1.31.2012

Impromptu Grandpa Time


Grandpa V has been dropping in for last minute visits a whole lot lately and we LOVE it! He had a Vail conference last weekend and came to our pad Saturday and Sunday. He can't get enough of our kids and really, who can blame him. He does some rock star creative play with the Dude (see below for their home crafted fort and boat) and snuggles with our Squirt as much as she'll let him. Tonight we pointed at the fridge and asked her to find Grandpa. She pointed right at him out of 10 different pictures and giggled. So endearing.


Thanks for coming out again Dad! And thanks for loaning him out to us Diane.





Last call for Starbucks

Last call blog readers.  Leave a comment with who you are and Dude will draw 3 names from a hat or pot, which ever he chooses, on Friday at noon.  To be exact.  3 winners will get $5 Starbucks cards.  I got about 9 comments on the first post so the odds are quite good at this point.  

1.29.2012

January Vault


The latest from our little character. He's a piece of adorable and exasperating work in more ways than I can even count.


"Mom, how did Jesus walk on dat water?" "Well buddy, Jesus did lots of miracles that we can't do. We can't walk on water, right?" "No Mom......pausing to think......I just swim in da water. Soooooo, I take swimming lessons and Jesus taked walking lessons?"

A worker at Starbucks offers me a sample "Skinny Iced Mocha." Dude looks at him and says, "Mister, where is da kids skinny mochas? You know, da one with apple juice and milk!"

I "kindly" tell Dude to "stop it" while at the grocery store. He looks up at me and says, "MOM! You're my best friend and so you're supposed to be NICE to me!" Gulp. A few minutes later he says, "MOM! I was talking to you! Are your ears OPEN?" Mmmm...wonder where he got that question from. I didn't like it so much on the flip.

We talked to my extended fam on the iPad today. After Dude saw Gigi (my Gram), he says, "Mom, Grandma Jerry did. And so dat means Gigi is all alone?" I said, "Yes, bud, she is alone in her house now." he says, "Well, it's okay because she doesn't have to worry about da monsters because she's a grown up."

Grandpa V was here this weekend and talked to Dude about Grandma Di being sick and that's why she lost her hair. After his prayers tonight he says, "Dad, when is Grandma Di going to have her hair growed back?" Tim said, "In a few months it'll start to grow back bud." "Well, Dad, I fink if I go to sleep at HER house it will help her hair to grow back. I should go dere." Oh my empathetic little love.

Tim was "browning" steak for a recipe (sprinkling salt and pepper and pounding on it with a spoon.) He hadn't done this before, so I was teasing him for being so forceful with our steak friend and said, "Babe, you don't need to KILL the steak." The next day I told Dude he was going to have steak and veggies for lunch and he says, "Oh...is dat the steak dat Daddy killed?" His little ears. Always listening.

I told Dude I would lay on the beanbag on his floor after we turned the lights out for a couple minutes. He said, "Guys, do you know what a couple minutes means?" "What bud?" "It means until MORNING time."


There's so much more "Dude" to share, but that's enough for today.  His little brain is quite the machine.  It's always working over time, even when we think he resides on another planet.    

1.23.2012

Parkin' It

It was weather to behold here Saturday.  The neighbors were poppin out by the masses, just to take in the 60's and sunshine.  We took the kiddos to the park and had the place to ourselves.  Awesome.  You forget what it's like to "live" and roam free during Old Man Winter.  We wouldn't trade these days of winter rehabilitation for anything.  It's one of the main reasons we live here.  Dude road his Grave Digger for a couple hours, Squirt giggled at him, we chatted with our lovely neighbors, gave our swing set some attention and proceeded to put the kids down for 2 hour naps.  It's not so warm today, so these photos will have to be my reminder of more bright and balmy days to come.     











