Naomi

This girl deserves a post all her own. She is energy, attitude, curiosity, generosity, inquisitiveness, brilliance all stuffed in a little 3 year old body.

She never ceases to amaze, surprise, frustrate, and make me laugh out loud.

She has a knack, like most little girls, for putting together some pretty awesome outfits. She also likes to gather together favorite items and stash them away. I'm a forever finding these little treasure troves.

So here are a few I captured on film to share.

Christmas Stockings

I am finally making Jame's Christmas stocking. It's only his second Christmas, not bad. And it's been a effort to get motivated. But I'm excited and ready to do it.
I had originally planned on a teddy bear for his stocking, but I couldn't seem to get a pattern that would look good. Or even very much like a teddy bear. I was feeling frustrated and stuck, I had already purchased the brown corduroy.Then Zach suddenly said, why don't you just do a gingerbread man? Perfect!
So here he is so far. I'm stitching the double layers of the little man to the top layer of the front of the stocking. After he's on, I'll finish all the other embellishments before sewing the stocking together. I learned my lesson the hard way a few years back. It's easier to sew stuff onto it without sticking my hand inside the finished stocking.
On this site, she has a great stocking tutorial. Mine are similar, but I have the unfinished edges out and I snip them so they are frayed.
Merry Christmas!

Edible Fun

Yes.

I am getting a little ahead of myself, but Christmas is so much fun!

We decorated our gingerbread house for a family home evening activity tonight.

While watching Dancing With The Stars. (Go Donny!)

It was really fun, I was a little surprised. Best case scenarios played out. For once. How nice!

James helped stick candy on at first and then he just wanted to eat it. We presuaded him to eat non-attached candy rather than roof and window decorations.

Naomi was a pro, she specifically did the roofline, window coverings, front door and window decorations, and the side of the roof that isn't pictured below. It's more artistic than this side.

We all ended up eating a fair amount of sugar.

This was a ready to go kit from our loving WalMart Supercenter. Naomi want's to make another one, and I have a recipe for sturdy gingerbread. I think I'll give a homemade version a try in a few weeks.

Naomi also said she wants to smash it, with her toy hammer. So we'll see how long this lasts.

Nice Smile

Naomi has mastered the "forced smile" and apparently James is well on his way.
Cute.

Christmas decor

I pulled out the Christmas boxes last night! Naomi could hardly contain her joy. This was better than the actual presents on Christmas morning.

We love our Little People Nativity. It's really the best. Go out and buy one if you don't have one, you won't regret it.

While I was loading this photo, James found the Styrofoam packaging from a new ornament. He managed to crumble it into thousands of tiny little balls that stick to everything. I mean everything.
Sweet.

Museo de Naomi

Naomi's room daily. All her drawings, art projects, etc from the past year or so. Daily spread out on her floor for her viewing pleasure. I need storage or display ideas.

T

Tuesdays with Trisha

I have busy mornings on Tuesdays. I am an aide at Naomi's preschool.

I trade for a gym membership and a discount on her tuition. I like being involved and in the know about her school. I love having a membership at the gym. I dislike getting up early and for a while felt guilty leaving James with grandma.

I don't anymore, he loves it now. Today when I told him it was time to go home, he told me "no". Stinker.

Tuesdays I get up with my alarm, 7:05. Ok, so I actually get out of bed by 7:20. At the latest!

Naomi is usually up by 7:30 and I get her dressed and seated eating breakfast.

She wears a swimsuit under her clothes because she swims at preschool on Tuesdays. And I have to remember to pack a pair of undies for after swim.

Next, I get ready, get James up and dressed then get breakfast for us.

Sometimes I take mine to eat on the drive, a banana and yogurt. Or something.

We are on the road by 8:15.

Every other Tuesday I drop James off at Grandma Stevie's on the way to pick up Naomi's cousin Dawson. On the other Tuesdays I squeeze three car seats across the back and Grandma Linda meets me at the preschool parking lot to take James with her for the day.

I have to remember to pack diaps and wipes, extra clothing, and naptime lovies to send/leave with Grandma.

(Grandmas are the best ever. THANKS!!!)

