My Sweet Niece

 

My sweet niece, Eden, was born on Saturday.  Isn't she the most precious thing ever?
 

 

Harper is very smitten with her.
 

So are her brother and sister.



 

Welcome to the world sweet girl.

Elfie and a Christmas Parade

Well, Elfie is back again this year.  

 

 

Harper has decided she has some very important questions that need to be answered.

 

 

 

 

 

We also participated in the local Christmas Parade on Saturday with Harper's brownie troop.  It was a perfect day.  Can you tell from the red faces that it was in the 70's.  The girls (and Miller) had a blast.

 

Neverending Projects

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We took full advantage of the long weekend.  I have been horrible about remembering my camera lately, so I have no photos to show.  I am not sure what is wrong with me lately.  I think that is a big reason I have not been blogging very much.  I don't have any photos to share.

 

Anyway, I thought I would show you what we have been up to in regards to the house.  Mitch built us a nice dining room table last week.  He was able to reuse the legs from our old craft table so he only had to buy the wood for the top of the table.  He is still in the process of sealing it.  I think he has at least one more coat to go. 

 

Mitch originally made the table below that we were using as a craft table and then a computer desk. Before the kids were born we had one whole room dedicated to a dining room, which is why the table was so big.  Now with our limited space it just doesn't make sense any more.   The plan is to make a built in computer area with shelves, so we decided to take this table apart and use the legs for our new table.

 

 

We also felt like the round table that we had did not fit the space very well. So the plan was to put the new table in the corner where the round table is in the photo below.  Now we aren't too sure.  We may make an eating area in the playroom/study. I really liked the openness after removing the round table, so I am not sure about adding a table back in there now.  Who knows what we will end up doing.  Mitch and I like to change our minds and rearrange furniture every couple of weeks. 

 

 

The last time I showed you our living room it looked like this.

 

 

A few weeks ago we bought a new couch that fits the space a little better. We searched and searched to find a sectional to fit our strange space.  We finally settled on the one below.  It's from American Signature.  We are loving it so far.  It's nice that we can all sit on the couch comfortably and it fits the space perfectly.  It always cracks me up when I upload my photos and see Bailey photobombing my photos. 

 

 

Eventhough our house is still very much a work in progress, every little project brings us closer to having the house put back together just the way we want it.   Maybe one day I will have a final reveal to show you of all the rooms finished. 

 

Since we removed the craft table from the playroom, I was actually able to find a place for the Christmas tree.  Yeah!!  I borrowed a small desk from work for the computer so we still have a place for the computer until we can figure out what we are doing in this room.

 

 

 

Happy Tuesday everyone!!

Fall Fun

We raked up the last of our leaves yesterday.  Of course all the kids wanted to do was play in the leaves.  It did make for some nice photo opportunities though.  I have been horrible about taking photos, so it was fun to spend some time snapping photos of the kids.   Be prepared for photo overload.
 

 

 

 

Happy Monday everyone!!
 

University of Tennessee Football Game

Mitch and I both graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.  We have made it back for a few football games over the years, but have never taken the kids.  We decided they were probably old enough to enjoy a game.   So this weekend we took them to their very first game.  We all had a blast.

Here's Harper sporting her new UT shirt courtesy of her Grammie. 

 

We got to Knoxville early enough to see the band make its way to the stadium.
 

We walked around a little bit before the game.  Harper was able to participate in a demonstration by the Physics department.

 

Then we made our way to Neyland Stadium.
 

The day started out a bit cold, but warmed up as the day went on.  We all had a great time. I was surprised that the kids never did get bored at the game.

 



I think we have decided to make this an annual tradition.

Halloween 2012

 

This year for Halloween Miller decided to dress up as a knight and Harper dressed up as a dutch girl. Harper's costume belongs to her Grammie.  It was a costume she wore when she was a little girl.
 

The kids carved their pumpkins last Friday so they are looking a little shriveled.
 

 

She's just missing wooden shoes.  I think those would have made trick or treating more difficult though. 
 

Miller with one less tooth.
 

 

Miller has been way into The Lord of the Rings lately.  See the ring hanging on the necklace around his neck?

 

Miller has never really been into dress up, but he has been wearing this costume around.  It is so cute to see him get into character. 

 

The kids had a blast trick or treating with their friends.  It was another successful Halloween. Now I have to figure out what to do with the mountain of candy they brought home. 

