Container Store + Sale = Wish List

One of my favorite times of the year is the annual Elfa sale at the Container Store. This year it has come TWICE! More than the actual sale items I like the catalog the most. It is page after page of beautifully organized spaces. Even the color of the clothes in the closet match the scarves and handbags. You know just like in my closet. You would laugh more if you ever saw my actual closet. I have saved this catalog in order to look at it and wonder "What in my house I can make pretty now?" I have most of it somewhat organized, but can I make it better? Do I dare go to the store and "just look"? Knowing I never seem to be able to "just look". I continue to look at the catalog and dream. I constantly compile my wish list and my maybe someday ideas. Today I even went to the container store web site to print out labels that I can use. They are nice and I figure I still need to label the playroom. Plus these did not cost me a cent. I can not throw the catalog away just yet for some reason. I don't know what I think I will find for free in there, but right now I need it. Anyone wonder what they should get me for Mother's Day?

Change of Pace

For some reason the girls have been wanting to sleep on the floor and not in their sleeping bags. They seem to go through stages of, the bags are fun, and the bags are not so fun. B asked again to sleep on the floor. I let Dad take this one. "B, ask your dad." I told her. I was a tad surprised when he said "YES". She was so excited, but quickly not so excited when A got permission to sleep on the floor too. Like I would only let one of them sleep on the floor while the other had to sleep in their bed. So the girls camped out on the floor.

I took this photo when I came up for bed hours later. They seemed to have played a bit before finally settling down. The animals have been bandaged, all the extra blankets are out and being used, and books were all over the place. I'm glad they had fun. They looked so cute asleep I had to take a couple of shots. It is good to let them have a change every once in a while.

Onions Do Make Me Cry

A has been really into helping me cook lately. She is way more into it than B ever was. Sometimes, as many of you know, it is more of a hindrance than a help with little hands. There is no telling A that however. She think all she does is help and that I won't be able to cook without her.

So the other day we made began by making bread together and then moved on to dinner. I had to cut onions which meant that A just had to hold the knife too. This make chopping a little harder, but we got it done with out blood. A minute or so after we finished chopping, A began to notice that her eye hurt. I then told her that was from the onion and it would go away soon. She then began making this face for the rest of dinner prep. Funny that only the right eye hurt.

Ipod Virgin

I finally have my very own Ipod. This was my birthday present from hubby and kids. I did tell them that I wanted an Ipod, but was surprised when I received the newest member to the ipod family. It is SUPER tiny and the controls are actually on the earphones cord. Rather cool I must say. It will hold about 1000 songs. That would be about 50 CDs. Like I have 50 CDs in which I like every song. I don't even know 1000 songs! I did not take it out of the box right away. In my mind it is now a reality that is going to take a lot of time. I figure I will put it right next to my huge stack of photos that need to be put in albums. Well my hubby was not up for this idea of wait till later. He actually took it and began installing it on the computer. this lasted about 10 minutes and many potty words latter he decided that he couldn't figure it all out. So now I am going to have to do this. I sat down for a few minutes and got it all taken care of, but still did not download anything.

This morning after my workout I figured I would take a minute and try it out. I put a few songs on and L-O-V-E it! I never sorted laundry so well before. I'm still not sure when or how I will find time to make this little beauty work for me, but at least I started right? Guess the next step is to find all my very old CDs and see what I want on it.

Interesting Thoughts

In the car on the way home from Easter dinner...

A: mommy do you know what I did in your tummy?

Me: Yes I do.

A: I read lots of books!

Me: You read books in my tummy?

A: Yes, lots. I love reading books in your tummy. I had to stop when you said it was time to get out.

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A coming to snuggle with me on the couch.

A: Mommy you are not scary.

Me: Really?

A: Yes you are sweet not scarry. That is why I will snuggle with you.

Perfect Way To Start My Day

Let me start with a little background info. Yesterday A had a playdate with a new friend and B had n-o-t-h-i-n-g. This did not make for a happy B. We tried to get a playdate, but no luck. That meant that she had to come with me to do her favorite thing...errands! To my surprise she was very unhappy. Right? Like I didn't see this coming a mile away. B has not had to run errands with me in a long time since she has been blessed with all day school. So I was not looking forward to this time either. Well I was looking forward to time with just her and not A, but I had to get this stuff done. B was an ok sport. She stressed her dislike of errands to me often, but kept up the pace. We even stopped at Potbelly's for a special lunch, just the 2 of us.

After picking up A from the fun morning we headed out to the bridal store to get B fitted for her flowergirl dress. She was ok about this too. The dress is not a fancy and sparkly as I'm sure she would like, but it is still pretty. To wrap up our day I took them to Build A Bear to get a little something since I had a coupon for money off. A ended up with a new friend and B spent her money on a new outfit for her bear at home. She actually told me that she really didn't need a new animal! I couldn't believe I heard that one from her. On the way home the girls thanked me for letting them get something. I felt good.

