"Mommy, I found my attitude."

What a GORGEOUS day out today! We have had 60+ days in a row of 100+ degree temps this summer. Rough, rough summer. Needless to say we didn't do to much outside! :/ So, today I decided to surprise Abigail and take her to a park and hang out for a bit. It was kind of a last minute thing and my girl was so excited when I pulled up and she realized what and where we were!!! She had so much fun...she even made a friend named Andrew. She played with him about half the time we were there. When he left before us she said, "Mommy, I'm going to miss my friend." :) She has such a loving spirit. She loved the swings and the slide....

and her very favorite way to go down the slide was on her belly! :)

She even went down it a few times the RIGHT way! :)

Thankful there was no replay of the time you decided to walk down the slide and faceplant into the grass. That would not have been good here! ...NO GRASS!!! :)
Sister loved the slides too...in fact so much so she would scream her head off if we hindered her ability to go DOWN the slide! tee hee. You both have such strong wills! I'm gonna be grey by 40! ;)

She saw how you were going up the slide with your feet and down the slide with your belly and she was trying to copy you!!! She watches everything you do....I hope you really do know how much she loves you....

I shouted..."Abigail, we're leaving in 5 minutes!!" You responded..."OK, Mommy!" The five minutes came and went. I told you that you could go down the slide one more time and then we were leaving. Well, you being you, decided to do every obstacle you could on the playground but not go down that slide b/c you knew we'd leave. So, I told you we had to go and then you started to throw your fit. Oh those fits. How I love them. How embarrassed I am when you throw them at 3 1/2 years old....like you are never told no or never disciplined. *SIGH* So we had our 'discussion'...be thankful for what you get lalalalalala....and I turn around and started walking towards the car. From behind me I hear you say, "Mommy, I found my attitude." NO KIDDING!!! Bwahahahahahaha even when I'm frustrated with you, you put a smile on my face. I love you!

School day #2....

Cool shades, Abigail...did you get those from your teacher??? "Yeah!", she says.

When I asked her to tell me about her day she said, "not right now, Mommy." hhhmmmm....ok? After a few questions that got very little response from her this is my version of her day....
They didn't play with the cards today (that they played with on Tuesday).
She got the sunglasses from the treasure chess (if they don't get any bad marks for the week they get a goody from the treasure box).
She got to chose between orange or green sunglasses and she chose green.
She got to eat her snack with her teddy today (today was bring a bear to have a picnic with!).

So that's it. Four small statements out of 4 hours of class. *sigh* I thought at this age they actually WANTED to tell you about their day?!?!? I didn't think we got to the question prying days until Jr. High!?!?! HAHAHAHA. It's all good! <3 I love her.

Muffins Anyone?!?!?

This morning we woke up and there was actually NOTHING on the docket for the day! WHAT? *GASP* NOTHING SCHEDULED??? NOPE! Awesome! So, we lounged in our pj's most of the day! Yay for pajama day!! :)

Today we made muffins! Not the fancy made from scratch kind....rather the pour the mix into the bowl, add milk and stir kind! lol Abigail had fun with it...and really, that's all that matters! Right? I poured the mix and milk in the bowl and she stirred....


She had fun spooning the mix into the muffin pan. She did it with such precision!



In the oven they went. I had two littles waiting patiently for their goods!!!


Samantha is so funny....every time she sees a baby in the mirror or in a reflection she has to kiss the baby! :) Makes me laugh every time. It melts me!



I'm so lucky to have two little girls full of love. Not just a little bit but overflowing with love. I'm blessed!

Flashback....28 days shy of a year....


WOW!!! How much she has grown.... bittersweet, I tell ya, bittersweet.

First day of Pre-K 3 yo and MDO! :)

Abigail: 3 1/2 years old...headed to Pre-School <3



I LOVE THE LOOK ON HER FACE! Can you tell she's excited....better question....can you tell she LOVES Hello Kitty? Hee hee. I love her.


