Surprises Weekend

This past weekend Ella was at her fathers. I only had to work on Saturday and was off all day on Sunday with no plans. Brian also had nothing schedule for Sunday either. I found some motivation to get some stuff done around the house. Mainly for the kids. Since Christmas with all the new toys there just isn't enough space in Ella's room for everything. Plus Austin is just growing up way to fast. 

I borrowed Brian's wireless bluetooth headphones I got him for Christmas, turned on an audible book (I had the goal of finishing it by the end of the month and still had 3 hours left, got it done) and got to work. 

I started by cleaning, organizing, and rearranging Ella's room. I normally do a deep organizing every other weekend when she is at her fathers. It hadn't happened in probably a month with to much going on and being sick, so it is was really needed. I took out her doll house and moved her table and chairs over to the wall. I also rearranged all her "School supplies" (coloring books, learning activity books, pens, pencils, crayons, paper, markers... ) where she can reach them. So far it is working out well. Everyday she is doing a different fun activity and Austin can go in her room and I am not worried about him getting a whole bunch of little "shopkins" and he likes to color with her. 

A few weeks ago Ella decided she wanted to play in the basement. She took a bunch of her barbies and shopkins down there and set up her own area, on top of my workout area. It was cramped and messy. We have talked about redoing the basement since we have moved in and making a play room. I decided to make a temporary one. Ella can go downstairs whenever she wants, as long as she tells us and leaves the door open. She has all her barbies, shopkins, and a bunch of accessories and odd and ends. She loved it down there. 

I also set myself up another work out area in the middle of the room. 

When she came home on Sunday night she thought I threw away her doll house. I told her I had a surprise for her in the morning. When I took her downstairs she was so excited she screamed and started playing right then. Now if I could just get her to clean up down there when she is done.

Austin got one surprise. While I was at work on Saturday Brian converted his crib to a toddler bed. No he hasn't been trying to climb out of it himself. It has been an issue of me putting him in his crib since we dropped it to the lowest setting, I'm to short. He wakes up every night and comes to bed with us anyways. Decided to try this and see if he wanted to be a big boy and sleep in his own big boy bed. Nap time has been going well. The first night he slept in there for 5 hours. We just need to stop being lazy and put him back in his bed when he wakes up. 

My kids are growing up way to fast, becoming independent and their own little people. I'm not sure if I am ready for it, not like I get a choice. 

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday. It is a gorgeous day here in Northern Ohio. We are at 73 degrees in February. Who would have thought that was even possible. Normally this time of the year we have a foot of snow on the ground and the temperatures in the 30's. I have to say we are all loving this warm weather, but at the same time afraid for what the future holds. They are saying possible snow flurries tomorrow. AHHHH. Now lets all get sick again.

Time for some Friday Favorites with Narci, Erika, and Andrea.

This past Monday, being presidents day with no school for Ella, and no work for Brian we had a family day. We ended up driving to Michigan (only 2 hours) to go out to dinner. Long story short, we had gift cards to a restaurant that closed by us this was the next closest one. Road Trip. The were awesome in the car. After dinner we let me run around Cabela's before putting them back in the car for another 2 hour drive. This Cabela's had an aquarium with huge fish. My kids were just in love with the fish. 

I don't drink flavored jarred coffee often. I treated myself yesterday to a Starbucks Mocha coffee drink while we were out shopping. I came home and some little man decided he wanted some too. He liked it, who wouldn't duh. Don't worry he feel asleep on the way home anyways didn't give him a sugar high. 

Brian got Ella a wooden heart shaped basket that you have to make. It comes with the wood and nails to put it together. They had so much fun putting it together. Ella is so excited to have a little basket of her own in her room. She made one last year that she gave to me. 

Also this past Monday, Ella and I started off the day with some Mother Daughter time, I took her to the zoo for a surprise of fairytales and frogs. We had so much fun. I will be posting a lot of on this next week. But for now isn't she cute with her frog crown?

