My 35th Birthday

It came. It went. I don't feel any different. Turning 30 was harder on me then turning 35.

We didn't really do anything yesterday. We kind of celebrated as a family on Saturday. Pete and I took the kids to the pool (we each worked out while one parent swam with the kids) and then we went out to a Hibachi restaurant for dinner. After dinner Pete and Izzy went to pick me up a present at Dick's Sporting Goods while Drew and I went to Target. We met back up at home where Izzy showed me that Pete bought her Dora Saves the Snow Princess for the Wii. ...hmmmm, thought they were shopping for me?

So yesterday, my actual birthday, Pete had to work so the kids and I just kind of hung out. We did go to the bank where the kids convinced the bank lady to give them each two lollipops. Then we went to Costco. We all ate lunch at Costco just off the awesome samples being given out! Pizza, salami, chicken nuggets, chips and dips, veggies with hummus, tiramisu, chocolate milk...all sorts of greats stuff.

Once at home I treated myself to a nap while Izzy had quiet time and Drew napped. Then Pete took the kids to DQ to pick up my requested cake. Once they got back home we had dinner - well the kids did as I didn't want any dinner because I just planned to gorge myself on wine and ice cream cake - Izzy wanted to know when my friends would be here for the party. I had to explain that it was just us. I think she was genuinely sad for me that I wasn't going to get a party.

I didn't need a stinkin party. I had my DQ cake and my favorite party pals!


Before blowing out the candles I told the kids I needed a kiss.




And finally I made my wish...


I must say the cake was not up to DQ standards. I was disappointed in both the appearance and the writing. Pete wasn't sure the lady spoke English, and they were out of cakes so she had to go whip it up in the back. Oh well...it was still good enough that I ate 2 pieces last night and 2 more so far today!

Onto the gifts...
Izzy picked out a new red coffee mug for me from Starbucks. She picked it out because she knows my favorite color is red and that I love me my Starbucks coffee! I also got a new BPA free waterbottle. Izzy also picked this out (I showed her the kind I wanted her to look for on the computer) and she did great getting me a pretty pink one. Now I will feel like I am doing something good for the earth (part of one of my New Year's resolution type plans) by using this at the gym.

My super sweet husband bought me a new camera! Well, he hasn't bought it yet as I am still debating between two. However, I am pretty sure I will go with the Canon Rebel. I want one that has interchangeable lenses. I ALSO want a new point and shoot to carry around in my purse and/or diaper bag. I certainly won't want to ruin my fancy camera and if it is in my diaper bag then it would be in danger :)

We can't forget my new sewing machine which was a gift for my birthday from my mom. And my in-laws got me a gift card to Target. Thanks! And last but not least I got lots and lots of birthday wishes from all sorts of friends that I have reconnected with on facebook. If you want to feel like a superstar on your birthday just get yourself a FB account!

Overall I am looking forward to being 35. I am at a very comfortable place in my life and I love it. For the first time since having kids I can finally breathe a little easier and am looking forward to having a bit more time to think about "me" this year :)

Disney on Ice

About 6 months ago we purchased some tickets to Disney on Ice for December 4th. I thought we should only get 2 tickets so either Pete or myself could go with Izzy, but Pete really thought Drew would be fine. So, we got tickets for all of us (and our friends RC and Stephanie). Well, unfortunately due to the death of my uncle we would be gone on December 4th. After trying to figure out how to manipulate the system and still be able to attend a show with the least cost to us we were able to change our tickets. Do you know that all it took was a phone call to Ticketmaster? Ticketmaster charges you ridiculous amounts for processing fees and taxes per ticket, but they sure were kind when switching our show date. Go figure. We were even upgraded and one dollar refunded to me since I had to pick up the tickets at will call. So...off to the show we went!

We knew we had pretty good seats but our seats turned out to be very good. We were three rows from the ice. If the lady in front of us would not have been so big then our seats would have been perfect. Also, if I would have known that kids under 2 were free then I would have only bought 3 tickets and lied about Drew's age. Wrong, yes, but for $35 I would do it. Heck, he sat on my lap, Izzy sat on Pete's lap and RC on her mom's lap! We had 6 seats, but only used 3. Drew was a bit hesitant as we approached our seats. He whined a bit and said, "go back in mama's car". About 5 minutes into the show though, he was mesmerized.

RC and Stephanie...it was loud so RC sat like this most of the show.


Daddy and his girl


Me and my boy


It was going back and seeing these pictures that I realized both my kids REALLY needed haircuts. We did get them a week later, but I did not take any pictures.

The show was about how Mickey and Minnie were kidnapped and needed to be saved by The Incredibles. It is after this show that Drew's love affair with Mr. Incredible really took off. Almost a month later and I am still referred to as Violet on a daily basis...and he is still walking around with a Tupperware container on his head.

