Evan is going through a phase right now where loud noises and jerky movements scare him. Evie and I found out, tonight that he is totally frightened of me juggling. I was tossing around those rubber dive sticks that you use at the pool.. the look of terror on his face! Now, it didn't help that Evie was laughing loudly each time.. the noise, I'm sure had alot to do with it. But he was watching me when he freaked out.. not Evie...
We managed to capture it on video.. I know what you're gonna say.. "Awww! Poor baby! Why did those two girls scare him like that!?" We thought it was funny.. we are so mean! :o)
Monday, March 31, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Headbands For Sale!
Okay.. so there is a new store that opened up in our mall.. you think I could remember the name? Nope.. And it's not on the bag or the receipt. If you are going in the door from the entrance by Lenscrafters (and Bergner's), it's the first store on the right by the mall office. They have cheap jewelry and HEADBANDS! Every type of headband that you can think of.. and they are ALL $1.00 each! We went nuts in there.. I don't mind buying up headbands when they are only a dollar! And they are so cute!!! Every color, texture, etc!
We bought six of them (for now), and with Evie's new hair cut they look great!
We bought six of them (for now), and with Evie's new hair cut they look great!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Driving Miss Evie
What a lovely day! Spent some time with Hope and the kiddos today. John Michael and Evie went out for a drive.. Hope took pics! Those kids are hilarious!
And then a couple of Hope with my little baby boy, (who, by the way had a little bit of a fever today :o( )
And then a couple of Hope with my little baby boy, (who, by the way had a little bit of a fever today :o( )
Monday, March 24, 2008
"100 Ways to Keep Little Kids Happy"
The best article ever featured in "Parents" Magazine! I was thumbing through my latest issue while eating lunch with Eve today and found this! These are great ideas!!!
"100 Ways to Keep Little Kids Happy" by Nancy Rones;
Pretend-Play Games
1. Celebrate a new holiday. Announce that it's Polka-Dot Day or Purple Day.
2. Throw a doll's birthday party. Wrap up a few "gifts," decorate with balloons and streamers, and enjoy a mock -- or real -- cake.
3. Dress for the weather. Lay out items for different weather conditions, describe a certain day, and ask your child to pick an outfit for it.
4. Open a petting zoo. Place stuffed animals around the room, pet each one, and talk about what they like to eat.
5. Camp out in your living room. Climb into a tent and sleeping bags. Turn on a flashlight, and pretend to eat s'mores.
6. Form a family band. Have everyone grab an instrument and jam to a CD.
7. Imitate animals. Practice hopping like a frog, squirming like a worm, waddling like a duck, and stretching like a cat.
8. Play restaurant. In the real kitchen or a pretend one, alternate between being the customer and the server or chef.
9. Offer horsy rides. Let her bounce on your back while you "neigh" and chew hay.
10. Ride the laundry-bin "school bus." She's the passenger, and you're the driver. Make stops to pick up other kids, and wave bye-bye to the mommies at each stop.
Take-Alongs That Make Waiting Fun
11. Brain Quest. This "flip deck" of age-appropriate questions and answers for children as young as 2 builds smarts and keeps kids busy.
12. A dry-erase pen for dressing rooms. "My daughter decorates the mirror while I try things on," says Stephanie Simon, of Charlotte, North Carolina. "The ink wipes off easily with a tissue."
13. Mini Etch A Sketch. Ask your child to draw what he sees.
14. Bubbles. Blow them while she's in a shopping cart or waiting to see the doctor.
15. Long-lasting snacks. Consider mini bagels, breadsticks, or graham crackers.
16. Pipe cleaners. They can take the shape of a ring, a flower, or a headband.
17. Crayons and a coloring book. Or try Crayola Color Wonder markers.
18. Finger puppets. Act out a story while you're stuck in a long line.
19. A plastic magnifying glass. She'll love seeing objects and people close-up.
20. A little toy train. Introduce a special choo-choo that only appears when you're outside of the house. Create your own track: Tell your child that it's along his arm, up a chair, or over a table -- and he'll keep the train rolling.
Easy Art Project
21. Finger-paint with pudding. Place a dollop on a laminated place mat or a cookie sheet and have your child create sweet abstract art. (You can dye vanilla pudding with food coloring.)
22. Make jewelry. String painted Cheerios or hollow pasta shapes onto yarn and voila, a necklace or a bracelet.
23. Create fingerprint critters. Using washable paint, make thumbprints on paper or a flowerpot. Once the paint dries, use a fabric marker to draw on legs, a face, and antennae. For more ideas, check out Ed Emberley's Complete FunPrint Drawing Book.
24. Go splat. Channel your child's inner Jackson Pollock: Drag an old sheet outside and let him use a paintbrush to splatter it with waterproof paint.
25. Make a collage. Give him paper and a glue stick. Go nuts with decorations, such as torn pieces of tissue or construction paper, cotton balls, feathers, images from magazines, and photos.
26. Adopt a pet rock. Adorn stones from a nature walk with paint, glitter glue, and stick-on eyes.
27. Try Dot Art markers. They're super easy for toddlers to hold.
28. Design a T-shirt. Paint your child's foot or hand with fabric paint and imprint a T-shirt for her or to give as a gift. (To prevent color from bleeding to the other side of the shirt, place cardboard inside.)
