Painting Sugar Cookies

I received an amazing book for Christmas last year - "Someone's in the Kitchen with Mommy" - you can find it on amazon.com and the link is below.

This book has a ton of amazing kitchen craft ideas for kids to do with moms during holidays and other special times. I saw an entry for painted Valentine's Day sugar cookies and added my own little twist.

According to this book you roll out the sugar cookie dough and then paint messages on the cookies with an egg yolk/water/food coloring glaze. For Lizzie I gave her a paint brush and let her have fun!

Yummy!!! They were very good too! I could have rolled them out thicker but I like thin and crispy sugar cookies as opposed to thick and fluffy ones.

Lizzie was so proud of herself! I have animal cookie cutters so we also talked about what sounds each animal makes and which part of the body we were paining. Now she wants to make more - looks like a trip to the store is in order!

These will make fantastic gifts!

WW First Snow!

This will be far from wordless! Enjoy the pics, the post is below.

We are officially in a winter storm warning - otherwise known to Lizzie as enough snow to make a snowman! We haven't spent enough time outside to make a snowman yet. I can't find any snow shoes for David so I don't know what do with him while I try and teach Lizzie how to roll up the snow into big balls. Tomorrow we will try and figure it out. Maybe I can bring his bouncy chair outside and strap him in? That should keep his feet out of the snow. Any other ideas? I need to buy some baby boy snow boots, then I can put him down in the snow to play!

Did you enjoy Bubs' snow suit? Yeah, it is a size 24 months, so WAY too big for him. But we got it for free from our neighbor, so a little big is really no big deal at all! At least he was comfy cozy!

He didn't know what to think about it all. Usually he is all smiles for the camera, but he was concentrating so hard on the cold white stuff that I couldn't get a single grin!

Lizzie can't wait to make a snowman. So tomorrow that is our #1 priority!

WW Thanksgiving Pinata

For more WW see 5 minutes for Mom!

Our thanksgiving was full of kids and they had a total blast breaking open the pinata - a new tradition!

Where a dad can be a kid!

Josh wanted to take Lizzie Lou and Bubs to Chuck E. Cheese so much a couple of days ago and I sprung at the chance to have a really fun family night!

Then he said he wanted to invite his brother's 2 youngest kids. I hesitated. This was supposed to be family time...sure, the other two are family and Lizzie loves her 3 year old cousin with all her heart. So my hesitation waned, especially after seeing Josh's extreme excitement.

I honestly believe that Chuck E. Cheese is the place where a dad can be a kid!

I was amazed at how many dads I saw walking around with their tiny daughters and 400 tickets hanging out of their back pockets. I don't think that little Susie won those by riding the pony or throwing the skeet balls. One dad in particular shocked us. He was playing the small child's game and tugging at the tickets to get more. Then he broke it. That was the highlight of my evening right there!

Overall it was a super fun time though. I wore Bubs in my Glory Baby Mei Tai and he was content the entire time - even though he was really tired! Poor guy must have been overstimulated by all the lights and sounds, but being held in the mei tai really soothed him and he didn't fuss hardly at all.

We stayed there for 2 hours and I could tell the toddlers and baby were getting tired but Josh kept saying "oh, just let them play Annie. We can stay a bit longer." I couldn't believe he was enjoying running around with them so much! Really, Chuck E. Cheese brings the kid out of the dads. What they need in that place are comfy chairs for moms to sit in with their babies while the dads go play with the kids. I wasn't too comfy holding Bubs in the booth....a couch would have been so nice :)

Ok, enough said with words, lets go straight to the pictures!

The cotton candy... Zach wanted it so badly! It was 200 tickets though and we split up the tokens even between the 3 kids...and he only earned 175 tickets! So I told him if he shared the cotton candy I would give him some of Lizzie and Mycah's tickets. (Yes, I won them some tickets...a mom can be a kid too I guess!) He agreed and shared! It was awesome!

Lizzie and Mycah ~ BFFs!

Our little party ~~ Zach (8yrs old) Lizzie Lou (2.5 years old) and Mycah (3.5 years old)

I am so very glad I brought my Mei Tai! He was comfy cozy the entire time and so was I!

This horse ride. What can I say? A lot. It didn't have instructions on it so we couldn't figure out how to make the horse go. Supposedly you ride the horse and as you do the motions it goes on the screen and the horse you are on moves too. Maybe Lizzie was too small....Josh even pushed on it, we pulled on the reigns....I think it takes a rocking motion. We saw a teen girl doing a great job of it....if that is the case why was it in the toddler section? Lizzie was disappointed cause she loves horses. But she got over it pretty quickly :)

Yes, I still love Hanson

I might be 25 years old and a mother of 2 children, but I still love Hanson.

