Erin, Author at The Sunny Side Up Blog

Good Things

03.19.09

Good Things

Yea for Spring! Best time of the year in my opinion. Color color color. Sun is shining, flowers are blooming, and it just seems to make everyone so happy. Added bonus is the anticipation of summer right around the corner and all of the fun trips and activities that come along with that. So glad it’s March!

Park days! If only I had a dollar for every time I’ve been to the park… It’s especially fun on the weekends when the whole family goes. Ellie is way too big for these swings but when there aren’t many people around I love to throw her in one so my girls are both contained in the same spot. Love that they always have a “friend” along for the ride and I love the scrunch nose face Ellie has been pulling quite a bit lately. :)

Tea parties!

A few new Spring finds for the girls! Spring shopping is another reason I love this time of year. Everything is so bright and colorful. Can’t wait to see my girls in these sun hats at the beach. Also can’t seem to get enough of seeing Addie’s cute little tush in brightly colored panties!

And a few Spring finds for me! I’m in a bit of a Guess phase right now and since their clothes are a bit too promiscuous, I’m all about their accessories. I’ve loved this cream purse and the green bag is perfect for coloring books, crayons, and snacks. I grab it on my way to church, the doctor, and anywhere else I might need some quick entertainment for the girls.

How fabulous are these shoes!? I LOVE LOVE LOVE them! I call them my “2 hour shoes” because that is definitely the limit for how long I can wear these babies. I wore them to church last Sunday and sat by a sweet lady named Marge (90 or so years old) and this was our conversation:

Marge: “Oh honey! Those shoes are amazing!”

Me: “Thanks! I know right? I just got them.”

Marge: “Can you dance in them?”

Me: “Hardly! I’m still working on walking in them!”

Marge: “Back in the day I had shoes just like that and I wore them to do the jitterbug. Mmmm…love those shoes!”

Marge is my new best friend. :)

Strawberry shortcake band-aids. They seem to be the perfect thing for halting tears these days.

Driving on the coast with Ellie’s new favorite song blaring (Trouble by Lenka…playing on my play list right now).

Comments from Kenny on my blog. My husband doesn’t comment very often (has twice) but I sure love it when he does. Gives a few people a peek into the sarcasm I deal with on a daily basis. As much as his constant sarcasm drives me crazy (it can be especially frustrating when I’m really trying to have a serious conversation with him) I do love it. He makes me laugh every day. (Kenny’s comments are here and here)

Evidence of my girls all over the place. Little “friends” seem to magically pop up around the house…in front of my shower, behind the end table, around my shoes in the closet…

Evenings at the beach.

A clean, organized bathroom drawer. When asking Kenny for the millionth time this morning to put his crap back in the cupboard when he’s finished with it he said, “you know what we need…two houses. One that you can keep perfectly organized and one that we can actually live in!”

Hmm…that’s actually not a bad idea.

Waking up to this cute face and morning hair. The lighting in this picture really shows how red her hair has been looking lately. I love it! She is Irish ya know. ;)

I got these display boards at Pottery Barn last year for the play room and they have been a perfect place to display the fun art the girls are creating in pre-school. They get so excited to hang up their art when they get home and I love that their creativity isn’t taking over my kitchen!

Cuties! These mini oranges are just perfect for a quick snack. I love how easy they are to peel and eat on the go. Plus they are just like their name – too cute!

My girls laughing. It’s not just a good thing – it’s the best thing. :)

xoxo, Erin

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Holidays

03.17.09

Irish at heart

Ever since I was a little girl I have believed that I was Irish. Why? The reasons are pretty obvious:

*My obsession with green
*My birthday is in March

*I have reddish hair as do the Irish

*Ever heard “ERIN go braugh!?”

*I dream of visiting Ireland someday

*I WORSHIP Irish River dancers

(favorite quote from Chandler on Friends: “they dance about as if their legs are disconnected from their body!”) So cool.

So…every year at school I would wear my “Kiss Me I’m Irish” pin and proudly tell everyone that I was an Irish girl. And then I married Kenny. He decided to ~~ask our parents~~ do some extensive research and discovered that I don’t have an ounce of Irish in me while HE on the other hand has many Irish ancestors. He loves to remind me that I’m the only one in our little family of four who ISN’T Irish.

Whatever.

Today I’m decked in my St. Patty’s day green and am telling everyone that I’m an Irish girl…..

at heart.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day and ERIN go braugh to you!

xoxo, Erin

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Ellie and Addison

03.16.09

Is it really THAT hard!?

to get everyone LOOKING and SMILING at the camera?

Apparently so.

xoxo, Erin

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Birthdays

03.12.09

Yesterday, on March 11th

-I turned 32.

