This is what Louie's crib looks like everynight. I can never figure out how he can sleep in there comfortably.

The other night, we were playing out in back. Some cute pictures.

Some advice to the photographer . . .

I was reading the post on the Pioneer Woman's website today in her photography section.
I read the Pioneer Woman daily. The photography section has some great tips for camera operation, photo composition and Photoshop tips and tricks. The confessions section, chronicles some of the most entertaining writing I've read in a while. The "Black Heels to Tractor Wheels" story is a must read. The cooking section, some of the most wonderful recipes that I've ever made . . . . (grandma Iny's Prune Cake, Orange Marmalade Rolls, the 1980's Bacon Appetizer, Migos, the list goes on). I read the home and garden occasionally and periodically check in on homeschooling, just out of curiousity.
Today, the photography section has some wonderful advice to all you photographers that are always taking pictures of your kids.
Read it, live it!

Last year for Mother's Day, I had some pictures of me and the kids taken down at Olivia's studio. I loved the photos from that day. She made me a little 8x10 mom print that is so cute!
I love, treasure it, and need to order just a print of the photos on it. Add that to my to do list.

I meant to get a picture of me and my kiddos on Mother's Day this year, but forgot. Add that to my to do list . . .

Mudder's Day, part 2

We had brunch at my mom's house for Mother's Day yesterday. My sister brought this lovely "Edible Arrangement." Cute and delicious.
Emily and I made some cinnamon rolls that were out of this world! The recipe made 7 pans! We made half of the dough into cinnamon rolls and the other half into orange marmalade rolls with an orange glaze. So delicious!

After brunch, Uncle Joe, Patrick and Katie showed up. Emily and Louie LOVE playing with Katie.

Emily found the little tape player down in Grandma's basement and she hopped up on the living room table and was doing all the stuff that the songs were saying (the Hokey Pokey, Heads Shoulders Knees and Toes, etc.) It was really cute.

She has such a cute smile!

Lately, this is where you can find Louie's finger. Hopefully, this nose picking phase will pass. It's getting old and it's really disgusting.

Happy Mudder's Day!

That's what Emily told me when she sauntered out of her room yesterday morning. Such a sweet girl!

This is what Emily made me at school, isn't it cute? her class takes a field trip on the Metro Transit bus down to Leitner's and they get pots, dirt, seeds, etc. and plant the seeds and then give it to the mom's for mother's day.

Such a sweet idea. She was so proud of her present.

"You've got a friend in me"

We're CRAZY about "Toy Story" at our house! It's a phenomenon that's been evolving for quite a while. Last week, Louie went to our friend's house to play and Isak loaned him one of his Woody dolls.
I figured that we needed a Buzz Lightyear too. Ebay is an amazing thing, I found a Buzz and a Woody.
Emily got the new Woody and she LOVES him.

This is the Buzz that Isak loaned to to Louie. He's been the object of both of our kids affection.

Our new buzz arrived yesterday, we went to swimming lessons and then came home to have Louie puke like a firehose all over him. Poor kid.

So, Buzz has been in our house for less than 24 hours and he's already been through the wash.

We're all feeling better now! Louie woke up this morning and yelled "Mom, I'm awake! I feel better." and he does feel better!

Charlie turned 16 on May 1. We were invited over to Tapio's on Sunday afternoon to celebrate with him! We wish him the best!

Cinco de Mayo

Emily, Louie and I went to Cinco de Mayo over in West St. Paul with Auntie Tesa, Maria, Bella and Lorenzo. We also met Missy and GenGen. Uncle Paul was playing in the softball tournament over there too. It was lots of fun and there were tons of people there.
This falls into the catagory of "World's Dumbest Purchase a Mom Made!" Louie spotted kids along Concord blowing these trumpets. I wasn't paying attention to them to know that they are quite possibly the most annoying thing EVER! Tesa bought one for Maria and Bella too!
As all the kids were blowing their trumpets, I had a flashback to "Sixteen Candles" when the Geeks are driving around in the car playing the kazoos, there's kazoos playing in harmony. That's what the trumpets in stereo reminded me of.

Emily loved the trumpet too.
So did Maria and Bella.

Bella reminds me of the saxophone player in the Muppets with her hair under the sunglasses like this. She wore them like this all day.
Then, Lorenzo wanted in on the trumpet action.
Because all the girls were distracted by the tent in the kids area that offered fingernail painting.

