Not in a blogging mood...

Well... I have not been in the blogging mood this week.... however, I have been in the organizing-cleaning out drawers-washing walls-and-cabinets kind of mood.  I think because it has been  cold and snowy and I've been spending a lot of time indoors... the clutter has been beckoning...  Sooooo... while Gabby naps I have been very efficient lately.  This also means I've been pretty exhausted in the evenings.  I haven't had the opportunity to scrapbook this week, but I did find some time for creativity.  I made some pretty cheap bathroom art.  Do you see those paper hand towels by the sink?  I decided to turn them into ART.  First I scanned one into the computer, then using photoshop I played with the colors and some of the textures, and finally I resized the image.  Then for $7.50 at Jo-Ann Fabrics I  bought a frame and mat.

 Viola!  There is the finished product.  Pretty, practical, and it only cost a couple of dollars!

 This is the other creative project that Nicholas and I worked on this afternoon.  He wrote a research paper about dinosaurs last week and here is the model that went along with it. A few hours earlier this was a simple Wilson shoe box, but with a few crayons, markers, and hot glue... we have this educational Dinosaur Diorama!

 While Nick and I were busy gluing and coloring, Amanda was passing time on the computer.

 This cracked me up earlier this morning.  The kids were playing Dance Dance Revolution on the Wii.  Like the title suggests, it is a dance game where you move your feet and arms while holding the controllers.  Gabby loves music so she thought this game was GREAT!  She was dancing just like the kids while holding the remote control in her hands mimicing her brother and sister.

 This is what happens when your sister goes off to play at a friend's house, Gabby is napping, and your Mom is trying to appease you.  Nicholas was upset that he didn't have anyone to play with sooooo being the ingenious mother that I am.... I suggested face painting.....  If I had some painting/drawing ability this could have been awesome... unfortunately my poor pirate looks like an out-of-work-circus performer.  Anyway Nicholas liked it and thought it was a lot of fun.  The black paint was a little difficult to get off and it cracked him up that he looked like a really dirty boy! 

 The second attempt was a dinosaur.... I would have flunked out of art school!

 Oh Yeah!!!! I almost forgot the really exciting news from last Saturday.  Nicholas lost his first tooth!   

 The kids have been spending a lot of time outside lately.  They absolutely love the snow and building their forts.  Gabby longs to go outside and play.... but it is just TOO COLD!

 One of these days she is going to make a break for it and I'll find her warming herself in the igloo in our front yard.

 And finally.... Gabby has learned a new trick....she can climb up on the kitchen chairs all by herself.  This week she also fell off the chair all by herself.  Another nightmare to deal with..... Anyway.... do you see Nicholas' tennis bag sitting on the floor.  Gabby helped herself to a granola bar in his bag... climbed up on the chair... unpeeled the wrapper... and began eating to everyone's surprise....

 She is a big girl just like the rest of us.  The way this girl sneaks food... you must realize by now that I NEVER feed her!

Well I'm off to go and relax before the start of a busy week.  We have a lot of activities scheduled along with who-knows-what-else will be thrown at us.  Until later......

Sunday!

We just finished up dinner.... carry-out from Max and Erma's... and as I was wiping down the table I came across some of Amanda's homework and I thought I would share this:

Couplet Poem

By Amanda Herdoiza

Sunday

Today is Sunday.  I love Sunday.

Oh no! Tomorrow is Monday!

That made me laugh!  How appropriate.  I told Amanda that poem should be in a Shel Silverstein book.  Even at 8 years old she is dreading Mondays like the rest of the world..... with that said, I hope everyone has a good week!

Until Later....

Exhaustion and a Proud Mom!

