This is some sample text.
Learn More
Ellie and Addison
11.06.09

A better day

So after a better night’s sleep and a calmer day I’m smiling after re-reading yesterday’s post. Sounded like I was just the tiniest bit annoyed…and tired…and sick…and tired…and frustrated…and tired. I have a close friend who is going through a really hard time right now and I think that also added to a lot of my stress and overall mood. Plus this pregnancy has been bringing out all kinds of loveliness where my mood is concerned. I’m happy as a clam one minute and ready to attack the next. Well, today has been much better. I think I have a few things figured out to help mellow out our schedule and I could taste my food for the first time in a week (is that not so annoying when you’re sick and can’t taste your food!?). I’m also smiling after reading all of your sweet comments. Especially one from my good friend Shari who has six kids of her own and is offering to take my two so I can have a break. HA! Reminded me of the time I called her after our first Christmas card photo shoot with Ellie (who was 9 months old at the time). I went on and on complaining about what a nightmare it was (we were at the beach…sand in her eyes…not one smile…blah blah blah). Shari was so sweet and understanding. I hung up the phone and Kenny said “were you just complaining to Shari about a photo shoot with ONE child?” I immediately felt like a complete and total idiot. A bit like I did today thinking about all of the people reading my blog with more kids than two and much bigger problems than a cold and too many extra curricular activities. So, sorry for that! But it felt good to vent and if you can’t vent on your blog, where can you? Heaven knows Kenny’s had his fair share of my venting lately. :)

So good-bye to gymnastics for now.

Here’s the deal with swimming. We don’t take lessons in the summer because we travel a lot and it’s crazy busy with everyone taking lessons in the summer. I’ve found that if I put the girls in once a week from September to Mayish they remember what they learned better. By doing this I’m also paying a group rate for a private lesson since there aren’t that many kids swimming during this time of year. Plus I have both of my girls taking a lesson at the same time. This is HUGE. I can actually watch them swim instead of entertaining one of them while the other one has a lesson. I don’t know how long we’ll be able to keep it up once my kids are in school full time, but for now it’s a good thing – even though it’s one more thing.

And then there’s dance. Ahhh dance. Dancing was MY thing from 3 years old until I finished college. So yes – I’m living vicariously through them and until they are old enough to decide that they don’t like it, they WILL be taking dance lessons. How else will they become part of the cast of So You Think You Can Dance 2025? ;) And again I totally scored on getting them in classes in two studios right next to each other at the same time. Ellie does Tap/Jazz while Addison does Tap/Ballet and I get to relax and watch. Except for when I’m imitating their moves and wanting to bust out on the floor with them.


It doesn’t get any cuter than three year olds shakin’ it in tights and ballet shoes.

So this weekend is looking good. Not too much on the agenda and I’m hoping for some much needed R&R…


Hoping the same for you and your family as well!

xoxo, Erin
Leave A Comment
Ramblings
11.05.09

You’re gonna have your hands full

I’m exhausted. I don’t know what has happened lately, but I am feeling like things are too busy around here. I don’t know if it’s my schedule, the pregnancy factor, or the sick factor (I’ve had a cold for a week and a half that I can’t kick), but something has got to give! I always had visions of having so much more time on my hands once my girls started school and that has NOT been the case. Of course, Ellie is only in school until 12:30 and Addison only goes for a few hours a few days a week. I feel like by the time I drop Addison off it’s time to turn around and pick her up again. Our afternoons have been so busy with swim lessons, gymnastics, dancing, church stuff, play dates, homework (yes – I’m already complaining about homework and my child is in Kindergarten). It seems like I’m always rushing my girls – “get dressed, grab your stuff, were late late late, we’ll eat in the car, where are your shoes, go go go!” We have way too much going on for a 3 and 5 year old. And way too much going on for this thirty-two twenty-something year old.

Then there are the doctor appointments. I have been LIVING at the doctor’s office lately.

-regular pregnancy visits
-extra visits sparked on by trip to Emergency Room
-my flu shot
-girls’ flu shots
-family’s swine flu shots
-girls’ yearly allergy appointment
-follow up to Addie’s flu shot
-Addie’s ear ache appointment
-my TB test (to be able to volunteer at Ellie’s school)
-annual skin app.

