Pre-Sandy Visitors

Grandma and Papa flew in Thursday morning....just in time to help us prepare for Sandy's arrival.  (Thankfully, their flight at 7 pm Sunday got them out before things started getting cancelled!)

Grandma accompanied the B-man on a "Woodsy Hunt" field trip at a nearby Nature Center on Friday-- so up her alley and they had a great time!   Friday evening, we left the kids with a babysitter (who completely came out of the woodwork just when I needed one the most:  He does provide, doesn't He?!) and trekked to the BG's next-to-last football game.  Lemme tell you-- it was SOOOO enjoyable to sit there, eat a cheeseburger with chili cheese fritos, and NOT have to try to wrangle squirmy, uninterested kids!!    The yummy food continued with lunch at the local pizza place Saturday and then date-night dinner that evening!

In between all those activities, there was plenty of fun and frolic...

Breakfasts al fresco:

Reading:

Baking pursuits:

Okay, that last one was taken a bit after the fact.  But here's the evidence:

Fall pool fun:

See that orange flash in the upper right of the above pic?  Yeah, there was lots of leaf-throwing going on, culminating in B getting buried:

Grandma's "Jack" was QUITE a hit!   Both kids loved pulling the string to get him to pop out and then Grandma would say, "Get back, Jack" and push him back in!

Our parade of parents has ended for Fall 2012 (so here's to the return of a messy house-- HA!) but it was fabulous as usual.  We are so blessed to have such generous and loving parents!

Sandy Update

It's still kinda dark outside so I can't get a complete read on things but, from all accounts, we seem to have escaped the wrath of Sandy.  We had WAY more limbs down in at least 2 storms this summer.  According to the electric company's online outage map, there are about 600 customers in our zip code without power but I am so excited to report that they don't include us!!

Since it appears there's not a lot of storm cleanup to do around here, I plan to enjoy this "bonus family day" by climbing back into my bed right now.   Not exactly sure how the rest of the week will go--will B have school tomorrow with his Halloween party?--but we shall see!

Thanks so much for all the prayers and good wishes!   Sounds like there are lots of people north of us who still need them.

Blissful Ignorance

She's smiling now because she has no idea that she could soon be buried again.....this time under a pile of dirty clothes and dishes after days without electricity!!

Stay safe, everyone!  

Happy Friday...

...from the TWINS!

Hope you can put your feet up and play, too!!

Hiding Place

Look who found a fun little cave!

And YES-- I am revealing to you just how messy that closet (and, um, the rest of the house) is.  It's right by the front door and has become quite the catch-all of assorted junk.  I actually wouldn't mind at all if CJK started a habit of going in there to hang out, however.  Girl is killing me with her.....busyness.   We enjoyed so many years of relative ease with a first kid who didn't really get into anything.   I probably took her down from tall tables at least 7 times yesterday.   The other day, not 5 minutes after she somehow managed to reach way back on the counter, grab the strap of my (nice) camera, and pull it down to the floor (where, thankfully, only the lens cap popped off),  I sat down at my laptop to discover that she'd taken a ballpoint pen and scribbled all over the screen.

Nice.  (And also thankfully easy to clean.)

I am going to reel myself in here and not let this devolve into an outpouring of frustration about how I can't get anything done....which leads to messy spaces like those pictured above....and then becomes a vicious cycle.  But know that I pretty much question my parenting skills (as well as my sanity) many, many times per day.  

Only 1.5 more weeks until football season ends....only 1.5 more weeks until football season ends....only 1.5 more weeks until football season ends...

But hey-- while we're talking about the front closet, check this out:

It's so deep that it has TWO bars!  We didn't even notice for weeks after we moved in but are super excited to be able to rotate items from front to back according to season.  (You know, once we actually get organized.)   I've barely even looked at those coats since we're having some sort of freak heat wave and it was in the low 80s yesterday.  It's almost November, people!  That's INSANE.

PS:  Happy birthday to loyal reader Susan!!!!!!!!!!!

A Few of C's Favorite Things

HouseWARMING

Big D came up here with the very generous intent to fill our house with fun new stuff.   Don't think he realized he'd be quite literally helping us to warm things up!

