very scary

face art by "kylee" anyone? couldn't say that i would trust her. hmmmm....can i just say very, very scary....or maybe just freaking hilarious. as soon as i walked into her room and saw this i immediately thought...."blog!" i couldn't control myself, meaning i could not keep a straight face when she said, "look what i did mom!" i busted out laughing. i don't think i knew exactly how to handle the situation when all i could do is laugh while remembering a doll that i once did this exact same thing to. what was even funnier was when alaina woke up and kylee wanted to show it to her, shoving the ugly thing into her face. alaina started crying.....i just laughed again! what do ya do?

(they also have tattoos on their hands and stomach....i keep asking myself where she would have seen something like that before....hmmm.)

new friends

donna just emailed these pictures to me from last week. i just had to pay a tribute to aunt faye's visit. we had so much fun spending time with you.....the girls especially. "magic glasses" anyone? you are such a beautiful women inside and out! the light of the Lord so graciously shines through you.

i can't wait until mom and dad move back so we can get all the aunts and cousins together to have a girls weekend. i sure enjoyed the one we had. we love you very much! kisses and hugs from all us girls!

"groucho mark"

all i need is a cigar! i had my second IPL treatment done on my lip yesterday. yes, i have another wonderful mustache...this time with blisters (they magically appeared this morning.) i love the way kylee is looking at me. she thought the glasses were pretty funny, and the picture even funnier.
another ice cream cone for lainey. it is definitely her dessert of choice. it only took papa all of two seconds to get into town and get this girl an ice cream cone. still hilarious to watch.
breakfast in bed on fathers day. alan would kill me if i posted the picture of the three of them.

list of what lainey is starting to say.......(so i'll remember a year from now what she was saying at 15mo)....
1) ball
2) baby
3) bubbles
4) papa and papooh
5) nana (for nana and banana
6) cheese
7) "goggy" i.e. doggy
8) pay pay (for payton)
9) mama and dadda
10) mow (milk)
11) ohie
12) bye bye
......there may be more, but i can't think right now because she is yelling at me.

busy week

just wanted to let everyone know that "yes" we are all still here. this week is VBS (vacation bible school) at church....kylee's first year. she's been actively participating in learning about Jesus, while i have been running around trying to catch it on camera. i think we're both a little pooped....and i have only taken pictures two days (but the editing....wow. just a little time consuming.) with that said, i am signing off and going to bed because there is still one more day...and i have to work tomorrow night. hope all is well in everyone else's world!

"Ka Chow"

talk about starting the summer with a "bang!" i cannot believe i have actually done this. i have been wondering, for weeks now what i would look with my "natural" color. i have been a blonde for 28 years (my blonde started getting a little darker when i was 14, so i started high lighting it). so after talking to a few people and doing a little research i just decided "what the heck." it sure will save me a lot of money. and i think i really like it. we'll see tomorrow if i still feel the same way. i'll probably walk by the mirror, forgetting what i've done, and jump a few feet in fear of what i see.

let me tell you, little miss kylee was more than supportive with this whole ordeal. after going to the store today and buying the box of color, i am not kidding, she asked me twenty times when i was going to do it. i kept telling her that i was going to do it after she went to bed. so when i came out of my room tonight (after coloring it), i see two eyes peering through her doorway. she just stops and stares, sticks her head out of her door and stares a little more and says, "mommy did you do your hair, i reeeaally like it!" i said, "i'm so glad, now go back to bed."

now my husband on the other hand says that he is pleading the fifth. it's going to take a little getting used to. trust me, i completely understand. i just think it was time for a change. anyway, please feel free to tell me what you think.....don't be too brutal!

powder sugar

i was tired of seeing my big ole' mustache. i thought that these pictures of the powder sugar look were much sweeter....not that mine was sweet. once in a while on my way home from work i will stop by the store and pick up doughnuts for the girls. this time i thought the powdered ones would be tasty. the girls obviously thought so. they were the perfect size for alaina. she was double fisting them at one point. yum, yum, yum! that's all for now.

mustache

can you believe that this is what i asked for for my birthday? well, not this exactly, but he treatment, yes! on monday i had IPL (some kind of light treatment) done. after two babies and an excessive amount of hormones i developed the lovely "pregnancy mask." you know, the dark pigmentation above the lip and under the eyes. well, the darkness around the eyes i can live with because they are easier to conceal, but the lip.....ummmm not so much! i can honestly say that i am amazed at myself for even posting this picture. it is incredibly embarrassing, but hilarious at the same time. and if you can believe it, it has actually improved since monday. i look like an absolute FREAK!!!!! i have had to run a few errons and people just stare at me. i feel like i need to wear a sign that says "yes, i look a little freakish...i had light treatment done....it will go away. please stop staring." fortunately i don't need to wear a sign. i have a four year old who just tells everyone. we were at the pet store yesterday, standing in line she says (loudly), "mommy, everyone is looking at your lip." "yes i know this sweety. thank you."

