Revenge

Fall TV is in full swing now. Our DVR is getting a workout and we are staying bust trying to keep up.




Have you watched the new show Revenge yet? There have only been two episodes so far and it is excellent. I highly recommend it. I wasn't sure what I'd think of it based on the initial previews, but then I read a glowing review of it and had to check it out. Matt and I are loving it. Check it out!

not for sissies

I got this book for my very first Mother's Day ever from my Mom.

I just happened to pull it out this week and thumb through it. I found two pages that were funny and relevant to my life recently.

Lily is two and a half- so I don't think this one needs any explaining. Right?

This one struck me as funny because I celebrated a birthday last week. I kept telling Abby that I was turning 28, but she knew that it didn't seem right. Finally she just agreed and kept telling Matt that he was wrong when he told her that I wasn't turning 28. Finally when we got it all straightened out, I still kept my story, but she had no problem straightening everyone out on how old I really was.

Spelling words- keeping it exciting, I hope.

As is my nature, as a former elementary school teacher of eight years, I am trying to keep homework not completely boring for Abby. Yesterday we headed outside to practice Spelling words with sidewalk chalk. Lily, of course is just along for the ride, which she is completely okay with.

Abby had to write the words all over the driveway (correctly!), and then I would call them out and she had to run to them, read them and spell them aloud. Then, she had to go back and trace over them in another color.

Lily worked on rainbows.

This is Abby's hardest word this week. I keep randomly asking her to spell it, and she had to write it a couple extra times on the sidewalk. I think she has it now.

Lily decided to work right down by the sidewalk/street. Makes me nervous, but she's so good and never goes any farther (and yes, I watch her the whole time).

Abby chose to later add a picture to go with each word.

We finished it up with just hanging out for a bit.

After school

If Lily is awake from her nap when Abby's bus is arriving, then she runs along the sidewalk to greet her as she walks home from the bus stop (usually barefoot).

(In this picture, Abby is walking backwards talking to her)

Then, at some point in the next hour, we have a snack. It's never the same thing, it seems. I had to restock some of our most favorites this week, however: Craisins and cheese sticks.

What are your favorite snacks?

Leaps and Bounds- Abby

An update on Miss Abby. Where to begin.

She continues to be a superstar. She has started first grade as we knew she would, excelling all the way. She loves it and does well. When I ask her after school about school, she can never highlight one or two good things, she just says the whole day was awesome.

She loves math and library. She is reading like nobody's business. I taught first grade, and she is above the first graders that I taught. I worry about her perfectionist nature (I wonder where she got that?).

I couldn't ask for a better big sister for Lily. And, she's funny. Just this morning she "smoldered" at me like Flynn Ryder in Tangled. She kept staring at me all weird and wiggling her eyebrows. I asked her what she was doing and she said she was smoldering at me because she knew I liked Flynn Ryder. Oh my.

This year she has started gymnastics (we're taking some time off from dance to try something new). She LOVES it so far. She works her little behind off while she is there for that hour, and then is just bubbling before and after class. It's contagious.

I'm so excited about spending time with her as she grows up, and yet, can I just freeze time too?

Leaps and Bounds- Lily

Not that long ago, many of my blog posts were about how worried I was about Lily and some of her delays in gross motor and speech development, and lately, she keeps stopping me in my tracks at the things she says, so I think maybe it is time for an update.

You would never know that she was behind, because she has progressed at such a rapid pace in vocabulary that she speaks in complex sentences now, it seems. Just this morning, a crayon that she was playing with at the kitchen table fell on the floor and she came up to me and said, "Mommy, a bad thing has happened today. My crayon fell." Seriously? She also announces herself sometimes first thing in the morning when she wakes up and calls out from the dark as she's walking to Abby's room where I'm getting Abby ready for school, " It's Happy Day!" or "It's me, Lily!" (which sounds like Silly, because L's are hard, you know.)

Last week, when I subbed for our church's preschool, she was able to tell the director that she was "Two and half" when asked.

One of the only gross motor skills that she hasn't mastered yet is jumping. She desperately wants too. She bends those little legs and springs, but her toes never leave the ground. Just recently she and Abby have been practicing. Abby tries to get her to use her arms. It is very funny to watch. Our pediatrician told me that they don't even expect kids to be able to jump until they turn 3, so we'll get there. At this age, some kids can, some kids can't. She is pretty much completely potty trained (yay!), and doing awesome. We couldn't be prouder.

