CubbyCakes (1.26.11)

Luca is Cubby of the Week which, among other kinds of awesomeness, means she gets to choose the movie and snack for Wednesday afternoon. She picked out these cupcakes (cherry chip) and the toppings. I made them last night, and this morning we frosted and decorated them. It was pure torture for her to pose with one for me when I wouldn't even let her eat it, but lucky for her she 'accidentally' got a little frosting on her finger.

Pink cupcakes with pink frosting, pink pearl sprinkles, and candy hearts? What else would I expect from my sweet as sugar girl?

Cuddle Puddle (1.24.11)

We had a serious case of the Mondays here today, which meant both kids were piled onto the couch with sippy cups of milk, blankets, and a puppy while we got ready for work.

Saturday Morning (1.22.11)

Building block castles and towers. Bedhead. Coffee. Rainbow sparkle tutus. Bananas and milk. A 4 mile walk in the wagon to and from Home Depot for paint so we can put the baseboards back in someday. A perfect Saturday morning with my lovebugs.

Reading (1.21.11)

I was home alone with the kids, trying to get them settled in before bed. Rohan wanted to read, but before I could sit down, Luca walked over with a book, said so sweetly, "Do you want me to read to you, sweetie?" and together they sat on the floor reading. She doesn't read yet, but she has almost all the books in our extensive collection memorized enough to fudge. Both of these kids are book lovers, and their mama is a blonde-headed elfkin lover.

Morning (1.20.11)

Morning in our house means 2 adults getting ready for work, 1 preschooler getting ready for school, and 1 toddler just generally following Mommy around begging to be held and asking for milk. Lately he wants to carry a blankey, a puppy, a sippy cup, and anything else not nailed down in his hands wherever he goes. And she wants to sleep in the ballet outfit at night. Ballerina by osmosis, anyone?

Headed Home (1.19.11)

Cell phone photo taken at a red light on our way home. Luca and Rohan are at an age where they love to play and laugh and tell stories all the way home. Sometimes they play a little game I call "Who can screech louder and make mommy lose her mind first?". On this day, I caught them holding hands across the seat.

Great Grandma (1.17.11)

Our trip to L.A. was to celebrate my Grandma's 93rd birthday. She is an amazing woman, and Luca adores her. Rohan is a little unsure. I think she makes him kind of nervous, but he loves her walker.

Bathtime Giggles (1.15.11)

While traveling to L.A. to visit Great Grandma, the kids got a bath courtesy of Grandma (aka my mom) in a hotel tub. They love bathtime. I joke it's because Rohan was born in water, but he's the only toddler boy I know who will stop in the middle of playing and beg to go 'take a bat'.

Tatters and Tutus (1.13.11)

Luca loves craft time. And dressing up like a ballerina. Since the nights are cool, she wears tights under the leotard/tutu she got from Grandma for Christmas. She can spend hours in a ballet outfit, crafting. I love the juxtaposition of the tutu and the tattered tights.

Memorial (1.12.11).

I cried a lot while watching the memorial in Tucson that night. My kids kept asking why and I had no words to explain, so they just hugged me. I think it's good for kids to see their parents cry sometimes. Especially at times like these.

As for the kids? They were excited about Obama.

Loves (1.12.11)

Baby Toes (1.10.11)

Baby toes seriously crush me. Rohan likes to snuggle in as close as possible to me on the couch, so that he almost sinks into my body, and then prop his feet up on my legs. From there, I can easily bedn my face down to feel his soft blonde hair on my nose and cheeks. Sometimes he absent-mindedly runs his hand up and down my arm, and I about die of sweetness.

Craft Time (1.9.11)

What craft time with a 3 year old really looks like. She spreads things everywhere, glues this to that and then comes up with an elaborate explanation of what she just made and what I should do with it (usually: "Take this to your work people.") and then doesn't want to clean up the mess.

Munchkins (1.8.11)

Madison came over to play this morning, and shared some Munchkins with Luca and Rohan in a puddle of sunshine on the rug.They ate almost all 25 Munchkins.

Boots (1.7.11)

She loves the 'cowgirl boots' Santa brought for her. She also loves to sit on the counter while I make coffee, pack my lunch, and make them an English muffin with peanut butter and honey in the mornings.

Bedtime Routine (1.6.11)

Daddy holding onto her foot as they read their bedtime story.

Orange Jubilee (1.5.11)

Weight Watchers has a new plan, Points Plus. All fruit is 0 points. We have an orange tree, my mom has 3 orange trees, and my in laws have somewhere in the range of 8 orange trees.

I have eaten more oranges than any decent human should allow herself this week.



Cousins. (1.2.11)

A low-key anniversary was just what we needed. The fact it wrapped up with these 3 snuggling in jammies on the couch made it all the better.

How I Ring In the New Year (1.1.11)

With this little dude, who's my best buddy before the sun even rises. He welcomed 2010 with a beautiful sunrise, and this morning we two were the only ones in the family awake in time to welcome 2011.