Ten on Tuesday...

1. I think this Tuesday blogging is reminding me just how fast life travels.  I feel like I was just writing this entry.   Seriously..please, life, slooowww down..

2. Ok..anybody see Oprah yesterday? O.M.G.  Balling your eyes out is never a good way to start your day, let alone your week.  I certainly gave my kids extra big hugs, kisses and it is a great reminder that if you have one another, you have it ALL.

p.s. One of the many times I told Rylan today that I loved him,  he turned to me and gave me a big wet kiss in response...  happy momma moment!

3. Me and my pumpkins have continued to partake in many fall activities...oh how I love autumn!  Some days the best thing to do is play in the leaves and roll down the hills, together.

4. 2010's first halloween party was last Friday....our mom's club parteee...MC had a great time, and Ry, well he was due for a siesta, so he wasn't up for much play.  Makenna Claire is the acclaimed Jessie from Toy Story 3 and Rylan is a cute, snuggly, adorable giraffe.  Pretty cute, eh?

5. After starting our Sunday morning with homemade pumpkin pancakes (thanks MC and Daddy!), we spent the beautiful day at Naperville's halloween happening party and everyone had so much fun.  We love spending time with our good friends and our oodles of kids enjoy it too!

Oh yea...and we made pumpkin risotto and pumpkin chocolate chip bars when we came home.  A perfect fall day!

6. Speaking of our friends...Jane, I'll see you tonite for coffee talk.  Can't wait!!

7. Now people...I know Rylan has a very angelic, sweet, cute baby face..those cheeks and all...and his beautiful locks of hair...but people, he is a boy and when you say she or her...and I nicely say he or him, get the hint..kay??  ok..i feel better.  :)

8. I am soo looking forward to this weekend.  I seriously never had THIS much fun as a kid, but now as a parent of small children, Halloween is sooo much fun!  The kids have parties on Thursday, Friday and Saturday... and trick or treating on Sunday....woot, woot!  We'll all need some candy to maintain that schedule, but it is so much fun!

9. Do you remember these 2 last year?  We do...and according to MC, Cassidy needs to get in the halloween spirit....so I still must find Cass a costume.  Maybe Bullseye??  hee,hee

10. Happy Halloween Everybody! Have a safe, fun holiday week. (After we get through these wind storms, right?)
 xo,K

hello 14 months!

You, Handsome, at 14 months are full of vitality, spunk and boy!

You enjoy playing with your locomotives (already!), and zoom your cars on the hardwood floors.


You love to wrestle with your sister and will often instigate it by running your head or your body into hers in a loving but very playful way, all the while smiling and laughing.


You stop what you are doing when you hear geese outside ('EESE!' you say enthusiastically..pointing to the sky) and also stop for a plane flying by (again, pointing to the sky).


You now only have one nap a day..somewhere after lunch and before dinner :).  In your crib, it's 30 minutes tops.  If you fall asleep in your car seat, and we are close to home, you'll sleep for a couple of hours in your carseat.  In the garage. Go figure. Hence, you are in bed usually by 7pm or so, and lately have been getting up about 5 am but easily fall back asleep with mommy and daddy until your sister enters our room around 7 am.


Oh yea..and the last week in a half you have been waking up several times during the night.  More teeth??


You have eight teeth, 4 on top and 4 on the bottom.


You LOVE books..you can often be seen surrounded by them as you take a few off the shelves to flip through them.

You have added a few more words.. "da,da", "eat", "eese!!!", "ooouut" (out...help getting a toy out or to get out of a chair) and I have even heard "good girl" a few times when you were addressing the "ga's" (dogs).


You love the iphone and ipad..in fact you and sister "fight" over it all the time.


You love music and completely become energized by it...turning your cute self in circles and giggling in delight.


You are passionate about ga's  (dogs).  You adore Cassidy, Riley and Zoe and when we are at the park or on a walk, and one is spotted...watch out puppy because you make a quick turn to give them some love.


You love to give spontaneous hugs by running into our laps with open arms and give the most precious kisses.  Blowing kisses is also your expertise.


You dislike socks, and dislike shoes even more.


You refuse to be fed..I thought you didn't like yogurt but I discovered it's not that you don't like it, it's that you want to feed yourself, and not be spoon fed it.  You prefer to use spoons now, rather than your fingers.

You give me the "cheesiest" grin when you see I am taking your picture..ha!  It is funny and cute...just like you..happy 14 kiddo!

Ten on Tuesday...

warning...this will be a picture intensive entry...and full of snapshots..
ok, you have been forewarned.

This week's entry...the season of fall brings the Case's to many places.  Where, you are asking?
Ahh...glad you asked!  :D  You can find us at the....

1. Pumpkin farm

2. Northwestern football games..

3. Morton Arboretum

4. Fire station

5. Danada Horse Farm

not really sure what to think of this???

