Summer Vacation

Clare's last day of school is today!
So here's my thought for the days/weeks/months of summer break ahead:

Cheers!

Pretty Pedi

Dear Clare,

Thank you for my unsolicited pedicure.  It was nice to be pampered, but I'm secretly thankful it's not flip-flop season.  

Love,
Mommy

Sounds Like a Plan to Me!

Happy Monday!

What I've Learned this Year:

1.  Never take an 11 month-old on a boat.  Even if you promise them that they will see dolphins.  Not  fun!

2. Don't pitch the Target $10 gift card promotion prescription coupons before they expire.  Your child will need a scrip filled within 24 hours.

3. Little boys really do stink.  Open the windows in their bedroom and air it out at every chance you get!

4. Oxiclean is a mother's best friend.

oxiclean.com

4. So is amazon.com.  This Santa will never shop the old way again!

5. Murphy's Law: When traveling with a 14 month old, flight delays and being stuck on the runway are inevitable.

6. All day kindergarten is a l-o-n-g day...for your kindergartener, too.  (It took me a good month to get used to it.)  

7. Don't wear suede boots to the mulch playground. 

8. Blogging is a lot of work, but can be very rewarding.  Thanks to those who have stopped by in 2011.  

Hoping to learn from my mistakes in 2012!  

Signs of the Season...

They are all going to love me this afternoon!

Flu Shots x3 - 3:40 PM

Cleaning out "Photo Booth"

The other day Ryan ran an update on our computer and later told me that we should probably weed out some of the 800+ photo booth pictures and 200+ photo booth videos.  So I went through and deleted a lot of 1 second videos, a lot of bad pictures, and a lot of random pictures taken at the Eiffel Tower, in fish bowls, on roller coasters, and at Yosemite.  (All backgrounds available on photo booth.)  

Here are some of my favorites that I came across...    

Grumpy x4

 She was so little!  

(And I'm thinking this will definitely be her kindergarten hair do.)

And he was so little!

First pic in the new house!

Attempting a dimple????

I love this picture.  There's just something warm and fuzzy about rollers and Christmas lights.

Everyone says "cheese!" 

Jude is ghostly white!

The Blessed Mother stopped by!

How can this not make you laugh??

Sometimes rain gear is necessary!  Even indoors.

I should really pluck my eyebrows.  And Clare should really not choke Jude.

A sleep smile for her first photo booth photo!

First picture as a family of 5!

Ellen rocks the polka-dots for Halloween.

Jude's "guitar" before Santa brought him a real one.  Yes, that is a light saber.  And yes, he has it twisted about 10 times in his shirt.

Sometimes I can be the fun parent.  But just sometimes. 

Latest Landlord Decorating Trend

This eye-pleasing trend is recommended for those with tenants that enjoy army crawling to the fireplace hearth, pulling themselves up into the fireplace, and touching the soot-covered inside of said fireplace.  Available at your local baby supply store. 

The Evolution of a "Mom Haircut."

Pre-children:

One child:

**Also one of the last ponytail sightings.

Getting Shorter:

One last hurrah before Baby #2 arrives:

2 Kids:

**Also less than 24 hours after delivering Baby #2, that's why I look so fantastic!

Even Shorter...

3 Kids:

Most recent cut:

Might have to resort to a buzz next...not sure if that would make me a "cool mom."