Sunday, November 29, 2009

Neat Contest

My friend is having another contest and I want to try and win this one. I lost last week on the beautiful tutu, but this one is also really neat! It is a nursing cover giveaway and I will be needing one! Visit here and enter for yourself, a friend or for me! Good luck!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

I really hate to post this

But my super crafty friend is hosting another giveaway! This is one is great! If you have a girl 6 or younger, or know someone who does, you must go enter this! If you don't want it for yourself then enter for our girls! LOL! Seriously, you can. =) Anyways, here is the link. I am really hoping we win because the Hippie wants this for Christmas, but if we don't, I would at least like to go to someone we know because I want to see a cute little girl wearing this! I would LOVE to do a photo shoot with the girls wearing this. Anyways, I know a lot of my followers have girls...Miranda, Claire, Cathy....so head on over and enter!
Happy early Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Sorry Dad

Only 3 people agree that you MUST have cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving! The official winners of the poll were Pumpkin Pie and Mashed Potatoes! I thought it was funny that those beat out the turkey! Our house is getting ready for the big day. A dear friend, sent us a thankful tree. Last night we put it up and the girls made their "thankful leaves". Today we have been busy cleaning. The guest room is ready and waiting for my hubby's sister to get here, in a little bit there will be homemade granola and pumpkin baking in the kitchen and tomorrow we brine the turkey! I am so excited for Thanksgiving!
What are you all having for your Thanksgiving menu? We are having turkey and ham, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, homemade rolls and cornbread, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, cheesecake and oreo ice cream dessert. I think it is safe to say that no one will walk away hungry!
On a side note, I have loved listening to what our girls want for Christmas this year. Since they don't watch commercials they rarely ask for anything by name. The Hippie wants a fancy dress up item. The Genius wants a wagon to hook onto the back of her bike so she can pull things with it. We already know what we are getting them and I cannot wait to start shopping for it.
Anyways, I hope everyone has safe Thanksgiving travels and Happy early Thanksgiving!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Bird

I just love the curious nature of our girls! I love that they have not become squeamish over things that gross ME out! I must say, that since having kids, I do try and control my reaction because we want them to be curious. Today they were outside playing and the Hippie came tearing into the house with the cheeks flushed and her eyes all lit up and huffing and puffing she said, "You will never believe what we found in the yard! You have got to come see it! I think it's a bird and it is not flying or moving! It may be dead!" My brave husband tramps outside and found.... a dead bird. We have no clue how it died, but the girls were bouncing around and wanting to touch it. He let them and then scoured down their hands with soap AND Germ-Ex! They then had to run up to their room and get their HUGE book on birds and they spent the next 10 minutes trying to identify the species. I think at that point they got distracted by leaves blowing through the yard, but it was super cute! I hope they keep this curiosity for quite awhile. They sure make life fun!

Friday, November 20, 2009

Give Thanks!

At Girl Scouts yesterday the girls made a Thanksgiving craft. It is this really cute little turkey and each feather is something they are thankful for. I thought you would enjoy their respective lists.
Each list was completely their own ideas!
The Genius:
Daddy
Mommy
Her Sister
Friends
Fall
Food
Nana
Little Presents
Christmas

The Hippie:
Birds
Making Cards
Windy Days
Growing Gardens
Birthdays
Eating Turkey
Getting Presents
Raking
People Coming Over

Two pretty different and amusing lists from two pretty different sisters! They are each pretty accurate too! Very fitting for their personalities! Hope you all hae a great Friday!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Whash Dat?

I hope no one thinks I am cruel for this post but it was so funny to me! Yesterday I took the Genius in for her laser surgery. She cannot eat or drink anything for 12 hours before. Since we had to be there so early in the morning, she had to stop eating and drinking around 6 p.m. the night before. Needless to say, she arrived on a very empty stomach. After they had monitored her pulse and blood pressure awhile they brought her (What the nurses called) "Goofy Juice". I am not sure what it is. They said it has a small amount of tylenol in it though. They gave it to the baby in the "room" next to us and she fell asleep within 5 minutes. Not so for the Genius. She fought it tooth and nail and it was SOOO funny! Within 5 minutes of taking it, her words started slurring a little. Then (and this is where I got so tickled) she started seeing things. She said, "Mommy, you gotch 5 eysh". She also saw curtains waving, ceiling pieces falling and told the doctor "You gotsh 2 headth". He said, "That does seem to happen to us sometimes." She was quite entertaining to me! I sat there with her for an hour before they took her back! The surgery itself takes less than 10 minutes. We had a little trouble waking her up afterwards (because they give her laughing gas too). When she did wake the poor thing was so dizzy. We had to wheel her out in a wheelchair. Other than that, she did quite well and seems fine today! But I still say watching her with the "goofy juice" was real funny!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Busy

