A Thankful Time of Year

~ 113 ~ becoming a pinterest-er

~ 114 ~ just happening to see her trying to stand on her own- without holding onto anything- from the crawling position. TWICE in a row

~ 115 ~ they really are well behaved kids

~ 116 ~ thanksgiving

~ 117 ~ she came out of their room, right up to mr while I was elbow deep in dish water, to tell me she'd made a poopy. Way to go, girl!!

~ 118 ~ 12 days and counting

~ 119 ~ color

~ 120 ~ cornbread of the homemade variety

.......

Yes, I am officially on pinterest now, and I've been browsing up a virtual storm. I'm curious, though, how does one pin directly from the net? Must find out...

And, what is the point, unless you have a specific goal in mind- like collecting ideas for a party, wedding, or home inspiration? What does a person do with what they've pinned? Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of it, but I'm just not sure what to do with it once items are pinned.

It's thanksgiving weekend, and there is so much to be thankful for this year. It's a year with new beginnings (once again), new friends, more family- and this time much closer to our beloved family, and gorgeous weather. The trees are quickly losing their leaves now, and soon the white blanket of snowy perfection will cover the ground. So will little footprints cover the ground in our very own home and back yard.

I realized, while I was doing the dishes after lunch, how HAPPY I am as a mother. My ultimate goal in life is realized- and it IS good. Nothing makes me happier. Those little feet are SO precious to me!!

....

~ 121 ~ being their mama

~ 122 ~ their little feet- the sound they make on the floor- no matter how rough or gentle they may be

Autumn doldrums

We aren't anywhere near the winter blahs yet, and I'm already beginning to feel...blah.

Every day is the same, nothing changes, I am feeling the monotony very acutely the last few days. There is nothing in our day that excites me, nothing unexpected or out of the ordinary that adds a different element to the sleep in till 9, naptime at 1, play and do a few chores before husband comes home, supper, bath, bedtime sort of expected day.

By no means is this mama complaining...she's just bored. How do I break out of normal and boring, and add excitement? I've been dreaming for the last year and a half of being able to get out- on a regular basis- with no interruptions (as in calls from husband calling HELP!!)- without children, but that rarely happens. Life (Aka husbands work schedule) gets in the way. Sadly, scrapbooking at the kitchen table hasn't even been enough for me the last two days.

How do I change up elements of the kids routine? Instead of the same old, same old, how do I get them out and about more- away from the tv- out in the fresh air more and playing with more kids their own age more regularly? The moms and tots groups this fall interfere with their nap. I don't want to mess with that. Swimming lessons begins in two weeks; what do I do in the meantime, and afterwards?

Inspiration for my home

So, I've been seeing the word 'pinterest' floating around FACEBOOK, and my curiosity got the better of me, and I {tried} uploading the app to my phone.

The app is there, but I'm not allowed to create an account. Apparently.

Luckily, I can browse through it a little bit and collect my own little bits of inspiration that I find there to make my new house a home that I'm going to LOVE- functionally, organizationally, design-ally (what other word could I use??)

The only problem: I'd love to see what I've saved altogether, in one spot, so I can see how it looks. I'm just relying on brain power right now, and it sometimes fails me. A tangible bulletin board would be beneficial right now!

...........

~ 101 ~ new hairstyles

~ 102 ~ catching up with old friends over peach juices at Timmie's

~ 103 ~ coming across ingenious- and SIMPLE!- ways to be organized!

~ 104 ~ qmeaaqa

~ 105 ~ # 104- it's Addisons thankful for the day!!

~ 106 ~ how happy she is to play on her own

~ 107 ~ listening to her talk. She's got the cutest voice EVER!!

~ 108 ~ ACTUALLY getting to spend the weekend with him!

~ 109 ~ one night without them- SUCH a small (much needed) blessing, but I missed them like
crazy

~ 110 ~ frequent texts- including pics and videos- of all the fun they were having with grandma K and their cousins

~ 111 ~ the way she came and lay on her belly in the kitchen (next to me) while I washed the floor this morning

~ 112 ~ watching- from the corner of my eye- her try to do the actions along with the wiggles on tv

Taking Advantage Of...

We drove into the valley this morning; I took the girls past our new house once more (I have it in my head that if they see it enough, it won't be foreign to them when we move in. Ideally, I would like to bring them INSIDE a few times before we actually move in- and have them nap a few times in what will be their room, before we actually get settled in our new house. We'll have to see if it happens). The trees are changing rapidly, and though my breath wasn't completely stolen away at the view- just yet- it WILL be when the trees are in their full autumn glory.

