Happy Hearts: Part Two

I wanted to add some more happy hearts! I think we are as decorated for Valentine's Day as we will get this year. And no, this isn't even all about decorated. There are a few other things too! I put out the Valentine's garden flag earlier today. Here it is:

And this is the wreath that has been up since before New Years. I don't have a good winter wreath - I need to look into that. This is the one I made for Katie's first birthday party. I think it works wonderfully for Valentine's too!

And we had some friends over this past weekend, and Melinda made some yummo cookies. And they have the most fab icing ever. Like really. Delicious. And quite cute, I think!

And this really doesn't have to do with hearts or Valentine's (since they could just as easily work for Easter), but I am loving these new mixing bowls I bought. I actually bought them with the hand towels from my previous post. Aren't they just amazing?! And yes, they are dotty - my favorite.

And last but not least...me and Katie! She was being all snuggly before we went upstairs for naptime (for her, not me). So I quickly did a self-portrait! Please excuse my lack of makeup.

Happy Hearts: Part One

It's that time of year again! And I just love these hand towels I bought...I've been wanting some really cute Valentine's hand towels, and I finally found some! Aren't they cute?!

Also, this year, I am going to make the valentines Katie gives her classmates at Mother's Day Out. These are the supplies (plus maybe a silver sharpie...we will see). Stay tuned to see the final product!!

Resolution Recap: January

I think it will be good for me to do a monthly recap of the resolutions I gave myself. Maybe that will make me more accountable..? Who knows! But it definitely can't hurt! So here we go:

1) Read 14 books: I have finished one book and have started me second one.
2) Learn to sew: Nope. Nothing.
3) Cook more frequently (2-3 times/week): This one is hard. When Brad travels for work, I don't want to cook for just me and Katie. I will say that it seems like we are doing better about eating out. I call that a half success :)
4) Read the Bible everyday and read it all the way through: Check! I have read the Bible everyday and am doing a reading plan to help you read it all the way through during a calendar year. It says I have read 7.9% so far.
5) Use the treadmill 4 times/week: Well, I have done pretty well with this. My neighbor and I set a schedule to go workout at the neighborhood clubhouse on Tues, Thurs, and Sun nights. But both of our husbands travel some for work - and we both have toddlers. And I have done better about walking on my treadmill. And I have Plantar Fasciitis, so I have tried to take a small break for that to heal. Hopefully I can get back into my routine this week or next week.
6) Use coupons when I shop: Doing better! I actually went to CVS this past week and bought a package of diapers, 2 small containers of laundry detergent, 2 6-packs of paper towels, and 2 jugs of white grape juice - spent $7.xx and saved $37.xx - not too shabby!! I do have a hard time though, because in my effort to cook more, there are recipes I want to make and need to buy the items for it - typically without coupons. I don't know if I should start only coupon shopping and create a stockpile of items, or if I should just go through the inserts and cut out the coupons for items I know we will use soon and file them away. If you care to weigh in on that dilemma, please feel free!
7) De-clutter & simplify: There will be a post dedicated to just this. I think I also want to add "organize" to this one. But yes - stay tuned...I even bought a book for this one :)
8) Find a Sunday school class at church: Negative. I did get a brochure that had all of them listed though - definite progress!
9) Buy fresh flowers once/month: Dangit! We had people over last night and I meant to get flowers when I shopping for that. I guess I need to go buy some today so I don't fail my first month. I think I will do that this afternoon.
10) Have a date day/night with Brad at least once/month: Success! We did that earlier this month - and actually have done it maybe 3 times this month! I like this resolution :)
11) Send 2 hand-written notes/month: One down, one to go. I even bought cute paper and envelopes for this one! Maybe I will include that with the organization post. I plan to write a letter/card this afternoon though! So yes, check!
12) Have another baby!: Still trying! Hopefully this happens sooner rather than later...

Not too bad for the first month of my resolutions! I hope I can keep up the good work throughout the whole year. I definitely think all of these items are doable and plan to keep it up!

