Halloween 2012

Halloween was definitely more exciting this year with Evie than it has been for the past couple of years.  She knows what candy is, and she wants it!!

Mi bailaora de flamenco (My little flamenco dancer)

This year, Evie was a flamenco dancer.  I found the outfit on our trip to Spain over the summer, and I couldn't pass it up.  Bonus: it was only 10 euros (about $13)!!

No one really got the costume, and many people looked at me funny when I told them that Evie would be a flamenco dancer for Halloween.  But I guess that's the burden of having a Spanish teacher as a mom.  I'm sure she'll encounter more moments like this in her life.  : )  I tried to teach her a few flamenco moves (see clip of Sevillanas flamenco here), but she wasn't really interested.

She loved wearing the dress...once she found out that people would give her candy if she was wearing it.  We didn't trick or treat too much, we just walked around our small, suburban block and stopped at the houses of neighbors that we know fairly well.  Evie had just as much fun handing out candy to other kids when we got home.

I'm sure we won't be able to get away with that much longer.  Next year, she'll probably understand there is much more candy to be had if we stop at more houses.  M and I wanted to put that off as long as we could though.  Next year, we'll also have her little brother with us, and I'm sure she'll be more than happy to take his share of the candy since he will be much too small to eat it himself.

I'm sure that Halloween will become a bigger deal as Evie (and little brother) begin to understand it better.  For now, M and I enjoyed the relatively quiet evening of seeing our neighbors and taking Evie trick or treating.

Better Late Than Never - A Mother's Day Post

So, I know Mother's Day was weeks ago, but my blogging has been sporadic at best lately, so this is when my Mother's Day post is going to happen.  At least it's still May, right??

My Mother's Day present from Evie

Our Mother's Day was a great family day this year.  We live too far away to conveniently visit either of our moms on Mother's Day, so it's kind of nice to just spend it the three of us.

Evie made me (with the help of daycare) the hand print flower in the picture above.  I cried when I opened it.  It's the first thing that she's ever made for me.  The pink hand print on the left is smudged because she was wiggly, but that's what makes it hers. 

For the day, M, Evie, and I went to a Brewer game.  Another loss....I've been to 3 games this year, and they've all been losses.  Well, the whole season has pretty much been that way, so I guess that's what I should expect. 

M and I are not too big on holidays.  We've never given each other extravagant gifts or made grand gestures.  In some ways, I wish that Mother's Day was a bigger deal, but that's not our style.  In the end, a Brewer game and hand-made gift are just right for us.  :)

P.S.  If you like what you've read, send a vote my way!  :)

Favorite toys

For Christmas, Evie received several new toys.  These have come out as some of the favorites over the past couple of months.

First, the Jingle Interactive Book. It is a regular children's book, but it came with a stuff dog.  When you are going to read the story, you turn the dog on, and it responds when you read certain lines.  For instance, you read the line, "And Jingle loved to sing," and then the plush dog howls like it is singing.  I'm not sure how this thing works, but it works well and Evie loves it.  We had to take it out of her bedroom because she became too wound up if we read it before bedtime...lol!!

Evie and Jingle

The other toy that she really loves is the LeapFrog Xylophone Zoo.  You press the animals and it will play a song so that you can follow along with the mallet.  It's a little bit beyond Evie's ability to completely follow the song, but she tries, and she likes to dance to the songs too.  

I like that the mallet is attached to the xylophone so you can't lose it. 

Evie with the xylophone

She also received a tent that she really likes, which I've posted about before.  I feel like our house has turned into a play land, but I guess that's what happens when you have a baby!

Our love story

I found this questionnaire at From Mrs. to Mama by way of Country is a State of Mind.  I thought that it was a fun one, so I decided to fill it out.  You can link up with From Mrs. to Mama through today!!  Have fun!

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

For 10 and a half years.  We met in July of 2001, and we were an official couple by the end of August!

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

We met at a party.  I was at his college visiting some friends from high school who also went to that school.  One of my friends was dating one of his roommates, so we went to their house to hang out.  We started talking and the next thing we knew the sun was coming up...I guess we clicked from the beginning!

  

3. If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry? {do tell}

We've been married for 6 years, since October 1, 2005.

 

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding?  If not, where would you like to get married? And will it be big or small?

We were married at a state historical park in Green Bay in an old-fashioned chapel originally built in 1832.  Our reception was at a banquet hall in Green Bay.  It was an average size wedding (about 200 guests).

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!

Nope, no fun nicknames.  He usually calls me "Babe" but that's about it.  

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

I love how he cares about our daughter.  I love how he makes me feel special.  Most importantly, I love how he always tries to make me laugh...even when I'm ragingly angry at him. 

 

7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?

