Our Lives in Their World

Happy Birthday Princess P!!!

2012-02-12T03:42:00.001-08:00

Happy 2nd Birthday to our sweet Princess P!

Words cannot express my love for this beautiful little girl.

Soon to be 2.....

2012-02-08T08:11:00.001-08:00

My little "mini me" will be 2 on Sunday!
I can't believe it!

Mom's Night with Mac

2012-02-08T02:41:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am the bad mom who FORGOT both my camera and phone when attending my little guy's "Mom's Night" at preschool. Thankfully there were plenty of other moms with their trusty Iphones both taking pics and recording the pure cuteness of our evening! See little Mac almost smack dab in the middle of the above-pic? My darling little 4 year old is sporting a grey and navy striped shirt & my goodness did he sing his little heart out! Watching him up there made me realize how much he has grown & changed since Parker was born. Of course that was almost 2 years ago, but I feel like once she arrived, our little toddler quickly turned into this awesome little boy. Even writing this I feel myself getting swept away with emotion....I sat on one of the tiny chairs watching my little guy sing "What a Miracle" and swore I was the only one fighting back tears as I kept thinking "my goodness, you ARE a miracle." The pride, joy and love that little guy has brought into my life is truly incredible. Having nights like the one we did where it is just the two of us is SO special. I loved watching him interact with the kids in his class, work diligently on his craft (a Valentine box), participate in class songs and just be a little preschooler. There have been so many times where I have wished to be a fly on the wall in his preschool class....I'm always wondering, what's he like in school? Is he polite to his teachers? Does he play well with his classmates? It was so awesome getting to see him in action....he WAS being polite to his teachers, playing and chatting with his friends. I am so proud of our little Mac!

Superbowl in Indianapolis

2012-02-03T13:10:00.001-08:00

I hate to admit this, but I will be honest.....up until Wednesday I had ZERO interest in the Superbowl. I mean, it's in OUR city & I actually felt that way! Ever since Peyton (Manning, of course....our beloved Colts quarterback) was injured & could not finish out the season, I lost my interest in football. I like the Colts, but I LOVE Peyton Manning....he is just an amazing athlete to watch & has also done such great things for our city. He gives us big bragging rights & is a total class act. I pretty much gave up on watching football when he stopped playing (ok, I admit I DID watch a game or two if the New York Jets were playing. That Mark Sanchez isn't too hard on the eyes either!!!) I'm SO thankful I changed my tune, quickly after hearing such rave reviews about the awesome things that were going on in OUR city for Superbowl. Our AWESOME little city was rocking this thing & last night I got to check it out fully----it was AMAZING!!!! From Superbowl Village to the Circle, streets were packed with happy football fans....everyone just celebrating and enjoying what our city had rolled out for this HUGE event! The zip-liners were SO fun to watch & I loved seeing the families go in and out of the Superbowl Experience....little kids just THRILLED to participate in the fun activities they had planned. I enjoyed being downtown last night SO much that I actually agreed to accompany 3 of my girlfriends downtown AGAIN this morning to watch a taping of The Today Show! Yep, I caught the bug! Also, how I could I resist the chance to see Adam Levine perform LIVE?? Um, that was almost a no brainer....YES, I'd go & I'd even skip my morning run (yikes---sorry about those fried pickle chips I devoured at Scotty's last night!) to leave my girlfriend Jennifer's house by 6am! Being the camera-loving person I am, you know that also meant I was up BEFORE 5am to make sure I looked pulled together. (I'm crazy....I admit it.) It was a good thing we left at LEAST that early b/c the set was packed when we got there. We pushed and smushed our way to a spot where we could see Ann Curry and Al Roker do their interviews (Al zip-lined right over our heads!)....also catching an interview with Jimmy Fallon AND the yummy Adam Levine before he performed with the Gym Class Heroes! It was AMAZING & just so much fun! Here are a few pics.....yep, I was even on TV (that's me BEHIND my lovely friend Jennifer....our .01 seconds of fame)!! Much love to Amy, Jenny & Jennifer for the lovely morning and BRAVO to the city of Indianapolis for putting together this incredible, incredible event!!! I'm so proud!!!

He....

2012-02-01T09:43:00.001-08:00

is the reason I am suddenly interested in all of the Superbowl hype going on in our city right now! And what is so ironic is that I was JUST telling my girlfriend (who lives out in LA) that I remain highly UN-starstruck after spending a year in a celebrity-filled area of Los Angeles, BUT the ONE celebrity I might be just a little caught off guard by would be Ryan Gosling. Come to find out this morning that he IS gracing our city with his presence through the weekend for the big game & its festivities! I'm in heaven & now cannot wait to finally go take in the sights tomorrow night....you can bet my Ryan-radar will be on & in full effect! :) So fun!

The Dailey Method: DVD Review

2012-02-01T03:05:00.000-08:00

(The Dailey Method® is a unique combination of ballet barre work, core conditioning, muscle strengthening, yoga, and orthopedic exercises.)

A huge thank you to my girlfriend Meg for introducing me to this new class! Indianapolis is lucky enough to have ONE studio here in town which teaches ONLY the TDM, all-day, every day! The workout itself strengthens, tones and lengthens the entire body. All movements are very controlled, very focused and effective. Proper alignment is the main focus, then each set of exercises (which is a good mixture of pilates, yoga, ballet and basic toning exercises) is followed by a series of active stretches to develop more sculpted and supple muscles. I remember leaving my first class feeling AWESOME.....very loose, a little tired (which is always good) and just amazing!

Since, TDM also happens to be one of those classes which falls into the $18+ per class category (there sure are several of those around here anymore!), I was thrilled to discover that they now have a DVD! I ordered the DVD IMMEDIATELY after learning about it......and, you should too! It's GREAT! It includes an express workout (35 minutes) and then a full length class (55 minutes). There is little equipment required (small hand weights....we're talking 2.5 lbs max and a wall or chair to hang onto for the barre exercises) and I'm not sure if it was because my girlfriend Meg came over to try it out with me first, but the 55 minute class FLEW by! I'm usually bored out of my mind (ahem....the Jillian Michaels DVD) halfway through hour-long DVD workouts! Jill Dailey, the founder of TDM, walks you through the workouts & her cue-ing is impeccable! I woke up this morning sore in all the right places! The DVD is a must buy---! And, you can find it here!

2012-01-31T02:35:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite motivational quotes....it's SO true!!!!

Of course you can relate this to any other kind of exercise.....yoga, pilates, whatever! While I haven't had any trouble getting up & heading out for a run lately (I am out the door by 6:20am daily), I must say that I've repeated this quote to myself whenever I "think" about doing one of my yoga videos or lifting weights. Chances are, I can definitely squeeze 30 minutes extra in somewhere during the day!!!!

I Did It!!!!

2012-01-30T17:35:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, I am admittedly "workout-obsessed!" I can truthfully say that I've been this way since the 7th grade! There is just something in me that makes me crazy about working out! I can't NOT do it & when I do, I usually end up feeling terrible! Well, after trying about 1,000 different kinds of workouts, I finally discovered my ABSOLUTE favorite in TRX Suspension Training. The minute I stepped out of class I turned to my girlfriend & said, "I loved that....I need to teach it." I am taking that statement & running with it since I just signed up to take a TRX certification course this weekend! I finally feel like I am on the right path to actually doing something I LOVE & I cannot, cannot wait to see what opportunities await me! I cannot think of anything better, work-wise, than doing what I LOVE (um, working out...obviously) and getting paid to do it! This would be a DREAM! So, wish me luck as I will be hanging from my hands and feet from 9am to 5pm this Saturday learning all of the special ins and outs of TRX-ing! It's going to be great!!!!!