Maria picked bright blue.
Emily wasn't sure about the whole operation, but in the end she decided to go for bright pink. Notice that the people doing the nails are boys.


And then Louie realized that Emily was getting hers done and he HAD to have his painted as well. Yep, we'll be filing this one away with the shot of him in the pink Dora boots from last summer.
And after the fingernail painting, we got a Jolly Rancher Watermelon flavored snowcone, which promptly turned Louie's lips and mouth bright red. Looked like lipstick.

He really liked the snowcone.

On the way back to the car, we had to spend the rest of our tickets so we got some mini-doughnuts. They were so good!
We got home, took naps and then ordered a pizza for dinner. Lots of healthy food eaten at our house today!

Tomorrow, we're celebrating Charlie's 16th Birthday over at Auntie M's house. I am inspired by the delicious dinner we had over at Lynchs house last night. Mary made homemade refried beans (YUMMY!!!) and made bean and cheese enchiladas. So delicious! Anyhow, I'm going to also make some homemade refried beans and so fresh guacamole and chips to bring over there. Lunds has RIPE avacadoes on sale, 10 for $10! What a deal if you like to make guacamole and we LOVE it!

The weekend run down

Emily and I went to our third gymnastics class. She is really enjoying the class and warming up to trying new things. This week, Emily went on the balance beam and it was set to the highest level. We did that five times. Emily wouldn't do it without holding my finger.

One of the other stations that we tried were the hoppy ball things. They were sort of weird and most of the kids had a hard time getting them to work at first. But, Emily figured it out after a couple of tries.

After class, we went to the compost pit over on Pierce Butler Route. Then, to Menards to pick up a couple packs of seeds and some potting soil. When we got home, it was time to start working. Dan FINALLY took down out Christmas lights. I decided to rake the dead stuff out of the front yard. I raked up a pile of dead grass the size of my car! It was unreal. When that was done, I put the sprinkler on for a long time and everything started to look green.

Then, I went to find something in our garage and that was ugly. We now have a HUGE pile of crap to go out in the next trash pick up.

Last night, I was one sore momma! I've got blisters on my fingers and my arms are stiff!

Today, we went to Assumption for church and it was First Communion Sunday. So cute.

After doughnuts, we went to lunch at McGovern's with Grandma. Then, home for naps and some yummy Enchilada Hot Dish for dinner.

The Frozen Dairy Delivery Truck

On Thursday, it was 85 degrees and BEAUTIFUL! Dan went and umpired some baseball games, so it was just me and the kids for dinner. I made the Pioneer Woman's Chicken Scallopine and it was delish! Emily and Louie ate every bite of it and then more after their baths.

While I was in the kitchen making dinner, they were winding down on porch and watched a little bit of the Muppet's Treasure Island. This is their new favorite! Louie is totally into pirates now.

He does still love Thomas, Lightening McQueen and Buzz Lightyear. Anyhow, while they were watching the movie, the ice cream truck came by. It drove by really slow, I'm pretty sure the guy remembers which houses have kids and $$.

So, Louie heard the truck on the next block over and came in the kitchen to let me know it was coming. I had just stocked the freezer with mini ice cream sandwiches, in preparation of this event. I assured him that I'd already gotten him ice cream, but he had to eat his dinner.

He is such a wheeler dealer, always bargaining for the next best thing.

Anyhow, he got to get his ice cream sandwich and all was well with the world.

Swimming Lessons, round 2

We had our second week of gymnastics on Saturday. Emily did great. Each week, Jessica the teacher, will have a different set of activities for each of the kids to try. So much fun! Emily did a good job of following directions, unlike several of the other kids (and parents) in the class.
On the potty training front, WOW, we have made the final turn and are heading to the finish line with Emily! She has one or two accidents a week. Emily has finally figured out what her body is telling her when she has to go and she in turn tells us! It's awesome!
Last night, we had our second session of swimming lessons. They both can't get enough of the pool. Louie has NO fear of the water. He jumps into the water and goes under the water! No fear. He even did it behind my back, without my helping him get out of the water. THANKFULLY the dad next to me caught him! He's a crazy boy!
Tonight, I made The Pioneer Woman's Chicken Scallopine for dinner and it was terrific! Emily and Louie LOVED it and ate every bite of it in their bowls. We had penne pasta with it, we're out of linguine.
anyhow, it was delish! I added a little bit of garlic with the mushrooms! YUMMY!