A Great Wolf Birthday Blast

Since all four of us have birthdays in the fall, (September, October and November) my mom and step-dad took us to Great Wolf Lodge as our gift!  We had a blast, and what a great idea!  No cardboard or wrapping paper to clean up and no toys to pick up everyday for the next year (or more)!!!

Both my kiddos luv water and can play for hours...

 Our little family of four

He loved the yellow slide.

She loved floating around on her back.  Why swim or walk when you can just lay back and bob around?  Silly girl didn't have a care in the world which included knowing if she was floating right into people!

She also ended up being completely FEARLESS.  She wanted to, "go on the BIG, wello slide!"  And she did...again, and again, and again.  She also asked while we were in the wave pool to go on the "BIG slide," as she pointed to the ceiling.  Unfortunately, she was pointing at the heating/cooling tubes.  Ha, ha, ha!!! 

We had an awesome time and can't wait to go again sometime!

My Birthday Wishlist

My birthday is later this month...and I always love to go shopping for fall clothes and shoes to refresh my fall and winter wardrobe.  However, this year being six months pregnant it's a little hard to go shopping for cute jeans.  I mean really...who wants to spend a lot of money on jeans that won't fit in 4 more months???  Not me!  And honestly, there's not many stores close by that carry cute maternity clothes.  So...I've been keeping my eyes open for gift ideas other than clothing. 

Our current camera we bought the weekend before Luke was born...almost 4 years ago!  It's taken a beating and I'm concerned it's gonna go out on me when I need it the most.  Meaning...right when the baby is born.  Ha ha!  So I've had my eyes on this updated version of our current camera.  On sale @ Costco this month! 

I've decided that watches are a great accessory.  And I luv the Fossil chunky watches...and I luv HOT PINK!  How cute is this???

 And of course a new purse always helps a girl feel cute and trendy!  This bag from Fossil comes in various colors.  I love the metalic silver.  And the purple.  And the red.  Go figure!

I use to have two of these Starbucks cups.  A venti cup and a grande cup.  I used them ALL THE TIME!  My kids loved using them too!  Unfortunately, both of them busted within a week or two of each other and I had to throw them out.  I was sooooo bummed.  I can't wait to get my hands on another Venti cold cup.  And seriously people...I know there are TONS of other companies making these cold cups in cute prints.  But it's not the same as the real deal.  Just so we are clear. 

PS - I have visions of taking this cup with me to the hospital.  Big plans for this cup.  HUGE!

About a year ago my MIL introduced me to Philosophy skin care.  Up until that point I was a very faithful Mary Kay skin care follower.  I saw a big difference in my skin.  I really...really...like the philosophy skin care!  This is the skin care set I tried and loved.

 This particular vitamin C serum is awesome!  It reduced the redness in my face, evened out my skin tones and softend my skin.  This stuff rocks!

 Smallest, but certainly not least is my most favorite chapstick EVER!  I love mint and I love how it feels on my lips.  One chapstick seriously last me a year or more.  I gave this to Baker in his Christmas stocking one year...found it a year later unopened and took it back for myself.  He totally missed out.  Oh yeah...you can find it @ Bath and Body :)

Oops...how could I forget this awesome fragrance by Philosophy?!  This fragrance is light and smells like a mixture of vanilla and blackberries...so yummy!  I love the fruitier fragrances and I've had my eyes on this one for almost a year now.

There 'ya have it.  Whether you wanted to know or not...those are some of my birthday wish list ideas. 

Minnie Mouse Party

That's right.  Another Minnie Mouse birthday party. 
Two years old. 
Two Minnie Mouse birthday parties. 
She likes Minnie.  What can I say?
Here are the invites I found on Etsy. 
Super.  Cute.

And these are the cute stickers I found.

Do you have any favorite links or sellers from Etsy?  I'd love to know!

The Clash of the Titans . . . otherwise known as Buzz and Minnie!

There's a whole lotta Buzz Lightyear and Woody at our house.  A. WHOLE. LOT.  As in everyday, the Buzz and Woody interactive talking dolls get played with.  Well, almost every day.  You get the picture.  So, Toy Story 3 has been long marked on our calendar with much anticipation.  So for Father's Day, as a family with Papa and Nana we all went to see Toy Story 3 in 3D.  It was awesome! Except for the part where Natalie needed to go potty.  Then she was bored.  Then she needed to see Papa.  Then she needed more candy.  Then daddy took her out.  Then daddy brought her back.  Other than all that commotion it was great!

So, today in the car the kids and I were discussing what kind of party Natalie should have for her 2nd birthday.  And she pipes up from the very back of the car . . . "BUZZ!" 
So we discuss it some more. 
Luke suggested, "How about Ken and Barbie?" (Which incidently is his favorite characters from TS3)!
"Do you want a Barbie party, Nat?"  (crickets chirping).
"How about Minnie," I suggested? "MOUSE!" she replies.
"How about Tinkerbell?"  "YEAH!" As she throws her arms up and shakes her head.

