Two Years Old!

Little One turned two today!  We have officially left the days of babies behind, now we have a toddler.  Sigh.

LO's language skills have exploded over the last few weeks.  She is speaking in full sentences.  Crazy.  She is running.  She is jumping (and sort of getting some air).  She is playing dress up.  She is laughing.  A lot.  She is tickling people to make them laugh.  If you sneeze, or say ouch, or make a funny noise, she asks you if you are ok.  She still gives amazing hugs.  She procrastinates when I put her to bed.  She loves to read.  She loves to snack.  She is pretty good at sharing.  Oh, and she loves to say, "No!  I don't want to!"  Sigh.

We didn't do much today but just hang around the house as a family.  I am ok with that.  I think she is too.  She loves spending time with us just playing with her toys (new and old).

It is hard not to just stare at her in amazement of what a beautiful (inside and out) child she is.  I cannot wait to see what she decides to do with her life.  But I know it will be something great.  She just oozes love and happiness.  I pray she never, ever loses that.

Sugar. Sugar. And more sugar.

This is the best picture of her all day.  Two year olds don't sit still!

Quick trip

So we took a quick trip to my sister's today. Last minute. And so very glad we went!

We got to see my Aunt, Uncle, Cousin (and her very nice boyfriend)! Such a fun night.

Playing ponies with my Cousin

The girls (minus me)

With my Uncle

Big One and my Auntie (that is not BO's beer.  I swear!)

Make Up Tips

So it really has to be an emergency for me to leave the house without make up on.  I am a little vain.  You never know who you are going to run into!

So I have a well crafted make up routine each day.  It doesn't take me more than ten minutes.  Maybe not even that long.  But I am guilty of skipping it if we are having a quiet day at home.

Then I saw this pinned on Pinterest last week.

Under eye concealer.  That is something that I have never bothered with.  I probably should have tried it out while I was up all night with my children.  Heh.

My face is way too uneven to use a powder foundation, but I decided I would give the concealer a shot.  I picked it up when I was at Walmart and I think it was less than $8.

Pretty sure there is some improvement, but I wish they had an even lighter shade, because I am as white as they come.  :)

I'll be sure to ask my sister when I see her next.  No doubt she will give me an honest answer.  I asked the Hubster how my make up looked this morning and he said fine.  Thanks, honey.

So my review of Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer (longest name ever)?  I like it.  It isn't super heavy.  It is easy to use.  The first use I felt like I was turning forever before it started to work.  To the point that I was thinking bummer, is it broken?  My only complaint is that even the Fair isn't light enough to do exactly what it is supposed to do.

One of these days when the sun is shining I might take a pic for you.  Might.  And it might just be an After picture.  I did mention that I was a little vain, right?

Happy birthday, Dad!

Today is my dad's birthday.  I will be polite and not tell you how many years young he is today.

We didn't get to see him, as he lives so far away.  But the girls and I called him this morning and wished him a happy birthday.  Big One sang the birthday song.

We also got to quickly Skype with him tonight.  BO drew a picture of him and her together.  She had a flower in her hair.  She made sure to ask me what color his eyes were so she could get the picture just right.  I don't think she could have been more excited to show him.  Maggie was thrilled to see Papa and scream for him every time he exited the computer screen.  Heh.

So now to brag on my dad a bit.  He is one of the most hardworking people I know.  He has made sacrifices without prompting in order to make his family happy.  He traveled a lot when we were growing up, and I was always sad when he missed different events (most memorable was a piano recital of mine) but now that I am older, I get it.  I imagine it wasn't easy for him to miss either.  But he was working hard to provide for his family.  He has taken jobs that didn't really excite him just so he could contribute.

He also is great at staying in contact with so many people from his past and has gotten several of them new jobs or edited their cover letters or their resumes.  Which brings me to my next point...

My dad is generous.  He is incredibly generous with his time.  He will help out anyone who asks, even if it means his body will pay for it later, or he has something else he would really rather be doing.  Why?  Because it is the right thing to do.

He has also taught me that doing the right thing isn't always the easy thing.  Most of the time it is the opposite, it is the hard choice.  Going against the grain is often frowned upon... but if you are doing what is right then the goal at the end means the journey is worth it.

My dad has taught me the value of money.  That it is important to work hard to earn it, but also that you should not be spending more than you have.  I should have listened to that while I was in college and making poor choices and paying for them with a credit card I had no business having.

And when I was in over my head after graduation, my dad helped me see I could find my way out of the hole I created.  All. By.  Myself.  After all, that was how I got into debt too, right?  He helped me come up with a plan, a budget, and a schedule.  Nice to know I had someone (and lots of others) in my corner at a really scary time!

