Birthdays

This morning when I should have been at the grocery store I was sewing a dress for Ellie to match Mia's birthday dress.  (If I don't sew one for Ellie right away, it never gets done and she ends up w/ fewer dresses by Mom, poor second child) Then, when Mia saw Ellie's dress that was almost like hers she noticed that Ellie's had pockets and said, "Why doesn't mine have pockets?" So when I should have been eating lunch with my darlings I was sewing pockets on Mia's birthday dress.  Finish pockets, pick up many many noodles off of kitchen floor and baby, out the door to the bus stop.  Lighting is all wrong for a few pics of Mia. Bus comes, then we go to the grocery store.  Meet an old long lost friend and we catch up in the aisle for a few minutes and I wonder why I didn't do a better job of keeping contact w/ long lost friends, pick out $10 dollars worth of gummies, black licorice, jelly beans, etc. to decorate Mia's cake with.  Realize on the way home that buying a cake would not have cost anymore than all that candy did. Put Lizzy and Stu Bops to bed, hope that one hour is enough for them (it is not).  Put one candy from each container onto Mia's cake.  Wonder how they got the licorice to stick to the coconut in the picture that I'm looking at? Now, wrap Mia's gifts. The wrapping paper just so holds out. Ah! Half and hour goes by and Ellie is still not sleeping. Load cupcakes and stuff in van for Mia' class.  Wonder if I could make it to her school faster than I think? Would be nice to let them sleep longer. Now we are up to present time.  I am not sure how much birthday I can handle.  And I'm not even throwing a party. Although she has invited various people to "her party".  One more thing before I'm outta here... if she asked you if you got her a birthday present or card? I'm so sorry.  We're working on it.

Valentines 2011

 Sorting through some January photos. Came across these. 

I was at the dentist today and I'm still upset about it. 

They were not happy with me for waiting so long between visits. 

PS- I just have to tell you this yet, about Valentines 2011.  Nate slept with his socks on.  It was worse than that: socks, pants, shirt. He was so feverish he totally fell asleep fully clothed. Glad we had planned to hang out here w/ the girls and Stuboppers. I made this really fun meal and then I never cooked again for a week. Oh may next years Valentines be better!

Product Review Included

 Up and down he goes. Our Stueybops.

I made a mistake a few months ago and ordered 3 Blurb Vouchers.  The mistake was I did not read the fine print.  I could only use one at a time.  So while I thought My 2010 book was all paid for, I actually was about to get two more books ready to print.  And fast! So this forced me to put all those pictures from 3 years in Grenada in a book.  It's not fancy and I should go through it and jot stuff down.  But it feels so good to have them printed. 

Yay for the self timer! Mia needed a photo of her family reading a book together for school.

Do you remember my butter bell?  Given as a gift from my cousin's wife Vicky.  Love her. Anyhow... we LOVE our butter bell.  Nate gets so upset when I forget to restock it.  Soft butter.  Always fresh.  What did we do without it?  (used margarine)

Next  up.  Swiffer

Nate's Mom, I need to do a whole post on the fun things she does for us.  She gave us a Swiffer wet mop for Christmas two years ago.  Along with tons of refills.  So I was enjoying it until one day I was researching laminate flooring and came across an article that mentioned Swiffers and how they just smear a floor instead of clean it.  After that fateful information I felt exactly the same way about it.  But then! I cut a hole in the top of my refill thing and started filling it with water and white vinegar.  I'm a fan. And I know that if you really want to get frugal, you can make your own reusable pads for the bottom.  So, you still can't beat getting down on your hands and knees once in a while. But this gets me through many days.

Confession - I'm a Cupcake Batter Control Freak

We had the flu and we were feeling so so blue! Nate came down with it first and he told me that if I get it, there is no way I'll survive and he will call his Mother to watch the children.  Guess what.  We all got it.  Children and all.  And there was no way we wanted to pass this along to anyone else.  So I pitied the children so bad because of the neglect they were certainly feeling and on the very first day that I felt better I went for groceries.  For some reason in the baking aisle the Pillsbury Funfetti box was calling my name. It was saying, For a buck, could you do something fun with your precious children? So it was more likely the Lord calling my name. But anyhow... I threw it in the cart with good intentions.   It wasn't too bad letting them mix them up.  And they loved putting the paper liners in the tray. But do you let them fill the liners with batter?  Oh here is where I was once again faced with my control freak in the kitchen disorder. I have a phobia of batter on the tray when it comes to cupcake pans.  I'm serious. It took all that I had to let them fill those trays. 

Sipping Tea

I am dreaming of warm summer days.  Or fresh early spring ones.
Where everyone is happy and feeling good. 
Oil paintings.  I always want to paint when I can't.  I keep wondering if I painted today would it turn out like a Van Gogh? Cause I'm running a fever so it might? Not that he ran fevers.

Afternoon in the Sunshine

You know, really... this was Stuarts first time walking in the great outdoors like this. 

She's been pretty attached to her valentines balloon. Of course as children do, she left it go.  Cried bitter tears. 

It Certainly Does Make the Place Quiet

It's a slow go here at our house this week. Taking our turns with the flu.
Goofing around on polyvore. Putting fun colors together only to realize later that I'd never spend that much on most of the items.

Have been ripping wallpaper off of the powder room walls. What do do with the yellow sink and white and gold marbled counter top?

If I feel depressed about that I just head to the basement where there are many shades of green in the bathroom and I am thankful for the powder room dilemma. You'd have to see it to understand.

Belated Birthday

Happy Birthday Nater!

You would be amazed at the way he hated turning 30.  He is still not over it. 

This child is getting 6 teeth right now.  We are workin through it. 

$20 internet glasses from Zenni Optical

She would not stop eating her 100 fruit loops for the picture. 

Celebrating 100 days of school.  2 days late thanks to snow days.

Chocolate cake. Peanut butter icing. Dipped in Ganache.