No Fender Bender

DH's Stratocaster Fender guitar arrived Sunday and DS's little hands have already been all over it. The guitar is gorgeous!

DH can plug earphones into his amplifier so he won't wake the kids in the evenings when he is practicing. I haven't quite decided if this is a benefit to my ears too. LOL!

Get Your Own Mom

Just wanted to share my big boy and his shirt, "Get Your Own Mom"!

Sunday's FFF

Yes, I am late for our FFF (Friday's Family Faves) ... but better late then never, right?

DD has started on baby food and the big winner so far (she has only tried two, LOL) is sweet potatoes. I think sweet potatoes are a favorite for many kids!

DS has been walking around all week carrying his anti-itch cream and asking if any of us need "itch-y cream" or if we have "itchies". LOL!!! Already obsessed with pharmaceuticals like his Daddy.

DH has still been obsessed over his Fender guitar and is anxiously waiting for it to arrive in the next two weeks.

And me, I indulged a little each day this past week on that delicious-sinfully-good trail mix from Trader Joe's. The one that is appropriately named Trader Joe's TEMPTATION Trail Mix. YUMMMM, it is a mix of peanuts, almonds, cashews, dried cranberries, chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. Definitely not good for my desire to be back (comfortably) in my old pre-pregnancy jeans before Germany.

And today's picture is just because I like it ... I took this picture yesterday for my Great-Aunt that sent this outfit for DD earlier this week.

Snails and puppy dog tails ...

... are what little boys are made of.

DS discovered snails a long time ago. But what he saw this past weekend was a first in his snail hunting adventures: a snail laying eggs in our yard. DH discovered it as the two of them were outside trying to "pretty up" the patio for company. Don't let me fool you though. First off, there is not much to our yard or pretty-ing up to be done. Secondly, most of their time is spent looking for snails, butterflies, flowers and playing with the garden hose not cleaning. But I must admit, I love seeing my boys out there in the dirt and wouldn't have it any other way.

After DH found the snail eggs DS quickly ran inside to tell me about it. I quickly ran outside to see because I was curious. You see, being a girl, any time spent in the dirt (& it was limited) was spent making mud-pies, cakes, and cookies not looking for creepy crawly things. Although, I did find it pretty cool and even grabbed my camera to catch a picture (see below).

I asked DH if he had ever seen something like that.

His reply, "of course, I am a boy. I spent most my time outdoors catching anything that moved so I could then put them in a box and try to make them fight."

Hmmmm. I walked away and asked myself, "is that normal?". If so, I sure have a lot in store for me.

Luckily I have the The New York Times bestseller Dangerous Book for Boys in case DH ever forgets what it is like to be a boy. But really, what are the chances of that? After DS had long lost interest in the snail eggs DH stood there staring and playing with it .... wake up Dear Hubby ... And I am supposed to think they are outside cleaning the patio. Ha!

Friday Family Faves (FFF)

Thanks to CD, ever since I heard about being able to professionally print my Blog for a keepsake (don't worry, if you don't already know, I will do a seperate post for all you other bloggers out there) I have been wanting to blog more often. I just can't seem to keep up with their baby books and my journal. So, if all else fails, I will have these ramblings for them. :-)

Keeping with that goal I have decided to devote Fridays to each family member's current faves (which can be anything from fave song, fave food, fave word, fave shoes, etc.).

So, here I go, my attempt at my first FFF (Friday Family Faves):

DS: He actually asks every time we get in the car, "Mommy, play my favorite song.". He is referring to Read My Mind by The Killers (if you link here you can listen, there is a 5 second commercial before the music video starts). I am starting to wonder if my DD will be my R&B, Hip Hop, disco queen like her Mommy because this boy is all Rock and Roll! He even tells me, "louder, turn it up."!

