Family Fun at Boomers!

The home that we moved to is right beside a golf course. My husband is an avid golfer but hasn't golfed much since Taylor was born. Taylor knows that Daddy plays golf and watches golf on TV. Since we moved and we drive by the golf course everyday, she's been asking when Daddy is going to take her golfing. So we decided today, to celebrate Valentine's Day, we would all go to Boomers! to play miniature golf. Not the same as "real" golf but definitely a good introduction to the game for a 3 1/2 yr old. It's also worth mentioning that my husband and I had our first kiss after a double date at Boomers! (actually, it was the same amusement park, but under a different name at the time). That was almost 15 yrs ago! Also interesting to note that I worked at Boomers! in a former lifetime when I was in grad school. I know, not the most glamorous job. It's actually a lot more fun playing at the park than working there ;)

So here's Daddy giving Taylor her first golf lesson. Some deep conversation about the proper way to hold the club. She listened so intently and followed Daddy's instructions.

Then, I showed Taylor the hole and explained that she needed to hit the ball and try to get it in the hole. She immediately said "Why?". Typical 3 yr old.

Overall she did well with the golf. And after golf Daddy took her for a ride in a go-kart.

Eagerly awaiting departure:

And returning to the pit after several fast laps around the track!

She LOVED it! She was giggling and smiling the whole time!

After that we went into the arcade to play some games...

We had a great day!

Happy Valentines Day to all of you! :)

Baby Doll Slumber Party

Have I ever told you how obsessed my daughter is with her dolls? She is always playing with her "babies". I took this pic several weeks ago, but it's a pretty common image in our home. We're often told to "be quiet" because "the babies are sleeping". Just thought I'd share :) .

We're making progress on the house and I will be sharing pics sometime soon!

Right Now...

I'm enjoying the quiet in our new home!!!

Sitting at our kitchen table, surrounded by boxes...

Thinking of all that lies ahead this week...

Finishing packing up and moving all the odds and ends from the old house

Cleaning the old house

A trip to Goodwill to donate a huge pile of stuff (Did you know you can donate all old electronics to the goodwill, working or not and they'll recycle them? Yep, lots of places charge a fee for recycling electronics, but the Goodwill takes them at no charge!)

Unpacking here and setting up my new crafting space (top priority!)

Sewing curtains...

Setting up our bedroom with our new Sleep Number bed! (new to us, hand me down from a friend! THANK YOU!!!)

Grocery Shopping -- we need food and I get to check out our new grocery store. I've shopped there once before and they've got great deals!

Doing Laundry and organizing the closet...

Oh, and I have to work everyday this week...I'm thinking this is really my list of what lies ahead this month...no way I'll get all this done this week!

But, right now...I'm sitting enjoying this moment of calm and quiet while everyone else is still asleep...

I hope you all have a good week! My posts will still be a little scattered as we get settled in because I'm still a little scattered! ;)

Packin' it up and takin' a break...

I hope you all enjoyed your holidays! We enjoyed a quiet but good Christmas.

As I mentioned in my last post we FINALLY know where we're moving to!!! And, we'll be moving in 11 days!!! Ahhhh! I'm excited, stressed, panicked, energized and tired all at the same time!

Since my husband and I got married 10 yrs ago, we've moved 5 times!!! And, we lived in our second home for almost 4 years. We've moved a lot in the last few years. While I hate the prospect of packing up our stuff and actually moving, I'm refreshed by the idea of purging things we no longer use and excited to plan out how we will use our new space.

Amidst all of this, I'm saddened to pack up all my craft supplies, fabric and sewing machine. With only 11 days to pack and purge (and 7 of those will be spent working), I don't think they'll be much time left for crafting :( .

So, I'll be taking a blogging break but I'll be back once we're in our new home! I already have lots of crafty ideas to spruce up our new space!

In the meantime, if any of you have any great ideas for cramming a whole lot o' craft supplies into a small craft room, please, do share! I think the main craft nook is going to be the guest room closet (and it's not a walk in, but it has bi-fold doors).

So, here's wishing you all a happy new year!

T'was the day before Christmas...

and all through the house, there was total chaos!

I had the best intentions. I really did. But, alas, it's the day before Christmas and I'm wondering where the month of December has gone???

Today, on my to-do list:

- baking

- cleaning

- making appetizers for tonight's "dinner"

- wrapping presents (um, that's right...I haven't wrapped a single Christmas present!!!)

- finishing making my father-in-laws Christmas present. Honestly, I think he may be getting it after Christmas :(

In the midst of all of this...today we are going to take a second look at the house that we'll be moving into in the next few weeks! We found out yesterday that the owner accepted us as tenants and we're super excited!

So, Merry Christmas to all of you! What's on your to do list? Are you ready or still running around taking care of things?

Super Simple Last Minute Gift Idea!

Sorry my posts have been scarce lately...this is my first handmade Christmas and I must admit, I've been a very poor planner :(

I will be starting next year's Christmas gifts in January...whenever I see a cute idea on a blog and think "Wow, that would be a great gift for so and so..." I will stop what I'm doing and make the gift right then and there! When the gift is finished, it will be stored in a big plastic bin along with all of my other handmade gifts, and then, come December, I will be able to enjoy the holidays, sit on the couch with my girl, snuggle with my hubby, enjoy freshly baked cookies and hot cocoa and relax...

Yes, that's what I will do...but right now, I'm recovering from an achy neck and shoulder, trying to pack to move to an undetermined house, and trying to enjoy the sense of accomplishment of finishing one batch of Christmas gifts for my family in Canada while also trying to find the energy to get to work on the gifts for friends and family here in California...

So, as I sat here browsing the blogs of other crafty women, I came across this super cool, super simple calendar idea and it will be one of my first projects in January! So, if you're a poor planner like me and you're still trying to find simple gifts to make...check this out!

Favorite Holiday Pics

These are some of my favorite photos from Christmas of 2007.

Just wanted to share them with you!

This is Baby Stella, who has become Taylor's beloved "Sally" she has truly adopted this baby and talks about her all the time! She cuddles her, feeds her, dresses her, changes her diaper, and puts her to sleep. She's such a good little mommy!

I hope you're enjoying your this holiday season!

Our valley was hit with a lot of rain on Monday and I woke up on Tuesday morning to snow covered mountains. I'm itching to drive up the mountains this weekend and build a snowman! Taylor just keeps saying "I don't know how to build a snowman". Poor California girl!

I was born and raised in a snow belt in Canada and have made many a snowman in my life.

Have no fear little one, Mommy will show you how it's done!