Manic Monday #18

This week's MM meme is candle.


Since my kids are so young we have stopped using candles. We used to burn them all the time along with incense but now we rely on the wonderful glow of incandesent bulbs and the natural aroma brewing in our house.


Here's a few pictures of my aroma makers:

Aroma maker #1 a.k.a. The boss

Aroma maker #2 a.k.a. present snatcher

Manic Monday image courtesy of Jannaverse.

Christmas Lights

The little elf helper

Our neighborhood is flooded with Christmas lights. It is super fantastic. Every night we've been going for car rides to look and awe at all the fancy decorations. One house has the best design ever. They live on a corner lot so they have a really long fence. The entire thing is covered with lights. As you approach the front of the house you come face to face with a real life like Santa riding in his sleigh and being pulled by eight moving and blinking reindeer. But that's not all. Then there's a moving Farris wheel that has white bears sitting in the seats, a hot air balloon over their garage door, loads of light up presents, and a ton of other stuff I'm sure I'm forgetting. In other words, this house rocks. The girls love it and will can't help but drive by it every night.

We've finished our Christmas shopping and have wrapped most of it. Ava is loving the fact that she can get close up to the tree and she comments, "mommy, I see presents." Olivia understands Santa this year so she's been saying her, "ho ho ho's" to all the store Santas. This year the holidays have been so much fun with the girls and seeing it through their perspective.

Thursday Thirteen #18

Thirteen Of My Favorite Christmas Ornaments

1. Our First Pregnancy

2. Olivia's first Christmas

3. Ava's first Christmas

4. Our wedding ornament from Hawaii

5. Another wedding ornament

6. The first ornament Dave and I bought together

7. Maggie Simpson... from before Dave and I met...my childhood

8. Lisa Simpson...another one of mine

9. Dave's favorite sport

10. Dave's favorite Team

11. Lady, our dog is a beagle



12. This is one of the two ornaments that drives Lady crazy.

13. This is the other one. She hates them and barks whenever they sing!

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Wordless Wednesday #21

A girl's best friend





These pictures are for this week's Tuesday and Wednesday's editions of WW.

Fa la la la...

Today Olivia and I decorated our Christmas tree. We had a lot of fun finding limbs that were just right for our ornaments. Ava enjoyed removing all the ornaments faster than we could put them on.

Since the girls are still at the "hands all over the Christmas tree" stage I put all the nicer ornaments on top and down the tree until right above where Olivia could reach. Olivia put the plastic ones right at her level and down to the bottom and all in ONE spot. The tree looks totally lop-sided and uneven and well...perfect for us. Olivia thinks it's beautiful and that's all that matters.



Now notice the big bare spot, otherwise known as the forbidden ornament zone.

Manic Monday #17

This week's MM meme is light.

We had so much fun taking the girls to all of the Halloween functions that I wanted to make sure we would do the same for the Christmas festivities. We went Friday night out to dinner with some friends of ours and then took everyone to a Christmas tree lighting. The girls thought it was awesome and Olivia wanted to do it again. She was pretty perplexed when I explained that they only light the tree once but was happy once I told her we could see a different tree get lit the next day.

Saturday, after our date, we took the girls to the other tree lighting and Santa parade where the girls got to meet a life sized Dora, Rudolf, Santa, and Mrs. Claus. So the life sized Dora did not go over so well with Olivia. She didn't want to get close to her and in the car kept repeating how she didn't like her and wanted to know where she was. I explained that Dora had to go home and go to bed because it was dark outside but that didn't seem to make her feel any better. The next morning Olivia woke up again asking where she was and kept reminding me that she did not like her. OK I got it.

Sunday Dave's football games appeared on the TV. Oh yea. It's fine though. He watched football with the girls and our neighbors came over and we ate and hung out. I didn't have to watch the game so I was happy. It was a fun filled weekend with a lot of stress removed. We eve got the opportunity to set up our Christmas tree too. The girls love the lights and think that the tree is pretty. Not as pretty as my two angels...

Manic Monday image courtesy of Jannaverse.

