I won an argument, someone write down the date...

We had a pretty hectic weekend this past weekend - Ray's brother was in town (see a common theme here? Who thinks him and his family should move here?), my brother and his wife came to visit, we had two birthday parties to attend, strawberry picking, haircuts, scrapbooking.

One of the birthday parties was for a kid in Ashley's class and it was at the gym that we belong to. Ray was determined it was going to be okay to drop Ashley off at the party and go work out. I was of the mindset that we have never dropped her off at any party, and I wasn't going to start just because it was at our gym.

If there is one thing to know about Ray and I, it's that we are both really, really strong willed. And we are okay with that. Sometimes he wins an argument, and sometimes I win. And we get over it (it just normally takes me a little longer to get over than him...).

I won this argument, and took Ashley to the party and planned on staying with her as did all the other parents of kids at the party. The first part of the party was in the big gym part where there are basketball courts and a rock climbing wall. There was a curtain hung to separate the two sides of the gym. The kids were lined up against the curtain and were to run to the other side. Except Ashley didn't run. I was on the other side, watching her. I remember someone asking what she was doing as she was bent over. And then she stood up and she was screaming. Evidently, the back of her shoe got caught under the curtain and then when the kids moved away from it, it trapped her foot even more. She was fine, I think she was just more scared that she was trapped and couldn't move. Hugs were dispensed and tears were dried up, and she moved on.

Now, hypothetically if Ray had taken her and this had happened and he was working out, they do have an intercom system that I am sure they would have used. But still.

She's four going on 14...

Sunday afternoon when Audrey was supposed to be napping, the girls and I took a little trip to get Ashley's hair cut.

Three inches cut off and some beads added, I almost cried she was so cute (and I realize I am completely biased).

And she so does not look like she is four...am I in trouble later in life??

The Planet

Ray and I have owned many cars. So has my Mom and Stepdad and Ray's parents. But one car I can recall always being around even through all the car purchasing that seemed to go on in our families was a 1995 Saturn SL1.

I honestly never drove it as I pathetically can't drive stick. But Ray's Mom drove it day in and day out, up and down I-95 between Fredericksburg, VA and Lorton, VA in some of the worst traffic in the nation.

In the end, Ray's brother Sean drove it and affectionately called it "The Planet" (and yes, it did take me a few minutes to figure out the whole Planet name, it being a Saturn and all...). It had over 300,000 miles on it, had the original clutch, rarely had an oil change (they put oil in it when it ran out). It was banged up and beat up, but it still ran. In the end, the engine ceased, mainly due to the fact it had no oil in it. It was sadly put to rest.

So as I have never owned a Saturn, I know what a work horse this Saturn was. And on May 7th, I get to drive a Saturn. Saturn has invited me to Fishkill, NY to drive one of their hybrids to the Orvis Headquarters where I will go fly fishing and clay shooting. And yes, I have questioned them multiple times on why in the HELL they picked me. They assure me they have the right person. But at this point, a free trip, two nights in a really nice hotel? I am totally game...

Friday Pictures

At some point, I will buy a book and learn to actually do things on my own in Photoshop. When I am not making curtains/enjoying the nice weather/potty training a 2 year old/having 4 band concerts in one month/entertaining houseguests. The list could go on and on and on.

Instead, I am relying on Pioneer Woman's actions that she graciously let us download off her site. Here are some examples (the first one is always the shot straight out of the camera, and no, I don't remember which actions I used on each shot...it was late last night...and Ray was waiting for me to watch Lost):

Pretty cool, huh? I am going to print some of these today, I will let you know how they turn out. Have a great Friday everyone....

Disney Magic

To say I was mad that I was not invited to the Disney Mommy Blogger Event is an understatement. I am currently planning my 15 trip to Disney, I honeymooned there, I have played in the Magic Music Days, I have a Disney themed guest bedroom in my house.

My anger has subsided (maybe they will do another one?? Please, please invite me!!) and I am joining in on Jennifer's Blog Carnival for Disney related themes. Every Friday, there is a different topic to write on.

This Friday is Disney Magic. And yes, it is magical.

I know there are people who go to Disney and hate it; the crowds, the cost, the Florida heat. What I tell them? Don't go then. Vacation somewhere else.

To me, I see all the little things about Disney that makes it magical for me. The hidden mickeys, every cast member calling my daughters princesses. All the little touches every where from in our hotel room to on the rides to at the restaurants.

What is even more magical? Seeing Disney World through Ashley and Audrey's eyes. I had visited Disney many times without kids. And now? I get just as excited as the kids.

