Check out these CUTE cards!

oh this one made me laugh!
(especially because K was out helping move today)

Click HERE

I TOTALLY want the Cheerios card!!

(and I think that Seriously, So Blessed - should put these on her blog!)

Little Fish Little Fish

Have you heard about this??
Maybe I am the last to know but this is (are you ready for this) this is fishy...
(you know I just HAD to say that!)

How fun is this!!

A couple of weeks ago I came across this fun site on a blog I stalk...and my friend Sarah just reminded me about it. Here are some of our fun photos I made into coloring sheets.

to do you own click here.

A girl after my own heart!

She may look a lot like her daddy, but she is all me. ; )
Miss M just called me from the other room.
"Um MOOOMMMMYYY, Miss A is eating your chocolate!!"
And sure enough I walked in to find the CUTEST chocolate face ever... and it wasn't just ANY chocolate - it was DARK chocolate. The kind I know K and Miss M will leave alone...

Going On Down to the Library!

We L-O-V-E the library! And it is a place you can find us at least once a week - no joke.

Miss M has been enjoying the All by myself class. This is her second session. Miss Laura is such a wonderful Librarian ! It even makes me want to have An All by myself class in my own home - (would you come to it if I had one?)
hmmm, maybe when I grow up I should be a librarian! ; )

Each week, Miss Laura has a different theme for her class. She has books, crafts and songs
to go along with her theme. (Exactly the kind of thing I would LOVE to do in my home)
I Love that Miss M gets more time away from me and gets to meet more kids
outside our "comfort zone" - church friends, and same for me, I meet more moms
this way.
And just to give an example of how WONDERFUL Miss Laura is, she had a whole themed class
JUST for Miss M. M had been talking about crocodiles and doing a crocodile craft since our last session. On our third class we walked into the room and it was Crocs and Gators a go-go!
Miss Laura winked at me and said "Miss M, this class is just for YOU today!"
SO SO SUPER SWEET!

1. Miss M and Miss Laura
2. Books And crafts
3. Miss M's Ant
4. Miss M's Gator (on the bottom is a clothes pin for the gators mouth)

and while Miss M is in her class - this is what Miss A is up to.
There is a GREAT tot room for the littles to hang out in.

click here to go to our library website

One fish, Two fish, Red fish...

Blue Fish!!

Miss M has been wanting a pet - (and I think that the only pet we can manage is a fish.)
Saturday she and K hit some rummage sales and SCORED a fish bowl for 25 cents!! I had some cute marbles so all we needed was the fish. We took a trip to Petsmart and Miss M looked over several fine looking fish before deciding on the perfect one for the name Oscar.
(she had already picked the name out)
Oscar loves his new home in the girls bedroom. And happily swims around his bowl and hangs out with his "turtle" or should I say he likes to hide in it.
Miss M just loves her new little fish and even includes him in her prayers. And as far as fish/pets go, he is pretty low maintenance! Sa-weet!

The Book Thief - by Markus Zusak

I Just finished reading The Book Thief (and yes it took me more than one night to read it).

I really enjoyed this book. I loved who the author had telling the tale of Liesel Meminger.
The booked flowed nicely and I got sucked into the life of Liesel and those around her.
And since I have never down well with writing book reports - Click here to read the review from the New York Times.
I recommend this book - however it is sad, and I did have tears on the brink of running down my cheeks a few times.

More 4th of July FUN!

Here are pictures from the Parade/Goodbye Horstmann/BBQ

1. and 2. Khania made a picture collage of our memories of the Horstmann's
these 2 pics are Rachael and Matt reading it.
3. Khania's YUMMY YUMMY strawberry shortcake - I know she makes
it JUST FOR ME!!!
4. Watching the parade in front of the Lund's.

1. Miss M
2. Christopher
3. Miss Katelyn (Miss A's BFF!)
4. The kids watching the parade
5. Getting some of the treats/fans/beads/popcorn they hand out
6. A Rockin' Christian Band
7. Miss A wanting to get out of the stroller
8. Miss M waving her flags
9. Baseball float

1. The boys watching the baseball float
2. I Love this picture of K and Evelyn
3. MATER!*
4. GO OLYMPICS Chicago 2016!!
5. Red - the fire truck*
6. Khania and Gold Elvis
7. K and Miss M with Tippin' Tractor*
8. Weird guys dressed in bright orange bra's - how could I NOT take a picture!
9. The BIG Marching band (that had NO flutes!?!)

