Good Things

I can't believe I haven't done a "good things" since March! Lots of good things lately...

Ellie and her 'posh puppy from Fancy Nancy'. She got it for Christmas and I'm impressed that it is still a beloved toy and not forgotten about...as many Christmas toys seem to be by this time of year.

Our waffle routine has now turned into a pancake routine. One Saturday our waffle iron broke so Kenny made pancakes instead and the girls quickly decided they like pancakes just as much. Apparently so does Ellie's manatee.

Summer flowers.

Play time in the tub. Since it's summer and we seem to be staying out late I've been bathing the girls in the morning instead of at night. I love to throw them in my big tub and listen to them play while I get ready. This morning they were playing with their Peter Pan toys and their conversation went something like this:

E "Are you a nice crocodile or a mean one?"

A "I'm a nice crocodile"

E "What's your name? Say 'Silver Mist' Add"
A "Silver Mist. Tick tock tick tock."

E "Would you like some sandwiches and cookies crocodile? Say 'sure' Add"

A "Sure"

E "You can stay longer crocodile"

A "It's so nice and warm in here. Tick tock tick tock."

Train rides. Especially nice now that Addison is three and I don't have to join them on the train. Much more fun to just watch...and maybe take a picture or two. :)

Quick and easy dinners.

(Eating Right Chicken Chow Mein)

New couch pillows to brighten up the living room and my green couches. Green couches that even though I'm getting tired of I can't bear to part with. They are WAY too comfortable (ask anyone who has sat on them) and the couches, along with Kenny, popcorn, a good flick, and my laptop, are what I look forward to most at the end of a long day.

Straight braids (because mine usually end up slanted off to one side or completely uneven).

Forever 21! What a great store. I love all the of the colors and everything is so cheap! I'm a firm believer in not spending a lot of money on tops. Styles come and go so quickly and I'd rather spend my money on a great pair of jeans that I'll have awhile. So...Forever 21 is my go to place. I think I'll be shopping there forever. Or at least until I'm 21.

New beach chairs from Costco and the start of 'beach days' in general.

Cream Cheese Jalapeno Poppers. I love these things so much, although I don't like the big boxes they come in. I always throw the box away first thing and just keep them in their plastic sack. That way I save room in my freezer. And that way I don't have to be reminded of exactly how much fat, sodium, and cholesterol is in just one measly little popper. Ignorance really is bliss.

And to work off calories from all those poppers I've been eating, I tried my first spin class at the gym. Not sure if I liked it. The teacher kept yelling out "Now you're passing! Now you're drafting! Now you're sprinting!" ...I was pretty sure all I was doing was pedaling and sweating.

Kenny leaving one sock on and taking one sock off each night to regulate his body temperature.

(and he calls me quirky???)

Toy organization. I've been cleaning out my girls' toys lately and it feels so good to SIMPLIFY. Plus I just like to categorize.

I'm so excited about my new "family organizer". I found it on-line here and I love it! Not the cutest cover, but such a great way to keep a grocery list, to-do list, meal list, and schedule all on one easy to see page. (I often use my "menu" column to organize blog posts and projects...but I like to know it's there in case I ever decide to start planning meals and cooking). I was using my old teacher plan books until I came across this little beauty. Keeps me so organized. I love it!

Peppered turkey at my grocery store deli. I can be a bit of a "turkey snob" (according to certain friends) and let me tell you...the peppered turkey at my local grocery store is the best. Hands down. And I know turkey.

Putting Addison down for a nap and watching Olivia and eating Popsicles with Ellie. We snuggle in Kenny's massive Charger blanket because Popsicles always make us so cold.

The excitement that takes place when I turn on the vacuum cleaner. You'd think it was Christmas. My girls love to run away from the vacuum and make quite a game of going room to room with me running in circles. I've been known to turn it on once in awhile, not because I need to vacuum, but simply to provide quick and easy entertainment. Yes - I have really clean carpets.

A successful presentation at Ellie's pre-school.

Her pre-school graduation was today (pics to come soon) and I can't believe I have a Kindergartener. I'm trying to convince myself that this is a good thing.

The smell of Jasmine in my yard. Sure sign and smell of summer! It's especially fun to smell through my open windows on a summer night...when I'm staying up way too late...blogging about good things.

Good Things

Yea for Spring! Best time of the year in my opinion. Color color color. Sun is shining, flowers are blooming, and it just seems to make everyone so happy. Added bonus is the anticipation of summer right around the corner and all of the fun trips and activities that come along with that. So glad it's March!

