My Valentine's!

Yes, this is me taking pictures from bed while Kalaya opens her presents for Valentine's Day. I never said I wasn't lazy sometimes. I actually put the presents in the hall so when she got up in the morning she'd run right into them.

She didn't.

I can now hypothesize that when she comes into my room at the crack of dawn every morning-- she's not really awake. It's just delayed sleepwalking.

Part of her present was crafty stuff to make Valentine's with. She's been talking about making some for weeks. Although, poor baby, she's been trying to convience me to save sticks, rocks, and grass she's picked up from outside to make " the bestest Valentines ever!".

We were laying in bed looking at her gifts when she informed me she needed to call Grana right then and tell her to come see her.

She called mom and said " Come see me Grana! For Valentine's day!"

Of course, my mom is a huge (correction: GIGANTIC) push over for Kalaya. But she was worried that the roads might not be safe yet and told Kalaya she may not be able to come.

To which Kalaya replied " You mean you don't want to come and see your baby, Grana?"

Point, Set, Match.... to Kalaya.

Grana was there in record time.

Before Grana got there we had to IMMEDIATELY go to the kitchen to start making valentines.

We were able to create 4 or 5 valentine's all before Grana got there.

And who says we can't still create some more with help!

SuperBowl Sunday is my Favorite Sunday!

But it's not my favorite for the reason you think. ( although I did call that the Saints would win- Go Drew!)

The reason I loved this Sunday so much was because....

Kalaya and I got to sit down and watch one of my favorite movies together for the very first time- The Wizard of Oz.

I love the movie and, trust me, I LOVE musicals. (don't make me started with naming off the 36 of them that I own in alphabetical order-- I'll do it! And then inform you which ones you can get my for my upcoming birthday.)

But this movie is super special to me because it's a memory with my dad. I can remember laying right on top of my dad's stomach on the sofa on Sunday afternoon's watching a VHS of the Wizard of Oz that he recorded from TBS in like 1986. We watched it every Sunday afternoon together for I don't even know how many years. It was our time and our movie. I'll never forget how special that was to me. Poor man, I'm sure he had an overload of munchkins and choreographed numbers to last all his days- but he always was ready to watch it with me on Sunday afternoons.

So you can imagnie how happy I was to share that experience with Kalaya this past Sunday.

The movie held her attention the whole time. I loved explaining the story to her and where Dorothy was and I waited with anticipation to see if the flying monkeys freaked her out a little bit like they did me back then. ( Yes, they did just a smidge) I wish Dad could have been there-- he would have LOVED it.

Of course Grana stayed true to her form and did what she did on those Sunday afternoons years ago.....

You have to admit- she's consistent. 27 years and counting....

Four Generations

BLESSED BLESSED BLESSED BLESSED!

I Found Nemo- He Has An Attitude

We went to the aquarium this weekend. It was mine and Kalaya's first time there. We were so excited. All week she had been telling me "Are we going to go see the fishies? I want a pink one" (of course pink) So when Saturday got here we were pumped. You can see she started out on a good note and was having a blast:And most of this was just in the stroller ride from the parking deck to the entrance! She was laughing and giggling the whole way!

But.....

why then--- do the next pictures only contain fish?

Where did the sweet adorable lil girl go? What happened- you ask?!

This happened:

This seemingly innocent little 4 foot alligator ruined a perfectly good outing. I had no clue Kalaya had issues with alligators (especially since they don't often have a chance to run up on her where we live and seriously hurt her feelings or cause such deep hatred) But let me tell you! We got to that alligator and by simply sitting there- looking at us- he crossed the line!

She had an ABSOLUTE MELTDOWN!

Through the tears, snot, and tantrums(that was just from me) I was able to determine that the alligator 'bit her through the glass and pulled her shirt'.

sigh.

The day basically ended with me making a few decisions.

1.) No more outings till we get a little older (I'm thinking 18 is nice)

2.) If said outings do take place- there will be no less then 6 adults available to help (since 5 adults couldn't manage it this time)

3.) I need a new alligator belt ASAP!

A Regular Cornucopia of Christmas Accouterments, Notions, and Asundary Items

Grana spent the night with us this weekend and Kalaya knows who to call in the morning when she wakes up.
Kalaya: Grana! Come get me!
Grana: (rolling out of bed) Ok I’m coming. Let me go potty first.
Kalaya: Grana- are you coming?
Grana: I’m coming baby- I’m just slow. I’m old.
Kalaya: Well, I’m Dora.
(P.S.- She's named me Boots and Daddy is Swiper.... so get your own character. I think there are still some of the Wiggles left for any brave men out there to impersonate)

While riding in the car with Grana the other day, Kalaya was looking at some pictures of Justice.
Kalaya: (holding the picture of Justice) Hey Gus-Gus! (moving it towards her nose and sniffing) I smell you Gus-Gus!!
( I don't know-- made me wonder too)

One of these things is not like the others, One of these things just doesn't belong, Can you tell which thing is not like the others by the time I finish my song?
What can a 50+yr old Grana be so desperate for that she'll stand in line by herself to see Santa in the middle of the night in 20 degree weather? And, more importantly,do we really want to know? Oh yeah- that's right Mr Claus! You know whose house to stop at first this year!

Also- you may be wondering why you didn't see Baby Jesus in the first picture. Here's why:Can you see him? Sadly, at this point Baby Jesus AND Joseph are both missing. We'll have to do some search and rescue tonight. As Kalaya says:

"Baby Jesus, where's your daddy? Ok, well here's Mickey Mouse instead."

To Bubba and Lolly

Dear Bubba and Lolly,

Tank you fur taking me to the cristmus tree farm the other daye. I had loots of fun katching a tree with you. Maybee next yeer I can hold the saw? Hoo knows? Tell Gusgus that next yeer he will ned to particupate mor. I cant do evurything for him. I luv you Bubba and Lolly.

Pece up.... A-town down,

Kalaya