Ice Skating

Dave and I decided to go ice skating for our anniversary and out to lunch. We had so much fun ice skating. He can actually skate so I held on to his arm and he kinda dragged me around. Then I used the wall for a little bit while he made a couple of laps around the rink. We both agreed we need to have more dates out without the kids especially now that they are big enough that they don't need us to be home for every little thing and we typically go out while they nap anyway. My neighbor takes great care of them and they love her to pieces so it's a real win win situation.

Lunch was great too and we also went shopping. I picked up a sheet to match Olivia's other one, a fluffy, very soft blanket for her bed, and a pair of slippers. Dave found himself a pair of slippers and a pair of pants. It was really nice to be able to walk through the store and hear myself think and have the time to look around without having to entertain someone else. I think after that doctor's appointment and the stress from all of that compiled with the house cleaning and everything else I needed a break and a chance to get out it. I was a perfect outing and anniversary with my hubby.

Then when we got home Dave and I were discussing Olivia's thing and we kinda had a hunch of maybe what she was really doing so I did some Internet investigating and realized that she is perfectly ok. I don't have any worries any longer nor does Dave. Will she out grow it- probably not which is just fine, but she will learn where it is appropriate to do it and where is not. The stress factor has dropped considerably if not totally diminished. It really was a good day all around for EVERYONE.

Our Anniversary...

was complete with cat barf. Who would want to enjoy themselves so much that they wouldn't jump at the chance to clean barf?? Humm.. I wonder.

The actual date was Thursday, December 4 and I spent the day with the kids. Dave had to work late and we had all ready decided to celebrate over the weekend. In turn, I spent the entire day cleaning the house, cleaning the bathrooms, and vacuuming the entire house.

The girls were really great with helping move stuff so the vacuum could get through. They sat on the couch and waited patiently until I was finished. They took their naps right on time which even gave me time to work out. Although I was doing grunt work the day went off without a hitch- almost.

It was around 8 PM and we heard the cat screech. I thought maybe she was locked outside so I got up to look and the dog was jumping all around like, "save my kitty, we have to save her!!!" but alas she was no where to be found. Oh well.

It was time to bring the girls upstairs to get changed for bed and brush their teeth. I was almost done with the day. I envisioned laying in my bed watching all the great Thursday night TV. As we made it to the top stair, I glimpsed out of the corner of my eye what appeared to be something all down the hallway rug that I just vacuumed a few hours before. As I began quietly swearing in my head I quickly walked the girls passed the barf and to the bathroom to have their teeth brushed. When we were finished we quickly walked passed the barf again to their rooms to change and go to bed. This was when I was supposed to be finished...a few hours left to enjoy the anniversary. I guess when you make plans to celebrate on the weekend or a different day, the universe takes note and makes sure you don't try to cheat and get a little extra.

The Doctor's Appointment

We had the follow up appointment for Olivia's "thing" with a child psychologist. First of all I am not good with going to the doctor for myself so it shouldn't be a shocker that I fall apart at her appointment. I think I was so stressed at what "could be" and for how much longer we would be watching her do it that when the doctor asked if we are naturally worriers I began to cry which lasted for the rest of the appointment. Needless to say he did not offer anything different than we all ready knew and was completely perplexed as to why or what Olivia was doing. His piece of advice was to leave it alone and not draw attention to it or she may do it more often.

OK. I can live with that and so can Dave. Liv isn't hurting herself or passing out. We will reevaluate next year and maybe it won't be an issue and if it is then we can try some behavior modification.

Wordless Wednesday #20

Miss Livy made a gingerbread train with her daddy for this week's Tuesday and Wednesday edition of WW.

The Holidays...

are officially here and life is great. The blog has taken a beating though. Every day I think about how I need to get in here and add an update to our lives but time has been flying and we have been so busy that it just has happened.

So here's the lowdown... I think we have officially finished our Christmas shopping minus maybe a few odd and ends that can be bought any time. Olivia's birthday party was great and the neighbor had his birthday party too so the birthday season is winding down somewhat. Thanksgiving was great too. We stayed home and celebrated it with just the girls and it was laid back and easy. Ok so when Ava saw her plate of food she did shove it to the middle of the table and exclaim, "no like it" before she even looked down to eat it but it is what it is. She ended up eating a hot dog and an apple later that night followed by a whole lotta pumpkin pie. Boy did we pay for that the next morning. All in all, the holidays have begun quite nicely and everyone is happy and well.