First up: a screen (as well as coordinating fireplace tools, not shown) so we can do some wood-burnin' this winter:

Part 2:  The Fire Pit.  First the assembly:

 And then the finished product:

Wait! What's that in the back right of the photo?  A big stack of firewood the BG cut from all the limbs downed in our yard during the summer storms?  Perfect!!

THANKS, BIG D!!!

Big D's Visit

The BG's pappy arrived Friday morning for a weekend visit.  First activity on the list?  Reading the Scentsy catalog, of course!  (Sniffing had to be postponed due to the visitor's stuffed-up nose!)

Friday was a perfectly fine afternoon until 2 separate storm cells came RIGHT over the school and caused the game to be pretty darn yucky.  The Rams actually played quite well but, alas, we're still looking to one of the last two games for another win!

Saturday, we met the BG at our fave local BBQ joint for a post-practice lunch.  Clearly, Big D was glowing with happiness at hanging out with us!

We spent most of the weekend watching football (Saturday and Sunday from the couch and chair of our family room), but did escape yesterday morning to play at the elementary school for a bit.  Actually, I'm realizing now this was par for the course for me as a spectator since the game pictured was, per Brooks, "fake football":

We always love when Big Daddy comes to visit, although he sure makes us eat lots of unhealthy food!!   ;-)

Fall Foliage

(of the interior variety)

I finally put stuff on the mantel.  I need to get some sort of cool mirror or art or something but there's no way I can commit to such a thing right now.  Thanks to Christy's quick thinking, the red star has made a reappearance after years on our bedroom wall.  As much as I want to buy all kinds of new fun autumnal decorations, I decided instead to dig out the bag o' loot I already had.   Certainly not HGTV-worthy, but it sure makes me happy!

 (Please note that the pumpkin all the way to the right is a true Corning original:  a Vitrix hot glass masterpiece.   Really, people, put a trip to the Finger Lakes in the fall on your bucket list!

Also added a little harvest decor on the hutch "shelf":

HAPPY (FALL) FRIDAY!

Dashing Dude

Since we examined Camille's sartorial stylings yesterday, let's now check out her very fashionable brother.  He is modeling the latest in Dollar Tree Halloween (aka "dress up") attire.  You'll note that the fireman's vest even still has the cardboard attached.  We're classy up in this joint.

The Next Best Thing

We all know how much I looooove finding great deals on clothes for the wee people.  Almost as much fun?  Putting together separate pieces into a well-coordinated outfit!  I'm really enjoying this weather of late because it allows for fun layering and experimenting.  Yes, it is the little things.

Baby Gap owl shirt bought at a thrift store last year.  Corduroy skirt on deep discount at the end of last winter during one of Children's Place's free shipping plus coupon sale.  Owl tights brought back from a trip by Grammie and Opa.

Whoooo's excited??!!   ;-)

Far-Away Adventures....Oh, Wait...

B's class "went on a field trip" to the pumpkin "patch" set up at the church where his school is located.  Yes, that's right-- the field trip was to the front of the building!! 

C and I "went" along for the festivities, which included a hay ride, picking out a pumpkin, a bounce house, and face-painting....but NOT the hay maze since it was kinda rainy. 

Self-portrait on the hay ride:

Is he gonna go with the wee baby pumpkin?

Nah, he opted for an upgrade!

This "little pumpkin" had a good time with the big kids, as usual!

I intended to purchase some additional pumpkins (the "patch" is a fundraiser for the youth department at the church), but it was rainy pretty much the rest of the day.   Next time!

Get That Boy A Belt!!

(Or at least remind his running-partner father that there are adjustable elastic strips inside the boy's waistband!)

How's the poor kid gonna break the world record on his "WATCH HOW FAST I CAN RUN!" yard adventures if he has to hold onto his pants the whole time?!!

One More Time

When Grammie and Opa left here on Sunday afternoon, they actually drove up to the Corning area to spend a few days visiting friends.  They drove their rental car back here yesterday afternoon to fly home so we went over to meet them for an hour or so before they needed to be at the airport.

Grammie gladly took the kiddos for a spin on a food court ride:

 Clearly the ride (and Grammie's clapping hands) were just going TOO fast for the poor little camera.

See?  She's a clapping maniac.....but sure is a cute one!