Grandpa

2012-01-30T06:59:00.001-08:00

Last night we celebrated my Dad's birthday (a few days early)! There is almost no bigger fan of Mac and Parker than my dad (I say almost because I can't discredit the rest of the family!) His love and patience with these two melts my heart....time and time again! All I have to do is mention the word Grandpa in this house & the name is greeted with cheers from both kids. Parker, while she calls my dad Papa, usually tries to jump up and down! They sure loooove their grandpa, so it came as no surprise that we had a great time celebrating his birthday last night....complete with a 9.5 lb cake compliments of Uncle Ted and Aunt Annie!

Loads of Luon!

2012-01-28T02:45:00.001-08:00

As if Jennifer and I DON'T spend enough time together (we hit the road running at 6:30am daily), yesterday we decided to embark on quite an adventure----we trekked to Chicago for Lululemon's FIRST warehouse sale in the US! Considering the fact that we are both admittedly "fitness obsessed", when we first heard word about a Lulu sale, we knew whether or not we would go was NOT a question---we HAD to go check it out!!! As many of you know, Lululemon's athletic clothes are hands down, the BEST.....they impeccably made, wash & wear SO well, feel great and quite honestly, look HOT too! I may have a mild obsession....however, our budget DOES NOT, so that's why being able to get these awesome clothes for BARGAIN prices made me giddy with excitement! Luckily we were able to get all of our kiddos squared away for the day & set off for Chicago yesterday morning at 6am! We had NO idea what to expect.....and, actually neither did corporate Lulu, I think! When we arrived BEFORE 9 (when doors were to open at the convention center where the sale was held), there were already SWARMS of women....yes, our fellow Lulu-obsessed. Lines upon lines....and I mean LINES upon LINES....just waiting! So, we did the only thing we could do, we sucked it up & joined right in.....Luckily we were indoors the entire time & the lines WERE moving at a consistent pace. After our 2.5 hour wait, we FINALLY approached the door! Rows upon rows and stacks upon stacks of Luon greeted us as we entered the HUGE ballroom-area. It was a heavenly sight! We dug in IMMEDIATELY & grabbed HUGE piles of things to go through. Of course we were shopping for a few girlfriends in the process, so we had to make some good decisions all around! Thankfully we did not encounter a single rude person the entire time we waited OR were shopping thru the sale. We were able to easily pick and choose items from the racks & then sort thru them along the perimeter of the sale. I won't reveal my "damage" upon leaving the sale, but I will say that I'm pretty sure my hubby would breath a sign of relief to know just how much I saved by NOT buying the items at retail price!!! It was a wonderful sale---and, for the most part, was organized great considering the large crowds. As an attendee, however, I would like to make a few suggestions for the next one.....1. Mimosa carts! How genius would it have been for carts filled with mimosas being pushed around & offered to people waiting in the LONG lines (so early in the morning)? Of course they couldn't be FREE, but I can guarantee I would have gladly paid $5 for a glass of vitamin C and bubbly at 9:30am! I might have even bought MORE if this had been an option! Haha! 2. Snacks....either given as samples by sponsors (um, where was Kashi when we needed them?) or available for purchase to people waiting in line. Jennifer and I were absolutely STARVING by the time we reached the doors to the sale. I was dying for a snack (or even water) that I had even started to feel light-headed and kind of sick. If a healthy snack company (like Kashi or Soy Joy) had seen the CROWDS of women waiting, this would have been a perfect marketing opportunity for them....give out FREE food!!! Lastly...#3....more cashiers would have been nice! We had more lines to wait in to check out yesterday. And, as we waited, this gave people ALOT of time to go through their purchases & weed stuff out. There was shoppers remorse ALL-around....shirts, tanks, pants being tossed back & left in piles around the lines to the cash registers.

I must say that all in all, it was a WONDERFUL day, however. I really think that Jennifer & I needed a FULL day without mommy-duties & this much-needed break (a huge thank you to our hubbies for making it possible) was just what the doctor ordered! And, in honor of the sale, I am about go pull on something new for our "later" run on Saturday.....hitting the road at 7:30 intead of 6:30! Thank you Lululemon for a lovely "mommy's day off!"

Happy Holidays!!!

2011-12-24T02:27:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays from our family to yours!
Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday & an extra fabulous New Year!

It's no secret that I LOVE this time of year! The good news is that it's only getting more fun with the kiddos. We've done all of the traditional Christmas-things....cookie baking and decorating, light-looking, ornament-making, Santa Claus-seeing, excessive Charlie Brown & Grinch-watching, and now.....finally, Christmas Eve is upon us! I can't wait to enjoy this day with family and friends. First, however....I have to get this 10 mile run under my belt, then, let the REAL celebrations begin! Merry Christmas everyone!

Parker-isms

2011-12-10T03:49:00.000-08:00

Don't even get me started on how much this little gal has us wrapped around her finger....um, do you see her? She is irresistible--every ounce of her being is covered in CUTE!!! What's even CUTER is how much she's been talking lately....not just a few words talking, like full sentence talking!!! Sometimes I have remind myself that she's not even 2 & all of these words and funny things are coming out of her mouth! So, a few of my personal favorites:

1. "Are you serious, Mommy?" (yep, she says this then follows it immediately with a firm, "I'm not" which comes in somewhat of a British accent for some reason!!)
2. "Macky still sleeping?" (Typically the very first thing she asks when she wakes up.....she immediately wants to know where her brother is! And, yes, she calls him Macky.)
3. The "I'm not." in the British accent is one of our family faves.....Chris and I find ourselves joking around by putting it in our conversations, also using the British accent. Where she got this, we have no idea!!!
4. "I love you, too, Mommy." Said in the sweetest voice ever....oh, her voice melts my heart. Of course she also hears "I love you" about a million times a day.
5. "Mimi working?" "Papa working?" She asks this so many times during the week.....always concerned about where Mimi and Papa are....and, unfortunately, they are both working Monday thru Friday. :(
6. "Idunno...." She says this run-on just how I wrote it. Ask her where anything is or WHY she did something & she'll look at you, smile, and say, "Idunno!"
7. "Hungry, Mommy!!!" She is a consistent eater.....pretty much everything & anything too. She def. out eats Mac several times a week.
8. If you ask her what her name is, she will look at you without a second thought & say "Princess." No joke....and, yes, I know we are creating a monster. She will also point herself out in pictures & say "Princess" when she sees herself. The good thing is that she also calls other little girls "Princesses" when she sees them. At least she accepts the fact that she's not the ONLY princess, right?
9. "No, Mommy, I do it." I hear this ALOT lately....she has started wanting to do everything by herself. This is when Mac used to say (around the same age), "all my byself " whenever he wanted to do something on his own! She tries to be very independent, although.....I also hear this alot.....
10. "Carry you, Mommy!" This means she wants to be picked up & carried. The "carry you" is usually followed by "Up, Up, UP!!!!!!" until I pick her up!

It really goes without saying that we are completely and utterly HEAD OVER HEELS in love with our little Princess P. I always say that if I could, I would totally keep my kids the ages they are right now.....our inquisitive little Mac at 4 and Princess P at 21 months. Yes, I do realize that this could mean I would be changing diapers forever, but at 21 months, this is hardly a huge deal. I mean, YES, I will love them at any age, but I feel like, for whatever reason, they are both perfect right now. Life may not be perfect, but these two sure are!

Mac is 4!!!!!

2011-12-06T03:33:00.001-08:00

It's hard to believe my sweet little boy is 4 years old! How is it possible that 4 years have passed since we welcomed this happy little soul into the world? We celebrated Mac's big day in a BIG way, of course & did all of his favorite things ALL DAY last Friday, capping the day off with his Angry Birds party Friday night. Mac has LOVED Angry Birds ever since he taught himself how to play the game on Chris' phone over a year ago! So, it definitely seemed like a fitting theme to do this year. A huge thank you to all of our family & friends that helped to make Mac's birthday so special. We sure had a full house on Friday night & it was so much fun!

