Some random, unedited photos!

Taken before Lucy's May Show at school. Yes, LAST month. So sue me.

Two signs of a big girl

Phoebe is officially...

1. Potty trained! She still has a few accidents (all of the number-two variety) but all in all, I am amazed at how well she is doing. She even naps in panties and wakes up dry -- though overnight is a different story and she wears an overnight diaper. But at 27 months, I can say that I am truly impressed with my petite powerhouse.

2. Sleeping in a big girl bed. Isn't it darling? And yes, just about everything in her room is PINK.

What-a-melon

A wedding

My cousin Stacy got married on Saturday to her wonderful husband Dan. And guess which special little girl got to be her flower girl? That's right, Miss Lucy Elise! She looked oh-so-adorable in her dress and headband and of course her very fancy basket. The wedding was supposed to take place inside but the rain forced it in -- but the smile never left Stacy's face. She's been dreaming of this day her whole life and even used a cake topper that she has had since she was a child. It was so great to be a part of her day. Many thanks to Nonni & Nonno for watching Phoebe for the night :)

Some highlights for Lucy included getting to sit at a kids' table where she dined on french fries and a Shirley Temple; throwing the rose petals from her basket (and continuing to throw them until they were gone, even though her trip up the aisle was complete); running back and forth to the bride's dressing room to rest her ears from the music; talking to Stacy's dad, who does one heck of a Donald Duck imitation; dancing with mommy & daddy; and getting a whole night out without little sister in tow.

{the beautiful bride}

{pre-ceremony}

{first dance}

{stacy & lucy...lucy is in her comfy "reception dress"}

{mr. & mrs.}

{making a wooden airplane at the kids' table}

{pretty pretty}

{stacy has had this since she was 12}

{these were our great-grandma's earrings. i also had them on my wedding bouquet}

{two princesses}

{shoes}

{super duper flower girl}

La La La Lovely Lucy

May I just brag for a moment?

What do you do?

Q. What do you do when you finally remember to deposit the check your grandmother sent for Phoebe's birthday (which was in February)?

A. You march right into the toy store to pick something out for her (before you accidentally spend the money on yourself at Starbucks).

Q. What do you do when you spot, in that toy store, a doll that looks EXACTLY LIKE PHOEBE (except with pink hair which, come to think of it, Phoebe once had)...

A. Well, duh, you purchase it immediately.

Guest post today!

On my friend Courtney's blog. Check it out here.

Monday morning babies

I had a vision...

I pictured a red swing, hanging from the apple tree...


...and I made it so.

Spring at Twin Poplars (i.e., my big country estate)

s800

Spring Break: Thursday

Day Four (Thursday):
Wake up to discover Mommy has a bad headache and needs to stay in bed (thank God for Daddy)
Go to art class and freak out and need to be picked up early
Come home and act happy as a clam to be playing with little sister, Daddy, and now-nearly-better Mommy
Run through sprinkler
Go to Lowe's for more mulch but don't bring it home because rocket scientist parents both forgot their wallets (what is it with the parents and the mulch?)
Decide to go back to art class tomorrow
Do finger painting all over the kitchen floor
Go directly to bath
Eat mac-n-cheese and green beans
Beddie-bye

{mommy says it is good not to consider your house too "precious" or else you can't have any fun in it...we agree}

Spring Break: Wednesday

Day Three (Wednesday):
Play in yard
Go to art class from 10-12 (big sister) and really like it, create lots of cool stuff
Go grocery shopping with Mommy (baby sister) and repeatedly hear voice saying, "Stop touching the food!"
Go to Lowe's to buy mulch. Mommy says mulch is very heavy and she doesn't get the whole "mulch thing" but feels compelled to do it anyway
Refuse to take nap (baby sister)
Play in yard, swing with sister
Play "baby hospital"
Help mommy cook dinner (pasta and beans)
Fall asleep on the couch (baby sister) for the first time ever (I guess that's what nap refusal gets ya)

{the nurses with their charges}

Spring Break: Tuesday

Day Two (Tuesday):

Watch PBS Kids while lounging on big sister (with no parental prompting)

Play outside on swing set and with beloved Play Dough

Model flower girl dress

Model cute legs

Sit in apple tree

Eat Indian food for dinner

Bath

Go to bed early

(Did I mention: Don't leave the house all day)

{she's the bee's knees}

{don't stand under the apple tree with anyone else but me}

{someone's got her nonno's eyes}

{the awesomeness known as lucy}

Spring Break: Monday

Day One (Monday):

Watch PBS kids with Mommy
Play outside in the yard
Lunch date with Mommy at Burger King (veggie burgers)
Toy shopping at WalMart
Quick play date with Jack and his new swing set (at Mommy's friend Amy's house)
Play-doh-a-rama at home
Daddy home from work early
Dinner at Franco's Trattoria