School Easter Style

Abi was so excited yesterday to get into an Easter outfit before school. She loved her new Easter bonnet and was even able to sit still while I braided her hair!

We made egg crowns..

and paper plate bunnies

and the girls favorite... the easter surprise treasure hunt. I gave them little clues while they ran around trying to find their special baskets.

We also boiled some eggs together and made egg salad sandwiches for snack..

Here is Abi (later on in the day) showing off her egg crown and bunny since we forgot to do it during school..

Last day!

Hey everyone,
today is the last day to sign up for the mothers day swap!
If you are interested scroll down or click here to read all about it and sign
up! It's going to be lots of fun!
You can sign up any time for the rest of today!

Easter cookies

Abi and I spent some time this afternoon making Easter cookies. It was really fun!

We got to do a bunch of spring shapes and colors..

and Abi got to wear her new chef's hat!

Good Mail: Easter edition

Today when we got home from dropping Steven off at the bus stop we had a package on our doorstep. We were really surprised and were so excited to open it up and read the note. It was from my sister and her family and said that since we couldn't be at the family egg hunt they were sending it to us. My family gets together every year at Easter and puts eggs out for the kids. So, there were a bunch of eggs with Abi's name on them 'hidden' in the plastic pink grass.

Abi was thrilled and had fun sifting through it to find them.

Abi and her loot....

They had also thrown in a birthday present for me... some money to go to lunch and a movie that we just watched the other night and really liked. I was really excited.

Thanks Dan, Steph, McKenna, and Courtney! this was so much fun and such a surprise!
Steph, I am amazed at how good you are getting at surprises!!

Uncle Steven

Yesterday Doug's brother Steven was in town for the night and came up to stay with us. We went on a picnic to the lake...

and then Daddy and Uncle Steven had a tea party with her when we got home.

This morning Steven played Magnet girl with her. She was loving the attention from him and really got along with him well.

At the bus stop she was being a little shy and wouldn't hug him goodbye but then driving home Doug said, "I bet uncle Steven misses you." and she said, "I misses him too".
It was really fun to have him here. Thanks for stopping by Steven!

Just a little baby update..

Every day I look at my little baby calculator and wonder why it still looks like a sea monkey when it feels the size of a football already! Just kidding. This pregnancy so far has been pretty close to when I was pregnant with Abi as far as feeling pregnant fast, clothes getting tight way too fast, being tired, not throwing up, and having heartburn like crazy but the difference is that the nausea and fatigue are way worse than they were with Abi. The last few days I have felt just sick and so so so tired. I have fallen asleep in the beanbag within minutes a few times this week- this never happens to me. I'm that girl that it takes at least a half hour-45 minutes to fall asleep no matter how tired I am. Also, I just feel sick. I feel like I will throw up but never do. And the only thing that makes that feeling go away is to eat something which usually gives me heartburn!
Oh well though.. the little sea monkey is worth it.

Good Mail: Easter edition part two

Last night when this package arrived we were completely surprised. We had no idea we were getting another package from Doug's parents. It was all Easter! There were two dresses (kind of old fashioned looking like I love) with hats and matching coats for each of them. There were also some egg picks to decorate with, some Easter shaped marshmallows, some carrot shaped eggs and some bunny jelly treats. Abi was thrilled and already has eaten many of the bunnies and tried to open the marshmallows.

Thanks Gramps and Grammy!!

Reptiles as far as the eye can see!

Today was another Mommy/daughter outing. There was a reptile fest going on down in Chicago at the University and I really wanted to go. Doug, however, does not enjoy the reptiles so he asked to stay home. Abi and I took this self portrait as we were about to begin our journey...

I had to take a picture of this because this was the first time I have really parallel parked in a city on a busy road since drivers ed. (well, and then it wasn't in Chicago!) It was pretty easy as you can see that the cars were pretty far apart. The hard part was getting out as both cars were different and really close to me. It took a few minutes to get back on the road but I managed.

I had to get this picture of Abi while we were walking to the University gym. I liked how you could see the skyline in the background.

This was by the entrance..

Abi was so mad when we first went in because she was really excited and then while she wasn't looking a lady stamped her hand. For some reason she does not like this at all and was upset about it until we washed it off a few hours later. We had to do it before we went home because she didn't want daddy to see it. I thought that was funny.
One of the first snakes we stopped at was this Anaconda. He was behind the plexi glass so you couldn't touch him.. which was a good thing because he wasn't too friendly. Whenever somebody would put a hand to the glass it would strike. It was crazy.