1.22.2012

Puppy Love


Neighbor Tim's parents were in town for Christmas.  Nana Lynne is incredibly crafty and gifted with fabric and thread and needle and I was commenting to her how I would love to purchase some of the items she makes for the girls.  I adore all the home made gifts she sends and thought they'd make great gift ideas.  Well, when Tim, Maria and clan came over for Squirt's birthday party, they brought with them additional bags.  In those bags were these priceless little canines.  Just for Dude and Squirt, made with love from Nana Lynne.  How awesome and thoughtful was that?  We were super touched and the kids LOVE their dogs.  One of a kind for sure.  Thanks to Lynne for thinking of our kiddos, especially Duder (your very first boy dog attempt).  We'll cherish these little pups!  Dude named his "Hampshire" since they were crafted in New Hampshire.  We'll let Squirt name hers when she's verbal since that's all Dude could come up with was "Riley."   
 

1.19.2012

Who Are You? Starbucks Awaits You

I write this blog.  Mainly because it's therapeutic for me.  And it's documentation of my kid's lives.  Their entire lives, which they may love me for some day or they may seriously resent me for.  I also invest time in this little world of mine because I love sharing my kids with family and friends.  With you.  Which leads me to the following question...."Who are you people?"  I come across so many random folks in my life who make comments about "the blog."  So many who know details that they'd only know because of this little blog of mine.  And I love that.  But I'd love to know who you are.

SO.....I'd love for you to leave a comment as to who you are and how long you've been following.  I'm going to give away and mail out three $5 Starbucks cards via a random drawing from every one's name who comments.  I'll even video it and let Dude pick the names.   Happy commenting people!

love,
me

1.15.2012

Christmas Footage


Had to backtrack and share video footage from Christmas, 2011.  Hard to believe it's all behind us, but can't wait for Spring to pay us a visit.  Although, Dude is outside riding his Grave Digger ATV in just a long sleeve shirt as I type this.  Not bad for January 14th. 

1.11.2012

Birthday Footage


Here's the video I will refer to in the post below.  Birthday festivities for the little Squirt....

The Main Event






Our baby girl will only turn 1 once....and so I kinda went crazy and made our kitchen into a replica of the very cutest one year old birthday party I could find on pinterest (a website that if you log on you'll never go back).  We set out every pink or green colored sweet we could dream up and gave all the little children in attendance (and some adults too) the biggest sugar rush possible.  Squirt was dolled up in her second tutu outfit of the day and looked quite divaish in her black fur vest.  Every little girl deserves to be a diva on her first birthday right?  Right.
 







Squirt's mood remained upbeat and trooper like throughout the 2 hour party, which we were thrilled about.  We fully expected a melt down of sorts.  But she pulled through with smiles.  Way to go baby girl. 









Like her big brother, Squirt wasn't diggin the smash cake concept.  She put her finger in and proceeded to wipe all the frosting on her shirt without really sampling much of it.  She didn't scream like Dude did, so that was a step up.  She was more thn spoiled with fun, girly gifts and actually took part in opening them.  I have a video that refuses to load, so hopefully soon that will show snipits from her first cake experience, along with a bunch of additional birthday cuteness.  We had fun celebrating you with all your little friends and will continue to celebrate you each and every day of your darling existence. How can we not? Just look at her.









 

 

1.09.2012

Squirt's Numero Uno Day - Pre Party Wrap Up


Our one year certainly showed up in high fashion and put on quite a show for her day of glory.  She woke up laughing and followed suit all day long.  We adorned her in girly frills, as seen above, and started her day at our neighborhood Donut Shop, where she kinda ate, kinda licked, kinda threw her donut on the floor.  She took an abbreviated nap and then was treated to family lunch lunch out at Qdoba, which for her was baby food and some old mac n cheese.  But she laughed through it and only threw half her lunch on the floor.  Sorry Qdoba lady.  Nap # 2 was lengthy and put us right at party time.  Outfit #2 was then introduced, which you'll see in a future post.  Too much birthday beauty to limit to one post.  Enjoy the princess in part 1 of her royal day and I'll prepare the party wrap up for another day.  

I did go a bit crazy with the tutu shots below, but I couldn't get enough of the how the tool screamed out to the camera. 
Yes, she's wearing 5 layers of tool, courtesy of Caylei and Nick.  Yes, she's wearing furry boots, courtesy of Nana.  And yes, she's wearing a sweater complete with glitter.  And no, she's not wearing a hair accessory.  She refuses.  Blatantly refuses. 

 








Our neighbor, Mira, owner of The Donut. 


Oh the choices of thigh enhancing dough.  They appear so innocent don't they?