 

Have a great weekend!!

Catching Up On The Kids

 

It's been a couple of months since I did a catching up on the kids post, so here is what they are up to these days.

 

They both had all of last week off for Fall Break.  Miller especially liked all of the time off of school.  They got to hang out with their cousins and grandparents for part of the week.  Then we took a day trip to Mammoth Cave on Thursday. 

 

Miller's baseball season wrapped up on Saturday.  He really improved this season.  I think things have finally clicked into place for him.  Although it was fun to watch him play this season, I am glad the season is over.  Miller seems to be enjoying school this year.  In the last month his interest in reading has skyrocketed.  He is constantly asking us to spell things and trying to read anything in sight.  It is so exciting that he is interested in learning and we are not having to force him to read every night.  He is obsessed with Legos, The Avengers, and The Lord of the Rings.  Miller lost his very first tooth yesterday.  As soon as I get a good photo, I will post it. 

 

 

Harper is still a blue belt in Tae Kwon Do.  She goes several days a week, which keeps us all busy.  She is still enjoying Brownies.  They have participated in some fun events this year.  Her favorite was a synchronized swimming class they took at the local recreation center.  She has also joined a Destination Imagination team at her school.  She is really excited about it.  Third grade is definitely more challenging this year, but she seems to be taking it all in stride. 

 

I will be back on Thursday with some photos from Halloween.

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie Recipe

 

 You know we are all about smoothies at my house.  Well, if you are like me I can't get enough of pumpkin right now.  This smoothie definitely satisfies that craving.  The kids love it too.  It makes the perfect after school treat.

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie- serves 4

Ingredients:

1 can of pureed pumpkin ( I use the organic stuff from Whole Foods)
2 bananas (frozen would make it extra yummy)
2 cups of milk of choice (I use almond milk)
1 tbsp of maple syrup
1 tsp of vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger

Place all the ingredients in the blender. Blend away and enjoy.  Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon to make it extra special.

A Day In The Life- Tuesday- Part 2

Well, here's the rest of my Tuesday.   I am not going to detail every bit of my work day because that would just be to hard to document.  I will just include the important stuff like what I ate.

9:30 am- I decide to have a second cup of green tea. 

10:05 am- I drink my green smoothie.  It was extra good today.  It must have been all those sttrawberries.

11:30 am- Lunch.  We order out on Tuesdays.  Today we chose Panera.  I had a cup of vegetarian black bean soup and half a greek salad. 

2:20 pm- I eat an apple for a snack. 

2:50 pm- I am still hungry so I snack on some wasabi rice crackers.

3:00 pm- I leave work.

3:13 pm- I get home, check the mail, and change clothes.

3:30 pm- I make the kids a snack- a cut up pear and graham cracker with nutella.  I make myself one too.  Then I decide I need another one.

3:40 pm- The kids are home.  They run to see what I made them for a snack.  They eat their snack while watching a little TV.  I let them eat their snack and chill out for awhile, so I can sneak in a workout.

3:45 pm- I look through the kids folders.  Sign Miller's behavior chart.  He got a smiley face today. Sign Harper's planner and Tuesday packet.  I check to make sure that Harper doesn't have any homework.

3:50 pm- I grab some water and get ready to workout.  I am doing Jillian Michael's Body Revolution workout # 8.

3:55 pm- I start working out.

4:30 pm- I am finished working out.  I rest for a minute then get started throwing together something for dinner.  Miller has a baseball game tonight so I have to make something that is easy to eat and quick to make.  I am making breakfast burritos for the adults and ham and cheese roll ups for the kids.

4:35 pm- I decide to make the kids lunches for tomorrow while I have all the ingredients out for ham and cheese roll-ups.  Harper has to be at school at 7:30 tomorrow so my Wednesday morning will be a little crazy.

5:00 pm- The kids lunches are made.  They sit down to eat their dinner.  Mitch and I also sit down and eat our dinner really quick.

5:10 pm- Miller gets dressed for baseball.  I pack up snacks for the game. I get Miller's water bottle ready.  I  clean myself up and change out of my sweaty clothes.

5:25 pm- We head to the baseball field.

5:38 pm- We arrive at the ball field.  Harper and I go for a quick walk since the game doesn't start until 6:00.

