Lizzy's Big Girl Bed

Oh, the big girl bed...not too excited about it!  A while back we had converted Lizzy's crib to a toddler bed because we figured since we were potty training her, she should be able to get out of bed on her own.  Well, Jason went out of town for a week for work and I put an end to that pretty quickly and she was back in the crib.  The thing is...she was getting out like every minute and it was driving me absolutely insane.

Well now, Jason promised Lizzy that if she pooped on the potty, he would get her a big birl bed...not even a toddler bed.  And wouldn't you know it...she pooped on the potty and just like that, Jason converted her bed to a full size bed.  So now, it's not so easy to just put the crib back up...in fact, it's impossible.  And now, she really is driving me crazy.  She has been going to sleep between 10:30 and 11:00 pm every single night.  She comes out of her room constantly (Sydney never did this).  In fact, I don't think Sydney realized she could even get out of bed.  She would  holler for me every morning to come and get her...it was quite nice!  But Lizzy comes in and we try to be all "Super Nanny" and not talk to her, but she makes it so darn hard.  We try to just pick her up and put her in bed without saying a word until finally she falls asleep.  But, she when she comes in my room, she makes the cutest little faces and says the funniest things, that it's hard for me not to laugh and then she just thinks this whole bed time thing is a joke.  When she comes in my room (or downstairs), she starts singing me songs, like "rock-a-bye mommy" and I can't help but laugh.  Just last night she came out of her room with a suitcase and said she was going to Grandma Sharon's.  Basically, it's a new story every time she comes out of her room.
 
The bottom line is...although she's growing up and the bed is all cute and everything...I hate this no sleeping thing!  It takes away from my "me time" at night!  Oh, and let's not even talk about the morning when she comes out of her room at the crack of dawn.  This phase better end soon!  I'm thinking that room darkening shades might be a possible solution...I'll try anything!

Uncle Josh Comes to Town

Wow, we have been SO busy, but in a good way.  We have been constantly on the move and for the first time, I feel like I can sit down and actually document it.  I'm sure there have been plenty of other opportunities, but reality television gets in the way sometimes and rots some of my brain cells.

Anyway, my kids knew for a long time that Josh was coming mid-June and they couldn't wait.  Sydney asked me like everyday when he was coming until finally the day arrived.  I kept the kids out of daycare and my mom came over every morning for a week while Jason and I worked, so Josh could spend time with the kids.  They LOVED every single minute of it.
 
They went to Chuckie Cheese, the movies to see Mr. Poppers Penguins, Toys R Us, and probably other places that I can't even remember.  All I know is that these kids were spoiled rotten.  Lizzy has been walking around the house like a penguin now, but that's cool!  So, those were the daytime activities, but we can't forget about night! 

One night, Josh had plans to go out with friends and it just so happens that Jason's sister was in town, so we all went to the Tigers game with all of the cousins.  My kids don't exactly love the ballgame (well, Lizzy does) so it was just okay, but nice to see everyone and be all together.  The only thing was that it was hard to talk to everyone in that kind of setting, but fun nonetheless.  They had great fireworks that night, which kind of made up for the loss!
 
Over the weekend, Jason had to go to Midland for a basketball tournament, but we didn't let the fun stop...no way!!  My dad came over and we all took the kids to the Livonia Spree.  I had never been there before, but it was like the best carnival I have ever been to and will for sure be back!  Some guy sold us some vouchers for wrist bands and the kids were absolutely in heaven.  They went from ride to ride to ride without skipping a beat.  There were a ton of kids rides and no lines and they just had the time of their lives.  The smiles were permanantly planted on their faces the whole night.  Josh was pretty much the "yes" man the entire time he was there.  If anyone wanted anything, he was like, "suuuuurrrrrrrrreee, I'll go get it."  So my kids walked away with a couple goodies!  I thoroughly enjoyed watching my kids have fun.  Lizzy screamed "weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" all the way through every ride, it was so cute and I'm so glad we went.
 
 
I honestly can't remember every little detail because it really flew by, but it was definitely action packed with a couple bbq's and another trip to Tiger Stadium for another ball game, and ANOTHER loss.  I'm beginning to think that Jason is bad luck, lol...it couldn't be me, right?  It was actually an awful game, so we let the kids ride the carousel and the ferris wheel.  I ended up going on the ferris wheel alone with the kids because we didn't have enough cash on hand for all of us, so Jason waited on the side.  They put us on the ride with this young couple who were about to have a baby and they got a kick out of Sydney and Lizzy.  They asked Lizzy what her name was and she said, "My name is girlfriend" (she still likes me to call her girlfriend buddy, so funny).  Then Lizzy sang them "Take Me Out to the Ballgame".  Everyone's favorite part is when she starts barking like a dog because she things that the songs says, "Roof roof roof for the Tigers".  It was a good time!

And finally, the week came to an end.  The kids were sad to see Josh go.  I mean, who wouldn't want to be spoiled for a week?  I'm sure we will eventually have to plan a trip out to see him.  I mean, Florida isn't exactly a bad place to visit.