He proposed in our first apartment together after we graduated from college.  I got home one Friday afternoon, and he followed me around the place while I was trying to change clothes, etc.  I was wondering why he was acting so strangely.  I sat down to watch TV and he got down on one knee in front of me on the couch.  I was thoroughly confused until he pulled out the ring!!  ;)

 

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

None of the above.  He is a "buy you a ridiculously stupid card that has nothing to do with V-day, but write a really sweet message to make up for it" kind of guy. 

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

None of the above.  I'm a "go out for dinner and drinks" kind of girl.  

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?
I'd like to spend a sunny day driving around Grant County, WI like we used to in college.   He took me down all of the back roads, and we stopped at all of the historical markers and climbed the big "M."  

World's Largest letter "M."  Near Platteville, WI - Bet you didn't know that existed...

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.

Eating a nice dinner, playing with Evie, and hanging out after she goes to bed.

 

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

Nope, just to hang out together!  :)

 

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.
 Keep trying to make each other feel special...doing special things for them.  It doesn't have to be a big gesture, but something that is sincere and comes from the heart. 

14.  Show us a picture of what love means to you.

I have a few...

Visiting Door County in August 2003...we'd been together about 2 years

Our wedding day.

The best one of all...the first time M held Evie. 

 

So I never make resolutions....

That's not entirely true.  I usually make New Year's resolutions, but only in my head, so there is no fear of ridicule if I don't follow through.

Well this year will be different.  I am announcing my resolutions publicly in hopes that it will help me follow through.  Resolutions are really just goals in my opinion.  I'm good about keeping goals in my professional life, but it's time to make a few changes in my personal life.  

So, here are a few of the things I'd like to accomplish in 2012:

• Lose 9 pounds - I'll start with the one that's totally cliché.  This is the amount of weight I gained since I began cutting back on breastfeeding Evie in September.  Nine pounds is not life altering, but my jeans will fit much better without it, and I know what I have to do to lose it....(EAT. LESS. FOOD.) 
• Keep my house in better shape - We're not dirty, just cluttered...I'd like to become uncluttered in 2012.  
• Spend more quality time with M - We hit a rough patch through late fall and things are definitely better, but I don't want us to go through that again.  
• Spend more quality time with myself - I am the classic case of "mother must do everything for her child and forget that her needs exist."  It's taken a toll on my mental health (and my marriage, see above) in the past few months.  I am going to take people up on their offers to help out and I'm not going to stress about it.  This goal will definitely be the hardest one for me to keep, but probably the most important one too. 

 So there you have it.  I think that I might write a few check-in posts about these, just to keep myself honest.  2011 was a year of crazy ups and downs at our house.  I was 2012 to be more ups than downs.  I think that these goals will help make that happen.

Of course, everyone is determined on January 2nd.  ;)

Does anyone out there make resolutions?  Have you ever kept them??

Wordless Wednesday - First Time Sledding

I know I just posted last week about the lack of snow in Wisconsin, but some did arrive in time to make it a white Christmas at my parent's house up north.  Actually, it made it just in time to make the roads a nightmare for the drive up there.  Luckily, we all made it in one piece!! 

We woke up Christmas Eve morning to a winter wonderland.  My sister gave Evie a sled for Christmas.  She let her have it a little early so that we could try it out.  Evie loved it, obviously.  ;)

My parent's house (where this video is from) is on a hill that my sisters and I used to sled down all the time when we were kids.  We even used to play "Cool Runnings" and pretend we were the Jamaican bobsled team like in the movie with John Candy.  M, my sisters and their husbands, and my parents were all outside to watch Evie sled for the first time.  It brought back some great memories.  I can't wait for more Christmases like this one. 

P.S.  Sorry the video is sideways.  I'm sure you get the idea! :)

Traveling with a Toddler

We don't travel as far as some people do for the holidays, but we definitely have our share of time in the car.  My parents live about 2 and 1/2 hours away near Green Bay, and M's parents live in the completely opposite direction about 1 1/2 hours from our house(near the Iowa/WI border).

Each Christmas since we've been serious enough to attend each other's family Christmas events M and I have done the grand tour of Wisconsin between Christmas and New Year's.  Until a few years ago, we would even drive the 4 hours from  my parent's to M's parent's house on Christmas morning.  One year, we even slid off the road and went in the ditch on the way...glad we don't do that anymore!!! 

Evie was only 6 weeks old the first time she made the trip to my parent's house.  She used to just fall asleep.  As she's gotten bigger, it's become a little more challenging to entertain her.  I keep a stack of graham crackers handy to send back to her if she starts to get fussy.  I'm also probably a hazard on the road when I make faces at her in the rear-view mirror...

This afternoon we'll be making the trip to my parent's house just the two of us.  M has to work all day, and he'll be meeting us there when he gets done.  I'm a little anxious about doing the trip for the first time with her forward-facing carseat.  When she drops her toys it's hard for me to reach them, and she gets frustrated with this too.

