E Squared

11 · 12

Halloween ... a little late!!!

Well .... have I been the biggest flakey blogger or what??? Don't answer that!! The truth is that I upload all these pics to Facebook then forget that there are some of you that don't have Facebook. Shame on you!!! We had a great time for Halloween ... I had the most fun with the costumes and the girls had the most fun with all the candy. I did not restrict their intake at all that day so they thought they had gone to candyland or something. Especially Edie Claire!!! I made their costumes which I was quite proud of. They wanted to be "printhess withess" as you all know and to me that means really really super fluffy tutus ...in pricing these crazy cute things I realized that I was NOT interested in spending 50 bucks a piece for tutu's that are fluffy enough. So I set out to make my own and they turned out cute cute cute. Not cute enough to make for other people but cute enough for a halloween costume ... and I also realized why they are so pricey even though Tulle is the cheapest material on the planet and I am able to make the absolute longest run on sentences. It is because Tulle is a mutha to work with ... mostly just to cut. I did learn some awesome tricks though so if you are planning to make a tutu and want my slick tricks ... hit me up. Yo!!! I know I know ... I'm pretty cool! Ha ha hee!! So they ate their weight in candy and then some ... I did not eat any candy which was no small feat but I am determined to stick to this WW crap ... I'm 8 pounds down now. FINALLY!! Whoot HOOT!!

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In totally unHalloween related news I just thought I would share with you folks a little tidbit. My children are super smart. Not to brag or anything but their little preschool director told us today she thinks they should move up to the Three's class because they are clearly way ahead of their current classmates. I knew the private tutor and flash cards would pay off eventually. Hahaha ... I kid... but they are moving up next week and we are so excited and it's always a proud moment when someone thinks your babies are smart. Of course we do but we are slightly biased. I almost asked her if that means they made the Dean's list but then I remembered preschools don't have deans. Oh well ... wishful thinking!!!

10 · 21

Grandma's Pumpkin Patch -- Healdsburg California !!!

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We headed out to a great little Pumpkin Patch (are you supposed to capitalize that?) today. There were not a ton of pumpkins but lots of other stuff so it was great. The old rusty tractors were a huge hit as were the sweet farm animals. I really wish we had a patch here that had the giant bins of corn to play in like I see on so many other blogs ... maybe that's a Southern thing.

I love Fall and can't wait until we have some consistent weather. Our rainy season looks like it will be starting very soon. Like tonight ... so that will make it seem more Fall like. I love soups and stews and warm socks ....I love little girls in boots and layered leggings under warm dresses.

Speaking of girls and their clothes ... all of a sudden Edie and Ella have bounced into the 3T section. OMG ... it seems like yesterday that they were wearing preemie sized clothes ... WOW!!! So big and fun. They can count to ten now and up to five in Spanish....thank you Dora the Explorer for the Spanish Immersion (haha). Ella is a teeny chatterbox ... just like her mommy. She does not stop talking .... EVER!!!

The other night when I was putting them to bed Ella asked for a light so I gave her the night light and she then said "mommy I need a book" .... so I gave her a book and when I closed the door she was propped up on her little elbows flipping through a book. So sweet ... no?!?!?

10 · 14

Potty training gone bad !!!

10 · 14

This is the typical yard/house of our family and friends in Alabama......that house. UNREAL. The backyard .... 80 acres!!!

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For FIVE and a HALF TIMES more ... you can get this is California ......now keep in mind the entire neighborhood mailboxes and electrical thingamajig in the front yard were thrown in at no extra charge. I am not exaggerating about the 5.5 times MORE either. It's insane!!!

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10 · 14

Printhessss Withessssss

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When I asked Ella and Edie what they wanted to be for Halloween they said ...... "Printhessssss Withesssss" ... so that they will be. I have to say that this is going to be our first awesome Halloween with these girlies ... they know what it's all about ...... at least the dressing up part, anyway!!!

I have been searching for cute (not scary) Princess Witch costumes everywhere .......NOTHING. So I set out to make my own. I found a super easy "no sew" tutu idea, made it, and bought dollar witch hats at Target, added some boa embellishments and VOILA .....PRINTHESSSSS WITHESSSS!!! We get a trillion trick or treaters because of the neighborhood we live in so we will trot to our neighbors homes then sit on our porch and pass out 4 thousand pounds of candy to greedy little, no mannered children....most of which are waaaaaaaay to old to be trick or treating. I sure hope they are more creative with their costumes this year. Wishful thinking I know!!!

10 · 02

Scrub a dub dub .... Three cousins in the tub !!!