Happy Birthday to the smartest, happiest & friendliest little guy I know---we love you SO much!

A Fun Christmas Wish List

2011-11-17T13:03:00.000-08:00

Okay, it's very rare that I write about MYSELF on this blog, so for a change....that's exactly what I am going to do! In fact, I'm even going to talk about MY Christmas Wish List....of course, like one of my favorite bloggers (Chelsea from Two Twenty One) wrote, I don't actually like the idea of a Christmas Wish List because it makes me "feel all Veruca Salt and stuff..." But, after reading her "Responsible" & "Materialistic" lists, I wanted to jump on the train & do the same! How fun! Of course I do NOT expect to get a single one of these items (esp. those listed under "Materialistic") but it sure is fun to dream, right? So, here are my Christmas Wish Lists......enjoy!! (And, again, I don't expect a SINGLE one of these things...it was just fun to write down!)

RESPONSIBLE List:

1. A new set of baking tools.....measuring cups, measuring spoons, spatulas, wooden spoons, and baking sheets. My current set looks TERRIBLE...so terrible that you'd think I baked on a daily basis. I have no idea how I am missing both measuring cups and measuring spoons either! They just flew the coup somehow! I walk past these items each and every time I am in Target or Bed Bath and Beyond, but refuse to buy them because I am just THAT cheap!

2. A new washer & dryer: My mom keeps telling me, "Jamie, the next time you guys have some extra money (ummm...what's that?) you should really consider getting a new washer & dryer." Apparently ours are outdated & very over-used. It's probably not a good sign, too, that I have to run a dry cycle at least 2x for a load of clothes. This "gift" is probably way responsible, too, considering I could do at least 2 loads (or more) of laundry a day & still have my dirty laundry basket full upstairs. Boo! No fun!

3. A finished basement: Oh what a joy this would be....not only for the kids, but for us because I know the kids would spend so much of their (destructive) time down in the basement if it was finished! Another very pricey "wish", I know, but I had to add it....Someday we'll finish that basement...someday!!!

4. A wireless router: It would make my computer-time so much more comfortable if I could actually DISCONNECT my computer from the wall and move it away from my desk. Why we haven't bought one is beyond me SINCE it would also mean that I could EASILY use an Ipad or Kindle Fire IF I were to happen to get one of these more "materialistic" items on my other list!

now for the fun....

MATERIALISTIC List:

1. An Ipad OR Kindle Fire: Just the thought of rolling my finger across the screen to read or flip through something gets me giddy. Am I a weirdo for this? Totally, but I can't help it!
or

2. THIS Tory Burch purse, thank you Jennifer Walls for making me obsess:

3. A shopping spree at Lululemon....or, an outfit or two would be nice!

4. TOTALLY MATERIALISTIC, but.....a "facial" Mommy Makeover. All the bells & whistles...calling Shideler Dermatology, calling Shideler Dermatology! :)

Belated Halloween Pics

2011-11-17T09:31:00.001-08:00

Halloween was so fun this year....we had a fairy princess / lady bug (2 costumes) and an astronaut parading through our neighborhood filling their bags with candy (which we still have....and loads of it)!! Parker insisted on not only carrying her bag but also walking the entire time, so we had one tired fairy princess at the end of the night! As much of a sweet tooth as our little astronaut has, I think he ate no more than 3 pieces of candy the entire night!

YIKES! A VERY Belated Post....End of Fall Report

2011-11-17T08:53:00.001-08:00

My goodness it's been a long time since I posted! We've had a busy & fun Fall! It's safe to say that along with their Mommy, Mac and Parker enjoy everything about fall and its activities....we spent a beautiful, cool day at the Indianapolis Zoo with Grandpa, went apple-picking with our good friends Jennifer & Collin Walls, and took a trip to the pumpkin patch with Mimi. Each and every experience was SO much fun with the kiddos. Parker has gone from baby to little girl in a matter of seconds it seems & her little personality is just the cutest. Mac is an awesome big brother to her & I love to see the two of them playing and laughing with eachother. What's most adorable is hearing Mac try to "teach" Parker things. He's so patient and protective of her. Parker can pretty much say anything and everything she hears & it's been so fun to listen to her vocabulary develop. There are so many times when I say aloud, "did she really just say that?" Yesterday's "funny" was when she repeated (numerous times), "Are you serious?" She kills me! It's often, too, that Parker and I are stopped when we are out together by people saying, "Well, if she isn't just your mini-me?" She truly is & for so many reasons. I love it. Big brother Mac is still LOVING school, is full of his million questions a day & just loves everything "boy!" It's hard to believe that he'll turn 4 in a couple of weeks. I promise to post pics of his "Angry Birds"-themed party shortly afterwards!

The above-pic was taken on my mini-getaway to California to visit two of my dearest girlfriends....Susanne & Sun. Sus and I were roommates when I lived out in LA and Sun was one of our co-workers, turned awesome friend. Both of these lovely ladies were bridesmaids in our wedding, too. So, since it had been a good 5 years since my last visit out to the west coast AND Susanne had her first baby (beautiful Sloane Elizabeth) and Sun got married (both events happening within days of one another in August), I HAD to get out there!!!! I had a super wonderful little vaca and loved every second I got to spend with the sweet Riley family & my newly betrothed Sunshine! Thank you Sus & Sun---love you gals!!!

Opinionated.....already.

2011-08-31T12:57:00.000-07:00

Aren't these pink boots THE CUTEST? I saw them a few weeks ago & ended up going back (to Target, of course....I'm a big spender) yesterday and buying them for Princess P. While I was in the store, I kept asking her if she liked her new pink boots.....each time I'd get the same response "No, no..." A woman shopping in the same aisle looked at me as if I was nuts for asking my 18 month old if she "liked" something, but if you know me, you also know that I do enjoy giving my children options. I really just like to hear what their responses will be! Despite Parker expressing her dislike for the boots again while we checked out, I decided to put the boots to the test & have her wear them home. And, just like a girl who knows what she wants, she proceeded to sit down on the floor of the garage as SOON as I took her out of my car & pull the boots off, saying...."out, out" (she obviously meant "off"). Hearbroken, I returned the adorable boots after zumba last night...also proclaiming my love for them to guy who processed my return. After hearing my sob story about my highly opinionated 18 month old he offered the following thought....."too bad they don't make them in your size, right?" Haha!! Back to the boot shopping drawing boards for Miss P!

PRESCHOOL

2011-08-30T12:43:00.001-07:00

It's official....the school year has started for our little Mac & he is SO excited! Preschool is in full swing & our little man kicked off his first day with a candle in his breakfast cereal bar to commemorate his big day! We even had to sing "Happy First Day of School to You" before he blew the candle out! All his request, which was precious!

He was the FIRST to enter his new classroom and unlike two years ago when we first attempted to send Mac to "school", there wasn't a single hint of apprehension and/or tears. Our little question-asker was READY to learn! I'm so proud of him! We're looking forward to another great school year!

Some reasons....

2011-08-23T11:24:00.001-07:00

why I LOVE fall:

1. Fall clothes rule...I love everything about warm colors, cozy cardis, comfy riding boots and my favorite pairs of jeans. And, on that note: One can never own TOO many cardigans! My motto is to STOCK UP whenever you can!

2. PSLs at Starbucks, of course! Nothing screams fall more than hearing PSLs are back at Starbucks! I can guarantee I will get a text from a fellow fall-loving friend just as soon as they are first spotted here in the Midwest!

3. Halloween! Love Halloween with the kiddos--! I always pray for chilly temps too. It just doesn't feel like Halloween if it's hot out!

4. Fall pictures with my dear friend Melody Carpenter! I always stress (see posting a few days ago) before pics, but go crazy over how awesome they turn out once we get them back! They always turn into Christmas card pics.....yes, another season I also love.

