Funny Faces

Oh, the places you'll go...a favorite Dr. Seuss phrase comes to mind when I think of the last 24 hours in the Long house--and the places we can travel just by staying home! We had a fun Monday night...I love coming home from work on Mondays (I know, most people dread manic mondays)..but I adore them, because it it the only weeknight Rob has off--so we always enjoy time together.

I had to grab the camera for some silly faces at the dinner table...Rob makes all these funny faces with Anna and Catie--and they just LOVE making them back!

Anna is such a little silly...she is very into growing up lately, and Rob and I want to keep her just as she is! Her question is always "mommy, when I get big can I________?" It ranges from "can I drink pop?" to yesterday she was feeling daddy's unshaven face and said "daddy, when I grow up will I have whiskers?" :)

My friend Alicia is doing Ali Edwards challenge of taking photos of your daily life for a week--so I've been successful for 2 days now!
Rob and I sat down to watch a movie last night ("Sex in the City:The Movie--which Rob officially declared a "girls' movie --after he suffered through it! :) ) after finally getting the girls out of the bath and settled into bed...and all of a sudden we hear a big "THUD" above us...my first words to Rob "oh, no--Catie must have fallen out of bed!" Which isn't a normal activity now that she is almost 6--but she must have been in a dead sleep. I ran up the stairs to find her pretty much sleeping while sitting up on her floor, dazed, holding a little stuffed poohbear in her hand. Poor sweetie...I helped her back into bed and she was sound asleep in moments. When I asked her before bed tonight--she NEVER remembered a moment of falling out of bed!

Then at 4:30 a.m. ... Anna started crying "Mommy!" Rob got up to get her...but she wouldn't stop crying--so we brought her into our bed. It is not a habit but a last resort--when we REALLY can't stand on our feet in her room anymore. :)

Mass FREEZE
I was dragging at work because of lack of sleep--but we had a busy day! Alicia and I have been planning a live freeze event with close to 20 college students at our school--and it went off today! The students did a great job! They froze for 3 minutes in our busy dining hall to raise awareness for our college's new emergency mass notification system. We even got a couple of local TV stations to cover it.


so, I should be going to bed now! I still would love to do a digi layout--haven't had time lately! Plus, I need to dig into my paper stash to weed out things for a local scrapbook store "garage sale!" It is due to be dropped off Friday--yikes!

Some Scooby Family Fun!

After a busy, crazy week...Rob and I had talked about just having some planned family time. I told him about Lisa Bearnson's blog...and how she talked about her family nights every Monday...her 4 kids are older, but they never miss it. I just think it is a cool tradition, and Catie has always called Sunday our "family day" because it is the only day of the week when Rob, me and the girls have the whole day together without Rob having to work. So, this weekend, we just decided to make it a little more exciting!

I took an idea from Heather Ann's blog--she does these amazing movie nights with her kids. I bought the new "Scooby Doo and the Goblin King" movie at Target this week (I purchased it, because with Anna's Scooby craze, I thought I'd never be able to return it to netflix otherwise!) and we planned a meal this weekend.

Catie was LOVIN' coming up with the names for the food.

Here is our menu:

Catie wanted the menus to look "tattered" in her words...and we found some old Halloween scrapbook paper! I drew out one menu, and then she copied mine--and she did a fantastic job! She also wanted the writing to look spooky. While Catie did menus, Anna decorated her pumpkin bucket from Aunt Mary Ellen!

Everything came out great..but I felt like I was in the kitchen all afternoon! :) It was nice to see both Catie and Anna love the meal, and Rob and I too!

Then it was on to the Scooby Doo movie..complete with "GOBLIN POPCORN!" I found the recipe in the new Taste of Home, and it is good stuff. It took awhile to make the recipe..just the 45 minutes in the oven after all the other prep..but very good--like caramel corn! YUM!

Ingredients:

• 4 quarts popped popcorn
• 1/2 cup butter, cubed
• 1 cup sugar
• 6 tablespoons light corn syrup
• Dash salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 12 drops yellow food coloring
• 4 drops red food coloring

Directions:

Place popcorn in a very large bowl. In a small saucepan, melt butter. Stir in the sugar, corn syrup and salt. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook 5 minutes longer, stirring occasionally.
Remove from the heat. Stir in vanilla and food coloring. Pour over popcorn; toss to coat. Transfer to two 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pans coated with cooking spray.
Bake at 250° for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight containers. Yield: 4 quarts.

