Beauty in Bloom

Saturday morning scene

Legos kept them busy for a very long time this morning.

Until it ended in sadness.

It's tough being a little sister.

 

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On another news front, Momma bear is sick.

Boo.

It was bound to happen.

Happy weekend people!

Yesterday

I know I get looks.

I was the mom at storytime taking photos.  I sure did.

I was the only one.

It back fired though. She would not cooperate. Perhaps she knows I am crazy.  May as well find out sooner rather than later.  It's just this was her first time. Couple that with the fact that I take photos of everything and anything...so there you go....

 Pictures of the girl sort of enjoying storytime.

Above: She listened for about 2.2 seconds.

Below: One of the books. It was an owl theme.

Kind of perfect.

Above: She listened for another 1.5 seconds.

Below: The cute craft. An owl mask.

One thing I learned about myself today is that I am not one of the Moms who enjoys singing songs at Storytime. I still love my kids though. Just not enough to sing in public I guess.

I think it went well. She might be a little young for it. Or maybe she just has a mother who is not patient enough. I will try again though, for her sake. :)

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We left the library and headed to McD's because it was raining and I also wanted to check out the new playland.  Annie asked if any friends would be there and I told her no, probably not.  That sweet girl said, "That's ok, I will make new friends."

To our surprise, not one but two families were there from our church.  It was a party, and I got to talk to some friends too. Bonus!

It's obvious by the next photo that sister was plain ol' worn out.  We came home and she fell asleep almost instantly. I was thankful too because she has been fighting me with naps lately.

Faith had an Orthodontist appointment at 4:30. She is only 8! This is going to be expensive. I can feel it.

After we saw Dr. Heinz, whom we love I might add, we rushed off to Girl Scouts.

I fell asleep early.

I have been a major homebody lately, so yesterday actually wore me out.  It's not really like me to want to be home all the time. Oh well, it is doing me some good.  I am sure money is being saved and if you have not already heard.....I AM CAUGHT UP ON ALL MY LAUNDRY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS! How sad is it that I celebrate that!?!?!

***while writing this post, my husband called and told me that we need to go visit his beloved Grandmother. Her health is failing rapidly and she just wants to go be with Jesus. Please pray for her and our/Bob's entire family. This woman is a true follower of Christ and someone whom my husband I love dearly. There is NO doubt that she will be missed. I personally am praying for a miracle.***

Times like these make the little moments such BIG moments. That is why I take photos of everything. So I will always remember the details.  I know that it may not matter in the end but I just don't care.  It matters to me.

A party for Liv.

We were finally able to celebrate my sweet girl's 2nd birthday on Sunday. Homegirl was sick on her birthday on New Year's Eve and it lasted for over 10 days!  My original idea was to go with an animal print theme because I found some cute paper months ago, but I ended up simplifying it a lot because we had the party so late. I kind of threw in a bit of a milk and cookies twist because I saw some really cute ideas for that theme on Pinterest.

 I am a Pinterest addict. Aren't we all?

In case you are wondering this is what simplifying looks like for me. 

The table of goodies.

My very simple cake...with a surprise inside.

Zebra stripes. {Inspiration here.}

The banner.

Animal paper & doilies. Love.

Found these yummy cookies here. BaNilla sandwich cookies. Serious goodness.

Balloon centerpiece from Party Magic...a local party supply store. I buy these for our parties now instead of helium balloons. They last a long long time. Plus, they are so cute.

Present time.

Blow out the candles!

I did it!

Enjoying her chocolate milk.

Big sista Annie eatin' cake.

These little milk bottles were a hit. The bottles are those Starbuck's frappucino drinks. (thanks hubby for drinking them first) The straws are from here.

Enough photos mommy. Sheesh.

It was a sweet, small and stress free party. I intended it to be that way.  I wanted to celebrate my girl, but not go overboard by inviting everyone we know. Especially since her birthday is 1 week after Christmas.

I live for this really. Throwing parties for my girls that is.

Not lit-ra-lee. (I live for more important things too.)

