Getting an early start

Since we are cooped up in the house being sick, :( Nana brought supplies over yesterday to make Valentine's cards. That led to painting, which of course, Davis tried to eat.

Yes, Im a dork.

Or would that be a "twerd?"

Here we come!!!

I am so excited to be taking Avery to her first "concert", the Imagination Movers. If you don't have kids, don't ask.
And, we are also stoked to be going with two of our besties- Michelle & K. Fun times on Feb.7!!

Up to the Challenge

Ok Mandy...I loved reading about your day and I am honoring your request to tell you & the other bloggers out there all about it.
For those of you who do not know Mandy-she has FIVE boys! My day is nowhere near as eventful as hers, but I will tell nonetheless. I even snapped some pictures along the way. I think Nick secretly believes I have an "easy' job at home so this is for him too.

6:15_ I am up. I would've slept till 7 or so but the dogs woke me up and I couldn't go back to sleep. Coffee is brewing by 6:30

I mop the floor, put in a load of laundry, & check emails before Davis wakes up.

7:15: DayDay is up and at 'em with a big smile. Nick follows soon after, and of course the Princess is last to wake up.

8:00 fix breafast, eat breakfast, clean up breakfast.

I just noticed that Avery is dumping out the juice from her straw...

8:45: Chat with Michelle & put in a Thirty-One order. Thought the kids were watching Max & Ruby- they snuck out and dumped a whole container of cat food on the floor. NO one will fess up to it.

9:30: For some crazy reason, I decided to clean out my jewelry chest. Bad idea...Davis was throwing earrings across the room and breaking bracelets. Avery was silently stealing all she could.

10:30 Need some direction. We get the "castle" out to play. We have pretend Gymboree. I go to the man room to mop. Its gross out there.



I come back to the kitchen...
Apparently the Castle Party has turned into a Tea Party with cheese. That is shredded cheese everywhere.


11:30 Clean up that mess, throw in some laundry, unload dishwasher, do a little art work

12:00 fix lunch, eat lunch, clean-up lunch


1:00 -Read some stories, and then...

1:30-3:15 I don't usually get this lucky, but both kids took a nap!

I do another load of laundry, sweep, organize my 31 stuff, and of course, I checked email and FB!

4:00- We have fruitsnacks and juice & decide to take the artwork to the computer...



5:00. Avery wants to get out the playdough. Most of the rest of that consisted of trying to keep Davis from eating said play-dough.



5:45 I plant the kids in front of the TV (sorry) so I can start supper. Calliou and Chicken Casserole. In that order. I made up the recipe. And it was yum yum good....but I digress.

TV didnt hold the interest long enough so I let them help me. Here they are smashing the crackers for the topping.



6:30 eat supper, clean up supper, give kids baths

7:00 start baths over, Avery tee teed in the tub.

Meanwhile...Daddy got home! (rather late tonite)



8:30 One last game-pushing Davis in Mommy's Chili CHallenge bin- before bed.



9:00 One down, one to go

Oh and I didn't even mention all the OTHER things I was doing while doing those listed above. But ya'll you MOM's just took that as a given, right?! We are all multi-taskers.

Oh Mommies, I wanna hear about your day.

Tag! I'm it.

Thanks to Devon...I have to post 7 random facts.If you're on Facebook, you already seen the 25 random things going around...I will try to list 7 different.

1. I L-0-V-E sharpies. I'm embarrased to say it was one of my fave things about being a teacher. I have stashes hidden in several places because Avery loves them too.
2. I used to never clip coupons. I had time, I guess I was just too lazy? Now I am obsessed. That being said...
3. I am such a bargain hunter. I guess I get that honest:) I love to tell people, " You like my bcBg dress? I got it for $10!" BUT...
4. I am a sucker for boutique kids clothes. I won't buy anything unless its on sale, but then I'll go pay $40 for a tshirt. Im an idiot.
5. Nick and I have been to over 60 WSP shows. I've been backstage twice. I've made Schools a big poster to which he gave me a shout out for a month later. We pretty much followed them one Summer...I think my Parents were starting to worry I was gonna become a hippie or something. Which leads to:
6. I love that I have a little bit of both my Parents in me. My Mom is funny, scatter-brained, & generous. My Dad loved to be busy, was super smart, & always did the right thing-no matter the cost. I like to think I inherited something frome ach of them. It makes me who I am.
7. I was on a TV show when I was 5. It was called Grunches & Grins and it came on PBS. Anyone remember it? I wish I could find a copy of that episode. Hilarious.

oh and I tag...
The Mommy Memoirs
Mandy Smith Photography
Keepin up with the Keenums

First "haircut"

Ok, not really but I did have to trim Davis's bangs... they were forever getting in his eyes. I am already regretting it because he looks even older.

Notice I had to take the picture while he was eating-the only time he is still!

Way to go Indians!

I just had to give a shout out to my brother-in-law Josh's JV boys basketball team. They won the County Tournament Saturday! They won last year as well. The kids were so well behaved and really watched the game. Davis got a little restless at the very end, but that is a vast improvement from his last game when he ran on the court.
After the game Avery said, " I wish I was big enough to play on Uncle Josh's team!" Congratulations!

I try...

I can't often dress the kiddos alike, so when I do, I try to take a picture.


I get Avery to smile and Davis is like.."You didn't really think we would both pose, did you?"Davis is cooperating ,but Avery is rolling her eyes at me

Oatmeal

It never ceases to amaze me how dirty this boy can get in such a short amount of time.

My latest venture

Keeping one of my besties little boys...a couple of days a week. Evan is fitting in just fine.

Crazy outfit of the week...

I've been going thru Avery's old Spring/Summer clothes and hanging up new stuff...she had to go thru all of it, and put most of it on at one time.


She felt the need to dress up Davis too, good thing he wasnt a girl-his big ol head would have never fit in those bonnets.

Well Checks

As you can see, the kids were getting pretty bored....an hour and a half for a well-checkup! Geez.

But here are the stats:

Avery (3 years)
32 lbs
37 1/2 inches
She is in the 50-75% which is great. I was really worried about her because I feel like she never eats.

Davis (15 months)
31 lbs
32 inches
He is off the charts. Literally. They just drew an arrow pointing up and I said "What does that mean?' and they said he's over 100% lol.

They both had to get shots, Davis didn't even flinch, and Avery was still dragging out the drama in the bathtub last nite. Girls will be girls...
I am so blessed to have to healthy children.

bed head.

January 17

Ah, what a wonderful day. I was born, ....just kidding.
We got up & at em early Saturday morning and rode down to Helena for Julie's baby shower. It was great to see her & Christie, and she got lots of cute stuff for Philip. After the shower, the kids & I rode over to Angelle's to play. Avery has been missing K, Cate & Big Avri so much, and I wanted a little girl time while I was there. As always, the time was so special and too short. We headed back to Todd & Julie's to visit with them a bit and then headed North.
Thanks again to everyone who made my birthday special. I woke up to over 50 emails & texts, all wishing me Happy Birthday! I got some movies, books, a picture, some accessories, and the always wonderful, $$$. I finished celebrating tonite at Mom's. We played Wii and ate pizza, and my camera batteries were dead:(
I had SUCH a wonderful Birthday weekend. I am sad its over. I am truly blessed.



Over 4 hours in the car will get you this:

Date Nite-Happy Birthday to me!

Friday nite, Nick & I made reservations at P.F. Changs for my Birthday dinner. Nana offered to keep the kids, so instead changing our party of four, we invited Ben & Kate to go along. We had YUMMY meal (at one of my top 3 favorite restaurants) and then hit up the Bookstore to pick out my Birthday present.
When we got home, Nana & Papa had brought me flowers and a cake, so we blew out the candles & had a little party. Minus DayDay, he was already asleep. But he got his chance at cake, if you read here.

Still having fun

Last week, with the cold, freezing temps, & rain...we were running out of things to do....

Fat Boy in Little P.J.'s

Pardon the Tommy Boy reference but I couldn't resist!

The Cake Bandit Part II

In case you didn't remember last year's story...
Same thing happened this year, but it was (Guess who?) DAVIS

Further Proof that Davis will eat anything

Future Contortionist?!?

No, I don't "work"

Being a Stay-at-Home Mom really is the best job I could ask for. I know I am really going to miss these lazy days when I have to go back to work. To be honest, when I was working, I used to think..."How do people stay home all day with their kids? I would get bored." Everyone knows I like to stay on the go. This year is proving no different. Maybe you will cut me a break if you drop by and the house isn't spotless. Just this month, I
* Started my own business by Becoming a
Thirty-One consultant
* Volunteered to Head up a Committee for the Chili Challenge & Silent Auction (a benefit for Hospice.
* Started a team to walk in the March of Dimes March for Babies in April.
* am going to babysit Evan, one of my BFF's :) little boys 2-3 days a week
* am helping in the Preschool 2 class at church
I am not writing about this to brag, but to encourage you to join me! (Well except for the keeping Evan part). Click on any of the highlighted words to learn more. Happy 2009!

$107

After reading Sherry and Devon's blogs about saving big at Publix, I tried my hand today. With my baby club coupons, doubled coupons, and BOGO...I got all of this! (Notice there is a jumbo size box of diapers, and our meal for tonite!)
I saved $37. I'm getting there girls...

Busted.

This is what Davis decided to get into while I was taking Avery to potty. He was actually sitting in the litter box, just throwing it around like dirt. When I ran to get my camera (and scold him, of course) he climbed out.

Thought for the Day

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.
Romans 7:21

When you decide to do something that corresponds with the heart of God, train yourself to expect opposition. The fruit that comes from taking a stand for what is right is far more rewarding, long-term, than the false sense of instant gratification that comes with responding to fleshly desires.



I am not attempting to preach to anyone, but I subscribe to a daily bible verse, and today's was so good, I had to share. This is so true!!!

BUNCO

I hosted bunco last nite for all the girls from church. We didn't end up playing, we were having too much fun talking. I could have sat all nite and chatted but you guys left me! Just kidding...

I would like to take this time to say how much I L-O-V-E Marion Street. Especially,the ladies. When we moved back home, there was really no question we would place membership here. I liked the people, how the services were set up, and the general "attitude" of all the members. You don't get the Self-Righteous vibe at Marion Street, and it truly is a family.
But, what truly made our decision was the women. (Nick wanted to attend here too,of course, but I don't think he "got" how important it is for me to have a network of ladies close at hand) We have recieved so many nice notes, emails, and simple friendly gestures. The men are great, but the ladies always seem to shine in my eyes :)

I knew most of these people from high school, but I have also made some wonderful new friends. Having positive women that you can count on, vent to, AND who share your same core beliefs is SO important. I always feel so uplifted after a nite like last nite. Thanks ladies.