Party at the pumpkin patch

Hayden and Landon's school visited the pumpkin patch today and Daddy and Peyton tagged along. Daddy took lots of pictures and Mommy coudn't decide which ones she liked best so she's posting too many of them.

Sorry.

Semi-sweet super heroes

Super Hero Day at school provided Reagan and Keaton an appropriate outlet for the super powers they keep so cleverly hidden here at home.

If only an inability to concentrate and turbo talking could save the world.

Then these would be your girls.

A big sister, a couch pillow, and a laundry basket

All the necessary elements for viewing the latest Barney dvd.







Who needs a fancy media room when you have all of these luxuries?

Things I know now that I am 18 months old

During my first year mommy wrote monthly updates about what I was learning, like at two months, and three months, six months, nine months, and the oh-so-emotional 12 month post, as well as all the months in between.

Thankfully she stopped the every month update after my first birthday that itself took multiple posts. Yet, we couldn't contain her this month; nope she wasn't having it, so here she I go:

There's no one I love more than my big brother Landon.

He's also pretty mean to me, but I'm quickly learning the art of retaliation.

Mommy doesn't want me in bed with her anymore and I think that stinks.

I've recently learned to say "no;" however, I don't just say "no," I say "NOOOOOOOO!!" and then sit back and watch everybody jump.

It's surprising how much power I have in this family.

I like to stick my finger in my nose just to watch mommy cringe.

My family sneaks me candy when she's not looking; they're really cool.

Halloween? Whoo hoo!

I love grapefruit and pickled okra.

I also love anything chocolate, just like you-know-who.

Barney is my idol. I will run from the other side of the house to see him if I hear his voice.

I have nine teeth and won't hesitate to use them.

I'm a snuggle bunny; I'll kiss you 'til you can't take any more. (Mommy can always take more.)

What's yours is mine...that's just the way it is.

If it sits off of the ground, I will climb it.

Yes, I'm still nursing. So?

And I'm told I make lots of messes and go places I shouldn't. I say I'm just exploring my world.


















Happy 1.5 birthday to me!

Left behind

Jimmy just returned from his weekend with Sutton in Virginia. It's her first semester of her first year in college and she's a long way from home, so it was time that someone went to see her.

That someone wasn't me.

He went to a volleyball match Friday night and then dinner with the team and all of the parents. He went to a volleyball match Saturday afternoon, a tailgate party, and then dinner Saturday night with the team and parents. They drove around as she showed him the sights and they discussed her future.

I wasn't there.

He picked her up at her dorm for breakfast Sunday morning, had a nice visit, and a sweet father/daughter goodbye moment before he left for the airport.

Hmmm...missed that too.

I was here wiping bottoms, breaking up fights, braving school fall festivals, driving little people hither and yon, disciplining, moving my all night nurser from our bed to her bed (and she wasn't happy about it), and playing me-against-the-world for five days.

(Okay, there were some wonderful moments too but that doesn't help my "poor pitiful me" post, now does it?!)

I stayed home, yet he got to see her (far left and in red):













I was here, yet he was able to touch her and hold her (blond on the right):












The colors were just glorious and the sights simply stunning...













...or so I hear.

*humph*

I spawn all the local hermits

Her: "I have no friends."

Me: "Why is that?"

Her: "Because you never let me go places. I have no social life."

Me: "You're 13, what's there to do?"

Her: "Hang out at the football games, hang out at the movies, go to parties, text, have a myspace, go shopping."

Me: "Have you been invited to these places?"

Her: "No, because they know you won't let me. You're too over-protective, just like you were with Sutton."

Me: "So I'm the reason you have no friends?"

Her: "Yes."

Me: "Really? Well, I'm okay with that. You're not going those places or doing those things. And it's going to be okay; you'll have friends in spite of it."

Her: "I hate my life."

Me: "I know, babe, I know."

And they said blogging wouldn't pay

A few weeks ago I posted this little diddy about my ironing infatuation. My sister, Krista, thought Faultless needed to read said post so she sent them a link.

