Randomness.... or Zombies, Birthdays, and Oven Mitts

Let me finish catching up with the month of April before the month of May is upon me......

So.... there in never a dull moment around this house....something is always happening....mischief is always brewing...artistic endeavors and creative juices are always flowing....  In fact at this exact moment I was preparing for Gabby's birthday party.  Gabriella was down for a nap... I was decorating Gabby's birthday cake and Nicholas and Amanda were out of sight.  It was quiet.... very quiet... UNUSUALLY quiet.... but I didn't think anything of it.  In fact... I loved it.... I could get something done without the kids fighting or hearing "I'm soooo bored." I was taking advantage of the peace.  Well... Steve walks in from work and all of a sudden we hear, "Mom come quick!  Upstairs!"  I'm up to my elbows in frosting so Steve yells up to the kids, "What is going on?" Then I hear the reply, "There is a zombie."  Steve makes his way up the stairs and I hear, "Oh my gosh!"  Look who he ran into on the stairs.  Zombie Nicholas whose face (and ears and eyes) were painted so thoroughly  by Amanda Grace.  I dropped my icing and grabbed the camera.  This face had to be photographed.    Not a bad attempt at something out of the Michael Jackson Thriller video!

Here Nick is acting the part of creepy-zombie-boy to the best of his ability.  Let me tell you... it was very difficult to get all that make-up off of Nick.  Yesterday, which was 10 days after the photo was taken... I still found green paint in Nick's ears.  Gross!  The black paint around his eyes still looked like eye liner 2  days later.

These are photos from Gabby's actual birthday on the 14th.  She loved when we sang Happy Birthday and Nicholas did his best to keep Gabby's hands out of the flames and cake.

Taking a very deep breath to muster up the strength to blow out her 2 birthday candles.

It was difficult and it took several attempts......

But she finally blew out the candles with a bit of help... which deserved a round of applause

Then she was ready to dig into her cake...

I can't believe how quickly both of my girls are growing up.... it is CRAZY!

This is to show everyone that I have been working on my home project goals that I set at the beginning of the year.   That is me with a stud finder.  I'm sure my brothers are impressed that I didn't just go banging random holes into my walls.  I had to hang 2 mirrors and I actually wanted to find a stud to hang them on.  Steve was impressed too.  He was wondering where I got that savvy stud finder.  Little did he know we have had it for years.... and in the case you can find it hanging out with a cool laser level.   He has never used these tools so I thought it was about time I put them to use.

What do you think?  Here is my new entryway.  That is the table we purchased from Pottery Barn that caused all the Styrofoam turmoil a few posts back.  I found some of the accessories on the table by shopping around our house.  The lantern and the dog statue came from Pottery Barn while the lamp, mirrors, sign, and basket came from my new favorite store, Home Goods.  On the very bottom is the picture frame with rosettes that I made a few months back.  I really like how everything came together.

Finally, here is my Nicholas..... once again.... giving me the opportunity to take photos of his shenanigans.  How about this.... taking his bagel out of the toaster while wearing oven mitts!

He thought this was the greatest idea because the bagel is always so HOT when it comes out of the toaster.  Now there was no way he could get burned.  I think he actually gave himself a pat on the back with that oven mitt.  That's my boy.... ingenious and always thinking!

That is it for tonight.  What will I post next??? I still have so much to show you.... Until later.....

Florida Trip Part II

Yeah!  I'm online for the time being....I wonder how much time I have before my Internet connection will drop.  Ugh!  Anyway... April has been an extremely busy month.  I can't believe our Florida trip was 3 weeks ago.  Time flies!  Since we have been back we have seen the start of soccer, Gabby has turned 2 years old, I've hosted Easter dinner, we have dyed eggs, begun to work on science fair projects and math tests, I've redecorated my foyer, tennis continues, I've been baking lots of goodies, and the list goes on and on.  In fact the list never ends.  Which is good... because what would I blog about if I didn't have that endless list?  You would probably get to hear stories about how someone (who will remain nameless) left a blue pen in their pocket and I put it in the washer and dryer.  Do you know what the inside of a dryer looks like covered in blue streaks? Or how about the clothes for that matter!  Good thing the clothes were mostly dark and I'm getting some new PJ's out of the deal.  Now that would be boring and ordinary right?  Because that happens to everyone....So lets just move on to the the fun stuff.  Here is the second installment of vacation photos.

This is a great picture of the kids.  Here they are relaxing after swimming all afternoon.  This is one of the rare times they were out of the water waiting to get their sunscreen reapplied.

Such a pretty girl!

Starting to hide from my camera.... enough was enough... Nick wanted to get back in the pool

This was the "seriously-Mom-you-better-stop-taking-pictures-immediately-before-we-throw-that-camera-in-the-pool" look.

This is what happens when you don't give your Dad a kiss and he asks you for one.  Dad will get you...and torture you...and recruit all the available siblings to tickle you...until you give in....and Steve wins....and you throw in the towel and give your Dad a kiss!  Take note for next time Miss Amanda Grace.

The look of Victory!

 Of course we had to play some miniature golf.... the kids are definitely improving... there was no crying today... a couple of  pars...and on the first hole Gabriella got a hole-in-one

Of course she probably got that hole-in-one because she had some excellent coaching by the skilled older sister

I made it into a photo thanks to Steve

This was the 18th and final hole.  Everyone was cracking up because poor Gabby could not figure out just where her ball went.  It didn't seem to have landed in the cup.