Park days! If only I had a dollar for every time I've been to the park... It's especially fun on the weekends when the whole family goes. Ellie is way too big for these swings but when there aren't many people around I love to throw her in one so my girls are both contained in the same spot. Love that they always have a "friend" along for the ride and I love the scrunch nose face Ellie has been pulling quite a bit lately. :)

Tea parties!

A few new Spring finds for the girls! Spring shopping is another reason I love this time of year. Everything is so bright and colorful. Can't wait to see my girls in these sun hats at the beach. Also can't seem to get enough of seeing Addie's cute little tush in brightly colored panties!

And a few Spring finds for me! I'm in a bit of a Guess phase right now and since their clothes are a bit too promiscuous, I'm all about their accessories. I've loved this cream purse and the green bag is perfect for coloring books, crayons, and snacks. I grab it on my way to church, the doctor, and anywhere else I might need some quick entertainment for the girls.

How fabulous are these shoes!? I LOVE LOVE LOVE them! I call them my "2 hour shoes" because that is definitely the limit for how long I can wear these babies. I wore them to church last Sunday and sat by a sweet lady named Marge (90 or so years old) and this was our conversation:

Marge: "Oh honey! Those shoes are amazing!"

Me: "Thanks! I know right? I just got them."

Marge: "Can you dance in them?"

Me: "Hardly! I'm still working on walking in them!"

Marge: "Back in the day I had shoes just like that and I wore them to do the jitterbug. Mmmm...love those shoes!"

Marge is my new best friend. :)

Strawberry shortcake band-aids. They seem to be the perfect thing for halting tears these days.

Driving on the coast with Ellie's new favorite song blaring (Trouble by Lenka...playing on my play list right now).

Comments from Kenny on my blog. My husband doesn't comment very often (has twice) but I sure love it when he does. Gives a few people a peek into the sarcasm I deal with on a daily basis. As much as his constant sarcasm drives me crazy (it can be especially frustrating when I'm really trying to have a serious conversation with him) I do love it. He makes me laugh every day. (Kenny's comments are here and here)

Evidence of my girls all over the place. Little "friends" seem to magically pop up around the house...in front of my shower, behind the end table, around my shoes in the closet...

Evenings at the beach.

A clean, organized bathroom drawer. When asking Kenny for the millionth time this morning to put his crap back in the cupboard when he's finished with it he said, "you know what we need...two houses. One that you can keep perfectly organized and one that we can actually live in!"

Hmm...that's actually not a bad idea.

Waking up to this cute face and morning hair. The lighting in this picture really shows how red her hair has been looking lately. I love it! She is Irish ya know. ;)

I got these display boards at Pottery Barn last year for the play room and they have been a perfect place to display the fun art the girls are creating in pre-school. They get so excited to hang up their art when they get home and I love that their creativity isn't taking over my kitchen!

Cuties! These mini oranges are just perfect for a quick snack. I love how easy they are to peel and eat on the go. Plus they are just like their name - too cute!

My girls laughing. It's not just a good thing - it's the best thing. :)

Good Things

Yesterday was the best day. We woke up to POURING rain - I'm talking torrential downpour. It was dark, wet, windy and cold. I was so not in the mood to bundle the girls up in rain gear and send Ellie to preschool. (Stuck indoors with hyper-active children... I remember all to well from teaching school what rainy days are like!) Plus I wasn't in the mood to take off my pajamas. So I didn't. I kept Ellie with me and the three of us stayed home. All day. We never left the house. Usually this isn't possible with my little ones because they get stir crazy and start to drive ME crazy, but for some reason the stars aligned and everyone was happy and in the mood to be home. We watched the rain (so did Ellie's "friends"), made Valentine cards, watched a movie together (Return to Neverland), and then the girls played together while I cleaned, did laundry and a little scrapbooking. Kenny came home from work that evening and we all looked just like we did when he left. It was a perfect pajama day and I went to bed that night feeling very lucky to have spent such a fun day at home with my girls.

Spring sandals are in! I love Target sandals for my girls. They are so cute and so cheap! AND how cute are these shirts for $5 each. Love them! I'm still actually debating if Target is really a good thing since I go there for paper plates, cereal and toilet paper and leave with new clothes and shoes for the girls, a pair of earrings, new scrapbook supplies, seasonal home decor, organizing bins, and ANOTHER pair of pajama bottoms. We have a love/hate relationship with Target at our house. I (the buyer of all things too cute to pass up) love it. Kenny (the family financial planner) hates it. Don't worry babe. Target just may have a surprise or two for you as well.