This morning when I got out of bed the girls ran upstairs to tell me to get back in bed. Why? They wanted to snuggle. Really? Now I know something is up. So I got back into bed with them and was brought breakfast in bed! B had planned it all. A yummy waffle with yogurt and sliced bananas. They even put apple juice in a wine glass for me. It was really cute! they were both so proud of it. I ate most of it and what I didn't finish, A scarfed down.

Like I said...What a way to start my day!

Easter Festivities

This year Easter has come and gone so quickly. Perhaps due to our quick trip a few weeks before. I was a little behind when we got back into town, so I had lots to get done. Our neighborhood egg hunt is run by me. It is a bunch of work, but a fun event. We had over 1000 eggs dropped off at our house filled with candy and ready for me to "hide" at the park. the weather was nice for a change and so the turn out was on the high side. Last year it was super cold and about 1 inch of snow on the ground so not too many people showed up. Much different this year. A had no interest in the eggs. Well she had interest in only the princess ones that she helped spread out. When she saw that they were all gone she didn't want to find any eggs. She just cried and waited till the donuts came out. B on the other hand ran like the wind scooping up as many eggs as she could. She helped spread out the eggs in her area so she was well aware of the ones with the best candy inside. it was over so quickly that I couldn't even take any photos! Well I did get this one...

We did spend some time decorating eggs. Aunt Vic came over to help. Both girls were into it this year. A was sad when all the eggs were finished. We had a nice bunch of eggs too.

Yesterday we hit the town egg hunt. It was cold and windy, but full of excitement for the whistle to begin the race for eggs. A went with Uncle Marty and I went with B. Yes their age groups are at different sections of the park. Not so convenient for "single" parents. Lucky for me Uncle M was there. A had direct orders to fill the bucket. however at the first egg she began to cry and beg Uncle Marty to help her. She ended up pulling in 4 eggs. B was a little better about getting eggs, but she too only grabbed 4. That brought about a bad mood for her. lucky for us this sure brightened up when she noticed that one of the 4 eggs was a winner! She ended up walking away with a big basket full of little things. Way happy was she!!!

Easter morning brought early risers on the hunt for their baskets. Then B questioned if I was the Easter bunny! She noticed a game in A's basket that she remembered finding in Florida. I thought I had hid it when we were in Florida, but I guess not. So we talked about the fact that I was the EB (alone). She said she thought so since this year's basket was a lot smaller than last year. I then told her I was the bunny last year too. She was rather surprised at this information. She then began spinning all the gears in her head and asked about the Leprechaun and Santa, and the Tooth Fairy, you know all the surprise gift givers. I did not tell her I was those too. I'm not that mean. She is only 6/7 for goodness sakes.

Lastly B decided yesterday to get her hair cut. We have been growing it to donate, but seem to be stuck at about 8 inches. This would be 2 inches short of the 10 that you need to donate. I wanted to get it trimmed (1-2 inches off) but she decided that she would like it up to her shoulders. I figured why not? I do love it long, but it is her hair and she is doing more of the washing, brushing, and hair accessories herself. So off it came. In the end she had about 6 or 7 inches cut off. It really looks better and she is really excited for people to notice.

Bowling Fun

If you are lucky to live near a Pinstripes bowling and bocce chain I hope you take advantage of the Mom and Tot bowling. We have gone a few times and it is a lot of fun. Since the G girls were on spring break last week, A invited them to join us for our morning bowl. The girls had a great time. It is one of those great games in which everything they have learned goes out the window. For example... we each take 1 turn. So not the case in bowling! The girls couldn't have been happier when they heard they got 2 turns every time. I'm not sure if all our girls had more fun bowling or "flying" on the ball ramp. It is a good time each and every time we go. I mean with all you can eat yogurt, fruit and chocolate chips, how could we not have F-U-N?

Grandparent's Day

At B's school there is a special event basically for every grade. No matter what event it is, it is a BIG deal. For 1st grade it is Grandparent's Day. This is a special luncheon. The kids put on a paralitergy and show. The mom's provide a special lunch. It is super cute and like everything else it is very well done. No detail is forgotten. Well perhaps cups were forgotten for B's guests, but that was all me. I figured if they were serving milk they would have cups and enough white milk. Not so much. Oh well, they still served coffee.

B had a part in the paralitergy


B and Great-Grandpa (papa)

B and Grandpa

B and Grandma

Fun was had by all and I would have to say that after the special show many tears were shed. I was even misting up. Each song they sang seemed better than the one before. I am actually now looking forward to little A's Grandparent's Day. I will be way more prepared for that one.