How did it go so fast?

This morning was a huge deal to me. I just got done calling the school district to request that they send me two preschool regristration packets.

Oh my god. How did this happen?

I mean, just look at these faces, these big kid faces:

Elizabeth

Alexandra

I can't believe how much they've grown. Granted, they're very tiny by nearly four year-old standards (I bought them 3T for their summer wardrobe and everything is a bit too big). But still, I can't deny that they're growing up, and there is nothing I can do to stop it.

With them starting school in the fall, I will also be returning to full-time work once again. I went part time when the girls were born. That will be a huge adjustment for me, as well. I don't necessarily look forward to it, but I have to say, the increase in pay will more than make up for any second-thoughts that I may have.

So, today the process of my babies becoming big girls has begun. Maybe I am making a big deal out of nothing, but it's kind of hard to wrap my mind around, to be quite honest. I miss my little babies...

Getting to know you!

Check out Getting to know YOU every Sunday!

1. What color do you wear the most? I think black, followed closely by denim


2. Would you rather have $10,000 dollars or a dream vacation? I'd take the $10,00, go on a dream vacation and STILL have money left over to spend, so I'll take the cash please.

3. Do you have a weird, quirky or unusual habit? I have RLS really bad, so my legs are almost always moving. Not weird so much as annoying to others, haha!

4. I really need to start..........? my diet, which will beging TOMORROW!

5. What was the first blog you ever read? I honestly can't remember that far back.

6. Do you collect anything? Pictures? I am kind of obsessed with photography, with my lil munchkins as the subjects.

7. How old were you when you had your first kiss? Probably 12.

8. Do you text/twitter while driving? Only if I am stopped, never while actually driving.

Easter

We had a wonderful Easter, filled with decorating, eating candy and visiting.

Pictures do it more justice than my words, so here are a few:

Dying eggs

They love to pose

Opening their baskets

Elizabeth found an egg

So did Alexandra

With their findings

Lizzie looking adorable

Alex looking adorable

Awww

Visiting with cousin Jennifer

So, what did YOU did this Easter?

Emerging from the plague

Dear readers (all seven of you), my appologies for being MIA the last few days. The girls and I had taken turns being sick, and then had a lot fo car drama yesterday. Minus a few sniffles, mostly we've come out unscathed.

Those of you that have successful blogs, how does one get their feet wet, so to speak? Besides telling everyone I know to read, how can I get sponsors for things like contests, something I'd eventually like to do once I'm more established. Help a newbie out!

I leave you with a few pictures from an impromptu Chuck E Cheese trip from yesterday. We were supposed to go to the Zoo, but apparently everyone else in Philadelphia had the same idea and we wound up doing this instead. The girls played games and had ice cream, so I think they were okay with it.

Easter Bunny

Yes, the girls got their picture taken with the Easter Bunny yesterday. They absolutely loved it. Last year was the first time they'd "met" him, and one thing I can say for my girls, they've never really had the fear of costumed characters. In fact, they always get super excited.

I was also comparing it to their photo in 2009. The rabbit is essentially the same, but they're really grown a lot in a year. They take up so much more room on his lap.

This is their photo from last year (Lizzie left, Alex right):

And here is the one taken yesterday (also Lizzie left, Alex right):

Have any of you gotten your Easter Bunny pictures taken yet? Any big differences from last year's photo?

The hardest thing

One of the hardest things I've had to do as a mother is to send my kids off to their father's house every other weekend. This is fairly new, as it's only the fourth weekend we've done it. I usually drop them off Friday nights and pick them up around dinner time on Sunday, but I did a Saturday morning drop off because his oldest daughter was sick Friday.

It's not easy for me, though. I admitt, I do kind of like the alone time, and I get to spend adult time with my boyfriend and get things done. Having said that, I miss them like crazy while their gone. They seem to handle it really well, and that actually makes it even harder for me. I don't think they spend TOO much time missing me, since at their dad's they have the Wii, the computer, and they're allowed to watch things I'd never let them watch, like Spongebob (parenting differences is a topic I plan on covering in depth in the future).

I feel a sense of competition sometimes, which I know I shouldn't. He is the fun dad, and they have a blast over there. I am the mom that disciplines, has rules, and provides the structure in their life. I know what I do is important, but it leaves me wondering if it'll make them somehow love me less. I know that sounds silly, but it's how I feel sometimes.

I send them over there because they need to spend the time with their father and older sister. I send them off every other weekend for them, because it's what I'm supposed to do, but the truth is, I have a huge hole in my heart for those two days.

How about you? Any single mommas out there feel any of this when you send the kid(s) to their dad's house?

They really do say the darnest things

I'd love to know when, exactly, my precious, sweet little three year-olds turned into know-it-all tweens? Because lately, they're sure acting like it!

Elizabeth and Alexandra have picked a few choice words and phrases as of late that've thrown me for a bit of a loop. What's even more amusing is the way in which they say them. Their phrasing is that partidular mix of boredom and snottiness you'd expect from a 15 year-old.

One example is yesterday, when I asked Elizabeth to please eat some of her dinner. She looked at me with arches eyebrows and gave an exasperated "No way!". Where on earth did that come from?

This morning, Alex offered me a slightly less cocky phrase. She was admiring her new Happy Meal toy and told me "It's a red dragon, look! Cool beans Mommy!", followed by Lizzie asking emphatically "Isn't it awesome?"

I don't know where these pint-sized big girls came from, but I have to admitt, it's been fun listening to these things come out in their super midget voices.

Why 'The Beanettes'?

So, you may be wondering, why is this blog called Life with the Beanettes? Where did the name "beanettes" come from, anyway?

Anyone who's been following me on Livejournal for the last few years is familiar with the term. The girls' website (which is in dire need of updating) is http://www.thebeanettes.com/, and I refer to them as such often.

Growing up, I was always called "Gina Bean" or some form of it. Indeed, my AIM username is GinaDaBeana. I guess since Gina kind of rhymes with Bean(a), it was a childhood nickname that stuck. So, when my little girls made their entry into the world, their miniature size warranted a more diminutive form of "bean", and thus, the beanettes were born.

Not terribly exciting, but now you know!

As I get my feet wet around here, feel free to comment with tips and suggestions, folks. And spread the word!

Feeling things out

So, I must say, this is all pretty new to me. I have been using LiveJournal to blog for over 10 years, and I will continue to use it as my personal blog, but I really wanted something solely about my daughters, Elizabeth and Alexandra, and our adventures together.

I plan on posting retro pictures and stories, as well as what's happening with the girls and I now. I have a lot of content lined up in my head, and I see I already have two followers, so, welcome ladies, and spread the word!

I leave you with a picture of our stars, my mini-divas, Lizzie and Alex, as they're afectionately referred to as:

Welcome

Testing, one two.

I'm going to try my hand at blogging. Stay tuneed!