There have been more appointments than that but my brain is too fried right now to remember the rest. A reminder from my girls’ dentist – “time for your 6 month check-up!” – came in the mail tonight. I told Kenny I’m done. The appointment will have to be made during a time when he can take them. Cause here’s the story with taking my girls to the doctor. It is inevitable that when I have the girls with me, the wait to see the doctor is forever long. I can only keep them occupied with snacks and coloring for so long before their wildness comes out. They can’t hold still. They can’t talk quietly. They can’t not touch things they shouldn’t touch. And very shortly I become exhausted from trying to keep them contained. At our last appointment before the doctor left the room she said good-bye to my girls, glanced at my stomach, and said “you’re gonna have your hands full.”

Well just great. I already feel like I have my hands full. And my plate is full. And something has got to give. My girls don’t have enough time to be home. To play pretend. To color and create. And I don’t have enough time to be home. To clean and organize. To fix healthy snacks. To work on my projects and create. So I pulled Ellie out of gymnastics (which made me sad because she enjoys it and is good at it) and I’m looking at what else we can do to re-adjust our schedule so that we have more down time at home. Plus it’s November. I love November. It’s the month to focus on gratitude and to be home and cozy with the fireplace on. Well, except that in San Diego there’s really no need for a fireplace. But it sounded good. I was also hoping that November would allow me some time to get a jump start on shopping and projects and card making for December so that I can truly enjoy the holiday season and not feel rushed and stressed.

So far, November is off to a rocky start. And I’m already feeling rushed and stressed. And I just don’t have my usual stamina these days. And I’m realizing that I won’t have my usual stamina for the next two or so years. Because this is what happens when you get pregnant and have a baby. Wonderful as it is, life is crazy. And I’m gonna have my hands full.

xoxo, Erin
Leave A Comment
Holidays
11.03.09

Halloween Week

Man! I’m still trying to recover from last week. It was crazy. Fun, but crazy. Here’s our week at a glance.

{TRUNK-OR-TREAT}

We went with a 50’s theme this year. The girls fell in love with these costumes and begged to be “poodle girls”. So “poodle girls” they were. The picture above was taken at our church’s annual Trunk-or-Treat party. Addison was having fun. Ellie had been crying…something about a cupcake. Kenny was being an incredibly good sport to adorn his fake leather jacket that reeked of plastic. And I was counting down to the minute I got to go home and take off the heels and jeans and jacket… that were all about to pop. Good times. :)

{WORK PARTY}

We all enjoyed the annual party at Kenny’s office this year. They had a parade (attorneys love to show off their kiddos), lots of yummy food, great treats and prizes for the kids, and a fun costume and pumpkin carving contest.

My “poodle girls” in all their glory

And my stud. This picture makes me want to hop on the back of a Harley with him.

{ELLIE’S SCHOOL PARTY}

Pictures from her school parade – I loved watching her have so much fun with her little Kindergarten buddies.

-class party projects-

So fun helping with Ellie’s Halloween party. I loved that I got to pop in and help out with all the fun stuff… and then leave. Poor teachers. I so know what they feel like the afternoon after a holiday party!

{TRICK-OR-TREAT}

And we’re off!

Too busy assessing the loot to even look up for a picture. I thought Ellie was going to sleep in her pink glasses. She never wanted to take them off. :) We had a great Halloween!
xoxo, Erin
Leave A Comment
Holidays
10.30.09

Carving Time


Once again my hideous Halloween tablecloth came in extremely handy! We carved our pumpkins on it tonight. I guess I should say Kenny carved our pumpkins tonight. The girls and I assisted in the way we usually do… offering up a lot of chatter, constructive criticism, and our award winning smiles.

{Ellie and I setting them up – the bag Ellie is holding is full of pumpkin seeds that she thinks she is planting in our yard for next years crop of jack-o-lanterns}

Hope everyone has a fabulous Halloween weekend!

