Emilyisms

Brian asked Emily, 4, to do something the other day.

(I can't remember what, but I'm sure it was, "Would you please pick _____ up." or something like that)

And she responded: "No can do."

Lately, she insists on saying our mealtime prayer. She starts with a song from pre-school, "Fold your hands and close your eyes, it's time to talk to God." She then says something like:

Dear Father (I almost died the first time she said that)

Thank you for making today turn into a good day

Thank you for dying on the cross for our sins
And for going to the grave and getting your body back

(At this point - Brian points to his plate)

And thank you for our food. AMEN.

This whole time, Madeline has her eyes closed as tightly as she can. If dinner is good, she is slowly opening her eyes to take bites - if it is resistable -her hands are folded the whole time.

Precious things I don't want to forget.

Belated Black Friday Post

I can't believe I never blogged about my Black Friday exploits.

I think this is the first year I ever actually braved the early morning hours for a deal.

I got up at 4:30 to my alarm. You need to understand that as a Stay at home mom - I NEVER use my alarm. I have a 4 year old alarm that wakes me up too early each morning!

So, I got up to my alarm - put on my pre-laid-out clothes, brushed my teeth - and went on my way.

At 4:45 I arrived at a full Wal-mart parking lot. All I could keep repeating, sometimes out loud, was, "this is CRAZY!" Luckily I arrived early, because they had caved to the pressure of the shoppers and opened the doorbuster deals early! I quickly snatched up 2 of the Little Pet Shop Whirl Around Playground. (one for my daughter and one for a family our small group is buying for) and moved on. Carts, people, EVERYWHERE. One man looked particularly out of his element, so I told him, "I won't tell anyone I saw you here, if you don't tell you saw me." After a last minute purchase of a cabbage patch with antlers (sooo cute - it was sitting at the register where I was checking out - abandoned.) I also had about 5 adds with items from other stores circled to price match. I was on it!!! On to my next stop. . .

Meijer. The highlight of Meijer was - shortly after arriving - they announced over the intercom: "Meijer customers, we are sorry to announce that we are officially sold out of the WII." A man in electronics screamed as if his only child had just been pronounced dead. (I'm pretty sure he was being funny, which I appreciate.) They proceeded to announce it 2 more times while I was in the store. My highlight: I kept running into a group of 4 women who were saying, "Steph, the WII is all sold out." "OH NO! - the WII is gone?" "Yes, the wii is officially sold out." It was cracking me up. So, after I checked out, they were standing by the door - I said, "Ladies?" They turned around like "WHO are you?" And I said, "The WII is officially sold out." They cracked up and started at it again.

Next: Target. I only had a few things I wanted there, but it ended up being an armful. I waited in line A LONG TIME - so some girls standing by me shared their toddler cart with me. So nice. We bonded. I also ran into a friend in Target.

Next to Kohls. Just bought 3 little things - not a long line.

It was now 9am and I had to get home to leave for Thanksgiving at my mom's house.

Hope this entertained you!

just some pix

Here is Emily playing "hide the turkey" at school. I love the action shot.

Maddie eating a cupcake we made for Thanksgiving.

Madeline and Daddy!

I feel like my life is so boring lately that I don't have much to say. We had a slow day. Emily had school. A friend came over for a brief visit. I made sesame chicken for dinner. I need to get to work on sets for my MK open house on dec. 8. My goal for tomorrow is to clean up and get out my packaging stuff so I can start on that.

Turkey and Gerbils???

WARNING: To Caroline and Isabel - DO NOT TELL SOPHIE!!!!

My mom is giving my niece 2 gerbils for Christmas - She has them until then - so we got to meet them when we celebrated Thanksgiving on Friday at her house. I'm not sure what we would have done without them. . . They WERE the entertainment. There is a black on and a gray one. They were tortured by 5 children for most of the day. Here are a few shots.

Daddy and Maddie

Isn't this so cute? Almost makes me want to own some rodents of my own. :)

Thankful Thursday

Here are the things I am thankful for today:

- my girls. They bring such joy to my life.

- my husband. He works hard to support us. He is a great dad and husband.

- our home. I love our home.

- his job. I am thankful that he loves his job.

- health. I am so thankful for the health and safety of my family.

- family time. I love spending time doing fun activities with my little family - and I'm glad they like it, too.

- our Disney Cruise. What a gift this was for our family. We have memories that will last forever.

That's it for now.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Late day

Have you ever noticed that if your husband gets home late - it is a bad day? It seems like the time past when he should have been home - is always painful for me. Tonight was no different. It is 8:20 pm and Brian is just now home - though he stopped in for dinner. And I was impatient tonight with the girls. Ughhh.


