Lights!

One of the things I love most about this season is LIGHTS! Cap'N Crunch and I have been making it a point to look at lights every few nights with our girls....they love it and so do we. Cheerio gabs the whole time :)

Here are a few of the spectacular displays we've seen this year:


This is ONE home - just so you know!

The next three pictures are a business - can you guess what business? Okay, I'll tell you. The Electric Company...I really don't know which one specifically. My cereal bunch and I were driving home from a day trip when we saw these brillantly illuminated trees. Cap'N Crunch turned the car around. Both girls were sleeping. We were thinking about waking them up to see. I decided to take picutres instead to show them when we got home. They woke up anyway-at least for a few moments. After we were back on the boring road, they fell asleep again.


We've seen many more light displays, but these two are by far our favorites this year!

Happy Holidays :)

Bah Hum Bug!

Okay, no not really, but...

I have been having a really hard time being festive this year! "Really?" you ask. Well, yes really. And shame on me! I know. I have two amazing excited girlies...well, one is excited about Christmas and the other one is just excited about everything :)

I had originally planned the month of December to be one BIG party for us. Maybe party isn't the right word - but I had something fun and festive planned everyday. I had planned on blogging about our activity everyday. Now, it's almost the middle of December and I haven't blogged once. We also haven't done everything I set out for us to do, but my cereal bunch and I have done a few festive things. I will try to keep it short, but no promises...here goes!

On the first day of December our family got a tree (think 12 Days of Christmas in your head!). It was the first time in eleven years that Captain Crunch and I have been getting a Christmas tree that we bought the FIRST one we looked at. Maybe we should have looked a few more up and down, but it was cold (you know, for the South) and we all really did like the first tree. So, here it is.

We took the tree home, put it up, strung the lights all around, then while Captain Crunch was untangling the red beads I love so much, I decided that our tree would be fabulous and simple this year...just lights and three strands of red beads and no ornaments. GASP! No ornaments?!!? Well, no. You see Cheerio is a very curious little gal and she doesn't listen very well, so instead of constant frustration on both our parts, I decided no ornaments. Brilliant, right? Okay, maybe not brilliant, but it did save a little of my sanity.

I intended on typing more...but it might not get posted until February. So...I'm going to post this and see what happens tomorrow! I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season! Enjoy it. Kiss you kiddos :)

Thankful

Today I was saying good-bye to my students. I told them to have a great Thanksgiving and to remember to be thankful for all that we have. One girl looked at me and said, "I never think about that part at Thanksgiving." So, I challenged all of them to think about what they're most thankful for and tell someone.

That got me to thinking...What am I most thankful for? I have so much. And I take it for granted everyday...so today, when Captain Crunch got home, we talked about being thankful. We are thankful for our healthy, smart, beautiful (inside and out), funny, silly girls. We are, of course, thankful for each other and our health. We are thankful for all of the wonderful things God does for us. We are thankful for our cozy home and green backyard. We are thankful!

We recently went to story time with Corduroy. Cheerio was fascinated!

I am thankful for you....all of you that care about us and read about our silly lives! I started the blog to record our memories, but it sure is nice to know that our friends and family are reading!


What are you thankful for? Think about it and tell someone! And have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Look at this cutie! Cheerio loves to back-up to this fun Elmo chair and sit and read books from the basket next to the chair.

Cocoa Puff on a "school bus" ride at a local kid's amusement park.

And it's that time again....

Obsession - I am obsessed with the library! Did you know all the books that you can "rent" for FREE! Books about anything you could imagine! I'm tutoring a little boy...I checked out books to help me! Captain Crunch and I like to read Cocoa Puff a new story or two every night before bed...I check out more books! I'm teaching a writing and reading class...I check out books for that too! WOW! Now, don't think, 'Oh, this poor girl! She is thirty-something and didn't know about the library?!!' I did...I just never have taken advantage of it like I'm doing now. I have books scattered in every nook and cranny in our house! (Our library lets me check out FIFTY books at a time!!! Okay, so they let everyone else check out fifty also...but I like to feel special :) Hey - whatever works right?)

