Pure joy...

found in a pile of leaves.  I recently raked up the backyard leaves...like I was supposed to have done during fall cleanup a month ago....whoops... 

Anyhow...our little neighbor girl came out to play and before you knew it we had 2 hours of jumping in a pile of leaves fun.  I remember those days...now I'm a big humbug...its too dirty...its too itchy...bah humbug.

Ok...maybe I did do a "hop or two" into the pile...but I made sure THAT wasn't caught on camera.

Puss in Boots

I took Bella to see her very first movie in the theater this afternoon.  Actually...she's been in the theater as an infant...we decided to see a movie...i don't remember which one...mostly because I spent the entire 2 hours in the hallway with a fussy baby.  THAT was technically her first movie...

But...her first REAL movie that was enjoyable for me too...was Puss in Boots.  We went to see it today at the Vilseck Movie Theater on a mommy/daughter date.  It was great fun.  She ate an entire bag of small popcorn and drank about a medium sized soda drink (rootbeer is her favorite)...I let her go all out because it was her first time in the theater...what fun for a kid...right?

When we left the theater to walk home she said, "Mama...that movie made my tummy feel full and wobbly." 

Ya think? 

Teamwork...

John owns a shirt I bought him and sent him while he was deployed that says Teamwork...a lot of people doing what I say.

Apparently it was a BIG HIT with my nephew and so for Christmas I volunteered to make sure he got a similar shirt...only instead of buying him one (since I have no idea even where I even got John's) I made him one...I think it turned out pretty good.  I hope he likes it!

Finally finishing up Christmas.

Sad, right?  Its the 19th of November and I'm almost done with Christmas...well, at least the Christmas that I am sending to my stepkids and inlaws and nephews on John's side.  I always do their Christmas first because I have to not only worry about Christmas, but Eric and Lexi's birthdays are also in December so I like to send it all at once.

Phew.  So glad its mostly done.  Now, I'm boxing up my mom and Marlowe's little package to send to them...still have a couple of "items" that I need to get.  I know they don't want STUFF, but I still like to send them a few items I think they will like...its not fair for parents to tell their kids they don't want anything.  We like to feel generous and giving and show them how much we love and appreciate them and all that jazz and especially around Christmas.

Ok...off my soap box...

I wanted to show you my three favorite things that are from Bella to Lexi, Eric and Maddie...

Bella loves a show called Art Attack.  Its a guy who essentially creates from random things...Well, one morning we were watching him create a pirate from a plastic bottle.  Yeah...I know...crazy, right?  Anywho...Bella says she wants to make one for big sissy.  I ask which big sissy.  She says both.  I say what about Eric.  She says, "Eric gets a platypus."  I have no idea where she even learned that word.  But...over the next couple of weeks Bella helped me create three Art Attack specials out of plastic bottles, glue, paper towels, newspaper and paint.

Tadum!

Bella picked the colors they were painted.  I did the "design work."  She loved them so much when we were done she didn't want to give them up.  Especially the butterfly...I may be making another one of those...

Anyhow...we filled the insides with Haribo candies...

I've got them all boxed up and ready to send for Christmas.  I hope they love them as much as the munchkin does.  I'll be including a note explaining how these came about....regardless...we love them and I'm proud of my little girl for wanting to create something for her siblings for Christmas...even if mama did most of the work!

Good morning...

HIYA!

I am the morning ninja and I am THREE today!

Do not mess with me mortal.

Let's Meltdown!

We had Bella's birthday party on Saturday, November 12th this year.  She has been madly in love with all three Ice Age movies for the past 4 months and so we decided to have an Ice Age party!

She invited 5 of her friends...4 girls and one little boy...(his dino print is missing because he wanted to take it home with him...)  We started it off with playing games like balloon toss, nose to the balloon push and musical dino feet...

I told the kids that the night before a dinosaur had stomped through our backyard and laid eggs...and that we needed to go out and find them.  I wish I could have captured the wide eyed wonder of these kids as they listened to that tall tale...100% sure I was telling the truth they raced for their coats and out the door they went...

Once all the eggs were found we broke the pinata...it was Manny the Mammoth from Ice Age...I'm sure you could tell that already based on my superior pinata making skills.  :)

All the kids waiting in the "safety zone".

