(PHOTOS ADDED! ) Happy Birthday to my Hubby!

Happy Happy 35th Birthday to my dear hubby!

Rob...hope you had a wonderful day! We did a lot of eating... breakfast out with the Longs of LaFayette, then dinner at our house with the amazing Tres Leches CHOCOLATE version cake, and my addition of peanut butter frosting! (wow....delicious and it must be calorie on your b-day!) :)

An Ipod classic and an ipod dock for our stereo receiver...I would say he was one happy camper today...he's held out for an ipod for a long time, so the girls and I were thrilled to see the smile on his face as he played with it and downloaded his itunes music!


I'll post photos tomorrow! Some of Rob's bday celebration, and fun pics at the playground with their cousins.

Love you Rob!

You Should Be Dancin'! (yeah)

Here are a couple of photos I hijacked from my mom's camera of the girls in their new dance leotards! I bought them at Target yesterday, and brought them home to my mom's house...she has watched the girls all week--THANK YOU!

I was excited to find the adorable outfits. Anna transformed into a flitting butterfly when she had it on...and Catie was an old pro--with the graceful hands dance pose and all! :) Excuse the blurry photos--girls on the move wasn't easy for my mom's point and shoot!

Here is a video mom shot too...notice Anna's little sweet smile as she gracefully slides right in to hog the camera from her big sis!




also--a BIG thank you from Catie to Aunt Carrie for taking her on a girls' lunch and shopping trip today! Catie got to go out to lunch at Tully's, and take a trip to Target for some "back to school" clothes! She had a blast...and what trip would be complete without a trip to the candy store? ;)
mommy, daddy and anna enjoyed our treats too!

Catie finally received her bus schedule today for the kindergarten bus! She is getting excited!

Tomorrow, she and Anna will get a surprise when their cousins make an impromptu visit! It is a sleepover, because Greg and Mary Ellen are bringing their kids hiking at a fantastic state park near us...but we kept it a surprise in case they had to cancel--so pictures to follow!

Summer Dandelions

I just couldn't wait to post these photos that Rob took of the girls a couple days ago in our backyard! He borrowed a Tamron zoom lens from a friend and used it with our Rebel, and he loved it! (note to self!) I love how the photos turned out.....just priceless of their little faces. We are printing them for our family room...to remind us of summer as fall is around the corner!

The countdown is on for Kindergarten! (next Wednesday morning!) Catie got her new school shoes in the mail tonight from Land's End....so cute, she picked out the black patent leather style herself! I've got all of her supplies in her backpack to take to orientation on Tuesday, except her paint smock! I was inspired by this project from Heather Ann, and I'm going to make her a smock with digi supplies! The HP Iron-on transfers came in the mail today, I was looking for the perfect kit, and who comes to my rescue but Shabby Miss Jenn in my inbox!


She just released a new "Art Class" kit...isn't is just great? I used my GC I just won from the SMJ challenge ...and I also picked up this new Spiced Apple kit, too! (with my gift certificate, it was like a 2 for 1!)

Happy Birthday to my niece and her brothers--all tomorrow! My cousin Erin celebrates her "big" bday on Saturday, and Rob, my wonderful DH, celebrates his 35th on Sunday!

Princess Playhouse Layout

credits: Digital Design Essentials August notebook, Shabby Miss Jenn (argyle paper),
Time and Times Again & Peajay font, Simply Yin template.

I love this digi hobby! I can do a layout while sitting on the couch watching TV--how great is that?! Here is a quick layout of the girls in the Princess Playhouse...thanks for looking.

Happy almost Tuesday.

HOORAY for SMJ!

I just had to share the good news...

I'm a runner up in the Shabby Miss Jenn Layout challenge contest! :)

My first time ever winning anything! I get a $6.99 GC for her wonderful amazing shoppe!

Can't wait to decide!

Here is a link to the winners and runner ups!

