Ideas for the Winter months

Today, Presley and I are once again, staying home. We have had many playdates, MOPs started back yesterday, LBS will be starting next week..so we have been staying busy..But, unlike the warmer months, where we practically live at the park, these snowy days..what's a stay at home mom to do??
Well, today was a PLAYDOUGH kind of day :) I had bought Presley this Dora placemat at Wal-Mart for a $1 to do crafts on..and hope to find some inexpensive cookie cutters to use the next time we play with playdough.
~ I also, was playing around with my "lightscoop" on my camera..still have lots to learn, but, it does warm up the pictures..Didn't edit any of these much..Some, aren't edited at all.

She was SUPER excited!

( I LOVED crafts and art as a kid, think she will be the same :)

The joys of playdough!

 And, of course we had to sing to our playdough.

And, even though Mommy told said, "DO NOT put in mouth!" we of course, had to at least taste it! :)

She wasn't a fan, asked for her milk shortly after.

 And it was a success!

Happy girl= Happy Mommy

Our MOPs group spent most of the time yesterday going over LOTs of indoor/ winter month crafts for us to do with our children.
Some of my favorites:
1.Add water and food coloring to spray bottle..Go paint the snow! :)
2. Freeze small toys in the freezer, then put them in the bath tub with them..and watch them melt, then they get to play with the toy..( like little dollar store plastic toys)
3.Make your own playdough. I found this recipe..pretty cool that its edible. Peanut Butter Playdough
4.Cut out snowflakes, snowmen and let them decorate with stickers, cotton balls, or cut out shapes.
5.Cover a door with blank wrapping paper, and let them color. ( more for the older ones:)
6. Sign up for this website to get lots of fun age appropriate crafts/ games: Productive Parenting
7. Go to Pillsbury or Betty Crocker's websites and find ideas to decorating cupcakes.
8. Adopt an elderly widow at your church, to help with her yard, make them dinner, run errands, or just visit..Your kids coloring them pictures would make their day!
9. Go on group playdates to local indoor play places. example for Ohio: Bananas, Run, Jump, and Place, Library storytimes, Children's Museum, Aquarium, Blue Manatee Books, Totter's Otterville, Recreations Outlet, Great Wolf Lodge has a program for preschoolers.

Any winter ideas you just love?? websites?

Bathtime with Presley

Today was a LAZY day for the three of us. It's always so nice to have Daddy home! We stayed in our pjs until noon..cuddled in the bed with P and watched her "shows"as she calls them ;) She has really started talking up a storm lately..and can repeat just about everything you say..Tonight she repeated all her colors to me, including TURQUOISE, which she said SO CUTE. I was so happy Daddy was with us to hear them all! :) We played all day..inside because it was just too cold to go anywhere!! I start MOPs back tomorrow, and I am so excited to see all the girls again! Plus, Presley loves seeing all her friends. 

We are also pretty excited because tomorrow night we have open house for Presley's preschool. I just found out last week, from my friend, Ashley, that they have a young 3s class, which Presley would be old enough to start in the FALL! Yay!! Good thing I asked about it because registration is this month, ( Jan.) and it doesn't start until Sept! There is usually a waiting list, so glad we talked about it over New Years! 

She is just soaking up so much right now, I know she will just love it! It has great accreditations, by mainly its a Christian environment where Presley will already know some of the kids. My main goal for her in preschool is to HAVE FUN!!!! I feel like there's a lot of pressure these days to have "baby einsteins" instead of letting kids be kids. So, I am looking forward to her starting this new adventure in the fall! Her is a little short video of bathtime tonight.. Presley is doing great with recognizing her letters..I am such a proud mom :) 

~You may have to turn off my music before you hit play, and turn up the volume to hear it. 

1.11.11

We had a lazy day, and enjoyed the snow. Matt had to work :( but, he will be off the next couple of days! yay!! Presley loves playing in the snow..I had to bribe her with pretzels and Dora to get her to come inside!lol

Maybe, when her Daddy is off we can make a snowman, and maybe go sledding.
I really enjoyed my hot chocolate this morning, while curled up on the couch reading to Miss P. She is LOVING books..I love that she can point to things, such as, numbers, letters, animals, and say, "B," or "Dolphin," or "Fox." it just so amazing how much they can soak up at this age!!