This week has been exhausting.  For whatever reasons... I have had a terrible time sleeping.  Monday night Steve was tossing and turning...which meant I was tossing and turning all night.  Tuesday night Gabby decided to wake up at 3:30 a.m. crying and standing up in her bed.  After getting her back to sleep, I was wide awake lying in bed, trying to convince myself if I counted from 100 backwards I would fall asleep.  It didn't work... but somehow that counting reminded me that I forgot to turn on the dishwasher before bed, and the thought of no cereal bowls and no spoons at breakfast was disturbing enough to make me turn it on at 4:00 a.m.  That led me to begin reading on my Kindle... but I quickly got annoyed about the font size of my book.  I wanted to decrease the type size.  For the life of me, I could not adjust the settings... I wonder if it had anything to do with the fact it was 4:15 in the morning... anyway I finally gave up and kept reading until 5.  Wednesday evening I was sooooo tired I fell asleep at 9:20 and I woke up by 4, because it was just about morning by my internal body clock or the fact that Amanda came into our bed after a bad dream.  Then Thursday night at 3:30 a.m. Amanda comes running into our room again (another bad dream) and at 3:35 Nicholas comes running into our room too.  I think for sure someone is getting sick.... but I'm mistaken... Nicholas has a bloody nose and his face is covered in blood along with his sheets and blankets.  At 4:00 I was back to reading my Kindle.  That left Friday night... another  bad night.  Steve had to leave for work at 6 and when the alarm went off at 5:30.... my day began too.  So I have pretty much been in a sleepy haze this entire week.... just trying to get by...

Before all this sleep deprivation began on Monday night, I decided to work on my creative project for the week.  I scrapbooked Gabby's Oreo theft and now I have officially met my 4-project-a-month goal for January.

Now, as a proud mother I'm going to share a few fun things that happened with the kids.  Nicholas was selected by his teacher to attend the Principal's breakfast on Wednesday.  Near the end of each card marking period a few students are chosen for different reasons by teachers.  Nicholas was selected this time, and he was so cute while he was being interviewed by the Principal. He was being asked what his favorite thing about First Grade was... unfortunately he was having a difficult time coming up with an answer...because I think he really wanted to say RECESS!

Then the principal read off some of the comments his teacher had written.  He was then given a certificate and the principal told him he was going to have a "bright future."

Here is the certificate.  One of the things it says about Nicholas is that "he always works hard and is ready to learn more.  Nicholas has a very analytical mind and tries to discover new ways to solve problems."  When I asked Nicholas what it meant to have a analytical mind.... he said that it meant he was REALLY  SMART!  So modest.... my son!

This picture is just here for the sake of my sister.  She was complaining about my perfect cookies and why they have to look so precise.  In response... I told her I just love to bake, and I think it is fun to make cute cookies and practice perfecting them.  She couldn't imagine that my cookies would be lumpy or bumpy.  Take a look at these Maureen.  They are lumpy and bumpy!

I can't have a post without a photo of Gabby.  Gabriella is honestly so SILLY.  She has an infectious laugh and a wildly-happy-yet-crazy personality.  This is just a glimpse! Ayeee Macarena!

Remember the snow fort I was talking about.... this was the beginning of it.  It has tripled in size, and I will have to show detailed pictures as the construction continues.

Finally, we were so excited the other day when Amanda received a phone call from school congratulating her on a contest she had entered.  This was a program sponsored by the PTA to promote art in school called Reflections.  She entered a photography piece and a visual arts piece for the theme "together we can."  Yesterday we found out that both of her entries were chosen to move onto the state level.  She was so excited and we are so proud of her. Way to go AMANDA!

Until later....

Nothing New but Clean Ammo.........

The kids are back to school today after a  l...o...n...g  4-day weekend.  They were hoping for a snow day overnight... and Amanda was so GRUMPY this morning when she realized school had not been called off.  I of course reminded her to be happy... because when you grow up and have to go to work... there is NEVER a snow day.  That was met with stomping out of the kitchen, but not before she told me to stop humming.  (I guess I was a little overzealous that they were going to school today!)

Anyway... the weekend was pretty low-key.  After the snow Saturday morning I made an executive decision not to bring Nicholas to his tennis match in the afternoon. (Besides the roads, I would be watching crazy Gabby run around the tennis complex for 2 1/2 hours, while Amanda whined for having to watch her brother play.  After running that scenario through my head... the decision to cancel was easy.)  That afternoon Brad and Tyler came over to hang out while a bunch of the neighborhood kids came to build a snow fort in our front yard.  According to Amanda she was adding on an extra room to the fort, it was going to have a snow refrigerator and an area for toasting marshmallows.  Great... I doubt the neighborhood association would have any problem with 6 and 8 year old kids setting a bonfire on our front lawn to roast marshmallows!  She had some very ambitious ideas and the kids spent hours and hours outside on Friday, Sat. and Monday.

On Sunday, Steve and I were able to go to dinner and a movie.  We saw "The Kings Speech" which was excellent.  We both really enjoyed the movie. 

