INSPIRATIONAL

I have a friend named Lisa. She is generous, thoughtful, ambitious, and creative beyond belief. She has a dream AND a plan to go with it. If I had the means to, I would love to invest in this plan. I know it would be successful. I'm just trying to help her put it out there.

I've been making flowers

This is for a calendar swap I'm in. I have the month of May. I'm going with the theme "April showers bring May flowers".

A new friend

(This is one of my zoo photos not our new friend)
Yesterday, my husband came home in the middle of the day wearing one black glove on one hand and holding a shaking, rattling brown paper bag in the other. It freaked me out for a second. Why wouldn't it. Does that seem normal at all? After he finished laughing at me for being afraid, he said it was a turtle and he wanted to show Becca. We took it out back and let it go in the yard and that turtle took off so fast! Becca was chasing it to see it. We made it a comfy, temporary home in a rubbermaid container. Bridget was excited about it when she got home. She went and pulled a bunch of grass and threw it on him.

Later in the evening, Schaun decided to bring it up and look at it some more. For some reason he thought he could let it loose in the living room and it would just hang out with us. I told him I didn't want that turtle taking off under some furniture. He assured me that wouldn't happen and he put it on the floor and away it went. Schaun had to move FAST to catch it. He got it back into the container and I look over and Bridget is all crouched up on the back of the sofa. It was so funny!

We will be taking him to a park soon.

Happenings

Maybe I should title this, lack of happenings. Nothing really going on. I am enjoying it though. Starting in October things start to get busy. There are festivals to attend, classes to teach, a visitor form England, trips to the pumpkin patch, and Halloween. I enjoy all these things, but there is not much down time.

Costumes are ready to go

Bridget has her witch costume. I should probably get her some boots though. I have been searching for a penguin costume for Becca. I was starting to think we might have to make one. I was dreading that as I really can't sew. We stopped in a Halloween store today and they had one! Yippy! Got it home and tried it on and she looked sooooooo cute! I can't wait for Halloween this year!

Date night

Schaun and I went out last night. We had a fantastic dinner at the Bristol. Schaun had steak and lobster tail. It must have been delicious because he ate every bite. He hardly ever finishes anything so I was shocked. I had way too much and couldn't even start to finish. I started with the giant shrimp (is that an oxy-moron?), then moved to the lobster bisque soup and ceasar salad and then nibbled at my entree of crab cakes, salmon, shrimp, scallops, green beans, and mashed potatoes. It was all so yummy!

After dinner we headed to the Plaza for the art fair. We were not really going to see the art but to meet up with Schaun's parents. They were down listening to the band, so we joined them there. The company and the band was great, the people dancing were entertaining and the weather was perfect!

My mom came to watch the girls while we were out. I wasn't sure what they would be watching or who would be up when we got home. It is always a surprise. It makes me laugh. Thankfully both girls were in bed though. Mom took them to the little park down the street. That wore Bridget out because she went to sleep early while mom and Becca stayed up and watched Superman Returns. Becca loves Superman! Mom said she enjoyed it too.

A great mail day

This morning we ran to Target for a few things. When we returned home there were goodies waiting. I love getting fun mail and so do the girls! Kristin made and sent them both a cute cards. They were both so excited to see their own names on the envelopes and to open something special to them. Thanks Kristin!

There was also a package for me. This was from another scrapbooking swap that I am in. I didn't get a photo before the girls ripped excitedly into it too! It is from Dana T. and she put in a present for each girl. She sent them a little purse and necklace. Oh, and they think the Goldfish crackers are for them too. It also had scrapbook goodies like paper and ribbon, chocolate, gum, and all sorts of things for me! Thanks Dana!

Don't my cuties look so happy to be posing for this photo? Look at those fake smiles. Also, see that dog in the background? Those people have three HUGE dogs. These dogs must be allergic to the grass in their own fenced backyard because they always have to do their business in the front. I think my neighbors also have a religious belief that doesn't allow them to put the huge (seemingly deaf) dogs on leashes. So right before this photo, I had the girls all happy and seated when the herd came running over to greet us. For some reason my small girls do not enjoy seeing these very large dogs running full speed at them. So, the photo was taken after I got rid of the dogs and I made them sit back down. Poor kids having to indulge me and my camera.

