Nursery Rhymes - with Olivia's twist

Each night Jarrett & I alternate getting some uninterrupted snuggle time with Olivia during her bedtime story. I would say 80% of the time she chooses the same book. And it is appropriately titled "My Bed Time Book of Favorite Nursery Rhymes".

Being Miss Independent, I can no longer read to her. She reads to me, or should I say she has the book pretty much memorized. Either way, she simply must do it herself. And I have learned sometimes its best to not correct her 'versions' of the nursery rhymes. And laughter of any kind embarrasses the poor dear to no end.

So I could hardly control my laughter when she read this tonight:

sing a song its the pits
pocket full of pie
four & plenty backbirds
baked in a pie

(Sing a Song of Six Pence
Pocket full of rye
four & twenty blackbirds
baked in a pie)

4 going on 16...

I know we have all heard it "little ones are like sponges, they soak up everything". I tell you friends, it is oh so true! I constantly see myself in Olivia, but even more so Jarrett sees me in Olivia. She is so funny! Here is a prime example...

Last night once the girls were done with bath time. I was zipping Rachel up into her cozy sleeper.

Olivia: "Mama, where are my zipper jammies?"
Me: "Remember that you grew & now they are too little, so I put them away in the attic"

Olivia: "Oh that's right because now I am not a "BABY" anymore." (she actually did the quotation marks with her fingers!)

I was laughing so hard I had to sit down. That girl...I tell you! I will love her until the day I die!!!

Random Picture Challenge

4 little men & girly twins hosts the Random Picture Challenge every week.

27th folder

or December 2007

27th picture

I don't have dated folders so this is from my 27th folder.

This photo I had titled as "Circus Meltdown".

Rachel hated every second of the circus, as you can tell!

Go over to 4 little men & girly twins to join in the fun!

I ♥ Faces - Pouting Week

It's pouting week at I ♥ Faces! And with 2 lil' drama queens, Lord knows I have a few pouting pictures! This is the most recent one of Rachel. She had a major melt-down on a recent trip to the park. She was, as Olivia would say, "commotional"! haha!

Head on over to I ♥ Faces to check out all the other pictures!

Party Time!!!

We are going to Party Down!!! Tonight is Ashley's bachelorette party! Gonna kick things off with dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings. Then rock out at Snappers with a band & end the evening doing karaoke at Breakers! I for one am looking forward to an evening without the kiddos & hubby. Its going to be a blast!

17 months & counting...

I can hardly believe my sweet little baby Rachel is already 17 months old! The time has just flown by.


So, Miss Rachel - what are you up to these days? What's that??? you can't form complete sentences, so Mama should relay all the pertinent info to your peeps? Alright, you twisted my arm. Here it goes...

• You love to be outside! This is a new-found discovery. You spent practically all day Sunday outside at Great Grandma & Great Grandpa's. Daddy is very happy to have another "out-doorsy" daughter. Thank Heaven's that SPRING has finally arrived.


• You love our dogs at home. And you love to find the kitties at Bopchi & Tata's and at Great Grandma & Great Grandpa's. The kitties don't love this so much, but what do they know right?!


• Sometimes, you are a bit of a fussy eater. You go from eating us out of house & home, to turning up your nose at every single bite that is presented to you. We have found that you eat better if you sit on our laps. And you immensely enjoy picking food off of our plates. This is a bit of a bad habit to get into, so I am sure that soon enough we will try to break you of it.


• You love your big sister, Olivia very very much. And you love tormenting her just as much. I think your favorite past-time is having her chase you from the living room to your bedroom & back again about 10 or 15 times a day.


• You are practically obsessed with the movie - Monster's Inc. I take the blame for this, as I subjected you to it one very loud & sleepless night. The "Monsties" soothed you & you were mesmerized. And to this day, if the movie is on, you will sit very still & watch it in its entirety.


• You are now completely mobile on 2 feet! Gone are your scooting days. That was however, one of the most adorable things in the world to witness & I have never seen anything like that in all of my 27 years!

I love you so much Rachel! And we are so incredibly blessed with such a beautiful, healthy, happy, and ornery little girl!

Praying for Stellan

I read MckMama's Blog daily. Her little baby boy, Stellan, is not doing very well at all. Stellan & her entire family are in my thoughts & prayers. I would like to encourage everyone else to do the same!







No words can describe...My heart goes out to MckMama & her family. Thoughts & prayers are with little Stellan. Adding this to Stellan's Name Gallery

I ♥ Faces - no flash

Its NO FLASH week at I ♥ Faces. So we hit the great outdoors for some natural light! Here is my sweet Olivia playing at the "Play Park" as she calls it. It was a lovely sunny day & she was having a blast!

Head on over to I ♥ Faces to check out all the other pictures!

Random Picture Challenge

4 little men & girly twins hosts the Random Picture Challenge every week - I love pictures & choosing them at random is lots of fun!