I continued to mull it over seeing as how she had a Minnie Mouse birthday party last year and that would hardly be proper for my child to like the same character two years in a row.  GASP!  But, she doesn't really like Tinkerbell either.  And, let's face it.  My 21 month old girl does not know who Barbie is . . . yet.  What's a girl to do?

We were in the car yet again that evening when I asked her again, "Nat, do you want a Barbie, Minnie or Tinkerbell birthday?" 
Her response, (I kid you not) "BUZZ!"
To which Luke yells, "No!  Her can't have a Buzz Birthday!" 
And she smartly replies, "Woody" while pointing at Luke.  To say, Luke can have a Woody birthday and she will have a Buzz birthday!  (Because my daughter is that smart, and she knows just what to do/say to push her brother's buttons). 
"MOM! Buzz is for big boys not girls! Her can't have a Buzz birthday!"
"Luke?  You already had a Buzz birthday.  Could Natalie have a Buzz birthday too?  First you had one, now Nat can have one."
At which point he warmed up at the idea. 
Meanwhile daddy was admonishing mommy to not tease Luke.  (Who said I was teasing???)
"Just have a Minnie party again," says daddy.
To which I say, "BAH HUMBUG Daddy!"

Now . . . what kind of birthday party shall it be?  Details, details. 
 

Happy Birthday Dude!

Baker's nephew (and mine) is turning six today.  He was the first baby in our family and now he is six and in kindergarten!  Mr. M . . . we love you so much and are glad that you are a part of our family.  We love being your Aunt and Uncle and are glad that God chose you to be our nephew.  Happy Birthday Dude!

Happy Birthday Shell!

Happy Birthday Aunty Shell! I hope it's one of your best yet.
I love you sister! ♥

3 Years Old!

Three years ago, this little boy turned my world upside down and inside out. I'm so glad I get to be his mommy and that God gave me you, Lukey! Happy Birthday Babe!

To Infinity and Beyond!

Lately, there's been some preparation going on. Ask Luke when his birthday is and he will show you on the calendar hanging on the wall in the kitchen. It's next week after Thanksgiving. In fact he's been telling his dad and I, and anyone else who will listen that he wants a Buzz Birthday at Chuck E Cheese. Silly boy. He's sooooo excited. By the way, we bribed him with the Chuck E Cheese location. Yes, I'm tellin' ya now. He's been potty trained during the day (even through naps), and wearing pullups only at night. He was staying dry for days on end and we finally were running out of pullups. We told him if he could stay dry for five nights in a row, that he could go to Chuck E Cheese. It worked. Oh, there have been accidents, but we are no longer buying pullups. Hooray! Anyhow, I digressed.

I found these invitations on ebay and the seller was super helpful and fast when I was in a pinch.

PS - She does announcements & Christmas cards too!

And I found these on ebay. They are the "goody" boxes. So. Cute.

And this is stuffed in a cupboard waiting to be gift wrapped.

And this is hiding in the closet at Nana's. Waiting for a very excited almost 3 year old boy on his Buzz Birthday.

TGIF

Last Friday Baker had the day off and we celebrated his birthday with a family dinner, arcade games and bowling. This Friday, I'm working with Baker at the family business and my babies are at home with Nana. Things sure change in one week don't they? Here's a couple pics of the fam. I went through all the pictures of the evening and there wasn't one picture of our little family. Uh oh. There were great shots of every.single.person. Except us. Oh well. Live and learn. So, wish me a happy Friday learning how to do paperwork again okay? 'Cause it's been a while. Let's hope this mommy brain can focus for 8 hours.

Birthday Bash GiveawayS!

I'm preparing some birthday fun to share with you! What better way to celebrate my 31st birthday than by giving something or thingS away! So get ready! Spread the word and grab a birthday button. And starting Monday, October 26 . . . come check out the giveaways.

You don't wanna be Tardy for this Party!!!

Babies...Belly Laughs
& Bare Feet
Birthday Giveaway!

<a href="http://babiesbellylaughsbarefeet.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx301/yankeewife/th_birthday-cake-happy.gif" border="0" alt="babiesbellylaughsbarefeet" /></a>

Back To Basics

Since I've been focused on losing weight and getting in shape, I've accumulated quite the pile of clothes on my closet floor. It's the TOO BIG pile. Which is good. Very good. However, that means the clothes left on the shelves is dwindling and needs some replenishing shall we say?! So I've been looking for some basics. Jeans, sweatshirts, basic long sleeved tees and shoes. I think these are kinda cute! Do you have any suggestions? I need some ideas for clothes that can be dressed up or down. For dates, baby showers, church etc.

What's the must have for this fall and winter?

(Amazon) (Victoria's Secret)

(Old Navy.com)


(Buckle)




(Buckle)



(Nordstroms)