Carpet Stain, you're no match for......

When Savannah and I were making our smoothies this morning, she was really excited about putting tons of blueberries in the Ninja (more on the Ninja later).  So when she came running into me from the living room saying "uh oh, my smoothie spilled" I freaked a little inside. This is what I came into:

So, I calmed down, ran into the kitchen and grabbed a bowl of hot water, my oxi clean spray bottle, and my ShamWows.  Although I've always been a strong supporter of these things, I've never actually had the chance to test them on the "hard to tackle" stains they promise to help with.  I sprayed the oxi on the stain, then it looked like this:

Is that better or worse?  I dont know.  I wasn't super optimistic at this point.  So I rolled the ShamWow on the stain and patted and rolled it again.  And....

Say What???  One spray of the Oxi and one pass of the Sham and WOW!  Stain almost all gone!  So I did it one more time and ....

Yeah, it actually worked.  NBD (No Big Deal).   So, long blog post short - that As Seen on TV stuff - not (always) so bad.  Stain 0 , Wendy 1.

She sleeps!

Yes, it is true.  Every once and a while this kid crashes.  I snuck into her room one day at the end of her nap to take a picture of it - but the right as the camera clicked Brisco came in and woke her up.  

 And here's just a handful of other random Savannah pictures from the last couple weeks  - most of them she asked me to take of her.  Yes, we're in that phase now....

Awkward Family Photos

We kind of have a family tradition when we go to Oklahoma for Christmas.  On Christmas day we all go to Walmart and get some family pics taken!  The fun thing about Walmart is that they only take like 2 shots of each pose so you get what you get.  

Here's the best one - Travis' sister with the nieces.  Love. It. 

Spring we welcome Thee!

Last chance, please?

Dear snow,
Savannah had a really fun time playing with you this weekend with her Grandpa with no coat on and no snow boots - but it would be awesome if she didn't really have any other chances to play in you again this year.  Okay? Thanks.
- Wendy Pierce

VALENTINES

On the occasion that we don't have set plans on Friday nights, we've started having family craft night.  

This week: making Valentines

This was Savannah's (and Travis') first time to make Valentines so it was pretty fun.  Also both their first time making crafts with glitter and glue.  So special!  

Don't mind Savannah's evening gown.  It's just a little something she likes to pull out at special times...or all the time.

 She and Travis both got really into the glitter.  We got out a pan and had a rule that all the glitter had to stay in the pan - of course there's random glitter all over our house now anyway.

 Savannah is really good at squeezing the glue.  Actually, that's not true - but she was really good at trying.

 One of my favorite things was when Travis got upset because he wanted only certain colors of glitter and the fuzzy balls to be put in only certain places on the valentines that he'd worked on.  I love that he's so artistic and creative that even this small craft means the world.  I hope Savannah learns to take her crafts so seriously.

100 calorie awesomeness

Today for lunch I made a soup that contained the most filling 100 calories per serving I've had in a while.  It's from Cindy Rebarcak's cook book - LOVE IT.  I'll probably double it next time for more left overs.

Vegetable Soup *of awesomeness*

2 - 15 ounce cans chicken broth

1 large carrot

1 large potato

1 large celery stalk with leaves

1/4 medium onion

1/4 red or green pepper

1/2 cup frozen peas

1/2 cup wheat pasta (elbows, bow ties, whatever)

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1/4 teaspoon basil

dash hot pepper sauce (optional)

Pour chicken broth into medium sized pan.  Chop carrot, potato, celery, onion and red pepper.  Put in pan.  Bring to boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes.  Add remaining ingredients, bring to boil, reduce heat then simmer another 10 - 15 minutes.  Makes 6 cups sopu.  Sprinkle each serving with Parmesan Cheese, if desired.  

MMMM MMMM GOood!

Mr Travis sing along song time

(i dont know why it's so small, but I'm sure you can figure something out... :) 

Savannah had a couple friends over today so Travis took the opportunity to start his new career.  Joining the ranks of Raffee and The Wiggles....

Ninja Ball

Savannah made up a game.  We call it Ninja ball because she makes "hi-yah" noises when she plays it.  It's pretty much Tee Ball though. I'm pretty proud of her because she came up with this set up all by herself!

Also, did I ever mention about how much she likes looking at her reflection in the oven door?  Lately she spends probably a good 1 - 2 hours combined watching herself dance.  Travis is guessing she'll probably be into it until she's about 7 or 8.  

I came, I carved.

Saturday Travis and I got to go on a little snowboarding trip with some awesome people.  It was the funnest "wintery" thing I've ever done... yeah.  I think that's actually true! I really hate winter, so last year I took up snowboarding so I would at least have SOMETHING to look forward to.  And it worked.  Until Saturday I had never actually "carved" down the hill (that's when you go down straight, going from heel side to toe side - I didn't know what it meant either), but Saturday was the day!  I think I can officially say "I snowboard" now with out being a super impostor.   

Present on the trip: Jeff Dodge (not pictured), Walker Day, Paul Osgerby, Wendy Pierce, Nathan Gartin, Graeme Dodge, Travis Pierce, Jasey Rebarcak. 

 This is the classic, friend on the ski lift picture.  It didn't really turn out like we'd imagined.  But you get the idea.  We went to Welch Village in MN.  I'd go back there.  It was well worth the 3 1/2 hour drive.  Loved it.