Thanksgiving just keeps looking better and better! These past few weeks have been so busy that Thanksgiving will truly feel like a vacation. We have not been busy with bad stuff, just school, lots of doctors appointments, oil changes that type of stuff. The girls therapist (for their Selective Mutism) is worried about them having to stop therapy if my hubby loses his job so she has been having us come A LOT! She has been doing more testing on them etc.... which means appointments lasting 2 hours plus the hour drive up and back. I am thankful though that she is so concerned for them and is doing extra to help us out if we have to stop therapy. Meanwhile, the Genius goes in tomorrow for her next surgery. She is actually excited for it this time! She really liked getting to wear pjs and slippers into the surgery center. She wore these cute cheetah ones (cause they have to be button up) and these cheetah slippers my sister bought her. She was quite the belle of the floor! All the nurses just oohed and aahed over her. Plus we have the first time nerves behind us. The doctor was true to his word and did not use any needles! The only thing she did not like was drinking the medicine. But they let her have a small sip of sprite afterwards and that seemed to help! =)
As for Thanksgiving, I am beyond excited for all out family to get here! We are going to have a full house! We have the menu planned out, the turkey is in the freezer and after this busy week is over I can start my cleaning and meal preparations! I cannot wait! Thinking about the meal makes me think of my dad and all the foods he HAS to have on the table for Thanksgiving to be real. Like that cranberry gel stuff? He has to have it but seriously eats 1 slice and we throw the rest away! It is a family joke now, but we do serve it every year! What is the one food you HAVE to have on Thanksgiving? Stop and vote on my new poll before you leave.

Friday, November 13, 2009

What is that boy doing?

Friday night is usually pizza night at our house. We usually make or pick up pizza and watch a movie together. Tonight we watched Little House on the Prairie. Specifically we watched Part 2 of "As long as We're Together". In this episode Walnut Grove has been closed by the evil railroad company. So, several of the families move to the blind school where Adam and Mary are working. If you recall, this is the show where they meet Albert. He is frequently seen stealing things from different people. At one point Mrs. Olsen sees Albert stealing some coins that some kids were gambling with. He says, "I'm with the church. Gambling is a sin." Later in the episode he steals something else. I asked the Genius. "What is that boy doing?" She said, "Stealing things for the church Mommy!" I love that kid!

You may think....

your husband is better than mine, but you would be wrong. =) Seriously, this morning I got breakfast in bed AGAIN! Then when I got out of bed, I saw that he had gotten the girls up and taken care of AND gone back and made our bed! Does it get any better than that? I love him SOOOOOO much!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Ladybug

Our girls like lady bugs. In fact, they sometimes, quite literally, love them to death. The Hippie really likes to find a ladybug and carry it in her hand. The other day she had one in her hand and was shaking it. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "Just letting her have some fun." She kept the ladybug and talked to her. As we got closer to my parents house she said, "I love this bug but I love Daisy (the cat) more, so when we get to Nana and Gampy's I will let Daisy eat her." Don't you love her philosophy?

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Super Grandparents

Our girls are so lucky to have my parents as their grandparents! They love their Nana and Gampy SOOOOOO much! What exactly do my parents do that is so magical? Nothing. They just give our girls their time. Completely, freely and fully. They walk with them, laugh with them, talk to them and completely listen to every single answer our girls give (even when it is two at a time =) ). Our girls love spending time with Nana and Gampy and we know exactly why. Thanks Mom and Dad!!!!!
We love you all!

