6 year old lady

at 5
1. What is your favorite color? pink and purple
2. What is your favorite toy? Mommy's computer
3. What is your favorite fruit? strawberries
4. What is your favorite tv show? PowerPuff Girls
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?peanut butter & jelly
6. What is your favorite outfit? dresses
7. What is your favorite game? CandyLand
8. What is your favorite snack? cheese crackers
9. What is your favorite animal?  giraffe
10. What is your favorite song? Glee
11. What is your favorite book? Olivia
12. Who is your best friend? Caroline
13. What is your favorite cereal? Cocoa Puffs
 14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Swim
15. What is your favorite drink? Lemonade
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christimas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night?  Taggie
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? donuts
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? chicken and bones (chicken wings)
20. What do you want to be when you grow up?a princess

at 6
1. What is your favorite color? pink and purple

2. What is your favorite toy? Barbie

3. What is your favorite fruit? watermelon
4. What is your favorite tv show?The Fresh Beat Band
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? peanut butter sandwiches

6. What is your favorite outfit? dresses
7. What is your favorite game? Wii

8. What is your favorite snack? chocolate fish crackers

9. What is your favorite animal?  elephants

10. What is your favorite song? Glee

11. What is your favorite book?Junie B. Jones
12. Who is your best friend?Caroline
13. What is your favorite cereal? Cocoa Puffs

 14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? draw with chalk
15. What is your favorite drink? Fuze
16. What is your favorite holiday?Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Taggie  
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?chocolate cheerios
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? chicken and bones

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Cowgirl

I love it when...

As my oldest child turns 6, I reflect my life since she's entered it.  She's about to start first grade, and she's had so many milestones.  Just this past year, she learned to read, she lost 2 teeth, she learned to tie her shoes (and her friend's shoes), she can swim to the bottom of the pool, she can swim the length of my parent's pool without taking a breath.  These may seem trivial to you, but to a kid her age...it's a big deal.

As I lay in bed last night, I thought of all the things I absolutely love about this kid. So, I thought I'd call this post, I love it when..
-I wake her up, and she says, "Mommy, can you wait just a minute and cuddle with me."
-she begs to stay up late so I can read her Junie B. Jones.
-she is so excited her blue eyes sparkle.
-she wakes me up because she's had a bad dream and I have to cuddle with her in her tiny twin bed (I just know this won't last forever.)
-she smiles at me, and she says, "Mommy, I love you."
-she kisses me goodbye every day at school, and right now, she doesn't care who sees her.
-she helps me in the kitchen.
-she asks if she can clean.
-she laughs so hard she snorts.
-she wants to be a girly girl.
-she has great manners.
-she smiles at me.
-she winks at me.
-she's sick and wants me to cuddle with her and take care of her. (I don't like her being sick, but I like her needing me.)
-she reads me a book.
-she makes me art.
-writes me a note.
-I love her zest for life.



I love everything about her. I feel like having her in my life makes me a better person.

New Outlook

So, it's been almost a year since my last post.  A lot has happened in the last year, but I never had the "blog bug."  I never felt anything was really noteworthy, and I never really had the time.

I've created new goals for myself: Goal #1-Make "me" time. This would be creating time to: blog, read, scrapbook, craft, and workout.  Yes, I said workout. 

For those that know me, I'm kind of allergic to exercise.  I almost break out in a sweat just thinking of exercising.  I have friends that religiously workout- bootcamp, running, etc.  So, after taking a good look at myself in the mirror sans clothing, I decided it was time for the inevitable.  I decided to start the C25K program and Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30 days video.  I'm not gonna lie.  It hasn't been easy.  After 2 weeks, I noticed a definite change.  I have more energy.  I'm eating healthier.  I journal what I eat.  A lot of times just looking at MyFitnessPal to see how many calories something is deters me from eating it. I am pretty sure I've lost inches (but I promised myself I wouldn't re-measure until after 4 weeks--still 2 to go.) I still cheat though.  I'm not giving up hamburgers, guacamole, queso and chips, etc.

So, I guess you could say that I'm just a normal girl trying to improve my life.  I want to be a better mom, wife, colleague, friend, and me.

OH, I decided to rename the blog. I'm still working on the design.  It's a work in progress...so you'll see it change over time.

Katie's first day of Kindergarten

The anticipation was killing me...notice, I said me. Katie is my oldest, but she is a mini-version of me. She looks like me, acts like me, and frequently I'm startled by things she says to me because it's as if it came out of my mouth (except I'm 31 and she's 5.)

Every time I thought about my baby walking down the hall away from my 4th grade classroom with her hands clasped in her daddy's I cried. I don't know why, but it's like she's growing up, and I can't stop it. I know that sounds silly, but when those big blue eyes look at me and she smiles, I melt. In those small moments, I want everything for her.

