Wordless Wednesday pt.2: Its the Subtle Differences

Two in the Morning and in the Afternoon

Today was Vada's 2nd birthday, her "golden birthday". 

It was also Justin's day off  from work so while our older daughters were in school we took Vada out to have a small celebration together.

We took Vada first, to the Children's museum. 

We all had a really good time. I have brought Vada here a hand full of times but I think that today she enjoyed it the most. She is really in the exploring age and she loved roaming the toddler section of the museum. 

I think that it was possible for her to stay all day and not get bored.

I think that it is fun being able to take your kids places where nothing is off limits! 

The musuem was full of oppertunities to work on all kinds of skills. Vada liked going up and down the stairs. She went up the correct way and then she went down...

on her bottom. 

Like I said, Justin had the day off but today HE spent most of the time behind my camera, which was kind of nice for me because I rarely have photo's of me with the kids unless I somehow take them myself of have Jasmine around. :)

Vada has such a great time with her "Papa", he gives her the best airplane rides and only he can make the correct sounds. Its sweet watching them together. 

After the museum we stopped at our restaurant of choice...

Yep, it was another Ruby Tuesday's kind of moment! It's kind of been our go to place since I was pregnant with Vada. Over the last two years we have gone to RT's for every memorable moment in Vada's life. 

Justin and I decided last year on Vada's birthday that we would come back every year on Vada's birthday to celebrate and if at some point she decides that this is not where she wants to go for her birthday meal, than that will be fine too. For now, its our spot. 

31 for 21: Yard Work and Play Group

I've come to the conclusion that sometimes building awareness can also be done through sharing your every day lives with others.  Here's another day in the lives of our family....

Confessions of a Dork

I have recently become obsessed with watching Netflix. We have had it for quite sometime now and there are a lot of great shows and movies to choose from. I was on a Family Ties kick for awhile and now I have gone to Melrose Place-- pure mind numbing drama. I have even downloaded the Netflix app. for my phone and for our trip to Saint Louis I plugged it into my car radio and listened to episode after episode after episode all of the way there and then again all of the way back.

I bought a pull page calendar that has a new word and definition each day. I thought that it would help improve my writing abilities. My vocabulary knowledge is stuck at a third grade level. Okay, so maybe I am exaggerating-- but not by much.

I am constantly finding gray hairs! GRAYS! I have too much damn hair to dye it and I have grays! Grrr...

I'm in the process of growing my bangs back out and I am having a constant bad hair day. Plus I really, really need a trim. My ends suck!

It's September and I am already sleeping in sweat pants, long socks, a t-shirt that I cover with a sweat shirt and three blankets, two faux down comforters and a quilt! I don't know what I am going to do when winter is actually here! However, with the cold weather I have become so excited to bake and make hot meals again. I'm taking the girls to the Apple orchard next weekend and were going to make our first homemade apple pies, even Vada will get her own personal baby pie!

I have a slight OCD when picking up Vada's toys. They all have a specific place, even if its just in a basket. I sort them all out, count them to make sure that they are all there. Then I forward face display them if they are on a shelf. With her books, they have to be tallest to shortest and all have to be spelling/words facing downwards, so they are easy to read. I don't know why I do it or when it began and if someone else picks up I don't complain when they don't do it my way, it just kind of bugs me!

The new Twilight movie is coming out soon and I am soooo excited to see it! I went to the movies with Vada and my mother-in-law Annette the other day (we saw The Help--fantastic movie btw) and I saw the previews..., I got serious goosebumps. When the last book was released (quite awhile ago) Justin took me to Boarders Books at Midnight to get one. We stood in line until close to three in the morning. We were undoubtedly the oldest ones there and I didn't even begin to read it when we got home-- I went to bed! I may end up going to this movie all by myself but i'm gonna see it and I am sure Ill be the oldest dork in the theater!

Mom and Dad Svatek

My foster parents came today. I love them so much! They live in Texas so I don't get to see them often enough and when I do I certainly don't want to let them go! I last saw Suzan (my foster mother) was when V had her heart repaired. She flew up and stayed at the same hotel as Justin until V was in the clear and ready to come home. Augie (my foster father) was last here at Christmas time last year! We almost missed each other this time around because Vada and I were scheduled to be in Saint Louis still. Thank God for her good health!

Vada buddied right up with her Grandpa Augie.

She also had great conversations with her Grandma Suzan.

Jasmine came home from school and had some snuggle time as well.

It was a beautifully chilly day outside but a warm one in our house full of love and family. The only thing (or person in this case) that was missing was our Rae. Unfortunately, she was at her Bio's. Next time baby girl, next time.