These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

December is full of fun activities and events for the kids (and the parents!). It's also full of to-do lists, stress, shopping, cooking, cleaning, wrapping, etc. Just have to remember to take a step back and remember a few of my favorite things...

Fun with Cousins


My Silly Daughter


Giggling with Grandpa


The Beauty of Christmas Lights


Sharing a Meal


Between the craziness of the holidays and it being a rough cold/flu season I sometimes lose sight of what is important. But my kids are always there to remind me. Daniel reminds me by telling me "Mommy, I love you bigger than a dinosaur." While Lauren reminds me by giving the sweetest, unexpected hugs. I sometimes wonder what great deed I did in my previous life to be so blessed in this one.

It Rained Today!

It's amazing - it finally rained in Orange County. I honestly don't remember our last rain, and apparently neither do my kids. They looked out the window this morning in amazement.

Kings Don't Get Better Treatment

I'm pretty sure princes of small principalities don't get better treatment than my son. On a typical morning he gets pancakes cut into seasonal shapes (right now it's Christmas trees), juice and a tv show of his choice. Recently there has been an upgrade - using a "breakfast in bed" tray so he can sit on the sofa to enjoy his morning meal. Oh man, I know I'm going to pay for that parenting decision. Or his future wife will...

Christmas Photo Shoot - Take 1

Not only do I have the "joy" of trying to get a decent picture of my family for my Christmas cards, but I get to do two extra photo sessions for the grandparents. Each set of grandparents wants to proudly show off their grandchildren (who can blame them?) by sending out cards with pictures. It always cracks me up how we somehow eventually end up with great pictures and how the receivers of the cards have no idea about the chaos surrounding the photo shoot. Today was no different...we had our photo session for my in-laws. The truth is their card is going to be awesome, but if you could have seen the dramatics of my lovely daughter during the whole process...well let's just say she might have been crossed of Santa's nice list. Here is a sneak peak of some of the pictures that will be used as bragging rights by my in-laws.

All Aboard!

Today we decided to hop on the local Metrolink train and head south to San Juan Capistrano. The train ride was about 40 minutes, which was about 35 minutes too long for Lauren. That girl can NOT sit still. We had a great time though - the kids loved being able to get out of their seats while the train was moving and walk all over. Daniel also thought it was pretty great to use the potty while the train was moving. Once down in SJC we headed to Zoomars petting zoo followed by lunch at Ruby's. My parents met us for lunch, which was wonderful. It was especially helpful because I decided another hour of hanging out at Zoomars followed by another 40 minutes on the train was too much for Lauren, so my parents took us girls home while Daniel and daddy stayed to catch the train home.

Waiting at the train station


Enjoying the ability to move around in the train


Lauren NOT sitting down


Daniel having fun at Zoomars


Joe and the kids playing at Zoomars

More crafting

Today I had the chance to work on some craft projects - thank you daddy for taking both kids to judo practice. I'm sort of bummed I missed seeing Daniel and Lauren at judo (because I'm pretty sure there was little judo going on and a lot of mischief instead), but I LOVED having the morning to myself. I'm really trying to make as many Christmas gifts as possible and I'm almost done with my niece Julia. Her basket of felt food just has a few pieces missing and today I made an apron. I cheated a little though and used a dress that had a big stain on the front to make the apron. I cut apart the dress and only used the back (un-stained) side. I added a pocket because I found some little wooden spoons that needed a home and then I hemmed the sides and added bias tape on the top. I'm really happy with the way it turned out and I love the idea of re-purposing an adorable dress that had been previously thought as ruined. Here is the finished project.



I also made a little something for myself. I saw this tutorial for making a fabric flower pin . It was super easy and I used various materials and tulle I had on hand. I actually made two because I wanted a big one for using on a jacket or to hold a scarf in place and a small one for a t-shirt or something.

