What A Day! What A Little Girl!

It's late! I've been going over a resume for a friend and I'm very tired. I have no idea what will come out of my mouth on here. Guess it will be a surprise to all of us!

Carly said her own name for the first time yesterday and she said it several times so it wasn't just gas--or a fluke or something like that. She really said it! She is like a one woman destruction team these days. Seriously, those little legs run fast and far and she goes from one thing to another tearing things up as fast as she can. What's surprising to me is the things she chooses to get into--like she will take the lid off her diaper pail and carry it around. We catch her immediatley but she's already gotten several feet with it by the time we get her. So has the stench, mind you. But even though it's right in her face she doesn't seem to notice. Yes, we empty it often--but we empty her often too--and it's just not pretty! Whew! Somedays, she just takes off with the lid and plays keep away from us. On those days it's easier to set the diaper pail outside the kitchen door for a few seconds until you catch her. She thinks she's so darned funny, too!

I think I already told you about the TV didn't I? Off, On, OfF, On, Off, On. It's getting incessent. We just have to pick her up and hold onto her now that is if we can catch her. She does everything for a reaction and then when you react she laughs and runs from you! Yes, I've tried not reacting. She just keeps doing it until you do react.
(Well, I don't want her to break the On/Off button!)

She's been giving Julie a run for her money, too. She turns off the computer Julie uses right as Julie is about to save or print something. It has a button at the bottom she can reach and it just shuts it right down. She's done it to Megan and to me a couple of times, too when we've been on it. Very frustrating--but again for the reaction. Then the other day I was on another computer and the hard drive with the on/off button was behind a door on the desk and I didn't even know she knew where it was. Sure enough I am just starting to print something off and she comes in, opens the door on the desk, leans down and pushes the off button. I didn't even know she had come in the room. Her Daddy was watching her (supposedly). Luckily--for him--this computer had a protect mode and didn't shut off. This little girl has BIG plans in her brain all the time! Oh my goodness!

Well, that's enough stories for tonight. I'm exhausted. Gee, I wonder why?!

I HATE DUSTING!

I've been cleaning my room all day today. I mean the kind of cleaning where you get rid of things and really move and ClEAN under things-not just dust--but I did a TON of dusting today! That means I did a TON of sneezing also. That's not what I hate about dusting, though. It's having to move everything and put everything back. I have way too many trinkets. I need to get rid of all my trinkets and all the things I have to move. I guess that means I need to get rid of everything. I think I'm willing--well, most of it, anyway.

I really, really hate dusting--and I'm not planning on liking it ever. So, I am just going to start getting rid of a bunch of the stuff I keep having to move. I've decided it's just not worth it. Don't ya think?

THE YARD IS MOWED!

I know. You really wanted to know that, didn't you? Not so much, eh? Sorry. But it feels so good. Rob's been working on the garden spot, too. We are actually putting one in this year. I am so excited. Now we just have to do a bunch of other mumbo jumbo to the lawn to get it back in shape and get all the weeds to go away.

I went to visit my older sister today. I had a doctor appt. down her way and she watched Carly for me while I went. It was good to see her. Carly slept a little bit on the way home but didn't get her regular nap so she was a pill the rest of the day. She's sleeping soundly now, though. It's a good thing when a cranky little girl gets good sleep. Hopefully she will be in a good mood again tomorrow.

Not much else going on. Time to shut these dark brown eyes. Night.

WISH UPON A HERO

I found the neatest website! Actually I read about it in USA Today. This is a website where just about anyone can afford to be a bit of a philanthropist. Anyone can go to this website and post a wish/need and anyone else can go to the website, read the need and grant it. Some of the larger needs have to have documentation. One of the ones I read about in the newspaper article was about a man in his eighties or nineties (you do the math) who had been at Pearl Harbor as a soldier and survived it but really wanted to go back before he died but couldn't afford to. His daughter posted the wish and someone sent the daughter and her father to Pearl Harbor so the father could see the area again and make peace with what happened there in his youth.

There are requests for groceries and gasoline and both larger and smaller things. One woman who was interviewed who frequents the site said she tries to grant at least one wish a day but also said that as the economy has gotten worse it has become harder for her to do that. Many wishes are so tiny. Some times I want so much to help someone and don't know how to do it. A place like this definitely gives a way.

Some wishes on it are not for help but for the wisher to help others or to give something to others. It is a very interesting site. The overhead for the site doesn't come from any of the philanthropists but rather from site ads. I like that, too.