When everyone was sufficiently numb and freezing from the cold we headed back indoors where the kids did "cave man drawings" while I got the cupcakes and icecream ready to go...

Time to eat!  We sang happy birthday and then before she could blow out the candles I asked Bella what she wanted to wish for.  She wished for a new jacket.  Huh? 

We ended the party with opening presents.  Bella got some great new toys.  Everyone was so thoughtful and generous! 

The party is over!  But wait...its 3pm...TWO hours later...the kids are still playing with thier plastic dinosaur party favors (The best $3.99 I ever spent!) and the adults are winding down a two hour chatfest.  It was fantastic!

Happy party day, little girl!  I can't believe that tomorrow you'll be THREE.  I sure do love you!
XOXO Mama...

You'll go BLIND!

Remember when your mother used to make you sit at least 5 feet away from the television because if you sat too close you'd go blind?  I've often wondered if anyone ever actually DID go blind from sitting too close to the television.

...and what do I do whenever I have a deep thought like that?  GOOGLE! 

And so without much further ado...I'm here to DISPROVE the myth that you'll go blind.  What I did discover is that in the 60's GE sold some televisions that emitted incredibly high levels of radiation...but they recalled them and fixed them...so unless you are still using an old GE from the 60's television...you are safe from blindness.

And you must believe not because I found this on the internet, but because it came from Scientific American.  Now that is a name you have to trust.  So, to read all about it click here.

Regardless...I found myself laughing when I found this...

...and my first instinct was to make her pull her chair back as I found myself uttering those infamous words..."You'll go blind from sitting that close..."

A house with a view...

My backyard this evening was gloriously orange....i just had to sit and watch it for a bit.  Then I realized I was numb from head to toe and went back inside...but for just a few minutes I sat and watched something glorious.

Overwhelmed.

Do you ever feel that way? I know I'm not the only one...but when it all just keeps piling and you are literally the only person there to handle any of it?


Its been crushing down for a couple of months...but I'm finally making headway on a few things.

1. My house has been rented! Woohoo! They seem like a nice couple who have adopted two children...one that is in college already and the other is only 6. I am thrilled to find people that I feel like I can (hopefully) trust this time around...that being said...

I'm still in the process of filing suit over my last renters. I have learned a hard lesson...one that will cost me some money, but one that I won't forget anytime soon. Unfortunately it was NOT about the good or the honesty or the integrity found in people. I am amazed at how quickly a moral compass can be forgotten when it no longer benefits what you desire. That being said...it was a good way to take a long hard look at myself and what I tend to "fudge the line" on when things aren't going my way...

2. Dejunking! Believe it or not...being able to get a couple more items of furniture has allowed me to dejunk and organize better than ever. I have realized I had a hidden burning passion for restoring furniture...upholstery, painting, etc. I don't have all the tools I need, yet...but I am excited to get a chance to remake some antiques that would otherwise be junked. My most recent acquisitions is an old 1950's cabinet/countertop that you would have found in a kitchen and the second is a kitchen table with a leaf that seats up to 8! Hoorah! Finally! I've been wanting one of those for quite awhile. Now I just need to find some charis...we are still at 2 chairs and 2 stools....Just not quite enough. :) Here are my inspirations for these two pieces...

The kitchen table...

The cabinet...(yes, I know this isn't a cabinet, but its the "look."

3. Birthday Party...for some reason this year's birthday party for Bella is overwhelming me. I have no idea why. Its not going to be anything giant. There are only going to be 5...maybe 6 kids here...so not an overly huge amount and most of its done and prepped, but I keep feeling like I'm forgetting something...Gaaaah! Its going to be super fun. I can't wait to post the "after" pictures of her birthday party. I hope the kids have as much fun as I plan on them having. :)

4. Holidays. Despite it just being the two of us since John is away for training...the holidays are turning out a tad stressful. Or maybe just lonely which equals stressful? I don't know...all I know is that in two weeks I'm bringing mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce to Thanksgiving dinner...I'll be looking for a superb cranberry sauce recipe...none of that straight out of the jar stuff...

Ok...thats about it for now, at least. I'm still trucking along. Maybe I just need more sleep? With that, I bid you adieu!

Soon to be Three Photo Shoot...