Lo and behold they read my blog and contacted Krista to see if they could have my address because they wanted to send me something to thank me for a nice endorsement of their product.

They wanted to send me something? What could it be?

A million dollars? Naaa, probably not.

A lucrative book deal in which I detail my daily ironing adventures? Pfft, I can only wish.

A NEW IRON? That would be su-weet!

When my envelope arrived you can imagine my excitement. I was making plans, I tell you, PLANS for my...whatever it was going to be, since, well, it had to be good because, really, how many people do you know that write a public message regarding her love of, and recent obsession with, spray starch?

See? That's what I'm saying!

So I opened my envelope and there was a lovely letter:

Thank you for your blog regarding your interest in our Faultless Premium Starch...yadda, yadda, yadda...We appreciate the fact that you took the time to put your thoughts into words and positively affect others...yadda, yadda, yadda...We have enclosed some...

(breathe, Devin, breathe)

...coupons for your next in store purchase of Faultless Premium starch as a thank you...yadda, yadda, yadda.

coupons?

coupons.

COUPONS!

Who needs a million dollars (oh, the pressure) or a book deal (oh, the work.)

Free starch.

Now that is just plain awesome!

(Thanks Krista!)

Weary math

One quite spoiled 17 month old little girl who has slept in mommy's and daddy's bed for 17 months, nursing on demand and oh, is she demanding.

+
One mommy who is at her wit's end with all the night-mothering and has decided that the little girl will sleep in the toddler bed next to mommy's bed ASAP.

+

One daddy who has demanded that said toddler-bed-experiment take place when he is out of town because there will be crying involved and he is a weak, weak man when it comes to baby tears.

=

No sleep for little girl. Even less sleep for mommy. And eight solid hours of sleep in a hotel for the weak, weak can't-take-baby-tears daddy who is away on business.

Sometimes, it's really good to be him.

Her favorite word

Keaton (11) enjoys playing this game with Peyton (17 months) in which Peyton repeats everything Keaton says. These two play this game many times a day as they review the words Peyton consistently knows and can readily repeat. Yesterday, however, Peyton had her mind on somthing else:

Keaton: "Peyton, say mama."

Peyton: "mama."

K: "Say dada."

P: "dada."

K: "Say turtle."

P: "durdle."

K: "Say nurse."

P: "nursth."

K: "Say bubba."

P: "nursth."

K: "Okay, say ice."

P: "NURSTH."

K: "Peyton, say bye-bye."

P: "NURSTH! NURSTH! NURSTH!"

You can probably guess what we did next.

The shots heard 'round the world

Well, my two chickens and the clueless one survived their flu shots this morning. I really shouldn't tease them for their freaking out as I have vivid memories of being help down by my mother and several nurses when it was time for my own shots. Maybe it's genetic.

The two boys put on quite the show. Landon (4) was fine until he saw Hayden (7 and I'm-going-first-to-show-my-brother-and-sister-how-big-I-am) bellow during his shot in the arm. Hayden's sobbing sent Landon's apprehension into full-blown screams of "I DON'T FEEL SO GOOD ABOUT THIS" right before his shot in the leg.

Little Miss (17 mo) watched both brothers calmly, took her shot in the leg, and after the least little squeal, was happily choosing her flavor of lollipop.

As I was driving the boys to school afterward, Landon commented, "Mom, I feel different." Hayden added in agreement, "Me too, I feel different somehow." Not sure what they meant, I prodded, "You feel different how?" Hayden answered for them both, "I'm not really sure, just really, really different." Landon sighed, "Yeah."

Peyton went home and napped, Hayden lifted his sleeve so everyone could view his wound-hiding sparkley bandaid, and Landon decided that his leg was somehow permanently damaged and he couldn't walk un-aided into school.

Can boys be drama queens? Oh, yes.

