Randoms

Here are some random things going on right now in my life. I just grabbed the camera today and snapped a few pictures that represent what I'm up to.
We went to the Outlet Mall today to look for some ideas for Elle's birthday...it's a ways off, but I might be a bit preoccupied as her birthday gets closer, so I'm starting now. Anyway, Shawn and I walked past the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and we both couldn't stop staring at the apples. Shawn wouldn't dare go in, because he knew they would be too expensive. I said "You only live once....plus I'll pay for it...I did just sell my drums." So, we went in and picked out this baby...I say "baby" because it weighs close to what my baby weights right now. It was a toffee, caramel apple. We waited until we got home to eat it and let me just say, it was worth all $6 that I shelled out for it. It did NOT disappoint. It was amazing and we ate and ate and ate and still have 1/2 of the apple left so it's like getting 2 desserts making the price justifiable. Well worth the splurge.



This was another purchase we made at the outlet mall. It should clear up any questions that some may have had about carrying on the pink tradition that Shawn has started, with Levi. This shirt is 12-18 months, which hopefully will fit him right about Easter time next year. We both loved it, which is rare and decided this would be one of the few clothing items we would buy new. We like resale and not only that but we have gotten a lot of hand me downs from friends so buying him new stuff will be for special occasions only. This is one purchase I won't ever regret...can't wait to see my baby wearing this next year!


This is the scrapbook paper that will serve as the base for Elle's invitation to her birthday. She is only having 3 kids come, but I love making invitations and wanted one for her scrapbook so there ya go. She wants a cowgirl theme, and I thought this was a nice abstract version of that...it was impossible to find "cowgirl" type scrapbook paper.

Lastly, this is my scrapbook table right now. I am working on the nursery page for my pregnancy journal and also starting Chapter One of Baby Wise for the 3rd time. This book has been invaluable to me with my babies. It's time for a refresher in all the things I did when Elle and Ava were babies. Some moms hate this book, but I have loved it because it has created a calmer, more in control environment for me and I say go with what works, regardless of what others think. Anyway, I am up to my neck in reminders and events that are coming up in the month of March and the first part of April. I know that I have a lot of things to check off the list before April 13th so I'm planning things out and getting them done now instead of procrastinating and going nuts when I'm almost due.

So there ya have it: my life in pictures right now. I am feeling calm and in control (don't tell God about the in control part....every time he hears me say that, he throws something crazy my way.) So maybe it's not in control, but on a good path of nonprocrastination. Hope you weekend is wonderful!

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

I present....The Nursery!

Close-up of the crib bedding

Finally Invited

The boogie board we bought for our trip to the beach last May actually came in handy!

Elle got on all fours to lick the snow.

Ava cracked us up! I tried to teach her to make a snow angel. I told her to lay on her back and swing her arms and legs so she started moving her arms like she was flying.

I even let Levi experience the snow and our snow man. He was really impressed.

The aftermath, and one mess I really don't mind cleaning up :)

They actually earned their hot chocolate today!

A parting picture...this is Elle and me playing in the snow. She can now write short sentences, spelling all the words by herself! I will treasure this picture forever. I'll treasure this special day too. Thank you God for indulging my love of snow. :)

Today, we finally received our invitation to the snow party that the rest of Texas was invited to last week. When I woke up at 6:30 this morning it was snowing and as I write this at 9:12 pm, it's still snowing! This has definitely been a day we'll never forget. I think this is the most snow that this city has seen since 1985. It's the most continuous snow I've seen just about ever! We had snowball fights, built a snowman, attempted to make snow angels, ate a lot of ice, and Shawn even picked Elle up early from school just so they could enjoy it. Truly, this is all I ask for each winter...just one good day of snow and then I'm totally contented. Spring has my permission to begin.

7 months pregnant

Today marks 7 months of abnormality, I mean pregnancy. I would love to say that everything is peachy keen, but unfortunately since December, someone has been sick at all times. As I write this, everyone in the house is well except me. Mainly, I'm having a stopped up ear which isn't too big of a deal as long as it doesn't turn into an infection. I'm using this condition to my favor by constantly ignoring the whining, fighting, and demands in my home and using the "I couldn't hear you" excuse. :) I also hurt my back today, but hopefully with some Tylenol and ice and heat, I'll be good as new in about 2 months. ( I use humor to deal with ridiculousness, see?) I am just beginning to reach the pretty uncomfortable stage of the 3rd trimester. Some part of his body is pushing up against the lower part of my ribs in such a way that I can't lean forward if I'm sitting down....like literally there is a large solid mass in the way. Driving when you can't lean forward at all is quite interesting...I have found myself driving with my fingertips lately....safe, I know. He moves so much right now too! I'm pretty sure a little boy was watching my stomach move yesterday when I was at the library because I could see him staring at my stomach out of the corner of my eye and when I looked at him, he had a freaked out look on his face. It made me laugh. This weekend, the girls room should be completed finally, which means the nursery will stop being a catch-all and actually be a nursery....pictures to follow of course! In two weeks, I have a shower....not the water kind, the gift kind...though at this point, showering is getting pretty hilarious. Takes a whole bar of soap each time and the towel doesn't meet when I wrap it around me. Shaving is a thing of the past. I think I could be put in the handicap category at this point. Anyway, here's the shot of my belly today. As much as I'm making this pregnancy sound horrible, it's mostly just for humor. I am relishing these last two months, because I know I'll never feel these sensations again. I am enjoying all the movement and preparation and shrinking towels, because I know it's the last time. And I'm really very okay with that :)

Red and Pink Day

Here's the picture I sent out to the grandparents :)

We love a good reason to need to wear red and pink in our house so Valentine's Day fits the bill! I took a few pictures of us this morning since we were all ready, somewhat matching, and the girls even had their hair fixed, with a few mintues to spare! To celebrate Valentine's today, I made roast and a brownie heart with the best pink cream cheese icing in the world! It was so good and we avoided the Valentine's Day crowd at all the restaurants. Enjoy the pics!

A sneak peek at the 31 week belly....only 8 weeks to go!!! I'll be 7 months preg. on Thrusday!!!

Chinese New Year

Elle is on the right...so scary!

Last week the Kindergartners learned all about China and the week ended with a parade down the halls of the school with a Chinese dragon. Elle and another little boy in her class took turns being the head of the dragon. What fun and I'm proud of Elle for volunteering to take such a lead roll!

Here she is leading with the head of the dragon/garfield.

Potty Trained

This past month, Ava became a full fledged girl, wearing panties all the time, night and day! She has had the daytime down for a long time, and really nights too, but I needed to get through some of this pregnancy before taking that final leap of letting her wear panties at night in case we had a lot of accidents. Starting on January 5th, the diaperless nights began....and I'm happy to say that she never once has wet her bed!!! We are so excited to now have no pull ups or diapers in our house...at least until my baby shower and then we'll be overflowing with diapers again. But, it's nice to know that it's the last potty trainee we'll teach! Way to go Ava!!!Here she is with her sticker chart about half way through the month.

And her first treat for making it a little over a week....a sucker :)

This is a random picture from Saturday. Shawn and her wore matching pink polka dot aprons and made tacos for dinner.