Halloween Pics

Here's our crew - apparently its the Halloween for red hats


Lucy is a strawberry, Harper is a lady bug

And Dad is a Team Zissou member.



Greg only dresses for Halloween as characters from Wes Anderson movies.

Best Family Costume award goes to the Shields in El Paso

Thanks Grandma BB!

Two cute new outfits from BB.

I'm partial to the cherries (its reversible!)

Save me from myself

I got two Gymboree coupons for 20% off through Nov 21st. If you want your children to be adorable (see above) let me know and you can have the codes. MUST. NOT. BUY. ANYTHING.

Happy Halloween

Where's Lefty?

Somewhere between StrollerFit and home Lucy became barefoot. One of the metallic pink pedipeds is unaccounted for. If you see it, call me.

Halloweenies

Our house might get egged. I usually buy delicious Halloween candy; kitkats, 3 musketeers, and my all-time favorite Reese's PB cups. This year given that I still have a few lbs to lose, am home all the time and have no self-control, I went a more healthier route buying granola bars, packets of goldfish and the Nabisco snack packs (oreos, nutter butters, ritz)at Costco. I figured the girls could snack on the leftovers for months.

As Halloween looms I am starting to worry, am I going to be pulling tp out of the trees on Thursday a.m.?

mmmmm tiny nutter butters....

Walking Action Shots

I have video. I'm just not adept at downloading and editing. Greg promised to work on it this weekend.

Excused Absence

As I sit here with a stuffy head and nose, I realize - Mommy's don't get sick days. Instead you just lie on the floor of the playroom and hope the babies won't bite each other or pull your hair. Forget drinking plenty of liquids. The babies just cry until you give it to them.

If you are a working schmoe, you can now buy a doctor's note, fake jury summons or authentic looking funeral program from Excused Network to take a day off.

Does the "I have diarrhea" excuse not work anymore?

First Step: Admitting you have a problem

Somehow, since having these two, I have developed a hard core habit. Diet Dr. Pepper. I do 1-2 cans a day. Depending on how the day is going. I've had one so far. Its Thursday and I feel like it should be Saturday. Harper is not napping. We all have runny noses and I just want to sip tea and sleep. I see another can in my afternoon.

Fuzzy Math

Total Sales from AMOM sale: $237.50
AMOM fee: $23.75
Rack fee: $5.00

Check total: $208.75

Babysitting expenses (to work sale prep): $60
Red shirt to work: $18
Travel/meter: $15
Pins, index cards: $3

Reimbursement for the remaining fees from MBF after cancelling my membership: $24

So, in hard costs, I cleared about $136.


Let's look at it from a time value of money standpoint.

Estimated hours worked: 12

Let's say a marketing consultant bills roughly $75/hr and assume I could actually get a project. Basically I lost $836.

I worked mostly to get first crack at the stuff for sale, and then didn't get that much stuff. I think its only worth it if you have a ton of stuff for sale. The larger items I could have craigslisted, and ebayed or consigned the clothes.

Artsy

We've been doing "art projects" which involves Harper hoarding and eating the crayons, and Lucy playing with the crayon box.

Here Kitty

Lucy and Harper love nothing more than getting some quality time with Angus.

Love Ya, Babe.

Happy 3rd Anniversary to my hot, sweet, smart, funny husband.

I love you more than ever, and you are a wonderful Daddy to our two beautiful little girls.



from thoughtful husband

Adorable Bedding - get it while its hot

Serena & Lily, baby bedding to the stars (and Lucy and Harper) is having a friends and family sale. The website now takes orders and you can get beautiful baby, child or queen-sized bedding for 30% off. Enter FRIENDS in the coupon code. This stuff is awesome. The fabric is great quality and all their combinations are adorable without being to fussy or cheesey babyish. And I'm not just saying that because Serena is a dear friend.

Harper and Lucy's bedding


Makes me want a boy!


Are the girls ready for big girl beds?

Shoe Hog

Harper was very fixated on carrying as many shoes as possible last night. I tried to give her another one, but it didn't match and she threw it across the room.

