DPP 2 – Before & After

This afternoon the kids were walking around trying to balance various items on their heads. Then they’d stand on one foot or attempt a scale.

Adelaide’s hair has been driving me more and more crazy. Finally tonight I pulled out the scissors and took care of business.

She looked in the mirror and goes “oh, that’s cute.”

The back…

Okay, I feel better now.

December Photo Project

DPP 1 – well here we go

There’s nothing particularly noteworthy about that photo except it was taken outside by the fire at Starbucks tonight, on my coffee date with the girlfriends. Yep, they let us out of the house.

December Photo Project info here.

Christmas Ideas for Kids

Sooo, it’s December! (And yesterday it was July!) I am going to be doing the December Photo Project again this year (one of my favorites) so I’ll be back later with that.

Anyway, I’m about 90% done with the Christmas shopping for the kids, so I thought I’d share a few ideas in case you need a little jump start.

Most of their stocking stuffers and small gifts (and one game to share) are coming from The Land of Nod. We ordered a couple of art sets and a few other things from CP Toys by Constructive Playthings. My mom said our box from US Toy also came but I can’t remember what that order was. (Everything is being shipped to her.)

There’s always the old standby quality toys from Melissa & Doug, although ours are coming discounted via Zulily credits.

The rest (minus their ‘big’ gifts, including all LeapPad accessories are coming from Amazon, can’t beat their prices and free shipping!

Happy shopping for your little ones!

dance party in the kitchen

Common occurrence around here.

The one about Drew’s eye

“Everyone asked about my eye; I mean like EVERYONE asked about my eye.”

“Yeah, I’m sure they did.”

A little bit of back-blogging here.  Drew fell off a playground slide a couple of weeks ago and hit his eyebrow on the wooden sideboard.  I was at a babyshower so I didn’t see him fall but his black eye sure turned out to be quite the impressive evolution of purple.

Day of injury:

Day 2:

Day 3:

Day 4 or 5:

A week and a half later (you can see where it also went under the other eye):

Aaaaaaand today!  Almost back to normal:

(Just a guess, it won’t make him more careful next time. Boys.)

We are now official Black Friday shoppers.

We had a really fun Thanksgiving and I hope you did, too.  On Wednesday this sweet girl came with me to do the shopping.

This is for Lisa, totally copied her lattice-top idea when Andy asked for a “real” apple pie.

Thankgsiving morning, snuggled up in jammies reading books:

Getting the table ready…

Drew’s first daddy-authorized help with a real knife.  Glad I wasn’t there.

My siblings all came over and the food was gooood.

After we put the kids to bed we pulled out the decaf and this.  Soooo fun.  I made Andy play again just us two nights later.

Here’s the BlackFriday part.  Once everyone had left I was a {little} hyped up on coffee and wide awake, checked my email and the internets to find that lo and behold, the stores I wanted to shop at Friday were open! at midnight! which was in 20 minutes!

Andy was in the shower and I told him I had this crazy idea of getting my BF shopping done THEN, while the kids were all asleep.  That’s just as good as shopping deals, right? Shopping with no kids? Yeah.

I first drove to Old Navy since they were giving out cameras with a $40 purchase – figured I’d give it to Drew.  Yeah right, the line snaked around the parking lot.  So I left and went to Carter’s because the boybaby has no clothes.  Tons of jammies, no clothes.  They opened at 10pm so there was no line and I got him a couple of Real Clothes.  Drove back to Old Navy and the line was still ridiculous so I went home to bed.

About 2 weeks ago, we went out in the morning to discover Andy’s car window broken in and his briefcase stolen – WITH his macbook.  Sad, sad day.  We tossed and turned about what to do for several days and looked for used online, etc.  A little nervous about that.  I told him to just take mine and he said he “wouldn’t do that to me.”

Anyway, he had browsed around the mac store and a little birdie told him the 2010 model was going to be one of the BlackFriday deals since the 2011 model had just come out and they still had lots left of the ’10.  So yes, Andy got up at 3:30am Friday and could. not. find. a. parking. space. at. the. mall.  By the time he got through the hour-long line there were 4 left.  But he got his! and he’s back in business.

We slept in that day.

(Caught! Official thumb-sucker!)

Oh buddy. Your sister will make you tough.

And what do you do come Saturday when everyone’s tired of turkey? Make party food!

Let’s not count the days ’til Christmas quite yet m’kay?

three weeks full (part 2)

(Sorry for overloading you on the photos; it’s about the extent of my blogging capabilities right now.)

Adelaide had an October “hillybilly” day (notice the fake freckles):

Indoor marshmallow roast at our friends’ house:

made into Nutella S’mores mmmmmmm:

A fall picnic, just snacks…

my view:

sleepy after a Sunday afternoon nap:

rotating fresh flowers on the table every week:

being silly,

going on errands,

lounging around upside down,

picking out what’s for lunch,

doing dishes,

getting happy with the markers,

unwrapping the butter,

getting candy,

and breakfast-twirling before school.

the birthday girl post

Her birthday was the end of October but oh well. :) Have to record the photos somewhere!

The kids wrapped her gifts. Haha.

We had a little playdate with my cousin Vangie and her babies.

Gave her dishes and this play food collection from Costco.  Still a big hit.