I was a bit worried that she wouldn't want to go to school today, Pre-K for 3 year olds. All summer she has gone to work with me. And the last 2 weeks we have been talking about how school was going to start and that she wouldn't have to go to work with me anymore. Once we started talking about her not being with me every day she began saying, "Mommy, I love it when you go to work with me!" Or "Mommy, I miss you when you go to work." :) She is such a sweet loving girl! :)



Well, the day has come! I prayed with my sweet girl before we left the house. When we got there I joined in the few cars that had arrived before me to drop her off. I saw other parents parking and walking their child to the door....and I asked her...."Do you want Mommy to park the car and walk in with you since it's your first day?" Her response...."No, I'm good." I asked again, "Are you sure that you don't want me to walk you in????" Her response...."No. No, I'm ok. We can stay here." My heart sank...saddened by her answer I asked one more time *HOPING* she'd suddenly have a revelation and realize that she is only 3 and that there is only ONE first day of Pre-School and that maybe next year she could start her first day out like a big girl with no hand holding by Mommy..... But NOPE. She was set in her decision. At the ripe old age of 3. As she got out of the car, I fought to hold back tears. I watched her walk to the door, with a total stranger, walk in the door and grab the hand of another complete stranger that I was entrusting my daughter to. This growing up and 'letting go' is rough stuff....even at 3! It seems crazy that she is such a big girl now. I'm so proud of her.....I'm so proud of the wings she is starting to test out.....




Today was sister's first day of Mother's Day Out as well!!! I was nervous with her b/c every time we leave her at Sunday School or for Bible Study she SCREAMS and grabs hold of me like she's fighting for her life.... It's so hard to pry her off of me and hand her over. (I never had to do that with Abigail!!!) As I approached the door to her room for MDO (which is the same door to her Sunday School) she turned and began grabbing hold of me so tight....once at the 1/2 door I pried her off of me and handed her over and she was screaming. By the time I was done signing her in she had calmed down and my heart was happy. When I picked her up at the end of the day she was happy, playing with a ball and watching the bubbles being blown by her teacher. :)


Samantha: 15 months 3 weeks first day of MDO <3

This picture cracks me UP...it was taken after we dropped off Abigail at school. Start times are 30 minutes apart so we sat in the car and hung out for a bit. Captured this fun little shot of the giant girl in the plaid dress eating the head of the naked baby! HAHAHAHA.....she looks like such a giant! :)




Now, when I picked up Abigail from school she looked like this: because I took this pic with my cell it's a smaller size and you can't really see on here....but her face was COVERED with orange marker and blue too... it made me smile! :) Oh to be 3!!!





LOL I asked her what she did on the way home and she says....we learned colors, played with cards and I colored a teddy bear (picture). I'm not sure if she colored the bear or her face at this point! :) Bwahahaha. All I know is she had such a good time at school. YEAY!!! Looking forward to a great year!!!

(11-18-10) Chatty Cathy

The girl LOVES to talk on the phone! Every time I am on the phone she asks if I'm talking to Mimi! LOL hhhmmmmm is that a sign that I talk to my Mom too much?!?!? ;) I don't think that's possible....anyways...bet you'll never guess who she's talking to!!??!??! hahahahaha

11-27-10~ ...stomach bug invades The Herke house!

I went into Abigail's room to get her up and going for her day at MDO to find her not well. The lovely stomach bug that has been going around found us.....not sure how....but it did! YUCK! SO...needless to say, NO MDO OUT FOR US! BOO! I hate missing MDO b/c Abigail really enjoys going. She was really disappointed when I told her we weren't going today. :( I had to explain to her that we didn't want to make her friends not feel good too! So, downstairs we went with sister and huddled up together and watched t.v. After several hours of t.v. I said...ya wanna do a craft. YEAH, MOMMY! I remembered I bought these little pot plants at Target out of the dollar bins. I thought it would be fun for her to paint the little terracotta pots that they came with. Got out the supplies and then let the little artist go. She really seemed to enjoy it....and it took her mind off her 'belly hurts'. Worked out well! Thankfully the little bug that found it's way to her belly was gone by the end of the day!!!

PJ is 3!

This weekend we were invited to PJ's 3rd birthday party! What fun we had!!! He had a bounce house in his back yard and a really cool swing set that had a fun slide and rock climbing wall!! Abigail scaled that thing like she'd been doing it all her life and it was her first time!! Who knew we had a climber in the family!?!? I was shocked! She spent the majority of her time 'jump, jump, jump' in the bounce house! She LOVES those things! We had yummy Chick-Fil-A for lunch and for dessert....well, cup cakes and ice cream of course! :) My girl had such a great time! We were so thankful we were invited to such a sweet little's birthday party!!!


We love PJ!!