A Girls Day Out

The girls have been biting their nails for a long time (a habit that I hate and don't want my girls to perpetuate.) I decided to bribe them to see if I could get them to stop the biting . If they let their nails grow for two weeks without biting them,then I would take them out to pizza and the salon to get their nails done. They tried very had for a 3 and a 5 year old so last weekend we had a special girls day out. They are still biting, but it has slowed down a bit. I can now remind them that if they want their nails to be pretty then they can't chew on them. Mom enjoyed pizza and getting her nails done as well :) It was nice just to spend time with my special girls.

Yummy cheese pizza

Super d-lish apple juice


Raija super excited to get her nails painted pink with sparkles


inspecting the work

The final product- so pretty

KJ's turn




Sparkle green for Christmas

The Comparison

The Joy of Cake

Anton celebrated his First Birthday this weekend :) One of my favorite things about First Birthday's is the cake eating smorgasbord. Anton did not disappoint, he wasted no time at all to dig into HIS cake. Happy Birthday big boy!







I love the look on his face. Wow! this is good


Keep shoveling it in baby








Yup, still eating


Well, he ate the whole cake. When we took his tray away to clean him up he was not too happy


This is the cake that I made for the rest of the party goers

His presents are supposed to look like road sign to go with his truck theme

So happy to be raking in the loot

Letters to Santa

KJ working hard to write her wish list

RJ's letter

KJ's letter (Dear Santa, I would like a bike, princess barbies, a castle. I have been a good girl all year. Love, Kajaani
We will have to see which list she ends up on, I'm betting on the naughty list, but Santa may be more forgiving than myself.



Mine too mom

So Last Week

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend. I decided to run the 11th annual Turkey Trot in Sparks, 10k (6 miles). So crazy, but I felt so good afterwards. Then on Friday we made our annual trek to Dog Valley and cut down a nice Christmas Tree (always fun ,and cold too.) Sadly, on Tuesday, there was a tragedy to report, my long time companion and workout buddy took his last turn :( My elliptical bike literally fell apart.

Pre-Race photo opps. with the girls. They were so excited to watch mom run the race.

Action shot of the famous silver tights :) A big thumbs up to my family for watching me out in the cold. There were over 900 people in the 10k. I met my two goals for the race.. 1) don't walk 2) Finish in under an hour!

RJ was just so adorable sitting in the back of the truck, I had to be the mom and take a few pictures.

There she is, isn't she a bute?

Man wielding chainsaw, he really knows how to make a woman proud.







When one just isn't good enough

Sad, sad, sad day! I guess I will have to start running outside, in the cold, in the dark.

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Vacuum?

Apparently not Anton... He will follow me from room to room climbing on it, patting it, laughing at it, talking to it. It always makes me laugh because the girls were horrified when I would take it out.



I have just taken the vacuum out of the closet and who do I see patiently waiting? Sweet little Anton. Is it vacuuming time Mom?


Here, let me help you with the accessories



Look who it is rounding the corner into the computer room. (Yes, I'm vacuuming and taking pictures at the same time. Talent, I know)


Mom, just let me help you a little.

Surprise, Surprise who do I find in the girls room attacking the vacuum?

There the cute little guy is patting the vacuum in mom and dad's room

Wait, wait don't leave me

I can totally help vacuum the hallway, right?

Hey mom, it's just me, I'm still here. Did I mention how much I love the vacuum, we are buddies :)

Thanks for all your help Little buddy. I love you!

Point, Click, Caught yah

KJ decided that she wanted to be an amateur photographer. I knew something naughty was going on when I heard two girls giggling in the other room. I snuck up on them and discovered that they were on an exclusive photo shoot. Her work is impressive(as you will see). I do find it funny when I asked who did it and they both blamed each other. KJ didn't realize however, that her first picture would unravel her lie.



I don't think RJ took this picture of herself, thus I find that KJ was the soul camera culprit. She will learn someday that you can't outsmart mom.


This is KJ's blue period


Interesting....


Ode to Apple Jack's and Cheerios


Magnificent lighting

and to conclude our Fine Art tour we call this piece- Pony Power