The Septembers

Today was "The Septembers" birthday party. Grami, Ellie, Mom and Connie all have their birthdays in September, so we typically do a big family party for them. Truthfully, I just didn't feel up to throwing a second party for friends, so we used all the goodies we had bought for that party for the family party.

Nobody seemed to mind.

Being the youngest of the Septembers, she was definitely the attention getter. {Sorry Connie! Looks like Connie-fest has turned into Ellie-fest! ♥ }

Particularly when she loves a certain little Chipette doll as much as a certain Aunt was hoping that she would.

And it didn't hurt that she was also opening up presents that arrived today from her Daddy.

Or maybe it's just the fact that she was so darn cute that she was such an attention getter.

"The Septembers"

Meanwhile, while the adults were opening presents, the Little Ones were definitely having fun. {Don't worry, Noah got down as soon as I said "cake time" "Get down off the chair, Noah.".}

I'm still having a hard time believing she'll be two Monday. It's surreal!

We couldn't help but laugh when she immediately took her baby OUT of the toy pack and play and put herself in it. If only she'd stay as well in her own bed!

Happy Birthday Septembers!

Cupcakes {with my Cupcake}

Ellie is going to be TWO on Monday. I'm still in denial, I think. That she could possibly be that old already and that Daddy is going to miss another second birthday.

We're just having a small family party in honor of the "Septembers" {Grami, Ellie, Mom, and Connie} tomorrow, so while Noah was at school today, my Little Cupcake and I made cupcakes for the party.

Which, translated, means, "Mommy-got-to-do-all-the-work-while-Little-Sister-got-to-drink-a-Sonic-Powerade-drink-all-by-herself-and-didn't-even-have-to-share-it-with-Brother".

She was pretty pleased. With her drink AND her cupcakes.

After school was spent playing outside, chalking it up, and chasing Nana, Papa, and a ball all around the backyard.

Mommy's Morning/Afternoon Off

Here's a rundown of the things I did during my 4.5hr break today while the kids were in school:

• I held a Canon 60D and a 7D at Epperson Photo. Sorry to tell you now, Benjamin Dear One, but I think I want a 7D instead when I get to upgrade. {{sheepish grin}}



• Drooled over the newest Eric Carle fabric at a local quilt shop. {Resisted. For today.}



• Felt a little guilty for not being there while the kids were getting to see all the exotic animals that were brought to school today {including a kangaroo that evidently had to wear a diaper... which Noah thought was HYSTERICAL.}



• Got a Chipotle burrito {since I forgot to eat breakfast} and a Sonic drink for lunch.



• Ate said food items while watching last week's Project Runway. {Go home, Joshua and Bert. Oi.}



• Folded clothes.



• Edited photos.



• Finally hung up the artwork in the kid's room.

I definitely should have taken a nap.

Wednesday Nights = AWANAs

One big bummer about us moving early {both from Texas and to Maryland} was that it meant no Awana program at Beltway Park - for Noah or for me {who was REALLY hoping to get to work with Erin!}. But, on the bright side, it means getting to do Awanas at FBC Moore... and last night, I even got talked into helping out in one of the 3-year-old classes until December.

He was pretty excited to have his very own Cubbies vest!

"Pain'ing Ow-side" or "Chalks with Me"

The weather has been simply perfect the last couple of days.

After naps and a few quick errands, we broke out the sidewalk chalk. Ellie kept saying, "Pain'ing ow-side" {painting outside!} and Noah asked each of us, at least once, to "draw chalks with me".

♥

Labor Day

Noah didn't sleep too well last night, which means that I didn't sleep too well either. But it was fun to get to wake up at Aunt BB's house, nonetheless! After a quick trip to Starbucks for coffee and milk, we came back to play and pack up our stuff. While I was loading our bags in the car, Noah and Aunt BB were playing. In the closet.

Noah found a race car hat and cowboy boots that he HAD to try on. Somehow, the hat made it's way back home with him. {Thanks Aunt BB! lol}

After getting back to Nana and Papa's house, everyone got ready for a trip to Pop's. The kids and I had never been and since it is on our "Deployment To Do List", we decided today was as good of a day as any to go.

Both kids were passed out by the time we pulled into the parking lot.

