Strong Girl!

Emma has been my little puppet lately! She repeats most things I ask her to say, and usually gets any toy I ask her to go play with. She is absolutely adorable, and has so much fun playing with us. You should see how her eyes sparkle when she is playing with her Daddy before bedtime....it is my favorite time of the day. She giggles uncontrollably as he tickles her and throws her all over the place. Felix has also discovered that she will do whatever he asks.... so have no fear if the remote control is on the other side of the couch....Emma is to the rescue!


And she is one strong little girl! In these next 2 pictures I said "Emma, show me your muscles", and she flexes for us! When I try to get her to do the traditional bicep pose she gets confused and throws both arms up in the air for "how big is emma? sooooo big"




No sense in pushing the wheeled toy when she can just carry it!


I said "smile for the camera" and she stood here like this until the flash went off....then blinked a few times to adjust her eyes from the light. To me- she is the most adorable little thing ever.

She is a big fan of Barney (binney) and Elmo lately. She eats off her Elmo placemat, so when she wants food she does all of these things together (1) signs eat (2) says eat (3)points to the table saying Elmo, Elmo, Elmo....
When she wants to watch TV she throws the remote in our lap saying "binney, binney, binney" until we turn it on. I used to tell her Barney was sleeping, but I think she knows he is On Demand.

If These Walls Coud Talk!

Day 1 of renovations: kitchen gutted, dining room ceiling taken down, laundry room ceiling taken down and part of wall exposed.

Our "new" kitchen we are using during the renovation. Notice our pantry in the back corner behind the baby gate.

The dining room ceiling(s) were taken down, and the room looks so much bigger. There were 2 layers of ceiling up there and a whole mess of construction crap between the two of them. It was disgusting.

Front view into our old kitchen. Without those old pantry walls on either side, it looks so much bigger! There was..... get ready..... 4. yes, FOUR layers of flooring in that room! Unbelievable. They have already framed the new wall to go up.

Laundry room (new kitchen) ceiling. Looks like it won't be as high as I was hoping, but they tell me we can get an extra foot, so I am happy with that!

They exposed part of the wall today to see what was behind the wallboard.... and it is the exterior wall. This room is an addition to the house. All this stuff is so interesting to see!!

Look what was found inside the walls!!!! Don't know what it is, but it is a tool of some sort. They also found the leg and shoe from a doll. So, here is my theory:

I think a long long time ago, they were building a wall in the house and it was halfway built. The little girl who was living here dropped her babydoll in the wall and got it stuck, then her daddy tried to get it out with this tool and it too got stuck. But they were able to pull the doll out severing it's leg in the process. Just a thought. I should be on HGTV.

Here We Go Again......

In just 4 short days, we will begin Phase 2 (of 2 million) of our home renovations....the kitchen!

The Plan: Turn the current laundry room into the kitchen. Turn the current kitchen into a half bath and laundry room.

So here are pictures of our current layout for my own personal documentation.

Entrance to kitchen:

-Right side of galley kitchen. Cabinets are so low, we cannot even keep any appliances on the countertops. Had to buy an extra small coffee maker to fit!

-Left side of galley kitchen: Fridge, microwave cart, oven.


Current Storage Solutions:
toaster, microwave, pots & pans storage, and cutting boards!

storage for cooking utensils sitting on window sill & a suction cup hook for pot holders & measuring cups!

one of a kind cabinets........

my 3 drawers in the kitchen. they always get stuck.

pantry doors on either side of kitchen that can only hold a can of soup. I would never put food items in there anyways, these freak me out.

So, the plan is to close up the current entrance to the kitchen and put a door around the corner as an entrance to the half bath and laundry room.

And here..... is where we plan to put the kitchen. The wall off our living room.

The wall is going to come down so we are able to create a "great room" with lots of light!

Here is where we plan to put the new kitchen; the inside of our current laundry room (already renovated once by yours truly).


As a bonus, we are going to try and raise the ceiling in our dining room......

and build a coat closet!

Yeay for renovations!!!!!
I am kind of nervous! During construction (which may last 4 weeks), the house will not be very baby proofed, so I have a feeling our days will be a bit busier than usual. I will also be out of a kitchen! We will have a temporary sink, but no storage, countertops, etc. I have started researching crockpot recipes!

