What I Wore Wednesday

In an attempt to encourage all of us busy ladies to prioritize self care, my super cool sister in law has requested for all of her sisters to participate in the "What I Wore Wednesday" trend currently sweeping the nation. It took me nearly a month to get with the program and take some pictures mostly because I'm not really about that selfie life. Nevertheless, here is my crew & this is what we wore on Wednesday.

Lyla Estelle 

Shirt: Pink Beach Bum Tee, Baby Gap

Pants: Floral Leggings, Old Navy
Shoes: Beadazzled Sandles, Target

Maxwell Monte

Shirt: Tiger v-neck, Old Navy

Pants: Khaki Shorts, Nautica Outlet

Shoes: Ugg Workboots, Gift from Aunt Kari

Kaili Magdelina
Shirt: Blue Blouse, Olivia Hand-Me-Down
Pants: White Capri, Circa 2006, American Eagle
Shoes: Well. I was wearing some strappy brown sandles.
Necklace: Gold Leaf, Forever 21 

During this phase of motherhood, functionality overrides any sort of true fashion for me. At least during work hours....wait a second...I haven't clocked out yet! Lol. I try to at least get ready from the neck up every day, even though my hair is in a ponytail by noon. And if I don't have a serious [like way serious] social outing planned, I keep it pretty simple...as in, yoga pants simple. Anyways, the point is, I'm not going to waste my energy stressing over planning an outfit or my weave. I already have 99 problems and being a fashionista ain't one. 

My kids usually look cute because they get new clothes every season. That's what happens when you grow like a weed. Lyla likes to choose her own clothes most of the time. It's annoying because she doesn't like anything I like, but I don't interfere with her choices. She also likes for her top and bottom to match. Don't get confused by thinking she likes to coordinate, she likes to match. It has to be pink with pink. Blue with blue. Purple with Purple. And if any Frozen attire is clean, you better believe that's what she is wearing. If I really want her to wear something specific, I will just talk a lot and sing loudly to distract her. It's the only way to avoid a wardrobe dispute. I've got a bag full of tricks for this feisty one! Buuuut no matter what, don't expect anything more than the homeless look if you stop by after nap time. We have a no pants policy after 3:00 pm.

My sister in law has much more Pinterest worthy outfits than myself. So if you're interested in learning the ways of a true fashionista, check out her blog here  ----> www.organizecleandecorate.com

Wonderful Weekend

My Grandpa Rick and Becky took a trip to come see us last weekend. It was great to spend some time with them, have some fun, and give them a better idea of where we live. The biggest [never-ending!] challenge of moving to Texas for me has been being away from my family. However, I will acknowledge that it's wonderful spending quality time with family anytime someone comes to visit. I probably haven't spent a solid 24 hours with my grandpa since I was just a little kid and my parents dropped me off at their house for a night of sanity. Our visits to Idaho always seem overwhelming and rushed. Yet, there is no battle for time when I have them all to myself. So what I'm saying is...I despise the distance between us, but I suppose the trade off for quality time is a sufficient remedy. 

Anyway, per the usual for grandparent reputation, we were spoiled all weekend. We visited The Downtown Aquarium. I fed a stingray. It was a totally weird sensation. Neither Lyla or Max were interested in that experience, but they did enjoy the rest of the exhibits. We took them to Top Golf, which has become a necessary tourist stop for all Texas visitors. I always describe it to people as a driving range on steroids. We took them to Chuy's for the ultimate Tex-Mex experience. And we were even able to sneak over to Old Town Spring during nap time. We found a little quilt shop and I thought Becky was going to pee her pants upon excitement. Luckily, I came prepared with diapers. 

The kids were in the midst of battling colds, but they managed to keep fairly cheerful attitudes for the duration of their visit. Lyla gave a full Frozen performance, which is always a sure way to bring a smile to everyone's face  --- especially for anyone over the age of 60. Ha! I know my grandpa worries about me often and I think it gave him some comfort to see that we are living well and raising our family in a safe area. 

We took a trip down memory lane by looking at photos from 10+ years ago. That made me feel old. I discovered Becky has a plethora of photos from my wedding, which made me really really happy since I wasn't exactly satisfied with the outcome from the photographer I hired. I'm hard to please though, so that's my own issue. 

Also, they fixed my central vacuum. I sucked up baby doll clothes  a few weeks ago and determined it was broken beyond repair. At this point, it doesn't take a lot of effort for me or Kirk to embrace the broken belongings in our life, but apparently we were wrong about the vacuum. Yay! My grandpa is the type of guy who can't stand to see anything broken, much like my dad, who managed to find a couple repair projects as well during his visit last year. I think it probably gives them both some sort of fatherly-role fulfillment that they haven't felt since Kaili turned into a real boy. I mean adult. 

Overall, we enjoyed their company and their trip was over all too soon. I'm so grateful they came to see us. I'm a lucky lucky girl. Hopefully they will return for a second round of fun in Texas!

