Saturday, March 29, 2008

Spring Break has started!

Didn't travel too far this year. Just down to Southern Indiana to hang. Hopefully the weather cooperates some and doesn't rain every day. The girls want to ride bikes and jump on the trampoline - other than that - they don't care what they do. Steve is back home with the cats to fend for himself. Hopefully, he'll be able to work late without feeling guilty and get caught up on sleep without worrying about us.

Thursday night while I was getting things packed Isabella brought me in a little piece of paper she wanted to leave for Steve. It was so sweet. She wrote him a Good bye note and told him she loved him. We put it in front of his sink and it was the first thing to greet him yesterday morning. He said he folded it up and put it in his chef coat and took it to work with him. She can drive me batty at times, but she has a heart of gold.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Let's see...

So, I want to add a funny Ava comment before I forget - she and I were riding in the car on the way home from dropping Isabella off at school. I had the radio on the Disney radio station and Ava asked me what song was playing. I replied I didn't know. She then said "oh, it's Hanna Montana". heehee I think that is the only singer she has heard of - probably because Isabella is always pointing out what songs are sung by Miley Cyrus. Speaking of Hanna Montana/Miley Cyrus - I really hope Isabella doesn't get "in" to her. She kinda creeps me out. Something with her mouth, jet black hair and always flashing the peace sign. Isabella occasionally watches her show on TV but I just am not a fan - well, before the black hair she wasn't so bad.

My deal for the week...I got a pair of 7 for All Mankind jeans for $35!!!!!! They were practically brand new and this pair retails for $185!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I saw them at the consignment store I almost didn't try them on because they were $35 but I kept hearing in the back of my head all the celebrity's raving about these jeans and their fit. Well, they were right. $35 right - not $185 right. LOL

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Picture post

Isabella with her loot at Chuck E Cheese on 2/27/08 (above) and with her cake (below)

The girls putting me through torture trying to get a *decent* picture of the 2 of them on Easter morning.



Alrighty - the Happy Easter post was all over the place! I couldn't get the picture posting and editing figured out so it was a crazy post - filled with lots of mish mash. LOL


Hope this one is better (I highly doubt it though!).

Happy Easter!

Why I must sweep the kitchen floor after every meal.
The girls checking out their loot on Saturday morning. I must note...in a previous post when I talked about the $ amount I wanted to spend vs what Steve wanted to spend (me:$50 he:$5) I was talking TOTAL for both - not $50 for each basket. I was talking to a couple people after that post and they were shocked I meant for both of them - they didn't think it was a bad amount for an individual basket. So - Steve, you ARE training me to cut back. LOL
The girls coloring their Easter eggs. Now, I would have loved to have them in their cute little Easter shirt (Isabella) and Overalls (Ava) but it was starting to snow outside people and they wanted a pajama day. So, I was a good mommy (although I was called Mean Mommy several times throughout the egg coloring process).
Proud of their dye jobs.


***This is the first time I am adding photo's to the blog from here so they are going to have to go first. I can't figure out how to get them at the end of the post. Will figure that out another day. I did move one to the end of the post but it was time consuming and I am limited on time right now.***


I hope everyone was able to celebrate and remember the sacrifice of the cross, the miracle of the tomb and the redemption of our sins this weekend! Steve had to work today but I was able to get up and get everyone ready (including doing Isabella's hair with hot rollers!) and be out the door by 9:10. And, no one was crying...usually it's me doing the crying - heehee. Yesterday I rolled Ava's hair in sponge rollers and then took them out before she went to bed. O.M.Gosh - she looked hilarious! Thank goodness I took them out last night so they could relax and fall while she slept. She looked so funny with curly hair. But, this morning it looked so adorable! When I removed the last curler from Isabella's hair and shook it out she said "I look like a movie star" (and actually she did).


As I'm sitting here typing this, Ava is on my lap and watching and her little head is just bopping all over the place. Poor thing was falling asleep sitting up. I repositioned her and now she is fast asleep.

This post will be filled with some misc pictures. I finally loaded pictures from Isabella's birthday when we went to Chuck E Cheese so I'll add those also. Oh, I don't know if I mentioned this is another post - but the other day Steve was putting down fertilizer in our yard and since JD is out of town working until the end of April he went ahead and put it down in their yard. Well, when he went into the back yard, he didn't have me go in the house and get the dogs or make sure the dogs knew he was the one out there - and Mikey came out bit him. It is a really bad bite on the back of his leg - very deep gash. He says it's still very painful. Plus, I can still see blood on his chef pants so I know it's far from being healed.

Today is my big sis's b-day ....Happy Birthday Michelle!!!! Hope you have a great day and year.






The girls and Steve with Nerra .











Friday, March 21, 2008

You mean mommy

That are the words coming out of Ava's mouth right now. Nice huh? Hey, I wear it like a badge of honor. heehee

The weather was nice today so Steve took the kids to a park this morning while I grocery shopped and Easter Bunny shopped. He and I have such differing views on how much money should be spent on things like this. I had in my head $50 - he had in his head $5. LOL We compromised on $25 but I ended up spending $30 because I threw in a pair of goggles for Isabella. I had wanted to get the movie Enchanted and The Bee Movie. He quickly reminded me they would just go in the pile of other movies we have that are watched once in a blue moon. Point taken - so I rented the today instead! Win Win! or Win Win Win if you watch The Office. LOL

We are doing our Easter Egg hunt inside the house tomorrow morning (it's suppose to snow tonight - CRAZY!). Steve has to work bright and early Easter morning so we are doing it tomorrow before he goes to work and setting the baskets out tomorrow morning as well. The kids wont' care it's a day early! heehee With the weather like it's been, I'm so glad I didn't buy Easter dresses so they could freeze their booties off. Ava is wearing Hanna Andersson that is bright and colorful and has long sleeves. Isabella is wearing Naartjie that is also spring like but long sleeves and warm.

