Makeover

Like the new look?

I LOVE IT!!!!

I switch stuff up around these parts a lot, but wanted to go with something a little more permanent. Plus, I switched to a new template and felt like it was looking a little funky, so I turned to none other than Becky of Adopt Africa Designs!




She helped me with my Rosie J. Photography header/blog button back in August. My friend Michael, creator of Pink Mouse (if you haven't checked him out, go...he is going to start taking pre-orders soon), designed the logo for Rosie J. way back when, Becky just made it pop for the blog!


I loved her work back in August and I was hoping that she would be up for the challenge with my family blog, as I had NO idea what I wanted! Fifty seven emails between the two of us (yep, you read right, 57...I went and counted them all) and she made magic happen! At one point, her PC was seeing a very different picture than my MAC and screen shots got sent back and forth. I learned that I am a little, errrr...ok, a lot OCD with the look of my blog! I can't help it, this is my scrapbook for our family, our place that holds all of our memories since we have become a family of four, it has to look just right! I can honestly say that I am now in love with the entire thing! From the cheetah print (did you know that my room used to be decorated in denim and cheetah stuff?!) to the birds to the vintage frames!

I LOVE IT!
I know, I already said it...but I really do!

Becky is amazing to work with and appears to have the patience of a saint! She is super creative and has a incredible story to go with her design name! If you are contemplating changing the look on your blog, check her out! She can give it the full, head to toe makeover or spruce it up with a new header or blog button or page divider!

Guess what? She is having a giveaway! Head over and enter to win your own blog makeover!!!!


Thank you Becky and Adopt Africa Designs!

Lunch at Chuckie Cheese!

In Kyan's classroom, there is a backpack that rotates around the room between the kids with a Skippyjon Jones book, doll, and journal. When it is the students turn to bring Skippy home, they get to keep him for the night and go on an adventure with him, draw a picture, and write about it in the journal to share with the class the next day. It is fun to read through the stories of other students in his class and what their families do each night - some are as simple as a special family meal together to extra over the top, like riding on an airplane (obviously that kiddo got to keep Skippy on break or a long weekend)! His teacher even took Skippy back to her hometown in Ohio and wrote in the journal too for the kids! The last time we had Skippy, he helped to wiggle Kyan's tooth and wouldn't you know, the next day, it fell out at school (with the help of Mrs. Jones of course)!
I realized Skippy was in Kyan's backpack on Thursday night, when Kyan was already in bed...oops! He did not feel well that day (I sent him to school and I probably shouldn't have) and didn't say a word when he got home from school, I have had an incredibly stressful week at school, and we just had Clifford (same concept as Skippy, but obviously with Clifford the BIG Red Dog) the night before, who went to family night at McDonald's with grandpa and grandma, so it didn't dawn on me that we would have Skippy again so soon!
I talked with Kyan when he woke up on Friday morning about what we should do. He said that we could write about watching Amazing Race as a family, but Skippy didn't really do that with us, so maybe we could ask his teacher to let him keep Skippy just one more day. Great idea! That would give us the weekend to do something special. Turns out Kyan was running another fever and didn't make it to school yesterday as it was, so we worried for a red hot second for nothing! Thank goodness grandparents Nebraska are still in town and didn't have set plans yesterday and they willingly took Kyan to lay around on the couch to snuggle bear and blanket all day! Just what a grandson needs I think!

So today, now that everyone seemed to be doing okay, we headed to Chuckie Cheese, per Kyan's request on Friday. He thought that it would be a good idea to take Skippy there to have a good time (yes, I am sure he really wanted to be the one to go there for the good time, Skippy was just a nice excuse)! Now, I was a little worried about going to Chuckie Cheese on a Saturday, as that is like there busiest day of the week, but it wasn't too bad. We got there before the rush hit, so when it was time to leave, it was super busy, but the kids went through their 50 tokens (really cool, EVERY game/ride was only one token!!!) and they were still smiling! We didn't have to drag them outta there kicking and screaming (think this was a first, it is usually one or the other that is upset), they were so happy! That is a very successful adventure if you ask me!

Lola was obsessed with talking on this phone game to Chuckie! She spent the first 30 minutes glued to it before she ventured out to do anything different! She was even brave enough to pose for a picture with Chuckie when he came around, and that was after the high five and hug (I couldn't get Kyan to go near him, think he was in the gamer zone)!

See his faces? So determined when he is playing games, just like daddy!

Chuckie Cheese = kiddie Vegas!
Today, mine hit the JACKPOT! We had so much fun!

