Tuesday, March 31, 2009

a little etsy love

For those of you that have never heard of Etsy let me tell you it is wonderful. It is a website of mostly handmade items for sale. I love browsing around all the cute handmade little girls dresses. I recently found this shop that has monogrammed dresses, blankets and baby items. They are also having a giveaway so go visit and browse around.
a little etsy love: Monday Giveaway-Noodles & Milk

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Monday, March 30, 2009

Our weekend

We had a super weekend. On Saturday we attempted to go to Ashley's cheer competition. THe doors were to open at 12:30 and the competition starts at 1. Well with these things they always run late so I told Aaron we should get there about 1 so that there won't be a long line, WRONG! Ashley called when we were about 5 minutes away and said the line is so long and the gym is at capacity so they 50 or so people waiting in line won't be able to come in until people stat leaving. I thought ok great we will just go and wait in line and as the competition goes on people will leave after their kid performs. A small detail I didn't know as that Ashley was 2nd so we didn't get to see her. It was a huge cluster with 5 schools competing in a gym at an elementary school, you do the math. She didn't mind that we missed her and decided to stay. Aaron and I went and ran some errands then went back later to pick her up.

Sunday morning Aaron woke me up saying there is pack ice in the bay. My first thought was what's that shining into our house revealing all that dust. Oh it's the sun! We went downtown to eat breakfast and then to Signal hill to take some pictures of all the ice that has travelled thousands of mile to amuse the people. We also went to Cape Spear and got some really great shots. I have found this cool website that is an animation that shows where the ice is. I am on the hunt for icebergs this year. Last year we only saw a few since we didn't get here until July. I am hoping that when my friends come to visit in 10 days there will be a few to see.  

Today is day 1 of the babies sleeping in the same room during nap time. Not going well!  They do so great at bed time. We put them in their bed and they go to sleep. At nap time it's the complete opposite. Today they babbled, played and laughed for about an hour until I decided to separate them. Now here it is 3:30 and Lily is sleeping but Preston isn't. I can here him in there playing with his music dinosaur and talking to himself.  Joy.... maybe I will just take them for a walk later since the sun is out. We will try again tomorrow. 

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Friday, March 27, 2009

Lily's whoa video




Follow up Friday!

Ethan, Zach and Emma's mom asked: What parenting techniques that you used for Ashley when she was small have you changed with the babies? Or has your parenting style basically stayed the same? 
Answer: Great question. I have thought about this lately since the babies are getting to the age where saying no is an everyday occurrence. I think with Ashley since I was so young when I had her (17) and I was a single mom for so long I was wayyyyyyy to laid back. She pretty much walked all over me. I was not firm in my discipline and she knew that if she begged long enough I would give in. All that has changed sine I have gotten older and of course since Aaron and I have been married since she was 8. With the babies I think it will be different because we have a 2 parent family from the beginning and I will be firm this time around.  

Mama Jean asked: I have always wondered what men feel like to women who are fat or obese. Do you think Aaron feels that he would love you if you became obese.  
Answer: This cracks me up Mama Jean. of course he would love me. Or at least I would hope so. He fell in love with me because I am me and I am sure a few extra pounds wouldn't change that.   

Betsy asked: If you had to move somewhere else in  the world for Aaron's job, and it couldn't be back to Texas, where would you want to go? :)
Answer: Well hmmmm that's a toughy. Maybe Louisiana if we couldn't go back to Texas. HA!! No really somewhere in the U.S. would be good. I couldn't imagine going to another country especially if they didn't speak english. 

Thursday, March 26, 2009

These cute babies!

Every day these babies get so much bigger and so much cuter. There are times when Aaron, Ashley and I can watch them and just crack up at all their funny little sounds and silly things they do. We are so LUCKY!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Q & A Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday! You know what that means. Ask away, any question as long as it's clean. Please come back for Follow up Friday!


