Why I love Trader Joe's

Oh how I love Trader Joe's.... but I haven't always! There was a time I wouldn't go there if you forced me. I thought it was way too "granola-ish" for me. I thought earthy, mega-recycling, hippie people shopped there. And they do, BUT, so do tons of normal people like me! My friend Jill is one of those normal people that talked me into going there in the first place. 

 I went there this morning with JD and Tella. It was the second stop on our shopping series. I was so pleasantly surprised to find it very empty (usually very crowded), and waltzed around no problem. JD walked beside me most of the way, though occasionally sidetracked by all the things he recognized. We made it down the first aisle, where we were greeted by a lovely woman putting out samples  of almond cake. Yes, thank you. Very good. Then she asked me if JD wanted some cookies. Ummm, YES. Then she handed him his own bag of chocolate kitty cookies. He was thrilled. I was about to walk away when I hear "honey, would you like some coffee?" Are you kidding me? You're giving my kid free cookies and offering me a free cup of coffee? DOUBLE YES and I LOVE YOU.

I shopped around a little, with coffee in hand, while the employees fussed over my darling Tella. I picked up 8 dinners (including fish), countless snacks & some produce, a new bottle of olive oil (my kids are olive oil fanatics), and a snazzy new bottle of balsamic vinegar (yum!) ....... all for $100. I think I did well. And, it's good, healthy food. Every time I go there I find something new and wonderful and surprisingly cheap - like my new bottle of balsamic for $2. Never seen that there before. 

And on the way out JD got to pick a balloon. He chose yellow. 

When you go, and you should go, make sure you have time. It takes a few tries to work out your TJ system and find the things you like. 

I love Trader Joe's and am unashamed of it - and I have Jill Bentley to thank for it. My kids love it too - for all the free stuff they get. And they remind me to get daddy his hummus. Capri also loves it because one of the girls that works there has pink and purple hair. Literally. Bright pink and purple. Capri loves it! 

 

Side note: My dear friend Jill lives in Colorado now, and has no TJ's near her. I'm so sorry Jill. Please let me know what I can send you and I'll do it ASAP. 

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my mother in laws birthday.  A blog is what she requested as a gift.  

So mom, here you are. 

8 years ago I married my husband. 8 years ago I  got a mother in law. I had no idea what that would be like (either one).  I cannot believe how blessed I am, on both accounts! I'll have to post a lovely blog about my husband later.... but this about my mom in law. 

Debbie, mom, you are awesome. You have been so kind and loving to me from the very beginning. I have been comfortable around you since the first time we met. You make me feel at ease. You blow me away with your kindness, love and generosity. You're wonderful for a good "chew". You can be fiery (at appropriate times), which I just LOVE. There isn't anything you won't do for me or my kids. When faced with odds, you lean on Jesus.... which is admirable above all. You are so caring, and thoughtful too. Visiting your house is like a vacation for me every time I go. Suffice it to say, I love you... our whole family does. Happy Birthday Mom !!

And it's true to say of you "many have done well, but you excel them all!"

new...

New...arms without bumps

New.... baby making her way around the room and sitting herself up

New.... game with the ottoman

New.... old table in the living room because..........

NEW DINING ROOM TABLE IN THE KITCHEN!!!!

Isn't it nice?? We need new chairs now, but how nice is that??? We ate at it tonight for the first time, and we fit so perfectly around it with plenty of room for everyone! Best part about it? It was free!!!!!!!!

JD's party & football lessons

When JD woke up on his birthday morning here is what was waiting for him downstairs....

He immediately began playing, quite well I might add!

Special birthday breakfast...

And, they wouldn't be our kids if they didn't play with the packaging. Here they are in the basketball hoop box, wearing their ice age shirts.

Special cupcakes with "ice" on top

Ice Age masks..

Grandpa & jD

Enjoying some party snacks...

A look of delight over a new football!

Here's the next day after we put the scooter together....

All in all I think JD had a great party. At times his friends and family were chanting his name, and I think he got a kick out of that! He got great gifts.... a new leapster, scooter, movie, toys...... and I thought it was so cute that the first person he talked to after opening the ice age movie was Capri. He knew she'd be just as excited as he was. So sweet! I really think the party was a success. It was sort of sad that we didn't get to visit more with Grandma & Grandpa Class, but we'll see them again soon. It was a great day, with perfect weather for swimming!

Football Lessons! Even after surgery Daddy is ready to play. Here's the boys outside during a break from the charger game. 

Love this action shot...

The "window"

Yes, they are holding hands! How cute is that?

