Come Play With Us

Handy Andy

My husband is a great guy.  He is one of the most kind people I know, he is a wonderful Daddy to our two girls, and goes above and beyond for our family on a regular basis. 

And he builds stuff for us. 

 
A new bed!  This is his latest.....

And this is my favorite thing that he has built:

Just sayin'.  He is the best.  

MTM

It is Muffin Tin Monday!  Click on the link above to see more fun muffin tins.  This week the theme was Halloween. I have been so excited and looking forward to everyone else's fun ideas for their muffin tins for this week.  I can't wait to look through them all!

Here is ours: (note the little finger that couldn't wait for Mommy to take the picture!)

1. Creepy Crawlies (string cheese and chinese noodles)

2. Mummy Dogs (hotdogs wrapped with breadstick)

3. Eyeballs (grapes with frosting-kind of ran a bit but I liked the effect) 

4. Mr. Spider (Hostess cake with frosting legs)

5. Ghostie (mashed potatoes with peas for eyes and mouth)

6. Witches Brooms (Pretzel sticks wrapped with fruit by the foot)

I added the dollar store stretchy spiders for effect and they were a hit.  I think C brought one to be with her tonight-She was running around singing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" with it all evening.

And since I ran out of room on the muffin tray, I had to add in a little ketchup/mustard spider web to dip the mummy dogs in:

C did pretty well with this meal and ate some of everything, even the mashed potatoes, which she is not a fan of at all.  (Mashed potatoes and peanut butter are probably her top two dislikes---can you believe that??)

Here is the carnage after she was done:

This was lots of fun, and I think this one was my best one yet!!  We are looking forward to Sunday and showing off our costumes!

Adventures

Last weekend my parents came down for a visit.  I had asked my Mom if she could accompany the girls and I to the Mall of America for a visit to the Build a Bear Workshop and Underwater Adventures.  So they came down on Thursday night and watched the girls so the Hubs could continue working on the bed he is building for us. 

Saturday morning, we got all loaded up and off to the MOA!  On the way there I found out that this was my Mom's first trip to the Mall of America.

We got to the Mall and got to stop and visit for a few minutes with a friend of mine who was in town from Chicago for a wedding.  

On to the Build a Bear Workshop!

C was feeling a bit nervous and didn't quite understand the process at first.  Usually when we do something like this I explain to her what is going to happen before we go inside, but since I haven't done this before, I didn't do much explaining.  It seems like when I am able to prep her a bit she does better in new situations.  

I have to say, the gal that helped us stuff our bears was great.  She really made C feel comfortable.  C picked out *two* hearts to go in her bear, and one for E's bunny.  
She is rubbing the bear's heart on her head to make the sure the bear is smart.

We have one bear done and are stuffing away on bunny.  C is concentrating very hard on pressing the foot pedal.  
C gives her new bear (Penelope) a nice cuddle.  

Dressing Penelope and Fluffy up in their outfits.  Actually, since C&E have a stingy mamma, Penelope and Fluffy had to share one outfit.  Bear got the shirt, Bunny got the skirt.  C suggested the sharing part.  I guess all the harping on we must share has paid off a bit.

Build a Bear was pretty fun, but could get expensive quickly if you go overboard on outfits and accessories.  E isn't really into stuffed animals too much, and C has pretty much confiscated Fluffy the Bunny for her ever growing menagerie of stuffed animals.  It was certainly a and fun treat for a special occasion.

Then we went to eat at the Rainforest Cafe.  Which was probably a mistake in hindsight.  Complete sensory overload.  C and E were both terrified by the gigantic frog man (Cha Cha) who just happend to wander around by our table for about 10 minutes.  

Grandma said her little heart was just racing.  She is still talking about Cha Cha 6 days later, bringing up that she was scared of him, and that Grandma wanted to be his friend. E just kept trying to get as far away from him as possible.

After lunch, we went to Underwater Adventures, an underground aquarium at the Mall of America. As you stroll through the tunnels, the aquarium is all around and above you.  It is pretty cool.  

By far, my favorite part was the Jellyfish area.  In fact, I think we all liked the jellyfish the best.  E was very relaxed in there, and was trying to touch the jellyfish.  