I just love the process.

And now that we have Pinterest, the sky is the limit. Which can also be so overwhelming. But I don't mind.

 ****post edit: I just realized I for got the invites

Purchsed from My Retro baby.

 

2 years late

For some reason I can't seem to get myself to a salon for a proper haircut. I go years between them. I think it's because I can never seem to decide how I would like my hair to be.

Long or short?

Bangs or no bangs?

Last night, I finally got my first professional haircut in like 2 years. (That is if you don't count my husband cutting my hair a few months back.)

I have to say that I just ADORE my stylist Mandy. She knows what looks good on me and she did me a favor last night in a big way. I really needed a boost of confidence because it has been lacking lately.

This is before. Long, heavy, no shape. (btw...I really suck at taking photos of myself)

This is after. Yes, I am standing in the middle of JoAnn's. After I got my haircut I went there for some supplies for Olivia's birthday party on Sunday.

I love it. A little sassy, side-bangs, lighter version of me.

One of my goals for myself this year does include taking care of me. Not only the weight thing, but everything.

Get more sleep.

Drink water.

Don't wait 2 years in between haircuts.

Floss.

Do something about my wardrobe.

I want to desperately want lose weight too but that is not everything. I just want to feel better. Have more self-confidence. I know it will make me a better wife and mom. I can do this. I have to do this.

Hey self----Baby steps. Stop waiting. Just do it. That is all.

 

Weekending

Lord have mercy. Today was a rough one. I don't know about you but days like these make me want to quit and run away. BUT then, I sit down to write this post because I have documented our weekend and want to share it with you and I realize how I wish I could do this day all over again. Because now, I will never get it back.

I was going through the pictures of our weekend and I am overcome with such gratitude.

And some guilt too.

I know how lucky I am, but sometimes I wish things were different. I am not sure what I wish was different though.

That's why I feel the guilt.

Enough whining. I did that on Facebook already. Thanks to all my girls for the support. I knew I wasn't alone. Holla!

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We started our three day weekend early by playing hookie from school. It made up for Thursdays mini-blizzard (exaggeration) that actually made national headlines because of the horrendous road conditions. Our school didn't call off either day! I guess we will be happy about that in the summer.

I found the girls outside happily eating snow. Also, might I just add that today, just 3 days later, the temperature reached over 60 degrees. Crazy!

 

Sophie girl. Our doggie loves snow.

 

 Friday night: Ballet

 

Saturday night...dinner at Steak n Shake. Just the girls and I. I think I took this photo 25 times just to get this blurry shot. They asked for a shake and I said YES! Yay me :)

 

Sunday after church. 

 

Sunday afternoon at 3pm marked the start of our date night. Yes that's right.

Date night baby.

We started at Crate & Barrel.

 

Sweetheart mugs. Love. I brought one home with me.

 

Next we headed to the Galleria. We checked out Anthro, Restoration Hardware and then we ate at the Cheesecake Factory. How sweet of my husband to do what I wanted. I love him.

I want to bring him home. But for $69, not likely.

 

Instead of a piece of cheesecake, I ordered "The flying gorilla." A milkshake made of chocolate and spiked with banana liquer. It was divine. 

After dinner we had time to kill before our movie started at 7pm. The mall actually closed at 6pm so we left for a bit and headed to World Market and Trader Joes. 

We found some Bacon flavored syrup at World Market. Strange.

I love that when you walk into Trader Joes there are beautiful & affordable fresh flowers. If I lived closer than an hour away from TJ's I would have fresh flowers every week.

 
 

 After we left TJ's I will admit we almost went home because we were kinda feeling tired. How pathetic! I am so glad we went back to the Galleria and saw the movie. It was the new Mark Walberg one called Contraband. A compromise of sorts for all the shopping I made Bob do. The movie was good, but it stressed me out! I do like Marky Mark though.

Here we are before the movie started. My husband might think I am crazy. Taking pictures all night long. He never said a word though. He just lets me do my thing.

I am a lucky girl. 

