Gearing Up For 2012!

HELLO and HAPPIEST Holidays!
I hope Santa made it to all your houses this year and you all were good lil' boys and girls;)
He made it to mine and he definitely made it to the Cockrill's House! YAY!
Today was the first day I got to see the boys since Santa came to town and boy did they have lots of fun toys to play with!  I think they had a very successful Christmas and got everything they wanted and more:)

Owen got a remote control helicopter (he's been asking for one since October), this weird flying fish thing, "big boy" legos (as he calls them), Hungry Hippos, and so much more.  We spent the morning building houses for our lego men and the afternoon feeding the poor Hungry Hippos who won't be able to eat another marble for at least 3 days because we fed them so much;)

Ahh..the toy that will be around forever.

This is how I imagine our Hungry Hippos felt today;)

Miles got a ton of Thomas the Train stuff, a Thomas the Train rocking chair, play-dough, a fire truck, and of course so much more.  He had a good lil' Christmas as well and kept telling me he was a "good boy this year". Haha!

Oh Milo Cakes...

Both the boys got a really sweet drum set (oh boy! haha!) as well:)
I'm sure they'll be starting their lil' toddler band in no time and I cannot wait to be their manager!
Watch out world...here they come....

Rock & Roll!

What should we name the adorable lil' toddler band?
"Tiny Toddlers", "Baby Gaga", "Crib Riders"....*sigh* I'm clearly not very good at this.

I got the boys this game called ELEFUN:

And a stocking full of toys, new shirts, and goodies.
I was a "bad nanny" and forgot to get 4-C batteries to go with their new game so unfortunately we haven't gotten to play it yet.  It looked adorable and perfect for their age though.  I figured they could run and bounce around catching all these lil' "butterflies".  Ok...truth be told, so I could run and bounce around catching butterflies;)  Weee!  Who doesn't love butterflies?!

Anyways, I think overall the boys had a wonderful Christmas and will hopefully have enough new things to play with to keep them entertained until school starts;)

On another note...
My Christmas was really nice.  I got a few days off from the "real world" and it was wonderful.
My Dad and Brother came to KC on Christmas day so I got to do all kinds of cooking, cleaning, and baking;)  We all watched the Green Bay Packers game that evening and I convinced them to play one round of Bananagrams with me.  I was happy as a clam:)

If you love word/spelling games you'll love this!

I think they had a nice time as well and it sure was wonderful to have them here!  I always look forward to any time we get to spend together.

On Christmas Eve Ben and I went to his Mom's house and celebrated Christmas with her side of the family.  As always, it was a great time and I truly do adore his family to pieces!  We just laugh so much and have really great conversations when we're together.  I am a very lucky girl to have them in my life and am so blessed.  Over the past few years they have really taken me in and I couldn't be anymore grateful.  They all mean the world to me and I really do cherish our times together:)  Sometimes Ben gets jealous and thinks they love me more then him....well, I'd like to think he's absolutely right;)  Juuuust kidding babe! haha:) *we all know the truth...-wink-* ;)

I can't believe another Christmas has came and went during my time here in KC.
I have been here for a year and a half now...it's crazy how time flies.
I have to admit 2011 was a pretty rough year for me....finding my place in KC wasn't as easy as I thought it'd be and I definitely went through some of the hardest times this past year.  I am SO looking forward to 2012 and couldn't be anymore excited to see what the year will bring.  I already know so many wonderful things are headed in my direction and that makes me so happy!  I start UMKC in less than 2 weeks and I'm really looking forward to my new life as a "Kangaroo" ;)  I'm taking 8hrs this semester (just when I didn't think I was busy enough?!) and I'm really looking forward to getting my "nerdy" on.  I am so excited that I actually went "school clothes" shopping (ok..I just wanted a reason to shop and the after Christmas sales were AMAZING!) and for Christmas I asked for gift cards to Amazon and such (thanks Adam and Courtney!) so I can pay for my school books.  I am really excited but super nervous as well.  I just want to get in there, do really well, and finally graduate.  I have no doubt in my mind I will "knock it out" this time but I know it will take patience and a lot of hard work.  I'm also paying for school completely out of pocket so that scares me financially (speaking of which.... donations are gladly accepted;) haha!).  I can do it though!  I have faith and I can't wait! :)

Well anyways...just wanted to check in and see how everybody's Holidays were....
hopefully they were "merry and bright".
Everybody have a very fun, safe, and healthy 2012!  I am so blessed to have you all in my life and want nothing but the best for each and every one of you!  If you go out...be careful and don't be too "baaaad!" haha;)

HAPPY 2012!!!