. 

Idea for Idiots

I read an article somewhere at some point, probably on something stupid like Pinterest or another parenting blog. It suggested to hang portraits at a child's eye level so they can enjoy the artwork and overall decor of their bedroom. What toddler doesn't love an aesthetically pleasing bedroom!? For some reason, I thought this was a brilliant idea. It must be all that pressure to fulfill every single nonexistent desire for my kids. 

Anyway, Max received some superhero canvas wall hangings for Christmas. Kirk must have thought my plan was pretty clever as well, since he hung up all four canvas pieces without his usual skepticism of my ideas. I will acknowledge that the low hanging art theory did attract Max's attention, Lyla too actually. They both like to match up the action figures with the appropriate superhero on the wall....and then rip them down when they finish! Those poor canvases didn't even last an hour on that wall. I have hung them back up repeatedly, yet I continue to find them stacked on the floor. So, unless you plan on using a super heavy duty glue to attach a portrait at eye level for a child...this is probably the WORST idea anyone has ever had. 

The end. 

Side note: Max's new thing is wanting to layer his t-shirts. He is wearing a total of three in these photos. I think it's the early stages of wanting to dress himself. It actually works out pretty great cause he still drools an absurd amount, so now I can just take off a shirt and bam! He's fresh again.

Lyla: Three Year Check-Up

Lyla had a check up this week. In the past she always gets a deer in the headlights look on her face and goes completely silent when the doctor enters the room. This visit she was super chatty. The doctor determined her growth is on track, she is basically a genius, and she is the prettiest little three year old ever. I had to decline the flu shot three times before he finally got the point, other than that it was a quick & easy trip to the doctor. She doesn't have to return for another check up for one full year! 

Weight: 32 lbs, 50th percentile

Height: 38 3/4 inches, 90th percentile

To see how much Lyla has grown click here or here!

Holiday Recovery Mode

We are moving slowly this first week of 2015 as we ease back into this thing called the real world. The past two weeks have been simply blissful. Christmas, New Years, Hali's birthday, Lyla's birthday, plus extra days off for Kirk. I must say for once in my life I feel partied out. This holiday season was very eventful and fulfilling and I'm glad it's all over. Haha! I'm exhausted. I wish I could hire a nanny, a maid, and a cook for a week so I could do nothing but sleep. Just one week is all I ask! Buuut my last name is not Kardashian, so the show must go on!

A few weeks ago we donated a bunch of retired toys to the Goodwill because I knew the kiddos were going to get a big haul for Christmas. I hate clutter. And please know that I don't use that word lightly, so that means I really really despise clutter. Apparently I underestimated the amount of gifts they would receive because there are still new toys that don't yet have a home. We have a playroom for a reason. I dislike all this overflow into the living room. It's fine for toys to visit but at the end of the day, that's not where they live. If they don't fit in the toy box then they belong upstairs! Can you feel my rage!? Ha. It's just pretend rage. 

So! Today I did a second playroom cleanse. There were some toys I hesitated evicting the first go around, such as the very first teething toy I bought for Lyla. Yeah. Well. It's a freaking teething toy. It's time to "let it go." Baby Lyla is long gone. I have love in my heart and the memories in my brain. I don't need this silly toy for any of that! [I'm convincing myself here.]

Let's see...I tossed some loud irritating toys and anything that needed batteries or hasn't been played with in six months. I moved a bunch of stuff that requires adult supervision into a closet. I think we still basically own every toy in existence, but at least I feel a little better about the situation. And I think there is finally enough space for all the new stuff. Phew! Maybe I can make it another year living in this toy infested jungle.

Max received a tool bench for Christmas from his aunt and uncle. After clearing some space, we finally moved it into the playroom. He insisted on pushing it against the wall on his own and arranging the tools to his liking. Then after he finished, he took a step back and admired his work, or so it seemed. It was really hilarious. He often plays with Lyla's mini kitchen and although we share ALL toys for the most part, I think he was excited to set up his own little area in the playroom.

My next project is dress up organization. The collection is growing and it is basically scattered throughout the entire house. It's bothersome to me. I've been searching for a dress up closet but can't find exactly what I'm looking for. I think the image in my brain is something I made up. I like the idea of building it myself, but I'm not sure my carpentry skills are seasoned enough for a task like that. Not having adequate storage for dress up clothes is a serious first world problem, so I'm not really making this a top priority at this point. 

Lyla's dollhouse replaced the changing table in her room. Her new CD player now sits in the location of her lulluby/white noise machine. And now she has requested an Elsa poster!? I fought back the tears as I took a looked around and realized her room is making the transformation from baby room to kid room. Ugh! So sad. Bittersweet. She is really enjoying being three so far. She talks about it every day. She is very fond of her birthday decorations, so we are letting those linger around for a few extra days. It seems really strange but she has been acting different ever since her birthday. Kirk agrees! This exact same thing happened when she turned two. She turned all psycho terrible two child the day after her birthday last year. We aren't sure if our minds are playing tricks on us or what is going on, but Lyla definitely seems older and more mature since her birthday.

