July 8- A/an un"productive" weekend

Wow! For a weekend that was not that productive, we sure did a lot! I am almost relieved that tomorrow is Monday and I have NOTHING planned! However, my brain is already starting to think that Reagan and I will go the the park, have a picnic and then go to the pool...maybe!

Saturday night, my husband and I got a chance to go out with friends. We went to the festival in Hoffman Estates. Our friend worked the beer tent, so that was "nice". (I defiantly think that I will volunteer for that next year, it looks like it might be fun! Who's in?) It was a very special night because we even went to Bandio's for a drink! We left a little early cause, of course, Tony had to work, and I had to work harder (with Molly and Reagan) in the morning.  It was nice to go out with adults, enjoy a few beverages and of course, a nice funnel cake at the festival! (YUM!)

Hanging out at Bandito's (They looked kind of ticked?)

Me and my hubby

This morning Reagan and I went for a play date and my good friend, Renae's house. It was nice for Reagan to "play" with some different kids. (Even though she only thought about herself and barely paid attention to them.) Renae is a SUPERMOM.  She works a great job and has such wonderful and polite kids! I envy her. Each time that I go to Renae's house, she has some sort of yummy creation that she makes. Today it was Grilled Cinnamon Raisin bread with apples and cheese. It was sweet and savory! I wanted 3 more!

Reagan and her "Playdate"

After we got home, Reagan took a nice long nap and Tony and I sat on the porch. We read the newspaper/iPad to each other and "solved" the world's problems. Our biggest discovery was that a LOT of houses in our neighborhood that were empty, have finally begun to sell. This discovery gives us some hope about our future home "selling" opportunities. (We love our house, but it is just too small)  Molly was such a good little puppy, she rolled around in the grass and did a pretty nice job of mulching up the sticks for us. I have never been so thrilled to have a COLD front come through the area!

After Reagan woke up, we decided that we should "practice" taking Reagan in the carrier for our "hike" that we might be taking in Colorado. We want for her to be use to it, so she doesn't cry the whole time when we actually go hiking. We brought her and Molly to the field by our house. It is about 10 acres of field/farm/trails that we LOVED taking Ellie to. We would always let Ellie off of her leash and play hide and go seek with her, or let her run through the snow! Molly is defiantly not ready for that, but she enjoyed sniffing around anyways.

We are ready for our hike!

Later, we asked Grandma Debbie if she wanted to check out the Carnival with us. We thought the food would still be there, but it wasn't (boo,that Funnel Cake was calling my name!) Reagan rode on the train and the Carousel. We were surprised that she didn't cry! Next year it's the "Tilt a Whirl" (Ha ha). Since the food was not looking that promising Grandma bought us Red Robin...it was a nice treat!

Reagan got her own balloon, and she thought she was so cool!

Reagan and I on the train! (Yes, we were the conductors)

Reagan on her own Pony,she won of course!

July 6- Mom's are the best!

Sometimes you just need your Mom to tell you to basically "shut up already and stop complaining". Now, she did not use those words exactly, because I would have broken down into tears, but that is what she meant! Truely, I will only let my Mom and Sister tell me the honest truth like that.  I really needed that; Casey kind of told me that the other day, but when your Mom says it, it means business! So basically, I feel better today and I am done being a whining, complaining brat! 

Today, Reagan, Mom and I went to have lunch and go to Sam's Club. It was nice to get out of the house! I would have liked to take Reagan to the pool, but it is WAY too hot for that! Hopefully next week will be more productive. It will be nice to maybe go to the park or take an afternoon walk with them!

Molly chewing a bone and Reagan playing with her toy...what am I suppose to do?

For dessert tonight, I tried a Pinterest recipe and made Banana Smores on the grill. It was pretty good and Tony even added Ice Cream to his!  After dinner, Tony wanted to try for the "Red Box" again! "Honey, It's 21 Jump Street and it has Channing Tadem in it...!" Yeah, I did not fall for that, but I did "let" him rent it anyways! It was actually pretty funny??? I hate when he is right!

Tony's dessert with Ice Cream

Tomorrow is our "big" night out! We are going to go to the Fourth of July festival at the Sears Center. We want to support Elgin's efforts to have an event, so we will see how it goes! Tony's Mom gave us a present for our Anniversary, so that is how we are justifying this little night out!

Molly taking a nap in the closet. I guess it is time to do laundry!

July 5-The "Black Hole" of Time

Did you ever feel that a day will drag so long and it will never end? Well, that is how today felt for me. The day began at 6am and I feel that it moved in 10 minute increments, because each time I looked at the clock only 10 minutes had gone by!

