Rainbow Cupcakes

How awesome are these?!?!?! I offered to bring dessert to Easter so I'd have a reason to make these. I don't normally bake. Mostly because then we'd eat it all!

Super easy to make these! I used a boxed cake mix(yeah...I know...that's kind of cheating) and separated the batter into 4 little bowls. I added food coloring to each of the bowls then spooned it into the muffin cups. Then just bake as you'd normally bake cupcakes and they come out looking like this!! I did put home-made cream cheese frosting on top (YUM!) They look super cool without much work involved!

One more little story...A big scary snake wrapped itself around Vera's leg this morning!! Vera was pretty freaked out (I was too). It took her a while to shake it off! SCARY! Thankfully this critter was outside! Our lawn really needs to be mowed...the snakes can hide too easily right now and that's not ok with me!

A day at the Zoo!

A friend and I took our kids to the Minnesota Zoo yesterday. I was slightly nervous because the weather was a bit chilly but it turned out to be an awesome day! The kids were happy, the animals were out and moving, and it was so nice getting out of the house with a great friend!

Kalvin LOVED the tropical fish. He kept trying to grab at them which was pretty cute! Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures with the fish because I was too busy holding him up and smiling at him! The kids also really liked the ducks and the flamingos...basically anything that moved quickly! They were unimpressed by things like turtles and sleeping wort hogs... :)

Here are some pictures from the day:

My friend bought her little girl a maraca. Kalvin stole it away...

Isn't he sweet??

Ohhh Kalvin also learned a few tricks over the last few days! He can now wave ByeBye and he can also mimick us when we say "Uhh Ohh"...both are super cute!! He gets more fun every day!!

Happy Easter {yesterday}!!

Hope everyone had a great Easter. Ours was OK. Kalvin spent half the day sleeping because we went to church on Saturday night and didn't get home until 11!! (3 hours past Mr. Kalvin's bedtime!) Kalvin can't seem to sleep or relax while holding him...He needs his bed and no distractions! Dan was confirmed into the Catholic church that night so we couldn't miss it! We are really proud of Dan for joining the church and uniting our little family!

Here are some pictures of Kalvin and his Easter basket:

The koosh ball is for Kalvin and the candy is for us :)

Dan's mom and dad LOADED us up on candy yesterday!!! Kalvin REALLY enjoys playing with it! I love Kalvin's little pinkie up in the air. ha ha! He's so dainty!

We have a busy rest of the week planned! Between ECFE, swim lessons, a trip to the zoo, and getting Dan all ready to leave for the UK...we will not be bored!

In other news...Vera is SUPER sick today! She is a throw-up machine!! She pooped and threw up in her kennel now she'll probably stay outside the rest of the day! (It's nice out so I don't feel bad!) I've brought many buckets of water outside to wash away nastiness! Poor puppy!

Speaking of nice weather...I looked outside to check on Vera and I see the snakes are also enjoying the sun :)

Here's what we've been up to...

Kalvin wasn't a fan of the skinny jeans. I think he'll get used to them :) They are still super big but will be perfect for this fall! Isn't he stylish?!?! (He was actually just really tired when I tried them of him!)

Here are just a few of the clothes that came for him yesterday. I'm loving that pea-coat! and those jeans have black and white paint splatters on them!! Those plaid shorts are reversible to solid brown which I thought would be handy for this summer! Isn't that marlin shirt funny? That's also reversible! He'll be so stylish!!!

SMILES!!

He's just showing off his three teeth!

Kalvin was super smiley this morning! So of course I needed to take lots of pictures!

Here's a close up of those 3 big teeth!

Kalvin's teeth must really be bothering him lately! He started chewing on his thumb and he's actually getting a little sore on it! I also discovered yesterday that's he's been chewing on his crib rails! He slept in his pack n play last night until I can get a cover for it. I don't think chewing on finished wood is good for his teeth and it's definitely not good for his crib! It looks like a little mouse has been chewing on it!

So today I'm off to try to find a cover for his crib and also might pick up some baby orajel.

Nana (my grandmother) is having a heart procedure as I type this...please say a prayer that everything goes well!! Hope everyone is having a great Thursday!!

My personal helper...

