Uhhhhhhh Really?

I've already proclaimed my love for and luck with Craigslist. Well, once again, I thought of something I wanted for the girls (a little tikes vanity table) and low and behold as soon as I searched on Craigslist, I found it. I emailed the seller and received this response, "The mirror has a few scratches on it." Big deal, we'll add more to it! The rest of the response read, "...and the chair has a screwdriver stuck in it."

WHAT?!?!

How can you NOT take pictures of these guys?

No, Dudley is not sad, that's how he always looks. And yes, I removed the tangle from his ear after taking these pictures.

Wild Child

How to Entertain a Cranky Toddler

I do some transcribing work for a How-to video company. Basically, I watch how-to videos that people send in and transcribe exactly what they are saying. The other night I learned; "How to Break up With Someone You Still Love", "How to Get a Horse to Pick up Your Hat", "What Does a Fashion Director Do?", "How to be a Christian Dating Without Getting Physically Intimate". Yes, for real. Now, I could go on and on and on but really, I'm thinking about sending in my own videos:

How to Entertain a Grouchy 2-year-old:


How to Teach Your Dog to Camp:

I have recently begun volunteering with this organization, Fertile Dreams. If you are in Florida, specifically Central Florida, please feel free to share this information with anybody and everybody!

5th Annual Paths to Parenthood Conference
Sunday, May 17, 2009

Trying to have a baby or thinking about adoption?
Get the Information you need to become a Family.

~Seminars by Internationally Known Speakers
~Latest Information on Infertility Treatment & Adoption
~How to Finance Fertility Treatment & Adoption

Registration, Breakfast & Lunch are FREE!

IVF Benefit Raffle! Over $35,000 in Prizes!

Register Online ~ Seating Limited
www.FertileDreams.org ~ 321.397.3868

9a – 430p
Marriott World Center Orlando in Orlando, Florida
Conveniently located off I-4 and the 417 Greenway

Fertile Dreams is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to offering hope to those desperately wanting to start a family. Our mission is to empower those touched by infertility, provide education, resources and assistance through our Paths to Parenthood Conferences and Embracing Hope Grant program.

501 (c)(3) non-profit organization TAX ID #202593865 ● Donations accepted

Just Think About It

Through my years of trying to conceive (TTC) and going through adoption process, I have met a lot of ladies who are trying to find their children.

Just recently on one of my boards, I've met a few very sweet ladies who have been through the ringer. The future Mommies I met have most likely been through infertility treatments, losses and/or failed adoptions. They have all been waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting for their child(ren)to come into their lives.

It breaks my heart. Every single time I hear their story, it breaks my heart.

But I'm glad that I know them. I'm thankful that they have been brought into my life.

I think about them when I am at my wit's end while helping Sasha with her math homework. I think about them as Eliana is throwing her applesauce on the floor. I think about them as I watch Sasha take 45 minutes to get dressed in morning and as Eliana pours her milk on the sofa.

I think about them because I know they would give anything to have to help with homework, clean up applesauce, dress their child who shouldn't need help getting dressed, and wipe up the milk for the 8th time in one day. They would give anything to be woken up every night because their 2-year-old/1-year-old/newborn needs milk/a diaper change/mommy. They would give anything for a child.

And because of these beautiful, strong women, I try not to get upset over homework. I don't cry over spilled milk and I give my Sasha extra time to get dressed in the morning.

Thanks to these ladies, I really am thankful for every single second of parenthood. I deal with the poopy diapers, the chewing-with-your-mouth-open, the fingerprints on the wall and the unflushed toilets.

Because of these women, these MOMMIES, I give my girls extra hugs and love, especially when I need it the most.

Thank you ladies. I know you hate hearing this, but when you hold your child in your arms for the first time, all of the heartache and the tears will just melt away. That's when you will know why you had to wait so long. That's when you know why you had to go through the sadness and the tears. That's when you know that this child was waiting just for you.

Closure

I save my receipts. I save them all until I know the product is not defective or until it's past the time that I can return it. (My Mommy taught me this---thanks Mommy.) I even wait to unpack all my groceries and check expiration dates and quality before throwing away grocery receipts.

I just cleaned out my receipt box. Yes, I really do have a box specifically for receipts.

I just THREW AWAY THE LICE RECEIPTS!!!! That means it's been a really long time since THE LICE. And I'm celebrating.

CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES. COME ON!