29. Knead some goop. Mix a box of cornstarch with water to a consistency your child likes, then add food coloring.
30. Crown your prince or princess. Decorate a strip of construction paper or cardboard with markers, glitter, and stickers. Then staple or tape the two ends to size.
Toys That Are Worth Every Penny
31. Melissa and Doug Deluxe Band Set ($30)
32. Little People Racin' Ramps Garage ($33)
33. Playskool Busy Ball Popper ($20)
34. Little Tikes Cozy Coupe II Car ($50)
35. Playhut Crawl 'N Play foldable tent with tunnels ($30)
36. Lego Duplo Deluxe Brick Box ($45)
37. LeapFrog Brightlings Exploration Station ($40)
38. Parents Mirror Pound-A-Ball ($17)
39. Little Tikes Cookin' Fun Interactive Kitchen ($100) with Step 2 Play Food Assortment ($20 for 101 pieces)
40. VTech Pull & Lights Phone ($15)
Games to Play with a Ball
41. Knock it across the room with a kitchen utensil. Grab a spoon or a strainer with a handle.
42. Roll with it. Facing your child with legs spread apart, roll a ball to each other, alternating between using your left hand and right hand.
43. Bounce it into a hula hoop. Hold the hoop and have her try to toss the ball so it lands in the center. Move back to make the game more challenging.
44. Design spin art. Dip a small ball, such as a golf ball, into nontoxic washable paint, then put it in a salad spinner (or a plastic container) along with a few coffee filters. Put the cover on and spin! (You can use your salad spinner again after you put it in the dishwasher.)
45. Go bowling. Knock over some empty water bottles or soda cans.
46. Size them up. Give your child an assortment of balls -- tennis, golf, Ping-Pong -- and an empty muffin tin. She'll have fun putting a ball in each compartment, dumping them out, and starting all over again.
47. Play air ball. Take turns hitting a beach ball up toward the ceiling, trying not to let it hit the ground.
48. Sing a silly ball song. Have him run around the room holding a ball, while belting out "The Ball on the Bus Goes Round and Round."
49. Toss it up a slide. She'll love watching it roll down.
50. Pass it through a "human" tunnel. Both parents and the child stand in a row, one behind the other, with legs spread wide. The first person bends over and tries to get the ball through the three sets of legs.
Rainy Day Ideas
51. Create a sunny scene. "My kids draw on the windows with washable window markers," says Stacey Marshall, of Charlotte, North Carolina.
52. Splash in a couple of puddles. If the rain is light, you can look for worms along the way.
53. Pop in a yoga tape. Have her follow your poses.
54. Measure the place. "My 2-year-old daughter, Meredith, loves to play with a plastic tape measure," says Heather Gillespie, of West Harrison, New York. "We see how big all our furniture is."
55. Bake cookies with care. Give her a lesson in altruism by baking cookies for an elderly neighbor or to send to the troops in Iraq. Let her sneak a couple.
56. Plant seeds. Try lima beans, marigolds, and zinnias in a variety of mini pots, clear plastic cups, or an egg carton.
57. Play tag. Make it more fun with Playskool's Tag Tails ($15). Each player wears a detachable animal tail, which you try to pull off.
58. Create an obstacle course. Jump on pillows, crawl under chairs, and burrow through a blanket-covered tunnel.
59. Hunt for under-the-sea treasure. Run a bubble bath, then have your child sit inside or outside the tub and feel around for objects you've "buried."
60. Practice math. "Change the words of 'If You're Happy and You Know It' to 'If You're Happy and You Know It ... clap one time or jump three times and hop two times,'" says Jackie Silberg, author of 500 Five-Minute Games. Keep changing the activity and the number of repetitions.
Ways to Make Every Car Ride Rock
61. Take along a cookie sheet and magnetic letters and numbers. You can count and sing the ABCs as she arranges them in proper order, says Trish Kuffner, author of The Toddler's Busy Book.
62. Entertain her with a dancing bear. "When I'm in the passenger seat, I hold a stuffed animal on my head and have it perform," says Lisa Depew, of Ashburn, Virginia.
63. Pack a Travel Go 'N Doodle. No worries about ink stains on the seats with this version of the Aquadoodle mat.
64. Burn a favorite-songs CD. Make sure you like a few of them!
65. Try the shopping game. Name a store your child knows well (supermarket or toy store), then on the word "Go" see how many things your child can name in that store.
66. Bring a storybook on CD. These sets signal when it's time to turn the page in the corresponding book, so nonreaders can follow along too.
67. Take pictures of the trip. With a child-friendly digital camera, such as Fisher-Price's Kid-Tough Digital Camera, he can snap (deletable) pictures through the window and view his shots as often as he'd like.
68. Play "Who Am I?" Offer clues about an animal or a community helper, and ask your child to solve the riddle, says Kuffner.
69. Pretend with a doctor's kit. Ask her to examine a couple of her dolls or stuffed animals.
70. Let him steer like you. A toy with a steering wheel can help your child feel in control. Try Tiny Love's Wonder Wheel.
