52 weeks with my kids

I've started a photo project for 2011 called 52 weeks with my kids...this is week 3. I described the project on my photography blog and you can see my week 2 picture there as well. I posted week 1 on my facebook business page.

While I am so excited to be doing this project, I am NOT so excited about this photo =) It was Saturday night..my last chance to get a picture for this week. We were rushing out, already late, to meet my in-laws at Buca di Beppo for a birthday dinner. Clearly, there was not a "are we picture ready" check before taking this. Please ignore the fact that my children look like they would rather be anywhere besides this photo...and while you are ignoring that, ignore the toothpaste splatters on my shirt (which I soaked out on the drive), the hanger straps hanging out of my shirt, and the fact that I forgot to take my little necklace off when I put my big one on (took care of this in the car as well). Regardless, I did it...week 3 complete. Here I am with the kiddos...

Funny Stuff

Just some random funny stuff going on around here lately.

Juliet loves dresses and skirts. If I get her dressed in pants or shorts, it's fine with her...not much of a response. But, when I put a dress or skirt on her, she IMMEDIATELY goes into this funny falsetto singing and waving of her arms. I have NO idea where she got this. But it is HILARIOUS. The minute the dress is over her head, she starts it. I kept meaning to have the video ready to go and always forget, so I egged her on to do it after she was dressed.



Another funny Julietism...when asked what her name is, she replies with "Stinker Bug". Maybe we have taken that little nickname too far? She actually answered a stranger in the store yesterday with this.



Aidric is cracking me up too...he'll say something, but then when he is questioned and he realizes what he said wasn't correct, he quickly says, "I was just JOKING! Ha Ha...everything is a joke!" It seriously cracks me up every time!

He's also into TELLING jokes. Grandma Porras spent a night with the kids last weekend and they read a Pinkalicious book in which a joke was told..it is by far his favorite. "Knock Knock. Who's there? Pinky Stinky Underwear"

And we have Ryder Nord to thank for the last of our "funnies"...Ryder taught them a new version of Row Row Row Your Boat that ends with "If you see a crocodile, don't forget to scream." They've taken this a few steps further and everytime they sing it, they come up with a different "thing" to scream about..and they add "and yell" after the scream. No matter what Aidric makes up, Juliet responds with, "That's so siwwy!!" and then she says, "Watch me now" and proceeds to sing and make up her own version. Working on a video of this soon....

UPDATE:

quick video, though not as "genuine" since he was prompted to do it.

playing catch up

It's the end of January. About time to post some Thanksgiving pictures, no?? The kids and I spent 11 days in Indiana over Thanksgiving!! Chris joined us for the last 4 (5? it's already a blur!)

I did not bring my "big" camera home with us...this was huge for me. I just wanted to be free of the NEED that I always have to document everything and get the perfect shot. Not to mention, our suit cases were full...I mentioned we went for 11 days, didn't I??? So, I dusted off my little point and shoot and we headed off.

I'd wish I could say that my little point and shoot did not disappoint. But it did. Oh, it did. We were bowling with Gretchen, Ryder and Claudia and after I took ONE picture, it died. It wasn't the battery though...it was something else. It just went black, even though the power light was still on.

So, on day one of our trip, I was left with nothing but my iphone! And since it was November in the midwest, most of our activities were inside. And the iphone does not have a flash. You get where I am going with this. These are not going to be PRETTY pictures. But they are our memories and that's what matters. So, here is our trip, as told through the iphone =)

reading with grandma


One day, we wandered out to the shed and my mom and I started going through some old bins (I think she thought she was actually going to get me to take some stuff home with me.) It's crazy to think these toys of my childhood are soooooo dated. I know..I'm 34. But it doesn't FEEL like it was that long ago!





Juliet loves the many (let me stress MANY) singing, dancing stuffed animals grandma has.



Aidric and Jules both love "wagon" rides on the back of Papa's tractor.




This cracks me up. My mom had not sat down for breakfast yet and this is how Aidric arranged their chairs..pulled hers up next to his. So cute!


Hanging out on a bale of hay in my parents front yard. You didn't do this over Thanksgiving?


We took them to a great indoor play place called Bellaboos. I was seriously SO impressed! This was the "water room".



And this was a cooking class...they put some frosting in bugles and added some fruity pebbles. It was a cornucopia =)



On Thanksgiving day...these 3 were born within 25 days of each other...all in May!



And what's Thanksgiving without a Peppermint Chocolate Martini? YUM!

Riding bikes

Bike riding is a favorite activity around here lately! Aidric got his bike over the summer and has been reluctant to really ride it. Then, Juliet got this tricycle for her birthday from Grandma and Papa Porras and she loooves it. And Aidric, being ever the little follower, followed suit of course =)




These just crack me up. Aidric LOVED "driving" her around.

we're still here...

and they are still as cute as ever =)