A lucky girl who still has bad days.

Christmas Two-thousand and late {2011}

It's Friday the 13th, but by the time I finish typing, it will probably be the Saturday 14th.

I am writing this post so late at night. The amount of information that I want to cover has me sidetracked. I sat down to write, but then I found myself looking up how to map my own domain. Then I purchased my own domain. Then I tried to set it up.

So far, I have failed.

I think I will try again another day so I can finish what I meant to start.

I promised myself that I was going to write about our Christmas and the many things we did this year(or should I say last year now) to celebrate. Because last year I slacked.

I let time get away from me and never was able to document it. Even though I am late with this years post, I don't mind. We made a lot of great memories so I feel like they are worth documenting. Late or not.

 I am including all activities leading up to the the big day.

Here goes. Grab a drink or maybe take a bathroom break before starting.

Christmas programs:

Annabel as "The Angel" in her preschool play.

She was also a reindeer. That is her with her hands in her mouth. Super.

The girls were also in our church's Christmas program called "The Shepard's Story."

Faith is a Shepard. Annie is her sheep.

Annie delivering the opening line(photo taken by Callea, I took it from Facebook)

All the kiddos!

Visiting Santa:

Santa came to visit the preschoolers. Annie was into it.

Talking serious business.

I took this photo with my cell phone just after they took their official Santa photo. Yes I do make my kids take a photo every year with the Big Guy. This was our 8th year. Yes I do pay a ridiculous amount for said photos. I packed away the official photo, you know cause Christmas was like 3 weeks ago. Olivia was in that one. She bolted as soon as we got it.

Another Ethan photo:

That particular night he tee-pee'd the tree...rascal. Like our ghetto cord that's hanging under the cabinet?

Me either.

 Baking:

The little one was made from a mold that I found at an antique/craft store. It was from The Pampered Chef. The bigger house was bought on clearance last year. We used the candy from it to decorate both.

Oh, let me just publicly apologize to my girls for the old hard candy. Sorry girls. I would not let them eat it because it was too hard. Someday they will read this. If you are reading this and that scarred you for life, I am sure the list is long and this won't be the worst thing I have done to you. Lesson: Spend the extra money and buy YOUR kids a fresh Gingerbread House kit. Momma is cheap.

The finished products:

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We get together every year to bake sugar cookies with my Mom. I think this was our 4th year!

Making Christmas card for friends:

They loved doing this. I bought some premade cards from Michaels for $1 and they just decorated them. Doesn't get much easier.

Pretty lights:

Rock Springs Park

Our tree.

Christmas Eve:

Told you this was gonna be long!

Every year we spend Christmas Eve with my Mom's side of the family at my beloved Grandpa Joe's house. Everyone was there. Even Joshy!

Olivia and Sam

Soda thief strikes again.

Time for presents.

Yay! I finally got the LaLa loopsy that I wanted. Thanks Grandma.

My Mom always spoils my girls but this year she made some very special gifts. Annie got this beautiful butterfly rag quilt. She made my nephew a turtle. I plan on doing a separate post on all the handmade items that she worked so hard on. They are all so awesome!

 
After Santa visited.

Here is what Faith wrote to Santa. Just precious. I think it might be time though. She is wise to his ways.

 

Christmas Morning:

The girls woke us up before 6 a.m.

I mean, Faith woke us up.

I can't be mad though, I was the one to wake up the house when I was younger.

Being the oldest, it's our birthright.

Olivia got a bitty baby. We named her baby Lucy. She may or may not have kicked her baby after this photo was taken. They have made up since then.

Playing in the box my new Silhouette Cameo came in. I have the best hubby!

After the sun came up.

Here they are all ready for church.

We had a wonderful, beautiful, blessed and stress-free Christmas.

So blessed.

That is all.

It's the little things...

Today's mission was simple:

Find the girls some parasol picks. (a.k.a. tiny paper umbrellas)

The kind that are put in fancy drinks.

Or at our house, used for Polly Pocket props.