Catie and Anna both enjoyed the movie..but Anna lost interest when Shaggy and Scooby weren't on screen. Rob and I had fun figuring out the current stars doing the voices on the movie! (Wayne Night, Casey Kasem, Jay Leno, Tim Curry, etc...) We all had a really had a great time--our first themed movie night was a success!

The Office on Friday night

After watching the Presidential Debate on this fine Friday night, I turned to my DVR to watch the season premiere of "The Office." Absolutely love this show...Rob gets to watch it live while he is working at the TV station, which so happens to be an NBC affiliate...and I watch Grey's live...so, Michael Scott and the gang get top billing on Friday. My absolute favorite moment....(OK...SPOILER ALERT: if you haven't seen the episode and don't want to know...don't watch this!)


Open House Update

Last night's open house for Catie's kindergarten class was a success! Her classroom is really very cool--I love seeing all the things she is doing...and putting the pieces together after hearing everything she tells me at night. It is fun meeting her friends too! Ok, here is a mommy moment that is just too cute, but makes me pray that time doesn't move too fast--I'm not ready for this!

My mom, me, Catie and Anna got into the school cafeteria for the 50-cent ice cream--and mirculously timed it so we didn't have to wait in line...a huge amount of parents and kids then descended on the ice cream just after we got ours. Just as we finished our little ice cream cups, Catie said "mommy, let's got meet Ethan!"
(Just a little background, we've heard Ethan's name come up a lot in our household lately- he sits at Catie's table in her classroom, and Catie has announced to me that she wants to "marry him someday!")

I let Catie pull me through the throngs of parents and kids--and she had said she knew where he was, but then we ended up wandering around the cafeteria. She then stopped in her tracks--and I look up to see a cute little boy waving at her with a huge smile on his face. Catie said "there he is!" and we walked over...it was just too sweet...I could see Catie just glowing.

Fast forward to bedtime...I tucked her in bed and I asked her how she liked open house and I told her I liked meeting her friends, including Ethan. She asks me so innocently "mommy, if you weren't married to daddy, would you want to marry Ethan?"

Anna Funny

Anna and Rob were enjoying their morning this week and Anna announces "My time machine isn't working!"
Rob and I just thought it was hilarious, because how does our darling 2 year old really know what a time machine is?

Today, Rob asked her if it was working and she said "not yet." :)

First Open House Followed by GREY's!

Tonight is the first school "Open House" experience for our family! Rob is working, so my mom is going to to the school with Catie, Anna and I!

Catie is missing dance to go, which is a tough thing for her...until I told her that the PTSO is selling 50-cent ice cream! (gotta love bribes to make the kids go somewhere. :) )
This project above is part of something Catie and I had to work on for her Open House...Rob and I had to explain how & why we named her --and then Catie and I decorated her name with lots of scrapbooking buttons and flowers! I can't wait to see the finished project up on the wall! We also had to make a banner with family photos...

THEN...once I get the girls tucked in bed...

photo from Grey's Season Premiere tonight on ABC

Paging Dr. McDreamy, Dr. Grey, Yang, Korev, O'Malley, Stevens, Bailey and more...for the 2-hour season premiere that I've been waiting for! Grey's Anatomy at 9 p.m. So, no phone calls! I won't answer- :)

Fall Walk in a Small Town

What a beautiful week we are having here in New York state...we are very lucky in this last part of September...ahh..fall! My friend Alicia and I took a great walk around work , which happens to be a beautiful college campus, on our lunchbreak (because step aerobics were cancelled!), and it ended up being so much better to be outside in the sunshine!

