A Day in the Life of a Vanderwal

I wanted to take a post to document what our days have been like lately because frankly some days are absolute chaos. Don't get me wrong--I completely love it but they are busy. A typical day goes something like this. Alarm clock goes off at 4:41 am....for some reason Kevin has convinced me that you cannot set an alarm for an even number so that's why 4:41 not 4:40. Before I had the girls, Kevin and I were really good about going to the gym before work. Well since then we have canceled our gym membership and I have been slacking. So the last couple of weeks I have been trying to get back into working out. So four out of the five days this week I got up early and did a workout in the basement or went for a jog around the neighborhood. By 5:20 I am in the shower and by 6 am I should be eating breakfast and getting dressed. At 6:15 we wake up the girls, get them dressed and out the door by 6:30. At 6:45 I drop them off at Kristi's and at 7 I am at work and ready for a huge cup of coffee. I then work from 7-4 which includes a one hour lunch which usually involves some kind of errand or grocery shopping. By 4:20 I am back at Kristi's to pick up the girls and we are home by 4:45. The girls get a little snack while I start their supper which they eat about 5:30. After that we play in the basement or go for a walk in the wagon. All the while Kevin has been at school from 7-3:15 and then volleyball practice until 6. He usually gets home just in time to quick eat supper, play with the girls for half an hour, and then give them their bottle before bed around 7:30. Usually we then let out a bunch of big sighs while I clean up the food the girls have thrown on the floor and make sandwiches for the next day while Kevin plans volleyball practice for the next day. Add a little laundry to the list and then bedtime by 10.

This week Miss Amelia got 4 teeth!!! We figured once they started coming in they would come in bunches. She now has two on the bottom and two back molars on top. I felt the top front teeth and they do not seem to be close to coming in.
The girls have been cracking us up so much lately. Tonight I gave the girls a "toddler muffin." They are very healthy muffins made from all kinds of vegetables that my mom made for them. Well the girls LOVE them and after Quinn's was gone, she went up to the fridge door and started knocking on it and doing the sign for please. How can you not give the girl another muffin after that. So funny!
Both girls have been very chatty the last couple weeks as well. Some frequent words are: ma-ma, da-da, uh oh, all done, Amen (they are very good at their prayers ;) ) and hot. I even had Amelia trying to copy words like grandpa, grandma, Amelia, and puppy. Quinn was also trying to say Ho ho ho, he he he, and ha ha ha....we listen to kids praise songs on the way to daycare and their favorite is "Ho-ho-ho-Hosanna". The girls have also gotten so much better about going to Kristi's. The first week was a little rough with major meltdowns when they got dropped off. But since then they willingly go to her when we arrive and there have been very few tears. They are always ready to have me pick them up though! Kinda crazy but next week will be their last week at Kristi's and then they will go back to Sharla's. I know Kristi and her daughters are going to miss them but we have already discussed how she can be our backup so that will be nice to have a familiar face in place for the girls if we need it.

Anyway, we are looking forward to a relaxing and long holiday weekend. We hope to hang out with some friends and family and relax. Hope everyone has a great weekend too!

Here are some pictures from the girls One Year Photo Shoot:

Summer

Yikes! I am falling behind again. I guess we have been a little busy since the beginning of July when the girls turned one so I will try to remember everything that has happened. We went on a weekend camping trip with my parents, had a surprise 30th birthday party for Kevin, and went on an international trip....to Canada! Not to mention lots and lots of walks, wagon rides, and park visits.

Our trip went really well. The girls traveled well and minus a few small meltdowns we arrived in one piece. It was so nice to see Kevin's parents, our siblings, and nieces and nephews....and the 13 bears were an added bonus. :) After just a couple of days the girls adjusted and started napping and sleeping through the night like they do at home. We had lots of relaxing time which included many floats down the river (just us, not the girls), got to see Grandpa and Grandma Vanderwal and some aunts and uncles, ate lots of good food, and a good time was had by all.

The first week back after vacation is always hard, but I feel like this week was a doozy. The girls and I both were a bit under the weather when we returned and I ended up having to miss work on Monday, something I would have preferred not to do coming off of vacation. I'm not sure if I wrote about this before but the girls also had to start a new daycare on Monday. Our regular provider, Sharla, had a baby on July 7 (the girls birthday - how cool is that!) so she is out for several weeks. We needed to find someone that was willing to watch the girls for about a month. Kevin and I have determined that searching for daycare is one of our least favorite activities. We found a very nice woman...the only problem is that she lives way on the eastside of town...we work on the west side. Just means lots of extra time on the road. The girls have done well there, once we leave that is. However, for the first five minutes or so they SCREAM. By the time evening rolls around, they have been pretty tired and feisty. Anyway, we are ready for Sharla to come back and get into our normal routine. School and volleyball start Monday so here we go!

Other than that the girls have been well. Quinn is getting two more teeth--some molars for a total of 8. Amelia is still toothless. Both girls love to play in our basement, watch their daddy to anything, and eat Cheerios and watermelon. Here are some of the latest pictures.

Amelia sitting with Grandpa while camping

Grandpa and Quinn having their morning Cheerios

When I asked the girls where their belly buttons were, Amelia showed me where Quinn's is. 

On our way to the airport...4:30 am.

Hanging out in the Calgary Airport

Taking a bath in Bep's sink.

The girls sleeping arrangements in our trailer. They loved it!

Swinging!

Quinn going for a bike ride with dad.

Amelia's turn for a bike ride.

Brother Bear

Amelia checking out the cows with Auntie Kristen

Beach time...Quinn was not a fan.

Amelia liked the water once she got used to it. 

Our view for 10 days...and from the river during our floats.

Amelia snuggling with Bep

Quinn and Amelia having some Cheerios with their cousin Sydney.

Quinn got into our lazy Susan and pulled out the spaghetti box. 

Hard to tell who this is from the back eh? Its Quinn. Her new thing is to carry around my lunch bag like a purse wherever she goes. 

Have a good weekend everyone!