Books Toddlers Love
71. Knuffle Bunny, by Mo Willems
72. Best Word Book Ever! by Richard Scarry
73. Tails, by Matthew Van Fleet
74. Tickle the Duck! by Ethan Long
75. Hug, by Jez Alborough
76. Barnyard Dance! by Sandra Boynton
77. Peek-A-Baby, by Karen Katz
78. The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle
79. Everyone Poops, by Taro Gomi
80. A Fish Out of Water, by Helen Palmer
CDs Kids Adore
81. No! (They Might Be Giants)
82. You Are My Sunshine (Elizabeth Mitchell)
83. Free to Be You and Me (Marlo Thomas)
84. Catch That Train! (Dan Zanes)
85. Singable Songs for the Very Young (Raffi)
86. Go Baby Go! (The Baby Loves Jazz Band)
87. Whaddaya Think of That? (Laurie Berkner)
88. Folk Playground (Putumayo Kids)
89. Yellow Submarine (The Beatles)
90. Welcome to Ralph's World (Ralph's World)
Really Fun 5-Minute Activities
91. Let your child scrub, scrub, scrub. "I fill the sink or a bucket with soapy water and give my kids plastic dishes or their dolls to clean," says Jodie Fratantuno, of Los Angeles.
92. Hand him an old cell phone. Name a relative or a friend to call.
93. Have her talk into a big plastic party cup. She'll be fascinated by the echo.
94. Pound out some energy. Give your child some golf tees and a toy hammer, and have him bang the tees into Styrofoam.
95. Dance on bubble wrap. Tape a piece to the floor and go wild.
96. Wipe down the kitchen. "My 2-year-old loves it when I give her a damp sponge to go over the counter and cabinets like Mommy does," says Depew.
97. Mesmerize him with a calculator. Kids especially love ones with big buttons.
98. Lay out a foam place mat and foam stickers. "My 19-month-old sits for a long time sticking on each decoration and then pulling it off," says Jane Martin, of Overland Park, Kansas.
99. Present her with a photo album with plastic pages. She'll like seeing memories of her birthday party or pictures of her cousins.
100. Enjoy teatime outside. "My 3-year-old pours water back and forth between her plastic teapot and teacups," says Elli Goyette, of Newport News, Virginia
Copyright © 2008. Used with permission from the April 2008 issue of Parents magazine.
"100 Ways to Keep Little Kids Happy" by Nancy Rones;
Pretend-Play Games
1. Celebrate a new holiday. Announce that it's Polka-Dot Day or Purple Day.
2. Throw a doll's birthday party. Wrap up a few "gifts," decorate with balloons and streamers, and enjoy a mock -- or real -- cake.
3. Dress for the weather. Lay out items for different weather conditions, describe a certain day, and ask your child to pick an outfit for it.
4. Open a petting zoo. Place stuffed animals around the room, pet each one, and talk about what they like to eat.
5. Camp out in your living room. Climb into a tent and sleeping bags. Turn on a flashlight, and pretend to eat s'mores.
6. Form a family band. Have everyone grab an instrument and jam to a CD.
7. Imitate animals. Practice hopping like a frog, squirming like a worm, waddling like a duck, and stretching like a cat.
8. Play restaurant. In the real kitchen or a pretend one, alternate between being the customer and the server or chef.
9. Offer horsy rides. Let her bounce on your back while you "neigh" and chew hay.
10. Ride the laundry-bin "school bus." She's the passenger, and you're the driver. Make stops to pick up other kids, and wave bye-bye to the mommies at each stop.
Take-Alongs That Make Waiting Fun
11. Brain Quest. This "flip deck" of age-appropriate questions and answers for children as young as 2 builds smarts and keeps kids busy.
12. A dry-erase pen for dressing rooms. "My daughter decorates the mirror while I try things on," says Stephanie Simon, of Charlotte, North Carolina. "The ink wipes off easily with a tissue."
13. Mini Etch A Sketch. Ask your child to draw what he sees.
14. Bubbles. Blow them while she's in a shopping cart or waiting to see the doctor.
15. Long-lasting snacks. Consider mini bagels, breadsticks, or graham crackers.
16. Pipe cleaners. They can take the shape of a ring, a flower, or a headband.
17. Crayons and a coloring book. Or try Crayola Color Wonder markers.
18. Finger puppets. Act out a story while you're stuck in a long line.
19. A plastic magnifying glass. She'll love seeing objects and people close-up.
20. A little toy train. Introduce a special choo-choo that only appears when you're outside of the house. Create your own track: Tell your child that it's along his arm, up a chair, or over a table -- and he'll keep the train rolling.
Easy Art Project
21. Finger-paint with pudding. Place a dollop on a laminated place mat or a cookie sheet and have your child create sweet abstract art. (You can dye vanilla pudding with food coloring.)
22. Make jewelry. String painted Cheerios or hollow pasta shapes onto yarn and voila, a necklace or a bracelet.
23. Create fingerprint critters. Using washable paint, make thumbprints on paper or a flowerpot. Once the paint dries, use a fabric marker to draw on legs, a face, and antennae. For more ideas, check out Ed Emberley's Complete FunPrint Drawing Book.