5. Trips to the apple orchard! My girlfriend Jennifer & I have taken our kiddos for the past 2 years together & it is always such a memorable outing! I also love scouring food blogs for as many apple recipes as I can find! You know I will also be consulting Pinterest this year & I cannot wait!!!

A shout out.....

2011-08-21T04:21:00.001-07:00

CONGRATULATIONS to the RILEY FAMILY

Welcome Sloane Elizabeth Riley!!!

Yes, my dear, dear girlfriend Susanne & her hubby Keegan welcomed their first daughter into the world the week before last & I couldn't be more happy for them! Sus and Keegs are going to rock as parents....Miss Sloane sure is one lucky, lucky little lady! I can't wait to race out there in October to finally meet this little princess!!! Much love to the Riley family! :)

It's that time again....

2011-08-21T04:04:00.001-07:00

time to start fretting about our annual fall pictures!!! Of course my fretting has nothing to do with the fact that we have THE BEST photographer in the world taking our pics (we LOVE you Melody Carpenter), but rather my incessant struggle to find the perfect thing for each of us to WEAR!!!! I admit, our pics aren't on the calendar until October 20th (the same day I fly out to visit my lovely CA ladies, mind you), but it's NEVER to early to start thinking about wardrobe. I really LOVE looking and trying to figure it all out, but it also drives me a little crazy too! Honestly I LOVED what we ended up wearing for our shoot last year.....and, if this pic wasn't going to grace our Christmas cards, I'd even consider wearing something similar, but since one of the pics is SURE to grace our Christmas cards, wearing similar is just not an option!!! The easiest of the 4 of us to style is, of course, Princess P. Goodness, a good 1/2 of her outfit (weather permitting) is already purchased. No pink for P this year....we're taking the purple route. Honestly, P could probably wear absolutely nothing but her diaper & still be the cutest little girl you've ever seen (really). So I am logging some serious hours behind the computer "browsing" between some of my favorite online retailers (thing is, we have to keep these "outfits" on budget here too) and even consulting Pinterest for "fall family portrait outfit ideas." Yes, thank God for Pinterest. Thanks to several of my friends, I am a pinning ADDICT. How CAN'T you fall in love with pinning? I admittedly spend the better part of my mornings pinning! And, as I sit here typing....I'm pinning MORE fall outfit ideas....HELP!!!!! Fall pics ahead!!

Summer Updates

2011-08-04T12:33:00.000-07:00

I'm going to try to do a better job keeping up with our family blog....don't hold me to it since my "quiet time" in front of the computer is so limited these days!!

Because of the wretched heat wave we experienced for the past couple of weeks, us Thompson's have spent WAAAAAY too much time indoors, esp. for summer!! We were blessed, however, with some relief today (highs only in the upper 80's!) & I hope this weather stays (or even gets cooler) for the rest of the summer months because we have some catching up to do on summer activities!! A couple of weeks ago, however, we did make a fun trip to the Children's Museum with my mom (Mimi) & I caught some cute pics of the kiddos....as follows:

Princess P Admiring the Barbie Louboutins

TED AND ANNE ARE MARRIED!!!!

2011-06-08T03:55:00.000-07:00

I know I've been terrible about blogging lately...rack that up to being a busy mother of two busy children, I guess! That being said, a quick and important update: MY BROTHER GOT MARRIED!! Our whole family trekked down to beautiful Sandestin FL to celebrate with Ted and Anne for a week leading up to their wedding on June 3rd. Despite the HUGE raindrops which pelted us at the VERY end of the ceremony, all went without a hitch & it was a beautiful ceremony...very emotional, too. I was thankful for where I was seated and could only see Ted's back because I know if I had been able to see his face during the ceremony, I would have cried my eyeballs out! I love these two SO much & am so EXCITED to have gained such an incredible sister in law. We are truly blessed as a family!

Rodan + Fields

2011-03-29T02:19:00.000-07:00

A little over a month ago, actually just after Valentine's Day, I decided to embark on a new employment opportunity.....I became an independent consultant for Rodan + Fields Dermatologists! I feel like this was a long time coming since I had secretly watched my girlfriend Jaime Turner (a friend from middle school who I have had the pleasure of reconnecting with over the last 5 years) go through becoming a consultant. I LOVED hearing about her enthusiasm for the company and her success selling the incredible products. So when I thought about buying my hubby a gift for Valentine's Day this year & came to the disappointing realization that I wasn't REALLY buying him a gift (since it was essentially with his "moo-lah"), I immediately emailed my girl Jaime & said "How can I get in on this?" Things all fell into place from there & I must admit, I'm in LOVE.....in love with what I am doing---FINALLY!!! I cannot thank Jaime enough for being such an incredible support and mentor for me in this business--its been such a pleasure spending time with her and learning from her. Not only is Jaime a wonderful person, but she's an amazing role model as a businesswoman!! In fact, last Wednesday was my first event for Rodan + Fields (which was hosted by my dear friend Meg Faber) & Jaime flew up to help me....she was in town for a whopping 22 hours! That being said, it was such a fun event & an incredible learning experience for me. I definitely have the confidence, now, to do MANY of these events on my own & am so looking forward to that! It's almost as if I have found my "calling!"

So, onto a little bit about the incredible products I am SO excited to share with friends and family.....I guess you can say that I've slowly gotten a little obsessed with my skin over the last 3 years. I'm not sure if motherhood has kicked this obsession into high gear, but I've definitely noticed each and every new line, spot, and imperfection. The products I had been using here at home simply were NOT cutting it anymore....it was time to take the next step & really invest in my skin. And....TAH-DAH: Welcome Rodan+Fields AMAZING Reverse System to my life!!! I started Reverse just over 3 weeks ago & the noticeable differences in my skin's tone and texture is a-mazing! I am noticing my sun spots (thanks to years of tanning & sun worship) disappearing and the general texture of my skin improving on a daily basis. Goodness, I'm no longer wearing foundation! This system is just THAT good! (YIKES---before I go too far, don't let me forget to tell you that Rodan + Fields are the "Dream Team" doctors behind the highly successful Proactive brand....so, yeah, they get it!) I am using the Reverse System as I gear up & "clean the slate" before starting R+F's famous Anti-Age system. Yes, all Botox will be avoided here, thanks to this genius combination of products! R+F's new and improved Anti-Age regimen layers potent doses of active cosmetic ingredients, proven peptide technology and OTC medicines to support natural processes that strengthen skin's structure, effectively firming skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and enlarged pores! Coupled with our patented AMP MD microchanneling tool, results from using the Anti-Age system are just incredible! The two other "systems" are Soothe (for sensitive & irritable skin) and Unblemish (for, well, imperfections & blemish issues). I urge you to take a look at our entire line of products since there is such a wealth of information on my site:

https://jamieannthompson.myrandf.com

Again, I am SO proud to represent this incredible company & invite YOU to take the opportunity to TRANSFORM your skin with these amazing products! Look out for a Rodan + Fields-specific blog in my future, too!

Bring on SPRING!!!

2011-03-18T03:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday (St. Patrick's Day) we had a LOVELY dose of SPRING weather & my goodness, the kiddos LOVED it! I can already tell we're going to spend ALOT of time playing in our kid-filled circled this season. While Parker shuffled along & explored the yard, sidewalk and circle, Mac raced around on his bike, played with our neighbors' kids and just enjoyed the amazing fresh air! Hoping these warmer temps stick around.....permanently.

Catching up.....

2011-03-15T19:57:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been a while! I'm not sure why, but I haven't been in the "blogging"-mood lately. At any rate, here are some updates on the kiddos:

MAGUIRE

1. Maguire is officially DONE with diapers (and has been for several weeks now)!! We are so proud of our little guy!

2. Mac is still LOVING school & had his first playdate with a buddy from school last week!

3. He is anxiously awaiting warmer temps so that he can get outside with his golf clubs! He's gotten inspired lately (watching Golf Channel with Chris) and has practiced his putting & "slow motion" driving indoors. Here he is (a little chilly) this past Sunday:

4. Mac had his first flu bug of the season....last week, actually! And, he promptly passed that one along to Mommy....hours later! Yeah, that was fun!