-I woke up to balloons, my favorite treats, and 4 fabulous coupons from Kenny…
Coupon #1 – Good for one dinner experience with loving husband.
Coupon #2 – Good for one European facial.
Coupon #3 – Good for two sweet No Doubt Concert tickets.

Coupon #4 – Good for three hours of computer/blog assistance with no griping or complaining at a mutually determined time and place. Sarcasm included free of charge.

{I can’t believe I’m going to see No Doubt in concert!!! AND thank goodness for some computer love – this blog is in serious need of a makeover. You did very good this year babe.}

-After Ellie asked “why is it your birthday today when we had a party with our family in Utah?” I explained to her a fundamental life lesson on the art of stretching your birthday for as long as possible and milking it for all it’s worth. Kenny likes to remind me that my birthday is on the 11th…not all of March.

-I tutored one pretty cute 8 year old girl in math.

-I registered Ellie for Kindergarten and got teary eyed just walking around the classrooms. First day of school I will be a MESS!

-Addison asked Kenny “daddy – why are you a boy so much?”

-I received fun mail (the only time other than December that mail is cool). A favorite was part of Carly’s gift – the movie Girls Just Wanna Have Fun with a card that plays the song over and over. I am so gonna rock to it this weekend and introduce my girls to a very young Sarah Jessica Parker and one of the best dance movies ever made.

-I added a few new touches to the house to welcome spring. Green pitchers on top of my white cupboards I picked out in Utah – they were a birthday present from my mom.

-My phone was ringing all day and this was especially fun since I love my ringer.

-I took Ellie to preschool and learned that they are going to be incubating chicks. I thought seriously about asking to take one home after. If only it would stay a little, fuzzy, irresistible chick forever…but what in the world would I do with a chicken!?

-Friends brought flowers that made my house smell SO good.

-I went to my photography class which took place downtown at the Embarcadero and learned how to take cool pictures in the dark that make it look like it isn’t dark…

-I decided (after receiving b-day wishes from more “friends” than I even knew I had) that facebook is cool again.

-Today the girls and I ate popcorn at 9:00 in the morning.

-Tonight my cute friends took me to dinner.

-Two of my friends gave me cook books for a birthday present. Good thing since all of my other cook books are resting under my new green pitchers on top of my white cupboards.

-Thanks to everyone who has made me feel so loved! It has been a great birthday. :)

xoxo, Erin

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Fun with Friends

03.10.09

Jetette Reunion!

This last weekend was our Jetette Reunion and it was a total blast! It has been 15 years since all of us girls were dancing and hanging out together and it felt like it had been 15 minutes. What a fun group of friends! Loved that everyone’s personalities haven’t changed a bit. We just have much tamer hair. :)

{Party at my mom’s house –
loved Nat in our hot pink warm-ups from back in the day!}

{Hopie, Bryn, Koni & me}

{Me and Kenny with “Mrs. P” – our Jetette advisor and teacher at good ol‘ Dixie High…so fun to see her!}

{cute Andee & Bryn}

{most of the group}

{At Dixie High for the Jetette Review. It was so fun seeing the Jetettes dance – truck load of memories came flooding back!}

{In the “D” once again}

It wouldn’t have been a high school get together without ending the night at the Frostop! We had so much fun catching up. We laughed and laughed and laughed! We were there until they finally kicked us out at 11:00 pm and then we continued to talk and laugh out in the parking lot for another hour! Then Koni and I drove home and had to catch up so I rolled into bed at around 2:00 am. Nothing’s changed since High School. Except that the next morning I was up at 6:00 am watching Little Bear with my toddler. :) SOOOO worth it! It was such a blast to be with my Jetette friends again. LOVE YOU ALL!

xoxo, Erin

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Opposites

03.01.09

Opposites Attract

Kenny loves sushi – Erin hates all food from the sea.
Kenny lives for Fall – Erin lives for Spring.
Kenny likes things clean – Erin likes things cleaner than that.
Kenny is a saver – Erin is a spender.
Kenny loves country music – Erin not so much.
Erin wants another baby someday – Kenny not so much.
Erin is an optimist – Kenny is a realist.
Kenny snacks on cookies – Erin snacks on candy.
Kenny drives cautious – Erin goes for speed.
Kenny loves spreadsheets – Erin loves 1,000 thread count sheets.
Kenny is a night owl – Erin is a morning person.
Kenny on vacation is go go go – Erin on vacation is veg veg veg.
Erin is a peace maker – Kenny is a trouble maker.
Erin thinks Bleu Cheese salad dressing is killer –
Kenny thinks Bleu Cheese salad dressing will kill you.
Kenny loves to go to the movies – Erin loves movies on the couch.
Kenny loves change – Erin loves routine.
Kenny is still into Survivor – Erin is SO over it.
Kenny enjoys the cold – Erin enjoys the sun.
Kenny loves the Chargers – Erin loves the charge card.
Kenny hates surprises – Erin lives to be surprised.
Kenny loves to debate – Erin silently stews.
Kenny is analytical – Erin is ana-what?

