twice the tink

There is a story behind having two Tinkerbells this year for Halloween. Originally GM was going to be Silvermist {Tink's fairy friend}, and SK was going to be Tinkerbell. That was until a friend of mine gave us a previously loved on TB Costume. GM FELL in love with it and that was that. In the end, they both loved being twins. So we had Tink #1 and Tink #2, LOVE IT!

B-E-A-U-T-Y


Thank you Trudi!

A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!

our evening

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{Carving Cinderella's glass slipper.}

dalmatian #2

Today was my third and final Fall party of the week I would attend. GM was my second dalmatian this week. So much fun to be around her and her classmates again. Love the ears, the nose, the freckles. Love the girl.

student of the month

Proud Momma news today. GM was chosen as student of the month for her class!

Could I beam anymore? Can I brag enough?

This is her trophy that will sit on her desk for the entire month.

Here she is holding it next to her certificate and picture that hangs in the hallway at her school.

When asked by classmates and her teacher why she was chosen, this is what they wrote (it hangs on the bulletin board too):

"GM is kind and responsible. She is willing to share with others and help others when needed. GM loves to help keep the classroom clean and is a very good citizen. We can always count on GM to know what the directions are and how to follow them. She is a good leader and a good example for our other friends. GM is very creative and LOVES to make art of all kinds! She is friendly with both the boys and girls and enjoys playing in the kitchen and the art center."

Way to go baby! Your Daddy, Mommy and sister are super proud.

P(s)oTD

I will have two pictures of the day today since I can't seem to decide.

This week has been spirit week at Grace's school. We've worn our favorite sport team shrit (Cardinals), worn our pink froggy pj's, had crazy hair day with glitter and all.

Today was twins day, dress like a friend. I had contacted her friends Mom to see if we could find an outfit for the both of them to make the day super fun. Here it is, both were elated. I had to get a shot, can you see the excitement! Love it.

First for Sarah, a trip to the dentist. She loved wearing the Cinderella glasses but towards the end, she was ready to go. So most of her teeth were cleaned. Again, I had to get the shot.

See why I decided on two pictures of the day. Big day to narrow it down to just one.

finally... her own party

It was Sarah's first fall party. Finally she was just like her sister, having a party at school! She's waited for this a long time. Her preschool had the kids all dress up as the 101 Dalmatians. She got to stamp the dots on her shirt and make her own doggie ears and then parade around the school for all the parents to ooohhh and ahhhh over. It was alot of fun.

That's my big three year old!

weekly meal plan

I like new recipes, I like new ideas for dinner, I like ease and simple meals, I like menu planning. Well I don't necessarily like it, but I do like how it helps me get something on the table easily when I'm prepared. So I'm sharing this week's meal plan in hopes that you, my friends and family will take the time to leave a comment on what you are having for dinner. Again, I like new dinner ideas so go forward and comment!

This week's meal plan -
Monday - Chili
Tuesday - Left over Chicken Tacos
Wednesday - Grilled cheese and Red Pepper Soup
Thursday - Meatball sandwiches
Friday - Chicken Quesidillas
Saturday - Eating out
Sunday - Crab Cakes

creepy crawlies

We made these fun creepy crawlies this weekend. One for each friend in GM and SK's class. I got the idea out of Family Fun magazine, the girls love them and they were easy to make. They are looking forward to handing them out at their Fall parties this week.
This one GM named Charlotte. Love it. ;)

63 days

My sweet niece reminded me the other day that Christmas was only 66 days away. As of today, 63. If you know me well, you know I start preparing for Christmas in October. I create lists and begin to purchase gifts. I can usually start getting some of the girls gifts, things I know they want and are easy, this way I'm only rushing around for one day come end of December. They are pretty easy to shop for. Grace puts her mind on one thing all year and never strays. Sarah on the other hand jumps from idea to idea BUT luckily with her age, she's happy with what we give her.

Today I began my purchasing with an online order game for the both of them. In addition to that I purchased two ornaments. I purchase an ornament every year for each child to add to the tree and one day, for them to have in their own homes. The girls love this, trying to guess what will be chosen. I have these purchased early for us to put on the tree when it goes up.

I also pulled out my Christmas Notes book that I made at MOPS last year and used. It has everything I did in it from last year, great resource with the Christmas card list, gifts I sent, gifts received, candies I made for friends and neighbors. It is a organizational gift that keeps on giving {thanks J!}.

This weekend we plan on having a family picture taken. Hopefully all will be well and we can get some great shots. Once those are done and in my hand, Christmas card planning is right around the corner.

Last year we did the 25 Days of Christmas, loving on our girls with family outings, dollar store gifts, dvd's etc.... This year I'm going to tone it down a bit and do the 12 Days of Christmas. I loved doing it last year but it was alot of work. 12 days will be just as fun.

I know, it's early but if I didn't take these steps my December would be crazy and not enjoyable like I want it to be for me, my family and friends.

smell of lysol

The smell of Lysol is permeating my house. Today is my clean up after being sick day. You know washing sheets, cleaning toys and spraying things down. We don't have the piggy flu, mostly sinus infections and croup. It's enough to keep Sarah and I home 4 days this week. I'm ready to get out although I am not ready for Sarah to go anywhere. I want her immune system to be 100% before sending her out again. Hopefully by Monday she will be ready but until then, we stay put. Hopefully Art will let me get a break this weekend. It would be nice to have a few moments to myself :). Until then the Lysol can is out and I'm not afraid to use it!

