Kelsey and Kwincee's Playdate

Kelsey's friend Kwincee came over today for a playdate. Kelsey was soooo excited that Kwincee was coming over!!! The girls had the best time doing all the things 4 year old girls love to do: play dress-up, play kitchen and of course put on make up! They must have put on four coats of lipstick in the first 15 minutes she was here! Here are some pics of their afternoon!

And here are their BEAUTIFUL faces with all of that lovely make-up!

They had a great time! Thanks for letting her play Tiff!!

I have been TAGGED by Trista

The purpose of this blog is to write 8 things people do not know about me (Thanks Trista!!). I am actually excited to do this because it is making me take a minute out to think about myself. Sounds selfish, but I put most all of my days into my husband and kids, so its fun to take a minute and think about what makes me...well ME! Sidebar-If my sister Rae ever takes a minute to read this blog she will know all eight points. She is the one person who knows me inside and out!

1. I like to go fishing! Shocking enough for you? Adam and I go almost every summer at least once and I LOVE IT! You should see my face when I have a fish on the line! Sheer joy! It is the most amazing feeling to know you can actually catch your food. Though I have never eaten a fish I caught, technically I could feed my family with my handy fishing skills!

2. I am a complete FOODIE! I love food! Every aspect of it. I love cooking it, smelling it, tasting it..... I cook a full on dinner every night. My sister says I over cook but I dont care! I love the Food Network! Rachael Ray was the show that totally got me into cooking. I love seeing a great recipe on tv, and running to the store to get all the ingredients to make it for dinner that night. Some things turn out great, and some things....lets just say they dont make it to the dinner rotation. My husband loves it and even eats my not so great meals. I also love eating out! Mom and Pop restaurants are my favorite! I love family owned places or little cafes that not many people know about. I hate chain restaurants. I dont think they have any character. And finally Sushi is my favorite food. When I am PMS-ing Wasabi is my best friend! Adam always knows when its "that time of the month" because I will become obsessed with sushi. Luckily for me he loves it too!

3. I love Fantasy Football! This is the first year for a while that I have not been in a league. My team name is "Diamond Divas" and my slogan is "Shine On!" I love watching football and my favorite team is the Oakland Raiders. Adam and I used to have season tickets, but it is too hard to try to make it to CA every other weekend to watch a losing team. I still watch them every Sunday, totally decked out in my Raider Gear!

4. I love karaoke! And I can't carry a tune to save my life! I think karaoke clubs are so much fun! Some people are really talented, some are not so talented and some....well some are just plain embarassing to watch! The last time I was home in Jersey my best friends and I found a GREAT karaoke (am I spelling that right?) place! Here is a pic of me singing my heart out...off key of course!

5. My pinkie toes are not in line with my other toes! Crazy huh! They dont rest on the ground like the rest of my toes, they are always perched up. Maybe TMI, but hey I bet you didnt know that!

6. I love Talk Radio! In particular 570 KNRS. I always listen to Dr. Laura (I dont always agree with everything she says, but she makes some pretty good points!) and I LOVE Glenn Beck. I would consider myself a "Sick Twisted Freak" (thats what he calls his listeners). Some people hate him but I think he is hilarious. One of the people who hate him is Kelsey! She always says "Ugh I HATE Glenn Beck Mommy!" That is what is so great about TV's in the car. She puts on her headphones and watches Snow White for the 400th time and I can hear Glenn Beck in peace!

7. I love celebrity gossip! I read People magazine religiously! I know, I know I should be reading something more uplifting and positive, but come on, dont you want to know about Britney's latest train wreck disaster?

8. And finally, like Trista, I hate sleeping alone. I dont really sleep when I am alone because I am scared! Growing up I shared a room with my sister Rae, by choice not because I had to, then I always had roomates in college and now I am married. When Adam is out of town, I pile his pillows up along my back so it feels like there is someone sleeping behind me. Then I take one of his tshirts and put it on top of my pillow case so I can still smell him while I sleep. Okay so that was definitely TMI but I love the way he smells and I hate when he is gone. Have you ever noticed how creepy your house is when you are home alone! I always think the people in my picture frames are staring at me. I have issues!

Well I dont have many blogger friends but I would love to Tag Tiffany (even though Trista tagged you too), Darren and Rae. Rae wont answer but I would love to see what she would say if she did!

Potty Potty Potty Where is Maya's Potty?

