Princesses and Pirates...

Today we went to another birthday party for one of audreys classmates, when we walked into the place the birthday girl ran up to Audrey gave her a hug and then another little boy bombarded her with another hug and she burst into tears...i was like 'here we go again...' shes not the most social person so I feel like we need to go to these events to get her used to these situations. but I'll admit at the moment I was worried maybe we shouldn't have come.
There was open play time in the slide room and she wouldn't go in, Ethan was more than willing to roam in. She eventually warmed up and had a blast and didn't want to go home. Pheew, I made the right choice.  There were two little boys who were dressed as pirates, it was so adorable, i think Ethan should be a pirate this coming Halloween now. they gave all the girls pink crowns, bracelets and star wands and the boys got eye patches, pirate hats and swords. they were very nice and even gave Ethan a sword and hat. he also LOVED the cupcake as did Audrey. It was an awesome place in the little eclectic museum part of Richmond. 5 stars to this place so sure.

We first got there audrey was pretty timid, notice ethan was NOT

This was the slide area

Musical Instrument time..audrey was sitting on the couch with me, she can be shy sometimes

She warmed up though

Ahoy Mate!

The pirates eating their cupcakes

The princess eating their cupcakes

Ethan loved it :)

New Furniture...New Look

We have had a couch we bought off a work type craigslist for 6 years now. they had advertised it as an IKEA couch, but who knows if it really is. It started to get some rips in the fabric, so I patched them, but then it started to have rips EVERYWHERE...cath told me not to even move it from PA to VA, but we did. It was in the office, and had basically become the dogs bed. Well I had heard that January is the best time to buy furniture so I said to Ryan on Thursday, If we are going to get a new couch we have to do it this month. So yesterday we went to "THE DUMP" its a warehouse type place that is only open friday-sundays, all sales final, they get the overstock of other stores I guess.
So last night after the kids naps we went to and bought not only a new couch, but a Chair and ottoman to match. Ryans favorite thing about it is that it was made in the USA. ha ha
Here are some before and after pictures of the room. I think it looks so nice now.

Before: Looking in

Before: Looking out...thats the new chair

After: looking in

After: Looking out

Happy 1st Birthday Ethan!

We got ethan balloons for his birthday, they were quite a hit

Its my birthday!

I'm how old?

Syracuse won!! What a nice birthday present

I'm loving this cake stuff

I think audrey might love it more though, she's licking the plate clean

Ride 'em cowboy!

hi :)

Jumphouse

Today we took Audrey to her friend Jeremy's third birthday party at a bounce house type place that does birthday parties. I'm guessing you can just go and play at times too. Audrey wasn't acting normal all day- she hardly ate or drank anything and was just generally out of sorts. the party was at 1 - her "normal" nap time. But i really want to go to see what this place was and to see how birthday parties go. Well Audrey fell asleep on our way there (and we were 35 minutes late to begin with) so we had to wake her up when we got there and she was just a bear. She finally warmed up when I went into a bounce house with her. but she only ate 2 bites of pizza and didn't want cake! so with that I knew something is wrong. hopefully tomorrow she is feeling better. We went to bed extra early tonight. I have no idea what could be wrong. she is warm but no fever. I may call the doctor tomorrow to see. Here are some pictures, she did have a few fun moments on the birthday chair and lots of friends from daycare were there.

Ryan trying to talk audrey in going down the big blow up slide, he failed

The big Batman jump house

Audrey and Mommy in a bounce house

Audrey having fun finally

Ethan would have had a blast if we had let him in...but he was too little

Ryan enjoying the blackberry party

Pizza Time

Sitting on the birthday throne with a friend from school

Audrey Sleep habits

3 weeks ago bedtime routine:

We say its bed time, audrey grabs her milk and marches upstairs. We take a bath, get dressed, drink milk, read 3-4 books, always ending with a biscuit book, brush teeth and hair, hugs, tell her to go get bunny foo-foo (her lovey) and cover her up turn off the lights and leave. done.


The last few days (and the WHOLE vacation):

We say its bed time - there are tears and jumping up and down NO!. we finally get upstairs after some coaxing. we take a bath, get dressed, every few minutes "where are we going to go to sleep?" drink milk, read a story, brush teeth and hair, once we start the walk back to the bedroom the tears and screams start. I don't want to sleep in there! Sleep on the floor daddy! I don't want to go to bed! leave the light on! leave the door open!

we tried to let her just cry it out and put the safety thing on the door handle so she couldnt open her bedroom door. we left and went downstairs to watch on the video and she was screaming at the top of her lungs and crying. she left the view of the camera and we hear "i dont want my pajamas!!" then after a minute or two we hear her crying in the hallway. ryan went up and she was down to her diaper and had busted the safety device and got out of the room. ryan thinks she would have chewed her way out if she had to. I don't understand what happened. but i hope we get back to the normal routine REAL quick.

Christmas Whirlwind

well we made it through our trip!

1. Drove 1500 miles
2. Stayed at 4 different houses (kids atleast)
3. Had 4 christmases
4. Drank lots of beer and wine
5. Attempted to ski/snowboard...semi successfully
6. Had 2 birthday parties
7. Took 700 pictures
8. Had one allergic reaction
9. Had one fever
10. Had to sleep on the floor next to audreys pack-n-play 10 nights (and counting)

But it was fun! We had so much fun seeing everyone and people FINALLY got to meet ethan. But I am glad we don't have to do that again anytime soon.

Survivor #8 - FINAL

WOW. i did not want Fabio to win...did he not annoy you? Congrats though Faye!