We are also doing this project in phases, so we are going to get a bit creative with new kitchen cabinets and storage solutions until we decide on the final product!

Here is my inspiration picture for the kitchen. I love white cabinets and black countertops with the cottage look. These have the fancy legs which I don't think we will be getting, but still a general idea of the style we are thinking of.

Can't wait to post progress pictures!!!!

Getting Ready for the Holidays

For some reason, I feel like this photo of Emma with my keys in her hand is giving me a sneak peek into the future:

"Seriously mom, I don't have time for a lecture right now, I'm late meeting my friends!"


Whenever we come inside, Emma likes to take my keys and stick them into random holes in things. She was trying to stick it into an old unusused phone jack on the wall (scratching the wall during her attempt), so I tried to direct her attention to her kitchen refrigerator door instead....

-yes, all outlets are covered.

When Felix got home, she followed him around and pointed him to go to her playroom. It was the cutest thing ever! Once he walked in there with her, she said "book" with her hands up.... as if she was asking if he would like to read a book.



Emma & I made Challah together in celebration of Rosh Hashanah. It was a first for both of us! If you ask her what she made today she will softly say... 'alla'.


She had her little dough ball, and the pastry brush that was dipped in egg. I told her to brush the ball. Apparently, 'brush' is a key word for her......


What? I'm not supposed to put raw eggs in my hair??

Our trial masterpieces! We made 2 batches since my first batch messed up a bit because I attempted to use fast yeast or something... anyways, we now have one big round challah, one braided, and a cinnamon raisin loaf. I took the recipes from Emma's Jewish Cookbook that she got from PJ Library.- the pressure is on for the big taste test!!!!!

Here are our 5 mini round loaves we did as a trial. They will taste much better with a little butter!


DEEEEEEEELICIOUS!

So Big So Soon!

Wearing my headband as a sweatband on our way to the gym. She is starting to 'like' the childcare at the gym and has made good friends with the sitter Gladys. She even blows kisses when we leave. It is so relieving to be able to go and not have to worry about her too much!! She is looking a bit hesitant in the picture here, I think she wasn't quite awake yet.


Our big girl has joined us at the dinner table. I needed to get her a booster seat for our travels when we stay with friends & family, and after testing it out at home we have decided to use it here as well. It has a removable tray and it is much nicer to have her right at the table with us while eating. (Plus, it is much easier to bring the booster seat rather than the highchair into our bedroom for her to safely sit in and have breakfast while I am rushing to get ready in the morning)

Although we have decided to keep her in the booster seat, neither Felix nor I wanted take down the high chair and bring it in the basement.... we just aren't ready for baby Emma to grow up!!!!

Learning at the dinner table! We were playing with her placemats during dinner tonight and I told her to put her green bean on Elmo, and she did. Then I said to do it to Big Bird...and she did..... I was so surprised by how much she knew just from this placemat, I had to take a pix!!!!!

Green beans correctly placed on Big Bird, Elmo, and Oscar the Grouch! There is one on Grover but I didnt tell her to put it there...I think it was just leftover. Who is the turquoise guy all the way on the left? And is that Abby Cadabby next to Ernie (or Burt?). I think I need a crash course in Sesame Street!

Good Ol' Start of the Season!

It's that time of year again! Water Polo season has begun and Emma & I went out to Cambridge to watch them play this weekend.

They won this game in triple overtime. Very intense for the first game of the season! Emma did pretty well, this pool is nice because it has the glass wall at the bottom of the bleachers so she could see the pool and the ball (her favorite), and she loved going up and down, and up and down, and up and down....the steps. A lot.

Trying to whistle like her Saba. Just kidding- she is probably trying to eat a cheerio or something she picked up off the floor.

Chasing the ducks at the park near home. Felix came with us to this park for the first time and it was so nice for Emma- she likes playing outside with her big strong Daddy! He showed her how to go across the monkey bars and she thought it was pretty funny.

run Emma, run!

Favorite toy of the week. We brought in the extra car seat we were using during Audrey's visit and Emma just can't keep herself out of it. Not the safest toy for her to play in when I am not looking...but she is getting better at maneuvering herself in it! It will go down in the basement as soon as Felix has time (as I DO NOT go in that basement alone.......or even with someone else!!!!).

A Shopping Trip That Would Make My Aunt Carole Proud!!!

