Creative things to do with kids (for the future) and a meager catch up

I just saw this pin on pinterest:

Source: simplekids.net via Allison on Pinterest

I remember my mother was SO creative with us. I need to ask her for ideas. I hope that when we have babies I won't just get so completely overwhelmed and forget these ideas by the time our kids are old enough for them.


Some I am adding:
-surprise them with an indoor picnic
-send them on a scavenger hunt
-cut their food into fun shapes
-put all toys in storage except 10, cover the rest in wrapping paper, and once a month they get "present day", plus they can earn extra present days. Don't forget to put the old toys back into the rotation!
-have a s'more night
-go camping in the living room (my sister and I used to love doing this!)

In other news, I haven't posted in over a month. I've been really bad since summer. Stupid military base with poor internet got me into some poor blogging habits.

Lots of recipes and wedding details coming soon!

Also - look at this amazing website my sister-in-law Sarah sent me! I want to make a million, or one for each season, or at least just one iPhone 5 cover.

New How I Met Your Mother in 2 minutes.

I leave you with a few of my favorite pictures from lately: (ps, I decided to only post 10, but I have so much to catch you all up on, not even including the wedding!)

This morning - how could I drag myself out with these two cuddle bugs? Yes, I did get in trouble by Charlie for having the dogs upstairs.


Charlie in Baghdad in 2007 - Happy Veterans Day to my favorite Veteran!


Dinner the other night - I love our wedding serve ware!!!! The chicken is a pomegranate chicken that I tried to copy from Market Grille Cafe - it was pretty good but not yet perfect.




Clara playing with the "Daddy Bear" at our house. She said "the bear is going to work", how cute.


I'm wearing a Lee scarf! So warm and stylish


Katy and her bff Maya Marie (Katy gave my dog a middle name)


Shredded brussel sprouts salad, recipe to come!


Charlie and Jeff with Grant and Todd (Charlie had just shaved his head)


Texting Sarah (my gym buddy) during balletone, such a good class.



AH there is another one I want to post but that's enough.

HIMYM wooo!

Alabama Randoms...and a Goat! (long post warning)

Backtrack beyond those two weeks in Atlanta.

Currently craving: A time machine, to remind me of all the events I didn't blog about!

This is going to be quite random.

Since arriving in Alabama, I have found this picture of Charlie's parents:


Who do you think he looks like?


We grilled out with Charlie's flight and some spouses:






Which ended in a very college esque night of beer pong and flip cup...but with all captains in the AF and their spouses:







I met lots of family! Charlie's step mom Pat has two daughters and 7 grandkids and it has been a joy spending time with them all. Charlie's Uncle Eddy and his wife Susan came and visited as well.

Charlie with his Uncle Eddy


Some of the grandkids playing. The fenced in part is because the ducks get to play there during the day!


5 of 7 of Pat's grandkids

Here is Haley-Jo, the baby of the family:



Trying to skip rocks on the pond in Pat and Dale's backyard.


Saying hi to the duckies.

Yes, they eat live crickets. Ew.



Mary Beth, Haley-Jo, and Hannah, playing by the pond.


Thomas being caught off guard for a picture.


We picked pears for Lilly the goat (more on her later).


I mailed my dad a father's day card from Jack, Alabama. We took photo evidence that it was being sent in case the post office was no longer running, which it appeared to not be! Haha.


Dad did get the card, relief.


Me, Charlie, Uncle Eddy, and Aunt Susan, by the pond in the neighborhood before they left.

I got a manicure:


And gave one:



Haley-Jo picked the color!

We swam in the pool (no pcitures, whoops), and jumped on the trampoline: 

And celebrated a couple birthdays:

(I can't wait to celebrate my birthday next Monday since I'll be 24 yet again!)




With Hannah and Haley-Jo


Opening presents.


Giving cousins hugs.

I invented a recipe for citrus jam cookies, which I'll post soon.



But most importantly, I met:


Lilly goat!

Pat's daughter and son in law rescued a goat and managed to keep her in their backyard. They even fought the city on it (and won!). Lilly usually lives in the backyard but comes inside when Tammy lets her!



Sometimes Lilly gets taken for walks and Tammy even said that people have approached her and asked her "what kind of dog is that" to which she replies:
"Um, it's a goat!"

