Crais-zy O's

I just thought I would take a quick minute to share one of N & M's favorite snacks...
We call it Crais-zy O's - mix Craisins (dried cranberries) and Cheerio's in a bowl and, voila! A nice quick snack! They have both loved this combo since they were toddlers...and since they could eat the craisins with out choking :0) I buy both at Costco so we always have them on hand. Enjoy!



....also, you might note that in the picture above Millie's snack cup matches her shirt...that is NOT coincidence. She like to make sure her snack bowls, vitamins, etc match what she is wearing whenever possible (not sure she gets that from me...I like to not be so matchy - matchy, instead coordinate in less obvious ways, but who am I to judge!)

Making the most of it

Today is April 19th and the second day of Noah's Spring Break. Unfortunately, it feels like it should be November! Yesterday we couldn't bring ourselves to leave the house (we woke up to a layer of SNOW outside!) so today we had a number of errands to run...despite the cold and wind and rain. I bundled Noah and Millie up in layers and their rain boots and we had a chilly, but splash-tastic time!




Thank you, my Little Stinkers, for your help today! My patience wore a little thin when you were chasing each other around the clothing racks with your balloons in tow while shrieking and giggling loudly, but I know these days don't last forever so instead I try to cherish rather than cringe when you tackle each other to the ground and hide from me in the racks. I love you! (Note to self - next time, think twice before leaving the stroller at home).

PS - Happiest Birthday to my wonderful husband!! We have a nice little celebration planned for you tonight!

Big steps for a big girl.

Millie now has a 'big girl room' and she loooves it. I'm just not sure I always do? I put all her dresses in a drawer above her reach (because she likes to change clothes 5 times a day), but I should have known it would just be a matter of time until she figured out a way to get to them...she is using the little step stool we keep next to her bed (so she can get in and out) to now climb up to her 'dress drawer'. I know I should probably look at this as a good thing, and it is...as long as she stays in that one dress for the duration of the day!



Wear apple dress Mommy?

Favorite Fridays

I love Friday mornings. No school for Noah means a more relaxed schedule. This morning has been like most Fridays lately... a show before breakfast, breakfast and then playtime.
Puzzles have always been a playtime favorite of Noah's and now Millie has been honing her skills too!
There is nothing better than a little puzzle time...aaaahhhh peace and quiet!! ...even if it's short-lived.



Notice they are BOTH in serious floor puzzle position! Love the leg prop...funny!

Brain-washed?

I have a bottle of new toilet bowl cleaner on the kitchen counter and Noah just pointed to it and said...

Mommy, there is another one like this that is blue...it is called Chlorox and it had been trusted...

Whoa. The power of advertising!!

My two little stinker-roos

Here they are giggling away! How can so much personality come in such cute, little bundles?

I wanted to post a quick conversation they had today while I was making lunch:

M.- Noah I love you
N.- Millie, I love you too.
M.- Whole wide world Noah! (aka -as much as the whole wide world...this is her version of one of Noah's sayings)
N.- Wow Millie! I believe that! I love you as tall as the trees!
M.- Whoa, Noah!

Okay, one more conversation today (not as sweet as the previous) between little Miss Mills and myself (T) after she horsed around in her room for an hour instead of napping...which is typical...at least the horsing around part:

T.- Millie, I understand you maybe aren't tired today because you fell asleep in the car (ugh!), but tomorrow we WILL be taking a nap.
M.- No way. Nooo WAY, Mommy! (as she takes off down the hallway in nothing but her underwear...unfortunately, also typical)

What can you say to that? Maybe I should use HER negotiating skills!

In other news...

Happy Birthday Noah! I can't believe you are FIVE already! I love you so much and am so proud of the little man you have become!

A cure for cabin fever.

On my way to pick Noah up from school I noticed a neighbor was having a new refrigerator delivered. I decided to risk complete humiliation (all for the sake of my kiddies, of course) and ask if I could take the box with me. It was an instant hit. We have already decorated the inside with art, made windows, played 'scare Millie' and are working on ideas for a doorbell. The hard part will probably be convincing them it has to go after a couple days.

Lesson learned: Any amount of embarrassment is worth a child's happiness...not to mention a little quiet time for Mommy.

Stick it to 'em

I know it has been waaaaay too long since my last post, and hopefully I will fill you in on the past couple months very soon, but I couldn't resist this silly Noah picture. Just because I haven't been posting doesn't mean there haven't been priceless moments!!

After laying Millie down for her nap Noah was having a little 'quiet time' working in his dinosaur book. Next thing I know he comes over and says 'Mommy, look what I did! Will send a picture to Daddy?'. As you can tell, he got quite a kick out of himself.
(Man, I love those dimples!)

Soaking up the Sun

Today we took advantage of yet another beautiful, warm, fall day! We walked home from school and enjoyed a nice picnic lunch outside. After we raced and chased with Bowman for a bit we went in for a little apple cider and homemade pumpkin bread. I love fall and a WARM fall is even better!

Noah during 'Quiet time' today

Man do I looove this! I colored one pic with him, but then had to get back to work. He is only using his left hand because he said his right hand was tired (he was pressing pretty hard). Haha!

