Hair Color Before and Afters

In case yall were wondering where my "me time" went this week.

I was actually starting to like the blonde, as I usually do when it is growing out. Call me weird, I like my blonde with a little bit of roots grown in.

I don't think I have ever told my hairdresser (also my BFF) to do the same thing as last time.

Nope.
Not once.

Christmas is Coming

And Target has the cutest little dresses for little girls.
I was walking around the other day wondering what we should wear for Christmas pictures and these two made me want them.
BAD.

I would totally wear this one myself if only it came in my size.

But truthfully? I doubt we will be doing anything so fancy and formal when they are growing so fast they barely have enough clothes to fit them anyway.

And with it actually being COLD here in Florida?
Well, let's just say that means even more clothes that must be searched for, found and purchased.

::sigh::


Oh but what joy I had when I ran into these beauties?

Um, yes they are for adult women.
Move over yoga pants. Mama's got a new uniform NOW!

The Great Pumpkin

This is going to be our first BIG Halloween.

Madee's 1st Halloween was in Tahoe. She was a skunk. (Only the cutest little stinker ever! Go see these pics!) We went to a trick or treat with a friend of hers and to our local Baby Gym for a Halloween Party, but I am thinking she doesn't remember it as she was 10 months old.

And then last year? Well we went to a Fall Festival at an AWESOME pumpkin patch with the girls, but we were in Half Moon Bay with Uncle Cousin Brody and Eden doesn't remember much, she was just 4 months old.

But this year? they are both walking, talking, dressing up little fools, and I am so excited about the whole enchilada.

Last night we went to a pumpkin patch for some pictures. My kids were the prettiest pumpkins in the patch, but boy do I really love these funky pumpkins that are all the rage this year.

In going back through last year's Halloween pictures, I found this post about "if only I tweeted" which at the time, I didn't even really know what twitter was, and was still several months from being a part of it. I just thought that was funny. If you are one of my twitter friends, please go read my pre-tweets!
Anyhoo, this year, Madee is wearing her Snow White dress again, and she is pretty stoked about it. I made her a special headband just like Snow White's and she also has some new Chucks so her feet should really be able to comfortable cover serious territory.


Eden is going to be a bumble bee.

We have had that costume for quite a while too, but it is so cute I just want to get a litle more use out of it. I can't wait to show you the pictures.

But for now? Take a look at these.

This scene right here? Gets me all choked up. This gorgeous guy holding the hands of 2 darling little girls. I dreamed of this.

My dreams came true.

More funky pumpkins.




Eden has this whole "storybook character" look and she really gives some good face for picture time. I mean, she will barely look at the camera, but she looks so forlorn in a random pumpkin patch and I love it. It screams "Fall Catalog".


"Hmmmm. Which pumpkin is the one for me?"

"I love this one."

Pumpkin Kiss
Dad chilling out watching younguns run around a pumpkin patch.


I mean, I LOVE this guy.
LOVE!
I WANT TO SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS!

This is the only picture I got of the 2 of them, because Madee spent most of the time running around with new friends. When we pulled up, her window was down and she screamed out of it "Oh HEY FWENDS! I'm HERE!"

Anyhoo so, yeah, nice goofy faces for the sister pumpkin pic. But these are my kids. They are super GOOFY kids.

1 of 2 pictures she sat still for. Wearing her Snow White headband, no less.

More funky ones.

I finally got her to look at me by singing "twinkle twinkle little star". She can't help but stop in her tracks and make her hands "twinkle" every time.


We have all sorts of fun stuff on the schedule, including about 10 places for trick or treats in the next 3 days.

They are in the bath now, readying for a costume and some candy begging at the YMCA, then we will go to the Spooktacular Sea World trick or treat and hook up with their little best friends.


I think I will be taking the good camera to Sea World today...

Have a safe and Happy Halloween weekend, y'all, and I can't wait to see all the costumes and fun you have!

Google Me

Sometimes Boom Boom and I get all Magnum PI and start researching and googling people. People like my Dad or my Mom.

And then he googles me.

I mean who even knows what is coming up on the first page of google?

I was actually just a little bit proud of mine.

So I made it into a Top 10 list.

Top Ten Coolest Things On My Main Google Page

10. it seems i meet all my friends on the internet - i just got a new one from craigslist ! ...

9. sick babies are so selfish and the internet broke up with me. i guess it is time to watch anchorman. ...

8. Nursing 26 year old mother in England sells excess breast milk...

7. I need a new vacuum BAD! ...

6. wow. that is totally the sweetest thing i have ever read you say… ...

5. you are our all time favorite! come back home and give us some kisses!

4. so used to being a gypsy that it just feels like "back to normal" what's gonna be weird? settling down for a while.

