Been A While…

I’ve been wanting to write for a while but fell into that trap that nothing was good enough to share or write about. Enough of that nonsense! To give myself a boost back into posting, here’s a Day In The Life from Sunday. It’s short, sweet and to the point. Petite, actually. 🙂

Early morning Sexton duties. I like how pretty the church looks during Lent.

Of course, poor Ella doesn’t care. The girlie is sick and running a fever from a double ear infection. 😦

Back home, breakfast is started.

Hot cereal in Pyrex bowls. Traditional Sunday breakfast since 2010.

We then spend literally 3 hours like this. I get quite a bit accomplished on Ella’s sweater and the kids absorb exorbitant amounts of Blue’s Clues while both ran fevers.

Lunch time arrives and naptime follows.

While the kids sleep, I discover that I spent 3 hours knitting Ella’s sweater incorrectly. So I shed a small tear, rip it out, and switch to my other work in progress.

Chatting it up with .

Miles wakes up before big sister and promptly eats half of my chocolate square.

Ella wakes up a while later and we make banana cake (again).

Sorting my button collection is a new way I seek my zen.

Sundays are our work Fridays AND Aaron doesn’t get home until exactly bedtime, so it’s frozen food night. Mama needs a break.

After bedtime taking almost 2 hours, I huddle around a cup of tea while indulging in 1999 teen angst (hello, Roswell!).

Goodnight.

Finally Back

My computer is up and running. Hooray!

I’ve been toying with some topics to write on but decided I didn’t want to get too serious right off the bat. Instead, here’s a video version of a Day In The Life.

(If you’re on Google Reader, you’ll have to come directly to my blog to see the video)

Day In The Life: Last Days of Summer

Our day began with self hygiene.

Presentable.

Meal planning. I. Loathe. It.

Knitting every moment I get.

Pleased to introduce you to my new daughter, Helen. She goes with us everywhere.

Helen even gets adjusted at the chiropractor!

Off again.

Four last things to get that our normal grocery store didn’t have.

Ella (and Helen) didn’t make it through just getting one.

So we three girls wait in the car while the dudes get the rest.

Paper towels have many uses!

I did many things during nap/quiet time.

Like sugaring lemon peels for lemonade.

Painting nails.

And more knitting.

Little man wakes up from his epic length nap.

They scream entertain each other while I finish prepping dinner.

They harass the mail man.

Naan fresh off the grill. Om nom nom.

Hard at play while I slave over a hot open flame.

Our feast. Fresh produce, hummus, naan, homemade lemonade. I lovingly refer to it as “Hippy Dippy Dinner”.

After two grueling hours of attempted bedtime, I’m ready to pound out my frustration.

On week 3, day 1 of Couch To Five K!

Last 1st birthday cupcake, aleve, and coconut water finish off my night.

Sleep Saga Ditl

Another day in the life of us. Not so typical, since we were on our way up to the big city to see a specialist for Ella’s sleep issues. We just arrived home tonight, so I’m hoping to be able to write about our experience (and answers!!!!) tomorrow.

I look sleepless because I am. I have been for 2.5 years.

No amount of teeth brushing or face cleansing completely washing away the fact it’s 5:30am

Little miss is pretty disgruntled by the time as well. Ironic, considering she’s pretty much always up by 4am.

Breakfast on the road seemed to help the disposition of all.

After a bit of stress, our tickets are spit out at us and we head outside to wait.

We get settled in.

Built in entertainment.

So much travel gives poor Ella ants in her pants. Daddy must entertain.

We finally arrive at our hotel.

Head out again to nix a craving.

Then we meet up with new friends for lunch!

Elizabeth and her adorable children brought us hungry travelers lunch!

The girls bond.

Miles watches on with amusement.

After throwing my back out, Aaron wears both children the mile to the hospital.

We opted to participate in a family food allergy study since we had nothing to do that afternoon…

Head size burritos were picked up for dinner.

When she sleeps, this is how she does it.

Baby is with me in the other bed and I shortly all join them in the land of nod.

A Day In Our Life (aka a DITL)

It’s what time and why are we up?

5:30am is MUCH to early to try and explain to Ella WHY she isn’t successful when standing up to potty like Daddy and why Mommy just can’t fix it.

I decide to run the risk of showering while being the only adult home with both children awake .

They seemed to survive.

I certainly feel more human and have a happy moment when I put on my outfit found completely at the second hand shop.

We have a quick breakfast.

Then I take this disaster…

And turn it around.

There’s a bit of this.

And I’m persuaded to leave my house.

Which means we have to get dressed. Bummer.

We get to playdate early.

But that soon changes.

Back home again, Ella naps and Miles and I rock the back carry.

Taking advantage of the back-happy baby, I make some bread for dinner.

Girlie wakes up needing a little special snuggle time.