The mission: 3rd folder - 1st picture with the color brown in it!


So here we have Olivia at the carnival in 2008. With her brown hair!

We ♥ Spring

Today is the 1st day of Spring! And I could not be more excited! Yesterday after work, I suprised the girls with a visit to the "Play Park" to burn off some steam & enjoy the lovely weather. Olivia had a field trip with her pre-school class earlier that day & when the surprise trip to the play park was added on she declared it was "the best day of her whole life"! Rachel, unfortunately, did not enjoy herself very much. She was tired, mad, and did not want me to put her down at all. She even screamed through her short little time on the swing.

See - Olivia all smiles & Rachel crying! It's a constant battle to get a good picture of both of them smiling.
Olivia was having a blast! She was so super happy to be outside & was really enjoying herself!

Olivia demonstrating techniques she learned in her gymnastics class at the Y. She can flip upside down on the bar & does really well on the balance beam.

Olivia took this picture of Rachel & me! She is really getting quite good at taking pictures. Practically all of the pictures of me & Rachel together are taken by Olivia!

Isn't this soooooo precious! Olivia showing off her skipping abilities!

We are definitely looking forward to many many more days like this!

HORRAY!!!! IT'S THE LAST DAY OF WINTER

Here in the great Land of Lincoln, it seems like we have been waiting all year to get to this point...come to think of it, we literally HAVE been waiting all year for this. An official Good-Bye to Winter! Now, I was born in the morning, but not yesterday morning. So, I do realize that just because the seasons have technically changed that doesn't mean Mother Nature may not have something else up her sleeve for us. But hopefully, the transition will continue to go as wonderfully as this week has.

We have been blessed with some absolutely fabulous weather this whole week. Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday were all days with highs in the 60's or 70's. Today is a little cooler yet, but I will take 50 degrees over sub-zero temperatures any day of the year! I even wore sandals to work Tuesday to show of my newly pedicured feet! (I don't even think that is a word but who cares)

The girls & I plan on getting out to enjoy some of this fantastic weather this evening. I will post again tomorrow to put some pictures up!

Wordless Wednesday

I ♥ Faces - Green Week

In celebration of St. Patty's Day, it's Green Week over at I ♥ Faces.

I entered this picture in the I ♥ Faces kids!

Here we have my sweet little Livie Lou playing outside last spring. I cannot wait until my grass is this green again!!!!

Check out more GREEN pictures @ I ♥ Faces

My Mornings!

Every morning is the same routine...I'm sure this is not just unique to my family. Here is a breakdown of a typical Totten house morning.

I am woke up by this sweet lil girl usually between 6:00 & 6:30.

And more often then not, I have to wake up this lil darling around 7:00.

Sometimes, I have a enthusiastic helper who takes much pleasure in waking Livie up. And it looks like this:

Rachel being the early riser, is a pretty happy girl in the morning. Our new thing is watching out the front door as Daddy leaves. She waves & yells "Daaaaaaaaay" (which is Rachel for Daddy & dogs) so I am never sure if she is yelling at Jarrett or the dogs running around outside eating their breakfast :) but it is probably Daddy... I got this picture earlier this week.
Then we get all dressed & loaded up in the car to be taken to the baby sitter. I am anxiously awaiting warmer weather so the girls don't have to be so bundled up. Doesn't Rachel look oh so comfortable all bundled up & strapped in her carseat?!

Then I get my 25 minutes to myself to sing as loud as I can in the car on the way to work!

Wordless Wednesday

I ♥ Faces

The challenge this week at I ♥ Faces is Creative Crop...I wasn't sure if I was going to do it or not. But I decided to give it a go. Here is Rachel playing in her extremely cluttered room (I like how the cropped image you cannot see the clutter!)

The Before:

The After:

Check out more adorable pictures @ I ♥ Faces

Random Picture Challenge

It's Random Picture Challenge time again - a little fun post thought up by 4 little men & girly twins each week.

Here is what the rules are this week: February 2009 or 1st folder FIRST picture of something other than your kids!

Here is what I came up with...I don't have dated folders, so this is the from my 1st folder. And this is the 3rd picture I ever took with my camera! This is Jar - the love of my life! Doesn't he look oh so enthused to have his picture taken!

Go here and join!

Good-Bye Winter - for the time being

I am sure that Mother Nature is simply teasing us with this stretch of 60+ degree temperatures & sunshine. But we took full advantage of it at the Totten house!

Olivia is SO SO SO big on riding bikes! She asked her loving Daddy to ride bikes on the patio with her. Jarrett discovered his bike had a flat tire as did mine. So he rode on Olivia's extra Barbie bike. Picture if you will, my husband - a 6 ft tall 200 lb man - riding a pink Barbie bicycle with pink streamers on the handle bars! Bahahaha! Unfortunately, since I was a not feeling so good yesterday I was not quick enough with my camera to get documented proof. But if I know my husband & daughter like I think I do, it is only a matter of time before this all happens again.

