{Two} Much Fun! *with a Giveaway*

This little chubbers turned {two-months} on Saturday!

No...wait...not that one...

this one...

That one's Emily at about four months...

This one's Elizabeth at {two} months...

Confused?  I can't get over how similar they look!  

It's unbelievable that Emily was ever that small once...and that Elizabeth is already that big!  I absolutely love, love those chubby rolls...there's just nothing cuter! 

{two} peas in a pod...

These past two months have gone so fast!  I know I keep saying it over and over...but it's just the facts!

As much as I love snuggling with her before she gets too big {...which will never happen, btw} ...I'm trying to get her on a bedtime routine...in her own bed...and guess what...she doesn't mind it so much...she actually seems to be quite content with it...it's always me that has a harder time...sniff...

She's such a happy baby! 

{smiling at Daddy!}

 I love it when she lays her head on my shoulder...

I love her sweet cooing and bubbly giggles...

I love her sweet baby smell...

I love her chubby legs...

...and I love watching her sleep...

I love holding her little hands...

...and kissing those chubby cheeks...

Why is it these two months can fly by in a blink of an eye...but trying to get the weight off is taking forever?!  And trust me...it has nothing to do with the cookies, Chex Mix or even the caramel Kisses from the candy jar...really...it doesn't...I just don't understand it... curses! 

But I wouldn't take it back even if it meant I could be thinner!  I would gain 100 more pounds if meant I get to enjoy every second with this precious trio...

{...well...on a good day anyway...ha!  I kid, only kidding!}

And they are so lucky to have each other too...Elizabeth laughs and smiles when Alex and Emily play peek-a-boo with her...such a blessing to have these two for her big brother and sister! 

How did we get to be so fortunate to have these three hand-picked from God just for us to share those gorgeous smiles and giggles and little moments with...we're so thankful every single day we get to witness those moments! 

* And...in other exciting news...today marks another super-duper important date...

...my {two}-year blogoversary!  That's right...{two} whole years!  Can you believe it? 

It all started here...and it's about the same today...more snow heading our way, which probably means more snow days...but so much fun for Alex and Emily!

This blog has not only been a place to track the happenings around the Manor...and share those precious snapshots of Alex, Emily and Elizabeth...

...but it has become a place to share in some special bloggy friendships!  And to thank you for sharing your life with ours...I'm giving away a $10 Target giftcard...my favorite place to browse, socialize and somehow drain the bank account...how does that happen?! 

* Just leave a comment if you're a follower...or even if you're not and you're just here for a free giveaway!

* Leave another comment letting me know the one thing you went to Target for...and the one-hundred other items that you really left with!

That's {two} chances to win!  I'll pick a winner on Friday February 4th using random.org! 

I love hearing from you and I appreciate all your sweet comments!

Thanks so much for visiting...here's to another fulfilling year at Martin Manor!

 

One Hundred

Today marks the 100th day of school!  Yay! 

Emily is celebrating in true Emily fashion...

{if she could've fit 100 hair clips in her hair, she would've!  And sporting her 100 bead necklace from last year...}

Alex is less than thrilled to stop and pose before the bus...but I forced a smile out of him to start the day off right...I guess once you're in second grade...it's not as cool to care about the 100th day of school!

{100!}

It's hard to believe they are now more than half-way through the year...although it does seem like we've had about 100 days worth of cold and snow! 

How many days until Spring?!

And how many clips do you think Emily will actually come home with?!

{It's also getting close to my blogoversary!  How has another year slipped by already?!}

 

What's Up? Wednesday

Since I am rarely wordless on Wednesdays...I've ditched the Wordless part today!

We are keeping busy...and trying hard to endure this cold weather here {the kids already have 3 make-up days at the end of the school year...boo!}but sooo looking forward to Spring!

I finally snapped a few pictures of this bouncing girl...

{no matter how short she gets her hair cut...she still manages to get it into pony tails!}

...during her gymnastics...

I love watching how cute the little girls are...and wonder if Emily will ever get to be as good as the older girls!  How in the world do they get their bodies to twist and turn and flip like that?!  But right now...she's enjoying bouncing around on the trampoline and flipping over the bar...

