Alex and Grandpa Bills

New Shoes

I cannot remember the last time I bought shoes with heels...it's been at least 2 years, since I bought flats while pregnant and have only worn flip flops, Fuggs, or sneakers since. After getting a bunch of dresses from Striker's Godmother, and therefore not needing to buy anything for the weddings we're going to this summer, I decided that I would buy a new pair of pumps. DSW sent me a $5 coupon for my birthday, and that was all the arm twisting that I needed. Meet these bad boys...bright red, shiny satin pumps with a sassy little ruffle action...I can't wait to wear them!

My Quote of the Day

"With the large number of unemployed people in this country, you'd think those with jobs would try a little harder to be competent at them."
-Me, 2/22/11 (such a fun date!)

Caught Red Handed

Direct violation of rule # 1: toddlers shall not open the cabinets containing the TV equipment and video game systems. This is rule #1, because it is the one that I need to remind them of most frequently.

The best part? He was either a) putting his toys away (Striker's theory) or b) hiding them from his brother who was napping (my theory). I'm sure he turned around and gave his daddy a mischievous grin after he took this picture.

Super Cautious UPS Man

What? Doesn't everyone put huge boxes under their welcome mat like this?

2 Weeks to 30

So I made a list of things to do to celebrate my 30th birthday 2 weeks ago.

My Progress:
-Learn to shoot a gun (at a shooting range, under supervision) scheduled
-Take sewing and quilting classes scheduled
-Give running another try (and hope that I don't get "static") Haven't attempted...I'm chicken
-Try some Yoga/Pilates/Yogalates classes...my core needs to look like my arms before bikini season Taking Kiss My Abs on Sunday
-Start family bike rides on Sundays and after Daylight Savings Time starts Looking for a bike and trailer on Craig's List
-Read at least 2 books a month before my brain starts rotting Got my Nook and read 2 books in 48 hours...still reading a third
-Have at least 2 dates a month with Striker...cuz really, we need them Unless you count staying up all night with puking kids a date, our first will be on Saturday

Blew His Brains Out

I was upstairs doing laundry tonight when I received a BBM from Striker: "I just blew my brains out." Um, WHAT?! I ran downstairs, and found that Striker had finally put his hot air to good use ;)

I'd asked him to blow this ball pit up using the air pump, but apparently it had died. Being the good Dad that he is, he blew it up anyway.

Alex was looking at the camera, but was distracted repeatedly by Jeopardy. So I gave up on getting all 3 of them to look.

Note to self: buy a new air pump before it's warm enough to blow up the crab pool.

14 Months 1 Week and 1 Day

Alex and Tony started the morning off by climbing and balancing on various toys. I reminded them that it was 2 weeks and 2 days until my birthday and they'd better be walking by then. And then, shortly thereafter, Alex was walking back and forth between the couches, completely unprovoked. I ignored him to see how long it would last. Later, Tony walked from the couch to the center of the room. When Grandma arrived, they repeated their performances. When Striker got home, they again repeated their accomplishments and we officially declared today The Day They Started Walking. Who's a happy mommy? Me!

Family Word Search

I've been looking for something to hang on the wall in our family room for a LONG time. After seeing a version of this artwork last week, I figured I could make it for WAY less. And make it a little more fancy. The almost completed result:

Materials:
20x20 Canvas - $6.50 (after a 50% off coupon at Michaels)
Ribbon - $0.33/spool and $2.50 for the "frame" ribbon
Paint - leftover from the boys' growth charts (did I ever post those?)
Letters - Cricut borrowed from KFuj, cartridge used for Alex & Tony's first birthday party invitations
Paper - In my "inventory"
Total: About $10

The $145 version can be found here.

I do need to get some glue to stick all the paper to the painted canvas, but then I'm done and this sucker is going on the wall. Can you find all of the names/words?

Happy Birthday Grandma!

We love you! 