It is still SO hot outside, record temps for a good solid week now. Today's projection 102 degrees! Tony didn't work till the afternoon, so we decided to take both of the "babies" to the Dog Run...at 8am. Reagan was in the baby carrier on Tony's back and I took Molly. She was doing pretty well so we decided to let her leash go. She was pretty good at following us and not going too far, Molly couldn't wait to get into the water( Reagan really wanted to go in too, but that was NOT going to happen).  She saw another dog that was jumping in pretty far after his ball, but she wouldn't go that far! (Thank Goodness, cause I did not want to have to go and rescue her if she went under) We also saw two Rottweilers and they came right up to her to say "Hi". Honestly, it scared the living crap out of me, but they just gave a little sniff and took off! They were HUGE! This time, Tony got to wash off the dead bodies and I think that he will think twice about going to the Dog Park again. It is not easy washing that dog! She is a wiggler!

Very cool...I think that we might need to get a bigger carrier soon!

Great "action' shot! She slept the whole morning after this!

After tutoring, I picked up Reagan and we went to visit Great Grandma. Of course, she had to give Reagan a cookie. Then Reagan went up to the cabinet wanting more,
              Grandma says "Oh she wants another one?"
              I say, "No, she has to have dinner soon"
              "Oh just one cookie?"
              "No!" says the good Mom
               "Oh, how about Ice Cream?" says the innocent 86 year old
               "GRANDMA, NO!"
               "Oh, OK, I will get her a nectarine..."
Whatever...she loved the nectarine!

That is when I entered the "Black Hole" of time.

5:15-Played outside, but too hot
5:25-Decide on dinner
5:35-Play on the floor with Molly's toys
5:45-Get dinner set up
5:55-Finish Dinner
6:05-Clean up dinner
6:15-Take Molly/Reagan into the basement to play
6:25-Bring Molly/Reagan back upstairs
6:35-Get Reagan ready for bath/Give Molly bone
6:45- Watch Molly pace the house to find a good spot for her bone/Tell Reagan not to stand in the bath
6:55-Reagan not listening,bath over, get jammies on
7:05-Get bottle ready, read Reagan books and BEDTIME!!!

Earlier today, I had my "crazy wife" melt down. Thankfully, I do have a wonderful husband and he was very supportive of letting me be "psycho" for a minute. Of course, I will worry, but I just have to keep telling myself that "It could be worse." "We will survive" "No one wants to take our house anyways" (That last one was a bit of humor...)

July 4-Happy 4th of July

Today we decided to take Grandma Debbie to Elgin's Fourth of July parade. We met up with Kirsten, Logan and Nate and their family. It was nice for Reagan to watch Logan and see how he reacted to things; then she knew what to do. We knew that it would be hot and sticky and it sure was! (It was 93 when we left at 10:30) Reagan seemed to enjoy a few things, like the candy and when people clapped. Luckily, she was enjoying drinking the water out of our straws too!

I also had to go to work today, so that was not that exciting. My favorite part was when our Store Manager came in to say goodbye and said " Enjoy the fireworks tonight, Girls" and then I said "Yeah, I will.. In bed" MEANING, that I will be sleeping and not enjoying the fireworks, NOT making Fireworks in bed. He turned the corner and said "Oh really?". I turned bright red and said "Yeah, I didn't think that sounded right"! I was so embarrassed, especially since I don't really know him that well because he is a newer manager.

While I was at work Tony took Reagan to his Aunt's for a BBQ. He found out that not only is one cousin going to be having a baby, but two cousins are expecting! We are so excited. It's defiantly time for more babies. I don't want for Reagan to be too much older than everyone else!

Getting ready for the BBQ!



I always feel that the 4th of July is not complete without seeing Fireworks, but tonight we will only be hearing them and not seeing them. Reagan defiantly needs to be in bed by 7:30, because she has to go to the Baby sitter's tomorrow and I don't want for her to have to watch a cranky baby. Plus, poor Molly is pretty scared of all of the loud noises and I would hate to leave her all alone. So tonight, it looks like we will be enjoying the Ceaser Milan Marathon on Animal Planet with a mix of the Revolutionary War on the Military Channel. That's ok, there will be more 4th of July's! :-)

Molly watching Ceaser Milan (she only gets 15 minutes a day)

The good news for the week is that Molly did get on her antibiotics and I am not seeing any dripping! We (I) am also having to give her some wiping down (there) once a day in order to clean up her little area. (Tony felt that this was my responsibility, since I was a girl?) I hope that with this figured out that we can properly start potty training.

July 3-New Respect for Stay at Home Mom's

I have a completely new respect for Stay at Home Mom's! There is no way in god's creation that I would be able to stay at home all year round. I love my daughter and I love our new puppy, but NO FRECKIN' WAY!

