Sat Night Ramblings (And Pictures Too!)

Abby got "officially" signed up for Soccer today. I paid a few weeks ago, but we went and got her jersey today. There were 100 kids there. It was crazy. But apparently they don't really have games or coaches. Just mentors (high school students) that just generally teach them how to play every Saturday morning for an hour. Not what I expected, but will probably work better in the end.

Abby was just upset that we didn't go up there to actually play.

Abby is obsessed with writing letters. She demands that I spell everything and then writes it out. Obviously she can't write that great, but some of it is pretty legible.

I received a phone call from her day care on Thursday. Apparently, there was an "incident" at her school. The kiddos were in the bathroom and Abby was using the potty. A little boy pulled his pants down and put his bottom in her face.

I understand that kids are kids and they are 3. But when Abby told me the story (and the kids name) it was the same kid that pushed her down last week on the playground. I have just taught her to tell a teacher and move on, but I can't believe she is being bullied at her age!
I love this picture. She is totally doing her fake smile.

While we were waiting in line at the soccer field, I found some coloring games on my phone for Abby to play with. She is totally better using that thing than I am. Then, the rest of the day she carried her phone around (an old dead cell phone) and pretended like she was drawing on it.

Such an imagination!

I have been obsessed lately with Craig's List and trying to find a dining room table. I found one a few months ago, but wanted to wait on a rug first. Now, I can't find anything!

But I am way too cheap to actually a new one, especially when there are perfectly good used ones out there! Maybe once yard sales start, I will have some luck.

I am loving this warm weather, but not the bugs. I saw one in the garage today and screamed like a little girl. Then totally tried to play it off so as not to alarm Abby and pass my unnatural fear to her.

We had some vicious thunderstorms tonight. They started about 6 and continued until about 9. I put Abby to bed about 8ish. I heard her crying a few minutes later and went to check on her. She said "the lights outside are hurting my eyes". So I sat by her bed and held her hand until she calmed down. She is truly such a sweet little girl.

In between all the rain today, we went to the local park and did some bike riding. She did so much better on a flat surface and only ran off the sidewalk about 5 times.

Book Review - Through My Eyes

Through My Eyes by Tim Tebow

Summary:

Over the course of the last five years, Tim Tebow established himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of college football and a top prospect of the NFL. During that time he amassed an unparalleled resume - winning two BCS national championships, becoming the first sophomore in NCAA history to win the Heisman trophy, and in the face of massive public scrutiny, being drafted in the first round of the NFL draft by the Denver Broncos.

Now, in Through My Eyes, Tebow brings readers everywhere an inspirational memoir about life as he chose to live it, revealing how his faith and family values, combined with his relentless will to succeed, have molded him into the person that he is today. As the son of Christian missionaries, Tebow has a unique story to tell - from the circumstances of his birth, to his home-schooled roots, to his record-setting collegiate football career with the Florida Gators and everything else that took place in between.

At every step, Tebow's life has defied convention and expectation. While aspects of his life have been well-documented, the stories have always been filtered through the opinions and words of others. Through My Eyes is his passionate, firsthand, never-been-told account of how it really happened.

Review:

I love autobiographies. Especially of people in the media, as it very interesting to hear their story. But....I normally pick people that I am genuinely interested in. I read this book on a recommendation of a friend. It is a very good read as far as the "spiritual" part, as it is very rare to read about a young person with such a passion for God and following His will. After all the media coverage of Tebow and his weaknesses, it was very interesting to read about how strong a Christian he is.

But the football was 90% of it. And if you know me, you know I have no interest in sports. I will watch a game, but reading a play by play of countless games is not fun for me. I skimmed over so many parts.

So if you enjoy football, you might like this book. But I definitely will go back to reading about movie stars!

After months of reading Heather's book posts, I am finally linking up to the below blog. I am hoping to find other great books as well!

iLove

Until I figure out this new iPhone, I will definitely not be blogging as much.

I tried uploading pictures to my computer, but they are all sideways and I am still too green to figure it out. Soon though!

I did figure out one though:

One of the cool things is editing pictures.

I edited this using Instagram and am just having so much fun playing with it.

A Few Weekend Pics

Again, I am so bad about taking pictures. But if you stick with me, you will see that I am about to get A LOT better....

After a REALLY long day (Abby woke up at 5:09 AM) on Saturday, we played bubbles.

She absolutely loves to blow bubbles and then have me pop them by clapping on them.
Please note the concentration. Girl is serious.