(*we took pictures of all the cars that looked like characters from the movie CARS)

This makes me laugh EVERY Time!

Especially the Chicken dance - because every wedding reception I have been to in Wisconsin does the chicken dance!

Are you Keeping up??

I know - more posts. But I FINALLY feel like posting and I have lots to catch up on : )
Remember how this summer with the girls I watch we were doing different themes before they left for Alaska? - I'll put links on the bottom so you can go back and review if you would like...

SO our LAST week was ART week. We went to the library the first day - Miss M had her All by my self class so the girls and I checked out books for them to read then went to lunch (not so artsy) . Day two we did manicures/pedicures ( that's artsy right?!) and then our last class I brought over canvasses and we painted the morning away. Even their older sister joined in. I wish I would have had more canvasses - it was fun!


1. Miss M's water color with hand prints
2. Hannah's sun set picture
3. Lauren's painting
4. My painting
5. Mine again
6. Natalie's hand print
7. Natalie's painting
8. More of Miss M's
9. Miss M's American hand print (she wanted it red, white and blue)



*Cooking week
Class one
Class two
Class three

*Photo Week
click Here

All Aboard Diner

Finally we were able to get together with my sister and her
family to celebrate Miss M's birthday.
(what's that you ask Wasn't Miss M's birthday in May? Why yes it was - but we were on vacation then my sister had a baby so yes, we just got around to doing it but who doesn't want to keep the celebration going!?!)

We went out to this GREAT Diner - All Aboard Diner in Downers Grove. The food was SO good. (I really recommend going in fact I could go for the BLT right now!)
They deliver your food to you on a train with blowing train whistle and everything. The wait staff are dressed like conductors and there are game machines to play while you wait.
It was a huge hit.
(Plus I got to have adult sister conversation as my sister and I sat at a table with the babies and my brother-in-law sat at the counter with the big girls!!).
After we had our lunch - the train came back out while over the speakers a FUN birthday song was played and the whole restaurant sang to Miss M. I think my niece thought it was for her too. It was fun to watch Ella and Miss M get so excited and then enjoy ice cream. They also brought a little cup out for Miss A. SHE LOVES ICE CREAM!

Thanks Lyn and Jeff for a great (MUCH NEEDED!) afternoon out!

Dinner With Friends - caught in the rain

My friend Sarah and I have been visiting teacher* companions for 5 years now
(is that right Sarah?)
In that five years (or so) we have had many sisters that we visit taught. Some having new babies, some moving, some with illnesses, some with no problems or needs, and most recently we have a sister that is battling breast cancer. Last week was her first treatment of chemotherapy. Sarah had the great idea to bring her dinner. It was nice to sit and visit and just be there for our friend, eat, chat, (and melt in the heat - it was SO hot!
Gotta love the hot humid weather.)
After we left we stayed outside where it had cooled 10 degrees (rain storm coming in**) and our kids played for a little while. We captured some cute pictures of them.

*“The purposes of visiting teaching are to build caring relationships with each sister and to offer support, comfort, and friendship.” To accomplish those purposes, visiting teachers should:

• 1. Visit each assigned sister regularly (where feasible, in her home every month).

• 2. “Learn of the spiritual and temporal needs of the sister and her family.”

• 3. “Offer appropriate assistance.”

• 4. “Give spiritual instruction through a monthly message

~Silvia H. Allred, “Feed My Sheep,”

** while we were outside I Said "Oh rain must be coming" even though none was for casted. We were dog-sitting at the time. When we got home I had the great idea to take my kids for a walk. Miss A in the jogger, Miss M on a bike and Maggie on a leash. We headed out - a half an hour in it began to POUR! Lighting and thunder. SO I put Miss M in the jogger with Miss A - bike on top . It is not easy to run with a dog, bike on top of a stroller and in wet flip flops. But it was SO fun! And I think Miss A was about the only one that had a dry spot...

July 3 adventures

Wilmette has their fireworks on the 3rd of July. It's kind of nice that way - you get more 4th of July celebrations in!
We went over to our friends house for a little bbq then walked to the beach and enjoyed the fireworks (I STILL have sand in my stroller)

Here are some pictures that I took (when I finally found my camera...)

Happy 9 Months!

Our "Slippery" is 9 MONTHS OLD!! That means in THREE months she will be
ONE YEAR OLD!
Where is this year going!?!?