{P.S.}
– Looking forward to seeing everyone’s Halloween pics on Monday in blogland. :)
– Hope the girls get lots of good candy. My stash is getting low.
– Santa: if you happen to be reading this, notice I didn’t get the total effect I was going for with the jack-o-lantern picture. It’s good, but not great. The new lens and tripod I want for Christmas would have made my picture great. Just thought I’d make your job a little easier this year. I’m nice that way.
– To answer so many of you who have asked if we’re finding out what they baby will be, the answer is DEFINITELY! We find out in two weeks and can’t wait. I’ll need some assistance in the name department once we find out. Ellie and Addison have decided that if it’s a girl we’re naming her Jasmine and if it’s a boy we’re naming him Aladdin… and that’s all we got.
xoxo, Erin
Leave A Comment
Ellie and Addison
10.27.09

Our routine at the patch

We check out the year’s crop.

Visit with the locals.

Select our pumpkins.

Pose for a picture.

And another one.

And if Kenny’s in a good mood…maybe for one more.

Then we buy our tickets. Those magical, little, orange tickets.

And we wait in line – only for a minute, but it feels like forever – for what we really came for.

This.

And this.

And this.
And if Kenny’s in a good mood…maybe a little of this.
Another enjoyable year at the Pumpkin Patch! Only 364 days to wait until we go again.
xoxo, Erin
Leave A Comment
Birthdays
10.25.09

Happy 30th Shawn!

My cute brother-in-law turned 30 today. I wanted to wish him a happy birthday because he is my favorite brother-in-law… and would be even if he wasn’t my only brother-in-law. My sister Carly couldn’t have picked a better husband – oh wait – that’s because she didn’t pick her husband. I picked him for her. Now Shawn is starting to sound like a pumpkin so let me explain. While Car and Shawn had been friends since High School they had never dated. They were always in different places at different times. I knew Shawn and had always liked him. He’s friendly, stylish, kind, funny, smart…and I could tell that he had a thing for my sister. He’d always ask about her and his eyes lit up whenever I talked about her. One time while talking to Shawn about Carly I said “you should call her…here’s her number….she’d love it….do it!” It was a bit bold of me since we’d never talked about him liking my sister. He smiled and wrote down the number. I went home and told Car what I’d done and also told her that if Shawn called she WOULD go on that date. He called. They went out. And from that date on they were inseparable.

You’re welcome Car and Shawn. And the two of you will be paying me back for the rest of your lives. Or you could pay your debt off this Christmas with that new pair of UGGS I’ve been eyeing. (Shawn sells shoes at Nordstroms….you should see my sister’s collection. Her boots alone would make you drool.)

Shawn has been such a fun addition to our family. We all love having his calm, happy personality around. He is a also such a darling uncle to my girls – always visiting with them and making them feel special. (that would be Shawn wearing the princess crown for Addie’s birthday)

He is also a great father to his little peanut, Claire. You should see the way he takes care of her. Up with her in the night, up with her first thing in the morning, always fixing her healthy little meals, always playing with her. Completely attentive to his two girls ALL THE TIME. We tease Car about how good she’s got it. And thanks to me, she’s got it REALLY good. (Car – the newest UGGS that are light tan, not the dark brown ones.)

Happy 30th Shawn! We all love you so much!!!
xoxo, Erin
Leave A Comment
Ellie and Addison
10.22.09

blanket picnic

My mom did a lot of things I loved when I was growing up. One of my favorites was when she would surprise me and my sister or me and my friends with a little picnic. While we were upstairs playing she’d bring up plates with crackers, fruit and cheese and let us eat in the bedroom. Such a little thing but it always felt like such a treat and it always made me feel special. I love to do the same for my girls – surprise them with a little blanket picnic. Whenever I do, I think of my mom and the happy childhood she gave me.

A little snack on a blanket,

a few “friends” to join the party, and a great conversation.

