Vinyl Giveaway

Amy, over at My Name is Snickerdoodle, posted about a giveaway and you know I can't resist a good giveaway!!

Since I decided to redo the girls bedroom, I've been on the hunt for some good vinyl lettering...but for some reason, I've been looking for someone "local" to buy from. Maybe it's that sense of "hometown" I'm looking for...I dunno, maybe I just want to pay sales tax Ü...but thanks to Amy and her cousin, I found one! And better yet, she is doing 5 days of giveaways on her blog!!! SO.....go over to:

From Deep Within the Heart of Texas

And enter her giveaways!

You can also go directly to Adhering Words to order your vinyl!

My new favorite picture.

For several reasons.... 1. All I had to say is "give your sister a hug"...I didn't even say Hey BELLA or Hey AUBE...
2. They love each other more than anything and because Mommy is somewhat of a hermit these days, they are each other's best friend.
3. Bella is wearing her galoshes.
4. The grass is like neon green thanks to the lovely rain we've been having recently.
5. My pile of rocks actually looks smaller, tho I haven't done anything to it.
6. It makes me want more babies...someone is missing in this picture.
7. They are getting so big, I can't stand it.
8. We were on our way out the door to try a new restaurant that proved to have mega-awesome chips.
9. After this, Aube wouldn't let go of Bella, and they collapsed into the wet grass in giggles.
10. After that, I walked out to the car...the wind blew and drenched me in rain from the tree leaves. Ü

Introducing.....

Miss Cleo (the black/brown/white one) and Alice (the white one).....our newest adoptee's from the Texas Rustlers Guinea Pig Rescue. Miss Cleo is the mommy and she is about 2 years old, Alice is the baby and it 1 year old. We are putting together their new habitat and getting them to feel more at home. Ü

Today was quite nice...

...I took advantage of the nice breeze in the am and got the lawn mowed (so James wouldn't have to do it Saturday, we are going to pick up some new friendss! shhh....). The afternoon got a little toasty, but by dinner time it was perfect again! So we took advantage and BBQ'd and ate out on the patio.

We relaxed a bit.....

Drank some ORANGE....
Got nice and messy...

Watched the planes (more like SCREAMED like banshee's when planes went by...)

And just enjoyed each other's company. I wish every night could be this perfect.

My Earth Day Tree.....Sheryl. We planted it yesterday in honor of Earth Day...and yes, it's a PALM TREE (or, er...shrub)..but it still counts, especially since my backyard counts as a forest...I have a head start. Plus, it reminds me of Vegas....*sigh*.

The girls.

Well...we've started it....the dreaded potty training. I've been going thru some of my old posts, getting ready to make them into a book thru Blurb, and I realized I started Bella on potty training ALOT earlier than Aube. Which is odd, cause I thought I started Bella late. OH well. I'm reminded about how difficult it is...especially since I'm going with the "wearing undies all day" approach. Which means I am glad I have tile....lotso messes.
We got Bella to sit on the potty for hours with books, so we thought we'd try it on Aube too. We are also trying a chart for Aube, since she seems to understand it a bit more. We now have 2 charts up there, too...since Bella didn't want to be left out. Ü It's definitely warming up here in TX. The night before last, the girls had a blast playing in the pool. The water is still only like 65 degrees...which is a bit chilly...but they splashed around on the steps...
Little nakie bum.

James was trying to get her pull her undies up...so she'd grab each side and jump...didn't do a thing, but it was cute to watch.

Crazy-bad picture, dumb flash. But Bella drew this pic of "B.o.b." and let me know she wanted to go to the Big TV again and see Monsters vs Aliens again.

Bella's dance school is putting on a recital next month, even tho it costs an arm and a leg, we are excited for it...and hoping Bella can overcome her shyness. I'll watch her thru the window while she is in class and it looks like she is barely paying attention, but then we get home and she dances around and shows me her "Bumble Bee" dance and I'm amazed at what she has absorbed.

But now they are being too quiet...hmmm...

The earth is what we all have in common. ~Wendell Berry

It's simple:
*Turn off the faucet when you brush your teeth.
*Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
*Turn off the TV and the computer when not using them.
*Take shorter showers.
*Recycle cans, plastic bottles, and other empty containers.
*Use both sides of a piece of paper.
*Turn off all computers at the end of the day.
*Start a family compost pile.
*Don’t dump things down the storm drain.
*Help your family use plants that grow well in your state.
*Help your family place and adjust the sprinkler; so you are watering the plants and not the street.
*Walk, ride your bike, carpool, or ride the bus.
*Share or donate toys, games, books, and clothes you don’t need any more.
*Check out books from the library or buy used books.
*Don’t litter.
(Taken from TakeCareofTexas.org)

The Crafty Crow has some cute craft ideas to do with kids today to help them REUSE. I think taking a moment to do a craft with a child is the best way to teach.

