Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Fairies, wings and princesses ... oh my!

Without further adieu, I present you a photo essay of my Ava's 3rd and Emma's 2nd birthday party!

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Art project

I am happy to announce that I have completed (almost) my first art project with the girls! :) I have had this grand plan to hang up their artwork as they come home with it from day care since the first day it started collecting in my drawers, walls, fridge doors, etc. I came across a photo of a string of photos perfectly placed with a decorated clothes pin that zig-zagged across a wall and fell in love with it!

I have to state that I was so thrilled when I was able to lead this project with patience and without paint everywhere! And I did!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Knock, knock

Had a fun ride home yesterday when Ava and Emma busted out with knock-knock jokes??!?!!!!!!!!!! :) It was the most precious and funniest thing I have ever heard! They went a little something like this:

Ava: Knock, knock
Emma: Hoo there
Ava: Orange juice
Emma: Orage ju hoo
Ava: Orange juice for everybody!

Emma: Na, na
Ava: Who's thereeee???!!!
Emma: Appey ju
Ava: Apple juice for everybody!!!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Coupon alert! Coupon alert!

I bring you this post today to let you know that Pampers Kandoo has alerted me (and many other bloggers and e-mail subscribers) that they will have a coupon in this Sunday's newspaper. I only use this as the generic ones don't seem as 'flushable' as the Kandoo ones. And every time you buy a refill, you get a new wipe holder! And you know what's good for all of the extra wipe holders?! Store your extra grocery shopping bags in them so they don't create a mess under the kitchen sink in which they come out efficiently and one-at-a-time.

Pampers Kandoo will feature an introductory $1 off coupon good for any Kandoo Soap, Shampoo, Body Wash or Sanitizer AND a $0.50 coupon good for any package of Flushable Wipes in the SmartSource insert in select U.S. newspapers.

For more information about their products, visit http://www.pamperskandoo.com
Enjoy!

***I am not being paid to write this blog, just have a chance to win a Kandoo Goodie box filled
with products and … goodies. Wish me luck!***

Thursday, August 11, 2011

3 going on ... 11, 12? 15??

Having a 3 year old in the house, and a 2 year old in the house..... and having just celebrated their big day-- I have also celebrated the fact that I now fully understand a phrase I've heard all of my life.

'She's 5 going on 16!!!!!!!'
'Wait until she's 16, she will think she's 24!'

Yes, we're there. Ava is now 3 going on 13. Full-on attitude, hitting, kicking, and a charming little bugger! We have had to reinforce the time-outs and the 1's, 2's and the 3's... but haven't had to get to 3 in a while. She's already put herself in time-out.


Now Emma, who is 2 going on 3.... she's still her sweet, quiet self.

But she follows Ava everywhere and does exactly the thing that Ava just did. We're in a world of trouble.

And if I'm disciplining Ava, or Emma, the other will come at me with: "Don't yell at my sister Emma! She's my best friend!!!!!!!!!!" with the meaniest, little puppy dog mad face, you ever did see!

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

'Scary Mommy Manifesto'

Do you read the 'Scary Mommy' blog? No? Well, you should! This is stolen straight from her blog .. and I loved it so much I wanted to share it and remember it! It is the 'Scary Mommy Manifesto.' Read it. Memorize it. And remember it when someone you know and love is having a baby or tough day!

The Scary Mommy Manifesto (AKA The Mommifesto)

Please repeat after her/me:

• I shall maintain a sense of humor about all things motherhood, for without it, I recognize that I may end up institutionalized. Or, at the very least, completely miserable.

• I shall not judge the mother in the grocery store who, upon entering, hits the candy aisle and doles out M&Ms to her screaming toddler. It is simply a survival mechanism.

• I shall not compete with the mother who effortlessly bakes from scratch, purees her own baby food, or fashions breathtaking costumes from tissue paper. Motherhood is not a competition. The only ones who lose are the ones who race the fastest.

• I shall shoot the parents of the screaming newborn on the airplane looks of compassion rather than resentment. I am fortunate to be able to ditch the kid upon landing. They, however, are not.

• I shall never ask any woman whether she is, in fact, expecting. Ever.

• I shall not question the mother who is wearing the same yoga pants, flip-flops and t-shirt she wore to school pickup the day before. She has good reason.

• I shall never claim to know everything about any child but my own. (Who still remain a mystery to me.)

• I shall hold the new babies belonging to friends and family, so they may shower and nap, which is all any new mother really wants.

• I shall attempt to not pass down my own messed up body issues to my daughter. She deserves a mother who loves and respects herself; stretch marks, cellulite and all.

• I shall not preach the benefits of breastfeeding or circumcision or home schooling or organic food or co-sleeping or crying it out to a fellow mother who has not asked my opinion. It’s none of my damn business.

• I shall try my hardest to never say never, for I just may end up with a loud-mouthed, bikini clad, water gun shooting toddler of my very own.

• I shall remember that no mother is perfect and my children will thrive because, and sometimes even in spite, of me.