Cleaning is Over Rated

So today I had further proof why cleaning with a toddler just is pointless.  During Taylor's nap I vacuumed and dusted the floors and then she was up and we had a nice snack of some goldfish.  After our snack I headed into the kitchen to finish some cleaning and I hear her laughing, giggling and carrying on at her table.  Then I hear it, the sound of hundreds of goldfish pouring out onto the table and then the floor.  Here is how I found her.

And apparently she wasn't finished.  When I went to get the dustpan she proceeded to stomp on the goldfish and grind them up into little pieces.  I kinda smiled and can't help but laugh.  I guess she showed me how much she didn't like the fact that I was cleaning today.  

!Flashback! - Laura's Birthday Scavenger Hunt

For our friend Laura's birthday she created and implemented a photo scavenger hunt.  We went to Brian and Mary's house in Northern VA and got into groups of 3/4 and then went out in search of photo opportunities.  Chris, Taylor and & I were partnered up with Mary.  I wish I still had the list so I could provide better captions but I'll do my best.  Taylor was a great help with a lot of the photos!  Earlier that day we got her a new pair of pink sneakers from Stride Rite and she LOVED them.  This was over Labor Day weekend which was right about when she started running and walking more than falling!  We had a great time.  I think we came in 2nd but only by 1 photo!  

Chris as Batman!

Something Pink!  The shoes of course!

In a canoe!

Taming Wild Beasts!

Loving the stuffed Animals!

Fit as many people as you can in a shopping cart.  

Taylor and Chris' foot!

These are not the droids you are looking for!

Human Pyramid.....oh well a Doll Pyramid!

Simultaneous Jump!

Who you gonna call?

!Flashback! - Happy Halloween

So it's no surprise to most of you who know my husband know how much he loves cows.  No idea where or why he has this obsession.  He really wanted Taylor to be a cow this year and since next year she will be well over 2 and most likely will tell us what SHE wants to be I told him this may be his only shot for a good long while.  We got the costume at Target.  I loved how soft and warm it was, especially since it snowed here the day before.  It was CHILLY!!  

Well she was a cow, sort of.  Now this is where my obsession comes in.  I always had fond memories of my mom making my costume and putting together everything (craftiness at a young age) and I really want to have that with Taylor but she is too young for now.  So I decided she couldn't just be any cow, but my FAVORITE COW!  The Chick-fil-a COW!  It turned out pretty cute and she was a HIT in the neighborhood.

We took turns wandering around and saying Trick or Treat but we didn't take any candy.  Chris and I, well I, didn't want the candy in the house and she couldn't eat it.  So we practiced with an empty bucket. Next year we will get real candy and eat a piece or two.

Enjoying putting on my costume a few days before.

I also enjoyed taking it off.  =)  Boys Avert Your Eyes!

Waiting to get my sign!

What I get CANDY!?!?

Yep that's what I said!

While Taylor was a Chick-Fil-A cow I was a bag of Jelly Belly's 

with the Related Arts Team at my school!  Fun was had by all!  =)

Taylor's Playroom!

We used to have a living room, but it is slowly turning into Taylor's playroom.  Pretty soon she is going to need her own room for all her stuff.  I was able to convince Chris to clear off two of the bookshelves for her to put some toys on.  So after Christmas I got organizing.  Now I just need to make labels for her bins and she is all set.

This is what it looks like by the afternoon most days.

At night the Mommy Elf cleans up and organizes everything.

Fabric Cubicles from Target that were on sale this week.

One has her music instruments and one has her puzzles.

I need to get a puzzle rack but no where to put it right now.  =)

Top shelf has her books and laugh and learn imitative play toys.

Her new armchair!

The old toychest that has been sifted and cleaned.  Next to it a bin with all her stuffed animals.

I love the toychest because the top goes down and it's more seating.  =)

Christmas Potpourri

So what Christmas isn't complete without pancakes with red, green and white sprinkles.  Daddy made these special cakes and Taylor LOVED them!

Later in the day my parents and my brother came to visit.  Here are some photos from their visit.

My Dad has a healthy dislike of the Steelers.  LOL!

Another chucky puzzle.  YAY!!