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Man oh Man am I behind.... And do I have a story to tell!!! I have two tons of photos and even more stories about our recent SEVERAL weeks so I will catch up. I hope you guys have time to read a few (ahem 40) posts over the next few days. I kid, I kid .... it's more like 34 but whatever .... no need to get too technical and scare ya'll off.

So way back in the beginning of September we headed cross country (via airplane) on a two week journey to visit our peeps. The first week was spent (by me and the girls) between Alabama and Louisiana then we settled back in Alabama for the last week. We had the best time EVER. The girls did fantastic. Our family is THE BEST. THE ABSOLUTE BEST!!! It almost makes us want to pack up and leave Cali ..... ALMOST!!!

We flew direct to Nashville since we weren't sure how the girls would do on the plane now that they are 2.5 and so mature (ahem .... WILD). They did ok. Then we drove (to make a long story short) 2 hours to Aunt Alice's house. Two and a half hours the next day to Aunt Kaye's house. Eight hours the next day to see my family in Louisiana. Ten hours 5 days later back to Aunt Alice's house. Two hours 6 days later then a 4.5 hour flight and a 2 hour drive HOME. It was a long journey but so so so worth it. Edie and Ella are at a great age to appreciate playing with their cousins and since they have so many that works out well. So many people came together to see us and we truly appreciated and enjoyed that. I got to see a friend of mine who is undergoing treatment for metastatic melanoma. A definite highlight for me. We got to spend time with some of Jon's elder aunts and uncles .. another definite highlight. The girls and I were able to spend and entire week with my SIL Kaye.... she came with us to LA and was a god send. She made the trip so much easier and I got to spend some awesome valuable time with her. That is one of the many downsides to living so far from family ... especially one as close as Jon's. I will cherish that time with Aunt Kaye ... and I hope she had a great time too.

I will fill you guys in with photos mostly from now on ... because I am sure you don't want to read about our ..."four hours here and three there" stories.

The pictures above though are great because these little guys had so much fun together. The cutie patootie boy is named Wynn and his sister Lillian is bathing them. Lillian is an exceptional 10 year old. She is hard to describe ... a must see to believe if you will. She can sing, cook, take care of littles, etc ........ none of which she is expected to do and all of which she enjoys. When Jon and I would stay at their house (pre babies) EVERY morning she would bring him breakfast in bed. A coke and toast. She took it upon herself to bath these wild ones ... and she did a fine job of it. She also did a great rendition of Carrie Underwoods' "Undo It" at her school talent show that we were lucky enough to see ... and took FIRST place. She ROCKS!!!

I want to take a picture of our house here in CA tomorrow and do a comparative post on what you can get in AL for WAAAAAAAAAAY less .......trust me .......you WILL be shocked!!! Unless you live here, of course. Love ya'll!!

08 · 30

Painting and flower arranging!!!

We've been enjoying our pretty weather. Playing outside, arranging the flowers we yank (pick) from mommies plants and painting. We paint on our easel when mommy is looking but as soon as she turns her back we head straight for the furniture and our bodies. Ella really likes to paint her tongue/teeth. GROSS! She was drooling purple and gold the other day ... much to daddys dismay.... seeing how he hates LSU (which is mommies team). GEAUX TIGERS!!!!

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08 · 26

Vanilla pudding ... GAG! Chocolate Chip Cookies ... FAIL!!!

We have had a few days of crazy heat here this week ... to 109! TGFAC (thank god for AC)! So I have tried to find "fun" things for us to do indoors. I used "" for fun because those of you with kids know that fun for them is generally NOT fun for mommy (or daddy, especially daddy). It's hard to find age appropriate, non messy things to do with TWO two year olds.... ideas welcomed.

We made instant pudding. I ended up eating it all because Edie did not like it. She wanted yogurt instead. And Ella gagged. Again, not my child!?! Remember the cotton candy gagging episode. Who gags at that fluffy goodness ..... and PUDDING??? I don't get it. I had a patient this week that HATES yogurt but LOVES cottage cheese. Let me get that straight.......you don't like creamy, velvety fabulousness but you like rotten, curdled milk??? HUH?

We also made chocolate chip cookies ... which had to be thrown out. ALL.OF.THEM. Now if you know me at all you know they must have been TERRIBLE. I don't throw chocolate ANYTHING out. ANYTHING! This is how it went down ...we gathered all our supplies and started dumping them in the kitchen aid mixer. I turned my back and Edie dumped in a crap load of baking soda. I scraped as much as I could out but the mixer was mixing and it was all mixed in ......so I thought, ah so what if the recipe called for 3/4 teaspoon and we have 3/4 of a box ..... let's see what happens. Well crumply, chalky cookies is what happens. Not recommended.