What's For Dinner???

OK I know I have touched on this before, but in case you forgot or put it out of your mind because it makes no difference to you whatsoever I will remind you...

My kids are PICKY eaters!!!

I am not sure how this starts and I am even more unsure of how to change it. Now I will tell you that the problem lies mostly with dinner. There are only a handful of things that they will eat for dinner. We tend to rotate through the list. Now it is not from lack of trying that they are so picky...TRUST ME!!

Please let me note that this will seem like a minor thing to most of you. Most of you that have kids that eat lots of healthy, good for you sorts of foods.

Anyway...as I was getting their dinner ready tonight Thomas comes into the kitchen and says to me...

Wait for it....



Wait for it....


"Mommy, can we have some CUCUMBER with our dinner??"

Now if you are at all wondering why this is such a huge deal...well notice the word that looks nothing like the other words.

"Mr. I don't eat vegetables" actually requested something green for dinner. And the best part is...

He ate it all.

And dork am I, I had to take a picture of the his and her dinner plates.




Oh and in case you are laughing at the actual amount of cucumber on their plates...well while I was cutting the cucumber they were eating it so this is what was left to put on their plates.

Its Official

I really do not have a baby anymore. Now it isn't as if the light bulb just went off today, but there are moments while watching your kids grow that it hits you. Kind of like a baseball straight to the eye!!! Oh how funny am I?? Some of you will get the humor in that :)

Anyway, today was the first time I was able to put Taylor's hair in a full-on ponytail. It is the little things that excite me people!!! And why I am admitting this is beyond me, but after doing her hair and checking it in the mirror I was sad that my mom had to go and have a life today therefor being unavailable for me to call and share the good news.

I did the next best thing though and as my readers you can now share in my joy. I fixed the kids lunch and grabbed my camera.


See...getting a 2yr old to stand still for a good picture is virtually impossible, but put some food in front of her and strap her into a booster seat...and... Click away.


So this is just what I did. And except for a few glances that said "Can I just eat my peanut butter and jelly sandwich without you capturing it on film?" I was pleased with the photos I got.


Look at that ponytail... Oh I am so proud!!!

This is what a tired baby will get you....

Although I am a few days late with this post (you can blame my totally boring, but completely exhausting weekend) I had to share my story. Now let me say that when things like this happen photos would totally enhance the story, but of course my camera was not in my purse, so just use your imagination.


I made an impromptu doctors appointment for Taylor after leaving my moms on Friday. Thankfully we left the doctors appointment with a prescription, so in the end it was WORTH it.


Oh wait... worth what you might ask??? Oh let me back up a bit and tell you that like any other doctors office in this world when you make an appointment for 11am, you don't ACTUALLY see the doctor until 11:45!!


Now making adults wait is annoying, but making toddlers wait...come on people. This particular time I was THAT MOM and my daughter was THAT CHILD!! You know the one that is throwing the biggest tantrum, filled with tears and snot, topped with hitting and kicking. I am not even going to lie...I was SOOOO embarrassed. Nothing I did helped. Oh and remember where we were...a quiet doctors office. And as luck would have it we had spectators. Two nice ladies and their kids got to witness the entire show from start to finish.


Oh and how did it end might you ask??? My darling daughter found comfort from one of the other moms in the waiting room. Oh yes A COMPLETE STRANGER was what made her calm down. She wanted nothing to do with me whatsoever. In fact...her meltdown returned when the nurse called the lady and her son to see the doctor.


Side note: Thomas was an angel the whole time, but I fear he was really just distancing himself from us. It seemed he might have been just a little embarrassed also.


It was one of those moments when you are not sure whether to cry or run out the door. A moment when, for me at least, I am cursing my husband under my breathe about why the mom is always the one that deals with these fun experiences.


No worries though...we lived to write about it and all is well on the home front. I may not have it on film, but I don't think it is a story I will soon forget anyway.


Happy Monday!!

Just a Glimpse...

