Getting so big!

The other day I was at my friend Melissa's house and we were sitting around talking. I look in the other room and see Gianna digging in my purse for something. She gets the wipes. Brings them to me and says, holding her butt, " I POOPED ". I picked her up thinking, what are the odds? When the smell hit me I knew. She then proceeded to lay on the floor so I could change her. She's only 15 months old. I guess she'll be easy to potty train :0) Oh, I forgot to mention I had just used the last diaper in my possesion! Aaron ran home and got one for me. Luckily we live like 5 min from her. Anyway, now everytime she goes to the bathroom, she lets me know. TOO BIG :0(

Show Of Hands

Is anyone else sick and tired of picking up after everyone else?! The kids I can understand. But I've about had it with OTHER people leaving glasses, shoes, shirts, papers, tools, lights, socks, coats and you name it scattered around the house!!!!!!!!!! Left for me to pick up because I stay home with the kids!!! If you wan't a serene house when you come home then for cryin' out loud show a little respect and clean up after yourself!!!! Then maybe I'll greet you with a smile and kiss when you come home from work due to the fact that I don't have 4 loads of laundry scattered on the bed and four baskets of clothes to put away that I didn't get to because I spent the rest of the day picking up after OTHERS and chasing around children. How's that for a F'n run on sentence? I'm fired up!!! Can I get a witness up in this MO FO?

QUESTION????????????????

Does anyone else in the blogosphere wake up at like 3:00am, go downstairs and eat two poptarts and a huge glass of milk? Whats my problem?

Happy Thanksgiving

I just got back from the store. I had to grab a few things for the dishes I'm making tommorow. I forget that it feels so refreshing to get out of the house without the kids. Even if it's just for an hour after their in bed! I had to practically force myself to go because I was already beat. But I'm so glad I did. I went to the store. That was strange without having two little ones in tow. Usually I have Gianna in the front and pile the food on top of Hailee or she unsafely rides on the back of the cart while I push it. After the store I headed to Blockbuster. Of course they had nothing I was looking for. I wanted to get " War Of The Worlds" even though I don't think to highly of Tom Cruise after all the crap thats comes out of his mouth these days. I wanted to get "The Skeleton Key" too. I knew they would be gone. My dad use to always get a bunch of movies for Thanksgiving. We'd also always watch "National Lampoons Christmas Vacation" kind of a tradition. I like traditions. Traditions make me feel good. I want to start some new ones with my little family and also keep some old ones. We're going to my moms for dinner and Aaron's brothers for dessert, so all the kiddos can run around together. I'm going to pig out and then diet and exercise until Christmas eve. So what do you guys do for Thanksgiving? Any traditions? Making anything special? You guys have a good one!!!!!

YAY!

Looks like we got the house just waiting for the loan to go through. We signed all the papers today and the seller signed too!!!! I'm so excited. So we'll settle on Dec.16th. Don't ask me how we'll pack and decorate and christmas shop (If we have any money left) in 3 weeks but I guess we'll manage! I just pray that everything goes as expected. Like I said we'll be paying 3 TIMES! what we pay now but it will be worth it in the long run. It will be ours. Who needs digital cable anyway!? Or Starbucks including drinks and snacks for the kids at Starbucks? Or, Baja Fresh? Or... I'm sure we'll manage. Anyone want to fly on over and help me pack? Maybe pack all the glass stuff? Watch he kids while I pack? Keep Gianna from going up the stairs and standing on the table while I spackle and paint? Just kidding. I won't be spackling or painting. At least I hope I won't! I feel very blessed in all actuallity. I didn't expect to find a house this soon. GOD IS GOOD! :0)

I volunteered(is that too many eeeee's?) to make sweet potato casserole for Hailee's pre school Thanksgiving feast. I guess I'll be up bright and early baking so I can get her to school by 9:00am! I'll leave you with the recipe. It's so good. I made it last year for the first time and plan on making it every year as a new tradition.

Jane's Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallow Topping

 

Serves 8 to 10

Each year Martha’s friend Jane Heller makes her distinctive Easter dinner of Smithfield ham baked with pineapple rings and cherries, sweet potatoes with marshmallow topping, and her famous cherry Jell-O mold.

