The Clinnin Family: April 2011

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Friday, April 29, 2011

When I was three years old, it was the Royal wedding of Princess Diana. Now, Charlotte is three years old and today was the wedding of Prince William. I wish I could say that her and I snuggled on the couch and watched it together...but it was Nate, who at 6 am, was glad to lay on the couch with me and watch the beautiful Royal wedding. To celebrate, we went over to our friend's house for a princess party. We were supposed to wait until we got there to watch the DVR'd wedding...we were not supposed to peak at the dress, but I DO NOT have that kind of willpower. I made some blueberry scones with a lemon glaze to celebrate(Tyler Florence's recipe..it's on the Food Network website...very yummy!)

Charlotte donned her most special Princess outfit...mommy even curled her hair! Nate didn't have any Princely clothing..so we did the best we could and put him in a Beatles shirt (They're British, right??) We started out on the right foot...but kids will be kids. A few shoves, a few stolen toys...(I don't think Charlotte totally at fault..but I'm sure she was partially to blame). Charlotte had a total and complete ROYAL meltdown. I couldn't get them out of there fast enough. Charlotte screamed so loud on the way home...I turned up the radio every time she got louder...until she finally gave up. I was totally embarrassed. For the rest of the day, she was a Royal Pain in the A$$!!! Ugh. She better get her act together before Prince Harry's wedding!!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Easter

We had a great Easter this year (Very busy, but great!) Kevin was traveling all week last week, so we waited until he got home to start our festivities. On Saturday, we dyed our eggs together. It's amazing that the little PAAS box looks the same as it did 25 years ago...some things don't change. When we were done dying them, Char had a minor meltdown because she couldn't understand why they had to go back into the fridge. On Sunday, we had a very early start to Easter when Char woke up at 5:55 to inform me that the bird was pecking at her window. So, she went back to her bed to watch TV for a bit. At 6:30 she ran into my room again to let me know that Blue's Clues was coming on! This time, I took her into the "bow room" with me to snuggle and hopefully fall back asleep. She fell back asleep at about 6:50 and then Nate graced me with his presence at around 7:15. Yay Easter!!! Once Kevin and I were both up and showered, we woke Miss Char up and went downstairs to see what the Easter bunny left and to find the eggs. After that, it was a rush to get out of the house to get to Grandma's in time for Easter Brunch. After brunch, we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house for a late dinner. Char had plenty of treats and eggs to find at both Grandparents houses. Both kids fell into sugar comas on the ride home that night and we were able to transfer both of them to their beds.

On today's agenda...to find a recipe(s) that utilizes 18 multicolored hard boiled eggs.....

Getting ready to dye eggs for the first time!

I don't get what this is all about, but it looks fun!

I don't understand why mom has me strapped in my chair, how much trouble could I cause with 9 cups of colored dye??

I think we need another pink one!

(Note Nate just chilling with his feet up on the table)

Daddy working very hard on his multicolored egg (orange and blue for the Bears of course)

All done :)

Easter morning - finding all of the hidden eggs. Charlotte was like a bloodhound sniffing out all of the eggs..she was an expert egg finder.

Stopping to inspect the treats left by the Easter Bunny

Nate in search of eggs

Found one!!

I see one!!!

Nate letting Daddy carry his basket

Natey finding an egg

Nate chilling at Grandma's house watching the Dora DVD the Easter Bunny left

Easter is exhausting

The Easter Brunch Charlotte set for her friends

Friday, April 22, 2011

Recent Charlotte-isms

Charlotte: "Mommy, can I ride my scooter?"

Me: " No, not until Nate goes to sleep."

Charlotte: "Natey, come here!!!! Mom, Natey looks tired, it's night night time...he needs a nap."

Me: "That's not how that works."

Charlotte is hugely attached to Fenway at this point. She insists that Fenway sleeps with her every night so she can "take care of her." Fenway doesn't seem to mind...usually. The other night, Fenway was sleeping with her in the "Bow room" (ie. the Guest Room where I make Charlotte's bows) I was watching TV in my room..

Charlotte comes in the room: "Mom, Fenway won't stay on the bed...she keeps jumping off and scratching at the door."

Me: "Well, sometimes Fenway just wants to be in my bed with Rupert...it's okay, she still loves you."

