Pool Baby

What a gorgeous Memorial Day weekend! I tried to get some sun, but even reading outside in the direct sunlight 3 days in a row, for at least an hour each day, I've got nothing. I used to tan so easily, I don't know what happened. Kailyn got to come home for a bit on Saturday to go to her cousin's birthday party, and she played outside a lot there, and we played outside at home while Myer napped, before she went back to her dad's. She has a beautiful tan. Of course, she's been playing outside everyday since school's been out, but her tan is really pretty! Myer isn't quite old enough for sunscreen yet, but he got some good shade time. We went outside in the mornings to swing before the sun was blazing and we just sat some too. We went to an awesome bbq on Sunday at the King residence, and hung out with great people and ate great food! There were 3 small babies, but Myer was the only boy! Look out, girls! I took his bumbo seat so he could eat his cereal and veggies (carrots for the first time), but it was a disaster. When Myer sits in his bumbo, he always bends over and grabs his feet. I was hoping since he's an eater, aka, a chubby kid, that he would pay more attention to the spoon than his feet, but I was dead wrong. I had carrots and cereal from his head to my shorts! Poor kid. Tonight was much easier, and we wore much less. By the way, he really likes carrots! Before supper, Joe put some water in the plastic baby pool, and Myer and I suited up for a dip.

He really loves water, I think he'll love a big pool!

What's better after a good swim than a toe in your mouth?

I'm really hoping Kailyn will be at Mandi's in the morning so I can see her. Of course there's a chance for rain, so t-ball will probably be canceled. Kailyn's only played one game, sad! I'll keep my fingers crossed to keep the rain away!
A big congratulations to my cousins, on a beautiful, healthy baby girl, born Friday, and also to the new Mr and Mrs Rasse who were married Saturday! We've got a big wedding this weekend, it's going to be awesome!
I hope everyone had a nice holiday weekend, I know we did!

Crazy

I have decided that I am certifiably crazy. For those who know me, this probably does not come as a shock. Oh well, I guess you only live once, right?

When Joe and I found Marli a new home, our hearts broke. We loved her SO much, but having a big dog just didn't mesh well with our family life. Joe started researching dogs the weekend following her move. He's never had a purebred puppy from a breeder for himself. Missy is a pound rescue and Morgan is a purebred, but I had her when we got together. We talked rationally about what kind of dog we might like and what breed would be a perfect fit for us and the kids. After some gruesome googling we decided that when the time came to get a puppy, we would go with a cairn terrier (a Toto dog). Around the beginning of April, I e-mailed a 26-year breeder in Ashland, MO about cairn puppies. She didn't have any at the current time, but was expecting 3 litters, and promised to e-mail me if there were any black males. Yesterday I got an e-mail. Lila, one of her mamas, had a litter on May 17th and there is one black/brindle male. There is another party interested, but she is giving us first dibs since we were on the waiting list. Are you kidding me? So all day I weighed the pros and cons of a new puppy, and they are pretty much level. When I got home, I told Joe we needed to have a serious talk. I pulled up the e-mail and showed him this.

I told him all the pros and cons I had mulled over all day and he promised that the pros would outweigh the cons if we worked together. It didn't help that he grinned from ear to ear the second I showed him the picture. He wants a storage shed for the backyard for his mower and the kids' outside vehicles really bad that we're saving for, but said he would put it off for 2 years (we're going on a vacation next year for my 30th birthday) and he would accept the puppy as his Father's Day and Christmas presents for 2010. Now that's serious. Who am I to crush his dreams? We're waiting on an e-mail from the breeder to see pictures of the parents, but if Joe likes them, we will put a deposit on Ozzy immediately. Ozzy.....get it? Wizard of Oz! That's good, right?

One week down, only one more to go until Kailyn is at home, in her bed, in the room next to mine!!!!!

First Attempt

Well, Monday night, Myer tried green beans. Let's just say, they must be an acquired taste. Don't get me wrong, I doubt I'd be a big fan of mushed up, non seasoned green beans either, but Myer really didn't dig them. We tried again last night, and they went down a bit better, so maybe tonight he'll love them? Maybe that's just wishful thinking!Tball got cancelled last night. I'm so so glad that Jeff has been taking Kailyn to Mandi's everyday, because it makes the separation way easier to handle. I get to see her every morning and afternoon, and even after work if she happens to still be there! It is awesome! I was really nervous about the 2 week sessions this summer with her having a new baby brother at home. I was afraid she would feel like he was getting way more attention or she would feel like she was missing his milestones. To rectify the situation, I've been writing her a journal everyday while she's gone. I tell her what happened during that day, including what Joe, Myer and I did and what she did if I got to see her, and I tell her how much I enjoyed seeing her if I did and how much I love and miss her! I hope she likes it. I've thought about doing it during previous summers, but she is an excellent reader now, so I think she'll like it more!
I'd better get some work done. I am TIRED of all this rain, so I hope it stays away for a while! Have a great day!

Summer Lovin'

The weather is warming up and I am in love. With what you ask? Well let me tell you:

I LOVE my babies! These two little amazing, darlings are essential to my being. They are the air that fills my lungs. Kailyn just started her first 2 week session of the summer with her dad, Friday night after her dance production (at which she flipping rocked), so I'm a little short on oxygen at this time, but her dad took her to Mandi's this morning and she has t-ball tomorrow, so maybe it won't be so bad! Myer went to the doctor this morning for his 4 month, yes I said 4 month, well baby check up, and he is perfection. He weighs 15.8 pounds and is 25.5 inches long. He is developmentally right on target! He has been eating cereal since May 3rd, and has done really well, and the doctor said he can start veggies today. What a big boy!