Coming up next: Citrus jam cookies!

Welcome Elsie Anne!

Where have I gone?
To a land where internet is scarce. I promise posts soon. With pictures.

Let me sneak a quick one in.
Cravings: the two batches of cookies I'll be making later, and a movie night out with Charlie. Also, a white chocolate kit kat. I'm sort of sensing a theme.....

But for now let me say, MAZAL TOV/CONGRATULATIONS to my dear friend Jaren Rabe, her husband Roger Rabe, and little Clara Rabe (our flower girl fyi), on the birth of their second daughter Elsie Anne. Love you already E-Anne.



She looks like Clara. I think.

Finding treasures during spring cleaning

Look what I found:

Movie star/celebrity? or Future Hubby?

While doing all my organizing I found a scrapbook that Charlie's hs gf's mom made him. It was AMAZING. I would honestly hire to make me scrapbooks. There were all these pictures of Charlie playing football etc, and several articles he had written, clubs he was in, a few high school dances, etc. Did you know that not only was my love the salutatorian at his school, but the president of the FBLA - future business leaders of America? Is anybody surprised? I wasn't! How handsome does he look in that picture?

In other news, does anybody have any good tips for where to buy those camelback water bottles for less than $20? Lol. Also, any tips on keeping them clean? It's so hard to clean those straws and I don't like the thought of drinking bacteria.  I found cheaper ones at Target but they are not that good. Speaking of Target, look what I found. I immediately texted Katy this picture:

They had an entire collection and I so know what I am getting for her birthday! (One more month and then you are my age.....which is......24....never 25).

Speaking of Katy, I miss you! Why did you start working when I stopped?

Poor Jaren, Roger was delayed again, so I told her I was taking her to Max Brenner to distract her. I met her at Clara's feeding therapy which happened to be right across the street from my wedding dress shop, so we went to see it! I hadn't tried it on since I bought it. It fits amazingly and I LOVE IT! They started the alterations but since I'm basically having it re-done in so many ways, it's going to take a while. Obviously not gonna post pics on that. Poor Clary had a blue sucker and Jaren wouldn't let her walk with it so we had a very cranky Clara (which is better than a cranky Jaren having to dry clean, or worse, buy a wedding dress). After the dress, we went to Max Brenner and I had my favorite - the Mexican Hot Chocolate. Jaren and I shared a salad, and then this beauty:


Demolished.

And if I haven't posted enough (gosh can you imagine when it's my babies?) here are some adorable pictures and videos of Clara the last couple of days (and a few randoms). I told Jaren that Roger is gonna be like, "why is Avigail calling you every hour" when he's back, because I'm so used to spending time with them now. At least Clara hasn't called me Daddy yet. Just aunt Aggie.



Yes, that's a 2 year old laughing amusedly when "Aggie crying". Unbelievable what humans find funny :-) Can ya blame her?

Clara eating with chopsticks just like Mommy.

After eating, you always want to dance a little:

Clara and Aggie


Pre taking off her diaper by herself and repeating "diaper! trash! Diaper! Trash!" over and over utnil we let her throw it away. She did go potty twice though (and I tried to show her the bidet but ended up getting splashed whoops). Clara went to wake up Charlie last evening (he's working nights), it was very sweet. He also didn't mind a naked 2 year old saying "wake up charlie" which made me smile.


This is a book Katy and I found while cleaning out the bookshelves. I'm assuming this belonged to a past ladyfriend's of Charlie's. This book is so outdated. It speaks about introductions and "lesser people" so you introduce a female to a male (this is their first example!) and a lower rank to a higher rank etc etc. Sort of ridiculous. It's also funny that it's like "eye contact is important" "repeat someone's name in your head so you remember it". Anyway, Jaren made me pose for this as a joke and then uploaded it onto my fb account and wrote "I can't wait". The funniest thing? About 12 people have liked this and commented nice things about it. It's a joke friends! (But I am excited to be an air force wife because it means I"ll be charlie's wife!)

Another thing I"m excited about? On Monday I'm driving to Palm springs to see Eden! On Tusday I"ll see Emily and Shayna and FINALLY meet David, on Wednesday Eden drives back to Vegas with me as do her parents, and on Thursday we all go to TASTE OF THE NATION! I can't wait - let me know if you want tickets.