I'm sure we'll make it just fine, and we have all kinds of family waiting for us to get there.  ;)

YAY!!!!  Christmas is here!!!!!

TGIF!

Thank goodness it's Friday!!! 

This may have been one of the longest weeks of my life.  Seriously, Evie came down with a cold last weekend, and she has been sleeping like crap.  I had parent/teacher conferences on Wednesday night, which means a 14 hour work day (on about 4 hours of interrupted sleep).   On top of trying to organize a professional book club for 20 teachers, and my students getting a little crazy as we approach the holiday break....aaaaahhhh!!! 

Oh well, now it's the weekend!!  M and I have very little planned and I think it will be nice.  Biggest item on the agenda is starting finishing our Christmas shopping.  Evie already received part of her Christmas present (see below), but M seems to think that she needs Rock'n'Roll Elmo too.  I disagree....

Super-awesome play tent!

We also still have to do all of our shopping for our extended families.  M's family is impossible to shop for, and they never send out lists.  It's like they expect me to consult a crystal ball to find the perfect gift for them...umm, no! 

Well, it's obvious that I need to stop blogging and open a bottle of wine.  I'm pretty sure I have a bottle of moscato around here somewhere!  I think that's the perfect end for a week like this one!!


P.S.  I have a new comment format that I'm trying out!  Leave me some comment love so that I know it's working!!!  I hope you all have a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday - Preparing for Christmas

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at our house.

Mom, can you help me write a letter to Santa?? ---Evie with the Toys R Us ad

  Apparently, it's inherent that kids know where to find the toy ads and catalogs that come with the Sunday paper.  Evie had no problem finding this, walking around with it pretty much all afternoon, and paging through it when she felt like sitting down.  M and I thought it was hilarious. 

I'll take one of everything!!

 M loves Christmas.  He decorates the whole house, and doesn't even ask for my help!!  (If it was left up to me, our tree probably wouldn't go up until December 23-ish.  It's not that I don't like Christmas, I'm just lazy about decorating for the holidays.)  He even put up our outside lights in the rain on Saturday afternoon.  What a trooper!

Christmas tree, 2011 version

We were worried that we were only going to be able to decorate the top part of the tree that is out of Evie's reach.  :)  But she has been really good about not picking at it. 

I can't believe that it's almost Christmas!?!?!!?!

Thanksgivings Past

Two years ago on Thanksgiving, M and I found out that we were going to be parents.  M had to work that day, so we couldn't drive to either of our parent's houses for the holiday.  We went to big Thanksgiving buffet at a local country club, and celebrated the holiday just the two of us.  We didn't want to announce our pregnancy until Christmas, so it was kind of nice to spend the time with each other, without our families. 

It's hard to believe that it was two years ago already.  In other ways, it's hard to believe it was ONLY two years ago.  This year, we are going to M's parent's house; Thanksgiving on the farm, as I like to call it.  It will be fun.  I love my in-laws and they don't get to see Evie very often.  But lately, I've been thinking  that it would be fun to tell each of our families that we are going to the other one's house and just spend the holiday here, as our own family.

I could never really do that.  I'd feel way too guilty.  Plus, as Evie gets older, I know she'll want that time with her grandparents and her cousins.  The holidays are so hectic sometimes.  I guess I'm just feeling nostalgic for that Thanksgiving a couple of years ago when it was just me and M. 

Thankful

It's pretty simple.

I'm thankful for 

a supportive extended family, 

a career I love, 

a healthy, beautiful, growing daughter

 a loving husband who is my best friend

 and a family to come home to every day.

What more could anyone possibly ask for?

First Father's Day

Yesterday was M's first Father's Day!!  We had a fairly uneventful day.  Evie and I were gone all weekend visiting my youngest sister in central Illinois (more to come on that!), and we didn't get home until early afternoon.

After Evie woke up from her nap, we gave M his gifts.  We got him three books; two for him, and one for him to read with Evie.   We got him The Final Four of Everything, because he always says, "Everything is better in a bracket!"  We also gave him Wisconsin's Best Beer Guide.  He really enjoys sports and beer, so both of these books seemed like topics that would interest him.  Evie picked Sunny Bunny Loves His Dad for both of them.  (I literally held up two books in Barnes and Noble and that was the one she touched first.  Coincidence?  Probably, but it's fun to say that she picked it out!) 

The weather was great, so we got Evie ready to hang out in her whale pool.  She is really becoming quite the waterbug.  We played outside for a while, and did a little bit of work in the garden and that was the end of our low-key Father's Day.

How big is Evie???  Sooooo big!

I'd like to start some sort of tradition for Father's Day, but I'm horrible of thinking of good ideas for that sort of stuff.  Does anyone have any traditions that they've done, either for their husband or their dad?  We can always start next year!!

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