Dresses

Yesterday Becca picked out and wanted to wear a dress. She doesn't like dresses so this was a big deal. In the past, if she would agree to wear one, it would only last a few hours and then she would insist on taking it off. Yesterday she wore it until bedtime. Bridget gets upset if I don't let her wear a dress daily. They both looked so pretty in their pastel colors.














































































































What do you think they are laughing at?

Stamped Box

This is for my scrappin friends! My attempt at scrapbook humor.











Get it? Stamped box.

Okay. I'll stop, I promise!


I got this in the mail today. All the postage on it made me giggle a little.

Bet you want to know what was in the box right?





















A box of goodies from my sweet friend Maricar. We are doing this scavenger swap and she had my name. Inside the cool cigar box that was wrapped in a pretty ribbon was a very clever card, lots and lots of ribbons, flowers, buttons, and many other embellishments!

Thank you Maricar!

It's over

We wrapped up the garage sale about 5:00 on Saturday. I cleared out a bunch of stuff, but still have too much left. I might have to have another one in a few weeks. I'll probably (easily) talk myself out of that because it wasn't fun sitting in the garage all that time.

The girls enjoyed Saturday though. They were able to play outside all day. Bridget was riding her big wheel up and down the sidewalk and Becca would chase after her. Becca has some ride on toys, but she wants what Bridget has of course. We went out Saturday evening to get her a big wheel like her sister, but it was not to be. They only had a boy colored one and in her best pouty face she informed us that "it isn't beautiful" sniff sniff. Poor Becca.

Sunday, hero Daddy ran around until he found a beautiful one. Yeah! She was so happy.

Also, on Sunday, I with my sister, mom, Sawyer, and the girls went to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. I had the most delicious crab cake sandwich! It was a fun lunch. Sawyer got to try all kinds of food and it was fun to watch. It was a fun lunch!

After lunch we stopped at Costco and bought a cake and flowers for Gramma. She was so happy to see the kids. She was especially happy to see Sawyer. I don't think she expected him to be so big.

It was a busy, fun weekend!


















































"Look Mom! I'm flying!"

Silly kid.

I started our garage sale yesterday. We have never had one. It was a little slow, therefore very boring. This will continue on today and tomorrow. I desperately want to be rid of a lot of this stuff. I hope people come buy it.

Becca hung out with me all day. She wasn't thrilled. She didn't like the idea of people taking our things. She wanted to go in and do other things all day. But, she stuck it out and stayed out most of the day. She was so happy to see Bridget come home in the afternoon. They spent the rest of the afternoon running up and down the sidewalk. It was exhausting just to watch them.

Later, we had a visit from my father-in-law. The girls love it when he drops by. She showed off some of her new reading skills and had an endless line-up of show and tell for him. Becca had been asleep for a while (early night for her) when he got here, so she was loving having Papa to herself. It was the first thing she told Becca this morning. Sort of a na-na-na-boo-boo type of thing.

If you need me today, I'll be in the garage.

Beautiful Ballerinas

The girls look so cute all dressed for dance. I had to snap a few photos before we left tonight.

Look at this cutie pie

Sawyer came over for a visit today. He had a great time. He shopped, he played, he shopped my house for toys, rode Uncle Schaun's Harley. Oh! Kristin came too. It was a fun time!

I admit it, I was rooting for her a bit

With the way this girl is ruining her life and career, I was hoping for fabulous at the MTV awards tonight. In my very unimportant opinion, she looked ridiculous in that outfit. Her hair seemed to be bothering her, it was bothering me with how terrible it looked. I thought she was going to bust out in laughter at the beginning of the performance. I never thought she could sing, so I had no expectations for singing. I did have some for dancing. I find it hard to believe that she practiced that more than twice. She looked confused and then almost giggly at her mistakes. I don't think she helped herself at all tonight. I know I was laughing at her. I'd feel sorry for her if I thought she didn't have time to rehearse because she was too busy caring for her children. She needs to go away somewhere. She needs to stop partying, grow up and go attempt to be a mom.


<-------What happened to this girl?

Visiting Big Gramma

We to visit my Gramma today. We took her some flowers to brighten the room. We got her some beautiful orange roses and a mixed bouquet that had sunflowers in it. They were so pretty!

She was in good spirits today and we took a walk outside in the atrium area. The flowers outside are gorgeous. The big green plant, I think is called elephant ears is gigantic! I took some cute photos of the girls and some of them with Gramma that I love.