Pre-shot meltdowns

These three are getting their flu shots today. Two of them have been obsessing for weeks on the length of the needle, how many seconds the shot will last ("show me Mom, here on my arm"), the duration of the pain after the needle is removed, and the possible rewards to be presented for their bravery.

We have been over it and over it and OVER it. They have cried and bargained and whined and cried some more. They are relentless.

The shots are in a couple of hours; pray for us...and for that poor, poor nurse.

Somebody's having some fun

Sutton and her volleyball team visited a pumpkin patch yesterday. Now, I have been to a few pumpkin patches in my day but nothing quite as magnificent as this one; the colors are glorious. I do believe Virginia has to be one of the most beautiful states this time of year.

My pretty girl is in the red hoodie.


















Looking happy!










Thank you, God.

I want to be like her

If a toddler isn't hungry, she doesn't eat. She's not charmed by chocolate, she's not captivated by potato chips, Mexican food doesn't tantalize her, and chocolate almond ice cream is easily rebuffed.

Nope, she may be little but she's strong.

The clock doesn't dictate her eating pattern. And just because food is there, she doesn't feel an instant urge to consume it.

I want to be like that. I need to be more like her.

Well, minus the chunky monkey thighs...I pretty much have that covered.

I feel like I'm cheating on my daughter

Sutton's best friends, Maeli and Rachel, came to see us this weekend. These three girls have been best girlfriends since they were in 5th grade, and even though we moved away after that one year they spent together, they have continued a very special bond.

Maeli and Rachel have been on family vacations with us, Jimmy taught them how to ski in Colorado, they've spent time with us in the summers, and they call Sutton on her birthday each year at 12:01, before anyone else even remembers what day it is. And while Sutton went to college waaaaaay far away, Maeli and Rachel chose Baylor, in state and only an hour and a half away.

So they came to see us this weekend. We went to dinner, we went shopping, we visited, had fun, but most importantly we really REALLY missed Sutton who is far far away.

The girls a few years ago:















Rachel, Hayden, Landon, and Maeli today:














Please note the looks of longing for their dear friend/sister. We miss you Sutton!

She's thinkin' about us

From Sutton, 19 and away at college:

Had some free time...love ya'll!
Sutton

The negotiator

Last night...

Landon (4): "Mommy, I'll stay upstairs in my bed and not come down ALL night long if you'll give me a penny in the morning."

Me: "A whole penny? I don't know."

Landon: "Yep, a whole penny."

Me: "Gosh, Landon, you drive a hard bargain."

Landon: "Yep, I do!"

He is currently reveling in his newfound wealth.

What-a-Burglar

A few weeks ago we got a phone call from American Express. They said there was some unusual activity on my credit card and they just wanted to check with us regarding a few unexpected charges. Jimmy and I happily worked with them as they ran through a short list of questionable places my card had been used:

Gas?
(yes, I spent THAT much to fill my suburban.)

Mexican food in nearby town?


Mexican food in our town?
(Okay, I like Mexican food...a LOT.)

Target?


Target??


TARGET!??
(Oh, get a grip.)

Shoes out of Utah?
(Have you SEEN those beauties?!)

So by now, as you can imagine, I'm feeling a little defensive.

*ahem*

Yet, they continued:

Walmart?
(See, I don't shop at just Target.)

Whataburger in Ft. Worth, Texas?
Wait!...no.

Whataburger in Ft. Worth, Texas?
No. NO!

Whataburger in Ft. Worth, Texas?
HOLD ON! I do NOT eat at What-A-Burger...EVER and I sure wouldn't go to Ft. Worth to get it.

(Ha! Finally some charges I didn't make.)

And there were more Whataburger charges from the same month, the month before, and the month before that.

Somebody stole my credit card information and only used it at Whataburger; for months, only at Whataburger. They only buy hamburgers with my credit card? How weird is that?!

Of course, I have my own suspicions that my "ham-burglar" might also have an affinity for periodic Mexican food runs and frequent Target stops, and all, um, possibly in my own town.

Really, people like that clearly have issues.