Time w/ My Mama

Today was perfect.
Mama came over around 8:30 this morning and started cracking her whip, but man, can she wreck shop and get closets organized! We cleaned out both kids closets-5 bags of clothes (ok, 4...one was pottery barn bedding)! It is hard for me to let go of my kids clothes, I love all of Kyan's t-shirts and I saved so many clothes from last summer for Lola, in hopes that they would fit, but NO DICE! Into the bags they went. We headed to Once Upon A Time to see if they would buy any of it from me. Usually I have no luck there, but today, after going through my bags for two hours (not kidding, we ate lunch at Chipotle and went to Target in between) they bought $111 worth of clothes. Holla! I turned around and spent it right on the kiddos, they needed clothes to replace the ones that they outgrew!
We made a stop at Old Navy before we came home (to do more cleaning of course)! My mom tried leaving (not too hard though) and I begged her to say. I used the guilt trip tactic and it worked like a charm. This WAS going to be the only day on her entire trip that we could be together, just us. The rest will be spent with me at work, so she stayed!!!
Lola napped, Kyan played, grandma did load after load of laundry, and I cooked a scrumptious dinner for the family after my dad finished golfing this afternoon/early evening. Brownies for dessert!
Bachelor and 90210 on the TV.
Monday's aren't so bad, especially when you have the day off of work. Thank you Mr. President.
Perfect. Wish every day could be like today.

Rare

Chad and I had a very rare moment last night. My parents took both kiddos for the evening and we went to see an adult movie! After much deliberation, we chose "The Rite". You see, I forget to breath in scary movies and cover my eyes and beg the hubs to tell me when it is over (and yes, I did all of the above with this one) but it was still great! I had to talk myself into this one, but it was so worth it! Reminded me of the good old days - even if it was just for a few hours!
A much needed night alone with my man!

Cousins

My brother, niece, and nephew were in town for about a week and a half and we were lucky enough to spend a couple of evenings (wish it was more) together for quick dinners and little bits of play time in between picking up or dropping off kids here or there. It was not enough time, but time none the less.

Last night, we went to my parents house for dinner. It was nice to be able to sit down and visit for a few hours while the kids played and played and played!
They left bright and early this morning and we miss them already, but it was time to go home to mama, who unfortunately had to stay behind to work and hold down the fort.
We are lucky that we get to see them in a few months, for my cousin, Carrie's, wedding!
Kyan is going to be the ring bearer and Ava, the flower girl!
Lola and Kyan can't wait to see you again, Ava and Brayden!
Miss and love you, LOTS!

PS - Growing up, my brother and I were fortunate enough to live only blocks away from our cousins. If we weren't at home, you would find us over there and vice versa. It was the best. One of the advantages of growing up in a small town. I wish that our kids lived closer (if I had my wish, my whole family and my hubs' family would live in the same neighborhood) and that I got to spend more time with my brother. I love him.

Happy Valentine's Day!

This is the cutest Valentine's Day gift I think I have ever received. Seriously, he was adorable when he came in the door and had me read his sign! I was so excited to lean in for a kiss (especially after the day I had)! In fact, he has been dishing out the kisses tonight like no other and I am loving every minute of it!

And my poor little Lolita, we spent the early evening at the doctor's office confirming that she did indeed have pink eye, a pretty bad case of it! She looks miserable and like someone punched her in the face. Both of her eyes are so swollen and red, both in and out of the eye. No daycare for her today (thank you mama for watching her, despite your sore neck/back) or tomorrow. With it as gooey as it is, even with drops, she can't go until that goo goes away.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Lola Turns "Free"

Lola turned three ("free" is how she says it) today!
Wowwee, I thought that because she actually slept in this morning that we were going to have a great day, DIVA free (at least until her party was over)...WRONG!
She bounced right out of bed and got dressed for dance class, we even washed and dried her hair extra special. She loved it! When it came time to go to class, birthday girl threw the fit of her life! She refused to go to dance class, she said she just wanted to watch TV. Over my dead body (she pulled the same crap last week, only in the middle of dance class, at least this one started at home)! We told her that she couldn't have her party if she didn't go to dance and she agreed! She then proceeded to say she didn't feel good! We even told her that she would have to rest the whole day without any TV, and she still said okay. Seriously?! What little birthday girl calls off her own party? I put down a $75 deposit at Build-A-Bear, how was I going to just cancel her party with like an hour and a half to spare?
Finally, with less than half of dance class left to go, she agreed to go and try (she is transitioning from parent/child class to big girl class and it is an hour earlier with a new teacher). She saved herself and was able to have her party, but not without a fight!
Let the "Trying Three's" begin!