Dave and I have had the liberty to watch a few movies and catch up on some recorded TV. We have spent a lot of time with the girls since he had several days off. We've been to the park, played with the playdoh, gone to the bouncy house, ate at a few restaurants, and really have enjoyed each other and ourselves with the girls.

We had some friends over for football on Sundays which has been really nice since the girls usually nap through part of the game. I've been reading, something other than blogs, over the past week and been able to soak in the tub without having to work it around a nap schedule. But I have not worked out at all in over a month and it shows. I think I've gained 10 pounds and really need to refocus but I know it will happen when it does.

This week is also our anniversary. Yip 4 years on Thursday. Dave will be working that day so we won't be celebrating on our official day but we will probably make up for it over the weekend. Secretly I am not so sad about it, Thursday is great TV and I'm addicted so it's cool.

Hopefully everyone else out there is having a great holiday season and enjoying themselves too.

Manic Monday #16

Today's Manic Monday meme is harvest.

I had a hard time coming up with something that had to do with the word harvest that wouldn't be totally clique so I decided to photograph what we harvest every winter.




Yes, our bountiful crop is weeds...and mushrooms.

Manic Monday image courtesy of Jannaverse.

The birthday Month...

Continues... Yet another birthday party to go to this weekend. It is amazing that the neighborhood we live in seems to have spawn the November birthday month. We picked out all the presents for the parties a few months ago so we weren't so overwhelmed this month and that definitely helped.

Yesterday we picked up the presents for the December and January birthdays so by the time their day rolls around the stores aren't so picked over from Christmas. Even better we did all of the girls, the cousins, and neighbor kids Christmas gift shopping too. I'd like to say we are done shopping all together but we only shopped for kids and toys. Still, now we don't have to drive all over everywhere to find the stuff we want. I will probably order the rest of the stuff on-line for my family and adult friends and save myself from the Holiday rush. I tried shopping Black Friday once and it was a nightmare parking, finding, waiting in lines, listening to the person in front of me complain about "whatever." Sales just aren't that important that I have to lose my mind getting them.

I got a little sidetracked but now I'm back. After today's birthday party, our friends are coming over to watch football and hang out. It's always fun and the girls nap for the first few hours so we get to relax a little bit. Then I start wrapping presents..

The Doctor

I don't think I've ever posted about this issue before but now it seems to be time. Since Olivia was 6 months old she has held her breath and arched her back. This is not in refusal to sit in the seat. She loves the car and the seat and will choose to sit in something that will allow her to arch her back. Back then she was only doing it in her car seat and the doctor told me not to worry. He said that she would grow out of it. She just turned three and not only has she not grown out of it but it has become worse.

Olivia slowly began doing it in her high chair too. It wasn't every day or every time she sat in it at first but it evolved into that. So I put her in a boost seat at the table and she stopped doing it..for a while. Then she started leaning back and straining again so I removed the back off the booster seat. Again she stopped doing it while in the booster seat but she still continued doing it in the car every time we went any where. Now she sits at a small picnic table and she doesn't do it at all while eating but she will do it in the car, in the stroller, the bucket swing, or in shopping carts. It has gotten to the point that other people notice it.

Again I brought it to her doctor's attention at her 3 year check up. This time he gave me a number to call which has lead us to an appointment with a specialist in December. All though I am really glad someone is finally going to help us understand why she does this and how to help her, I am faced with the reality that something is wrong. I always knew something was wrong, but now it's more real I guess. The good news is that this issue she has is not causing her any pain, it isn't affecting her when she's playing or busy, and it seems to be isolated to places that she has to wear a safety belt. The bad news is that she will have to wear a seat belt forever so I don't have any idea how to change her environment in that capacity. My other fear is that when she's in first grade and she has to sit in a desk all day will she be doing this and not learning anything?

