Odds and Ends

We've been doing all sorts of things lately- but obviously one of them is not taking pictures. I know, I'm failing badly. So here's just a few odd and ends.

Kalaya has her own mailbox at the front door where she gets 'mail' from Grana and Mama. Yesterday she got a congratulations card and stickers because it was her first day of gymnastics (or 'gym-nack-sticks' for you 3yr olds out there)

Chasie-boy graduated and Kalaya and I got to go! He graduated with a full scholarship to Jacksonville State. Congratulations Puddin'!

She's so precious.

And we cooked a bit here and there. Who doesn't love a good cooking mess now and again. She loves putting her 'cooker' (read: Apron) on and helping us in the kitchen.

Nightly Routine

Every night, Kalaya and I have a routine. It goes alittle something like so:

• I give her 10 mins warning before it's time to get ready for bed.
• I spend the next 10 mins either

A) picking up 2395820598 craft supplies or B) Trying to save Diesel's poor little life.

• After said 10 mins I announce that it's time to go brush our teeth and get ready for bed.
• 15 or more mintues later I've had to do one of the following to get her distracted and in the bathroom"

A) intrigued her with a "get ready for bed race" that would rival NASCAR

B) called to her like a doggie/kitty to tell her to come get her puppy/kitty treats. (obviously located in the bathroom)

C) used my superb threatening skills

• Once we've got into the bathroom we throw a little toothpaste around, possibly touching our teeth a moment or two but more in likely hitting the shirt, lip, or floor.
• Next, we go potty. ( This one is pretty straight forward)
• And now we run to the bed to read some books.
• Storytime is always in this order: I read them and she places them to the right of the bed. Then when I have read them all, she picks them up from the right and reads them to me to place on my left. ( My little OCD princess! Mommy love you precious!)
• We then turn the lights off and either " tell stories" ( new favorites are PawPaw stories (about my daddy) or we sing songs.
• Near the end of this routine we have our prayers. ( With full discussion on why we hold hands and how when we hold said hands " we make a perfect circle".
• And then, finally!, at this point, we have my favorite part of the day--------The Best Part and Worst Part of the Day discussion.

Everynight i ask Kalaya, " What was the best part of your day?" and " What was the worst part of your day?" The answers are priceless and entertaining to say the least but I do have an alterior motive for this. I want her to be glad to share with me the good and bad parts of every day. So hopefully, when she's older and getting more angst in her attitude- she'll still want to tell me about the good and bad stuff of her day.

My favorite responses for " the best part" have been:

1. My growl was my favorite part of my day.
2. The chipmunks that flew in the sky after you hit them. ( no idea)
3. Taking a nap ( to which I replied with an astonished "really" and got back a " hahahahahhaha no, not really!"----------can you say " Smart" "alec"?)

My favorite responses for " the worst part" have been:

1. Going to bed.
2. Taking a nap.
3. Having to get in this bed.

( yes, we have a pattern here)

When we tell our "best part/worst part" stories for the day, she makes me lay my head on her chest and she hugs me and gives me kisses on my head.

It is by FAR the best part of my day! EVER!

(Oh, and I liked my growl pretty well too)

Day Number One

We began clearing land this weekend.

Yes, that is my 80yr old Grandaddy and 75yr old Nana cut, pulling, and burning dead trees. They are hardcore-- you have no idea.

If you don't know yet, Nana is basically my rolemodel and hero.

Burning all the dead stuff off.

Snack time! (Notice the Dr.Pepper-- it's a must for the morning break)

Kalaya was outside the ENTIRE day. Rode the 4 wheeler and helped me pull logs and dead trees out, picked up sticks for the fire, and basically was really a HUGE help. She never wore out and was a champ.

Happy 1st work day!

Even Diesel came to help!

Berry Cute

Kalaya is pretty good about deciding what kind of birthday party she wants around December of the year before. Last year it was Dora-- this year it's Strawberry Shortcake! We're so excited! Matter of fact-- the cute part is that my 3rd or 4th birthday party was Strawberry Shortcake too ( no, none of us can remember which one exactly)

And you can't hate on her pre planning....it gives us almost a year to look around for decorations, presents, and plan the cake. ( this also means we get to find good deals)

Since she's planning ahead, she's also annoucing ahead. Therefore, EVERYONE knows what kind of party she is going to have--- even the BoJangles lady.

" Mama! Mama! Tell her I want egg and tell her I'm having a Strawberry Shortcake party!"

(They probably think I lace my biscuit in the morning from the many things I've had to tell them from her.)

Anyways, since everyone knows about the party- everyone is starting ahead of time getting things together.

This is the most adorable Strawberry Shortcake apron that Nana's pastors' wife made for Kalaya. She gave it to her a couple of Sunday's ago and Kalaya has worn it since.

And I never mind-- it makes for the biggest smiles!

Best Cupcake EVER!

