Wednesday.

Waiting for Grandpa.

I don't make dinner too often on Wednesdays- the kids usually come home full after eating whatever they want at Grandpa's and there are always plenty of leftovers for Steven.

So for dinner, I made myself a huge salad and washed it down with a glass of wine while watching Tori and Dean reruns. Have I mentioned that I love Wednesdays?! The only thing that would've made it better was if I had some avocado.

Backyard. Bouquet. Family Rules.

The newest addition to our backyard:

A whiskey barrell! I looooove it.

The primroses [on the right] don't need much sun so I had to move them away from the other flowers and they looked way too loney so I had to add more. Steven planted two plants to the left but I'm not so sure they're going to live, we'll see. We have so much trouble getting the grass to grow around this area, it doesn't help that the kids are always playing in the dirt there. So hopefully now that it'll be left alone, it'll grow. Its looking better and better back there, but we still have a long way to go.

In January JCP made a huge mistake on a little kids table. They honored the price til the stock was gone and those who didn't get one got a $50 off $50 online purchase instead- me included! I ordered these random keys for the wall that came a few days after I ordered them and this 'Family Rules' canvas that I barely got yesterday, took forever. Its HUGE. Steven likes it, but its taking me some time to get used to it. So anyway, I had to move some stuff around and find a new place for my wedding bouquet:

It was in a different vase on this shelf in the living room. My original plan was to hang the frame and have them hanging inside but it didn't work out. This is what I ended up with and its so pretty. :)

The obnoxiously huge set of family rules.

I love what it says, I just don't understand why they had to make it SO BIG.

Saturday night.

Lately I've been thinking a lot about things I used to do with my Mom, namely: masks and hot oil hair treatments. We did them alllll the time. So tonight I busted out my old Mary Kay stuff and got to it. [Its so old, like high school old. But it smelled the same and had the same texture, hopefully my skin doesn't fall off!]

While I was applying it, I started thinking about how it'd been so long since I've done it, then it hit me- it was exactly a year ago. Us girls did it in the hotel the night before J&G got married, their first anniversary is tomorrow. :)

So this is what my lame ass did tonight: masked, painted my nails and looked at outfits I wished were mine on Pinterest. I really need a night out. I love being able to stay at home with the kids, but every now and then I just need a night off. To dress up and feel like I'm worth more than yelling, cleaning and wiping butts all day.

Happy 4 years to us!

2.22.12.<3

Steven brought me breakfast and a green tea frappucino and I got him a forty haha. Such simple gift givers we are. Its the little things!

I combined two of his favorite things for dinner: pizza and chicken alfredo. He looooves homemade alfredo sauce, he always says he could eat it like its soup. I added fresh baby spinach and tomotoes, this was yummy! The kids gobbled it right up- they're such awesome eaters lately, always trying new stuff. [I had no idea the clock on the coffee maker was wrong til I took this]

I love that all the gardening stuff is back out in the stores because I finally have my spray painted gold gnomes! I've seen bigger ones at a few stores [which is what I wanted] but they were $40! These little guys were about $3.50 each. So cute. :) We started watering the grass today too. Can't wait til its super green again, but at the same time it'll suck because it'll be way too hot to enjoy it. I think I'll head back to Lowe's again and buy more flowers since I have two empty pots still.

Things I'd like to get for the backyard:

- a bird bath

- little bird houses with seed [I looked at some seed today but I was confused at what kind to get, I'm lame!]

- looots more flowers and bushes

- stepping stones [especially some with the kids' footprints]

- a patio set

- another humming bird feeder

- new cushions for our lounge chairs

- make a bench out of Aiden's crib... and I'm sure I'll come up with a lot more later!

We used to have a big tree back there but had to chop it down because of termites, I soo badly wanted the kids to have a tire swing. We have a baby tree back there now but they'll be way too old by the time that's big enough... and hopefully we'll have our own house by then.

Relaxing but busy.

Friday- Aiden got picked up and went on a camping trip with Grandpa and Grandma. Life with one kid is sooo peaceful and easy, especially because they're so calm without each other! So it was just my little lady and me.

