Some days...

...this is what it takes for me to make dinner happen.
Today was one of those days.
Believe it or not, the Cheerios actually start out in the bowl...
and...even after several bowls were consumed they still ate a bounteous dinner!
Eating babez = Growing babez!!!

The Wonder of Wonder...

How do people pick the things they pick to wonder about?
What is the wonder of wonder?
I don't know!
Something I have been wondering about lately...
Why is it that any time I turn on one of the ceiling fans in the house...the babez gather and stare in wonderment at it?
They think it is the greatest thing!
They will sit there for several minutes staring....and wondering...
I can see the wee cogs in their brains turning as they try to figure out this great twirling thing!
Hope they don't spend their whole summer staring at the fans...
They're on constantly when it's hot out...
Hmmm...maybe I might just be able to get something done....hmmmmm.... I wonder.....

Wondering who this is???
YOU tell me!

Wonderful Wonderfil!!!

Today I attended the Sewing & Crafts Show in Victoria with my Mom!
My largest purchase was this loverly Wonderfil thread...
This particular line is called Mirage.
There's a sweet lady who owns the company and I enjoyed catching up with her.
Hi Fiona!
This thread makes my heart go thumpa-thumpa, thumpa-thumpa...it's like butta!
It's the finishing touch to my baby blankets, cards and many a scrapbook page.
I'm looking forward to playing with these...SOON!!!

Are you kidding me?!

It's almost mid March for crying out loud!!!!

Do you see this???

Yes...it's true... S-N-O-W!!!
Ridiculous!!!
There IS good news though...
It ALL disappeared within an hour!!!
That made me very happy!

Capture...

LOVE the super shallow DoF on this pic.
Miss 'c'...she's just so scrumptious!

Snot Patrol!!!

Yes, it's terribly gross but so very true...
we have ALL been on "snot patrol" since yesterday...
It started with Miss 'c'...and now Miss 'g2' is spreading the 'love' too.
We have gone from having 2 tissue boxes in the house to at least 5 tissue boxes... ALL within a sneezes reach!
Yes, it's a gooey job but everyone's got to do it!
Especially when there's two babez with the snot taps turned on full blast!!!
And just in case anyone's interested...
Here's a link to info on boogers and snot...with an added bonus of how to make fake snot... who doesn't want to know how to do that??
Enjoy!!!
http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112390/Boogers.htm

Maraca Mania!

Guess the babez FAVORITE toy?
That's right... maracas!!!
Whenever they get into the music bin they pull out ALL of the maracas.
I'm glad we have more than one set!
These ones reside at Grandma and Grandpa's house.
They were sooooo happy to find them.
Miss 'g2' is showing off her mad maraca skills!
Shake it baby shake it!!!

Read, read, READ!

Every Spring the school runs their 100 nights of reading program.
The students are asked to read for 100 nights for at least 15 minutes.
Each child who completes the program is invited to a picnic that celebrates their accomplishment.
Both 's' and 'z' were successful last year.
I am certain that they will both be successful again this year as well.
Reading... it's a very, very, very good thing!

Too adorable...

Here you have Miss 'C' laying down and Miss 'g2' crawling over to say 'hi'...
They're just too adorable for words...

Sweet Sunny Smile!

The sun was out today and so was Miss 'C's sweet, sweet smile.
That's enough to make anyone pick up a camera.

Babes In the Sun and the "REAL" potd...

Another super sunny day here on the island!!!
So sunny in fact that I decided that the babes could use a wee bit o' bare footin' time! So glad the weather is cooperating lately!
Both girlz enjoyed their foot-loose and fancy free afternoon!
-----------------------------------------------------------
'g2'

--------------------------------------------------------------
'c'

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's the "REAL" potd...and a slice of my reality!
Trying to take a picture of one babe while another babe tries to make a grab for my lens cap or camera strap or...climb on me!!!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, there you are...two bonus pictures today and the actual potd!
Enjoy the pics and the SUN!

Look what I can do!!!

When I went to get the girlz from their morning nap...
This is who I saw when I opened the door... Miss 'g2' STANDING!!!
You can just tell that she's so proud of herself and so happy about her new discovery.
She's been pulling herself up onto many things for several days...even sitting up in her crib...but today...she discovered that she could actually do this great and wonderful thing IN HER CRIB TOO!!!
She just looks so proud of herself!
It's like she's saying, "Hey Mom! Check me out! I discovered THIS!!! I'm the first baby to EVER do this!!! Everyone's going to want to know HOW I did this! Can we show them? Can we tell them? RIGHT NOW!!!!"
Too cute!

