Simplifying life

I am not a naturally organized person. My mother is, but unfortunately, I didn't inherit that. I discovered in college that I had ADD. This discovery transformed my life. Some how labeling it helped me to over come it. After each baby I've had to rediscover ways to help me stay focused, productive, and less overwhelmed! LISTS! I love making lists! I also love how this tiny piece of paper can really kick me into gear!

I also discovered this blog iheartorganizing. Love, love, love her! I'm sure it's pretty obvious since I've posted about her several times. Anyways. She gives great ideas on how to be more organized and to simplify your life! Which I'm sure we all could use more of! Plus seeing her house has given me the motivation to have MY house look like that! I have a long list of things that I need to conquer. And I'm doing it one item at a time! Here are some of my recent projects. Y'all are going to freak at the differences, ha!

Project #1: The Playroom

I'm pretty sure that the playroom is a headache for almost every Momma! Omw - I can't even describe the stress that this room caused me. It was an absolute wreck after about 5 minutes of Elle being in there. I needed storage where every toy would have a place. Plus I wanted easy clean up. Something that I could sweep in and do in 10 minutes or less every night.

Before pictures: (PS - this was after the girls had played in it. I/Joe would clean it every night which would take forever!!!)

After:

Project #2: My closet

I'll just let these pictures speak for themselves. There is no little person to blame this mess on. It's all me (and Joe).

I could never find anything that I needed. Obviously, you can see why.

Before:

After:

FYI - I got these cute bins at Wal-Mart. The cost $6 for a set of 2!

Project #3: Clean house

Ok, this is pretty general. This cleaning lists helps me stay focused on what needs to be done daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly. I purchased it from iheart's etsy shop and got the frame from Wal-Mart. I'm telling y'all, I'm obsessed!

Project #4: Freezer

Sorry, I forgot to take before pictures. Just imagine a huge mess.

All items with their food group. Fruits, vegetables, meats, etc.

Sweet Sophie Grace

Ok, this is a bit embarrassing. Soph got her nails done as a reward for not having a bottle anymore. I know, she's three. I can feel the judging already, ha! She didn't carry it around with her, but would take it at night. It always seemed like there was something preventing it from being a "good" time to take it away from her. I knew that if I didn't nip this in the bud that she would be taking it to college with her. So last Monday she stopped cold turkey. Lord help, it was brutal! She had a terrible time with it! It took me almost 2 hours every night to get her down. After the 6th night of this my choices were simple; either be bald from pulling my hair out OR figure something out fast! Soph is such a creature of habit! And schedules. The child does not do well with out structure. So we started a new nightly routine. iheartorganzing has a great free printable of a cute schedule that is fun for kids to follow! Saying Soph loves this schedule is an understatement! She has to follow it exactly. We do not deviate in the least bit! Bless her, she is such a rule follower like her Momma! The last two nights have been a breeze getting her to sleep!

Now we're working on Elle not taking a bottle. So far, so good.

It does seem strange that no bottles are needed in our house! Not gonna lie, it makes me a little sad!



She put her little hands up there like such a pro!





She didn't move for about 10 minutes because she didn't want to mess her nails up! I even had to come home and use the blow dryer before she was convinced that they were good and dry. She was so proud of them!

Baby Ellie was not such a fan of hanging out while Soph was being pampered. She is a girl on the move and does not like to be stopped. Thank God that Momma was there to keep her occupied!

Precious in his in sight

Dad and Teddie got the girls a karaoke machine for Christmas. Soph loves to sing! So does my dad. Even if it is off key. Really off key. Let's just say that my dad isn't known for his singing. He's a good sport about it or else I wouldn't be putting it on here! As a little girl I loved for my dad to sing to me. It didn't matter to me that he couldn't carry a tune in a bucket.

Dad and Soph were having a good ol' time just singing away together this weekend! Ahhh, I just love these videos! Elle gets in on the action with her recorder. Can we say priceless??!

Btw, you can "alvinize" your voice on the karaoke machine so that is why my Dad sounds like, well, a chipmunk :).

A breed like no other

Any one that has any kind of experience with Kentuckians know what I'm talking about when it comes to UK Basketball. I'm pretty sure there is not a place that has more loyal, die hard fans than UK! My stepmother is one. She looooves her Kentucky Wildcats! Her and my father were coming up this weekend for what was suppose to be Elle's 1st birthday party. Which got the ax for several different reasons! Since we weren't having a party what better way to spend the day watching UK play ball. We had such a great day! My favorite quote from the day was from a guy behind us, "We can cut off arms now, but the refs are making calls like this?" He cracked me up!



This isn't a random picture. Ashley Judd (the actress) is there some where. I adore Ashley Judd! Apparently she is a huge UK supporter since she is from Kentucky.



Let me out!

