So Much To Post So Little Time

Thank goodness I loaded this pictures before my computer went down. I hope we are able to revive it so I can back up my pictures one last time. So it's been a week since everyone went home but I am finally getting around to blogging about my family's visit. My prego sister Heidi, her hubby Christian and their kids Taylor and Mya all came for a week! We had a blast. We kept busy and out of the house most of the time. On Tuesday my mom came in town too, we all had a great time together. We sure missed Christi, Skot and Nate.

The kids were so excited to see each other. Owen was amazed that we were able to pick them up from the "airplane port" :)

On Tuesday we had Clarissa Cooper take the kids pictures. We have been lucky enough to have their pictures taken each year for the past three years. Clarissa is great because she spends more time with is and she is creative - oh! and patient too. (with both the kids and parents) The pictures turned out great check them out: Clarissa Cooper's Blog

Of course they couldn't come all this way without visiting the GA aquarium. :)

The visit was way too short. We miss them already. I was lucky enough to be able to spend extra time with my mom all to myself. :) It is tough having family so far away.

You guys are so cute! I can hardly wait to hear if you are having a boy! (fingers crossed!)

Touch - A - Truck Follow Up

Today the kids and I headed out to the Touch - A - Truck in Kennesaw. It was a lot of fun. It was a big crowd, but not overwhelming. We really enjoyed getting up close to all the vehicles. Charly could have cared less about it all, she liked the snow cone the most. :) Owen, however, was thrilled until it came time to get in the cars, he got a little intimidated. That didn't last long.

For a big kid, she looks tiny in there.

Owen's very first time on a school bus. It's a dream come true!
He loves school buses.

Charly just chill'n. She was so content the entire time.

Owen was most at home in the "fire fire truck". He loved that he could push all the buttons and he got to buckle up in the back. It was a fun time today. :)

Pass it along....

I thought this is worth passing on. This weekend in downtown Kennesaw Near the Historic Train Depot is the Touch-A-Truck. Your kids can touch, sit on, and take pictures with all kinds of trucks, cars, bikes, and other heavy equipment. It's well worth it and would be lots of fun. Perfect for a family activity or a Daddy's day out with the kiddo(s).

Here is the link:

http://kennesaw-ga.gov/CurrentEvents.asp?EID=659

Happy Birthday To ME!

Today, by no fault of my own, I turned 30. I'm still not quite sure about how I feel regarding this new number. I'm hesitant to claim it as mine. I've never cared much about my age, but for some reason this one is bugging me. Regardless, I had a fantastic day! First I was treated to a delicious lunch by my friend and neighbor, Erica. We came home and watched the kids play and our neighbor and good friend, Rhonda, came out to "play" too. :) Surrounded by my favorite people all morning. :) I got lots of phone calls, a fun visit from my friend Melissa and kids, Facebook shout outs and "good mail". To top off the day, another favorite person, Garett, took me and the kids to eat at O'Charly's, yum! We came home and did the singing and cake part.

Since I am on a mission to create the perfect cupcake I was experimenting with my own birthday cake. I tried new frosting recipe and new colors. (new to me - I usually just use the canned stuff)

I learned to put the frosting in the fridge if it gets too soft.

And that if you wet the sparula between swipes, the frosting will smooth better. I still need lots of practice.

Then I gave decorating my very first try. It's not great but I tried. It clearly takes practice. Or maybe it's only clear that I need to practice.

And scribbling out "happy birthday" from a sandwich will not be done next time. :)

Me and my crazy kids. (Charly has nearly pulled her piggy tails out. - Goof ball)

"Happy De-Bert" Kisses for Mommy!

:) It looks like Charly is punching out my teeth. :)

Kisses for Daddy too!

And for Owey!

Love you guys!

Thank you everyone for celebrating my birthday with me!

TV Update

I've spent hours (?) trying to get the paint off and I'm having luck with my finger nails and cotton balls soaked in alcohol. Slow progress, but I'll take it as long as it works. I'll post pictures tomorrow. Thanks for everyone's suggestions!

This is the original. :(

Here is after an hour of paint removal.

And after 2 hours.