I remember being in middle school and documenting every single fact I could about those three Oklahoma brothers. I knew their favorite food, color, sport, hobby, how to describe their personalities, what music they listened to growing up - oh I knew it all!

And today I still pop in my copy of "Middle of Nowhere" and dance my heart out. The upbeat lyrics and (to me) rockin' sound get me in a very happy mood. I could groove to MmmBop every day. You heard me right - I love that song!

And they are some very wholesome men. They come form a Christian family and all their lyrics were always squeaky clean. I loved that then and I still love it now.

Please enjoy this video. I caught Lizzie dancing and put one of my favorite Hanson songs to it. It is not MmmBop I promise!

Lizzie Dancing to Hanson from Annie Shultz on Vimeo.

WW Daddy's Bubbles

Lizzie found one of Daddy's ratchets and wanted to blow bubbles with it.

It was honestly her idea.

Josh just played along.

The ratchets weren't making big enough bubbles for Daddy.

So off to the porch they went in search of bigger, better tools -

I mean bubble blowers!

Yes! This was the ticket!

For more Wordless Wednesday see 5 Minutes for Mom!

Lizzie Lou's Toddler Talk

This should be a fun post!

When Lizzie was 15 months old, she spoke hardly any words. She signed a bunch, but refused to speak unless she could say it clearly. My little perfectionist. I was a bit worried, especially when my mother asked if I should take her to a specialist.

Um, thanks mom!

But I stuck to my instincts and trusted that she would speak more at her own rate.

And she did!

Now she is 2.5 years old and is quite a little chatterbox!

Here are some of the hilarious things she says:::

Uh-oh. It's raining in the bathroom! (I was showering and the shower curtain wasn't closed all the way)

Oh no. Mommy has milk on her face!

Lizzie wear pink like 'Lella! (or purple like Briar Rose, pink like little mermaid, blue like Thomas, she matches with her favorite characters)

Daddy is prince, Lizzie is 'Lella, Mommy is Queen!

Mommy play tea party with Lizzie. Mommy want mashed tatoes?

Uh oh it's broken. Daddy needs fix it. (This applies to anything - a toy a church, the coin-operated ride at the mall that is "broken")

Lizzie want eat mac and cheese and sprite at the restaurant. (We eat out almost once a week with her MeMa, my mother in law)

Mommy dance with 'Lella! (She grabs her Barbie and hold one hand while I hold the other and we dance in circles)

She still can't say "I love you" just yet...the word love is a bit difficult for her to say. But she gives so many hugs and kisses there is no doubt how she feels!

Her imagination is blossoming too. The other day we were playing tea party with imaginary food and drink. I scooped out some mashed potatoes on her plate and she became very upset. She then proceeded to scoop up the imaginary potatoes and put them back in the serving dish! I tried not to laugh too hard!

I would love for her to stay this adorable forever!

Wordless Wednesday - How to Change a Diaper

Bubs needed a diaper change.

Lizzie Lou wanted to do it.

I grabbed the camera!

Then I helped.

There was laughter.

There were tears.

And it all ended with happiness and a dry fluffy bum!

For more Wordless Wednesday go to 5 Minutes for Mom!

Halloween Recap

Exhausted.

Lizzie, Bubs and I are plum worn out.

But it was a fantastically fun weekend!

First, I received a wonderful gift from Aggie of the Loca Loba as part of the Halloween Blog or Treat that Shannon from The Mommy Files hosted. It was packed in popped popcorn (great idea!) and contained some of the most delicious and adorable things ever!

Here is Lizzie Lou sporting the shirt she got from Aggie.

Yes, she will always be my sweetie!

And this is all the loot that was in the box! I am so happy!! I got a super yummy candle, pumpkin spice diffuser, tons of Nestle crunch bars, fall potholders, the cutest scarecrow figurines, and more chocolate and even a nestle crunch bowl!

Yeah, I totally won the jackpot - Aggie, you rock my socks off!

Then that night (Friday) our small town opened the downtown to trick or treaters. Lizzie dressed up in her Sleeping Beauty dress and I pinned socks on Bub's hood, painted his nose and cheeks and called him my puppy! I got so many compliments on Bubs I was shocked!

But then again, who doesn't want to just eat him up?

Then on Saturday we got dressed up again to go to my church for a fall festival. Only Lizzie didn't want to wear her princess dress, she wanted to wear her wings "like tinker bell."