We did a bunch of shopping then had a dinner date at Chile Pepper. When she bit into her burrito, she got a loooong string of cheese that wouldn't break off, it was so funny. :)

Saturday: I did my usual cleaning/laundry and we just hung around the house. When Steven got home that evening, he said he wanted to go to dinner. We'll be married for 4 years on Wednesday, so it was our last chance to celebrate our anniversary. Last week and the upcoming weeks, he'll be working 16 looong, laborous hours a day. This is busy season and they almost took his Mondays off away! I'm glad they didn't, he works so hard. Seriously, the hardest working man I know. <3

Mr. and Mrs. for 4 years [almost :)]

Sunday: We woke up and headed out to get Aiden. We weren't sure if we were going to camp out for the night or come back home. It was soo windy out there and after spending the day, we decided to come back with Rian but leave Aiden there for another night. The kids were so happy to see each other. Rian was nonstop "I miss Aiden" since he left Friday. Bffs.

Today: We did our grocery shopping this morning, where I saw one of my first work-babies, Seth. He was the first kid with Autism I ever worked with. I remember when the teacher told me I was going to be his new aide, I was so scared and honestly, didn't want to. But we formed a bond so quickly and soon I started working with/babysitting him at home. I went to his house for almost 5 years, up until a few months before I had Aiden. I think about him all the time. The last time I saw him was the summer of 09, at APS. He walked up and sat right next to me and was just staring and smiling. He didn't see me today, I wish I would've gone up to him and his step-dad. :( After groceries, we went to Lowe's and I bought new flowers- yay! I'm going to brave the cold and make sure I water them so they don't die again. Aiden got home a little after noon, I missed him so much. After naps, we spent the rest of the day outside-  playing, pulling weeds and reading my new book! Then Steven grilled carne and pollo asada. We definitely need a table on the back porch... maybe our next project? Like I need another one!

Fun fun fun!

Grandma Sue

My Aunt wrote this on facebook today:

Today would have been my mom's 77th birthday. She was a very sweet, generous and loving mom, and, especially, a grandma. She loved her grandchildren very, very much. My mom was crafty and made beautiful decorations and thoughtful gifts. She had the most beautiful yard, with lush green grass and an explosion of colorful flowers. My mom was the best cook. Everything always tasted so good. I'm told that I look a lot like my mom, except that she was a tiny 5'1". She died of cancer at 60, on the first day of summer. There was a nest of ground doves in one of her planters that spring. The day she died, the doves, babies included all flew away. I miss her. I hope she is in heaven waiting to be reunited with those who love her. Happy Birthday, Mom!

Grandma Sue was like a grandma straight out of the movies, she was amazing. Both of my Grandmas were, I had the best ones in the world. She had the cutest little house and we always had so much fun there, especially in the backyard. We would walk to the used bookstore all the time and she'd buy us hotdogs at the AmPm. Around Christmas she'd always save her presents for me because she knew how much I loved wrapping them. She made the yummiest fried chicken, tacos and bean dip. She always took us to Hunter's Steakhouse and I got ribs. She lived about 4 hours away but we always wrote letters back and forth, I still have them. I always thought she was so pretty, she was just the best.

Ugh. :( Both of my grandma's died soo long ago and it still hurts as if it were yesterday. She died 5 days before my 11th birthday, I remember that day with so much detail. It made me so emtional when I read Aunt Susie's status, I had to cry it out in the shower [why's that such an awesome crying spot?] and tears have been off and on all day.

It makes me so sad that my sister never got to have a "grandma experience." Grandma R died before she was born and Grandma Sue before she was 1. This is why I could never ever move [and sometimes I want to so badly.] I never want to seperate my kids from their grandparents. They are soo lucky to live so close to them, both sets.

I don't have any pictures of her on the computer so I took one from my Great Aunt's page...

Happy Birthday, Grandma Sue.<3

I miss you everyday.

Love you.

Brrr!

I've done absolutely nothing with my "day off" because I'm freeeeezing. This was us last week:

So nice out- popsicles and bathing suits!

It was in the 80s so Steven turned the pilot light off on the heater. I don't mind it being cold, I just wish it wasn't this cold in the house. I can't wait til he gets home so he can turn it back on! I guess winter wants to give us one last cool down before its hot as hell outside. Its supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow. :)

The main reason I'm posting...

Rian pooped in the toilet!

