Aging and still having fun!

A friend of mine is turning 30 today (Happy Birthday Michele!) and she is having a hard time with it. Having turned 30 a bunch of years ago I don't think that it is a big deal but I got to thinking about it and remembered how tough it was for me. When I was in my early 20's I thought that I would be settled down and have kiddies running all over the place (at least) by the time I turned 30 (b/c that was SO OLD). Well, my path didn't quite follow what I thought it would and I didn't even meet my wonderful husband until I was 28 and it took him FOREVER to ask me to marry him so I was single and without children on my 30th birthday. The topper was I was in a place I didn't really know many people and my husband was out of town so I was alone. A girl ended up taking me to a local pizza/brewery and I had a decent time but iat the time it felt like a bad birthday. Now since turning that magical number I don't think that I have ever been so content. I am comfortable with myself and now I am glad that life turned out the way that it did b/c I am able to stay home with my kids (even though it can be tight) and I think that I am more patient now than I used to be which makes me a better mama. So Michele, if you are reading this I think that at first it is hard to swallow (hello you are not in your 20's anymore) but life just gets better from here.

The girls and I met a few mamas and their kiddos at the park yesterday, parks are always so much fun. It was overcast so a little cooler than what has been the norm here of around 95-100 everyday! I was still sweating with my hot babe sleeping contently in my PANEL KOZY while chasing my 2 year old all over the place but it wasn't running down my back so all was good. Piper wanted to swing, wait no she wanted to run and jump, hold on did you see that spring rider? She is so carefree and happy at the park, I wish that this one was closer because it is fabulous for the younger children as well as older ones. Unfortunately I didn't really get a chance to hang with the other ladies because my daughter was go go go but hey we got a wonderful afternoon nap out of the deal :) A huge group from the Christian school came over to play and almost trampled our kids so that was our cue to leave. We weren't the only ones though because I noticed all the other mamas at the park packing up their kids b/c the older children were really running over them. Too bad that the teachers weren't watching that a little better. Anyway check out the fun and have a wonderful Friday!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Read more...

And she's off

Crazy little girlie that she is Violet has been working on crawling (or walking) for some time now. I didn't catch very good video shots of her attempts but they're not bad, you get the idea anyway. If you sit though it bless you but it is only just a hair over 2 minutes so not too long. It has actually taken me most of the night to do this so I am posting this and then heading to bed - will blog tomorrow about today and tomorrow :) Good Night!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Read more...

So, are you ready for some contests???

Football season is upon us and that Hank Williams Jr. song will be playing like crazy now. Lucky me I am not married to a football junkie, lucky you I found some fun contests for you to go out and enter so you don't have to watch football! Or, you can watch the games and not enter giving me an even better chance of grabbing all of this great stuff!

Eliza Grace Designs
Want a beautiful new diaper bag or knitting bag for fall? Check out Eliza Grace Designs before heading out and buying some mass marketed bag. They are gorgeous, I would love one myself and actually have a chance of winning one. Musings of a Housewife is having a contest and giving one of these beauties away, hopefully to ME ME ME!! Get on over there to enter for your chance to win. Contest ends on Friday so hurry!

7 Loaves Purse
My online friend Darcy had this contest on her blog and this bag is no less than PHENOMENAL! It is a work of art to use everyday, how fun would that be? I love things that aren't run of the mill and the 7 loaves purse is definately different. Confessions of a Housewife is hosting this contest and it is one I want to WIN! To enter stop by Confessions of a Housewife before August 31.

Hooter Hider
I was lucky enough to have another mama sell me her bebe au lait or Hooter Hider after having Violet. It works so well and the fabrics are so pretty. I have a very good friend who I would love to give the Kimono print Hooter Hider to when she has her babe in November - pick me pick me for this contest! This contest is hosted by MomViews and ends on September 2.

Win a HP Photosmart A626 Compact Photo Printer
So HP has a new Photosmart printer and it couldn't have come at a better time b/c my (to remain nameless) photo printer is dying very slowly. Well, the mamas over at 5 Minutes for Mom are having a contest to give one lucky mama one of the all new HP Photosmart A626 Compact Photo Printer. To get in on the action stop by 5 Minutes for Mom before September 10.