It is also magical because every time we go we do something we haven't done on a previous trip - eat at a new restaurant, take a Segway tour, get a massage, eat a new treat.

I can't wait for our trip in September...can you tell?

I'm 32 going on 82....

Last night, we were outside playing with neighbors' kids and hanging out. Audrey had to go potty (she is going all day at school, not doing as well as home, but I am not pushing her), so I took her into my neighbor's house (and no, not this neighbor's house, but she was there too). On the way back out of the house, I slipped on the top step of her porch and fell on my back on the steps on the way down. Luckily I somehow let go of Audrey's hand or I would have pulled her down with me.

I fell hard enough to knock the wind out of me. And of course Ray was working late, and it was bath night. And yes, Edie did offer to help, but I was okay and made it through bath time which included Ashley dumping an entire cup of water on the floor. Good fun. Needless to say, she learned how to mop.

It wasn't until I got the kids in bed and laid down on my bed to watch Idol that it really hurt. And of course Audrey kept coming out of her room. So from my bed, I pretty much was just telling her to go back to bed when we normally walk her back to her room. Then she started bringing me things from her room; her blankets (one by one), her pillow, a toy. I think she caught on that I was not getting out of bed. Ray came home earlier than he planned and took over around 9:30pm.

I put a menthol patch thing on my back and went to sleep. It actually does feel better this morning, and walking around some has helped. Just don't laugh at me if you see me walking funny.

A Plumm Summer

I am a huge sap when it comes to movies...my favorites include Indecent Proposal, Dead Poet's Society, Hope Floats. I love movies that make me cry and that have good endings. I love good fashioned love stories.

With a fast approaching 5 year old who has now graduated from watching the Backyardigans to Hannah Montana and High School Musical, I realize that sometime in the near future there will be movies we both love (although, really, I love High School Musical, the big dork that I am).

I was sent a copy of A Plumm Summer directed by Caroline Zelder and produced by Fairplay Pictures from Mom Central. The film opens this weekend in the following areas (or check the website for updates):

California: LA and surrounding areas

Alabama: Birmingham, Trussville

Minnesota: Oakdale, Lakeville, Eagan

Montana: Billings, Bozeman, Kalispel, Livingston or Missoula

The film already has a ton of accolades; it was winner of the Audience Best Film Award at the International Family Film Festival and the winner of the Audience Vote for Best Family Film in Austin, just to name a few.

The film was adorable - fast paced, cute, great actors (Henry Winkler, William Baldwin, Brenda Strong), great storyline. It is set in Montana in 1968 where a well loved local tv legen and puppet, FroggyDoo, gets stolen during a live show. The story follows two brothers who search for the missing puppet. It has romance, family drama, suspense. I even cried with the scene with the older son and Dad...I won't reveal too much more.

I think Ashley is a little young for this, although I never know. I am definitely going to try it one of our family movie nights.

I hope this film gets picked up nationwide. If you have older children, it would be a must to see.

New Project

Because I really don't think I have enough to do...my dining room currently looks like this:

In hopes to have curtains for my kitchen that will look like these (except obviously different fabric):

Any bets on how long these will take me?

Links for today...

Mouse Made Easy - You guys know how much I love Disney (only 150 days until our next vacation there). And part of the excitement about going to Disney is the planning. My friend Sabrina started this site to make it a little easier for everyone.

Go here to see my latest baking extravaganza...I am obviously still learning.

Want a chance to win one of two $25 gift cards to Kroger? Go here...

And in celebration of Earth day, check out some new Earth friendly dishwasher detergent

And Lori of Teacher Turned Mommy gave me an award...I wish I could list all the blogs I read here in this post and why I love them all, cause I do. But I am going to pass this along to three other blogs that I started reading in the past fews months that I love.
Emily - two girls, same craziness as my house...I think we have a lot in common.
Jen - I just started reading her blog not too long ago. She knows how to have fun, and I admit it. I am jealous she lives in Florida.
Mel - Okay, so I haven't started reading her in the past few months, much longer, but I still love it. And I like how she keeps me entertained on Twitter...

I thought December was busy...

It seems that every year between Thanksgiving we are slammed with events from Holiday parties to Christmas shopping. But really? The spring is nuts.

First off, it seems that all the kids in Ashley's class have birthdays in March and April. She has been invited to a birthday party every weekend since the first weekend in March. We have not made it to every one, but we try.