We have had some yucky weather this week so we've been stuck inside for a good bit of it. Yesterday was pretty decent so I had to get us out of the house! I had a bunch of running around to do but first I took the girls out to eat. I thought it would be a nice treat. Plus we were out of everything at home so it was kinda a necessity!

The video at the bottom shows the crazy crawl Elle has been doing lately! I think she thinks that she's walking. Or at least trying. I crack up every time I see it! Hilarious! 



Please notice Sophie's awkward face! At least she's smiling for pictures now, right?! It's so funny because she is not like this in real life! She's pretty shy when attention is on her. Maybe that's it.



Oh, precious Elle! She has to have her foot propped up on eveng!



*Elle had blueberries right before this so that is why she looks like she has a beard. It always takes me days to get that residue off. Any other Mommas have that problem? This morning when changing Elle I saw what looked like a nasty bruise on her stomach. I started to freak out because I knew that was a dangerous spot to have a bruise! Then I realized it was just left over from the blueberries! Thank God I had the realization before I rushed her to the doctor, ha! They would have thought I was crazy for sure!

I wanted to reward Soph for doing some things this week that I knew were tough and she asked to get her nails done. So that's what we'll be doing today. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't super excited! Pics to follow! Happy Friday, y'all!

My very own Fancy Nancy

Soph has really been into dressing up! I love it! It hilarious to see what she comes up with! Like this ensemble! I mean the child was decked out!

Elle has been keeping us laughing too! She loves to put on a show! Soph will shy away if she knows that she is the center of attention, but Elle thrives off it! It's so fun to see the differences in the girls! Elle is much more aggressive than Sophie! Lord help, the child is always throwing something! Which is the reason she got so many balls for Christmas! And the louder the toy the more fun she thinks! People thought that I was crazy for telling them she likes toys that make lots of noise, but my theory on that is "I can tune out noise, but I can't tune out a fussing child. If it keeps her happy then I'm happy"!

I knew it....

Last Wednesday Soph had her allergy tests done. Bless her heart - she is allergic to everything outside along with chicken, tomatoes, cauliflower, and pears! Although the food allergies are very slight they said. I knew that result was coming! The child has been on Zyrtec since she was 5 months old. When she was a baby her eyes were constantly red and watery. During the summer her legs are most always covered in hives from the grass.

She was a real champ during her tests! The nurse even said that she wished some boys were as brave as she was! I was so proud of her especially considering that her back looked like she had been attacked by mosquitoes (she had welts from her reactions). It was pitiful!

The doctor is putting her on a special medication that will build up her immune system. Hopefully this will help her better!

Bye

Elle is actually talking a lot these days! Joe says he has been surrounded my talking women all his life! Bless him, it's true!

Elle picks up if I'm about to get off the phone with someone and will start saying "bye". Which, btw, I find pretty smart that she knows by my tone that I'm about to hang up! Anyways...I was on the phone with my Dad the other day and as I was getting off she started saying "bye". Can you tell that she is learning to talk in Kentucky?! Byyyeee

Snow Day

All winter I've been dying for it to snow! Well, it did and I now remember why I'm glad we're having the warm winter we are! It wore me out to getting the girls all bundled up to go out! They were crying, I was crying - it was a mess! Not really, but I'm sure many more days of it and that would be the case! Side note - I'm sure y'all probably think I'm a frazzled mess with the way I talk, ha! I swear I'm not (most of the time)! I just like being melodramatic!

Soph loved playing in the snow! I lasted about 5 minutes and sent Joe out there!



Joe taught her how to make snowballs. What you can't see in the picture is all the snowballs on the windows.




Is it not just gorgeous?? This picture doesn't even do it justice!





Our neighbors fountain froze and I think it's rather pretty.


Btw, I have a couple more posts coming. I telling y'all it's overload or nothing with this blog!

Elle's first birthday

First birthdays for the Quesenberry girls are not ones to remember. With both girls it was one of those days where you just try and survive. I know that those birthdays will come when she'll squeal with delight when she first opens her eyes in the morning. And I'll cherish every second of making her day grand and exciting. Yesterday was not one of them! But we survived, and let's be honest, some days that's all we can hope for, haha!



It was raining all day and I didn't want to get the girls (or me) out in the rain. Pinterest didn't let me down and gave me this great idea!

 



Elle went straight for the cake!




And loved it!


 

I think that I'm going to make this a tradition and make every year for the girl's birthdays. It's just so fun!


If y'all are ever needing a good vanilla cake recipe here is the one I used. It is super easy and sooo tasty!


Basic Yellow Cake


2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (do not sift the flour)

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1-teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cups milk

Vegetable oil

1 stick butter (not margarine), softened

1-tablespoon vanilla extract

3 large eggs



Preheat oven to 350°



Cut wax paper to fit the bottom of (3) 9 x 1 1/2-inch round pans. Spray the pans with cooking spray, place the wax paper in the pans and spray the paper.


