Guess who took it all?

First place at Poker night? Yours truly.
Poker was at MY house last Friday night. We were so late in planning that I was writing a grocery list at 10 PM on Thursday night. We had three kinds of Bobolis (a white - olive oil, onions, kalamatas, SD tomatoes, artichoke hearts, a sausage/veggie, and pepperoni/veggie), a big Greek salad, and homemade Chipwiches for dessert (well I guess Sandra Lee would call them Semi-Homemade).
Luckily the house was clean, and I had off friday from work.
After battling for several hours and rocking out to my POP music on Itunes (sorry gang), I WON.
After donating part of the $140 in the offering plate (it *is* just an innocent group of friends, though?!), I am going to indulge in a GREAT pair of designer jeans. Like these. Or these.
We had a great time with fun friends; we've been having fun with this crowd for over a year now!
Saturday morning made for an early 6 AM wake up call, but at least Mae is sleeping through the night. Poker night is so much easier when you can sleep in...
Saturday we took it easy. Sunday was church and Jacob's Mom's birthday party here. I let Issa totally decorate the cake; it was precious. Sugar galore. Strawberry cake with strawberry icing, cut into square-layers, and Issa shook all kinds of sugar sprinkles on the top. Just looking at it gave you high blood sugar.
My Mom bought Issa a princess flashlight. I have a flashlight that she loves to play with, but I'm always saying, "turn it off; it'll waste the batteries"... well Mom got her her OWN flashlight and her OWN battery supply. The flashlight has all the Disney princesses on it and is pink. Issa loves it!
And work is going great. This weekend, which starts tomorrow night, thank you very much, we are going to the lake! Brent and Rachel (bro and sis-in-law) and Katelyn will be there and I believe we're going to the AU game. Sunday we're celebrating Dad's birthday.
It'll be a fun weekend.
So please vote on my jeans. Have a great Labor Day!

From the mouth of Issa

I told Issa last night as she was getting in the bed that we'd put on white sheets tomorrow.
There was a pink set on the bed.
This AM, she was trotting across the room to walk out and start the day. She passed the sheets, looked down, and said, "Thank you for white sheets, Mommy".

I hope I never ever forget how she looks when she slinks down out of her big-girl bed, all sleepy-eyed and smelling like soap and baby lotion. She walks kind of sleepy, with her curls all in her face... I hope I never forget.

Cry it out girlfriend

Scenario: Tuesday night, 6:30 PM.

Me running around, sending Issa on errands - "Put this on the stairs please", "Can you put those back in your toy basket?". Issa running around, diligently following commands. Mae up in her crib, poor child crying it out until she eats again (7:30 PM, when she goes down for the night).

Every time that Issa trots past the stairs with a toy or item to put away, she puts her palm to the side of her face, calling upstairs, "Okay Mae! I coming!"

Girlfriend is NOT going to let her own poor child cry it out. No. not. ever.

the girls

Summer's Over

Last weekend we went to my brother and sister-in-law's house to move them into their new house! It's gorgeous and we had such a great time hanging with them. Issa, mae, and katelyn are sure cute. Here's a shot of the two babes-

You remember my woes re: my job last year? No office, no computer, no materials? Well training in my new county has started and I have all of the above already! And the computer is a brand spankin' new IBM thinkpad. It's all surreal.

I am so excited about working 3 days a week I can't stand it. To have off 2 days with my girls and still keep my feet in the water with speech is incredibly exciting.

The whole family went to my learning cottage (a.k.a. a "trailer") today to move in lots of stuff. Issa loves playing in my therapy toys: there is LOTS for early language delay, which means 2-3 year old toys!

So although summer IS over, I am so excited I can't stand it. I worked hard for the past two years (full time - even when Issa was 11 weeks old!) so I can enjoy the fruits of my labor now.