...into our lives on a typical Wednesday. If I haven't told you (I probably have, as I tell everyone) my days start very early because my Thomas DOES NOT sleep in. Now add to that he is a closet eater...OK fine he absolutely does not hide his eating at all...he just prefers to help himself to the pantry, refrigerator and anything that might be on the counter IE: an entire pan of LARGE blueberry muffins. Yes, he once devoured 6 EXTRA large muffins in one sitting. So once he is up, so am I.

Anyway...our days start earlier than most and usually by 9am I have put someone on timeout, cleaned up a mess that I didn't make and asked myself "Is it really only 9am?" at least five times.

My favorite days of the week are Monday, Wednesday and Friday...why you may ask?? Well, Thomas has preschool these days and I admit wholeheartedly that I enjoy this time. We both do, but for two totally different reasons. I still have my darling Taylor who usually isn't very cooperative during this time, but enjoy just the same because one screaming child is always better than two.

Thankfully Taylor still takes one good nap a day and it can pretty much be on my schedule. If she is driving me nuts early...nap time falls around 11am. If she is good...nap time falls right around the time I am taking Thomas to school.

This was when nap time came today, but that was A-OK with me. It really only means if I want to do any shopping I carry her around. Carrying dead weight is way better than fighting her in a cart.

The weather has been beautiful this week, so we have spent lots of time outside. Today I was taking pics for my etsy and turned around to snap some shots of the kids. Apparently Taylor had some shoe issues...

But have no fear her big brother is here!!!

Oh and yes Taylor is wearing skinny jeans.

Today our day ended with a bike ride with daddy. Mommy stayed home to enjoy my sandwich (I think I might be getting sick...oh I hope not) in peace. Tomorrow we get to do it all over again.

Side note...I tried to get an end of day photo, but...big surprise no cooperation.

Adult Conversation

There are moments when I sit in aww of my kids. They are plain and simply...HILARIOUS!


I decided to grab my camera while they were eating their dinner tonight and frankly I am surprised I actually got any shots. My quiet laughter made for a not-so-steady hand.


When they are not fighting with each other they can be quite cute.


Just look at their faces...whatever it is they are chatting about seems to be funny and interesting. I couldn't help but just continue to take pictures. They were so involved in conversation that they didn't even notice me.

Take 2...

So these are the first pair that I got. (Thanks to my wonderful babysitter)

Tom thinks these are more stripper-esk and insisted that I also post a pic of these in his defense. I am not sure what I am defending?? I love these ones just as much.


Although I will say that these ones are the ones that need the PERFECT outfit. White heels are a little further out of my comfort zone. They too will be worn in Vegas.

You decide...

So what do you think??

Hubby asks me... "How many pairs of stripper shoes are you going to buy?"

Me..."First of all they are not stripper shoes and second...as many as I want."

Maybe it is just the fact that 360 days out of the year I am mommy 24/7 and rarely do my days call for a pair of shoes that look like this.

Whatever, I am ready to have a closet full of these shoes.

Sanity For Others

I was a little skeptical of this whole blogging thing when I first started, but the skepticism went away quite a while ago and now I am just plain addicted.

I have absolutely no clue how many people actually read my blog (I hope its LOTS and LOTS), but I really don't care. It is my way of getting all the craziness in my life out. Sort of like purging I guess and I feel horrible when I go a day (or more) without blogging.

So before I turn myself over to the TV for LOST I thought I would post a little quick update.

After my rant about my lack of shoes last week, I have two new pairs of heels. I absolutely LOVE them and cannot wait to wear them. It probably won't be until our trip to Vegas, but that's OK. My hubby thinks they look like stripper shoes, but what does he know. I will take a pic and you can judge.

We had the Harding's over for Superbowl Sunday and it was totally crazy as usual.

I made a new type of hair bow which I am super excited about...I am such a dork I know, but oh well! Anyway, I spent my morning making bows and my afternoon buying more ribbon.




Oh and for a brief moment (OK the last week) I thought I might be pregnant. No this is not my way of telling you all that I am. I am NOT!