I love the Twilight Saga. Ok, so I wasn't a big fan at first, we've already established that, but I would say at this point, you can call me a "twi-hard". After watching the first 2 movies, my friend brought me Eclipse to read. I thought it was pretty good, I like the way Stephenie Meyer writes, and I was dying to know everyone's fate, so I was thankful when my same friend brought me the final installment, Breaking Dawn. This 754 page book (I've never read a book that big in my whole life) took me exactly 7 days to read. It was like crack! I honestly had to force myself to go to bed at night! I was glad and sad to finish it yesterday. Obviously glad because I now know Edward, Bella and Jacob's outcomes and because it ended just how I wanted it to, but sad because there's nothing left. Eclipse doesn't come to theaters until June 30th, and there are no more books. Stephenie Meyer has a novella about one of the newborns in Eclipse that comes out on June 5th, but it's barely over 100 pages.....nothing but a tease.I love Kathy McCloy. As if she's not one of the busiest people on the planet, with 3 kids, a hubby, a booming photography business and rodeos, she is massively efficient. My family got our pictures taken on a cold morning 2 weeks ago. Kathy put the proofs online this morning, and they are fabulous. You'd think it was 80 degrees outside!
Don't worry, I love TONS of other things, but these have really been top of the line lately! Have a fabulous, sunshiny day!

The Finished Product

I kind of feel like a bad sister. I was looking on Facebook, and in my album for Mike's graduation, I have tons of pictures from his party and an equal amount from the ceremony, plus some before and after. When I created Jordan's graduation album, there were just pictures from the ceremony! Please let me tell you the differences. #1 - I have a 3 month old baby who doesn't really like holding still for Mommy to take pictures, #2 - Between monitoring how dirty Kailyn was getting in the mud and sand and finding how many people were passing Myer around, I didn't have time to take any cute pictures at Jordan's party and #3 - The weather totally sucked for graduation this year, so there was no hanging out before or after for pictures. However, while I may only have a few to choose from, I still got some good shots of my sweet, scatterbrained, graduate baby sister!

Speaking of good shots, my mom, stepdad, 2 stepbrothers, brother, hubby, kids and myself had a session with the ever-so-fabulous Kathy McCloy on Sunday morning. It was definitely COLD, but I'm sure Kathy got some great pictures, she always does! I can't wait to see what she comes up with.....don't worry I'll share asap!

I finished up Eclipse on Saturday, in what I felt like was record time. I really like Stephenie Meyer's writing. She may be a tad repetitive in the beginning, but she certainly picks it up so that you can't put it down! I am a few chapters into Breaking Dawn and I am like a crack addict. I know this is the last installment, so many things are going to be revealed and tied up and I'll know the whole story.....FINALLY! I can't wait! By the way, I am still 1 billion percent TEAM EDWARD!

Kailyn finishes kindergarten this week, goes to her Dad's for her first of three 2-week stays of the summer and has her Shapes Production. (If you have a child who's interested in dance, acro, cheer or theater, go to http://www.shapesdance.com/ and check out the Shapes experience. The Marshall Studio has widened there class load and is offering tons of awesome options for 2010-11) Myer is loving his cereal every night and is on the verge of rolling over. I'm sick and tired of the rain.....too many more days like these, and I'm thinking of building an ark. Have a great day!

JUST JORDAN

Today I'm just going to put some fun high school pics of Jordan. No sappy anecdotes, I love my baby sister, as anyone can plainly see and I am beyond proud of her! Congratulations on your graduation, Jordan!

Friends Forever

BFF's, Besties, Best Friends, Sisters.....no matter what you call them, you just couldn't do without. Jordan, Morgan and Aubrie have been glued to one another since preschool. This Sunday brings about the end of an era. After their high school graduation, these 3 girls will travel in different directions. (Jordan to Columbia, Morgan to Springfield and Aubrie to Kansas City) However, I know their friendship, love, loyalty and trust will remain strong enough to get them through college and on to enjoy each other again; as successful women, wives and mothers. Oh, how I've watched my girls grow into such ladies.....and they're going to be GREAT!

Best Friends Are:

- Competitive so you can be your best!

- Goofy, Silly and Fun!

- Willing to let it ALL hang out!

- Beautiful!

- Supportive in your endeavors!

You girls and your friendship are fabulous. Promise to never let it go. I love you!

TOMORROW: JUST JORDAN

Pure Pride

There are about a billion reasons to swell with pride when I am speaking of my sister, but honestly who has that much time? So we'll just touch on a few of Jordan's accomplishments:

*Student Body Vice President

*FBLA Member

*DECA National Competitor

*National Honor Society Secretary

*6 year Volleyball Veteran

*Powder Puff Player

*Hard Worker, holding 2 jobs during the summers

*A Damn Good Friend with Tons of School Spirit

*The Best Sister on the Planet

*A Downright Academic Scholar and Scholarship Recipient

*A Really, Genuinely Nice Person

MU is beyond LUCKY to have this incoming Freshman!

Tomorrow: FOREVER FRIENDS