....sunday too!

Oriental sweetness...


and a baby shower for a friend

Our weekend in pictures...

Busy busy busy on this wonderful weather weekend! We started it off with a trip to the park with cousins and friends. In the middle was an "Easter Photo Shoot" a week or two late, but who's counting, and at the end was a pretty oriental girl and a baby shower for a friend. My heart is full!



Friday - Fun at the park!



Easter again!






ummm yah- that's 8 kids, ages 6 and under. And Auntie Rachel has our 9th cousin on the way!
She has some amazing shots up on her blog of this picture session!

"Yesterday...

was plain awful,

but that's not now, that's that!"

Recognize the song- my favorite from the movie Annie! With all the crazy sickies I had to steal some moments away to create. The scan pretty much ruined its tone, but it's bright red cardstock, and the flower is red too. The birdy is a pretty green(not grey). Anyway- thought I'd better work on Maya's last birthday before the next one comes up.

In the last 48 hours(10 on Tuesday)

I have...
1. done 6 loads of laundry
2. unloaded, loaded and unloaded the diswasher
3. made 25 mailing envelopes for new prospective students
4. burnt 20 recital practice music cd's for current students
5. eaten 2 Hostess chocolate cupcakes(you know with the cute white rick rack on the top and filled with cream)
6. used my hand to intercept throwup from Maya's mouth to the couch
7. stayed up too late catching up on Oprah's and ER on DVR because I couldn't stand to go to bed while Maya was coughing her brains out.
8. took my sick daughter to the doctor and then to the pharmacy where we waited for 35 minutes to get her prescriptions. She was so good as she read me stories from the free "lower your blood pressure" magazine.
9. went to the grocery store and the bank
10. finished crafting my sister's 21st birthday presents
Somehow there are more not fun things on this list than fun ones. Calgone take me away....

24 in 15

Yesterday at church I was involved in a discussion about how moms try to do 24 things in 15 minutes. I had to laugh because today I am trying to do that very thing. Trying is the key word here. Can Monday be over yet?

Easter happenings.....

So- I had one of those days where I brought the camera but didn't use it very much. We are having a family post-easter photo shoot pretty soon, so I hope to get some pictures then. Besides- it was 32 and snowing on Easter. Only in Ohio.....

All smiles dyeing eggs!


I can't even begin to express the excitement at our house by this 2.5 year old when above video was seen in her Easter basket. I swear, being the dance mom I am, that I did not train her, coax her or even push her to like this movie. It just happened. Am I proud of her though- very! Can I sing every song in this movie- yes. And I just happen to like it. Go ahead make fun...

Coons in them there parts (part 2)

The Racoon doesn't like Q104. (that's a local radio station for you out of towners) After we left the garage radio and the lights on all night, the racoon decided to take up residence elsewhere. There were no babies and no nest. He just had enough of JT and Beyonce and walked his little self out the door. It's been 2 full days and no sign of the coon. But just in case he misses his little hotel, the lights and the radio are still on! All doors closed!

Coons in them there parts!

It's contagious! Sure- I felt awful during Marie's awful encounter with racoons over at her house. But also relieved because it wasn't happening to me. Now it is. Over the past week, there have been strange things happening in our (new mind you) garage. We found two bags of bird seed that were never there before. Good timing though cuz Maya picked out a cute little bird house at Hobby Lobby and we put some in it to attract some birdies. Anyway- this morning I go to back out of my garage and I run over something. So I pull back up, look and our whole pile of lawn chairs was on the floor. Chalking it up to them just sliding down, I picked them up and put them back against the wall. When I looked up I saw some other mysterious things. Maya's little tykes basketball hoop fell over(we put it in the garage because it started SNOWING!). More birdseed on the floor, knocked over things....So I told Ben this afternoon when he got home from work. At around 4pm we all go into the garage(all meaning the three of us), Ben loads up my trunk with some newly delivered UPS boxes of dance costumes. I show him all the messed up things that have happened. As we are talking, I look up into the rafters- totally doing that not expecting to see anything- and there he is. THE RACOON! After Ben put the gutters on the garage last summer, he got black coiled piping to hook to the ends that runs the water down to the street. So he bought too much and threw the rest up into the rafters. Hence the racoon's nest. It wouldn't look at us. We quick put Maya in the car and just stared at it. Making loud noises to get its attention. It never looked up. So now- we are putting a trap in the garage tomorrow. I guess they like bacon. We have some bacon. Right this minute both cars are parked in the driveway, the garage light is on and the radio is blaring. Two things that racoons hate. Maybe this will cause it to leave on its own. Which would be great except, maybe it's a girl racoon and maybe there are baby racoons up there. lovely. one. big. happy. family. Stay tuned for part two of the saga-"coons in them there parts".

Just Random...

• American Idol- so how do you think Sanjaya feels seeing all these great singers go off before him. I cried right along with Gina tonight....


• Candles- I know I have a toddler, but mmmmm I love me some freshly poured Candlelights on Broadway candles. I have missed candles so since having a child, but I decided if I put them in a high place and light them when she is sleeping they are soooo good. Brought me peace today when I really needed it.


• Mom Fix- I had a fun surprise visit from my Mom today. I really miss her now more than ever. I think you just need your mom more when you become a mom yourself.


• Cappucino- a vice, a favorite, a sweet warm afternoon reward. Enjoyed it with my candles and magazine after my mom left. Helped ease her leaving.


• Weather- it's 30, yesterday it was 75 and we were playing with Maya's sand and water table outside in t-shirts and capri's. I...just...don't....get....it.


• Dyeing eggs this weekend. Kind of excited because I think Maya will understand it and remember it this year.


• What to make to bring for Easter dinner?


• Thankful for family who jump in when you need them.


• And since blog posts are boring without pictures(unaltered, unfixed because I haven't had time yet):

My beautiful blue eyed nephew next to a window- the natural light was scrumptious.

In a blur at the Church Easter egg hunt- my sweet daughter had her eye on the egg across the room as she dropped this one into her basket. It's funny how fast kids catch on to things.

Look Mommy!