that's why they call it the 'present'

Yesterday, Jovey ate a chip off of Costco's floor.

Yesterday, Jovey dropped a chip on Costco's floor.

Today, Jovey has a runny nose.

Yesterday, I spray painted everything in sight.

Today, I still have paint on my hands.

Yesterday, Miley was dramatically carrying a heavy bag to school, when two little boys came to her aid and fought to see which one could help her.

Yesterday, Miley may have swooned.  ;)

Today, I am sure of it.

Today, I almost finished a Valentine's decoration I started last year.

Today, I painted a human heart, and wanted to re-enact that scene from Indiana Jones.

Yesterday, I did my kid's homework.

Today, I realized after reading the instruction paper that I DID my kid's homework.

Today, I know A LOT more about giraffes than Miley.

Yesterday, I tried to shop locally.

Today, I ordered it online and saved $30.

Yesterday, I wasted gas.

Yesterday, my favorite pair of jeans died.

Today, I made everyone participate in a moment of silence, cause I couldn't find the exact replacement online anywhere.

Yesterday, Jovey played the part of Miss Melodrama.

Today, I saw new molars growing in Jovey's little mouth.

Today, Jovey got a tissue to try and pull them out, just like her sis.

Yesterday, Dave forgot his wallet when he went to work.

Today, I considered ordering him special centrum silver vitamins.

Yesterday, Dave fell on his butt at work.

Today, I am glad he doesn't read the blog anymore. ;)

Today, I am wondering why he admits these things to me.

Today, I wished I was done with Miley's room redecoration.

Yesterday, I decided to sew curtains for Miley's room because I couldn't find what I envisioned.

Today, I wrapped a birthday gift.

Yesterday, is when I should have mailed said gift.

Yesterday, I saw that we still have Halloween cobwebs in a rosebush.

Today, I started a new project instead all the while in front of the window overlooking the rosebush.

Yesterday, I read a new book.

Today, I am looking for another one cause I really missed reading a good book.

Yesterday, I finally finished making the art for Miley's walls.

Today, I decided to keep making stuff for someone else.

Today, I may have a problem and won't ever be able to stop.

Yesterday, I talked about getting rid of Jovey's doll she puts in her mouth.

Today, I'm trying to gather the nerve to actually do it.

Today, I realized that the month is practically over.

Yesterday, I checked to see how many times I posted in January to see if I was keeping pace with previous years.

Today, I am wondering why that matters.

Yesterday, Dave finally bought an Apple TV.

Today, we finally got a cord so we could actually use it.

Today, I possibly don't understand why we needed one.

Yesterday, Jovey wore pull ups and said she was a big kid.

Today, I got tired of taking her potty every 30 minutes and quit the 'training'.

Today, Jovey told me she'd rather pee in her diaper anyway.

Yesterday, I remembered my 2014 scrapbook and how it is still left unfinished.

Today, I tried to forget that I remembered that.

Yesterday, I actually craved water.

Today, Dave is claiming credit, because of all his harassing me to drink more water.

Today, I got two shutterfly books in the mail for my girls, for VALENTINE's Day.  They'll be so excited!

Today, my computer rang when my phone did, so I actually heard it for once.

Tomorrow, I'll be doing someone a favor.  ;)

Disney on Ice, frozen, but not Frozen

So on the spur of the moment, so not my kind of moments, we decided to go to Vegas to see Disney on Ice.  We didn't have much time, they were only there one more day and then not again for another year.  So Dave canceled his golf day, I bought tickets, and we surprised Miley on Saturday morning with a little day trip.  I didn't tell her what we were going to see, but after hearing a commercial that morning on the Disney channel mention On Ice, I literally saw a lightbulb appear over her head and she KNEW IT, or so she proclaimed loudly.

Got some good seats, though the spotlights right there I could have lived without.

The girls waved at every character and they waved back, so they were sure that they saw them and not the hundreds of other kids all around.  ;)

I didn't take many pics and the ones I did aren't great because I was holding monster. . . and cause I only brought my phone.

Jovey kept leaning over to tap Miley to point and show her something cool, so eventually she just ended up with her sister for awhile to share the moment.  After the scary part of course, which was the Sorcerer's Apprentice song.

Miley's favorite part. . . the popcorn.  ;)

Oh and of course the princesses in the Valentine's Day part.  Jovey liked the Halloween part, probably cause she knows the songs really well now.  We went to the Let's Celebrate show, which is about all the holidays.

IMG 0275 from Mindy on Vimeo.


IMG 0249 from Mindy on Vimeo.

Lilo and Stitch celebrated the holiday Summer Vacation.  The fire was cool.  Noni and David kissed right in front of us, so not in the movie.  ;)

The Toy Story characters were there for the Christmas part.