My camera needs to be cleaned, so I only took a hand full of pics of Presley in the snow. If I get my settings where I really need them I have a huge BLACK dot on them.. BOO.. but, hopefully when the weather gets better, I'll get a chance to take it in. I am enjoying the pretty snow.. It reminded my of this verse this morning when I saw how beautiful my yard looked. :)


Though your sins are as scarlet they will be white as snow." Isaiah 1:18


I am so grateful to have this truth! Praise JESUS, for forgiveness. So glad HE saved this girl!

She had so much fun!

Two of my favorites from the Day :) She was making a snow angel ;)

Presley is ready for it to snow, AGAIN!!

We are suppose to get 3-5 inches in the next few days.. So exciting.. You would think I would be tired of the snow by now, BUT since they are great at getting the roads salted.. I really am enjoying it..Maybe Matt will even get off work ( YEAH right!)  Thankfully, he is off Wed, and Thurs.. So hopefully we will get to go sledding this week.

I just love Lavender..P's bib is one of my favorite colors on her.. so I had to get a few shoots.. But, I was so proud of myself.. I took a few.. Then I took the camera INSIDE! it was hard, I admit.. lol
But, I wanted to play with her..so we had a blast in the snow..just the two of us :)

She was cracking me up, "acting" like it was snowing..and her catching it? :)

Can we say Eyelashes?? 

We started the morning with the Judd family..(Her children are precious, and baby Mia was giving me baby fever..with her big BLUE eyes, and huge SMILE..)
 I love this girl, and her name is Tiffany..how great is that! It was meant to be, for us to be friends! :) Also, Presley had a blast! We just love playdates with sweet friends during this colder months. :)

Winter in Ohio

Its cold her in Ohio.. I just looked at the weather and its currently 13 degrees..the low is 2. In Memphis, snow was a big deal ( there was mad craziness at the grocery..people act a little insane) and everything shuts down with the thought of snow. Not here. We have snow on the forcast 3 days this week. Its amazing..because you get to get out and do normal things, since they salt the roads so well. Its totally different living here.. but, it has been a good different. I am loving the winter..but, I admit, I am pretty excited about the spring! Because we can go to the park, play on the playground, and run through the sprinklers! Presley LOVED the sprinklers last year, so I am sure we will go often. I think this year, we may even go to Kings Island.. lots of people have season passes just for the awesome water park, so we may have to try that out.

We have been keeping busy with playdates.. Last week, we made it over to see Lindsey, Greyson, and baby Sehla. Presley had a blast.
 She has been loving getting in other people's beds lately.. The last two places we have been I have found her like these! lol
Its so funny... I walk to thinking she is playing with her friend.. NOPE, she's in their BED! ;)

I think she's probably getting ready to move to the toddler bed ( but, i feel so safe with her in the crib)

She actually climbed out of hers the other day and fell out, so if that happens again, Matt and I will moved her to her toddler bed. :( kindof sad.

Greyson and Presley

 I just LOVE this picture of her and her friend, Grey.. So sweet!

I am getting excited for MOPs and Ladies Bible to start back up soon...we are a little burnt out on coloring, TV, and playdough!
I am excited to visit these two places soon.. The first one is less than 10 min from me..the other is probably 20.. Run, Jump, and Play it has an indoor playground, with huge inflatables, and glow in the dark bowling..heard its fun! And the second one, our MOPs group is going to soon...Bananas
And when Matt is off next week, we may go to the the Cincy Children's Museum ( which is AWESOME, Presley loved it) or the Aquarium. Love that we have some indoor things on our list!

Right now, I am loving these.. even though I DO NOT need to know how many calories are in them!
UDF Milkshakes.. NOTHING like em!

Listening to Miranda Lambert, Trace Atkins, and Taylor Swift..this southern girl has to have her country. But, I love LOTS of music..just at the moment..loving these 3. 

LOVING my Iphone.. Pandora is amazing.. Presley and I have started a new thing.. we listen to the Toddler station or her favorite the Dora station ( which had ELMO, too..tonight!).. gotta love FREE radio.. WE act so goofy..and sing so loud our neighbors probably HATE us. :)

I absolutely LOVE these two.. I tape them, and watch them during P's nap.. but, sometimes, its good for her to PLAY instead of watching TV, and I use this time, to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate, pick up the house, fold clothes, and LAUGH out loud.. HODA's playlist is my favorite.. We could be great friends, I just know it. Kathie Lee is hilarious, too.. Together, well, its just good TV!