Sunday, March 22, 2009

Friday, March 20, 2009

Follow up Friday

Mama Jean asked:
I KNOW THAT YOU AND AARON HAVE A TERRIFIC RELATIONSHIP, BUT, DO YOU FEEL THAT NOW THAT THE BABIES HAVE COME AND ASHLEY IS GROWING UP, YOU ARE GROWING CLOSER OF FURTHER APART?
Answer: I think we are always growing closer. When we went through the whole infertility thing it brought us closer. When we made the big move to Canada that brought us closer too. I think that day to day life and stress can weigh heavily on a marriage but it's the big things that really bring you closer as a couple.

Kim asked:
Have you found a church in Newfoundland to call home?

Answer: Regrettably, No. We have been on the look out but I think we are looking for something like the church we had back home and we aren't going to find that here. We want a non denominational casual type setting that is a positive environment for us as well as our kids. There is one that just opened and they are getting started that we might try. It's so hard to just go and not know what to expect.

Joe asked:
I think you're an awesome Mom and I know you take great care of your kids but what do you do for YOURSELF when you get sick?

Answer: Well as you know moms don't get many sick days. I am lucky to not be sick alot but when I do I feel like I am dying. That's the days when we just stay home and hope the kids are in a good mood. Aaron and Ashley help out alot even when I am not sick, I don't know how I would do it without them. Sick or not I try and do things for myself. I love to relax with a magazine, drink a few glasses of wine, veg out in front of the tv for hours.

Hope everyone has a super weekend! HAPPY SPRING

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

We have made the move

To forward facing car seat for Preston. HE LOVES IT!!!!! I am still nervous. I think I just read way to much stuff on the internet. He has finally made it to 23 pounds and I feel comfortable enough to turn him around. Now LITTLE LILY on the other hand won't be making the move, she is such a petite girl. She weighs in at only 20 pounds. It's crazy though because she eats as much if not more than Preston. I am sure it will catch up to her when she is 30 and doesn't understand why she can't just lose those last 10 pounds.

some what normal

Starting on Sunday the babies woke up about an hour after they went down for a nap. I thought it was just because everyone was home and there was more noise during nap than usual. So on Monday I put them down and the same thing happened. Except after nap I didn't have anyone there to help me with the aftermath of a short nap. Anytime the babies have problems with their naps I immediately think something has GOT to be wrong. It makes for a very long and interesting day when they wake up at 1 instead of 2:30 and don't go back to bed until 7.
So we move into Tuesday and I think things will be better I have a new outlook on the day that whatever was bothering them has passed. HA! It was the same thing but an hour and half instead of an hour. I go to feel around in their mouths and both babies have more teeth coming in. That would explain the puddle of drool that seep through my socks. I kept thinking someone needs to stop spilling water all over the floor. As soon as I get good at something some teeth or a growth spurt throws a kink in my chain. Today I really tired them out and made sure to give Tylenol before nap time.
Hello 3 hour nap where have you been in the past 3 days this tired momma has missed you dearly!!!!!!

Q & A Wednesday

Ask away......................... don't forget to check back on Friday for Follow up Friday! I hope to get some good questions this week.


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Sunday, March 15, 2009

Silent Sunday!

No 3 hour nap around here today. Actually only an hour so it's been a long day so far. Enjoy this week's pictures. We have another computer coming very soon so I will be able to upload all the pictures from my camera.







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Saturday, March 14, 2009

My scrapbooking blog

You are the first to be wlecomed to my new blog. I have only been working on it for about an hour but here is what I have so far. What do you think? Of course I need to put some scrap stuff on there too.

http://scrappingmomentsmilestonesandmemories.blogspot.com/

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Friday, March 13, 2009

Follow up Friday

Joe asked: Who has had the most influence in your life?
Answer: I would have to say growing up it was my parents. They have always been there for me no matter what. I knew I could always go to them with whatever was going on in my life. Now that I am older I would have to say my Aunt Diana. She is an amazing woman . She has a wonderful marriage, a full heart and is a wonderful mother.

Only one question this week. That was easy. We had quit a day yesterday. I got a call from Aaron's gma, Mama Jean asking if Aaron was ok. I didn't know anything about the helicopter crash. There was a helicopter here that crashed off the coast of Newfoundland. It really hit close to home for us because that is the same helicopter Aaron flies on when he goes to the rig.
Please pray for all the victims and their families.