Super Sunny Strolling...

It was so sunny this afternoon and when the babez opted for a shorter than usual nap...
I decided it would be a very good time to go for a walk!
It is definitely t-shirt weather here lately...
Gotta love the island winters!!!
Well...this year anyway...
I'm not telling you who's who today...
Leave me a comment...
...tell me who you think is on the left and who's on the right...

Blocking!

I made these blocks many years ago...
They have spelled and misspelled many words and celebrated many holidays, birthdays and special occasions. I know that technically it's still winter... but we have had such a mild one this year and it's been so sunny and warm lately that I just had to change them and hope that this wonderful weather continues...

Two Too Quiet...

'g2'

So it's Monday...
Mondays are extra full days...swishin' starts again...meals need to happen...and I am the only act around...so I need to prep, feed and clean up... as a solo act I don't always get time to eat....let alone do much else...
So while I tried to get a few dishes done I noticed that it was rather quiet...too quiet...two TOO quiet...
I peeked out of the kitchen and saw the babes delighting in removing tissues from the box that I thought was OUT of reach...
...removing and shredding...
So, doing what any Mommarazzo worth her salt would do, I grabbed my camera!
You can tell that she KNOWS she's sooooooo BUSTED!!!
Miss 'g2' is now pulling herself up and can reach quite a few thingz that she couldn't before...but she's very considerate...
She gave the box to her sister so she could get in on the fun too!!!

'c'
So, those dishes...yeah...I didn't ever get them done...
They had to just stay in the sink and wait for the bigger kiddos to get home and do them...
That works for me...it has to...I really don't have much of a choice...
Everyone knows that the squeaky wheel gets the grease...
And trust me...two babes are waaaaayyyy squeakier than a sink of soaking dirty dishes!

Canadian Pride!!!

Here we are on the last day of the 2010 Olympics...
The show from our athletes was slow to start... but we
ended up with the most gold medals ever!
Y'all know that though...
I'm not sure the amount of money spent on the whole thing was worth it...
...but it was nice to feel like the country was all pulling for them in the 17 days that they were on.
Everywhere you went, everyone was talking about it.
So here's to ya Canada...you did well...you made us very proud to be Canadian!
Gold Canada Gold!!!
Thank you!
We'll see you in Sochi for 2014!

Eat, Play, Learn, Sleep, Grow...repeat!

Babes LOVE to play, play, play...
They PLAY all day and sleep ALL night!!!
When they sleep ALL night they have more ENERGY to PLAY all day!
Playing is how they LEARN and sleeping helps them GROW!
This is the process that we repeatedly repeat!
As for the eating...those are pictures and ramblings
best left for another day!
Enjoy your repeating!!!

This is the way...

...my ds 'helps' me eat my supper in peace!
He keeps whichever babe mosies into the kitchen occupied with
his 'secret weapon'!!!
His feet!
Whatever works...I enjoy the extra few minutes it allows me
to NOT have to INHALE my supper!
Thanks 's'!!!
I appreciate your ability to "entertain" your sisters anytime,
anyhow, anywhere!!!

Sweet sibs!!!

'c' & 's'

Double Fistin'...

See, I told you!
Cheerios to the rescue AGAIN!!!
Trying to catch up on posting my potd and Miss 'g2' doesn't think she needs a nap...
So, I pull out the bowl 'o Cheerios to "buy me a wee bit more time"!!!
You think she hadn't been fed in days!
She couldn't get them in her mouth fast enough, even WITH the double fistin'!!!
LOL...
She's a silly wee thing...and she sure LOVES those Cheerios!
Good thing for me!

Cutie-Pie Crawlers...

Just give these two a couple of empty boxes and they'll be
more than happy to hang out in the kitchen!
Hey, they might even find a rogue Cheerio or two if they're lucky!
So here they are...'c' on the left, 'g2' on the right...
My Cutie-Pie Crawlers!

Roadtrip!!!

Woohoooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
Rain or shine there's always good times and laughs to be had
when I hit the road with these two crazy gals!
We drove up to meet another friend for lunch...
We did have a tasty lunch and managed to squeeze in
a bit of scrap shopping too!
I'm already looking forward to the next time!
Whenever that may be...

She's a really "GREAT" Grandma!!!

Well she's not officially a 'Great Grandma',
but she is most definitely a great Grandma!!!
Always there when help is needed and there for the fun times too!
From changing diapers to making cookies...she can and does it all!!!
Yes...she does wash her hands thoroughly in between!!!
The days always go far too quickly when she comes to town.
Thank you so much Grandma/Mom!
You're most welcome anytime!
{'g2' on the left and 'c' on the right}

Panini Time!

