Princesses and Duck Tape

I thought this was funny and fitting. Princesses and duck tape really don't have a lot to do with each other they just happened on the same day and it is how girls and boys are different. Siena went to her first princess party today and she loved it even though she was scared of the real princess and didn't really participate but looked from a distance. She wore her crown all day and talked about how she danced (which she didn't really). It was a really fun party. We went out tonight to run some errands and we took some cute pictures of Siena wearing her princess dress and her crown that she made. It was raining so she wanted her umbrella. She loves her umbrella and has broken it, but daddy decided he could fix it. For some reason there was a stick in our house. I am not really surprised my house is a mess, so Dave got the stick and duck taped it to the inside of the umbrella so it would act as the metal frame for the umbrella when it pops open. This may not make sense but you can imagine and here is a picture. I thought it was really funny because you always hear about how duck tape can fix anything. The umbrella has been broken for a long time and she keeps saying she needs a new one. Now she doesn't need a new one. Daddy can fix anything... as long as we have duck tape! Ben was learning the art of duck tape.

Amy, Cody and Baby Ella visit!

We are having so much fun with Amy, Cody and baby Ella who are visiting from Utah. The weather has not been perfect but slowly we are visiting the memorials and having fun. Ben loves having a younger baby to pick on. Sorry baby Ella for getting attacked by Ben. We were so lucky to borrow a friends van so we could all go together. Dave took us out Sat and we actually just drove around and everything we looked at was blocked off because of a marathon but we finally made it to Arlington Cemetery. We went to the unknown soldier tomb and then walked around. Codys cousin was burried there last year so we went to his gravesite and it was just amazing to see how many people have died serving our country. We have been to the national mall and I have visited some new sites that I haven't been to. We went to national archives and library of congress. It was fun and the kids were surprisingly good and it was fun to see new things. We also went to WWII, Lincoln, Korea and Vietnam memorials today. We thought that was a big accomplishment with kids in tow. Siena found a new baby doll to love and walked the whole mall distance pushing her baby in her stroller. We got lots of coments from people passing by. It was a big help for me. I was thinking about it and I think this was the first time Ben has gone to these monuments. He tried walking up to the top of Lincoln but couldn't make it up the whole way. I think sometimes we don't get out enough and enjoy all the fun monuments to do here in D.C. Then later tonight we went to the new Pentagon 911 memorial. It was so cool. We went at night so it was all lit up and it was nice. It is full of benches with people's name on it that died in the pentagon or on the plane that hit. I realized it was kind of hard explainng all these things to Siena. I tried explaining war to her and why there were names on benches and things and then I tried to describe the Pentagon and how people crashed into the building and how they are living with Heavenly Father now. Honestly I don't know, she was respectfull though. We are glad that Amy and family are here and sad that we couldn't convince them to come live out here.

chocolate!

Now that Ben is 1 he can have everything that we have. He finally got in the action of our making brownies and he loved it. He figured out how to hold the beater so he could eat it. He was very sad when I finally pulled it away. Siena even decided to help clean up with her vacuum. (thanks dan and becca they both love the vacuum...if it only really cleaned) I thought these pictures were hilarious.

The evil Doctor

Today Siena had her 3 year dr. appt. I thought she would do fine. O my gosh...she was aweful. She is always so excited to go to the dr.'s and play on their toys and she was fine until they called us into the back. She was first hesitant when they called her back and then they made her stand on the scale and measure her height and you would think someone was torturing her. Her face was bright red and she was scaring everyone else around her. I don't think the nurse got her correct height because she was wiggling around so much and we didn't do the eye test because she was so frantic. We finally go into the room and they tell me to undress her and put her in this cute gown. I undressed her and she dressed herself back up. It was ridiculous how hard this was. She was finally undressed but wouldn't put the gown on so she sat there naked with her underwears on (yes the nurse called them underwears). We read her a book and calmed her down and then Dave explained that they were going to come in and look at her ears and eyes and such. She freaked out as soon as the Dr. came in. Again her face got all red from screaming and then Ben started to scream. It was not good. The Dr. seemed to get all the info he needed but told her there were twin babies next door and they got checked out and they didn't cry. It made me feel bad but didn't phase her at all. Finally he let her down and she ran to me. He had to ask all these questions to see if she was on track for her age. She kept saying I don't know to all of them. She knew all the answers... it made me really mad. Then she cuddled with daddy for a while and Dave got her to count very quietly and the Dr. overheard it so he atleast knew that she could count. She wouldn't even tell the Dr. Bens name or our names and we know she knows our names because she calls us Dave and Kristi sometimes. Right at the end of the appt she started saying colors and names. At the end the Dr. asked if there were any other questions and I said I was going to ask you if I should take her to the dentist but I think I know my answer. She would be AWFUL at the dentist. The Dr. recommended waiting on that one. He said he wouldn't want to be her dentist. So true, so sad. At this point I was laughing so hard at the whole situation I was crying, honestly I didn't think a kid could be this bad at a Dr.'s appt. The Dr. finally left and we walked out all calm and collected and she said look mommy we were in room 9! Like it was that hard to say when the Dr. was there. So frustrating!!!!!!!!!! I am glad that Dave was there to help during this traumatic time and that we don't have to go back for another year. Also I thought atleast we don't have to worry about her talking to strangers. She is very shy.