Can't beat 'em, join 'em.

As crazy as our days get and as messy as our playing is sometimes, Bowman still enjoys our company. He doesn't always have the most comfortable spot to lay, but he doesn't seem to mind as long as he is right next to us!
We love ya Bow.

The 'Totally Amazing Bridge'

Ever wonder what my stinkers do while I'm trying to work?

To quote Noah...
"Mommy, Millie and I made a totally amazing bridge!"

I'm not sure what is crazier...the fact that they came up with this thing, or the fact that Noah said 'totally amazing'. Hmmm, wonder where he got that???

Rainy Morning

Today is a dreary, rainy morning.  After soo many beautiful days lately it's tough to complain so we made the most of it and stayed inside to do a favorite project...homemade play-dough (see here for my recipe).  Millie has never made it before and they both enjoyed measuring, mixing etc.  I think they liked making it as much as playing with the finished product! 

Stirrin' things up - and being silly.

Millie squishing

(as you can see, she couldn't get by without a quick taste)

Noah deep in concentration.

This is a great learning project too...measuring, following directions/recipes, colors....and patience!
After naps we are planning a little puddle-jumping!
Hope you are enjoying your day, whether it be rain or shine! 

A new twist on time-out

As I have posted before, Millie likes to join Noah in his time-outs...that still hasn't changed. But today, after Noah served his couple of minutes on the stairs, I went to talk to him about what he did wrong and this is what I found. I guess 'sitting' was too much work.

Whoa, that was a close one!

Ok, I know I haven't been good about posting this summer, but summers seem to be tough because we are ALWAYS on the move!  I have been collecting my pics to post in a few 'all encompassing' posts that I hope to get out there soon!  In the meantime, enjoy this little tidbit...

I was just upstairs confirming my to-do list for the day while Noah and Mille were peacefully playing downstairs (I love that they are both to a point where they can play independently for short periods of time without me having to hover over them).  Next thing I know I hear Noah say, "Whoa, Millie!  You are STINK-EEE!  Mommy!  Millie is stinky....her poop is green and very stinky!"  I say, "Okay Noah, I will be down there in just a minute, I need to finish my list quick..."  Then I think to myself, WAIT  how does he know it is GREEN?!?!?  I race downstairs to find Millie laid out on the living room floor, jammies off and diaper open.  Noah has a wipe in his hand and says..."Mommy look at this!  It is gross AND stink-eee!"

Yet another crisis averted....just in time!  I can only imagine what I could have walked down there too!  What even made him think to 'help Mommy' this time???  Who knows.

Splish - Splash

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend.  The kiddies were a little under the weather this weekend, but still managed to get some fishing and swimming in at Grandma and Grandpa K's house.

Millie was feeling a little better this morning so after walking Noah to school we took a detour on the way home at stopped across the street for a little run through the sprinklers.

She started out just putting her hands in the sprinkles...

She was soon over her shyness and started running right through the streams of water...

By the end she was pretty soaked and had no fear in getting up close and personal with the sprayer.

She squished all the way home.

A Chicago Sunday

After having a big cookout for our neighbors on Saturday (where Jon made DELICIOUS ribs!), we had a low-key family day on Sunday.  It was a beautiful day so we went to the park by the lake (near Montrose Beach) to play a little baseball and pick a few dandelions.  I soo enjoy days like this!

Millie picking flowers for her mommy.

I just love those little hands!!

Noah practicing his swing.

Millie trying to help out...

It is quite a chore to keep her away from the batter's box

and to make sure Noah doesn't swing when she is too close!

Someone wants to be like her brother!

Bowman taking a breather in between fetches.

After the excitement of our ball game,

we all laid in the grass for a little rest before heading back home for lunch.

Indulging in one of our favorites...a banana split from Margie's Candies!

(okay, so this wasn't on Sunday, it was on Monday, but I wanted to post it because I love the pic of us three demolishing that sundae...wait, I guess it is a Sundae after all!

New York, New York!

The past few weeks have been spent catching up from our week away, enjoying the beautiful weather and many trips to the park (there is a new park just a block away from us and we just love it!).  Last Tuesday I took a break from all that and on a whim flew to New York to attend the National Stationery Show. 

Ever since I learned about the show 5 years ago, I have wanted to go.  At that time I had just left my corporate job (as a systems analyst/programmer - that seems so crazy and foreign to me now!) to do something less stressful and more 'me.'  I was hired as manager of a cute paper and gift boutique in the North Shore.  The owner (and thousands of retailers from all over the world) attends the Stationery Show every year to find the next best thing, see new designs and to place orders with the vendors to stock her store for the upcoming months.  To me, the idea of all that paper, all those designs, all that creativity in one place is so exciting!