IMG 0284 from Mindy on Vimeo.

We played musical chairs a little during the show for Miley and Dave.  My chair had better leg room so Dave needed it.  Whatever.  Miley couldn't see over some guys head, so she switched with me too.  So Miley and Dave got the best seats, and I held Jo.  Her seat was never used, which I expected, but she's over 2 and apparently required one.

The whole first half of the show Miley stared wide-eyed and sometimes with dropped jaw as well.  It was so awesome.

As we were hiking back up the stairs on our way out, Jovey kept waving to the stage.  I think she liked it.

chatterboxes

Some conversations that I can recall from this week. . .

Miley:  (during dinner) Mom, what if this piece of broccoli is a boy.
(eats it) and what if this piece of cauliflower is a girl?
Me:  ummmm what
Miley:  Well they could get married in my stomach.


Me:  Jovey please don't  _____________.
Jovey:  Ok Mom
Me:  Jovey will you please ____________.
Jovey:  OK Mom
Me:  Jovey are you listening to me?
Jovey:  OK Mom


Miley:  Mom, a long time ago were cowboys and cowgirls real, like in 2000 before many people were alive?
Me:  I was alive in 2000.  That's the year I got married.
Miley:  Huh.  Weird.  . . . So were there a lot of cowboys then?
Me:  Well, I did live in Idaho, so yeah, yeah there were.


As we are leaving the house, every time. . .
Jovey:  bye bye babies (waving and blowing kisses to her dolls in her room)

picnic with baby

This girlie loves playing with her baby dolls.  She set up a picnic, sat and gave the baby food and bottles and giggled and laughed, cause apparently her baby is so adorable like that.  Then she told me to be quiet cause her baby was sleeping.  The perfect afternoon picnic.

onset of amnesia

I made a list in my head of various things I could post to the blog.  I even thought maybe I should write such things down before I forget. . . and because I jinxed myself by thinking the word forget, I did.  It was a good list.  I remember thinking that at the time, but now have no idea what it contained.  Here instead I have some things I scraped together. . .

Jovey sang 'Let it go' the whole time we were shopping in Target the other day.  She has a very dramatic face when doing so and does not sing quietly.  The only words you can understand are. . . let it go, and anymore.  It was a fantastic performance.  You can catch it again any time she sits on the potty.  For girls who only saw the movie maybe three times, they sure can't get anything about that movie out of their heads.  Well done Disney marketing.

Miley handed me her coat one morning this week before school and asked for her hoodie instead.  She said that the coat is for 'winter use.'  And by coat, I mean jacket of course.  I have no idea what season we're in.

We had a cold spell there for a second.  Nilla likes to drink out of the waterfall.  The bottom of the waterfall.  She came in wet and freezing.  She started dejectedly drinking out of her inside dish then,. . . until she had an epiphany and I saw her up on top on the waterfall drinking.  Genius, she's so proud of herself.

I've heard such mixed reviews for the new Annie movie.  Adoption people say to be careful taking your kids to it because it is heavier than the original.  More serious, less funny.  It will prompt some emotional discussions possibly.  Some critic type people say it's one of the worst movies of the year.  Friends say that they thought it was "cute" and their kids loved it.  Difference of perspective I guess.  After visiting orphanages, I tend to have a harder time watching kids sing and dance like it's fun being there.  I wanted to see it, but I may end up skipping this one.

Speaking of movies, we saw Into the Woods.  It was interesting.  The music was fun and the first half of the story was entertaining.  The characters took a weird turn in the second half.  I can see what they were going for, but it seemed like their characters weren't realistic enough for the second half of the movie to make sense.  So I was just left confused and disappointed.

I'm trying to leave my phone, anywhere where I am not.  You know, for distance, less technology, blah blah blah.  Anyway, after succeeding at doing so for awhile I've realized I have more time on my hands. . . because I'm missing the texts asking for favors (my phone is always on vibrate).  Apparently no one thinks to call my home line when they need to me do something for them.  I may say no out loud and then that'd be awkward I guess.  ;)

I read fewer books this past year than previous years.  I blogged fewer posts as well.  What did I do instead, I wonder.  I think I made lots of stuff, but I must have given most of it away cause I don't have a lot to show for it.  I don't know.  Weird.

We're only in January and Miley has already ripped holes in the knees of all her jeans.  I swear we barely started wearing them here.  I asked her how she managed it and she told me that they play 'cats' at recess on the sidewalks.  Oh good, at least it was for something worthwhile.  ;)

I am on the third year of my 365/5 year journal.  I am wondering why I decided this would be a good thing.  ughhhhhhhh.  It's the middle year problem of not feeling new and exciting or ending and accomplished.  I may trudge my way through this one.  There is no light in the middle of the tunnel.