I was able to get everything organized for the class party at school on Wednesday. Thankfully, the treat moms in the class are fantastic. It's fun being a room parent though and being able to be right in the thick of it all!

Isabella received an awesome present for her birthday. She just received it over the weekend while we were home. It is this designer tv game. It has them designing clothes, the cost involved with it, setting up a showroom and then fashion shows with judges judging. It also has you learn what the judges like and dislike so when you go back for other fashion shows you will design what they like and score higher. It is the perfect game for Isabella and teaches her a lot of different areas she might not have thought about. She really has a passion for designing clothes, handbags, shoes and accessories. This game is a huge hit!

Well, the kids are ready to eat so I need to get a move on it! I'm trying to post almost daily again. Hopefully, the kids will give me some good material to write about. LOL

Thursday, March 20, 2008

The power of positive thinking

Well, I survived the first day of my New Mommy way of thinking. I had a talk with the girls in the morning and explained we were going to have new ways of doing things. Ava: crying is allowed as well as fit throwing - but it's going to be done in the confines of your bedroom. Immediately when it starts she is given the option of going to her room to finish or staying with the rest of us without the whining/crying, etc.. She did awesome! Isabella: when I tell you to do something it's not a question. Do it without fuss or else bedtime will come earlier, computer time and tv time will be cut short as well. Again, she did great too! So....it confirmed that it was me and my crappy parenting that had led myself to this mess. I was the one who allowed the trainwreck to happen. It also confirmed kids need and want structure. Today has been great as well.

Doing these small things changed my thinking from focusing on every negative aspect of my daily life to looking at the positive moments the kids had, I had and so on. I'm a much happier mommy because of it.

Also I had such a long, heart felt email from my friend Wendi. The thing that just hit home with me and was almost like a punch in the gut was this comment "Remember, SuperMom is a character just like SuperMan. We can't hold ourselves to it". Thank you Wendi!!!!! Muwah!

I went to yoga this morning and boy, she was tough. Lots and lots of strength training in it. I was able to hang but I think it is because of all the cardio I have been doing that gave me the stamina that I needed. I love me some power fitness yoga! Then, the steam room with mint - why oh why did I wait almost an entire year before stepping foot in there. I love that place! Took a nice long, hot QUIET shower - not one kid knocked on my door, pressed their face up to the glass, asked to join me in the shower, asked when I was getting out of the shower, told me someone hit the other. It was blissful. Note to self - must go to gym more often! heehee

Steve washed my car today - yippee. All this rain and yuck we've been having it needed it. I tried driving it through the car wash the other day. The machine didn't take check cards and I had $5 only in cash and the cheapest wash was $6 of course. I didn't think the car was dirty enough to haul both kids inside to pay for it so I drove it for another week dirty. It's always cleaner when Steve washes it anyway.

Well, Steve is making dinner so I *should* go make myself useful. Until next time.
xoxo

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

I'm slacking!

Man, I switch blogs and don't even post. I switched to this blog because mainly I wanted to add music to my blog. BUT...I haven't yet figured out how to do that - hopefully soon!

This past weekend the girls and I went home to my moms house for a visit. It was a nice visit - we spent most of our time at my bro's and sis in laws new house. It was cute on Saturday we were headed out there and Mom was putting Isabella's bike in the car to take out to ride and Ava was upset because mom didn't have a bike at her house for her. Well, Pa was having none of it so we loaded up and went on a hunt for a new bike for Ava. Of course - they rode for all of 5 minutes and then jumped on the trampoline for the remaining daylight.

I'm going to try a new trick with Ava and her whining/fussing/fit throwing (Thanks Wendi for the fabulous email). I'm going to lay the law down with her before hand and let her know if she does it she can do it in her room but the rest of the family (read: ME) isn't going to be required to listen. The girls have been spoiled in so many ways and now it's coming back to bite me in the behind! No more I say! If you wish to remain spoiled you have to play by Mama's rules! heehee - I talk a good game!

Adding to the stress - my back flared up again. Or is the stress adding to my back pain? Which came first - the chicken or the egg?? That's what I'm feeling. So, I was able to go in for some PT and an adjustment and then an hour massage last night. I iced it when I got home and it feels much better this am.

So, off to get this day moving. No gym today - just cleaning and laundry. I'm sure the kids will love me by the end of the day. How many "you're mean Mom" will I hear today? I'm guessing a lot. But, I'll wear the title of Mean Mom proudly today!

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Gorgeous Spring Weather

Wow, we have had some amazing weather - FINALLY!!! Yesterday it was in the high 50's and today it's suppose to be low 60's. I will be super upset if next week it drops into the 30's again. But, for now we are enjoying it! We were outside all afternoon and they have already been outside all morning before Isabella went to school.

Yesterday I looked out the back and saw a Golden Retriever puppy (about 9 months old) out there. I got Isabella and we gave her some bread and some water and the kids played with her for about 45 minutes. Finally, her owner came by in a truck calling for her and picked her up. She was back at our door this morning and the kids played with her for an hour or so before taking her back home (the owners live behind us behind the wooded area).

Funny Ava comment before I close. Yesterday morning she was insisting on wearing her Dora panties - so I thought - what the heck, I'll give this potty training a try. So, every 15 minutes I set a timer and when i would go off I'd take her to the potty. This went on for at least an hour. I was heading up to take her to the potty when she said "uh oh - my panties have a hole in them". She had went potty and a little got on the floor. Oh my goodness. I started laughing so hard trying to explain to her that her panties weren't in fact flawed that they just don't aborb her potty like diapers do. Oh, well - we'll try again in a week or so.