C is for Cookie

Who doesn't love cookies? Valerie loves to make things in the kitchen, cookies being her favorite. .. an obvious choice for a two year old. We have never made cookies with cookie cutters before for no reason really other than that it takes more time. ;) I let her pick out a few cookie cutters and we had a good time! She decorated them with frosting and sprinkles and the girls pigged out. Recently Ellie got her pink chair for her birthday and of course, silly me, thought we could hold off until Val's birthday for hers. riiight. Hers came about two weeks later. They have offically taken over the living room but it does give them each their own space and therefore fights over where to sit are almost nonexistent now! Worth the $ in my opinion. Take care!

I'm guessing it's because you have to convert and resize the files so much to post them online, but in person these pictures aren't so washed out and fuzzy!! ug. :)

Daily ramblings

Hello loved ones---

I haven't really "written" in awhile so I thought I'd just give a little update on the four of us. Crazy, right? No pictures!?! :)

Derrick is very busy this deployment and apparently the thermometer said 110 yesterday in the *morning* so he is blistering hot. Apparently he has a very dark head and a white body from his wet suit and cami's. ha. that's attractive! For those of you who have never been blessed to see a photo of D over a deployment he and his fellow EOD boys insist on growing thick mustaches during each trip. With his bald head and big thick dark mustache, I have to say he looks like Borat. I'm not a fan of that man, and he knows that thing has got to go before he gets back here. Needless to say Val finds it hilarious, and sometimes scary when she sees Daddy on webcam.

We were trying to work out a week together in May in Kenya but we've had to pull the plug. Apparently the demonstrations keep starting up again and it is just not the best time for me to be traveling alone through the region, or bring our kids into that kind of situation. Bummer.

So to make the most of having two young ones not stuck to a school schedule, we're going to be in the states for the month of May! I'll mainly be staying with my parents, with a few side trips to see friends in St. Louis, Indy, & Chicago. I can't handle going all the way to FL or much farther than the above areas but if you're around, feel free to come see us! I am looking forward to having a little bit of help with the 'terrible two's' as well as a chance to see some old friends that we couldn't get to over xmas with such a short trip.

That's about all that is going on around here. I've been taking lots of photos and enjoying the outdoors as you see below. Valerie has been going to the CDC about twice a week for a couple hours (as she calls it, "school") so that Ellie and I can have some one on one time as well as hit the gym. Val loves school and actually cries when I pick her up. She would rather stay. I apparently also embarrass her as I'm told not to sing in the car and that my music is yucky. nice. I thought I had a few years left.. but ahh well. Atleast my other child still wants to be around me!

Have a fantastic week-- :) Linds.

few more country pics

Jannelle and I drove out towards Enna today to take some more photos. I wanted to redo the spring flower shoot because the sun was so bright that the shadows were really harsh and not what I wanted at all. It was a hazy day which is perfect & not blinding you in the face while you're trying to "cheese" :) Unfortunately our tea party idea was canned when Ellie started screaming and stealing the other girls' food. They would rather run through the flowers like energetic little girls than sit pretty for us to photograph them.. of course, right? So the only photo I have of Ellie unfortunately is her eating a granola bar. After this she started crying and spent the rest of the shoot in her carseat waiting in the car. lol Ahh well. We never did find the red poppies so I may go back to drive a bit further next time. We'll see. Maybe next spring ;)

Monday already??

This week flew by for us. I feel as though I was just prepping for Monday morning.. and here it is again. We had a pretty good weekend - how was yours? We didn't do anything too crazy as the weather keeps changing drastically. Tonight Valerie and I had a princess night. We watched her new favorite movie, "Enchanted" and painted our fingers and toes. She of *course* had to wear her princess dress! Here are a few pics from the last few days.

Vallerina grocery shops

This one is for Grandma ;)

My mom sent me a big thing of tulle to make Valerie a tutu, as I posted a long time ago on here. I've been itching to find a way to use it in a photoshoot ever since. My friend Jannelle and I brainstormed and came up with the grocery store. Why? Because it represents the "mama" Valerie tries to be while still showing her innocent, two year old self. She happens to be obsessed with a little shopping cart Grandma Deb bought her at toys r us for Christmas so it worked out perfectly. The rain boots are just the obvious choice as well, as she's been wearing them for over a year now!

Pics by jReed.

Sicilian countryside.. a photo shoot

I got up early today to find bright sunny skies and gorgeous flowers everywhere as it's been raining a lot lately. I was really wishing I had some great park to take the kids to for the day so I decided to pack up a few sandwiches and drive into the hills. I was driving along and saw this huge field of flowers next to a seemingly abandoned orange grove about a half hour from here and just pulled over and got to shooting! I took lots of pics. Here are a few favorites.

Now be nice.. I am just learning how to fix the lighting and really had some issues since it was *so* bright. Unfortunately there is a shadow in their faces most of the time. ahh well. I wanted to share anyway because the scenary was just gorgeous, and Valerie had such a fantastic time. We had a great day!

Conversations with Valerie

When did she grow up? Just a month ago it was almost impossible to have a conversation with Valerie. She has truly learned the art of 'story telling' recently and I am enjoying our little conversations that we have these days. While her behavior has been down right naughty and stubborn at times, her curiosity and questions completely amaze me and make me laugh every day.

Here was our conversation just now before bed time:

L: Valerie it is time for bed. Do you want to take the book upstairs with you?

Val: I read it. Wait for mama. Stay bed now.

L: Yes Valerie, you stay in bed. Do not get out of bed and come downstairs. You need to wait for mommy to come get you.

Val: Mama stay inside. Wait tomorrow. Wait for Valerie outside. Valerie and mommy outside tomorrow. Wagon tomorrow. Park tomorrow. ok momma?

L: Okay Valerie. We will take the wagon to the park tomorrow. Now go to bed please.

Val: Momma door stay shut. Lock door. Momma stay inside. Wait for Valerie. Park with Valerie.

L: Mommy will not go to the park without you, I promise. I love you.

Val. (going upstairs) : Wait Momma. Bye bye. Wait. Valerie to park. night night.

awe.
:)