Doesn’t get much better than that!

xoxo, Erin
Leave A Comment
Family
10.21.09

The Jersey still fits…

So the MAIN reason my parents were in town last weekend was to go with us to the Monday night football game. It was a huge game (Chargers vs. Broncos – mortal enemies) and we were all so excited to go. When we were in the ER Sat. night my husband’s question after “are the baby and Erin ok” was “can she go to the football game?” Since the game just required walking, sitting, a little standing, and some cheering I was good to go. (We joked that Kenny would have had me there on a gurney with an IV attached to my arm…probably not far from the truth)

Doesn’t this look disgusting!? Processed, fattening, saturated junk. I can’t help it – this food always tastes SO good at football games. Plus it’s what the baby wanted and who am I to deny the little one a craving? :)

To my parents: thanks again for such a fun weekend and for all of your help and support. We love you two so much and the girls are already counting down to your next visit.
To the Chargers: who lost. Again. Clearly you guys DID NOT get my letter. If you had, you wouldn’t have allowed the Broncos that quick touchdown right at the start of the second quarter and you wouldn’t have allowed Philip Rivers to be sacked five times. You would have understood how badly I need a Charger win (especially with the holidays right around the corner) and you would have shown me some love. I’m going to have to blame this loss on the mail system which is completely unreliable and not nearly as cool as the human body. (see this post to clear up any doubts you may have)

Your semi-fan,

Erin

xoxo, Erin
Leave A Comment
Mom Adventures
10.19.09

Silver Lining

I look so happy in this picture, don’t I? That’s because it was taken last weekend to document what I looked like at 15 weeks (which is what I looked like at around 25 weeks with Ellie. The joys of the third…). This weekend I wouldn’t have looked quite so happy. Kenny and I spent Saturday night in the emergency room because I had some complications and thought I was going to miscarry and lose the baby. It was a long, awful night – as all nights spent in the emergency room are. Our night included a lot of waiting, crying, anticipating, freezing (it was SO COLD in there!), waiting, visiting, stressing, and did I mention waiting? Eventually, after an ultrasound, blood work and several exams, we found out that the baby is fine. Thank goodness. I am under strict orders to take it REALLY easy for the next couple of weeks. No exercising, lifting, bending (I’m having a lot of back pain), stress, etc.

Before I had Ellie I got pregnant and miscarried at 11 weeks. Kenny and I had waited 6 years after we got married to have kids. We followed Kenny’s type A personality plan to get through law school, pass the California bar, get in a house, teach a couple more years to get settled – and then finally start our family. I got pregnant right away and we announced the news to our parents at Christmas. It would be the first grandchild on both sides of our families and everyone was thrilled. Then at 11 weeks we went in to hear the heartbeat and there wasn’t one. We were devastated. I couldn’t stop crying. I had a D&C (operation to remove the fetus) and then after a few depressing days I went back to work. One afternoon about a week later I was standing in front of my 5th grade students teaching a lesson on weather patterns and started hemorrhaging. I calmly put a student in charge of the class and fled to the nurse’s office where I passed out. The nurse called Kenny and he picked me up and rushed me to the emergency room where we dealt with some complications from the D&C. That was the last time I spent the night in the ER. Being there again last night brought the whole painful experience back to the surface.

I’m extremely grateful right now that the baby is ok. I’m extremely grateful that my parents happened to be in town and were here for support and to stay with my girls all night. I’m extremely grateful for the perspective I now have. My first miscarriage was so difficult for me, but I recovered, got pregnant again, and had my Ellie. I realized that things happen for a reason and my miscarriage (while painful and awful) taught me a lot. It taught me about myself and my marriage. It also taught me how important it is to have support from those you love and those who love you. It’s the only way to get through the icky stuff in life. And the best way to enjoy the good stuff in life. Even though I was so stressed and sad last night in the ER about the possibility of losing this baby, I still felt calm. I knew that whatever happened, Kenny and I would deal with and get through together.

Pregnancy is such a miracle. With so many things that COULD go wrong it’s a complete miracle when you can carry and deliver a healthy baby. My heart goes out to women who miscarry, deliver a still born, or have problems with infertility. I’ve had close friends who have dealt with all of these heartaches and their strength, faith, and attitudes have been amazing examples to me over the years.
————————————————————————————————-

On a lighter note, (I know this was a bit heavy for a Monday morning) now that I know the baby is ok I will be taking full advantage of my orders to take it easy. I told Kenny that each night after HE has bathed the girls and put them to bed I’ll be needing a back rub, maybe some pop corn, and my favorite shows on TV (you know…since that will help me fully rest and recover). I also better stay away from any major housework…scrubbing, vacuuming, shaking rugs…so he’ll have to cover all of that as well. Yes. Every cloud does have a silver lining. And I’ll be milking this cloud for as much as I can. And then some.