 



 

2
forty-ounce cans sweet potatoes in heavy syrup, drained

 

8
tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), cut into 8 pieces

 

1
twenty-ounce can crushed pineapple

 

1
cup maple syrup

 

1
ten-ounce package large marshmallows

 

 
1.   Preheat oven to 350°. Place sweet potatoes, butter, pineapple, and maple syrup in a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish. Combine well, using a potato masher. Place in oven, and bake until bubbling, about 45 minutes. Top with marshmallows, and continue to bake until marshmallows are soft but not completely melted, about 15 minutes.

 

 
 
 

 

 
 
 

" These boots were made for walkin' "

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Originally uploaded by Ciao Bella.

Little Lady

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Originally uploaded by Ciao Bella.

She pranced around in my knee high boots. She looked like she was going fishing!

She wears it well

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Originally uploaded by Ciao Bella.

Gianna in Drag

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Originally uploaded by Ciao Bella.

She wanted to wear this crazy wig we have! It was hilarious

We made an offer

So we made an offer on a house. They turned it down and we're waiting to hear back about the new offer we made. It's so stressful! It's a town house, which we originally didn't want but it's beautiful inside and kinda in our price range. At least we will own it and have some equity in it so when we do move in a few years we'll have some money to work with. It's still in Bel air like we wanted and has a big kitchen and tub just like I wanted. I love kitchens and bathrooms. The kids rooms are kind of small but Ok. The basement isn't finished but that way we can make it the way we want it. I'll take pictures if we get it. Needs some toning down but so cute inside. It's scary. We'll be paying double what we do now! Damn interest rates have gone back up! Anyway, if they dont accept our new offer then it wasn't meant to be right? RIGHT? We'd settle right before christmas! Thats soon! But exciting! I'm off to read YOU guys :0)

BUSY

We've been so busy lately that I haven't even had time to blog! From running around with the kids to ... When I am on the computer I'm searching for houses which is exciting but time consuming and draining. Prices are horrible around here and you don't get any property for the money you pay. All the nice houses are at least $350,000 to $400,000 Some of those dont even have any type of yard people! So it's kind of discouraging. But the right house is out there for us we just need to learn how to be patient. It's really hard though. I'm sure any of you who are shopping around or have bought a house can relate. Mrs. Flinger! Leslie, are ya feelin' me?!!! So I'll be back soon. But thinking of all you lovely ladies out there. Really, I am :0)

Poccahontas

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Originally uploaded by Ciao Bella.

MY FAVORITE

HAILEE BEAN

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Originally uploaded by Ciao Bella.

She's getting way to big! I wish she would just stop growing!

Tonight we went to Dairy Queen. I was craving a cookie dough Blizzard. So after a dinner of Beef Strokin' OFF (really easy; brown one pound of lean ground beef, boil some farfalle pasta, heat one can of cream of mushroom and one package of cream cheese in a sauce pan, combine the sauce and drained beef, serve over noodles and VOILA super easy dinner! ) we loaded the kids in the car and off to DQ we went. Just as I was about to order, to what did my wondering eyes appear, but a PUMPKIN PIE Blizzard , wish they would serve it all year. Go now and GET ONE! Right now! GO!

Gianna the Tucan

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Originally uploaded by Ciao Bella.

My two favorite girls

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Originally uploaded by Ciao Bella.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

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Originally uploaded by Ciao Bella.

My nephew

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Originally uploaded by Ciao Bella.

We had a great day. I took the girls to my friend Amy's work. She had activities set up and a little parade. She works at an assisted living home. that evening my brother brought my nephew over for pictures. We then headed to Aaron's brothers neighborhood, where they go all out. It was a blast for the kids!

Hallow's Eve

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Originally uploaded by Ciao Bella.

Little Witch

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Originally uploaded by Ciao Bella.

She loved her tights and boots.

My little witch

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Originally uploaded by Ciao Bella.

She had fun all day!

Pumpkin

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Originally uploaded by Ciao Bella.

Had to show up the boys with my carving skills.