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!