Confession - This is a hard confession for me..no, seriously. I. AM. NOT. KIDDING. I have gained two pounds since the last time I was on the scale...gasp! Okay, I'll tell you the truth...it's actually three. ARGH! So, I'm getting out my tennis shoes, dusting them off, and putting them on in the morning! I. AM. GOING. TO. CHANGE! Wish me luck!

Not Me Monday!

I usually can't think of anything (or maybe don't want to admit) that I haven't done to blog about for MckMama's Not Me! Monday blog carnival. But this week is different. On a trip to the zoo, which was supposed to be a trip to the park, with our friends A & D, I most certainly did not leave Cocoa Puff's shoes at home. How would it even be possible to leave a 3 year old's shoes at home especially when you're on the way to play at a park?!?!? Really!




And since I did not leave Cocoa Puff's shoes at home, I did not let her run around the zoo with a cute boy with no shoes on...who would do such a thing?



And I certainly did not think for a brief minute if I could squeeze Cocoa Puff's feet into Cheerio's shoes...I am not that crazy and silly!

Five Questions Friday Time!!!!

I did a Five Question Friday a few weeks ago. It was fun and easy, so I thought I'd do another one :) If you'd like to do one or just read Mama M's answers click here.

1. Are you a black Friday shopper?

I always want to go out and get the good deals, but I never do. I think the deal breaker for me is that no one I know goes, so I don't go because it's no fun to go alone....or at least that's how I think.

2. What was your favorite childhood toy? (think: Easy Bake Oven, Cabbage Patch Kids, Shrinky Dinks, etc)

What is a Shrinky Dink? I looked it up and I'm still not sure what they are...a braclet maybe? Whatever they are I didn't have them.

I had Cabbage Patch Kids....Cocoa Puff now plays with them. I had an Easy Bake Oven. But those weren't my favs.

My favorite thing growing up was a plain ol' tape recorder! I was a drama queen...I liked to sing into the recorder for hours. I would have conversations with my recorder. No laughing :) Well, okay, you can laugh, because I laugh about it too! I used to drive everyone nuts with that thing...what I wouldn't do to have some of the tapes from those days.

3. Favorite Christmas movie?

Family Man with Nicholas Cage. Captain Crunch and I watch it every year! We love reciting the lines from the movie to each other throughout the year at appropriate times. If you haven't seen it...rent it.

4. What is the "must have" item on your Christmas list this year?

I would like my girlies to have a wonderful Christmas complete with the memories that will last a lifetime....baking cookies, pictures with Santa, driving around the neighborhood to see everyone's lights, going to fun holiday events and being with friends and family!

In a fantasy world where money was no object, I would like a digital SLR camera with a variety of lenses, photoshop so I could edit all of the photos, a television for our blueberry room, a laptop, Flip mino video camera, a vacation to see my girls, you know, if money were no object, but it is.

5. Do you go all out with decorations or do you keep it simple and classy?

A little of both I guess....I used to like my tree to be pretty and stay with the same color scheme. But then we were blessed with kiddos. My cherished collection of snowglobes are set a little higher and can the munchkins can only have supervised visits with them. The tree is only decorated from the top to about halfway down where curious little fingers cannot reach.

I try to decorate everyroom in the house...at least a touch. Growing up my mom decorated the whole house and I always loved it. It made every room feel so special...so I try to give that to my sweeties!

SO - that's it! I had fun...hope you enjoyed finding out more about me and my dorky recorder habit from way back when. See you next time.

Fruit Loop

At a glance....October

I feel so behind lately, but I guess I'm always behind. So, for the sake of catching up - or at least trying to - I thought I would combine what would have been several posts into one slightly longer post. Are you ready?

October was a great month for us! We:

• saw Nanny and Papa when they flew in for the weekend. It was a very memorable trip...Nanny, Papa and Captain Crunch all got food poisoning! Thank goodness Cocoa Puff and I didn't eat the shrimp!

• celebrated Cheerio's birthday with Gigi, Papi, Mommom, and the monkey aunt and uncles! We had a birthday brunch with the yummiest pancakes, fruit, and scrambled eggs. After brunch we had Gigi's from scratch cake....mmmm! Cheerio loved it so much she had to have a bath.
  
  
  
  
  

• went on our annual trip to the pumpkin patch with good friends. The kiddos got to dress scarecrows, run around in a maze, go on a pony ride, see real Indians and hear them talk about their culture, and play instruments at a Jamboree! It was a great day.