{Anyone in the mood for Straight Up??? I got your back Paula.}

xoxo, Erin

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Ellie and Addison

02.26.09

Quotable Quotes

One of the things I love most about living with a 2 & 5 year old is the free entertainment. Kids really do say the funniest things sometimes. I update these quotes on my sidebar but I think I’ll throw them up on my blog every once in awhile so that when I make this blog into a book I’ve got them recorded. Don’t want to forget the things they said that made me smile.

A couple of days ago we were heading to get some food somewhere and Ellie asked if she needed her shoes. I said “no…we’ll just pull -up at the window.” Addison exclaims “Pull-up! Are you kidding me!?? I don’t wear a pull-up. I’m a big girl now!” This was especially funny for our little family because I ALWAYS say “are you kidding me?” and Kenny HATES it! I usually say it when we are arguing over something and he thinks it is so demeaning. (He’ll try to make a point and I shoot him down with a sarcastic “are you kidding me?”) Addie said it just like I do and Kenny was not impressed. (Sorry babe. She spends all day with me. You should have married someone else if you didn’t want mini Erin’s running around. :)

Addison’s latest: (Jan/Feb 2009)

“Daddy, what do you want for Valentines Day?
Kenny: “a Porsche Carrera“
Addison: “What about a hat?”

“Mom…please can I call you Frosty the Snowman?”

Me: Addison, how’s your owie doing? Addison: “I can’t feel it anymore because it still hurts.”

Addison’s first attempt at going potty: “It’s not working mommy!”

After a lot of walking around Disneyland: “Hold you mommy! (which means hold me) …my legs are getting dizzy!”

Addison says “to later” all the time which just means later. She gets this from TOday and TOmorrow. “Are we going to the park to later mommy?”

Ellie’s latest: (Jan/Feb 2009)

Me: “Thanks for helping Addison with that Ellie.”
Ellie: “Your welcome, your majesty.”

“Mom, when Addison is in a bad mood my throat hurts.”

“Mom, I just LOVE the smell of air!”

“Mom…ya know how Thanksgiving and Christmas and Halloween and Pumpkin Patches are over? That’s called a bummer….right?”

Me: “Ellie, Ellie…Ellie! Honey you need to answer me. It’s not nice to ignore people.” Ellie: “But mom, you tell me to ignore Addison all the time!”

“Mom…I love you and daddy a hundred and more than that!”

Then just this last weekend we decided to take the kids to Disneyland again so the night before we left I said “Girls…where would you want to go tomorrow if you could go ANYWHERE!?” (totally expecting them to yell Disneyland!)
Ellie with a huge grin on her face: “TARGET!!!”
Kenny and I cracked up! El…you make your mom and grandma proud!

While seeing the wicked queen at Disneyland…
Queen (mean and serious voice): “Do you know who I am?”
Ellie (scared and quiet voice): “yes”
Queen: “Do you think I’m beautiful?”
Ellie (apprehensive): “yes”
Queen: “Do you think Snow White is beautiful?”
Ellie barely squeaks out: “yes”
Queen: “WRONG ANSWER!”
Ellie moves in closer to me and Addison’s legs grip me tighter. Then we pose for a picture. They were scared to death! Could NOT get a smile out of Addison. I have to admit that this queen even scared me a little!

We all decided we much prefer this character…

While I’m on the subject of quotes…
A favorite from Kenny:
“Babe, I’m just livin‘ in the real world so that you can float above it.”

And a favorite from MY childhood:
My mom talking to me and my sister Carly: “come on girls…let’s go run some errands.”
Carly: “why do we always have to run ERIN’S and we never get to run any CARLY’S!?”

(Carly & Erin 1983ish)

xoxo, Erin

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Birthdays

02.25.09

Happy B-day Austin!

Just wanted to wish my little bro. Austin a happy birthday…yesterday. (sorry I’m a day late Aust!) Austin is quite simply one of the greatest people ever to grace this world. He is kind to everyone, has a great sense of humor, and is extremely loyal. He is one of those people who is SO good with other people (especially older and younger people which is very telling of his character). He also plays a mean game of double solitaire…even though I can still kick your butt Aust – game on!

