bah hum bug

So, my camera is broken. Really broken... and I can't download any of the pictures from preparing for Christmas, baking with Pinkie, her first gymnastics performance or Christmas day. I'm mourning...

Christmas Break Day 2

I have LOTS of plans for my 2 weeks off for Christmas. Yesterday was Christmas shopping and sewing. I'll post about this year's sewing project after the gifts have been given :)

Today, we are indoors and trying to be quiet. Daddy worked the night shift last night so as we were rising he was falling asleep.

We are working on: these delicious cookies, these fun (but dough won't rise?) pretzels, and these cute ornaments that will end up as presents.

the days of our lives

We happily move on with our lives each day. We have fallen into that category of working family and we come together each afternoon to cuddle, relax, eat and prepare for the next day. It's exhilarating, yet exhausting. I'm so looking forward to having 2 weeks off for Christmas- a perk of being a teacher! Baby J is 7 months old! He's sitting up (so awesome) and possible saying 'dada' depending on who you ask.

Here's a little throwback to Christmas with Pinkie when she was 18 months.

She loves these pictures. I love these pictures too. Is it bad to miss that little, bitty girl?

I'm hoping this year our visit to the Mr. will fulfill her dreams.

She wants 4 things: a pillow pet unicorn, a Vidia Fairy doll,

a Princess Minnie doll and Hello Kitty pjs.

Pinkie says brother wants a caterpillar and clothes. How generous she is...

To delight the Princess

I'm a sucker for my girl, Pinkie. I decided to throw a Halloween Party for wee ones because I just thought she'd get such a kick out of the costumes, the people in our house and all the candy. It worked.

Year One- Ladybug, Year Two- Puppy Dog, Year Three- Snow White,

Year Four- Tinkerbell

I think we've just begun many years of princessy pinkness.

Little J was a Baby Tiger. I love that Carter's made such warm, cozy costumes. Auntie Shanna was also Tinkerbell at Pinkie's request. Gunner = Nerd, Grandma = Witch, Shanna and Pinkie = Tinkerbells, Brooke = Cheerleader

I served Carrot Fingers from Food Network. Don't they look gross? Who thinks of these things?

We also had Chili, Chicken Toes, PBJ Witches Hats, Pumpkin Pudding, Bat Bites and Goblin Juice. Thanks family and friends for coming!

MIA

It's been over a month since I've posted anything. Not that thousands read my blog, but my friends do and I feel lame. The basic reason is that I am missing in action. My brain is MIA, time has gone MIA and the space for all the fun hobbies I have is MIA. Since this school year started I have no time for anything besides work, kids and sleep. It's stressful. Working full time and away from my babies for so long has really gotten me down. There's nothing I can do about it now and you can't have a home for those babies without a job, but it's like a punch in the gut every morning when I walk out the door at 730am.

Now, my life is great. I wouldn't trade it EVER. Here is what we've been up to.

On our trip to San Fran last weekend (20 hour road trip with 2 kids = worst thing ever), we stopped at Wildlife Safari. Me and this bear are kindred spirits. We feel stuck in a cage and we're just looking for some good food to make us feel better. I know, stupid, yet strangely how I feel today.

This is how Pinkie felt about riding in the front seat without a seatbelt while in Wildlife Safari. It's pretty awesome to a toddler. She kept telling us it was unsafe.

John took a lot of pictures of the animals rear ends...

Grandma Mary and Baby J 5 months old! His thumb never seems to leave his mouth unless he trades it for the whole fist. He's rolling over and over and over. He talks and talk and talks. And lastly, he eats and eat and eats. Baby J is the perfect baby.

And now you know why it's so hard to walk out the door at 730am.

S

recap.

We did it. We made the rite of passage, the pilgrimage that is Disneyland. Many months ago we started planning for this trip. Our motto: 'Go big or go home.' We did Disneyland right. We got the 3 day pass, we stayed at a nice hotel close by and parted with our money freely. We went home for naps and kept the expectations low. We were ok riding the same ride 8 times and handing out lollipops like hugs. It really was an awesome trip. I want you all to go and follow the aforementioned rules. It works. The Tea Cups- rode 4 times. Winnie the Pooh - rode 8 times. Buzz Lightyear- rode 4 times. Tinkerbell- saw her 2 times. Ariel- saw her 4 times. Sleeping Beauty- saw her 4 times. Snow White- 3 times.... you get the idea... And this is what Baby J did the whole time...

Seriously, Disneyland is awesome. I want to go back.

--- And this is my GG. She passed away last Monday. She was 91.

She lived the life though:

the Great Depression, a World War, at least 5 husbands, 4 kids, tons of grandkids all the way to great-great grandkids. She cooked like a mad woman and loved bleach. Had a mean crush on Chuck Norris and loved us all quietly.

Way to go GG. See you up there.

Family of Four

We had a family photo sessions with Tina of Impressions Photography. We loved the portraits she did when Pinkie was 2years old. Since the Wisconsin Sheridans have moved West we decided it was time for an all family, all kids photo. Lots of cute pictures of Little J. She takes quick photos of precious moments, plus all the classics like hands and toes.