Nana's Visit

We were so lucky to have Nana (Kristi's mom) come and visit. She came for a long weekend and to celebrate Siena's birthday with us. We had a great time and the kids were definately spoiled. We went shopping and out to eat and just played around town. We tried going to Chuck E Cheese but went on a school sponsored night and were there with 100's of brats so Siena wouldn't play or do anything. It was really sad. We of course went to Toys R Us to play around and Siena got a leapfrog computer that she loves to play with now. It was great entertainment for her and Ben tonight as I cooked dinner. Thanks. She also made a beautiful Tinkerbell cake that was delicious. Ben misses all her cuddles and Siena misses someone to play with. She even wants to sleep in the pack n play still. Thanks for coming out and visiting us and for spoiling us. Hopefully it won't be too long till we see you again!!!

Happy Birthday Siena!

Siena turned 3 on Friday! Nana was here for the big day and she had a tinkerbell party on Saturday. On Friday we went to Toys R Us to get birthday presents and to play. She dressed up in her Tinkerbell costume all Friday and Saturday for her party. She had a great time. She got a balloon and crown at Toys R Us along with her name being announced over the loud speaker. We got Toby the train for her and Nana bought her a little leapfrog computer that she loves. She is good at her letters and loves playing with it daddy. Nana also attempted to buy her barbie clothes and she was quite distraught that it didn't cover her belly button and ripped the clothes off. So the Barbie goes around naked again. I guess no clothes are better than clothes that don't cover the belly. We don't really understand her logic there. We had cupcakes Friday night. On Sat. we had her friends over for a big party. She dressed up like Tinkerbell and we had pixie dust. Daddy got her the best Tinkerbell balloon that looks like it will last forever. Nana and I made an awesome cake. It was funfetti with white frosting and pink and purple flowers with Tinkerbell flying on top. It was even two layers and had basket weave around the edging that we were really impressed with. She loved being sung to but didn't really want to blow out her candles, Daddy had to help. We played follow the leader and cake walk with stars. It was the best weather so we opened the backyard so all the kids could play out there. We really lucked out there. Siena got lots of good stuff from her friends, Thank you very much everybody! It was a great day and she had lots of fun! Happy Birthday Siena!

Finally some real snow!

D.C. is always threatened with snow but we never get very much. It's a little frustrating even for me that doesn't like the snow. Well now that it is supposed to be Spring we get some. I would say we got 6 inches today and it was beautiful. We have lived here for 5 years and I think this is the most snow I have seen at one time. My kids had different feelings about it. Siena loved it! She rushed out this morning and helped Dave shovel the walkway and dig and build snowman. She even made a snow angel but didn't understand the concept of laying on her back and kept laying on her stomach and eating the snow. Then she would get stuck because of her huge snowsuit and not be able to get up. It was really funny. Ben hated the snow. We tried bundling him all up, complete with purple snow boots because we haven't bought any boy ones, and put him out there and he just screamed. I think it was because he was so bundled he couldn't really move. I took him out later and he was all bundled with me up in the sling and he lasted a whole hour. Sometimes he can be a little sissy. We had fun though and it was a beautiful snowfall! Now it can go away.

Barbies Trains and Guitars

These are our new loves. Siena loves her barbie. She calls it Barbie and takes it everywhere we go. She has made a carseat for it right next to her in the car. She puts it to bed right next to her and she feeds it her bottle and asks me to hold the barbie and take good care of her. She doesn't like it when I sing to her, she says she is sleeping and to be quiet. She takes it everywhere we go but she just holds it and won't let anyone else play with it. Also the Barbie is never dressed. Today she took the Barbie to church and then didn't want to bring it to nursery so she wouldn't have to share it so she gave it to Dave so he was carrying around a naked Barbie through church until he could find me. I thought it would be a good idea to get her Barbie clothes for her birthday but then realized whenever I put Barbie clothes on her they are off within the minute. It's very strange to me but apparently Siena thinks Barbie has clothes on. It's very funny to me since I was never into Barbies. I was into the cabbage patch dolls and she likes her dolls but is definately more into her Barbie at this point. I noticed the Barbies hands are all chewed on. I think she has taken to it as her new comfort toy. One of the thumbs is practically chewed off. It's cute to see her as a mother and take care of things.

Not to worry... she's not all girly. Our stairs have become a train and she climbs up and sits on them with Ben and pretends they are going somewhere on the train. It's cute she pretends she is the mommy taking the Barbie for a ride and she is even asking Ben to be on the train. I love seeing her pretend play.

Ben just found all the guitar hero guitars next to all his toys. He has always been into the drumsticks but just found the guitars and brings them out whenever he can. Its very cute he wants to rock out with his daddy!