Just Like You

I think I probably tell Maggie & Callie to "stop saying that" or "don't do that again" at least a thousand times a day. Most of the things they are doing aren't that bad, but I try to remind them that Ellie watches everything that they do.

Maggie usually has quiet reading time after Callie leaves each day and Ellie often joins her.

(They are reading two of the new books that we bought at the book fair- Taylor Swift-Her Song and Purplicious...yes it's one in the series about Pinkalicious which is our most-checked out Library book!!)

This morning there were three Taylor Swift's singing "You Belong with Me".

It's something new every single day.

BIG Weekend

We had a busy, fun and exciting weekend and here are a few pictures (in totally random order)!Before leaving for Bible School. We had so much fun, but we were very tired when we got home last night.

It's always fun to ride the rides at BabiesRUs.

We went to a Birthday party at Bounce U. Maggie & Ellie had lots of fun and I went down the big slide more times than I can count.

Ellie loved the tunnels!

We finished our necklaces...finally.

Ellie has decided that she likes "silly bracelets" so much that she'll grab a handful and run away and squeal if you try to take them from her.
And...we finally put the new car seat (seen in the background) into Big Daddy's car. He has to pick Ellie up from Nana's while I'm teaching VBS, so we bought a new seat. It has brought HOURS of enjoyment while it's been in the living room/kitchen/bedrooms this week. It seems car seats are more fun when they're not strapped into a car.

Happy Monday!

Accomplished

We have finally finished the extensive art project that we started last week.

I did most of the bead-rolling, Big Daddy drilled the holes, the girls painted and I put the beads on strings and covered them in a clear sealant. It took several days for the beads to dry and then several days for Big Daddy to drill the holes. If I didn't have children that insist on being fed, changed, played with and entertained it would have taken a lot less time!

I'll try to post pictures of our necklaces next week, but first I have to complete mine! I did a turquoise and chocolate brown combo that I think is really cute. I'll be wearing it to Church on Sunday with a denim dress, so we'll see how it looks.

I'm getting ready to make a menu plan for next week and a grocery list for tonight. Our Week of Wonder (VBS) starts on Sunday, so I'll be busy in the evenings. I'll be taking Ellie to Nana and Pawpaw's and Maggie & I will go to Church for WOW. Big Daddy will be picking Ellie up and putting her to bed each night. He has never put Ellie to bed, so I'm a little worried. Of course, all I do is carry her to her room and lay her in the bed and then she grabs her sister's old receiving blanket and goes right to sleep. I can only hope that things go okay without me.


Happy Friday!

Spa Party!

Just look at this face!!

It's safe to say that the Spa Party was a success!

I think Maggie enjoyed it even more than the birthday girl herself!

Maggie was a little unsure of having make up put on...

but it was very age appropriate with just a few sparkles here and there.

Her favorite part was the pedicure!

Ellie enjoyed watching the big girls and exploring the spa.

Callie loved it and is already asking her mom for a spa party of her own.

All the girls had on dresses (except Callie) and everyone wore little robes while they were getting their spa treatments. The tiaras and wands came home with us and Maggie told me (at 6:30) this morning that I could borrow them for my birthday celebration.

(No pictures of other people's children for privacy)

I'm in the mood...

for Fall!

It all started a few weeks ago when I went to a certain store and saw lots of Fall decor on one row and Christmas decorations on another. I thought it was way too soon to have out these sorts of things, but it definitely made me start thinking. Since then, I've had pumpkins, colorful leaves, spice scented candles and yummy cool weather food on my mind. It doesn't help things when the temperatures have been in the upper 90's and the humidity always feels like it's at 100% here in NC!!

I will soon be shopping for new candles and pumpkins and...a new crock pot.

Enter CSNStores.com! I was asked to review one of the many products that they offer in over 200 of their on-line stores. Did you know that the store that has everything from dining room furniture to luggage also sells crock pots ? Oh yes they do!! I'll be ordering my soon and I'll let you know if it can make my cooking any better! CSN Stores has become one of my favorite places to shop while I'm in the comfort of my living room.

Of course, I'm not ready to say goodbye to Summer just yet. We still have our family beach trip coming up next month.

Wordless Wednesday

A Spa Party?

This song is so stuck in my head! It's one of my favorites and we did at Church on Sunday and it just plays over and over in my head! (pause the music at the bottom and press play!)

Anyway...

So...tomorrow I'm taking my girls to a Spa Party for Maggie's friend Sara's fourth birthday. I've had mixed reactions when I tell people that we're going to a children's spa to celebrate the birthday of a four year old. Callie wasn't invited, but when I told the mom that I was keeping her during the summer she insisted that Callie join in the fun. Needless to say, Callie was fully prepared to do her own nails and make up before the party!!
We do hair, nails and make up on a regular basis around here, but I don't put a lot of emphasis on it. I never want Maggie or Ellie (Callie either) to think that they have to wear make up or do their nails to be pretty, loved or accepted. I do insist that hair is out of eyes when we go anywhere where it might get in the way. (nothing worse than trying to do art at Church or preschool while your hair keeps getting in the paint!)

My birthday is coming up soon and I'd love to spend a little time with my out of town Mommy-friends at a spa! (More details on my upcoming birthday celebration later.)


What do you think, is a Spa Party for a four year old appropriate??

Busy, Busy, Busy

I had a nice trip to Sanford on Friday with Maggie & Ellie hanging in the backseat! Ellie slept half of the way there and Maggie couldn't hold her eyes open for the last ten minutes. Once we arrived at my old office's new office and I said the words "Gammy Gladys" they were up and ready to go!!

Ellie was a little unsure of Gladys because there were SO many people around, but Maggie was thrilled to see her Gammy! We spent some time there touring the new office and talking to my old co-workers before leaving to do a little tour of the town. We drove around for about an hour and Maggie showed Ellie all of our old places. We were surprised at the new restaurants and gas stations that had been built since we were last across town in November.

Maggie wanted to play in the fountain at the Depot and go pretty much everywhere that we used to go! I talked her into having snack at Sonic. It seems like a slush can fix a lot of problems!! It was Happy Hour and my girls were very HAPPY!

Maggie talked my ears off the entire hour drive back home and Ellie took another nap. Maggie is already talking about when we'll go back and I can't stop thinking about it myself!

It Was A Good Day

We decided to skip the summer program at the Library and get a head start on an extensive art project.

I saw this project on Kristen's blog and decided to try it.

The girls did quite a bit of bead-rolling before lunch. I've been working on the beads and steam mopping the hardwood floors during nap time and thoroughly enjoying myself!

I hope that I can post pictures of the necklaces that we make early next week.

Homesick

I have been missing our old hometown even more than usual lately. I miss everything from our house and neighborhood, Church and old co-workers to our favorite green house and grocery store. I'm not sure if I'll feel better or worse after me, Maggie & Ellie go for a visit on Friday.

We are excited to say the least.

Maggie wants to see Gammy Gladys so bad and we're going to a pig pickin' at the real estate firm that I used to work for. They are relocating and making changes and we're excited to share in the celebrating. Since Gammy Gladys used to work there too, we're going to crash the party together.

In Ellie news...she gives real kisses now!! Cute, sweet, wet, smacking kisses on the lips. Sweetest. Sugar. Ever.