Finally.... I don't have any new photos to post... however, I did see this when I was emptying the dishwasher a couple of weeks ago..... I didn't see it at first... probably because I was grumbling over having to dry all those darn Tupperware containers.... but then my eye was drawn to the tiny green object in the bottom of the dishwasher... it didn't look like a fallen cup, or plastic spoon, or lid....

It was a green Nerf ball that came from Nicholas' Nerf gun.  Somehow the toy ammunition was shot right into the dishwasher and sent through the cleaning cycle.  I'm not sure if it was Nicholas shooting it there on purpose or Gabby causing trouble... but I suspect one of the two are the culprits..... or it could be the combination of the two.... Nicholas shooting Gabby with the balls and Gabby retaliating with bad aim....  Needless to say... we have very clean Nerf ammunition for the future.... Until later.......

 

Creative Achievements.....

So... in order for this 100 posts in 2011 to work.... I've got to post more.... so here goes.  I have a few things to share from the last 2 weeks and these will also help with the creative goals.  This week I spent some time scrapbooking.  I ordered prints from Snapfish (99 prints for 99 cents.. WOW) and they inspired me to get out my supplies.  With that said... I decided to scrapbook an older photo from the summer... none of the new prints.  I guess I will have to work them into a layout next week.  So this layout was a quick one.  In about an hour I was finished and I scanned it in using one of my Christmas gifts from Steve... an all-in-one printer, scanner, fax.  I'm so excited it worked!  

This is just a photo of my precious Gabby.  It is amazing that she is sitting still long enough to take the picture.

Here we have Nicholas working on a science project.  He has been studying insects and all the facts that qualify them as insects (head, thorax, abdomen, 6 legs.... etc.)  He chose a bumblebee. After I vetoed the idea of a grasshopper or walking stick because how was I going to make a model of a walking stick which resembles a piece of grass and label its head abdomen and thorax!

Here is the finished bumblebee.  I hope this qualifies as a creative project.... for me.... because I did a lot of hot gluing for Nicholas. He told me all the details and together this is what we came up with.....

Just thought this was cute!  Nic bringing out the glasses for Gabby and himself.

Since Christmas Gabby has really started playing with her baby dolls.  She rarely talks, but she understands so much.  When I asked her if the doll was hungry, she put the doll in her highchair and went to the silverware drawer and found a spoon....such a baby Genius!

I made these cookies last weekend.  They are kind of an ode-to-winter.  I wanted to try a chocolate cookie instead of a sugar cookie.  They were really good.  It was a good change up from the usual. (I think this also qualifies as CREATIVE.... don't you think?)

So....This is my 3rd creative project in 2 weeks.  I think I'm on track for the month of January because my goal was once a week or twice a month! 

The kids eating my creative masterpieces!

Until later......

Goals for 2011

So... just last night I was thinking about what my new goals would be for 2011.  I decided to look at my post from Jan. of 2010 and see how I had done over the course of the year.  Needless to say... I got sidetracked.  Before I knew it,  I went back and started  reviewing posts from when I began this blog in 2008.  Boy did I write a lot back then.... not just pictures, but I had a great account of our daily life.  Of course I grabbed Steve and then he got sucked into reading the old posts and looking at the old videos like this http://abeautfullife.blogspot.com/2008/01/colds-cupcakes-and-little-commotion.html (check out the video:)
[I was amazed at how much I used to blog.  I really need to get this blog published.  I know there are a couple of sites that will put yours posts into a book.  It would be such a great thing to do to remember the last 3 years.  I think that will be on my to-do list for 2011.]

Anyway.... I had 131 posts from that first year and they have been slowly decreasing each successive year.  I think that is probably due to the addition of Gabriella in 2009.   I have less time for myself, blogging, writing, etc. with one more person who constantly needs my attention.  So this leads me to one of my resolutions/goals for 2011.  1.  I want to blog more often.  I'm hoping to get to 100 posts this year.  Although that was on my list of resolutions last year.... I don't think I gave it enough attention... so this year I plan to attain this goal.

2.  This year I want to continue to learn something new.  Last year it was the photoshop class and the on-line blogging class... what will it be this year?

3.  In 2011 I plan to do some home improvement projects... the question is... where to begin.  I don't think we will be moving anytime in the near future, so after 6 years at this house I think I'm ready to start tackling some rooms.  I think my to-do list will be filled with organization and decoration.  I hope I can find the time and energy to get started!