Bring you Peace and So Much Love,
Miss Mandi the Nanny :)

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like CHRISTMAS!

Hello Hello and Happy Holidays!

Can anybody believe Christmas is only a week and a half away? Holy Cow!

Where on Earth has the year gone?! 

It's hard to get into the Christmas Spirit this year because I truly feel like we JUST had Christmas like a month ago.  However, I must be a good lil' nanny and get that Santa swag on;) haha!  The kiddos are OH so excited and it's SO much fun to view Christmas, Santa, and everything of the Holiday Season through their lil' eyes:)  They are sooo adorable and I love them more and more everyday!

Love my Milo Cakes and his lil' cheeto covered face:)

At  the Cockrill House we are firm believers in "The Elf on the Shelf" (if you don't know the story behind it, check it out! Such a fun idea to get the kiddos to behave and get excited for Santa Clause!)

Miles and Owen named their Elf, Mr. Elf (real original...I know!) and the other night he brought them back pajama's from the North Pole!  Soooo awesome!

Everybody meet "Mr. Elf" he tells Santa EVERYTHING...

 Right now the boys are constantly singing "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" and "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer".  It was actually slightly humorous because Miles was throwing a "terrible two's temper tantrum" (yes, those do happen and they are quite unpleasant) and Owen started singing "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" really loud as Miles was in mid-fit....I couldn't help but laugh:) so appropriate for the moment. 

Oh My Crazy Lil' Elves...

Sometimes this is how I prefer them:)
JUST KIDDING...hehe, kinda!

On Saturday I was with the boys both morning and evening and we had the BEST day ever!
Very festive and fun!  In the morning we decorated GIANT Gingerbread Men and the evening was spent at Crown Center.  Crown Center is by far the most beautiful place during the holiday season.  For real!  If you're not in the "Christmas Spirit" you sure will be after visiting there;)

Getting Our Gingerbread Man On:

Owen's Gingerbread Man

Miles Gingerbread Man

I have to say I was pretty impressed with their decorating skills!
All I did was the frosting part and they did the rest...not bad for a 2 and 3 year old:)

That evening was Crown Center which was MAGICAL....

LOVE this picture!

Haha! "Peek a Boo" Miles!

Such a happy boy:)

beep beep!

vroooom!

"She thinks my tractor's....sexy?" ;)

He's Gigantic!!!

Sharing Hugs and Lots of Brotherly Love!

The Gorgeous Fountains

The Beautiful Tree at Crown Center

Well that's about all the pictures I have from our Saturday Christmas-eee adventures!
I sure hope you enjoyed them and it got you a lil' more in the Holiday Spirit! :)
Hopefully I will get to blog again before the New Year but if not....

PEACE, LOVE, and HAPPY HOLIDAY'S!!!! 

Yay for another year with the Cockrill Family!  Happy 2012!

xoxoxo

Miss Mandi the Nanny (aka Santa Mandi!)

Merry Christmas & Much Love from Mandi, Miles, and Owen! :)

Lil' Turkeys to Santa Mandi's Lil' Helpers;)

Hello Everybody and Happy December!!! (Well, almost...I'm a day early...)

Welcome to my favorite time of the year!  I LOVE the Holiday Season!

 You bet your fine lil' tushies that these lil' turkeys are going to become Mandi's lil' helpers over the holiday season:)  We will be doing all kinds of baking, decorating, and crafting!  I cannot wait:)

I just remember how special my parents made this time of year for me growing up and I just hope they LOVE it as much as I do!  So, we will be extra busy this month doing all sorts of Christmas-eee stuff!  Cannot wait!

By the Christmas Tree

Even Calvin James is prepared for the holidays this year!!!

Christmas Calvin:)

"Meowy Christmas!!!"

Thanksgiving came and went and now we are slowly moving into the Christmas Spirit.

The boys have their Christmas tree up at both of their houses and all the classic Christmas movies are in their DVD players non-stop.  Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph is there favorite so far.  I just love the classical Christmas movies!  They get better and better each year.

 

The boys are so cute!

They are really getting excited for Santa this year and that makes my heart all warm and happy!

I must say it is so fun to hear them talk about anything and everything Christmas.

Owen (who's almost 4) really understands the story of "Santa" a lil' more this year and it's so adorable.  

