I Sure Hope This Helps (101/365)

A few weeks ago I decided it was about time I did something about the cat hair issue we have in this house. What finally sent me over the edge was waking up one morning to several piles of hair, less than 24 hours after having vacuumed. I had had enough and decided we needed to either spend the money and send Charlie to the groomer to be shaved for the spring (which I was afraid of doing as it stresses some cats out and I definitely did not want a cat peeing all over my house), or finally spend the money on a pet hair brush I've heard so much about, The Furminator.

It's incredibly expensive for a grooming brush, but let me tell you, it is so worth every penny! I've bought every knock off available on the market, and not a single one removes the hair like this brush does. I can spend ten minutes grooming Charlie and for once in his life I can pet him with out sending loose hair flying. It'll probably take me a while to get him to a point where I don't have to do it every day, especially since it's spring and he's shedding like mad, but I'm already seeing a difference in the amount he leaves behind on the floor, and in the amount of hairballs he's had, which is a very big problem for him. The absolute only issue I have with the brush is that it electrifies the hair and causes it to stick to me, which I remedied by brushing him on the carpet. It sounds counterproductive, but the hair sticks to the carpet and not my hand and I can then brush him faster. To clean it up all I have to do is pick up what I can, then use the brush lightly on the carpet to get the rest. Don't even need to vacuum!

Accept no substitutes, this brush is where it's at as far as deshedding tools are concerned!

Beauties in the Spring Beauties (100/365)

You'll get more pics when I can get home and can get on a computer that has Photoshop, as iPhoto was annoying me like crazy. When I have some more time to sit down and figure out how to get it to save how I want it to, I won't have this issue the next time I come to Jville. Anyway, we're home this weekend to see Ryan before he heads off for California on his latest Marine Corps excursion. It was a gorgeous day and so the girls played under Grandma Susie's Redbud tree in the spring beauties. I was quite glad that Dad hadn't mowed the lawn yet, as one of my favorite parts of spring is the spring beauties, and we don't seem to get them up by us. Tonight we (everyone but Matt and Izzy, anyway) are off to see The Leader of the Pack, a musical that Grandma Cindy is directing at North Greene High School. She's been working her buns off for the past month or more and I'm sure she's ready to get this weekend over with. We'll let you know how it goes.

By the way, notice the blog post number? 100 posts, can you believe it?! I think I may just make it to 365!

That's What Uncles Are For (99/365)

Dilly Bar before bed had better not equal up all night long, Ry. Or we
will not participate in your schedule tomorrow.

Do You Have a Facebook or Myspace Account? (98/365)

Please go and vote for my sister Tori as she tries to win a guest spot on one of the best shows on TV, Glee! You can vote multiple times, so please, go and vote for her! She's an amazing singer and an amazing person!

Please go here to vote!

If you have trouble voting: either sign into myspace and then vote; or click the facebook connect button that is right above the second video, approve the app, then vote. Thanks!!!!

In Just Ten Days (97/365)

My little baby will no longer be a baby! Can you believe she's nearly
one?! She's getting so big so fast. She's nearly walking, talking,
coloring with crayons, and she's getting into everything! Before I
know it Izzy will be as big as Alice and making me pull my hair out
just like her too.

Easter Fun (96/365)

Izzy dying eggs. All she really wanted to do was play with the egg catcher.

Alice, on the other hand, would have dyed eggs all night if she could.

She later went on to play mad scientist with all of the colors.

The end result. I have no idea what we're going to do with them

though since Matt and I don't want to eat them.

(click to view larger)

Growing up Matt always searched for his Easter basket and it was a tradition he wanted to pass down to our kids. This year Alice is actually old enough to go looking.

Here's where the Easter bunny hid hers this year.

Izzy's was in plain sight on the coffee table. Alice was glad to help Izzy see what she got.

Also, see how it was still dark outside? Yeah, I got up at 5:30am in order to not be rushed getting ready. Alice must have heard me because she got up and joined me in the bathroom. I thought I'd be able to get her back to bed, but Izzy woke up a few minutes later and there was no point anymore. It made for a very long day for both of them, but they did pretty well.

The best gift? Well this wasn't from the Easter bunny at all, it was from Alice.

When we were at Kohl's the other day, Alice saw this book and said that

we had to get it for Izzy. With as crazy as Iz is about Alice's book like this I couldn't argue.

Of course, Alice is having issues letting Izzy have her own book.

We met Annie for mass, and afterwards we went back to Annie's house and had a very yummy breakfast, and Annie set up an egg hunt for the girls. Needless to say Alice was very excited!

Duckie bubbles that later, due to the crazy wind, got in her eyes.

Recognize the cross, James? Alice insisted on wearing my

Happening cross since we were going to church.

Izzy actually left these ears on for much longer than we thought she would!

The kid hates to have anything on her head!

The kids totally trashed Ann's living room. Thankfully she didn't mind.

