WANTED

It is just me? Our house? Our kids?
We always seem to have a few things that we can't find. 
A while ago it was Bella's strawberry shortcake tee, and Ben's monkey.
Now, we are missing:
* Ben's sigg sippy (eeeeww, and it's been months.  I don't even know if I want to find it anymore.)
* A library book (which I found and set aside two days before it was due, and now it's gone.  It is at least a month overdue.).
*  And, the saddest of all.... "hooo" Ben's owl (from this shop on etsy).  He thankfully has three owl babies of different sizes, and this was his his fave- but at least he has two others to sleep with.

WANTED:

Hoooo

Reward:

 Ben's smile

&

my peace of mind

So if any of these are at your house... let me know! I have turned mine upside down.

Does this happen to anyone else? Moms? Is it my fault for not being the tidiest most organized momma? Or the kids? Or a combo? Or does it just drive me waaay too nuts?

Sophia Grace's Show Stopping Performance!

Rolling in the Deep - Adele Acoustic Cover (Jorge and Alexa Narvaez)

I adore Alexa's expression. Bella now sings along, and uses her hands a lot too.

Little Girl Raps Nicki Minaj Super Bass

This little girl was singing on Ellen yesterday.  Too funny!

This Thanksgiving....

We have a little news to share.

 I"m sure you've got the hint.  :)
 If not, here's another.

As Isabella says "after my party you will have a baby!"

(Her birthday is April 2nd; the next babe is due April 13th).



13 weeks



We went to our 12 (ish) week ultrasound the other day. Isabella came with me, and Dan took Benjamin to work with him (we clearly could use more people to help with the kids; I would have loved if Dan could have been with me). Isabella was very well behaved, and loved the whole experience. She even held my hand, and rubbed my leg to comfort me. 

The baby is growing, and looks so much different than he/she did just three weeks ago- when we saw him/her last (when they looked like a little peanut).

I think the babe was trying to suck his/her thumb, or pick their nose. :)
 Hopefully not the latter.
12.5 weeks

This Thanksgiving, we have a lot to be thankful for.

A new baby on the way.

Two awesome kids.

Happy days.

A sweet hardworking husband/dad.

A good harvest.

Eachother.

Good friends.

Family.

Healthy food.

Sunshine!

Sew gorgeous dresses going to Haiti

And the thought that very soon I will start feeling better!!!

(and might be able to keep up with all of the above)

A big thankyou to those who kept our secret for us.  And a sorry to our friends that I wasn't exactally honest with when they asked me if I was pregnant, or was thinking of having another baby soon. 

My grandpa

Recently my sweet grandpa passed.  Here are a few memories of an incredible man.  In pictures.

He was so adoring of his family and especially of his grandchildren (I think that is so easy to see looking back on the expression on his face in photos where he was holding a child).  He was totally adored in return. 
A few things that stand out most to me when I remember my grandpa, was how much he LOVED hugs. 
And, when I told him that I was pregnant with Benjamin (a boy) he gave me some advice that was very close to his heart (I know because of how he explained it, and the fact that we discussed it on many visits)... and I will cherish that.  He said boys have a need to achieve, and that I had to make him feel special, and acknowledge his successes.
Also, my grandpa was such a bright and creative man.  He loved to learn, and create.  He even built a "witch's house" -- a little cottage for the grandkids. Grandpa was a great story teller. I really enjoyed listening to him... even if he had a tough time hearing me! :)
xo

Food Matters

For those of you who know me, or have read a couple of my other posts, know that I am passionate about health (eating right), and am fascinated to learn more.
I wanted to watch this film earlier, but got sidetracked.  A sweet friend informed me it was airing online for free again.
If you are interested (in the connection between what we put in our bodies and how we react- both good and bad; or have questions about cardiovascular disease, depression, cancer, drugs, vitamins, eating organic, raw, etc.)
Watch Food Matters. It is airing for free until October 8th.  Really, you should! :)

Happy watching!

"Let food be thy medicine, and let thy medicine be food." Hippocrates

Sometimes when things get a little hairy with the kids, we try to take them out for some one-on-one time.  So I took just Isabella out to do some running around with me.  Part way through, while driving around, I let out a big sigh.  Bella asked what was wrong. I told her that I really had to pee. And her response...

"Mommy it's okay."
"Don't pee your pants"
"Can you hold it for a bit?"
"We will be at starbucks soon mommy, it's okay"
"See mommy - it's there, see it, there's starbucks, it's okay now."
"You can pee there", "okay, let's go".

It suprises me all the time when Isabella responds the same way I do to situations. It's kind of adorable.  On the other hand it really shows me the power of choosing the right words, and responding appropriately; which is not always easy (and I definetly don't always get it right ).

A Weekend at my Momma's

I brought the kids to my mom and step-dad's this weekend.

They had recently moved, and I love their new house.  It was so nice to check it out.  One of the highlights of the weekend was when my mom decided to put make-up on the kids.  They had never done this before; and I'm sure that Ben anticipated it even more than Bella (shhh, don't tell Dan).

More Chalkboard paper

The same chalkboard sticky paper that I used for the frame, I used in my cupboard doors.  Which is an idea that I got from my friend, Crystal.

I simply washed the inside doors of two cupboards.  Then I drew a straight line to cut on on the reverse side of the paper, and cut it out.

I slowly stuck it to the door, pushing out air bubbles, and again, wah--lla!  A chalk board for my hunnie and I.



New-ish side table DIY

 

Another easy - peasy D.I.Y

I love old apple crates.

We have a few around the house.

My mom mentions often that there's no where to put her tea.

So I went to the local hardware store and bought four pretty industrial looking castors

 (rolling things at bottom)

Then screwed them to the four corners.

Now we have a rolling side table for the livingroom.

The kids think its another one of their toys... they take it all over the first floor of the house.

Happy Saturday Morning

This morning after we got our babies out of bed and snuggled them up and played with them in our bed, they both went downstairs on their own.  So Dan and I could spend a few more precious minutes relaxed under our warm  cosy duvet.
A couple minutes later, I heard a cupboard open (they've mastered those child locks).  Then bowls (stainless steel) clanging. Then we heard it... lot of cereal.  We both rushed downstairs, me grabbing my camera on the way, and Dan down the other set of stairs, grabbing his iphone.  I think its hilarious that our first instincts were to capture the mayhem rather than clean, or scold.