OK that about sums it up!! I shall leave you now and check in later.

Shoes...

I need some!


I have always wanted to be THAT girl when it comes to shoes. You know the one that has a pair for every occasion, whether she actually wears them or not.

The movie In Her Shoes, I loved it and for many reasons, but I sort of look at myself like the sister, I just don't have the shoes. I want the shoes to just have in my closet, if nothing else to look at and occasionally wear around the house to do some laundry or dishes.

I think it stems from becoming a mom. When you chase toddlers around all day long, you LONG for an escape. Shoes can do that, if only for a moment!

Guilty Pleasure

OK I have never blogged about this before, but I have a guilty pleasure and I am going public today...


I watch GENERAL HOSPITAL religiously!! Yes the soap opera for those of you that live in a bubble without TV.


It is just so good right now I had to post. I DVR it everyday and watch it right before Tom gets home from work while I am trying to wind the kids down.

Am I the only one out there with this guilty pleasure?? I hope not because if ever they cancel this soap opera I think I might be devastated.

Sometimes they play nice

My kids fight A LOT! Not a big surprise, I know! But each day I usually get one good playtime. And when they play nice it is so fun to just sit and watch. The backyard has finally dried up after our week and a half of storms, so they got to play outside.

Total side note but this laptop thing is great paired with wireless internet and watching the kids outside.

I actually did little on the computer and just took pictures. I absolutely love how Thomas tells Taylor what to do and she listens or she sees what he is doing and tries to mimic him.








It is THESE moments that make all the crappy ones seem pretty small!

$$ Tree

Until I moved to Arizona I had no idea the absolute greatness I had been missing, maybe my whole life. Now don't get me wrong I had HEARD about this place, in fact I even think I drove past one on a trip to the beach once.

You know...one of those places that you stare at driving slowly by...thinking...
I wonder what you can buy for

$1

Yes I said... $1

The Dollar Store or more specifically the DollarTree

This is one of my FAVORITE stores and let me tell you that you can get some great things there.

So before picking Thomas up from preschool I made a little detour. I thought I would share what I bought because if you have these stores near you and you have not been in one WELL YOU SHOULD!

Those of you that already shop here, well you can just appreciate with me these great finds.

1. Bubble Bath (disregard flavor name)


OK now I don't get to use this stuff as often as I would like, but I always have it on hand. It works as good as any other I have ever tried and its a huge bottle for just...
$1

2. Air Fresheners


Now I have not tried these before, but I thought they would be perfect for under the cupboards my bathrooms. And bonus... they were only $0.50.

3. Gum


My hubby chews A LOT of gum. These are packs of two, so you are getting four packs of gum for just...
$1

4. Flossers


These are probably my MOST favorite invention ever. If these had been around when I was a kid, there is a slight possibility I would have flossed when my dentist told me too.

5. Kids plates and cups


These are THE best! Any parent of toddlers can tell you that kids get excited over just about ANYTHING that is JUST for them. So it is really killing two birds with one stone. New nice little plates for the kids and they think its a present. HEEHEE!

6. Foil pans


I use these pans for quite a bit, but I am not a fan of the price of them. This is a 2 pack.


OK so there you have it, my trip to DollarTree! 11 items for $11.19!!! WooHoo!

1600 sq ft...

...is not a large house by any means but it works. It works when I am not tripping over every toy my kids have.

Thomas has been doing A LOT of back-talking lately. And arguing is out of control. Now I know that this is probably not breaking news with a 4 yr old, but nevertheless it is annoying. We are trying to get it under control, but things are not going very well.

It boiled over yesterday when I asked him repeatedly to clean up his toys and rather than listening he did everything but clean up. I finally got so mad that rather than yelling I just grabbed a black garbage bag and started loading them up.

Let me tell you that he flipped out. "Mommy why are you doing that?"

He still has not gotten his toys back and the future isn't looking too bright.

If it makes me a MEAN mom to want the toys contained in their bedrooms...well

OH WELL I DON"T CARE!!