I posted my layout of Anna "Shine On" a couple of posts ago on my blog...but you can also see it in the link above! (just click on runner up winners)

I have been sharing videos of my two DD...so I saved this for today. I watched this hilarious comedy sketch on the blog of Heather Ann--she rocks! If you love cake, or even if you don't...enjoy this from comedian Jim Gaffigan who also happens to star in my fav My Boys show. (see previous blog post on my love for the TBS show...I'm half way through the last part of season 1 disc from netflix.)

Also...anyone with little girls who love princesses...Catie saw a photo of Ariel in the Target ad this morning...the DVD The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning is out Tuesday!

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Here is a birthday message to a very special Grandpa (and a great Dad, too!) who is celebrating his birthday, today...August 23~ Enjoy the day!!!

"Wee" little shoes Help Me Strike "Wii" Gold

ok...today was a crazy Friday at work. My poor buddy Alicia was sick with a yucky summer cold--which with Murphy's law on our side, means that "media land" runs amok! We both handle media relations for our college...and I had reporter after reporter calling today--and then, I got a call that made ME want to call all the reporters. One of our students is bicycling back to campus--a 300 mile trek! SO cool, huh? I finally got in touch with her by cell phone tonight..trying to see if she'll do interviews with local media as she gets closer to campus tomorrow... yes, she will--but now, to organize it all!

On my lunch break, I was able to squeeze in a trip to the local ballet slipper store near me to buy Anna's first pair of ballet slippers! These little Capezios that made all the other ladies in the store say "ooh, have you ever seen anything so tiny and cute!?"
Bought two pairs..because I wasn't sure of the size, and then walked out the door. I think it was fate, because I turned to look in the Blockbuster video window that was right next store and in front of my car, and saw a small handwritten sign that said: 1 Wii available today. Now, just a disclaimer...I had no intentions or even thoughts of buying the famed Nintendo game that is still hard to come by in stores around the area. Yet, the sign caused me to dial Rob on my cell with just the excuse of maybe I should go in and see how much it is!?Earlier this summer, we'd discussed the possibility of getting one for Christmas after really enjoying our first Wii experience with our niece and nephews at John and Tina's house in July. Rob says "sure" go take a look....and I do. I even get a little turn of green in my stomach when a young couple gets to the door before me...could they be going to get the lone game? No...they are just returning a movie!

I walk up to the nice people at the desk, and it turns out the young woman working had JUST purchased the other Wii that came into their store yesterday--so she talked to me, and walked me through all my questions as I claimed Wii ignorance. Well...

We are now the proud owners of a Wii!

Along with an extra controller that I purchased in a bundle called Wii Play (includes 9 extra games) because they let me waive the free month of games rental (if I agreed to buy an accessory in its place) because we ARE trying to wait until Christmas to unveil the greatness of Wii in our home! (and the month of free games started as soon as I purchased). So they were very helpful Blockbuster folks to little ole me!

Rob just laughed when I called back..."wow, a Wii, cool!" And I carrying it into my office--afraid to even leave my new purchase in the minivan behind tinted windows. My co-workers wonder how we'll ever wait until Christmas!

So..."SHHH" it's a secret!

And, little Anna's little feet are bigger than I thought--alas, another trip to the slipper store awaits..:)

Powder or Cauliflower?

Hopefully my title got your attention! What do I mean, you ask? Just watch this little snippet of video from our dinner tonight! Anna answers the burning question :D



She said to Catie "want some powder?" and I then realized that she was using her vegetable as a kabuki brush! (probably stems from me putting my Bare Escentuals makeup on her cheek last week!) I grabbed my cell phone for video just in time! Then Catie was just in silly form! Using her ziti as a whistle.. what fun would supper be without these two?

Mudroom Before & After

I've been promising some "before and after photos" of our little 'ole mudroom! Yes, it has been 4 days or so...but here they are! My wonderful hubby...paint on his face and all--was such a good sport.A big difference...it makes the whole room feel very warm. Now, I have to finish the trim (which will be cream) and then start decorating! It is the entrance of the house we use most...so we are excited for the change. We are really looking forward to the next room painting....but are really wanting to hire someone! We have to strip some wallpaper in our dining room...our bedroom was enough for us, thank you!