See, I told you ... looks yummy doesn't it???
Toasty and warm with cheese that melts and melds things together...
...layer upon layer...flavor upon flavor...
Panini Perfection!!!
We always make MORE than enough...wanna know why???
L-E-F-T-O-V-E-R-S!!!
They're sooooo delectable even cold.
Kiddos LOVE to take them in their lunches.
I just LOVE them!!!

Bread, bread, bread!!!

Mmmmm...doesn't that just make your mouth water???
All those delicious delectable carbs....oh yeah!!!
I LOOOOOVE bread!
I could eat it around the clock...but then I might
also be taking a permanent nap!!!
These lovely loaves came from three different shoppes.
The one on the left from Thrifty's... a local grocery store.
It's called West Coast Trail bread and it has raisins, dried apricots, pumpkin seeds, nuts...and many other tasty morsels in there too!
It's great for general munching, toasting and
particularly perfect for French toasting!
The top loaf is a rye bread made by the Port Alberni Bread Box.
We get it here at a little market that brings it in...sooooo tasty!
I'm a HUGE lover of any and all rye breads!!!
Great for toasting, regular sandwich making and indeed panini-ing!!!
The bottom offering is focaccia!
With all of it's rosemary and olive oil goodness, who can resist?!
My Mom is visiting us this weekend...my brother too!
It is fast becoming a ritual/addiction/obsession...
Whenever they are here... WE PANINI!!!
Mom brought two rounds up from an Italian bakery in Victoria.
They are both destined for "the press"!
Oh yes, no shortage of love for bread around here...
Everyone LOVES it!!!
Well...we LOVE the good stuff!!!
Puhleaze we'll have NONE of that so called "bread"...
that honky white 'Wonder' junk that's
really only good for doorstops and the like!
No offense to those that enjoy it...
That's just not our taste in this house.
I think I need a wee snack...
perhaps some bread and honey might hit the spot!
GO ahead and have a slice too!
What's your favourite?

Mommarazzo...

Just what am I talking about???
Here...let's let Wikipedia shine a little light shall we...?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paparazzi

"Paparazzi (singular: Paparazzo) is a term used to refer to photojournalists who specialize in candid photography of celebrities, politicians, and other prominent people. Paparazzi tend to be independent contractors unaffiliated with a mainstream media organization."
----------------------------------
So my version 'Mommarazzo' certainly fits!
I am only ONE person, these are most definitely candid, they are prominent people to me and I am in no way affiliated with mainstream media.
In fact they wouldn't even hire me if I tried!!!
LOL....
So there you have it... Mommarazzo!!!
That's me!
If it's not these two tasty puddin' pops it's my other sweet 'n sassy kiddos or anything or anyone else that strikes my fancy!


'g2'



'c'

Yes that's dried cereal on 'c's cheek...
That stuff is sneaky...you wipe them up a few times and think you've got it all...
and then once they dry...it's baaaack!!!
So you see... "Mommarazzo"...fits in this scenario too!

These things....

...buy me MORE time than anything else!!!
I LOVE CHEERIOS!!!
They quiet any fussy babe anytime anywhere anyhow!!!
They currently have a permanent residence in a bowl
on my kitchen counter.
Yes, I have Cheerios out and easily grabbable 24/7!
If I need a few minutes to get some food ready for the girlz...
they are happy to plunk Cheerios into their mouths while I do that
...especially at breakfast time!!
If I need to catch up on my blogging...
Yes 'g2' is currently devouring them as fast as I can fill the bowl!!!
It seems that there is always room for several of those toasted O's.
Good thing for me!!!
Another reason I love Cheerios...
When the babes self-feeding it only takes a broom to sweep up the floor!
So let's all give three cheers for Cheerios!!!
Hip, hip Hooray!
Hip, hip Hooray!
Hip, hip HOORAY!!!!!

What do you think?

Is there a pattern here?
'Nuf said.

It's Just....

...so incredibly difficult!!!
Trying to get a picture of TWO babes...
looking in the SAME direction...
and with BOTH of them looking CUTE!!!
They are now crawling... so I thought it would be a good idea
to toss some Cheerios onto the blanket so they'd STAY PUT!!!
NOT such a great idea...
I couldn't get them to LOOK at ME!!!
Well...the camera...
So, 125 pictures later....
THIS is the best I can give you...
If it wasn't one babe looking down to pickup Cheerios
or stuffing a fist full of Cheerios into their mouth...
it was the other!!!
So, Miss 'c' on the left, Miss 'g2' on the right...

