wordless wednesday: west fest is ghetto, but we had fun.

grandma.

My Grandma has the best shoulder.

Love you ~ Vin

croquet.

who plays this game and likes it?

van that's who.

way cheaper than going somewhere to play mini golf,

and we can rearrange our course as many times as we want.

just one of the few things we started doing while van has been away from tv.

no tv challenge.

last week we took van to buy a toy with her "sprite stand" money. she had well over $20, but still couldn't buy that toy she wanted...ya know, the toy...the buzz lightyear with all the bells and whistles. i still can't believe how expensive toys really are. $50 for a buzz lightyear, really. we felt bad for her, because she really had worked hard for her money...and she still wasn't going to be able to get the toy that she really wanted.

paul right then and there made a deal with her, because that is what paul does. he told van that if she could go without tv for a whole week...he would buy her whatever toy she wanted.

we are over half way through the deal, and she is doing awesome. the first day was obviously the hardest. she said funny stuff like "mom, i won't even know what is going on with spongebob!"

we are doing lots of fun stuff to occupy her time, and she is playing lots of pretend again...which i adore. she is going to be one happy girl come wednesday with her new buzz light year. (i am still secretly hoping she picks that bomb diggity pool, we all could have some fun with that!)

csn stores pretty much rawks.

I could seriously get lost in this website, I guess it's easy when they have over 200 stores. I find myself looking at a new bathroom sink, and then in one click I am trying to find Vin a new pair of cute shoes.

Remember when I said that I had found CSN stores? I was so excited to finally get some nursery decor for Vin's room...and I ended up getting something for baby Kenslee too. Jill and I were both super excited about the added cuteness to our babies nurseries, and come to find out Jill even bought her crib through CSN stores too.

The question is, if you had $40 to spend on this website...what would you buy? I literally can't even count how many things I thought of buying for less than $40. I just might give a $40 gift card for the best answer. {wink}

*CSN stores is giving me a gift card for promoting their website, and also sent me both of these rawkin' things for Jill and I! =)

wordless wednesday: this always makes everything better

Guest Post by Van: My Daddy

I am thankful that my Daddy paid for my "Sprite Stand"!
I am thankful that my Daddy gives me gum.
I am thankful for when my Daddy smiles. I love when he smiles.
I love when he makes me giggle.
I like playing arcade games with him.
I like eating shrimp with him.
I am thankful that he does lots of stuff for me.

I love you Daddy!

Happy Daddy Day!

make that 7.

A week ago today we welcomed another niece to our family. Vin is definitely feeling more and more outnumbered, while Van is loving the babies...and thinks that all these girl cousins are a blast. ;)

Meet Kenslee...

Congrats Jill and Vince!

Sprite Stand take 1

This work schedule I've got goin' on is really starting to cramp our style. Oh, and this weather too. Between the two things Van was starting to think that she was never going to get her "Sprite Stand". Both Paul and I had tried to tell her that you have to wait for a warm Saturday afternoon to get the most customer's. She was determined to prove us wrong, and after her thinking that I was the worst Mom ever for telling her no so many times...she headed out to do her "Sprite Stand" on Wednesday at 9 AM. Paul couldn't believe I was going to let her do it, both of us knowing that no one was going to stop by.Within minutes she was completely devastated and bawling. It was a mix of emotions for me. She was cracking me up with one liners like "Mom, why doesn't anyone want one of my tasty drinks?!" to "If they don't drink them, then I will!" I stayed right next to her, giving her encouragement, and consoling her when yet another car would pass without stopping. She decided that Mommy needed to be like those people who stand on every corner with signs and dance...I wasn't doing it good enough to get customers (and this was quite embarrassing).

Daddy came to save the day, he bought a soda for $1.

Then I updated my Facebook status, and guess what?

My neighbors started sending their kids.

She was jumping up and down. It made her smile, and it made me smile.

If you are reading this, and sent your kids over...thank. you. so. much. I will forever be indebted to you.

We both learned something from this experience.

Van learned that 9 AM was too early for a "Sprite Stand".

I learned that my friends totally rawk.

Van learned that sometimes you have to stick things out to get rewards.

I learned that my daughter is a determined little thing.

Van learned how to make change for customers.

I learned that I bought way too many drinks...because now we will be having another "Sprite Stand" to get rid of the rest of the drinks! ;)

wordless wednesday: we totally got stuck in the mud.

what should I do?

Since I went back to work I decided I needed to start packing a lunch, and also packing my snacks. I love snacks...almost more than a meal. I did awesome last week, and I am hoping I can keep it up. I tried getting things that not only were easy for me to pack, but stuff that Van would be able to get/make if Paul ended up being busy with Vin.

Of course I am trying to be a little healthier. I found out about these fantastic Nature Valley Chewy Trail Mix Bars, you would not believe how quickly Van and I downed a HUGE box from Sam's Club. We ended up eating them for breakfast even.

I bought Go Gurt. I don't really love yogurt, unless it is frozen. ;) So for me a Go Gurt is the perfect size, and of course Van will eat anything that has her favorite character on it. I still can't bring myself to freezing Go Gurt's, but I heard it tastes pretty good.

I decided to add variety to my sandwiches by making them with rolls, and instead of the same ol' animal crackers we bought the chocolate animal crackers...which are so addicting. Bagels with cream cheese, and lots of Bird's Eye steamers are going to be involved this next week.

