What do 2 year olds do?

Georgia Kate has recently celebrated her 2nd birthday.  I can't get over how big she is getting, right before my very eyes.  Everyday she is doing, saying, eating, trying something new.  Let me show you a few things that she has been up to lately...

she plays dress up (love those clicky shoes)

she colors in her Barbie Princess coloring book (she actually spends most of her time dumping the 10 gazillion crayons on the floor, but she colors a little too)

why didn't I settle for the 8 pack?  really?  guess who picks these up 72 times a day?

she likes to sample the newest and hottest lipshades for spring (lovely, don't you think?)

this shade is called "are you kidding me?  why wasn't your mommy watching you?"

she swings in the big-girl swing (no more baby swing for me mommy, I'm 2 now!)

With that all said, happy birthday big girl.  Thank you for adding such laughter, spirit, spunk, chaos and craziness to our already zany home.  We are so glad that God gave us such a special gift 2 years ago.

Spare time (part dos)

I promised more pictures of my mediocre crafting attempts.  Here we go...

That about sums it up.  Took a sewing class the other evening with a few girlie friends and learned some great tips.  Was I ever doing so many things incorrectly.  Thanks City Craft of Dallas for setting me straight. 

Spare time...(part 1)

Greetings friends and fellow bloggers.  Thank you for always finding the time and motivation to inspire me with your creativity.  I find myself losing big chunks of time during my day sitting at my computer and looking at all of the lovely projects you have completed and found time to blog about.  

Latey, I have been bitten by the sewing bug.  I wish I could say that my sewing skills are improving, but I'd be a big fat liar.  My projects look really cute from far away.  DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT look closely at my hems, crooked stitches and sloppy craftsmanship.  Like I said, keep your distance and admire my handiwork.  Here are a few items I've done for Syd...

patchwork skirt (denim patches recycled from a shirt I've had since the 80's- time to let go) 

another patchwork skirt (lots of Ikea fabric - don't you just LOVE Ikea?)

this skirt was once mine - i cut it in half and now syd can enjoy it

another one of my skirts from the past - (cute one from anthropologie, i believe)

random picture of GK - has nothing to do with my post - just kinda cute

I'll be back with more projects.  I've been busy lately creating lots of mediocre crap.  See you soon!

Guilty Pleasures

As I was struggling with a new topic to blog about, cute Chris suggested that I write about my guilty pleasures.  Urban dictionary defines a guilty pleasure as:

1. Something that you shouldn't like but do anyway.  

            husband:  "Did you polish off that bottle of wine?"
            wife (me):  "Hmmm, me?  No, um, I think you did.  Oh, you haven't had any?  Oops, guilty."
   
      2.  Something that you love to do but hate to admit to.

            husband:  "I can't believe you are watching those Orange County housewives. Again."
           wife (me):  "I know, it's a total guilty pleasure!  Don't tell your mom I watch this trash."

Anyway, you get the picture.  Thought you might like a list of my guilty pleasures.  Hope it makes you feel better about your own vices.

• Warm chocolate chip cookies right outta the oven.  Hmmm, actually, any variety of warm cookie right outta the oven.  Can't resist and even find myself baking them and pretending they are "for the kids, honey."  
• Sleep.  Power naps, long luxurious naps, the rare morning that I can sleep in.  LOVE to sleep.  I can't remember a time when I didn't feel tired.  Can you???  
• I've said it before, and I'll say it again, love me a glass of red wine.  Love the taste, love holding that pretty stemware in my hand.  Love how it "takes the edge off a really long day."  Cute Chris thinks I might have a problem.  "It's because of the kids, honey."
• Me Time.  Selfish, I know, but aren't most guilty pleasures?  And really, how often do I get Me Time? (Running errands during nap time does not count.  That's called, "Beat the Clock.")   I love to steal away with no agenda and get lost for a while.  Sometimes I leave my phone in the car so I'm hard to reach. Don't tell my family that.
• Places I love to get lost:
• bookstores
• mani/pedi salon
• junk shops
• the aisles of Target

So, there you have it.  Just a few guilty pleasures.  Not too bad of a list.  Now go and have that glass of wine with your chocolate chip cookie.  I won't judge.


         

Snow Day - Texas Style

7 plus inches of fluffy white goodness...

Did I mention that we live in Texas?

We're really not sure what to do with all this stuff.  

Love myself a snow day though.

Words to live by...at least for this week

James 1:19 states, "My dear brothers [and sisters], take note of this:  Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."   Hmmmmm, let me park here for a second if I may.  We hit upon this verse in my Bible study this week.  The homework was to really try and live our lives according to this verse.  Piece of cake, right?  UGH!  Try as I might, I am truly struggling with this (I blame hormones - easy place to point the finger).  Let's break this down...

Quick to listen:

• even when I'm attempting to multi-task the *@"# out of things?
• even when I've heard you tell your painfully confusing story of "she's mad at me, and I was like, and she was like, and I was like..." for the 18th time?
• even when I'm exhausted and my ears are bleeding from all the listening I've done at the very end of my day?

YES.

Slow to speak:

• even when I know the right answer and can save a whole lot of time sharing that answer with you, instead of waiting for you to figure it out?
• even when I feel that I have something more important to say? -(I am sooo guilty of trumping people with my one-upsmanship - forgive me)
• even when I blow a gasket and loose my ever-lovin' temper - again?

YES.

Slow to anger:

• even when I walk in from a long day only to find that my trusty golden doodle has rummaged through the overflowing trash and has drug most of it onto the white rug in the living room?
• even when adorable Georgia Kate dumps her entire bowl of mac and cheese on her freshly shampooed hair?
• even when the dishes are piled in the sink, the laundry has taken over the utility room, every puzzle piece we have can be found in every room in the house and I don't have a single thing in my closet of clothes that fits?  

YES.

I will try and remember this verse from the book of James, despite how tired, grumpy, aggravated, hormonal I happen to be.  I promise to try.  I promise. 

State of the Union - Arnett Style

Thought it was time to check the state of our union here on the home front. 

• Yes, I'm still getting up everyday (nearly everyday anyhow) and making breakfast for my very appreciative children.  Today's meal was Ebelskiver (pancake puffs for the laymen) and thick sliced bacon.  Yummy!

• Haven't made it to to gym.  Not once.  Not at all.  Not even kidding.
  
• I have to say that I've felt a bit happier lately.  Could be all the self-medicating I do in the evenings.  Thanks Target Box 'o Red!

• Starting a mother-daughter Bible study next week with Sydney (10 year old daughter).  Very excited about that.  
• Cole (9 year old son) won his school spelling bee and finished 5th in the district bee.  Sweet boy can spell but can't always find his was to the mailbox.  Love that child!
• Georgia Kate (22 month baby girl) has become quite the chatty Cathy lately.  Thankful that I can cancel the appointment with the speech pathologist - for now!  Just kidding about that speech pathologist remark, btw - I'm a bit neurotic.  Must be the teacher in me.
• My lovely husband has been quite the busy bee lately.  He has cleaned and organized the garage (notice the bikes hanging from the ceiling), climbed on the roof (TWICE) and repaired a pesky leak, fixed loose boards in our fence, installed a dishwasher (with the help of our plumber - good try honey) and has spent lots of time putting his culinary skills to work.  Way to go Chris!  

• Anything else???  Happy to be blogging about complete nonsense.  Thanks for indulging me and stopping by!  Later gator!
  

(Cole at school spelling bee - what a champ!)