Both kids sat like this for the entire show


While I was waiting in line to pick up our tickets the kids scoped out the loot table. Pete told them after the show they could each pick out something. Well, they both wanted binoculars so at the intermission Pete went to get them. $10 each. ...those were one of the cheaper gifts (heck, RC's gross lollipop was $4) and they still play with them.

It is very important when 3 rows back from the ice to use binoculars.


Some of the characters we saw. Each time someone Drew recognized would skate by our seats he would frantically wave and yell, "Hi _____". That kid cracks us up.

I think Pluto heard him




We can't forget about Buzz Lightyear (even though the picture if awful)




And last but not least, what would an ice show be without...

Check Me Out

Possible mid-life crisis?

I am about to turn 35 on Monday.

So, a few weeks ago my mom calls me to discuss my birthday present. She tells me that she is getting a sewing machine and wonders if I want one. I pause. I think. Do I want a sewing machine? Well, I am not sure? I tell my mom that I was just recently thinking how nice it would be to learn to sew. I had even joked about it with Pete. You see, I don't own a needle and thread. I *may* have a sewing kit that I got in a hotel room, but I couldn't tell you where? My mom goes on to say that she will teach me how to use it while she is here at Christmas. So, did I want a sewing machine...

Sure, why not! I certainly would like to own one, but it wasn't something that I was planning to purchase. I tell my mom that I think having a sewing machine would be great, but don't expect me to use it often. In fact, chances are I won't really use it much in the next year or two. You see, there are many lessons I want to take in the future, but like most moms my needs are placed on the back burner. I certainly am not complaining as I LOVE and ADORE being home with my kids...I just wanted my mom to understand why this piece of equiptment would sit alone in a closet for quite some time.

Good to her word my mom hooked me up with my first lesson while she was here over Christmas. I had recently bought some curtains, if you can call them curtains as they are more like one long piece of fabric that I loop and drape, that needed to be hemmed. You want to know how not sewing savvy I am? I didn't realize that you needed thread come from both the top and bottom to sew a stitch. I think should I have given it some thought (cause WHY would I really ever think about such a thing) I might have figured it out, but I didn't know when my mom was setting up my machine. The set up alone with threading the bobbin and all the other junk that needed prepping took forever. Then we had to measure, chalk, cut, measure again, hem, measure again, sew some more - and that was only the FIRST curtain.

Bless Izzy and Drew because they sat at the table watching me sew and cheering the entire time. Each time I stopped they would applaud and say "yeah Mama!" In fact, Izzy has already requested that I sew her a dinosaur.

I must be going through a mid-life crisis of some sort, huh? Soon I will be sewing my own clothes, homeschooling, growing my own veggies, giving up my cell phone and Starbucks, and not shaving :)

Our Christmas Day

Since there are lots of pictures to share, I guess I should just jump right in. We had a great Christmas over here. Heck, we had a great December - I still have more posts to come regarding some of the fun things that took place in December.

Christmas was really fun this year with a 2 and 3 year old. I can only imagine that the next few years will be even better! There really is nothing quite as magical as experiencing the wonderment of the season through the eyes of a child.

Setting out cookies, milk and a note for Santa.

We also left food for Santa's reindeer on the front lawn. The kids had so much fun sprinkling it all over. We have now had an increase in the number of squirrels spotted out front as well. ...guess they like reindeer food.

Once the kids were in bed, Pete and I got started on setting out the presents. I finished up some wrapping while Pete worked on some assembling.

Drew's tool bench - assembled by Pete


Izzy's Barbie Dream House - also assembled by Pete


Our stockings hung by the chimney with care...



It wasn't a late night wrapping and preparing for Christmas day. I think I went to bed around 11? The next morning Pete headed to Starbucks for coffee. It opened at 7 (Pete left at 6:45)and typically 7:15 is the earliest Izzy wakes up. Wouldn't you know she woke up as he pulled out the driveway. I had to keep her entertained upstairs for 30 min! Talk about tough stuff.

Once Pete got home, we woke up Drew and headed downstairs. The kids "big" gifts were in plain site, but didn't even get noticed for a good 5-10 min. As soon as we walked into the room where the gifts were, Izzy asked Drew is he wanted to open the gift she got for him. He said "Okay, Izzy." Izzy handed him his gift and then the two of them sat in the middle of the floor while Drew opened his reindeer headband :) I think we were all a bit misty eyed at the tender moment shared between the two of them. I have mentioned so many times what a gentle nature and caring heart Izzy has, but it really showcased itself at that moment. She then proceeded to hand out all the other gifts she selected. She was so excited to be passing out the gifts she hand selected - not even giving a thought to opening anything for herself. Sweet sweet girl.

Papa's gift

It was a lime green hockey stick. At the store she picked it up and said "Oh, Papa will love this cause he loves to golf." I told her it was a hockey stick and she said, "but that is okay, because it is shaped like a golf club so I know Papa will love it." Papa told Izzy it was the best gift he has ever gotten!