DD: she loves her ever-so-popular and sought-after Sophie La Girafe. As Right Start even says on their site "the famous" Sophie La Girafe. And trust me, I was tempted not to buy it when I saw the price but OMG, yes, she LOVES it and worth the $19.99 plus it sure is fun when we got stopped and asked how we like "the giraffe". As far as newborn toys go, this is the only one that gives the winkle competition for top baby toy.

DH: his birthday present from us, his new Fender American Stratocaster Sunburst Guitar that hasn't even arrived yet because they start production after you order it. He already spends countless hours on-line admiring the pictures, researching amplifiers and talking about it. I just hope he loves it as much when he receives it (in late August) as he does now.

And me: I am loving my new Aqualumiere Chanel lipgloss. It is their new lipgloss and I like the consistency, applicator and color more then the Levres Scintillantes Chanel lipgloss I used to use.

A challenge to my 22 average readers per day (pretty impressive, huh?):

What are your FFF?

Taking the wind out of my sale ...

It has happened to me too. Once I became a mother I started (almost) exculsively shopping for my kids. I can still remember our long back to school shopping days with my Mom where we would return home with bags and bags of clothes but nothing for her - thanks Mom, if I knew then what I know now, I would have made sure we shopped for you too! If it makes you feel any better, I assure you, I am paying it forward to your wonderful Grandkids! :-)

I recently went to the infamous Nordstrom Anniversary sale (back in the day that meant a day off work - or at least a partial day off work - hey, I was in sales and it usually went unnoticed). This year, I bought for 5 people at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale. Out of those 5, none were me. In fact, I never made it past the men's and children's departments. When you have a husband, two kids and two godchildren who needs to shop for themselves?! I had more fun shopping for them. It only took 30 something years to get here. LOL!!!

Have you been yet, please share!? My favorite finds - these adorable jeans for DS and a great shirt for DH (not available on-line) that I plan on asking him wear to BC's birthday celebration in Laguna Beach next weekend .

He is ....

He is strong.

He is intelligent.

He is thoughtful.

He is handsome.

He is a fabulous Daddy.

He is funny.

He is a great cook.

He is a hardworker.

He is a good communicator.

He is a best friend.

He is my husband.



Happy 34th Birthday to my wonderful husband!



Love,

Your Adoring Wife



(we celebrated at home on Friday night, DD missed the picture, DS was in a mood and I wore my party hat the entire time. LOL!)

Walking on sunshine ...

... and don't it feel good!

I am thrilled with my new Nikkor 18-200 lens that my thoughtful DH got me for my birthday. The wider range of distance helps me stay out of DS's splash zone when I need to!

Happy 5 months old to my sweet girl!

Is there chocolate cake in there?

DS recently had his first taste of chocolate milk.

He took a sip, looked at me and smiled.

I asked, "what does it taste like?"

He responded, "chocolate (pause) milk (pause)".

I laughed at myself because I realized what a silly question that obviously was until soon after his second sip he got a puzzled look, lifted his sippy cup, pointed to it and said, "Mommy, is there chocolate cake in there?"

Yes, I know, I have said it before, but I will say it again, DS L-O-V-E-S chocolate!

Like father, like son.

Red tag alert.

So, am I the only one that gets excited when I see the little red clearence tags at Target? I often walk the back aisles just to browse the "red tag" sales. I usually am so excited to find a great red tag item that I miss that the sale price of $4.29 is only marked down from the original $4.99. Yes, they have me fooled with the bright glossy teeny tiny red tags! And please don't remind me that I really don't need another package of colorful paper napkins or pink stationary. A girl can never have enough of either of those in my book ... and they were on clearance you know!

So you can imagine my complete euphoria when I discovered a teeny tiny glossy red tag affixed to the corner of the beautiful Britax Marathon's ever-so-popular-Brooke-pattern at my local Target. But after recruiting a salesgirl to help me desperately locate one we discovered that not only did my Target not have one in stock but no Target in the western United States had one. So, alas, I drove home and ordered my Britax Marathon in the ever-so-popular and adorable Brooke pattern on-line for a premium price (because, as I told DH, this pattern isn't available just any where you know & Britax are the safest).