My friend and co-worker Alicia and I spent the day unfurling and rolling up some giant banners announcing a big honor for our college...here is the banner, and it will also be a billboard on the expressway!


We were both project managers, and we're happy how the banners turned out, and they are now hung as freshmen arrive tomorrow!

Catie and I checked the calendar tonight..just 2 weeks exactly until her first day of K-garten! We took a trip to the playground, which the girls loved...they have been begging to go all week!

Layout I Love

I just love reading Shabby Miss Jenn's blog everyday (and always am filled with excitement when she unveils something new--this time it was a fun challenge to scraplift this layout by Ranie..

You had to use mostly SMJ supplies..which are favorites of mine! I wanted to use this photo of anna...and it all fell in place--it was FUN! And, the chance to win a $50 gift card from Shabby Miss Jenn for her shop--I jumped to my computer!

Princess Playhouse

What a nice relaxing "staycation" we had around home this week. Yet, the girls and I were transported to a forest that is home to princesses like Snow White (Anna states that she IS Snow White multiple times a day!) Princess Aurora, and Belle!

Thanks to our friends Kelli and Tim (and their daughters Hailey and Emily)--our girls have a new "princess playhouse!" Catie, a.k.a Belle; Anna or Snow White (was there any doubt?) ; and me, as Princess Aurora, enjoyed an afternoon tea party with cake and ice cream--don't you just love imagination games where you can have any flavor you want and as much as you want!? :)

Our little Snow White

Catie finished up her swimming lessons for the summer yesterday...we are so proud of her! She started afraid to barely put her face in the water, and now she is swimming underwater and is consistently the last child still swimming in the whole pool at free time after lessons!

Rob, my wonderful, wonderful hubby, finished painting the mudroom walls today! What a difference the flat enamel made with the 2nd coat--no more satin! He really despises painting--so, I'm eternally grateful. I've helped all week, but today it was all him. Now all that is left is the trim and we need new mopboard and we'd love to do wainscoting. I'll post pics soon!

Long Family Fun

This was a fun time last weekend, and I finally got the time to post the fun photos! A visit to Grandma and Grandpa Long's with all of the aunts, uncles and cousins (all 10!) Rob is one of 4 boys...so it is always fun when the whole clan is there.

Love these photos of Rachel and Anna--Anna was always looking for her nearly 13 year old cousin!

This is the weekend that kicked off our vacation...now we're in the home stretch weekend--and have spent most of the week painting! We love the color-BUT, satin did NOT work...Rob just got back from buying a brand new gallon in flat enamel. Wish us luck. Red is a tough color to paint...and our mudroom walls aren't exactly picture perfect smooth, so the satin showed up shiny with all the flaws. Hope that the flat works much better!

Date Night with the Dark Knight

Rob and I are on vacation this week, hurray! We had a date tonight to see "The Dark Knight"--and IMAX version to boot! Wow, it didn't disappoint...we were both amazed by the story and special effects. The late Heath Ledger's performance was truly spot-on and "crazy" (that was Rob's description! :) ) Lots of twists and turns...makes us both want to see it again. Big thanks to my mom for playing with the kiddos and putting them to bed for us.

Before date night, we spent the rest of the day painting our mudroom...during the few select hours that we are sending the girls to our wonderful babysitter. We got most of the room primed today...then an old piece of drywall tape spited us, and decided to peel off--grr. We now have to figure out how to fix it tomorrow. We'll learn something new--I guess that is the positive way to look at it. Can't be that hard, huh? I know it involves taping it and spackling it and sanding it....

