sisters...

planting flowers part deux

Planting flowers part deux: I think my first post ever, or maybe the second was about planting flowers! Funny.

Let me briefly explain my hesitation with planting flowers: I am responsible for keeping them alive. At this point in my life, I don't want anything else that is leaning on me for it's very existence.... 2 is plenty, thanks. That is precisely why we gave our cats to my parents! :) Which, by the way, I don't feel bad about anymore because we came home to this monstrosity of a blow-up pool complete with a slide, sprinkler system and who knows what else.... on our back porch. But that's another story...

Anyways, in a brief moment of weakness, I let Grace pick out 6 six-packs of flowers. I figured we could plant them in these pretty cobalt planters and stick them in the front flower bed. I am not sure why planting them in something other than the ground eases my anxiety a little, but it does. Maybe it's because if I choose a crappy location (which is usually the case), and they don't get enough sun or whatever, I can just pick up the blasted containers and move them elsewhere.... less pressure, I guess.

Other than a few minor meltdowns, Grace planted like a champ. You see, this one is a little bit sensitive, and when some miracle grow potting mix tainted her precious, beloved green crocs with the newly placed 'farkly' suns in them, the planting almost came to a halt. After they were thoroughly cleaned, without water, I might add...because she doesn't like it when they get wet... we were back on track.


Here is the finished product.... Pretty, huh...? Now if I can just get rid of this nervous twitch, I'd be fine...

Harps chilled in this little baby cage.... um, I mean, baby walker.... while we worked. She rather enjoyed watching Grace's drama unfold, I think.


Now this picture just begs for the caption: "Like Father, Like Daughter" doesn't it. Hangin' in the bed, remote within reach, lovie in hand.....NO, sorry, Chris doesn't have a lovie, I swear...

Chris, Harper and I went to Atlanta this past weekend for some shoppin' and relaxin'. I must say that I finally feel like a big girl because I am pleased to announce that we have MATCHING furniture in our bedroom now! Yes, that's right, folks, no more college dorm furniture for us! I am so happy about it. We scored 2 awesome dressers at IKEA for thousands less than their almost-identical counterparts at Pottery Barn... I love them. Our bed, dressers and side tables all match, it's so refreshing!

DE-lish easy muffins

These muffins are too easy and too yummy not to share! Here's what you need:



Kroger brand Oat Bran Muffin Mix (actually any kind will work, this is usually all I can find though)
1 C water
vanilla
some mix-in's

Follow the directions on the back of the box: basically blend the mix and water together. Now, when it said 'blend' I took this a little too literally and actually used a blender... I know, my brain is only 1/2 functioning these days... But it actually worked well. This time, I added a little vanilla and 2 over-ripe bananas. I 'blended' until well incorporated then stirred in some craisins. I don't usually measure, so I don't know how much vanilla I actually used, or how many craisins I put in....
The little blender pour spout makes it really easy to fill the tins. Bake around 20 min at 350. They are so yummy, and pretty healthy.

Are you ACTUALLY serious?

An exact quotation from Grace this morning when I told her I wanted to take her picture: "Are you At-ssshhhhh-uuullllllly serious?"

I think Harper would have most likely given me the same quote had she been able to talk... This, after her 3rd attempt at cereal in 2 weeks.... "Mom, are you actually serious?"

Needless to say, Harper isn't thrilled on the idea of solid food. So we'll wait and try again in a week or so. By the time that Grace was 15 weeks old (I know, it's a little early) she was gobbling down the stuff. Harper is now 17 or 18 weeks old and would prefer NOT to have anything to do with it. Oh, in other Harper news, she has found her feet, and is rather fond of them.

This week, Grace has decided that Izze made the sun. She gets rather upset when we tell her that no, in fact, GOD made the sun.... In response to this conversation today this is what she said: "I know GOD made flowers and trees and Harper and lights...but Izze DID fly'd up and made. the. sun."

So, there's nothing really exciting going on around here...so the blog has been rather dry for the past few days.... Oh well. We are going to visit the CPA golf tournament this afternoon and Grace couldn't be more thrilled. She wants to bring her clubs. I don't know how I'm going to keep her off the course. We'll see.

Well, toodles for now...

Oh, I'll leave you with this: Not a very good picture, but it shows you Grace's new fondness for "accessorizing." Loves the headbands and bracelets. She picked out her dress, shoes and of course the accessories, and was so proud.

Mother's Day Celebrations

Mother's Day celebrations started for me on Friday. Sweet Chris took off work on Friday so I could go get a massage and have a day of doing whatever I wanted to do! It was wonderful! I got an awesome massage at A Moment's Peace and then headed out for some thrift-therapy. Look at one of the things I found: This awesome 50's hand-stitched quilt! Since I found it at the Goodwill Outlet, it was only around $5.00, and it needed a good washing. I was a little worried that it would fall apart in the wash, but thought if it did, I'd just use the fabric for something else. But LOOK! It came out perfectly! I love it!!!! I also found some awesome vintage fabric squares that I can't wait to put to good use!


(Harper loves it too! She says: "GO mom! You ROCK, I could only hope to have your thrifting abilities one day!)

I then met Chris, Grace and Harps for lunch over in Green Hills, and we visited my dad at his office, which Grace thinks is the coolest thing...I shopped a little more and then came home so Chris could go play golf. (which was rained out...) We ended the evening with a family walk around the neighborhood, and the weather was perfect.

Saturday and Sunday were awesome too, but Friday was just my perfect day! I love the picture below because I think Harper's face is just so cute! She's just taken with Grace sometimes. She intently watches everything she does, which is so cute!
I think I am going to have to give in and take a nap this afternoon... (ssshhhh... if either of the girls get the slightest hint that this is what I am thinking, they will wake up!) There is so much more I could write, but I can't think straight, I am so tired. Maybe I'll post more later!

4 Months

Harper is 4 months old! We went for her check up yesterday and here are her stats: (as if you all care...!!!) Weight: 13 pounds 10 oz (50th percentile) Height: 25 inches (75th percentile). She had her shots, and did pretty well with them. Only a little fever later in the day.
This month she has really gotten a little personality. She loves to 'talk' and Grace loves to translate. One of her favorite places to talk is the car. (Which is Grace's fav also... my ears don't get a break!) She laughs and smiles all the time. She is very cautious with 'strangers' and sizes them up before she will leak a little smile. She shows her emotion on her face, and has many 'looks' (kind of like me).

She's almost mastered rolling over from back to tummy (which usually doesn't come first) and is working on the tummy to back thing. Although she hates tummy time, she just fusses and pushes the floor with her legs and 'swims' her arms instead of whipping her head over, which usually flips them. She actually gets some forward movement sometimes.... does that count as crawling...? (I think not.) She kind of resembles a baby sea turtle with the way her legs and arms go...

We are going to try to start some cereal here in the next day or two... Yay! Something she can eat that I do not physically produce! Grace will be thrilled, as she has been looking forward to the day where she can help feed Harps with a spoon.

Here are a couple of pictures at 4 months old.


I need to take a picture with her pink elephant. But today she is hanging out with the Izz, so I'll have to do it tonight or tomorrow.