The other day I overheard him explaining to Miles that "Santa's watching and if you want presents you gotta be a good boy!"  So sweet:)  Miles just looked at him confused though and says, "Santa?" haha.

Such an excited lil' boy:)

"Oh Christmas Tree..."

Yesterday Owen was just standing in his living room looking up at the Christmas tree....he sighed and says, "I think our Christmas tree is just absolutely wonderful!" haha awww!  A lil' dramatic but adorable.  I love them so much.

So excited for the holidays!

Anyways, there will be many stories to share and pictures to come....

but for now I just wanted to give you a lil' teaser for the best month (well besides my birthday month, haha!) of the year:)  Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping! xoxo

Miss Mandi the Santa Nanny:)

Ps. Look at this adorable ornament of Owen from last year...gosh he has grown up so much!

Time really does fly by when you're having fun!  What an amazing year it has been:)

Christmas 2010

"Is that a good idea?"

Hello and Happy November!
Winter is slowly but surely creeping up onto us and the the days are getting shorter and shorter.
I am NOT a fan of Winter but I do like the pretty snow, CHRISTMAS, and the fun activities of Winter.
The only problem with nannying this time of the year is the kiddos get "cabin fever" like crazy so I have to get really creative:)  I already have a few ideas in store so hopefully it will be a fun one this year!
I cannot believe Thanksgiving is next week already!  Then it will be Christmas and 2012 already...holy cow!
Before I get too ahead of myself I'm going to focus on Thanksgiving first;)
The boys have a few extra days off next week so we're going to do all kinds of fun "Turkey Day crafts" and baking.  It will be messy and fun!

Happy Turkey Day, ya'll!

Speaking of the boys...they are SUCH boys now...
full of dirtiness, stinkness, and all "boy like" things.  BUT they are adorable as always:)
Right now they have figured out all about "toots and burbs" (or as Owen calls them, "My Man Burbs") and Miles is in the process of potty training *sigh* (just when we have Owen all good in that situation)  It's never ending!

Jusssst Kidding;)

Ohhh the lovely stage of potty training!

They also ask a MILLION questions a day and don't quite understand the meaning of a personal "bubble" yet so they are right in your face 24/7.  Good thing I adore them...right?! :)
They ask questions non-stop and it's enough to make a sane person go quackers if you know what I mean...
"WHY WHY WHY is the sky bluuueee? WHY do you drive a car? WHY do I have to eat lunch? WHY WHY WHY?!" Ahhhhh...I don't know man, I just don't know! haha:)  I started telling them "because God made it that way or because I said so" as my answer because I am running out of answers.  That doesn't make me too bad of a nanny, does it? I can talk forever but I think I have officially been "beat" in that department.  Owen and Miles: 100 Mandi: 0

They are also "balls to walls" 24/7 as well.
I'm not kidding I think somebody falls, gets a "boo boo", or ends up in tears at least twice a day.  They just go, go, go to the extreme until something happens.  Definitely keeps me on my toes and makes me super nervous all the time.  Sometimes I'm afraid people will think I beat them due to all their "boo boo's" haha! Such boys! They will definitely be playing sports in the near future I think.

I'm so proud of them but I think they're even prouder!
Right now they are SO proud of all their accomplishments...big or small.  It's really sweet.
I hear the phrase "Look what I can do" (Mad TV anybody?) and "watch this" all the time!
Everything from taking a bite outta their food to using the potty and riding their bikes...these boys are super proud:)

They also say the funniest things and constantly have me giggling!
Unfortunately this past weekend my friend's car got broken into and they stole all my stuff and broke my phone!  Yes, so I'm phone-less for awhile and it's not fun.  I can't believe it and it was a terrible situation.  Long story short though...when trying to explain to Owen why my phone is broken he responds, "Well now that's not your every day pony ride now is it?" haha! Too funny:)
However, not soo funny about my poor lil' phone...

Ahh my phone got a "boo boo" :(

In the meantime, Miles is turning into my lil' gangsta baby and I LOVE it!
He will sing/rap in the car and it's so funny!  He loves singing that Chris Brown song "Look at me now"...he will say "Look at me now...look at me now...I gettin' paaaaaaaypeeeeer!"  Definitely a proud moment for me in nanny hood;) haha oh man.

