Friday, January 28, 2011

Move Over Julia


Sydney loves to learn.
She always chooses educational television shows,
computer games that challenge her mind
and now books that teach.

At the library I showed her the aisles with
the books displayed by topics like
countries, animals, crafts and cookbooks.

She was instantly in love with the
kids cookbooks and checked one out.

She put her skills to the test
and whipped up her very own
mini-strawberry cheesecakes.


I think I held the hand blender only
for a short time and offered
to scoop some of the batter after
she did more then half.

Otherwise, it was ALL HER!
And they were delicious.

The best part?
She has already picked out
the next 3 recipes she wants
to try!!


Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Anxiously Awaiting

...a visit from the TOOTH Fairy!!


Emma wiggled and jiggled her tooth all week long.
On Sunday we tried the string technique
 with no success.
The darn thing just kept slipping off
her tiny baby tooth.


But after some advice from Sydney
to wait and loose it at school
for that extra SPECIAL tooth box.
Emma pulled it out on her own during class!!

Congrats E!!


Big Spender

Dear Grandparents,
I am very very very happy you sent $$ for
my birthday.  With some coupons and a special
birthday gift card from that
Big Giraffe at Toy's-r-Us
I found this GIGANTIC BAT CAVE!!


It's right up my alley!
Thanks, Ben

P.S. I also scored a little
Scooby Doo & Monster, too.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Show Me The Love

I'm having an affair.

With my glue gun.
After putting away 6 Tupperware boxes full
of Christmas decorations,
I had Larry take advantage of being
up in the attic and asked him to
bring down the Valentine's Day decorations.

All 1 of them.

After scouring handfuls of crafting blogs,
convincing friends to join me in a craft night
and warming up my handsome BEAU glue gun
I'm proud of my new decorations.

A friend suggested these easy-peesy
flowers for an upcoming spring wreath.
But I couldn't wait.
I had to try it.


I added them to this board I stenciled.


Since Mr. Hot was all warmed up
I made a banner, too.


Added a flower in the family sign.


Although I am cheating on my glue gun,
with the E600.
It's got a scent that could make you
goofy in the head!
The XO frames were done in 30 mins
(but if you add in 60 mins of girlfriend
chatting it does take a bit longer!)


This masterpiece is my pride & joy!
Not because it used up the most
Hot Glue,
but it is different.
Not the usual red/pink valentine's decorations.
And I got to make it for $7.

Last night I told Larry that
doing crafts makes me happy.
It has helped me feel like Rachel
and not just mom.


Such A Kiss Up

I'm not sure if she is puckering up
because she's in love with her dad
or the lollypop!











Either way, these twiners can't
get enough of each other.
(at least Keira can't)


Saturday, January 22, 2011

Big Man On Campus

Happy 4th Birthday Ben!

He loved getting all the attention
and making all the decisions for
the day.
It was oatmeal for breakfast,
meat & cheese sandwich for lunch
and hot dogs for dinner!

Ben got more Star Wars "guys"
to add to his growing collection.


After much debate and deliberation
Ben finally pin-pointed his birthday party
theme to Bowser & Mario.


After making a list of themed games
(thank you Larry)
we came up with the idea of...

Putting each game into an envelope
and making it a "challenge" for
the kids to win at each "world".

The games included a
Yoshi Egg Hunt
to find Princess Peach hidden inside.


Coloring candy bags
while we waiting for all the
party-goers to come.


We added our own pictures to
an old pinata we had. 
Although the garage was a
tiny bit chilly,
it was nice to still
do this traditional birthday
activity.



Even if you do have to
sign parental consent forms
before you can play.


Thankfully no one was hurt!

We also played Hot Potato Star Pass
with a star pillow to Ben's favorite music,
the Black Eyed Peas.

Larry gathered things from around
the house and made an obstacle course.
It really helped get their wiggles out
since we were stuck inside.


It ended with throwing a small ball
at a pyramid stack of tupperware
that had "Bowser Jr" on top.


Gotta play Pin the Mustache on Mario!!


Ben loves everything blue.
So we added it in to the party
decor as much as possible.


Loving the presents from his friends and siblings!


Can't go wrong with Star Wars guys!


A coloring book


A much admired zhu zhu pet and track


More dress-up accessories
and Lightening McQueen.


And one more game of
the Goomba Stomp.
The kids loved popping all the
goombas just like Mario.


They used any means possible
to complete the task.


 
My hand drawn goombas didn't last long.
Larry even hid a "baby goomba" in his shirt
to tease the kids!!

What a great party!
The neighbor kids were talking
about it all week.




6months Came Fast

Daniel has zoomed into
6 months old.
He can now sport
 12mon clothing
and qualifies as our oxymoron
the little chubbster.


Emma is a lot like me at her age.
I loved babies.
Loved taking care of little kids.
She can't get enough of helping
with Keira & Dan.

Dan can roll over accidentally,
randomly.
But that is about it for movement
from this Mr.


He still practices sitting up,
but would much rather stand with the help
of mom and jump, jump, jump.


Although one thing he loves
more then anything.
Food!
Are you shocked?


This kids hasn't turned down
any food.
He has even mastered a little
cheerio or kix.
I think it's the over active
saliva production he's got going on
dissolving those treats in seconds.



A Texas Snow Day

It happened AGAIN!
I never thought that when we moved
to the Dallas area,
we would enjoy snow
2 years in a row!!

What a special treat!
If it keeps happening
my kids are going to start expecting it
every winter.

Emma was the first daring soul of the family
to bundle up and head outside.
She definitely is our "winter beauty"!


First snowball of the season.


Soon we were all outside
 (minus the 2 napping babies)
making the traditional snowman.


I still can't stop staring at those
cute dimples of hers.


Sydney sports her handmade
scarf she cut and sewed at her
first "Activity Day Girls"
with the 8-11yr olds from church.


Rolling up the snow to make layers
of the snowman.


Underneath this boys jacket he still
sports his church clothes.
We were lucky to squeeze in 3 hrs of
church before the white stuff
started to fall.


See that enormous chunk of snow?
Yep, it got thrown at me.
And landed on the side of my head.
Right in my ear.
Poor guy was in the dog house
for that mistake!!


Emma and I quickly came inside
and whipped up a glass of HoCho
for everyone!


Down the street.


This to me is the strangest picture.
Snow stuck on the side,
defying gravity.
And not even sticking to the top of the post.
Weird.