Orange you so very sweet!

Look at these little cuties!!!
There are 29 of them on my tree!
29!!!
They are super yummy too!
In the past I have used them to make marmalade...
Now-a-days they are used in smoothies!
The whole thing goes in, skin and all!
One of these little oranges gives a real hit to a smoothie.
They are incredibly potent!
There's no need to use more than one...
My lemon tree has 9 teeny tiny green lemon babies growing...
So excited to use them when they're ready!

Look who's crawling TOO!!!

Yes!
It's true!!!
Miss 'c' has joined the crawling ranks!!!!!
She started FULL ON yesterday!
She's been squigging about for most of the week...but yesterday...she made it into the kitchen.
'g2' is the one looking at the camera...
'c' is the one crawling away...
I know the pic isn't great...but it is what it is for today...
You have NO idea how tricky it can be to change one babe's butt when there's another babe trying to "help"!!!
That's another story...!

-------------------------------

Happy Birthday 'R'!!!

Be My Valentine!!!

Here's my sweet son.
He wanted to make a Valentine for his friend at school.
So this morning we melted some chocolate and made some long sticked suckers for her.
He wrote in one of the cards I made this past week...and dh drove
him over to her house to deliver the gift.
Just look at the smile on his face...!
He was so excited to do this.
She was very surprised and didn't know what to say...
So she said thank you and gave him a hug.
Yes, he's a very thoughtful boy.
He'll make someone a good catch one day...
Now if I can just get him to keep his room tidy!!!

Sew Good!

Finally dusted off my machine today...
Had a project to complete...
So I turned on the Olympic opening ceremonies and stitched away!
Felt sew good to put needle and thread through fabric again
...and my project is almost done!!!

Set it and FORGET IT!!!

Some days/nights this is what my cooking life becomes...
My rice cooker on the left...yes it's cooked plenty of rice in it's time...
..but tonight it holds tomorrow's breakfast...
Oatmeal!!!
Yes, it's already done!
It'll keep it warm until we're ready to eat!
It makes a hot breakfast for everyone POSSIBLE!!!
No matter what time you wake up...it's ready and waiting... LOVE THAT!

On the right is my biggest crock pot...yes...I have more than one...
This one is ready to roast up a turkey breast for tomorrow night's supper!
Just pop it in there, dial it up and when it's time for supper...supper's READY!!!

Yes, I love my set it and forget it appliances!
They make making good food for my family so much easier to do!
Thanks!

Two Toofers!!!

Wee Miss 'C' has two teeth popping up at the same time...
...she's had a rough day...
...this was a smiling moment from this morning...
...can you see the wee nubbins?
She deserves to be the potd...
...I deserve a vacation!

LOVE U!!!

So yesterday I was a good scrapper and spent nap times
tidying/organizing and clearing all of my desk surfaces...
So....TODAY...during morning nap time I was able to stamp together
these 5 cards!
Start to finish in less than an hour and a half...
Hoped they'd sleep longer but that's all I got this morning...
That's ok...it's more paper time than I've had in a while...

The last one...

I had to get rid of all the other tulips the other day...they were spent.
This one was moved into my window sill in the kitchen.
This morning I noticed a few petals on the sill...when I
moved it...all but this one fell...so very delicate these tulips are...
I thought it looked quite interesting...
and so it became my potd...

BananArithmetic!!!

Oh the joys of trying embed multiplication facts into the brain
of a Grade 4 boy...
Writing on lunch box bananas is something I've always done.
After several kiddos and several years...my old brain can sometimes
strain to come up with just that special something...
It was easy when I was pregnant with the twins...
I wrote something from them!
Like, "Can't wait to meet you Big Bro!"
's' LOVED it!!!
I doodled wee faces of them smiling at him...too cute!
Anyhow...back to THIS post...
The other morning it hit me...
WHY not "kill two birds with one stone", as it were...
Put my brain at ease for a while AND hopefully help get
some multiplication learning done too!!!
So, here you have it...BananArithmetic!
Jot several problems on the banana and while he's munching on lunch he can figure them out and then devour the banana!
His teacher and classroom EA thought it was a GREAT idea.
They even asked him if he thought it would be ok with me
if they 'copied' the idea!
They told him that his Mom was so smart!
Thanks it's nice to have them reinforcing that!
LOL...
And so every morning 's' hands me a pen and a banana and asks
me to 'do my thing'!
Who would have ever believed that ANY grade 4 boy would be asking
for some math problems to solve?
Yes, dear boy, your Momma's smart, real smart...in fact...
She's a GENIUS!!!