My friend Kelli is a prime example of an excellent Stay at Home Mom. Kelli has a 2 year old, a new baby and two Labs. She makes this all look so easy. She plans at least one activity a day, gets home in time for their naps, cooks dinner for her kids and husband, and always looks absolutely amazing! After today, my house is a mess, I spent $70 on things that I really don't need at Walmart and Bath and Body, and I did NOT even make dinner.

It is only been only a few days of staying at home with them and I have already called to sign Reagan up for Gymboree classes and Molly up for Puppy classes; just to have something to look forward to. We already have a pool pass, so hopefully this hot weather doesn't stay, cause we can't go out when it is 100 degrees!!

Bubbles at 7:30am

Today was pretty entertaining, Reagan has started saying "Utt Oh" when she drops something (super cute). It very closely reminded Tony and I of, "Meet the Fockers" when the little boy kept saying "A**Hole" cause he over heard it. As for Reagan's word count, we are at "juice, up, utt oh, Mama, Da Da, down and fish", I am not sure that this is up to par with the other kids in her age group, but I don't really care, cause eventually she will catch up!

Reagan playing in the pillows

July 2-Pinterest Day!

When Pinterest first came out, I signed up, but I was like "who the f...has time to sit there and look through all of this crap?" Well, now that I have a "little" more time than before, I LOVE IT! Tonight, I created Chicken Enchilada Rollups and Strawberry Apple Sangria! Then I also bought the stuff for not just one, but TWO Fourth of July recipes!

Obviously, I had a little more time today. Reagan had to got to the babysitters, so I got a chance to go workout (I needed it, thanks to Pinterest!), went and got all of my ingredients and then later in the afternoon, I went to the pool!

Since we had such a yummy dinner, Tony's Mom came over to enjoy it too! Reagan is just so in love with her Grandma's! She was loving playing "Hide and Seek" with her! Grandma Debbie always makes sure to stay just late enough so that she can "put her to bed", cause she loves to snuggle with her. When she came out of the room, she said "you have the cutest baby", I said "yeah, cause she is sleeping...". That gave Grandma a little chuckle!

Reading her library books...for the 100th time! (It's a Peek a Boo one)

Molly got her medicine today, but not after she had another accident in her cage...even with it  smaller in there??? I really hope that this anibiotics helps her. We will see after 14 days! Poor baby! Having her sick is not as bad as when Reagan is sick, but I still worry! (Thankfully, there is less whining too!) Thankfully, she is acting normal...or I guess she is?

Playing catch with Molly

July 1- A REALLY lazy Sunday!

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid! This is what I kept telling myself today! Why do I think that I am 21? Why do I even bother to take a sip of  a drink? Hello Tanya, you are 30 years old. You have a mortgage, husband, child, and did you forget about the PUPPY??? Did you really think that by drinking the bottle of Pedilite before bed would be a magical hangover cure and extend sleep enhancer? (I must admit, it did help to relieve the dry mouth and headache though.)

Even if I complain, I did have a really good time at Steph's Bachlorette Party. We started at Howl at the Moon, then went to two different bars down there. Steph was a trooper and I hope that she had fun. I finally got to bed at 3:30. Tony's alarm rang at 5am, which meant that I was up with Reagan and Molly by 6. I am very fortunate that Reagan still takes a morning nap, cause that gave me an hour more. Thankfully, Tony was home by 12 and we had a pretty easy day, which included my Mom cooking us dinner!

The Bachlorette and Me

I talked to the Vet and Molly did have an abnormal urine analysis, so I have to call tomorrow to get some antibiotics for her and hopefully that will help. Of course, Tony was ticked off again. He choose not to listen to me and fix her cage to make it smaller, so that she does not use the bathroom in there. Of course she made a mess of the cage AGAIN, just like I knew that she would! After I cleaned it out and took everything off of it, he finally did make the cage smaller. So we will hope that that helps.

We took a little trip to PetSmart today to get Molly signed up for Puppy Training. We start in about 2 weeks and my Mom is going to watch Reagan while we both go. We were going to switch off going every other week, but we want to make sure that we are being consistant with our expectations and rules with her. We did the same puppy training class  with Ellie, and we thought it was really great for socialization and for remembering to be consistant. So far, Molly can sit and stay, not quite a genius dog, but we are hoping for some more ways to help her listen.

Tony and Molly having "snuggle" time!

This week, I don't have work, so I am trying to plan an activity each day, so that I don't end up pulling my hair out by the end of it. Tomorrow Reagan is going to the babysitters because she has to go two days each week.  I have designated tomorrow to be "ALL ABOUT ME" day. I am going to go to the gym and then going to go lay out at the Pool! Maybe I will even find a nice recipe to try on the family!