• went trick-or-treating not once but twice! The first time was on Friday morning at a local Elementary school. We had a great time.
  

• were invited to several great Halloween parties! Cocoa Puff found out that she loves zombie marshmallows! And Cheerio realized her love of bouncy castles!
  
  
  
  

  




• went trick-or-treating, AGAIN! What a great month....November has a lot to live up to, but with Thanksgiving, I think it'll make it!
  

And last, but not least it's time for Obsession and Confession!

Obsession: Taking the PERFECT Christmas card photo and sending my Christmas cards out on time this year. When I told Captain Crunch that this was my new goal/obsession - he laughed! Argh. I'll just have to show him! Ha. I'll let you know what happens.

Confession: I check my email at least three times a day. I'm sure you're thinking...um, why? Sometimes I wonder the same thing. It's not like I get time-sensitive emails from my bosses..they can't read or write yet (I'm sure I'll get emails as soon as they can. hee hee). I guess I just love the anticipation of getting new mail even if it's only an email from facebook, Ellen DeGeneres, or Martha Stewart. Sometimes it's an email saying I have a new comment on my blog! Wow...I heart those emails! So, show me some love and comment on my blog...but only if you want to...I would really love it. No pressure. My day would be so much happier if you would comment...okay, okay, I'll stop now.

Until next time....

Fruit Loop

Then and Now

Cheerio Then

less than a week old

Cocoa Puff and Cheerio

Cocoa Puff and Cheerio - Now

Five Question Friday

One of the blogs I occasionally read hosts a Five Question Friday...I thought I would participate this week. I know it's Sunday, but I still thought I would post. You can go over to My Little Life to check out Mama M's post.

1. What is your dream job?

Stay-at-home-mommy! AND...photographer and crafter and woodworker and teacher and about a zillion other things. I have to stay busy :)

2. What song could you play over and over again?

Just one?! Hmm? Well, I LOVE Dave Matthews Band - Crash might be my all time fave, but right now the CD that is getting the most play in the car is Augustine - love that CD.

3. Do you prefer to talk on the phone or text (or email)?

I am definitely a talker. Texting drives me CRAZY! I do like to email though - especially since I stay up so late...there's really no one to talk to at one in the morning...so I email!

4. What is your must have beauty product?

Lotion? Does that count? I try to put some make-up on everyday, but somedays I'm just doing good to shower and get out of my jammies. I do love mascara too....what a difference a little mascara makes.

5. What is your favorite Michael Jackson song?

Man in the Mirror or Black or White

Catching up...It's really been a year!

I was reflecting today that Cheerio is a year old..plus a few weeks. A whole year! It really flew by and I'm trying to catch up. I was chatting to a new friend on Friday about the anxiety I felt when I was pregnant with Cheerio. "How could I ever love another child like I love Cocoa Puff?" I found myself thinking maybe Captain Crunch and I made a wrong decision...one was enough? Of course the moment I saw my sweet baby girl I knew I had enough love in this heart of mine.



I took longer than I thought to get situated as a Mommy of two...much longer in fact. It was hard. But with the help of Keith and great friends (some even far away in Washington who called a lot to make sure I was okay - thank you!), I would like to say that I am good. And Cocoa Puff and Cheerio are great...the best daughters this Mommy could ask for.



So, what is Cheerio up to now?



Cheerio - One year old (and a few weeks)

• You weigh 27 pounds!
  
  
• You're 30 1/4 inches tall - and growing taller everyday.



• You are wearing a size 4 diaper, but we have the 5's already to go...I just don't want to waste any 4's...too expensive :)






• The wardrobe in your closet ranges from 12 months to 2T....you have the cutest thighs ever, but they don't really fit into pants so much.




• Eating - tonight was your first dinner that you tried everything we ate! I made meatloaf (yum), mashed potatoes, and green beans. This is one of our favorite meals...and now, yours too! You loved the meatloaf and the green beans, but spit those mashed potatoes right out. Cocoa Puff didn't like them either until recently. In general you are a great eater, but you can be picky. You really like to feed yourself and get mad when you can't.