5. I know I've said this before, but we are constantly amazed by this incredibly smart and sweet little boy...goodness, we're lucky!

PRINCESS PARKER

1. I think my last post about our beauty queen referenced the fact that she was 1, so YES, Princess P is one & FULL OF SPUNK (perhaps the best way of describing her personality)!

2. Now that she's mastered walking (she's been walking since before her 1st birthday), she is testing her skills at CLIMBING (everywhere). It's not uncommon to find her standing atop tables, ottomans, toys, you name it....she'll find a way to climb on top of it! Of course she has no concept of the danger, but thinks it's hysterical! I even caught her trying to jump up and down atop the ottoman in the family room!

3. P has several favorite words....as follows: Mama (I hear this one all day), Da-dah, Mmmmmac, all done, hhhhhhhhhot, down, uuuuuup (only i can really tell what she means when she says this since it sounds more like she's grunting), and probably several other strange word-like things I am forgetting at this late hour!

4. While she tries to make you THINK she is independent (note the pic above of her attempt at eating yogurt), she is my little shadow & follows me around CONSTANTLY. She still wants me to carry her ALL THE TIME & gets very offended if I can't or won't....

5. She's enjoying pointing out noses (although she'll stick her finger right up it), ears, eyes and mouths & she can tell you how old she is with her 1 little finger!

Happy Birthday Princess P!!

2011-02-13T03:24:00.001-08:00

Where oh where did the time go---our sweet princess is really ONE!!! I'm so thankful for the friends and family that helped us celebrate Parker's big day yesterday....you'll note, ESPECIALLY my dear friend Jennifer for making such a special cake for Miss P! Wasn't it fabulous? Trust me, not only did the cakes look amazing, they also TASTED incredible! What a great day it was---celebrating our sweet princess! Happy Birthday Parker Rose, we LOVE you!

One Year Ago Today....

2011-02-11T16:36:00.000-08:00

02-11-2010...waiting for our Princess P!

Dear Parker,

One year ago today we were sitting in a chilly hospital room waiting to meet you; our sweet, sweet baby girl. I couldn't wait to see your face, hear your darling voice and smell your sweet baby skin. I think I was still in disbelief that I was really having a DAUGHTER and that out little Mac would be a big brother to a SISTER. It was just too good to be true! And, because I am only human, I also remember wondering how in the world it would be possible to love another person as much as I loved your brother.....and, like magic, all of that worry left me the minute I looked into your eyes. God had blessed me with two of the most wonderful gifts I could have ever been given.....a son and a daughter. The love I feel for you and your brother is unlike any other love I've ever felt.

The year has passed us quickly & within the year you have grown, changed and learned SO much! It's amazing! We are head over heels for you!! You are truly our little princess, and, for a moment, can I just count the MANY things I love about you??

*I love the way you look while you are sleeping. I still sneak into your room every night just to see you. You are truly angelic.

*I love how you give kisses....the sound especially..."muuuu-waaahhh." Just precious.

*I love how you cuddle with your stuffed animals, especially Violet. It melts my heart when you cradle her in your arms each night when you drift off to sleep.

*I love how you lunge into my arms whenever you've crawled or walked towards me.

*I love listening to you talk....in your own little 1-year old way. You have the sweetest voice ever.

*I love that you love music--and, I didn't even have to teach you to dance! Watching you dance and sway to music is just darling!

*I love how scheduled you've become. Trust me, that sounds rather odd & boring, but it's been a super sweet gift to Mommy since your brother really has never had a true schedule! :)

*And, speaking of your brother, I love how excited you get to see Mac every morning. Your eyes light up when you first see him. He's so much fun, isn't he?

*I could go on (and on), but lastly....I love the bond we share already. It's truly amazing, this mother daughter-thing. I just love you with all of my heart & can't wait for what the future holds.

Happy Birthday Eve to our sweet, sweet Princess P---WE LOVE YOU!

Zumba Love & Friend Love

2011-01-25T18:29:00.000-08:00

Okay, okay...I know you are all sick of me professing my love for the awesome Zumba class I've been taking (Amy: You ROCK!) But, seriously, it IS the most fun (and challenging) workout I've done EVER (and I've been working out for YEARS...like, since Jr. High)! I urge all of you to try a class. And, unless the instructor stinks, I guarantee you will love it. I like it so much that I recently QUIT my local gym....how crazy is that? Between running outdoors, zumba and the awesome set of adjustable weights my hubby got me for xmas, I figure---I am set! Who needs (or wants) a stuffy gym? Anyway....I digress (sort of). Tonight was a prime example of OTHER reason I love zumba, a reason OTHER than the awesome workout....it's the 1.5 hours I get to spend with two of my closest friends---Meg & Jennifer! Since my kiddos had been sick since last week, I couldn't wait to get out of the house & head to class just because I knew it would also be a little fun time with my girlfriends! I SO needed that....even if we could only really chit-chat before class & a little in between songs. I just NEEDED it....badly. So, I'd say that zumba + good girlfriends pretty much can cure anything! The end.

Baby Steps....

2011-01-19T04:43:00.001-08:00

And that's just what we saw our sweet Princess Parker take last Saturday---her first couple of steps! Although I am super proud of my little lady, I can't help but think that this is one more step away from being a baby! NOT SO FAST, PARKER! Of course I'm also thinking alot more about this since she is nearing her 1st birthday. I mean, how can this be? It seems like just yesterday we were welcoming this baby girl into the world! So, in honor of Princess P's first year, I'm going to copy from my friend Becky's blog and list 12 things about Parker......

1. Our sweet gal is constantly "talking" and pointing at things. While she only says a few words, still, I can predict that all of this babbling will start to make sense very soon!

2. She's an eater! I know I've mentioned it before, but I'm thrilled that Parker is so much more receptive to trying different foods. Of course, she hasn't liked ALL of it, but at 11 months her palatte is more advanced than her 3 year old brother (Mac would live on chicken nuggets, string cheese and cereal bars if we let him)!

3. P talks on her "phone" quite often....any time either of our phones makes any type of noise, Parker will put her hand up to her ear and say "hello?"

4. She LOVES her brother (and his toys)! Her little face lights up when she sees Mac come downstairs in the morning. It's as if she's thinking "now it's time to have fun!"

5. She also LOVES her dolls and stuffed animals. She hugs them & kisses them---it's SO sweet!

6. When she's not kissing her dolls and stuffed animals, she's kissing us (which I LOVE)! I seem to always hear her saying "buuuuuuuu--waahhhh!"

7. This little lady has already found a great appreciation for jewelry and make-up. She LOVES to get into my jewelry box & sits in the sink when I am putting my makeup on so that she can play with the bottles, tubes and brushes!

8. She looks lovely in tutus....but, then again, are you surprised? She is a princess!

9. For now she seems to be quite the "mommy's girl" and is crawling up my leg any chance she gets...always wanting to be held or sit with me while I'm on the computer (hence I rarely email anymore)!

10. A few of her words, since I mentioned that she was so vocal: hi, buh-buh (bye bye or bottle), ma-ma, dah-dah, hot (yes, I drink alot of coffee!), all done, dance (or something like it b/c she is always dancing when she hears music), 'dis (this).........

11. Staying true to form & so unlike our Mac, she still puts just about everything in her mouth! I am forever sweeping my floors & picking things up b/c it is certain that whatever is left (and is small & interesting) will, indeed, end up in her mouth! Yuck!

12. And, last but not least, she is busy just entertaining us in every way. It's been so much fun to watch her little personality develop. We love our little princess to pieces!

She's Standing!

