Ten on Tuesday

If I were to tweet, which I don't this is what I would be saying..

1. My days are filled with vacuuming the dirt that is continually (no joke) being emptied from my plants and replacing the register that is continually being taken off my floors.

2. I am becoming desperate and psychotic and my plants are losing all their dirt despite having multiple chairs around them for protection.   So I am wrapping my pots with saran wrap to prevent little hands access.

3. Shoot, that didn't work either.  Suggestions? I am seriously going insane.

4. My children are so sweet when they are playing together.  Awww..love it.

5. My children are not so sweet when they are tormenting one another.  Not loving it.

6. How much do we need that skim milk...or can we just make it on the whole milk that we have?

7. "this is my only life.  you are hurting my feelings. and here I am sitting in time out, being bored. RYlan..come here. fa la la la..."  {sing song words heard from mc while she is sitting in yes, time out.}

8. I think I am losing part of my hearing each and every day.  I don't think MC has an inside voice anymore.

9. Am I a bad parent for having two "pajama days" in a row?  Must. go. out. and. see. the. world. tomorrow.

10. And despite these frustrating moments, that are all expected and part of this parenting thing, life is pretty darn  great.    And here's a preview of the Christmas pictures to come.  Our sweet little family, in a moment of contentness on Christmas morning.  LOvE them so.

on that note, good night.  K xoxo

Ten on Tuesday

1. Hello again..life continues to throw us a few curve balls here in the Case household.  Amongst the many good days, three out of four of us have succumbed to the 2010 Gastro nightmare FLU.  Enough, enough, enough..first MC last Tuesday, then I on Sunday (second time inside a month..really??) and now Scott. I don't ever remember a year like this one.  Can we please be done already?

2. And since I didn't get a chance to post this last week, here it is now.  My sweet lil boy and his first year.

3. Speaking of that sweet little boy, he got his first haircut this weekend.  Bye bye curls and locks of love... hello big boy hair.  He looks like such a big boy now!

4. Our bellies and tupperware containers are now filled with Christmas sweetness due to our cookie bake 2010.  So much fun, so much so that I didn't take many pictures. Ooops..I hate that, I really do.  But here's a few.

5. "I just don't love this.," MC saids when she doesn't like something.  :) cute..

6.  I am working on a few homemade gifts..very few this year since time has been limited but I did finish a few for the kids...a blanket for Rylan and a princess scrap album for M (well,that one is still in the works..might be a birthday present! ;-)

7.  Speaking of birthday presents, we overbought Christmas for M (which is so easy btw) so her gift is already in our home.  Talk about being on top of things.  HA!

8.  We are going to try and do take 2 of Santa this weekend. We actually had an appointment with the jolly man on Sunday, before the flu took over our house again.  So let's hope for a healthy family with another chance to sit on Santa's lap.

9.  We watched Polar Express this afternoon.  I have never seen it before, and M was pretty scared through most of it.  And quite honestly, it wasn't really what I was expecting either.   Maybe I should look into another version, or maybe just stick with the favorites this year of Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.  I think the latter.

10.  Need to do cards.  Need to do picture for cards.  Need to do cards.  Need to do picture for cards. Need to do cards.  Need to do picture for cards. Need to do cards.  Need to do picture for cards. Need to do cards.  Need to do picture for cards. Need to do cards.  Need to do picture for cards.....maybe tomorrow.

Here is an outtake! (makes me smile)

Night. K xoxo

Ten on Tuesday

1. Christmas is in the air in the Case home.  Decorations are up, gingerbread houses are made,  numerous light strands creating beautiful ambient lighting are displayed & seasonal music and videos are playing.  Packages are being wrapped (and hidden!), and all is jolly.  Now, with the addition of freshly baked cookies(hello Saturday)..all will be perfectly well.

2.  A visit to Santa Clause was a partial success.  Makenna Claire loved it (Rylan held onto me with a death grip) and she told Santa all the things she likes (princesses),  as well as what Rylan would like (elmo).  Even though the picture was  a little less than to be desired, it was a magical moment for Makenna.

3. The elf is a frequent visitor in our home and as opposed to last year where MC wasn't into it, she now wakes up in the morning and hunts for him.  We are still searching for the right name for him,  but the magic is of this little spy is definitely in our home.  She is also really enjoying the advent calendar. To be a kid again...