The kids and I took advantage of another gorgeous day, and walked around rotary park again. A family of three were just leaving as we pulled into the parking lot; a boy was standing under the gazebo trying to fish in the pond- unsuccessfully (though he'd had some nibbles), and three other women were walking around the pond, too; everyone obviously out there for the same reason we were: it was too nice to pass up!

The kids love it, and though pushing all that extra weight up the hills surrounding the pond leaves me somewhat breathless, I always look forward to seeing the birds nest (hawk, maybe??) perched high atop the old telephone pole. It was empty today; maybe next time.

(I know, sadly I just pointed out what kind of shape I'm in...meh. Oh well!)

.......

~ 91 ~ listening to her talk to Oma on the phone
~ 92 ~ creeping up behind them in the hall and tickling them to pieces
~ 93 ~ how excited she gets when she hears the word BATH
~ 94 ~ early to home work days for him
~ 95 ~ unsticky kitchen floors
~ 96 ~ her love affair with BLANKETS
~ 97 ~ her EVIL sounding giggle
~ 98 ~ she squeals anytime she gets excited or has a surge of adrenalin
~ 99 ~ his laugh
~ 100 ~ those DIMPLES

A Beautiful Day

~ 80 ~ fluffy, sweet, yummy pancakes
~ 81 ~ i love that HE loves my cooking
~ 82 ~ I love even more when he tells me just HOW much he loved it- then brags to everyone else how great it was
~ 83 ~ how much they love crawling under, through and in between things
~ 84 ~ how fun having a fort made from a blanket and some chairs is for them!
~ 85 ~ the big, blue mug (my favorite!!) that warmly welcomes me every time I open the cupboard
~ 86 ~ new babies
~ 87 ~ the heart strings they tug at when new babies are around
~ 88 ~ babies that just came out of the bath
~ 89 ~ they smell so good!
~ 90 ~ how great making a weekly meal menu is to help me stay organized and "exciting"

By George, That's It!!!

I mentioned, a few posts ago, that birthdays- among other things- has been on my mind.

I didn't elaborate on whose birthday(s) I had in mind.

There are quite a few coming up in the near future, but none that take much planning- other than my children.

Their birthday isn't until February, but coming up with a theme has had me intrigued since the middle of august.

In my scrapbooking, there are four sheets of THE cutest paper ever, and I (while in the shower this morning) was thinking of the kinds of cards I could make with it.

Then it struck me.

Strawberry Shortcake!!!!!

That takes care of the theme fir their party, the kind of cake (or cupcakes) I'd make, and the kind of cards I could make using that so sweet paper. (invitations!!)

I love it when a plan comes together.

And now to google invitation ideas (for inspiration, of course) and toddler friendly birthday activities.

Eek I can hardly wait!!

Yay For Treehouse!!

~ 70 ~ the way she stomps her feet like she's A BIG M.O.N.S.T.E.R!!!!!
~ 71 ~ and how she twirls in circles
~ 72 ~ the way they both brush their lips with their fingers- and once mama mimics them, they switch to "Indian calls", then back again
~ 73 ~ wet baby kisses
~ 74 ~ how shy and unsure they are if a stranger is in the house
~ 75 ~ that pretty patterned paper
~ 76 ~ the flipping cute cards I made from it!!
~ 77 ~ the warmth of the oven
~ 78 ~ delicious smells from the oven filling every room and nostril in the house
~ 79 ~ how they need their mama when they're hurt

.....

Well, we didn't make it out for our walk yesterday. The girls had a fantastic nap and I got a lot done while they snoozed. Today hasn't been as productive, unfortunately. I did try done baking thus morning, but I've been having an absurd amount of bad luck recently trying this one recipe. It's never cooked on the inside, but the outside- top and bottom are nearly burned. I finally reached the end of my patience with it; I'm not making it anymore.

There were a few other items on my baking list, but it requires a trip to the grocery store, and now that it's getting late in the afternoon, I don't want to go anymore. I waited around here all morning for the cable- installer to come; she came at noontime. What a relief! We have tv again!!

No, my baking isn't for Christmas- or thanksgiving just yet. One of husbands friends, and co-worker, is in the hospital, and he asked me to bake something for him. He says he's a terrible snacker. Thus my failed attempt at baking.

Hmmm...what to bake instead???