Monday, November 9, 2009

What my husband did

Do you know what he did this morning? I woke up to find breakfast in bed!!!! Complete with a pretty glass tumbler full of orange juice! 8 years of marriage and I love him more than ever!!!!!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Fall








I must confess that today we skipped church. My husband worked all day yesterday and during some of the night. He was released this morning around 9:30. So we decided to just stay home and enjoy our only day together. We ended up with a picnic at our favorite park. It was a wonderful day and even though we did not attend church, we did enjoy God's creation!

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Ponies and their names

I took the girls to a playland the other day, just to get out of the house for awhile. They each got a kids meal and inside was a pink pony with pink hair. The Hippie named hers "Aliss" (think A-list but leave off the T). The Genius named hers Alan. I said, "Oh, it's a boy?" She said, "No, what name did you think I said?" I said, "Alan." She said, "Yes, her name is Alan." Ooooookay then! =)
Later they were playing with a little girl who did not speak much English. (That works amazingly well for kids with Selective Mutism!) This little girl lost her pony in a crack. The Hippie said, "Wait, I have just the thing in my purse." She came and got bug pinchers (LOL!) out of her pink shimmer purse and both girls helped the little girl get her pony back. It was a fun trip!!!!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Christmas on my mind

Christmas. I love it! I love everything about Christmas! The music, the smells, the decorations, the music, gift giving, shopping, the music and of course the music! My girls are JUST like me. But my husband, well, he is almost the proverbial scrooge. He claims to like Christmas but he despises Christmas music. He likes the greenery but finds the lights silly. He cannot stand shopping, unless it is online and he really, really HATES the music! He loves the meal I make, the goodies and he loves spending the day here at home with our girls, but he is not crazy about Christmas like the rest of us. In fact, I had to secure a deal with him EARLY into our marriage. Our first Christmas together he came home around this time (early to mid November) and I was cheerily singing and cleaning to Christmas music. Then and there we learned our differences. We came up with a compromise, if I can refrain from playing or singing Christmas music BEFORE Thanksgiving, then the day after through Christmas I can listen to it AS MUCH AS I WANT!!!! I am not thrilled with the deal, but I will take it and I keep it! But to try and squeeze in some Christmas stuff before Thanksgiving I've got craft fairs! Tomorrow, there are not 1, not 2 but THREE all within a mile of our house! I cannot wait! Let the festivities begin!!!!!!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Sweet girls

I just love that our girls love Thanksgiving! They are already praying for Thanksgiving and are so excited for our family to start rolling in for it! They know that we host Thanksgiving and our house gets filled up with family and friends. Today they had to count to see how many days left til their Aunt gets here. She sleeps in our "guest room" and the girls love that! They are already planning their counterattacks for when she tickles them. My parents and sister may stay one night here too and the girls are already figuring out sleeping arrangements! The Genius wants Nana in her room and the Hippie wants to snuggle up in Mommy and Daddy's bed! I just think it is too cute how excited they are! And for the record....it is 21 days til family arrives! =)

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Go ahead, try something new!

I like trying seasonal veggies and trying new recipes! Also, who can resist comfort food??? So, some night, give this a try!

1/2 Butternut Squash (peeled and diced) about 2 cups
2 tsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp. salt and pepper
1 box whole wheat pasta
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups low fat or skim milk
1 3/4 cups White Cheddar Cheese (I found it in the organic section)

Preheat oven to 375. Toss the squash with the olive oil and salt and pepper. Place on a foil lined baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or til soft.

Cook pasta according to instructions.

Drain pasta and place in a bowl with the cooked squash. Meanwhile in the pot melt the butter. Slowly whisk in the flour and cook on low for 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in the milk. Bring it to a boil and then simmer it for about 2 minutes. Whisk in about 3/4 of the cheese til melted. Remove from heat and add in the pasta/squash. Stir it well and top with remaining cheese. Then bake for about 10-15 minutes!

It was SOOOOOOO good!

Let me know if you give it a shot!

The Best

Halloween was great! Our friends picked up some pizzas and brought their boys over. We all sat outside around the fire pit, eating pizza and making smores. The kids hit a few houses for candy and then played with flashlights in the yard. It was so nice and relaxing! If only the time change was that nice......