Catching Up

Today I got to spend the day
catching up with my oldest friend, Isabelle.
I love talking to her.
I love listening to her.
I love her.
Lifelong friends are a true blessing.

Now you catch up
with my other lassies...

Prepping

We are going on a much needed
VACATION!
The Hubs, myself & 3 little ladies
are venturing to his homeland of
Williamsburg, VA.

We will visit Grandma & Grandpa.
Frolic among the sheep,
the chickens,
the donkeys,
and dogs.
It's quite the menagerie.

Taking three children
on an airplane
is an adventure
in and of itself.

An adventure that requires
some prepping,
most importantly
supplies for the "What can I do now"'s,


sustenance for when the peanuts run out,


and (sugar free) bribe attempts
for when all else fails.

Now, does anyone have any ideas for a healthy dinner that they will let me bring aboard the plane, so I don't have to feed my kiddos fast food?

Spring/Summer 2009

See this?

No, it's not my laundry.
It is Sascha & Rory's Spring/Summer wardrobes.
This is why I love being a saver.
The seasons change and in the blink of an eye,
without a trip to the store,
or a mark on the bank account,
a new wardrobe is born.


And as always a diva emerges...

Go! Fight! Win!

Chopped

Today the littlest of my ladies got haircuts.
Sascha proclaimed she wanted her locks short.
Since she never wants clips or ponytails or braids,
I obliged.
That doesn't mean that I didn't cringe
as I watched the hair fall.
I had a knot in my stomach,
why, I'm not sure.

She looks adorable.
The hair matches her spunky style.




When she got home she had to put on
her "short pants" to match her new short hair.

Then there is Rory.
My sweet Meesie also needed a clip or two
to even out her little locks.
Apparently the hairdresser misunderstood
"right above the eyebrow"
to mean
"right next to her hairline."
I don't know why I paid someone to do
what I could have easily done for free.
See how upset she is?


That look clearly implies,
"Mommy, how could you let this happen?

Sigh.
Hair.
Thank goodness it grows back.

Wants vs. Needs

I am having one of those weeks
where I don't seem to have the time
to get anything I want to do done.

There is a never ending stream
of dishes,
laundry.
and cleaning.
I clean up,
turn my back for a moment
and my three Tasmanian devils have left me presents.
I go to bed knowing that bright and early,
I will attempt to do everything all over again.
There are so many things that I want to get done.

Yet, I have been able to find plenty of time for
cuddling,
feet airplane rides,
kisses.
laughing,
snuggles,
reading,
cooking,
eating,
napping,
sharing,
talking,
learning,
helping,
&
loving.

I'm thankful
that no matter what I want to do,
I always find time to do
what needs to be done.

Good Reads

Remember my big stack of books?
Well, I'm finished!

With one book, that is.

I really enjoyed this book,
even though it was nothing like I expected.
I could not put it down,
and when it was over
I was moved.

So, if you see it around,
I say pick it up.
Give it a read.
And let me know what you think.

Hmmm.... What next?

Mama Radio

At night I hold Rory in her rocking chair.
She stretches her long body across me,
nuzzles her face into my chest
and with a small grunt turns on Mama Radio.

I choose a song from her playlist and begin to sing.
If she finds my choice agreeable,
I am allowed to continue.
If not, I am greeted with another grunt,
and will continue to receive them until I sing the perfect song.

She's been tuning in since she was a few hours old.
After a few months she would make an "ahhhhh" sound
to prompt me to sing,
continuing as I sang,
sometimes with a breast in her mouth.
I would lay her down after she had drifted off
and run to tell John
that our new baby was already a singer.
The grunts came around the first year,
and they still make me laugh
because she doesn't make the noise
except when she wants Mama Radio.

Sometimes she sings along to certain words.
Sometimes she just stares at me.
Either way it's wonderful.

Baby

This is Baby.

She is currently Rory's partner in crime.