Busted!!!

We have a game that we play at our house, usually as a family. It is the "chase game". What is it you ask? Well, it involves one of us chasing the other(s) all over the house, sometimes in circles. It usually ends up with Sadie going crazy because she loves it. Then Katie squeals with delight because she loves it more. And the adult (ahem, or large child) runs around seeing if Katie is chasing him/her or if he/she is supposed to be finding Katie. It usually ends up with lots of "BOOs"! And it is fun - and allows Katie to get some of her toddler energy out!

Well the other day, Katie, Sadie, and I were playing just that game. We were having a blast. Here is the view I had while chasing Katie:

At one point, it got rather quiet. I waited a minute because I thought Katie was quietly sneaking up on me only to yell BOO and laugh uncontrollably after that. After rounding the corner very quietly, this is what I came across (and luckily had a camera).

And then after saying (with a giggle-infused stern Mama Bear voice), "Katie, WHAT are you doing?!"....this was her expression:

BUSTED!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Meal Time With Mr. Bear

First you have to prepare the meal.

Then you feed your bear.

Then you hug your bear.

Then you hand Mommy the bear and sit in the chair yourself.

Lastly, you look cute. And too grown up.

Fun Day Fridays

A few weeks ago, my friend (who has a 2 year old and a 4 month old) and I decided we needed to get out of the house and do something fun with the kids (that did not involve shopping). We had each gotten some Groupons to some of the places where kids can play, so we decided to use one of those. There is a place that I have posted about before called Peek A Boo Playtown that has different "stations" - kitchen, school, library, workshop, ball pit, dinosaur table, dollhouse table, block table, etc. It is great because it lets you figure out what your child really enjoys, AND you don't have to clean up :) I think the kids had a great time ... and then we went to lunch afterwards! Here are some pictures of the fun...

Playing with Minnie before we left the house

Katie and her friend Carter playing house - it was so funny!

Katie had so much fun chasing and popping bubbles!

Katie was even closing the doors of the dollhouse! She does that here...she loves to close bathroom doors, the garage door when we get home, the laundry room door, etc!

I love that she wanted to climb (as long as she doesn't climb all over everything at home - ha)!

Katie loved watching Carter's little sister. I was actually holding her and Katie was WAY jealous - she tried to get the baby out of my arms and sat in my lap. Oh my...

Silly expression!

The following Friday, we decided to get together again! Again, we had a Groupon to a different place that neither of us had been before. I think, by the end of the day, it was a hit! We decided to meet at Monkey Joe's - it is a fun place for kids that has all kinds of inflatables to jump in, slide on, etc. When we first got there, Katie was a bit unsure (to say the least). They had an area for children under 4 years old, so I was happy she wasn't getting run over by all the big kids. I tried getting in the bouncy thing with Katie - she hated it. She was just fine climbing up the platform that is typically used to get inside, and then sliding back down. She eventually did warm up to the place and had fun running around. Here are some pictures of that adventure!

Before we headed out - she looks so coordinated! Pink shirt, stroller, babydoll, and purse. That's my girl :)

This was her favorite - climb up to the top. Slide back down. Repeat.

Carter had the right idea - he had so much fun playing!

This was the first half of the playtime for Katie - running towards me crying....

...and wanting to snuggle with Momma. (which I wasn't complaining about, though I did want her to have fun!)

Once Katie warmed up to the idea of playing and having fun, she had a ball! And I actually got a cute picture of her and Carter. So cute. Carter's mommy and I have been friends for 20 years. Wow!

There's that sweet smile I love! She was on the go - having a blast!

She went inside the bouncy thing! Yay Katie!

...and another picture of Katie playing INSIDE the bouncy thing. Can't wait to go back and play some more!

