The Sweetest Little Witch

Oh the joys of Gardner Village.

As you can see, sweet Miss Lys is a little witch for Halloween. I FREAKING MADE HER COSTUME! That's right. Made it! She didn't so much love it at first, but after I made myself one (picture hopefully to be taken and posted later) she thought it was fabulous. She runs around swishing her arms and swinging those sleeves just as high as she can. She makes a pretty cute little witch if you ask me.

Mmm... Jack Baby's Back!

Cassie's Confessions

Why is it that 3 months ago when we first put our house up for sale, and I was doing such a FABULOUS job at keeping it clean, that NOBODY popped in for a visit? And NOW when I've stopped caring and fallen back in to my normal mode of I'll-clean-when-I-feel-like-it that people think they need to pay me a visit? Doesn't anybody call anymore when they're coming over? Seriously, within the last 3 weeks I've had 2 visits from the RS pres (LOVE HER), a visit from the young women doing a service project (there was plenty to do here), and the primary presidents hubby dropped by some music. Not to mention the numerous family members that have decided to grace me with their presence. Don't judge me. Who hasn't had piles of laundry to fold tossed throughout their living room at one time or another? Who hasn't opened their closet and shoved as much crap as they possibly could in there? Who hasn't tossed dirty dishes in the oven or in a laundry basket in the garage when they've had last minute guests? Well, actually I could name a few people who probably haven't: Sam (she actually LOVES to clean, must be an illness), probably Aunt Jan and Grandma Betty wouldn't do something like that, either. FINE! I confess! I totally do stuff like that! And that's IF I know someone is coming over. Sorry folks, if you don't call, you get what you get. If there's not a place for you to sit because BOTH my couches are literally covered in clothes, shove them aside and make your self comfy. In fact, grab a basket and start folding! Now to give some peace of mind. You don't have to be afraid to eat food that comes from here. Before I cook, my kitchen HAS to be clean. I CAN NOT STAND cooking (at all really) if the sink is over flowing with dishes. So if I bring you dinner, it's safe. I promise. It came from a clean kitchen. However, that is also one of the reasons I don't cook often (ever really). I also HATE to do dishes. Now that y'all know yet another one of my dirty little secrets, guess what? My house is clean today! Come on over! You can see the floor in the living room and clear down my hallway. My laundry is done, Alyssa's room is clean and my bed is made. You can see what color my kitchen counter is, find my stove and see the top of my table. However, if you have to use the bathroom, don't open any of the drawers, cabinets or closet. XOXOXO!

Sweet Baby Dreams

If you recall from my previous post of "Alyssa-isms", every baby Alyssa sees she calls Karlee. Well, this is sweet baby Karlee.Last night at approximately 1:00am, Alyssa had climbed in my bed and asked me to get her some milk. When I came back, she was already snoozing. I wiggled her around a bit and asked her if she still wanted her milk. She immediately sat up and our conversation went something like this:

Alyssa: Karlee!
Me: Karlee?
Alyssa: Yes, Karlee! Pillow!
Me: Are you dreaming about Karlee?
Alyssa: Yes, my pillow.
Me: Are you sharing your pillow with Karlee?
Alyssa: Yes (she pats her pillow)

Now, this is funny to me because when she's around Karlee, we get this.

Silly little girl. She doesn't so much like to be touching her, yet she has sweet dreams about sharing her pillow. One day. One day they will be the best of little friends. But for now, we'll enjoy the dreams.

Alyssa-isms

(a Kim original photograph)

Honestly, this kid cracks me up. Everyday I'm laughing my guts out because of something she's done. Here are a few of my favs:

• She fake snores when she's pretending to be asleep.
• She randomly puts her blankie over her head and wanders through the house.
• She purposely backs in to me then says "oops, sowwy."
• She claps and counts at the piano. (A musical genius in the making, I tell ya!)
• Every time she plays with my hair she sings a little song.
• Her favorite song right now is Jingle Bell Rock.
• She sits in the bottom of the fridge OR freezer and closes the door on herself so only her little feet poke out.
• She calls every baby that she sees Karlee, whether they are a boy or girl.
• For some reason she's distinguished the difference between her grandpas. She calls Tim's dad grandpa and my dad papa. She came up with that all on her own. Quite interesting.
• She insists that her dollies be "nakey" and takes their clothes off.
• She kisses my ENTIRE face: forehead, chin, nose, top of my nose, ear, cheek, lips, eyes, eye brows. Then when she's done she shoves my head back and kisses the front of my throat and collar bone.
• She insists on eating apples by having the whole apple in hand, no cutting it up allowed, then biting into it and spitting out the peel. Everywhere.
• Lately, when Tim sits down to play with her she says "see you later" and runs away.
• Every bug that can fly is a bee.
• She crawls backwards, usually about 3 or 4 feet, before she gets to any stairs.
• She always wants to go "sopping" (shopping - a girl after my own heart)

What can I say? I am thoroughly entertained by this little sweetie day in and day out!
(yet another fab Kim original)

She's done it again...

All right everyone, I've linked you here before and I'm doing it again. I must show off a couple things. 1 - My sister is GORGEOUS! and 2 - I'm lucky enough to be amigas with this photographer and she is AMAZING!!! So, check this out.