6:00 pm- Harper and I watch Miller's game.  Mitch is the coach so he is busy on the field.  Harper and I help out in the dug out.

7:30 pm- The game is over.  We hand out snacks and wait for all the players to leave.  We head home.

7:47 pm- We get home and bathe the kids really fast. I change into PJs and wash my face.

8:00 pm- Harper brushes her teeth and gets in bed to read.  Miller decides he now wants to eat his dinner.  While he eats, he reads me his assigned book for the day.

8:14 pm- Miller brushes his teeth and gets into bed.  I read to him until 8:30 and it's lights out for both kids.

8:35 pm- Miller has requested overnight oats for breakfast tomorrow.  I get the ingredients all mixed up.

8:42 pm- Miller is up.  He wants me to lay with him.  I tell myself that he won't want me to do this much longer so I should enjoy it, but I am actually frustrated.  I am ready to go to bed myself.

8:45 pm- I leave Miller's room.  I sit down to write this post, but the internet isn't working.  I type it up anyways and make a copy in Word in case I lose it.

9:05 pm- I floss, brush my teeth, and get into bed.  I read in bed until 9:55.

10:00 pm- I am fast asleep.

A Day In The Life- Tuesday- Part 1

It's been awhile since I have done A Day In The Life post, so I felt like one was due.  I love looking back on these and realizing how much has changed or not changed.  So here is my Tuesday morning documented.  I am breaking it up into 2 parts so that it is not one huge boring post.

6:21 am- Miller's awake, which means I am awake.  He plops in front of the TV and I go shower.

6:53 am- I am showered and dressed for work.  I even applied some makeup.

6:54 am- I ask Miller what he wants for breakfast.  He wants cinnamon toast and eggs.  I start getting the toast ready.  I also get all of our vitamins out. The kids get a multivitamin and a probiotic.  Mitch and I take a vitamin D, probiotic, and an emergen-c.

7:00 am- I wake up Harper.  I ask her what she wants for breakfast.  She wants cereal.

7:05 am- I pour Harper's cereal while Miller's toast is toasting.  Then get started on his eggs. I also unload the dishwasher while the eggs are cooking.

7:10 am- Breakfast is on the table.  The kids sit down to eat.

7:15am- I get my breakfast ready.  I usually take a bowl of oatmeal with me to eat at work.  I start getting all the ingredients together to make a green smoothie. 

7:20 am- I blend up the green smoothie.  I pour mine into a mason jar and Mitch's into his klean kanteen.  I rinse out the blender and put it into the dishwasher.

 

7:25 am- I fill up Harper's water bottle and put it in her backpack.  Then pack them snacks.  Miller wants a bar of some sort every day.  Harper prefers to have something that she can snack on while she works.  So she usually gets some sort of cracker or pretzel.  The kids are buying their lunch today, so I don't have to pack lunches.

 

7:30 am- The kids are finished eating.  They bring their plates to the kitchen and I load them into the dishwasher.  Miller also checks the weather on the computer.  He likes to know how he needs to dress for the day.

7:31 am- Harper is in her room getting ready for school.  I help Miller find some pants to wear because he didn't want to wear any of the pants in his drawer.  Lucky for me the pants he wanted to wear were in the dryer. 

7:34 am- Miller brushes his teeth.  I blow dry my hair and straighten it.

7:45 am- Miller is all dressed and has his shoes on.  I brush my teeth and check on Harper.  She is all ready to go.  She just needs to brush her teeth.

 

7:48 am- I have some extra time so I check my e-mail then get sucked into Pinterest for a few minutes.

7:55 am- We get ready to walk out the door.  Miller decides he needs a band aid on his finger.  So I slap a band aid on him reallly quick.  We grab backpacks and jackets and jump into the car.  I tried to get Miller in this photo too, but he ran away from me. 

 

7:59 am- We leave the house and head to my friend's house to pick up her girls.  We carpool with them.  I take them in the morning and she brings them home in the afternoon. 

8:03 am- We drive to school.

8:11 am- I drop the kids off at school and drive to work.

8:20 am- I get to work.  I turn on my computer, fill up my water bottle, make some tea, and get my oatmeal all ready.

8:30 am- Time to work.  Here's my view. The leaves are starting to change.  Woohoo.

I will be back tomorrow with the rest of my day.  So did anyone do anything exciting this morning?