2011-01-13T03:53:00.001-08:00

Look what we've caught our Princess P doing more and more......yep, she's STANDING! I'm betting we'll have a walker before her first birthday! (Did you know she turned 11 months yesterday?)

Snow Days (and more)!!

2011-01-13T03:38:00.001-08:00

Watching it snow & snow & snow.......

Mac LOVES playing in the snow....he can entertain himself forever out there!

Our Princess finally got a "taste" of what it's like to play in the snow....

Now....fun indoors, rolling around in a big down comforter--funny how entertaining that was!

Loving all of the play time with her big brother!

Where's the sunshine??

Well, I have a feeling it's going to be a LONG winter....we've been couped up inside for the past 2 days due to the snow we've had! Of course, I don't think either kid really minds being inside (since they just play their little hearts out), but it's definitely exhausted this mommy--I need to get OUT!!! That being said, I am really enjoying watching these two entertain themselves & play together. Yesterday one of our comforters was stolen from the laundry room & who knew what fun both kids would have rolling around and dragging that thing around the house! They were entertained for a good hour! And, as for Princess P's first time out in the snow.....I'm pretty sure she liked it! While she wasn't especially impressed with her mittens, she wanted to crawl around & explore the snow! Our little lady also loves EATING snow....we've caught her munching on clumps of snow many times!

Slacking....

2011-01-10T11:31:00.000-08:00

I've slacked a little on my "photo-a-day", however, not that I'm NOT taking them, I'm just forgetting to post them! This one was taken last night after playing around with Princess P's hair. It's getting so long, so quick, which is so exciting! Here she is with her first set of pigtails! I about died when I realized I could do this....SO precious!

Day 5 (well...January 5th pics, anyway!)

2011-01-06T15:52:00.000-08:00

Just a few of our Princess enjoying her bathtime, as always! (Sidenote: Really annoyed that Blogger doesn't let me move pics around anymore, since these should be reversed in order!) Our gal splashes, kicks, dumps water, chews on washcloths and doesn't mind washing her hair one bit (Mac is still leary about soap in his eyes!)!! Both kiddos LOVE to take baths...and I LOVE it when they take a bath together since I am killing 2 birds with one stone & have both kids in PJ's before 6pm! Yesterday was also the first time Parker had her teeth brushed, and......she LOVED it! I should have known since Mac has never been a huge fan of teeth-brushing!

January 4th Photos

2011-01-04T18:29:00.001-08:00

Okay, I had a mini-photo session with Princess P today while she was playing in the kitchen....the above are just a "few" of the adorable pics I managed to snap of her. I can't believe how old she looks in these....I'm thinking it's the teeth?!? Still in denial, too, that she'll be 1 year old in just over a month! Some cute things she's been doing lately: shaking her head no when she knows she's not supposed to do or touch something, but then she goes ahead and does / touches it; giving kisses upon request; loving/hugging her dollies (amazing how she just took to dolls); gabs away to herself like crazy; eats just about everything & has started to try to steal goldfish crackers from her brother (he's less than impressed); holds her own bottle (although, I SERIOUSLY don't mind doing it for her...she's growing out of the baby stage WAY too fast); passes in between furniture & stands un-assisted for a few minutes (yep, I have a feeling she'll be walking by 1); is developing her adorable personality quickly....laughing, screaming & just being the Princess I knew she'd be! As for the pic of our "man of a million questions", just a cute one I snapped while we were playing upstairs. And, what's Mac been up to....well, let's see: as I mentioned, still asking 1 million + questions on a daily basis; talking my arm off on a daily basis; playing whole heartedly with his beloved trucks, lego duplos and trains; still singing Christmas carols & talking about the North Pole; STILL in the process of potty-training (it's the #2 that really throws him for a loop!); and still being a huge help to me & taking good care of his baby sister, despite her goldfish cracker-stealing habits!

Being a stay-at-home mom is NOT an easy job, but something I wouldn't change for the WORLD. Sure I have my days where I feel as though I may loose my mind, but those days are definitely masked by all of the incredible things I get to experience with these two amazing little people in my life.

Photo-A-Day

2011-01-03T18:37:00.000-08:00

Princess P, just being her sweet jammie-clad self

Mac just being Mac....visiting his baby sis in her crib, trying to teach her how to jump!

Okay, I LOVE LOVE this idea.....taken from my dear friend Mel Carpenter's Photo Momma's blog: http://www.photomommas.com/ Of course everyone knows that this is hardly a challenge for me since I pretty much DO take a pic of the kids every day, but now, perhaps, I will find time to catch each kiddo seperately. So, starting a bit late, on JANUARY 3rd, here are my pics!

New Recipe for the New Year!

2011-01-03T13:39:00.001-08:00

Princess P certainly enjoyed these....are you surprised?

Cheesy Meat Loaf Minis (adapted from Cooking Light's recipe)

1/2 cup fresh breadcumbs (I used italian style, not fresh!)

Cooking Spray

1 cup chopped onion (I did 1/2 onion & 1/2 grated carrot for more veggies!)

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1/2 cup ketchup, divided

3 oz. white cheddar cheese, diced

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

2 tbs grated Parmesan cheese

1 tbs Dijon mustard

3/4 tsp dried oregano

salt / pepper

1.5 lbs groud sirloin (or turkey works just fine)

1 large egg, beaten lightly

1. Preheat oven to 425. 2. Heat a skillet over med-high heat. Add breadcrumbs; cook 3 minutes or until toasted, stirring frequently. 3. While the breadcrumbs cook, heat a large skillet. Coat pan with cooking spray (I used olive oil). Add onion mixture and garlic saute 3 minutes. Combine onion mixture with the breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup ketchup and remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Shape into 6 (4x2-inch) loaves on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray & foil (less mess!). Spread remaining ketchup over each. Bake for 25 minutes or until done.

Welcome 2011!!!

2011-01-03T13:16:00.001-08:00

We are hoping (and praying) for an awesome 2011, not that 2010 was bad (I mean, our Princess P was born), but it definitely had its share of ups and downs for our family! One thing IS definitely certain, however, that these 2 crazy kids make anything and everything worth it! Happy New Year to everyone! We're are so ready to see what 2011 has to bring!!!

My Eater

2010-12-31T05:01:00.001-08:00

Thank goodness----there is a child in our house who LOVES to eat! Wouldn't you know, it's our Princess P, staying true to form & acting 100% opposite of her brother (who took FOREVER to like the few foods he currently likes at 3 years old!) Miss P has been a good sport about trying anything and everything & while she doesn't seem to like EVERYTHING, she is developing quite the palate at 10 months old! Some things she's eaten & liked are things Mac won't even try....crab cakes, hummus, baked ziti with peppers and eggplant, and "restaurant grilled cheese" (Mac is VERY particular about his grilled cheese, he rarely will eat it if we order it out somewhere). I am LOVING this, esp. since it seems like I won't have to buy baby food anymore!! She's seemingly skipped that "step!" What's next? Sushi?

Christmas 2010

2010-12-29T16:11:00.001-08:00

It's safe to say that we had a WONDERFUL Christmas.....Princess P's FIRST Christmas!! Of course I nearly had a nervous breakdown the day AFTER Christmas when I was faced with having to find places for ALL of the new toys! Where I put Mac's gifts in the old house is beyond me, esp. since this house is 3x bigger, space and storage-wise! Luckily my hubby stepped in & pretty much took care of all of the putting away, breaking down boxes, etc. Phew.