Make and Takes has some great tips on RECYCLING.

Simple Mom gives us 40 tips to go Greener, besides Recycling. She gives a great idea on how to Create a Compost for $15.

Composting is one thing I would LOVE to do! My dad built this awesome compost pile in their backyard and I've been inspired ever since. I'm scared of what critters and bugs it would attract here in TX, tho...yikes! And if I'm going to compost, I then need to plant a garden to have a use for the compost. My parents are truly inspirational when it comes to all things Earth-y. They even recently bought some baby chickens, so one day they will have fresh eggs! And their effort towards food storage is tremendous (but that's a whole other topic).

So...what will you do today? It might seem like anything you do is too small and won't make a difference (I know I feel that way). But if we ALL do the small and simple things, not just today but everyday, it will make an impact. Every day is Earth Day!

I....

.....started crying in McDonald's yesterday. Like can't-keep-the-tears-back-crying because I was overwhelmed with loneliness, wishing I was eating lunch at McD's with my mom. Not cool, but to be expected.

.....am so excited to have Em come live with us in a little over a month. She flies in on June 1st, a great anniversary gift (Thanks James Ü).

.....can't wait to start re-painting the girls bedroom again. Yup, thats right. I didn't finish the tree (or the beach scene for that matter). And it's going on a year with 1/2 painted stuff on the wall. So, I'm for-going all creativeness and just going with one color. (And polka dots...for Bella). I'm itching to start painting, not excited for paint fumes, and hoping PURPLE is the color to go with. The girls and I looked at paint colors the other day and purple was the color they wanted. Yay!

.....really need to clean my bathroom. But my Magic 8 Ball says the outcome is very doubtful.

.....feel completely exhausted. Being in Cancun and going to bed every night before 11 was really good for my system...but now not getting to bed till 2 (or 3, thank you Bella) is really getting to me. Dare I say, am I getting old? No....

.....think yesterday was probably the best day to hit the zoo...dang my laziness. Expected temp tomorrow is 91! Maybe I'll wait for Friday, with a forecast of Mostly Cloudy.

.....wish the front yard would mow itself. That would be really helpful. Last week I mowed the back and left the front for James...then, lucky him, it rained. I could leave it for him to mow this Saturday, but the girls might get lost in it looking for flowers.

Spiritually fed.

Today (yesterday, really) wasn't any kind of special day...I woke up with a rotten headache and tired from being up so late with a child that didn't want to sleep in her big-girl bed. We hadn't been to church in 2 weeks because of travelling, so I was actually looking forward to being there and feeling the Spirit. Our stake high-councilman spoke to us in Sacrament meeting about Repentance, and it hit home. I'm obviously not perfect, with my share of things to repent about. He spoke about 3 things we can do to make our repentance more meaningful:

1~Sacrifice. Sacrifice the worldly things to make room for the spiritual. (examples: sacrificing time to go visiting teaching, sacrificing 2 meals a month in fasting to help the needy, etc.)
2~Study the Book of Mormon. It's never too late to challenge yourself to read. The Atonement is mentioned numerous times throughout the pages, thru it we can truly understand the Infinite Atonement that was made. (2Ne 9:7)
3~Live each day with remembrance of what the Savior paid for the things we've done and will do. Accept that great debt and lovingly acknowledge what we owe to the Lord. Cleave to the pure. Testify of the Atonement to others.

Some real noteworthy stuff.

In Primary, our theme for this week is: My family and I will be resurrected.
The scripture: Alma 11:43, which reads:
"The spirit and the body shall be reunited again it its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt."
I read this scripture 3 times today during primary, once in our presidency meeting. Once during Sis. Smith's talk, talking about the resurrection brought her to tears and she couldn't get thru the scripture, so I stepped in to read it for her (her husband is in the ICU, unresponsive for over 2 weeks after a stroke). The the 3rd time with a child who was giving the closing scripture and prayer.
Reading 3 times the words, "and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt" with conflicting feelings. A feeling of joy...thinking of standing there, with God, in my perfect form. But also a feeling of sadness, not wanting to have that bright recollection of guilt.

So, for me, Sacrament meeting and Primary merged completely and perfectly together. And I have this feeling in my soul of happiness for these truths that I know and have learned. Repentance is key, just as living a worthy life is key to salvation....emphasis on LIVING, the ACTION.

Earth Day 2009.

Don't forget! It's on April 22nd!
I'm excited to fill this week with lots of Earth Day adventures...planting a tree, teaching about recycling, going to the Zoo, switching out lightbulbs.... Trying to make every day Earth Day.

Cancun: Part Cinco

Saturday was another chillax day. Mommalove, Lisa and I went and got our manicures, pedicures and 25 min massage. It was WONDERFUL....so wonderful, I forgot to take pictures.

After our pampering we met up with the guys and kids at the pool. The girls were just in heaven, FINALLY getting to just swim for hours! Momma and the boy. I call this the "Before and After Picture" haha. Sorry....but it's true. I love before's AND after's.