With that being said, we did a have a fabulous time at Build-A-Bear!
The party lasted about and hour and our hostess Amber was amazing with the kids!
I think I would be safe in stating that every kid left there a pretty happy camper!

Thank you to all of Lola's friends that joined her and made her day so special!

We REALLY BIG love you Lola!
Happy 3rd Birthday to the BIGGEST little diva I know!

Enough Said.

They make everything WORTH IT.

Happy Birthday, Fishhead!

We have this tradition in our family, he who has the birthday picks where they want to eat their birthday dinner! Kyan and I ALWAYS pick Ah-So, Chad almost always picks McGrath's (if he ever leaves dinner choices up to us, this isn't on our list of stops)! This is exactly where he picked to eat tonight and we ate a wonderful meal as an extended family (usually it is just the four of us). We were joined by my parents, his mama, my brother and two kiddos (we haven't seen them in forever). Not only was the food delicious, but the company was even better!

At the end of dinner, the staff put a giant fish on Chad's head and we sang "Happy Birthday" to him! No one could have looked better and I think is the perfect addition to what I have decided will be my running list of reasons why I love my boo (read the other 31 from last year's birthday post here):
32. You look HOT even with a giant fish on your head!

*please excuse the horrible blackberry pictures in this post. camera phones are no good*

The highlight for the kids: LOBSTERS!
We spent a good 15 minutes watching three of those bad boys fighting over a spot in the corner! The kids were giggling the entire time and picking out which lobster they were!
Thought this picture was cute of the cousins (another one with the old blackberry, horrible I tell you), all lined up at the lobster tank, in birth order!

Happy Birthday Chad!

We really BIG love you.

Not Just Any Sunday...

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!

Yesterday, we hosted our first Super Bowl party, (surprisingly, I didn't take as many pictures as I normally do, guess I was trying to just be in the moment). It was amazing, we were surrounded by old and new friends and family (meant the world to us that you were there), delicious food (ordered one to many sandwiches, so I sent everyone out the door with lunch for a few days this week), football, commercials (think the VW Beetle was my favorite), and one heckofa half time show (might have been the best one I have seen to date)!
It was a day for remembering too, and remember Brion I did, all weekend. When I was coming home from the second trip to the grocery store on Saturday, I was overwhelmed with memories of him, I let a few tears fall, then pulled myself together before I got home. You see, the Super Bowl parties were always his thing (his parties were always so much fun and where every body went), so to carry on his tradition, it feels pretty special, like a big part of him is/was/will be there with us always. I think we pulled off a party that he would have been proud of and we look forward to carrying on his tradition for years to come!

Thank you to everyone who came to the party!
We hope you had just as much fun as we did!

Valentine's Day Wreath

I LOVE it!

My poor hubby had to suffer through many a movies with the lights on (he hates having to do this) so that I could cut out strips of felt to roll into flowers!
I started this wreath about a month ago, with full intention of finishing it in one weekend, but I discovered that I get sidetracked very easily and start something new, before something old isn't finished!
I am sad that this bad boy only gets to hang for a week, it turned out better than I could have wished for.

Do you LOVE it too?
Want to make your own?
Super easy (just very time consuming, trust me)!

What you need:
heart shaped wreath
2 yards felt
hot glue gun
hot glue
ribbon
scissors


Step One:
Cut circle (any and all shapes and sizes) out of felt.
Scallop edeges (as seen in upper left hand corner square), it gives more dimension to the flower.
Begin rolling felt in a circle (shown on bottom pictures).

Step Two:
Once you have finished rolling, hot glue the bottom to hold the flower together.


Step Three:
Tie a ribbon onto the back of wreath (I would recommend doing this part first, and I will if I ever made this again) and hang on the door of choice!

I thought that I LOVED it before it was hung, but when I saw it this afternoon, I LOVED it even more! Here it is, one more time, all done...for your viewing pleasure (ok, mine too)!

Linking up with some of my favorite party people!

Make Your Own Baby Legs

So, she first caught my attention when she said that she made her boy some baby legs (two pairs) in less than 15 minutes! I learned that she got the tutorial from here and realized it really was that easy!!! So tonight I made a pair for Lola and I have to say, I LOVE them and so does she!

Here is what I started with:

First, you have to cut apart some of the sock that you won't need anymore.

Then I pinned.

Up next, sewing the two parts together!

Taaaaa-Daaaaaa!

I had to try them on Lola right away, they were perfect (actually, far from it, but they are so cute). The part that I sewed is meant for the top (as it is bigger typically than the ankle), but because of the skull's placement, this pair will be worn the opposite way (which actually turned out better). Can't wait to have her put them on for dance class tomorrow!

I took this picture right before dance class! LOVE them still!