The other day I asked Eva if she had any dreams the night before. I remembered suddenly I used to ask Ella all the time and she would have some funny answers. I didn’t know if Eva would even know what I was talking about, but she replied with “Dinasours.” “Hugged dinasours.” I think that’s pretty cool!

We’ve been reading a lot of books lately at home. It’s one activity all three of us girls really like to do together. I let Ella pick out some new ones in her Scholastic Club from preschool this week too. We have a new Llama, Llama book, a Hello Kitty book and some Valentines book to look forward to.

We’re so into our tech toys at home right now. Tablets and phone games … Eva’s favorite thing is to find the Party Rockers song and dance like a mad woman. Ella prefers word games and taking photos of herself. She’s dying to get her own tablet … I am too honestly. Wish our birthdays would hurry up and get here!

I love the new blue/green color. Beats the old sage green that was thin in so many spots and had a lot of streaking.

Oh and my pretty new light fixture is up. I just love it. Previously there was a countryish, vine-covered looking fixture that was just NOT our taste.

It should be all done when I get home. So happy we found the nicest couple – a man and a wife who have a lot of experience doing this work for us. They got rid of all the “nail bumps” in our wall, the one million giant holes, the cracked caulking in the corners, solved the dilemna of the drawers that wouldn’t open, and the outlet that wouldn’t work, the electrical box that wasn’t installed …

Can’t wait to see it all together. Befores and afters will come soon.

Did I make an elaborate cupcake creation because I felt guilty that I had to work all day of Eva’s birthday, not to mention the poor girl’s birthday will always be 4 days before Christmas? Perhaps.

Doesn’t the handmade birthday banner really make the room? (See honey, it was totally worth the money:)

Aunt Sara can’t believe the gorgeous tutu Eva has just unwrapped.

Isn’t it funny how early they start playing with babies? I mean, she is still a baby herself.

Oh even better on.

Good thing she is a petite girl because that stroller is meant for her baby doll.

Good buy! Looks like Eva’s 7-year-old cousin Grant approves.

A time-out for biting. No one’s perfect.

A classic smile from cousin Gabi.

Finally, some time alone with a cupcake.

A line forms when the kids see cool tricks uncle Nate can do.

Have you heard of this before? If you have I may be mad at you for not sharing it with me. If you haven’t, read this description:

Superior quality peanuts are first slow roasted then pressed to remove the fat and oil. The result is an exquisitely natural roasted peanut butter flavor that’s deliciously rich in taste, easy to enjoy and wonderfully healthy.

I’m thinking of mixing it with yogurt, ice and chocolate sauce for a delicious smoothie. Or leave the chocolate out and use the Chocolate PB2. Yes, they make that too.

It will all be mine as soon as I figure out another $20 in items I need to make the shipping free from Amazon.

Eva’s been on and off sick …

She slept with us three nights in a row because she had such bad coughing spells she would throw up. Poor baby.

She and her sister bonded with their comfy slippers and special suckers for sore throats.

Over the weekend we ate Smoky Bones where we had donuts dipped in chocolate sauce for dessert. Eva went directly for the chocolate. She really is my daughter.

Ella played dress-up with a napkin at Olive Garden. Seems like dining out with them was pretty good this week.

We bought a vanity and some other supplies for our bathroom we are fixing up … hope to complete our purchases this weekend and get this renovation going. Woo hoo!

Ella picked pink, although I was really fond of the eggplant color.

I do agree with some of the reviewers that the sleeves are kinda slim though. I think it will work just fine though.

I love the little studs in the front. Maybe I shouldn’t call them flats, because they have a tiny wedge heal, but to me they will operate like a flat. And this color isn’t quite right. More of a camel.

I also love flats with some sparkle, but I just am not sure I can do the ones like these with hardly any cushion or support.

I am keeping my eye out for the new line of TOMS ballet flats, coming out this spring, too. So cute.

Anyway, this year is no different. In fact, our insurance is drastically changing. Our out-of-pocket expenses will be much more, but instead we have been given a hefty health savings account.

So my goals are to A: organize all our information in one place. Make it easier to look up when Ella had her last flu shot and who even covers our dental insurance and eye insurance (we aren’t even given cards for those!) See how it can get confusing?

And B: Shop around and save some money. We take the girls to a dentist who specializes in pediatrics. And we love her. And we felt good seeing her when Ella chipped her tooth at age 2. But do we need to pay so much to have my toddler’s teeth cleaned? I don’t know. I think some people aren’t even taken there little ones to a dentist until they’re 3.

Anyway, you can see I have a lot to figure out. And this is my point. I found a great, free site called Family Health Portfolio. I’m going to save everything in one place. Our 6 doctors, our 3 insurance plans. Every appointment, prescription, checkup and the cost of everything.

Well I  hope I didn’t bore you to tears. For an organizing dork like me, this is exciting stuff.

I’m glad. It was so much fun. But wow, I’m wiped out. Steve actually let me take a 4 hour nap this afternoon while Eva napped and Ella had quiet time. I didn’t sleep that whole time, but boy was it great.

Speaking of normal, Eva had her 2-year checkup today. She’s still a tiny thing, at just 12% for height at 32.5 inches and 20% for weight at 24 pounds. But she is exactly where she is supposed to be for everything developmentally – actually advanced and she’s just a petite girl. And amazingly she did not cry a second when she got a flu injection. The nurse technician was shocked. She did have an ear infection though, which I suspected. We had a good long stretch with no sicknesses, hope we have a better winter!

Next was a marathon trip to Kroger. Girls ate macaroni then donuts and we shopped, picked up Eva’s prescription, then both girls went on the potty. Go Eva! Although the way I had Eva positioned on the potty, she accidentally peed all over her pants. So that created a tricky situation. Not to mention they were all hopped up on donuts at that point, in which I then had to wait in line for the prescription and go through the process of using new insurance. Let’s just say I was pretty happy when we finally made it home.

Well if that’s not back to a normal day, I don’t know what is. I guess we’re back!

And she also got a very cute fuscha and white striped boyfriend cardigan. Steve – it’s only called that because it’s meant to be kinda big and long, don’t get scared! And I can’t find a photo of that particular item. So you’ll have to take my word on it that she wore it well.

So when I got an email from zulilly about their seasonal sale, I figured maybe I should pick up a little something for Eva. I mean, I don’t want to be unfair!

BTW, if you don’t know what zulilly is, it basically is a site that combines a whole lot of stores’ sales. And they are over-the-top cute, expensive clothes, but if you swoop in quickly you can get some good deals. Tell them I sent you if you check it out here. I think I may get a discount!

So, I picked up these two cute little dresses.

I can just see her in pigtails in this polka-dot dress with the red-heart buttons. So cute.

But now, I am wondering if I made a huge mistake passing up these other darling items. I do get free shipping the rest of the day …

For Christmas next year?