Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Week 2 of Nada…

So this has been the second week in a row in the Burgess Household where we have had no plans. As in nada, zip, zilch. I have to admit, I ‘m kind of getting used to this. I think we were overly busy at the end of 2011, that this laid back schedule has been not only nice but very much needed. We have had lots of time to spend together as a family and we have very much enjoyed just being able to relax, play and embrace the quiet (which is very rare with an almost 4 year old and 18 month old). Anyway, I am really liking my Wednesday and Sunday blogging routine I have been on the past month or so and I didn’t want to miss out on my Wednesday blog just because we haven’t been up to much, so I have decided to just share some pictures from the week. Okay, here we go…

Sunday:

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Sunday morning I decided to make this awesome recipe I found on Pinterest for breakfast. Baked Blueberry Chocolate Chip Oatmeal. O my goodness it was beyond AMAZING!!!! Even better that there is no sugar or butter. It is all very healthy. The only non healthy ingredients are maple syrup and chocolate chips and both can easily be left out depending on your mood or diet. It’s also gluten free for all you with Gluten-Free folks out there. Anyway, my point is it that it is delish, healthy and a MUST TRY for all!!!! My family of 4 ate almost the whole pan!

Monday:

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Monday started off with a trip to Burger King for lunch. I found this burger king, that is not super close to our house but it has an awesome play area. Since we had nada going on (like my emphasis of nada in this blog already) I decided to take the kids out from some lunch and play time. I swore when I got pregnant with Owen (4+ years ago) that I would never let my kids play in fast food or mall play areas because they were full of germs. Well, here I am 4 years later and guess where my kids are playing? Haha. Never say never. I know these places are in fact full of germs, but when it is freezing outside and your kids are dying to run around where else do you go? Come on fellow parents, you know what I am talking about right?! Anyway, this germy play area was awesome! We were there for well over an hour and had the entire place to ourselves. The kids had a great time!!!

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It was set up nice and had stuff for little kids, including a small slide, and tons of fun for the older kids including a really big steep slide. We will definitely be going back soon!

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Tuesday:

Tuesday morning Autumn and I had a little play date set up with a Mom and Younger Sibling of one of Owen’s pre-school classmates. The poor little boy Autumn was going to play with unfortunately got really sick so we had to re-schedule for next week. So Autumn and I ran a few errands and then went home after dropping Owen off at school. We were a bit bored, especially with out Owen around, so I decided to pull out a craft to do. My Mom gave me this book she found a couple weeks ago while cleaning out a closet. This was a Valentine’s Day Crafts book she got when my sister and I were little. Check out the copyright date: 1981. Haha, too funny. Since it had some sentimental value I decided to keep it to do a craft or two with my kids that my mom did with me and my sister.

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Autumn and I decided to make some Kooky Clay. I can vividly remember making this with my mom when I was around 4 or 5. I know Autumn is a little young but we had fun anyway.

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Basically you just mix Flour, Salt and Water to make this clay. You cut it out into shapes using cookie cutters or free hand with a knife and let it dry out for a few days. Once it is completely dry you can paint it just like you would with plaster figurines. I got paint too but I’ll let the kids paint them sometime next week.

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I made holes in them so they can either tie a string on it to make an ornament or they can use the heart shaped ones to put on a necklace string for Valentines Day. Either way they can paint them and do whatever they want with them, but the holes gives extra options. It was a fun time with just Autumn and she had a great time playing with the mixing bowls, spoons and patting the dough.

Last night my sister and my very good friend Cammy (my sister’s BFF) invited me out for a very very last minute girls night. Yikes, me and last minute plans don’t usually go very well ( I am a major planner) but I decided why not and just went with it. My mom came over to watch the kids for the 15 minute overlap from when I needed to leave and when Brandon would be getting home.  Thanks again mom, you’re the best. For those of you who don’t know Cammy, she is a yoga instructor. She somehow convinced my sister and I to join her for an advanced yoga class?!?! Just a side note I have not done yoga since I was pregnant with Owen 4 years ago. Anyway, we went along. It was actually really fun, relaxing and boy o boy did I get a work out in. I can barely move today. I stretched muscles I didn’t even know I had. I feel like I went on an 8 hour horse back ride. Anyway, it was a great time. After yoga we headed over to this place Jinja for dinner and drinks. I am so happy I went because it was a wonderful and productive evening out spent with 2 of my favorite people. Love you ladies!

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Our Delicious Mojitos & Edemame. Yum, Yum, Yum. And that was just our appetizers!

And here we are today, Wednesday:

Again, a day of nothing on the schedule. And thank goodness because both kids are a bit under the weather. Must have been that trip to the germy Burger King Play Area. J/K. They have both had minor colds for a couple days now and it has finally gotten the best of them. Poor Owen is barking like a Seal and Autumn….well, lets just say she is having some “digestion” issues. Haha, the joys of parenting. Anyway, we are stuck in since they both feel like poo.

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Daddy surprised us and came home for lunch after an early morning of meetings. The kids were not about to let Daddy rest on his lunch break so they had him dance with them while watching Yo Gabba Gabba. Yo Gabba Gabba is their new favorite show now that we finally have Nick Jr. I have to admit the show is a bit strange, but it really sends out some good messages and always gets the kids dancing around and singing which is better than just sitting on the couch and watching. Right? Here they are doing the “freeze dance”.