24. Go splat. Channel your child's inner Jackson Pollock: Drag an old sheet outside and let him use a paintbrush to splatter it with waterproof paint.
25. Make a collage. Give him paper and a glue stick. Go nuts with decorations, such as torn pieces of tissue or construction paper, cotton balls, feathers, images from magazines, and photos.
26. Adopt a pet rock. Adorn stones from a nature walk with paint, glitter glue, and stick-on eyes.
27. Try Dot Art markers. They're super easy for toddlers to hold.
28. Design a T-shirt. Paint your child's foot or hand with fabric paint and imprint a T-shirt for her or to give as a gift. (To prevent color from bleeding to the other side of the shirt, place cardboard inside.)
29. Knead some goop. Mix a box of cornstarch with water to a consistency your child likes, then add food coloring.
30. Crown your prince or princess. Decorate a strip of construction paper or cardboard with markers, glitter, and stickers. Then staple or tape the two ends to size.
Toys That Are Worth Every Penny
31. Melissa and Doug Deluxe Band Set ($30)
32. Little People Racin' Ramps Garage ($33)
33. Playskool Busy Ball Popper ($20)
34. Little Tikes Cozy Coupe II Car ($50)
35. Playhut Crawl 'N Play foldable tent with tunnels ($30)
36. Lego Duplo Deluxe Brick Box ($45)
37. LeapFrog Brightlings Exploration Station ($40)
38. Parents Mirror Pound-A-Ball ($17)
39. Little Tikes Cookin' Fun Interactive Kitchen ($100) with Step 2 Play Food Assortment ($20 for 101 pieces)
40. VTech Pull & Lights Phone ($15)
Games to Play with a Ball
41. Knock it across the room with a kitchen utensil. Grab a spoon or a strainer with a handle.
42. Roll with it. Facing your child with legs spread apart, roll a ball to each other, alternating between using your left hand and right hand.
43. Bounce it into a hula hoop. Hold the hoop and have her try to toss the ball so it lands in the center. Move back to make the game more challenging.
44. Design spin art. Dip a small ball, such as a golf ball, into nontoxic washable paint, then put it in a salad spinner (or a plastic container) along with a few coffee filters. Put the cover on and spin! (You can use your salad spinner again after you put it in the dishwasher.)
45. Go bowling. Knock over some empty water bottles or soda cans.
46. Size them up. Give your child an assortment of balls -- tennis, golf, Ping-Pong -- and an empty muffin tin. She'll have fun putting a ball in each compartment, dumping them out, and starting all over again.
47. Play air ball. Take turns hitting a beach ball up toward the ceiling, trying not to let it hit the ground.
48. Sing a silly ball song. Have him run around the room holding a ball, while belting out "The Ball on the Bus Goes Round and Round."
49. Toss it up a slide. She'll love watching it roll down.
50. Pass it through a "human" tunnel. Both parents and the child stand in a row, one behind the other, with legs spread wide. The first person bends over and tries to get the ball through the three sets of legs.
Rainy Day Ideas
51. Create a sunny scene. "My kids draw on the windows with washable window markers," says Stacey Marshall, of Charlotte, North Carolina.
52. Splash in a couple of puddles. If the rain is light, you can look for worms along the way.
53. Pop in a yoga tape. Have her follow your poses.
54. Measure the place. "My 2-year-old daughter, Meredith, loves to play with a plastic tape measure," says Heather Gillespie, of West Harrison, New York. "We see how big all our furniture is."
55. Bake cookies with care. Give her a lesson in altruism by baking cookies for an elderly neighbor or to send to the troops in Iraq. Let her sneak a couple.
56. Plant seeds. Try lima beans, marigolds, and zinnias in a variety of mini pots, clear plastic cups, or an egg carton.
57. Play tag. Make it more fun with Playskool's Tag Tails ($15). Each player wears a detachable animal tail, which you try to pull off.
58. Create an obstacle course. Jump on pillows, crawl under chairs, and burrow through a blanket-covered tunnel.
59. Hunt for under-the-sea treasure. Run a bubble bath, then have your child sit inside or outside the tub and feel around for objects you've "buried."
60. Practice math. "Change the words of 'If You're Happy and You Know It' to 'If You're Happy and You Know It ... clap one time or jump three times and hop two times,'" says Jackie Silberg, author of 500 Five-Minute Games. Keep changing the activity and the number of repetitions.
Ways to Make Every Car Ride Rock
61. Take along a cookie sheet and magnetic letters and numbers. You can count and sing the ABCs as she arranges them in proper order, says Trish Kuffner, author of The Toddler's Busy Book.
62. Entertain her with a dancing bear. "When I'm in the passenger seat, I hold a stuffed animal on my head and have it perform," says Lisa Depew, of Ashburn, Virginia.
63. Pack a Travel Go 'N Doodle. No worries about ink stains on the seats with this version of the Aquadoodle mat.
64. Burn a favorite-songs CD. Make sure you like a few of them!
65. Try the shopping game. Name a store your child knows well (supermarket or toy store), then on the word "Go" see how many things your child can name in that store.