So the question is...what easy ideas for my sack lunch do you have?

*I was given free Go Gurt, A box of Nature Valley Chewy Trail Mix Bars, and a gift card to Sam's Club for this post...and it was offered by General Mills and Yoplait through My Blog Spark.

car seat pictures weeks 9-12

owning her own business.

Van is all about making money. If you want a good foot rub, Van is your gal for the job...BUT it's not without a price. I paid $1.50 for my last foot rub, and it was worth every penny.
As we were washing my car last week she asked me if she could run a car wash. After my car was all done she decided that was too much work for the price that she wanted to charge. Smart girl.
We discussed a lemonade stand. She was beyond excited about all the details. From where she would get the table to wanting to use her toy cash register...she had it all planned out.
Tomorrow is finally her first day that she will be open for business.
She made a bomb diggity sign, and we decided on what she could sell. She can't wait. I am hoping that she will get at least one customer, but if not...we had a lot of fun planning our "Sprite Stand".

funny story #2

We stayed in a hotel for some fun and relaxation before I had to go back to work. It had a HUGE jetted tub, which ya'll know is a requirement for us to even stay in a room.

Vin had been fussy, and I was feeling frazzled by it all. I decided that I would just get in the bath with him, turn on the jets, and it would help us both calm down a bit.

He was lovin' it. I was lovin' it.

I guess Vin decided to love it a little too much, and guess what? He pooped in the jetted bath tub. Oh yeah and the jets WERE ON! So, guess what that means...poo particles were going every where. ALL OVER ME.

Never a dull moment with children.

wordless wednesday: mommy has to go back to work.

chuck e cheese's

We decided it was finally time to introduce Vin to Chuck E Cheese's.

He was extremely entertained, and enjoyed all the scenery while sucking his thumb.

Some people hate taking their children to these type of places.

Paul and I love it.

We love seeing Van shake her booty to those weird robot things on stage,

get giddy over tickets,

and show us her mad skillz in skee ball.AND here is proof that no matter how many times we go...

the SAME rides never get old! =)

girlfriend.

Van has decided that Oll-E the Doll-E needed to be Vin's girlfriend. She then proceeded to take TONZ of pictures of the two of them, and strategically placing his hand around her. Very entertaining.

sometimes my children look like me.

This is the baby picture of me that everyone made and still makes fun of.

It's okay to laugh.

It should have been burned, but someone thought it was adorable in 1981...or maybe they didn't. Maybe they kept it around for the purpose of getting a good laugh out of it.

Guess what? Those crazy eyes I had...both my children have. Yup, I passed down crazy eyes. Awesome.

But seriously don't Van and Vin look ridiculously similar?

Friday Food Review: Sassy Scoops go to Settebello

We all know my taste buds are not very sophisticated. I'm okay with it. The Sassy Scoop ladies got to test out Settebello in Downtown Salt Lake. Ever been here or heard of it? Neither had I.

It's a pizza joint, but not the kinda pizza joint I usually dine at. I was worried I might not like it, after all I really only like pepperoni on my pizza.

(photos by Quinn)

Of course my favorite pizza at Settebello was the Marghertia. It is a basic pizza with crushed tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, parmigiano reggiano, and extra virgin olive oil. The crust on the pizza was divine. I might have eaten off a certain Sassies plate that doesn't like crust. ;) They also have gelato, and do I even have to say more than gelato to get ya'll excited? I hope you already know how wonderful this stuff is. If not...go get gelato for cryin' out loud.

Although there were a lot of kids at Settebello the night we were there (including Vin), I didn't take it as a very kid friendly place. Maybe that was just my perception of it, or it could have been that the table next to us was enjoying a fine glass of wine. AND now that I have a new babe I am noticing things like, they didn't have a changing table in the restroom...extremely important.

So the question is...would I go back, yes. Would Paul go with me? Not a chance...it is not his scene at all. Would I take Van? Nah...she would prefer Pier 49 Pizza. Hey, you wanna know what the Sassy ladies thought? Well, then go to the official Sassy Review.

taste of reality.

Since I have been home I usually try to go to Tae Kwon Do, because when I work I NEVER get to go. Sometimes we go as a family, and sometimes I brave it with both kids by myself. Today I decided to stay home with Vin, and Paul took Van.

I was feeling productive while they were away. I took the vacuum apart for cleaning, I did some laundry, and Vin happily sat in his bouncy seat.

I checked my cell phone to get this text from Paul...

"Wish you were here.

I've never been prouder of Savannah."

This is my reality.

When I go back to work I miss things, but at least Paul is there to see what I miss...and tells me about it. I love him for sharing what I don't always get to be around to see.

why two really is better than one.

You should be a fly on the wall when the three of us all sing to him. It is sure to make us all smile, and definitely makes Vin stop crying.

a week.

The next week will be filled with...

movies

reservations for a fun night away

swimming

games

naps

playing in the yard

of course there will be an occasional poop-E diaper and a golden shower or two

lots of reading books before bed

warm baths

picture taking and videos too

AND then...

tears. I am sure of it.
Please be patient with me the next 6 days while I update my blog with far too many pictures of my kids, talk way too much about how much I adore them, and tell you all about our adventures.

in love.

Do I really need to say it?

I am so in love.