XOXOXO, 

Alex and Tony

Baby Chaos in the Kitchen

Two 14 month olds, a 10 month old and a 9 month old. I would totally do it again in a heartbeat...we need to set up a babysitting/date night swap. One couple goes out, the other 2 couples watch the 4 kids. KFujs? Iowans? (Is that what you call people from Iowa?) And by date "night" I mean afternoon/evening...you know, so we can catch Happy Hour and still be home to put each baby in their own crib.
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Quick Custom Frame

I've been working pretty hard core on getting the playroom ready for Alex and Tony and their friends all week. It started Monday with a trip to IKEA where I found several things that I'd been looking for, with the exception of an 11x14 frame in a "fun" primary or bright color to go with the fun artwork I'd ordered from Children Inspire Design and the other (cheap) frames I'd found. At some point, I had the idea to get a boring frame and dress it up in the fun colored duck tape. Super easy and it took me less than 5 minutes!
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I Love My Nook Color

I've already read 2 "quick read" books on it and a couple children's books for Alex and Tony. I love that it's wi-fi, tablet-like (allegedly I can do some hocus pocus stuff and make that happen), user friendly, intuitive, AND a touch screen. This is my gateway device to a touch screen smartphone. I think. I'm just significantly slower on a touchscreen keyboard than my trusty BlackBerry keys. Did I mention that it's Android based? I slapped an anti-glare screen protector and a hot pink silicone cover on it to protect it from my life. I plan to sew my own pouch for it so that it doesn't get squished in transit somewhere, is exactly what I want, and costs me less than $30-50. I was able to read while getting a pedicure today and for the last 2 nights in bed while Striker slept peacefully, not bothered by a light. After reading "Not Ready for Mom Jeans" and "Sh*t My Dad Says", I'm going to
go for something with a little more substance next, though I did literally laugh out loud at parts of each of them. Highly recommend them for some light, feel good reading. Oh, and have I mentioned that I love my Nook Color? I feel so gadgety and "with it" again. (Insert happy sigh of glee here).

Barefoot & Happy

Tony has been taking his shoes or socks off EVERY chance he gets lately. Doesn't matter what kind, he'd rather be barefoot.

Mountain Climber?

Mr I-"can't"-walk-but-i-can-climb

Chatterbox Tony

Every picture I take of this kid is blurry unless he's passed out like this. While at WalMart today, Tony was "talking" as we cruised the aisles. He continued talking to the lady who cut some fabric for me and she mentioned that she heard him earlier when we passed by several aisles away. Yeah, he's going to be that kid. I apologize to his teachers, but at least he'll always participate in discussions (something I NEVER did).

My Little Nerd

On his 14 month birthday, 2/7, Alex (finally) cut his 7th tooth. He also enjoyed seeing what he could fit into various boxes. I love toddlers!

Safe on Higher Ground

...For now

Thoughts on the Super Bowl

Wow, I only took 3 pictures...on my phone. (Alex taking a pre-game nap, a football shaped Oreo on top of the pool, and the odd attire worn by the commentators - purple and pink ties? Really?)
Wow, I ate a LOT.
Juan Pollo potato salad, while oddly containing carrots, is really good. Just not as good as Shades' Brother's. Which I'm sure isn't as good as their mom's.
My mom's house is a great location for family gatherings. She's totally hosting Super Bowl every year.
Alex and Tony are finally old enough that I can relax and have fun while everyone else plays with them.
Shades ran a fun pool, even if I didn't win and won't get North Woods Inn.
Shades' new nickname is Shrek.
Was it really Striker that sat and watched the ENTIRE game, commercials, AND halftime?! I think 3 out of the 15 of us did. He had the very important job of keeping the official score for the pool. Shades was grilling.
Did I really skip halftime to run to the store with the Lils? Can I really call women in their mid-twenties Lils? Given the Facebook commentary, it appears skipping the halftime show was a good choice.
My plan to skip the first half and talk to the familia de Shades and catch the important parts (screw ups and good commercials) on YouTube later was genius!
The weather today was awesome!
The second half of the game (which is all that I watched) was really good. The commercials that I saw? Not so much.
Yay! Green Bay won!!!

4 Weeks Until 30

Things I want to do to celebrate turning 30:
-Learn to shoot a gun (at a shooting range, under supervision)
-Take sewing and quilting classes
-Give running another try (and hope that I don't get "static")
-Try some Yoga/Pilates/Yogalates classes...my core needs to look like my arms before bikini season
-Start family bike rides on Sundays and after Daylight Savings Time starts
-Read at least 2 books a month before my brain starts rotting
-Have at least 2 dates a month with Striker...cuz really, we need them

Coconut Dreams

These are basically Girl Scout Samoas...available year round...for less than $4 per package...which includes 3 more cookies in it...uh oh...

Grandma Magic

When I posted this picture on Facebook, Striker asked why Alex and Tony never sit like that with him when he reads to them. I told him that it only lasted a minute, which was about 55 seconds longer than it lasts with either of us. Grandma is apparently magical like Santa or the Easter Bunny, except they. screamed on Santa's lap this year, but you get the idea.