She told me she pooped in her pants, but she didn't so I asked if she wanted to use the bathroom. She said yes and after what felt like forever, nothing was happening so I tried getting her to leave but she refused. I left her in there and a few minutes later she was yelling "I did it! I pooped in the potty!" So exciting.

Valentine's Day.

Steven and I aren't Valentine's Day people, we both think its lame. Birthdays/anniversaries- those I love to celebrate, because they're personal... they actually have meaning. But to each his own, right? I love making it fun for the kids though, a bunch of hearts everywhere!

This weekend Steven planned a movie date for us, that's the kind of thing I like- randomly bringing me a muffin, waking up to flowers just because, renting a movie for me and letting me escape to watch it alone, little random surprise dates, etc.- not him giving me a gift on an overly-commercialized 'holiday.' Anyway, on Sunday we saw 'The Vow' -ahhh. I'm such a sucker for girly movies! Just because I don't like Valentine's Day, doesn't mean I don't have a soft side. :) Actually, I'm a super mushy crybaby.

We got the kids a little sumthin' sumthin'.

They each got a book and a 50 cent microphone. I saved their stocking stuffers from their grandparents on Christmas to use later on- they both got something from that, a little Tink doll for Ri and Cars for Aiden.

And of course I had to make fun food!

Breakfast: heart french toast, heart bacon and strawberries. [The bacon hearts looked so much prettier when they were raw!]

Lunch: overcooked heart hotdogs, so they didn't stick together. Strawberries and grapes. Strawberry applesauce and strawberry yogurt. [I forgot to add heart sprinkles to the yogurt before the picture]

Dinner: heart pizza! potato salad and broccoli.

They loved it!

A week into potty training and Rian's doing so awesome! Sunday was her first totally accident-free day and since then, she hasn't had any. She tells me when she has to pee, instead of me making her go and she pees as soon as she sits down. Now for the hard part- getting her to poop on the toilet! Ugh. She's also still wearing a diaper at night, we're getting there- that's all that matters! I'm so proud of her. :)

My little loves.

Wannabe redhead.

Ombre-ing my own hair seems way too risky [but I will do it eventually!], so I decided to add some red because I wanted a little change. I added some a year and a half ago but it was more of a maroon and looked awful. Today I got a reddish brown [what I read is suggested for brunettes]...

and the only place you can kind of see it, is in the bathroom. Boo.

It could be worse, I guess. Obviously my hair was too dark, even though the pictures on the box show it being really red on dark hair brown hair. I just need to accept the fact that I need to quit dying my own hair!

Mini Christmas for Mom

Today I got two packages, they arrived separately so that made it even more exciting!

New utensils!

They're much too pretty to be stuffed in a drawer so I put them in jars to display on the counter. Each one [16 pieces] is different- love.

And...

My first pair of Tom's!

I finally gave into the ridiculous price because these are waaaay too pretty. I love them. I guess I'm officially cool now. ;) There are so many cute ones, I want them all.

I'm already eyeballing my next pair:

 burlap with silver tribal print- eek!

Potty training.

Monday night, before I went to bed, I went into Rian's room and walked into her on the floor. Since she as awake, I changed her and yesterday morning she woke up dry. I put her on the potty while I made breakfast and she peed! I decided to give training another go and she did awesome. She peed on the potty 5 times and had one accident while I was making dinner- thankfully on the tile and not our freshly cleaned carpet. The night I cleaned it, I realized I probably should've waited til after she learned to use the toilet. Oops!

My big girl and her sticker chart. :)

So far today she's used the toilet once and had one accident. I'm optimistic this afternoon will be easy since we won't have interruptions like naptime in the way. I canceled their playdate with Grandpa because I don't want her in a diaper except at night. No breaktime for Mom- boo. Oh well, I'd rather have a potty trained baby!

She won't use the little potty, she wants to use the seat insert and sit on the big toilet- so we've been stranded in the bathroom a lot. I'm so proud of her though, I wasn't expecting it to go as well as it did yesterday.  I can't believe we're about to be diaper-free! Last Friday was probably my last time buying some... kind of weird to think about since I've been buying them for almost 4 years and 11 of those months I was buying diapers for two. Exciting!

Naps. Pennant. Phoenix.