66. Bring a storybook on CD. These sets signal when it's time to turn the page in the corresponding book, so nonreaders can follow along too.
67. Take pictures of the trip. With a child-friendly digital camera, such as Fisher-Price's Kid-Tough Digital Camera, he can snap (deletable) pictures through the window and view his shots as often as he'd like.
68. Play "Who Am I?" Offer clues about an animal or a community helper, and ask your child to solve the riddle, says Kuffner.
69. Pretend with a doctor's kit. Ask her to examine a couple of her dolls or stuffed animals.
70. Let him steer like you. A toy with a steering wheel can help your child feel in control. Try Tiny Love's Wonder Wheel.
Books Toddlers Love
71. Knuffle Bunny, by Mo Willems
72. Best Word Book Ever! by Richard Scarry
73. Tails, by Matthew Van Fleet
74. Tickle the Duck! by Ethan Long
75. Hug, by Jez Alborough
76. Barnyard Dance! by Sandra Boynton
77. Peek-A-Baby, by Karen Katz
78. The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle
79. Everyone Poops, by Taro Gomi
80. A Fish Out of Water, by Helen Palmer
CDs Kids Adore
81. No! (They Might Be Giants)
82. You Are My Sunshine (Elizabeth Mitchell)
83. Free to Be You and Me (Marlo Thomas)
84. Catch That Train! (Dan Zanes)
85. Singable Songs for the Very Young (Raffi)
86. Go Baby Go! (The Baby Loves Jazz Band)
87. Whaddaya Think of That? (Laurie Berkner)
88. Folk Playground (Putumayo Kids)
89. Yellow Submarine (The Beatles)
90. Welcome to Ralph's World (Ralph's World)
Really Fun 5-Minute Activities
91. Let your child scrub, scrub, scrub. "I fill the sink or a bucket with soapy water and give my kids plastic dishes or their dolls to clean," says Jodie Fratantuno, of Los Angeles.
92. Hand him an old cell phone. Name a relative or a friend to call.
93. Have her talk into a big plastic party cup. She'll be fascinated by the echo.
94. Pound out some energy. Give your child some golf tees and a toy hammer, and have him bang the tees into Styrofoam.
95. Dance on bubble wrap. Tape a piece to the floor and go wild.
96. Wipe down the kitchen. "My 2-year-old loves it when I give her a damp sponge to go over the counter and cabinets like Mommy does," says Depew.
97. Mesmerize him with a calculator. Kids especially love ones with big buttons.
98. Lay out a foam place mat and foam stickers. "My 19-month-old sits for a long time sticking on each decoration and then pulling it off," says Jane Martin, of Overland Park, Kansas.
99. Present her with a photo album with plastic pages. She'll like seeing memories of her birthday party or pictures of her cousins.
100. Enjoy teatime outside. "My 3-year-old pours water back and forth between her plastic teapot and teacups," says Elli Goyette, of Newport News, Virginia
Copyright © 2008. Used with permission from the April 2008 issue of Parents magazine.
"Where's My Mama!"
A little seperation anxiety going on with my little one.
I can't leave the room unless he is TOTALLY occupied with what he is doing and having a good time. Otherwise I get terrible, shrieking cries. Oh boy. So it's a great time slinging him on my hip while I try to do laundry.... yes, most of the time he insists on being held while I do these things.
Last night, after coming home from the grandparents house for Easter, I was able to get him down to sleep about 6:30 pm since he didn't nap all day and he was exhausted! Evie and I went to a movie and when we got home at 9 pm, he was up on Joe's lap in the living room... still looking exhausted. Joe said he woke thet moment I left and cried the entire time I was gone.. he knew that his Mama was gone and wasn't going back to bed until I was home. I came in, picked him up, he kissed my face about a thousand times, nursed for a few minutes and he was out!
He's all about his Mama. It does make it difficult to get things done, though.
Sweet boy.
I can't leave the room unless he is TOTALLY occupied with what he is doing and having a good time. Otherwise I get terrible, shrieking cries. Oh boy. So it's a great time slinging him on my hip while I try to do laundry.... yes, most of the time he insists on being held while I do these things.
Last night, after coming home from the grandparents house for Easter, I was able to get him down to sleep about 6:30 pm since he didn't nap all day and he was exhausted! Evie and I went to a movie and when we got home at 9 pm, he was up on Joe's lap in the living room... still looking exhausted. Joe said he woke thet moment I left and cried the entire time I was gone.. he knew that his Mama was gone and wasn't going back to bed until I was home. I came in, picked him up, he kissed my face about a thousand times, nursed for a few minutes and he was out!
He's all about his Mama. It does make it difficult to get things done, though.
Sweet boy.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
"Horton Hears a Who"
WOW!
Evie and I went to the movies with Hope, John and John Michael tonight and saw "Horton Hears A Who". This has ALWAYS been a favorite story of Evie's, we read it so often that we can probably recite the whole book from cover to cover... (this one plus "Horton Hatches the Egg" and "Green Eggs and Ham").
