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!