Becca chattered on and on and on

Becca NEVER stopped talking today. I'm not joking or exaggerating. Non-stop chatter from her pretty, "little" mouth.

This was the classic though. She is the ultimate backseat driver and as we pulled up to a stoplight these were her words of wisdom to her dear daddy.

"When you see green lights, that means go. When you see red that means to stop. When you see a mirror you look at yourself to see how pretty you are."

Thanks Becca.

Old Settlers Days

It was only 5:00 on Saturday and we had already been so adventurous, so why end it so early? We then headed to Olathe for this big annual event. In the past (in pre-kids days) we went and enjoyed the food and walked around the booths. This year, we had to trudge through the carnival part because the girls (especially Becca) wanted to get on the rides. I took a few shots of them enjoying the rides. For the most part,I couldn't wait to leave. It was crowded, I don't do well in crowds. The crowds were rude teenagers that I swear were ALL smoking. Ugh! The lines were loooooong. The place was disgusting. There was so much trash all over. It was ridiculous. There were trash cans all over, but people just left their crap all over. Yuck! We let the girls ride a few things and then we were out of there.

A country drive

After our adventures to Blue Springs and North Kansas City, we headed home. We thought we were taking the long way home, so we exited off the highway and took an even longer route home. This turned out to be a nice drive though. We saw some farms of corn, soybeans, an apple orchard, and a vineyard. How cool is that? A vineyard is cool!

Guy Fun

Schaun had some events that he wanted to attend today. The first even was in Blue Springs. It was a BBQ and motorcycle contest. The BBQ part was good because you could actually sample the food. (We were disappointed at the Lenexa BBQ because there were no samples.) There were not a lot of motorcycles there, but the ones there were nice ones. I really liked this silver one.

Then we ventured from Blue Springs and headed to this Harley place up by the airport. This was like Harley heaven. Becca kept asking when we were leaving and Bridget kept asking if she could go sit down. So, not that thrilling for the girls in the family, but Schaun thought it was cool.
























I liked the flag in all these bikes.

New pages

I went to crop last night at the Scrapbook Page. I went alone, but met a couple nice ladies and we chatted the night away. I finished two pages and designed another, but still need to put it together. I was a little annoyed with myself when I got home and realized that I scrapped a photo of Bridget that I already did not too long ago. Why didn't I remember while I was there? Dumb of me, but it still looks pretty!

Sneak Peak

Here is a sneak peak for Halloween this year.

The good life

Oh to be Becca.
This is how she spends our afternoons.

All in one day

Yesterday was a big day in Becca's life.

She started preschool without a hitch. Bridget has dance on Wed. evenings. I told Bridget to go get dressed for dance and they BOTH came out dressed for dance. I told Becca this was Bridget's class. I tried to get her to take a class this summer and she would have no part of it. So I thought, great, she wants to go when she can't.

So we leave with them both dressed knowing Becca is headed for big disappointment and major pouting. We arrive and Bridget goes in her room with Becca on her heels. I tell her she needs to come out, hoping she will on her own. No such luck. She is determined. The instructor informs me that there is a class for her age group following Bridget's class. I carried her out with tears followed by major pouting. After she calmed down, she agreed that she will stay for her own class.

Both girls did so great! I was so surprised and proud of Becca. She didn't play around. She listened to every word from her instructor and did everything.

I guess have two adorable recital dances to look forward to next Spring!

Pouty Sadface

She liked preschool. When I picked her up she was all excited that she had a paper for me in her bag. Then she went straight to her pouty sadface. I asked why the frown? Did you like it there? "I don't want to leave. I wanna go back in". Awwwwwww!

Becca is off to preschool

The day has finally arrived. Becca's first day of preschool! She has been very excited about this. The school asked that the kids not have backpacks but tote bags. So I fixed her up a little bag with her name on it. When she got up this morning she was so thrilled with that bag!

Bridget was very helpful this morning too! She kept telling Becca how fun preschool would be and all the things she could do in her room. So cute!

We dropped Bridget off at school then headed to Becca's. We had time for some photos of course. Then she went right into her room, hung her bag in the correct place. The room is Ocean themed and they all have a symbol to identify their space and Becca is a lobster.

She seemed a teeny bit nervous. It was a little crazy with all the different ages going to their classes and all the parents there. She jumped right in though. She scanned the room and went right for the play-doh table. That is where I left her.