Isn't TV wonderful

You let your kids watch Noggin/Nick Jr thinking that since its an educational, preschool channel with no commercials thats its safe, right? Here's a little something Bree has picked up from watching Yo Gabba Gabba.

Mixed Signals

Remind me again, who are we supposed to be potty training??




















I think we've officially wasted more toilet paper wiping baby after she goes potty than we have on attempting to potty train Bree. How come I was not informed of this financial pitfall??

362 days and counting...

We've had another very successful year. After all that hard work, its time to start preparations for next Christmas!!




Sorry. Just couldn't help myself. Christmas pics coming soon.

Let the festivities begin...

Santa made an early stop

The child was nestled all snug in her bed

while Mom and Daddy spoiled her by letting her stay up and watch the Grinch on the laptop.

Friday Night Fun

I love the age that Bree is at. A box of Lucky Charms is the greatest gift and surprise when brought home from the grocery store and traditions are starting to mean something. One tradition that we can kind of successfully start is Friday night pizza and video gaming in the basement.





I think Daddy likes the start of this tradition more.



And once the video games get boring its time to move on to somersaults.

Our days and evenings

Strong is my desire to post another quote from the movie "National Lampoons Christmas Vacation" however not all people would really appreciate it. (I know you're smiling out there Becki) So lets just say we've been spending a lot of our time like this....


(yes thats a readers digest magazine she's reading even though she has age appropriate bathroom reading material)



We're not actively potty training but Bree has successfully went pee on the potty twice and somewhat pooed. After the new year when car trips from house to house and town to town settle down we'll officially begin potty training. I'd like a few months off from having to buy diapers before having to start all over again.

And the winner is...

A few posts ago I asked whether Bree will be a future Broadway dancer or professional cake decorator. I believe the answer to that question would be cake decorator. As I was going through my cupboards last week Bree got a hold of my sesame seeds and cookies cutters...

Oh Christmas Tree

"We're kicking off our fun old fashion family Christmas by heading out into the country in the old front-wheel drive sleigh to embrace the frosty majesty of the winter landscape and select that most important of Christmas symbols."

Darn Modern Conveniences

Birthday Celebrations

November 18th was Bree's second birthday and to celebrate we went bowling. When it came to lining up the ball ramp, Bree got a lot of professional help from Papa. Maybe if I would have had a ramp of my own and someone to help guide me towards the right pins I would have been able to beat my two year old at bowling!!





Darn gutter balls! I think someone's sabotaging my game.



And thats as far into bowling as my camera batteries made it. Then it was time to go home for lunch, cake and presents. This was my first attempt at decorating a real cake. In future attempts, I'll just buy a jar of Wiltons flesh tone food coloring instead of trying to make my own. OR I'll just pass the cake pan along to my wonderful older sister, who is great at everything she does to decorate it. :o) Sound good, Becki?



She oddly became very shy while everyone was staring at her singing happy birthday.



Later it was time to head outside to enjoy (what ended up being) the last warm day for the season. Here is Bree swinging in her swing for the last time. Next summer she gets a normal big girl swing.



Lastly it was time for a bath where she is getting very brave about sticking her head in the water. Sometimes she'll even lay on her stomach and stick her face in. Usually that ends with inhaling water and choking for a couple of minutes but I'm glad she's experimenting.



My clean little butterfly.

Oh how fast they change

Coming home from the hosital



Trying to make sense of the chaos at her first birthday



My "ready for the day to begin and the temper tantrums to start" two year old.

Will she be...

a broadway dancer (watching the Thanksgiving Day parade)



or a professional cake decorator (decorating our first batch of sugar cookies)?

How do they do it?

Let me get this straight...

You can feed your kids sugar-coated cereal for breakfast and thats okay.


You can feed your kids cinnamon rolls dripping with icing for breakfast and thats okay.


You can feed your kids pancakes covered with syrup for breakfast and thats okay too.


But giving them leftover birthday cake for breakfast is not okay??


Oh well. My house, my rules.

Root of the problem?

Perhaps this is why my daughter is scared of tape. Daddy must have gotten a little carried away with the sticky-sided bubble wrap while shipping out some ebay items.

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

So Long, farewell, we're glad to see you go!

Last Wednesday, after 21 very long days, Bree's cast came off! YAY!!!



The most traumatizing part? The xrays.





Eeewwww!! Look at all the dirt. And blisters. And toenails that badly need trimmed.