So we were excited to see the movie and it didn't disappoint! The best cast that you could ask for and the animation was fantastic! The opening scene of the "Jungle of Nool" had me mesmorized.. I felt like I was there - the images were so crisp and colorful. So you have Jim Carrey (Horton), Steve Carell (the mayor), Carol Burnett (who was amazing!) as the hmpf-ing kangaroo, Amy Pohler, ( mayor's wife) and one of my favorite actors, Seth Rogen, as Morton the mouse. You have the Wickersham Brothers and Vlad Vladikoff.... classic story! They changed nothing! Just added to it! Evie and John Michael laughed alot, (they both know the story very well), and Evie told me on the way home that this was her favorite movie of all time so far.
So I hunted on YouTube when I got home and found this cool 7 minute sneak peek into the movie.. no spoilers (you already know what happens in the movie if you read the book anyway), just a great preview!
GO SEE THIS MOVIE!
"After all, a person's a person, no matter how small...."
Evie and I went to the movies with Hope, John and John Michael tonight and saw "Horton Hears A Who". This has ALWAYS been a favorite story of Evie's, we read it so often that we can probably recite the whole book from cover to cover... (this one plus "Horton Hatches the Egg" and "Green Eggs and Ham").
So we were excited to see the movie and it didn't disappoint! The best cast that you could ask for and the animation was fantastic! The opening scene of the "Jungle of Nool" had me mesmorized.. I felt like I was there - the images were so crisp and colorful. So you have Jim Carrey (Horton), Steve Carell (the mayor), Carol Burnett (who was amazing!) as the hmpf-ing kangaroo, Amy Pohler, ( mayor's wife) and one of my favorite actors, Seth Rogen, as Morton the mouse. You have the Wickersham Brothers and Vlad Vladikoff.... classic story! They changed nothing! Just added to it! Evie and John Michael laughed alot, (they both know the story very well), and Evie told me on the way home that this was her favorite movie of all time so far.
So I hunted on YouTube when I got home and found this cool 7 minute sneak peek into the movie.. no spoilers (you already know what happens in the movie if you read the book anyway), just a great preview!
GO SEE THIS MOVIE!
"After all, a person's a person, no matter how small...."
Easter 2008! Got eggs?
Happy Easter!!!
Glitter Graphics & Comments
Last night we colored Easter eggs with Eve's friend, John Michael..
Here are some cute pics!
Here are my two tired Easter Bunnies! You can see how red their eyes are.. Evan is ready for bed but Evie and I are going to the movies tonight to see "Horton Hears a Who".. can't wait!!!
Here is a video of Evie hunting for Easter eggs at Grandma and Grandpa's house.. some cute shots of Evan with Daddy, too!
Hope everyone had a pleasant day!!
Glitter Graphics & Comments
Last night we colored Easter eggs with Eve's friend, John Michael..
Here are some cute pics!
Here are my two tired Easter Bunnies! You can see how red their eyes are.. Evan is ready for bed but Evie and I are going to the movies tonight to see "Horton Hears a Who".. can't wait!!!
Here is a video of Evie hunting for Easter eggs at Grandma and Grandpa's house.. some cute shots of Evan with Daddy, too!
Hope everyone had a pleasant day!!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
You Oughta Be in Pictures
More videos to watch... just having fun shooting stuff with my Flip Video.
Evie likes to do Evan's feedings.. although usually I'm in a hurry to get him fed that I don't let her. Yesterday morning we had nothing to do, nowhere to be, so Eve took her time feeding Evan and got him good and messy.. (that's the other reason that I don't like her to feed if we have to go somewhere.)
I always enjoy his smile in the closeups.. Awww!
And I have been encouraging tummy time for Evan.. he still doesn't like it much. He would much rather be sitting up and playing, but nonetheless, I sneak it in when I can. He seems to like the camera a bit so I thought it would help to film.
He has been trying to scoot a little and gets up on his knees for a minute but gets mad easily. He'll get it.. I just have to keep trying. I thought he looked so sweet in the video, though.
Hope you enjoy the movies.. more to come!
Evie likes to do Evan's feedings.. although usually I'm in a hurry to get him fed that I don't let her. Yesterday morning we had nothing to do, nowhere to be, so Eve took her time feeding Evan and got him good and messy.. (that's the other reason that I don't like her to feed if we have to go somewhere.)
I always enjoy his smile in the closeups.. Awww!
And I have been encouraging tummy time for Evan.. he still doesn't like it much. He would much rather be sitting up and playing, but nonetheless, I sneak it in when I can. He seems to like the camera a bit so I thought it would help to film.
He has been trying to scoot a little and gets up on his knees for a minute but gets mad easily. He'll get it.. I just have to keep trying. I thought he looked so sweet in the video, though.
Hope you enjoy the movies.. more to come!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Hello everyone!
It's a yucky, rainy old day... but it started off nice with Monday Mania with friends. Evan played on the floor
while Evie rode bikes and played with friends.
I painted shamrocks on our faces (not Evan's) and we wore our green.
I had a nice line of kids that wanted their faces or hands painted as well.. it was too cute! Too bad that I didn't get pictures of all of the kids painted.
