School is F-U-N

Wow, I am so excited for the girls to start school. Tuesday is the big day. We had orientation tonight and it was a great introduction for the kids & parents. Their class is small and the teacher seems completely competent and up for the task at hand. My biggest thrill? Packing their school lunch. I know: NERD-ALERT. It all goes back to my love of food. The girls received back packs and matching lunch boxes for the birthday a few weeks ago so they are all geared up, now I just have to make sure the back packs & lunch boxes are properly loaded up. I have been checking out various websites to get ideas of what to pack and so far the best has been foodnetwork.com under the section: back to school. If you are in school mode with your children and get stuck on ideas for lunches then I recommend checking out their site. It is pretty useful & nothing too complicated is on the list. Also, if you are a lunch packing pro then drop me a note. I am always up for a good idea!

Pregnancy hands & feet

I am at THAT stage. My ankles & hands look pudgy & feel tight. Turning over at night is a major chore and I am just flat-out-sit-on-the-couch-tired. But, there are two little girls to manage & entertain so I keep going. I am not complaining necessarily, just stating the facts. I am uncomfortable (that is a complaint), but that is part of the process. Pretty soon, too soon, it will all be over & our little family will be five strong.

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The last cousin frame is complete. I am mixed about it. I like it but would change a couple of things. I would still like to make one for our house so I can easily rotate family photos, but I will see if that happens. I think each set of frames has improved & it is just fun to sit down and paint. I bought a small canvas and have started painting it, but haven't decided what is going to go on it. Sorry for the shadow, but you can get an idea of the finished product. This cousin has a December birthday so I am ahead of the game. Feels good for a change.

Coming together

We have preschool orientation in two days and I believe classes start next week. Crazy. It boggles my mind that three years have passed and that the plans I made months ago to put them in school are now coming together. Time flies. It is pouring rain here and does not appear that it will stop any time soon. The house is dark and the girls are staring out the windows looking for more school buses to drive by and giving me weather updates ("Mom, it is raining"). I have a two small projects that I should be able to complete today. I did work on some hair bows, but I can't seem to duplicate the bows that the girls currently have. Mine didn't turn out horrible, just different than expected. Hair bows & barrettes don't seem to stay in their hair long anyway. These will definitely do for now.

We are off to Austin on Saturday to meet up with a friend of Martin's from high school. I have always heard such positive things about Austin and am looking forward to seeing it for myself. I am hoping for nice weather & happy kids - everything else is icing.

Home again

The trip to Grandma's house was great. The girls were pretty good for the most part, slept well, ate well, listened selectively. Typical three-year old behavior (or so I am told). We tried our best to stay cool.
Grandma assisted in a couple baking projects. We got to lounge around quite a bit, and after the girls were down for the night my MIL and I got to watch movies. I think I saw 6 movies in about five nights.

My MIL likes the occasional evening cocktail and has created some pretty tasty ones. Since I am not able to partake right now she would make me a fizzy cranberry cocktail. Very yummy: tonic water, cranberry juice, and few cubes of ice and a slice of lemon and lime. The proportions of tonic to cranberry are about equal. It is a great summer time mocktail. Give it a try. We visited the Saturday morning market and I stored away an idea for a headband cover that I think I should be able to handle. I also have some plans for some more appliqued shirts and trying my hand at some hair bows. I have one more photo frame to make for a cousin that is partially finished. My point? I feel like I have lots I want to do and need to do. I am hoping that once pre-school starts I will have uninterrupted time to start & finish some of this stuff. Not to mention getting ready for a certain little baby. October 22nd is the big day. I report to the hospital at 6 am. Good thing I only live 4 minutes from the delivery spot! One plus to having to have a c-section: knowing exactly when I get to meet the newest little one. Hope everyone's summer is winding down nicely.

A Royal Adventure

I have two little princesses. They have declared the title for themselves.

The job requires a princess outfit. Daily.
And the fair ladies are very serious about the dress requirements. Even in nearly 100 degree weather.

I am the chauffeur. My job for the next 10 days is to accompany the little ladies through Texas to Arkansas to visit Grandma & Grandma Great. Daddy is Colorado bound to run a leg of some ridiculously long race that his cousin runs each year. Essentially: road trip for the girls. I am sure the royal ladies will have a grand time and will be smothered with love & attention. I will give an update of the royal adventure upon our return to the palace!

Summer Fun

We spent a long weekend in Oklahoma. This was my first time there and we were visiting my SIL & BIL and their two kiddos. They live on a beautiful piece of property and Erika & Ainslee had a blast. The reason for the visit was to have a cousin birthday bash. We have never lived very close to either SIL since the family had its baby boom (6 kids in four years!), so now that we are within a decent driving distance I wanted to take advantage and let the girls have a pre-birthday celebration with two of their cousins. It was a lot of fun and we are already talking about the next visit. Here are the foursome below. The other two cousins live in TN and we will have all six - actually seven by then- together for Christmas this year. It will be a crazy-fun, loud week!
This is my little family. We made a quick stop at a nature center. I wasn't able to take the heat for long and the girls were nearing nap time, so it was a very quick stop.

Yesterday was the girls' 3rd birthday. Unbelievable to me. I spend every day with them so it would seem reasonable that I of all people would grasp the length of time that has passed, but it just doesn't seem possible to me. They are amazing, sweet, inspiring little girls and I feel so completely blessed that they are ours to raise. I hope I never take it for granted.

Happy Birthday Erika & Ainslee. You make me smile, cry and laugh for joy! I thank God for you both!!!

Groundhog day

It has been a week of having sick toddlers around here. Let me tell you - I have a feisty one and this past week has revealed a whole new level on her feisty-scale. My husband said she reminds him of me. I guess she had to get it from one of us. I am hoping the sick-cycle is nearing the end as I am beginning to feel like I am living the movie Groundhog Day. I can never remember if movie titles are supposed to be underlined or italicized - either way. I hope I am Andy McDowell and not Bill Murray just from an aesthetic stand point! Every morning we have gotten up after having a rocky night's sleep, gotten breakfast for both girls at which point one of the girls will start crying and will need to lie on the sofa. I have worn a trail in the floor from the sofa to the fridge, filling orders for Gatorade or sprite and applesauce. That is all they really want and that is what they are getting. This too shall pass . . .

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On a crafty note, I have finished two more frames that are intended for my nephews. One will be six & the other three. I have so much fun painting these. I have one more to do for my little niece and then I think I will do one for us to have at our house. They are lots of fun to make!

Happy August - can't believe it is already here!