You may have noticed her here,
and here.

Rory is a wonderful mommy to her.
She believes in attachment parenting,
using her nurturing touch by carrying her everywhere,


and feeding her with love and respect.

Which may very well be one of the cutest things I've ever seen.


Lucky Baby,
Lucky Rory,
Lucky me.

Sunday Sweetie

I love this smooshie face!

Don't Bother Me...

I'm reading.

The other night I decided to browse
the new releases section of my library.
I added title after title,
excited at my new finds.
I made one mistake,
instead of adding them to my online wish list,
I put them in my online queue.

Two days in a row I got the email,
telling me my finds were delivered to the Annex.
I now have two weeks to devour
7 books.
Thank goodness for online renew.

So, if you want to do something,
and I decline,
please don't take it personally.
I just have a lot to read.

Hide N Seek

You found me!

Steppin' Out

This morning I woke up with the urge
to snap some shots of my little gals
amidst the trees.
So I did.

Off we went into the foggy morning,
to our regional park,
where I snapped away
at my giddy girls.










We left
covered in grass,
but happy,
and with the whole day ahead of us.

Why Wednesday was Super Fun

On Wednesdays, Hailey gets out one hour earlier.
That equals one more hour of fun times to be had.

Today we read books,
played lincoln logs & blocks,
did some Wii Fit,
got the homework done,
and enjoyed some pizza followed by cookies,
to counteract our earlier attempts at fitness.

It was grand.

And as I looked at my three beautiful girls,
and my handsome husband,
I felt like Queen of the World.

Look at these faces, wouldn't you?

On this St. Patrick's Day...

Anxiety

At this very moment,

my sweet Sashimi,
is at her very first play date
sans Mama.

I am an anxious bundle of nerves.
I'm not exactly sure what to do with myself.
I know she is probably having a blast
with her buddy Chloe,
and I know she is safe because
Chloe's mommy is one of my BFF's.

Still, I am sitting here sending her subliminal messages....

Please remember to go potty.

Please don't say anything embarrassing.

Please remember your manners.

Please know that I love you so much
and that I miss you so much when you are not here.

I do not know how I am going to survive
when she has to go to school.

I can't help it,
I'm addicted to my kids.

La Meesa

Rory porte un béret.

Elle est si mignonne.

Happy Birthday Barb!

We love you, lady!

P.S. Greg has a serious duck tail happening in this picture,
and we are all wearing day glo.
Loves it!

Fun Friday Finds

After one heck of a lousy week

I had to get out of the house.

I ended up finding some very cool steals,
from a few favorite shops.

First find,
a cute silver compact with butterflies on it.

$1
Did you know that Vanessa means butterfly?
Well, now you do.
Feel free to share this exciting fact
with friends at your next social gathering.

Second,
Seven for all Mankind jeans


Retail: $189
My price: $30
The thrift shop is run by little old ladies,
who could not figure out what was so special about the jeans.
Obviously, they don't ebay.

Lastly,
I went to a new place that specializes
in baby & kids accoutrement.
I found these beauties and was so excited that
they were Sascha's size.


Limited Edition Doc Martens
Retail: $100
My price: $20
And they will last forever.
I know, I have a closet full of them....
oh the 90's!

How I love a good bargain!

Conversations with My Cupcake

"Mommy, I smell something."

"It's my breath."

(Sniff Sniff)
"No, it smells warm and cozy."

"What do you think you are smelling?"

(Sniff Sniff)
"I smell the cupcakes."

"That's right, now we have to wait for them to cool before..."

"I put them in my mouth?"

The Look Alikes

Sometimes when I am going through pictures,
I have to take a minute or two,
to figure out just who I am looking at.
Any guesses on which of my lovely ladies this is?

Best Barbs

I am so lucky to have a Best Barb.
Her real name is Kristina,
and she is my cousin.
We have been attached at the hip
since she stole my blankie almost 28 years ago.