Would it be wrong of me to start Halloween costumes and Christmas cards in April?  I don't have much going on in April, but my end of the year is packed.  I'm trying to think of a downside before I put this plan into action.  What else can I get done out of sequence?

Miley's birthday is always hot, Jovey's birthday is always not.  Therefore to go outside for Miley's, means it has to be a swimming party, no exceptions.  Jovey loves to swim, but that doesn't really work in November.  My birthday is in the summer, which meant I never got to celebrate it in school, and most of my friends forgot about it every year.  Dave's is during spring break, so he can't complain about anything.  We're thinking we may just celebrate our birthdays at random this time around.

I was asked the question. . . would you change your name for $10,000?  After thinking about it for a minute I'd say I'd need a lot more money.  It would take too much to reprogram my brain into answering to something else.  I don't know what name to use instead either.  Yeah, too much work.  Who knew I was that attached to my name.

Miley had a head on collision after school.  She was running, another kid was running perpendicular, no line of sight due to a building and yeah it wasn't pretty.  I'm actually surprised this hasn't happened to her before now.  I bought her teacher more bandaids for Christmas.  Miley used them all I assume.  My poor baby.  Then I got an email today from Parents magazine about identifying symptoms of concussions.  What the freaky coincidence?  She's ok.  She could do her math homework just fine.  ;)  No really, she is ok after all the drama wore off.

I took Jo into the insta-care over the holiday break. . . and the receptionist asked me if we'd been out of the country in the past 21 days.  I don't remember ever being asked that before.  Anyone?  Is it in reference to Ebola?  That lady was annoying and unhelpful.  I wanted to say yes and then sneeze on her, but I didn't.  That's some amazing self control.  ;)

Jovey pulled out one of Miley's teeth.  Miley had a bag or something in her mouth and Jovey pulled on it.  Out popped a tooth, painless. . . and therefore Miley only wants Jovey to pull out her teeth from now on.  I'm not sure this is a great plan.

I didn't finish my 2014 scrapbook in 2014.  Yeah, it was a lofty goal anyway.  I did however, get further than March, which has been the most I've ever completed in a current year.  That's right the new record is June!  We celebrate most anything here.

I found a letter from my Grandma in my baby book recently.  It was awesome, and I cried.  Miley was, of course, very concerned.  I told her about the letter and she said that she can't wait to see Grandma Great in heaven again someday so that Grandma can show her all her flowers and cactus gardens.  She remembers things I tell her about my Grandma because she loves her like I do.  My heart is full.

Melkam Gena

Happy Ethiopian Christmas. . . yesterday.  From our Ethiopian Princess. . .

makeovers

So, I decided that Miley's room needed an update. . . or I just needed a really big project to fill up my January.  

We took the TV off the wall (outta here), moved the bookcase to the closet, and then took every decoration down.   Now there is a nice echo, and lots of filled in nail holes.  Ready for painting.  Now we have decisions to make.  I still don't know what color to paint.  Miley has her finger's crossed for pink.  I die a little when she says that and then have wicked flashbacks to my bright pink room.  Oh traumatizing.

I may not have the exact color yet, but I do have glitter to add to it.  Yep, shimmery walls.  That should help when she finds out I didn't buy pink paint.

In the meantime, I was tired of all her dress up clothes all over the floor, so I made her one of these. . .

I didn't take a picture of mine, but let's just pretend it looks exactly like that one.  It's been so nice having all the cute dresses hung up instead of dumped out of the tote.

I'm looking for the perfect little vanity/desk.  Dave is freaking out that her room is looking older.  Yeah, me too.

She needs more drawer space, but I don't want to add a dresser.  She has a trundle bed with drawers in it which I'm thinking of making into less of a trundle bed and more of the drawers.  Dave thinks I'll get annoyed with the project and just want to buy a new bed.  He thinks we should skip to that part already.  We'll see.

As for bedding, this is what I really wanted to get. . .

But apparently, it is not my room and maybe I shouldn't get to choose everything.  huh.  Miley thought about it and said we could buy that bedding.  That made me happy and so I decided to take her to the store to buy whatever bedding she wanted, because she's a sweetheart and she should have some pink.  She picked out this one.  

Miley is thrilled with the pinkness and the ruffles, and that she got to pick it out all by herself.  The sheets are giving me a tad bit of a headache though so we'll see if we keep them around.  I'll have to change her curtains since there is no longer any red in there.  That breaks my heart a little.  I do believe red should be in every room.  ;)

Now back to the paint color.  Oy.

And what to create for her walls???  

cute x 2

Jo doesn't like boots, so she wouldn't wear the cute pink boots to go with the outfit.  Also, she didn't like having the coat buttoned up, so we could only recreate the picture so much.  ;)