Randomness and giggles

I have so many random/funny photos and just had to share a few of these!

Sometimes we joke about how Ben is an "old soul" he loves sitting in his little lawn chair with a blanket pulled up on his lap. :) 

Aria made a hair thing cake. Here she is tasting it. ;)

FORTS! We love making these. This one in particular was impressive too. :)

These 2 like waving goodbye to Daddy as he leaves for work.

Pool party with friends!

Aria and Ruby

I love this! She put the hose on one end of the handlebar... Check out that leap in the air too!

I had these on the counter from looking for something in the spice cupboard and when I came back in the kitchen, Aria had these stacked so well. Haha! 

Aria-isms

Aria is such a funny girl and cracks us up all the time!

Wanted to share a few:

Every time we get in the car:
     Aria: My turn to drive, please.
     Me: Um, no. Sorry sweetie!
And then we continue on by counting to 16 since she can't until she turns 16. Doesn't stop her from asking next time!

While talking about colors (which she tends to pick green a lot for things because "Green is Daddy's favorite)
     Me: I really like Red.
     Aria: Not me. Red means stop.

Me asking Drew if he wanted a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch the other day:
     Aria: Mom, Daddy is a boy.
     Me: Yes, he is.
     Aria: Just like Ben.
     Me: That is right.
     Aria: Daddy no have Girl Cheese. Only girls like you and me can have a Girl Cheese Sandwich!

 She often adds a "Daddy told me" to whatever she is asking me.
     Aria: Can I bring 2 drinks with us in the car?
     Me: Sure, I'll go grab the other one.
     Aria: Thanks! Daddy told me I could bring 2.
Drew usually has no idea why she said it when I tell him! :) Though to him, she usually says "Granny told me..."

She loves talking about when she was a baby. She often starts conversations with:
     When I was a little baby _(fill in the blank)__  I no have teeth. I sleep in a crib. I have short hair,
     no pony tails. I no walk. I crawl. I wake up and cry "MOMMY DADDY COME GET ME!
     WHAAAAAA!"

She has quite a fascination with the moon. Which, oddly enough, Drew always wanted her middle name to be Luna when she was a baby. Each and every night we look for the moon before going to bed. If it's up in the day time, it's a big deal around here. My parents and Drew's parents will often call when they see it up and big to make sure Aria sees it because they know how much she loves it and don't want her to miss it! The moon is a big deal around this house for all of us. Ben is quickly becoming as big of a fan as she is!

Her favorite game: Playing MONSTER! It's either Ben who is the monster chasing her, or she is the monster chasing all of us! Usually turns into hide and seek when we all tire out after a while.

She also loves playing "Teacher" (or what most kids call "school") which is so fitting for her personality that she calls it Teacher and not School. She is SO STINKING EXCITED for preschool that it gets played often around here.

She loves singing. She knows a lot of them but loves to make up her own. They are usually to the same tune with funny things in it. Here's a couple examples:

"Kitty Song, Kitty Song

Dex and Jinx, Kitty Song."

"Aria Ben, Aria Ben

play my yoom (room)

make a mess

E-sha (Alecia) too!"

Whenever someone has something happen to them, she has me sing a song about it. Alecia came to our house once and it was dark outside. She was holding hot chocolate and tripped on my uneven driveway. Her elbow and knee were scratched up pretty bad. Aria had me sing a song about it each and every night when going to bed for about a month. Finally I said "Her owies have healed, can we sing another one please?!" About that time Cory slammed his finger in his door and his nail went black and purple. We then sang about that for about a month...

We love a party 'round here. Whenever someone comes over, or when its late at night and she is avoiding going to bed she gathers up her favorite toys (Monkey, Owl, Pink Bear, Daisy Dog, New Baby, Princess Granny Baby, and whatever else she wants that time) and yells PARTY TIME! 