Rob is having such a great time getting some one-on-one time with Anna. He had that special bonding time with Catie for 3 1/2 years before Anna was born--so now that Catie is in Kindergarten, he and Anna are making the most of their days! They go to storytime at our library, and yesterday took a fall walk around town. Rob got some great photos...
He grabbed some shots of our little village...we have such a picturesque place to live, and we often take it granted...but living in a small town is really where I feel "at home." It is a great place to raise Catie and Anna. (Yes, we even have our own mini Lady Liberty!)
The girls and my mom all have colds...seems like it is going around! Poor Rob is getting it too...am I doomed? I had my first cider this week...I just love it! add some animal crackers (the lower fat snack instead of donuts!) and I'm set to go.

Happy Fall & Happy Anniversary!

Happy Fall! I had to work a bit late last night and when I arrived home, I was greeted by Rob and the girls playing outside...Catie said," Happy Fall, Mommy--want to play in the leaves with me?!" The fall fever is in the air at our house! How could I resist--I LOVE fall! I want to immediately snap all those awesome photos! And, Rob made a trip to the local apple orchard for fresh cider (YUM!) and apples! We also had our first slices of fresh apple pie on Sunday!

Also--a big Happy 2nd wedding anniversary to my brother and sis-in law--Matt and Stacey! September 23 --- wow, seems like just yesterday we were at the wedding! They have other big news--they are buying a house ! Right in our hometown, and not far from us at all! It's an exciting fall for them--the house is just adorable, and Stacey's decorating style will make it come alive for sure! I know they can't wait to move in!

Congrats to you guys--love you lots!

September 23, 2006
Matt & Stacey Gabbey

Past the 100 Blog Postings!

Wow...it came and went, and I didn't even catch it! My 100th blog post....HOORAY! I am now at 102, this will make 103.

thanks to my faithful readers, even though many of you don't place comments on the blog, I think of each of you that sometimes reads it :)--thank you for caring about what happens in our lives.

A quick update about the Shabby Miss Jenn Shabby Girl Call--I didn't make it...but, can I just say all the women who did are amazing! And Jenn...well, she is just so awesome--she is an amazing designer and a friend. A big thank you to her, too! She gave each person who entered some cool goodies!

Just had to share a funny from Anna...who just continues to amaze us with her vocabulary for a 2 year old. She talks to us like she is 20 sometimes! :)

Anna: "I don't have socks on. I have toes on!"--that from our little one who is never without her green crocs and no socks!

Catie bought her FIRST ever school lunch today! She was so excited for turkey and gravy with a biscuit, we looked it up on the menu..and then she learned that it was Daddy's favorite school meal growing up--and then Grandma G. was sub teaching the past couple days at Catie's school, and she heard how much Gramma likes it too! Catie was so proud that she conquered the lunch line (something she'd been kinda unsure of...she wouldn't go in there to just "buy milk" since the start of school.) She even talked about another little boy in her class who always brings his lunch too, and said tonight "he just needs a little courage!"

Catie loved seeing Gramma G. at the school today and at the playground during recess. She ran up and gave her a couple quick hugs...what a cool thing--being 5, and seeing your Grandma as a very cool teacher at your very cool new school!

Weeds Cliffhanger & Shabby Girl Call

Rob and I now have to wait until next summer for the next season of "Weeds!" The season finale just wrapped up on Showtime tonight---wow...quite the little twist at the end...I won't ruin it for my sis-in-law Mary Ellen! :)

I was working right up until "weeds" finishing some layouts for a very cool "Shabby Girl Call" for Shabby Miss Jenn Designs--my favorite digi shoppe! I'm sure there will be a LOT of people trying for this cool opportunity to create pages for her site with her new kits as they come out...

Here are the two new layouts I squeezed in last night and tonight (deadline was tonight)--and I entered 3 older ones too (had to send 5 favorites)...

credits: SMJ Spiced Apple, Little Kahunas, Art Class and Birthday Wishes kits

credits: SMJ Art Class, Spiced Apple, Flower stand and Birthday Wishes kits

Happy Birthday to Gramma Long, September 14th~

A very special Happy Birthday today, Sept. 14, to a very special Gramma & Mom-- Gramma Anne Long! The girls had so much fun singing for Grandpa, that they wanted to do it again!