• Slip-Slip as we affectionately call her, is a very busy baby indeed.

• She loves to climb, walk with your help or around furniture, crawling is a breeze. And food, anything you put in front of her she will eat! (and that is with NO teeth.) - my friend told me she would do great at a smorgasbord and I have to agree.

• She is also super at drinking from a sippy cup and really enjoys it, not having to wait for you to give her a drink. (She can be impatient at times, but I think that has to do with her not being a crabby baby, she waits until she is beyond hungry to tell you she is and then it is all demands until that first sip or first bite)
  

• She loves anything her sister does - well almost anything. Miss M does hurt Slip-Slips feelings sometimes and she does let you know!

• She will cry when I leave a room, but is quick to smile when I peak back around the corner.

• She loves to be-bop to music and loves it when you sing. I think that is why she enjoys visiting primary and nursery - for the fun songs the kids sing.
  

• She enjoys playing by herself or with friends especially Miss Katelyn. They are SO cute playing together.
  

• She loves to be read to and loves to look at board books. (and rip apart magazines)
  

• Her vocabulary is expanding. She has many more sounds she makes. Dada, up, Ma mee - but don't be confused, that is not Mommy she is saying, it is Marlee. She will make the Mama sound when she is crying, and that is ok with me - I just know she wants me ; )

Here are some fun shots of Miss A
9 to mark her 9 months : )

1. Climbing on Natalie's chair
2. Having fun in her jeep walker
3. Super shopper - she just loved that grocery cart!
4. 4th of July Parade
5. Sound Asleep - this was her actual 9 month picture
6. Loves the pool
7. Taste of Chicago
8. A picnic
9. Hiding in Daddy's carry on bag

And here is a look back at Miss A all 9 months...

1. hospital picture
2. one month
3. December 2 months (my sisters called these her Toby pajama's - from the movie Labyrinth
4. just a cute smiling picture -
5. Jan. 3 months
6. Feb. 4 months
7. 6 month (when I tried my hand at a "professional" picture)
8. Temple Square - 7 months
9. 8 months old

We Heart the Horstmann's!

In the ward that we attend we have a lot of families that move in and out. The families are here for two - five years for school and we are lucky enough to get to know them and to be good friends with them. Recently we had to say "Aloha" to one of the families the Horstmanns.

They are such great friends and we will really miss them - we already do!! I can't wait to get together with them again for a visit in their new home!

P.S. I hope you have a FUN visit with Khania this weekend!!!

Plum Kisses

This is my sister Sarah getting some wet slobbery lovin' from Baby A - I know it doesn't look like Sarah is too thrilled, but she really did love every second of that slobbery kiss!
And Miss A doesn't bestow that kiss to just anyone... ; )

*and the peaches, plums, alfalfa comment is from a young women lesson I had
when I was in YW you know only Peach kisses...guess baby A has a little to learn

Miss M Reading (May 2008)

Again - another video I am finally downloading. Miss M has always had a love of books and I guess we should not have been amazed that she started reading when she was still three. (not that I am bragging but - ok maybe a little IN A GOOD WAY!) Here is just a very brief clip of her reading a book to Daddy - it was the first time she read this book...

Crawling (June 1, 2008)

I know most of you know that Miss A has been crawling for a couple of months - but we happened to actually catch her first attempts on video and I have FINALLY down loaded the video.
Mostly I am putting this on for Grandma's and Aunties
(Please ignore the few octave higher tone in my voice - it happens when I talk to "littles"
I have no idea why this happens, but I do know I am not the only one... ; )

Can you believe...

I actually went on a date tonight!?!?!

Yup, we finally went out.
Since we have had Miss A - K and I have been out twice! that's twice in 9 months YIKES!
(about time we went out right!?!?!)
We had a double date with some new friends - nothing better than hanging out with friends, dinner and a movie!
And our girls had a pretty great night too -
(my friend watched the girls and I hear that they went to the park, had mac n cheese, chocolate cake AND a movie!)

Mamma Mia!

Tonight I had a girls night out and we saw Mamma Mia! It was just great! I LOVE ABBA, and I wanted to sing along and dance with the movie. My friend and I LOVED Pierce Bronsan singing. We just laughed every time he sang. I also thought Meryl Streep did a great job.
On our way out of the movie we thought wouldn't it be great if we could burst into song in our own life - had our own great soundtrack. Oh life would be so fun filled with music.