This is where the damage remains for now. It's not coming off the black plastic frame at all. But the screen is better. I don't see how I'm going to get it all off. :(

Have you ever had a morning like this? Baby wakes up early, okay not too bad. Husband has a hard time waking up. No big deal right. 3-year-old sleeps in till 10:30 - woo hoo! Then the next hour gets a bit crazy... I'm on the phone, Baby's throwing a fit, there is a plastic bag stuck to her foot. With in minutes Baby and 3-year-old destroy hours of organizing. :( Baby pulls three drawer plastic organiser (bigger than she is) over on to herself. She is trapped. 3-year-old sees this as an opportunity. Crash with the truck, Baby is crying. Problem resolved, lets all chill okay. I turn my back for a second, pushing, shoving and biting occur, oh, and lots of screaming too. I'm off the phone some where in all that mess and 3-year-old disappears. I change the 3rd poopy diaper of the morning. Baby is tired, crying begins. We go downstairs for a bottle. Panic !!!!!Ohhh!!!! Owen!!!!! What have you done!!???!!!???!!!!!!!!! Augh!!!! Where did you get spray paint???!!!??? 3-year-old has happily spray painted his expensive birthday present. He is confused. Mommy should be happy too, why does her face look like that? I have 3-year-old washing his hands while I scrub the toy furiously trying to beat the quick dry results the advertisements claim. I get off a little but for the most part it's too late. No big deal right, at least it's just a toy. Worse things could happen. He will just have to have a messed up toy, his problem not mine. What's that smell? Again??? Who pooped? Baby. I make her a bottle, lay her on the floor to change the diaper, as soon as I'm done she is off to nap. I glance up. No, please no! Great now I'm in trouble too. 3-year-old has spray painted the TV screen. I move at the speed of light to attempt to wipe any paint off that hasn't dried. No luck. I put baby in bed, she is content - at least one of us is. 3-year-old is in time out. I've got to call Daddy. :( I glance at the clock. 11:30 Seriously?

Prayers are welcome.

I Nearly Forgot

A Mommy Moment I don't want to forget for a long time. A simple happy moment. Today I had Charly, Owen and Marilee in the van with me. Before the freak out stage of the afternoon began we were all having fun listening to Fleetwood Mac (I'm a big fan - bet you didn't know). The kids are rocking back and forth side to side, clapping their hands, kicking their feet all in time with the music. The windows are down letting in fresh air, breathing it in felt good. Singing along - even though I cannot carry a tune, not even if my life depended on it. Toddlers don't judge. It was such a happy moment. Everyone content. I try to remember those moments and look forward to them, especially on the tough days.

Still Alive!

Well I'm back! What a great stay-cation I had! Every day was normal with the exception of me and the Twilight series... again. I just love the story!!! And Edward of course. Blush. :) So, over are the late night reading fests and reality, here I am! I should go say hi to my kids too.

Life hasn't been completely void of reality. :) Owen has just finished his first swim class. He did pretty well. His teacher, Miss Angela, at the YMCA Canton was wonderful! She does so well with the kids. Owen did well working with her. He struggled with listening while waiting his turn. Over all, for a misbehaved yet sweet three year old, he did pretty well.

Waiting for class to start.

I finally found the black cubes for the shelf I bought. Apparently the black ones sell out faster than they make them. And since they aren't sold online I've waited for a while for them. They make clean up time so easy and keeps my living room from looking like a toy war zone.

They really do contain monster messes.

Next on my mommy agenda is to find out what the fascination is with eggs. Owen is constantly pulling them out of the carton and putting them in odd places in the house. Thankfully he has not broken any yet. He left that to me, I dropped one while I was fussing at Owen about being careful with the eggs. :)

What the heck?


Amazingly Garett and I rarely make it on the Blog. But as proof that he does still exist...

Garett and Charly. I can hardly believe that she will be ONE later this month!

Yet another mess maker. This mess was created in all of 10 seconds. She was so happy about it too. There are so many blog games out there, I think this one would be great...Guess how many Cheerios made it into the cushions. It's kind of like guessing the jelly beans in a jar. But I doubt anyone wants me to send them the vacuumed up Cheerios.

Trying new foods! Yum spaghetti! Charly has made it known that she no longer wants baby food. She refuses it before it's even opened. She as been asking for our food so I let her have it. So far she loves spaghetti, she likes red beans and rice and tonight she devoured taco salad. :)