Tooth Fairy on Thpeed Dial!!!

Yeth it'th been quite the toothy/toothleth week!
'g2' hath one tooth that'th continuing to emerge...
'c' hath TWO puthing through her gumth at the thame time...OUCH!
And then there'th 'z'...Tuethday sthe lotht her FIRTH tooth!!!
Then Wednethday sthe loth the thecond one!
Around thethe parth the Tooth Fairy leavth $5.00 for a FIRTH TOOTH and
$2.00 for the reth...
Sthe made theven dollarth in two dayth!
Sthe'th ecthatic!
Sthe'th altho thpeaking with a very cute lithp!
I think it might be contagiouth!!!
LOL...
Sthe'th thinging a new thong...[that'th 's-o-n-g' btw]...
"All I want for Eather ith my two front teeth!"
Let'th all hope they arrive before then!

My fave!!!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Georgia Mud Fudge blizzard is my absolute FAVE!!!
DH no longer asks what I want regarding blizzards when he goes...
It's not that I dislike the others...
I just REALLY LOVE this one!
With all of it's chocolatey goodness, chewy brownies and toasted pecans...it pushes ALL the right buttons on my taste buds!!!
I love it soooo much I named one of the girlz after it!
Just kidding!
I've wanted to use the name "Georgia" since high school.
[And this Blizzard wasn't on the menu then.]
And you do NOT want me to post her interpretation of 'mud fudge'!!!
Eeeewwwwwwwwwwwwww!
I know TMI!
LOL...
But when they do "download",
I refer to it as 'muddy'!
Have I grossed you out enough today?
Good, my work here is done!
LOL.......
Off to eat my blizzard!
Have a loverly weekend all!

I Spy with my camera's little eye...

.........a TOOTH!!!
I finally got an in focus picture of 'g2's first tooth!!!
With her crawling now it's quite tricky to get her to sit still for a moment!
It's so funny to hear it "tink, tink, tinking" against a glass when she drinks!
She's just so cute!!!
One down... so many more to go!

Sleep Training...

We've been sleep training the babes for just over a week now.
Last night they actually BOTH slept through the night without any chirping!!!
I've also been getting them BOTH napping AT THE SAME TIME during the day!
This is great because I can get some swishin' happening, prep dinner, have a shower, take a quick nap..."meditate"...LOL...
It's been quite the time!
There's definitely something to watching for their "sleep windows"...
Watching their cues for when they are tired...it's working!!!
Yay babes! Yay me! Yay sleep training!!!
Here you see 'g2'...obviously ready for a nap!
This is lunch time...soon to be nap time...we're a bit late today...
I've been sick since Saturday...a bit 'off' my game.
Will try and do better tomorrow.

magnif-Eye

'g' went to her girlz activity tonight at church.
It was about how to apply make up and skin care etc.
Good information to know...she came back with a "night time" face!
When they asked for volunteers she did put up her hand and the other
girls all said, "Use 'g', use 'g'!!!"
I think it's because she never wears make up and they
wanted to see what she would look like!!!
They did her all up and it wasn't too much either.
Everyone told her that she looked so pretty.
She does, but she looks pretty every day "au naturel"!
She's not into the make up thing...I am glad of that.
I wasn't either...I'm still not!
I know we look better with it on...but there's plenty
of time left and occasions ahead for all that make up business.
For now I am happy that she is gathering the knowledge of
how to apply...and more importantly how much...or should I say...little to apply!
For now she's happy to keep magnifying her inner beauty...
there'll be plenty of time to 'add colour' later!

Look who's crawling!!!

...

It's Miss 'g2'!!!
She's FULL ON now!
If I go into the kitchen...she's right behind me!
I usually hear her wee hands come padding onto the linoleum.
She has gone "stealth" on me a couple times...
Fortunately I've caught myself before backing up!
LOL
It's so funny to turn and find her RIGHT there and yes...she has
discovered the "Tupperware" cupboard.
Her favorite thing at the moment is an empty cranberry juice bottle.
She loves to 'sing' into it...sounds like those "Echo Microphones" you get at the dollar stores.
Keeps her busy and that works for me!

I suppose you're all wondering when Miss 'c' might be joining the ranks?
I'd say 2-3 weeks... she's at the up and rocking phase right now.

Congrats on crawling 'g2'!!!