Charlotte, hangs her head low and stars walking towards the door...looks over her shoulder and says, "I guess I'm not a hero...I guess Im not a big girl..." Heartbreaking!!!

Me: "Charlotte, would you like to try some of this delicious mango that we got at Costco? It's perfectly ripe and soooo yummy."

Charlotte: "NO! Mangos are yucky!!!"

Me: "Charlotte, I think if you just tried it, you would really like it!!"

Charlotte: "NO!!!!!"

Me: "Charlotte, if you try just a bite, you can have some chocolate."

Charlotte: "Okay. Mommy...this is DELICIOUS!!!"

Me: "I know, would you like some more??"

Charlotte: "Nah, I'll just take the chocolate."

At Costco

Lady giving out free samples: "We have some chicken enchiladas today."

Charlotte: "Chicken? That's not delicious..."

Me: "Chicken's not delicious? What do you think is delicious?"

Charlotte: "Chocolate cake....if they had cake, I'd take one for Nate and one for me...and another for me."

Charlotte waiving a stick in her hand: "Abra cadabra.....make MOMMY disappear!"

Me: "What???"

We were at my parent's house for a visit and Grandma was on her way home from work..

Grandma: (hiding a coloring book she got at Walgreens behind her back) "Charlotte, I got something for you on my way home! What could it be??"

Charlotte: "Uh oh, Grandpa...I think Grandma's up to something...."

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Rain, Rain..Go Away!

The rain gear that mommy ordered came just in time!!! What a yucky day :( But, we donned our gear to head to Office Max..mommy ran out of printer ink while printing out invitations for Char's big 3rd birthday bash... My head is already spinning with ideas for the party...you know me...I found a theme and I am rocking it, I've earned a little bit of a rep for that :)

Cheetah Girl (yes, boots are on the wrong feet)

Fireman Nate reporting for duty

Trying to stay dry

Nate didn't really get the whole umbrella thing

The boots kept falling off too...

Monday, April 18, 2011

Scooter Girl

Here are some pics of Char riding her scooter to get the mail today. She got it from my friend, Heather, for Christmas. She calls it her "toot scooter" or her "tooter scooter." Not sure where she got the nicknames...but they are funny!

Angry Birds

I will admit, ever since Kevin gave me an iPad for Christmas, the Angry Birds app has been one of my favorite ways to waste time. But, now the birds are getting their revenge. I was scared at first, but now I am seriously pissed off...but I digress. My Facebook friends are probably well aware of my bird issues, but for the rest of you... It all started out last Thursday. I woke up and heard the loudest, strangest noises. I discovered it was a bird who was constantly flying into and pecking at our window. He/she would move from window to window. See the video below...

It has been going on ever since then...all day long. Starting at around 5-6 am, he's there, making all kinds of noise! He has started waking Charlotte and Nathan up in the morning..so, I have to bring them into bed with me and turn on our fan really high to drown out the noise and pray they will go back to sleep. Charlotte will usually fall back asleep...but Nate is hit or miss. So, now it's personal.. This damn bird is really making some enemies in this house. We think he is seeing his own reflection in our windows. We had a privacy film installed on all of our downstairs windows that also helps cut out the heat and uv rays. It also makes the windows a bit reflective from the outside. I have tried banging on the windows, hanging up a picture of an owl (a natural predator)..I've even attempted to throw things at it..but he is too quick. I'm going to start resorting to drastic measures, so if this bird knows what's good for him...he better find a new house. All of our windows are covered in marks from his constant attacks. Our ledges are covered in bird crap. Our neighborhood hawks and owls better be returning from their winter in Florida some time soon!!!

I am glad I figured out the reflection explanation..because I was starting to think it was an omen of bad things to happen or a dead relative coming to warn me of something.

All of the marks on the window...the window film is reflecting the back of the fence

Guess I'll be washing windows soon

He laughed at my attempt to fool him into thinking an owl was near.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Eggstravaganza!!!!

This morning was the Downers Grove Park District "Eggs"travaganza. It was so cute, the kids listened to a story, danced, sang, did crafts, had snacks, saw the Easter Bunny and did an Easter Egg hunt. Enjoy our pics:

Easter Cuties!