Lily is a superstar.

Sharpie Tie-Dye- I just couldn't wait

Curiosity got me. I just had to try it, and I had the supplies.

Remember the Sharpie Tie-Dye, where you use rubbing alcohol from my last post? Well, the girls and I tried it. We used their old tie-dye shirts from Vacation Bible School. We figured they were already tie-dyed, so now they would just be double tie-dyed.

It's super easy. Click here for detailed directions. You take cups and rubber band them open side up inside the shirt (we used silly bands as our rubber bands), then color designs and such in each circle with colored Sharpie markers. When you are done, use a dropper (I used a medicine dropper) to drip rubbing alcohol onto each design. It makes the color spread and run. I was impatient and didn't let it dry before removing the cups, and then we set the color by drying in the dryer for 15 minutes. (Abby then did the back of hers too.) I also soaked the shirts in a vinegar/water bath before washing them to make sure that the color was completely set. Just to be sure. If you want to try it, I would suggest using the link above for directions. Their's are more detailed, I just wanted to share how easy it was. And.... show how cute they turned out. Abby wore hers as a top for her pajama day on Friday (we made them Thursday night). She was soooo excited.

Things I like from Pinterest today

Just sharing....

Source: tumblr.com via Carrie on Pinterest

These UGGs? I totally looked to see if they make them in Adults sizes. They don't. Sigh.

Source: shop.nordstrom.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Tie Dying with Sharpies and rubbing alcohol. Who's with me?

Source: sunscholars.blogspot.com via Carrie on Pinterest

I NEED this shirt.

Source: amazon.com via Carrie on Pinterest

These awsome scarves? $137. Seriously. I'm making one. Mine won't cost $137.

Source: sugarmillbyindiahicks.com via Carrie on Pinterest

It took me a second to see this, but it is hilarious.

Source: tardissonance.tumblr.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Totally doing this one too. Come on Mom's Group friends, you know you want to.

Source: vanessachristenson.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Want this hanging in my house.

Source: katieandspencer.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Lily and Mommy time

Can you tell she was pleased as punch to be coloring with Mommy? She said it was a "happy day". Or one of her other phrases, borrowed from Tangled is, "Best! Day! EVER!"

Nothing better than a tired two year old that you don't want to sleep

Am I right?

The backstory is that I noticed what I think is another hive caused by a bug bite this morning on Lily. She only has one. On her arm. The only time she could have gotten it was yesterday when she was in childcare while I was substitute teaching preschool. Since I wasn't there, they wouldn't have known her reaction to bug bites. No biggie, except in the future, we'll just have to make sure we let them know.

I gave her some oral Benedryl and put some cream on it, as seems to be the drill. It hurts if you touch it too much, otherwise, it's totally fine.

BUT.... she also woke up at 5:30 this morning, so she is a total grouch. The only thing that made her stop whimpering was Sesame Street. Hello Elmo.

Please, Lord, let me make it through lunch. Even if we eat at 11:02.

Ten on Ten

What is Ten on Ten?

Take a photo every hour for ten consecutive hours on the tenth of each month. Document a day of your life and find beauty among the ordinary moments!

We started out with Pineapple Pancakes (a favorite of ours) and Bacon. I'm the only family member that doesn't like bacon- I know, I know, I'm crazy, right?

We tried this little creation- didn't turn out yummy, according to Abby and Matt.

Not sure why.

I got a little break inside while the girls and Matt weeded. The girls think this is fun, how long will that last?

I spent some time mulling over this offer- time on the phone hearing about the Disney Vacation Club in order to earn a $25 Disney Gift Card- just in time for our Disney vacation next month- worth it? Can't decide. That's a free souvenir!

Gymboree Castanets- or as they call them Bubble Poppers. I bought them this week for the girls for $2/piece. Am I insane?

Date night! I wore my flower flip flops. Cute!

Jaimie's here to babysit- the girls wasted no time making her read Barbie stories. Poor Jaimie.

We started with dinner at a create-your-own stir fry place. Every time I wonder if the fire is really necessary?

Not too shabby.

Then we saw The Help. (I swear the people behind me sighed as I tried to subtly take this picture. Oh well.) So, The Help was awesome. I've read the book and I thought the movie was true to the book. Matt really liked the movie too. We highly recommend it. We've been lucky, the last two movies we've seen have been really good.

Until next month!