Barely Controlled Chaos

Well, technically the girls and I are not leaving until Sunday morning, but the ‘ol Mac is taking a bit of a trip, too. It is going to go spend four lovely days and nights at the luxurious Genius Bar and get a little cosmetic surgery. A bit of the “edge” around my laptop has chipped off and apparently they need a few days, but can put a new top on for me.

And I figured since I had already planned on leaving my laptop behind when we went on the cruise, now was a good time for it to be in the shop, and J. has so kindly agreed to pick it up and return it to safety for me.

Speaking of J, we have had him home the past two days and it has been busy but very fun.

He took a ton of photos and videos of the girls’ last two days of swim class. The video of Em jumping off the diving board and swimming to the side like she has been doing this sort of thing all her life just amazes me every time I watch it. I was there, but I still can’t believe it! I will definitely not get those videos edited and up tonight, so they will have to wait until we get back.

But here are some of my favorite photos from the past few days…

Do you think she loves the pool?

Her first jump off the board.

And Addie took a turn as well, although she was clearly not as excited as Em.

We also hung out and played in the fountain at the Paseo for awhile. The girls were a little unsure about the spouting water for a few minutes seconds…

But it didn’t take too long before the call of the water got to them.

All this fun, I probably should have been packing and preparing - but I guess that is what tomorrow is for, right?

Anyhow, I have a few posts set up so you won’t miss us too much, but don’t expect too much until next weekend. We shall return with many photos (I got a 16G compact flash today, so I can take even more!) and stories for you. Have a great week!

One more birthday and then we get a break for a few weeks.

My sister is celebrating her big 3-0 today and that is also the reason we get to go cruise around the Caribbean for the next week, to help her celebrate.

I think as far as younger sisters go, I may have lucked out with one of the best ones ever. (Well, Emma may argue that she got the best one ever - at least I hope she will say that when they are older!)

It kills me to be so far from her and some days I just wish we could live down the street from one another so I could see her every day. Of course, I think we would never get anything productive done if we could play together all day, and it only makes our time together much more special, so maybe it is all for the best?

But I just want her to know that she is very special to me as a sister, and most special to the girls as an Aunt. We hope that this will be your best year ever - and we are going to make sure it is your best birthday ever!

We love you! Happy Birthday, Meesh.

We just walked down to the little parade in our town and are on our way to swim lessons
(J. took pics yesterday! Coming soon!) and then on to some 4th of July fun.

Hope you are all having a relaxing and safe day full of family and fun!

Apparently Addie did not want to be “outdone” by her sister this week. After almost a week of dry pull-ups at night, she decided that she was wearing “big girl” panties to bed last night. I’m happy to say it was much more successful than our last attempt!

Hooray! She is a “big girl now.”

I was in the laundry room yesterday and could hear the girls in the other room. I would hear a small *thump*, a much larger *thump*, a little bit of silence, and then peals of laughter. So I snuck around the corner and watched them for a few minutes. This is what I saw…

The small thump = poison apple falling to the floor.

The large thump = the princess falling into a deep sleep.

The silence = the sweet kiss to awaken the princess.

And then of course the peals of laughter = two little girls who found the whole thing hilarious! I guess that makes me the “wicked witch” since I’m the one who offered up the apples for a snack.

Me thinks perhaps we watch a bit too much Snow White and Enchanted around here. What do you think?

Channeling Sharpay from HSM, Emma thinks she is “Fabulous!”

And she is, of course. But she has given me a few of those tight-chest, prickly tears in my eyes, panicky moments this week.

She swam across the pool on her own on Monday - head in the water, full on strokes - it was like something clicked this week and she has become a fish.

Last night she read me two full books. Every. Word. In. Both. Books. I was trying to be all cool and tell her how awesome she was doing, while inside I was freaking out. My baby! Reading. Just yesterday she was chewing on board books, now she is clamoring for new books that she can read to me?