3. there is nothing sweeter than checking my kids before i go 2 bed. they are so angelic i have 2 touch them sometimes 2 see if they are real.

2. thanks i totally need kisses and hugs.

1. I'm not wearing pants. Grab me a beer and maybe some Fritos. And check on the kids while you're up.

What is the coolest thing that comes up when you Google your name?

Maybe

I call her "Maybelline".

"Maybe" for short.

Charlie says "maybe NOT!"

Anyhoo, a good friend of mine found this poor baby dehydrated and almost dead. After a week of re-hydration and observation, it was time for her to find a place to rest and recuperate so she can find a forever family and home.

I must say, first of all, that she is a GREAT dog. She is thankful for our kitties, our dogs, AND our kids. She is a little skittish, but loves to be held and really just sits around.

Even Charlie has to admit she is a super good girl.

We are filling her up with love and food so she is ready to transition to her next destination. Because sometimes you just have to LOVE something God plops in your lap for while.

::kiss kiss:: who's a good girl?

New Face in Town

Well last night was WAY better than the previous few. Eden was able to sleep enough for all of us and so today is already looking up. Plus it's FRIDAY. Pant-free Friday. And Madee and Eden are dancing to booty music singing "Dancing in our panties!"

Who doesn't love a 2 year old that will say anything you teach her?

Eden thinks it is hilarious!


So YAY!

Update on the stroller search: We found a used Maclaren Triumph in pristine condition for all of our runabout trips and I am already super happy with it. It's a machine. The handlebars are so comfy and it has serious maneuvering capability. We actually still have my first BabyJogger - its a GOLIATH but whatEVS it can handle trails and sand and so it is a good old standby, and we will be reunited with it soon enough.

The search is over. ::sigh:: Thanks to everybody that helped!

And now that I have a full night's sleep, I am feeling much better than I was yesterday, and am even mustering up some inspiration to be excited for our next move, which for me is a move HOME.

And, since it is summer, we will be doing some hard time at the family's lake house. Yippee! I am so excited for the girls to be at the lake this year. Now that they have each other to play with we are all going to have more fun!

And if you haven't noticed, this baby might break her face smiling for the camera. When the flash starts popping she piles on the charm!
Where have I seen that face before? Hmmmm..... oh yeah here it is.


And that little booger in the background with the breaky face smile is all grown up and GRADUATING TODAY!. HOLY CRAP!

Congratulations, Chelsey! We love you and we are so proud we are breaking our faces smiling over here! We wish we were there today, and can't wait to see you soon!

Have a good weekend, and leave a link with your comment of your favorite breaky face smiling kid!

If I Had 500 Dollars

Last night was a rough one. First of all, after what seems like waymore than what's my fair share of nights in the big bed with Madee, I was floor mattress parent.

And Eden was up. all. night.

She must be going through a "frequency spasm" as she is eating and drinking anything and everything that isn't nailed down. So not only is she constantly seemingly starving, she ia also screaming about what ever she is processing from eating before.

IT IS PURE JOY.

So on a morning like this, I can't think much. On a morning like this, I pull out this book my Auntie Teri gave me, (Simple Abundance by Sarah Bern Breathnach)and although I don't really get to it everyday (it is a "daybook"), when I do, it always seems relevant to my struggle for that particular day.

And today, it went on and on for 2 pages of this story and that story but all I got from it was "go get a massage" (or your hair done, or a facial or WHATEVER)

Oh, and "Snuggle your kids. Even if they kept you up all night."

Good book.

So today, as my weepy whiny children who need a little more sleep and a lot more warm sunshine laze around the house, I am going to look up at-home spa solutions and probably rub everybody in the house down with lots of lotion.

I thought I would scour the internet and have a "If I Had Money I'd Buy" kind of day. And perhaps tomorrow's "Wordless Wednesday" will be filled with pictures of the things I found and wanted.

Lately I have been wishing I had $500 to spend here. We were fortunate to adopt this little fella in Arcata, CA at the cutest little toy store named Geppetto's. He is a bed bug.

Later when we checked into the motel we were staying in, Boom Boom said, "At least he won't be the only bedbug here tonight."

Ha.

You can see is well-loved and worn. But I think he might at least need a friend. Like Herpes or The Mange. (I mean Bedbug, not Boom Boom!)


Here's my bedbug. Look at that hair fresh from the shower. She isn't that cute at 2:30 I PROMISE. :)

So if you had $500 what would you spend it on? Keep in mind I want to know what you would buy for yourself and yourself only, no gifts, no presents, no donations, just pure unadulterated retail therapy.

Looking Back

Some things never change, like our love for chicken wings!


Sometimes I start flipping through our hard drive pictures, and I AM SO HAPPY I AM SUCH A SHUTTERBUG.