I read this mom's blog about letting go of her youngest, and I empathized with her. She explained how her baby girl took off on her first day of Kindergarten totally surprising her. She jumped out of the car, walked down the hall by herself, hung up her backpack and started her day...without her mom. In that instant, I realized that Katie has been ready for Kindergarten the entire time. It was me who wasn't ready. Don't get me wrong. I am so looking forward to the day she brings home a book and reads it cover to cover. The day she runs home to tell me she lost her first tooth at school. The day she tells me a boy was mean and he shoved her (because secretly he thinks she is adorable.)

So, I steeled myself for the worst today. I made Katie her favorite, homemade buttermilk pancakes for breakfast in shapes: heart, flower, and butterfly. She wanted to wear a denim dress and pink flower in her hair (all of this decided last night.) She and I set off at 6:45 AM since I had to be on duty at 7:30. We had an uneventful ride to school, but Katie always keeps me entertained. We drove with the sun rising straight ahead. Katie said, "OH, what a beautiful sight!" We got there, and she was just itching to go to her class, and she couldn't wait for Dave to get there. He finally did. We waited for the principal to make an announcement that they were sending students down to class. Dave took a picture of Katie and I, and off the hall they went. I didn't shed a single tear even though there was a giant lump in my throat. I guess it was 8:20 when Dave came down to let me see the pictures and said she was clingy at first, but as soon as her friend, Julie with the Rapunzel backpack, showed up, she was good to go. :)

I am truly blessed that I work where Katie goes to school. I may not have walked her down to her classroom, but who else gets to see their kid 2-3 times during the day at work. I also get to hear how her day went on the way home before anyone else does. Plus, she practically tackles me when I show up to pick her up from the YMCA. Now, I am thankful for those little things. :)

Snow Day, Yes Please

We lost 4 days of school one week and 1 day the following week due to snow (and ice.) This was Katie's dream come true.

Kenzie didn't really know what to think about all of the snow.

Still Wild at 80

Happy 80th Birthday, Grandpa! He celebrated the big day by having fajitas at his house. Katie, of course, had to help him blow out his candles and help him open his gifts. She is such a good helper. I hope that I'm as spry and lively when I am 80.

Easiest baby ever...

Mackenzie is four months old, and I'm convinced that she may be the easiest baby ever. She has no stranger danger. She hasn't been sick (by now we already had a nebulizer for Katie's asthma.) She smiles at EVERYONE...and very little makes her unhappy. She rarely cries. Dave thinks she is more difficult because she didn't sleep through the night as quick as Katie, and she still has rough nights. If that's our biggest problem, I'll take it. I personally think that if I had Kenzie first, I might have wanted a litter. OH well, two girls it is. Financially, I don't think we can afford more than 2.

Little comedienne

Katie always says the funniest things. No lie, sometimes the things she says border on inappropriate, but I love that she is hilarious. (She probably gets that from me.) The other night we were eating Tyson's Tequila and Lime chicken wings, Katie's favorite. She calls them "chicken and bones." It's pretty quiet at the table. Kenzie is sitting in her bumbo on the table as the centerpiece. All of a sudden, Katie looks at Dave with a dead serious look and says, "You're just like your mother." He says, "How so?" She replies with, "You always lick your fingers when you eat." I almost lost it.

Chrismas Day

Christmas Day is pretty hectic for us. We start the day at our house opening the gifts under the tree. After everything settles down, I make a light breakfast. Then, we get ready to go to Dave's Grandparent's house. We usually get there between 12 and 1. We eat there around 1:30 or 2. Then, we open gifts there. After that, we head to my parent's house around 4:30 or 5 and open gifts there. Then we eat dinner at my parent's around 7....I know it's crazy. But, it's a time with family. Plus, I always have plenty of time to recover (like a week), Dave isn't always so lucky. As the girls get older, it will get easier. It's always difficult with a baby.

Kenzie and her great-grandpa

This picture baffles me. Grandpa Bob didn't used to be a baby hog. He was almost afraid to hold Katie, but he won't let anyone touch Kenzie if has anything to say about it. Check out her hair. :)

Once again, the sis pic

annual family pic

Kenzie spends most of her time at my parent's house in the swing. Katie used to stockpile Cheerios in that little toucan's head.

"Are there any Cheerios in there?"
The annual family photo

Twas the Night Before

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.

All the presents were wrapped under the tree.

Santa's cookies and chocolate milk were ready...I mean gone.