There are also a ton of festivals and events in the Raleigh area in the spring that we like to take the kids to. Last weekend was a frog festival. This weekend, I played with the band at a Earth Day Celebration at a local park. Luckily, my Mom and Stepdad were in town as my concert was the same time as a birthday party Ashley really wanted to go to. So Ray took Ashley to the party, and my parents, Audrey and I went to the park. They enjoyed my concert and let Audrey run around. My concert was 2 hours which was a little long even for me, but Audrey did well. My parents made sure she had cotton candy, chips and a hot dog to keep her happy.

Then Saturday night Ray and I went out to dinner and went to the Broadway Touring Series of Spamalot. I must admit, I have never seen The Holy Grail or anything by Monty Python. But this play was hilarious. It was well done, the casting was great, and I enjoyed all of it. I would absolutely see it again.

Just a preview of next weekend? My street is having a garage sale and I have some stuff for it, Ashley has a birthday party and my friend Wendy's daughter turns one this week, and we have her birthday party as well. Sunday is a baby shower for a neighbor and a meeting for vacation bible school at church that I want to attend. I also really want to go strawberry picking as the farms around here just opened this past weekend.

Friday Pictures - Water Play

Last Friday, it was warm enough that Ashley wanted to get in the sprinklers (it is the same weather this Friday as well). So new bathing suits on (except for Audrey, her bathing suit from last year fit, and yes, I do feed her) and into the water.

I got Ashley's at Old Navy...

Not sure what she's doing here.

Audrey loved it. I gave birth to water babies apparently.

Oops, Audrey. Where are your bottoms?

Boy, am I glad I married the one that has hair...(that's Ray's brother Sean on the right, 8 years younger than Ray and bald).

Little Sayings of Ashley

Tuesday we were in the car after soccer. Ashley looks at me and laughs and tells me she has the same pair of underwear on that she had on the day before. And she thought it was funny.

And just to note, I am not the one to get her dressed in the morning, her Father is.

I recently won this dress off of the Slick Sugar site. At first, Ashley didn't like it, but now she will wear it. Why? Because I convinced her it was a Hannah Montana dress.

Lately, everything is "when I am five" which honestly isn't that far away. She wants her ears pierced (Ray is refusing), she wants her training wheels off her bike. She will even clean her room when she's five. Maybe I should tell her that her birthday is next week.

Mamma Mia Contest

I recently found out that they were making a movie for the play Mamma Mia. Let me just say, I love musicals (High School Musical anyone??). I mean, really, really love them. My favorite kind of thing to watch. And I saw Mamma Mia when it was touring in Washington, D.C. a few years back. It was so much fun and people did really get up and dance in their seats. I even own the CD.

I am super excited about the movie - can anyone say Colin Firth? And just to make it more exciting, Pond's has partnered with the big screen remake of Mamma Mia for a contest. Women 40 and older are invited to form a singing trio to perform their own take on the classics "Mamma Mia" or "Dancing Queen" and submit videos of their performances via the Pond's website, which also houses music and lyrics you can download to rehearse. It's like American Idol for grown ups, but designed for amateur karaoke enthusiasts who just love the music from Mamma Mia! Add two friends and a digital camera recorder, and you're in business! The winners of the contest will win a lavish trip to London to live the life of three Dynamos at the world premiere of Mamma Mia.

Go here for details and to submit your video...so does anyone want to sing with me?

Virginia Tech - One Year Later

As a Virginia Tech alum, today is a day that I honestly don't want to remember. One year ago, 32 lost their lives in the worst tragedy on a college campus. On my college campus. Where I spent 4 years of my life becoming who I am now and meeting the one I will spend the rest of my life with.

If you know a Virginia Tech Alum, take a moment to give them a hug or send a kind word. For today, we are all Hokies.

Triangle Mom2Mom

The site I am writing for once a week is live, but still in beta. They are working on the kinks and hopefully will have those hashed out in the next couple of weeks. My blog is featured on Wednesdays.

Go here to check the site out...though it might not be interesting to you if you don't live in the Raleigh area.

And you might notice I finally got off my butt and updated my blogroll. If I accidentally left you off, I am really sorry, just email me a reminder.

Here are links to the other great bloggers I am writing with on the TriangleMom2Mom site. I get to meet these ladies for lunch today. Finally, I get to meet some more bloggers in person.

Live and Let Di
Mother Bunker
A Day at the Park
Flipper and Me
Stroller Lane

Photoshop

Warning - I have Photoshop now...


Although I don't really see that much of a difference, I am still learning. If anyone has any good tips, pass them along.