• You still prefer two naps a day, although you don't always get them. Night time is still about the same...you hold one or two press conferences in the middle of the night to make sure I still know that you're in there and that you're in charge. I try to remind myself that in 10 or 15 years I will wish I still had a monitor in your room to listen to your every move.



• Your little teeth are so cute! You have four on top and three on the bottom with another soon. You have handled teething much better than Cocoa Puff.
  


• Walking is becoming easier and easier for you....but I think you still prefer crawling.






• Peek-a-boo and chase are your favorite games! Oh, Daddy and I love to hear to giggle.



• You still like to tackle your sister and kiss and hug her. You also have a baby doll that you do this with...it's so cute.
  
  
• You have just recently started chattering all the time. And you look at us like we know exactly what you're saying.

I love you Cheerio!

"I've got a problem!"

Captain Crunch, Cocoa Puff, Cheerio and I went to Target last night. After stuffing our basket with all of the things we needed, okay wanted, we stood in line to pay for our goodies. The cashier has helped us before and she is usually very chipper. But last night she was not chipper at all...she looked really down. I asked her how she was. She answered fine, but it was just an automated response, so to say. Even though I knew something was wrong, I couldn't think of anything to say that would seem to help. Well, thank goodness for Cocoa Puff...she took care of it just by being herself :)

"Mom, I've got a problem." As I type it, I can hear how she said it, but you probably can't. She sounded very desperate.

The cashier immediately started giggling. Even if the the cashier's smile didn't last all night, I'm glad Cocoa Puff was able to get her to smile briefly.

Are you curious what Cocoa Puff's problem was? Well, I was too. So after we paid and were walking away, I asked her. Drum roll please.....Cocoa Puff needed popcorn! What a great problem. :) Just in case you're wondering - she didn't get any popcorn. We had just eaten dinner and she had ice cream after her dinner.

Obsession: Making people smile...why not? You should try it. If we all tried to make someone else's day better...wow!

Confession: We spent too much money at Target last night :) Who doesn't spend too much money when they go to Target?

Not Me, Oh, No, Not Me!

One of my favorite bloggers, MckMama, hosts a Not Me! Monday almost every Monday. So, I thought I would try it out this week...

I did not procrastinate last night and I most certainly am not procrastinating this morning by posting....oh, no, not me!


I have never told Cocoa Puff it was too dirty outside to avoid having to go outside...I would never keep a child from enjoying the great outdoors...oh, no, not me!


I surely did not start this blog, in part, because I wanted to participate in Not Me! Monday...now that would just be silly...oh, no, not me!


Last night, Cocoa Puff did not get out of bed and hide. When I found her she did not say, "I was just trying to get back in bed." Captain Crunch and I did not tickle her and get her even more riled up, because certainly she should have been reprimanded for getting out of bed four times instead of being tickled. I am definitely not that silly of a Mommy....oh, no, not me!

And lastly, I would never ever put Cheerio in her pack-n-play to keep her from removing the movies from the shelf a third time (in 15 minutes) just so I could finish writing a post for my blog...oh, no not me!

So, how did I do? Do you have anything that you have not done? If you feel so inclined to share, you can leave your "not me's" in the comments of this post or go over to MckMama's Not Me! Monday post...but make sure you have fun! Now, I'm going to go rescue Cheerio from her pack-n-play :)

Bloggers Block....

Wow, it's been awhile. This blog thing isn't as easy as I thought it would be! I am now really impressed with everyday bloggers...and it's not like they post just pictures! I am having bloggers block :) hee hee So, I guess I will just update you on what's been happening?

Cheerio turned one on September 26! Happy Birthday to her :) Her Mommy has yet to make her a cake....bad Mommy. She will have one this weekend at Gigi and Pappi's. On her actual birthday though, we went to dinner and had ice cream after. I put Cheerio's ice cream in a tiny cone, so cute, and she went to town.

At first, she was a little unsure of the peach ice cream.

And then she loved it!

I just love watching that video!

Cocoa Puff is great. Not much new with her. As much as she loves to please, I am starting to see more of the free will that I've heard about that happens at this age. I clipped a page from a magazine the other day and put it on my fridge. It says, " Celebrate your children!" What a great reminder for me....I saw it at just the right time.