All the Sheridan women +3 packs of glodfish

All the Sheridan men

Cousins/Best Friends/Trouble/Wild Monkeys

The Sheridan Family

***we're headed to Disneyland! see you!***

Check me out

One of my homepages is Prudent Baby. So you can imagine how thrilled I am that the picture tutorial I used from them is on their Project Round Up! Check it out at Prudent Baby.

Picasso

Baby J's room was sadly lacking. This time around for the nursery I was a stickler for only things I loved. None of the cartoony sillyness that plagued me with Pinkie. I pondered paint for weeks. And loved it. I pondered bedding for days. Daddy ended up winning that pick but I warmed up to it. I now have 3 pieces of artwork that I love. I'm not done with his room- there are some shelves that need some love soon.

My friend, Anna, sent Baby J this Monogram photo set. The 'J' is her husband's cowboy boot. The 'S' is the S from the SMU sign. That's where Anna and I met and spent some good times. We've been friends for like 6+ years now with her in Dallas/Austin/Center Texas and me in Oregon. And the 'D' is from their honeymoon hotel door. They happened to honeymoon in Kauai, HI where Daddy and I got married. Can you see all the sentiment? I adore it. I am obsessed with the website Prudent Baby. I've done many of their tutorials and they are simple and well illustrated. I found this tutorial a few weeks ago and pondered whether I could do it. I used to be really into Watercolor painting so I had the supplies and thought why not? I don't think mine are near as good as PB's, but I think they are pretty cute for his nursery. Pardon the poor pictures. How does one take pictures of glass without glare???

Our house is feeling pretty fresh lately. We got new carpet- it's khaki-ish and long n shaggy (called frise). New curtains in Pinkie's room and downstairs and I just mop my heart out with my Shark steam cleaner.

We have...

1. a 3month old. The time is flying by and it makes me sad.
2. a super happy baby. Blessings from above, I claim no credit for his amazing disposition.

3. garbages that are over-flowing and clogged drains.

4. no garbage bags...

5. 3 projects half done (baby booties, watercolor painting for nursery,

ladybug and butterfly stuffed toys)

6. new carpet!

7. an empty box of nursing pads (big whoops).

8. lots of plans- Pump It Up, Grandma babysitting,

Tillamook Cheese Factory, gymnastics and Disneyland.

9. a sad mommy going back to work Aug. 30.

How I got my groove back

It comes as no shock to some, but how hard parenting 2 would be shocked me. Pinkie and I have a strong, fun, creative and emotional relationship. I kinda thought we were rock solid for the delivery of this baby. I mean with a therapist for a dad and a SpEd teacher for a mom,

aren't we ahead of the game a tad?

Any new baby throws a hitch in your giddy up, so at some point you realize I've got to do more with my day than diapers, laundry and goldfish. I will go back to teaching at the end of August and realized it was time to figure out how to be Mommy and Ashley again.

The duck pond at the library is a favorite for us both. We've also rented every book that has anything to do with being a big sister. All 4 of us went to the beach for the weekend and fast approaching is our amazing trip to Disneyland! Luckily, Little J is so easy to please.

Since the arrival of Little J, bedtime has been a challenge. I totally understand the 3 year old logic- 'I don't want to sleep in my room alone because everyone is in your bedroom.' She's right- we are all together and she's left out. So we've had a few nights of 4 in our bed, a few of her on the floor and many of Daddy in the bunk bed. I've been desperately wanting to get back to sewing and found a project. I made Pinkie a new blanket/quilt to help with bedtime. She's thrilled about it but we'll see if it helps with bedtime. I love it too. It felt really good to sew and then give her a gift for a change instead of baby. *** and she's given me 3 time outs as I wrote this***

a comparison

One of the best things I did when Pinkie was born (besides birth, breastfeeding and otherwise keeping an innocent human alive) was take monthly pictures of her on the 29th. We have one whole photo album with just her monthly pictures made by my bestest, Tara. I happen to think that as a little baby, Pinkie looked just like me. And as a wee babe JD looks just like Daddy. They both do have adorable little jowel type cheeks perfect for smooching. And lest we forget the big sister... she holds him, burps him, pokes him, steals binkies and otherwise adores 'Bubby'.

Quick

We are busy! I mean like busy busy busy- like it's ten o'clock and you can't figure out where the time has gone and what you've been doing. Welcome to the world of two kids, family moving into town with two brilliant nieces, new job and the feeding feeding feeding that goes on here.

Meanwhile, Pinkie turned 3 at a smashing puppy party and baby boy is 7 weeks old today.

And what a charmer I think he will be with a smirk like that!

Strawberry Fields

We went strawberry picking last weekend. The weather was perfect. I thought Pinkie would just go crazy for it, but the Berry Barn has goats, chickens and such. She was in love. So I picked all by myself while Daddy toured the farm with the kids. I kind of liked picking the berries by myself- a little quiet, a little manual labor. It was refreshing.

The Berry Barn offers wagons, buckets and an amazing shop with fresh fruit and veggies. They also happen to have an incredible gift shop that I'll be going to for gifts for family and friends.

And- I give you one happy little boy...