Gag me

A couple times over the last couple of days I have heard gagging noises coming from Lucy. I run over, ready to perform the heimlich manuever, only to discover that she is gagging herself with her hand. I can't figure out if she is just testing her gag reflex, or maybe has some molars starting to come in, but yesterday she even threw up a little bit after dinner. I didn't think my cooking was that bad...

Due Date

Yesterday was Harper and Lucy's official due date. Which means that now even in adjusted age they are one year. They celebrated by walking around like crazy. Harper can even make turns. Lucy felt the pressure and stood up to take a few steps of her own.

Instead of being born, here is what L&H were doing a year ago

Miss Almond Butter Head

I was googling pictures of a tree (city is doing a free tree program) during snack time of banana and almond butter sandies. Big mistake. Now when preparing meals I have to factor in nutrition, appealing to picky palates, what I actually have on hand AND what is easy to clean out of hair.

New Fall Duds

more clothes procured eBay. Not regretting it so far.

Rearranging Mommies Shoes

Is it time to get rid of the pumps covered in a layer of dust yet? Will I ever wear high heels again?

Outside Play

Now that the weather has cooled off somewhat, we have been able to play outside. When we don't have the energy to get to our favorite park up the street, we make our own fun in the yard.

Picky, Picky

Its happened. My darling babies who would eat anything you gave them have turned into picky toddlers. They no longer like mixed vegetables. Won't touch grapes or berries. Not fans of meat unless its disguised. *Sigh*

Things they do love:
- bananas
- yogurt
- applesauce
- macaroni and cheese
- waffles and breads of all sorts
- Cheese

Basically, they are carb and dairy kind of gals. I've been trying to sneak stuff in. I put pureed carrots into the mac n cheese, which worked on Lucy, but not Harper. Today, though I got them to eat a bunch of the carrots by mixing them with apple cinnamon yogurt. Almond butter is another way I get in protein, especially putting it on top of their waffles.

Here are two recipes I've used that have worked lately:

Beef Casserole (from Oganic Baby and Toddler Cookbook)
2tsp good-quality vegetable oil
2 onions, sliced
1 tsp paprika
1 1/2 lb stewing beef, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/4 cup plain flour seasonsed w/ salt and pepper
1 x 13 oz can chopped tomatoes
1 large potato, cut into chunks
4 carrots, cut into chunks
2/3 cup water
1/4 lb squash, pumpkin, eglpant or peas optional (I used squash)

Preheat oven to 325

Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onions and fry until soft (5 minutes)

Add paprika and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Toss the meat in the seasoned flour and add to pan; stir for a few minutes while the meat browns.

Add the tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1.5 - 2 hours either on stovetop or preheated oven.

Add squash, pumpkin, eggplant or peas, if using, for the last 10 - 15 minutes of cooking.

Chicken Pot Pie (Paula Deen w/ adjustments)

10 oz cheddar cheese soup
10 oz cream of celery
1/2 cup milk
1 rotisserie chicken - shredded
1 med onion
2 10 oz packages of frozen peas and carrots
pillsbury refrigerated pie pastry

In large sauceman, heat soups and milk. Stir in chicken, onions, peas, carrots salt and pepper until mixture boiles. Remove from heat. Preheat oven to 350. Put one pie crust into a pie pan. Pour in filling. Top with other pie crust (cut into lattice). Dot with butter. Bake for 45 minutes.

Endless Summer

Its still 80/90 degrees. Actually, it IS cooling off to a delightful temperature overnight and is nice in the morning. We went and picked out our pumpkins today at the church up the street and got some fun shots.

Big Night Out

The other advantage of the Buy/Sell was that it got me out of the house and to happy hour (before) and dinner after. I met Eileen at Stephen F. where we sat at the bar and ate the most delicious scallops and a crabcake and for dessert, an awesome flourless chocolate brownie.