Then we went to lunch with a couple of my friends and their kids (Eve and Ev's friends) to O'Charley's. We had a great time.. although I'm sure that the table of old ladies behind us couldn't wait for us to leave!
I hope everyone is having a nice day!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Here Comes Peter Cottontail!
My kids are soooo freakin' cute! Oh.. you already knew that?! Well, one can never say or hear that too many times!
(Notice Evie's new haircut? We took 4 inches off of the length and cut lots of layers around the face.. it stays so bouncy and pretty now!)
I dressed them in their new Easter outfits and took some pictures at home and then Joe and I took them to see the Easter Bunny at the mall. This was Evan's FIRST visit with the bunny and I was afraid that he may be nervous but he was pleasantly suprised by the bunny and looked up at his face and smiled.. playfully stuck his tongue out.. and smiled pretty for pictures and video. Evie, of course, loves the bunny as well.
Joe took a couple of videos but I thought I'd just share this short one..
And here are a couple of pictures of me and my kiddos!
So Easter is just a week away! We have no big plans.. in fact I was just asking my mother-in-law if anything was going on with the family.. she said.. "nope! Wanna come over?" So I guess that's what we are up to! We do have an Easter Egg Hunt here in Mahomet that we registered Evie for on Saturday before Easter.. so that should be fun... IF the weather isn't freezing cold with snow.. you never know here in the midwest. We've had two days of 60 degree weather followed by today, which is cold, rainy and windy.. feels like 30 degrees.. I have no clue what it really is.
Anyway.. hope everyone has a nice week and a great Easter!
(And thanks to my friend, Hope for helping me pick out the outfits for the kids! Even if you did put Evan's back because you didn't like it and didn't even ask me if I wanted to keep it! LOL That was too funny! Glad I kept it! He got lots of compliments on his tie at the mall today!)
Later all!
(Notice Evie's new haircut? We took 4 inches off of the length and cut lots of layers around the face.. it stays so bouncy and pretty now!)
I dressed them in their new Easter outfits and took some pictures at home and then Joe and I took them to see the Easter Bunny at the mall. This was Evan's FIRST visit with the bunny and I was afraid that he may be nervous but he was pleasantly suprised by the bunny and looked up at his face and smiled.. playfully stuck his tongue out.. and smiled pretty for pictures and video. Evie, of course, loves the bunny as well.
Joe took a couple of videos but I thought I'd just share this short one..
And here are a couple of pictures of me and my kiddos!
So Easter is just a week away! We have no big plans.. in fact I was just asking my mother-in-law if anything was going on with the family.. she said.. "nope! Wanna come over?" So I guess that's what we are up to! We do have an Easter Egg Hunt here in Mahomet that we registered Evie for on Saturday before Easter.. so that should be fun... IF the weather isn't freezing cold with snow.. you never know here in the midwest. We've had two days of 60 degree weather followed by today, which is cold, rainy and windy.. feels like 30 degrees.. I have no clue what it really is.
Anyway.. hope everyone has a nice week and a great Easter!
(And thanks to my friend, Hope for helping me pick out the outfits for the kids! Even if you did put Evan's back because you didn't like it and didn't even ask me if I wanted to keep it! LOL That was too funny! Glad I kept it! He got lots of compliments on his tie at the mall today!)
Later all!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Sick and Tired
No pictures or videos today... just feel like venting for a brief moment.
Last Thursday night Evie started with a cold.. hoarsy cough which left her without a voice the next day (that was nice) ;) and now a slight runny nose.. she seems to be getting better.. but no amount of handwashing, covering mouth, even to the point of making her wear surgical masks around the house, could prevent Evan from getting sick. :( He is miserable.. again. At least he is sleeping through the night with it but when he wakes he cries and cries.. he hates having his nose suctioned.. but I have to do it. He seems tempermental.. one moment he's happy.. you lean over to kiss him or mess with him in the slightest, he throws a tantrum. It just boils down to him being tired of being sick. And I'm tired of it too.. Joe informs me this morning as he's leaving for work that he can't lean in to give me a goodbye kiss because he has this cold of theirs.. HELLO!!! I get coughed and spit at all day long by two kids! AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!! I told him that I think Mother Nature has a way of taking care of other mothers so that they can care for their ENTIRE sick families. Luckily, I seem immune to all of their sicknesses.. it better stay that way.. or I might just snap! LOL
But what do I do? I can't NOT send my daughter to school.. (where all of these illnesses are harvested), just to MAYBE stay germ free for a few days.. we just may have to go to the grocery store where everyone else who is sick goes.
I need a vacation.. someplace warm.. where the colds and flus and bronchitis don't flourish.
My friend, Kylla is taking a cruise soon.. think I may stow away in her suitcase.