Be safe, wash your hands often and be healthy everyone.

view out my window

I've had alot of time this week on my couch, looking out my back windows with Sarah and I being under the weather. I took a walk yesterday, I needed to get out, it was so beautiful. Everything around us is bursting with color.

We've seen alot of these guys this week, they are all over our windows and doorways, hanging out.

My girls love them, so do I.

freaky

This looks like one of those magic tricks where they cut someone in half doesn't it? I couldn't resist taking this shot of my girl in our Halloween cauldron. It looks kind of freaky to me even though I know her legs are still there. She loved it. It's all about Halloween here. We are counting down. Won't be long now...

frost

View out or window this morning. Our first frost, brrr.... Seems too early for this but we've had a cool summer for Missouri so it only seems fitting we are going to have a cold fall/winter.

Maybe it's time to put our retirement plan into place -

Sell the house.

Move to Kauai.

Set up a t-shirt shack on the beach.

Relax and hang ten.

Aloha - ahhhhh.

Sounds great :)

had to laugh

Sunday, October 11th I had one kid super cranky from croup, a husband crabby because of his back pain and a 6 year old testy with a cough and runny nose. Mom (me) being the only one 100% made a much needed run to the store for the essentials. After dealing with cranky, crabby and testy I was glad to be out of the house even though it was raining.

Driving in I get behind a flat bed truck carrying 8 blue porta potty's. There is one on the tail end of the trailer. With every bump {which there were alot} the door would fling wide open and out would come a string of wet toilet paper. This guy was unknowingly leaving a trail behind him. I saw pieces fly into the ditch, into the bushes, on trees, even onto my van. My thought after I chuckled, how could I let this guy know he was littering? ;) He must have noticed because he pulled over to the side of the road and got out, imagine his surprise!

Later that afternoon, back home I'm helping the girls get into the tub. Now when my girls hear the words bath time they come running, striping themselves down to nothing and dive right in. They leave their own trail behind them in clothes. I went to pick up Sarah's undies. As I stood in the bathroom, with the undies in hand I flushed the toilet {someone had forgotten in their rush}. I'm not quite sure how it happened but the undies fell out of my hands and went "WOOSH!" down the stool with ease. They were gone, I let out a yelp which brought my hubby to the room and made my girls wonder what had just happened. I stared at the toilet, waiting for it to spit them back out. We even flushed it a couple of times to make sure it was okay. It's worked fine since. Panties gone, Sarah cried, I laughed my head off. Art thought I had lost it.

It is these instances that I know God has a sense of humor. He used two moments throughout the day to make me laugh. I needed them. I needed to let go of the stress of a sickly household and what better to do it than with potty humor.

God works in mysterious ways.

october 11th

Is this crazy or is it just me?

P(s)oTD 10.11.09

10.09.09 PoTD

Can't you see the thrill in her eyes??

Last Friday Sarah had an appointment with our pediatrician for her barking cough. Upon signing in at the counter I was asked to have her wear this beautiful mask. My thoughts, "Are you crazy? She's three! Let's have you try to keep it on her!"

Don't you see the love in this picture? I took it so I could show her how she looked, thinking she would laugh. No laugh, just whining and moaning. I can't blame her, I would hate to wear one of those things too.

barking

Sarah has been barking since late Wednesday night. She sounds like a dog (and likes it) but really it is just a deep cough. She's also been congested. Today I broke down after a rough night and took her to her pediatrician. Diagnosis - Croup Influenza. He said it was a form of flu that went to her upper respiratory system. So he gave us a steroid to help relieve it. She is in good spirits which confused us because usually the runny nose and cough accompany a fever. I really thought it was H1N1 which I am prepared to accept, it is inevitable that one or both of my kids will get it. I have come to understand that it's just a matter of time. But Croup? I guess the barking cough should have given it away but this is a first for us, neither girl has had it before. Yet another journey in the job of parenthood. One I really didn't want to take but we will get through it and she will be okay. Until then I watch, wait, soothe and comfort my little puppy dog, I mean girl ;).

just call me susie homemaker

At least for today anyway.

We are home instead of our usual Thursday morning routine. Sarah woke up with a deep cough and after yesterday afternoon {she had a bad case of the crankies}, I wasn't brave enough to push it. She is in good spirits right now and playing well with Grace so maybe it was a false alarm? I am keeping an eye on her.

With this time home I am baking. Over the weekend we went to pick apples and you know how it is, everyone gets excited to pick their own and you come home with more than you could ever eat in one week. I made a promise to Art to make a pie but with my schedule I've been unable to get around to it until today, my unplanned down day.

Here it is and it smells divine! I took a picture of it and sent it to his iphone. Poor guy has to go to a leadership meeting tonight at church right after work. He'd rather be here! I don't know if I can hold myself off from diving in. My mouth is watering. It's just one of those fall indulgences we all have, I have a weakness for it. What could be better than fresh apple pie on a rainy, cool day? Ugghhhh...

Hurry home honey! This is going to kill me.