Potty Training 101

Here's the deal: We didn't really have to potty train Ashley. Since we knew we were going to through a bunch of changes her way in a short amount of time (Audrey being born, moving to another state, starting a new school), we waited until we were in North Carolina before we potty trained her. She was almost three years old, and the first Friday I was off, I told her she wasn't going to wear diapers anymore, and that pretty much was it. She knew what to do. She was even dry at night.

So now Audrey is wanting to go on the potty. And she does. It's mostly at night when she is stalling to go to bed, but she goes potty in her little potty seat.

I have two problems. The first is she doesn't want to go on the big toilet, just on her little one. And my other problem is when should I really start trying. Is she ready now? Do I do pull-ups? I know, I really should know the answer to this, but Ashley was so darn easy, I just don't know what to do. And I know you guys will know what to do...

Kellogs New Cereal

I was sent a box of Kelloggs new cereal, Wild Animal Crunch, through Mom Central. Go here to read the review....

Friday Pictures - The Mustang

Christmas 2006, my Mom and Stepdad gave Ashley a Red Mustang. She was excited about it, and then something happened and she wanted nothing to do with it. Which ended up being okay because Audrey is obsessed with it. "Drive car" is her phrase of the day. And she does a good job at it too...

I am in so much trouble in 14 years...

Why she is smiling like that, I have no idea, and what this picture has to do with driving the car, I have no idea either, other than it was the same night.

Reluctantly, Ashley goes for a spin.

Another person who totally loves driving it? Hayden.

LiceMD® Information

You may recalling reading about my neighbor's daughter who comes over on Wednesday nights for tutoring and how she had lice. Since then, she has had a couple more occurences of lice. Her Mom was having to use home made products to try and get rid of them. Her daughter is prone to seizures, and she didn't want to use products with pesticides directly on her head as no one knows what the impact of that would be to a child like that. It may cause more seizures, it may not.

I was selected from Mom Central to get a sample and review LiceMD®'s new product for head lice. LiceMD® is a real alternative to pesticide lice treatments and is pediatrician tested and clinically proven to eliminate lice, eggs, and nits (I had no idea what nits are, so go here). Finally a product that works and is pesticide free. Plus the site provides tons of information, stuff I had no idea about like:
- 6 to 12 million cases of head lice are reported each year
- head lice is the second commom most conidition among children, right after the common cold
- lice infestation is not due to poor hygiene

You can also get a $1.00 off coupon on the site as well as information on where to buy it. If you are unfortunate to have your child get head lice, this product is getting great reviews. And yes, I will be passing on my sample to my neighbor.

AHHHHHH!

I have been single-parenting since midday on Sunday. Ray is attending a real estate conference in San Diego, one of my favorite cities I have been lucky enough to visit.

But lucky for me, he comes home tonight.

Things he is going to do when he gets home? Walk the darn dog for starters. Take out the trash. Cut the grass, our yard is a jungle. Sadly, I don't even know how to start the lawn mower.

And the girls have been good, it's just I think sometimes hearing "Mommy" 4,682 times a day is a little draining...

Ashley, protein, and sugar

Ashley has had a couple of episodes over the past few weeks where she eats some sort of sweet sugary food over the course of a day (like cake at a birthday party, then dessert with dinner) and she gets nauseous and shaky. She didn't really have any other symptoms, but considering the amount of people in our families that have diabetes, we were just a little concerned.

So I took her in to the pediatrician this morning. He did a thorough exam and asked a ton of questions. There are other symptoms of diabetes she isn't showing like frequent urination, decrease in appetite and losing weight (considering she has gained 4 pounds since last August, her appetite is just fine). What he thinks is going on is a sensitivity to sugar, where her protein level is low, but her carbs and sugar level is high. What four year old doesn't love carbs? Heck, even I love carbs. So we will make some changes to her breakfast and her snacks and keep track of what she eats. A relief, yes.

Audrey, Audrey, Audrey...

First it was Friday night. We played outside for a while, and then came inside for bath and bed. During her bath, she started shivering and we noticed she had a fever. So Motrin was dispensed (not after of course her vomiting the first dose right back at me). She was so proud when the second dose stayed down and she kept telling me "I didn't throw up, Mommy". If that had only happened the first time.

So she slept in bed with Ray and I as she fell asleep just as I was about to read her books and I didn't want to move her. She woke up around 3:00am for some more medicine and messed with the dog and stayed up for about an hour.

And then at 6:15, she woke up with a start screaming that she wanted chocolate. No lie, she was crying and screaming for chocolate. Lucky for her, we had some Hershey Kisses downstairs and Ray ran and got some. And yes, that calmed her down. I guess she had a dream about chocolate??

