Thursday Happenings

 Lydia really is the sweetest little thing.  She's all smiles.

 It was laundry day 'round these parts.

 Vera tried to convince me to let Lydie sleep with her during nap time.

 This is one of my favorite cookbooks by one of the most inspiring food pioneers in America.

 My boy.

 Dinner prep

 She boycotted napping today but was clearly tired.  (Can someone answer me why both my girls suck the same fingers on the same hand?  It baffles me.)

I call Vera my sweet pea.

 She tried to "help" with laundry in the afternoon.

 Baking and cooking with Vera is one of my all-time favorite things to do.  She is so focused and loves having a project.

 We take full advantage of our backyard.

 We go on a lot of walks.  Vera insisted on being "warm" and wearing a coat and hat despite the fact it was almost 70 degrees today.  Texas girl.

 The afternoon was dragging so we loaded up and went to a store so I could return something.

 Finishing off dinner was quick tonight.

After the kids were down...Chocolate Tart with Whipped Cream.  We cut, slather, and eat standing at the counter.  No need for plates or forks here.

I Kind of Have a Thing for Lobal Decor

Hi, my name is Carey and I have an earring addiction.

When I was a little girl, pre-pierced ears, I would yearn for the pretty things that hung from cooler, older girls' earlobes.  I specifically remember an afternoon I was shopping at my all-time favorite preteen jewelry store and decided I was a 'dangly earrings' kinda girl.  I like studs and all, but I really liked the look of big, dangling, colorful, bright, unique earrings.  After much anticipation, my mom finally let me get my ears pierced at age 12.  I kept in the default cubic zirconia studs in my ears for the recommended 6 weeks, turned them every day and cleaned them gently with hydrogen peroxide.  Then at last the day arrived that I could remove those boring studs and don my sparkly girly dangly earrings.  I was a happy girl.  The end.

Annie said that you're never fully dressed without a smile, but I say, you're never fully dressed without earrings.  How about that?  Ha.

In a continued effort to reorganize, I took my jewelry box and found a way to display my earrings.  I'm thinking I'll be wearing them more often now.

(before)

(after)

I copied this idea from her.  I went to both Lowe's and Home Depot today and neither store had the decorative radiator plates that she mentioned, so I used this instead.  Now our bathroom wall is girl-ified.  :)

There's Some Impressive Lights In Our Hood

DIY Holiday Decor: Letters

I have to start off by saying I did not make these myself, but was actually gifted them from my in-laws!  I had similar gold letters that I bought several years ago that read "Noel" that I put out every Christmas, but I am convinced that they were my arch nemesis of all my holiday decor.  For the life of me, each year I could never figure out where to put them or how to arrange them.  It was the kind of thing that at the time I paid way too much money for, but hindsight is 20/20, I guess.  The previous letters ended up breaking this weekend.  They were just not designed well and ended up falling off the mantel and shattering.  I took that as a sign that I was being released from them!  :)  However, I did really like the idea of them, so my in-laws (who stayed with us for Thanksgiving) surprised me and went to the craft store to make me some similar ones.  They spray painted them and secured them on sturdy blocks (painted white to blend in with the mantle) so they would not tip over.  I have to say that I like this version ten times more than the old ones.  What a thoughtful gift, right?

My mother-in-law helped me decorate the house for Christmas this past weekend.  It was fun to do it with someone else.  She's really good at arranging things for display.  And if you are curious about the stockings, my mom hand made those for us!  I love them and they mean so much more than store bought stockings.  There are some creative women in my family.

Just So I Remember

 At 25 months old, Vera...

...is obsessed with doing somersaults, however precarious they may be.
...is beginning to identify emotion with words such as happy, sad, and mad
...likes to laugh alongside anyone.
....loves to color!
...drew a picture of a cat.
...sings songs on her own.
...knows the names of colors.

At 7 months, Lydia...
...crawls and sits on her own.
...feeds herself finger foods.
...bounces when she hears music.
...jabbers like it's nobody's business.
...lights up when I walk in the room.
...loves being held.

Animal Heaven

To celebrate the birthday girl, this weekend we went to the zoo with the grandparents.  She was in animal heaven.  Her favorites were the elephants, monkeys, and bears.  She had popcorn as a snack and chased down a gift shop cart on the go, carrying monkey accessories.  She walked herself tired and conked out in the car.  It was a good day.

Last Week

 

The Executive of Quality Control in the kitchen

 

Cold Pizza (pizza crust, goat cheese with herbs, raw veggies) 

Rolls

 

Curls

 

I died and went to heaven.

A missing appendage

 

An Elmo care package from the grandparents

Apple Pie in the works

My Wednesday