Becky: Alina & Tyrone (paid)
Carrie: Chase & Jimmy T
Cath: Purple Kelly & Dan (paid)
Dave: Kelly B & Wendy (paid)
Emily: Shannon & Jimmy J (paid)
Faye: Fabio & Jane (paid)
Junior: Sash & Holly (paid)
Mike: NaOnka & Marty (paid)
Ryan: Brenda & Yve (paid)
Sarah: Benry & Jill (paid)

Holiday Open House

The Nester is having her Holiday Tour of Homes this week.. I thought it would be fun to join in this year.

Here are my christmas decorations:

My cute little helper

My wine and nativity scene

My mohawk bread pan and a santa candle

elf on the shelf - Frodo

I have a Santa Theme

The tree and mantle

This is how audrey decorates the tree, all on one limb

My other cute helper

Cookies

We made a BUNCH of cookies today...its not as fun when you have to make all of them yourself...cookie parties are much more fun. BUT we got them all done and bagged to give as gifts. Enjoy some pictures!

my little helper

all of our supplies

Some of the finished product

Some more finished product

Sharing with Daddy

loving the batter

Day 26 - Picture of your family

Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts
Day 2-Your love
Day 3-Your parents
Day 4-Your siblings
Day 5- Your Children
Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 7-Favorite movies
Day 8-A place you've traveled to
Day 9-A picture of your friends
Day 10-Something you're afraid of
Day 11-Favorite tv shows
Day 12-What you believe
Day 13-Goals
Day 14-A picture you love
Day 15-Bible verse
Day 16-Dream house
Day 17-Something you're looking forward to
Day 18-Something you regret
Day 19-Something you miss
Day 20-Nicknames
Day 21-Picture of yourself
Day 22-Favorite city
Day 23-Favorite vacation
Day 24-Something you've learned
Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
Day 26-Picture of your family
Day 27-Pets
Day 28-Something that stresses you out
Day 29-3 Wishes
Day 30-a picture

Day 25 - Put your ipod on shuffle, first 10 songs

Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts
Day 2-Your love
Day 3-Your parents
Day 4-Your siblings
Day 5- Your Children
Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 7-Favorite movies
Day 8-A place you've traveled to
Day 9-A picture of your friends
Day 10-Something you're afraid of
Day 11-Favorite tv shows
Day 12-What you believe
Day 13-Goals
Day 14-A picture you love
Day 15-Bible verse
Day 16-Dream house
Day 17-Something you're looking forward to
Day 18-Something you regret
Day 19-Something you miss
Day 20-Nicknames
Day 21-Picture of yourself
Day 22-Favorite city
Day 23-Favorite vacation
Day 24-Something you've learned
Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
Day 26-Picture of your family
Day 27-Pets
Day 28-Something that stresses you out
Day 29-3 Wishes
Day 30-a picture

sorry i am - Ani Difranco
Ten Little Teddy Bear Boys - Mother Goose
Way Back Home - The Wreckers
Who put the stump? - Bob Rivers
Distance - Karsh Kale
She'll Be Comin Round the Mountain - Baby Genius
Smile - Lily Allen
32 flavors - Ani Difranco
Enter Sandman - Metallica
Leave It - Seven Nations

Day 24-Something you've learned

Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts
Day 2-Your love
Day 3-Your parents
Day 4-Your siblings
Day 5- Your Children
Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 7-Favorite movies
Day 8-A place you've traveled to
Day 9-A picture of your friends
Day 10-Something you're afraid of
Day 11-Favorite tv shows
Day 12-What you believe
Day 13-Goals
Day 14-A picture you love
Day 15-Bible verse
Day 16-Dream house
Day 17-Something you're looking forward to
Day 18-Something you regret
Day 19-Something you miss
Day 20-Nicknames
Day 21-Picture of yourself
Day 22-Favorite city
Day 23-Favorite vacation
Day 24-Something you've learned
Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
Day 26-Picture of your family
Day 27-Pets
Day 28-Something that stresses you out
Day 29-3 Wishes
Day 30-a picture

I've learned...oh  I would like to believe that I have learned many many things...i guess most of all I have learned to enjoy every day of your life.

Survivor #7

What the Eff?!!  I so can not believe that both of them quit....such RA-tards

Becky: Alina & Tyrone (paid)
Carrie: Chase & Jimmy T
Cath: Purple Kelly & Dan (paid)
Dave: Kelly B & Wendy (paid)
Emily: Shannon & Jimmy J (paid)
Faye: Fabio & Jane (paid)
Junior: Sash & Holly (paid)
Mike: NaOnka & Marty (paid)
Ryan: Brenda & Yve (paid)
Sarah: Benry & Jill (paid)

Day 23 - Favorite Vacation

Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts
Day 2-Your love
Day 3-Your parents
Day 4-Your siblings
Day 5- Your Children
Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 7-Favorite movies
Day 8-A place you've traveled to
Day 9-A picture of your friends
Day 10-Something you're afraid of
Day 11-Favorite tv shows
Day 12-What you believe
Day 13-Goals
Day 14-A picture you love
Day 15-Bible verse
Day 16-Dream house
Day 17-Something you're looking forward to
Day 18-Something you regret
Day 19-Something you miss
Day 20-Nicknames
Day 21-Picture of yourself
Day 22-Favorite city
Day 23-Favorite vacation
Day 24-Something you've learned
Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
Day 26-Picture of your family
Day 27-Pets
Day 28-Something that stresses you out
Day 29-3 Wishes
Day 30-a picture

2004- St Thomas

it was our honeymoon and it was so awesome...besides the iguanas that is. we spent 7 days, 6 nights I believe and we had a condo- time share, it was 2 bedroom slept like 20 people. had a kitchen, we rented a car and could go anywhere we wanted. there was a pool and hotub right outside our room- 3 restaurants right there. it was awesome. I loved it. i dont think i would go back though, because of the iguanas :)