Monthly Archives: July 2010

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At this moment: Audrey’s birthday edition

The floor is covered in tiny toys. That are also Tiny’s toys. heehee. Audrey’s birthday was yesterday, but since B was out of town until the afternoon yesterday, we decided to just pretend her birthday was actually today so that she got a whole day full of family birthday togetherness.

There are 4 huge mylar balloons – a Disney princess balloon that talks (that is left over from Zoe’s birthday, but it’s still good so we’ll count it), a new Disney princess balloon that looks like a 3 tier cake, a Winnie the Pooh balloon, and a Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse balloon. Let it never be said that Tiny’s not indoctrinated in the way of Walt.

The girls are playing with new Littlest Pet Shop and Jungle in My Pocket toys. They completely fit the stereotype of girls liking miniature things. But as the song says, “miniature things are neat!”

WonderPets is on the TV.

A FurReal panda lays abandoned on the couch. Zoe thought so long and hard about what to get for Tiny, and she decided on this because Tiny LOVES pandas, and Z thought it would be so fun for her to have one that moves. Tiny is TERRIFIED of it and refuses to even touch it.  Poor Z just cried and cried because “I didn’t get her the right present after all”.  But isn’t that the way with gifts sometimes? It IS the right present, and Tiny will warm up to it in time. Or she won’t, and it will be her loss.

Tiny keeps running around saying “My birthday!” and then singing Happy Birthday in a manner eerily reminiscent of her Uncle Jeff impersonating Nancy Sinatra singing “These Boots are Made for Walking”.  (For those who have not had the pleasure of witnessing that- imagine someone drunk off their duff.)

I should get people eating breakfast. Then it’s off to pick up a birthday cake (princess, of course), and get ready for a PARTY!!

What’s happening at your house at this moment?

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Today

Outside my window… it is overcast and cold. That should burn off in a matter of hours and be gorgeously sunny later in the day. I love it, it reminds me of living in Santa Cruz.

I am thinking… about our fall schedule and whether I want to be a recluse.

I am thankful for… the power of Primary songs to soothe the savage beasts who live in my house.

From the kitchen… Eggos with syrup. The breakfast of champions!

I am wearing… PJ pants and a t-shirt. I’m still pre-shower.

I am creating… an hopefully to-die-for baby blanket and matching banner for a baby shower next week.

I am going… swimming later today.

I am reading… Johann Cabal the Necromancer by Jonathan L. Howard. It’s fantastic.

I am hoping… my sewing machine co-operates with me today.

I am hearing… the girls singing as they eat.

Around the house… there are piles that need to be put away.

One of my favorite things… that Tiny only just now realized that her bib (which she has been wearing for quite literally almost 2 years) has The Cat in the Hat on it. “MAMA! Bib! Look at it!”

A few plans for the rest of the week: swimming, Tiny’s birthday party, cleaning, sewing. Woo hoo!

A picture:

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Random thoughts

We got back from a whirlwind trip to Utah a couple of days ago, and while it was beyond wonderful to be there, it is so nice to be home and back to some semblance of a normal schedule.

While we were there we got to see so much family, and Z made some new friends:

Aren’t they just completely adorable? I LOVE it. This was as we were ready to leave, and there was sadness about that.

I also got to see my wonderful Aunt Cindy (yay!) who I won’t post a picture of because she doesn’t like it, but she is beautiful – and my SO SO loved Uncle Larry, who I WILL post a picture of, if only for my momma, because apparently I got some of his being-in- pictures genes.

Heehee.

I got to see tons of other family as well, but I’m relying on getting the pictures that my mom took, so I didn’t take too many. :)

We also got to see our good friends, the Stiers, and that was so lovely. I so wish they lived closer, if only so that I could look at and snuggle their gorgeous kids every day. I mean, look at them.

And seeing Ben and Jess was completely wonderful too. :)

We also got to see the traitorous Becky Shipley and her adorable kids- it’s only been a month since they moved, but it seems like years, and it was wonderful to see them. I didn’t take any pictures because I was too busy hugging. :)

On to actually random things:

I have 3 quilts that I want to make REALLY badly right now. REALLY. As in so badly that I have to stop myself from going to the store and buying fabric immediately. I mean, look at these:

Aren’t they gorgeous? The third will be a patchwork made of 5 inch squares from reproduction 1930′s fabric- such gorgeous prints, they just make my heart happy.

