Disney World!

Earlier this month we went to Disney World!  Woohoo!  It was a quick trip to visit my sister, Justin and the Disney Castle.  Oh yeah, and the awesome outlet malls.  We had so much fun.

Even though we stayed right outside the Disney property, it still took a good 30-45 minutes to get from our hotel room to the Magic Kingdom.  Cars, Trams, Boats and Monorails!

I love my preppy husband, he was the only person at disney world in a button down...er...a non-Mickey mouse button down.

Our approach to Disney World and first view of the castle!  Thrilling!

While we had an awesome time, the trip had a few hiccups:
When got to the airport and all our tickets had to be re-ticketed.  Despite me calling to confirm everything 48 hours prior to the flight.  This turned into a fiasco that took about an hour with the super friendly ticket counter people to resolve. 
Then my ticket at Disney didn't work...uh oh!  Denied.

Then a not so smart mom took her 16 month old on a bunch of rides, including the tea cups, then fed him lunch, then wheeled him around in a stroller and then made him giggle repeatedly.  Then he threw up.  What was she thinking?  Lame.

Then it started to rain, and we were not prepared.  See the people at the top with rain slickers on and blankets.  Geniuses.  Bet they didn't have to leave disney after 3 hours.

See these people with shorts on, wet, and covered in puke.  Yep, they left after 3 hours.

I have more posts coming about our trip so stay tuned.

'Tis the Season - My most annoying holiday tradition

For Grace's 1st Christmas, I decided I would do a picture frame ornament for us and the grandparents.  Then I thought it would be a nice tradition to continue.  This has proven to be my most aggravating "task" each Christmas.  They are hard to find.  I cannot find them on Amazon.com.  I have to drive to Michaels or some other crazy place crammed with crap.  I have to order wallet prints from Walgreens.  I have to drive to Walgreens and pick the prints up.  Then I have to assemble and wrap. 

However, I know the Grandparents love them.  And I know I will appreciate having all these cute ornaments for years to come.

2007

2008

2009

The 2010 versions are not pictured because they do not exist yet...how many days until Christmas?  Yikes.

'Tis the Season - I've been busy the past few days

with baking...

tree trimming, and gift wrapping!

I am ready for Christmas to be over...anyone else???

'Tis the Season - Easy wrapping idea

Bringing a bottle of wine to a party?  Easy idea to make it look more festive....

I have also wrapped a christmas dish towel around the bottle and tied with the bow & ornament.

UPDATE - We are not who you think we are

My attempt at shaming Andrew into using his diaper or the potty for pooping (by publicly embarassing him on the internet) was not successful. We have had several incidents in the past week.  The worst was when Andrew climbed in an empty tub, fully clothed, and proceeded to do his business. 

No pictures...too painful.

We are now considering our options:
1. Bathing him in the toilet (Kevin's idea - gotta give the man credit - he had his thinking cap on). 
2. Getting a flushable tub. 
3. A 12 step program. Anyone aware of one out there? Should we consider starting one? Isn't the first step admitting you have a problem? I don't think Andrew is there yet.
4. Putting him in one of those homes/ranches for wayward boys where the people come and take him in the middle of the night and whisk him off to somewhere in Utah or Idaho.  You know, where he can't come home until he can function as a normal member of society.

Now, at the risk of losing any of my 7 followers, this will be my last post about tub pooping.  I know, I know.  Disappointing.  I can just see the grief on all of your faces.  I just ask that you pray for us, and our tub.

Hand me downs

Since there are very few places in Milwaukee that carry classic children's clothing (and the one place that does is pricey and I am, well, frugal) I have started to look on line, which brought be to "ebay."  Have you heard of this website?  Apparently people sell their stuff and you can purchase it using "paypal"?  So on ebay, I can buy clothes from the people south of the mason-dixon line. 

I bought Gracie this smocked bishop's dress for $16

 and Andrew these snappy all leather saddle shoes for $5.99 (what?!).  