And today, she told me I didn’t need to go into the restroom with her, “I got it, Mom. I don’t need your help.” Hey…it wasn’t so long ago I was changing your diapers, little one!

I know she is growing up, and I need to step back, let her go and just revel in all of her achievements. But, gah! I’m so not ready for all of this. There is no gradual “stepping out on her own” going on here. She is full-on running. I’m just trying to keep up, and keep my chin up at the same time.

Hi there, my fellow crafters. I went on a spree this weekend. I cleaned out a disaster of a closet, organized 4 cupboards in my laundry room and scrubbed the kitchen floor with a toothbrush/scrub brush on Saturday afternoon. So Saturday evening I felt an entire night of scrapping was totally justified.

So I scrapped these pages with two of my favorite photos as of late. I also finished an anniversary card, put together another anniversary card, a baby card, and three birthday cards. But since those are being dispensed this week, I’ll post them next week!

So, the two layouts I did finish:

and…

It felt really good to spend a few hours in at my craft desk. I had some tea and Matt Nathanson playing on my iTunes. Productive and creative. It has been a long time since I’ve felt that way.

Anything you’d like to share this week? Next week I will be in the middle of the ocean somewhere, but I’ll post the cards, and I will get caught up when we return, so go get your creative juices flowing this week!

Pixar did it again. We all fell in love with Wall·E this past weekend. It is another amazing movie in a long list of favorites. I think that this may be my all-time favorite, though. It has a great eco-message and I think the graphics are even more stellar - is it possible that they get better with each movie? And I’m not sure how, but they also manage to make a robot - basically a pile of metal and circuits - so human-like and seemingly full of emotion, it is impossible to not fall in love with him.

I {heart} Wall·E.

And of course I {heart} this cutie and her new friend.

Em and Ad talked J. into going to the toy store while we were walking out of the movie. They didn’t have to talk too hard, J. was just as excited to get new toys.

Go see Wall·E and also pop over to Melody’s today to find out what everybody else is in love with this fine Monday morning.

Okay here is the recipe for the yummy Hummingbird cake we made this week…

Sift together:
3 c. flour (I used whole wheat flour this time and it turned out great!)
2 c. sugar
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon

Add:
1 c. chopped pecans
Set aside.

In another bowl, combine:
3 eggs, beaten
1 c. applesauce (I used unsweetened)
1 c. canola oil
1/2 t. vanilla
1 c. crushed pineapple, drained
2 c. chopped bananas (about 2 - 2 1/2 bananas)

Stir together by hand. Fold liquid mixture into dry mixture until well-mixed. Divide into 3-9″ round, greased pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until center is set.

Icing:

8 oz. cream cheese (I used the light cream cheese - no notable difference!)
1/2 c. butter
1 1/2 pounds of powdered sugar
1 t. vanilla

Beat together cream cheese and butter, add sugar until well combined. Finally add vanilla.

(I actually made 1 1/2 batches of the icing and with a layer of icing between each of the cakes, it came out almost perfectly…or you could frost the cake a little more thinly…but seriously - why would you want to do that? The icing is perfect on this cake!)

And of course, the cake looks great decorated with fresh flowers. Enjoy!

My niece Miss Madey-Mac-Munchy-Mo, or MADELYNN! (You do have to say it with added emphasis if you say her full name like Emma does.) turns five today! I still remember the very first moment we got to meet you, an hour or so after you were born. It really seems like it was just yesterday, can you all just freeze and stop growing up for a minute or two?

We are sad to miss your party today, but are looking forward to spending lots of time with you next week - and that is the understatement of the year. Emma is beyond excitement. AndwegettoswiminthepoolandLexerandMadeyaregoingtosleepinourroomandwegettoeatbreak
fastlunhanddinnertogetherandwearegoingtohavesomuchfun! (Yes, you also have to say it all in one breath like that, too!)

Hope you have a great day, Madey. You are going to make a terrific five-year old! Happy Birthday, we’ll see you soon and we LOVE you!

~Uncle Mamie, Aunt Bean, Emma Grace and Addie