The clean clothes from our trip have yet to be put away. Somehow I don’t think that Z or Tiny are going to do it. Dang it.

We went to the library and left with 14 books. Only two of them were for me. I think it might be time for someone to get her own library card…

Now that I’m back, I’m neck deep in sorting out our Fall schedule: 2 different preschools, adventure days and playgroup, which all involve other people and their schedules; everything else I want to fit in- library trips, music and art, reading, farmer’s market, nature trips; and then all the things that need to be done to keep the house up and running.  And at heart I’m really not a schedule person. But with me it’s all or nothing, and so on the side of order we stay.

The girls are up from their naps, (thank GOODNESS we’re back to taking naps – well, at least Tiny) so off I go. More randomness to come, I’m sure.

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This morning

Snagged from The Simple Woman’s Day Book via Beauty that Moves

Outside my window...the sun is just breaking through the clouds.

I am thinking... I should get moving.

I am thankful for… a quiet morning and girls who slept in.

From the learning rooms… come reading lessons and art appreciation.

From the kitchen…overflowing clutter. I need to get on that today.

I am wearing…sweats and a t-shirt, my morning pre-shower uniform.

I am creating…baby blankets for friends later today.

I am going… to the park in a couple of hours.

I am reading… Treasure of the Golden Cheetah by Suzanne Arruda, a mystery set in 1920′s Africa.

I am hoping… I will love it and will have a discovered new mystery series to love.

I am hearing…fussing. I think Tiny is kicking Zoe in an attempt to get off of my bed.

Around the house…chatter, toys, discarded clothes – the signs of my girls everywhere.

One of my favorite things… my new desk.

A few plans for the rest of the week: a playdate with new friends, playing at the pool, playing at the park, the farmers market.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

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Things making me happy

The crazy huge magnolias around our complex.
My new teacup ring. (B is full of win!)
The girls painting.
5 new patterns I won (!). Fun new sewing in my future!
My awesome new desk, the only upside of my lame best friend moving. (Did I mention that she’s lame? She is. And I miss her already.)
:(
But the rest of the things make me happy. :)

What’s making you happy?

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At this moment

The girls are climbing on B while he tries in vain to get a couple more minutes of sleep. Tiny is dressed, Z is still wearing her ornage monkey pj’s that she got from a friend for her birthday.

The otherwise tidy living room is strewn with Cars, Wall-E, and Nemo comics.

2 loads of laundry are folded. I’m out of laundry soap.

It’s overcast and cold outside. We’re supposed to go swimming with our ward playgroup later today. I really hope it warms up.

I’m dreaming of fried eggs and toasted baguette.

I just made that dream come true. Woo hoo!

I may have just cooked the perfect “over-medium” egg. Yum.

I need to finish a baby blanket today (pictures to come, because the fabric is ADORABLE) and run by the store to get plates/cups/forks for a shower tomorrow. So many babies ’round these parts.

I just made a diaper for a stuffed Tigger out of a wide blue ribbon. Such is my skill.

I need to read today. I realized yesterday that I only finished 1 book in June, and that was at the beginning of the month. I’m in the middle of 3 or 4, you’d think I could finish one of them. (Although, I did finish 2 yesterday, but not any of those 3 or 4.)

The girls are speaking dolphin. It’s very squeaky. Z is trying to read this sentence as I type it. Which reminds me that we need to do her reading lesson this morning.  We’re also going to try out our new art book: Come Look with Me: Enjoying Art with Children which is awesome and I highly recommend to anyone with kids.

Off to get our day going. What’s going on at this moment where you are?

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What we’ve been up to

It’s been a busy week!

Monday: Bounce-A-Rama!

Tuesday: The beach

Wednesday: Picking veggies and walking the “beam” at Papa’s

Today: Went to the pool, had cousins over to visit, and finished this for my lame best friend who is moving to stupid somewhere other than here. (It’s not her birthday, but I made one of these for my girls and knew she’d want one for her kids too. And now I like this one better than the other one I made. )


And, at some point during the week: Tiny impersonated a rock star

What’s going on with you?