Pop's is a fun little restaurant/pitstop/gas station on the original Route 66 near Lake Arcadia. They literally have 100's of different types of soda pop. In bottles. We each got a bottle to take home with us. We were too hungry to wait for a table {and we're pretty sure it would have been a long wait - they were SOOO busy!}, so we just got our drinks and headed back out to Edmond for lunch.

To mark the end of summer {and, hopefully the end of 100+ weather - today was BEAUTIFUL!}, we grilled some steaks over at BB's house for dinner. Afterwards, we took a little walk around the neighborhood.

Happy Labor Day 2011!

A Busy, Busy Sunday

After church and lunch at home with the family, I left the kiddos in Mom and Daddy-Man's care and headed over to St. Andrew's Catholic church to take some photos for one of Jessie's childhood friends, Monica. She and her husband were renewing their vows and were having both of their children baptised after the Sunday Mass. It was a lot of fun getting to play photographer... especially when the subjects were as cute as Junior!

{Eliza slept right through her baptism!}

Once I got back home and relaxed a little, we decided to make dinner easy and go to McDonald's. Noah was excited to get to eat in the play area... especially since they had a cartoon episode of Batman and Robin playing.

Ellie was just happy that I let her have ketchup... which doesn't always happen when I forget to bring a bib.

And both kiddos were thrilled when Addy {and Marlene and David} showed up to play with them in the play area. They only stopped chasing each other long enough to take quick bites of ice cream or sips of their drinks before running back up the treehouse stairs to the slide.

We came back to Papa and Nana's house to give the kids a quick bath, Skype with Daddy for a few minutes, and then Noah and I got back into the car and headed over to Aunt BB's house for Noah's first "sleepover party".

Noah was pretty happy that he got to take his Lightening McQueen sleeping bag.

After a little bit of playtime for Noah, he finally went to sleep {NOT in his sleeping bag...} and Aunt BB and I got to enjoy a movie - the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2! ♥

A SuperHero Kind of Day

BB and Jessie had a hair appointment this morning...

and walked away with 11 and 10 inches of hair to donate to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths. I love their new do's and love that they are donating it. ♥

I also love that my Daddy-Man is willing to be such a trooper. ;)

Today might just be our last day of 100+ temperatures for the rest of the year. We'll see. We spent most of the day inside, pretending to be Super Heroes and bad guys.

Never fear, Gotham {er... Moore}. Batman will save you.

Batman and Robin, that is.

Noah: "Come on, Robin {aka Nana}. Let's go see what Joker {aka Ellie} up to."

The Making of Super Hero{e}s.

This afternoon, Mom and BB picked Noah up from school since they had a half-day at work. Ellie was still napping when they got home with him, so we got to have some interesting conversations, just Nana, me, and him.

Out of the blue, Noah requested a cape like a hero. Then, he requested that he have a black cape like Batman and a yellow belt.

How could I not quickly respond to such a request?

Neither of us had any black fabric on hand, so Noah and I made a quick trip to Hobby Lobby for some black and yellow felt {because, that way, I didn't even have to serge the edges!} to make an easy Batman costume.

30 minutes later, two black Batman capes were finished and Super Hero{e}s were made.

{Umm... pardon the fact that I misspelled hero{e}s AND villain. {{{sigh}}} I would go back and fix it, but it's more trouble than it is worth right now!}

77.

After taking the kids to school today, I stopped by KK's house to see Grami on her 77th birthday. KK had decorated for the occasion. ♥

Connie and Megan stopped by with cupcakes while I was there. Sweet treats and sweet kisses were had by all!

Happy Birthday Grami! We love you!

Overheard | Lately

Ellie: "I weady. I WEADY MOMMY!"

As in, "I'm ready to get up, even though it is 5AM!"

***

Noah: "Oh, I missed you. I really did miss you while I was at church. But I had a great day at school."

To his blankie. While cuddling with it. In the rocking chair.

After my smirking look, he said, "I just missed my blankie, Mommy. It missed me."

***

During prayers with Ellie:

Me: "Thank you Jesus, for today. Thank you for my family. Please - "

Ellie: "Pinny."

Me: "Huh?"

Ellie: "Pinny. 'Ank ooh. Daddy. Me. Aaaa-men."

Me: "sigh."

***

Nana: "Ellie, you are an ornery mess. Just like your Daddy."

Noah: "No he's not! Daddy's a good man."

That he is, Buddy. He's also an ornery mess.