My Girl Likes To...

...potty all the time!

These photos have not been altered. It is in fact, our little ladybug, sitting on actual toilets, sans screaming. It only took three days and a bag of jelly beans to get this girl out of her diapers. I'm hoping this, combined with her love of Tramp Stamps, isn't going to come back to haunt us during her teen years.

Tramp Stamp

When you're sweet little girl looks at you like this... 

And asks for this...

You give in.

Then you swear you'll never tell anyone about it.

But you post it on your blog anyway...because OMG it's hilarious!

It's Wednesday, so you know I'm linking up with iPPP!

Making Christmas

It's been almost a week since my last post and I apologize for my neglect. We've been so busy "Making Christmas" I just haven't been able to make time to write. I am hoping to be able to post little things during the next few weeks but am making no promises. I still haven't finished wrapping! However, since the holidays are mostly for the children, I figured I'd lean heavily on them for content, beginning with their pictures with Santa.

Asher sometimes has difficulty finding his "real" smile.

Amelia didn't scream, instead she was pretty much catatonic.

Due to the kids being sniffly, we didn't get our Santa pictures until last Sunday. I was sorry to miss the #SantaPix link-up with Letters for Lucas and Mommy of a Monster but I figured the last thing Santa needed during his busiest time was to catch something from my germ ridden babies. Here's hoping we'll get pictures done early enough for next year's linky!

I was able to link up with my favorite #iPPP though.

Set Adrift On Memory Bliss

Linking up with these wonderful ladies!

Eight is Enough

My baby boy is eight years old. My firstborn. My Asher.

Oh. My. Heart.

He's riding a bike and tying his shoes.

He's taking the bus to school and having sleep overs.

He's losing his teeth and trading his baby face for boyish good looks.

He's still waking up before me, but he now makes his own breakfast.

He's a loving big brother who adores and protects his sister.

He's moving from me, towards his father. Big boy adventures with snuggling only at night.

He's growing into more than I ever dreamed he'd be.

Linking this up with those wild and crazy 
iPhone Photo Phun gals:

 

Like Mother, Like Daughter

A while ago I posted about how Elijah, while a wonderful photographer, can't seem to take any pictures that illuminate the beauty of his lovely wife.

Recently we discovered that Amelia has inherited my trait for being just as unphotogenic. I am so sorry baby girl but it's not all that bad. It just means that you'll never find your love on a matchmaking website.

 

Linking this up with those wild and crazy 

iPhone Photo Phun gals:

 

Funny Odd, Or Funny Ha Ha?

The kids are both really into knock, knock jokes right now. Given their age difference, it's pretty much the only thing they have in common to talk about. Our various car rides and dinner conversations usually involve a seemingly never ending, yet always hilarious, retelling of the same three jokes. The first two are Asher's creations and the last one is Amelia's variation of the banana/orange joke (orange you glad I didn't say banana?).

Here's a little glimpse into my life with my comedic children.

Knock Knock.
Who's there?
Pig.
Pig who?
Pig any watermelon, they're all for sale.

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Milk
Milk who?
Milk any cow you want.

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Banana.
Banana who?
Banana, knock knock.
Who's there?
Banana
Banana who?
Banana, knock knock.
Who's there?
Clementine.
Clementine who?
Clementine ate banana.

Que the unbridled giggling of two children who find each other mutually hilarious.

Don't Blink, You Might Miss Something

I had wanted to add just one more Vegas post and this week's iPhone Photo Phun is the perfect opportunity.

I'm both a little proud and ashamed to say that I really didn't miss my family much while on my girl's trip. I think Elijah was slightly put out by that and there were times that I wished I had him along for the adventure, but I can honestly say that I never once thought "Gee, I wish the kids were here."

Not a single time.

In fact, I kept marveling at the fact that I wasn't homesick for them. I'd call daily and chat for a bit, but other than that, I didn't think twice about what they were up to. I knew they were safe and probably having more fun with their father than they usually have with me. It never occurred to me to miss them.

Until I got the following photos while waiting to board my plane home...

Y'all, my baby boy learned to ride his bike while I was in VEGAS!! I cannot believe it. I was so proud of him.

And so sorry that I had missed it.

Linking this up with those wild and crazy 

iPhone Photo Phun gals:

 

Also linking up for Wordful Wednesday at Seven Clown Circus.

To Market, To Market

The weather yesterday was amazing! After 70+ days of over 100 degree weather we finally got a taste of Fall. The temps hovered around 80 and we had a nice cool breeze. It was the perfect day for an Austin outing.

We met some friends and had dinner at Central Market, which is essentially a grocery store with a restaurant, outdoor seating and a playground. It was the perfect day to sit outside, drink some wine, watch the kids play and even do a little geocaching.

Elijah took the following shots which, I think, are amazing. He was good enough to not capture all the chaos, crying and tantrums that inevitably accompany any trip that doesn't include a Nintendo DS  or whatever random toy Amelia is screaming about that day!

Bye Bye Love

Today is Labor Day.

In the spirit that today traditionally marks the end of summer and the lead in to Fall, I thought I'd post some pictures of my favorite moments from the past few months.

Exploring around the neighborhood.

Discovering new food trailers.

Playing baseball.

Ok, so I didn't really care for baseball.

Joyriding!

Swimming at Gigi's.

Our family trip to Florida.

Goofing around at home.

We spent a LOT of time goofing around the house.

Swimming with cousin Harper.

We had such a great summer. I can't wait to see what the next season has to offer.

She's Normal, Right?

One of Amelia's favorite toys is a Christmas Mr. Potato Head. She likes to pull off all the pieces and carry them around in the potato body. Every piece except for this one....

I think it makes her look like a festive Hannibal Lecter. Don't you agree?

Linking this up with:

There's No Such Thing As A Free Lunch

 You may have occasionally wondered how far our family would drive for free food. Well, wonder no more. Last weekend we found the answer to that question...75 miles. Let me repeat that, seventy-five miles.

Elijah's uncle sent us a $100 gift certificate to Cooper's BBQ that he won in a golf tournament. We'd planned on using it last Saturday but I balked at the fact that it's located 75 miles west of us, in the town of Llano, Texas. Elijah thought it'd be a nice little adventure while I thought it'd be better to order the food online for delivery and eat it later that week, after the kids went to bed. However, since Elijah's idea meant we wouldn't have to figure out what to make for dinner that night, we packed up the two happiest travelers on the planet and headed out.

The drive really wasn't that bad, aside from Amelia's new favorite saying..."Amelia talk" which she uses whenever any one else is speaking, followed by high pitched screaming until she is acknowledged and responded to. The drive took us through some interesting small towns; I enjoyed exploring our westerly neighboring areas.

As for the food, we ordered a little of everything they had, ate a ton, and brought back a tub full of ribs, pork chops, brisket, and chicken. We figured that since we weren't probably coming back anytime soon, we might as well use the whole amount of the certificate at once. We've been nibbling on the leftovers all week.

Nothing gets the school year started off right better than a meat filled tub!