Well, this past Friday, I was curious as to what we would do. I had some errands to run. And I decided to take Katie to the doctor again because she had been coughing a lot more - the kind where you cough til you gag. Yuck. Needless to say, it did not turn out to be a Fun Day Friday - we ended up with amoxicillin for an ear infection (left ear) and breathing treatments for bronchiospasms. I can tell she is doing much better and is actually not fighting us to do the breathing treatments now. Brad said this morning she wanted to push down on the medicine part while she was breathing - oh my.

Wordless Wednesday

The New Sippy

At lunch today, Katie perfected a new skill - drinking from a straw!! We had tried a few times with no success, but they gave us a kids cup at lunch, so we gave it another go. And boy am I glad we did! Katie was SO proud of herself - she drank the WHOLE cup of lemonade! I think it will take a few meals for her to understand that she can't "turn it up" like she does her sippy cups. Now we can use her "new" sippy cups with straws! Good work, sweet girl!

Infectious Happiness

March 3, 2010

January 5, 2011

That smile just kills me - it shows how infectious her little, excuse me, enormous, personality is! She is such a fun, sweet, caring, exuberant little girl. And she is growing up way too fast.

Magic Show

Now you see her....

...now you don't!

A New Year, A New Look: Part Two

A while back, I bought a daily deal (I subscribe to like 6 different sites - overkill? Quite possibly) for a haircut, partial highlight, and conditioning treatment at a swanky local salon. I decided to wait until after the new year to use it. See, when I go get my hair done, I always intend to just get a trim, but while I'm there, I end up agreeing to whatever the professional recommends. I have also only had highlights once in my life, and I was not a big fan. So I was looking forward to being pampered and getting a "new do"! I went in with the mindset of keeping my hair long since I've been wanting to grow it out. Well, here are the pictures....

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Obviously at the salon

I asked my mom to take a picture - we were at a fabric store!

Parted on the opposite side, shorter, subtle highlights....I love it! And I love that I can still wear it in a ponytail. And I love that the highlights are so subtle that it won't be obvious at all when it begins to grow out.

A New Year, A New Look: Part One

I was out shopping and stumbled across these pillows. We had talked about needing new pillows that looked nice and matched the new area rug, so this was perfect!! And the plus side was that they were on sale! I think the compliment the space very nicely - I just hope they stay looking nice and pretty for at least a few months. Between Brad and Katie, that may be a bit difficult though!

Looks good with the rug, doesn't it! Another project that has been completed is the TV is now hung over the fireplace - looks pretty good! So what's next you ask? We are now saving up for those built-ins. I think the space will look perfect once those built in bookcases are completed!

Snow Days

When you wake up to THIS out your front door....

...what exactly do you do to stay sane? Well, here is a bit of a montage of what our week has been so far! We wake up and eat breakfast. And doesn't she do it well? And she looks so good doing it....
We then begin playing. Such a girly girl. Pushing her stroller, carrying her purse, and holding another baby.

We also keep tabs on more snow falling outside.

After that, we make sure to give the bears some love.

Art time! We used the dot paints for the first time in the Elmo coloring book. Definitely a hit.

We then decide it is time to enjoy the snow. We bundle up and march outside. We throw the frisbee and play with Sadie.

We also make play with a spoon in the snow. It is fun to scoop it up and toss it in the air!

Of course, pausing to be cute is a necessity.

The next day, we had a feeling we'd be homebound yet again due to snow. We obviously had to get creative in our activities. We began the day with dress up. A new use for her own pants!

Oh, and she finds Momma's snow clothes - but they look pretty good on her too!!

We read a book with Mommy. (Mommy loves this cuddle time - so special.)

We do sticker art. Katie loves putting stickers on paper. When she's finished, she likes to carry it around so proudly.

On Day 3, we ventured out of the house. Where was our first stop, you ask? Well, Target, of course! And I think lots of moms in the area had the same idea - I'd say 80% of the other people in there were moms with small children! Thank goodness the roads are much better. I'm so glad that the temperatures should finally get above freezing starting tomorrow so we can finally get rid of the snow!