Park date with my cutie

The weather has been awesome in the Lou!  Awesome!  My little cutie and I decided that a park day was in order.  We stopped by Einsteins so I could use the gift card I got in my Christmas stocking for a little free lunch --added bonus.  Except.....in true form, I walked right up and paid for my Tasty Turkey bagel sandwich instead of using the gift card.  Oops.  Guess I'll have to go back again.  That is soooo me.  Anywho, after dropping off several strollers, baby toys, and our wagon off at a consignment sale (yep, that means the end of the babies around here) Teal and I headed to the park.  We ate, talked and took in the sunshine and fresh air.  After the SEVERAL field trips cleared out of the playground, little girl ran around for a good hour going down every slide and hitting every ladder and monkey bar that the playground had to offer.  Like every good DSLR toting Mama, I may have forgotten to mention that I would also be holding a photo session.  This particular park has a section of old houses and barns. The perfect backdrop for good pictures while still offering up enough fun to make Tealie feel like she is still playing.  Score 1 for me!  Here is a sneak peak of some of the pics that I took.  I call this her Holly Hobbie dress.  Since the houses took us back in time, she also needed to be sporting these Laura Ingalls Wilder braids.

On the way home, this little girl chatted the whole way.  She was full of questions and comments, mostly about the sky. I love how a 4 year old's brain works.  Her line of questioning went a little like this:

"Mama, why is the sun following us?  You know the clouds look a lot like marshmallows.  Why is the sun so big?" and the kicker....."Which cloud is God sitting on?" 

To the fire station we go!

Preschool fieldtrips rock!  The chaos, the silly questions they ask, watching the teachers trying to enforce rules off-campus.....I love it all!  Here is a pic of my beautiful girl on her very first fieldtrip! 

The Lions Class



in the fire truck!



And.......the Tooth Fairy Wins!!!

We had a little bet going in our house before Christmas.  Rino had a loose tooth for almost a month!  It was REALLY loose for two of those weeks! Our little first grader wondered who would make it to our house first, The Tooth Fairy or Santa?  She thought Santa.

Fast forward to December 22.  It was the last day of school before Christmas Break.  I was in charge of running her school Winter Party (oy!) so I arrived at school about 1:30.  As I walked the familiar halls of her school, I passed my sweet little girl who was holding a tissue to her tooth and was on her way to the nurse's office. She was back to her classroom within 5 minutes with her tooth still intact.  Barely! Just. hanging. on.  Throughout the party, she kept coming up to me to show me how close it was to falling out.  "Look Mama" she would say each time.  The loose tooth thing kinda gives me the heebie jeebies.  Even on my cute little girl.  So I would say, "Yep, we're really close" each time while also reminding her NOT to put her germ ridden hands in her mouth for the 140th time.  Germaphobe here.  Especially in an elementary school classroom in December right before the holidays.  Let's stay healthy, k?

We wrapped up the party, packed up our boxes of party supplies and headed home where Papa was watching Tealie Bear so I could be at the party.  Papa is well versed in this loose tooth thing and this tooth had to go!  He said his typical, "Let me see that for a second" that I heard many times as a child and then pluck, it was out!  Now, here's where it gets tricky.  Rino and Tealie were planning on heading out to Grandma Nan and Papa's for a sleepover so hubby and I could  go out for a holiday fondue dinner with our neighbors. 

The poor Tooth Fairy was so confused.  Luckily, she diverted her route to G-Nan and Papa's and was able to remember the address of the previous 3 girls who lost many a tooth there (well, 2, I think I was beyond losing teeth when we moved there). 

Her pillow that G-Nan made for her long ago.

The Note - she was so worried about being able to keep her first tooth.

She looked at herself in the mirror for 15 minutes!

The goods

even got a note back from the Tooth Fairy!

So fun!  What an exciting part of childhood!  Oh, and since then, she's lost another!  Here's a picture of my toothless wonder! 

doppelganger....



Look at those perfect tiger stripes on her nose!





Tealie's doppelganger!







  

Rino Moments



Precious Moments Sleeping Beauty



Tom the comedian

Jimmy Kimmel





Me and Tealie Cat








Teri Polo





So recently, we discovered that our Tealie Bear has perfect little tiger stripes on her nose when she scrunches it all up. It's so cute! This may explain her crazy obsession with cats and why we have now dubbed her "Crazy Cat Lady"!!!  Anyway, this got me thinking about a fun little doppelganger post.  Ever since Rino was a baby, I have had several people tell me that she looks "just like a Precious Moments."  I know they are an outdated collectors item, but I kind of have to agree.  That fair skin and those pink cheeks and big eyes get me every time.  And that combo works even better on Daddy!  And Tom, his doppelganger is so right on, that he changed his facebook profile to Jimmy Kimmel's picture and nobody noticed!  Even the girls thought it looked just like him.  And mine, well that's another story.  I don't really have one.  I was told once by a waitress at Houlihan's that I look like Teri Polo from "Meet the Parents".  I was also told that I look like Meryl Streep by a strange man at the Dierbergs salad bar.  Uh, whaaaaa???  Thanks but I am not that old (and this was 6 or 7 years ago)!!!  Really, I look nothing like either one of them. While it's fun having a doppelganger,  I am fine being just me!  Oh, and props to Picnic on the "special effects" on my pictures.  The girls always have fun on that site!