This morning before 9am it was already 62 degrees outside. I am not complaining at all right now. Even the the kids are loving it. I can't keep them inside (which is fine) 

Valentine's Week Recap

The horrid sickness hit our house. Brian got strep throat back on February 6th. The by the 10th Austin was sick. I got the worst of it on the 12th. It took me until the 16th to really start feeling better. Now it is the 22nd. Where has the time gone. I got off track with everything from cleaning, organization, working out, blogging, everything. Starting to finally get everything back into place and flowing again. 

I ended up taking Austin to the doctor just to get checked out with him being sick. Luckily right after the doctor he started getting better. I was on a time crunch with getting Ella to school so I caved and gave the kids a treat of McDonalds. It doesn't happen very often, maybe a few times a year. It worked in my favor though of Austin eating some fries and apple slices, after not really eating much for 3 days. 

I have stepped out of my comfort zone again. I am now officially a certified CIZE LIVE instructor. I can teach CIZE LIVE anywhere. In the next few months I am planning on teaching somewhere atleast once a week.

The day after my CIZE LIVE training. I got horribly sick. I wasn't posting on social media, answering text messages, or awake much at all. However I somehow ended up with 132 new pictures that all look like this. 

Ella had her Valentine's Day party the Monday before Valentines Day. I had so many ideas and plans to do for her baggies and to give her teachers. It didn't happen. Luckily I had already bought bags, the cards, paper straws, and some candy that Brian and Ella could just assembly them really quickly. 

She came home from school with a lot of stuff. I was happy that this year none of the parents sent how elaborate Valentine's so Ella didn't feel left out. 

I luckily had gotten Brian and the kids something small for Valentine's Day before I got sick. Who doesn't love homemade, soft warm, cookies. Can't wait to try it. This one makes 4. 

I got Austin some simple Hershey kisses. This boy has turned into a chocolate lover. 

I got Ella a metal Frozen tin that came with individually wrapped chocolate. She was nice and shared at least one piece of chocolate with everyone. 

Brian left to go to work, or I thought he was going to work. He came back wit a bouquet of flowers for Ella. In her favorite color purple. She has theme in a cup in her own room. Brian also got Ella and I mother/daughter mani and pedi's. I can't wait to use them. 

Brian got me 6 chocolate covered strawberries and flowers also. 

The weather has been very weird and amazing the last few days. In Ohio in February it is normally cold and snowy. It is currently 64degrees and sunny. The kids have gotten out a lot to run around, play, and get fresh air. I'm not complaining. I will take it. It probably means March we are going to get a lot of snow.

Day Date

Last weekend Ella wanted to do something fun. She wanted a family date day, but Brian had work planned that he couldn't change. Instead I did a day date just the kids and me. We started off by going out to lunch. I gave Ella a few options to choose from. She picked Steak and Shake. We don't go out to eat often, and it has been years since I have taken Ella to Steak and Shake. I told her they had milk shakes and she was hooked. 

She loved the little cardboard car she got to make and put stickers all over it. 

Austin played with her car for a little bit then tore it apart. He wasn't a fan of the hat, even though he looks adorable wearing it. 

I let Ella get a Oreo Cookie milkshake. She was so excited but barely ended up drinking any of it. She liked her big girl water better. 

Austin got Mac and Cheese and Applesauce to eat. 

Ella got a hot dog, without the bun, applesauce, and shared fries with her brother. She ended up eating all her applesauce, some of the fries and has two bites of the hot dog and didn't like it. I gave her some of the mac and cheese to eat then. 

I had this grilled chicken taco salad. It was delicious and filling. I forgot to ask for dressing on the side though. 

After lunch we went shopping at the Home Store. Then surprised everyone and went to Memaw's and Papaws for a few hours for the kids to play. They haven't really seen my mom since she had surgery the end of January. 

We ended the day by going to Brian's parents house for his Aunt's birthday. It ended up being a fun Saturday.