days of old...and new

the warm air, but cool breeze....family gathered around on the deck. it reminded me of a time long ago...well, it seems long ago. never before has it felt weird walking in my grandparents backyard. maybe weird isn't the right word, but today it was so different. walking up the big hill with my cousin...and our kids. so many memories together in that backyard. but today we were able to watch our own kids run around, making memories of their own. it felt so good being together with everyone (almost everyone.) it doesn't happen very often, but when it does it is great. life changes and we all go with it, but coming back to where you came from always makes me feel so good. it is refreshing! so brit, thanks for graduating high school today. we're all proud of you and so thankful to have a reason to get together.

just sittin', rockin'

way too photogenic!!!!

didn't you know that this is how you are supposed to eat a popsicle? alaina demonstrated today how to correctly eat a popsicle....upside down! evidently the stick tastes better. who knew??

what a great mother's day. a picnic lunch in the backyard with the fam', a little time to read, then playtime in the pool....and a tasty treat. it was just fun watching the girls play together outside. kylee really enjoyed splashing around in the pool, while alaina amusingly watched. smart on her part....the water was flippin' cold. aside from the pool, riding in the car up and down the hill was most entertaining. i can't tell you how many times kylee pushed alaina up and down that darn hill. they had a blast. and i had a blast watching. thank you girls for making this day so special. really, this day should be more about you. you girls are the reason i am a mother.

i know that there are many days when you don't think that i am so great...when i'm impatient, easily frustrated or just plain grouchy. but know this....i love you girls so incredibly much. i really believe that you were one of the reason's i was created (though i don't always feel worthy or adequate to do the job properly.) i am grateful for the opportunity to love you every day, to show you, to teach you, but even more....to learn from you. i love you so much. thank you for making this day and everyday so special.

and for my mom, my step mom and mother-in-law, this day is for you....to honor you and to tell you how much i love you. thank you for all the years of your love. some not as long as others, but time doesn't matter. you are all so special to me. i love you very much. happy mother's day!

gettin' back into the swing of things

what can i say about this little character above? she is so darn funny! so many facial expressions....all because of a silly lawn mower. today we spent all morning into early afternoon doing much needed yard work. alaina and kylee kept following alan around while he was mowing the lawn. seriously, how much fun could that really be? they obviously thought so.

anyway, we are back and missing hawaii more and more everyday....especially coming back to rain, rain and more rain:) oh well, vacations do have to come to an end sooner or later. i honestly think that was one of the quickest weeks of my life. but a wonderful one! though i wanted to stay longer, i was anxious to see alaina....who, might i add was not so anxious to see me. when we arrived at the airport it was like she looked me up and down and was saying with her eyes, "you left me, i don't want you." luckily my feelings weren't hurt too badly. we made up in the car. however, after staying with my aunt and uncle for a week, i think they are more than just a great aunt and great uncle...more like another nini and papa. i am grateful that everything went so well and she was loved soooooo much.

she is officially back to her ooey, gooey, cheesy smiley, ornery self! kylee is defiantly coming off a vacation high. slowly adjusting, but doing well. still cute as ever.

how do kids no that when you get an ice cream cone they instinctively know to eat the cone? you would think that they know to eat the ice cream, but not the cone....it's the ice cream "holder." what would make them think that they are supposed to eat that as well (assuming they haven't seen you eat one before)? just curious...because alaina knew exactly what to do. that thing was gone in two minutes. it was hilarious. she dove right in and finished it off with out batting an eye. and when she was done she was looking for more with her white goatee plastered on. i'm just so glad i thought to bring my camera:)

aloha.....finally

i know i promised to blog while on this vacation, but the only one who can get internet service is dad....needless to say, it's kinda inconvenient to transfer pictures back and forth, then actually write something. it tires me thinking about it. let me tell you, i think i'm still on kansas time because i am ready for bed every night at seven or eight o'clock, not blogging.

anyway, i decided to post a few pics though i have taken hundreds...literally. we are having a great time. maui is gorgeous beyond imagination. i love waking up at 5:45 in the morning, crawling out of bed ready to start the day with a cup of coffee and quiet time (watching and listening to the waves crashing.) simply amazing i tell you. more amazing that i am actually awake and ready to go at 5:45 in the morning!