Here are a couple of other milestones this last week! Just yesterday, on Saturday morning...Anna started her ballet class for 2 year olds! She walked right in without Mommy going in the door--that is what we are striving for...no parents in the class. (like her big sister's class), but I watched through the blinds of window, and she burst out crying after a few minutes. I went running to go in, and she calmed down and started right into the class after asking several times if we could to the dance studio waiting room to "read a book!" (lots of new books to look at, of course!) Her teacher, Miss Patti asked who knew how to jump like a bunny, and Anna even stood up to demonstrate! Lots of other moms were in there too...we are all going to try to stay through Nov. and then do a "breakaway" and let the cutie little ballerinas be with the teachers!

credits on each photo: grunge frame by Kimi!

Catie had "red" day at Kindergarten on Friday...and when she got home, we always check her folder in her backpack for the day's work, and any important papers. She was surprised to have a Good Citzenship Award in her folder for "Responsibility!" Proud of you Cate--she finished her first FULL week at k-garten.


AND....Catie lost her 2nd tooth!!!!! She was brushing her teeth this past Tuesday night and it got REALLY loose...and she just pushed it out with her tongue! The tooth fairy made a visit, and she couldn't wait to tell her teacher! You may be able to see another tooth already growing behind the empty spot. It is further back than it should be I think...Rob had to have teeth pulled when he was little because his mouth wasn't big enough...not sure if that could be in her future?

Art Smock Debut

click to enlarge--credits: SMJ Art Class kit, Lanne blog storyboard, Target t-shirt


I just had to share my fun creation that I made for Catie's Kindergarten Art Smock! She has art for the first time today, and I think she is excited to wear it (I know Mommy probably is more excited)! :)

I was so excited to use Shabby Miss Jenn's Art Class kit, and I used iron on transfers for my printer--and followed the instructions--ta da! It worked perfectly! My inspiration was from Heather Ann's blog a couple months back when she made t-shirts for her 3 kiddos.

Weeds-One episode Left!
Rob and I watched Weeds last night on Showtime...wow, the season finale is next week--and it sure to be a doozy! We don't know what we'll do, we always had back episodes to catch up on from netflix before...but now we are all caught up and have to wait until next summer! Our sis-in-law Mary Ellen is dying to see Season 4 on netflix when it comes out in the future! Thank goodness my "Grey's Anatomy" fix is just around the corner, but what will Rob do? (since he doesn't watch that with me )

Labor Day Whirlwind!

Wow...this school scheduling for our little kindergartener is no easy feat for Rob and I! We'll settle into it, just like anything else--but I just finished making lunches just before 11 p.m.!

She had a great second day at school...she loved gym class, and their teacher dressed up as "The Rainbow Fish" and read the wonderful story to the class and gave them each a special gold safety pin with colorful beads strung on it as their "scale."

Well...I just wanted to share a couple of my favorite moments from the Labor Day weekend that I never had time to share in the whirlwind of getting ready for the first day of school!
Greg, Mary Ellen, Emily and Thomas surprised Catie and Anna this weekend with a visit and sleepover! Mary Ellen and I took the kids to our school playground around the block after our breakfast out--and we got some great shots of the kids!

Catie's First Day of Kindergarten - Sept 3!

Can you believe this little girl is a kindergarten student!?! Catie had a great first day!

(she honestly just posed like this...Rob caught this adorable shot!)

One of the times Mommy teared up! (I was pretty brave overall!!)

Catie and Daddy--he is going to miss her every day!

Then....the bus finally came! She acted like a pro! Daddy and I had to cross the street with her to board. The bus is our biggest stress as parents--making sure she is safe while crossing, and getting dropped off at the right spot at the corner of her babysitter's street. Luckily, she rides home with Ellie, and they get off to go to Kathy's together. Today, the bus driver dropped them off "in the ballpark" of the corner. Us moms will be calling the school transportation dept...they are still working out the kinks!

Her little sis Anna and Gramma were part of the photo shoot..and mommy and daddy snuck into Catie's class to get this shot...she was so excited to get started, she didn't even know we were there!

This photo is from yesterday's K-garten orientation with her teacher, Mrs. McClurg! What a great year it will be...we got a phone call from her teacher when I got home from work on the voicemail...saying what a wonderful daughter we have, and how she was such a great listener and helper today...wow--thank you Mrs. McClurg. What a great gift to give to us parents--to know our child is safe and happy!

Catie said she "loved everything" about her first day!