Yesterday, I searched every store in Upper Alton while I was supposed to be out buying Claratin for Liv.

All 3 of them said, "We just stopped carrying them, or we just clearanced them out."

Yeah, sure.

For some reason my kiddos think these are a hoot and Olivia just broke their last one that Faith and Annie scored at a bridal shower like 8 months ago.  When I shared with them that I had been on a mission to find some new ones, they were excited.

Until I told them I couldn't find any.

So, I did what any good mother would do and promised Annie that Mommy would get her some tomorrow.

All of this was my fault anyway.

So this morning we headed to Schnucks because I was told by many I could find them there.

Great. I need to go there anyway.

No luck.

I was told, "we just stopped carrying them."

Of course. I knew that.

We leave the store. Annie wasn't upset. Probably because I told her we would hit up the party store later. I was hoping she would forget. I mean all of this was my idea anyway.

Not so.

At 4:15 today, I was downstairs doing laundry(which if you know me at all you know I would rather be clawing my own eyes out), just about ready to head up to finish dinner. She comes down and say's, "Mommy, you said we were going to the party store to get umbrellas. Can we?"

You should have seen that sweet face. Even Bob said he would not have been able to resist.

"Yes, Annie. Go get on your shoes and coat."

This is the year of saying YES more often to my children.

I feel like I say NO way too much.

Within reason of course. I have no intention on being wasteful or indulgent.

Look how happy she is.

144 count box = hours and hours of fun.

Best $7 I have ever spent.

We also had fun trying on glasses & masks.

This one was for daddy. She insisted that I take a picture of her wearing it and send it to him.

This last one is proof that all of this was NOT for nothing.

Now Polly Pocket has protection from the rain.

Too bad they are made out of paper.

 

I think I am going to like saying Yes.

Day 7...and some cute dancers.

Ok, it is day 7.

I feel so bad for my sweet girl. She is miserable. Unfortunately it seems as though we are just going to have to wait this out. Not much we can do for her really. Her sickness has gone from vomiting to diarrhea to high fever to runny nose and some severe coughing. The kind where she gags and sometimes throws her food up. It breaks my heart.

Here is how I found here earlier today. Tell me, what is the obsession with boxes? I don't get it.

I will also admit that the exhaustion is getting to me too. I feel icky and tired. Others are beginning to suffer from it. I am not proud.

1.) My husband
2.) The girl at the drive thru window at Bread Co. this morning.

To my sweet husband. I am so sorry. You do so much for me. The least I can do for you is throw your clothes in the dryer at midnight and not wake you up by yelling at you for it. Forgive me?

Please.

To the poor girl at Bread co. Sorry I got snippy with you. I felt so bad when I left the window. If I ever see you there again, I will apologize to your face. I was so tired and the line was very very long.

Like I said. Not one of my finer moments.

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I really wanted to share these photos of my cute little dancers back at the end of December. I know I am so two thousand and late, but I don't care. I want to record these memories. It is so important to tell your story. Even the small details. I will love looking back at this blog one day. Even if no one else cares. I will.

 It is one of my goals for the new year. "Cultivate a good life and record it." ~~Becky Higgins, creator of Project Life. More on that later.

Back to the photos.

 Some action shots taken by Jill, one of my best friends. Our girls are dancing together again this year. It has been so much fun.

I love this one. That is Jill's daughter, Bella in the back jumping super high. Go Bella! Faith on her toes in the front looking like a real balerina. Love.

Annie did so great. She kept up with her class so well. You would never know that she is the only preschooler in a class of 1st graders. So proud of her too!

That is all for now. I feel like if I post a few Christmas activities at a time it will be less overwhelming. Mostly for me.

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I am hoping things turn around here. I am so ready for life to be back to normal. I miss my friends and our playdates. Sometimes I think those are more for the Mom's anyway.

Taking care

My goodness it seems like my girl has been sick forever. In reality, it has only been 5 days. Poor girl has been glued to my side and will not let me out of her sight.