My dad is a pretty decent listener, but he is an awesome advice-giver.  I know that I can go to him when I need help sorting through things and need a solution.

Now please know that growing up our relationship was not all unicorns and rainbows, we argued.  a lot.  But when it came right down to it, we are family.  Have a differing opinion is fine.  Arguing is fine.  Telling each other how you feel is fine.  Work it out and move on.  If everyone was the same and thought the same, life would be pretty boring.

It will never cease to amaze me how important my parents are to me still.  How much I depend on them still. A lot.  I talk to them.  A lot.  And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Happy birthday, Dad!  And here's to many more!  Thanks for being the best dad I could ever ask for!

I love you!

School Pic!

Big One had her first school picture a few weeks ago.  I have been very anxious to see it.  She has a fabulous real smile.  But she also has a funny silly smile.  I TRY to get her real smile when I take her pictures.  I have found that the best way to get it is by laughing myself.  That makes her laugh and she just lights up.

I think her school picture is somewhere in between, but she looks beautiful, as always.  And boy have I seen worse!

Starbucks Knock Off

I grew up drinking hot apple cider.  I have never been a chocolate milk drinker.  Never a hot chocolate drinker.  Ew.

And then I got pregnant with Little One.  And we have a Starbucks in our grocery store.  And it gets cold here.

So I tried their Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate.

Boy was that a mistake.  Yum.

There are certainly more expensive drinks you could get at SB.  Certainly less healthy things too.  But still.  I'm cheap.  $2.70 for a tall?  Ouch.

And then I ran into this recipe for Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate on Pinterest today.

I will be trying it this week.  Sure it is a good amount of work.  But it sounds awesome.  And it is going to get chilly.  So perfect timing.

I'm sure the Hubster would be happy to hear I cut our grocery bill by $2.70 each visit.  Heh.

Family

I've been thinking about family a lot recently.

More specifically, how blessed I am.  My parents have a strong marriage.  Not to say that things were always easy, certainly they are not.  But they work through obstacles together.  They are always a model of the marriage that I want to have with the Hubster.  I have memories from childhood and adulthood where after dinner they would turn on some music in the living room and slow dance.  I used to think it was silly.  Now?  Now I think they have the right idea!  Take some time from the dirty dishes and reconnect with a slow dance.  The dishes will keep.

I shared a room with my big sister from the time I was six until I was fifteen.  I am certain that those were not all great times.  I'm sure my messes drove her insane.  I am also sure that it drove her crazy when I would go through her things.  There are only three years between us, but growing up it seemed like an eternity.  Now? She is one of my best friends.  I talk to her almost every day.  I see her at least once a month.  It isn't always easy, she has a busy schedule, and so do we, plus the almost two hours distance between us.  But she always makes the effort.  And having her so close keeps me a little less sad about being so far from my parents.

My little brother, who is much bigger than me, is six years younger than me.  We were not super close growing up.  Six years is a big difference.  Also, he was a boy.  So.  Not much in common.  But over the last several years I kind of just look at him in amazement.  He really has grown up.  We have adult conversations.  He gives me advice.  He is a good listener.  And he is making quite the life for himself.  I don't get to see him quite as often because of the distance, but he makes the effort to spend as much time with us as his schedule will allow.

I have lots of Aunts and Uncles and cousins too.  Lots of them.  And I grew up having them around a lot.  Holidays, birthdays, vacations.  Some of my favorite memories involve them.  Playing card games.  Baseball games.  Ice cream after dinner.  Days at the beach.  Sleeping on every inch of the floor in the living room because that is just where we wanted to be.  Talking until very late at night.  It sort of amazes me how close we all were, this was before the Internet.  Before cell phones.  Before long distance was free!  We just picked up where we left off.

Then I have the family that I chose.  My life with the Hubster.  Again, not always easy, but always worth it.  He chose me.  Pretty incredible, right?  What a cool feeling knowing that the person you have fallen head over heals for wants to spend the rest of his life with you!  And we have these amazing little girls together.  They are the best parts of me and the best parts of the Hubster.  We get to see them grow.  Give them opportunities.  Teach them right from wrong.  And hope that they have wonderful memories of their childhood, just like I do.

Having this life takes a lot of effort some days.  I'm not sure that I would necessarily give myself an A+ each night.  But I know that my girls love me.  They absolutely know that we love them.  My husband doesn't go a day without me telling him how much I love and appreciate him.

So, if you come by unannounced my house may not be show room ready.  But that is ok, we are busy making memories here.  The dishes will keep.