In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt, mixing well.


Measure the 1-1/4 cups of milk in a 2 cup measuring cup….then add enough vegetable oil to bring the liquid up to 1-1/3 cups.


Add the milk/vegetable oil mixture, butter and vanilla to the flour mixture and beat with an electric mixer on medium to medium-high speed for 2 minutes, scraping sides of bowl as needed.


Add the eggs and continue beating an additional 2 minutes. Pour batter into prepared pans.


Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted near center of cake comes out clean, or until cake springs back when touched lightly in the center.


Cool cakes on wire racks for 15 minutes; remove from pans and cool completely.

1 year

Ellie Faye

Lover of life, people, and toilets.

If I believed in reincarnation I would believe that this child was a dog in a former life. Seriously. She crawls around carrying things in her mouth, will whimper if she wants something, and I can't keep her out of toilets. She loooves them. She lives for the moments when someone forgets to put the lid down. And it gags me every time I find her there. Seriously stresses me out!

She loves life! She loves to be around people. She doesn't want to miss anything. She loves to laugh. If someone is laughing around her she'll laugh too; she doesn't need a reason. She is a cuddler. She is a lover and a fighter.

Trying to change her is like trying to change a monkey and alligator at the same time. She's climbing me one second and flipping the next.

She's a mommy's girl.

She bring so much joy to those around her!

Three years old - a little late

Sophia Grace

There is nothing that could have prepare me for all the emotions that filled me when they handed my sweet baby girl to me. I was nervous, happy, in awe, overwhelmed, and so much more. I remember being scared to death when my own Momma left us to go back home. I was completely overwhelmed. I cried and cried. I was going to miss her, but mostly I was anxious to be left alone with you. You taught me how to be a mother. I only hope that you're not too scarred from it ;).

I am so proud of you! You are smart, kind, gentle, and have such a beautiful spirit. You are passionate and care deeply for what you believe in. I can tell that already! This past year I have watched as you have developed more into a little girl than that precious baby you were. You are intent and mindful of what you do. You don't miss any details and watch everything. You think before you act. You have to be sure of whatever it is that you're about to do. I love to watch you play because everything has to be just right. You work so hard to make sure it is.

I love your giggle and sweet, delicate voice. I love how caring you are for people around you. I love how excited you get to learn new things.

I know that you will and can do anything you set your mind to.

You will face obstacles. You will make mistakes. You will do things that we would prefer you not. But that will never change the way that your Daddy and I look at you. It will never change how much we love you. You will always be our baby girl and there nothing that will ever change that.

I love you to the moon and back.

Joyful

With holidays, birthdays, traveling, etc we haven't been very good at eating our veggies. So I've really been trying to get out daily requirements in. Thankfully my girls are actually pretty good at eating their fruits and vegetables, but I still wanted to make it "fun". This morning I tried to make a green smoothie. It tasted great, but was not very green. Even after almost an entire bag of spinach. Oh well. Sophie devoured it and that's all that matters! She was too cute this morning so I snapped several pictures of her. I love this child to pieces! I know I keep saying this but it's true - she is so.much.fun! Such a hoot!

Tomorrow is Elle's 1st birthday and our 4th anniversary. I think it's fair to say it's been an action packed 4 yrs, haha!

First day of Pre-school

At least she is smiling :)

I told Soph to stand up straight and this is what I got, ha!



Bless her, she is such a rule follower! If there is a "seat belt", as she calls all buckles, it will be snapped!




The backpack that Aunt Sissy got her! Is she not precious in that big ol' thing??






A Big Day

Yesterday I took Sophie to pick out an outfit for her first day of pre-school. This child of mine loooves to shop. I'm pretty sure I've never seen another 3 year old like her! She was going around the store with the same excitement as Christmas day! A couple times she even told me "I need this for school!!!" I mean where did she even get that? She's THREE!!! Lord help me when she's 13!

We had such a fun morning! Elle wasn't feeling too well, but she was the trooper she always is! It was freezing out! Literally. It was snowing all day yesterday, but didn't stick much because it's been unseasonably warm this winter!

Sophie starts pre-school tomorrow. We decided not to put her in Montessori because they required her to go 5 days a week. I just didn't have a peace about it so she's going to another school that is structured in a similar way to Montessori. I was actually very impressed with the school. Probably more than I was with Montessori. I feel pretty good about her starting. I don't think there will be any tears shed, but I haven't actually dropped her off so we'll see!

I promise Sophie is a happy child! A friend of mine mentioned how stoic Sophie looks in all her pictures. Ha!

Is anyone else dying to wipe that bbq sauce off her face?? I sure am! Ha! We never go to Lexington with out eating a CFA!



The snow was actually coming down pretty hard, but you can't really see it in the picture!