2 lessons learned:

#1. Yes, those glossy red tags are a marketing gimmick to get you to spend more! :)

#2. I want only the best (& cutest) for my DD! :)

**lowers head and walks away in shame**

Happy to be round!

We are currently renting after recently selling our townhome. There are many things I would change about the home we are currently living in but since we are not the home owners we have no option (or reason) to make those changes.


We did, however, get a new kitchen table that fits the space in this home much better (not necessarily the style of the home but at least the space). I have always been a big fan of round tables and I am thrilled with our new one for it's shape and style. In fact I often seek out restraurants that I know have round tables for large parties but not because of King Arthur's legend that there is no priviledged position at the table but because it is easier to see and socialize with everyone at the table rather then only the person to your left or right (& I know we have all been stuck at one time or another next to that one person that you really have nothing to say to ... or is it the person that you always have something to say to but were hoping to chat with someone you ususally don't get to see?! Well, a round table solves either!). Cheers!

T(w)O INDEPENDENCE!

Last year's picture here! Happy 4th of July 2008!!!

HIGH PROFILE

Keeping this fair skinned child protected from the sun is a full time job. We have countless numbers of sunscreen bottles (one upstairs, downstairs, in each stroller, the car and every beach bag I own). We are also trying to teach him to keep a hat on at all times and sunglasses. Neither of which are going well but when he does wear it, it looks quite cute!

I love his stare. He gets it from his Daddy. I love my boys.

There's a beetle crawling up her leg

There's a beetle on the ceiling.
It is crawling.
I am going to get it.
I need a ladder to get it.
A small ladder.
It is crawling.
(Daddy interjects: "what color is the beetle")
It is black and grey.
(He physically shows us by pointing to the ceiling in the kitchen and using his fingers to demostrate crawling & continues all the way over to the couch and up "baby sisters" leg where she "catches it")

I love watching his imagination. I love the make believe play. I had just begun creating our "dress up" bin with hats, costumes, and props - I couldn't have picked better timing.

Feeling the love

1 freshly brewed Coffee Bean Vanilla coffee
1 glass of wine
1 Cafe Frapuccino
1 bouquet of flowers
1 care package on my doorstep
1 large balloon
2 chocolate cakes
4 text messages
5 great friends at a nice lunch
7 facebook messages
7 hours sans kids (thanks for babysitting Mom!)
8 voice messages
8 candles on my cake (not sure why DH chose 8, does it have meaning?!)
11 email messages
Uncountable hugs, kisses, gifts and birthday wishes (I started losing track some where?!)

I am truly blessed to have each and every one of you in my life! Thank you!

Here Comes the Sun...

...and I say it's all right!







Their first summer time swim ...



(and if you are not sure what song I am referring to click here to listen -you have to push play first)

The. Little. Miss.

My cup runneth over.

Happy Father's Day

Happy (belated) Father's Day to the most wonderful husband. The kids are cleaner (thanks for always doing bath time), smarter (thanks for reading daily to them), and loved (thanks for always taking time for us) because of you!!! You are "our" Hero! xxoo

Beauty Secrets? No more!

It is just fascinating to see DS pick up on everything around him. Not only the things I make it a point to explain to him but also the things he picks up just from observation. For example, the other day he was walking around the house with stickers on his nose. He kept saying, "Mommy, look, stickers on my nose.". I thought this was odd but also thought it was just him being silly (he does have quite a fun silly streak in him!). But later that night when I was doing my night time routine I put a Biore strip on my nose (my pores have seemed so clogged lately, even after my wonderful Epicuren facial recently) and he laughed and said, "Mommy has a sticker on her nose too." Yes, he has seen this before and yes, he is right, it does look like I am putting a sticker on my nose. Yikes, I can't believe my hygeine routines are no longer "beauty secrets" to stay in my own bathroom. This kid is either repeating my words or actions constantly. He has become my parrot. LOL!!!