Go take a look and maybe help someone today you weren't planning on when your day began. It will do your heart good. Have fun! Here's the website: http://www.wishuponahero.com/

The Latest Family Photo

Ain't we cute?

O.K. I'M EMBARRASSED . . .

Rob just pointed out to me that Carly is walking around with her toy cell phone between her shoulder and ear like she is talking on it. You know--the way you would hold your phone to your ear with your shoulder and talk if you had something in your hands or were doing something with your hands. Only my family members and closest friends will get the humor or should I say sad irony in this. She's definitely picking up Mommy's bad habits! Dear me --I guess I need to put the phone down more often.

Honest guys--I never do this with my cell phone--it's too small and would hurt my neck--I may do it with the real phone--but never my cell phone!

The Lawn Doctor Showed

He gave us a multitude of prescriptions to try on our weed infested mess. We will see if any of them work. He said it will take time. Guess that is to be expected. I wish the weather would choose what it wants to do here. We go between hot and cold--no Spring at all. It's just plain cold right now.

Carly had a bad day today. I think it was a mixture of painful teething and gas. They say when Mama ain't happy ain't nobody happy--but the truth is "When Carly ain't happy--ain't nobody happy!" It was rather miserable around here because she was hurting so much. Poor thing. I just got her to sleep and I'm hoping she will sleep well and feel better tomorrow.

Here's to a painless tomorrow and a happy little girl!

The Next Time We Send A Shuttle into Space . . .

Can we load all of the pollen onto it and send it away? Puh--leeaassseee?? AHHH--AHH--AHHH---AHHH---AHHHHHHH CHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GROWING DANDELIONS

So, instead of a lawn this year Rob and I have decided to just grow dandelions and weeds. It seems much simpler. It's way low maintenance and it's really colorful! I mean, why purchase all kinds of garden flowers when those beautiful dandelions don't cost you a penny? (Well, they cost you a penny didn't they Dad? A pretty one! Hee hee! Sorry private joke!) Maybe someday I'll explain.

Actually, all this lawn talk is tongue in cheek. We are so frustrated with our lawn. Rob put a weed and feed on it two weeks ago and it did nothing--that is unless it is supposed to feed and increase the weeds!

We've scheduled someone to come look at it a couple of times now and he hasn't shown up. We have him scheduled again for later this week and if he doesn't show this time we will call someone else for sure. Anyway, we thought we had a fungus or something at first and now we think it may be the ph level in the water. Whatever it is the lawn is a mess and I'm sure our neighbors are going nuts.

So, just in case anyone says anything to me before we can get it fixed--I'm getting my comebacks ready. How's this one: Oh, I've loved dandelions ever since I was a little girl. Aren't they beautiful? It took me the whole month to plant this many plants in the yard--but aren't they gorgeous? I just love how colorful the yard is!So many blooms--I really got my money's worth!

Lovin' the Warm Weather!

Carly and I went on a walk today with a neighbor and her son. Well, I guess to be accurate the Mommies did the walking and the kiddies did the riding. They had fun, though and it was a really nice day out. It was hot but there was a nice breeze blowing from time to time. I'm really hoping we are done with snow until next year.

Carly has discovered that she really likes being outside. If I even open the door for a second she wants to go out. If I happen to close it without letting her go out, I really hear about it. And man, if I do something like take her out to get the mail with me and come right back in--she is really peeved! Of course, if I don't take her out with me--she's just as mad--so I really can't win unless I want to sit outside all day. And since the pollen count is so high right now and my allergies are bad--I can't so much wanna! Even though I can't be outside every minute I'm still loving the warm weather!

Upon Request

A friend asked me to post a few more of Lori's pictures--and the only recent ones I have are the ones from Carly's sealing so here are a few more of them. I still need to visit and pick up the ones she did of her in the pink tutu. I can't wait to see them!

I Like This Picture

I just got these pictures from Lori. She took them after Carly's sealing in December and I hadn;t been to her house in a long time. They are so much better than anything I took--um, DUH! But, for some reason I think this one is really cute.

We Got Home

We got home safely from our trip and we are all bushed! So no big blog tonight. The only news is "We've All Gone to Sleep." Night, Night! Love you all.

I Love Waterfalls

We went on a fun family outing this weekend. We visited family and on our way we stopped to see this really cool waterfall. I love waterfalls! That's a major understatement having grown up with one on family property spoils you just a little! Anyway, we had a great time and were blown away by the power of this water!