The sound of popcorn popping. Great sound. Means the girls are in bed and it's time to sit down, pull out my laptop, turn on the tv, and chill with Kenny.

Daddy's home from work!

The smile on Ellie's face when I pick her up at pre-school.

Listening to Addison playing pretend. Especially when she puts all of her little "friends" in time-out. Clearly she has spent a great deal of time there herself.

LOVE LOVE LOVE Golden Spoon yogurt. A hangout I frequent often. I banned the place for awhile after my Coach sunglasses were stolen there. I left them on the counter, stepped outside to check on my girls, and when I came back they were gone. They were an anniversary present from Kenny and I was SO mad. But...sunglasses have been replaced and I couldn't stay away from Golden Spoon for long. The place calls my name. (New York Cheesecake is to die for!)

So we've had a bit of an obsession at our house. The show: Yo Gabba Gabba. The plot: there is none. The music: terrible. The characters: hideously strange animal/alien things. The host: strange, skinny black man in awful orange wig. The problem with all of this (aside from the obvious): my girls love it! This show is so bad I never know whether to laugh or cry when it's on! It came on once at the end of a Little Bear we had recorded and Addison fell IN LOVE with the characters. She has assigned us all one to be...she is Toodee (the blue cat/dragon), Ellie is Foofa (the pink flower thing), Kenny is Muno (the one-eyed red guy), I'm Brobee (the green one "because mommy loves green"), and Dayna - my sister-in-law is Plex (the yellow robot). Addison worships Dayna. Are these names for real? Anyway - the show is awful but I get the biggest kick out of seeing my girls when it's on. They are GLUED to the TV or they are up dancing along with the weirdos. So...because Addison learned to go potty and Ellie was such a good helper my cute mom mailed them their own Toodee and Foofa dolls. They were ecstatic. (thanks mom!) Guess I'm stuck being Brobee and watching this strange show a little longer...

Girls...these are vegetables. And a blue fruit we don't usually eat. I'm TRYING to feed my girls more veggies. It's not going well so far... Addison exclaims "pee-yew stinky diaper!" every time she sees them on her plate (that's what she says anytime she doesn't like something). Oh well. I feel good about making an attempt and plan on being persistent. I don't scare that easily.

The current edition of CK (my fav scrapbook magazine). First of all my idol Becky Higgins is on the front - AND get this... it's a special organization issue.
I was beyond giddy when this came in the mail!

Along with Addison's Gabba Gabba obsession she is also in love with this outfit. This green shirt and white skirt are all she wants to wear anymore. Has to put it on first thing in the morning...then if I have the strength... I fight her to get other clothes on to leave the house. Then the second we're home again the outfit goes right back on. Most days (if it's warm enough) I just let her wear it. She has had this on everyday for the last month. I'm so sick of this outfit! I have to wash it at night when she's asleep. Good thing? Not really right now, but I'll save this outfit and I'm quite sure that someday I'll look back on it as a good thing.

So I love zoning out and letting my mind wander. Something about the random randomness of my thoughts always makes me happy. I tend to zone out at various times throughout the day. (Often happens whenever Kenny starts a discussion including words like taxes, finance, or bills) Some may call this being spacey, but I like to think my mind is extremely complex and always needs to be in motion. :) This happens whenever I'm on the treadmill, which is why I like treadmills so much. A few random thoughts during this morning's jog...

Is today only Tuesday? ....I have GOT to call and find out what I need to do to get Ellie registered for Kindergarten ....wait - today is Koni's b-day! Crap. Forgot to send a card. Why didn't I write that on my to-do list? Oh yeah, I did. I just didn't read my to-do list....I wish I looked like Natalie Portman....thank goodness for this song (So What by Pink) because it's the only thing keeping my feet moving right now....I need new gym shoes....is American Idol on tonight?....I should wash sheets today....my new camera is probably too big to carry around with me everywhere....wish I knew how to wink....why am I thinking about winking?....love it when my mind wanders....I should put this as a good thing on my blog.

Good Things

'Bright eyed and Blueberry' Jamba Juice AND being able to get through the grocery store with my two year old because she has one as well. More of it ends up on her shirt than in her mouth but at least I'm not plowing people over in the aisles trying to catch my little curly headed girl as she runs away from me.

