It's been a rough couple of days..

Ugh.

(this is long-winded, feel free to skim)

Last Friday Lila was really out of sorts all day. Cranky, crabby, whiney...  you get the idea.

Just before dinner, I realized why.  Fever, yuck.

Not too high, 101.1, just enough to make you feel crummy.

Saturday we spent the day at my mom's house and I ended up running her to a CVS minute clinic for a rapid strep test, because she kept complaining of her throat hurting.  Negative. 

The fever got higher, but nothing a little good ole' Tylenol and Motrin couldn't take care of.  

But then the coughing started.  This awful tight sound from deep in her little chest.

Feeling icky

Saturday night was awful.  Up constantly because every time she coughed, it hurt her, and she cried.

Every remedy I could think of was tried, and finally at 4:10am I fell asleep for almost 2 whole hours!

Sunday was icky too.  Both girls were cranky, and so was I.

Ryan had been gone hunting in Wisconsin all weekend, so needless to say... I was anxious for his return!

He got home while the girls were napping and we got the tree he brought home up in its stand.

I wanted to try and decorate the tree with the girls, but after getting one strand of lights on, I pretty much gave up.  After E finally went to bed, Lila helped me unwrap all the ornaments, then it was her bedtime as well.

Ryan and I finished the tree ourselves.  He even indulged me and cuddled me up on the couch with the lights off, looking at the tree, listening to my favorite Christmas carol (O Holy Night)!  It is a beautiful tree!  More on that process later!...

Another horrible night of constantly waking up ensued, and I woke up feeling like I got hit by a bus.  The girls woke up with low grade temps, but seemed less crabby.  I made a spur of the moment decision to keep our appointment with Santa, and off we went to visit the big guy.  The girls were well behaved and Lila did very well.  Telling Santa her wishes for Christmas and giving him high fives.  Elle on the other hand, was a little unsure about the man in the red suit.  She said "Hello" and gave him high five, but if I was more than 2" from her, she flipped out.  She is actually perched on my leg for the photo!  Let me tell you, Santa and his helpers are very, VERY patient!

Lunch - smooth.  Nap- mediocre.  Wake-up...  temps all around and whining to the point I thought my head might pop!  I called into work "ill child" so I could stay home with the girls today. Ryan and I did literally nothing productive last night.  We sat with the girls in our laps, watching bits and pieces of Happy Feet on TV, then baths and bedtimes all around.

Seriously.

I was in bed before 9pm last night! And blessedly only woke up once when Lila needed to go potty.

This morning Lila is still hacking up her lungs, but fevers are gone and her mood is delightful.

Elle, well 103.1 doesn't bode well with anyone, so Daddy will be staying home with them tomorrow!

Elle is wearing her cranky pants

I love Motrin and Vicks, let me tell ya!

Okay, well.  Both girls are napping, so I'm going to do the same since I have to be back in Babyland tonight!

Thanks

Tonight as I get ready to go to bed,

(yes, it's 9:08pm)

I am feeling fulfilled.

Happy.

Thankful.

To all those that make my life complete,

Thank You!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pintrest

If you don't know what this is,

let me enlighten you!

It's a wonderful website that allows you to catalog a million great ideas to reference back to at your leisure! 
I was the tear-a-page-out-of-a-magazine lady, who would end up with a bazillion scraps of paper
stuck in a pile. Because of the mess, I would never look back at it.

Now, thanks to Pintrest, I have recipes, craft ideas, photo inspiration and home design dreams all
neatly organized onto my "boards"! 

It's Fabulous!  Really!

Because I have some time tonight while at work, I'm going to show you some of my Pintrest-y stuff!

Enjoy!

I have 26 "boards" in my profile.

Lots of ideas, not enough time.  (or money, in some cases)
I just may tackle another handful of them this coming weekend while Ryan's away hunting.

Here are some of my "pins"

Things that make you say "YUM"

Peanut butter stuffed pretzels dipped in chocolate!

Creamy tortelini with white beans and cilantro!  This is delicious!

(I've made both of these, so SO good!)


Hairstyles or fashions I've tried out

I actually managed an outfit similar to this and thought I looked decent!
It's a start I guess?

Cute?  I think so!



OPI - Espresso!!

Random things I love!

Zachary Levi - I love Chuck!

Gorgeous, isn't it?!



Also gorgeous!  And also things I love...  Beer, Lobster, and Rob Pattinson!
(Yes, I'm a dork)

Things that make me laugh

I know you do this.

You do this too.

I have so many ideas I want to try.  So many recipes to make, photos to take,
Clothes to try, hair to do, and crafts to tackle with my munchkins.
Home dreams to keep alive, and some little DIY projects...  it's all great!

I heart Pintrest!

Whining

Feel free to bypass this post, as I will be doing exactly as the title explains.