One of my business goals has been to attend that show as a vendor and have those retailers buy my designs.  Knowing myself, the chances of me getting there next year would not be very likely having never been there to see what the whole thing is about.  So this year, since I am officially and legally a business in the stationery industry I meet the requirements for someone who can attend!  By the time we returned from Florida the show was only 8 days away, and it didn't seem likely that I could make arrangements that quickly to go, BUT after mentioning my idea to Jon and discussing with him the logistics and finding a cheap flight we both decided this was something I HAD to do!  So he, being the #1 Toluka Paper supporter he is, took a day off work to stay home with the kiddies while I left the house at 4:15am to catch my 6am flight to NY and returned at 11:55pm that same night.  It was a looong, but VERY exciting day.  I learned so much from walking around, chatting with this year's vendors, from visiting the booths of suppliers and fullfillment companies...and I also learned a lot about myself!  That trip was a big deal for a little, midwestern girl like me -  to get on two flights in one day (I HATE flying), maneuver to and from each airport reaching my destinations on time, and approaching many companies with my compliments and questions while being totally intimidated.  After all that, I KNOW that ...if I can make it there - I can make it anywhere!  See ya next year New York!!

This is one of the booths right at the entrance of the show.  If you can picture row after row after row of booths like this one (some smaller, some larger) taking up almost an entire floor of the Jacob K. Javits convention center.  It took me FIVE hours to walk the whole thing and according to people I talked to, it has been getting smaller each year for the past 3-4 years and used to take up TWO floors!  Whoa!

(I  know the pictures aren't super exciting, but the vendors aren't too keen on having pictures taken of their products, as copying of ideas and designs happens all to often in this industry...can't say I blame them!)

We're Back...

We are back from our trip to Florida.  It was SUCH a wonderful trip we only wish we could have extended it another week!  The kids were so good and the weather was beautiful (nice and hot, but a good change from the soggy cold we have had in Chicago).  We had a couple things on our agenda while we were down there...a trip to Ft. Myers to visit family, a trip to the beach...and of course our visit to 'Mickey's Castle' (Noah's words for Disney World) and the rest of the days were filled with fun times at the amazing kiddie pools at our resort.  Here is a quick run-down of our trip:

Day 1

Left the house at 4:30am to make our 6:30am flight.

Arrived in FL in once piece - once there, we grabbed our luggage, rented our car and made it to our resort all in less than 1 hour...Jon and I make a great team!!!

Stocked up on groceries and other necessities for the week.

Went to the pool.

I placed a bet on Super Saver to win the Kentucky Derby...and WON!

Kids went to bed in the same room...and Millie in a 'big girl bed' (for the first time)...and loved it!

Jon and I pretty much hit the sack soon after...it had been a long, crazy, day.

Day 2

Lazy morning

Lazy day by the pool

The 'pirate pool'- it has two small slides on the other side.  Both kids enjoyed the slides!

Packed up and drove to Ft. Myers that evening

Had a great meal near Ft. Myers beach...including an icecream treat!

Day 3

Went to the pool with Aunt Verda while Jon and Uncle Dale played golf

Kids both took loooong naps that day...just about the only day they had naps!!

Another GREAT dinner at the Beachey house...thanks D & V!

Packed up and drove back to Orlando that evening.

Day 4

Lazy day at the pool

Day 5

DISNEY DAY!

Arrived at Disney World before the park opened to the public.

Had an early breakfast at the Crystal Palace with Winnie the Pooh and Friends.

Millie was not too sure about those huge, fuzzy characters - Noah loved them!

Headed straight to Mickey's house to meet him and Minnie

Met Goofy and Donald...they made Noah laugh...then Noah started breakdancing for them... on the ground...that made Goofy and Donald laugh!

Rode lots of rides

Shared ice cream

Rode more rides

Watched the Fireworks

Left the park at closing time

What a loooong, but wonderful and 'magical' day!

N & M's new best friends

Day 6

Recover from 'Disney Day'

More lazy-ness at the pool

(actually, the pool is anything but lazy with these two!)

Day 7

Drove to Cocoa Beach for a day of sun, sand and waves.  The kids loooved playing in the sand and the waves!  They would have stayed all day if we let them...we spent FIVE hours there!

Noah riding the waves

Millie exploring the sand

Day 8

Pack'em up and ship'em out.

Kids slept for half the flight home and overall, were very good!

Breakfast the morning we left...they insisted on eating ALL their meals outside!

It was so nice to have 100% family time for an entire week!  Jon and I have both been crazy with work lately, so time with our two favorite people was just what we needed to recharge and put things in perspective.  We all had such an incredible time and can't wait for our next family trip together!

Right now...

Right now I am sitting in the car downtown waiting for Jon to get out

of work so he can take the kids and Bowman to meet Bonnie (my mother-

in-law) who is keeping Bowman for the week while we are on a much

needed vacation (big thanks to B and R!) while I go home to finish

packing, wrap up the last of my outstanding orders and clean the

house. Noah has a crazy hat on and no shoes and is doing his fire

truck impression over and over and over. Millie has also taken off

her shoes, pulled one arm out of her shirt and is singing her 'pretty'

song...'pretty' loud! (if you have ever heard a cat fight, it sounds a lot like that). The sunroof is open, windows are down,

passersby are staring...or laughing...and I am giggling too.

Welcome to my crazy life.