Hope you all had a great Easter too!

It's Uncle Ry Ry! (95/365)

Ry was in the area today so he decided to stop by and see us while he was here. It was a great visit, and one that involved some book reading, some suntanning, and lots of mud. Thank you, Ry, for helping out while I cleaned my baby, and then my bathroom. See you Friday.

Happy Easter (94/365)

I'll get some proper photos up when I'm not tired to the bone (I can
no longer stay up till 12am and then get up at 5:30am). We had lots of
fun with the family starting with mass and breakfast with Annie. The
girls enjoyed tearing her house apart, and I enjoyed taking a quick
catnap on her awesome couch.

Later we went to Mom and Dad's where eventually the whole family got
together for good food and good times. It had been a while since all
of us had been together so it was very nice to see everyone.

Both girls woke up when I got up at 5:30am, so needless to say they
crashed when we got home around 9pm. And I hope they both sleep well
tonight!

Talk About a Shopping Spree! (93/365)

Alice and I went to Kohl's today and, as you can see, I dropped a
pretty penny! I got a few things for me, Alice's entire spring/summer
wardrobe (including a pair of oh so cute sandals), a kids lawn chair
(ok matt, rub it in), nightgowns, and an "MP3" player book just like
the one Alice got for Christmas (except Dora) for Izzy since she is in
love with Alice's.

I spent a lot, got a lot, and definitely SAVED a lot! Just about
everything was on sale for 50% off or more and nearly every item I
bought for Alice was $4.80! I sure had a hell of a time checking out
though! I made it a point to write down all the sale prices as I
shopped and at checkout nearly everything rang up for too much. The
poor clerk had to scan and then manually discount each item that was
incorrect! Thankfully she was very helpful and understanding and said
that the computers went down earlier and probably caused the issue.
Oh and I walked out with $70 Kohl's cash too!

It was a productive trip, but needless to say I was glad when our 3
1/2 hour adventure was over!

Today Was a Blah Day (92/365)

So here are some pics of the beautiful day that was yesterday. We went outside and played until Matt came home. It was SO gorgeous that we decided to stay out and play even longer. We played with Play-Do until our neighbors came home and the kids wanted to play. The day couldn't have ended better!

She Isn't Always Bad (91/365)

So I was a little hard on Alice last night. She's not always that bad. Yes, she does tend to act a lot like Jekyll and Hyde lately, but when she's sweet she's sickeningly sweet. For example:

She ADORES her sister. She loves nothing more than to make Izzy giggle. I hope they continue to have such a good relationship because so far it's been awesome.

She's always willing to help me clean. Just today, she helped me by cleaning up the disaster of a toy room (otherwise known as our living room and dining room) all by herself. I didn't even have to keep reminding her to keep it up like I usually do. She helped me fold laundry, make dinner, and clean the kitchen too.

She is my social butterfly who you can't help but smile from ear to ear at when she's playing with her friends. She could care less what toy she's playing with, she just wants to be around other kids.

No matter how mad at her I am, she can always find something to say that makes me melt and smile. "Mommy, this is the bestest dinner EVER!" she said to me tonight. I try not to give into her, but sometimes she just knows how to get on my good side.

If I could bottle up these moments, they might just make the crazy psycho moments a little bit easier to deal with.

Talk About Payback (90/365)

I'm beginning to regret all those times in my childhood when I was hard to live with.

Ok, so I've regretted them for a while now because looking back I realize just how impossible I was, but today I'm regretting it for a much different reason. Today was one of those days when all my misbehaving and back talk is coming back and biting me in the butt - ten fold.

Alice has really come into her age as of late. She's no longer saving it only for when we're here at home either as this past weekend it was even noticeable to Annie, who only sees her on weekends for the most part. I texted Matt at some point today and told him that I was going to lock myself in my room and pull my hair out because I just couldn't take it anymore. Fortunately not long after that I finally got her to take a nap and I got a break. She woke up after Matt came home and it wasn't long before he got a taste of what I had been dealing with all day.

Needless to say it ended with a certain little girl not finishing dinner and screaming her head off while Matt got her ready for bed. I'm surprised my neighbors didn't call the cops she was that bad.

Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

I Think Alice Needs a Sandbox (89/365)

It's days like today that make me wish we had a house.

It was a gorgeous day, and tomorrow is supposed to be even better. We
made mud castles, looked for bugs, and ran amuck. Needless to say both
girls went to bed early tonight!

If You Don't Find Yourself on Here (88/365)

I appologize as my little artist couldn't be bothered to draw anymore.
However, she did find it necessary to draw two Izzys. Oh wait, one is
Izzy and the other is Izzy in octopus form.

I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.

Arrrrrrr, Me Matey (87/365)

This is the closest thing Izzy will get to having her ears pierced
before the age of 13. Who knew that fruity Cheerios (bet you didn't
know they existed, didya?) could be so stylish?