Opa took B on quite a walk to find a milkshake.  Kid was pretty excited...even if he always wants plain ole vanilla.

So fun to get to see them one more time before they headed back to The Lone Star State!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

And Sometimes It Just Writes Itself

Late last afternoon, I gave the kids a bath after they'd been playing outside for a bit.  We bathe 'em together but she always gets out and dressed first while he continues to splash around.  I took care of her and then got B out and hustled him down to his room to put on some pjs.  As we were walking back down the hall toward the kitchen, I heard the unmistakable laugh of someone who has done something she knows she isn't supposed to.

What would it be, I thought, as the deliciously triumphant giggles continued...

Ahhh.  The ole "climb up on a table" trope:

And obviously, Grampa in his capri pajamas also had to get right in on the action!!

Sniffing Across State Lines

After Carrie's experience a few weeks ago with Brooks, fragrance expert, she spent the next night with her sister and apparently talked up the entertainment value contained in the B-man's presentation.  That led to us driving to the next state over (you can DO that up here!) yesterday morning to present Katie with all the scented options.   I hadn't seen her since Carrie's wedding more than 3 years ago so it was fun to catch up with her and see the just-as-in-a-magazine fabulous new house.

Round one took place on the floor:

Round two at the counter:

And what was sister doing during all this?  Oh, you know, just hanging out on the dog bed eating mini muffins!

We love adventures!!  Sure made the day FLY by!!  Thanks, Auntie Carrie, for the marketing help!  :-)

Dogs for Chai

Apparently it's Fire Safety week at school and the firefighters will be coming on Wednesday.  To get in the spirit, the kids made dalmation ears yesterday.   B wouldn't wear his for me until I told him he could have a "warm beberage" when he got home if he wore them for the car ride.

Boy loves himself some warm beberages.  (I enjoy this b-for-v substitution equally much when he talks about the winter Scentsy scent "Festibal of Trees"!)

His warm beberage of choice, of course, is chai-- made mostly with milk but with enough of the chai concentrate to feel like a treat.  So I couldn't help but giggle when I saw slide 12 of this very fun article.

It should be noted that I've never been aware of being affected by caffeine myself and have certainly never seen it in the generally mild Brooksie!

Have you ever ordered an "off-menu" bevvie?  Some of these kid ones sound pretty tasty!

Behold

The only picture I took this weekend:

A true photographic masterpiece, to be sure.

But isn't that the way things go??

We enjoyed a very fun weekend with the parentals.  Mostly hung around the house in a lazy fashion but it was good visitin'.   The BG and I were able to escape Saturday night for a delicious dinner, wandering/shopping time, and a late movie!   LOVE that we get to enjoy such adventures when my parents are in town-- many thanks to them for minding the hooligans.

And....that's all I know.  Can't believe it's Monday already!   And because the schools here have already had holidays for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and will also get Election Day off, they do not get today's Columbus Day holiday.  Back to the grind for us all!!  (And time to climb back on the healthy eating wagon after a very enjoyable time off of it this weekend!  ha!)

Visitors!!

Guess who arrived yesterday afternoon?   Here's a clue:  we picked 'em up from the airport and immediately drove straight to......the new Wegmans!!!

I snapped some pics in the parking garage (!!!) before we entered.  Such happiness!

And since her brother got a close-up in yesterday's post....

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

Sib Time

On MWF, we get home shortly after 2 pm from picking up B at school.  They have a little bit of "rest time" at school but it's not much.  So our deal has been that he has to stay in his room for 1 hour of quiet time, rather than the 2 hours that occurs every other day.  The tricky thing is that because school pickup is at 1:50, C's nap has to start earlier in the day so she can be up and have lunch before we leave.  As you can imagine, she's not exactly ready to go hang out in her crib again when we get home.

Mama, however, likes to have some quiet time of her own.  So the latest plan is that the two little peeps can have communal quiet time in B's bedroom if they stay in there and behave.  Yesterday was only the second time we tried this little adventure and I'm so happy to say it was a big success!   I went in at one point and B was reading his sister a book on his bed.  I quickly closed the door, went to get the camera, and...

An ant on the window screen had captured her attention away from Brother Reader!

He didn't seem to mind:

Healthy Fall Treat

...and loved by the very not-on-a-diet BG, no less!

