Friday updates, projects, camera downloads....

A whole lotta randomness to get your weekend started. I'm warning you, this is long. Reheat your coffee, use the restroom, prepare yourselves:

Sleepy time - when Ryan skips her afternoon nap, rest assured she will rest those pretty eyes in some unusual manners:
Reesey, whom side note, is apparently an open mouth kisser these days. If you ask for a smooch, she opens as wide as can be and comes at you with a look of hunger in her eyes. Watch out boys!
Ryan's "sparkly" shoes, as opposed to her "crocs" and "tennis shoes".
Chasing a cat in the backyard with her cousins...."Where's Eddie, he usually eats these things*"
*I hope you get that reference, if not, I can't guarantee we can be friends
Sunglasses are always a hit:
Too cool for school...
Someone looks guilty:
Why? You might be asking yourself....well, take a closer look at the note she was holding. I suppose the ten commandments don't cover sinking your teeth into the flesh of another one of God's children:
And while we're on the subject of religion....I'm sure the good Lord condones children harnessing their 'hi-ya' skills
Switching gears...you still with me? I warned you this was long and random, just like any Russell Crowe movie. Speaking of 'long' - two tall babes: Reese and Jack
One of these days I'll have to do a "Top 10 Favorites" post and surely, Hanneke's Market, will make the cut. This little gem is down the street from us - they make the best sandwiches and as a throwback to the old days, you can even setup a 'house account'. As a treat, some days I get Ryan out of school early and we head up there for lunch:
My little decorating queen checking out West Elm's latest outdoor line, such decisions she has to make:
Moving on to the subject of 'projects' - we have quite a few going on at casa de Stiff. The first of which is mom's foray into sewing. Ella so graciously offered her trusty sewing machine for me to practice until I get into the swing of things and decide if a hearty investment into a new machine is worth it. Having not touched a needle or thread since, oh say 7th grade Home Ec, I was slightly proud of myself for turning out an ill-fitting dress (with some assistance from my mother) within the first few hours. The dress is bad, I know...but at least it somewhat fits (minus the straps) and the fabric was clearance (no judgements there please). Sewing classes are on for the month of May so I will report back on my Project Runway auditions come June. While my model appears less than thrilled with her new frock, at least she is rocking the pockets.
Another project requiring a little muscle work - redoing our basement stairs/walkway...Will post on that later, but Ryan wanted in on the action and there are no labor laws in our house, so we put the chick to work. She has a new calling in life....spackler.
We're almost there....bathroom break in five.
Reese's single greatest joy in life and mom's single greatest headache: stair climbing:
No matter how stern the warning or serious the 'no', 'stop' or face I make, the girl takes off for the stairs, stops to make sure you are watching and laughs the most sinister of belly laughs imaginable before taking off for you to catch her:
Her other great joy in life....naked time
People - we. are. done.  That was probably three minutes of your life you won't get back and for that, I appreciate your time. 

Thank you. Enjoy the weekend!

Sisters....

I simply adore this photo, especially Reese's expression towards her sister.  Loves them.

Hippity hop.....

Easter, version 2011, was a success. Reese still didn't get it but loved running around amongst the chaos. Ryan was caught sneaking eggs prior to the start of the big hunt. Some things never change.
I don't get what all the fuss is about?
If you can read expressions, this one would simply be...."mine"
Warming up to the idea now that we finally nabbed an egg...
An Easter boo-boo, wrestling with Reesey turned bad. Guess who won? Wasn't Ryan and wasn't Ryan's nose.
Fun with her new hula hoop, just don't ask mom to demonstrate, beyond embarrassing:
You can eat this stuff? Awesome...
Screw the photo-op, get me back to my jelly beans:
It is Easter, I shall strangle you....
Adorable Easter attire, courtesy of Ella - thank you!

Easter Rolls

A quick little preview of the obligatory Easter pics to follow later today... Nothing goes better with your morning coffee than some yummy rolls. Enjoy.
Sorry for the silence the last few days....hi Avery!

Not shy....

Holla if you're ready for a three-day weekend!

'Fire' drills and going commando...