Yep, I liked the jellyfish.  Hmmm, can you tell?

After we were done at Underwater Adventures and I stood in line for 20 minutes to buy stuffed animals (seahorse for C and stingray for E), we made a quick potty break and headed home.  It was a great day.

 

 

giggles

The girls were pretty giggly during dinner tonight.  I was playing peek a boo with E popping up from beside her highchair, and they both thought this was HILARIOUS.  I think this video is hilarious because I *thought* I was out of the frame, but I was very much in the frame.  While the girls laughing is very cute, my head whipping up and down is even funnier if you ask me.

   

I told C I would make some playdough tonight, and after the girls went to bed, I spent 20 mintues looking for the cream of tartar.  I then posted my frustration on my facebook status, and a gal I know told me that I don't actually need the cream of tartar to make the playdough.  I knew facebook was good for something.

We should be good for a while on the playdough!  It occurred to me after I was all done that I should have made black and orange in honor of Halloween.  Oh, well.  I am just glad I didn't disappoint my little girl.

 

Storytime with C

Last night as I was getting the girls ready for bed, we were making a story around a Little Red Ridinghood doll that C has.  This is how it went (more or less):

C: "We can't go in the woods"

 

M: "Why not?"

C: "Because its scary"

C: "There's a monster in there.  He's a beast."

 

M: "What does the monster look like?"

C: "He looks like a bear. He is black."

M: "Is he cute?"

C: "No he is a monster.  He is scary."

C: "There is a bear.  There is three bears. He is tiny, he is very small. And a bigger and a bigger bear."

M: "What are the bears doing?"

C: "They are going to their Grandma's house.  And sleep in a bed.  And the chair broke."

 

C: "We can't go in the woods.  It is very scary."

M: "What if you have Daddy with you?"

C:  "Daddy will keep you safe.  Daddy will protect you.  He's a good man, Daddy."

I think we should call this story "Beauty and the Little Red GoldiDaddyLocks". 

 

MTM

Its Muffin Tin Monday today!  This week is no theme, and yesterday when I asked C what kind of muffin tin she wanted this week, she said tractors.  Since Daddy is a tractor man, I had him help me come up with ideas. 

We thought we should do a tractor, and then the rest should be things that a tractor moves.  

1. Boulders(holiday grapes)

2. Tractor (grilled cheese)

3. Hay (french fries)

4. Animals (crackers)

5. Logs (free sample Johnsonville Snack Bites that came in the mail today!)

6. Snow (cottage cheese)

Here is C checking over her dinner.  We talked a little bit about each item the tractor moves as she started to eat.  

C actually at most of the food in her tin today.  There was a lot of food on this tin, and I think she did great tonight.  I was hoping she would eat a good dinner, since today the girls and I were out and about all day getting fall photos taken, and didn't really have much of a lunch.  

Bratwurst

On Saturday night, I was on my way to putting C in bed, and E was already in bed.  As we walked through the kitchen, C spied the platter of grilled bratwurst on the counter.  "I'm hungry, Mama."  So I asked her what she wanted to eat, and she points to the platter and says, "I want a steak(aka bratwurst)."  So I figured she would maybe have a couple bites and be done with it.  This proceeded into about 45 minutes of her dancing and singing around the house, all while gnawing away at this bratwurst.  

She finally finished off the whole thing, and I got her into bed.  I just wanted to give a little glimpse into what happens to girl after a night of be-boppin and bratwurst:

Woo!  Look at that hair!

C usually has some pretty crazy hair in the mornings, but this one really took the cake!  

Just a little E

Here is a little video of Miss E.  I just thought it was cute and thought I would share it.

 

 

And while I am at it, I'll throw in a pic of me and my big girl C from Saturday night.

I Love my girls.

 

MTM

Here we are, another Monday.  This week's theme on Muffin Tin Mom was Pumpkins!  We have been really getting into the fall/Halloween spirit lately, so this was a fun one for C and E.  The girls did Jack O'Lantern crafts with our Sitter today, to get them thinking about pumpkins for MTM.

I came up with my ideas for my Pumpkin tin last week.  A couple things threw me for a loop today, though.  I think it came out ok, despite my setbacks today.  

