maui 2019

My Little Wickies are not so little anymore.

olympic hopefuls

Yup those are Christmas jammies -- but this post isn't about Christmas.

It's about the Winter Olympics of course.

I have fond memories of watching the Olympics as a kid, and the girls are just starting to get into it.

I love watching them trying to figure all the sports out.

Mo:  I can't wait for the gymnastics!

Me:  There isn't gymnastics in the Winter Olympics.

KT:  Why not, it's not like it's an outside sport.

Watching the biathlon competition

KT:  I think he has an extra pole in case he breaks one of his… WAIT… it's a gun!

Watching them try to do the ice skating move where they hold their skate above and behind their head in the living room was pretty hilarious too.

Mo:  Wait, I can do it, let me take my jeans off (she then precedes to try the move in her underwear)

Oh yeah, and this is back of the Christmas jammies...

Go Team USA!

did you know

there are back-to-back holidays next week?

KT informed me of this.

Not to leave you in suspense, but those two holidays are of course... Easter and April Fool's Day.

As you might guess April Fool's Day ranks pretty high up there, garnering the coveted "holiday" status in our household.

Ever since KT was four, I've been playing little pranks on April 1 to her delight.

See what I've done in the past... 2010; 2011; 2012

The bad thing:  I'm running out of ideas that are 1) easy to do; and 2) fun-spirited.

I have a handful on my "list" for this year.

If you're looking for ideas, check here, here, here and here for starters.  I've found Pinterest has been a great resource too.

Here's to making little ones smile on Monday!

Top 10 of 2012

#1 - Just add water

That is how you can describe the vast majority of the Little Wickies happiest moments of 2012.  Both girls are pretty good swimmers now.  This proved significant on a recent trip to San Diego when it was 60 degrees, and the girls were in the pool while us rents sat in the hot tub.

#2 - boogie boarding babe

If we thought KT was impervious to cold water before, with her wetsuit she is unstoppable.  Armed with her spring suit, that girl charges into 50-degree water on overcast days like she's in the Bahamas.

#3 - Water + Mo = a happy Mo

Mo has truly excelled in the pool this year.  One of the most entertaining memories I have is her learning butterfly, her little backside popping up and down out of the water.

#4 - The year of boots

The first part of the year KT wore yellow rain boots adorned with dinosaurs practically every day of school.  Somewhere around summertime, the cowgirl boots made inroads and have been on her feet daily ever since.

#5 - wings, tiaras and the ever present yellow cardigan

While we are on the topic of fashion, Mo had at least a month-long stint where she wore fairy wings daily.  She also had a couple of solid weeks of tiara-wearing.  The accessory de jour was always accompanied by a dress and a yellow cardigan (we currently have 4 in rotation) -- the girl straight refuses to wear pants or a shirt.

#6 - uke girl

We took our first big vacation this year to Hawaii.  KT picked up her first ukulele in Kailua and has been strumming almost daily since our return.  

#7 - school days

Mo began preschool this year.  The day before the first day she chose a backpack that looked like an incarnated version of Michael Jackson's glove.  You know, to match the sequined shoes.

#8 - No. 1 fan

KT and I went to a handful of Galaxy games together this year, and she has become a devout fan.  Three days before Christmas she asked Santa for a "soccer ball signed by all the Galaxy players."  Maybe next year.

#9 - dancing queen

Mo started tap and ballet at a nearby studio and is absolutely in love.  Getting her up in the mornings is generally a chore except on ballet day, where she springs out bed.

#10 - Little Wickies world gets a little bigger.

2012 marked many things.  There were firsts from airplane trips and kayaking adventures to broken arms.  There were lost teeth, roller skating escapades and rainbow parties.  They fell in love with High School Musical and continued their love of the beach and each other.  All in all it was a good year.

Happy new year!

this post is really about books

I can not tell you how much I dislike running.  I do it, 1) To keep in shape for my old lady soccer games; 2) To keep my weight in check and 3) To be healthy.

Truth be told, the order of the list is pretty accurate as well -- which I know is sad.

Another good thing about running? 

I see things I wouldn't normally see.  Example #1 -- Katie's desk.  

Example #2:  Last week I was running and went past this old fence which had an abundance of yellow wild flowers growing around it when I realized it was really picturesque.  

So, I dragged the kids out there later to take pictures of them.

Okay, onto what I wanted to write a post about...  Books (squeezed between pictures of my kids for the grandparents...)

Summer is approaching and I feel like it's time to starting reading some truly entertaining books.  While not a romance novel reader, I do tend to lean towards books that are well, a little on the "soapy" side.  I also love witty/funny books.

What are you reading?

Here's my current "To do" list which I may or may not tackle anytime soon.

1. Drop Dead Healthy - I really enjoyed his A Year of Living Biblically and look forward to getting my hands on this one, maybe when it goes to paperback.
2. Steve Jobs -- also one I'm waiting for paperback or perhaps for the library to have less than 75+ holds.
3. A Moveable Feast - I just finished A Paris Wife, and it's made me want to read Hemingway's account on his first marriage.
4. Gone with the Wind - I never get around to this one, and I don't know why. 
5. The Lord of the Rings - I've got a soft spot for the pseudo sci-fi/fantasy -- e.g., A Wrinkle in Time, Hunger Games, The Princess Bride, Percy Jackson -- and haven't gotten around to reading these (or even seeing the movies!) 