So last night we had some crazy weather, tornado warnings, hail, thunder, lightening, you name it.... Of course the weather only seems to be this bad when dad is out of town. Awesome. Thankfully this time it wasn't in the middle of the night but instead at the more respectable 8pm-ish hour. Reese, of course, was asleep. 6:30pm on the dot. So imagine her surprise when the tornado sirens went off and I flew like a crazy person up stairs to grab her and her blankie and then got the three of us all situated down in the basement. I was explaining to Ryan (who just thought she had gotten her wish to play downstairs) that this was actually a safety precaution because the tornado sirens went off. She looks at me and says "fire drill mom, fire drill". Fine. Call it what you will but we're hanging down here for a bit.

Thankfully our shelter is kid-approved with a sea of toys and a nice big TV for mom to watch the impending doom:
Reese got a second wind and was psyched to play with her sister but every two minutes or so, she'd walk over to me and lay her head down on the couch and suck her thumb. She'd chill for about 5 seconds and then muster up some more energy and continue playing with Ryan. She must have had 10 pit stops for rest in a 30 minute period.
Earlier in the evening (and I apologize as a select few have already been made aware of this story), I was cruising the internet, Ryan was playing quietly, and I look over and see this:
When I ask her to please put her pants back on she says, in the most deceivingly angelic voice you've ever heard, "no thanks, I'm too busy decorating". I then ask her why she took her pants off in the first place. She looks at me like I am a complete and utter moron and says in a very matter-of-fact tone....."So I can dance mom".

Of course.

Melt my heart, take two....

Melt my heart Monday

Sunday Spencers Series

Even though dad's birthday isn't until July, Ryan presented this 'gift' to him proclaiming "happy birthday dad!"
Please note the Dora glasses have been retired....or lost in a sea of toys on our family room floor. Mom's back-up pair of cute pink shades came in handy.

Backseat Driver

As Ryan approaches her third birthday this summer, I'm learning that the more you teach them, the more they can use that knowledge against you. We often work on red light, green light, stop sign, etc..while driving around town in the fashionable Mazda. No biggie, right. Until the other day when we're humming along, Ryan and Reese quietly chilling in the backseat, and out of nowhere comes this terrifying "mama, stop!!!!!". Naturally, I'm a bit startled thinking one of the two misfits has hurt the other, escaped, let a stranger in the back with them, you name it. No, instead it is a frantic Ryan scolding me for turning while the light was still red. "No mom, you can't go. STOP. You have to wait until the light is greeeeennnnn."
So this weekend we'll spend some time reviewing the later chapters of the driver's manual and concentrate on the concept of "right on red".
Side note, we were actually heading home from our beloved Target. Ryan is going through a phase where she is apparently a vampire and can't be near the sun without freaking out. So we went in search of glasses. I let her pick out her very own new pair and wouldn't you know she picked the most hideous, terrible version available.....Dora. Really? You don't want the cute pink with white polka dots or even just the plain pink? I taught her a lesson though*, she got her pair and mom bought the cute plain pink pair to swap out at a later date. That's right, take that picky toddler.
*clearly, this is sarcasm

Sucker....

Who, you may ask? Me. I am the biggest sucker for anything Gwyneth. She apparently is a love/hate kind of figure and I for one, adore her. Therefore with a few clicks of the good ole computer mouse, this beauty is in the mail and will be in my waiting hands in time for the weekend to start.
Should you be as obsessed as I, you can find it here.

1st annual "risk-divorce-and-continue-to-ask-your-husband-for-a-third-child day"

Well, happy "risk-divorce-and-continue-to-ask-your-husband-for-a-third-child day" everyone! I think we'll leave this post well enough alone, with the exception of a few precious photos of some adorable tots on a recent frozen yogurt excursion. I think only a crazy man could say he wouldn't want to add to this glorious mix of DNA:
And contrary to popular belief, new studies show that you actually save money in the long run with three children vs. two. Numerous tax implications amongst a slew of other valid points I prefer not to get into here, but you know, they exist. I pinky swear.

Daddy love....

This Wednesday is annual 'shout-out to dad' day for this blogger. Especially the day after he gave an ailing mom a break by taking the little stinkers out to dinner last night so I could crawl into bed at about 6:30pm.
Be forewarned, tomorrow is apparently "risk divorce and continue to ask your husband for a third child" day. Who makes these days up? Crazy. But as a dedicated blogger, I must follow the rules.