***Of course, as I'm writing this post, Sasha comes over scratching her head and so I break out the lice-inspector skils and see that we are all clear!***

More Music

Lovin' the Arts

Last weekend, the weather was just perfect for our local arts festival. With all the cool art, the great food and painting opportunities for kids, the girls had a blast.

A lot of fun and some fresh air will do it to you:

Ohhhhh Sasha, Sasha, Sasha....

Sasha wakes up every morning to her alarm and gets dressed all by herself. Well, she does this most of the time anyway, unless she gets distracted by a million other things and then Mommy and Daddy have to step in and start nagging.

The other day, I went upstairs to get Eliana out of bed about the time Sasha should have been dressed and almost ready for breakfast. She joined us in Eliana's room and said, "Mom! I know I put my clothes on my bed but then I couldn't find them." Since she was already FULLY DRESSED, I assumed she was telling me what had happened right before she got dressed so I answered, "Yeah, sometimes when you first wake-up, it's hard to find things."

She then left the room, I assumed to go brush her teeth and wash her face.

She came back into Eliana's room a few minutes later and declared, "MOM! I'm already wearing my clothes!"

....ahem...

We LOVE Craigslist!

I was talking online to a friend of mine and decided that I needed a children's picnic table for the girls. They enjoy playing with rocks and dirt on the patio table so that I'm ALWAYS cleaning it.

Just by chance, I opened up Craigslist and wouldn't you know that someone in my area had JUST listed a Little Tikes picnic table. I emailed her right away and we made plans to meet the next morning.

She sensed a spoiling mom in me and also offered a fantastic Step 2 easel! SCORE!!! The girls can't get enough of them.


Eliana even took her breakfast outside this morning.



And, not to be left out from anything:



Hours and hours of enjoyment for all of my babies for only $35! Mommy is happy.

Now that's a good breakfast.

Sasha's breakfast this morning:
2 pieces of challah toast with peanut butter and light honey
1 bowl of strawberries


She sat down and I heard, "Oh man, YES!" And then I guess her conscience got the best of her because after a few bites of the peanut butter and honey toast, she said, "But Mom, my health teacher says that you shouldn't eat a lot of junk food."

Imagine her excitement in learning that she was actually eating a healthy breakfast.

YOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!

You all know how much time I spend online so I know you won’t be surprised to hear about this site from me. My sister actually found it for me on her coupon site. The form letter they gave to me to send out is below but I think it’s confusing and sounds fake so I’m going to explain it the best I can. It’s a site where companies pay you to view their websites. All you do is fill out a few easy and I mean EASY surveys about your likes/dislikes/hobbies/interests, etc. and then they send you links. The links are actually fun companies and I've almost made a few purchases as I'm clicking away. The links are not through your cookies but you actually have to login to the site to get them. So don't worry about getting a bunch of junk! When you click on the links, you get paid. One click=$$$. It’s usually about .20 per link but I’m already up to $5 and I’ve only been on today. My sister has been doing it for a few days and got paid today through Paypal and a few of her online friends have also gotten paid several times so it’s legit. I actually Googled the company and it’s gotten good write-ups on eHow and this blog and this blog and here. I could go on but you get my drift; I wouldn’t steer you wrong. It’s SUPER easy. I made my first $3 while checking my email. It’s all legit, trust me I read EVERY SINGLE word in the Terms of Agreement . Did I mention how easy it is??? You won't get rich but you'll get some change for your pocket---oh no--that reminds me, I have to go play Tooth Fairy!

Anyway, if you are still interested after all that, here’s the form letter from the site:
Dear Friend,
I found something that I think you will like. The company's name is YouData (youdata.com). They are trying to convince consumers like us that we should be the ones controlling our own data and selling our own attention, not third parties like broadcasters, newspapers, and spammers. By creating a MeFile at YouData.com, I now control what ads I see and when I see them. Best part - I am selling my attention directly to interested advertisers, for real money. That's right, I get paid for giving them my attention. I can use the funds to buy music and video online, donate to charities, give to my favorite blogs and websites, or keep the change myself and do whatever I want with it.
It's real. They pay. You should check it out.
Click this link to sign up. My MeFile ID, sunshinek, in the "Referral Code" will tell them I sent you.
http://www.youdata.com/join/sunshinek
Take care,


Yada! Yada! Yada! See, isn't the form letter a little hokey?

Poker Face

Eliana was taking pictures of Dudley this morning.

"Dully, say Cheeeeese."