I just can't seem to find much time to post lately! Between Kalvin and Vera...and ECFE class and swim lessons...and naps and bedtime routines...and changing poopy diapers and feedings: it's been hard to find time to do anything! Last night around 9:00 I was so happy to finally get something to eat! The cream of wheat I had eaten for breakfast definitely didn't hold me over that long!!

Here are a few pictures from the last few days:

Funny how Kalvin has so many fun toys and he prefers to play with strange objects...like the heat vent in his bedroom! Silly boy!

Kalvin helped me fold and put away clothes yesterday. He isn't that great at helping yet...he mostly slows me down. I don't really mind though! It helps that he's so cute :)

YAY! I'm expecting a package today! I ordered clothes from Gymboree for Kalvin and can't wait to see them. I'm most excited for the brown skinny jeans for him! (Dan didn't seem too impressed...) hehe!

Kalvin is STILL sick!

Kalvin has been sick for almost 2 weeks! My poor baby just can't seem to get better. This is what he looked like this morning... I'm supposed to take him to ECFE class today. They have told me before that as long as he doesn't currently have a fever...I can bring him. He seems to be feeling OK and doesn't have a fever. I'm just leery to bring him because I wouldn't want other parents bringing their sick kids!! (PS...He doesn't ALWAYS have this much snot! I snapped a picture because it was so surprising when I looked at him!!) So what should I do???

Our snake count is also up to= 6!!! I woke Dan up in the middle of the night last week to get another one in Kalvin's room!

AMAZING package I received!

A few weeks ago I won a giveaway on one of my favorite blogs! When I received the package last week, it was so pretty that I felt bad opening it! I had to take pictures to show everyone!

The earrings are a perfect addition to my jewelry collection. I've been trying my hardest to look more put-together everyday and not just wear sweatpants everyday! Even though I'm just sitting at home right now...I have a necklace on!!! Crazy...I know!!! I need out of this bad mom-rut!!! What I really need is a daily stylist and hair and makeup artist! Anyone want to volunteer??

Bethany is exactly the person I wish I could be! I find her blog to be so inspiring and entertaining!

Take a look:

http://wakeworkrinserepeat.blogspot.com/

Mr. Snotty Nose

Mr. Snotty Nose has returned! He's been sick all week with 10+ poopy diapers a day...waking up coughing....and this nasty runny nose! We think he must get sick every time he's sprouting a new tooth! One of his top ones came in yesterday so hopefully the other upper is soon to follow so he can be back to his normal healthy self! I swear I wipe his nose but he's still always crusty...that's just the way it has to be! I don't want his delicate little face chapped!

This is still Kalvin's favorite face to make and he loves the 'tooting' noise that accompanies this face. He's actually doing it while I'm sitting here typing! hehe!

It's pretty cute! Except when we're in a quiet place like church and he just keeps making this noise!!

My dad has started calling Kalvin "smirky" because he always has this silly/sweet grin on his face.

Another thing Kalvin has started doing...EVERY.SINGLE.TIME I say momma to him...he says Dada back to me with a big grin on his face. I think he just says dada because it's obviously an easier sound to make! But it's still annoying...

Well time for me to change ANOTHER poopy diaper! This is already #3 and it's only 9:30!

Just one Debbie-Downer post...

Most of you already know that I have a connective tissue disorder. But what does that really mean?? I've had tons of broken bones, torn ligaments and tendons and so many surgeries that I lost count a long time ago!

I spent most of my high school and college years in and out of the operating room and sported hundreds of very sparkly and brightly colored casts and splints. I wasn't able to play sports and I missed so many days of school that my classmates probably didn't know the real me. I won't ever be able to do push-ups (not that I really want to! HE HE) or play many sports. I pray every single day that Kalvin won't have this genetic disorder as well!

Today I was very disappointed when my hand surgeon's appointment office called and cancelled my appointment for Wednesday. This appointment had been scheduled since January and now he's completely booked up until the end of July... I try not to complain too much about hurting. No one wants to hear that and I definitely don't want people treating me differently. Because I was pregnant and now I'm still nursing, I haven't been able to do any 'regular maintenance' on my hands. No surgeries or cortisone shots... Carrying around a 20 pound baby has definitely taken a toll of them! My thumbs are just waiting patiently (or not so patiently!) for the day I can have my joint replacement surgeries done! Hopefully in the fall...

