Life with the Divas

So, I forgot to mention that Mark got me my very own nail shellac-ing set up.  I'm pretty excited.  I now can shellac my nails from the convenience of my own home.  I've been shallac-ing up a storm.  Well, as much shellac-ing as one can do in a week.  And since you only have to do it once a week, I've only done it once.  But, believe me, a shellac-ing storm is in my future.

On the subject of gifts, I've been meaning to tell you about a gift that one of my besties got me for my b-day.  They have changed my world when it comes to my workout attire.  She got me a pair of lululemon wunder unders.  THEY...ARE...AMAZING!  I had heard they were great, but I had no idea until I tried them on.  They fit so well and are ultra slimming.  I have literally had seven different people ask about them at the gym.  One girl mentioned that she has had a pair for over a year and they still look great after all of those washings.  So anyway, I love them and would definitely recommend them to anyone.  These aren't the exact ones I have, but are super close.  So fellas, if you are looking for a gift for your special lady, here you go...

I'm living with two tiny little divas over here.  The sickness has made them whiney and super demanding.  I hardly recognize them.  Kiki has started throwing huge fits when she doesn't get her way.  I'm talking about the laying on the ground kicking and screaming kind of tantrum.  Rosie is freaking out over the smallest things.  Yesterday, I thought something horrible had happened from her spastic crying.  I ran into the room to have her tell me that her bangs were in her eyes.  Another time she was crying and I asked her what was wrong and she answered with, "I don't like Santa!"  Please pray for my patience and that this whole thing will be over soon.  

I better run and get a few things accomplished while the ladies are resting!  

I'm not exactly sure why the caged bird sings?

I did something today that's totally foreign to me.  I spent the afternoon alone!  Crazy, huh?!  Well, it was only about three hours, but it was really nice.  A few months ago, I was leafing through the magazine "Country Living," and read about the nation's top 50 craft fairs.  I was excited to see that one of those, The Big Crafty, was here in Asheville.  I made a mental note that I would go to it when the time came.  Well, it kind of snuck up on me and before I knew it, the day had arrived.  Mark was busy with a work thing until after noon, but when he got home, he told me to go have some fun.  I was a little nervous to go on my own (the introvert in me was rearing its ugly head) but I went and I'm really glad I did.  I did a few errands on the way, had a nice lunch and then headed downtown.  Everyone there looked like my yoga instructor, smelled of patchouli and were much cooler than I ever could even think of being, but it was nice.  I found a few little treasures, which was a plus!  I've been feeling a little bit like a caged bird lately due to being housebound with Rosie and Kiki, so the chance to get out was VERY welcome.

When I got home, I was greeted by two little homeless looking children.  I guess that's what three plus weeks of sickness will do to you.  They just looked very dirty, grubby and ragamuffiny.  Nothing a little TLC couldn't cure, and by TLC I don't mean the 90's girl group, although the song, "Waterfalls" was pretty awesome.  I made it my mission for the rest of the afternoon to try to get them back in order.  A bath, a haircut, and a mani/pedi later and they were good to go.  They are still not well, poor little things.  You can see it in their tired eyes.  It just breaks my heart.  They haven't been 100% in weeks and I'm really hoping we are over the worst of it.  Here are a few photos from our journey through the "plague"...

 Ragamuffin #1 - Enjoying her popsicle.  

 Ragamuffin #2- Tasting her very first popsicle.  She's a fan! 

 Nothing makes a sick girl feel better more than cuddling up with a good book underneath the Christmas tree.  

Sickly Sisters

This picture just kills me.  It really hit her hard! 

Kiki's first pedicure tonight!  She seems proud of her pink little toes. 

Today was day two of our Advent Calendar and the girls are both loving it.  If you remember back from this post, I wrapped different Christmas books and the girls get to unwrap one of them every day of December.  I had a few extra, so some days the girls get a bonus book.  The stories are definitely putting us all in the Christmas mood.  The house all decked out for Christmas helps, too.  It is so cozy in this place!  

Both of the girls LOVE everything about Christmas (except Santa, but that's a story for another day).  Every morning when Rosie comes down the stairs, she gasps and in her most awe-filled voice whispers some form of, "The Christmas tree is so beautiful/magical/perfect/wonderful."  Kiki is mesmerized by the ornaments.  She considers each of them her property and has made it her job to find other homes for them.  I've found ornaments in the pantry, in the laundry room, in the couch cushions and in the toilet.  Yes, the toilet.  That one now lives in the trash.    

Daddy and Rosie cuddling and reading.

The Tree (Please ignore our crooked star.  For eight years, I have tried everything to make it stay upright.  As you can see, nothing's worked.)  

When I was home a few weeks ago, I found my first ornament, circa 1980.  Now it lives at our house!

The day after Thanksgiving, Monroe and the boys helped me paint craft sticks so that I could make this.  I just used hot glue and some ribbon.  It cost me nothing!  I love a free project. 

The Ornament Bandit...caught red-handed

The day the plague hit, before I realized it was upon us, I tried to get some pictures for our Christmas Card.  Needless to say, it didn't go well.   I wasn't able to use any of them, but I think I might try to do this little session again when there is no 103 degree fever involved.    