so far the majority of our time has consisted of lying on the beach ALL day. heaven, pure heaven! kylee is loving every minute and is completely exhausted at the end of the day. me too!

we went to a luau wednesday night which was really fun. the mc didn't really belong in hawaii, but rather in las vegas....it was pretty entertaining. kylee of course loved it. i think she has found a new hobby, "hula dancing." you didn't have to ask her twice before she was on stage learning the hula with the rest of the crazy extroverted people. seriously, where did kylee come from. you couldn't pay alan and i enough to get up there, but not kylee. and she is so serious too....really trying to learn it. it was awesome watching her.

i better get goin'. we'll be home in a few days. missing alaina like crazy!!!! can't wait to see you sweetie pie. angie, you and greg are amazing for watching her while we are gone. we are so lucky. thanks so much. love you all. aloha!

cotton candy and popcorn.....:)

i remember loving cotton candy....why is it now that it tastes more like insulation than a yummy, sweet treat? not like i really know what insulation tastes like, but the texture seems the same. obviously it didn't phase my sweet child. just enjoying the simple pleasures of being a kid. do you like how her hair is all matted from that sticky stuff.
....and lainey. popcorn was her treat of choice. she learned quickly how to get into that bag. she also learned "gibberish." from the time we left my dads she started talking and has not stopped. i wish you could hear her. it is absolutely hilarious. the entire way home, through dinner, walking around the house....from the moment she woke up this morning, in the car and the store....you get my meaning. she has NOT stopped. she is really speaking her own language and enjoying every minute of it. this girl has somethin' to say! (poor alan, a house full of girls who like to talk.....maybe we should get him some ear plugs?)

ummmm

just thought i would post a few pictures since i haven't posted in a while. i'm at a loss for words....really, they just aren't coming. so you can just look at these cute faces. ta, ta for now.

what can brown do for you?

does the brown shirt make her a prime candidate for the job? if so, her and i are both over qualified! for those of you who don't know, my dad works at UPS.....for a long ass time i might add...oops did i just say that? seriously though, this month i think it will have been 28 or 29 years. that is a long time in my book. i know it's been a long, hard haul. but dad, i do thank you for working so hard for us. your job put food on the table, clothes on our backs, schooling and lots of extra things along the way.

anyway, kylee has been wanting to go and see the "spoopy s trucks"....so, saturday they did just that. it looks like she had a great time. but the best part of the trip was visiting the break room for a snack out of the vending machine (cheetos and milk....mmmmmmm. well, that's what kylee thought.) thanks dad for taking her, i wish i could have been there to see how proud she is of you. the way i know i was when i was her age (still am, but it's a little different now, if you know what i mean). i remember every time i saw a UPS man, if i had the chance, i would always tell them who my dad was. or when i saw a truck....i was always looking to see if you were in there. i was pretty proud!

now to the pictures of alaina....i just love when little girls start sleeping in big, over sized t-shirts. they just look so darn cute! it really emphasizes how small they are. it makes me think of summer nights when my sister and i would wear dad's t-shirts to bed (they were always so soft....and so big). however, as i sit here thinking of her only wearing a t-shirt to bed.....will she still have a diaper on in the morning? hmmmmm!

can you say excited?

anticipation......watch alaina's face.


i just had to post this. but first let me explain what is was happening. alan was outside getting ready to cut the grass and the girls were sitting in the window watching. when alan started the mower and headed in their direction alaina went nuts! she got so darn excited. alan called me outside to see her face....i couldn't believe it (both the girls looked like they were on a roller coaster ride). i've never seen anyone so excited about a lawn mower. i hope she shows that same excitement when she's old enough to take over that duty. something tells me that she won't have that same look....probably a roll of the eyes instead.

bitten by the BUG

anyone who has talked to me in the last day or two has probably gotten an ear full of complaining. my apologies...please!

some sort of nasty bug made it's way into our house last week. i think it came in when the weather changed. hmmmm....aren't the bugs supposed to go outside when the weather gets nice???? anyway, it started with kylee....wonderful cough, fever and congestion, then on poor alaina's first birthday the bug bit her. she came down with a fever, cough, congestion and of course, runny nose. then the next day (saturday) alan gets bit, fever, cough and congestion. yuck!

lets just say it made for an incredibly fun weekend for healthy mom (and kylee by then)! i am typically very much needed, but this weekend was "mom, i need you....crying, screaming, snot and more snot" overload. i have to say that i frequented the bathroom regularly, just to do a little "pull my hair out" dance.