We chose Behr "Chianti" a deep red, and a cream for the trim...I just made the mistake of googling the chianti, looking for a color swatch to show off here, and saw what a problem many people had covering with a red paint! We've already primed a coat in white...and now everyone is saying use gray primer. sigh...do we go get a gray primer, or chance it...Now you see why we don't really enjoy painting!

Seaside Fun!

click photo to enlarge

It turned out to be a beautiful day for a trip to an old-fashioned amusement park by the lake! It has been around since the turn of the century--and the lake was quite a tourist destination back then too, from what I understand. Rob's job in TV land means he is part of a union, and it pays for a day at this cool little park every summer. We had a great time...Anna's first time riding any rides...she LOVED it, and Catie was JUST 48 " tall (the minimum height requirement)..meaning she got to go on some mighty cool rides! Rob took her on the "Sea Dragon"--the giant swinging ship...and she didn't like that, but then she and I went on the another really cool ride that went around in a REALLY quick loop to music...wow--we were laughing hysterically, as Catie yelled "I love this ride!"

There were a few times that Anna and I got left behind to watch the "big kid" rides--so we took off for the merry-go-round! Here is my very first attempt at video on my blog:




Then it was on to Kris and Alicia's for a great birthday bash! Rory was just adorable..and the girls had a great time! Now tomorrow, off to Grandpa and Grandma Long's!

Olympic Memories

The Olympic games have begun in Beijing! I always love watching the games--and it brings back lots of memories as I grew up--watching with my mom, dad and brother Matt. So, now that Catie and Anna are old enough--we had a little Opening Ceremonies party tonight! Excuse the fuzzy pic--I didn't want to turn my flash on! :) The funniest moment for me was when Anna toddled over to my lap to sit, and we watched the Olympic rings rise into the air during the ceremony and Anna said matter of factly, "its a pretzel!" Yes, I guess I'd never thought about how the intertwining Olympic rings could be mistaken for pretzels! :)

We had just gotten back from a birthday present buying bonanza at the new Target near us...(makes mommy very happy!) The girls were troopers--helping me pick out presents for their cousins, who we see on Sunday (4 have bdays in August!) and also for the 1st birthday party of Rory--daughter of our friends Kris and Alicia. We are excited to attend the party tomorrow for Rory and her Dad--who is also celebrating a big day!

We then squeezed in a trip to McDonalds with Gramma G. and a quick bath before our Olympic party! Bathtime seemed to go very smoothly when the girls knew there were M&Ms and sour patch kids waiting. ;)

I was on a card making spree tonight, the second night in a row--last night I had to whip up a couple for a birthday breakfast for my friends and co-workers-Col and Alex.. It felt good to get out the paper--since I am all about digi lately!

Here is the card I made for Rory--I liked how it turned out...

Why I'm still up is beyond me! We have a busy day tomorrow...before the birthday party, we are going to the local amusement park for Rob's union picnic--the girls love it--I'll post some pics!

Swimming Star

I'm so proud of my little Catie...she is really lovin' her first swim lessons! These pics are on her final day of lessons in the beginner class. Rob took some great photos of her..what a great dad, bringing the girls to the pool every day, and playing with Anna while Catie swims. My Mom stopped by to watch with Anna so Rob could snap these photos. Catie loves lessons so much, she wanted to continue to the next session, and how could we say no!?

Since we are on vacation in another week, I'm excited to be able to take her to lessons and see some of her new swimming skills!

This morning Catie signed up for dance for the 3rd season--and her little sister is following in her footsteps! Anna in dance class will be a sight to behold...I look forward to her in her little dance leotard and ballet slippers! Catie was in a pre-ballet/jazz class last year--and this year, she moved up to either tap, jazz or ballet. She chose ballet, and then quickly changed to jazz! No more pink slippers, she will need black jazz slippers now, but it was fun to see her make the decision. My little 5 year old..sigh :)

Oh, and P.S....lovin' my new blog photo layout! I was so excited for SMJs 3rd birthday celebration! I picked up some fun new goodies, and these adorable blog frames by Lanne!