2011 Holiday Gift Idea #4

2011 Holiday Gift Idea #4: MollaSpace Paper Pots

I totally want one of these. {**Santa...are you reading this?**} We always have a box of tissue in the kitchen, but anywhere else in the house you'll find a roll of toilet paper. I'd have toilet paper in the kitchen if it didn't look so out of place. What? An attractive pot that hides your TP and dispenses it in a handy tissue-esque fashion? Sign me up.

For $39 it's a little pricey, but totally practical! Really, at 10¢ a roll for toilet paper and $1 a box for tissues...it won't be long before your Paper Pot has paid for itself. (Added bonus...for those of you that have kids like mine that insist on one tissue per nose wipe, think of the money and paper you'll save when you cut that back to one square per nose wipe.) I'm totally trying to talk myself and Santa into this one, huh? I can't help it. I covet this spherical splendor each time the Uncommon Goods catalog finds it's way onto my Saturday morning magazine pile.

So...Holiday Gift Idea #4...my favorite so far!

Birthday Girl: Part 2

Sunday afternoon we had family over for cake and ice cream. The Ni Hao KaiLan cake that I spent three+ hours on the day before didn't fair too well. It tasted great though, and that's all that anyone cared about, right? (I also made a small gingerbread cake and served it with pumpkin ice cream for the grown ups. Yumm-O!)

Acting "shy" while we sing "Happy Birthday".

Looking at her cousin Dana for a little support.

A "Bug" wall hanging that my mom made for Josie.
This way, she can have bugs in her room all year!

Ellie, surprised by a little something
from Grandma & Grandpa Mox.

Uncle Phil started a wrapping paper fight.
Josie soon chipped in!

Natalie's contribution to the fight.

Grandma Payne's turn!

Yesterday the birthday excitement continued when the Postman brought two packages "just for Josie"! She was over the moon opening birthday gifts from Uncle Chris & Aunt Amy as well as Uncle Blake & Aunt Kellie. I think the girl has it pretty darned good, don't you?

Birthday Girl: Part 1

Josie had "the best weekend ever" again this year. (What more does a parent need to hear after their child's birthday?) A few pictures to post on this busy Monday...

Opening her wished-for "GoGo the Walking Puppy"

Figuring out "GoGo"

Birthday pancakes

Her favorite things – Fuzzy and GoGo

Four

Happy Birthday Josephine!

We love you – Mommy, Daddy, Eleanor

The "Dam Pie" 5K: Photos

I'm still smiling. Yesterday I thought my smiles were from the 1/2 bottle of champagne I consumed before 11am, today I realize it's because of how happy I am from the success of our first "Dam Pie" 5K. Amy arrived a little before 8am with runners arriving shortly after. 39 runners in all! With family here to cheer everyone on, we had quite the driveway full yesterday.

 

This photo makes me laugh. I'm not sure what was so funny, but it really represents the feeling in the air yesterday morning...

A few of the runner pictures. (I forgot to change the camera settings before passing it along, so they are kind of blurry.)

Fastest finisher at 18:27 – Jon Studer

Jacob Boes – the winner! He guessed 20:00 and finished in 20:06!

Uncle Denny, Ellie, Josie and Zack– the cheering squad!

Uncle Denny and my dad.

This makes me smile. Now THAT'S a happy finish!

My sister-in-law Marge and my cousin Shelly.

Before people left yesterday morning, they were thanking Amy and me for hosting the run and telling us they'll be here next year. I hope so. I can't imagine a better way to start my Thanksgiving.

Oh...and our times? Amy smoked me by running 25:03. I don't mind though. I totally surprised myself by finishing in 28:22. I think I've officially gotten my wings back. Happy Friday!

The 1st Annual Marshville "Dam Pie" 5K

Earn yourself an extra slice by running 3 miles before you sit down to turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and...well...pie.

The first annual Marshville "Dam Pie" 5K will start at 8:30am sharp, Thanksgiving morning. Run, walk, ride your bike, we don't care, just show up and give thanks for the ability to get out there and MOVE before the L-tryptophan sets in.

I've been wanting to do this for a few years – sponsor a Thanksgiving morning "turkey trot". This year was the year. At 8:30am this morning, 50+ people will be showing up at our house (near Marshville Dam) to run our three mile country block. Afterward we'll enjoy a few healthy snacks and toast with post-run Mimosas.

Wish us luck! I'll post pictures this afternoon. (As long as I don't fall asleep after running then stuffing myself with turkey, mashed potatoes and pie!)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

2011 Holiday Gift Idea #3

2011 Holiday Gift Idea #3: Nuun Drink Tabs

I've read about these for a while as a great post-run drink. As a lover of post-run chocolate milk, I've never needed an alternative, then milk stopped agreeing with me. (Enough said.) I tried the Nuun. Fell in love. Now I have a little "Nuun addiction".