I have started couponing!!! I mean.... SERIOUS couponing.

I had been thinking about doing it since June when my good friend Gina mentioned it, but it looked like too much work. Then I was at the store one day and the cashier asked me if I had any coupons upon checking out. I did not, and all I could think of was....'wow, how much am I overpaying right now..and the cashier knows it!'?? Sure enough, a fellow blogger friend of mine posted some links that she likes to use for couponing, and BAM! I was hooked!

My motivation was seeing how much I could really save- and being able to put that money towards classes Emma & I could do together this winter (Gymboree, etc.).

The concepts are easy, and I am just learning (I pretty much only used the 20% off Bed Bath & Beyond coupons in my life). I am learning what the 'highest' price I will pay for something is... like meat, etc. and then also stockpiling on basic supplies when the prices are 'rock bottom' and I use my coupons.

SO- after a few weeks, here is my best trip yet and I am so proud!
I went to Target to take advantage of some great deals they were having:

Let me tell you what you see in this picture:

4 Boxes of cereal

1 Box of granola bars

3 Bottles of dish soap

3 Bottles of face wash (my favorite kind)

2 Bags of shredded cheese

6 Deodorants! Yes sir...6 Deodorants!!!!

And the grand total?

$14.90

Oh you read that right!!!! $14.90!!!! I ended up saving $52.17 on items that we needed that will last us a long time.

Now I just need to find more storage space!

Good Times with Great Friends!

Catherine & Audrey came to visit us for 5 whole days! We kept very busy, doing "2-a-days" where we would do things with the kids BOTH before & after naptime! We all had so much fun together- wish we lived closer. We took A TON of pictures, so this is a long picture filled post!

They arrived Friday afternoon in Boston- once we got home the kids sat down for a snack and got to know each other!

Auntie Carrie arrived early the next morning and Audrey was so excited to see her Auntie, she gave her a hairbow just like hers.

We loved having Auntie Carrie visit too- she entertained the kids the whole time! Emma loves sitting in laps now, she picks up books and brings it over to you saying "lap, lap". Then tries to step on you.

It rained all day so we stayed inside and played, then after naps we went shopping and let the kids run around the store together, then met Felix for dinner.

Early the next morning, both girls waiting to put their shoes on so we can take our walk to the park.




After the park we ate a quick lunch at Panera and then Carrie had to make the long 6 hour drive back home. So sad to see her go. I cooked a lovely dinner at home that evening for the whole crew.

And the next morning we left bright & early for the Roger Williams Zoo in Providence. Audrey wanted to push her own stroller, so this is how we walked around the zoo all day.

Playing with the little water fall on the statue of fish....

Emma signing "fish" while making her water sound noises "blup blup blup"

Holding hands for a stroll in the zoo... too cute!

That night after we put the kids to bed, Felix stayed home to babysit while Cat & I went to the movies! It had been almost 2 years since I had been inside a movie theater! We saw Julie & Julia which I thought was really good. And the next night we rented Twilight as Cat tried to convince me to read the rest of the series. I am dying to know what happens at the end but don't want to read all the books!!!

Tubbie Time! They had a lot of fun pouring water on each other and touching toes. They both knew how to say each others name and would call for the other one when it was time for bed- or if they didn't see each other.

Cat took this picture as proof that they eventually DID learn to share! Audrey is sharing her snacks with Emma before heading out to the Childrens Museum in Providence that day.

The museum was a lot of fun- playing with the balls in the water room. These rubber smocks they give out were lifesavers! Audrey took a bucket and poured it all over herself....but the smock kept her dry (enough).

After we left the museum we made a quick stop near Brown for lunch and a visit to see Felix at practice. We came home for a nap and then left again to visit the park near our house that has the animals out- followed by some run around time at Babies R Us and dinner at the mall.

Audrey, me & Emma having fun on the swings.

just a fun picture of storytime....

Matti was such a good boy, he was gentle and behaved himself. And Audrey liked the "puppy" who says "woof woof". I was very relieved!

Having fun in the mall playzone playing in the airplane.

Dinner at Bertuccis. Emma saw me dipping my bread in the oil, and so she did the same- one piece at a time. And Audrey... well.... Audrey liked to shake the parmesan cheese on her plate and that was all she would eat for dinner.

Best Friends Forever!!!