Summer time= School Time!

Since Liv has been on summer break we decided to start working on our letters to prep for the next school year.  Olivia starts school a lot sooner than up North so we thought we would try a new letter every day! The ipad has been a great learning tool for her, helping her trace letters, sound them out, and learn letter recognition.

Olivia working hard on the letter A

tracing letters is tricky!

Liv does a great job tracing her letters on the ipad!!

Big A's and little a's

hmmmm...which letter is A???

Teeth Brushing Time!

A few nights ago I was getting the girls ready for bed and decided to snap a few pictures. Olivia has recently decided to try and "help" Mommy by brushing her sister's teeth, along with other things she thinks I need help with.....

Olivia showing us the proper way to brush her teeth....

and now she has decided Maddie needs help..

Maddie you Will brush your teeth!!

Olivia trying to give Mad a prep talk mid crying

gag reflux anyone?

I especially love Maddies look of TERROR in this picture!

Maddie showing us she can do it on her own :)

One more attempt at Liv holding her down

Anyone need their hair brushed?

teeth brushing always requires a cartwheel before Bed!

......and Daddy's Home...thank god!!!

Bed Time!

After putting the kiddos to bed the other night, they looked so peaceful I had to take a few pics:)

peaceful

lunatic

our baby sucking her thumb:)

Fathers Day

So for Father's Day this year we decided to try a fun approach to his gift:) I found an idea online where each of the kids held each letter and then we put them in a frame with three slots. Here are a few of the 60+ pictures I took to get 3good shots!!!!

Olivia was holding the letter laying on the ground...Maddie couldn't figure it out!

still staring at her sister on the ground

Olivia after swimming

getting a picture with their eyes open was more difficult than one thought!

smile anyone?

decent picture!

Happy father's Day Daddy!!!

Recital Time!

Olivia is the bunny second from right.

Well after a year of Ballet practice, her recital was finally here! All these pictures are from the dress rehearsal the day before, no video or cameras were allowed in the auditorium for the show. I tossed and turned the night before worried that Olivia would be stage fright....that really could have been more from the truth!  Olivia was chosen as a bunny with all the older girls for the opening act.  As you can see in the picture above.  She did such a good job and was very excited to be with the "big girls"

Aside from her opening act, her class had 2 dances in the show.  The first show was a lullaby themed routine where the girls danced with little bears that were dressed like them.  The girls did really well following direction and having a good time. During the intermission Olivia was allowed to come out and sit with us. She was still in showtime mode so she started dancing in the front of our seats (Steve insisted we get there 2 hrs before so we got front and center).  The audience was loving that she was dancing and it was so cute!  Their next routine was the splish splash routine, and what a performance it was! The girls did not follow their own routine from the beginning, all dancing and having a great time!   At the end of the routine the spotlight was turned off but the girls were not ready to stop, the audience started clapping and the girls started walking off stage...except for Liv. She started dancing on stage, they put the spotlight on and a few other girls came out and they all danced ( with no music) cartwheels, hip shakes, and jumping were all moves in the encore performance!! Its safe to say that she is going to be doing dance next year and we cannot wait until next year's recital!!

Looking Fab!

Bryn, Caroline and Liv

the whole class, Olivia is 3rd from left



splish splash ( Liv with her hand in air)

Liv dancing with her bear

that is our daughter in the background doing a handstand (NOT a ballet move)

Our little bunny wiggling her tail

Fathers day

So this may be a week early, but having two girls ages 3 and 1, I use any downtime when I can get it. This post is to my mother Tina, who has acted as both parents, being a single parent of 3 kids. I have a big soft spot in my heart for all those single parents out there who fulfill both roles, usually on one salary. I remember growing up not even knowing the difference. She drove me to every gymnastics, band and friend's house through the years. I could always count on my Mum to be in the stands at track meets cheering me on. I feel like you never appreciate your mother until you are one yourself. The endless nights, temper tantrums, and questions abut your parent skills alone are stressful enough, not to add being the sole caregiver. I have such wonderful memories of dancing with my sister and mom as kids in our living room as if no one is watching, helping her make holiday meals, and seeing her face holding her first grandchild. My mother played cook, counselor and cavregiver to us kids. There are things in your life that you can never change, and there are things in your life you don't ever want to change. I never want to forget the wonderful childhood my mother gave me, and how hard she worked for it. She worked 50+hrs every week and went to school, while raising the kiddos. Its so true you never know how much you give as a parent and I hope that I can be half the mom that my mom was to me as kid. So here is a big Happy Single Mother's Day < aka fathers day> to all the Moms out there who have Made the sacrifice to be the best Dads they could! Xoxox Mimi

Blessed

If you asked me five years ago where I saw myself now, I would have never guessed I would feel SO thankful and grateful for my life. My days may be filled with Mickey mouse and dirty diapers, it I have never been happier. I am able to stay home and raise my raise my girls and I have been able to see every milestone, however small and do not take a second for granted. Being raisedby a single mother with 3 kids to supporton one paycheck, makes me appreciate my life so much more. As Steve and I were sitting on the couch, I asked him why he thinks we are blessed, without hesitation he said his Job. His job lets us live this great life, and money does NOT equal happiness, but it sure makes it a lot easier. Any friends or family who know us down here, realize that Steve NEVER stops working. It could be 9 pm on a Saturday night, or Friday morning at 5:30, he is the hardest working man I have ever met. Steve takes great pride in being able to provide for his daughters and me. He has not taken a vacation without working in YEARS, and you will never hear him complain about his long hours, commute, or constant nights away from his kids. Why am I writing about this you ask? Because there are a lot of men out there who could care less about supporting their families. My girls will never ever question how much their Dad loves them, and I could not feel more grateful about it. He makes the most of his time at home, whether it's a date night, or playing with the kids in he playroom,he really is such a great father. So here Is a big blog thank you to my hubby, for being such a great hubby and dad, There is no question...the Beanes are blessed:)

Daddy daughter date night!

It was time for Steve and Olivia's date night again and she could not have been more excited! I let her pick out her outfit which was a cute yellow gymoboree dress.  She added a few accessories and along with makeup and a purse was ready to go!

Of course she needed some eye shadow

and lip gloss

decided on the red sequined purse and a few necessities...

these lovely shoes are courtesy of Mimi

quick facetime session before heading out for her date



ready for a fun time:)

Sounds Game!

This past weekend we headed out on a cool ( 85 degree) day in Tennessee. We went to our local minor league game with our friends Lina and Bella. The girls had a great time, ate a large amount of junk food, and were all asleep before we got out of the parking lot at the stadium:)  They loved cheering and clapping for the home team, and whenever the cow bell rang ( we are in the south!) they danced and cheered! Olivia has recently started dancing like a robot ( courtesy of Steve) so she even broke out a few robot moves in the stands!

The girls on the ride there! (Notice Maddie in her glasses)

The girls posing with their water bottles before the big game



Madelyn NOT happy to in the stroller

the girls with their tickets!



Concentrating on the game!

Maddie have a cracker in the shade

cotton candy anyone?

our view from the seats

all smiles:)

Olivia doing the robot dance

Maddie deep in thought



Madelyn deciding she does NOt like popcorn when compared to frozen lemonade..

Daddy and the Beane girls!

twins!!!

Maddie checking out the view

.....and the girls got to see Ozzie the mascot!