...and still perfecting her head-over-heels cartwheels...

{I know you can hardly see her back in the corner...but I had my camera zoomed all the way out...she was all the way in the back of the gym and it was hard to see her from the bleachers...}

Meanwhile...I love stealing a pic of this ever-so-patient, cute and smiling observor...

She has been great about hanging out wherever we go...for now...that is...until she's mobile!

She went along with me to the dentist {again...} to get a small filling...ugh!  I still have a headache from the noisy drill and whatever else they use to grind into my head!  I have not been the best example with my sweet tooth...I hope Alex, Emily and Elizabeth follow in thier daddy's footsteps...he's only had one cavity his whole life..showoff!  ha!  

Eating sweets also isn't helping my waistline...blah!  I've started using the Wii Fit to get into better shape...but after one day of the boxing and hoola-hooping...my arms and back were so sore!  I took a couple days off...but then went and ruined it the next time when I ate a bunch of cookies after dinner...curses! 

That's about all that's happening around here these days...I miss taking lots of pictures...but I try and get the camera out as much as I can!  Especially since the kids are growing up way too fast!  Elizabeth is just past 8 weeks already!  She's getting so big...and becoming more alert and interested in what's going on all around her.  She's not sleeping all through the night yet...she still wants to eat and be held all the time...and I'm having a hard time telling her otherwise!  She won't be a baby forever...

...I know I can sleep soon enough...yawn...

Wordless Wednesday {Let's Face It!}

I ♥ Faces - {Winter Wonderland}

this week the challenge at iheartfaces is to capture the wonder of winter...and we've definitely had our fair share of winter around here! 

and the wonder of this winter includes these two snowbunnies...Elizabeth's first, of course...how could she have been so tiny just weeks ago...she's already growing so fast! 

now...when is spring?

be sure to head over to iheartfaces and show us your winter wonderland and check out all the other wonderful entires!

{Makeovers}

{First up...}
This little sweetie got a minor little makeover...

She is always wanting to get her hair cut...and since she has basically never let me fix her hair...or pick out her clothes {miss little independent!}...she is kind of in charge of her own style...so I often oblige!  So we got it cut and the girl asked me how she wanted her bangs...and I said "She's never had bangs."  So I asked Emily if she wanted to try bangs...

well...of course!  She told me that she's always wanted bangs! 

{I've tried to avoid them because I know they need to be cut often, and they get in your eyes...but we'll see how long it takes before she wants to grow them out...or I do!} 

And I think she looks pretty darn cute!  However...this has caused her to carry around a brush and a mirror all weekend so she can comb her bangs to look just right at all times!  ...sigh...

She said she looks like the girl in Charlie & the Chocolate Factory {the new version with Johnny Depp}...the one who chews gum all the time...so she asked me if she could have some gum...ha!

Sunday she and Rebecca were able to show off her new 'do during a special day for her and her American Girl doll! 

She was able to have some fun activities with other girls and their dolls and share some yummy treats!  I wasn't able to stay because it was just for all the little girls...but I think I would've had fun too! 

So cute!

{Second up...}

Alex's room finally got a much needed and deserved makeover!

{DO NOT ENTER...I'm going to let you in behind the scenes...ha!}

Can you guess the theme?!

Dan and Alex did a great job!  It was a long, long weekend of priming and painting the walls...and more decluttering...but the results were appreciated!

We finally got rid of the bookshelf that Dan and I rescued from the trash several years ago...and sent it back to its home...the dump...but it had a good life!  And that left Alex's room with more space...

{We just need to hang one more poster on the wall so there are three...the first poster was actually one of Dan's from college that hung in his dorm room!}

We also got rid of that big, bulky dinosaur in the corner...{the old tv}...and replaced it with one that hangs over his desk now...

I think Dan is just as excited as Alex is...it kind of reminds me of a dorm room!  Ha! 

It's a combination of Alex's birthday/Christmas gift...and he's as pleased as punch!  No more baby blue and fire truck pictures...makes me a little sad, though...sigh... {see the before here}

Now...I could sure use a big makeover of my own...Emily thinks I need bangs too...but I'm not sure about that...would it help me look younger?!