Unless you are feeding it to him, "Dully" is not much of cheese-kind-of-guy.

Warning!!!

I'm sure it doesn't bother you but it sure bothers me.

Someone...E-L-I-A-N-A...has adjusted the settings on my little camera and it's taking really bad pictures. Please excuse the quality while I figure out what the heck she did.

I know, I know I really shouldn't allow her to play with the camera but she really loves taking pictures and sometimes, it gives me a few extra minutes.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

All week Sasha wanted to be a Movie Star. I was very thankful for that because it's really easy to dress like a Movie Star. She wavered a bit on Wednesday thinking that she "REALLY" wanted to be a "Girl Gardener" (no gender confuision here). I knew that I would have to go to the store to get some Girl Gardener supplies and I didn't want to do that. So Matt and I tricked her into going back to her Movie Star dreams by showing her the pretty dress and fancy purse she could carry to school.

Last night, I had a meeting. The babysitter came over and Sasha kept talking about how she was going to dress up tomorrow and she was so excited. I said, "Sasha, tell Jordan what you are going to be when you grow up." She said, "I really want to be a Girl Gardener."

"Sasha! You have been telling Mommy all week you are going to be a Movie Star. Remember you can wear a fancy dress and carry your gold shiny purse to school?"

"But Mom, I just really want to be a gardener when I grow up."

Really, when they get all cute and genuine like that, what are you going to do?

I left as fast as I could, thankfully Target was on the way to my meeting, and got her some cute "Girl Gardener" clothes.
Not bad for a last minute career change, don't you agree?

Buh Bye!

Sasha worked that baby until the babysitter had to pull it out last night. Sasha doesn't mess around with loose teeth.

I wonder...

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

If an over-flowing laundry basket is placed at the bottom of the stairs so that you HAVE to walk AROUND it to get up the stairs, will your husband think to take it up?

BARGAINS BABY!!!

I'm not one for yard sales or consignment stores. I do take most of Eliana's stuff to sell at the consignment store but I rarely find anything for the girls there. I also don't like taking the time to look through racks and racks and racks and racks of junk to find my treasures. Strangely though, I am drawn to yard sales and often find myself doing drive-bys looking for that special something.

I am searching for a special something now. My current obsession is finding a bike for myself. I've been researching online and I know what I want...I think...but they are a lot of money for something I might not use, even though I have REALLY REALLY good intentions. Today, I had a few minutes to myself and decided to run into the thrift shop down the road to see if maybe they had adult bikes. :( No bikes but it's a good thing I decided to take a gander over to the clothes because I rocked the house!

For Sasha:
Osh Kosh Jumper, Old Navy Jeans, Children's Place Skirt, Handmade dress, Gymboree sweater, jean shorts, platform sandals (They are THE EXACT SAME sandals, the next size up-of course, that she wore every chance she could last summer until I made her throw them away because they were falling apart! You should have heard her scream when I pulled them out of the bag.)
For Eliana:
2 Carters Sundresses, No-name pink capris, Target skirt
For Mommy:
Drumroll please....... A Pair of Like New LUCKY JEANS!!! I'm sure they won't fit me but for $4, it's worth a shot.

Total--$27!!!! I know!!!! ***Updated to Add---there was something sticky on the pocket of Sasha's jeans even after the wash and I stuck my hand in it. That's gross. And my skepticism of bargains returned just like that!***

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I remembered to dress the girls in green today but by the time I get dressed in the morning, I'm almost brain dead for the day so I forgot my own green gear. Oh well, green isn't my color anyway!(I took these pictures this weekend which is why they aren't wearing green.)

Lunch with Great Nanny

We had a girl's lunch this Sunday with Great Nanny. Eliana was being her normal Mommy's Girl until she saw the giant muffin Great Nanny got with her meal! Great Nanny didn't even have to ask twice. Until that muffin was gone, she was 100% Great Nanny's Girl.

Playdate

We met some friends at a local Garden and had a nice storytime and stroll through the gardens. It was hot and next time I will take Eliana's stroller! I couldn't get her to pose for any pictures but she had a lot of fun taking them.


These were taken by Eliana (She took a few "butt shots" of some unsuspecting moms but those are all deleted so don't worry if you were there today with us!)

Fun

There's nothing wrong with making Sasha do all of the work!

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-BLAST OFF!!

Of course, Sasha was about 3 seconds ahead of the countdown so we heard it several times. These pictures were taken from the backyard.

The Monkeys