So, this was the first year we hosted Christmas Eve with my family (my Mom & Dad, Ted & Annie, our good family friends Diane & Bob Lennon)---something we'll continue until Ted & Annie have their kiddies and decide what kinds of traditions they'd like to start at their house! We had quite the appetizer FEAST here on Christmas Eve....watched both Elf and Christmas Vacation & then once Mac hit the hay (with Grandpa) we attempted to play a few games while enjoying some wine & cocktails! I made sure NOT to have a repeat proformance of xmas eve 2 years ago (let's just say Annie & I REALLY enjoyed our wine that year), especially since I knew I'd have my usual 6am wake up call from Miss P & then I was also certain Mac (who was SO SO adorably excited about Santa and Christmas this year) would be up earlier than normal! So, Christmas morning was full of excitement....Mac was up around 7:30 & totally amazed by the gifts under the tree! He couldn't wait to dig in! We actually did 2 rounds of gift-opening since we had Santa's presents & then all of the OTHER presents from my parents, Ted/Anne, etc. It was insanity! Oh, add 3 dogs to our un-wrapping frenzy, too....George, my brother's English Bulldog and Gracie, Anne's maltese joined forces with Portia for quite the xmas pup-clan!!

After we got thru ALL of the gifts, had eaten our breakfast, it was time to get ready to head down to Chris' family cottage for ANOTHER Christmas celebration! My goodness that one was also filled with a slew of presents for the kiddos.....a lovely Christmas dinner & great times with the cousins. My mother in law bought Parker a Princess Cozy Coupe which has been a HUGE, HUGE hit at our house for both kiddos! When Parker isn't going in and out of it, Mac is in it, shuffling around the house! Kids LOVE those things!

Sorry this post is a little belated...it def. took some winding down from the big holiday. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

Crafty Night 2010

2010-12-21T03:21:00.001-08:00

I'll say it & I'll say it again....I am VERY craft-challenged. However, bring some good friends together, some delicious appetizers & champagne (plus the dreaded craft) and I'M (so) IN!! It's not that I don't like doing crafts, I just find that it takes ALOT of time & since I am typically a perfectionist, it takes me even LONGER than most people to complete a craft! Anyway...it was craft night 2010 at my friend Jenni's house this past Sunday....this year, our craft was the above pictured wreath (pics compliments of Jenni since I neglected to bring my camera). Upon first sight, I thought the wreath project seemed rather daunting, but like I said, if it meant spending several quality hours with Jennifer, Mel & Jenni, I didn't mind!! Of course, I was the last to finish my wreath (and probably complained the most about rolling all of those pieces of paper & scorching myself with hot glue), but, in the end, I was quite impressed with the final product! A huge THANK YOU to (super-crafty & talented) Jenni for hosting! There is nothing better than sharing holiday cheer with these lovely ladies!

Christmas Baking

2010-12-17T12:04:00.001-08:00

2007

2008

2009

2010

And then there were two....two Thompson kiddos to help with the annual cookie baking, that is! It's become quite the tradition to have a full day of baking with my mom during the month of December. It's hard to believe that this is actually Mac's 4th year baking with us! This year we REALLY lucked out and my mom ended up getting snowed in with us last Monday, so we started our cookie-making at 9am & didn't stop until after 5pm!! My mom and I laughed about what a production the baking-process has become since little people entered our lives, but we had a blast regardless! Also, it's not shocking news, but we discovered that Miss P is cookie-lover. She couldn't wait to grab that big oatmeal chocolate chip cookie in front of her in the pic above!

A (belated) Happy Birthday to Mimi!

2010-12-17T12:00:00.001-08:00

Have you ever seen a more beautiful Mimi?

I didn't think so!

Happy Birthday to my mom...my best friend & support system!

We LOVE YOU so, so much!

(this pic was during our little visit to her school on her birthday)

The Cake

2010-12-10T11:01:00.001-08:00

If you know my family, you know that should come as no surprise that a cake would get its own post on the blog---we are cake lovers!! What's even more special is the fact that my very dear friend Jennifer MAKES these fabulous cakes! We are so spoiled! Check out Mac's 3rd bday cake....a golf theme, of course! Please note the amazing detail.....it was incredible! A huge thank you to Jennifer for yet another awesome cake--we love you!

Happy 3rd Birthday Mac!!

2010-12-06T12:08:00.001-08:00

Mac then.....

Mac NOW at 3 years!

HAPPY 3rd Birthday to our sweet Mac!

Okay, this post is a little belated, but since we celebrated Mac's bday over the course of 4 days, I'm not doing too bad! We kicked off our bday celebrations a little early by taking Mac (and Parker) to the Children's Museum to see Santa the day before his actual bday (which is December 2nd). His bday fell on a school day this year & because I knew that he'd enjoy taking a snack into school and having his classmates sing Happy Birthday, we opted for the museum the day before (a birthday tradition my mom and I started when he turned 1). He (and Parker) had a great time exploring Jolly Days, sitting with Santa & just enjoying the museum. It was a big hit, as usual! On Thursday, his "real" birthday, they had a little celebration at school & later that day we kicked off our little party with a visit from Nana & Pa, and ended the party with dinner & cupcakes with Grandpa (unfortunately Mimi was a little under the weather). Now, you'd think we'd take a break on Friday, right? WRONG!!!! Chris' parents treated Mac and Chris (along with Ashley, Michael, Mia & Lilah) to dinner & tickets to the circus (while Mommy enjoyed a quiet girl's night at home--so nice)!! Mac (and his cousins) had a blast!!! I think we might have relaxed a bit on Saturday, but were back to our party-ing ways on Sunday for Mac's little party with some family & friends. My girlfriend Jennifer did not disappoint with her FABULOUS golf-themed cake for Mac & we had yet another fun-filled evening here at our house! Phew! I'd definitely say our little man had a wonderful 3rd birthday!

Now....a few (of the MANY) things I just love about my 3 year old:

1. I love the MILLION+ questions Mac asks each day. He is so inquisitive and smart..

2. I love his amazing memory, which never ceases to amaze me on a daily basis.

3. I love our funny conversations.....Chris and I joke that it's more like having a little buddy around than a little kid. We chat about all kinds of things!

4. I love his love of his blankie & I love the way he still rubs it under his nose when he gets tired.

5. I love the way he loves his baby sister. Of course sometimes she DOES steal toys, but for the most part, Mac is really gentle with Parker. Not to mention, they are definitely starting to play together, which as been so fun to watch!

Birthday (extended) Weekend

2010-11-24T04:25:00.000-08:00

(circa 2009...last year's outlet mall extravaganza with my gals!)

(a very BELATED post....)

Chris & I joke about how long we will celebrate my birthday every year....see, in the Maslanka family we tend to celebrate birthdays for at LEAST 4 days!! This year was no exception since my 33rd birthday fell on a Thursday and I had several "fun" things planned through the weekend. So, Thursday my celebration was kicked off by treating myself to one of my FAVORITE coffee drinks of the season (Starbucks gingerbread latte) on my way home from dropping off Mac at school. (Yum...just love those despite all the sugar I try to not to think about consuming!) I had to be home to pick up Parker & then get ready to head to one of my favorite lunch spots (Cafe Patachou) to meet the gals (Jennifer & Meg) for lunch. This "in between time" is when my hubby decided to give me 2 of my bday gifts (yay!).....the North Face jacket I had been wanting & an awesome running pullover for the colder weather. Sweet! I definitely headed to Patachou in high spirits, excited for their yummy tomato artichoke soup & to have some laughs with my gals! Naturally our lunch did not disappoint--I am so thankful for such great girlfriends!!! I headed home to meet up with my mom (who so NICELY took the day off from work in order to pick Mac up from school & stay with the kids as I ran some errands ALONE the rest of the afternoon). After Chris got home from work (and after I got home from doing zumba, my FAVORITE way to workout these days), we enjoyed a fabulous birthday dinner (seared scallops)! I capped off this AWESOME birthday with a glass of wine & the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills! Goodness, what more could a girl ask for? :)

P.S. Let's not leave out the fact that I DEFINITELY celebrated through the weekend by taking a day trip to the outlet malls with my girlfriends Mel, Jennifer & Jenni on Saturday (we had such a FUN, FUN day!). We shopped until we dropped & then enjoyed a great dinner (and a little more shopping) at this fabulous outdoor mall in Beaver Creek, Ohio. Then, in true Maslanka-form, my last day of celebration was on Sunday with a bday dinner here at the house with the whole family.

