You better watch out....Santa Claus is coming to town!

Santa Claus might not be coming to our house this year. I have two children that are probably on the naughty list after the recent stunts they have pulled.

Let's start on Thursday, while the girls were playing in the basement, Anya decided to give Ally a bath by herself. On Friday, Anya used a red marker on her lips as lipstick. On Saturday morning they climbed out the window to go outside and play. Yes, I know this is reflecting poorly on my parenting, but please judge lightly-it's not always this bad at our house (can I blame it on the weather?) I can't think of any thing especially naughty on Sunday, but yesterday Anya poured out all the salt & pepper in the shakers into a big pile on the table. Today I found the girls playing in my make-up, all my brushes had blush on them and my foundation was dumped on the floor!

I'm not sure how to end this post, except to just say, don't be surprised if you hear I'm in the mental ward. These girls are driving me CRAZY!!!

Turkey Day!

Here's some pictures from our family's Thanksgiving.

Although I missed my family, it was really nice to stay home for a change.

My Pumpkin Pie with a Finger Print (Pretty Sure it was Ally)

Easy Fudge

My version of Easy Fudge...
Start out with a pan one size too small (because you're too lazy to wash the right one), then boil over the marshmallow goo, burn a finger, set smoke alarm off, wake sleeping child, then to finish it off - knock a cup of chocolate chips onto the floor. Sounds easy huh?

Here's the recipe, I guess it's pretty much fool proof since it turned out for me.

2 c. Sugar
2/3c. evaporated milk
1/2 c. butter
1 c. mini marshmallows or 12 big ones
pinch of salt

Mix together and cook to a rolling boil, then boil for 5 minutes stirring constantly.
Remove from fire, and stir in...

6 oz. milk chocolate chips
1 t. vanilla
1 c. chopped pecans (optional)

Pour into well greased pan, then patiently wait for it to set up. Enjoy!!

Oh Ally!

Where do you keep your crackers?

If you're at our house, look no further than the magnet on the refrigerator.

Looking for the new Mickey Mouse ornaments you just bought?

Check the fridge

(the girls helped put away the groceries)

Salt & Pepper Shakers?

You'll find those on the floor in the laundry room.

I guess that's why I can never find anything!!

Black Friday

We are staying here for Thanksgiving, and Josh is on call Thanksgiving day (that means working at the hospital until Friday around noon). Am I upset about that? No, not really. We are going to have our big Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday - no biggie.

What I am upset about is the fact that he won't be home until Friday at noon, and then who knows what kind of shape he'll be in. What's the big deal about Friday you ask? It's Black Friday!The Super Bowl of shopping!! I've been training all year!

I've been sweating about it for days, trying to come up with someone to watch the kids. I need a babysitter starting about 3 a.m. Well I'm afraid I'm out of luck, so I've come to the conclusion that the kids are coming with me. Not at 3 a.m. of course, what kind of mother would do that? But I will probably take them out once they get up around 8 a.m. or so.

Have I lost my mind? Maybe. A worker at Wal-Mart did get trampled last year, but that was at store opening. We'll be there way after the initial rush, and the girls will be safely contained in the shopping cart happily feasting on all the snacks I'll be bringing (one can only dream).

Last year while out shopping on Black Friday, I commented that I can't believe people actually bring their kids out shopping on such a crazy day. Well, I promise to never judge people like that again. I'm not sure if I'll really take the girls out before Josh gets home (I will, who am I kidding. I've already got stuff on hold at Gymboree that has to be picked up by noon), but don't worry I'll get out sometime on Friday - I won't let my family down.

My Little Turkeys

Anya modeling her drumstick headband she made at school today

Ally really is my little turkey.

A not so great picture of Anya's class singing at their Thanksgiving Feast last week (notice Anya in the middle of all the short kids)

I thought this was so cute. It's made from a painted coffee cup, and has tea light in the bottom.

Pilgrim Josh

My girls ( I think Ally looks so grown up with her headband)

Anya with her best buddy, Skeeter

Potty Training (Reader Discretion Advised)

I knew it was too good to be true when Ally started potty training with a 90% success rate. It's gone from great, to good, to basically nothing. This morning I asked Ally if she had to go potty, and she said yes, only to find out it was too late when we got to the bathroom. Then just 10 minutes later, she pooped in her pull-up! I really think she does better wearing panties, but after 3 or 4 times dealing with BIG poop messes I'm done with that. Yesterday she comes up from the basement toy room without her pull up, announcing she's pooped. My eyes got big, but I tried to remain calm hoping that maybe she actually pooped in the potty. No such luck -either she actually pooped on the floor or just took her pull up off and it fell out. The worst part was that she tried to clean up, making a bad situation much worse. I know this is a gross post, sorry I guess I need to vent.