4. I still need to work on those Christmas cards.  Better yet, I still need to get that picture for that so named Christmas card.  Oops!  Seeing that we have yet to receive the bulk of our friends and family's cards, I know that I am not alone.  :)

5. Rylan is really good at taking a nap, but for the last two months or so has done so in an odd fashion.  You see, despite my best efforts to convince him to snooze in his bed, all snuggled up in his warm blanket surrounded by the things he loves, he insists on sleeping in his car seat. In the car.  In the garage. So...now when gets tired, he grabs his coat, paci and shoes and heads to the garage door.  NO JOKE and not at all an exaggeration. Once buckled in the car, wrapped in blankets and now a winter hat, a trip around the block is his lullaby and he naps in the comfort of his own garage.  Silly silly kid.

6.  Good thing I started to work on this post yesterday because within the half hour of MC going to bed last night, she woke up with evidence of the stomach flu.  :(((  I thought our kids just might escape this evil bug, but not so!  So after a long night and now a day of cuddles, movies and more snuggles, ( and a few broken ornaments from the tree by bored Rylan), we are hoping she is on the mends and tomorrow will be much better.

 7.  And hoping the bullseye won't point to others in our home.

 8.  And hoping this momma might be rejuvinated after a decent nights sleep.  So tired right now...:(

 9.  Is that too much to hope for?  lets hope not.

10.  I might, I just might, have a few more scrapbook pages to share tomorrow. or Thursday.  A few are in the works.   ;)  See you then.

xo, K

Hello MONDAY..

and Hello scrapbook pages.
Oh how I admire you and how I love you!
So before our kiddos pass "this stage", here is what they are doing right now at 3 3/4 years old and 15 months.  And in two weeks our lil guy will be 16 months, already.

Be back tomorrow with TOT.  xo, K 

Ten on Tuesday

1.  Hello Tuesday..you are here again, already??  And it's the last day of November.  Seriously??  Wow.  Before you know it, we will be welcoming in 2011.  But. I. Can. Certainly. Wait.

2. After a wonderful Thanksgiving day and eating lots of yummy food and spending time with those we love and enjoying, laughing, sharing with others, at this time we are most thankful that Mom did supendedly with her knee replacement surgery and is recovering well in our home.  You go MOM....you rock!

3. Here is a layout of Tday 09...wow have things changed, in a few ways.

4. And now it's ok for the season to turn to winter, and we are looking forward to decorating the house in Christmas cheer.  I have a feeling that this is going to be one awesome holiday with the kids this year seeing that MC is all about writing a letter to Santa, wants to help me make and wrap gifts and is in awe of all the decorations that surround our neighbors homes.  And Rylan, he is loving all the lights and trees and points and grunts in excitement at each one we pass on foot or in the car.  So, very much fun!

5. I so need to do the kids layouts for 15months and 3 3/4 years...they are coming...soon!

6. On that note, do you think I can buy some free time.  Amazon, maybe??  Now that would be a nice gift! ;)

7. We are almost done with our shopping.  Well, not really,  but we know what we are getting everyone.  Doesn't that count??  :)

8.  These days Rylan and Makenna play together so nicely. At times, anyways (until MC decides she needs to demonstrate her alpha status).  Rylan worships the ground M walks on and does a lot of things his big sister does.  Like play hide and seek.  Like sit in "her chair", in "her spot", while watching a tv show (until M removes him).  Like clear his dishes after he is done eating.  Like so many things.  It's really too cute...

9.  I am saving my pennies for this new baby .  Time to upgrade as I think my skills are being limited by my sweet, and well used current camera .

10. I am looking forward to a no plans weekend and a traditional cookie bake weekend to come. I can't wait to take the kids to see Santa.  I would bet that MC will do fine and it will be Rylan's year to cry.  I am looking forward to crafting a few homemade gifts.  I anticipate the brightness of the Christmas lights in our home, especially in the evenings when that is all that lights up the room.   Basically, I am looking forward to this holiday season, and although I can't believe it is here, I fully embrace it's prescence.  Hello Christmas time....  xo, K

Ten on Tuesday..thankful edition

On this week of Thanksgiving, I thought I would honor the holiday with my gratitude for life.
There are so many things I am thankful for, from the mundane things that make life so great to the good fortune of great health and happiness.  Really, so many things..and here are just a few.

1. Of course mandating the top of the list is my beautiful family.  Without them, my life would not be the same nor as fulfilling, rewarding or exciting.  Scott, always making our family the priority, governing that with every decision he makes...really what better can one do as a father and husband.  Makenna Claire for making me a Mommy of the little girl I have always dreamed of mothering and little Rylan, balancing our family with all that little boy spunk, with equal amount of hugs, kisses and sheer delight.  I love each and every one of you with all my being and can't imagine my life without you!  Ever since I was a little girl I have fantasized what life would be like happily married, with my own little kids...and this life, right now, is more amazing than my dreams.  thank you!  xo

2. And I wouldn't be the person I am without my own Mommy.  Having two children of my own, with a very supportive partner, life can still be a struggle at times.  And to think my mom raised her children all on her own, without anyone to turn to for help with those middle of the night wake up calls or having someone to care for us when she just needed a break...is very awe inspiring to me.  I'm not sure I could of or can fulfill those mommy shoes as well as she did.  Thank you, mom, for raising me with such love, guidance and patience.  love you!