A clean house and garage after recovering from Christmas craziness and travel.

Target sacks. Best garbage liner you can find. They're much bigger and stronger than the regular grocery store sacks. My mom and I judge whether or not it was a "good Target day" based on how many extra sacks we are able to convince the store clerk to give us. My mom is the master. She has been "moving her classroom" for four years now.

New Christmas toys! My girls have been so content to stay at home and play with all of their new stuff. Almost a little too content. They have been protesting leaving the house, getting dressed, and having their hair done. So much so that I have just given up on it! Here they are riding around the neighborhood mid-day in their new Barbie Jeep with wild hair and pajamas still on. Oh well...they're happy! (love that they take their kitty cats in the back of the jeep on each ride)

Automatic pencil sharpeners

Fun Date night. We explored "Little Italy" in downtown San Diego Saturday night and found the best little Italian restaurant. Good food with good friends!

Sunday walk with my family

Speaking of Sunday walk, we are finally enjoying Fall... in January. The Seasons are so messed up here! In October when you want a chill in the air and colorful leaves, we're sweating in our Halloween costumes. In January when it's supposed to be "hole up in your house by the fireplace" weather it's warm and the leaves drop. Then in June when everyone else is at the pool, "June Gloom" sets in on the coast leaving it cloudy and cool. Through it all the temperature only varies by about 10 degrees. Takes a little getting used to...but I love it!

Jack Johnson. I've loved listening to Jack Johnson lately when we are home just cleaning and doing our thing. Mellow, happy music - it just seems to set the right tone. I'm hoping that playing music in the house more will help me keep one New Year's goal - less TV. (For the girls of course. I'm not giving up any of my regularly recorded programs.)

Speaking of regularly recorded programs, I'm loving The Mentalist. I developed a slight crush on Simon Baker in Devil Wears Prada - had to check him out in this Fall's new drama.

Ellie's Saturday morning cartoon of choice these days is Smurfs. Takes me right back to my childhood and I find myself still captivated with Brainey's brains, Smurfette's cuteness, and Papa Smurf's infinite wisdom.

My new Teacher's Plan Book. Not teaching again... just had an "ah ha" moment and realized it works great as an every day planner with room for to-do lists on the side.

Phone calls with my mom. My mom and I each set a New Year's Goal when we were together over Christmas that we weren't going to talk to each other on our cell phones when driving. Even though I use my earpiece (California law you know) it's still dangerous. And there's the fact that when talking on my cell phone while driving I've been known to miss a freeway exit...or two or three. So my mom and I had a good laugh when in the first week of January she called and we were both in our cars...and of course HAD to discuss something. We'll try again next year mom!

Love my little Picassos!

I've heard some buzz about picking out a word each year for a New Year's goal...a word that describes what you want to focus on for the year. I've decided that my word for 2009 is going to be "ACTION." I'm great at planning, making lists, and thinking about projects I'd love to do, but not so good at just diving in and getting them done. SO...this is going to be my year to complete things I've been planning to complete for quite a while now. Wish me luck!!! ***Nice that when I told Kenny my word for the year he had a VERY different meaning in mind. This is a G - rated blog so I won't go into details. :)

Good Things

It's December!!! I have a to-do list a mile long right now (as I'm sure everyone does this month) but blogging just sounded more fun than most of my to-do list. Besides, EVERYTHING is a good thing this month. :)

I'm so happy my girls are feeling better! The week before Thanksgiving they both got the stomach flu. Addison had it the worst and was sleeping so much I was a little worried. You know something is wrong when your two year old just wants to lay around. Luckily they recovered just in time for turkey. Addison is up to her usual tricks and all is well again.

I came upstairs the other night to find Addie sitting in the dress-up drawer in her Minnie Mouse ensemble. The bedroom floor was covered in dresses as it usually is. She loves to change from one dress into another. Such a girl!

Ellie is my little Christmas angel. She is a total mini-me and LOVES everything about this time of year. We've had so much fun decking the halls together. When she was a baby I bought a little "baby's first Christmas" Santa hat for her. She gets so excited to pull it out every year with the Christmas stuff. Here are some pics of Ellie in her hat...

{Ellie - 11 months}

{Ellie - 2 & Addison - 7 months}

I called Ellie to come downstairs because it was time to leave for gymnastics Tuesday morning and this is what appeared in the kitchen ready to go. :) She wears the hat all the time! She even slept in it the other night.