Now on to the AWESOMENESS!
Meet Bubba. Bubba is rather famous. He goes on shows all the time. He was the alligator of choice for the dear departed Steve Irwin (The Crocodile Hunter and one of my heroes) and was the alligator he would take on shows like Oprah when he was in the States. I guess I was pretty ignorant when it came to Alligators because I did not know they could be this tame. His mouth was not tied like I've seen them on shows and things when people get to touch them. He was just hanging out. I got to touch and pet him - close to his head even. Abi was scared of him so she wouldn't go near him. He walked all around us. It was amazing.

Abi did like the tortoises but wouldn't feed or touch them.

These turtles were so cute. There were a bunch of different species. They were so fun to watch.

Abi almost touched this snake but then some kids came over and butted in and then she backed off. (note to parents- try to hold off older bigger kids when you see shy little kids looking at something. They can be intimidating!)

Meet NELLIE!!
The handler actually offered to take our picture with this alligator.. the only other big one around you could pet and hang out with. I played with it for a minute petting up by its head, its back and tail.. It was so great. Abi let me hold her by it so he was able to get the picture with both of us.

Then she let me guide two of her little fingers down to touch her. He still had the camera and thankfully caught the moment for me. I think she wasn't as afraid because Nellie wasn't walking around. She was just hanging out and she was smaller.

I then got to hold this awesome python. Abi ran a few feet away as soon as they went to put it across our laps and I felt kind of stupid asking to get a picture with just me but I had always wanted to do this and never had so it was an exciting moment for me. This thing was heavy! I had no idea how heavy they are.

Okay, so I'm sure you all think I'm a little crazy now but I really love reptiles. I always have. Ask my mom. This was just a great time all around.
It was fun, too, because I ran into an old friend from high school Steve (he was actually my first serious boyfriend) that was one of the people running it. He is a herpetologist and lives out here as well but I hadn't seen him for about 4 or 5 years so it was great to get to see him and have him show Abi his snakes and to meet his family.
Abi was starting to get hungry so we left (they didn't have food there) and as I drove I just didn't find a place to stop. We finally decided to pull over in Gurnee to go to the mall food court so that she could get a happy meal and I could get a chicken salad sandwich from Arby's (so good) I can't believe how much we have eaten out this week! That definitely has to stop.
It was so fun because they have a carousel and although Abi conquered her fear and rode one last summer, she was a little scared again and yet she went on it. She was pretty nervous at first.

Then it started and she was in heaven!

She wanted to go again! So this time she went on the yellow sea horse that matched her yellow hair (she is OBSESSED!)

It was so great. I also was able to use my birthday money to get Abi the cutest yellow tank top with matching hat and purse from Gymboree (the prices were awesome because it was an outlet and on sale!) and myself a really cute yellow maternity top that matches her outfit and will fit in a few months!

My birthday

My birthday on Wednesday turned out really great. Doug surprised me by having the day off. He took care of Abi and got her dressed while I got ready. Abi and I , just the two of us, left and went to IHOP for breakfast. Doug doesn't like it so he opted to stay home and let us have some special mommy/daughter time. Abi was being so goofy from the start..

She really liked having her own menu to color.

She ordered the smiley face pancake which she got to decorate with yogurt. That thing was huge and she ate almost every bite. She loved it. I got the French Toast- so yummy!

After breakfast I dropped Abi off at play group and went home to get Doug. I walked in the house and had the best gift- he had cleaned and vacuumed the kitchen, family room, and front room! He even did the dishes. It was so nice. We ran errands together including going to Hollywood video and renting Quantum of Solace (did you know you get a free rental on your birthday? that's why I went) We did a little shopping and had lunch together and then went to pick up Abi from play group.
Emily surprised me by having a cake for me when we got there. All the kids were hiding and she said they were supposed to jump out and yell surprise but only little Sara did. It was so nice and thoughtful of Emily to do this. It really meant a lot.

Then we went home and had a couple of rest hours. Doug took a nap on the couch, Abi played with her toys and watched a Max and Ruby video I got for her at the library while we were out, and I laid in the beanbag reading. It was so relaxing.