Even though many miles separated us growing up,
whenever we were together,
it was us against the world,
or at least annoying siblings.
One time, I hid her in the cupboard
so her parents wouldn't be able to take her back home.

These days, we finally live close together.
We call each other "Barb,"
for no real reason other than it is what we do.
Plus, it likens itself to so many fun derivatives,
like Barbablicious, Barbie doll, Barbazon.
I could go on,
and believe me, I have.

Best Barbs are great for adventures
in shopping, and eating, and cracking up.
Best Barbs listen when you are on the verge of losing your mind.
Best Barbs are there for you,
even when they had no sleep the night before,
because you need them.
Best Barbs always have a spare bed,
a home cooked meal,
and laundry detergent.

I love my Best Barb.

On this bad day

Two things made me happy,

1) Talking to my wonderful Aunt.

2) Finding this picture...

Hailey and me at Disneyland for her 3rd birthday.

Springing Forward

Looking Back....

One year ago today.

The strange thing is that when I went to find a picture
from one year ago today,
it was a roll of when John took Hailey & Sascha to the park.

Coincidentally, today John took all of the girls to the park.

Must be something about the 8th of March.

Jumping Queens

Today we cranked up
the Mamma Mia Soundtrack
and had a dance party
in the family room,




which quickly turned into a jumping party.

And for one,
a climbing down party.

Hey, "Store of Stories", I've got one for ya...

Rory has been sick all week.
High fever for three days,
day four her eyes looked puffy,
day five after a very restless night
I open her pj's to find a rash
over her neck, back & stomach.
Quick internet search =
roseola.
Sounds pretty, but not so much.
Warning - do not google pictures of roseola.
Yikes!
Doctor confirms, nothing left to do but wait it out.

So my sweet pea takes her morning nap
wakes up, and I can tell needs some fresh air.
I have a hankering for some
Trader Joe's Pita Chips & Spicy Hummus.
A can't think about anything else kind of craving,
and since The Meese has a picky appetite
I decide to swing over there and grab her
favorite apples, as well.

I drag my sluggish booty,
( I haven't had a decent sleep in 5 days)
and two little ladies over
to TJ's,
with one thought repeating itself...
spicy hummus,
pita chips,
spicy hummus,
pita chips.

I reach the hummus section and look

tomato & basil

garlic & herb

humus au natural

cilantro & yo mama

but NO spicy hummus.

There is a multi-pack that has one little section
of my spicy hummus
but no individual packs.
I usually buy three at a time.
I ask my TJ's girl, if they have any in the back
and she replies that they do not,
and it was so weird that the order didn't show up this morning.

WEIRD, INDEED!!!

I buy the multi-pack.

And as I watch Meesie eat her apple slices
& look happy for the first time in days,
I know the trip wasn't a waste.

Now, who wants to try the tomato basil section?

A Really Great Day

was had
by me.

Details.... soon.

Finally Quiet

Greetings from my couch,
where I am currently wrapped up in
my "Stay Cozy Quilt",
listening to the rain come down.

3 little ladies are finally slumbering peacefully.
The youngest is still a bit feverish.
The middlest is ailing from hitting her mouth
on the head of the eldest,
who is having trouble memorizing her multiplication tables.

It was a LOUD evening,
with a few tears.
Now it is just me,
and the occasional clack of my keyboard,
and the sound of rain,
waiting for my husband to come home.

His voice would be a welcome addition to all this quiet.

Starboard Seating Now Available

Tonight Sascha fashioned a boat

out of a box
and invited her father to dine in it.

He happily obliged.

And the whole time my heart was screaming
"I love my family so much!!!"

Love Is...

Holding your baby's leg up in the air
for a full hour
while she sleeps in your lap,
because she is so sick
and that is the only way she will sleep.

Get well soon my Meesie.

Waiting

Camera phone pics,
step sitting,
waiting for Hailey.