A lot of my favorite childhood memories come from hangin‘ out with cute Austin…

Carly (my 21 month younger sister) loved playing dodge ball, soccer, and kick the can while I (forever the girly girl) loved playing house, barbies, dress-ups, and hosting tea parties. Since she wouldn’t play what I wanted to play…Austin quickly became my right hand man. Poor kid didn’t have a chance. ;)

Never to old for a good blanket tent! (at least that’s always been our motto)

Since I was so young when I started dating Kenny, Austin practically grew up with him around and they have always been like brothers. They are SO CLOSE that I often wonder if Kenny married me just to hang out with Austin. It would explain a few things…

Austin is a great Uncle and is adored by the girls at my house…

and by the girl at his house…

and COMPLETELY adored by me. Love you bro! Hope you had a great birthday!

(see more childhood pics with Austin here & Austin with his beautiful bride here)

xoxo, Erin

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Feeling Creative

02.23.09

Easy Scrappin’

Life is busy and it has become more and more of a struggle for me to fit scrapbooking into my schedule. I definitely don’t have the time I once had to spend HOURS on page layouts…picking just the right coordinating papers and embellishments…experimenting with different styles and sketches….running to the store to get just what each page needed and sometimes (when my perfectionist side would come out to play) even starting over on a page when I made a mistake or something looked a little off. Those days are LONG GONE! Now I cherish every second I get to scrapbook (because the seconds are few and far between) and I want to HAUL to get as much done as I possibly can. I’m loving that right now there are so many different ways to record family memories. Thank goodness for blogging! Since my blog is our new family scrapbook, I’m just focusing on my girls’ individual books and any themed books I want to have… a Halloween book to pull out every October, a Christmas book that will include all December pics and a handful of friend/family Christmas cards each year, and any other individual events I want recorded in a book… like this one I just finished of our 10 year anniversary trip to Italy. I used Pebbles Share and Tell binder and page protectors and it made it SO easy! I only scrapped a few main pages and then just slid the rest of the pictures in the 4×6 slots. My journaling was also typed on 4×6 cards and I tossed all of our post cards in them as well. I didn’t agonize over each page…just used a lot of the same supplies, kept it simple and got it done. Definitely the quickest book I’ve ever completed. YEA for having one less project on my to-do list! Thought I’d share these albums/page protectors in case any of you want to use them to make a quick album and have one less project on your to-do list too. :)

**Added bonus: getting it done in time to give to Kenny as part of his Valentine’s Day present.

xoxo, Erin

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Addison

02.20.09

Music randomness

I love blaring my music and singing in the car and I didn’t stop this when I started having babies. I remember once when Austin (my brother) came for a visit and was driving around with me and Ellie in my car (Ellie was 2 at the time). Ellie kept saying “Spiderwebs Spiderwebs Spiderwebs!” Austin thought I was going to turn on Itsy Bitsy Spider or some other kid song when I turned on the song Spiderwebs by No Doubt (second song on my play list) and Ellie and I both started jammin‘ to it. She knew almost every word. Austin got a big kick out of that and it’s still one of her favorite songs.

One of my favorite things about being a mom is the total control you have to influence your own kids. My girls will simply have to rock to Gwen Stefani…and wear a lot of green…and eat a lot of Golden Spoon yogurt…and learn to love their dance classes and pose for yet another picture. They will also have no exposure to country music (ICK!) unless they are forced into listening to it by daddy or grandma (who both lack serious taste in good music…in my humble opinion).

I’m always torn about whether or not I like music on blogs. I like to check out what everyone else is listening to, but I also like to solely concentrate on pictures and words and the music is a big distraction. I usually end up muting any music when I check blogs because I like to give the new post my full attention. I recently added a few songs to my blog just because they are songs the girls and I are particularly enjoying lately. Addison’s favorite song is The Show by Lenka (first song on my play list). At the end of the song the lyrics say, ” I want my money back. I want my money back. I want my money back. Just enjoy the show” Addison’s version: “I want my mommy back. I want my mommy back. I want my mommy back. Just enjoy the show…” Classic! Viewing the world from the eyes of a two year old. So stinkin‘ cute – I had to get it on film.

**push pause on my play list to hear Addison’s version of The Show :)

xoxo, Erin

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Ellie and Addison

02.16.09

LOVE-ly weekend

I’ve never made sugar cookies before (gasp!) but I love eating them and I knew my girls would love decorating them so when my cute friend Josie gave us her mom’s ‘to die for’ recipe (Thanks Josie!) I figured it was time to try. Sad to say that Kenny and Ellie ended up actually making the cookies. I got bored with it and started taking pictures and cleaning instead. :) They did turn out delicious and I’m sure I’ve gained a few pounds this weekend to prove it!