meal plan - fancy title, huh?

I've got nothing witty to say.  No adorable pics of the girls.

Just me and my meal plan because I am determined to make my late afternoon/early evening less chaotic and more enjoyable.  Wish me luck!

Anyone want to go grocery shopping for me?

Sunday: Salmon with Brown Sugar and Mustard Glaze
Monday: Sausage Potato Soup
Tuesday: Chicken, Bacon, Mushroom Pizza
Wednesday: Beef Stroganoff in a Skillet
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: Chicken Avocado Wrap
Saturday: Havarti Pigs in a Blanket

Lunch Ideas:
S - Bacon, Egg Salad Flatout Wrap

M - Salmon Leftovers & Broccoli Slaw
T - Sausage Potato Soup Leftovers
W - Joe's Os and Grilled Cheese Halves
Th - Chicken Salad with apples and pecans
F - Peanut Butter and Bananas Sandwiches

Baking:
Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins
Strawberry Banana Muffins
Super Easy Nutella Croissants (hint: just two ingredients)

making friends at preschool

Today was NHV's first day of preschool. Despite the fact that we were running a few minutes late this morning, I did take photos ... as if that was even an option!  Of course, I grabbed my camera!

As I was checking my settings, I could see that Natalie had something on her mind.

Once I was ready to shoot, I asked, "What are you thinking about, sweet girl?"

She responded, "Making new friends.  How do you make new friends, mama?"

I said, "Hmmmm, let's think about this ...could you say Hi and tell them your name?"

"Yeah, ... OR I could wink at them!"

"That could work ... but sometimes it's better just to smile."

"Yeah, OR I could make really funny faces ... like this!"

Here's hoping my firstborn has a wonderful preschool experience ... and somehow manages to make some new friends along the way :)

chair confusion

I am a moron.

At the very least ... not smart or easily confused or sleep deprived ...

No, this probably qualifies me as a moron!

After two months of semi-enjoying the girls' new chairs from Pottery Barn Kid ...
I say semi, because something about them just wasn't right ...
I was visiting a friend the other day (shouting out to Terri!) and noticed her kids' chairs looked different than mine, and then it occurred to me ...

I had put the chairs together incorrectly!

I put the back cushion as the seat, and the seat cushion as the back.  While it fit into the slipcover, there were these extra flaps of securing strips that didn't fit ... and the chairs just looked strange ... too low to the ground and slanted forward.

It took me TWO MONTHS to figure this out! 
In about two minutes I was able to undo the mistake ...
and now we really do LOVE our chairs ...
and taking new photos of the girls in their adorable, pink chairs is making its way up my {never ending} To Do List!

I share this not only to illustrate the fact that I am still very much afflicted with a terrible case of MommyBrain but also to save countless others from making the same mistake! 

{For $100 a pop, I am thinking the directions could probably be made a little more clear!  Of course, I don't still have the directions, so maybe it is clear ... and I am just a sleep-deprived mom-of-two.}

on our way ... to preschool open house

All loaded in the car.  Strapped in and ready to go.  I could sense that NHV was processing the next hour - time we would spend together at her new preschool getting familiar with her teachers, classmates and surroundings.  I didn't push or ask questions.  I just turned on her favorite princess music and drove.

A few minutes into our trip, she opened up, and we had this conversation ...

"Mommy, we're going to school ... just you and me! It's going to be so fun!"

"I know!  It is going to be so much fun!"

{silence}

"There's a toilet at my school.  So if you need to go, there's a toilet."

"Good to know. And if you have to go, you can use the toilet at school, too."

{silence}

"Mommy, don't yell at me or be naughty to me at school.  My teachers won't like that."

"Okay, I won't yell.  Wait, do I yell a lot?"

"No, mommy, but I will be on good behavior ... like a smiley face!"

"I'm glad to hear that.  I am sure your teacher will like that, too."

"Yeah, and I'm going to look at my teacher in her face!"

21 months old ... almost two

There.  I said it.  

My baby is almost two.  

I don't like it.  Not one bit.  

But it's the truth.

coming soon ... 21 things I love about my CJV

my little night owl

So yesterday I posted about my sweet sleeping little angels.
And tonight CJV was awake until after midnight.
(Note to self: In the future, do not even mention the fact that your children sleep.)

She spent two hours in her crib ... chatting and singing and hanging out.

And then we played for an hour.  I loved every minute of that hour.  It is so rare that we get to spend time - just the two of us - on the floor with a bin of toys. 

She chatting some more and tried to repeat words that I said.  She chased after a tiny princess ball (big sister never lets her play with it!) and her best buddy, Louie.  She stacked blocks and treated me to many belly laughs as I entertained her with an egg shaker! 

I even managed to take a few photos :)

sleep, sleep so sweetly

Is there anything as peaceful as a sleeping child?  Every night before I put myself to bed (and it's usually much later than I should be staying up), I go into each of my girl's rooms to check on them.  What I am really doing is trying to soak up their angelic appearance.  Trying to memorize their faces.  Trying to imagine what their dreams are filled with.  Trying to remember the babies they once were. Trying to etch into my mind the beautiful little people they are right now.

A friend of mine, who also happens to be a fabulous photographer, encouraged me to shoot in manual mode, bump up the ISO, and capture this nightly ritual of mine ... and I am so glad that I did!

 

Most nights the blankets are in a big pile and binky is on the floor. 

If she's not on her side like this, she is on her tummy 

with knees under her and bottom up in the air.

 

NHV is a wild and noisy sleeper.  

I never know what position I will find her in.

 

Just look at this face!  Those sweet lips and tiny eyelashes!

CJV fell asleep in the car on the way home from a birthday party.

There's a song by Danielle Sansone that I absolutely love

... and sing to my girls sometimes.

This is the chorus ... 

Sleep, sleep so sweetly
You know I love you deeply
Know that when you wake
We’ll celebrate the day