Anything that makes noise I like!

Merry Christmas

Christmas Morning was lots of fun this year.  Taylor got up around 6 and we hung out upstairs in our bed while she had her 1st breakfast (milk) and Daddy brought down all the gifts.  We couldn't put them out early because the cats would get into them.  I was able to get a cute video of her first coming down the stairs.  She was too funny!  =)  As soon as I can finish editing it I'll post it later today!  

We opened gifts together as a family and then played all morning before Taylor took her nap around 11 am.  She slept until almost 11 when Nana, Poppy and Uncle Aaron arrived for the second round of Christmas gifts.  We are looking forward to doing our video chat Christmas with Grandma, Grandpa, and Auntie Kim after they get our gifts and we get theirs.  Chris' mom fell ill just prior to the holidays and we were sad she wasn't able to visit us for Christmas as originally planned.

The tree with her gifts.  Her present pile looks so small!  

But considering she got the armchair and the table and chairs, it makes up for it.  =)

It's easier to open gifts if you sit on them.

I love my pop up tunnel!

I would rather collect the pegs.  We are currently missing 3.

I think I'll do some Karaoke from my new chair!

How did that bow get there!

This chair sure is comfy!

Tea Anyone?!?

Christmas Eve

So this year is the year we start official Christmas Traditions with Taylor.  We started by opening our stockings together.  Taylor loved her stocking but seemed to enjoy her Pooh cup from Daddy and did a remarkable job using it (even though it has no valve).  After we opened our stockings we decorated gingerbread cookies together.  Then got all hyped up on the icing!  =)  In the future we will make Gingerbread houses.  Then we went to a light show out in New Market that is set to music.  It was fun but getting through it wasn't fun at all because they let people stop as they are driving through.  So we were very distracted by people who stopped and then were pulling out in front of you.  You had to turn your lights off too so we kept almost getting hit by other cars.  Next year I think we will do more of a local light show instead. 

 

Opening my stocking

 

Not letting go of my Pooh cup but this book looks good!

 

Opening my second ornament

 

I like my stocking!

 

I got a small ELMO!  I even know how to say his name.

 

Coloring with my new crayons!

 

Stealing Daddy's Peanut Butter Pie!

 

Daddy put my maracas on as earrings.  I thought it was silly!

 

My 2nd ornament hung on the tree!

 

Decorating my Gingerbread Santa

 

Isn't it beautiful?

 

YUM!

Pre-Christmas Festivities

So prior to Christmas as many parents around the globe we took our daughter to be tortured by Santa!  Last year it went well!  This year......well it started like this......

See now doesn't she look like the kinda kid who is looking forward to seeing Santa.  The last photo was taken just after Santa walked by and waved.  I had said to Chris many times she was going to cry.  He was sure she wouldn't.  Well after you see the photo you will know who was right.  All was going so good until Chris took the stroller and I rounded the corner and went to sit her down on his lap.  Any guesses as to the outcome??  

Yep that's me in the photo.  She screamed bloody murder and was yelling "Mama" for the first photo.  Then we tried to put her on a rocking horse and crop me out of the picture......yeah right that was a negative too!  So, I didn't really want to pay all that money for a photo of my child screaming so I opted for the photo of me and her with Santa! 

Every year I enjoy hand making holiday cards.  Well this year it just didn't happen for more reasons then I can even say.  So I figured we will use our Santa picture and do a photo card.....um yeah....NOT!

So that night we were planning on putting ornaments on the tree with Taylor and decided to put her back in her Christmas dress and fancy shoes and see what kinda photos we could get!  What a success it was! She had a great time and loved putting the ornaments on the tree!  Most of the ornaments we ended up putting up were non-breakable.  We will try good ones next year!  We also got her a Little People Nativity Set for under the tree too!  She loved playing with all the characters and giving them kisses.  =)

 

Little People Nativity Set

I like this spot!

Putting up Daddy's oldest ornament!

Yep the Polar Express goes here Daddy!

Winnie the Pooh has a List and I'm on it!!  =)

Let's put up Santa next!

Cheese!  (with the help of some bribery of Yogurt Melts!)

Can you guess which photo was the one we chose for our card??