This is a little bit of an embarrassing story. But this blog is a no judgment zone, so if you're judging...GET OUT. :-) I was throwing a bit of a fit today after Max dumped the bathroom garbage can completely upside down, emptying all of its creepy contents. I don't do anything like hit or call names, I just growl and whine like a child sometimes. It's pretty pathetic, but mostly only happens when Max is on a hot streak. aka tornado mode. We all have a breaking point, right? Well. Lyla noticed my behavior and said, "Uh Mom. What is going on with you? Can you be nice? Max is my little brother." I stopped in my tracks and told her thank you for calling me out. I'm proud of her for sticking up for her little brother, even if he was being a menace. I know better than to "cry over spilled milk" and I know Max is only going to learn from the way I react to a situation. It turns out having a three year old around is going to keep me in line! I'm grateful for these moments. 

Birthday Interview

Lyla just turned three and I thought it might be a good age to start an annual birthday interview. It will be fun to see how her answers change over the years. She loses interest around the "favorite breakfast food" question and it seems once she gets a hold of that pillow, all of her answers are based around Frozen. Nonetheless, here is Lyla's first birthday interview in all its authentic glory.

This is also a good example of how difficult it is to give one child my undivided attention during the day. I probably should have waited until Kirk got home to do this with Lyla, but patience isn't really my thing. Max was being a spaz during our very important interview. Then, of course, he insisted on having his turn after Lyla. Here is his video!

These videos are a little bit on the small size, so below are the links if you prefer! Be sure to change the video quality to the HD setting. 

Lyla: http://youtu.be/hrBclWmJFdw 
Max: http://youtu.be/BP-lBFAPGjY

How Old Are You?

Today I was talking to Lyla about being three. 

Then it turned into a game. 

She would hold up every finger, 

saving three for the very last. 

She thought it was hilarious. 

Max joined in too. 

Also, Lyla invented a new lunch idea. It's a peanut butter quesadilla. I'm pretty sure this creation already exists, but we've never made it and I can't believe I've never thought of it before. It is delicious! 

Lyla: Age Three

Lyla's day started out as it usually does, in our bed. She woke us up first thing in the morning with her sweet little voice saying, "Everyone. Everyone. I am three now." She seemed so very pleased to announce her new number. She opened her presents from us. A new CD player so she can blast Frozen music in every room of the house. A brave gift, yes I know. I told her I would make anything she wanted for breakfast, assuming she would request waffles since they are her favorite. To my surprise, she asked for a peanut butter sandwich. An odd request indeed, but simple enough. No complaints from me since I spent five hours slaving away over a birthday cake the night before!

Lyla spent the entire day in her Elsa dress. We decorated the house and prepared for the small party we planned for later in the afternoon. Originally I objected to the idea of a Frozen party. Frozen consumes pretty much every aspect of our lives and my brain is feeling a little lot mushy. We are drowning in Frozen memorabilia over here. Then Kirk chimed in with his logic and pointed out that it is isn't my birthday. It's Lyla's birthday. She deserves to celebrate in Frozen style if that's her wish. So I surrendered to the Frozen themed party, just for Lyla. I generally think character themed parties are pretty cheesy, but we kept it simple and I think it turned out pretty cute.

Lyla said her favorite part of her party was the cake, the decorations, and the people. She loves people. And she loves to party! She may only be three, but she has a nice group of family and friends who joined us to celebrate her birthday. She definitely enjoyed their company and having the spotlight.

It's difficult for me to really grasp the fact that she is three now. She is still the same vibrant, observant, determined, stubborn little person as the day she was born. Yet, she is growing growing growing and learning so much. She soaks up knowledge like a sponge. She rattled off my phone number the other day, including the area code. This isn't a skill we've ever practiced. This proves that she is always listening and she is a smartie pants! Her sense of sarcasm seems to be developing nicely as well. And for anyone who doesn't know us, that is a must have quality for survival under this roof. She even made her first "your mom" joke recently. It was pretty great and totally unexpected. Parent teacher conferences could get interesting....but we'll cross that bridge when we get there!

Lyla's day ended with a true birthday meltdown. She mumbled something about Elsa and sprinkles, while forcing out some tears. As she unwillingly climbed into bed, she said in the most dramatic voice possible, "I don't want to be three ever ever again!" Her head finally hit the pillow and she fell asleep instantly. It was a good day to turn three!

I'm looking forward to many more adventures, laughs, and dramatic performances from my baby girl as she continues her path to that age four life mark. She is a blessing in our lives and brings us so much joy. 

Yuck...my heart sank while typing out "age four." Let's not discuss that again for a LONG time. 

I love you, Lyla girl.