Then we took the girls on a little stroll down our extremely not busy country road. Both of the girls loved the wagon ride. Rachel squealed all the way! And Olivia kept yelling for Daddy to run!

Then Olivia had a little fun on the swingset! And, for those who may wonder, we do not let her swing on it like this. She just thought it was hysterically funny when Jarrett would flip the swing up over the bar. And Jarrett thought it would be funny to sit her up there.

Let me tell you...I didn't feel good at all yesterday. And desperately wanted to go to bed early. And I got my wish. The fresh air & the exercise of riding bikes with Daddy must have wore my girls out because they were both in bed sound asleep by 7:30. What a rare treat!!! And a glimpse of what is to come when the Spring & Summer are here!!!

My Mama - as told by Olivia

Ok so I'm not going to lie - I saw this on someone else's blog. And I thought it was super-cute & was very curious as to what my daughter's answers would be. So I sat down with Miss Olivia last night for a little Q & A. Here are her answers word for word...

1. What is something Mama always says to you?

Livie - I love you

2. What makes Mama happy?

Livie - when I am good & listen

3. What makes Mama sad?

Livie - when I don't listen

4. How does Mama make you laugh?

Livie - tells funny jokes & makes silly faces

5. What was Mama like as a child?

Livie - just like me, that is what Grandma said

6. How old is Mama?

Livie - ummm 47 no no wait 27, that is the right answer Mama

7. How tall is Mama?

Livie - (she stretched her arms out) well I don't know, lets weigh you Mama

Mama - lets not, we can skip that question

8. What is Mama's favorite thing to do?

Livie - play with me & do the scrapbook

9. What does Mama do when you are not around?

Livie - go to Wal-Mart to buy stuff

10. What is your Mama really good at?

Livie - ping ponging & I'm a good ping ponger too

11. What is your Mama not very good at?

Livie - basketball dribbling, remember Mama that is what you told me the other day

12. What does your Mama do for a job?

Livie - working for money so we can buy stuff & not steal

13. What is your Mama's favorite food?

Livie - hot dogs & macaroni & cheese

Mama - Are you sure that is not your favorite?

Livie - well its both our favorites

14. What makes you proud of your Mama?

Livie - doing stuff for me when I am sick to make me happy

15. If your Mama was a cartoon character who would she be?

Livie - Boopa from Yo Gabba Gabba

16. How are you & Mama the same?

Livie - both have bangs cut & we are both girls

17. How are you & Mama different?

Livie - my hair is longer

18. How do you know Mama loves you?

Livie - because you tell me & you have pictures of you hugging me & kissing me

19. Where is your Mama's favorite place to go?

Livie - to Hobby Lobby

20. What does Mama like the most about Daddy?

Livie - that he's married to you & he gave you that ring (pointing to my wedding ring)

I love this girl soooooo much - nobody has any idea!!!

Random Picture Challenge

Better late then never...

4 little men & girly twins hosts the Random Picture Challenge every week - I love pictures & choosing them at random is lots of fun! I'm joining in for the first time (and I am a few days late) And it's a fun way to go down memory lane! This week you are to choose the from 11th folder or September 2007 and pick the 11th picture. No dated folders here, so I chose the 11th folder, 11th picture:

Here are my beautiful girls relaxing in Olivia's bed watching a movie. This picture was taken in April of 2008.

I ♥ Faces

I decided to join in on the fun again this week at I ♥ Faces! It's MESSY WEEK & this is one messy baby! Rachel eating spaghetti with a big ol' chunk of tomato stuck by her nose! HA!





Check out more adorable pictures @ I ♥ Faces

NOT ME! MONDAY

Welcome to NOT Me! Monday! This fabulously fun blog carnival was created by MckMama. So, you should head over to her blog to read what MckMama herself & all the other happy bloggers have NOT been doing this week.

This week, I did NOT admit that I have developed a serious addiction to blogging. Some might say its a little unhealthy. And the fact that our computer is in the girls' bedroom does NOT have me considering purchasing a laptop just so I can get online at midnight without fear of disturbing my sleeping kids. I am NOT pleading my case to my husband every chance I get. NOT ME!

I did NOT just have my last week working 4 x 10s then become a little bipolar about whether or not I made the right decision. So now it will NOT be me who gets to stay home an extra half hour in the morning & NOT me who will get home or to pick the kids up an hour & 45 minutes earlier. Gone are the days when I have to sneak into give Rachel a kiss because she is already out for the night when I get home. And I will no longer have to make supper then give Olivia a bath & get no quality time with her before her 9:00 bedtime. And I will get to see my J-Man more regularly. And I am NOT excited about getting to see my 3 favorite people more often through out the week!

I did NOT get away with the J-Man to Indy this weekend for the supercross. I did NOT make him promise that we would have a "Politics Free Weekend" because that is what he talks about over 75% of the time. We did NOT have a fabulous & relaxing time!