So I started to panic about visiting the doctor and the "what if's" that follow...what if she has epilepsy or... so I called my BFF who has seen a bunch of specialists for her son when he wasn't gaining weight. I always teased her with, "man if I had to do all the things you've done with the therapies or all the doctor visits and possible diagnosises which BTW he is perfectly fine and normal I'd freak out. I don't know how you do it." So she called me back and gave me her one perfect piece of advice, "whatever the doctor says...your kid is still the same kid you brought to the doctor's office an hour ago." And she's right. Olivia is still my Miss Olivia regardless of what they say and it may be nothing. She may be car sick, she may not like the feeling of being restrained in the car seat or it may just make her feel good to arch her back and hold her breath. Any which way she's still my little love bug. I just want to be able to help her stop this behavior or leave her alone if that's what I'm supposed to do.

Thursday Thirteen #17

Thirteen Things I am Thankful For Today:

1. That I can still post about Thursday in the late afternoon and still get to be accepted on the site.
2. The girls' had a blast at Pump It Up today.
3. When I filled my huge truck with gas today the price was under two dollars.
4. The girls ate lunch at their little picnic table today in the kitchen and Olivia said she loved it.
5. They both napped and I finished all the work I needed to for my home business.
6. I repeat, they both napped.
7. I also had time to balance my checkbook and do a load of laundry.
8. The weather is cold and different than usual. It's nice to not be HOT every day.
9. We are all finally over our colds.
10. After balancing the checkbook I discovered we still have money...imagine that..ok so did I neglect to mention it wasn't very much?
11. Tomorrow Dave comes home early. I look forward to this every Thursday.
12. All the good TV shows are on tonight.
13. We have ice cream in the freezer...that almost never happens!
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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Wordless Wednesday #19

This weeks edition for Tuesday and Wednesday's WordlessWednesday.

Blog clean-up

I think it's time to refresh my sidebar links of fun blogs but it just seems like such a daunting task. I'm a poor typist so it takes me some time to get it done correctly. If I end up leaving someone out who wants to be added just send me a comment and I'll add you to it.

I have actually wanted to do this for some time but life happens and it gets put on the "to do" list. Then my "to do" list gets on the "maybe next month" list. You know how it goes...

Today is officially Olivia's 3rd birthday. We went to the grocery store and picked out a big turtle cupcake. Ava and I are going to sing Happy Birthday to her after lunch so she can blow out another candle. Sadly, Dave won't be here to join in but that's ok. I'll take a picture of the event for WW.

Manic Monday #15 Baking Season

This is the season for baking in my house. During the summer we buy most all of our cookies and cakes because the weather is so hot and it costs so much to run the air conditioner all day long. But now that the weather has cooled down, ok it is 80 degrees today and supposed to be hotter tomorrow but it is definitely cooler than it was over the summer, we can now bake cookies all day long. Then we hand them out to all of our neighbors and friends at Dave's job.

Here's a few pictures of the baking team...










Yip those cookies taste as good as they look...Yummy!!

Those are just are first batch for the season and we have many cakes and pumpkin bread loafs to make too. With my helpers we should be able to make great treats!

Manic Monday image courtesy of Jannaverse.

Olivia turns 3!!!

This is Olivia waking up on her birthday:

As you may have guessed we all woke up with colds. This is always wonderful on the day of your child's party. So many things to get done and we're not feeling like doing anything.

We figured maybe we should just begin simple so we started with breakfast.



After huge amounts of coffee and a lot of cold medicine, temperature takings, and snot wipings we were ready to set things up. Grammie moved out all the toys from the family room and re-arranged some furniture, Dave was on pick up cake, ice, and pizza duty, and I blew up balloons, set out all the food, and made a bunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. This was actually a very easy party to set up for. All the food was pre-packaged and the favors were put together the night before.

This is the cake Olivia picked out...Right now she is really into Ariel and she wanted chocolate cake which I love so it was great.

Soon all the guests arrived and everyone ate and played and had a great time. None of the kids cried or had tantrums. I do believe it actually went off without a hitch. We sang happy birthday and Olivia opened her gifts...




After the party I went to bed. An hour or so later Grammie came and joined me. Poor Dave, he was tired too and he had to stay downstairs and feed the girls dinner and wait until their bedtime before he could come up and join us. But when he did he brought a movie and we all laid in bed and watched it. It was nice, we all felt like crap but got to relax.