I'm sick of working night shift

I dislike hunting season

I hate having a husband that has to travel for work

(minus the perk of frequent flyer miles)

Let me lay out how the next 4 weeks are going to go...

Starting today, I work the next 6 nights in a row, right into Thanksgiving morning.  Gag.

Thankgiving evening, my husband will leave to go hunting until Sunday afternoon.  Boo.

Monday, I go back to work until Wednesday night. More gagging.

Thursday and Friday I will spend time with my loves! 2 days!!! HOORAY!

Then...  the first Saturday in December, Ryan and I are playing photographer for our friends wedding.

I'm thinking this may have been the dumbest idea I've had to date, as I'm already completely panicked.

Moving on, the next day, Ryan leaves for China.

Another 10 days away from my man.  10 days.

3 nights together as a family in 4 weeks.

I'm sad :(

And just to clarify, I do still love my job, I just don't love the HOURS of my job.

Random day at the zoo

We have a zoo pass.

We go to the zoo at least once or twice a month.

Even though I knew it was going to be cold, I woke up this morning, and it just felt like a zoo day.

I had brought coats and hats, in case we did the outdoor stuff as well.

Thank goodness!

Because as we pulled in 5 minutes after Open, I see my biggest fear...

School Bus!

Ah crap.

For those of you with small children, I'm pretty sure you know what I mean.

Field trip days are the worst to be at the zoo.  Those big kids don't give two hoots about all

the pint-sized kiddos there.  The running around, yelling, and poor language... ish.

So, we ventured inside just long enough to check in and go potty, then back out we went.

And I'll tell you what...

it was GREAT!

Yeah, it was chilly, but we had enough gear with us to be comfortable.

The sun was shining, we pretty much had the outdoor area to ourselves, and all those

critters seemed to be in the mood for hanging close by!

Truth be told, we didn't even see any of the indoor stuff today. (Except the penguins) 

Just took our sweet time enjoying the outdoors and the sun, 

playing on the playground, and having ourselves a little lunch.

Pretty great morning if you ask me!

The girls love the little penguin exhibit they have right inside the check-in area! This is Ellie's favorite part!

For any of you considering getting a zoo pass, DO IT!  It's a great investment!

Happy Tuesday everyone!

And Happy Birthday to our dear friend Heather!
We love you and miss you!  Hope your day Rocks!

Nothing exciting...

It's been awhile since I've posted, but that is because nothing too exciting has happened.

Just working until last Thursday, then a glorious, boring, relaxing, non-eventful weekend!!!

We didn't clean the house, even though it needs it desperatley.

We didn't get a bunch of work done on the basement.

I still don't have the bin of Halloween decorations put away, although it's been sitting in my kitchen for a week.

Dog poop didn't get picked up, there's a load of laundry left in the dryer needing to be folded,

and the greatest thing about it...

I just don't care!

I DID spend time with my family!
We DID get the "Christmas Card" family photos taken!

We DID make a nice dinner last night and I had an "in-home" date with the hubby!

The girls got to spend time having both their parents home together!

Nothing exciting, but perfect to me!

The Toy Box

I'm feeling pretty darn good today!

After a long week at work, I'm happily enjoying the start of my "no big plans" weekend!

Ryan and his Dad went out hunting this morning, so it was just the girls here at home.

After an episode of Dora, and watching Bambi II for the millionth time, the TV went off

and playtime began.

As a mother, there are certain things that make your heart swell, and your eyes prick with tears...

today, well... this was one of them!

Watching and listening to my two most precious gifts, play together.

IN the toy box!

First step:  All the toys OUT, little children IN!

Big sister showing little sister what to do!

Their two little blonde heads bent together, playing so intently.

Those little fingers just peeking out over the edge.

And the giggling, oh that sweet sound!

I love that toy box!

(now... making them put all the toys BACK IN, not quite as fun)

;)

Our little Witch and Punkin!

Oh what a fun night!  

After working all weekend, I snagged the girls yesterday morning and headed for my mom's!

The morning was spent doing random stuff and having my mom help me in my attempt at making an advent calendar... (whole other story).  Then thankfully, ALL of us girls got a nap in!

Afternoon focus = COSTUMES!

Of course, Lila wanted hers on ASAP and we literally had to hang on to her so she wouldn't run out the door!

Both girls did very well Trick or Treating.  Elle even could kinda sorta say "Trick or Treat" and "Halloween", and both Lila and her did great with their "Thank You's"!

Lila had a blast and didn't stop talking the WHOLE time.  

We got quite the load of candy, far more than we need... maybe I'll bring some to share at work.

Maybe.

Overall, it was a great time!  I hope everyone else had as much fun as we did!

Elle Trick-or-Treating by herself for the 1st time!