Who doesn't love an apron
When I was growing up I used to watch my Great Grandmother cook her wonderful Italian recipes and she would tie on her full sized apron before heading into the kitchen. She finally gave me my very own and it is a habit that I have to this day. I love aprons - you know the old fashioned looking ones? I actually have one right now that has 2 different patterns of skulls on but it is still very fun! If you are a collector or if you would just like to win this one Multi-Tasking Moms is having a contest you will surely want to enter. Winner will be announced on September 3!

Read more...

Wordless Wednesday - Sisters

Here is a photo of my sister and I, I was Piper's age here and Jenny was 18 months older. The second is a picture of our girls who are just shy of 18 months apart. Family has been on my mind a lot lately so that is why I chose these as my Wordless Wednesday photos, and I just got a bunch of my old photos scanned in :)

For more Wordless Wednesday fun check out 5 Minutes for Mom and join in!

Read more...

They do watch don't they

Matt is a little under the weather today and slept in a bit before he left for work. In the morning I have my morning coffee while Piper watches The Wiggles and then Higgly Town then we try to start our day. We have been waving goodbye to Daddy every morning since she was an infant, of course it was me back then doing the waving. This morning I picked up Violet to wave goodbye too and Piper picked up her baby doll and sat in the window waving her baby's hand the same way that I was waving Violet's, it was so sweet! The other day I just about cried when I saw my daughter pick up her ring sling, put her baby in it (I have to help a little with this) and then pat the baby's bum while kissing it's forehead. I guess it is what I do with Violet and she has been watching closely. Now I also have a story about my oldest in the back seat saying "D*** it!" which I am having to work on and hope that it doesn't stick in her brain the same way. It is so cool to me that my child has picked up babywearing though, I made her the ring sling and some day will make her a mei tai but she can't tie the ties yet and it would just be a mess taking it off and on right now. One thing that we don't have though is a pouch sling but The Crunchy Domestic Goddess is giving a reversible one away so maybe we will have one in the near future if we win! Here is my little baby wearing mama to be...

Oh, another thing that she has picked up is putting a diaper on her baby. None of her diapers fit that little baby so I found a free pattern to make her some out of some scrap material that I have laying around. The other night she took some of my cloth wipes and a (too big) diaper and cleaned her doll up and then diapered her. Crazy stuff because I keep thinking "She just turned 2!" Children amaze me constantly - I just love being a mom!

Read more...

Sunday at the (petting) Zoo

I have been wanting to get back over to Patterson Farm to get some more jelly and honey so today the Zoo took a little ride out there. Earlier in the morning Matt and I took the girls to our home improvement store to get some things for their playroom and by the time we got them home they were both worn out. After unsuccessfully trying to put them both down for a little nap we decided to just leave and take our chances. Matt and I were on each other's nerves already so 2 unhappy babes didn't help. Poor Megan! Little did we know that Patterson Farm was having a Wild West Day or something like that but ok we were there so we thought what the heck. It is still 185 thousand degrees here and they don't have much in the way of shade out there. Poor Piper was so hot and I had Violet in the mai tei that I made on my back sleeping but they were such troopers for most of it. Patterson charged $3 a person ($12 for our group which I thought was ridiculous) for the "activities". We basically fed some goats, pigs, and a peacock, Piper got her face stamped with a cutie duck, and finally she got a chance to play on the big boat (slide) that they had there. After all was said and done she was tired out and if you take the time to watch all the pictures I have a great sequence of photos where she didn't want to leave the tractors and finally had her total meltdown. We have great kids and they are relatively easy going about things like this so we are very lucky that way. It was Piper's nap time when we left and once in the van both girls were out cold (btw, it was the best nap Violet has taken in at least a week!). The last picture is Piper eating on some of the corn we got from today - she loved it! Another good Sunday in my book!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Read more...

Photo Friday - Friendship

CHBM asked to see our friendship pics and here is a favorite of mine. This photo shows part of my large group of dear friends at the Halloween party we had where I used to work. I am so fortunate to know such a great group of ladies and have them in my life. I was pretty lonely the first few years living here because I didn't have anyone to really hang out with but they changed my life. Each one of them cares so much for our family and would do anything for us (as I for them). Another reason I chose this photo is because I *LOVE* Halloween and have already started mentally deciding what I need to make my home spooktacular - I can't wait! This picture is also one of the first that I have of being pregnant with Piper so it will always be special to me. Thanks for sharing my Photo Friday with me, head over to Crazy Hip Blog Mamas and see other pictures of friendship.

Read more...