Eye Eye Mates!

Yep, I've got both eyes back and I'm so excited to see again I can't even tell you! My eye is feeling so much better today. The doctor took the bandage off permanently and even said I didn't need to continue on antibiotics or other meds! Yay! I still couldn't wear my contacts today but that was a small price to pay for sight without pain. I thought I would go nuts yesterday since one of my eyes is corrected for distance and one for close up and the one that was bandaged was the one corrected for close up things. So, of course everything I was trying to do yesterday was the close up stuff and I couldn't see anything well. I couldn't concentrate at all and it was truly crazy-making. So yay for seeing with both eyes again! I'm happy!

EYE MATEY!

Tonight I will be brief because I am writing with a patch over one eye and am having a hard time seeing the screen very well. I thought I had allergy eyes and that one eye was just a lot worse than the other but I apparently have a scratch on one eye. So, my opthamologist has me medicated and patched and I look a bit like a pirate--and have had to endure pirate jokes from family all evening. Hopefully, this will just be a day or two at most and I will have both of my eyes back! It!'s really hard to chase a toddler around when you can't see very well

SOMEONE TELL ME THE "TERRIBLE TWOS" COME EARLY SOMETIMES!

Oh my goodness, either my little one has the "terrible twos" or I have a "hellion" coming! Okay, I'm just venting at the end of one of those really hard days with your toddler. It will be better tomorrow, right? I'm pretty sure this is my Mom and Dad's fault anyway--they wished days like this on me a long, long time ago. (Yes, you did--you said, "I hope you have one just like you!")

I did not know that a 14 month old could be so opinionated. She wants what she wants when she wants it. Oh, and she seems to only want to do things I've told her she can't do which makes her throw a tantrum.

She doesn't understand why I don't want her grabbing my glass of water and running through the house with it as it sloshes all over the carpet. Why would that upset me, right? She also doesn't understand why she can't grab folders of paper and empty them all over the floor or unfold the laundry I just folded or why she can't turn her sippy cup upside down on the living room table or couch and press it down until it empties slowly all over the place. She doesn't like that I won't let her open the front door or throw her food off her high chair tray instead of eating it or put every single thing she picks up into her mouth.

Apparently, Mommy is just completely unreasonable! Whenever, I try to get her to stop one of these behaviors (or in english--just plain stop it)--she screams and cries and sometimes swats at me. Then she does it again anyway. This is definitely terrible two territory--right?!

When she's not doing this she's actually a very happy little girl but Oh My Goodness, the toddler stuff is a whole new experience. Wow!

OUR NEW BAND--SHATTERED MIRRORS

That's Rob's name for it anyway! Pretty rag-tag bunch, eh? Oh well, we had fun posing if nothing else.

OUR FAMILY EASTER EGG HUNT

This is Julie giving Carly the rules for the Easter Egg hunt. Julie is making sure she understands everything before she starts. (Right!)



This is Kaden our nephew who has just started and is already making decent progress!



Wow, our niece Keelie has quite the haul!



Gotta get our jacket on if we want to hunt for eggs outside.



What nice sisters to help me find Easter eggs on grass especially since I CAN'T STAND GRASS!!!


Oh wow, it's a real colored egg! Can I eat it?

CUTE COUSINS

Aren't these two cute? They really like each other, too. That makes it all the more fun!

HUBBY'S BACK!

Rob's been gone for two long weeks for training and he just got home tonight. I am so HAPPY! Yay for me!

FUN ADVENTURE

Tonight Uncle Steve came by with his mini four wheelers and his mini-kids. Those would be my neice and nephew and invited us out to do a little four wheelin'. Actually, they invited Julie to join their group. Megan, Carly and I went along to watch and take pictures. Megan actually rode for a few minutes, too. I even let Carly on for a minute and I walked around holding her hand--so snail's pace. Very slow. She liked it, though. I was surprised. I thought she'd cry the minute the engine went on--but then she was on Megan's lap. Here's some cute pictures.

MY LITTLE VIRTUOSO

THANKS AUNT LORI! WE LOVE YOU!

We spent the day with the Master Photographer, a.k.a., Aunt Lori. Now, mind you, these are pictures of Aunt Lori with Carly--not pictures TAKEN BY Aunt Lori. She would not want you get the two confused. Nor would I want you to. Nor should you. Lori is one of the best photographers I've ever seen and she has taken many portraits of my family and, of course, some absolutely gorgeous ones of Carly.