She also thinks it's her responsibility to tell us when she thinks Ben has taken too big of bites and yells "BEN IS GOING TO THROW UP!" He does this often, but it's just so funny coming from her!

She is absolutely terrified of spiders. We don't get many at all in our house, so maybe it's because she doesn't see them often but when she does, it's craziness! She freezes in place, screams, then runs away. Then, she comes back to watch it. She's actually fascinated with them when it's on her terms. I totally get that!

A phrase we hear a lot is: "Check me out!" She shouts that every time she does something cool like standing on one foot, hanging onto something with her super strong arm strength, a crazy climb, etc.

Last night while looking for the moon (it wasn't there. :( ) we said the rhyme "Starlight Star Bright, First star I see tonight, I wish I may I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight." Afterward I asked her what she wished and she said "That I can climb a super duty (duper) big, big tree."

She understands the differences between boys and girls. She thinks though that longer hair means girls, short hair means a boy. We were at the ENT doc for Ben the other day and she was trying to convince a lady that her son was a girl. Finally the lady said "I know he has long hair, but he really is a boy." Hahaha! I don't think Aria was convinced. She didn't like it that the lady would let her son look like a girl.

We always keep our kids up to date with what is happening that day, the next day, etc. I was talking to Aria the other day letting her know that Linda (with Kids On the Move) was coming over to work with Ben. Aria and Ben LOVE Linda. Being a typical two-year-old, she had to try to control the day and said: "I don't want Linda to come to my house." I said: "I'm sorry Aria, but she is coming at 11." Aria then proceed to say: "It's MY house, and I'm the boss!" :)

She says so many cute things and just keeps us smiling! There are so many rad things about her. I even said to her the other day: "Aria, you are what Grandma and Grandpa wished they had with me when I was a kid." We were speaking about how good of an eater she is because she'll try anything and likes most everything.

Love ya Sunshine!

My Today

With how my day has been going - I laughed a little too hard at this: 

image credit

Blogger ReCaptcha >:(

Anyone else hate it? Blogger's new ReCaptcha is the worst! (Also just Captcha)

If you have it on your blog, I make a begging plea: please take it off! Blogger is really good at catching spam, so, all it's really doing is making people consider commenting or not. Sometimes my comment isn't worth the ReCaptcha hassle and I just delete it.

I'm not alone in hating it. :) But I do love your blogs.

Z is for Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah!

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
Zip-A-Dee-A

My oh my, what a wonderful day
Plenty of sunshine heading my way
Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
Zip-A-Dee-A

Mister bluebird on my shoulder
It's the truth
It's actual
Everything is satisfactual

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
Zip-A-Dee-A
Wonderful feeling
Wonderful day

Yeah

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
Zip-A-Dee-A

My oh my, what a wonderful day
Plenty of sunshine heading my way
Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
Zip-A-Dee-A

Mister bluebird on my shoulder
It's the truth
It's actual
Everything is satisfactual

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
Zip-A-Dee-A
Wonderful feeling
Wonderful day

Oh yeah

[break]

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dahhh
Zip-Zip-Zip-A-Dee-A
Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dahhh

Mister bluebird on my shoulder
It's the truth
It's actual
Everything is satisfactual
Everything is satisfactual
Everything is satisfactual

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
Zip-A-Dee-A
My oh my, what a wonderful day
Plenty of sunshine heading my way
Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
Zip-A-Dee-A

Wonderful feeling
What a wonderful day
Wonderful feeling
What a wonderful day
Wonderful feeling
What a wonderful day
Wonderful feeling
What a wonderful day
Wonderful feeling (zip-a-dee-doo-dah)
What a wonderful day
Wonderful feeling (zip-a-dee-doo-dah)
What a wonderful day
Wonderful feeling (zip-a-dee-doo-dah)
What a wonderful day

U is for I Understand

Drew sent me this and I laughed and laughed. Maybe too much!

A Day in the Life: Around the House

This morning I was just noticing all the cute little things the kids do. Even though some times it's a mess to clean up, it's still cute.