3. I am so thankful for the opportunity to spend every day with Makenna Claire and Rylan.  Raising the two of them and being their primary caretaker certainly comes with it's own battles, but more than anything, I feel like it is an honor .  They are both wonderful, beautiful children with such strong willingness to embrace life that I hope I am strong enough to guide them into the direction of their dreams, wherever that may take them. There is never a day that goes by that I am not thankful to be sharing my everyday with them.

4. I am very grateful that my kids have grandparents, a great grandma, aunts and a uncle that share in their lives.  MC and R love spending time with them and cherish each one of them individually.

5. So thankful for our loving, comforting home.  A place where we all come to retreat from the motions of life.  I am grateful that our home is just that..a home that is filled with love, positive energy and joy.

6. I am grateful for great friends.  I have never been one to need googles of friends, but rather have a few close ones that enrich my life in ways that they can only do.  They make the rough times better and the good times that much sweeter.

 7. Personally I am thankful for my two great hobbies which document this glorious life...photography and scrapbooking.  Photos allow time to stand still....allow us to relive moments that have gone by too quickly and remember all the great times, including those with the loved ones whom we have lost.  They serve as a great reminder that life isn't just about the big things, but more importantly about all the little things that make us who we are. (thanks project 365)

8.  Scrapbooking allows me to work with my treasured pictures and write the stories, documenting the memories.  I treasure each and every page and gain such great satisfaction with my work.  My heart swells to work with these pictures and preserve the stories.  Like this one..it brings me right back to those first days with Rylan.

9. I am grateful for my busy, loud, sometimes crazy, and always full of life and loads of energy days and my quiet, serene evenings and nights.

10. And so very thankful for what the future holds.  Just when I think life is good..life gets better and i wonder  how is that is even possible.?  However, I try to not question it and just enjoy the everyday and remember my fortune.  Happy Thanksgiving one and all.  I hope you share the holiday with your loved ones and that you have just as much to be thankful for.  Have a happy and safe holiday. xo,K

Ten on Tuesday...a day late!

1.  Ahh..I am having one of those weeks, months, where time is swiftly passing by, things are happening and regular everyday life, although still very much present, is a little different.  Yes, life has been a bit crazy but not really that upside down, but enough to disrupt any time I have for blogging.  ;(

2. After being struck with the monster flu on Monday, and yesterday still not a very good day, but at least I was able to care for my family, today I feel myself!  YEA for good health!  A great reminder that if you have good health, you have everything, because without it, life is just plain miserable.

3. And not only do I feel great today, Scott received the best news...no surgery for now!!  We couldn't be happier!!!  He will stay in the soft boot cast, only excercising his upper body and hopefully, the situation will resolve itself.  This news made our day!

4. Our baby is about to be 15 months old and MC, 3 3/4 years old. Later this week watch for follow up entries to find out what these two growing kids have been up to...

5.  Although Scott's actual birthday was a little poopy (no pun intended ;o), we did have a great time celebrating his birthday with our families on Saturday night.  A night of appetizer buffet and the game Catch Phrase turned out to be a hoot of a night.  Lots of laughs, and having fun with the english language and with words that make you giggle.  Love game nights and birthdays!! Happy Birthday Babe!

6. Scott and I are plugging away at our commitment to loose those inches despite all the festivities and the holidays.  In just two weeks, I am a third of the way to my goal and determined to stay on track.  Today I slipped on a pair of (very) old jeans and they fit perfectly.  Happy dance..

Getting There!

7. We are quickly approaching Thanksgiving next week and look forward to sharing the day with our family and friends who are family.  When I ask MC what she is most thankful for, she names all of the members of our family, individually.  I love that.

8. How about a little scrappy goodness.  A layout from one of Scott's athletic events this past spring..

9.  Saw this sign in a store window a while back.  Yep, I agree..they are a piece of heaven and I can easily eat the whole bag.  Easily.  But I guess that wouldn't get me to my goal, now would it??  :)

10. By far not the best photo, but this picture makes me smile, laugh, and grin all at the same time.  Life with these two is full of moments like this..and it makes this momma very complete.  

Bonus 11.  Scott and I have booked our anniversary trip to Portland in January.  So looking forward to spending a long weekend together!  This will be the first time we will be a flight away from our babies, but we know they will be well taken care of, for sure.  

Bye for now...K