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

My favorite verse at the moment. It has always been a favorite, just one that's pretty special at the moment.

Really loving this little angel!

She has done so many cute things lately.. I love that she is TALKING up a storm..and repeating everything.. 

*I call our dog Daisy inside..and she stands at the door with me, saying, "Daisy, come in!" lol

*She also, see baby Jesus in her little Bible sleeping and says, "Shhh, baby Jesus sleeping, Mommy."

*She got on the potty this morning..and looked at me very seriously, and then starting Mooooing. What? love it!

*She was watching Dora the other night..and I was so happy her Daddy got to witness this too, they started "gorilla walking" and she started doing it too!! lol IT was hilarious..and now, sometimes during the day, she "gorilla walks" across the room!

*She loves her Daddy, gets so excited to wake him up in the mornings. Loves giving him butterfly and eskimo kisses :) 

*She is loving going on playdates..She asks me.. "Are we going to Chloe's house again?" so cute. 

*She is somewhat picky with food, which I know is pretty normal at her age, but can be a little testing..But, all and all, she is a sweetheart..and I am blessed to be her mommy.

I made this yummy meal tonight for dinner.. Meatball and Provolone Subs..YUM!!!! They were so easy..gotta love crockpots this time of year!!

WE are pretty excited...

Because 3 days in a row...

Excuse the pictures, taken with my iphone.. Today, she said, "Mommy go potty?" and she took me to the bathroom to go :) YAY!! so proud of my sweet baby girl!!!

New Years Resolutions

So, here they go.. I hope I can stick to them all this year. They are always so easy to make, and also so easy to break. lol

1. Read more. I love to read, esp. when I get into a really great book. I am currently reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I just got it yesterday, but, have heard great things about it. 

2. Have more date nights!! We only go on dates when family visits. I think we have been only 2 or 3 since we moved. We have been here 8 months, so thankfully, we have a few great friends that have offered.. YAY! We hope to go on one very soon! :) 

3. Continue to watch movies with Matt.. we just started really getting into watching movies at home more, and I love it. So, thank you Netflix! :)

4. Continue to pray for Presley and her future, health, and development. We pray everyday for her and I love the fact that she has started saying the blessing before meals, so sweet.. all by herself, she bows her head, closes her eyes..prays, and says a very clear, AMEN! Wow, the SWEETEST thing ever!!!

~ Hoping to read this book after The Help.. Power of a Praying Parent

5. Save money.. esp. through coupons. I am learning more about coupons.. so I hope to save some on our visits to the grocery.

6. Lose 10 lbs. enough said! 

7. Enjoy the simple things, soak up every moment with Presley..as much as I LOVE to take pictures, at times I have been too worried about taking pictures, instead of enjoying the moment.. and I love to look back at them, but, I want to "experience" life with her, too.. I don't want to be the annoying wife or mom that has to take 1,000 pictures, and I don't won't P to look back and remember me always with a camera in her face. lol

So, I plan to chill out some with the picture taking. I actually have started, and it has been WONDERFUL so far! :) I will still take them.. just not as many and not stress about getting a "perfect shot," because seriously, who CARES!! :)

8. Go somewhere I have never been before. 

9. Ok, I am pretty much over facebook. I do love staying in touch, don't get me wrong.. but, it is kindof getting old for me. People "checking in" everywhere they go?? what?? I don't CARE!!! And people just seem to brag about what they have or are doing..blah blah blah.. I have seriously, thought about getting rid of my account. But, I love being able to put pictures on for family.. I have thought also about making the pictures just where my family can see.. We will see. Enough with that soapbox.

10. Love and support my husband more and more. He is such an amazing husband and works so HARD for me to be home. He is the best DADDY in the world..gets excited to come home from work, read to Presley and rock her to sleep..so sweet!! I am very blessed. I also love that he could care less about impressing anyone. It is such a great quality.. a rare one when it comes to men. I remember in high school and college, it seemed like alot of guys talked about themselves all the time, how great they were at whatever, how much $ their parents had ( um, turn off!!), it always seemed people are trying their best to out due everyone..Not Matt. You get what ya see.. and Matt was so different when it came to material things, still is.. I LOVE HIM for it.  He doesn't even have a facebook..LOL, and I LOVE that about him, even more!! So, I plan to love him unconditionally, and learn to be a better person because of him.