FREAKED OUT!!!!!

Ok, so we live in a lake community and I love hearing the boats and seadoos speed by as we play outside but I don't like the mosquitos or spiders that we have a plenty. Here is a picture of a spider that one of our lake neighbors found in her garage! It has been in local papers and all I have to say is Eric better get over his fear of spiders because this Momma isn't going in the garage anymore! I just get grossed out thinking about it still roaming around.

My Prankster...

So after a long day with the girls, work and organizing the toy room we decided some dessert was in order after dinner. Jenna decided she wanted a chocolate chip granola bar. Ava and I decided to go for the ice cream....but it is low fat, low calorie so that's OK, right?! As always there is never a dull moment and Ava is screaming for me for "More, More More" while I am scooping, Jenna is gabbing and the phone is ringing. So I stepped out of the kitchen for 5 mins so I could hear myself talk. Finally I came back, eager for a nice break to sit down and relax! Jenna is underfoot, which isn't unusual and I finish getting the ice cream scooped put the carton away and take the spoon to the sink...of course after I licked it. Gross. It was surprisingly salty! So I was disgusted not only by the taste but then thinking I picked up a dirty spoon from dinner. But so looking forward to sitting and sharing dessert with the girls that I didn't think much of it, even when Jenna started giggling and responded with "did you have a good bite, Mommy"?
So we proceed into the living room to sit down and catch some TV and my first bite, again was salty. Now I see Jenna just staring at me with a big toothy grin. So I say "Jenna did you put salt in my ice cream" "YES" she says as laughter erupts from her!
Eric is right, we don't stand a chance in this household!!

Rose Garden

So I desperately need to get the girls pictures taken professionally but I dread it! It is always a huge ordeal that is either quite expensive or leaves me exhausted and empty handed...well always exhausted. Neither of my kids have the patience or time to sit through a photo shoot and has sometimes taken multiple trips to the studio to get just a couple poses. I love taking pictures and have tons of them from my camera and some turn out gorgeous so I decided to take them to The Rose Garden (where Eric and I got married) and do some shots of them in their matching dresses. They did so great! On Sunday evenings they do a concert with the bells there so there was beautiful music to break up the tantrums as I would find the perfect spot and neither child wanted to cooperate. Finally they both started exploring and I got a few shots...a few over 200! I couldn't believe it! Some are gorgeous!! As if I don't have enough going on, I am in the process of writing a business plan for a photography business too. I have a huge office and would love to have half of that space be a home studio and do children photography. My dream is to have my current business bring my husband home full time and be able to do photography for friends, family and those that can't afford it for free! I love having so many pictures of my children and it is so expensive to get them done, I would love to give to those families that aren't as fortunate to get regular shots of their children and these precious years! I have lots of equipment to check out!
I uploaded them on our family picture site but here are a few to enjoy too...

Ava took her first steps!!!

She is finally interested in walking! She took a step yesterday walking toward sissy and then this morning took 3 more trying to get Jenna's drink...that is the way to Ava food and drink! She has refused up until now to even let us hold her hands while walking, she has no patience and is too busy. Jenna was 14 months before she started walking and Ava is following in her footsteps. She will be 14months in just a couple short weeks so I am bracing myself for all the adventures that are yet to come! She is kicking my tush crawling, I am terrified of Ava on foot!

First Trip to Six Flags!

Aunt Kay and Uncle Tom took the Walker girls out for a fabulous day at Six Flags. It was beautiful weather, we couldn't have asked for a better day. This was Jenna and Ava's first trip to the amusement park and I haven't been in years, sadly Eric didn't get to make the event with us as of course he had to work. As Jenna is getting older she is much more aware and intimidated by things she is not familiar with, she can be very timid with things that she feels are out of her control...uh oh, another control freak. When I was younger I was afraid of the roller coasters and fast rides too and Eric still doesn't like them so she comes by it honestly. She took some friendly encouraging to go on a few rides and then loved them but any ride that went off the ground or too fast was absolutely out. We did hit several rides, the Bugs Bunny Park and the train ride around the park. Both girls were perfect and I can't wait to go back again! I think Ava will be my little dare devil so in a few years she will be riding with me! She did ride the Log Flume with us and just soaked up the entire day, watching the crowd and taking in every second. We ran into one of Jenna's friend's from school and a good friend and business partner of mine as well. All in all it was a fantastic day and I am already planning next year!

Much Needed Time Out!

Last night I was granted an outing with my best friend, Christina. We met at Applebee's and had a nice break from Mommyville. Christina just recently had her first baby June 30th and we both were desperately needing an escape from home. Our visit was short and sweet but so worth it and as Jenna would say I emerged a new woman...(Jenna's favorite saying after she is sent to her room for her sassy ways is "I am going to come out a brand new girl, Mommy").
I had a great night of adult conversation and catching up with my friend with out husbands or kids to interrupt. We met at an Applebee's and had our favorite concoction from their bar: Perfect Margarita! I had forgotten what it was like to go anywhere with out at least one child! It had been too long since I had taken the Mommy hat off for a few hours to enjoy just being Amy. All Moms need a break from time to time. What a couple hours can do to rejuvenate you, I came home appreciating motherhood much more. This is definitely going to be a reoccurring event and I think we have just created our new tradition of a perfect Mommy's day out with a Perfect Margarita!

Vacation, where are you?!

I surrender to my one year old! This week has been, well let's say a challenge. I can close my eyes and remember the newborn days of her sleeping 10 hours at night and good naps during the day....up until she hit about 6 months and ever since we have many up and down nights and naps are becoming a thing of the past. I am on day 6 of Ava with no nap and just about 4 hours of sleep at night. Jenna even tried to make a "magic potion" to get Ava to take a nap but unfortunately that was not a success either. I keep telling myself, this too shall pass as all phases do but after a week straight of a fussy, tired baby girl this Momma is worn out! We are trying to do a little modified CIO today but she definitely has more will than I do and after screaming for what seem like eternity I reluctantly rescued her from the horrible mistreatment of nap time...what I wouldn't give for a daily nap! Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if without her nap she is a whiny mess to deal with this week so here I stand with my hands up, I give up! This is just one of many battles my girls test me with daily! I need a vacation!