Letters to Someone

Dear Extended Day at Preschool,

Oh how I love Thursdays and Daniel's extended day at school. 9am to 2pm is an enormous break for a mom, especially when little miss Lauren still naps for a good part of that time. Sheets and towels are in the wash, house is tidy and all forms of computer communication have been checked (and responded to!). Time, sweet precious time how I love you! We'll be back to craziness tomorrow, but let's just enjoy today.

From,
A Sane (for the moment) Mommy


Dear Daredevil Daniel,

I told you to stop diving into the pillows on mom and dad's bed. I warned you there was a hard wood headboard behind those fluffy pillows. I'm sorry you got a nice bloody gash on your forehead, but I told you so!!

Love,
Your First Aid Mommy


Dear La Habra Children's Museum,

My kids had a blast visiting you and they both fell asleep on the way home, so that was pretty much a perfect afternoon. But I'm just not too sure how I feel about your animal exhibit. I get that you are a museum, but the animals on display are slightly creepy looking. And I might have been extra creeped out by how much Lauren loved it. Maybe it was that she kept poking at the eyes of your animals that worried me. But, don't worry, we'll probably visit again. Who am I to stop visiting a place that entertained and tired out my kids?
From,
A Slightly Bothered Museum Visitor

Halloween Round-up

So many fun Halloween activities last week...so much sugar overload this week. Here are some pictures from the fun.

There is so much going on with this group, but my favorites are Daniel playing Rubiks cube in the middle of the chaos and dinosaur Riley pulling Dorothy's pigtail.


Daniel's preschool class on Halloween Party Day


My two little pumpkins


Ready to go Trick-or-Treating

Through the Eyes of Daniel

On Monday I was reminded of something I thought as a child. For some reason I didn't think teachers were "real" people. I honestly thought they lived at our elementary school and if I did run into them at the grocery store or someplace, I'd be surprised there were "out." Well, Daniel currently holds this view. After picking up a movie at Blockbuster, we drove by Daniel's preschool and I said to him, "Look Daniel it's your preschool" to which he replied, "the lights are all off, Mrs. Jennifer must be sleeping." Oh boy - it was so hard for me not to laugh out loud at that one! Yes, that's right, when you are 3 years old you really think your teacher lives at your school. I agreed with him that at 5:30pm on a Monday evening, Mrs. Jennifer was most likely sleeping in his classroom.

Last One...for a while

I know, hand-holding, cute but not that big of a deal. Just have to add two more pics of my favorite kid activity. These two shots were on the way home from the pumpkin patch (our second visit for the week). I couldn't get both kids in one shot because, well, I was supposed to be driving.

With that Face

I just can't be upset at my son. Yes, he threw a big old fit leaving a playdate today because I would not allow him another treat (told him he had to wait until after dinner, I'm such a mean mommy), but then he says and does the cutest things. First it was his prayer at dinner time with his eyes closed tight and hands clasped..."Thank you God for my family and my school" -- you can tell they say grace at his preschool; then it was his sweet voice singing in the bathtub and then I was organizing pictures this evening and noticed this shot from the other day.

With that face there is no staying upset. Really, why would I be? He is 3! I have to remind myself that he is still so little. I know I have high expectations of him and I need to remember to take a step back and let him be 3. THREE!!!! Oh so little and innocent still. Still crazy about his mommy...

Burlap Boo Bag and a Halloween Tree

I'm patting myself on my back as I type this because I'm pretty proud of my two latest craft accomplishments. The other day Joe ordered some food from Rubio's and I have no idea why but some of it came in this small burlap bag.



I also saw something in a magazine about making a Halloween Tree by painting sticks black and making ornaments. So I meshed those two things together and today created this...



The sticks were collected by Daniel and I at the park and spray painted on my front lawn (side note: put down some rags before doing this because otherwise your lawn will look like someone tagged it. Yep - I forgot that step). The ghosts ornaments are from some white scrap material I had, the BOO letters are brown felt (felt from my felt food) and the Halloween ribbon was from some hair bows I made. So I basically had to buy the basket and some fall looking flowers to cover the base. Cute new Halloween decoration, small price tag. Love it!