Okay, really, I don't have any more...bloggers block is not fun.

Obsession: Finding a balance - so that I can do everything. Is it possible? Probably not, but I will still try!

Confession: I am 31 and I've just started making my bed - everyday. I love walking into the bedroom and seeing a made bed. :)

Cocoa Puff's first "Big Girl" haircut

Before

During

After...I'm so excited and I just can't hide it!


Look out!

I had to post a picture of Cheerio!

I've got a booger waiting for you!

I actually had to spellcheck "booger." I don't think I have ever typed or written the word booger before tonight.

So, here's how it happened....I'm making breakfast this morning...in case you're wondering, we had oatmeal. I hear Cocoa Puff call me from the other room.

"Mom, I've got a booger waiting for you."
My mind thought...surely she did not just say booger...but what else could be waiting for me?
I peek around the corner...."What do you have waiting for me?"
"Mom, a BOOGER!"
"Oh, of course...a booger. Let me get a tissue."

After collecting the prize I went back to making oatmeal. Now, if you've ever made oatmeal or even just seen oatmeal...you might be able to see where I'm going with this...I couldn't stop thinking about boogers. I decided to feed Cheerio first. After her breakfast was gone I decided to give mine another try. I stared into my bowl of boogers...I mean oatmeal and dipped my spoon in. Needless to say I had a really hard time eating my yummy breakfast this morning. Next time you're eating a bowl of yummy, hot oatmeal, think about Cocoa Puff and her prize-winning booger :)

Obsession: Reading. I have not been able to stop reading the last few weeks...not that it's a bad obsession, but I'm sure Captain Crunch would like to have his wife back. I just finished a book tonight. I think I'll wait until Friday before starting another one...we'll see.

Confession: I really, really want to finish writing the book I'm working on and have it published...like, really published with people buying it and everything. Maybe one day you'll see my Fruit Loopy face on the back of a cover :)

That's all for now...Pictures tomorrow.

Fruit Loop 000

Hello, My Dear!

So, since I'm not busy or anything, I thought I would start my own little blog - I've been having fun reading other people's for several months now. Being so far from family and friends, I don't get to share my funny stories very often. Because when I do call or email, I forget all the everyday silly things that happen in our house. Now, I have a notebook to write my thoughts and the girlies funny moments down in. Plus, the idea of a creative outlet, just for me, is a great thing. Hopefully you'll enjoy it too.

The other day Cocoa Puff, our 3 year old, was in the bathtub when she handed me a teacup and said, "Would you like some tea, my dear?" I almost fell off the top of the potty (I wasn't going or anything, just sitting, watching). More and more funny things are coming out of her little mouth. Just like my new nickname - "Momsy." Where do they come up with this stuff? I love it though.

Cheerio, the 11 1/2 month old, is, as Captain Crunch says, almost walking. Not quite sure how I feel about this yet....I'll let you know when it happens. And yes, I do realize her birthday is in two weeks. But I have decided to postpone her birthday...can I do that? She'll never know, right? Unless you tell her...surely you are not going to tell her. I do have a reason - or two - for postponing it. I am a procrastinator, number one; I am waiting on a recipe from a certain Aunt who is withholding said recipe until we move home, number two; and number three...I am a procrastinator. It's not like she's not going to have a party.

Obsession: Cereal. I love cereal. I love eating it, buying it, looking at it, storing it in my pantry, shopping for it, munching on it, thinking about it, blogging about it...I could go on. But if I go on much more, certainly the men with the white jacket would arrive at my door. One more thing - I could eat cereal for breakfast lunch and dinner and even snacks. I have even nicknamed my family with cereal names for my blog. If you know their real names, please use the nicknames on the blog...Thanks!

Confession: I really do love cereal. (You thought I was going to tell you something else didn't you? hee hee I still love cereal!) Maybe next time I will tell you something more serious.

Since I want to have pictures on this post, I did what any Momsy would do - I went into Cocoa Puff's and Cheerio's rooms and took pictures...I didn't wake them up or anything. Well, Cocoa Puff almost woke up...just enough to put Skipit over her head to protect her from the flash.

Cheerio sleeps in every inch of her bed!

Cocoa Puff...what a cutie!

Thanks for reading. Leave a comment - you know, if you would like to.