I got into a little bidding war for the dress, but I won.  Of course. 

No one else wanted the shoes.  Shocking.  

I am also a fan of the "hand me downs" I dug out of my parent's attic.  I am so happy my mom stashed the clothes from when we were little.  Mark's stuff was especially cute. 

See how much Andrew loves his rompers?

Mine and Amy's were cute, but kind of scratchy.  I am really surprised at how uncomfortable a lot of these old clothes seem.  Maybe that is why I am so tough.  Having to wear scratchy dresses gave me thick skin.  Just a thought.

I must disclose that my husband believes I am torturing my children by making them wear these things, especially Baby Andrew. 
I. DO. NOT. CARE.
They look precious. 
And before you know Andrew will be begging me to wear crummy t-shirts, baggy cargo pants or even a sports jersey (the horror!) and Grace...don't even want to think about it.   So lets enjoy the smocking and appliqued bunnies while we can, okay?

Love at First Sight

No, I am not talking about this handsome man...

...we met in a (super fun) dive bar.  I doubt I could see him through the smoke.

Or this sweet girl...

...not after that labor.

Or this little stinker.....

....well maybe close.

I am talking about these....

..when my beloved UPS man (I ♥ Logistics, I really do!) dropped these babies off and I threw open the box, I fell in love.

Merry Christmas to me! 



Paulie Walnuts?

Andrew dressing like he should be in the Sopranos....track pants, sneakers and a sweet gold chain.

'Tis the Season - Mother Daughter Cookie Decorating Party

Last weekend Gracie and I hosted a Mother-Daughter Cookie Decorating party.  Six little girls and their moms came over for a few hours to drink pink lemonade, chat, do an art project, decorate cookies and, most importantly, lick frosting. 

The very first thing you need to do is cover all surfaces with butcher paper or old school freezer wrap.  This made clean up very easy.

The girls each got an apron (which I made with ribbon and a tea towel), a chinese takeout container to decorate and a plate of cookies.

 This party coincided with the first snowfall of the year.  Grace and Kevin made a snowman to welcome our guests. 

 I went a little overboard with the toppings.  But I think the variety was fun for the girls.

 Gracie pondering her choices.

 The finished product.

 The girls were concentrating sooo hard on their cookies and containers that they barely spoke to each other.
 After they were done they ran upstairs and all played dress up with Gracie's clothes.  The party ended when Grace got in a brawl with one of her little friends over butterfly wings.

In retrospect I would have invited A LOT of girls.  I started out with a small list since I didn't want the party to be too crazy.  I forgot how everyone is super busy during the holidays and half the people we invited could not come.  It was a lot of work for a few people.  But totally worth it for this little sweetie.

Decorating!

I am slowly starting to re-decorate my living room.  We will be getting new chairs and probably window treatments after the holidays.  However, I have started picking up a few things to add some more blue to the room.  

I am super excited about my newest purchases for the room. 

I scored this cute vase on onekingslane.com. He is resting safely in a glass cabinet, where no grubby little paws can touch him.  

I picked up this lamp at a consignment store and it provides some much needed light to the living room.

'Tis the Season: Yeah Right

This came home from daycare with Andrew. 

'Tis the Season - Gingerbread Houses

We made our 2nd annual trip to the MAC Gingerbread House Decorating Party.  Grace was definitely more into decorating the house this year. 

 I was sitting across from her and she kept cuddling into Jane's shoulder and acting sweet. I thought she may be getting a little sick. Then I realized she was sneaking candy and trying to hide it from me!

 She was also into the frosting.

"This is soooo you..."

...that is what Kevin said yesterday morning when he saw this sitting on the counter....

He is totally right.  Empty wine glass + tootsie roll wrapper = Bridget

'Tis the Season - He's Back!

We love our Elf on a Shelf.  We named him Buddy, because that is easy.  Grace wanted to name him "Lamp".  Not a good Elf name.  So I used my Mom Veto Power (I just decided I get that, awesome!) to nix that idea.