Here are my top 5 Favorite Fun (& Easy) Summer Reads

1. Valley of the Dolls -- A cult "classic" it's a step above a traditional trashy romance novel.  Think soap opera meets Sex in the City meets a lot of alcohol and pills.
2. Persuasion -- My all time favorite Austen novel.  Read (or re-read it), then watch the BBC series.
3. Tales of the City -- Fantastically entertaining first novel of a series about the crazy intertwined lives of a handful of people living in San Francisco in the 60s.  Saw it on stage a couple of months ago and it was great.
4. Orlando -- Don't be intimidated by Virginia Woolf, this novel made me laugh way more than I thought it would. 
5. Pride & Prejudice & Zombies -- While I don't usually like spin-offs or parodies of Austen, this one is totally worth the read if you are a P&P fan.  Plus, they are making a movie out of it next year if you can believe it.

While I'm making lists, here are three novels I think BBC should consider...

1. Shirley -- Love how strong Shirley's character is in this generally passed up Charlotte Bronte novel. 
2. Sandition -- What can I say, I'm an Austenite at heart.
3. Sister Carrie -- I found myself really liking this one and could see it being translated to the screen.

Katie is starting to read chapter books.  Any suggestions?

Happy summer reading!!!

b.f.f.

I have to admit when I first learned we were going to have a second girl there was a tiny part of me that was disappointed.

But, the more I thought about it the more I got excited. Now, I don't know how well I would have fared with a boy.

I love the dynamic of having two girls (I know, remind me of this post when I have two teenage girls).

While my brother and I are close I feel like with two girls, there is the real possibility of them truly being best friends. I really like seeing how they play with each other, enjoy each other's company and are learning to respect each other when figuring out how to play together.

Awhile back we moved them into the same room. They are loving it. If one wakes up before the other the first thing she asks with sleepy eyes is "where is sis?"

Sometimes they hold hands in bed which is the cutest thing (note to self: need to take a picture of that).

Every night we sneak in to peek on them.

Funny thing is while we often find them in a state such as this...

In the morning they are always back in "normal" positions, heads on pillows with the blankets pulled to their chins.

in love all over again

Got a call yesterday letting me know they were going to replace my SLR with a new one.

I hustled down last night after dinner and got it.

Took it out for a spin this afternoon.

The tide was low and we were able to walk up to the pylons normally residing underwater. We examined all the barnacles and little creatures who lived on them.

Katie always finds the "perfect" rock on our walks.

I have repeatedly tried to explain that we aren't supposed to take rocks home from the beach -- that they are there for a reason.

I caved and let her take home a little red one today.

The girls had never been out of the pier (I know, we live here). So we ventured out to the end. We saw fishermen catch some questionably small fish as well as some little crabs.

It wasn't until we turned to head back to shore that we realized the fog had crept in. As I was shooting, I found myself wishing the lamp posts were on. What a wanna-be-photographer nerd, right?

it's starting to look a lot like

Christmas. At least the mall sure looked like it today.

I was informed on Saturday that I'd better go buy more Halloween candy "just in case."

When I got to the seasonal candy aisle what did I find? All Christmas candy. I had to search out the uber-small selection of Halloween candy.

I know this complaint is not an uncommon one, but we were really jipped out of our normal summer this year, so I think that's why I'm a bit more puffed up about this than normal.

This morning -- Nov. 1 -- we were greeted with gorgeous weather.

So, not ready to adopt any sort of holiday spirit quite yet we hit the beach this afternoon.


Mo has finally embraced the water and was literally pouring buckets of it on herself today.

While the weather was nice, the water is NOT warm right now.


The more than frigid water did not bother Katie one bit.

The girl can be straight fearless when it comes to cold water.

She just runs in and plops herself down in it.

Everyone in the water were in full wet suits and there's my little girl fully submerged trying to body surf like "what? who thinks it's cold!?"

sleeping with sissy

We are officially going to move the girls into the same room.

Katie has been sleeping on her mattress in Maddie's room almost two weeks now and they both love it.

Katie: I want to sleep with sissy all the time!

Mo: Me too! (although yelling "me too" seems to be a knee-jerk response, and not always one she means)

How can we say no to these faces?

So, for those of you who have kids who share a room: Do you have any tips? Pointers? Absolute Dos or Don'ts?

bubble fun

I'm loving that they are truly enjoying each other these days.

making bubble beards

The increased interaction has definitely upped the ante when it comes to fights. But, I'm sure it's nothing compared to what it will be like later when -- say, they are fighting over the same boy at school.

Until then...

finally!

After weeks upon weeks of frigid foggy weather the sun has belatedly made it's way to our little beach town.

School for the big girl starts next week, so we've been hitting up the beach a lot the last two weeks.

It's even been hot enough for Maddie to venture into the water.

She's actually catching a little air these days jumping into waves.

okay, maybe that's more of trickle than a wave.

Katie and Dylann are all about whispering to each other and chatting about heavens knows what.

I think Katie was trying to learn the words to "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" from Dylann during this particular exchange.

Dylann started kindergarten this week. Katie won't start until next school year.

I do hope these two remain good friends - they can be so darn cute together.