Boom Boom and I have had an awesome life together so far, and almost every day seems documented. I can't tell you how happy this dude makes me. And it is none of your business anyway, but seriously, we seem to have covered a LOT of ground since we first met...

The "itis" - you get it so bad, there is just no cure.
Back off ladies, THIS IS ALL MINE!


OUR TIMELINE

2006 - met
2007 married

2008 - baby #1
2009 - baby #2
2010 - ? I just don't know yet!

My favorite picture Boom Boom ever took of me...


We have been busy, to say the least. We have changed and grown and in love and in numbers. We have lost a dog together, delivered babies together, stayed up at night crying from the sleeplessness together.


Nothing quite tenderizes a man like than having little girls. He LOVES them. HARD. They make him laugh and cry and scream and smile. (And sometimes they make him drink! STOP CRYING BABIES!)

But mostly, they make him more amazing to me. That he made them, helped me get them here, and he does more Dad duty than ANY GUY I KNOW.


He's not perfect. And I am sure I remind him of that ALL THE TIME. But he is perfect for me. And, well, that is a way harder bill to fill than general perfection.

And if the last 4 years have any indication, then I must be a smartypants, because he is the best thing I ever followed my heart on.


I LOVE YOU BOOM BOOM! Thanks for all the babies and the love!

Squashed Chicken

My parents have a house on Lake Martin in Alabama, and there was this little dive shack that served dinner - REALLY GOOD DINNER.

Last time we were in town, I spent a few minutes with the owner rocking on the front porch dissecting this particular dish, as it was my mom and my sister's favorite, and it seemed super easy to make AND healthy to boot.

He didn't want to share it, as it was there "special-ity" but I guessed how to maske it, and he said I got it right.

I started making it at home, and although I may have thrown in a few variations, it is still THE BEST THING I cook lately and I can't wait to make it for my Mom!

There are 2 variations, one for indoor cooking an done for grilling, so depending on your facilities and weather you can have either way.

Here is your shopping list:

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
Squash
Zucchini
Red or Gold Potatoes
Mushrooms
Yellow Onion
Salt and Pepper
Olive Oil
Garlic

I KNOW, easy right? any given summer day I have all that in my kitchen anyway.

So I make this in one huge wok/skillet if I am not making it on the grill.

Place chicken breasts, olive oil and garlic in the skillet and get it started cooking.

MMMMmmm. That smells good already.

***For the grill, simply coat the chicken in olive oil and garlic and grill it. Bam! Easy Peasy! You should also throw your taters on the grill if you are cooking it that way!***

Allrighty, and while that is sizzling up you can chop up your veggies. I prefer them super chunky, especially if grilling. I know these pictures aren't of super chunky veggies,. and that is how I know to recommend them bigger. About 1/2 inch thick at least.

Throw your chopped veggies in a bowl and drizzle with oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Toss it about to coat.

Flip the chicken.
If you are going stove top, just toss the veggies on top, onions, mushrooms, squash and zucchini, and flip a cover on it.

If you are grilling, a grilling basket or just wrapping the veggies in tin foil will do. slap them on the grill.

Throw the potatoes in the microwave.
Throw your thANG down flip it and reverse it.
Pour yourself a martini - YOU JUST MADE DINNER!


Uncover, throw the taters on top and mash it a bit with a fork.

If you are pulling it off the grill, put the chicken on a platter and fork up those pieces to shred them a little. Open up your veggie in foil and throw those down on top. Throw your taters on there and mash them up a bit with your fork.



You might need to dust a little something off your shoulder, cookie, because the cowboys are going to LOVE THIS!

THANK YOU to The (former) GRILLIN SHACK for sharing your wisdom and yumminess.

And LOOK OUT MOM! I think mine might even be a little better!

Thank You Popsicle Man

Teeth are a nightmare, really. Here is this little baby that hasn't even started doing all the bad stuff and they are writhing in pain (and causing misery to anything within earshot). For DAYS. And nights!
Every other 2 weeks or so for the first 2 years of their life.
Sad face. :( No fair.

And it must SUPER suck like a headache since you can't really get away from a pain that is in your head. And even though she is now TROUBLE with a capital all of it, she still doesn't deserve this. I guess you have to harden to pain in your lifetime, and for her it starts here.

More sad face. :(

Eden is on Teeth #5 and #6, with #5 having broken through, and #6 ramping up for serious gum assault in the worst way.

Luckily, we have a #1 defense around here.

I think they are feeling a little better right here. And she can hold it all by herself!

In fact, you better let her or she will scream bloody murder until your ears fall off and die!

This face wants your popsicle.


Unh. Smoochies!

What are your best remedies for sad babies with killer teeth? We could use all the help she can get!