While Miles discovers if he thrashes his legs wildly, he can make his seat bounce.

The bread rises for the second time in the warm dishwasher.

Making certain the cookie dough tastes right.

Daddy comes home from his second day at the new job (after being laid off for two months) and entertains the kiddos while I finish up the soup. I ❤ the fact he gets home at 4pm!

We have homemade “Cream” of Broccoli soup (no dairy, used raw cashews to add creaminess) with the Rosemary Bread. YUM.

After dinner clean up, we pucker up and exchange kisses goodnight!

A Day In My Life

Good morning, world.

Those 5 precious minutes in the bathroom? They turned out to be my only moments of peace the entire day.

I work some magic in the kitchen.

I decide to tempt fate and give some decaf coffee a try.

Where Miles has been this entire time.

Naked girl wants to be like Mama and wash dishes.

I take advantage of her distraction and vacuum.

mmmm sweet nectar of life.

Shoot my mom off an email after some internet sleuthing.

Ella loves the illustrations in this book. So do I. Love makes you real.

We head out for a walk.

He sleeps the whole way.

No clue what she’s doing here, but she giggles 3 whole blocks like this.

Our destination.

Noming a shared muffin and feeling like a big girl with a special water cup.

She blows off some steam while I recover from the mile walk. It wasn’t nearly as difficult as it was a few weeks ago.

Sadly, Emo’s is now closed for the season. Someone is renting the lot to sell pumpkins, though.

This never fails to make me giggle.

Autumn has arrived! Our walk home is so pretty.

While the little girl naps, I get applesauce started and water boiling for my lunch.

Alas, nap time did not last nearly long enough, so we share some quiet time together on the couch.

Cookie baking time!

Little fingers help peel garlic for the soup.

While the soup simmers, I update my blog.

He stays parked outside my house just long enough to concern me. The moment I snapped this picture, he drove off.

Maybe he was concerned for the little man’s safety. I swear she’s going to kill him with her love.

The husband arrives and rescues me like the hero he is. Hooray!

I leave him to fend for himself while I hop in the shower for 15 blissful minutes.

I watch some TV at hulu.com in bed while Aaron puts Ella down for bed because I’m suddenly feeling horrible. Turns out I have a fever and end up going to sleep before 8pm. Thankfully Miles cooperated and we were both out like lights.

A DITL

A DITL is a Day In The Life presented in pictures and captions. I thought it was a neat idea, so here’s my DITL from yesterday. Just as a warning, this is NOT dialup friendly. 🙂

I still don’t understand why there is a “good” in front of “morning”.

Showering to feel human and a bit disgruntled that the towel doesn’t fit all the way around anymore.

Feeling a bit better but still skeptical about the day.

Life gets better when I see that the husband is cooking breakfast!

Insert about 45 minutes of rush rush rush while we get ready to head out the door to my midwife appointment! Ella loves going to see Miss Sherry!

I, on the other hand, do not love all the construction we must endure to see Sherry!

My head is causing a lot of pain and we manage to get to the office with enough time to stop for caffeine.

It may not be gourmet, hand crafted specialty coffee but it meets the need for caffeine and is within budget!

Ah, the things you learn as a mother. Turning the AC on high cools down hashbrowns, french fries, and chicken nuggets very quickly.

She certainly appreciates the speed at which her hashbrown cooled down!

We spend some time in the parking lot while Ella finishes her snack, while giggling over the discovery that she can see me in the flip down mirror.

At the office, Ella insists on helping by holding the urine catch cup and coaching me while I attempt to fill it.

Not looking too bad for 36 weeks and change!

We spend some time wiggling toes and coloring.

My beloved midwife, Sherry. She caught Ella and was such an amazing support and encouragement during my birth. I couldn’t have done it without her and I can’t wait to do it again!!!

After my appointment, we play at the park for a while. Ella’s a bit unsure about all the big kids.

We get home and while eating lunch, I catch up on my blog reader.

Reading books before nap.

After she’s asleep, I change into some amazingly attractive clothing!

And prepare to make a mess.

2 hours later, 24 gerber prefolds (that are useless as diapers) are turned into sort of interesting burp rags.

While cleaning up, I manage a truly brilliant move and spray myself in the face with dye laden back splash. Good times to be had!

I finish just in time for Ella to get up from her nap and she enjoys some promised Elmo time while I eat something and enjoy some brain candy.

My reading is interrupted by a giggling girl child wanting me to nurse her baby.

After baby doll’s tummy is full, I take these items…

And turn them into a YUMMY fruit salad with a fantastic assistant chef.

After dinner, Ella tries to convince me that she can go to bed completely naked. We compromise on just a diaper.

After helping Ella go to sleep, I come out and find Aaron getting his news and political fill. We spend some time discussing his recent reads.

Before I know it, it’s time for bed and I finish out the day in the same room I began it.

Good night!