Upon closer inspection... she still had no idea where that darn ball went... it was troubling... she kept inspecting the hole and reaching her hand down in it

We went to Outback Steakhouse for dinner one night.  Nicholas was requesting ribs every night and Amanda can never turn down a good steak so Outback was the place to go.  Here are my favorite boys....

The rest of the crew...

This is how you look when you are really hungry...and the food is taking FOREVER...and you have worked your way through all the puzzles on the kids menu....you look really annoyed!

Such a nice shot of Grampie and Nicholas

Hanging out...waiting for breakfast to be served...

It was great to see Michele.  Although she worked the entire week, we saw her nearly everyday after school.

Michele didn't move and we all rotated into the picture... first the kids... then me...

Then it was Steve's turn.... do you see what I mean?  Michele sat and we rotated

 Michele and I were cracking up at this silly boy.  He was calling himself a lobster, but I think he meant an octopus.  He had every noodle in the pool.  There was no way this kid was going to sink and no way we could save anyone if they accidentally fell into the pool.

The bathing beauty Amanda... so happy to pose for a photo....

One night we got ice cream at the "infamous" ice cream stand where Amanda had a major melt down when she was probably 3 years old.  Every time anyone passes the ice cream shop on A-1A they remind her about the tantrum.  At 3 years old it is very traumatic to lose your ice cream cone on the cement.  She had eaten most of it, and the rest had fallen on the ground.  Well 3 year old Amanda went CRAZY.  She was crying and screaming and kicking for the entire 20 minute ride home in the car.  She was inconsolable and a nightmare and no one lets her forget it.  So here we are at the scene of the crime.  Amanda chose this crazy ice cream concoction with lots of sprinkles.  It was after dinner and probably 75 degrees.

Unfortunately this picture doesn't do her justice...  you would have thought it was 95 degrees.  Amanda's ice cream melted all over the place.  Look at her hands... it was in her hair... down her shirt and shorts, covering her flip flops...  I was trying to wipe her up but it was useless.  She was a total mess and she is 9 years old.  Just think about what she was like at 3 with melted ice cream and throwing a fit.  She had to throw out the rest of the cone and take a shower at home.  I have to say... she didn't cry or scream and kick this time.

 

So that just about wraps it up.  That was Florida in a nutshell.  I'm hoping to be back in a couple days with the end of the month festivities.  Until later....

Internet Down Again!

I had all these great plans to blog tonight.  I have so much to share... unfortunately my internet is not working.  When everything is up and running I'll give it a try again.  Bummer!

Florida Trip Part I

So here are the details..... we decided to leave for Florida on Friday afternoon.  Instead of going to an indoor water park, we decided why not just drive a few more hours and find some sunshine.  The kids left school after lunch and we were off.  Unfortunately the drive down 75 was a nightmare.  There was lots of traffic and LOTS of construction.  We did a lot of sitting and waiting and riding the brakes.  NIGHTMARE!  The kids were terrific for the drive.  However, when we tried to stop at a hotel at 12:30 a.m. in Georgia..... there were no vacancies available.  At the next exit.... the same thing.  We were advised to drive 60 more miles and we called ahead to get a room.  Since things had been going so well ;) ...... wouldn't you know it.....that 6 miles from our exit we got stopped in traffic for an hour and a half at 2 a.m.  Amanda kept saying she couldn't believe how many people were up and driving around at 2 a.m....... shouldn't these people be in bed.  Needless to say.... we got to our hotel at 3:30a.m. and we had a lot of CRANKY passengers.... Adults were the crankiest of all!  Steve couldn't wait to climb into bed and didn't care if we ever made it to Florida the next day. 

I took these pictures earlier in the day on my i-phone when everyone was much happier.  We absolutely NEVER eat at McDonald's.  However, I promised the kids if we ever went on a long car ride.... like to Florida we could stop at McDonald's.  Here is the proof.... in the Happy Meal.  Nicholas was so excited for the el-cheap-o toy.

 

In this photo I'm so disturbed that Gabby LOVED the fries.  She was inhaling them.  This girl does not like to try new things.... yet some deep fried potatoes loaded up with salt.... bring them on! 

We got a late start on Saturday morning and as soon as we entered the highway... we were in slow traffic again.  By 5:30 that evening we had arrived in Florida.  FINALLY!  After visiting with Dad (Mom was in Germany visiting relatives) the kids couldn't wait to get in the pool.  Here everyone is relaxing in the warm jacuzzi... the pool had not been heated but the kids still jumped into the 70 degree water.

The next day brought lots of sunshine and lots of swimming in the heated pool.

We bought some badminton rackets at the grocery store and had a fun time playing until the birdie got lost on the roof or the gutter!

Gabby loved the freedom to be outside...walking around.... without getting bundled up

We all loved the idea of going outside to enjoy the nice weather.  Here we are taking a walk around the block.  Gabby wanted no part of the stroller.....Nicholas on the other hand........ couldn't resist a chance to sit down.

I just like this photo!

Here we are at dinner.  We always go to this outdoor pizza place...the kids can run around and check out the shops.  Here they are in front of  the Coastal Mermaid Shop.  Gabby and Amanda make cute mermaids...but I'm not sold on Nicholas as a merman. 

 More pool shots.....

Gabby loved the water.....  Especially the warm water coming out of the jacuzzi

One of my favorites....even if Nick is squinting

Gabby took an instant liking to her Grampie.  She was showering him with kisses in no time.

A few games of patty cake.....

Playing a little catch... or else trying to dodge the balls Gabby was catapulting at everyone...that girl has a wicked arm!

I'm getting tired...so it is off to bed.  I have lots more photos to post later about the rest of the week.  Until later.....