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Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Blog Candy give away

If you love scrap booking and love give aways go check out this site: Sonia Kertznus, scraps4fun

I am seriously thinking about starting a scrap blog since here lately the family blog is turning into a scrap blog.


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Q & A Wednesday!

Here we are again on a beautiful blue sky day. Ask away and don't forget to come back on Friday for Follow up Friday!

I am off to fill up my bird feeders and maybe see if Kiki wants to go outside. Poor cat has been indoors for the whole winter.


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Tuesday, March 10, 2009

A perfect balance

When we lived in Houston I found myself always busy, always stressed and never enough time to breath. Now that we live in a place where I don't have much of a social life things are pretty easy. There isn't any traffic, not much socializing to do on the weekends and I only stress about where playgroup is, what's for dinner or why the house is a mess.
My good friend Jenn recently posted on her blog about this very topic. When we were talking last week I told her that the only reason my house is clean, the laundry is done and dinner is cooked is because of "the list" When I get up in the morning or the night before I make a list. It is basically a to do for the day. If I have to pick Ashley up from somewhere I use that as an opportunity to run into the store for some thing. Leaving the kids in the car with her makes a 30 min shopping trip more like 10.
Normally my list might have floors, laundry, dust, hot tub, windows, grocery items, things I need to google or maybe just a scrap book title floating around in my head.
Either way when I complete my list I reward my self by getting on the computer. I feel like if I get sucked into the computer first thing in the morning I will waste time when I could be doing something constructive. Isn't it sad that I put more pressure on myself than anyone does? I figure Aaron goes to work everyday to provide for our family there is no need for me to sit home and be lazy, though I could be but that pressure thing gets in the way.

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How I made the flowers

Well if you are a scrap booker then I you may have heard of the Cricut. It is a die cutting machine that can cut all sorts of shapes, fonts and designs. I cut the flowers and decreased the size by 1/4 before each cut. I then inked the edges, stuck together with glue dots and attached to dowels. I stuck in a metal pot with styrofoam and covered with moss.
If you don't have a cricut then you can print flowers on different colored paper to use. I found this one that would be cute you would just have to work on zooming in and out to get the right proportions.
Good luck and let me know if you try this. I would love to see your take on it.

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Monday, March 9, 2009

Spring is that you!

I love the spring time change. I love that at 7 o clock it's still day light. I made this little spring decor to help our family welcome spring!


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2 years ago today

I was in the middle of my second IVF cycle. We actually found out on March 29th that we were expecting. I have finally put my pregnancy pictures on paper. Boy oh boy was it fun looking at the pictures and reminisce about how huge I got. The last picture a week before the babies were born is amazing. I don't even remember being THAT big!
Our fall family picture.



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Sunday, March 8, 2009

Silent Sunday!

Sorry so late posting these. When the babies went down for thier nap I fell asleep too, for 3 hours!!! We did the same thing last Sunday, I could really get used to this.



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Saturday, March 7, 2009

Copy cat kids

The babies have started something really funny & cute, well cuter than normal. They have started to copy things other people do. This morning at breakfast Aaron and I were done eating but we were still at the table talking. Aaron stretched his arms out and put them behind his head. He said "look at them" both babies were sitting there with their arms behind their head just like daddy. It was hilarious!! It's so funny how just one day they started copying. They must see me put the child lock on the cabinet 10 times a day because now when it's off both babies will go over and try to put it on. Preston and Lily are really cued into things being out of place they will put the magnet toys on the fridge, put the balls back in the ball pit and even put shoes back where they go. I think they might be a little ocd like their momma! Lily is into trying to repeat what you say these days. Yesterday Aaron was reading a book and he got to a sheep and said "baa baa" Lily looked at him and said it loud and proud, "baa baa" Just when you think they are too small to listen or pay attention they surprise you. Now we really have to watch what we say and do. Next thing I know they will be dropping a 4 letter word in the middle of playgroup. No maybe not but you see what I'm saying!