Bubs went as a puppy again, he didn't mind.

After the fall festival we went trick or treating with her 3 year old cousin Mycah. Lizzie was so nervous that every time Mycah would run ahead and let go of her hand she would cry "no no Mycah hold my hand!"

So they held hands the entire time.

And they had so much fun!

Fun, fantastic and exhausting! But I wouldn't have it any other way! Would you?

Through the eyes of a 2 year old

If you give a toddler a camera

You'll have some funny photos of your home!

Want to see a glimpse into my life?

I warn you - there is dirt on the floor :)

These photos have not been altered or improved in any program. They are in their raw form, straight from my daughter's hands to your computers.

The quilt my mother in law made me! One of my favorite gifts of all time!

Front door - tilt your head to the left :)

My kitchen floor...and the dirt. I appreciate Lizzie capturing this memory!

Inside the empty bag of chips, that is laying on the breakfast bar.

The mop is not just laying there for fun - I do use it!

I have a ton of "Lizzie's feet" pictures

Lizzie's markers are kept in an easter bucket on our kitchen table.

Our kitchen chair

Watching Mary Poppins on youtube. And the computer screen and fingerprints on it...

I love the dirty paw prints all over my floor....who do they belong to? What is that broom doing there? I sure wasn't sweeping yesterday...Lizzie must have been using it like a horsie

There you have it! Our lovely home. Come visit again!

Big, Bigger, Biggest!

Bubs and Lizzie Lou at 6 months old

Teeny tiny hands grow into pudgy curious fingers. Delicate necks grow strong as they hold the head up high to learn about the world and its wonders. Skinny newborn legs fatten up to rolly polly thighs, powerful as they kick the water and all too soon carry them across the room and into mischief.

I always thought Bubs looked just like my Lizzie Lou but with a wig on! Now I have proof. Amazing the similarities. They have been almost the exact same weight (when I compare to her baby book) at all the check ups.

At 6 months old my Bubs is a ginormous 21 pounds 4 ounces and 28 inches tall.

His 9 month clothes are fitting very well.

Bubs got the seasonal flu shot in addition to his regular vaccinations on Tuesday. That night he came down with a fever. He was such a happy baby despite it all! I was very thankful that it was only 101 at its peak. He slept more, ate more, pooped more, and the bug eventually died.

He does the funniest thing now! If he wants to grab something out of his reach he will wind up his arms like helicopter propellers and then (while he is sitting up) he will lunge forward and reach for it. I love his winding up motions!

Lizzie Lou and Bubs will crack each other up and I just step back and laugh! She will make a funny laughing noise, his eyes will perk up, a smile will fill his face and he'll make a funny laughing noise. This continuous for about 5 minutes - and it is my favorite 5 minutes of the day!

Lizzie Lou is growing into a very thoughtful, caring, independent and creative young girl. She loves to help me clean up the house and do chores (I hope this lasts!). If she sees Bubs playing with a toy that she wants she will offer him another one before taking it from him.

She does watch a bit too many movies in my opinion because she is comparing everything in life to her movies! I asked her to close her eyes last night and she said, "like Pinnochio?" I didn't remember him closing his eyes, but I agreed. She found an apron in her dress up clothes and she put it on saying she looked like "Lella!"

Her favorite words and phrases to say are getting a tad annoying, I'll admit. If she needs help she will say, "mommy, too higher!" I think she wants to say "this is too hard" but it comes out higher, and I am tired of the same word over and over....we are working on expanding our vocabulary. Another thing she says a lot is "mommy, I'm stuck!" It cracks me up cause I know she isn't!

Meet Mama Dweeb

I am a stay at home mom to my adorable children Lizzie and Bubs.

I am a lifelong Kansan, living on 20 acres with 3 goats, a dog and a cat!

I am a Christian radio DJ, avid reader (when I have time) and all around bubbly blonde blogger!

I am trying to go green, thrilled with cloth diapers and always grab my mei tai before my stroller.

Josh is my amazing hard working husband. He is an all around fix it man, but even better he isa lover of squirrels, fan of the Force, and a hater of flies.

Lizzie Lou was born in June 2007. She is not easily prone to giggles, but full of songs and avid fan of Thomas the Tank Engine, Cinderella and the Little Mermaid. She would much rather help her Daddy fix something than play dress up!

Bubs is my my baby boy born April 09! He is much easier to make giggle than his sister. Full of smiles and easily self-entertained. He loves car rides and laughing with his sister.

I welcome your comments on my blog or you can email me:

annie.shultz@gmail.com

May God bless you!