Before it went downhill, we had a decent day. The girls and I met Brian at McDonald's for lunch today. Then we went to Target. Stephanie gave the girls each a $20 giftcard for their birthdays - so we went on a spree today!

These new toys kept the girls occupied until nap time / quiet time. . . And kept Emily entertained quite nicely during quiet time! Then, we had dinner. After dinner we painted. Then Emily was chomping at the bit to use her new make-up she got for her birthday. (isn't that the female equivalent gift of the drum set?) Anyway, I let them do make-up for a little while. These girls LOVED it! They were shimmering all over the place:

Feast Day

Here is Emily in the Indian costume I made her. . .

HOW

Brian went along with Emily to her Feast at school. He said the 3 hours seemed to last a lifetime. But he had fun getting to see her in her element.

Simple day

Today we watched our friends' daughter for awhile in the morning. Then ate lunch, napped - then I took off to watch my friend, Natalie's, kids while she went to a doctors appointment. She has been having health issues - so while I was there I did my best to clean her house. It was actually much more fun than cleaning my own! :) Tonight Brian is working security. That's it from here.

Actual Birth Day

Here are some shots of our day:

Emily got grumpy while bowling (I think it involved not wanting to take this family photo):
By the way - to the staff of Western Bowl: Don't borrow cleaning lane 55 tonight - my daughter mopped it with her body!

This was Emily's first time to "get" to wear bowling shoes!!! I love this picture!

Chillin / cleaning the floor.

We ate a healthy meal of bowling alley cuisine. (That was her request!!! Don't judge me!)

Today was Emily's actual birthday - in fact - 4 years ago - she still hadn't been born yet. It was 10pm when she first greeted us. She received a magnifying glass from us today. Brian worked until noon. We had lunch at home, then let her open the rest of her gifts from us. After a nap for Madeline and I - (and the Colt's game) we all went bowling. That is what Emily chose for her birthday activity. You haven't lived until you have bowled with young children. They roll the ball. Saunter back to their seat. Sit down - and we still all have time to watch and see how many pins are hit!!! I enjoyed bowling with the bumper guards - though I let Emily roll my 2nd ball each time.

Here is why we call her, "Passion."

Don't think I'm crazy. I am not pregnant yet (that I know of) - but when you have 2 girls - boy clothes is fun and exciting! Tonight at Wal-mart we bought this cute shirt - (in hopes of having a boy one day) for $3!!! Isn't it cute?

Happy Birthday Emily!

at 2
at 3

Emily is 4!!!

I had 5 stations set up for crafts / activities. At one, I did their "Princess make-up." They LOVED this!

Princess Emily after make-up
Princess Maddie getting made up.

The royal feast.

We had a princess bash!

Emily getting the scooter she had been longing for!

We had a lot of fun! Thanks to all our friends and family who made this birthday a special one!!!

The castle:

Cousin Caroline is awesome with Madeline.

1 little 2 little

Indians!!! Today, the mom of one of Emily's classmate's came over to make Indian costumes with me. The girls have a Thanksgiving Feast on Tuesday, and we are going to have them all cute! :) Here we are tying beads onto their "smocks."

Here is her cutie friend, saying, "How!"

The girls having lunch.

Isn't this cute??? They are getting down in their head-dresses. It was fun. The girls played so nicely together!

Meme

Lisa tagged me for this meme, ,and I am SO EXCITED! 1. because I LOVE Lisa (never met her - but love her from her blog! 2. it's my first meme! :) I will attempt 5 interesting things about me. (Does weird mean interesting?)

1. Both of my girls were born 1 year pre-mature. (Did you catch that?!) They were suprises - but they best blessings of my life.

2. I love organization - but I am horrible at it. I long for it - so it makes me crazy that I am a clutter bug. I am working on this.

3. I like the handicapped stall. I'm not kidding - bathroom stalls make me claustrophobic - so I pick the biggin'. I love that I just admitted that on the World Wide Web.

4. I love gifts - buying them and getting them. This includes snail mail (hint hint!) I love to get the mail each day - and getting something "real" is sooo fun!

5. My dream jobs: radio personality - I've been told I have the voice. I believe I have the sense of humor. The problem? Christian radio is too cheesy for me. . . and I'm afraid my shady sense of humor would make people at church stare if I was on a "normal station." Photographer. . . I don't know if I'm good enough - but I LOVE to take pictures - and I have a HUGE appreciation for awesome photography!

Now, I am tagging: My friend Melanie, my dear neighbor, at sweet girl, sweet boy. My friend Sarah, a bank girl / dear friend, at Xanga. And Becky, my husband's cousin - who I have a TON of respect for - and she's fun! at prechewed worms! Let's hear it, girls!