Preschool Update

Anya had her parent teacher conference last Thursday. I was expecting to hear all good things, since I hadn't heard otherwise, and it was all good. Anya can recognize almost all of her letters (she gets M/N & I/T mixed up), she is great with numbers (I guess she can count higher than the teacher wants to listen to), she is writing her name (although it's still backwards a lot of the time), she listens well & follows directions, and best of all she is kind and plays well with everyone (not falling into the little cliques). She does however have some speech problems (r & s mainly) that will probably have to be addressed in Kindergarten. I was surprised to hear that her speech wasn't normal - I thought she just talked like a little kid.

Her class has been working on learning the books of the Bible, so far she's up to Daniel (that #27 by the way). I have really appreciated how the school has combined learning the basics along with learning about Jesus. Anya is also learning her letter sounds as well as the sign language for that letter, and then a little saying about each one. A goes like this...(make the A sign) A says Ahh, A says Ahh, Noah built an ark, Ah Ah Ah. It's very cute. Ally has also caught on, she knows the letters/signs A & B (working on C). I wish I had put Ally in 2 year old preschool, but that's another story. Here's some of Anya's artwork, and a video clip of the books of the bible...

This is a dove in case you can't tell

I thought using the animal crackers was super cute


The farm animals, I was really impressed with the toilet paper roll cow.

Check out the the version of the books of the Bible Anya is learning on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixMvFdeo-F0

A Trip To The Mall

I took the girls to the mall after preschool today. It was going to be a quick trip- just lunch & one return. Well I haven't quite figured out this mall completely yet, and was surprised when we walked in that I hadn't parked where I thought I had. I was trying to strategically park where we could avoid walking by the train & carousel ($2 a ride!).

I made my return, and we started towards the food court. I forgot all about the pet store right outside of Macy's, and of course the girls noticed and begged to see the puppies. It was past lunch time, but I said okay anyways (the girls would really LOVE to have a puppy, but that's another story). I'm trying to get them out of the store, so I walk out into the mall a little ways hoping they'll follow. I look back to see if they're coming, and right at that moment I see Ally pick up a little dog biscuit from a display and put it in her mouth!! I'm thinking GROSS, and oh great I have to pay for that, all at the same time. Ally spits it out on the floor before I can even get to her, and we make a quick exit.

We finally get to the food court (after a bathroom stop), and all is well (except for the girls eating most of my pizza - I didn't guess right on how much they would eat, I never do). Then the talk turns to Santa Claus being in the mall. Yes, the mall is in full Christmas mode already! The whole walk through the mall Anya has been dragging behind, ooohing & aahhing over the Christmas decorations. The girls were being good so I agreed to let them go take a look at Santa, I didn't think they would really want to sit on his lap or anything.

There is no line for Santa so we walk right up. Anya is hiding behind me, and Ally starts to cry. I tell Anya to go ahead, and I'll watch with Ally - Anya won't budge. Anya wants to go, but not by herself. So I go to see Santa too, with one kid clinging to my neck, and the other clinging to my leg. Anya perks up, and tells Santa she wants about a million things, and Ally peeks out to say Mickey Mouse. I was pleased they both talked, and they were pleased with the paper elf hats & coloring books Santa gave them.

I'm thinking okay, we have to go, it's almost nap time. We make it back upstairs (not a small feat in a mall with 1 broken elevator), and Anya wants one more look down at Santa. My patience is running thin, but I say go ahead. She drops her coloring book down through the rails, and she starts to melt down. I was ready to forget it, but this nice lady is holding it for us while we come down. I CAN'T go all the way back to the elevator, so I ditch the stroller at the top of the escalator, and head down with Ally. In my haste, it didn't occur to me that Anya might need help getting on the escalator too. I'm half way down with Ally, and Anya is at the top freaking out. I talk her into stepping on, and down she goes screaming the whole way. Boy, do I feel like a bad Mom. On the way back up the escalator while carrying 72 lbs of girls I think, I really hope my stroller is still there.

The moral of the story is.....There is no such thing as a quick trip when you have kids.

Silly Girls

Josh lost his stethoscope again (his first one was "stolen"), so we had to buy another one (they aren't cheap). Anyways, he got it yesterday in the mail and had it out testing it on the girls. He listened to Ally's heart first, and while Anya was waiting for her turn she said excitedly, "I hope my heart is beating too!" Then Ally insisted that Daddy listen to her bee-bo, he obliged of course. Such silly girls!!