Cheesing for the camera and super excited that it is Momma's turn to blow bubbles.

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I have to note that it has been MONTHS since Abby napped. But on Saturday, I managed to get her down for a 2 hour nap. It was blissful, but not so much when she didn't go to sleep until 9!

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I promise that we have flipped this rug over and are fully enjoying it now.

But this morning, Abby was enjoying her time on the bed in the middle of the room.

She INSISTED on gathering all of her toys around the rug......for Baby Jesus.

She literally melts my heart.

And my big win this weekend. An iPhone!!!!

I am still in a little shock that I am the owner of this.

But super excited to have an awesome camera (ha - better than the one that I have!). And one that I will constantly have with me!

Improvements

The Spring Bug has hit our house!

We have been making small updates to our house, so thought I would share along with some cute pics of our gal!

Stu surprised us with curtains. I have been so wishy-washy and wanting to find the "perfect" curtains that he got tired of it :) and just went and bought some. Luckily for him, he did good!

This is the vacant dining room and he also got matching ones in the living room.

We still have some work to do with the upper window. These ugly blue curtains came with the house, but until we figure out what to do with them, they are staying to block to the sun. I am thinking just more white wood blinds (that we have been changing everything over to). Not sure what else we can do up there.
Abby found her alarm clock tonight. I actually put it in our guest room until I had the time to mess with it (i.e. make sure it works). And then pretty much forgot about it. I swear that spare bedroom.....I put stuff in there and just forget about it.

But the look on that little girl's face when it started playing Disney songs was priceless.

And my big purchase arrived today! A giant rug for the dining room!

I ordered it online so I need to flatten it out a bit. In case you can't tell, it is upside down with Abby's clothes bins on it.

Then Stu had the idea to move the guest mattress to help squash it. Which immediately led to a WW wrestling match on top of it.

And my proudest purchase! A 16X20 canvas picture of one of Abby's pictures.

Just to give you some perspective of how big it is. I don't know that it will stay there, but for now it is working.

I was taking pictures of the canvas when Abby was in the bathtub. She demanded that I come in there and take a picture of her as well.

I could just die over this picture.

Please notice how serious her face is in the mirror.

I "made" her sit still so I could play with her hair after bath time.

This is my first attempt at braiding her super fine hair. Not too bad, hopefully she will let me keep practicing!

Hope everyone has a great weekend! Abby and I have a joint hair appt on Saturday, so hoping she behaves while I get my hair cut!

Put on the Shades

The shorts came out in the Staples house tonight!

The whitest, skinniest legs are being shown off!

Abby couldn't believe it and just kept saying "I'm wearing shorts and a short-sleeved shirt."

This is a picture from March 2011, pretty sure they look the same!

We are so ready for warm weather in this house!

Abby playing in the bathtub tonight. I asked her what she was doing.

She said, "I am singing Happy Birthday to the fish. Today is his birthday."
She is just too precious.

Quick Update

I just wanted to post a few quick photos that I have taken lately.

Abby keeps me so darn busy that I barely have time to take pictures!

Today we went to the ball park to watch Stu play ball. One of Abby's BFFs was there.

They ran up and down the bleachers so much, it made my head spin.

Then we all went to lunch at Chili's. Abby and Callie shared a seat, it was so adorable. They loved on each other, fought, shared food, and talked back and forth about anything and everything.

I might have a slight obsession with taking pictures of Abby sleeping :)

But it does solidify my need to get that girl a bigger bed. I went searching today and found a few potentials. We can turn her bed into a full size bed of course, but I really want a white bed.

Of course, that probably just means adding more stuffed animals to the mix.

Abby got a new hat! Friday was "Bring a Silly Hat" day at school.

I found this super cute pink Easter hat in the dollar bin at Target.

Abby calls it her "pink cowboy hat". She is just too funny.

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I picked Abby up from school on Friday (work closed early due to the impending doom of the storms. The ones that never appeared).

Her teacher said, "I am so sorry, but I didn't realize that Abby had a sister."

Me: "News to me too. She doesn't."

Teacher: Laughing nervously, "She totally convinced me that she did."

Me: "And what did she say this sister's name was?"

Teacher: "Ali"

Me: "Yea, that would be our dog."

That gal is just a mess.

On the way home, I asked her why she told the teacher that Ali was her sister.

"Because she is, Momma"

Day Care Praise

Sorry for the tiny pictures, but I took these from an album that Abby's day care sent me.

Besides the fact that it is more a school which means that she has lessons every week, it is also a Christian based school, so Bible verses are learned as well.