Last Thursday night Evie started with a cold.. hoarsy cough which left her without a voice the next day (that was nice) ;) and now a slight runny nose.. she seems to be getting better.. but no amount of handwashing, covering mouth, even to the point of making her wear surgical masks around the house, could prevent Evan from getting sick. :( He is miserable.. again. At least he is sleeping through the night with it but when he wakes he cries and cries.. he hates having his nose suctioned.. but I have to do it. He seems tempermental.. one moment he's happy.. you lean over to kiss him or mess with him in the slightest, he throws a tantrum. It just boils down to him being tired of being sick. And I'm tired of it too.. Joe informs me this morning as he's leaving for work that he can't lean in to give me a goodbye kiss because he has this cold of theirs.. HELLO!!! I get coughed and spit at all day long by two kids! AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!! I told him that I think Mother Nature has a way of taking care of other mothers so that they can care for their ENTIRE sick families. Luckily, I seem immune to all of their sicknesses.. it better stay that way.. or I might just snap! LOL
But what do I do? I can't NOT send my daughter to school.. (where all of these illnesses are harvested), just to MAYBE stay germ free for a few days.. we just may have to go to the grocery store where everyone else who is sick goes.
I need a vacation.. someplace warm.. where the colds and flus and bronchitis don't flourish.
My friend, Kylla is taking a cruise soon.. think I may stow away in her suitcase.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Speaking of teeth.....
I should start off by telling you that my baby boy has TWO bottom front teeth now...
But this post isn't about Evan.. imagine that!
My Evelyn has gotten her 6 year molars in the past couple of days! Last month, I saw what looked like two vampire bites on her gums behind her back teeth on the bottom.. I thought it was a canker sore until I noticed it on the other side of her mouth as well. Then within a few days they were white bumps.. and now on her left side almost a full tooth! I called the dentist last month and asked the receptionist and they seemed clueless.. they said that sometimes kids get extra teeth.. I explained that she already had 20 teeth.. they weren't phased.. so I didn't worry. I asked a few friends and finally, I think it was Kylla, who said that she talked to some other friends who said it would be her 6 year molars... sure enough.. that's what they are!
Anyway.. I tried to take pics of them.. (I know.. teeth aren't exactly photogenic) but I was amazed at these big ole teeth.. my camera just couldn't capture it in her dark mouth but my Flip Video could!
Now I know.. you're probably getting tired of videos arlready but I'm telling you, this camera is so quick and easy to use... I can't pass up the opportunities to share this stuff!
So.. Here's a small snippet of Eve's mouth for ya!
But this post isn't about Evan.. imagine that!
My Evelyn has gotten her 6 year molars in the past couple of days! Last month, I saw what looked like two vampire bites on her gums behind her back teeth on the bottom.. I thought it was a canker sore until I noticed it on the other side of her mouth as well. Then within a few days they were white bumps.. and now on her left side almost a full tooth! I called the dentist last month and asked the receptionist and they seemed clueless.. they said that sometimes kids get extra teeth.. I explained that she already had 20 teeth.. they weren't phased.. so I didn't worry. I asked a few friends and finally, I think it was Kylla, who said that she talked to some other friends who said it would be her 6 year molars... sure enough.. that's what they are!
Anyway.. I tried to take pics of them.. (I know.. teeth aren't exactly photogenic) but I was amazed at these big ole teeth.. my camera just couldn't capture it in her dark mouth but my Flip Video could!
Now I know.. you're probably getting tired of videos arlready but I'm telling you, this camera is so quick and easy to use... I can't pass up the opportunities to share this stuff!
So.. Here's a small snippet of Eve's mouth for ya!
Friday, March 7, 2008
Lunch with friends
We had a playdate/lunch with a bunch of friends yesterday at a local pizza place..
This video has Evan, Evie and Mama's buddies in it!
You may recognize yourself or one of your kids in this! And by the way.. Rhylan's smile is so adorable!
This video has Evan, Evie and Mama's buddies in it!
You may recognize yourself or one of your kids in this! And by the way.. Rhylan's smile is so adorable!
Dinner conversation
Well.. this was after dinner... Evan was being a sweety and I captured enough smiles that I wanted to share this video.. don't mind me being silly... that's just the way I talk to Evan Wevan :o)
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Inside fun.. on the beach?
Evie just loves her Tinkerbell umbrella that she got for Valentine's Day from her grandparents. Yesterday, during a huge snow storm, I told her that we had to leave to go pick up baby brother from Grandma's.. Evie had a blanket sprawled out on the floor and her umbrella open laying on it's side.. she was laying underneath of it.. I tried to get her moving so that we could go and she said, "Oh No! I was just getting comfortable on the beach here under my umbrella! It's so cold out in the snow.. I wanna stay here on the sand and sun where it's warm!" Well.. I found it hard to argue with that! I got underneath of it for a few minutes and enjoyed the salty sea air. LOL (Vivid imaginations in this house!) Then we bundled up and left the "beach" behind to go out into the snow.
So today, Evie invited bro for a little play under the umbrella. He thought it was pretty cool.
Stay warm everyone! However you do it!
So today, Evie invited bro for a little play under the umbrella. He thought it was pretty cool.
Stay warm everyone! However you do it!
Monday, March 3, 2008
Some candids of my baby boy
Does this guy look happy? This picture is TOO FUNNY!
He didn't want to wear the hat frontwards.. if I turned it around, he was okay with it... smart kid! And oh so fashionable!
And here are a few from Monday Mania this morning.
Again.. not so happy.. but Evie always cheers him up!
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