The lady behind the camera...Let me tell you, those sunglasses left an AWKWARD suntan line...thank goodness it's faded a bit.

Mmmm....sun. Aunt Lisa and the girls....playing Ring Around the Rosies. (over and over and over and over again)

After resting a bit from a long morning of swimming, we headed out for dinner. It's the hardest thing to seat 11 people, let alone all together...and the hostesses at the resorts wouldn't seat us till we were ALL there....it got a bit frustrating, but we finally got seated at the Italian restaurant, yum. I had the Filet Mignon and it was divine! yum.

I love this picture...

Sunday was a short day, since we all were flying home. We were able to eat some breakfast together, then catch our bus to the airport.

I was amazed that the girls enjoyed each other's company like 75 maybe 80% of the time. Lots of time it was like this, though:

But others, there was no recognition of personal space.

He's crying behind the glasses....so sad. Don't. want. to. leave. :(

Zonked out for the entire flight, it was bliss (well, for me, sitting over on the other side with a row to myself.) It was a decent flight....only 30 minutes delayed this time...VivaAerobus....don't ever use this airline! Bleh. They did a SECOND purse/bag search before getting on the plane and took our water and juice we had JUST BOUGHT. Who does that?! Punks.

Poor Aube...well, both girls. Bella did a bellyflop out of a bus door and got a big ole bruise on her knee (we were lucky that was it). Aube got this shiner falling in the shower. It was easier to throw them in the shower than to fill up the jacuzzi for bathtime everyday. Esp if I wanted to just rinse off the sand. But of course, I turn my back, Aube slips and bashes her head into the seat in the shower, yikes! THEN....the next day, she collides with Rylee's head and it leaves a mark on the other eye :(. Poor kid. And I get those "why do you beat your kid" looks.

As soon as we got back to the hotel in Austin, James made a soda run. Thank goodness for Jack in the Box being next door! Aube got her "orange" fix.

And James and I got our DR PEPPER fix! We went ALL week without Dr Pepper, since the resorts only carried Coke products. I don't mind Coke here and there, but oh MAN did that Dr Pepper taste good.

In Heaven.

Our flight got in around 4 in the afternoon, so we had time to play in Austin. We did what we love best, ate steak! Ribeye steaks that were delish! Then went and saw Monsters vs Aliens, which was SUCH a good movie!! If you haven't taken your toddler/kiddos to go see it, GO! Aube sat thru the whole thing, which is a minor miracle.

Monday we drove back home! Yay!

The end. Ü

Cancun: Part Cuatro

On Friday morning, we headed out to go snorkeling in a little cove south of our Resort. Like ziplining, this was something I was on the fence about...and ended up not doing, unfortunately...but I stayed back with my girls so James could go and experience it. I went snorkeling when I went to Hawaii a few years back, and it was an amazing experience. Heading off to the reef....

The girls were kinda like, eh...a boat. But they did get addicted to Orange Fanta while waiting for everyone to come back! Aube is STILL asking for "orange."

Bella not happy...she wanted to go and swim...sorry sweetheart. Looking back, I should have found us some lifejackets and jumped in with you. :(

Like I said, the boy can sleep thru anything! Such a cutie, I just want to pinch those cheeks!

Topher.

Daddy.

Lisa and Josh. There were other pictures of these two that I could post...but I love this one. Why? Because you can tell they are holding hands under the water. I love being around these two!! Miss you guys!

Papa.

Umm, yeah....lol. Jack, where are you, Jack?! (the boat tour guides LOVED to act out the Titanic scene)

After snorkeling, there were several activities that were offered. Jet ski's, speed boats, parasailing (which was cancelled due to gusting wind), ATV's and horseback riding.

The girls love horses, so I was VERY excited at the prospect of being able to do the horseback riding....it turned out to be quite the, um...experience. First off, a saddle is not comfortable with 2 people in it, duh. But 1/2 thru, Aube freaked out and I turned her around, and she promptly fell asleep with her head on my chest. Nice.

I'm not sure of the name of our horse...I was concentrating on getting my big ole butt and Aube into the saddle when they told me Ü. But he was challenging the lead guy and his horse for first place (maybe it was a chick, hehe). I could almost FEEL that all he wanted to do was TAKE off and run.

James and Bella rode TURKEY. Bella got a kick out of that. She was such a happy camper.

After riding up and back on the trail thru the "jungle", they took each person bareback into the ocean. It was at this moment that my camera decided to die. Nice, huh? I did buy the professional pictures that were taken of James and the girls (I was scared I would drop one of them in the ocean, so he was brave and took them)....I need to get them scanned so I can post them.

Upon arriving back at the room each day, we found cute little towel sculptures waiting for us! The girls were quite amazed, especially with the flowers ("Don't pull the flowers, you make it cry" says Bella).