I decided yesterday morning to make a recipe I'd seen floating around on Pinterest because it seriously uses only 2 ingredients.  (Okay, I added 2 more-- NOT a banana, Opa!--but still, it really only uses 2 ingredients.)

Wanted to let you know that, while it isn't going to win any awards for culinary interest or depth of flavor, these little guys are pretty tasty for a baked good treat that doesn't tip the scales.

Ready?

1 box yellow cake mix
1 can pumpkin

That's it.  No oil or eggs.   Mix together and bake in whatever configuration you want at 350 degrees.  I did mini muffins (took about 18 minutes) and one small loaf (took maybe 28).

I added some pumpkin pie spice and some mini chocolate chips in some of them.  Definitely will do next batch with all mini choc chips and more pumpkin spice.

While it's true that one of the BG's favorite foods is yellow box cake, who knew he'd still drool over it sans oil and egg?

I got the original recipe here.

In related news, the Weight Watchers adventure has been going fine.   As you might know/remember, my initial WW experience was in early 2010 when I finally got fed up with the extra pounds I was STILL carrying 2 years after Brooks and wanted to lose before thinking about doing the pregnancy weight gain thing again.  It went really well (I do love rules!) and I lost about 15 pounds in 3 months.

Round two was after C was born.  I didn't lose quite as much and definitely not as fast, but it was successful.

This latest go-round was because I'm just UGH about my lower half.  I know I should be happy that these "birthin' hips" let a 9.5 lb baby easily pass through them but, really, they just make me crazy with how big they are, especially relative to my top half.   So I decided to do it again-- oh, and I should make clear that each of these experiences have been the Weight Watchers Online version only.  I've heard wonderful things about actually going to meetings and all that, but that's not really conducive to my schedule right now.   There are generally specials to get 3 months of the online access for under $60 so that's been the perfect investment for me.

ANYWAY.

I started this time weighing 8 lbs less than the last 2 times.   I lost 6 lbs in the first 4 weeks, so, quite honestly, I'm not all that concerned with my weight.  It's these darn hips!   ;-)

The 5th week involved several days off the wagon with the girls in town, and the 6th week involved a loaf of cheese bread and a bottle of wine with my birthday twin, so I've basically still lost about 6 lbs in 6 weeks.  Plateaus are no bueno, but whaddya gonna do?!  I'm not really interested in deprivation, especially when feeling decent about the number on the scale.

My weigh-ins (at home) are on Thursday mornings so I'm hoping to see a downward trend tomorrow morning.  But in any case, it's always good to have incentive to exercise and eat more healthily!!

Heh.

Bubble beards are funny.

Multitasking?

First of all, HAPPY OCTOBER!   Hard to believe the 10th month is already here.

This month features the annual "Parade of Parents" where the weekends are filled with our parental units coming to watch football games and enjoy the crisp autumn air.   We are looking forward to all the fun visitors but ended up having a pretty entertaining pre-visitor weekend these last few days, as well!!    In the space of 24 hours, I got to hang out with not one, not two, not three, but FOUR different loyal readers, each separately (and awesomely)!   It's always such a treat to have quality visiting time with peeps-- what a great end to September!

Side note:  I also had a random "visit" from an unexpected source.  I decided to toodle down the road to use an about-to-expire BOGO coupon at a Caribou Coffee and, as I was driving down the main roadway, saw some movement off to the left.  Yes, friends, it was a bounding deer....headed right for me.  We have deer at our house all the time (I seriously just saw 4 run by as I started writing this post), but I was not expecting to see one trying to run across the road.  I think he tried to leap over the car, but that was not going to happen.  Boom!    I'm happy to report that he shook himself (herself?) off and bounded away, and that the BG's car I was driving emerged pretty much unscathed.  But whew-- not was I was expecting on that drive for fun morning bevvies!

ANYWAY.  I thought I'd kick off the week with a poll question that was inspired by one of my fun visits this weekend.  Which one?  I'll never tell.....since the topical matter is somewhat low-brow.   It is an important question regarding multitasking, however-- a subject that actually got discussed at another of my social times this weekend!   Tell us the truth!  We'll never know who you are!  (Um, unless you comment-- which is fab, too!  :-)