Wednesday, August 31, 2011

August Favorite Things

 babysitting all of my daughter's babies

 watching my husband and son together
 being married for four months

 afternoons spent at Sephora and Starbucks

 kitties who lay down anywhere and on anything

 leopard and stilettos

 fleeting glimpses of the baby he used to be

 perfect chaos

 free entertainment

 Narls' first sleep over

 catnaps on the living room floor

like mother (father), like daughter (son)

Dog Days of Summer

This summer has been a little nuts. Clay and I got married. So many of our friends are getting married or have gotten married.  We had Vegas, then Clay was off to Atlantic City for work, and we have upcoming trips to Baltimore and Tucson in the fall... busy, busy.  So we didn't do a family vacation this year. Add in the fact that we have a trip to Disney in the works for next year, and well, you can kinda see why we decided to keep things nice and simple for right now. 

But we still wanted the babies to enjoy their summer before Narls starts pre-k and Em starts early preschool.  So besides camping,


we packed in lots of Chuck E. Cheese,


and trips to the Children's Museum.


We had an adventure at the zoo,


and spent many afternoons making crafts.


Not to mention weekly trips to the library,


and the park.

I think they're enjoying themselves :)

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Not a Baby Anymore

My baby isn't a baby anymore.
In fact, she starts early preschool next month.


This calls for new shoes.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Adventures in Thrifting: A New Store!


Completely by accident, I stumbled on a new thrift store. It's amazing. Overflowing with quirky odds and vintage ends.  I found some perfect-condition stuffed Care Bears for the kiddos (they both adore all of the 80s cartoons), a Nine West hobo bag from 1997 (the year I graduated high school. Destiny.), and some vintage Butterfly Gold Pyrex nesting bowls from the 70's. Love! 

Friday, August 19, 2011

Snipping the Sucky, Part II


I can't even begin to explain how easy the past two bedtimes have been for Emerson, even with the absence of her sucky.  Wednesday night Clay put her to sleep, and Thursday night I did, and each time was, well, easy.

She asked for it a couple times during the bedtime routine, and each time we'd hand her the "broken" sucky and she'd laugh about how Snowmeow bit it and then hand it back to us.  Absolutely no tears and not even the smallest bit of whining. 


In fact, she thinks the whole thing is pretty hilarious.


So this morning we took the final step and she threw the broken sucky away. 


Which, you know, is thumbs up all around.

This girl is ah-mazing.  Like, I completely underestimated her.  Now we just gotta start focusing on using the potty and she'll be ready for world domination.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Snipping the Sucky

Does anyone remember the great Bug-in-Sucky disaster of 2008?  Narls was about a year and a half old and still quite found of his sucky until, unfortunately and quite mysteriously, a "bug" (looking awfully similar to a piece of broccoli) somehow managed to wedge itself into his sucky.  How? I'm not exactly certain but it may have had something to do with a snip I made in the pacifier earlier that evening.

He was completely grossed out and threw that sucky away himself.  We had a couple subsequent nights full of alligator tears and heartfelt wails for his beloved sucky but then he woke up one morning and never asked for it again.


Fast forward three years, and here Clay and I are again- dealing with another sucky-obsessed toddler.  Only this one is much more persistent and dramatic and feisty, all traits contributing to the fact that Emerson has now had hers one whole year longer than her brother.


Until this morning, when strangely enough, another snip has randomly appeared in a sucky. 


I suggested a bug, but Narls is pretty sure it was the work of our cat.  Neither suspect me, their adoring mama, and I'm perfectly fine with Snowmeow being the scapegoat. 

I'm not gonna lie though, I'm nervous about tonight. 
Wish us luck getting this girl to bed; we're gonna need it.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Wedding Season

Two of my very dear friends had their bridal showers recently.



Mandy and I have been friends for more than half our lives. Since middle school, I believe.  In fact, she and I and a few other girls from high school still get together once a month for dinner and girl time.  And we bring our kids- which means the world to me to see our kids grow up together. Another generation of friends.  She and her fiance Luke are getting married in October.


And my darling Kristen is getting married in October as well.  As a bridesmaid, I am having an absolute blast listening to her plans and helping whenever I can.

Two more of my dearest friends are getting married in the upcoming months, too- Jamie's wedding is the end of August and I'm thrilled to be a bridesmaid for her as well, and Jennifer is getting married in October in Arizona.

Love is definitely in the air this year.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Black and white, and blue all over

Clay has been in Atlantic City for work for the last four days, and the kids and I are missing him. 
Terribly. 


We've been texting him funny pictures...


and last night he texted us that he's coming home earlier than expected.


I'm looking forward to sending these two tosser-and-turner's back to their own beds,
and getting my husband back in mine.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Friendship Bracelets



Being the friendly gal I am, I made some friendship bracelets.