwhile I have to get Liza down from the chandelier.

Summer Fun

We have been keeping busy so far this summer. Isabel is a fish. I can't believe how much she has learned being on swim team. She may even swim the fly stroke at the meet of champions. She also does gymnastics. Eliza just enrolled in gymnastics too so she can burn off some energy. Her favorite phrase right now is, "Hey dude!" I've even heard her say it in her sleep. She has started quoting commercials and will come up to me and say things like,"Hey dude did you know Happy Nappers make all your dreams come true?" Isabel turned 8 this week. She had 7 giggling, energetic girls over for a slumber party. I'm still recovering. Almas was nice enough to come over and help keep things under control. Eliza now insists she had another birthday and is 5. I'll remind her when she is 30 that once upon a time she wanted 2 birthdays/year. We are looking forward to the Olympics this year and of course the girls are ready for the annual visit up north. Pictures to come once I get them uploaded.

Spring has Sprung...Straight into Summer

The end of the school year seemed to fly by in a flurry of projects, end of year tests, and parties. We jumped right from spring weather to the hot summer heat. The girls are tanned and Isabel has already competed in her first swim meet. They couldn't wait for school to be out but now they miss their friends. Isabel is planning a big swim/slumber party. I have a list of projects that has mostly remained untouched. We are enjoying sunshine and Scooby Doo reruns, trips to the library and lazy afternoons in the pool.