My hands are like road maps with all the scars. I also don't remember how many screws are in there anymore! I don't like wearing bracelets or watches because they rub on my scars.

I dread shaking hands with people because I fear they are going to hurt my hands even worse...

Pink is my favorite color for a cast...especially when they add sparkles! I have a special wardrobe for after surgeries that includes shirts with one sleeve cut off, fluffy down vests instead of coats and anything with very stretchy sleeves...

My mom has been at every single surgery, come along to 99.9% of my appointments and helped me out with all the recoveries. She's washed my hair, wiped my butt, and dressed me countless times :) What would we do without moms??

I enjoy matching my cast colors with the holidays or planning outfits around what color my cast is.

I often wonder...Why me?? Why am I the one who has to go through all this?? I just need to remember that there are so many people in the world suffering and those people would gladly take my problems over theirs! I am truly blessed with a wonderful family, a great husband, and the most smiley little boy ever!

Women's Expo + 3 little boys!

Yesterday afternoon we ventured over to a women's expo! We stuck out like a sore thumb...partly because we were the only people at the whole entire exhibit and also because we had 3 strollers with 3 little boys! Everyone is always so much friendlier when you have a baby!

It was nice not fighting crowds and also super nice because one of my sister's won a drawing. (I think because no one else entered!! hehe!) I'm still hoping the make-over place draws my name!

Look how cute those boys were...

I've been away...

I haven't posted in a few days and I also haven't taken any pictures! Kalvin, Vera, and I are visiting my parents this week so we've been kind of busy! Dan is busy working the weekend away so we thought it was a perfect time for a visit!

Plan for today: Women's Expo with my mom, 2 out of 3 sisters, and some little kids! Should be a great day!! I'm bringing my camera but we'll see if I actually remember to take any pictures. :)

This is a picture of my sisters and I from a little over a year ago! I wish we were able to spend more time together! I have a great family!

Happy Saturday!

Rowan's pet snake!

My sister, BIL, and 2 of their 4 kids stayed at our house Monday night. We were so excited to see them! Yesterday morning Rowan(age 3) caught a snake and he was SOOOOOO excited! No worries...this one was outside (where they belong!). He just reached down and grabbed it by its tail. We put it in a Ziploc bag (we learned they can survive like this for awhile!) and he took it home to show his older brother and sister! Anyone else want to take any home with them??? I'll share!!

Just a little tidbit...when I look out my dining room windows, I can usually find at least a couple snakes in the grass! It's insane! Snakes used to be a novelty item...when you only find ONE every few years, they are kind of fun! When you have hundreds of them in a single season...the fun wears off and they are just nasty slithering critters!! Maybe I should write in to one of those TV shows where they donate/build a new house for you?!?! Seems like a worthy cause to get my family out of this snake infested home! Tuesday night was Kalvin's first swim lesson! The picture below was taken 5 minutes before we had to leave. I felt bad waking him up because I think he's teething again so he had a low-grade fever and was just more droopy then normal! He was pretty sad to wake up but did great at swim lessons! He was very brave and didn't cry at all! I was pretty impressed because I thought the water was freezing!!

Kalvin still isn't feeling that well this morning. He still has a low fever and actually just threw up a bit ago. Poor baby! It's so sad seeing your children not feel well! Hopefully those teeth pop through soon and I'll have my happy little boy back!

I also received the most beautiful package in the mail yesterday!! I'll be writing more about that this week!

Vera's Bling

Kalvin discovered Vera's new name tag today and then only wanted to grab at it! Vera was ok with it until Kalvin started pulling really hard. They are two goofy babies!

He's not a huge fan of puppy kisses and I can't blame him!

(Are you getting annoyed with all my Vera/Kalvin posts lately?? It's hard to resist now that they've started interacting more!!!)

Good Morning!

It's a great morning here! Hope you're having a great morning too and a fabulous weekend!

Here are the pictures I promised yesterday! ENJOY!

(Please ignore my terrible bed-head...and focus on Kalvin's sweet smile!)