When Red Bull Needs a New Spokesperson.... Call Me

Ever had so much energy that you couldn't even contain yourself and it had to come out of you someway or another?

Yeah me neither.

But others, however, just ooze it all day long.

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!

Will Work for Freezer Space

The view outside my front window.

This is definitely the benefits to living in the country. (not that I've found any negatives at all) We had TONS of snow to play in. Acres and acres worth. We even would have had more if we went into the fields to play but I don't think any of us really wanted to slide down a hill of snow and end up with a cow patty on us.

I had to work Saturday (this is getting old by the way) but was able to go in late because of the roads. So I was able to help Kalaya and Daddy build a snowman at Daddy's house. (no idea why the half snowman here has frog eyes)

I figured since our snowman was awesome enough to have a corn nose (we make do with what we have)- then he was awesome enough to have a great name.

Meet Willy Melt.

(Sorry, we didn't have time to build his girlfriend-- Betty Will)

However, we did arrange for an indoor snowman.

Again, don't hate....his bodyparts were brought to you by chocolate covered pretzels. Sigh- i know, sad right? We were at Daddy's house-- blame him.

Thoughts Going Through Her Head....

1.) Ahhhh.. I love nice warm bubble baths on a cold winters day!
2.) My mother is the best! I wish I could give her kisses all day long!
3.) Peanut butter jelly time! Peanut butter jelly time! PEANUTBUTTERJELLY! PEANUTBUTTERJELLY!
4.) I wonder if I can arrange for supper to be delivered here to me? I'm sure I can- I do have the local folks wrapped around my delicious little finger. Come to me my little nuggets of servitude--- come to me.....
5.) I wonder if Diesel can breath? Maybe I should let him up for a moment? Nah.

I'm Creating a Monster

I'm creating a little monster of humor and I have to say---- I love it. Currently, I'm molding my 'little chip off the old block' to include as many humorous references that my poor little mind comes up with as well.

Recently, we've been emulating Mac and Tosh: The Goofy Gophers. Do you remember these guys?

Of course they were a direct rip off of Chip and Dale but it's ok. Chip and Dale became Rescue Rangers. What do you think ever came of Mac and Tosh? Exactly. Nothing. Unless they now are maitre'ds at your local CHOPS, I don't think they made it so far in the world.

(they never got to face an arch nemisis named Fat Cat--- that's a total fail at life in my book)

So anywho---- if you recall, Mac and Tosh were incredibly polite little furried guys.

Most of their conversations involved alot of " You first my dear" and " But no, no, no, no. It must be YOU who go first". Or my favorite --- " Indubitably!"

Meet the Tosh to my Mac:

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....

Popcorn Profits

Hmmmm are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Ah yes! I'm reminiscing about popcorn. Eating popcorn, playing in popcorn, the smell of popcorn. The buttery slippery wonderfulness of that treat given to us by our Native American friends ages ago. I can feel its fluffy goodness in my tummy as we speak. It's calling my name. Can you hear it dear sweet friends?

Let us pop together!

Oh delectable treasures! Let me feel you my little friends!And now, to profit from our mutual friendship and admiration.

I must sell you my little nuggets and share you with the world.

Donald Trump better watch out. I have mad business skills and the hair to boot!

( How much did she make off selling popcorn you ask?! Almost $13.00 in change. Don't mess with my baby!)

Four Generations

BLESSED BLESSED BLESSED BLESSED!

Feliz Navidad

Like any good Santa lovin' kid....Kalaya put cookies and milk out for Santa on Christmas Eve.

Nessey had other plans in mind for those delicious gingerbread men. (Also, and this note is for Blakley, you know how you say you always feel like you could have done better as a mom? Yeah well, we had plans to make homemade gingerbread cookies for Santa that night. Guess what? Thank heaven for 7-11! Bought those lovely gingery men at 9:30pm that night and placed them with care on a plate at 9:31pm for Santa. We just try to get by people- we do the best we can)

As you can see, Kalaya got a princess tent along with walkie talkies and backpack to go hiking with us in Alabama. EVERY single present was opened and promptly placed into the tent for safe keeping.
All but the drum set obviously. We are starting a band soon-- 2yrs and under need not apply. We are mature musicians here.

Loved her new Mickey Mouse earrings. ( and no Lolly, I did not just give her a box with a piece of white cardboard in it.)

Of course all presents got the good ole 'check and feel' to see if we could determine if it was super fragile or not.

Christmas Overload

Don't become a victim.

Merry Christmas 2009

Have a Merry Christmas! I hope you get all you wanted!

Eat lots of good food! (whatever that may be)

Catch up on all your rest if you can!

And try to act like a kid again!

Kalaya Hears a Who

This is Horton.

Horton hears a Who.

The Who's live on a "speck".

Horton carries the "speck" around and protects the Who's.

This is Kalaya.

Kalaya has a good imagination.

Kalaya has a "speck" too.

Kalaya carries the "speck" around and protects her "lil fellas"