Barbie Yoga

I walked into Marien's room the other day and this was what I found...

This totally explains their amazing figures!  They had been like this for hours and they were still smiling.

And really, if you are going to do yoga, it should be done in a beautiful dress or stunning gown. I know totally random post but I thought it was funny.  I find them in random poses all over the house.  Maybe I need to start a series, though I might be the only one who finds it funny.

He's a baller!

Isaac just wrapped up his second Upward Basketball season and it was a great one.  Jason was his coach again this year.  Though Isaac didn't score every game he definitely had an awesome time.  Plus I really enjoyed the jersey colors this year (Go Cougs! um I mean Jaguars!)


The tunnel they get to run through.  They announce the starting five and there is even a smoke machine.


getting pumped!

He can't wait for next season.


Beauty and The Beast

The last weekend of January my mom and I took Marien to see the Broadway play Beauty and The Beast.  It is one of my favorite. (I say that like I go to them often, but it really is).  We surprised her and didn't tell her where we were taking her.  I wish I would have gotten a picture of her face when I told her.  It was priceless!  I only got a couple of pics and none of the corsage that her dad got for her.  But needless to say it was a great experience.  I don't think she blinked for several hours, she just absorbed it.  She has been asking lots of questions about the play and has watched the movie ever since.  So I think it is safe to say it was a hit.

I had told Marien that we were going "some place fancy" so she was able to pick out her "outfit."  I think she did a fabulous job!


 The only picture she "allowed" me to take at the performance.  I guess I was embarrassing her!
I can't wait to do it again but hopefully with Ruby next time.

The Haircut!

It was time...Ruby was in desperate need of a haircut.  I have been putting it off for quite some time but I finally sucked it up and did it.  I figured it couldn't look any worse than it already did.  So I will let you decide.


Before



and after!

And here are a couple more...not horrible but it will do.  I cut a good inch or so off.  I can't believe how long her hair was.  The other two definitely did not have this much hair.

You can't help but love that face!

Hunkered down and thinking about things

My peanut (Marien) has a nasty stomach bug and she is my puker.  It all started about 1:30 in the morning so after 4 or less hours of sleep and lots of puke we look like this...

and this is what my house looks.  Just keeping it real.



this is what happens when an 18 month old is left to her own devices

Btw, Marien is the best person to watch a movie with.  She laughs, really laughs, and you can't help but laugh with her. and this is what I look like, NOT! 

I may be keeping it real but not that real.  I don't want to scare anybody or make them lose their appetite.  But this is my second pair of jammies since the 1st pair were puktized in the wee hours.

So I have had a lot of time to think about things.  Like what Christmas looked like. 
How cute is Roo.



two beautiful girls

Isaac looks a little crazy or maybe he was a little hopped up waiting for Santa.  This was before the Christmas eve service then after we went to the Combs for great food and the start of the three days of gifts.  It was a bit crazy. 

The kids scored.  We got them an Xbox 360 kinect.  Jason and I were so excited.  I had been imagining lots of screaming and "mom, you are the best."

That was not the case instead I made Marien cry because she started opening a present (kinect game) and I wanted the kids to open the console first then the games.  After I startled her by loudly telling her to not open that gift.  She started to cry and said she was not opening any more gifts.  Way to kill the moment, mom!   After explaining and begging her to follow my well thought out plan she agreed but doesn't look too happy !

Thankfully all was made well with the arrival of Ellie and all her clothes! (Thank you Aunt Janie, Gigi and Nana!)

We had a great Christmas at Nana's with Uncle DJ and Aunt Tanelle.

After a great time on NYE with our friends, came the time to think about the New Year.  I haven't been one to make resolutions but I do like to make plans (I'm a bit of a planner).  Also I am so glad that 2011 is over.  It was a roller coaster year filled with crazy highs and the lowest lows I have ever had.  So the idea of coming up with "goals" seemed like a great way to get the year started but I didn't know with how or what. 

I have seen the idea of having a word for the year.  Last year I was not on board with that but this year I started thinking about it and the word "FORWARD" kept popping up.  The more I thought about it and what it means, the more I really liked it and have made it my "word for the year."  I feel like Jason and I were in a bit of a holding pattern especially after the kitchen remodel and other events of the past year. We had always looked forward to the kitchen remodel and didn't know what to do with ourselves after it.  I know it seems like a weird concept but we didn't have any new goals set after that.  Not for the house or anything else, we definitely had stalled.  But what happened was quiet time with God to really think about what was next in all areas of our life. 

What I discovered was that I didn't want a major word.  Instead I wanted a more low-key word.  One in which would allow for growth but without the need for huge expectations.  I feel like this word allows for that.  Any step or goal no matter how small allows for "forward" movement and that it what I need.  When I imagine this year, I see great possibilities but also the opportunity to close up or finish lots of projects and lose ends which in turn allows for new things to emerge and new forward movement to occur. 



the door I painted with chalkboard paint is a great place to remind us of moving forward.
So to sum it up and  I am quietly excited for 2012 and all of the little things that can happen.

Oh yeah, this happened recently.  So glad that it finally came out he was looking a little snaggled-tooth.

 
  Happy 2012! Maybe one of my plans will be to spend more time on this blog. Baby steps.

Hallelujah!!!

The skies have parted and the angels are singing!
It is that time of year again...

I know I shouldn't even admit this, but I seriously get giddy when I know these sweet babies are hitting the store shelves.
Then you throw in one of these...

and life is good!
Some people might know that I have a "slight" (ahem) addiction to M&M's.  But what these same people might not know is that I have a "slightly" bigger addiction to Mint M&M's.  I haven't even opened the bag yet because I don't trust myself.  Once it is open all bets are off!   (but I did plan ahead, I bought two bags.  I would have bought more but I was too embarrassed.)

I love the holidays!



PURE HEAVEN

  I might have to put the kids to bed early!
Enjoy your holidays!    

All that Halloween Jazz

Well we did it.  I feel like Halloween was a month long event.  Once you factor in pumpkin patch trips, trips to the store to get pumpkins for the kid who didn't get to go to the pumpkin patch, shopping for costumes, planning for parties, going to parties and finally trick or treating.  All I'm saying is I'm glad it's November 1st.
Here are a few pics of the last couple of weeks.
First up the pumpkin patch.

I know lame, I only got one picture of my girls in front of a blow up pumpkin and none of them with the real pumpkins.  Next up...carving! 

my picky eater

eewww! pumpkin guts!

Marien digging in!



Their DAD, showing them how to play with pumpkin guts.
So mature!



Trying to get pictures outside as a single bolt of lightening and crack of thunder hit.
Explains the look on Marien's face.  Very spooky!



my lil' pumpkins with their pumpkins!

 Costumes and Parties.  We have a great group of friends and we have all had kids at the same time.  So we try to get together as much as possible.  We have pretty much always done some sort of harvest party.  And the big hit is the donut game.

We also did face painting

Now the costumes...


jedi




fairy princess




ladybug.  really, is there anything cuter than her tights?

 Alright, now that Halloween is done it's time to get ready for, I can't even say the word, but you know what I mean.