Reeeepunzel, Reeeepunzel!!!! Let down your Hair!

This year Tealie wanted a Rapunzel themed birthday party and that's just what she got!!! 

The birthday girl with her blinged out braid

Bling your braid station

Some of the food (served in frying pans - Rapunzel's weapon of choice)

Apples for Maximus the Horse





Jello boats

LB demonstrating how to make a food tower

braided bread

excited 4 year old

pin the nose on Flynn Rider

more braid blinging action

They're singing to me!

A little about Me -Tom

Disclaimer:  This survey was made for a girl, but I made him fill it out anyway.  I told him it was for the children.  He always agrees to that!

Guilty pleasure?

Coca Cola.  I know I need to quit...   but I don't know how.  I'm addicted. 

Recent splurge?

Well, I've recently purchased several "splurge" like items.  It's Christmas.  Oddly enough, the two most expensive things I've purchased this year for Christmas presents have both already been returned. 

In bulk, I buy?

Coke, see above, and Ice Cream.  Never want to run out of either of these.  I don't know what I'd do.

My go-to play on 3rd and long?

I've always been a big fan of the 15 yard crossing pattern where the wideouts get the corners to "pick" each other.  The Greatest Show on Turf had this mastered.  Wish Bradford would try throwing the ball 15 yards down the field....  ever.

Comfort food?

Mashed Potatoes.  They go with everything for me.

For breakfast?

Sausage Muffin and a large Coke.  $2.16. 

For dinner?

Lasagna.  Pasta House's is the best outside my Mom's or Shannon's.

Love/hate relationship with?

The Rams.  Again, see above.  I wish they didn't stink, but the ugly truth is they have for a long long time now.

Can't stop watching?

Reality TV.  I'm not as bad as Shannon, but still pretty bad.  At least I don't watch VH1, Bravo, or E! reailty tv.

Dreaming about?

Financial Security.  There is nothing, ...nothing I want more than to know that we won't have to worry about how we'll pay for the girls' college, our retirement, or being able to live our lives comfortably.  Oh, how times have changed.  I used to want to be a rockstar.    

Every guy should have?

A standing card game.  Weekly?  Monthly?  I don't, but I'd kill to have a group of guys that lived close enough to still do this.

My style in five words?

Short.  Tall.  Philadelphia.

I love wearing?

Jeans.  I spend so much of my life wearing suit pants, nothing beats changing into jeans when I get home.

Dream job?

Well, if we're back to dreaming, I suppose "Rockstar" still fits the bill.  Over the years I've met so many people that have sooo much more talent than me...   and still haven't made it.  So, I'll leave the pursuit of stardom in dreamland.

A little about Me

Thanks to my sis at Tall Blonde Blog for this fun idea!


Teal and I at her Rapunzel 4th birthday party



Guilty pleasure?

 

This time of the year, definitely mint M&M's.  This year I allowed myself 3 bags.  I had one in October when they first came out and then didn't allow myself anymore until December.  I think last year I had a bag a week.  Trying to be better about that now!

 

Recent splurge?

 

New shelves and light bar for our family room.  It was definitely a splurge but we still "saved money" with the one we chose.  Right?  It's possible to save money while buying something.  Just go with it!

 

In bulk, I buy?

 

Nothing really.  We are chronic runner outters.  We run out of something and run out to the store to get it only to be reminded that we ran out of something else and go to the store again.  Organized aren't we?

 

My go-to flower?

 

I have always liked classics so my go-to is the red rose.  I also love hydrangeas and gerber daisies.

 

Comfort food?

 

Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate!!!  Preferably chocolate with mint!

 

For breakfast?

 

Egg whites with hot sauce, green peppers, turkey pepperoni and one Laughing Cow garlic and herb cheese slice. Oatmeal with pecans and flax seed when I have less time.  Lots of coffee with almond milk and sugar-free peppermint mocha creamer!

 

For dinner?

 

This is kind of a tough one.  I really like anything cooked at home.  In the summer it's definitely barbecue chicken with Sweet Baby Rays and some sort of veggie side.  My hubby has turned into quite the grillmaster.  I also love anything Mexican or spicy. Out to eat - Buffalo Wild Wings - Buffalo Chicken Ranch Wrap with medium sauce. 

 

Love/hate relationship with?

Teaching again.  I love the kids, hate the BS that exists in schools now! 

 

Can't stop watching?

Eek.  Okay this is embarrassing.  Most reality TV!  The Biggest Loser, Amazing Race, Survivor, anything on Bravo or MTV, The Soup, Fashion Popo and my fave non-reality sitcom - How I Met Your Mother.

 

Dreaming about?

I dream about a lot.  Mostly where are we going on our next vacation or what "improvements" to the house can I drive my hubby crazy with today.

 

Every girl should have?

Great friends and family, a great "hair girl(or boy)", and an outfit that makes you feel beautful and confident.

 

My style in five words?

Classic, blue jeans, boho chic (I only wish I had enough style to pull this off), easy (get ur mind out of the gutter!), simple

 

I love wearing?

cute shoes

 

Dream job?

I have never been one to dream about my career and I was never a kid that said I want to be ______ when I grow up.  That's the honest truth. I have TOO MANY interests. Its hard to chose one thing. Being a MOM is #1!!!   Photography is my current passion. I'd like to be a school Counselor in my next life.