8. Kitchen making these yummy pumpkin muffins

9.   Apple picking

10. And just being super cute..no matter where we are or what we are doing!  Fall...how we heart you!

Ahhh....life..

I am taking on a new mantra, a new lifestyle, a new way of living.  Well, not really all new, but perhaps a more conscious way of living.  Trying to live in the moments, rather than look too far ahead.  Trying to not always have running To Do lists in my head and on all the papers around me, cluttering my thoughts and my being.  Trying to be, really BE, with my kids and when M asks me to play with her, or R hands me a book to read, that is what I do, rather than say mommy needs to finish this first.  Trying not to stress myself out by silly things, or rate my day on it's productivity. Trying to live simply and enjoy more of the everyday moments, that in reality, I just absolutely LOVE and really is what makes me the most happy.

So in doing this, I neglected this blog yesterday because after a full day with my kids, and a night meeting with some girls from the mom's club followed by a quick grocery run, I was done, and my pillow was calling my name.  But, that was OK.  I listened and called it a day. Ahh..


But here are a few tidbits from our life, not necessarily 10, but nonetheless, a little piece of us, right now, in the moment, today...


After a weekend of relaxation, I have become the domestic goddess. chuckling, you are?  me too.. I can tell you that Scott didn't marry me for my cooking skills or my nack of having dinner ready upon his arrival.  Ha..most days, it goes like this...


s "what do you want to do for dinner"
k "gosh, i don't know..it's 8 hours from now, how am I supposed to know!"  (but at 5 o'clock, I still don't know)


I knew I was in trouble when MC would ask me about dinner, and then she would say, "let's meet Daddy at the Patio Restaurant or at sweet tomatoes!."  


uh oh...time to change things..


So, I am working on it and I am three for three this week! 

monday..whole wheat pizza with Scott's homemade pesto, sauteed red onions, chicken and fresh red peppers, alongside a delicious salad


tuesday..Turkey mac with baked apple dessert


wednesday..Veggie Chili with corn bread & baked potato soup with beer bread


On a roll and in a routine.  {We'll see how long this lasts!}  But you know what, I love it and I am really enjoying the stressless, yummy dinners!  I have figured out the dinner menu by lunch time and it just works (shh..please don't tell Scott I said this!)  That way, there is no angst around dinner and it is easy. And in full disclosure, we have been spoiled this week with having Scott home early enough so we can all eat dinner together..so, so very nice. Ahhh..  


Scott came home at three o'clock today and quickly retired to his office for a couple of hours to work, but I was still in my pj's. (so now what does that do to my domestic goddess status??) I do get bonus points because the kids were bathed, and dressed and looked so, so cute!  And the dinner was cooking as the laundry was spinning..so it wasn't all that bad..


A must needed shower happened at approx 330 pm.  


Now if only I can only find time to do my hair. 
Nope, pony's are in. Right?

Did you know that I can't ever seem to get all of our laundry done, folded, and put away in a single day?  Nope, it usually occurs over at least a 2 day span. Ha..now, what does THAT do?  :D

In fact, I need to go flip loads now.

After the much needed shower, I forgot about the laundry and we went out to play..after a nice walk and chats with our neighbors, we played in the back yard...swinging, jumping, laughing, chasing, sliding..and had so much fun.  At 5:30 Ry told us it was dinner time (he is a clock!), and we retired indoors to have dinner. which. was. already. prepared.

Ahh..now that's life!  xo, K

Ten on Tuesday...

Ten things I am so grateful for right now (written quickly, and without much lingered thought..)

1. Spending the days with my two children who keep me young, smiling, focused on the now, and so full of joy, hope and love. Love you 2 more than words can say.

2. The good health of my family and my loved ones (and me).  This should be  #1, since without this, nothing else matters.

3. The unbounding love of my husband who encourages me to spread my wings and dip my toes in all my wishes and whom I know will always be there for me.

4. The love, support and friendship from my mom who will always be my #1 fan. xo

5. Photography..it allows me to enjoy the moments of life longer, capturing the person on paper & preserving time because we all know how quickly it passes by.

6. Scrapbooking..for the reasons above and it provides me that creative outlet that makes me giggle.

7. This simple life..the daily routines..all with the ability to be spontaneous and spend the afternoon playing at the park.  (thanks jane!)

8. The smell and freshness of my clean children at the end of a good day.  And tucking them in bed with their lovey's, wilson and the paci,  knowing that they had a great, fun filled day.  ahhhh..

9. Scott's pumpkin spice lattes.  yum!  Pumpkin muffins, pumpkin scones, pumpkin candles, pumpkin bread, pumpkin smoothies...anything pumpkin.  It is Fall..

10. And a  restful night of sleep...signing off...night, night!  xo, K