anyway, yesterday lainey had her one year appointment and we found out she of course has a good ol' ear infection. and after giving her the antibiotics last night she projectile vomits all over me.....then later that night kylee decided that her rocking chair was the toilet and peed all over the floor...and this morning doesn't remember a darn thing (i can't believe she doesn't remember anything because she was completely hysterical).

okay, that's it, i am officially done complaining. yes, it was a frustrating weekend, but i am sure i am making a much bigger deal out of it. again, my apologies, but thanks to this blog i am able to vent and if people don't want to hear it they don't have to.

you know, alan and i were lying in bed last night just talking about random things when i started laughing. ten or so years ago when i snuggled next to alan, i couldn't wait to just be his wife so we would have lots of moments snuggling and talking.....who knew we'd be lying there exhausted (i couldn't believe we were even talking, we should have been passed out) after an evening filled with so much puke, pee and snot! it really is pretty funny. i am so grateful. i really am! i have a wonderful husband who loves and supports me and helps out with the kids. and we have two beautiful girls inside and out, no matter how much snot or pee comes out of them. okay, i'm done!

one year ago today.....

(photo compliments of aunt d)

as i sit here at work, i am reminded of a year ago today (like it was yesterday).....i was lying in a bed, in this very same hospital, waiting to meet my little alaina jean. at 5:14am you came into this world (very fast i might add...kinda how you do everything else.) i was so excited to meet you, to see you, face to face.

i fell in love instantly. i knew that i would love you, but i was nervous as to how i would feel in that moment....loving another child. but you came, and there were no worries, no doubts. what i held in my arms was "love."

i have had the privilege of loving you everyday since, and i wouldn't trade a single second. you have brought so much joy to my life and to those around you. i can tell you time and time again, but words will never amount to how much i love you, we love you. i hope you have a happy first birthday. thank you for being my sweet, smiley, little blue eyed girl, with a grin that melts my heart. i love you lainey lou.

(i'll be home from work soon to wish you a happy birthday myself.....maybe with a sprinkled doughnut in hand....with a candle?) i bet kylee would like it if i did that!

thank you Lord for alaina jean. bless her all the days of her life. i pray that she will know you and grow in your love and live in your light. i pray that you will use her in ways only you know how to. keep her healthy and safe. pour out your love through us, so she will be showered in it each and every day. give alan and i wisdom to parent her, guide her and discipline her. thank you for trusting us to be her parents here on earth. i am so eternally grateful. amen!

"picnic" take two

oh, glorious days like these......sigh! this weather has definitely lifted the "funk" cloud over our household (well, at least for me.) earlier this year i took both the girls on a picnic (the one where kylee had to pee in a bush), we had such a good time i thought we'd try it again. but this time i made sure kylee went to the bathroom before we left.

last time we went there, it was a little easier to contain lainey....she could only lay there. now.......i can't keep her in one spot. she loves being outside, and she loves walking everywhere.

sweet....

kylee kept throwing grass at alaina, and she thought it was hilarious. finally, i got a smile.

telling secrets....well, not really. she's actually coughing. poor thing can't get rid of it.

until next time.......

birthday party

my birthday girls. kylee had a great time and couldn't wait to dig into the present opening. and alaina was just interested in walking around. first birthdays are always so funny. you try to make a big hoorah....the cake, the balloons and the party hats, but do they realize what is even going on? heck no! they just meander around wondering why all these people are in there house. and why in heck everyone is singing and clapping. but having two birthdays all in one day you have the excuse for the fun cake, balloons....all the hoopla, but no hats. there is no way alaina would keep a hat on. the little stinker wasn't even the slightest bit interested in her cake. i remember kylee didn't exactly dive into it either, but once she got a taste she had a great time making a mess. not our little princess. she wouldn't eat it unless it was given to her on a fork. she is so funny! i should be thanking my lucky stars that she doesn't like to be messy, but i was a little disappointed...no fun chocolate, all over the face pictures. oh well.

it was nice having everyone over. thanks guys for sharing the afternoon celebrating with us. and thanks for eating the cupcakes....i had to get those out of the house. too yummy!

side by side

this just made my day yesterday. after picking kylee up from school we made our weekly trip to sam's club to get milk. i really think alaina enjoyed having kylee sit right next to her. shortly after entering the store alaina was leaning in to kylee, laying her head on her shoulder. it was the sweetest thing. when i told kylee alaina was giving her "luv's", kylee embraced it. she put her arm around her and gave her a big hug and kiss. it was awesome! i am so glad that you are both able to show your love for one another this way. i just love moments like these. the check out gal was getting the biggest kick out of the two of them sharing popcorn. it was pretty cute.

and as promised......the shoes. fashion statement of the week. i absolutely love them. i think they are hilarious!