I just like these pictures.

No witty narrative.  No funny story.  Just some pictures I snapped of the girls while they were playing in the sun form the window one afternoon.  I was playing with my camera setting, hence the blurrrr...but I still enjoy these photos very much.  I hope you do to.  :)

[Pictures:  At Home, Nov 21, 2009]

Mmm...Chocolate

Finally received the Photopass CD from our Disney Trip.  I've been waiting to share these pictures of Maya with you.  We were in France, and Auntie Jennifer (or Grandma?) was kind enough to relinquish the remains of her chocolate mousse to Maya.  Luckily for me, a photopass photographer was walking by and caught the moment for us, because, I, for some reason, wasn't thinking about MY camera at that moment.  :) 

And just a couple cute ones of the girls that I cropped from thier visit with Donald.  :)

My First Video Blog

By now we all know that as of late I've been "organizing" my old photos and such. Now, I have found this process, while overwhelming and very time consuming, very rewarding. More than a handful of times I have found myself smiling ear to ear; laughing uncontrollably; wiping away the tears, some happy, some sad; or wondering why there was no clutter in my house and everything looked about 3 shades (ok fine! 10 shades!) lighter white. This series of videos invoked all of those responses from me. I hope you enjoy this trip back in time half as much as I did.

This is Bella, interacting with Grandma Joa and I. These were April, 2005. Bella was about 1.5 years old.

PS - Mom...I really like your haircut in these. <3

Toys! Toys! Everywhere Toys!

OK.  We all know a few things about me.

1.  We know that I'm more attached to my kids toys than they are.

2.  We know that I don't feel good until all the pieces for a certain toy or type of toy are all together. (I'm not a separatist, I swear!)

3. We know that I'm not good about making my kids clean up after themselves, and then THIS happens:

And THIS happens:

And THIS happens:

SO...yesterday, I, with the help of my sister Samantha, cleaned and rearranged the girls' room and moved ALL TOYS (except the doll house and one SMALL basket of toys) into their room.  And guess what...IT ALL FIT!  (Well, it helped that I threw out 2 big garbage bags full of toys too.)

Here are the befores:

Toy Boxes in catch-all area off of the kitchen

Books.  Obviously we were mid-organization at some point and got side-tracked.

Little People Stuff.  Everytime I pack this away, it seems to re-emerge.  Why?

Dollhouse.  Obviously no party going on today.  :(

Their room before.

1.  YES.  Those are bunk beds.

2.  YES.  We still have the hardware to stack them.

3.  YES.  My kids like to play on them when they are stacked.

4.  YES.  There is twice as much room when they are stacked.

5.  NO.  My kids will NOT sleep on them if they are stacked. :~/

Since the beds aren't stacked, there is no room for them to play, and everything just gets tossed on the floor in front of the closet when they "clean up".

No.  They don't watch TV on this.  It was only for their V-Smile Video Games, and it didn't make the cut when rearranging so it's gone now.

The incredibly messy closet.  But Thank God for the built-ins...we'd have no room for a dresser!

The bins of misc. toys that were under their beds.

OK - got the beds moved!!

Now we must tackle THAT!

No Sam...this isn't about ME!

The stuffed animals and baby dolls found new homes in bins under the bed or in the bitty baby crib! And no, that baby isn't mooning you...I swear.

The Books After.  I told Sam there was NO WAY she was going to fit all the books on there.  She did.  She Rocks.

Still need Maya to grow so we can get rid of those clothes though!

Oh it looks so pretty.  Don't mind the crazy blue paint.  I started a project I never finished.  Surprise.  Imperfect person.  ;) 

I'm gunna paint it this summer though.  I promise.  ;)

Bella woke up in her own bed this morning, sat up, and said, "Mommy.  I really like our new room.  Thanks." 

You are welcome baby.  You are welcome.  Now go clean up your toys. ;)

The Sexy Plumber

It's not often that there are work men in my house.  But the other day, this sexy plumber came over to work on the sink.

I know you can't see his face...you'll just have to trust me.  Sexy.

I was trying to see what those manly hands were doing under there, but wasn't having much luck.

Nope.  No Plumber Crack.  :(

Hmm...wonder what he's thinking...

Whatever it is...it's probably not good. 

Oooo...but whatever he's doing under there...it's working!

But I wonder what that bowl is for...hmmm....

Sexy Plummer?  No...not him!

Yeah.  THAT'S him!  Bringin' Sexy Back every day!  :)

I love you, Mr. Plumber.