Today she put Carly in a TuTu and it was Way, Way cute on her. I snapped a few photos while Lori was doing some pre-work. I don't have Lori's finished products yet but I saw of few of them on screen and they were AMAZING! I will be sure to post a few when I get them. In the meantime, I present the famous--and Infamous, Aunt Lori, with her lovable little TUTU GIRL! Oh yah--and one picture of Carly in her TuTu that you'll know for sure I took--because I cut off her legs. Oops, hee hee! Yep, that's me!

AND THEY CALLED IT PUPPY LOVE . . .

Carly loves to hug these guys. I wish I could have gotten a better shot. She's too quick for me or I would have had a picture of her trying to ride one of the dogs for you. You wouldn't believe how patient they are with her. She really loves them.

SPRING WAS IN THE AIR TODAY

I love Spring! It's happy and colorful, warm but not hot, and there is always the chance of a cool breeze just when you need it! Today was such a day and I really, really liked it!

Julie, Carly and I went for a walk tonight and Carly liked it so much that when we got home and started to come in the house she threw a major tantrum. She loved being outside. Now don't confuse that with being in the grass! She still doesn't do grass--um you know what I mean! She was happy to ride in her chariot (a.k.a. stroller)and just enjoy the evening. She just didn't want to go inside!

Julie and I decided maybe she had the right idea so we went in just long enough to get some cash and went to get some shakes. Carly thought that was a great idea. So did Julie! I just go along to pay for things cuz that's my job. Ya know what I mean? Anyway, we had fun on what felt like the first day of Spring!

Carly with Her Balloon

Happy Birthday Megan - Yesterday!

Yah, so this is the only surviving picture of Megan's birthday party. I had Julie take the pictures and Megan would actually kill me if I posted them. Julie and I had a discussion this morning about taking unflattering pictures. The one I've posted is one Megan asked her to take. The rest are ones that have mouths full, eyes closed, people moving, not looking, etc. Grrr.

So much for pictures for posterity. Hopefully we will have better ones in the future. That's what learnin' is all about--right?!

MY NEW 'DO

Julie, Megan and I got brave today and took on Carly's hair. I guess I should say we took on Carly because when you take on her hair you definitely take on HER! Anyway, I learned this new fairly easy to do hairstyle by watching a utube video. It's called finger coils. It's time consuming but not too hard.

While Carly was eating dinner the three of us started working on her hair and she actually let us do it. She wasn't calm the whole time but was pretty good for about 45 minutes--that included getting a bunch of treats and toys to play with. We didn't finish her whole head but enough to look decent--at least for pictures.

I think it looks pretty cute. Of course, after all that trouble it won't last for more than a day or so. Ugh! Oh well, it was worth the picture!

WOW!

Tonight, completely out of the blue, my 15 year old said, "Thanks Mom." I said, "For what?" She said, "For making me perservere (and then she named three examples of things she hadn't wanted to continue doing because she either didn't like them enough once she started them or they were too hard. She told me she was really glad I'd made her keep doing them and finish because it had made her a better person. And yes, she did actually use the word "perservere." All I could think was "Wow, I thought you had to wait until you were nearly dead for your kids to tell you things like this--or at least until they had teenagers!

PLAYING OUTSIDE . . . NOT SO MUCH, MOM!

So the other day when it was nice and sunny, I thought, "I've never taken Carly outside to play in the yard." I mean, she's always been too little or it's been bad weather. So, I got her all ready and we went out into the front yard. Julie came with us and we sat down on the front lawn. I had Carly on my lap at first but then I started to put stand her on the lawn and she went nuts. She pulled her feet up and started moaning and crying and acting like she was going to have a K'niption fit. So, I held her for a few more minutes--then tried again. This time I actually got her tennis shoes on the lawn before she realized it--but up they came just as fast. She wasn't having any of it. It was like she was allergic to the grass--or worse yet, scared of it.

Then, I remembered the Christmas tree--almost four months earlier. She had the same reaction to the tree. She was fine to look at it. She loved the lights on it, but if you got her within 6 inches of it she came unglued. If you tried to make her touch it she'd freak! It wasn't even a real tree. So, she can't be scared of things that are growing. Maybe she doesn't like green things or pokey things. I haven't figured this one out yet. But, it for sure limits the time we will spend playing outside--at least for awhile. Oh well, I tried. I was all excited to see her run and play in the grass too. Darn.