Listening to Christmas music (especially the Chipmunks...I love the Chipmunks). I took the picture above yesterday. Addie was down for a nap so Ellie and I turned on the Christmas music and I cleaned and decorated while she colored Christmas pictures. Such a fun afternoon.

A nap with football on (isn't football the best thing to nap to?)

Conversations with my husband. Kenny is the king of sarcasm and it seems we rarely have serious conversations with each other. Typical conversation...

Kenny: "Erin you have got to watch your Verizon minutes...do you know how long you've talked on the phone this month!? 1700 minutes. That's about 30 hours you've wasted on the phone!"

Erin: "Sorry babe. I was talking to my boyfriend in Spain. He loves my voice and just can't seem to get enough of it."

Kenny: "He better be a Verizon user so I'm not paying for those minutes."

Staples. I love Staples. All kinds of school supplies and organizers. Such a fun store.

Just the last few days it has finally cooled off a little and we turned our heater on. YEA! Heaters smell like Christmas. I love the smell and sound of the heater. Hopefully San Diego will stay in the 60's for awhile and I can pull out my turtleneck and boots I've been dying to wear. It finally feels like Christmas in San Diego. Lights are on all the Palm Trees. :)

Speaking of lights...our outside lights are up and the yard screams Christmas! We put so many up this year (in addition to our big Frosty, Candy Canes, Rudolph, reindeer, and sleigh) that our house lights up our whole street! Kenny was such a good sport to help me - he doesn't share my enthusiasm for outdoor lights. Thanks again babe. The girls and I get so happy when it gets dark and we can check out our lights.

New Christmas tree this year! It doesn't look too much different than our old tree but there is a big difference in the amount of time we spent putting it up! Our old tree (which used to be my parents' tree) was such a pain! We had to put it together branch by branch and the thing was HUGE. The girls would get all excited to decorate the tree and then six hours later we'd finally have it assembled with lights. By then we were all so sick of it we weren't in the mood to decorate. Well not this year! First thing on my December to-do list was to buy a new tree and we found this one at Costco that I loved. Just the right size, branches are attached, lights already strung. So much easier to put together! Next year...time to buy new decorations? The snowman decorations I'm using are also old ones of my moms, but I don't know if I can part with them. They remind me of too many Christmases growing up. Good memories. :)

Family movie night! Watched Barbie's Christmas Carol all together in the play room. The girls loved having Kenny and me watch the whole thing with them. Of course half way through the movie they started playing with toys and it was Kenny and me who were glued to the tube. We're suckers for any feel good Christmas movie...even Barbie apparently. Can't wait to watch our favorite (aside from It's A Wonderful Life of course)...The Family Man. If you haven't seen it, it's a must see for December!

Speaking of good movies...went to Twilight last weekend with friends. It wasn't as good as the book (what movie ever is?), but I still loved it. I really liked Edward and Bella in it. Some of the Cullen family I wasn't as sold on (Rosalie and Jasper???), but overall they did a great job sticking to the story. Now I want to go re-read the books, but I can't let myself get sucked into that world again. It's a world where nothing else exists and my family suffers. Fun to see it on the big screen though!

My girls came down the stairs like this a few days ago. They told me they were off on a picnic with Rudolph and had to get away from all the bears and hot lava that was coming (once again). These nightgowns (courtesy of grandma) are their new outfit of choice when we're hanging at home.

Gilmore Girls re-runs. Man I miss that show.

LOVE Weiman Stainless Steel Wipes! Makes cleaning Stainless Steel appliances such a breeze. Great for all those little fingerprints. :)

Got my first Christmas present of the season! My cute friend Ann brought over a bucket of treats with the movie Elf. Her husband dressed up like Elf for Halloween and I felt so out of the loop because I hadn't seen the movie yet. She made sure to fix that. :) We watched the movie and loved the treats. Thanks Ann! Such a great gift - made for a fun December night with my husband.

(Ann and her husband and little boy for Halloween. How cute are they!?)

I love Ellie's pre-school! Before I sent Ellie to pre-school a couple of years ago I spent forever researching schools to find the best fit for her. I absolutely love the one I chose. It is such a fun, cozy environment with great teachers and amazing learning opportunities. I feel so good sending her there and can't wait for Addison to start next year. I took this picture in front of a house Ellie's pre-K group built when they were doing a unit on architecture. They are always working on something fun and have been doing a lot of neat holiday projects. Good times. Love Ellie's pre-school. Love my girls. Love this time of year. Lots of good things!