Gorgeous...

That's all I have to say about that!

The Grocery...

I really dislike the grocery and after my experience this morning, I felt like the woman in the above photo.

I haven't always felt like this.

I use to like going to the grocery.

These feelings subsided probably around the time B started walking.

Or maybe it was when she started talking...I can't remember exactly.

I am just glad I don't have to have my blood pressure checked after going to the grocery with two little kids. It would probably be off the charts.

I have always believed in taking my kids out in public so they know how to behave.

Very rarely to I get a babysitter just to go to the store...I don't believe in it. Although, sometimes it is nice to go in peace.

When I have the girls with me, I don't have time to look for sale prices. I just usually grab the first thing I see. I know that is bad, but I feel like I am on a time limit with them. I have 30 minutes max before Mel wants out of the cart and B starts pestering Mel to the point of Mel yelling at B and hitting back.

Ugh! It definitely gets ugly sometimes.

I have started going to the store while B is at school and then it is just Mel and me. It's pretty peaceful that way and usually the only thing Mel asks for is some goldfish crackers.

But today, I had no choice.

I had to take both of them.

I heard we are supposed to get some ice and snow so I thought, I better go today and get it out of the way.

I had no clue how much snow/ice the forecasters were calling....I don't really watch the weather.

The store was a disaster zone.

I think EVERYONE who lives in the ville had the same idea I had.

The aisles were crowded.

B kept hanging on the cart even after I asked her multiple times to keep her hands off the cart and just walk beside it.

I finally had to threaten her by telling her if she didn't let go of the cart, I was going to throw Mickey in the trash.

I bought a box of diapers for Mel and she sat patiently on the box and ate her goldfish and even shared them with B.

We were almost finished and Mel decided she wanted OUT of the cart.

I told her "no" and then she attempted to climb out on her own, so she got her way and I let her out.

Normally she is fine following me around, but today it was extremely crowded and she kept getting in the way of other people.

We finally make our way to the checkout.

Mel was back in the cart, which is funny, because I don't remember putting her in there.

We waited in line for about 10 minutes.

I suffered through ten minutes of B asking if she could have a piece of candy.

My reply was "no".

The cashier then asks if I have my Kroger plus card.

I said, "Yes" as I am putting my items on the conveyor expecting her to start scanning away.

Instead, she just stood there waiting for my card.

They won't scan your items until you give them your Kroger card.

"That is the new system", she told me.

I wasn't aware of this "new system". I looked in the cart and my diaper bag is buried below $250.00 worth of groceries.

Frustrated, I thought to myself " Hold on let me get my daughter, who is standing on the bread, out of the cart, and dig through Mount Groceries to get my Kroger plus card."

Seriously, their new system stinks...just start scanning and when I can get to my wallet I will kindly give you my card.

After all this I thought I surely deserve a whiskey slush, but it was only 10:00 a.m.....so I settled for a 32 oz. diet pepsi instead!

Happy grocery shopping everyone!

Sledding...

This was Chantel's first time EVER sledding. Seriously. I think she liked it. I think.

This was also Mel's first time sledding. She liked it until they hit some fluffy snow and it all went in her face. She was done after that.

I'm Back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

It's been too long. I'm glad to be back! (can you guess what song that is from?)
The title of this post put that song in my head.

Well, I am FINALLY back for good! I know how much you all missed me. I heard your cries from near and far. ;0).
I am excited and I have so many new ideas to blog about. I am still researching a new photography project. I hope to start that in the next week.
I definitely enjoyed my little hiatus.
I read three books.
The girls made two crafts.
I baked a lot.
My house stayed fairly clean.

So, to catch you up on what we have been doing while I was without my computer, I decided to do a super long post with pictures.

We had a lot of snow while I was on my hiatus so , we did a lot of puzzles...

We made homemade granola with chocolate chips. So yummy. B and Mel were eating it and B said Mel looked like she had rotten teeth!? Kids imagination sometimes!...

B got this craft kit for Christmas that came with tattoos and body art.

So, we made body art...

B started gymnastics and she LOVES it.

She smiles the whole time we are there.

She saw a picture in the local paper of a high school gymnast on the beam and she said, "I want to be like her."

We will see. She is only 5, but so far she loves it. (sorry, no pictures of gymnastics yet. I'm not comfortable yet with the other moms to start snapping photos at practice. You know, they might think that is weird and that I am taking pix of their kids.)




We had a beef processed so our freezer is full of meat, garden veggies, fruit, and homemade jam. Love that feeling!

The girls played in the snow.

(the pix are blue because it was fairly dark outside)

They ate popsicles...

Mel rocked some pigtails...

B got a new shovel so she is on sidewalk detail now;)...

They read books...

I got to take pictures of this beautiful girl.

It was cold and pretty windy on this particular day, but she wanted some taken in her prom dress and I think they look super cool...

Her dog's name is Dupree (guess what movie that name is off of)...

We went sledding.

More photos from that later.

That needs its own post.

The girls at more popsicles while visiting with cousin Taylor...

I got to take pictures of this full-of-expression cutie patootie...

And I got to take pictures of these 4 gorgeous kids...

So, with all the sessions I have had the last couple weeks without a computer, I am up to my eyeballs in photo editing! I LOVE it.

Still Here...

I am still here.

I still don't have a computer.

I am typing this on my sister-in-law's laptop. Thanks Lauren!

The computer guy said I should have my computer back the first of next week.

I am hoping and trying to be patient.

Trying is the keyword.

I will be back on the "blog wagon" soon. I promise.

Kiki's Hats...

A few Sundays ago, at church, the pastor read the kids a book called "Kiki's Hats" during the children's sermon.
It was about a lady who knitted hats just to give them away.
The pastor had several knitted hats around her as she read the book.

After the story, the kids were told to pick a out a hat for themselves and then take another one and give it away.

In one of my 365 posts, I posted this pic of B...
This was the hat she chose.

Then she picked this one for Mel because Mel was too shy to get her own.

Mel wore it for the remainder of church and it matched her outfit perfectly.

She loves her new hat.

She also likes B's hat and I snapped a few of her wearing it the other night.

She reminds me of Cindy Lou Who from "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas".:)

They each picked a hat to give away and gave them to their cousins, Taylor and Keith.

*My computer goes in for service today so I will be taking a brief hiatus from blogging. Hopefully not for very long, but I have a feeling I may enjoy this hiatus. Don't miss me too much!;)

Craft Time...

At last week's craft time we made mitten sun catchers.


Cut different colored tissue paper into small squares...
Cut two mitten shapes out of construction paper.
Cut out the centers...

Stick one of the mittens onto clear contact paper, sticky side up.

Then stick the tissue paper squares onto the contact paper...

Glue a ribbon to the top...

Glue and place other mitten on top of the first mitten.

Apply second sheet of contact paper on top, sticky side down.

Then trim excess paper.

I kept telling Mel to hold her hand up and show me her sun catcher.

She kept raising the other hand:)...

There we go:)...

Mel's...

Mine...

B's...