After rest time we went to Hobby Lobby and I got to pick out some gifts and then we went to McDonald's for dinner with some cash my mom and dad sent us with a note to go out. It was so nice not to have to cook at all today! Then we had some ice cream at home and I opened my gifts. I was so excited. I got a card from doug's mom and dad with a gift card to Barnes and Noble ( I used it to purchase a Madeline hardcover book that has all of the Madeline stories in it!). My parents sent me a bag with a card that had the dinner cash, a gift card to Seagull Book, another years subscription to Family Fun, some hot chocolate mix, a cute frog stuffed animal, and The Spiderwick Chronicles. YAY! My friends gave me a lot of cards! My friend Taylor gave me a cute Willow tree figurine. My friend Andra actually dropped off a gift not pictured (it came later) that was a book by an author she likes that I haven't read and some red and black vine nibs (so yummy and I can't wait to read it!) and from Doug and Abi I got the new Fablehaven book, a scallop punch, some glue sticks, and a new pair of sneakers. I also got cards with some cash from my Grandma and my Aunt Celia. It was all so generous and thoughtful. I don't remember the last time I had this big of a birthday!

This is the frog my parents sent me. It wasn't in the other picture because Abi had hidden it. Before I opened presents I was sitting in the family room and all of a sudden she comes in holding this. I asked "What's that? Where did that come from?" She was like, "It's mine!" That's when I realized she had got into my bag!

We got good mail the next day (Thursday) that had a couple more birthday cards in it (one with cash and one from Doug's sister Wendy with some movie tickets!) I also got a little package from my parents with a guide I get to use in planning our road trip and some fruit snacks for Abi.

After all of this we put Abi down for bed and Doug and I watched the Bond movie which we both really liked (although I didn't like it as much as the last one). It was a great birthday. Thanks everyone for making it so special!

Random moments this week

On Monday Abi discovered Abi in the glass. This mirror was in her closet and she kept playing with it (it's broken) so we had to remove it. It was in the hallway and I told her about Anne of Green Gables and her window friends (using a mirror) and she really liked this.

She talked to herself, looked at herself, danced for herself....

and loved every minute of it.

Later that day as we were driving home she rolled down her window and stuck her hand out. She liked the way the wind felt on her finger so she held her finger out like this the rest of the way home.

I promised her I would put her railroad creation on here...

On Tuesday , while enjoying snack during school, Abi decided to teach Alisse one of her yoga/meditation moves...

Mothers Day Swap

It's finally time to announce my upcoming

Mothers Day Swap!!

I was going to wait until tomorrow but I may not get a chance to post it tomorrow... so here is the scoop:

I had so much fun doing the swap I participated in and thought it would be fun to be involved in one around Mothers Day. This will have the same theme-

Favorite Things.
The swaps I have done have worked so well and I have heard some bad stories of ones that didn't so I am incorporating the rules used in the last swap I did. If you want to participate please carefully read ALL of the rules:

1. By signing up you are committing to do the following:
a. be able to email me back quickly with a response when I send you an email so that I know that you have recieved it.
b. put together an amazing package of your favorite things. This should be a package that you yourself would LOVE to get. All items should be new (for example, if you are sending your favorite brand of makeup.. it should be a new tube not an old one..)
c. The contents of the package should be worth at least $20 not including shipping.
d. You must be able to ship the package out on or before Monday May 4th. This ensures that everyone gets it by Mother's Day.

2. RSVP to me through the comments before/by April 10th. I will then match up all participants and email you with your partners information within two weeks which will give you at least two weeks to put together and ship your package.

3. Once you have RSVP'd send me an email at dcavw@hotmail.com with the following information:
a. your real name and address
b. your blog address (if you are private you must be willing to 'allow' your partner to read your blog so they can learn a little about you.)
c. your email address
d. any food or product allergies you may have to pass along to your swap partner

4. Once you have recieved your package you can choose to open immediately or wait for Mothers Day. Once you open it create a post using pictures on your blog that I can link to so we can all hop around checking out what everyone got!

If you would like to post about this on your blog that would be great... the more the merrier! Also, you do not need to be a mom to participate in this.. I just thought it would be fun for all of us to get packages around Mothers Day so we welcome everyone mother or not into this swap!! I am so excited to host this and I hope you'll all be excited to participate!!

A Food Storage Giveaway

Check out this cool food storage giveaway on I am Low!