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Friday, March 6, 2009

Follow up Friday!

Hajar asked:

Do your babies still drink milk at night, or do you just give them water when they want something in the middle of the night?

Answer: They get a cup of milk with there dinner between 5:30 and 6. They very rarely wake in the middle of the night unless they are teething or sick. If they do wake I will go in and see what the issue is and give Tylenol (if needed), calm them down and put back to bed. If my kids wake up it's not because they are thirsty, it's a sign that there is something wrong. hehe

Joe asked:
On the way to the electric chair, what's your last meal?

Answer: I thought about this one alot. I knew for sure a filet cooked medium from Ruth's Chris. It is the best steak in the world! I would also include Aaron's momma's crawfish etoufee, my dad's chicken fried steak, some fried sweet potatoes and a glass of my momma's sweet tea. For dessert I would have a nice big bowl of Blue Bell Moo-llennium crunch ice cream. I would end with a margarita on the rocks with salt! Can you tell I really though about this?

Even though I only got 2 questions this week they are great one's. Joe you come up with some that really make me think.



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Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Back to basics

So I admit I am not a huge fan of Oprah, in fact she irritates the snot out of me on most days. I dvr her everyday anyway. I was catching up last night and one show really made me think. It was Monday's show about living a simpler life. I loved most of the things that were incorporated and think all families could benefit from these, not only in a tough economy, but always!

*family meals- I love this and we eat as a family every night. We even eat breakfast together on the weekends. I think time spent around the table is some of the best memories I have with my family.
*T.V- more and more families these days spend too much time in front of this distraction. I would love for families to turn the tv off and pull out those old pictures albums/year books/baby books, play a game, read books or take a walk.
*Talk to one another. With the internet, texting, blogging, facebook, blackberry technology we have today it's a wonder we even know how to have a conversation anymore. Take time to talk to each other. I try to call my mom every other day even if it's just to say hi and to hear her voice. Aaron and I both make it a point to ask Ashley how her day was and to see what's going on in her world.

I hope that despite the tough economy families will be brought closer together.

Give me your tips on what brings your family closer.

Q & A Wednesday!

I am actually surprised about how long this has been going. I thought for sure no one would be interested and it would fizzle away. I love it, so ask away.
Come back for Follow up Friday!


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Monday, March 2, 2009

What's with me

Lately I have been so scattered brained. Maybe it's age, maybe hormones or maybe I am really nuts. I have been forgetting things for example, yesterday was a mom's night out. I mentioned it to Aaron on Friday but from then until last night I completely forgot all about it. After we put the babies to bed last night I went to soak in the tub and Aaron comes in and says are you going? I said going where? He said Beth is here to pick you up. I scream oh crap I totally forgot. What mom on this earth would forget mom's night out. Seriously!
I have decided to start drinking less caffeine and trying to get to bed earlier. I usually drink a diet coke with dinner and end up staying up until past midnight. I am not sure what else to do besides get more sleep.

Everything else around here is going great. We are still blessed with great sleepers. The babies go to bed at 7 and wake at 7:30. I have been busy scrapbooking. I have taken on a few projects: a recipe swap, which is a swap between 5 ladies that scrapbook 5 recipes each and mail them to Jenn in Houston who sorts and mails them. I will get 25 recipes back to add to my collection. We did one in the fall and it was a great success. I am also working on mommy albums which is a scrapbook/advice book that will go in the Cypress Calling shower baskets, I am making 10 of these. Aaron has been busy with work, guitar and video games. Ashley is Miss Social Butterfly always on the go.

My aunt, uncle and cousin have made their flight arrangements to come to visit in July. We are so excited to have family here to hang out with us and see our lives in Canada. I think Aaron's mom and Mama Jean are going to try and come up in May or June since we aren't going to Texas/Louisiana until the end of July.
The snow seems to be on it's way out though I have heard from the locals that we will get one more big storm. As for now it's mostly slush instead of snow.

Have a good week!

Sunday, March 1, 2009