A huge THANK YOU to friends & family for making my birthday weekend so awesome!!

Can You Believe She's 9 Months?

2010-11-12T11:03:00.000-08:00

Yep, sweet Princess P is 9 MONTHS OLD today! It's so strange to think that she is nearing her first birthday. Seriously, where did the time go? Seems like just yesterday we were welcoming our sweet little doll into the world & introducing her to our friends and family! Goodness, 9 months ago today I was first getting to know this little lady, just starting to form this amazing bond we have now. I know I've said it before, but I'll go ahead and say it again.....I just LOVE this sweet princess to pieces. And, at 9 months....here are a few of the things she is doing....

1. Crawling, pulling up and cruising around furniture, tables, etc. She's also obsessed with going up our stairs. If she disappears while we're in the kitchen, I can pretty much bet she's on her way up the stairs. She's quick!

2. Saying a few words..... "hi", "dah-dah" and "ma-ma." I think she is slowly learning to say "ouch" too since it's something I say often when she is pulling my hair!

3. In the process of getting more teeth...has 2 on the bottom, upper side tooth (next to her front teeth) and then the two front teeth are popping thru. Yep, it's a good look. Thank goodness we got her pics taken before the snaggle tooth look started!

4. Is well adjusted to her formula & is enjoying trying all types of new foods. The only finger food I've given her are those Gerber Puffs, but I am starting to think about other things to introduce soon. I can already tell she's going to be a better eater than her brother. Go figure!

5. Still has a pretty amazing schedule....sleeps from 6pm - 6:30am (give or take 15 minutes either way) and takes 2 naps during the day. Of course the early bedtime does cramp doing much at night, but I wouldn't give it up for the world! It's SUCH a nice break!

6. LOVES and I mean LOVES her big brother. She gets so excited to see Mac & loves it when he finds time in his busy schedule to play with her! Ha, ha! They are so cute together.

7. She can destroy a room in a matter of seconds....and, loves to pull stuff out of the fridge and pantry! She also manages to find the SMALLEST things on the floor & puts them into her mouth. Mac was so NOT like this, although I know it's normal for a baby....It definitely keeps me on my toes as far as cleaning/sweeping goes!

8. Still doesn't care for riding in the car....She's okay when Mac's in back with her, but if she's by herself, forget about it---she's pissed! I think she'll be happier once she can move into a regular carseat & face forward.

9. Her hair is growing like a weed....all blonde, too! I keep hoping for more of a bob-length soon. The back is starting to catch up with the sides. SO cute!

10. She charms everyone with her beautiful smile & I thank God for her on a daily basis!

Halloween

2010-11-02T11:29:00.000-07:00

As noted in the first pic....our family was minus one on Halloween this year....my hubby! Yep, poor Chris flew to Maine for a certification course on Halloween day. Let's just say he was NOT thrilled to be missing out on such a fun holiday with the kiddos! Fortunately, we did get to spend Halloween with my parents (who had just returned from a fun mini vacation in the Smoky Mountains), Anne & Ted. Princess P (our little flower) totally missed out on the trick-or-treating due to her early bedtime (and lack of teeth), but she sure looked sweet in her costume for the few minutes it was actually on! Mac (our little pirate) had a blast trick-or-treating while Ted, Anne and I took him around my parent's new neighborhood. I loved watching my little pirate march up to doors with a big grin on his face (finally) saying "TRICK or TREAT!" He was quite the trooper, despite the chilly temperatures in his thin costume! The little man sure did well on his 45 minute tour of the neighborhood......and, as I sit here while the kids are napping, I'm pretty sure I hear those Twix bars calling my name.....

Fall

2010-10-27T03:51:00.000-07:00

Fall is my FAVORITE time of year....yes, I like it even more than spring! I love the cooler temperatures, changing leaves, darker evenings, pumpkin spice candles, fall clothes, heartier meals and last but not least PSL's (pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks)! Here's what has been going on at the Thompson household (so far) this fall:

1. We had our family pics / Parker's 8 month pics taken by my good friend and amazing photographer Melody Carpenter. I had originally scheduled this session a month ago, but when temperatures just weren't cooperative (I wanted us to be able to wear fall clothes....not shorts and summer dresses), we rescheduled for last week. Mel put up one "teaser" pic on Facebook from our session & I am dying to see how the rest turned out. Taking professional pics with 2 kids, as opposed to just one, is a definite challenge! I found myself worrying more about what the kids were doing (whether they were smiling, looking at the camera, etc.) than how I looked.....but, what's new, right?

2. We made trips to both the apple orchard (Tuttle Farms) and pumpkin patch (Russell Farms)...so, Parker's first trip to both places! We went with my dear friend Jennifer & Mac's best buddy Collin to pick apples, then went with the entire Walls family and Mimi to the pumpkin patch. We had a GREAT time at both places....both locations were perfect for our little people. Mac and Collin thoroughly enjoyed picking apples, wrestling along the paths in the apple orchard, then all of the fun little activities they had at Russell Farms while pumpkin-patching.

3. My girlfriend Sun.....wait, my recently engaged girlfriend Sun came to visit. While Sun was born and raised a midwestern girl, she and her fiance live in Los Angeles, so we don't see one another often. It was SO much fun getting to see her, hear about wedding plans and just catch up! I miss you, Sunshine! Looking forward to your gorgeous wedding....whenever & wherever it is! :)

4. We did our annual shoe-shopping trip with Mimi, this time for Mac AND Parker! Since Mac started pulling up as a baby, Mimi has treated him to new shoes...usually from Stride Rite, but this time we hit Nordstrom (one of my favorite shoe departments-ever, both for women & kids). Mac ended up with a cute pair of Merrill shoes & Parker lucked out with an adorable pair of Pedipeds! Thanks, Mimi! :)

5. My mom and I were lucky enough to go wedding dress shopping with my soon to be sister-in-law (Anne) (along with her mom, 3 awesome sisters & their sister-in-law). What a fun trip that was! Anne not only found her dream dress during that first outing, but it was the 3rd dress she tried on! How perfect is that?

6. Along with wedding dress shopping, we attended a fabulous engagement party for Ted and Anne, hosted by her sister Elizabeth. It was a family-only party & we had SO much fun celebrating with Annie's entire family. We can't wait for the REAL celebration this June!

7. In November, I am looking forward to traveling to the AWESOME outlet malls in Cincinnatti with some fabulous girlfriends. We did the trip last winter, actually at around the same time, when I was preggo with Parker (obviously) & while I still had pretty good energy, I'm def. looking forward to being my NON-pregnant, shopping loving-self during this trip! I can't wait!

And, in closing....some quick "kid updates:"

MAC: loves school (a 1x a week Mother's Day Out program), is as funny and inquisitive as ever & amazes us daily with his incredible memory....lover of all creatures & pretty much just the sweetest boy ever. (Yesterday's question of the day: "Where does it end?" This came when he and Chris were talking about the stars in the sky....wow, right?)

PARKER: still hitting milestones daily....I fear she may be walking by 9 months, into everything, saying "hiiiii", "dah-dah" and now "bah-bah", obsessed with her brother & everything he is doing, we've nicknamed her Princess Pest....destroyer of every room in a matter of seconds. All this, but my heart melts when I see that precious little face.

Two Words

2010-10-19T15:44:00.001-07:00

Yes, our daughter can say two words....

"Hahhhhhhh" = "hi"

"Dah-dah" = "daddy" (of course)

She's one smart cookie...we marvel at the things she does on a daily basis.

Today's conquest: Crawling to the top of the stairs. Yep, she did it!