How to get a monkey (aka 1 year old) to sit still for more than 30 seconds....

The answer - give her a banana and then a back massage (Thank you Mimi for the best Christmas present ever).  Notice the drool on the pillow. Nice.  She was so relaxed....could've laid there for an hour...we are taking it everywhere with us.  Just a banana, back massager, binky, blankie, our favorite shoes and any piece of random trash and we are SET!!

Santa Claus is coming to town.....to see US!!

This was at my sister's Christmas party last weekend.  This was Carlee's first time on Santa's lap...might be the last.  My niece, Corynn, didn't care to much for him either! Vanna didn't mind because she was getting a gift - we had to pay Cayden.  All in all - I got my pictures....Merry Christmas!!

Isn't that cute????

Ok.....this is the ONLY picture that you will ever see of me like this.  Someone thought they were pretty funny with the camera!  Like mother, like daughter......yes, this is pretty much exactly what I look like with my clothes off...somehow it's so much cuter when we are 1 years old.  Ok - maybe not that many rolls, but close!

Super - I mean "Pooper Man"....

There's a story behind this...when Vanna was little...we - yes, her and I, used to tie blankets on like capes and then run around with our arms straight out behind us holding our capes up...Vanna couldn't say "Superman" - it just came out "Pooperman".  So, Vanna is determined that Carlee is going to say "Pooperman".  We are still working on that - but, she seems to have the cape part down...we'll keep you posted....it's quite funny to watch.

Christmas dresses are DONE!!!

I got in my head that I could make these fabulous little pettiskirts that are sold on the internet for $90+.  So, I set out determined to finish them for Christmas....16 hours later...they were done.  I know why they are $90.  If anyone wants me to make them one - I will for $1,000.00.  Actually, I was THRILLED that they turned out - I was really worried about messing them up.  My girls love them - they just twirl twirl twirl...here are some modeling pictures for you! Enjoy..... :)

Christmas Trees!!!

We put up the girls Christmas trees.  They love them!!  I have 2 done and 2 to go - we are just waiting on Cayden to get back from his mom's....I'll post those when I get them....hard to believe Christmas is in 2 1/2 weeks already!!

Christmas program

Cyvannah was an Angel in a Christmas program and she read a Bible verse - she did very good!  First time solo for a large group of people.  We took some pictures in Santa's rocking chair too....

Snack time...

Everyday - we come home from the sitter and we get our cereal and drink and sit on our blanket propped up on our pillow and watch cartoons....

It's amazing how kids rely on a routine!!  Makes things so much easier - most times!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.....we have enjoyed spending time with family this weekend and just taking it easy - well, except for the 4am trip to Walmart that I took BY MYSELF????  I was embarrassed by how people were acting...I just stood there and watched...it was something else. 

We hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well!! 

Wanted to share some pictures of some of our crazy family.....enjoy!

I LOVE HOT CHOCOLATE - WELL, WARM CHOCOLATE!

It's a good night for hot chocolate here in Kansas - it's about 20 degrees outside.  Carlee loves her first cup - can't you tell??

Stay warm everyone!!

A normal day.....if there is one??

Hello everyone....this is a bonus day...normally I wait until the weekend to update this - but, I was thinking of all of my family and friends tonight and kind of missing everyone....I know - I'm a sap....

I wanted to show you Cayden's new haircut!  He is SOOO handsome!  I just love it...as he would say - I am really going to get the chicks now.... (He really has said that - he's just like his dad!)

I also took a snapshot of the girls playing/coloring together as I know that someday in the future they will not play this well together...Ha!! No really, Carlee loves the kids so much - she gets so excited when they come home from school.  And - the kids are very protective of her.....she really has made our family come full circle.

I hope you all have a wonderful evening.....I am thankful for all of you!!

A quick trip to Grandma & Grandpa's house...."The Farm"

We took a fast trip to Western Kansas this weekend to visit my grandparents.  I took a picture of their house and the view from their front porch to share it with all of you.  This homestead has been in 

our family for over 100 years.  Everyone in my family has lived, learned, laughed and loved on this farm.  So many memories for all of us.   It is so peaceful and quiet out there...the air is clean, the sky is beautiful and life is at a much slower pace much of the time.  

Added a couple of pictures of my "hunters".  Matt got a pheasant, a quail and one jack rabbit.  We took our German Short Hair - Sadie - and she was wound tighter than a tick!!  She went nuts.  Doesn't care for the pheasant too much but, LOVES the quail.

 Matt skinned the rabbit and quail so the kids could see.....apparently he is going to making some kind of stew for them. Yeah right - I am taking bets now on whether or not the kids will eat it.  Considering the stock market...this might be a safer bet for everyone!

The picture of Carlee is her playing with some toys that me, my mom and my grandmother played with when we were small.  I felt bad for her - she had a cold and had just gotten 5 shots the day before - she wasn't her normal happy self - but, she played a little bit anyway.  This was her first trip to the farm!

My favorite time of the year.......

I love the fall!!  The weather, the trees, the decorations....all of it!!  I took this picture of the neighbors trees - they are so pretty.  Thought I would share.....also included a little picture of Carlee with her pumpkin that she has been carrying around the last week....I just can't resist taking pics of her sometimes.....enjoy!

Got milk?

Carlee has found a new love....oreos.  I just couldn't resist posting this picture....

Halloween 2008

Ok...this year we had a flower, a "Diva" witch and a Zombie.....

We had a VERY VERY VERY busy day!! Parties and 

costume parades at school and then home to trick or treat.  Cayden spent this Halloween with his mom but, the girls were with us.  This year, Cyvannah's dad went with us too - we had a great time and Vanna loved that her whole family was there. We just hung out with my brother and sister and their families.  We ate chili and cinnamon rolls and then hit the streets!  We couldn't keep up with Vanna - she was totally into getting as much candy as possible and Carlee was just amazed that strangers would just hand her stuff.  After she figured out that it was candy - it was game on!  She would get her own candy out of the bowl - and actually would go back for more and more after getting one piece out.  She would put it in her bag and then wave good bye!  It's fun to watch the older ones run nonstop to fill their bags and it's just as fun to watch the amazement and excitement of the young ones figuring it all out.  The last picture is the ride home from my brother's that takes all of 5 minutes.  I think this was 2 minutes into the trip...we had some tired kiddos. 

 I love it all.....Happy Halloween everyone!!

Here comes Peter Cottontail.....

After falling asleep during the pumpkin carving....I got up about 12:30am when Matt came to bed and took a shower.  Then realizing how wonderfully quiet the house was - I turned on the TV to one of my favorite shows - CSI (Matt hates this show because he can't believe how they can just miraculously solve these complex cases in 1 hour).  I sat on the couch in my pjs and finished knitting this little hat for Carlee.  I just love it!!  Didn't get to bed until 3:15am - but, the hat was done, kitchen was clean and I had my sanity back!  Ha!