She was fine the rest of the weekend, maybe a little grumpy on Saturday, but that's it. Ashley felt it necessary to wake her up from her nap on Sunday, so she was a little grumpy then too.

And then last night...I put her to bed and went downstairs to attempt to clean up my scrapbooking room. I heard her call for me; at this point it's like 9:30. I was actually on the phone with my Dad. I go upstairs and she has gone out of her room, into the laundry room where we keep the potty chair, taken the potty chair into her room, taken off all her clothes and went pee on the potty. And we haven't even been remotely training her.

Then of course every time I left she tried taking her clothes off. Needless to say, it was a long night.

Friday Pictures - Spring Bonnet Parade

So last Friday the kids had a parade at school. They basically circle the building twice. It's kind of silly, but the kids love it. Then there's a party in their classrooms after the parade.

This year, they asked the kids to decorate hats at home and bring them in. Ashley decorated hats with the other girls on our street who go to the same school. The hats were from the $1 bin at Target. And because Ashley's head is gargantuan, it didn't really fit. That head is why I pushed for over three hours when she was born.

Really not sure what that look is...she is either super embarrassed by her crazy mom with the big camera, or she really just wanted to get the damn thing over with.

Audrey's hat was just a hat we had and we stuck foam stickers on it. Very, very creative.

Cheese puuuuffffsssss....I mean CHEESE....

She thinks in this outfit that she looks like Sharpay from High School Musical in this outfit. She was hanging out with us in Audrey's room as Audrey would.not.stop.eating the cheese puffs. I think we were the last ones to leave the school.

I have been tagged!! I never get tagged anymore...

So my friend 3XMom tagged me for this Meme...

What Was I Doing 10 Years Ago?
I was getting ready to get married and buy my first home, a tiny townhouse in Virginia. I was working for a small CPA firm based in Fairfax.

Snacks I Enjoy
I love salty - potato chips, popcorn, potato chips, french fries. Do not give me an open bag, you most likely won't get it back.

Five Things on my To-Do List Today
1. Print sheet music for band practice tonight
2. Email the magnet school principal again
3. Update Lookit for a new giveaway
4. Update my Target shopping list
5. Pick up Audrey from school (Ray has picked Ashley up early and taken her to a movie)

Things I Would Do if I Became a Billionaire
I have probably spent way too many drives to and from work contemplating what to do if I won the lottery. I would give money to family and friends. I would go to Disney World and Disney Land for longer than a week. I would get a new van. I would take the family to Hawaii. I would renew my vows in Disney World. I would buy a beach house.

Three Bad Habits
1. I bite my fingernails.
2. I worry about EVERYTHING.
3. I stress about EVERYTHING.

Five Places I Have Lived
1. Stafford, VA
2. Woodbridge, VA
3. Blacksburg, VA
4. Herndon, VA
5. Ashburn, VA
I no longer live in Virginia...

Jobs I Have Had
1. Dairy Queen (how I loved that job)
2. Federal Government employee
3. Accountant

Things People Don't Know About Me
I am pretty sure you guys know too much about me as it is.

And I obviously don't follow rules and I don't know who has done this and who hasn't. So feel free if you want to do it, if not, well, don't.

This family needs help...

I saw this yesterday on SJ's blog, and I went and spent some time crying, and then donated what I could.

Go here to read the story and here to read the update.

I am praying they beat the less than 10% survival rate.

Bedtimes

Every night, I go in and check on Audrey and Ashley before going to bed. And so far this week, Audrey is two for two in not being in bed or dressed correctly.

Monday night, she was crashed out on the floor, no pants, no diaper. In fact the diaper was clutched so well in her hand, I had to wake her up in order to get it out of her hand.

Last night, she had her night shirt on inside out and backwards to where the tags were in her face. So I had to fix that as well. And she was crashed out on the floor again.

I promise tonight to take a picture of whatever way she is in...I am sure she won't let us down.

Independent

I was always the little girl that told her Mom that I didn't want to be like her, that I was going to grow up and move away and be independent.

And Ashley is definitely independent, it's just to me she is still so little and well, when she still calls for me to help her out in the bathroom, I think that she will never want to leave me.

Until last night. I was putting her to bed and getting extra snuggle time. I told her she would always be my little girl. To which she replied -

"No I won't. When I grow, I am going to move away."

Nice. And I have no idea where she got that from.

Contest and new Food Blog

A new contest at Lookit! I Spy...

I needed to fuel my addiction to food blogs....just don't call me crazy...