Valentine's Day Decorations

I can't believe that Valentine's Day is next week. I waited until after February 1st to actually decorate this year, I know I'm slacking. We also went to a few different stores this past weekend to try and find some more new child-safe decorations and had no luck. I did however end up getting a few St. Patty's Day decorations. All out decorations are up, that are child-proof. I have some glass plates, and cups with hearts on them that I didn't put up. My little monster man would destroy them.

I love this wooden LOVE sign. I actually got it at the Dollar Tree a days after the New Year. (I should have done more shopping then). It is hanging and the first thing you see when you walk in our front door. 

Window clings, lots and lots of window clings. I have had these for probably 6 years or so and just keep reusing them. Ella helps me to decorate. Again they are put up high enough so someone little man can't reach them. He is a climber. 

Besides having a Disney fetish, I also love Frogs. I have collected frogs since I was probably 12 or 13. I have so many of them and no where to put them. They are all in boxes in the basement. These are all my Valentines Day, heart frogs. My favorite are the two sets in the back that are magnetically kissing. (I have no idea where Garfield came from) Austin and Ella play with these frogs and decorations all the time. Half the time the table is empty. 

Again with my frog problem. 

Back in the day I use to have a purse that matched this glass "candy jar" It was black and blue though. I carried it around everywhere with me. I would call it my boobs.

Who doesn't love the sight of fresh flowers. I wish we have them around the house all year round. I only buy them when the mood strikes me. I have had the frog, red heart, and red rose for years and needed flowers to go with them in the vase. My vase is also a heart shaped. 

Do you decorate for Valentines Day?

18 months

My happy little man is 18 months. It isn't reality. When they say kids grow up so fast you don't believe it until it really happens. Yesterday he had his 18 month wellness appointment. His official 18 months was January 15th. We got the best news of a great bill of health. No issues to be concerned about, no referrals to specialist, no major problem or issues to be concerned about. 

Austin is:

- 24 lbs and 9oz. He is in the 50%

- 32 inches tall 45%

We got this picture back from Breakfast with Santa. He is not a fan of men with beards period. Giving him to Santa was the end of the world.

Every kid has an obsession with my cowgirl boots. I have pictures of Ella and my niece Claudia wearing my boots when they were little. 

Mr Calvin Klein

Austin loves the snow. He points at the window and says snow all the time when it is snowing out. He also loved going outside in his little ommpa loompa snowsuit. 

Austin is doing awesome with feeding himself and using a fork. We are still working on the spoon. Our big struggle right now with food is he doesn't want to eat much/if any protein. If it's a good day he will eat some of an egg. Any sort of ground beef or turkey, good luck he is going to spit it out. Chicken and fish he likes to chew up then spit it out. He will eat beans but not 2 days in a row. Sometimes he will eat some quinoa, others time not happening. He is just a stubborn butt. The doctor said not to be concerned just keep giving it to him and hopefully eventually he will go back to eating it.

We are still working on the bottle. I was afraid to take it away with him not eating meat then he wouldn't be drinking milk either. Again the doctor said it isn't a concern. He will be fine. (but i may not be fine. I don't want my little man growing up)

Austin loves to workout with me. Here is he dancing around the house with me doing Country Heat. At times he wants held while I'm working out. Other times he just does it along with me. On Sunday night during the Superbowl. I was doing commerical workouts, based on the commerical. Every time I was doing crunches he was sitting on my stomach, during push-ups he was on Ella's back, when I was doing jumping jacks he was jumping around, and when doing burpees he was doing low squats. It was cute. 

Austin loves his sister so much. When she isn't home he will knock on her door and yell Ella. When he wakes up he sometimes goes in her room, climbs up on her bed and gives her a kiss. Numerous times a day they are hugging and kissing. They are so cute.

A few randoms:
- still wearing size 4 diapers
- mostly in 24 months and 2t clothes
- favorite food is fruit
- is a daddy's boy
- loves watching the garbage trucks out the front window
- is still a climber
- favorite things are "fishy" and "mickey"