Aunt Leanne and the firm never

Another fun-filled visit from Mama Hop and Aunt Leanne has come to a close and we are so glad that they made time to come see us.  It was really nice to have at least one day of mild weather so that we could enjoy the outdoors at our favorite park (when is Spring coming to stay?! Enough winter already!).

Mama Hop indulged us with her delicious homemade cuisine, and I indulged them with my scrumptious frozen fish sticks a la Schwan's Home Delivery (talk about an emotional goodbye with the Schwan's man...).  Leanne was kind enough to accompany me in taking the girls to the pediatrician for one last check-up prior to our departure.  She kept the girls entertained with some lively song and dance routines while we waited.

Leanne also humored me by participating in yet another photo shoot.  There was lots of goofiness, as illustrated above.

Last night, Aunt Leanne benevolently agreed to babysit the girls (with a little help from our treasured Megan) so that Mama Hop and I could go out to dinner.  In true Aunt Leanne fashion, I got a brutally honest report on my childrens' (mis)behavior while I was gone.  One child got an A+ while the other one was the recipient of the dreaded F+. 

 

It's been mentioned that oral hygiene is one of Leanne's foremost priorities and failure to adhere to a rigid dental maintenance regimen is a major offense in Leanne's book.  So when Josie decided to showcase her stubborn streak during her pre-bed teeth brushing, her beloved Auntie was not amused.  And it's not like Aunt Leanne can relate to this whole stubborn phenomenon.  Apparently her extra chromosome didn't come with any "stubborn".  Uh huh...


After a strict lecture this morning, JoJo was forgiven.  The divas had one final hug/squeeze/I love you/I pray for you session, and Aunt Leanne and Mama Hop drove off into the rain while two sets of big, blue eyes watched through the window.

While the big move is just around the corner, we have one more visit with Mama Hop and Aunt Leanne on the horizon.  This time, it's going to be on their turf, which should be particularly amusing as we haul two toddlers into Mama Hop's domestic gallery of breakable treasures.  Be sure to tune in for that one!

Head Diva In Charge

Early Friday morning, Travis and I flew up to the Arctic Circle (just kidding...kind of) to take care of some new house business and we left Mama Hop and Aunt Leanne in charge of the girls.  After their coronation, it was down to business as usual.

 Once Leanne changed into her robe and got comfy, it was time for the standard, ordinary, run-of-the-mill hug fest between the two most affectionate members of the family. 

 Of course Josie was eager to consume the hearty helping of love, undivided attention, and spoiling that Aunt Leanne always dishes out.

And Merryn was eager to consume a hearty helping of anything that Mama Hop dishes out because it's not every day that she gets cuisine that rivals Rachel Ray, Giada De Laurentiis, and Paula Deen combined!

We are so grateful that Mama Hop and Aunt Leanne were willing to assume all childcare responsibilities so that Travis and I could focus on selecting cabinets, paint, and flooring for our new igloo abode.  It's a luxury to be able to have a childless getaway, and even though we were very anxious to have our girls back in our arms, it gave us great peace of mind to know that they were having a blast back home.  Here are a few more photos that will be familiar to Instagram followers:

According to preliminary reports, the girls improved their grade substantially from the last time Aunt Leanne babysat. Tune in tomorrow for the update straight from the Diva's mouth.

A Progress Report from Aunt Leanne

As previously mentioned, Aunt Leanne babysat last weekend while Travis and I went house hunting.  When we returned, she was eager to share her progress report on our children.

In signature Aunt Leanne style, she served up a hearty helping of brutal honesty.  Girlfriend shoots from the hip so if you can't handle the truth, don't ask Leanne:

Ouch!  Can you imagine a one year-old and two year-old who haven't perfected the art of compromise?!  I better start assembling care packages to send to the juvenile detention center.

* Because I know you're going to ask, Aunt Leanne's shirt was made by my friend, Lauren, an incredibly talented seamstress who creates the most adorable custom apparel!  If you want a shirt like Aunt Leanne's, you can get it here.