Rian now has a new nap routine. I put her in bed like normal, then eat my lunch [because I'm so hungry by this time] and give her a chance to go to sleep on her own- which of course she doesn't! I rock her and she's out within 5 minutes. Ahhh yes! I'm happy to have a napping baby again.

Saturday I was planning on having a lazy day but my Mom come over in the morning and stayed til the kids went down for naps, which was fine because we always have a fun time laughing. :) While they were napping, J and I decided to have an impromtu crafting date. Fun! We made Valentine's Day pennants:

Steven and I thought about doing something with some friends that night, but decided to be responsible and watch a movie instead since we had to wake up early to go to Phoenix for Tristan's first birthday!

I love this picture.

:)

Love.

The park where the party was at was sooo nice. Everything around here is so ghetto, its one thing that makes me want to move the most... but I know that'll never happen. Oh well.

We stayed at the park for a little bit after the party was over, then went to the mall and our last stop was going to Ray's for Steven's favorite pizza. We eat there or leave with pizza to take home every visit. Its a tiny, quiet place so we decided to take some home instead of taking the kids in.

We jammed out to Imagination Movers the end of the drive, even Steven was singing! It was a loooong but fun day. The kids were so happy to be back home last night and usually they want to be anywhere but here.

Ombre hair.

I just learned that this is what its called by my online reading.

[I'd want my ends lighter than this.]

When this trend came around last spring/summer/whenever- I thought "Ew!" but shortly after, I loved it.

Within the past few months, I've started to really want to do it to my hair. In a couple of years I'll be back at work so this is the perfect time to do something different. Problem: I don't want to pay for it and listen to how bad box dye is for my hair [oops.] After doing some reading, I tried peroxide on my ends to lighten them, no noticable change after a couple of weeks- it'll take forever! So that leaves hair bleach. :\ I've highlighted my own hair plenty of times, but this is a new process and I'm nervous I'll mess it up. If I mess it up, I'll either have to live with it or cut my hair- and I definitely do NOT want to do that!

I'm kicking myself in the butt since just a few months ago, there was already blonde in it. Probably would've been easier/cheaper to have Tori just add dark to the top.

What to do...

Kids. DIY shorts.

Last February I made the kids Valentine's day themed food everyday til the 14th. I figured since I've been lagging on fun foods for them, I better do something so they had heart-shaped pb&j's for lunch yesterday. [Cookie cutters are so fun! I want a huge collection.] Aiden's become obsessed with "jelly peanut buttuh sanwich." He asks for them almost every day. It makes me happy, I ate them all the time when I was pregnant with him. In fact, it was the last thing I ate before I had him. We survived 37 long hours with nothing but a pb&j in my belly to nourish us.

He was picking up his books last week, he was holding about 5 of them and said "Ugh Mommy its too heavy! There's too many, its going to take weeks and weeks and weeks to clean!" haha.

Rian's as obsessed as ever with Tinkerbell and Pinkalicious. She pulls her dirty Tink shirts and socks out of the hamper and tries to wear them everyday- geez! Tinkerbell was always my favorite, I like that she likes her too without any influence from me. She hasn't been napping at all lately. She's always been iffy, so unlike Aiden, he's always been such a great napper. The last two weeks she's taken 4, maybe 5 naps. Yesterday she was such a grump! Around 7:30 she climbed up on my lap and passed out. Today, no nap again. I love naptime. :(

She comes into our room every morning around 4-5ish and makes about four trips back to her room to bring in all her crap: Pinkalicious, Tinkerbell, two blankets, a penguin and a book. And she doesn't just set it on the bed, she stands there and waits til I take it from her. And she has to have everything arranged around her in a certain way when she finally gets in bed with me. Silly. The other day she was in there with me while I was making the bed, I was on Steven's side and she said "That's Daddy's side." She pointed to my side and said, "That's my side." haha oookay! Guess its her's and Daddy's bed. We sing "You are my Sunshine" to her every night before bed, last week she started singing it with us. Ahhh so cute! Its hard to sing without laughing. Gives me teary eyes. <3

Yesterday I pinned these super cute lace shorts on Pinterest and my sister asked if we could do them together. I went to Goodwill this morning and got a curtain for 99 cents and we did them today. Top mine, bottom Rae's.

So easy and sooo cute!

I don't know how its February already. Aiden's going to be 3 1/2 this month- wow!