xoxo, Erin
Leave A Comment
Ellie and Addison
10.16.09

It’s the little things

{A few things that are making me happy right now}

Getting into a warm car when I’m cold

Walking barefoot on my kitchen floor after it has just been mopped

Chewy Sweetarts

Addison’s “boats” or half eaten apples as the rest of us would call them


Getting a good parking spot at Addie’s preschool because my parallel parking skills are killer (4 years ago when I started parallel parking at this school I could have easily been a killer)

All of the pretend play going on – in every room of the house


Reading to my girls

The new show Modern Family that has made its way onto our fall line-up. Hilarious! A couple new promising others: The Good Wife and Flash Forward.

Warm clothes fresh out of the dryer (usually set to dry for another 10 minutes so they’ll feel “fresh out of the dryer” when really they’ve been sitting in the dryer for two days)

My snapdragons


School supplies {side note: the heavens opened for me a couple of weeks ago when I started volunteering in Ellie’s classroom and was given free range to a school supply room once again. I felt like I was coming home. Years ago when I was applying for teaching positions I had to fill out form after form on why I wanted to be a teacher. “love children…love learning…want to instill that love…blah blah blah.” What I really wanted to write was that I was totally in it for the school supplies} Anyone want to meet me in Staples?

Kenny taking our little Kindergartner to school every day. Bonding time for them. Exercise time for me.

Ultrasounds

Pajama bottoms

My pumpkin spice candle

It’s getting dark earlier. I love it when it’s getting dark and I’m in my house and in my pajama bottoms with the pumpkin spice candle burning. And it’s 5:30.

Weekends.

Hope you have a good one!

xoxo, Erin
Leave A Comment
Feeling Creative
10.14.09

More Halloween Fun

We’ve been busy with more Halloween fun at our house. I love this time of year! Kids make it all so exciting, don’t they!? A little of what we’ve been up to…

Delivering Halloween Treats to neighbors:

We’ve been “boo’d!” Our neighborhood has a fun tradition that many of you may also do in your neighborhoods. Someone starts it by delivering Halloween treats with a ghost and a poem to two neighbors. Those neighbors put the ghost on their door (to show they’ve had the ghost at their house) and then deliver treats to two more houses. It goes on and on until pretty much the whole neighborhood has been “boo’d.” So fun for the kids to get treats on their doorstep and to deliver treats for someone else. Love this! My girls look forward to it every year.

Making Ghost Pancakes:

Kenny and I made ghost pancakes for the girls for dinner tonight. Pretty simple. Just make the shape like a ghost instead of a circle and add two chocolate chips for eyes. I suppose you could be healthy and add something like blueberries instead, but chocolate was a hit at our house.

Reading our favorite Halloween Books:
I have a lot of fun Halloween and Fall books I pull out this time of year, but “Humbug Witch” by Lorna Balian is our absolute FAVORITE! It is the cutest story. I’d tell you about it, but you’d have more fun reading it yourself. A great book to surprise your kiddos with.

Working on our Halloween Activity Books:

These books were only 5 bucks each at Barnes and Noble and my girls have loved coloring in them. Something fun we pull out most evenings while I’m getting dinner ready or while we’re waiting for daddy to get home from work.

Playing Halloween Bingo:
My girls have LOVED this game. I found these free Halloween Bingo Cards on-line. I just printed them on white cardstock and then backed them on black cardstock and then laminated them. {Oh how I love to laminate. I dream of someday owning my own laminating machine} Anyway, they were easy to put together, gave me an excuse to laminate something, and have been a huge hit!

Decorating our Halloween Tree:

Last year my girls painted and put jewels on little ghosts and witches, etc. for our Halloween tree. Fun to pull them out again and decorate our tree this year.

Enjoying Spooky Decorations:

Inside the house…

(Halloween 2008)
And outside the house…

Happy October everyone!!!

xoxo, Erin
Leave A Comment

Shop my instagram

View All Posts