Halloween Fun

Preschool Party

Anya's Preschool Party

The kids wearing the owl masks they made, and ready to trick or treat the church offices.

Decorating Cookies



Ally was lucky enough to get in on the action.

Yum Yum!!



Anya working on stringing a necklace

Pumpkin Bowling

The pumpkins took some pretty hard hits, but they all survived.

Fall Festival

We started our Halloween season at the Fall Festival on base this year. It was chilly, but we still had lots of fun. Anya dressed up this year as Cleopatra, a.k.a. "Egyptian Princess", it's all about the princesses at our house. Ally was Minnie Mouse. She really wanted to be Mickey Mouse, but I convinced her Minnie was the way to go. Ally is leaning towards the tomboy side, but I'm leaning back the other direction trying to keep her girly. We'll see how long that lasts!

There was a costume parade at the festival.

Anya won 2nd place!!

My sweet Minnie!

This is the robot that beat Anya out of first, and $25 cash.

It is pretty cool though, huh?


Anya proudly wearing her 2nd place medal!

Blogging Blahs

I've got lots to blog about, but haven't really felt like blogging much lately. Too much T.V. maybe?

A week ago my parents came for a visit, and Josh had the week off! It was great fun, but also tiring. They left last Sunday, this week has gone by so fast it seems like they were just here. I have lots of pictures, so if I get motivated I'll post more on the subject.

This past week we went to a great B'Day party at Chuck E Cheese, had dinner with friends, went to church on Wednesday, I had a room mom meeting at preschool, Josh was on call Friday, and this afternoon we went pumpkin picking. I'm sure lots of people have a much fuller schedule, but I seem to be busier than usual.

Ally started potty training this week! She's been doing pretty good, about 50/50 now. Today she went to the bathroom all by herself, and when Josh went to check on her, she had pooped in the potty already! Anya was a tough one to train (we probably started too early & pushed too hard)! Ally's been excited about wearing panties for awhile now, but I haven't been ready. I think I'm still a little traumatized from our experience with Anya. I've definitely been desensitized - got a mess, I'll probably only gag (not throw-up). I'll keep you updated on our progress.

I almost forgot one of the main reasons I haven't been blogging. My computer got knocked off the table while my parents were here and broke! I won't say who did it (mom), but I should confess I left the cord strung across the floor in a major walk way. Luckily she didn't kill herself, and it was just the screen that broke. I was pretty worried about all the pictures I have saved (and not backed up). I got it fixed, but it was in the shop for a week and a day. We have another computer, but Josh doesn't share well.

Which brings me to another subject.... My husband needs a WarCraft intervention!! That's all I'm saying, because anything else would not be nice.

Aloha Gurrieris

Our friends Dawn & Tony Gurrieri left Scott AFB last weekend to start the transition to their new base in Hawaii. It was amazing that we were at the same base even if just for a couple of months (which most likely won't happen again). Dawn is my best friend since kindergarten and Josh became friends with Tony at the Air Force Academy. Now they're married and have an adorable baby boy named Luke! Hopefully we'll be able to visit them in Hawaii, maybe for our 10th anniversary next summer! That would be cool, but I don't think I better get my hopes up.

The night before they left we went out to eat at a cool old fashioned soda fountain place. Tony's mom was in town to help with the move, so we got to see her again too. She was Josh's sponsor mommy while he was at the academy.

The girls introducing Luke to a little topless coloring.

Dawn and Little Luke (8 months)

Anya loves, I mean really loves Mrs. Gurrieri! She has ever since we visited them last summer in Denver. It only took her about an hour before Anya started calling her Grandma.

This was taken when both Mr. & Mrs Gurrieri were visiting over Labor Day. We had a cook out at our house, and had a great time! Josh's 10 year Academy reunion is next summer also, so hopefully we'll make it back to Colorado and see the Gurrieris then.

Apple Picking

Anya's preschool class went on a field trip today to Eckert's Fun Farm. The primary goal was to pick apples, but there was lots of other things to do too! Anya's friend Ella rode with us, which of course both my girls loved. We rode a wagon type ride out to the trees and each child got a sack to fill with apples. Ally was funny, she just picked an apple and took a bite. I grabbed it and tried to wipe it off at least, but she didn't care.

After apple picking we went back to the main area where there was a petting zoo, pig races, corn maze, barn show, play areas, and little stores to shop/eat at. We spent lots of time there, and ended up staying for lunch we were having so much fun.

I definitely want to go back soon. During October the pumpkin patch is open, and they have haunted hay rides at night (maybe a little too scary for a 2 & 4 year old). Also on the weekends they have little carnival type rides that are open, and horse & camel rides too.