Holding Hands

My moms group was talking about little things that make you smile, you know the smell of coffee in the morning, the sound of the ice cream truck outside...the simple things in life. One of my favorite things is kids holding hands. I don't know why, but I just think it's adorable. Well, the other day we went to the pumpkin patch and among the million pictures I took of the kids (see previous post!) there were some cute hand-holding shots.

Daniel and Lauren


Cousin Christopher and Daniel


More cute pictures from the pumpkin patch, although not hand-holdings ones...

Sweet face


Lauren loved the pumpkins


The cutest little piggy I've ever seen

No Kids = No Pictures

Joe and I had the chance to get away to Hawaii for 5 wonderful days, without the kids! We lounged, we ate, we drank...we had a blast. Here is the funny thing -- we took about 10 pictures the whole time, most of them scenic shots. What the heck?? Before kids I'd take tons of pictures on vacation, after kids all I do is take pictures of my kids. So there we were in beautiful Hawaii and I have just a couple of pictures to prove the trip even happened. You can bet if the kids had been along we'd have filled up the whole SD card with wonderful pictures. Anyways, here is our trip...




That's about it! Aloha!!

Letters to Someone

My Dear Lovely Lauren,

I think you are adorable, but the fact that you have started throwing tantrums is just not cool. Your dramatics should be saved for your teen years - I think 15 months is a little young for this much angst. At 15 years old I will expect it. No you can not steal your brother's favorite dinosaur and bolt into the other room and then throw a major fit when he grabs it back from you. In Daniel's defense he had it first and you know (I know you do!) it's his favorite. Sorry, but you can not have a Capri Sun - you will just squirt it everywhere and make a huge mess. Just because I will not give you one does not give you the ok to throw yourself on the ground and kick and scream. Seriously girl??

Also, can we talk a little about shoes? They are to go on your feet. They are not loveys that you carry around. Now I love shoes as much as the next girl, but I prefer to wear them. And I mean wear both of them. Stop taking one shoe off and leaving one on. Let's compromise -- at home you can carry around a shoe, but when we go outside you MUST wear BOTH shoes.

Love,
Your Do NOT "Save your Drama for Your Mama" Mommy

Here is Lauren having a fit about shoes. Notice Daniel trying to hold her hand.


My Dear Sweet Daniel,

I do love the sight of your face and your Cars jammies in the morning, but not at 3:45am. That's just way too early and still the middle of night as far as this household is concerned. Three visits between 3:45 am and 4:45 am was not a fun way to start off my Monday. While we are on the topic of sleeping, how about sleeping in once in a while??!!

Love,
Your Tired Mommy

Here is Daniel playing with his favorite dinosaur, before Lauren stole it.


Dear Sunny Hawaii,

Three days and counting my love, three days.

From,
A very anxious soon to be visitor

Felt Food, Bows and More

I hope my 3-year old niece Julia doesn't read my blog because she's about to find out her Christmas present. Check out this spread of yummy food...it's made out of felt!

How fun is that? My goal is to make a basket full of felt food for Julia, an apron and maybe some matching kitchen towels. I got the idea from my friend Melinda who made an awesome basket of felt food for Daniel's birthday -- he absolutely loves it and I just knew I needed to get cooking, er...I mean sewing. Next up is a banana, a cupcake and fixings for a sandwich.

The next item on my crafty list is more hair bows. Here are some of my most recent creations.

I love making these - if your little girl has a birthday coming up don't be surprised if she gets some. And if you are reading this and don't personally know me, I can always sell you some.