These electrolyte tablets come in a number of flavors (citrus fruit is my favorite). You add them to 16 oz. of water and wait a minute. They tumble, fizz and dissolve into a refreshing, light hydrating treat. With 12 tabs per tube, and four tubes per box, they'd make great stocking stuffers for anyone – soccer kids, thirsty teens, moms who are trying to break the afternoon Starbucks habit. ($20/box you get 48 drinks for 41¢ each.) They even offer a cola-flavored tab. I'm not much of a soda drinker, but I really like it, and with a little bit of caffeine, it gives a nice afternoon kick!

How many Kirkers...

...does it take to replace a faucet? Three.

Thirsty

This weekend, the neighbors were over for a few hours. While the adults visited in the dining room, the kids were running around the rest of the house.

At one point, Brooke and Josie were playing restaurant. Brooke, the server, asked Josie, the customer, what she'd like to order. Josie though for a moment before asking, "What do you have on tap?"

Oh my. Little sponges, aren't they?

Procrastinating

Two months ago, after we made our January 2012 Disney plans, Kyle and I discussed Eleanor and Josephine having new "princess" dresses for the trip. Instead of buying them this time (I do love Kiki's Things on etsy) we agreed that a special trip deserves special mommy-made dresses. In September, Christmas morning seemed so far away. I had plenty of time.

Now, however, I realize I have only one month to turn this...

into two of these...

Oh boy.

Guitar lessons

Last weekend, while at Uncle Blake and Aunt Kellie's, the girls were quite fascinated with the sting instruments that they had to play with. Saturday night they found Anna's ukulele and Sunday morning they enjoyed watching Uncle Blake strum on his guitar. (Quite the little fashion-istas, aren't they?)

Photo shoot.

Last week I posted about the five outfits from Gymboree that I totally scored on. The package finally came in the mail Tuesday, and Ellie insisted on trying everything on, immediately. Now...I don't remember posing like this as a child, but I do remember having to try everything on AS SOON AS I GOT IT. My friend Nicole is permanently scarred from me trying on new bras on our way home from Grand Rapids once. Sorry, Nicole. Anyway...back to the fashion show...

Lovable? You betcha!

These need a little hem work, I'm afraid.

Sassy little face, my dear!

There's my sweet baby's smile.

The fifth outfit belongs to Miss Josephine who couldn't be bothered to remove her princess gown and try on a boring old long sleeved t-shirt and skirt. Different strokes, right?

2011 Holiday Gift Idea #2

2011 Holiday Gift Idea #2: Photo 101 The Book by Nicole Hill Gerulat.

This book is a great little tool for anyone that enjoys taking photos – family, kids, vacations – and wants to learn just enough to take their photos from "Oh. That's nice" to "Wow! What a great photo!". Nicole touches on subjects like Aperture and ISO, and explains them simply, but well. My favorites are the chapters on lighting and composition. She highlights the small tricks you can do that set your subjects in the right light, with tips on keeping what you intended as the focus of the photo. (Ha, ha...focus.)

So...if you know of anyone (grandparent, sister, yourself) that loves taking photos of the kids and would appreciate a little photography knowledge, Photo 101 The Book is the perfect little something to stick under the tree. (And by little, I mean it. It's a small-ish book with nice, short chapters and lots of photos. Great for sneaking in a chapter here and there while the kids watch The Cat in the Hat or soak in the tub!)

Josie-Isms

First of all, let me quote Josephine this morning with a very loud "Happy reindeer shooting day!" We all are wishing Kyle luck as he sits at the back of our property hoping to have the success he had last year.

Second, I thought I'd share a few of the strange phrases that have been coming out of Josie's mind/mouth lately...

As she watched me eat scrambled eggs the other morning, she decided that they looked like "A flock of hang-ga-burgs all mixed up with some ham." (It was really just spinach and a tiny bit of cheese.)

She informed me that it's always "A great idea to have a phone. Just in case you have an emergency of dinosaurs!"

And the strangest of all (and a little disturbing), last week she walked into my office and said "Mommy, my boyfriend hits me. Don't worry though, I'm getting a new one." I totally agreed and informed her that no one should have a 'hitting' boyfriend, and really maybe a boyfriend at 3-1/2 is a tad soon. "Yeah," she agreed. "and he lives in my closet and poops on my clothes."

I had no response for that one. Still don't.

Happy reindeer shooting day!

Weekend at Anna's.

Saturday, we travelled to Kyle's sister's to spend Saturday and Sunday with them. When we arrived, the wind, combined with their large backyard, begged for a little kite flying...

(Item blurred to protect the innocent.)
Don't worry...she's only holding it for Aunt Kellie!

Waiting for Uncle Blake to light the bonfire.

On a very sad note, my Mom called Saturday morning to let me know our Uncle Sam passed away suddenly Friday while hunting out of state. To my Aunt Ruth, cousins Beth and Jason and their families, our hearts are broken for your loss. Uncle Sam's presence in the Fleming family will be forever missed. Love – Lisa, Kyle, Ellie and Josie

Sunday Photos

What happens when you combine a Preschool class with a box of old glasses...

Yes...this is Josephine!