Christmas #1 (at Pat's)

Sis pic
Kenzie and Grandma (love the hair)

I personally am beginning to wonder why there is always crappy weather on Christmas Eve. Last year was the torrential snowstorm, and I thought we were going to get stranded in Weatherford. This year, it was like 20 degrees warmer, but it rained most of the day. Katie loves going to Grandma's to play with the kids. Of course, the presents were a bonus. She's at the age where it's all about the presents. Last year, she loved the thought, but she still didn't really understand. This year, she felt like she truly understood the meaning of Christmas for kids, gifts. Katie was a little disappointed that not everyone was there ready to play with her when we arrived. We ate delicious tacos around 3:30, and then it was time for presents around 4:30...Katie's favorite part. It's kinda crazy at Pat's. All 11 grandkids find a spot near the tree and wait while 2 kids pass out all of the presents. Then, mass hysteria ensues while all the kids rip into their gifts simultaneously as tissue paper and gift wrap flutter to the floor so much faster than it should. I was watching Katie like a hawk and had my camera ready. Then, the moment approached. She had a giant present in front of her, I knew this was the one. I heard a high-pitched scream and, "Aaaah, my walking puppy." Here is what I got.
Kenzie wasn't much into Christmas, as I expected. Katie enjoyed opening Kenzie's gifts almost as much as she enjoyed opening her own. She also enjoyed playing with Kenzie's as much as playing with her own, as shown here.
All good times come to an end. Katie started to get cranky, and we had to head home and get ready for Santa. We really did have a great time though.

Cookies for Santa

Last year, Katie and I made cookies for Santa. I've decided that I want to make this a tradition. I'm pretty sure that Santa probably gets tired of sugar cookies, so we made cake cookies. You use cake mix and you make cookies. You can frost them, and they are a bit more "fluffy" than regular cookies. Decorating, of course, is Katie's favorite part. She eventually gets bossy and tells me how to decorate them. We decorated about a dozen, and then it was time to go to Grandma's for Christmas with her.

All of the masterpieces

Rice Cereal

Kenzie is now almost 4 months. I figured that since I'm home, I might as well try rice cereal. I have lots of time. So, we did. No lie, she looks pretty happy in the picture, but she wasn't a huge fan. I can't really blame her. This was day 2 with a spoon. Day 1 was in a bottle. Day 3 was a huge disaster. That stuff got everywhere. We'll keep trying. In a few days, I'm going to the doc for a check-up for Kenzie. I'll talk to him about it.

Not another one

Everyone knows that lots of bbies are self-soothers. Both of my daughters hated "pacies." They both eventually found their thumbs, and that's how they fall asleep. However, Kenzie prefers her right thumb, and Katie favors her left. I know each kid is an individual, but I thought that fact was interesting. The one downside to thumbsucking is that you can take "pacies" away, but you can't take a thumb away.

Rollover Beethoven...or Kenzie

I put Kenzie right by the Christmas tree so that she could look at the lights. She is always mesmerized by lights. So, I put her there. Not to long after that, she fell asleep. She fell asleep for about an hour. When I came back because she was making sounds, she had rolled over and was on her tummy.

Dec.1st photo

We always take the baby's pictures on the first of the month. Usually I post the girl's photos side-by-side so that you can see how much they look alike. I know, I know, Kenzie looks like Dave. I got it. Katie did at birth too. Around her 5th or 6th month, Katie started to create her own look. Now, she resembles me more, but she still looks like Katie to me. I thought it would only be fair to post this picture of Kenzie as Kenzie. That's who she is even if she does look like a Dave mini-me.

Christmas Lights

Our tradition is to always put the tree, decorations, and the outside lights up on Black Friday. All of the other crazy people are out shopping, spending hundreds, and we are holed up inside in our pajamas for the majority of the day decorating for Christmas. Katie is really starting to get into this tradition. She just runs around asking where the decorations go. Dave did a fantastic job decorating the outside (with a fabulous assistant.) I love getting ready for Christmas...it always puts me in the spirit.

The Hair

I'm a big fan of Kenzie's hair. I know it's not the unusual strawberry blonde that Katie has. It is, however, naturally curly. I love how it stands up on end at the back by her crown. I know most moms would try and cover it up, not me. I absolutely love that it is crazy.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving kind of crept up on me this year. This was our year to go to Pat's for Thanksgiving. She always fries 2 turkeys and there's always an abundance of carbs (my kind of meal.) This was Kenzie's first Thanksgiving, but her diet is still limited to formula. Grandma Jennie got to hold her and feed her a bottle. Katie loves going to the country for holidays because she gets to play with all of the kids.

Must be a turkey coma
Katie being herself. She was really excited for turkey and 3-layer pie.

All the girls

Katie and I were getting Kenzie ready for bed. We gave her a bath. Then, Katie loves to help put lotion on Kenzie. Then, Katie put her in her pajamas. I saw this as a perfect opportunity for a photo. I am always thinking of a photo for a scrapbook page...I know it's crazy. I love that my girls get along so well right now. I know this isn't going to last forever...so I'll enjoy it while I can.