Oliver Stone was sitting at the bar right across from us and smiled at us. Of course, Eileen thought he was Quentin Tarrantino, and we had to ask the people next to us who he was. We tried to buy him a drink, but he left before we could.

After Freddy joined us and endured our singing while he ate his burger. We headed over to a bar that is owned by the current Bachelor. Noone was in there at 9:45, but we had fun sitting in the VIP areas and being nerds. Eileen was dancing around the corner and saw the Bachelor and his twin brother came in. Hotties. I tried to scoot out before we were spotted, but Eileen had previously met them, and said hi to Chad (the brother). We chatted for a while and like an idiot I say, "I have twins." I'm so cool.

Thanks Grammy X

We got more delicious clothes from Grammy.

Here is Lucy in the shirt...

Unwanted

Some of our stuff came home with us, including some of our cuter outfits from Janie & Jack. I probably had them priced too high. I was kind of secretly happy to have the cuter items back. If H&L have a little sister, she's going to be styling. Or my friends daughters are going to be styling. Either way.

Swag

Here is what I got at the sale...

For the girls:
- 2 pr black patents ($2 each)
- 2 corduroy jumpers ($3 each)
- lots of jammies
- 2 hats & mittens ($6 total)
- adorable and soft fair isle sweater - $4?
- fisher price barn
- fisher price tractor thingy where animals pop out

For others
- FP booster chair ($12)
- various sweaters and outfit for niece

overall, I think I spent like $80

Don't know if I'll make as much as I spent, but I did sell both my high chairs and the einstein exersaucer, so I should. Have to go back this afternoon to pick up the items that were unsold. Hopefully, my load will be a lot lighter.

Buy/Sell Hell

Twice a year AMOM (austin mothers of multiples) has a resale. I decided to participate this year to sell some of our excess and to get the privilege of shopping the sale early. This was before I couldn't restrain myself from buying Fall clothes already.

Get my stuff together. Realize I have a hard time letting go of some of the adorable tiny baby clothes. Someone pre-buys my costliest item. Realize I will need to get a sitter from the expensive temp agency to work one of my set up shifts b/c Greg is out of town.

Is this going to be a cash positive endeavor? Doubtful.

Get ready to go today. I have Jessica come to help watch them while I get ready, the sitter is coming 1/2 hour later. Jessica will get them all acquainted while I scurry off and put them down for their nap. The sitter will cover about 1.5 hours until I get back.

Except sitter #2 never shows. Fifteen minutes later I call Mom's Best Friend (product plug) and report that she doesn't show.

MBF: "She didn't call to confirm?."
Me: "No. Noone told me she was supposed to?"
MBF: "That's not like her. I'll take care of this and get right back to you."

30 more minutes. No call. No show. Finally, I leave with a half-assed plan involving Jessica driving the girls to the church where I'm setting up, or me just coming home. While I'm gone, Jessica calls their emergency line. Nobody answers.

I give the options to the coordinator at the sale - either the girls come, or I drop my stuff and go home. Bring 'em on.

Jessica comes in my volvo with twins in tow (waking them early from their nap). Takes Greg's trooper to class.

My fun day continues with;

- a bad broken thumb nail. This sounds lame, but I swear it hurts.
- Harper takes a dump during the set up, and REFUSES to let me lay her down to change her. I have to pin her with my leg. Furthers my reputation as a bad mom.
- Jab my eye into a clothing rack, and get a slight cut.

Come home. Still no call or email from MBF.

We did dinner and bubblebaths. To bed about an hour early.

Bonus. I didn't spend as much on a sitter. Maybe I'll actually end up in the black. If I don't find something awesome deals, I'm going to be pissed.

Here is the state of Harper's pants after crawling the gym floor

Happy Birthday TJ!

It's Official. She's a Winner.

Congratulations, Pink Lady!


She won the Austin Chronicle's 2007 Best Blog and Best Blogger award (reader votes). If you haven't yet, check out InThePinkTexas.com

Typical A.M.

Fighting with light sabres.


Vying for the beloved strawberry hat


Kissing and making up (precious)