Example - one night, we were going to bed and found 8 blocks stacked up by Aria on Drew's nightstand. We both just smiled and joked about going in her room and waking her up to give her loves because she's so stinkin' adorable!

So, I decided to walk around the house this morning and catch on film some of the things going on at that time. They were both awake when I got home from the gym, so they'd already be playing. I love all their little things!

When Aria saw I had the camera, she ran over with her little mirror (We've been having fun taking photos in the mirror) She always wants to "see" the photos I take of her as I do them, so this worked!
Aria & Ben having a picnic with the play food, a blanket and their babies.
Aria kissing her baby.
She set her baby well! Food, Drink and a fun book!
I'm not sure who's this one was. They love taking babies/teddy bears on walks.
Aria's "Toy Box" the way she wants it. I used to organize it all the time, but gave up when she insisted that her books be in a box. Particularly with her other toys. Books are equal to toys to her. She loves to read as much as she likes to play.
Ben's favorite baby. He loves this thing. Sleeps with it every night, plays with it all day. It can usually be found dropped somewhere along the way to his next interest.
Ben's boots. He and Aria wear their rain boots all the time. Easy and fun to put on. Ben's can be found in some random spots!
Ben can drink from a cup!!!!!!!!! We've been working on this for quite some time.
Rie "shooshing" me. "Baby sleeping, mom. QUIET!"
Ben catching me in the hall on my way in to Aria-Bears room.
Jinxy not wanting to be part of the fun. She wanted out in the snow, I guess. Haha!
Dex not being a part of it. Out of reach, and asleep.

Random photos that make me smile.

Breakfast. Aria yelling "WE SHARE!"
Jinxy's new favorite place to sleep. It's soft, and out of reach from the kiddos.
Ben will always be Aria's little brother. Though he may not always go along with her plans... like "let's wear Rie shoes!" She helped him put on her socks, and then her Sunday shoes. Meanwhile, she's wearing miss-matched ballet slippers and a massive "Pack-pack." I laughed so hard then, and again tonight as I uploaded this. Hahahaha!
An army guarding Aria's fruit snacks from Ben.
My little escape artist's bare footprints trying to go eat snow.

Eleven things survey

My friend Amber at Bumber's Bumblings tagged me in a post!

Here's how it starts:
1. Post these rules
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself
3. Answer the questions set for you in their post
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer
5. Go to their blog and tell them you've tagged them
6. Tag up to 11 people.

My 11 random things:
1. I love glitter and sparkly things.

2. I love shoes. Like my friends Erin & Cecilia says: "Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy shoes, and that's happiness." Haha! I just got new boots today... ;)

3. I like to run. I did a bunch of 5k's last year and had a blast! Not planning as many this year, but excited to do one with my sister! But, that might be all.

4. I love singing to my kids. I love all those fun little songs. They love singing them too. I hope they always will because...

5. I am not musically talented. I love music. I love to hear the piano. I do not know how to play the piano. When I was young, I used to be so glad my mom never forced us to play like my friends' parents did. She was forced as a kid and didn't want to do that to her own kids. As an adult, I wish she'd have forced me when I was young. I would appreciate it now to have that talent. I haven't given up. I plan on taking lessons when my kids do. Oh yes, they WILL take lessons. ;)

6. I suck at writing Thank You notes. I forget. Not that I forget I am thankful, but I forget to write them.

7. Am currently reading Alloy of Law. Oh how I love Brandon Sanderson's writing, and this Mistborn series. If you ever need a book suggestion, that is what you will always get from me.

8. I like doing crafty things. I do not like scrapbooking anymore though. I love sewing. I like making quilts. I like doing things with wood. I'm currently about to make growing-sticks for the kids. I also like painting my walls and decorating my house.