Izzy's other gift picks were: for me and my mom we each got a megaphone. Mine had Tinkerbell and was lime green. Omi's was blue with Ariel on it. Pete got a candy cane full of M&M's. Grandma and Grandpa each got bells that hang on the door. Grandma's were gold and had lots of small bells. Grandpa's was blue and was one large bell. Grandpa Dave got a door hanger as well, but his was a made of felt and a reindeer. She also picked out rubber piggy banks for her friends Delaney and Jack. Delaney's is purple and Jack's is blue. Izzy and Jack don't really ever see one another anymore, but she has been mentioning him quite a bit lately. I am pretty sure it has something to do with the fact that he is moving.

Okay, back to Christmas morning. This was MY most favorite gift. Izzy made it at school. She brought it home in a gift bag that she had stamped with holiday images. There was also an angel ornament and sled ornament with her picture used on them. This was made from both her hands and her foot prints.


Finally after spotting their stockings and a couple well placed questions by Pete, Izzy saw her Barbie Dream House.


Izzy's most requested gift from Santa was Baby Alive. I had my reservations about this doll, but let me tell you that it is really really cute! I think my family is afraid I am going to turn into a crazy lady who carries a baby doll around. In my defense it really is pretty cool.


Drew's most requested gift from Santa was the Batcave (Pete influenced this request heavily). Here he is opening his present. Look at the level of concentration on his face.


Here are Omi and Papa looking at a photobook that I created for them.


Here is Papa reading the note that Santa left for Izzy and Drew.


Here is a shot of one of our many countdown to Christmas things. Growing up my mom made one of these for my brothers and me so I decided to do it with my kids. The funny thing is that over Thanksgiving both my brothers asked if I had made it yet. It is so simple, yet something that all three of us remember from our Christmases. Typically green poster board is used for the tree, but Izzy decided she wanted a yellow tree. Hey, yellow is a fun happy color so why not? Each day each child got to take off one Hershey kiss. Finally on the last day I remembered to get a picture.



After we opened all gifts and had breakfast we decided to go for a walk. While walking the golf course both kids wanted to burn some energy and run. Well, Drew had on his fuzzy crocs which aren't so great for running. The third fall resulted in a scraped nose - now he looks like Rudolph. He still loves the Batcave though!


Some things I want to remember...
While all the presents were great, the kids seem to be having so much fun with the harmonicas (my Monica as Drew calls it) and Slinky's. I really could have stopped at the stockings :) Also, it seems that both kids love one an other's gifts as much as their own. Izzy loves to play with the tool benchand Batcave and Drew LOVES to play with the Barbie horse and carriage and Barbie Dream House.



...don't even get me started on how he asks Baby Alive if she wants to play Batman with him. "Baby Alive, you wanna pay Batman wiff me? You wanna pay Batman wiff me Baby Alive?" It makes me think he may really dig another sibling :)

Izzy Knows Her Shapes...

Setting:
Izzy, Drew and Pete watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Izzy: Hey Daddy, you and Pete have the same name.
Pete: Yes, but he doesn't look like me. I am skinny like Goofy.
Izzy: If you were skinny like you Goofy then you would be a rectangle, but Daddy you are shaped like an oval.

...after the show Pete headed to the gym.

Meet Buzz Lightyear

Drew is very much into Buzz Lightyear as well as Mr. Incredible these days. We are currently on day 5 of Drew and his new accessory. ...a Tupperware container worn on his head.



He wears that container on his head all day long. And by all day, I mean ALL DAY! He wears it to take Izzy to school. He wears it while we run errands (both while sitting in his carseat and in the stores). He wears it while he eats. He even wears it when he goes to sleep. When you ask him who he is he usually responds, "Buzz Lightyear. Space Ranger." Every once in a while he decides to be Mr. Incredible. ...and when he is in the Mr. Incredible roll then I am Violet ;) He even likes to pretend that we talk on the phone and he addresses me as Violet.

I love that both my kids have such great imaginations and enjoy playing pretend. I even love that he wears that goofy hat out in public - it certainly is a conversation starter. He gets many smiles, especially from the older ladies.

...and here is a picture of Miss Iz as to not be outdone by Buzz.

Gingerbread House

Sunday night we decided to make our gingerbread house. Last year we did it while Drew took a nap. ...this year we let the little bugger play too.

Here they are carefully surveying all the goods needed for our task at hand.


Upon further examination they discover there is candy involved...


Izzy explains to Drew what the candies are to be used for...


He's not so sure he likes her lecture on how to place the candies so he sneaks a bit of frosting...


Finally with all instructions from Izzy in place Drew is able to get in on the action...


What's a gingerbread house without a gingerbread man?


The finished project...