Hello, I'm back!!!!!!

This is just a quick post to let you know I will resume blogging in the very near future. December is a busy month in our household, and I'm sure yours as well! Sometimes there are gaps because, in a nutshell, my life isn't all that exciting (GASP)!!!! I have decided for 2010 to add a few new features to my blog. Ava and I do a baking project once a week so I will feature a Treat Of The Week. My goal is to have 45 new treats this year!!! I am trying to expand my baking repertoire. It will be fun. I am hoping to cure my nut/ baked goods phobia. I love both, just not together.
Since I am in a book club, I will also be featuring a book of the month. These are big plans, I hope I can accomplish them. Welcome 2010, Bring on the treats!!!!!!!!

YUM YUM

Yesterday at Darcy's 4 month appointment, the pediatrician said we should start giving her rice cereal. All I can say is,"SHE LOVES IT!!!"

Pirate Treasure Hunt

This week for family night I thought it would be fun to go on a treasure hunt around the house (thanks for thre idea Rachel). Since Ava can't read a map, I thought I would do a photo hunt. I went around the house and took pictures of things she would recognize: refrigerator, fireplace, dishwasher, etc. We started at the refrigerator, inside was a picture of her toy chest. We headed to the toy chest and inside was a picture of Darcy's dresser . We went to about 12 different places in the house that ultimately ended at the refrigerator where her treasure was, a big bowl of ice cream:) We also ate a hearty pirate dinner of....pizza and hot dogs! Atleast we ate them on pirate themed plates and drank out of pirate cups:)

Ava loved the Pirate hat until the elastic strap snapped her face

Darcy slept through most of it. I managed to get a picture of her smiling but this was actually taken the next morning with the flash off . Ava loved the hunt so I saved the pictures for something to do on a rainy day.

A Halloween recap

I know is is very late, but I guess it is better than not posting anything. We had a fun, yet busy Halloween. Ava was Snow White and Darcy was a flower fairy. I have very few pictures because I forgot to charge the battery in my camera. I just have to say for the record, "I hate my camera". Okay, I will move on.

After taking the girls to my parents, we stopped by Sonic to enjoy 50 cent corndogs and grape slushies (my favorite). Then it was off to Trunk or Treat. Ava got loads of candy and was able to make a really cute necklace. We then stopped by one of our Pastor's house who barbeques hamburgers and hot dogs in the front yard and passes them out to Trick or Treaters. After that we went home and took Ava Trick or Treating down our street. When we finished that the girls went to sleep and our friends came over to play Canasta. It was a very fun day and I slept really well that night :)

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins

I'm Pretty sure that if there were such a thing as Halloween elves, they would look like Darcy in that outfit :) I have always said I wanted to start doing a family fun night , so yesterday was our first one. Since Halloween is coming up, I chose pumpkins as our theme.
During the day, Ava and I made sugar cookie dough.

Then we used our pumpkin cutters (gotta love the DollarTree)

Darcy watched (Does this picture look semi-familiar?)

When Jason got home we decorated them

And ate them (please excuse my exhausted mommy look)

We also drank pumpkin juice (okay, Orange Crush)

We also went on a pumpkin hunt that was very much like an easter egg hunt in the house.

When we were through with that we had a pumpkin tossing contest. The "Pumpkins" were actually pumpkin stickers on cotton balls that you launched with a spoon. Far less destructive than the real thing and Ava had a blast doing it!

I'm sure future family nights won't be as detailed, probably just a craft or game. If you have any suggestions feel free to let me know! Overall, I had a really great time and I think Ava and Jason did as well:)

The (not so) many faces of Darcy Jeanne

Darcy is totally mesmerized by the flash on my camera! All of our pictures of her are starting to take on the same look. The few pictures I do have, that she is smiling, are on the dark side because I have to turn my flash off. Perhaps one day the novelty will wear off :)

I think she may be teething. She has become a total drool monster!

The gift that keeps on giving

When I had Darcy, not only did I receive some really wonderful gifts, I also received some really cute ribbon on them. I thought to myself, "I'm sure I could use these for something", so I saved them. A couple of days ago, the weather was dreary, Ava was engrossed in a My Little Pony DVD, and Darcy was asleep. I looked at the sinks full of dirty dishes and the mounds of laundry to be folded on the couch and decided to do some crafts ;) I made the girls some hair bows out of the ribbon I saved. I don't know which was better, the 30 minutes I got to sit and create something, or the fact that I wound up with 5 bows for almost free! I did have to spend 50 cents for small ribbon for the center. However, 50 cents for 5 hair bows is extremely cheap! Here is what I created:

note: I am very aware that I take lousy photos

While I was making those bows, I also made this one from ribbon I had bought:

My motto for the day was,"When life hands you ribbons, make some bows".

I know, I know, I am a big cheese ball!

The remodel is complete

Wow! Two posts in two days. I think I've set a record for myself! We actually finished a month ago, but as you know I'm a little behind on my posts! Jason did everything but the foundation and texturing of the walls. I am so proud of him and SO happy to be done. Since he only spent about 4hrs a week on it , it took almost 10 months to complete...Yikes!!!

Darcy is 3 months old!!!!

I can't believe Darcy is 3 months old! We are finally getting back to "normal" life if there is such a thing. I gave up on trying to keep my house orderly, so now I have time to blog:) It is amazing how different Darcy and Ava are. They don't look alike, and they certainly don't act alike! I thought it would be fun to do a photo comparrison of the two. I labeled the pictures, but I'm pretty sure it's obvious. Just humor me, I haven't blogged in a while ;-)

Darcy on changing table

Ava on changing table

Darcy in the bath

Ava in the bath

Darcy in the swing

Ava in the swing

Leaving for the hospital with Darcy

Leaving for the hospital with Ava

I guess the only thing that was the same was my labors. I was induced with both of them. I went in at 5:oo am with both. Darcy was born at 12:21pm and Ava was born at 12:45 pm. I developed high blood pressure with both, except much worse with Darcy. I am still on blood pressure meds but hoping to get off them soon. I have gotten two opinions and both people said not to have any more babies because I could have a stroke next time. I was bummed, but feel so blessed to have the two God has given me! My mission now is to enjoy them as much as possible because it is amazing how quickly they grow! I am hoping to blog a little more often. Finding a chunk of time to do it is a bit of a challenge!