Raising Hands

Not really, but I do feel like I need a vacation:-) I have successfully reclaimed my kitchen and am working on finding homes for all of the children's new toys. I think we're going to enact a one in one out policy for some toy control. We should have been doing that all along but it's never too late to do the right thing. Here are a couple more pictures from Christmas Eve. I need to find a reason to put Bella in that dress again! I hope you all had (are having) a wonderful and merry Christmas.

Curiosity got the better of me whence from the kitchen I heard shouts of, "Faster Bella! Faster!". Me: "Shouldn't Bella be riding her new toy and you push her?" Jacob: "No, she needs to practice walking" Honesty, by Jacob

Learning a new skill is hard. In my mind I was going to be a pro. Kellee, my hat off to you. It's always been clear how talented you are but seriously, Wow!!! The embellishments cover most of my oopsies I know I said I was going to begin icing on Wednesday but I got excited. I'm glad I took advantage while all three kids napped today. I've made tons of notes to myself how to keep the kitchen cleaner next time:-) Now to keep my husband out of them until our family Christmas party later this week.

Last Christmas I was eleven million weeks pregnant (Don't even try to argue!) and got in over my head with the cookie making. I got as far as the baking and ran out of steam. We slapped some buttercream on those suckers and the rest is history. But not this year. I'm pacing myself. Today, the baking. Wednesday, we'll ice. Am I nervous? Yes, but I'm powering through! Do they look like trees and snowflakes?

We were shopping for the kids today. I promise. I just couldn't leave this little thing behind.

We've been home for nearly two weeks from our big trip to see my parents. I'm still trying to get back in the groove. It's been a slow process. We had a nice visit with my family I took zero pictures of our trip. I'm not that bummed because we had our pictures professionally taken and they turned out way better than I could have hoped for. P.S. It was 32 degrees that day. I cannot express how proud of the kids I am. they were troopers. Big time! The whole Hand/Kolaskey Clan This is my favorite Bella face. Yes, she's judging you. I love this one

Yes, I'm aware that it is December. Here are a few more pictures from William's birthday. We had Pizza at our favorite spot at the beach followed by the infamous blue iced cupcakes.  Bella just realized she didn't get a cupcake. When these boys are teenagers I'm going to be in trouble!

William turned three last Friday. There was pizza and cupcakes. Presents to open and family to share it with. I have pictures of the birthday boy waiting to be downloaded but I wanted to share the special cupcakes I made as requested by William. They had to be chocolate and he wanted blue icing. It was fun to involve him in the planning this year. We had a count down on our family calendar and it was neat to watch his excitement grow! Back to the cupcakes. They were a Martha Stewart recipe. They were good. Kind of dense almost brownie like.The buttercream recipe was a Pinterest find. Everyone devoured them! Hope to share the rest of our fun day soon:-)

It's official. My kid wears nicer shoes than me. Yesterday, William had a special day with his grandparents. A sort of early birthday. Have you ever asked a three year old what they want? He's been clear about one thing. He has requested chocolate cupcakes with BLUE icing and Pizza for dinner (The important things). Stay tuned for pictures of that! AnyHoo:-) MomMom and PopPop took William out to lunch then off for a bit of shopping. They came home with new shoes (Which he needed). Mom handed me the box containing the old shoes. I looked down, "You bought a three year old Kenneth Cole sneakers?!" Mom replied, "Who is Kenneth Cole?" Needless to say William is a very lucky boy with very stylish feet. Mommy will try not to be too jealous. D

Oh yeah! I got my hair cut a few weeks ago. I'm growing it out but I needed it to do something other than just hang there. Please ignore the fact that I'm having some teenage skin issues and I would shrink my big honking nose if I could.

Like, eat the Redi Whip right out of the can kind of day.

I have a ritual. On Friday or Saturday afternoons I chase down my kids, hold them down, and trim their little little finger and toe nails. While I'm at it I tend to my own with a file and sometimes a bit of polish. It dawned on me yesterday while in the midst of my task that that's EIGHTY little fingers and toes by the time it's all said and done! These are the things one ponders when alone and out numbered 3 to 1.

I had every intention of posting pictures when Bella passed six months but it didn't happen. Since then another month has come and gone so I've mashed them here together. The first three were taken 7-24-12 the last three I took 8-24-12. Do I get points for actually taking pictures?? Is it seriously September already? A whole new meaning to "Crabby Pants" The difference in one short month is the addition of two very sharp teeth! She loves William. Really. She does:-) My three cuties. I really need to work on taking pictures of the three of them. Poor William. Poor middle child;-)

She's growing too fast.

I love a good cinnamon roll but unless I'm sitting in Ann Sathers and ordering them fresh I don't get them very often. I love to bake but kneading, resting, rolling and waiting for cinnamon roll dough is not something I like to do. My Mom taught me this little fake out which is a real crowd pleaser. She waited tables for years and the restaurant served these made with the day old cinnamon rolls. The dish was more popular than the fresh rolls they served every day:-D Here's what to do: 1) Buy cinnamon rolls at the grocery bakery. Day old ones are even better. 2) Slice through the middle so you have a top and a bottom. 3) Lightly (or heavily;-) butter the inside surfaces of the rolls and place them butter side down in a skillet on med-low. 4) Grill slowly until golden brown and icing is gooey. 5) Serve with the buttered sides back together. * If you have a crowd to feed this goes really quick on a table top griddle. If you're making them in a skillet watch the hea

Everybody has one of these hanging in their kitchen. If you don't? Tell me. I'll hook you up;-) There's just something about a crocheted towel hanging in a kitchen that signals that the lady of the house knows what she's doing:-) It's late and I don't have any buttons to finish it off but you all get the idea.

I found a picture of th is on Pinterest. I had to hunt around for a tutorial on how to make rosettes. Once I found one though I became a rosette making machine. What a clever way to use scraps of left over fabric:-). I bought some fabric paint and washed up a couple little T-shirts and away I went. The best part about this project is that it wasn't too messy and could be completed during nap time (just find a safe place to let them dry). Now our little princess needn't ever wear a plain t-shirt! I need to hit the outlet sales and make one for Bella to wear now! This one is 18 months. More pictures to come:-)

I blow hot and cold when it comes to the projects I do. I really get a lot of enjoyment from doing crafts but I don't like all the stuff everywhere and the mess it involves. Someday we will buy a house and it WILL have a craft room! In the meantime Father's Day is Sunday and here is another Pinterest inspired project:-) I would link to the source but the author gives no instructions. Just trace on scrapbook paper and mount in a frame. I used a 10x13 photo frame. Since scrapbook paper is 12x12 I cut a section of poster board to size to mount the hands on. I traced everybody's hands on plain paper then transferred the tracings to the scrapbook paper. I used a gluestick though I probably should have used scrapbook tape. I saved the little templates in case I have to redo it. Hope everyone has a great weekend:-)

We recently had the opportunity to visit a local fire station with the MOPS group I joined a couple months ago. I'll post another time about MOPS. It's okay so far. This post is about the boys and all the fun they had that day. The excitment builds There is nothing cuter than a group of little people Bring out the Fire Engines! We had lots of questions.  We got hats:-)  William was eager to sit where the firemen ride. Jacob was eager to drive. Bella was not impressed by any of it;-)