We are at preschool by 8:45 and ready for an active day at school.

After preschool Naomi and Dawson go to play at the kid care at the gym after swimming while I finish out my last hour at the preschool. There are two classes, theirs ends at noon and the second at one.

At 1:15, when the last little one has gone home and preschool is straightened up, I retreive Noami and Daws from the kids club, and they inform me they are starving.

I remembered to pack granola bars for them and all is well.

We take Dawson home and join Grandma for a relaxing afternoon while James finishes his nap.

Then I have to remember that the next morning is garbage day.

Today I was on time, and we remembered to bring everything we needed. Overall it was a pretty good Tuesday.

But I left Jame's full sippy sitting on the counter this morning. Yummy warm orange juice.

Foiled.

That's what I get for making lofty plans;)

Naomi is sick so we are home recouping. Poor thing. She's a good sport though and hopefully she'll feel better by tomorrow.

Yesterday I combed her hair out and then curled with a curling iron. It was so pretty! She kept saying she had hair like "Giselle." Funny girl.

I would have taken a photo to show if off but my little camera is broken. Naomi dropped it on the tile the other day. I've been avoiding thinking about that.

Maybe the day home will be perfect for Christmas decorating.

What's the plan this week?

Well, best case scenario is that the kids will not wake up before 7 a.m. (Naomi) and I will be patient, creative, and fun. I will get all my miles in this week, no one will be sick (James). I will cook yummy dinners every night and have good hair days. All week.

Also I will get Christmas decoration out and up and the little darlings will leave the tree alone.

I'll keep my hopes up and see how well we do;)

Naomi and James playing "nap time"

Losing Baby Bear

This is Naomi two years ago. The same age James is now.

Isn't she so cute:) And it still amazes me how much her hair has grown!

That, in her hands is her very favorite "Baby Bear"

It has been misplaced and is yet to be recovered.

We're still looking but I've explored replacement options in the meantime. It's findable online at ebay and the likes for pretty reasonable prices.

Don't you hate losing special toys? Has this happened to you? Did you replace your little one's special lovey or just let them mourn and move on?

They must be related

Our House

It's a continually renewing cycle here at our house of breakfasts, snacks, coloring, princesses, dinosaurs, diapers, runny noses, cookies, walks, playgrounds, mittens and hats, baths, jammies, bedtime stories and songs.
It's just all part of the parenthood deal.
Sometimes you find little snippets that make you just giggle, this was one of them.
The other day Naomi was having a hard time staying in her room for a quiet time. But eventually she did stay put, but only after she had tornado-ed her room. She fell asleep with no less than 3 princess dresses on her little body. And there were shoes, wands and crowns all over the floor. She needed to look just right for her beauty sleep!


And this. This is the sippy cup collection I pulled out of the dishwasher today. I don't usually have this many on active duty at one time, but this isn't really too far from the norm. I think it's time to address the situation. Naomi doesn't' need them at all anymore, I'm just lazy and it means less spills. And James does really well with a cup too. But then they have to be at the table.
Regardless, it's time to scale back! And what's with the chewing? Why do they always chew on the straws?

Christmas Gifts

(this photo will not for the life of me, stay right side up...)



Ferrero Rondnoir would be a delicious gift that's not the ordinary box 'o chocolates for Christmas.

My Brother in law brought a box of these divinities to me from Geneva Switzerland when he visited Utah last month. Thank You Mark!

They are truly heavenly.

The Ferrero website says it best:

"Ferrero Rondnoir dark chocolates, are a unique combination of dark chocolate creme surrounding a "black pearl" of fine dark chocolate, within in a delicate, crisp wafer...topped with crunchy dark chocolate morsels."

Obviously I love dark chocolate.

What's for Lunch?

Sometimes it's hard to know what to make for lunch (or dinner) that your kids will eat and that will actually be real food for you. Mac 'n Cheese does not a mom meal make. Trust me on that one.

Yesterday I made these, and they were very good. Happy kids and Happy Mom.

Quick Veggie Paninis/"grilled cheesies"

For the kids:

Two slices of bread, lightly buttered with Monterrey Jack cheese slices for the inside. Feeding kids cheese as you slice. That's what happens at my house anyway.