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Dance, Dance, Dance, and…

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FREEZE! Owen kind of looks like a zombie, but he is actually just frozen in the middle of dancing. Lol.

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O my goodness I LOVE these two so MUCH!!!!!

Some Miscellaneous Stuff…

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I had another Order for an Infant Car Seat Blanket. Yay!!!! For all you wondering and those who have asked, I am STILL in the process of setting up a blog for all the items I make available for sale. I am a super slacker because I would rather sew then set up a website in my free time. I know I need to get my priorities strait.

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Here is the final product all packaged up. I even threw in two matching Pacifier clips with the extra fabric I had. So thankful people like my stuff enough to purchase them. I am hoping for lots of dress orders this summer. Keep your fingers crossed.

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Not sure when this was from, but Autumn has found a hobby of playing dress up with my clothes in the morning while I am getting ready. Haha.

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And for those of you who don’t already know….I am officially chopping off all my hair tomorrow. All, as in, 8-9 inches! This picture was mainly took so I can visually see how different it looks tomorrow and so I can see how long my hair actually was when I am crying tomorrow regretting my decision. Just kidding, but I probably will cry. I had short hair about 5 years ago and it has taken me a good 3.5 years to grow it out to this point. O well, I am ready for a change despite the mixed reactions I am getting, some think I should and some think I am crazy. We shall see the results tomorrow. Ahhhh. Wish me luck.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Our Week & Nana’s 52nd Birthday

Our week was really laid back, meaning not much on the agenda. Here are a few fun pictures from our week.

We had…

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some fun with bubbles,

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some fun wrestling (a favorite amongst these two),

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some fun with cousin Abi,

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some fun being a cutie, a stinker and silly,

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some fun eating snacks,

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some fun reading with Daddy (while Brother was at school),

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some fun loving on Mommy,

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not so much fun hanging out in time-out for fighting,

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lots of fun baking Nana a special Birthday Cake with Daddy,

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and tons of fun testing out the batter!!!

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As you can see, even though we didn’t have much on the agenda this past week, we had so much fun.

Last night we added to the fun by having a Birthday celebration for Nana. Nana’s Birthday was last Tuesday the 17th but Saturday worked best for everyone’s schedules for celebrating. Brandon and I hosted the event (which was so much fun and a bit exhausting since I wound up with an ear infection) and Owen was not happy unless we decorated for the occasion. He compared it to Christmas, he said, “if we decorate for Christmas then we need to decorate for Nana’s Birthday Party. It is a party mom!” Of course, why didn’t I think of that? Well, since I was apparently unprepared for the decorating part of hosting this event we quickly got to work. We pulled out a big tote full of miscellaneous decorations I have laying around (birthday, bridal, baby shower, any decorations you can imagine) and decided to get creative with what we had on hand. Once the house was all ready our guests started to arrive. It was such a fun night with lots of delicious food. Happy Birthday Nana! We LOVE you more than words can ever express!!!!!!

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The house looked a little more like a baby shower than a Birthday Party but really, I had to work with what I already had. Plus Owen was really the only person I was really trying to impress. Haha.

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And there you have it!

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My Mom got to chose the Menu since it was her special night. She requested Santa Fe Chicken Taco’s, Spanish Rice and Corn Bread. Yum, everything turned out delish. Thanks Dad and Jess for bringing the sides!

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Since we had a late dinner I fed my kids prior to everyone arriving. Hints why they are not in the picture.

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Next up were presents so we all gathered around to watch. Owen was so anxious for Nana to open up the special card he made her!

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Nana was very sweet and let Owen be her assistant at opening her gifts.

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And if one child is involved…all three kids need to be involved. Haha. Thank goodness we have a super patient Nana.

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Nana got some of her favorite perfume and some new hand-sewn sweat pants with a comfy shirt to go with. She also got some new tennis shoes and a gift card for a manicure and pedicure!

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Love this picture. You can just see how much the five of them just absolutely love one another. These kids are so blessed to have the most amazing grandparents.

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And my sister and I are so lucky to have the most amazing Mom in the whole world.

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And then it was time for the delicious cake that Owen and Brandon made for Nana.

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The cake was super yummy and enjoyed by all!

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As you can tell, Autumn was not really in the “picture taking” mood. And when this girl doesn’t want to do something she will not do it. She is a bit stubborn. Wonder where she gets that from?

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She sure was in a lovey mood though and was giving out hugs left and right. 

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And this little one was walking all over the house last night. She has been able to walk since about Christmas, but is just so timid she still wants someone to hold her hand while she walks for extra security. Well last night she decided she did not want/need anyone’s help anymore. She was ALL OVER THE PLACE. Yay Abigail!!!

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And by 7:30pm the babies were done and ready for bed. These girls were wiped out and exhausted from all their playing. 

Owen was so excited to have all the attention of Daddy, Mommy, Nana and Pampo all on him once the girls were in bed.  We all gathered around the table to watch him do some puzzles.

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It really amazes me how good he is at putting puzzles together and best of all, he LOVES it. It is really fun to watch him because you can just see how concentrated he is and how fast his little mind is going.

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And it sure didn’t take long for my mom to slip into her new sweats. I am really proud of my work on these because this was way outside of my sewing comfort zone. Luckily they fit perfect and most of all my Mom loves them. Yay!

Happy Birthday Nana and thanks so much for letting us share in your special day! We all LOVE you so so so much!!!!!