PLAY-DOH!

I just love this photo. Both my kids, sitting down, doing something creative, sharing, and enjoying eachother's company!

What a busy weekend!

This was a very busy weekend for the James Family...On Friday night I took Malakai and Maliyah to Malakai's school "Hoe-Down." It was super cute and a lot of fun. The kids tried to square dance but Malakai ended-up in the middle of the floor break-dancing instead. On Saturday we took the kids to see the "Backyardigans Live." They absolutely loved it. I couldn't believe they sat through the whole show. Today we went to our friends' house for a Halloween Birthday Bash. Kai was a ninja today but on Halloween he wants to be Barack Obama! I also added this monkey mural to the kids bathroom...it turned-out super cute! Our basement is complete for the time-being but we're working on setting it up...stay tuned and
enjoy the pics.

Malakai the Ninja and Daddy the Raider fan.

The ref and the cheerleader...go Seahawks! Way to destroy the 49ers today!

AWWW. Gettin' his mac' on.

Yeeeeehaw!

Maliyah and I made the King 5 NEWS!

Checkout the clip of Maliyah and I on the news!

http://www.king5.com/video/news-index.html?nvid=296458&shu=1

So Many Toys...

New Monkey bathroom. Changed-out the frogs and ducks for monkeys and brightened the room-up with a new paint job.

Terry and I are still working on the house. The hardwoods have been finished in the "new" basement office and what was the office is now the "new" playroom. We've kept it the same brown color for now but I got to pick-up some new decor and it was fun arranging and organizing the room for them.

Just as you enter is their open playspace that includes bunches of toys in bins, a small "library," chalk board, television and couch.
Here is a better view of that area. I put some cork on the wall to hang their precious artwork.
This is their imaginary play area. Maliyah loves to "cook" and you will also find the table where they color and Malakai's tool bench.

I've been wanting this shelving unit for two years and we finally got down to IKEA to get it. All the "extras" go in these spaces. Though the kids think it's a climbing tower. I found the wall lettering/phrase at Linens-n-Things...I just love it! I recently decided to paint stripes in Maliyah's room. I love the lime green but I needed to tie the accent colors-in better. I think the stripes did the job!


Our basement is almost done. The paint is complete, the tile for the bar area is done, the "office" is almost done and the platform for the Theatre room is being built. The new cabinets in the Theatre room will probably be last along with the crown molding in our room. Stay tuned...

Maliyah with straight hair...

We were having a little fun and wondered if Maliyah would look more like Mommy with her hair straight...what do you think?

Don't worry, it's temporary.

The Pumkin Patch

Happy to be pumpkin shopping.

A little diversity never hurt (little, big, green, orange, white).


She tried to pick-up all the heaviest pumkins.

Just as they spot all the pumkins...
"We ain't scared of no scare-crows."
King of the Pumkin Patch.

This is one of my favorite October traditions! Malakai loves running through the pumkin patch and turning many of them over until he finds the "right" one. Maliyah had fun this year too...she was so excited to see all the pumkins her face just lit-up. We also got to go on the last Hay-ride of the day...the kids loved bouncing around as the tractor took us around the farm and the driver gave us some educational information on the trip. All and all it was a great adventure to the pumkin patch this year!

I have a new blog...

I will include a link in my sidebar so please visit my new blog "Homemaker Tricks and Staging Tips."

Drama King and Queen...

Anyone know of any open casting calls for a "mixed" or "bi-racial-black/white" 2 and 5 year old? Cuz I got a couple future drama majors in my house! Check-out my drama King and Queen when given a little direction:



"You're bored."
"You're embarrassed."

"You're happy."
"You're upset."
"You're sad."
"You're happy."
"Whach'ya talkin' bout Willis?"

Visit from G-ma and Granny

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Terry and I usually have no problem finding a sitter, however, this past weekend we tix to B. McKnight and our sitters were attending their Homecoming dance. So, I invited Mom and Granny up from the Portland area and asked if they'd be willing to watch the kids...of course they couldn't refuse and they came up to Seattle on the train. It was a wonderful visit and the kids enjoyed spending time with both of them! Thank you Mom and Granny!

Brian McKnight

Last night Terry and I went to see Brian McKnight at the Emeral Queen Casino in Tacoma. This was our second B. Knight concert this year and he is AMAZING! To describe it best, he is one of the LAST great singers alive! From his range to his tone he is absolutely flawless! And SEXY too! I highly recommend that any of you generation Xers who remember "1, your like a dream come true, 2, just wanna be with you, 3, girl it's plain to see...that you're the only one for me and..." GO SEE B. McKnight! The venue was sold-out in Tacoma but in the early Spring we went and saw him at The Tulalip Casino and hardly anyone was there...I think the advertising was poor...anyhow, I'm officially a huge fan!