Tidbits

The girls have been in school for five days now.  They are doing great.  I'm getting used to it.  I'm volunteering a couple times this week at lunch to help out as another set of hands in the cafeteria.  Life is starting to feel a little more normal than last week.

On a related note, I turned in paperwork to substitute teach at the girls' school.  For those of you who don't know, I taught elementary school for 8 years before I had Lily and I still have a valid teaching license (actually I just renewed it).  I'm already getting lots of questions about what I'm open to:  would I do maternity leaves, etc?  Whoa.  Lots to think about.

We hit the State Fair on Sunday, which is a favorite thing for us.  I grew up going to the Fair every year, so I have a love for it.  This day the weather was perfect so it was packed.  Unfortunately, I got sunburned.  No one else in our family did, but I got fried.   I went for a week in the Caribbean and didn't come home burned, but a couple hours at the Fair and I come home sunburned.  On the flip side, I'm glad the girls don't have my skin.

From the top of the Ferris Wheel, which is a "must ride" every year.  Can you ride it and NOT take pictures at the top?

 

The girls, sharing a snow cone/shaved ice (below).  They chose 2 flavors, one of which was Tiger's Blood, which just sounds disgusting but apparently its just strawberry and watermelon flavor mixed- according to Google.  We hit a lot of those necessary foods this visit.  Prior to this trip, for some reason the girls had never had a Fair Elephant Ear!  Check that one off the list.  Lily, pickiest eater ever, didn't want any, but Abby had some.  We also had a Lemon Shakeup, hit the Dairy Barn, bought some Salt Water Taffy, had fresh cut potato chips...

The girls and I have been watching So You Think You Can Dance this season and supporting a local dancer, Valerie Rockey.  She is from around us, and attended the same dance studio that Abby attended from age 3-6.  She has made the Top 10, and is really amazing.  All of our votes go to her and it has been fun to cheer her on.

Checking in

So the problem with taking a break from blogging is that it is always awkward when you finally come back to it.  What will be your first blog entry back?  Ah, the pressure!  There are times where you think, "I should blog that, and then you think, eh, that's not worth it."

So, here we are.  How about a catch up?  Here are some of our big moments and/or favorite pictures from my last check in....

Abby received her third grade Bible at church.  A very big deal.

A crisp morning at the bus stop.  I love this picture.

Lily has entered that magical stage where she is very into numbers and letters.  She can count to 100 and knows a few sight words.  She is a sneaky learner.  She surprises me every day with stuff she knows.

Abby came in second at her first meet of the season.  She is growing and doing so well this season.  She has a meet this coming Saturday.  I'm sure she'll do great again!

Another favorite picture of the girls with family friends.  Crazy kids.

Lily and cousin Bella playing in the cul-de-sac.  They had so much fun with each other during this visit.

My besties Lisa, Ann, and me.

The evidence left by one phone stealer.

Our first corn maze was a super fun success!

Lily always "thought" she knew the right way.

Trick or Treat at a special event at our local high school.  It was lucky we went because our Trick or Treat got stormed out.  :(

Lily listening to tunes in the car line at preschool.  I swear I didn't turn it up too loud.

Fall leaves!

Little sisters, I tell you.  I sent this to mine and told her they were always a problem.

Believe it or now, snow today.  Bleck.  But the girls loved it.

TV junkie, here.

Yep.  I'm a TV junkie.  I love me some DVRed shows.  Some of my newer favorites are on Monday nights, which is tonight, so I thought I'd share.  :)  Their new season just started last week.

Anyone who has known me for a long time knows that I LOVED Gilmore Girls.  Well, last year, the creator of Gilmore Girls created a new show that is super similar.  She has even had a lot of the actors come to this show.  It's Bunheads on ABC Family.  Love it.

Now, my newest show I've been watching required some catching up.  Switched at Birth comes on right before Bunheads.  Their second season just started and their first season is on Netflix.  I watched the whole first season and am finally all caught up.  It was a long first season.  I was a possessed woman.

It's about two girls who were switched at birth (obviously), but it wasn't figured out until they were 15. One grew up wealthy, one not so much (and single parent).  The one with less means also is deaf.  The deaf storyline adds so much to the show, I think.  It turns out that the two family end up living together, essentially, so they can get to know each other.

I also am still watching Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, and Private Practice. 

I feel like I should watch Downton Abbey or I'm not cool, but I don't.

What's your favorite non-reality show?  

Disney Excitement

In preparation for an upcoming Disney World vacation, I have been collecting Disney inspired images on Pinterest. The girls LOVE looking at them. Here are some of our favorites:

Source: bri-chan.deviantart.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Source: thedisneyprincess.tumblr.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Source: cassiesclosetinc.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Source: s1133.photobucket.com via Carrie on Pinterest

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

Crafting inspiration

I've been looking for some crafting inspiration on Pinterest lately.

Have you joined lately? Are you following me?

Abby and I have decided to redecorate her bedroom. She still has a lot of things in her room from when she was born- decor-wise. It's cute, but it isn't grown up. We're clearing out! It's exciting. I've been looking for ideas for that, but also just other cool things. One of the things I found lately are some scarf tutorials. And, of course, a funny random thing here and there....

Source: bloggingwithholly.blogspot.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Source: aedriel.blogspot.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Source: housetohome.co.uk via Carrie on Pinterest

Source: makeit-loveit.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Source: psimadethis.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Source: meetthedubiens.blogspot.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Source: realsimple.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Source: someecards.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Source: fuckyeahlaughters.tumblr.com via Carrie on Pinterest