This was the only one I was able to get of Kiki on the chair.  In all of the others, she was on the floor face-down crying.  That should have been my first clue.  

This should have been my second.  

  

Well, I've got loads of laundry to fold.  Have a great night and a wonderful week!  I'll leave you with some pictures that made me smile.  

Mark and I were reading to Rosie on the couch, while Kiki played.  We heard chairs being moved, but didn't think anything of it, until we looked up to find this happening.  No fear here people.  

I'm still trying to get a handle on this curling wand thing.  It's pretty tough to maneuver the curls in the back.  Lucky for me, I have my own in-house hair guy.  Gotta love him...yes, that's a protective glove:) 

Life According to my Phone

Okay, so I'm sure you thought I had fallen off the face of the earth.  Things have been pretty intense around here.  From sickness to visitors, I haven't had a free moment.  Last November I participated in NaBloPoMo, National Blog Post Month and posted every day!  This year, not so much.  I think I've only posted four times this month.  To be honest, I've been pretty exhausted and now the girls are sick with another round of something and I think I'm on the verge of losing it.  I hate seeing them so sickly, although, I am enjoying Kiki "the cuddler".  We don't usually get much cuddling out of her.  

So, where do I start with the happenings over the last few weeks?  I went through the pictures on my phone to try and get some help in remembering what we've been up to...

This is a picture of the busted blood vessel in my eye from throwing up so much when I got the stomach flu.  Pretty glamourous;)  

Trip to the park on a pretty afternoon

 Kiki loves her some slide

Melissa, Maria and I had a fun, spur-of-the-moment afternoon at the Biltmore.  

We got a few treats to share...please don't compare the number of treats to the number of people.  

The girls at the Biltmore 

The Biltmore at Christmas is pretty breathtaking! 

Thanksgiving!  Mason and Max had both thrown up at this point and were sleeping.  Yes, we love to share our stomach flu with all visitors.  Anyone want to come visit?  

The food...I'm always intrigued by what others eat for Thanksgiving, so I thought I would share ours.  

 The Bros and their 'staches.  Mark said he might un-stache tonight.  I can't say that I'm too sad about it.

  

 Rosie and our tree.  She had so much fun putting up the ornaments, although 95% were in that lower right area. 

I was trying to take a picture of how the blood in my eye had settled in a red outline around the iris, but the glare wouldn't let it happen.  So instead, I'm showing you how my curls turned out using the curling wand.  

The girls and I today.  We hung out in my bed for a big portion.  My poor little ladies.  

I also turned 32!  Let's face it, I'm old.  We ended up going to Greenville on my birthday.  I have a ton of pictures we took, but I'll post those in a separate entry.  I'm sure there are a lot of things I've forgotten, but it's all kind of a blur.  So, now that we're all caught up, I'll try to be more deliberate about posting.  Fingers crossed!

A Poop Story...Chapter 2

I really can't believe that Rosie is potty-trained.  You guys weren't kidding when you told me that it would just have to click with her.  She seems completely comfortable with the whole process and doesn't need my assistance at all now.  This is a good thing and a bad thing.  I no longer know when she goes and I will sometimes overlook the fact that she's left "presents" for me.  It's not a big deal at all when she's gone in the toilet, but when she's gone in the potty chair, it's a different story altogether.

This morning, as I was reading Rosie a book, Kiki came walking up and handed me something.  At first I couldn't figure out what it was and then it hit me...poop!  I noticed that she had another little ball in her other hand, and luckily, I was able to wrangle it away from her before it ended up where most things end up...in her mouth!  My plan for the day wasn't to handle another person's poop, but the jobs of a mom are many.

In other news, all of us Murrill ladies have come down with the plague...some of us worse than others.  I hate being sick and to have the girls under the weather, too, makes it even worse.  I'm praying it's a quick one and we'll be good as new before you know it.  I must be sick because I turned down a date with friends to Papas and Beer for lunch.  If that doesn't say something, I don't know what does.

I have my mind on another project...the wall up my staircase.  It's really boring and I have wanted to put something on it, but at the same time, it's large and daunting and it completely overwhelms me.  I saw a couple of pictures on Pinterest that inspired me, though.  One of my favorites is this pic...

Source: Pinterest  

I don't want to spend a lot of money on this project, so I thought I would give myself a little challenge.  I am only allotting a $20 budget to do it.  This, of course, means I will have to get stuff on the cheap.  (We are getting family portraits done in October, but I won't factor that into the cost.)  I'm excited to get started and show you how it goes.

As I mentioned earlier, I've felt pretty crummy today.  I wanted to make something easy for dinner, so I tried a crockpot recipe I found on a blog for a potato soup.  It turned out really well and definitely hit the spot with the fall temps we are having.

I took a few pics of the girls playing today.  They really enjoy each other and that makes me so happy.  They laugh, and scream and chase each other around the house.  They also like to get into stuff they shouldn't.  I don't mind too much, though...just making memories;) 

 This is their favorite place to play.  

 Getting into stuff.  

This candle is Kiki's newest victim.  She's eaten a lot of it.    

My little princess, playing with her little princesses.  

 She sure is a sweetie pie.  

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