Hahaha! Jussst kidding!
He's not THAT gangsta;)

I asked the boys the other day if they had girlfriends...
Owen replies, "Yeah I do!"
So I asked him what her name was and he said "Silvia".  Then I asked him why he likes Silvia and he replies,
"Because she's pretty cute...and...REALLY Baaaad!" Oh boy we're in for a couple of interesting years if he's already interested in the "bad girls" haha!
Miles bashfully told me his girlfriend is "Gracie" (except it came out more like "Gwacieee") SO CUTE!
I'm glad my lil' kiddos are such stud muffins at such a young age;)

Well that's all I have for now...
I have to go get the boys ready for school.  It's Wednesday so we're halfway through the week...yay!

Until next time here is a picture for you to enjoy and a video too!
(keep in mind no animals were harmed in the making of the video...)
Calvin James LOVES helping me babysit;) haha!

Poor Kitty!

We wish you all a very safe and Happy Turkey Day!
Peace and Love!
Miss Mandi the Nanny

No Tricks..All Treats!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2011!!!

Yes, I was "Hello Kitty" this year...

Another very successful Halloween with the kiddo's this year.
I just realized I never got pictures of them last Halloween to compare...dang;)

So, October has been an Amaaaazing Month and so much fun!
I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to spend my 26th (yes, 26th...yikes!) birthday in Texas this year with my best friend (aka wife/ex wife/wife again...haha!) Samantha and with all my Mom's side of the family.  It was truly wonderful and I was soo sad to leave.  I really could of used just a few more days:)  However, I am SO lucky the Cockrill Family gave me the time off.  It was much needed and I could not have appreciated it more!  (Yes Mommy and Daddy's, the nanny needs a breather sometimes too!)  I try to be "SuperWoman" but at the end of the day...I'm only human;)

Super Woman Mandi!!! *dun dun da dun!*

Sooo...speaking of Texas...

I not only had the opportunity to spend it with my lovely friends and family but I had the chance to do some amazing things.  My darling friend, Samantha, is working at a Feline and Cat Wildlife Rescue place in Tyler, Texas and I was so fortunate to get the "Behind the scenes tour"....I got some serious one on one time (haha well, as safely as possible...) with some of the most gorgeous creatures I have ever seen in my life!  Here are a few of my favorite pictures....enjoy!

If you're ever any where close to Tyler, Texas I highly recommend checking this place out!
It is "kitty heaven" for sure:)

That same weekend Sam and I got to experience a "drive thru" Wildlife Safari and it was AMAZING!

We really got to spend some one on one time with some beautiful creatures....pet and hand fed Zebra's, Kangaroo's, Donkey's, A very obnoxious Camel;), and so much more!  It was awesome!

I have about a million more pictures but I'd be uploading all day:)
That last picture really shows our true faces through the whole 2 hour journey...haha!  It was magical :)

Besides all the awesome wildlife I got to experience I got to spend some much needed time with my wonderful family that I love so much!  I truly have the BEST aunt's and uncle's a gal could ask for...I am blessed!  I just wish I could see them more often...maybe I should move to Texas, perhaps? ;)

It was so nice to take 5 whole days off from my busy, crazy, wonderfully hectic schedule....

the first 2 days I was in Texas I was soo tired!  Then I realized, I'm not tired...I'm RELAXED! haha!  It really made me realize I need to take it a lil' more easy and take more time out for friends, family, and myself!  

Overall, Texas was a nice "breather" from life...and I'm so thankful and blessed I got to go!

(Huge Thanks goes out to the man in my life for making it possible...best birthday present ever!  Hugs to you Ben Davis!)

So, once I got back from this lovely trip I had to start preparing for Halloween!

I love Halloween but always get slightly bummed when it's over because then that means October (the BEST month ever!) is over.....however, it's time to start planning for my FAVORITE Holiday ever... CHRISTMAS!!! eek:)  It truly is the best holiday in the world...next to my birthday of course;) haha!

BUT...before we "jump the gun"...let's post some precious Halloween Pictures of my kiddo's...

They had the best Halloween a kid could ask for...and candy to last days and days...and days...

Yum Yum!

Alright People...

who's ready to see the ONE..The ONLY...

CAPTAIN AMERICA and BATMAN?!?!

hahaha awww!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

OWEN!

MILES!

We hope that everybody enjoyed OCTOBER as much as we did!

We hope that everybody's bellies are full of candy and had a safe and happy holiday as well!

I may have just turned 26 but I will be a "kid" forever!
Happy Birthday to Me:D

Now, let's move on to what we're "thankful" for...as Turkey Season is just around the corner;)
And "no shave November" *sigh*.  If the kiddo's start growing beards I will be scared! haha!

Peace and Love,

Mandi