So I did:

-Pumkin Juice ( milk with food coloring)

- Orange Jack O'Lantern with chopped up oranges and grapes inside

- Blue Jello Pumpkin Jigglers (I made these on Sunday in a silicone ice cube tray I found a the dollar store)  I thought I had orange Jello at home, but I didn't.  I didn't feel like going to the store, so we ended up with blue pumpkins.

- Marinara sauce

- Carrot slices as baby pumpkins

- Pumpkin Pizzadillas (which were intended to be dipped into the marinara sauce).

So originally I had planned to do a grilled cheese pumpkin sandwich, but when I called home from work today, I found out that Andy had given C grilled cheese for lunch.  So that idea was out.  "No big deal", I thought to myself.  So I had to run to Michael's today to get the pumpkin cutter.  I had my 50% off coupon ready.  I also was going to go to Target because we need a few things pretty urgently.  I also wanted to look for "The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" on DVD because we had so much fun watching YouTube clips the other night.  Then, if I had time, I was going to stop in at the Gap, because they had 40% off in store today only. I thought maybe I could get myself a new pair of jeans.  This was all supposed to happen on my lunch hour.  SO, anyway, I go to Michael's, and the road is closed, so I had to make a big detour to get to the store.  I rushed around the store trying to find the pumpkin cutter, which I did find, and a couple other things for a project I am working on for C.  So I went to check out and find that my wallet is NOT in my purse.  "Oh yes, (I think to myself) my wallet is in the stroller from our walk last night".  So I am unable to purchase the pumpkin cutter at Michael's, and the cashier wouldn't give me back my 50% off coupon (I should have argued that, but I already felt like a fool for forgetting my wallet).  So then I weave my way out of Michael's and stop at K-Mart because I scrounged around in my car and found $3.  I thought I might be able to find part of what I needed for $3 at K-Mart.  I walk in, and what to I see?  A rack of Fall items with 40% off sign on top.  And glory!  A pumpkin cutter!  $3.49, and with 40% off, I can afford it with my scrounged up $3.  So I go to check out and the cashier tells me, $3.79.  So I explain to her that this was on the 40% rack.  OH, the Wilton stuff is not 40% off.  At this point I just give her a nasty YOUR SIGN is MISLEADING, because I obviously am not meant to have the dang pumpkin cutter.  

C mainly at the fruit out of the Orange O'Lantern.  She tried the Pizzadilla, but wasn't a big fan.  She ate a couple carrots, drank most of her "pumpkin juice", and one or two of the Jigglers.  I gave her some extra cheese to eat as well.  She also tried eating the orange peel, and discovered that it isn't so tasty.  

Even after all my troubles today, I have really enjoyed doing MTM so far, and it makes my Mondays a lot more bearable.  I used to dread Monday, but now I actually kind of enjoy it.  

I'm Over It

I have been pretty disgusted with my appearance lately.  I am about 30lb overweight and just don't feel at my best.  SOOOO, I have decided it is time to do something about it.  I figured if I share it here, (hopefully) it will be a way of holding myself accountable.  

And before anyone tells me "but you just had a baby", E will be 9 months old on the 17th, so I feel I am not able to use that excuse anymore, besides the fact that I was overweight when I got pregnant with her anyway.

My plan is, we have the P90X workout series gathering dust in the basement.  I am going to bust that out, starting Sunday (tomorrow).  I haven't totally figured out what I am going to do in terms of diet.  There is an eating program you are supposed to follow with the P90X program, but I don't think I will be able to follow that with our current family schedule.  I am thinking I will do Weight Watchers again, because I have had success with it in the past, and it is relatively easy to do.  I may talk to one of my co-workers who is doing a Mayo Clinic diet which is more of a healthy lifestyle plan.  Basically what I need as far as diet is something that is very easy to follow, since I don't have a lot of time currently to focus on what I am eating.  

If all goes well, I should be looking healthy and fit by the time E turns 1.  

For those that know me, I really don't like to exercise, so this is going to be challenging, but I am really over not feeling good about myself.  This is the first time in over three years that I have had my body to myself (between pregnancy and nursing), and I would like to enjoy how I look and feel.