Pirate Bookaneer

This ones for you mostess mommy!

Happy, Happy

Turn up your volume and DANCE with your kids!

or you can just DANCE with yourself : )

(we were watching Sesame Street yesterday and Miss A and Miss M 

LOVED this song!!)

FUN Idea!

click HERE to go to the Family Fun web site

(for instructions on how to make it)

Taking a little Me time

I haven't been taking a whole lot of me time so I decided to pick up a book or two and read them. It's the easiest thing I can do - for now. (maybe I will share more on that later).

So, while I am house sitting I raided their bookshelves and found some easy reads (perfect for what I need right now - nothing to heavy and just a fast read)


First book - Sisterhood of the Traveling pants - Forever Blue
click here and scroll down for a brief description
I don't know, maybe I wasn't in the right mood for this book, but
I didn't love it. I found that some of the characters were very insecure
and I just wanted them to get over it...again maybe my mood
I guess I would give it a B-






Second book - Fablehaven - book one
and if you click HERE - I thought this blog wrote a good explanation of the book.
I love this book, couldn't put it down. I totally got sucked in! And maybe this is what my mood needed more of - to just get lost in a book!
I thought the ending was a little to quick especially for everything leading up to it.
But I can't wait to read more in this series!
I would give it an A



do you have any good easy book suggestions?

Word Up!

Yesterday I was talking with Miss M and I used the word cumbersome. Miss M said. "I know what cumbersome means Mommy, it means Heavy."

I was so excited, YES, Miss M is listening my words and remembering what I tell her they mean... and well I just had to hear it myself that she learned it from me so I HAD to ask
"Miss M, where did you learn that word?"

"oh, from Word Girl! - Mom!" (like how come you don't know?!?)

Oh, well, at least she is learning while she watches TV and plays pbskids.org!

thank you WORD GIRL!

The Kamae Brothers

K's brother came to town for a FUN visit! They played and played and then played some more. And I don't mean just any kind of playing, they played music, as in gigs. Twice at the Tiki Terrace

and once at the Grand Opening of a new restaurant in Evanston. The Big Ka Hoo Na a Hawaiian BBQ plate lunch.
I think both brothers wish they lived closer so they could play together more often...

Hair (it's on my "if only" wish list...)

I so wish someone could do my hair EVERY day for me! Heck - even Once a week!
(my friend posted this on her blog - which made me think
about how nice it would be to have someone do your hair...)

by the way - this is me - my hair-do for my sisters wedding... looks all professional huh?

and there it is after the wedding with a flower...

and there it is - after all the bobby pins were taken out... so curly!

Post Worthy

I think these two pictures that K took deserved their very own post - the lighting was just right, and the blue sky was just beautiful!

Maybe if I did Wordless Wednesday's like other blogs I would have posted these...

Buckingham Fountain

Miss M - up up and away!

So good you can TASTE it!

This is the ONE Chicago thing that I will do every year! And usually we have family visiting us - so it's a great way to show off Chicago as well.
I love the taste of Chicago - it's like a big ol' block party!
We ate and ate and ate some more. The day we went was WAY too busy!! (I would recommend going during the week, not on opening weekend!) Stevie Wonder was playing the evening we went so I think it made it that much more crowded! There was one point where Miss A and I were trapped between a wall of people - couldn't move.
K and his Brother tried lots of things. I stayed with my favorites. Miss M enjoyed a HUGE piece of watermelon and our new favorite that we tried this year was the Italian Ice - watermelon and lemon flavors SO SO good!!! I could go for some right now.

If you want to visit Chicago - come during the summer!
You can TASTE the difference... hee-hee ;)

Happy 4th of July!

I am thankful for the freedoms I enjoy
Thank you to all the Men and Women who have served this country past, present and future.
May God continue to Bless America

Photo Week

Here are some of the shots I took during Photography Week
with the girls.
My friend Mostess Mommy
let us set up a "studio" in her basement to take some shots with a more
"studio feel"
and she even let me borrow her cute little boy Q to take some
pictures with.
She had a lot of fun props for us to use as well.
(not sure who had more fun taking pictures - me or the
girls ; )

inside shots

I like the shots of Q and Miss A, he is so sweet with her.
my other favs. are Miss M at the bat and Hannah and the red nose


outside shots
And these shots were are "creative shots" outside
in down town Evanston.
Miss M was showing off her Kung Fu Panda moves.

I like the ones of Natalie and Miss A