4.  I want to continue to read.  In 2009 I read 20 books and in 2010 I read 19.  I hope I can keep it up in this new year.

5.  I have not committed to photo-a-day.  The past 2 years I have failed by mid-March.  I might attempt it at some other time but instead of so many photos... I just want to post them more often.

6.  I would like to be more creative this year.  I want to get back to scrapbooking which steadily decreased in 2010.  I was hoping to do 1 project a week (that's aiming high) or maybe 2 projects a month.  I think this could be a good creative goal.  I guess you should look for my upcoming projects.  Maybe they will even have to do with home decor... then I could meet 2 goals at once!

7.  I'm going to keep up the crazy coupons.  Can you believe I saved $489 last year at the grocery store and Target?  It is crazy.  I didn't think the savings would add up... but I proved myself wrong.  I hope I can maintain or improve my savings this year.  I guess the coupon clipping will continue...

8.  Finally, as usual I want to spend more time with my family, hang out more, goof off and laugh more, and just enjoy everyone..... I have decided my life is going to be crazy and chaotic for awhile.  It is not realistic to think most days will be calm.... I hope this year I will learn new ways to cope with our busy life and enjoy every minute of it!

Until later.........

December Recap....

So lets see..... Did you notice I changed the blog?  I updated it a little bit and used a standard template that I have not edited in any way.  I'm hoping this will put an end to all my blogging woes and error messages. That one blogging class I took really threw me for a loop.  I think I will leave the advanced designing to the pros.  

Before I get around to talking about the new year I think that I should finish up with December.  When I started reviewing my pictures I noticed that I left out a lot of fun happenings... So here's the continued recap of the month...

Gabby is really big into SHOES lately!  If she finds a pair lying around she puts them on, she pulls them out of the closet and gives them a try.... but they are never her own shoes.  They are always mine, or Steve's, or Nick's, or in this case Amanda's pink boots.

 It is hard to see... but after several attempts she managed to put them on.... the wrong feet!

 Then she proceeded to clomp walk around the house.... it was too funny.  I'm usually worried that she is going to trip and hurt herself.  Can you see that the boots are so huge that they go all the way up to her knees!

 December also brought this big guy's birthday.  I can't believe he is 6 already!  This was the birthday crown they made for him at school.  Of course we brought dinosaur cupcakes for the celebration.  (That was a whole ordeal which I didn't take pictures of...  To make a long story short I bought dollar store dinosaurs to put on the cupcakes.  When I took them out of the package to wash them.... they stunk... like toxic paint.   I think we all might have gagged.  The back of the package said they were made in China, thus the toxic smell of lead paint.  I couldn't send them into school with Nick, and feed lead contaminated frosting to 24 first graders.  Soooooo..... at 8:30 at night I begin to scrapbook little dinosaur cupcake toppers for 24 cupcakes.  They came out cute... but give me a break... just so they could be thrown out the next day.) 

 Here are some pictures from his actual birthday celebration.  The cake.... which was fun and easy to make compared to some of his others..... 

 A cute picture of Grampie Gerwatowski and Ty...

 Great photo of Mom and Bradley.... must be the new job and new retirement... suits them well......

 The 2 handsome Herdoizas...

 Opening presents and reading cards.....

 Happy Birthday to You!

 My entire goal this Christmas season was to keep Gabby away from the tree... she liked to take the ornaments off.... and make a run for it... 

 Nick got a fossil kit for his birthday.  He had to unearth a T. Rex skeleton just like a paleontologist.  It was painstaking work.

 The whole family got involved...

 It kept them busy for hours excavating and cleaning up afterwards....

 We did a lot of baking this month.  Amanda was trying to take some photos for a school project about memory making.  Here we are making dough... compliments of Amanda.

 My little pastry chef in training....

 Rolling out the dough into little balls....

 Viola!  The finished product.  The kids told me this was their favorite activity during their snow day home from school.... making Christmas cookies.... I couldn't agree more.... except maybe for eating them!

 And then look where I found this little troublemaker.....  She usually empties the drawer..... now she has found a new use for it!

 Amanda's final shot for her school project about traditions.....

Well... that is it for now.  It looks like the bugs have been worked out of the blog, and I will be back to blogging soon.  Until later.....