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

This is how most of our week has been spent. It is so sad to watch. I hate feeling helpless. I am thankful that she is finally recovering. It could have been worse. We snuggled a lot. At least she is healing and so far, the other two have stayed healthy.

Today I took her to the Take Care Clinic at Walgreens. Mainly because our doctor is too far away and I would not have had time to get there and back before Annie's preschool ended. She woke up this morning coughing and saying that her throat hurt. I don't mess around with sore throats.

I have had strep way too much in my life.

Luckily, the rapid strep test came back negative. The nurse sent a throat culture off to the lab to be on the safe side. I have to say that I was impressed with the care we received.

The wait was kind of long though.

Here are a few pics I took with my cell phone as we waited...

Must you take a picture of me in Walgreens Mom?

 

(killing time in the toy isle)

(I am so bored!)

Homegirl threw a few tantrums when we finally got back into the room. Things she hated include but are not limited to:

Being weighed

Having her blood pressure taken

Having her throat swabbed(twice)---with her on that one!

The nurse looking at her or speaking to her. Period.

At one point she asked if that was normal for her to act like this at the doctors office. Uh, no! I just told her that it was probably because she was not feeling well.

Who knows.

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If I can get her to unlatch her tiny fists from my body sometime soon, I plan on posting our Christmas and New Years photos. Oh, and since I made some resolutions...ahem...goals for the new year, I think I might share them too.

It's quite a long list.

Not joking.

Oh, and I picked a word for the first time ever. Something to strive for. I guess because that is what all the cool kids do.

Simplify.

Ironic, yes?

My New Year's baby is two.

Oct. 2011 taken by Breathtaking Photography

It's 10:00 pm on New Years Eve.

The house stinks to high heaven.

We are playing Rockband.

It is my sweet baby's birthday. Olivia Jane turned 2 today! Instead of celebrating her birthday or celebrating New Year's with friends, I have been cleaning up her vomit and diarrhea all day. It has been kind of a bummer, but we are spending our first New Year's at home as a family. Which is something we have never done. We are always away from home. Two years ago tonight, I was laying in a hospital bed all alone after giving birth to my sweet girl.

4 days old

Daddy had taken the other two home and the nurse's were taking care of my 3 hour old newborn.

I rested.

Good thing too. Because this chick keeps me running.

Olivia Jane, my dear, you are the light of our lives.

Your sisters simply adore you.

You are so sassy.

You are so sweet too.

You say NO to everything, even if you mean YES.

You hardly listen to me. Maybe it's the age.

I think it's just because you are stubborn.

I am your favorite person.

Baby dolls are your favorite toys.

Macaroni and cheese is your favorite food.

Some of your nicknames are Livy, Livy Lou, Livy Jane, shorty, and Lou Lou.

Just to name a few.

Happy 2nd Birthday to our sweet girl.

We love you so much and can't imagine a life without you!

Sassy in her heels

A little Artist....Nov. 2011

Christmas morning. Playing with a box of course.

Poor girl spent her birthday very sick.

Thankfully I didn't plan to have her party today. I think I will wait a week or two.

  

While I was picking up the older two girls from a sleepover at Grandma's, Bob took Olivia outside for a bit to swing. It was 60 degrees here on New Year's Eve and she was feeling ok that moment so he thought it might cheer her up. I had just left so he was also distracting her too. She will not leave my side for anything right now.

Secretly, I don't mind.

******For the life of me I can not get any photos to load! I will try again tomorrow and edit this post with some photos of Olivia.  Turns out my computer is too new for Typepad's website. Had something to do with Internet Explorer.

I have a computer again. My awesome husband just decided to buy me a new one. We got an amazing deal. It has only been a few days since I have been able to join the online world again.

Happiness.

I am dying to share our Christmas photos, but we have been so busy this week spending time together as a family since Bob has been off work. I wish you could hear him singing "Eye of the Tiger" on Rockband. I am typing this and the girls gave up trying to play a long time ago, so he is just singing by himself.

Pure awesomeness.

Happy New Year!