The Pumpkin Patch Adventure

I took Alyssa to a pumpkin patch last week with my Grandma. She thought it was great. She got to play in the dirt, run wild and I didn't even try to contain her.

If Lys could tell us what was really on her mind...
"I can pull this big wagon with 50 lbs of pumpkins all by my big girl self."
"See? I.... can.... do.....it....""Here I go!"

"See? All by my big girl self."

Saw it.

Wanted it.

Sat on it.

And, why not crawl through this really cool tunnel that my mom couldn't get me out of if I happened to get stuck, not knowing what could be under there. Spiders, snakes, rats. Heck, I'm brave! (ok, so I corralled her in a little, but seriously? crawling under ground? the kid has no fear!)

(More punkin love here)

Suggestions Please

I'm in desperate need for some parenting advice. My little angel REFUSES to go to sleep. She just won't do it. I can't even remember the last time she went to bed at a decent hour, and trust me, it's not from a lack of trying. She used to be really, REALLY good about bed time. We would lay on the bed, drink some milk and watch about 10 minutes of a movie. After her milk was gone she would say good night to Elmo, Nemo, or whatever was on, lay in her bed and off to slumber land she'd go. Then, somewhere along the lines we (ok, probably ME) let her stay with us a little longer. Then we (this time I do mean WE) took away her binkie... (cue the dun, dun, duuuuun music) She did surprisingly well with it. After about 2 days she didn't even ask for it at all. But now we're back to bed time. The kid can negotiate. She's not even 2 years old and she asks for everything under the sun to get out of bed. First it's milk, followed by "mommy, book?", then "mooie peeeeeas" (movie) and the last ditch effort of "I hungee, eat? peeeeeas." And when we've gone through all of those she cries and cries, THEN asks to be rocked. SERIOUSLY! SHE'S NOT EVEN TWO! IS THIS NORMAL!?!?! So I ask you. What would you do? What have you done with your own children? I'm such a softie and I HATE letting her cry. I shut the door to her room the other night, (just for a second to get a small grip on myself) and it took her about a minute and a half to start calling me, crying "Mommy, help me! Mommy, I stuck! Mommy, out!" Of course I immediately went back in. I needed to save her! Right? Now, let's just talk about me for a minute. I LOVE sleep. I have always loved sleep. My pillow is one of my nearest and dearest friends. I understand that with children you never really sleep the same again, if at all. But should that mean that my head automatically turns into her pillow? Literally. She lays on my head. So there are many, MANY reasons my little punkin needs to get some sleep. First and foremost, she's just a wee little thing and children need sleep. Lots of sleep to grow and develop and be healthy, yadda yadda yadda. And secondly, (and selfishly) I miss my sleep. Mama needs some sleep so I can go back to being Happy Mommy. So, suggestions. Please.

A little something...

To show that I am still trying my hand in the photog world. Lots more to post, hopefully soon.

Good TV Night

Yes I watch way too much tv and no I don't care. I LOVE good tv night on Thursdays! I want to be Meredith for Halloween and have Jim sign my cast. Then I want to be Phyllis so when some body is on my last nerve I have the brass to crumple up their "to-do" list and throw it in their face. Really, I wouldn't mind being Angela sometimes, too, so I could get away with being a total beast and saying everything that goes through my head. And for just a brief moment, let us discuss Grey's Anatomy. Really Old Guy? Loved him! Such a bummer that he only got to do one episode. I thoroughly enjoyed when he was "going to die right now" and Blondie told him "that may make you poop your pants, but it won't make you die." Good tv night makes me happy.

The Loganites

It has been brought to my attention that some of my most favorite people are no where to be found on my blog. How very sad! I would like to introduce you to the Mike and Cherie family.

Mike and Cherie.
Cherie is Tim's sister. However, I often feel as though she should be MY sister instead. We relate. A lot. And Mike? He pretty much gives some of the best hugs you can get. Except for Tim's of course.

Megan and Candice.
Can you believe these two sisters are almost 5 years apart!?! Sheesh! Could have fooled me. Megaloo is LOVING high school, I'm sure, and lives it up playing volley ball. And little Miss Candelina is embarking on her 2nd year of college (I have a niece in college!?!) while working a job or 2 or 3 depending on the season and the last time I chatted with her about it. A couple of busy little bees for sure, and aren't they flippin' BEAUTIFUL!

Tyler
Even with all those sisters, this kid is everything BUT a sissy. See the basketball on his t-shirt? That's Ty. A born and bred USU fan and plays basket ball too. He often tries to get away from me when I go on attack mode to give him a squeeze, but eventually I get him. It won't be long before he's taller than me and just takes me down. I'll be in big trouble then.

Heather
This little girl has a heart of gold. She is just the sweetest little thing. The night Tim proposed to me, we went to their house. I showed Heather my ring and her mom asked if she knew what that meant (she was about 4 at the time). She shook her head no and I told her it meant that I got to come and play with her forever and all the time now. She gave me the biggest hug I had EVER gotten from a 4 year old. Such a little sweetie.

I absolutely LOVE this family. The kids are so good with Alyssa, when they're around, I don't even have to worry about her. If my kids turn out even half as well as these guys, I'll be thrilled!

Tim and I have always admired Mike and Cherie. Their relationship with each other and their family is one for the books. I feel so lucky and blessed to know them, and so very grateful for all they have done for my little family.

Love you guys!