Pull out your old George Foreman or the like. I haven't used mine in years, but for today it was perfect!

Grill until browned and cheese is melty. Done.

Add to plate sliced red peppers, avocado chunks, mushrooms and (very important) Dip. My kids like Kraft Green Goddess. It's very tasty.

For Mom:

Two slices of bread, lightly buttered and Monterrey Jack cheese slices.

Add to sandwich: baby spinach, avocado slices, red pepper slices, mushrooms, and a little bit of your favorite vinaigrette splashed on there. I like Kraft Cesar Vinaigrette with Parmesan.

Grill to perfection and enjoy your yummy veggie Panini!

*Tomatoes would be great on this too, but I didn't have any today.

Extra avocado and peppers for me.

Ok, so I know that there are professional photographers that still can't make food look appetizing, and I realize that my sandwich photo might make you not want to make this. But photos make things more fun. So bear with me will ya?

Happy Birthday Mom!

We made "pinkalicious" cupcakes, yummy!


29 years young ;)

"You can't wear the same thing every day"

That's what she said.

And it's true, I really needed some additional workout clothing. I have one pair of capris I like to wear and then a pair of yoga pants that are a little too loose (and short) for running.

So with the help of Erica I found some great running capri shorts, a half zip top, in red, and a long sleeve underarmour top, that last one in purple, nice.

I wore the shorts and half zip today for a run with Erica, and I'm in love. The top is for cold-weather and it was perfect for today.

What workout gear do you all love? Where do you buy, what item can you not live(workout) without?

Highlights

Good things so far today.

9:20 a.m. on the way to the gym Naomi tells me she want's some "dance music" on the radio. I tell her that I like the song that's on. She says, "me too, but I need something for my legs and head, something to bounce my legs." We found something good.

10:30 a.m. finishing a 3.5 mile run and feel happy.

10:45 a.m. playing in 60 + degree weather at the playground with my kids. Running and rolling down the big grassy hills. Teaching James how to climb up the ladders.

1:00 p.m. finding all the pictures Naomi took of James and random toys with my camera.

An Old Favorite

I rediscovered this sweet Golden Book at my parents house recently.
'We Help Mommy' is darling and I only wish my little ones were so helpful!
That's why we're reading it now.


My mom wrote my name in the cover for me when I was a little girl.

Autumn Treats

I found these delights at my grocery store.

Yes pomegranate are a lot of work, but they are oh so good.

Clementine's are perfect little snacks for little fingers.


Pumpkin Eggnog? You bet, and it's delicious. And I don't even really like regular eggnog.

They also had the flavors, Cinnamon Stick, Sugar Cookie and Gingerbread.
It's tastes just like pumpkin pie!


And THESE are a special treat for just Mommy. I mean it.
Chocolate Covered Cinnamon Bears. Delicious.

Used Books?

Last night my sister in law Erica took me with her to a new Used Book store Pre-Sale.

Let me just start by saying that I came home with 50 children's books for $14. FIFTY BOOKS.

AWESOME.

This store is called Jensen's Books and is located in South Logan, just South of Black Hawk Condos and very close to the SEI outlet (scrapbook). It will be open for business on Friday the 13th! I think it will be a good luck day for them:)

They have so many books, pallets and boxes and tables and tables of books. They are working hard to sort them all out for opening. They have all kinds of books, seriously, you name it, they have it.

Once they open you can go shopping. Fill a plastic grocery sack with as many books as it can hold and it will only cost you $7. So sweet.

I walked away with great finds such as:

Go Away Big Green Monster(Erica found it first and gave it to me!),

Pinkalicious,

board books by Sandra Boynton,

10 Little Ladybugs,

Strega Nona,

Little Critter Books,

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid Of Anything,

If You Give A Pig A Pancake,

Mama Do You Love Me,

and a brand new (uncreased) Goodnight Moon.

I was very pleased. There were so many more to look through too.

I was told that they will have a whole new inventory every month.

So if you're a book-aholic like me, it's worth going back over and over.

Let me know if you're in the area andwant more directions.