These two are so funny.  I think eventually they’ll be really good friends.  Right now the relationship is completely schizophrenic.  ;)

It’s kind of like looking at Vangie and me in mini form. So funny.

They served us up something good,

And then we ate cake.

After her nap I took Arianna outside to try to get some birthday shots.  Most of them are of her running away from me.  (Stinker.)  A few okay ones:

And then I gave in and let her jump.  One of her favorite things.

Happy 2nd, BabyGirl.  We loooove you and all your funny ways!!

three weeks full

(It may be longer than that but I can’t remember…)

Been enjoying this little dude,

My cousin Bry was here a couple of weeks ago helping my other cousin with her new house. I won’t even count the number of kids under the roof that day.

Trivia game of the hour: NAME THAT BABY BOY!

Been playing outside…

and having leaf fights.

How to get your house clean: invite friends over for chili. This one cracks me up in it’s almost-ness.  They were trying to make silly faces?

an authorized bonfire…

Had a fall picnic with our shepherding group…

And this sweet girl had three long dentist appointments.  This was right after her first cap (of two) got put on.

back later with part 2…

{sigh}

(i will blog today i will blog today i will blog today)

Oh, life.

She’s two!

I’ll be back later with the birthday report.

this lil guy

I keep meaning to put up some recent photos of the little mister. He had his first haircut a couple of weeks ago (I’m not much one for the baby mullet look).

And yep, he pretty much always looks like this. Angel baby.

fall! it’s here!

The kids raked up a pile of leaves yesterday – fall is definitely here!

Oh, and funny thing, I CAN still cook. ;)

small style – jump!

On one of the nice days last week I played with my kids on the “jumpoline” (a la Adelaide). Fun times!

On Madeline: tunic – miniboden, leggings Target last year.

On Adelaide: hand-me-down Madeline playclothes all from Old Navy (top was last year, jeans who knows!).

On Drew: top – miniboden, jeans Old Navy.

(For more mini fashion, visit Small Style at Mama Loves Papa.)

my madeline girl

The kids are on fall break this week which means the mornings are easier and the days are harder. Yesterday I asked Madeline if she wanted to run errands with me by herself. (The baby doesn’t count.)

It was fun, I LOVE taking just one kid to do stuff. We stopped for lunch at Sonic. She wanted a corndog and we both tried the new pumpkin pie milkshake. Funny, it tastes like pumpkin pie!

We went to Gymboree to clean them out of $6.99 pajamas and then hit up Walmart. I had several other things that could have gotten done but my van is acting up and we had to make it back for ballet.

(Girlfriend loves her sugar.)

(And ohmyword she looks like me there.)

Today I’m gonna try to catch up on some things – the theme of my life lately is behind, behind, behind or forgot, forgot, forgot.  I’m clearly still looking for my new normal.

Hope I find it!

coolest thing ever

I know, I know. This post took forever to get around to. But these photos are totally worth it!!! I almost just scrapped the collage idea but finally had time this morning to get it done, and it really cuts down on the length of the post. The best ones are at the bottom. :)

First we met some friends at an ice cream shop and then went to the park.

It was really iffy there for a while, waiting to see if the wind was going to cooperate. We thought about leaving so many times because the girls were cold and it was getting later and later. We ended up staying and it was SO worth it.

Andy had asked them beforehand if they’d need any extra help. He’s always been really fascinated by hot air balloons (I think if he had the money he’d buy one, ha!).

It was too windy to go in the air (the rides were scheduled for another time, this was just supposed to be tethered “lanterns” about 50 feet up. They were trying to keep them on the ground but got airborne a few times. :) Andy said the whole experience was so fun.

SO FUN.

small style

squeezing this in while it’s still Thursday…

Today was interesting. Madeline went to put on her jeans before school and they were about 3 inches too short and would not even come close to buttoning. I know she wore them a couple of times this summer but apparently she had a growth spurt last night. So while the big kids were at school I took the littles and we hit up Old Navy and Walmart.

As I was putting the baby’s seat back in the van I realized he smelled suspicious – so I lifted his leg and sure enough, oozing baby poop everywhere. Decided that was a mess for home and left it. We picked up Adelaide and I forgot all about the cold milk in the trunk when I let my sister borrow my van. And then I forgot that the storage tubs I had bought were also still back there when Andy left with the van tonight. I’m attempting to get the summer stuff out and the fall stuff in. You know what they say about the best-laid plans…

Anyway, back to Small Style. This is Drew from today:

The kinda-swishy pants are from Target which are super comfy and he has 3 different colors. Can’t beat $9. Tee is Tea Collection.

I didn’t get a photo of Madeline but she had on dark purple skinny cords and this yellow/white striped top. I wanted her to wear her yellow shoes but she declined. She chose her silver maryjanes instead. (Why are 6 year olds so opinionated?) She came home and immediately changed for ballet. Never mind that it didn’t start for several hours. ;)

Adelaide also had on an Old Navy top and brown cords.  (More stripes!)

Arianna wore an MJ top as a dress, leggings from Target and shoes are Gracious May:

I’m glad the weekend is nearly here, maybe I can finally get caught up? A girl can dream!

(For more mini fashion, visit Small Style at Mama Loves Papa.)

first day

of ballet!

(I’m still working on editing the photos from the weekend, there were lots.)