Cupid Delivery, February 4th

 A new toothbrush. She is big fan of Hello Kitty and brushing her teeth. This morning she woke up and began asking for "the cat". Eventually after searching high and low for the infamous "the cat", she led me to the bathroom, picked up the toothbrush, handed me the toothpaste and triumphantly screamed "cat! cat". Clearly, cupid did good on this one. 

Baking with Pip

Cookie dough dips have been taking over Pinterest the past few months. I have been pinning a few dips to make and try and why not spend my Monday night in the kitchen with my sous chef. Mr. R. was taking his quantitative analysis midterm so he missed out on the taste testing and fun. 

Pip is really into helping now. She wants to pour ingredients in the mixer, hand me the ingredients (whether I actually need them or not), and taste EVERYTHING. Simon and Sophie happen to love when she is in the kitchen. They seem to have an unspoken deal with Pip that gets her to drop food and utensils in their direction.

Tonight we tasted tested the peanut butter cookie dip and eggless chocolate chip cookie dough. 

*I cut the butter down in each recipe to 1/4 cup. 

We prefer to eat our cookie dough with pretzels, apple slices, and graham crackers.

Cupid Visit, February 3rd

Can you tell I am having a blast filling these mailboxes? I wish you could be in the room to see the excitement in Pip's face as she opens the mailbox. Once she knows Cupid came she runs to the dining room, pulls out her own chair, and reaches for her pink mailbox. She can't quite open the mailbox by herself yet so Mr. R. or I loosen it for her and then she ooohs and ahhs as she peeks at the contents inside. Melts my mama heart. 

On Sunday she found a Hello Kitty purse inside. The purse was immediately opened, stuffed to the gills, and placed on her arm. She only puts the purse down long enough for baths and naps. Right now her purse contains a pink marker, chapstick, and Ariel the little mermaid. 

Mr. R. has also been on the receiving end of cupid gifts. Sunday I told him "life would be unBEARable without him".  We have all been enjoying his new stash of gummi bears. In our house, the red ones are the first to go.

February 2013 Goals:

January Revisted:

My Goals:

• Cut out coffee creamer. It's incredibly delicious but also full of empty calories. 
• Complete the mile a day challenge. The goal is run daily, the run needs to be at least a mile.
• Turn off the computer at 9:00 PM

The Result:

• I gave into coffee creamer. I lasted two weeks without it and then I gave in. A friend at work heard about my slip-up and she suggested I switch to almond milk and splenda in my coffee. 
• The mile a day challenge is finished! I think I want a medal or parade in my honor. Just kidding! 
• I did turn off the computer every night at 9PM and it has been wonderful! I am sleeping better and I finished my first novel since Pip was born!

February Goals:

• Run three days a week
• Start some sort of weight lifting program
• Read two books
• No clothes, shoe, or accessories shopping

Cupid Mail

 

While Mr. R. and Pip walked the pups Cupid delivered a few surprises to the Republican household. 

Pip: Fisher Price Little People Princess Belle and monkey socks

Mr. R.: He found a card that said "I soda think you're amazing! Thanks for all you do! P.S. Check the fridge." I bought a 12 pack of his favorite Vanilla Coke. 

Girls Day

 Today Pip and I had a girl's day. We left the house early, made stops at a few of Pip's favorite places, and came home for an afternoon of tea party and dress-up.

  

Today I held my daughter's hand as we strolled through Target, I said OK when she asked me to push her higher on the swing, I gladly slid down the tunnel and roller slides, today I said yes when she wanted to ride the carousel twice, we had frozen yogurt for lunch. 

We baked pretend cookies.

 I read the Moses book for the 100th time.

Today was the best day of my week. 

It really was one of those days when you catch yourself smiling and thinking how did I get so lucky.

February 2013

 We welcomed February with a new chalkboard wall, new art in our picture frames, three little mailboxes sitting on our dining room table.

I wanted to start a new tradition in the Republican household this year and of course I went to pinterest for inspiration. I found the mailbox idea on Emily's, of the Anderson Crew, blog. She created personalized mailboxes for her kiddos last year and left a special surprise for them to find each day. My mom was the queen of holiday surprises and I am so excited to be carrying on her tradition in my own way.

Last night, the Cupid the mailman, delivered Pip's first surprise. 

Can you tell she loved it?