In case you wonder what Tella looks like with red hair

First, here is JD posing with the cupcakes he took into his class yesterday. His teacher remembered what a cupcake lover Capri is and made sure to save one for her. How sweet is that? Capri was thrilled!

Ha ha! I was laughing so hard at this!

JD, in undies, shooting his buzz lightyear laser. He's pretending it's on his arm.

Capri, smiling all on her own! She's learning! Yes, that's cookie in her hand & teeth...

Today begins the official preparation for JD's party tomorrow... I'm sure I'll stress myself out later, but for now I'm good. 

One small bit of news, I called the doctor about Tella's barfing. He's out of the office, but I spoke to his nurse. More and more I'm sure that while she may have a dairy intolerance, she has reflux as well.  The nurse said that Prevacid and the other reflux medicine (can't remember the name right now) won't help Tella because she's not in pain from the barfing. Those medications don't stop the reflux, they just make it less acidic - meaning less painful. So I still have no help or answers. I will talk to the doctor next week though about it. Meanwhile, I think I should start a savings account and accept donations for new clothes, carpet and carseats. Since ALL of those are constantly covered in barf!!!!!!!!!!!!

On a happier note, Tella has another tooth and she said "MA MA" this morning. She didn't mean to, and clearly doesn't know that's me.... but YAY!

My Patient

My poor husband had surgery on Monday. I was desperate to get pictures of his arms before the surgery... and though I tried and tried, he would not allow it because he said it was "weird". I wholeheartedly disagreed, so I asked his mom to help me get pics... and we were successful! Thanks mom!

So here you go:

Bumps pre-surgery

More bumps, and John on the couch

And here he is all done, snapped out of the anesthesia, with ice packs and bandages. He has to keep the bandages on till tomorrow, and he is anxious to get them off. 

He's recovering well, but is having trouble sleeping comfortably. He's been at work everyday and I think he's just beat and will come home early tomorrow. 

Had to share theses pics too:

Tella and her giant sippy cup

Capri's signature.... pretty good right? Genuis!

Tella running in her sleep! HA HA HA!

Can you guess who this is? It's Tella, 1 day old. How cute is she, she's gotten so big so fast!

I just got back from an open house that one of my friends threw for another friend who is starting her own business called Rockabella bows. She makes bows and headbands and the cutest stuff ever for little girls - Oh MY GOSH it was sooooo cute. She has a website, but it's not quite done yet. I'm going to have to hold myself back from buying..... maybe one or two won't hurt! www.rockabellabows.com  AND, she wants to use my little Tella to model her stuff. Tella would be a perfect model for bows..... course I'm a little biased!

Last thing - I talked to JD's teacher this morning to see if I could bring in cupcakes for his class tomorrow because it's his birthday on Saturday. She said sure - just one thing.... I thought she was going to tell me nothing with nuts since there are lots of kids with nut allergies this year. BUT NO - she said... If you want to bake something at home and bring it in we have to have a TB test on file for you. I was like what??? No big deal, I'll just buy something, I say. She was so apologetic and felt so weird about it. She's a baker, and loves to bring things in for the kids. So she understands me wanting to make something. But it's no big deal - we found cupcakes at Vons that have footballs on them and JD was sold. But really, a TB test?

Oh Capri

If you know anything about Capri, you know she has a wild imagination. Here's a few pictures for insight into her fascinating world.

This was her outfit after she got home from school on her first day. I believe she is being fancy nancy bonjour butterfly... I think.

Here I think she's pretending to be an octopus, though I can't remember exactly:

Here is Dino Mountain, which she could not wait to go to. I was afraid she would be scared because the dino's actually move and make noise. But no, she was fine. She didn't like the T-Rex or the one that spit water, but she did really like the rest of them. It was fun for me because I got to just take her - no baby, no JD. She was so tired from a party earlier that day that I should've taken a stroller, but I didn't.... she really could've used it. 

And here's her favorite, the one with the "acorn" head


I decided to pull out my fall decorations today. Capri remembered them and was so excited, and she remembered where they belong in our house. Below she is playing with my yankee candle tree. She thinks its a house for pilgrims. You can see all my candle tarts stacked up, she was pretending they were pumpkin pies (JD actually took a bite!). Her hair is wild because she said "I love wildness". Her pajamas are inside out, but for good reason. She decided if she wore them that way she would look more like Giselle from Enchanted. There's always a method to her madness! Always!

Can you see the leaves she hung on my windows in the background? She just loves seasonal decorating!

Naptime for the pilgrims, she was quick to point out that one of them must sleep up in the tree.:

There's always something wonderful happening when Capri is around. She can make the best games out of the most worthless stuff.... a spoon and a box could make for hours of play. She's so much fun!