Okay we have lift off!!! After weeks of hearing "NO POTTY!" Maya finally went and sat on the potty!!!!!!!! We are sooooo proud! She didnt actually make any potty, but she sat on it for 20 minutes reading books! Its a great start!!!! Adam is such a great dad. He sat in the bathroom the entire time reading books and singing songs with Maya. And of course we had George keeping her company as well! I will keep everyone posted on her progress!!

Crafts and Reading

As many of you know I am the room mom for Kelsey's preschool class. This morning we had the opportunity to make the "feathers" for their Indian Headresses (okay not PC but come-on they are in preschool!) for their class "Thanksgiving Feast Party". Each feather was made from colorful construction paper. Talk about tedious! Kelsey had soooo much fun working on the headresses. She loves that I am the room mom and I love it too. For their Thanksfiving feast each child gets to bring in their favorite food to share with the class. I asked Kelsey what she wanted to bring in and she said, "Roast Beef!". I laughed and said not everyone may like roast beef. She then decided that Spaghetti was an even better idea. So thats what we are doing! I don't know how many people want spaghetti at 10 AM, but I am happy to make it if thats what she wants. Here are some pictures of us making the feathers.

Maya loves reading as most two year olds do. We read books all day long. Kelsey has been reading a new series of books in preschool called Sight Word Readers. It focuses on recognizing words that are commonly used in books and life around us. Words such as like, look, me, you, that, etc. The books are about 6 pages so Kelsey is able to follow along and actually memorize the books and the words! She LOVES to read the books to Maya when she has memorized them. Maya loves that Kelsey is reading to her. It is so sweet to watch the girls enjoying spending quality time together. Here are some pictures of Kelsey reading Maya this weeks book "That is Funny".

I am so grateful to be able to stay home with my children. This mornings activities may have seemed simple and silly, but the girls and I had a blast. I love watching them learn and grow on a daily basis. There is no where I would rather be than at home with my family!!

New to Blogging!

Hello Family and Friends!!

Since the people I love are spread out far and wide I am going to try and be a blogger so you all can keep updated on what is going on with our family!!! Things are crazy as usual but life seems happier the crazier it gets! Zac has started wrestling and he is doing well. It is challenging but he really enjoys it. He is also so excited to finally be in scouts! He turned the magical age of 12 on Saturday so he is officially a "Boy Scout". This is a huge deal for Zac and Adam. Adam was really into scouts growing up so he is thoroughly enjoying Zac being a part of this organization. Zac went on his first scouting campout this weekend and had a wonderful time!!

Kelsey is busy as usual with preschool and dance. This weekend was a big weekend for her as well!!! She had her first dance concert for her team! We were all soooo excited for her and she was beaming with happiness about the concert. Here are a few pictures of Kelsey in her costume and with ALL of her make-up on!Today Kelsey had dance class. She takes jazz, tap, and ballet. She is also in a duo in which she will perform a routine for competition. She loves to dance and I love watching her. Each week she gets better and better. How rewarding it is to see her hard work pay off! Here she is in her Monday dance uniform and posing with her roses her daddy got her for doing such a great job in her concert!

Maya is getting bigger everyday! She will be 2 years old in less than a month! She loves to dance and cuddle with her favorite stuffed monkey, George. She is talking up a storm!!! Her personality is so sweet and I enjoy our "alone time" when Kelsey is at preschool. Her new obsession is the Disney Princesses! She calls them all Lella (for Cinderella) or Raura (for Aurora a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty). We have been talking about the potty to Maya, but her only response is "NO POTTY!" As long as she is potty trained before preschool I am happy!

I know many of you did not get to see the kids in there Halloween costumes this year. Zac was a scary skeleton man. He actually let me put make-up on his face! I gave him a "deadly face". He was the cutest scary skeleton! Kelsey was Princess Rosella (from the Island Princess Barbie movie for those of you who don't have 4 year old girls!). She looked so beautiful! I let her borrow my tiara from when I was Prom Queen in High School. She said that wearing my "crown" made her feel like a real princess! Kelsey and Zac both had Halloween parades at their schools. Zac was chosen to be a helper of the special needs class and escort some of their students through the parade. He did a great job and we were so proud of him! Kelsey was the only student waving during the parade. Everyone commented on how she was Miss America in training! Maya was Pocohantas this year. She was not very happy about wearing a costume, but she looked darling anyway! Here are some photos of all the kids in their costumes.

Well that's all for now. I will try and update this blog at least once a week. I love you all!