"That Girl"

So, in my B.G. life (before girls)...meaning before I had Olivia, I had this notion that it was not hard to have one's children relatively put-together at all hours of the day.  The boys were easy and spoiled me, I guess!  No hair to worry about - and if you did worry about it, you just buzzed it off!  Plus, they were clean-freaks...they liked to have clean hands and faces.  Simple!  

Olivia changed all that for me.  I try.  I try really, really hard.  But this girl is as independent/stubborn/sassy as they come.  Her outfit choices are already her own.  Her hair is done - only when she allows it!  We're usually pretty good, but after naps, her patience with having a second hair-styling session runs a little thin.  

So, I now am the proud mommy of "that girl"...the one with messy hair, mis-matched clothes, anyone's shoes that she happened to grab first out of the shoe closet, and maybe, just maybe a wiped-clean face after her millionth snack of the day!  But she's happy and becoming independent in so many ways, we'll worry about the appearance issues later!  

Genius!!!

It has been a while since I've done any sort of food/recipe post...though it's been a while since I've done any post at all, hasn't it!?!?!?  But, here is a gem I came across this week - Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.  And all I have to say is "WHY IN THE WORLD HAVE I NEVER THOUGHT OF THIS?!?!?!?!?"  Seriously so good...and so easy. 

And since I did not take any pictures of our yummy sandwiches...here is a link to the actual website where I found the idea!  

Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Feel free to share any easy recipes you come up with as well...I'm getting desperate on these basketball, soccer, piano and/or scout nights!   :)

Good Morning!

How I love this kid!  Pure joy...all the time.  Well, at least ALMOST all the time!  :)

Sunshine

You are my sunshine...my only sunshine!

Mystery Solved

I have wondered, for a while now, why there are ALWAYS handprints on the upstairs bathroom mirror?!?!?  I mean really, how are they constantly there?  This mirror gets cleaned more than any other mirror in the house...and yet they always are there!!!   Yes, these are the things keeping me up at night! :)

This is what I came across the other night when Ethan was getting ready for bed.  Apparently gargling is a little more intensive than I had thought!  

And apparently, it is most effective done at high altitudes.  The apparent increase in elevation that is accomplished by standing ON the bathroom counter, is the key to a good rinse!

Swinging

I have been shocked lately to see exactly how quickly my little ones are growing up...Ethan especially right now.  Today he mastered pumping on the swing.  Never mind that it was accompanied by a lecture directed toward me that he SHOULD have learned this years ago...like when he was two.  EVERYONE else that he knows has a swing in their backyard and can swing whenever they want and already knows how to pump.  We are the ONLY family in the world who doesn't have a swing set.  :)

So, see, he mastered two things today.  Swinging oneself...and the art of guilt-tripping!  All in all, a great day's work!  

I Love to See the Temple

Steve and I took the kids to the Houston Temple yesterday after church.  It was a beautiful day, the flowers were in bloom and it was the best way to spend a wonderful and peaceful sabbath afternoon.  Plus, I brushed off the actual camera and took pics with something besides my phone...so you'll be pleased to see actual pictures on the blog again!  Wahoo!!!