Abby's Day Care is so amazing and have different themes every week, practically every day.

Last month they did "senses" so it was eyes, ears, taste, smell, and hearing.

I love that her teachers send me a weekly email with what the kiddos will be doing that week.

They are celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday this week with silly socks and silly hats.

Abby's homemade sunglasses.

I have to say that it is so hard getting that girl up and ready every morning, plus her Day Care is completely out of my way.

But I am grateful every day for these two lovely ladies that take the best care of my little princess.

The Last Big Day

Ah, the Oscars!

What has to be the most boring awards ceremony ever is also the best dressed red carpet.

Don't even get me started on Best Picture. What a waste.

But on to the fashion.....

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The Stars Who Shined:

I love, love, love this dress. It was different, yet oh so elegant and glamorous.

She won the award in my mind for Best Dressed.

Another star of the carpet. And check out the gun show. Love her.
She saved the best for last.
May not see her again (as Joan Rivers said, "She wore gold to compensate for the gold wedding ring she'll never get").
But she was truly gorgeous tonight, arm candy def. helped.

At first, I hated this dress. But seeing it move on camera, it was very beautiful.
The polka dots were unique and I loved her jewelry.

JLo has one of those rare figures that can totally rock a deep v-neck. She knows this and flaunts it and I think she looked amazing. I wasn't crazy about the cut-outs in the arms, but overall I think she was fabulous.

Stunning. I love the one shoulder and I think light dresses ruled the carpet.

She is just so stinking cute. I think the dress was age appropriate and was so flattering on her. The light purple looked really great on her. Hopefully, she sticks around and has more fashion "wow" up her sleeve.

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Maybe, Baby:

It took some time, but I warmed up to these dresses.

They weren't original best dresses, but they got better with time.

It is hard to look past the dress. It really is - that is one busy dress.

But I think her hair/makeup were stunning. The dress was def. a risk, but seeing her move in it brought her up to the almost best dressed category.

First thought: Get that pile of fabric off your shoulder. Or dress your freaking age.

But I saw a comparison with a similar dress worn a few years ago and I think it works for her.

Plus, she is just so loveable (her presentation with Ben Stiller was hilarious).

Loved the color. Almost prom-ish, but since it is Penelope she can get away with a little bit more.

And loved the jewelry.

Who would have thought that I "almost" loved this one? It is totally against my style.

But the back was open and I liked her hair, so she gets to stay in the middle category.

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Try, Try Again:

I honest to God tried to like this dress. I am not a huge fan of hers, and she does gets 1 point for color, but that is about it. As you will see, I really hate the random bathing suit ruffle in the middle. And the back was a completely different color - like a see through or girdle looking thing.

This chick is hilarious (if you haven't seen Bridesmaids, run to RedBox to get it).

But I felt like this dress was one shade away from walking down the aisle. Especially with the tulle. And her hair is just weird.

Look at the shoulders, look at the shoulders!

I hated them, hated them.

So much that she was pretty far down on my least favorite.

Yes, you can scroll up and see that I picked a very similar dress in my maybes.

The whole dress WITH the sleeves just didn't do it for me. Too many sequins....

I really wish she would get a better stylist, I have said it before. But after the Oscars, I am adding hairdresser to that list. She had a giant bun the size of her head (JLo did too, but she totally rocked it). It was distracting, I kept thinking "What is that behind her?"

And the ruffle swimsuit....oh hell no. I actually would have liked it if 1) she had a smaller bun and 2) the ruffle was left off.

GRRR. What is that crap in the middle? Feathers? Doilies? Crazy Lace?

She is so stunning, literally glows from being so beautiful.

I think that was part of my hatred of this dress, the expectation that it would be awesome.

No shape, two toned. Ok, Ill just stop.

I missed her on the red carpet. What's funny is that I saw Brad being interviewed sans Angie and fell off the couch. How could she not come?

Oh, but she showed up to present.

That was my first glimpse, and she threw out that bony leg like it was end of a runway.

Hideous.

She missed the memo that it was the Oscars. Time to step up your game.

So, so disappointed.

And what is with the finger nail polish. Way to throw an edge in there.

Fail.

I def. need to see her movie. Because I am not a fan.

She gets .0001 point for not wearing black.

But that is not much, considering the massive black bang action going on.

And I am really pale, but if I was hitting the Oscars, I would have also hit a spray tan as well.

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Agree, Disagree?

Thoughts on the fashion?

Who did I miss?