9. I'm a fan of video games. Now that we have kids I haven't played much at all, but I love watching Drew play when the kids are asleep. I didn't always feel this way. I didn't play much growing up. Then Drew played one with an awesome story line that hooked me. Then he got me to play No One Lives Forever. It was cute and fun. Then I was on board and we quit arguing about him playing too much. Hmm... guess he really won that one! Haha!

10. I think Abraham Lincoln is one of the best people to ever live. He and Drew share a birthday. There are so many things he did that are worthy of admiration. I have so much to say about him.

11. I snowboard goofy foot.

Amber's 11 questions for me:
1. What's your favorite Candy Bar? York Peppermint Patty. I'm a huge fan of those and Jr Mints, but I don't like other mint flavored things. Mint Brownies or ice cream = YUCK!

2. What's your favorite job you've ever held? The ones I have right now!

3. What's your dream car? Tahoe. 3 rows of seats. Too bad it's a gas hog. :(

4. What's your favorite parenting book? What to Expect the First Year & What to Expect the Toddler Years. I love those books. As my kids get older, I will probably like others better. I've taken Love & Logic courses and like a lot of those too.

5. Who's the main driver in your relationship? i.e. Nate always drives unless we are on a road trip. It's just funny to me to see other people's relationships. Drew is. For some reason I always feel weird being the driver. Sometimes I want to - like when I know where we are going and he doesn't. The kids get weirded out when we are all together and I drive. They always tell me I'm in the wrong seat. Haha!

6. What's your favorite outdoor activity? Oh lots! Most anything outdoors. Warm or cold weather. I don't love super hot days outside though. Snowboarding, hiking, sledding, playing at the park, etc.

7. Favorite vacation that you would love to repeat? Hawaii. No question. Best vacation ever.

8. Can you tell I'm on a favorite rut? Yes, but it's the kind I'm usually in on these kids of things too. ;)

9. Try to think of one thing about adoption or open adoption that has been really tough for you: I'd prefer not to answer this here.

10. Do you live for nap time as much as I do? I wish. My son goes down too early, and my daughter too late. Sometimes I am leaving her room and hear him waking up. Sometimes it's inconvenient that they take naps - I'd love if they could just be happy all day and not need a nap! I know that is weird to most moms, but it's hard to schedule a day around naps! Sometimes, when I really need it after a long night, I put my son down way late, and then nap with my daughter until he wakes. I do live for those times. ;)

11. Are you a salt and pepperer or not? Pepper, yes. Salt, no. My dad had high blood pressure when I was young and had to go easy on salt. My mom stopped cooking with salt and had us all just salt our own. I was young enough that I didn't care - therefore, grew up without food being salty and loving it that way. Drew doesn't care much either, so I rarely salt our food, and he rarely adds it. Plus, since I know that bit of health history from my dad, I don't want to ever have a problem with too much salt in my diet causing a problem. Good to know those things.

My 11 questions for the people I tagged: (though some are from Amber's and Kelly's-who tagged Amber)

1. What is your favorite shape, and why? I know this sounds weird, but I think it says a lot about your personality.
2. What is your favorite book and why?
3. What is your most important piece of makeup?
4. What is your favorite dessert?
5. What do you do in your spare time?
6. What skill or talent do you wish you had, or want to develop?
7. What trait do you admire in others that you wish you possessed?
8. What is immediately to your left?
9. Name 2-3 things on your "bucket list".
10. What is your favorite time of day, and why?
11. What color do you wear most often?

The people I am tagging: And if you want to play along and I didn't tag you, consider yourself tagged!
Janet @ Boulter Diary
McKell @ Chris McKell Hadley & Dace
Millie @ This is Necessary
Danielle @ Danielle & Alex
Rachelle @ Steve & Rachelle
Jenny @ Waking Up Infertile
Kiki @ M K G A
Betsy @ Karson & Betsy
Ashley @ Ashes to Ashes
Cari @ Greer Family
JoAnne @ Soda Pop & Ice Cream