Lastly I made myself an scarf from this tutorial. Jamie at Pretty Ditty makes some ridiculously cute stuff and this scarf was so easy and cheap. I bought 2 yards of fabric on sale for $6 bucks and cut it into three long scarves. So each scarf is costing me $2 plus maybe a dollar for extra materials. And I read someplace recently that purple is the color for this fall. Whatever - it's cute. I made one for myself, am in the process of making one for my sister and still deciding who gets the last one. Maybe you??

A Decision Has Been Made

It looks like we're going with Spiderman this year for Daniel's Halloween costume. It was sort of decided by accident. My nephew Christopher came over the other day and he was so excited about the Incredible Hulk costume that he very nicely asked Daniel if he could borrow it for Halloween and Daniel (not really knowing what he was agreeing to) kindly responded yes. So there you have it...Daniel will be Spiderman and Christopher will be the Incredible Hulk.

My favorite part of these costumes is the built in muscles. Both boys love showing off their muscles and it cracks me up every time Daniel says to me, "Look at my muscles mommy!"

Not Me Monday

There is a tidal wave going around the blog world called "Not Me Monday." MckMama created the idea of Not Me Monday as a way to share the things that we (mostly moms) would NEVER do. So here is my first Not Me Monday post...

It was NOT ME who took a quick nap while my daughter slept and my son played quietly with his blocks today. I did NOT try to convince him to nap as well.

It was NOT ME who opened the enormous animal cookie container at Costco just to stuff my kids mouths so I could finish my shopping. My kids are always perfect angels when we are out shopping so I would NEVER have to do that.

It was NOT ME who was fine with my kids just eating breadsticks for dinner tonight. They always eat a well balanced and healthy dinner around here.

It was NOT ME who bought a ton of stuff at said Costco trip only to realize I had both strollers in the back of the car and no room for the 20-pack of paper towels, 224 pack of size 3 diapers and huge bag of Mickey Mouse chicken (which I did NOT feed to my kids for lunch...again, we eat healthy around here).

It was NOT ME who drank a big glass of wine while the kids ate those breadsticks for dinner and my daughter walked around the patio of the restaurant barefoot...

Always Smilin'

Lauren is always smiling. Seriously, that girl cracks me up. She laughs to herself in her car seat, giggles in her crib with her dolls, shakes her lil' booty when she hears music...you name it, she is happy. The other day she had a fever and was just not herself and it was so hard to see her not completely happy. I'm just not used to that! She's all better now and back to her happy self. Here she is playing in the yard at our water table.


P.S. in all honesty, of course Lauren has her cranky moments, but they are when she is tired or hungry. I don't want you all to think she never cries!

It's Beginning to Look Like Halloween

Last weekend we celebrated my mother-in-law's birthday, but it was Daniel who walked away with the best presents -- his older cousin Parker's old Halloween costumes! Now the big decision is Incredible Hulk or Spiderman. We've worn both costumes everyday since last weekend, it's just such a hard decision...


Cousin Molly and Daniel (Molly is the best with the kids!)



And not to be left out, Parker with Lauren

Funny Things are Everywhere

"From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere." -- Dr. Seuss

Here are some funny things my kids are up to these days...

• When Daniel has to go #2, he tells me to close the bathroom door because he needs "privacy."
• If I give each of my kids a sippy cup, Lauren ALWAYS ends up stealing Daniel's.
• Daniel quietly sings to himself when he is playing on his own.
• Lauren waves at planes going by and says "bye bye" to them...and we are on the flight path for the airport so it happens a LOT.
• Daniel tries to negotiate or cry his way out of eating vegetables every night at dinner.
• I have to stop Lauren from eating vegetables because that is all she will eat if I let her.
• Daniel is learning about Jesus at preschool and told me the other day that "Jesus is mighty and so is Daddy, but Daddy is busier."
• 
• Daniel tells me I am "The best lady in the whole world."
• Lauren loves dogs, until you get one close to her then she freaks out.
• When Lauren is upset, Daniel will give her his favorite teddy bear.
• Lauren loves shoes - she will try on any pair she can get her hands on...but she especially loves her dolls' shoes.