Where I've been

So, really. It's been 12 days since I last posted and let's be honest, I wasn't writing much before that.

No, I'm not pregnant. No big news to announce. No new job. No move. Nothing I've been trying to hide. Life has just been busy. So here's what's been happening around these parts:

Peanut had her first dance recital. There are no words to describe the level of cuteness and awesomeness. Her preschool offers a dance and tumbling class. She had three performances - jazz, ballet and tumbling.

One little girl was too shy to do much.

One little girl ran around stage as expected of most 3-year-olds.

And then there was my little girl. So intent on doing every single move correctly. She waved to us enthusiastically when she first got on stage and then she got down to Business. She focused on her teacher who was doing the moves behind the audience and did not take her eyes off of her. It melted my heart as did this picture the husband took of her:

This is her ballet costume. She insisted on wearing her underwear under her leotard even though they stuck out obviously. Another mother and I were backstage frantically trying to adjust their clothing when I realized it was a lost caused. Once all the girls were lined up on stage, I noted we weren't the only ones suffering from "I see London, I see France, I see my daughter's underpants."

Now I need to find a place where she can take dance lessons. I'm not ready for the competition aspect (although who is really?) but she just seemed to enjoy it so much.

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Gizmo is turning into quite the handful. She is a lot of sugar and even more spice as she rounds the 17-month-old mark. She is so sweet and loving and yet so damn ornery it is hard to reconcile both in such a tiny body.

She's taken to throwing things if we tell her no. She tries to take things away from her sister regularly and even took a running start before pushing Peanut in the face (punching her would probably be more accurate since she had the double fist) when Peanut wouldn't let her have something.

I realized this weekend just telling her "no" isn't going to be enough anymore. We need to start with time outs or quiet time. This was after Gizmo was doing something she wasn't supposed to (shocking) and Peanut chastised her before I could (also, shocking.) When I told Peanut that I would handle it because I am the parent, Peanut retorted, "You never do anything about her!" Oh yes she did.

Sassiness aside, she's right. We haven't done much except try to redirect Gizmo. She's getting old enough now that it isn't enough. So there's that.

But she does cheese it up for pictures.

 And proof that they can coexist peacefully if only for a minute or two.

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Other than that, not much has been happening. We are in full out planning for vacation with Hillary and her family. There has been a lot of talk of who is bringing what - toilet paper, beach toys and of course the vodka and bloody mary mix.

The husband and I are trying to figure out how we are going to entertain our two monkeys for 12 hours in the car. Peanut gets carsick pretty easily so there is that complication. Hillary told us the best thing is to have low expectations. My only hope is that we have to clean up throw up only once, maybe twice.

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Lastly, I will leave you with this cuteness: