Ladies and Gentlemen...

We have an official ponytail. Buggers' hair is finally long enough to pull all the way back to a ponytail. It is so adorable. She liked having the hair off her neck. She kept rubbing the back of her neck. I even made two piggytails the next night.

Crawling out of my hole...

I have been in "going back to school, inservice attending, meeting holding, room redecorating, and lesson planning" hell the past week. I do not like the first week before we go back to school. We are held hostage in meetings and inservices for 3 days and promised time to work in our rooms on the 4th day. But so inconveniently there are even meetings on that 4th day. Today was my "official" workday and I attended 4 meetings. We have our "unofficial" workday tomorrow (Saturday). We are welcome to come up on our own time, time that we will spend away from our family, to finish our rooms. I hope I am ready for kids on Monday.

Don't get me wrong...I love the first day of school. I love seeing all the new school supplies, the new clothes, the new faces, the "scared to death because I am now in junior high" faces, and the smiles of former students when they see you for the first time in 3 months. It is so cute...they act like they haven't seen you in ages. I also love the first day of school because I get to start doing what I love the most...teaching and being around kids.

So forget the meeting, forget the inservices, forget the lesson planning...bring on all those little varments that are hungry for a plethora of knowledge and cannot wait to learn it.

Wait those kids probably aren't the ones I will see on Monday. I will probably see the sleepy, hormone crazed, cranky, video game induced insomiacs that they call junior highers. But you know what...bring 'em on!!!!

And the Oscar goes to...

We have been diligently learning some keys acting tips in Toddler Theater 101. What started as a simply gathering of toddlers with Daddy's Playstation turned into a perfect display of overdramatization. Bubby has really mastered crying on demand. He will also be receiving an Oscar for the perfect stunt "throw down" to the floor. Buggers will win an Oscar for "Best Female Villian". Check out her smirk/smile towards the end. It is true genius. Daddy even gets an award--A Razzie for an Assie in the camera shot.

Side Saddle

Buggers is stylin' with her side piggytail.

Number of the Day

Twelve...Twelve...Twelve. I can't stop saying it. It is so mesmerizing and mindblowing what a little two digit number can do to a person. We are constantly surrounded by numbers all day. Grocery store, tv channels, passwords, speed dial on your phone, temperature outside, etc. But it is not until you see that number on the tag of a pair of pants that you realize just how important numbers are. Yes folks that tag had a number 12 on it. Not a 14, not a 16, and definitely not an 18 like times before. I'm not quite sure how it happened. But I managed to shed a few extra pounds to get me to a pre-pre-pregnancy size. I am now even more motivated to keep going. Good things school is starting back up. Lots of exercise and no time to eat. Perfect Diet!!!!!

Partners in Crime

Hubs actually went scavenging today with me. It was fun to have someone with me. He picked up a Bush CD for $0.25 at our first sale. He used to have that CD a long time ago. It was cute to see his face light up with he popped it in the CD player and the first song started playing. It brought back some memories from when we were dating. We hit a few more garage sales in my fav neighborhood. We picked up a cozy coupe and Tonka truck. The coupe is faded from the sun but otherwise in great condition. Snagged it for only $2. Now the kids don't have to fight over the one I picked up a year ago for $5. The Tonka is a nice metal dump truck and quite the steal for a buck!!

After our adventure in GS we headed to Shipley's to celebrate with some donut holes.

S is for Smiles and (S)wimming

We took the kids to the pool again today. It is so much fun for the kids and for us too!! Hoping to go a lot next week before I go back to school. When Nana and Papa come down in 2 weeks, Bubby wants Papa to get in the water with him and get soaked by the big bucket!! ***Hint Hint***


Bikini Babe!!!

"Bugger" Faces

The many faces of Buggers when you tell her "cheese" for the camera. Such a starlet already. She is ready for the paparazzi!!!

Crash Test Dummy

Speedy McGee Part 2

Chef Boy-R-Girl

I hoping to get them through "Momma's Cooking School" before next year so I can turn the kitchen over to them!!!

Speedy McGee

The Grocery Game

Hubs and I discovered a website called thegrocerygame.com a few weeks ago. A friend of mine told me about it so I signed up for the $1 trial. I started clipping coupons and dissecting the list. It took me some time to get the hang of it. I started out slow just hitting a few stores getting a few things here and there. But tonight we did our BIG shopping. We went to 4 stores to maximize our savings. It took us 3 hours to do it all. But we did have too fussy and frustrated toddlers in tow. But it was all worth it. Between all the stores our before total was $193.15. The after total was $115.52. For a savings of $77.61!!!! That is a 40% savings. We did it by using coupons on things that were already on sale. Like cereal 2/$4.00 with a $1.00 off coupon. Hubs was having so much fun. It made the trip totally worth it just to see his face when $33.86 dropped to $8.25. Hubs looked shocked. Even the cashier said WOW.

We are stocked up for a while. We bought meat on sale and froze it. We have enough kid snacks to last us until the end of the month. I have food to make about 15-20 meals. I am so excited!!! My BIL and SIL have been doing it for about 6 months and have a deep freeze stocked full to last them 3 months. We are not going to be at that status for a while. Maybe after Hubs finishes school.

Anyway check out the website to see if it is offered in your area. If you sign up make sure you put my email so I can rack up some few weeks. :)

Rock it Out

Poster Child

Adventures in Potty Training

Day 1
Diapers be gone!!! We started potty training this week on Bubby. I was starting to feel guilty that I have been home all summer and we haven't attempted to do it. So we went dove in head first and put him in "nundies" on Monday. No Pull Ups just undies. Well after many failed attempts to catch him before he went, I spent most of the day with paper towels and the swiffer in hand. But before he went to bed, he did "tee tee" on the potty. I thought Alright tomorrow he will start off strong since he has already done it once.

Day 2
Boy was I wrong. Day 2 was 10 times worse. The day started with Buggers making a mess at breakfast. So I put both kids in the bath. I always get Buggers out first. So while I was getting her ready for the day, Bubby was still in the bath. All of a sudden he comes running into Buggers room.

Conversation as follows:
Bubby: Momma Poo Poo!!!
Me: You need to go Poo Poo?
Bubby: Poo Poo
Me(jumping up leaving Buggers half way dressed): Let's go poo poo on the potty.
Bubby: No Momma Poo Poo in the Bath
Me: WHAT?!?!?!
Bubby: Poo Poo in the Bath Momma

Yes I spent the next 30 minutes cleaning poop out of the bath then cleaning the bath tub and all the toys that were in there. Fun!! This was all before 9:30. The rest of the day followed suit. I would put him on the potty every 20-30 minutes. And it never failed he would pee in his pants about 2 minutes after. He even peed on the stairs. Plus he did the unthinkable in his undies twice!!! (I don't see how people do cloth diapers)

Day 3
Sometimes it is best to admit defeat. I put Bubby in Pull Ups all day. Evidently my son does not mind sitting in a wet "diaper" all day. I even bought the Feel and Learn trainers hoping he would realize what he had done.

Day 4 (Today)
Not sure how I am going to approach it today. I am going to be out and about today so we will prob rely on trainers. I just don't think he is ready yet. I don't want to push him. People keep telling me that he will do it when he is ready. I hope that is soon.

Some comic relief to our adventures in potty training. He is so funny. He was saying "Elmo Hat".

Class of 97 Reunion

Hubs had his 10 year high school reunion this weekend. Had a blast!!!

National Lampoon's Vacation

We headed down to Kemah on Tuesday on an impromptu family vacation. My parents were down from Nebraska. As a family we decided to not torture ourselves by just sitting around and actually go do something. After we hung out in Kemah for a day we decided to go to Galveston. The kids swam and played at the beach. It was a lot of fun. You know family vacations can be alot of fun or a disaster. I think it is what you make of it. I had a good time hanging out with my sisters and spending time with my parents. My kids had so much fun swimming and riding rides. So that was worth any inconvinences (like the neverending rain) that we encountered during the few days. I hope everyone else had a good time too.

This is a quote from National Lampoon's Family Vacation. I thought it is so appropriate.
"This is no longer a vacation. It's a quest, a quest for fun. I'm gonna have fun and your gonna have fun. We're gonna have so much f***ing fun they're gonna need plastic surgeons to remove the smiles from our f***ing faces. We'll be whistling zippity-doo-dah out of our a** holes."

Sweet Sweet Baby

You'll never really know, my dear,
Just how much you mean to me,
A mother's love, buried so deep,
That only my heart can see.

When I sit and really stare at you,
All I can do is grin,
Somewhere down deep inside,
I see myself within.

I'd never change a thing in you,
I thank God that your so fine,
Even when your at your worst,
I'm so proud that you are mine


(click in box to start music)

Pink Paradise

I have been working on redoing Bugger's room this summer. I decided on pink (two different shades actually). I bargained shopped all her bedding and reused most of her accessories.

Costs
Quilt-$20
Sheet Set-$10
Pillow-$10
"Hot" Pink Paint-$15
"Light" Pink Paint-Free
Headboard-Free
Bed Frame-$10
Box Spring-$20
Curtains-$21
Total-$106


-----Before-----

It was green and yellow which we had painted before Bubby was born. His nursery was done in giraffes.




The inspriration for colors


------After-------

Welcome to Pink Paradise






I absolutely love this headboard. I picked it (actually I got two of them from teh guy)up from someone in town. At the time I didn't really know what I wanted to do with it. I put one up in Bugger's room and the other in the backyard. I'll post that pic some other time.



View from rocking chair


I'm waiting on Hubs to get back from Walmart with the other two curtains. Her ladybug with her nickname on it will go above her crib. I repainted it the darker pink and it is still drying.

Do you think I need a rug ?????

All things starting with B

We had a great day today. We went to church then to eat with some folks from church. Then we had a smashing time at a birthday party for our neighbor. There were bubbles, balls, and balloons. The kids had so much fun playing at the toddler friendly park. Even though it rained some it didn't spoil the fun. You know it is a good party when they are asleep before you get home. Slippin' and Slidin' in the Rain

Cupcakes are soooo good.

Fingerlicking good!!!

Once while we were in Nebraska, Aiden kissed me and it shocked us. I jumped back and said "Oooo" and covered my mouth. He did the same thing. Ever since then anytime he kisses me he does that. So cute!!

Kisses are so funny.

Finally Daddy got it!!!

Cooling off!!

Buggers and Daddy sipping lemonade

Bubbles...mostly in their hair thanks to momma




Happy Birthday Ava!!! Thanks for inviting us to your party!

"Lissen Friar-Wurks"

We headed out to my sister's for 4th of July. We have been out there the 3 of the last 4 years to see her subdivision's firework display. We had a great meal of real American food--fried chicken, baked beans, macaroni salad, rolls, and cupcakes. She is always such a great host. The firework show is really great. Buggers loved it she kept saying "Wow, wowee, Yeah" the whole time. It was adorable. Bubby on the other hand had a death grip on my arm. He didn't cry but that's not to say he was completely thrilled.

4th of July is always a time to reflect on our country and appreciate all the freedoms we have in this country. And what better way to do that than with the next generation of Americans sitting in your lap and next to you.

Mesmerized by the lights and sounds.


Us minus one (hubs was working firework stand...he was missed)


Ta-Da!!!!!


How could you not fall in love with those curls?!?!?! God bless humidity!


Hope everyone had a safe and Happy 4th of July. We certainly did!!!

So you had a bad day...

Today was a day to end all days. The kids were having a horrible day as was momma. We were having trouble listening, following directions, controlling our temper, suppressing our need to scream and trouble being emotionally stable. Yes I was included on all of those. We also issued an APB on the "spanking hand" because it was loose and it was armed and dangerous today. And with much regret it took two victims with it today...two small hineys on two toddlers. With all the screams, tears, apologies and regretful moments, we ended the day beautifully. It made me (almost) forget about the misfortunes of the day. I guess your day isn't so bad if you can laugh at the end of it.

During Bubby's S---nack (that's how he says it...over pronounces the "s")

"Whatcha hiding Bubby?"

"Puddin' face, Momma"


God bless little children!!! And Prozac!!!