The Show Me State!

So, we did it. We officially left both of our kids with the grandparents this weekend. It was such a tough decision, but I was also glad to have some time away with my hubby. We joined up with some friends that have 400 acres in Southwest Missouri. The Garrison family has been celebrating Labor Day on the farm for 33 years! I think this year on Sunday there were 40+ of us. We were happy to be included and we met lots of new friends! It was beautiful and God blessed us with awesome weather, although it called for rain every day. I am kicking myself for not taking more photos. We did a lot of resting, hanging out, and eating. But we also road Ethel the horse, went to the lake, and floated the river. And as most of you know, my favorite...riding the 4-wheeler FAST! Next time I need to take a dispoble underwater camera, because that river was to die for. It was gorgeous and I didn't get a single picture! I think because the kids were not with us, I was not as trigger happy with the camera, although I should have been. Here are few snapshots from our trip:

Poor ole' Ethel...she is quite out of shape and then she had to go haul us around. She liked to be with her other horse friends, so it was challenging to keep her on course. Once, she took off with me on her at a mad dash. It was fun, but I was just hoping that she was going to stop and not throw me over the fence into a pile of horses! Here is Michael riding her. She did not like to go to the left. We kept hearing Michael say, "Ok, we will just go right." It was funny.



We spent one day out on the lake. Michael left me for most of the day and went on the other boat to board with the boys. I did not do so well this time on the wakeboard. (my excuse is that the water was REALLY rough and REALLY cold).
I did however enjoy the tubing.


Here I am, the sole survivor!

To add to my collection of handstand photos:


Although I don't have a picture of us ON the 4-wheeler, here is one I snapped while riding. We were up close and personal with the cows.

And here is the only picture I snapped of Michael and I the whole trip.(note it was after a long day on the river, so I am not looking too hot.)

I was so sad to not be at home with my whole family and we missed my niece, Grace's birthday party. I know Lila and Graham had a blast playing with their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins though!
Thanks again Garrison family! We had such a great time. AND a BIG thanks to my parents and sisters for taking care of my kids. I know it is not an easy job and we really appreciate it.
The other great part to our weekend is that for Michael the VOLS won their first game with Coach Kiffin, and for me...the TIDE ROLLED! :)
We are now officially ready for some FALL weather! I have lots to catch up on from our summer, so be sure to check back. (I back date things to when they happen just in case you are wondering or if the whole 2 people who read this actually care.)

I think I will keep her!

There is nothing like a 2 year old to boost your self-esteem.
Our little Lila has been super sweet lately (well, in between not coming when we ask her to come to us and not always sharing with her brother, but this is another story.)
Lately, anytime Michael and I get dressed or change clothes,these are phrases we hear from Lila. "You look cute!" or "I like your pretty (insert color) shirt." or "You look pretty mommy!" She also likes to announce how cute SHE is. For instance yesterday after I got her dressed and fixed her hair, she said, "I adorable!"
She often runs in to Michael and says, "Look at me Daddy! I look cute!"
She also has started rubbing my arm, head, and cheeks like I do to her when laying her down at night. Since moving to her big girl bed, she now says to us, "Lay with me!" At first I complained about this because we were so use to putting her down in her crib and walking out. I soon realized that I should cherish these moments, since I won't get to sleep beside her when she goes off to college. Don't get too excited and think that she has all the sudden become a snuggle bug. I have tried to climb in the bed with her, yet she is quick to tell me "Don't sleep in my bed. Lay on the bean bag."
However, yesterday she did climb up in the kitchen chair beside me, grabbed my hand, and said, "Hi Sweetheart."
Another favorite of mine is when I got out of the shower yesterday, she made the obvious statement of "Your wet mommy....and nudie!"
Then she proceeded to say, "You're skiiiinnnny!"
YEP...I think I will keep her! We must often tell her how skinny she is when giving her a bath or getting her dressed. Obviously she has no idea what "skinny" means, since she called me that, but I will take it!
And my favorite keep her moment was this morning. I was not feeling well, and as I do often, I was having some major stomach cramps. About an hour after this happened, out of the blue, Lila stands up and clasps her hands together. She starts praying, "Thank you Lord, (something I didn't understand) and please help mommy's belly hurts."
YEP....I think I will keep her!

Here she is taking care of her own baby:



addendum: After I finished typing this post, Lila looked at me and said, "You're smart Mommy. You're smart." Pretty, skinny, and smart?!?!....what more could a girl ask for?!

What shall we do to today?

Mommy...I'm bored. What can we do today? (She didn't REALLY say that. Ya know..it's just a little adlib for my story. :) )



Let's jump on my trampween, mommy.
Put Grwaham up there.



Play ring around the rosey.

Do Seat Drops.

Take a pretend nap outside.

Go See Grwaham.

Catch me Mommy.

Break Time.

Let's go see Grwaham again.

Pop Goes the Weasal.

G Loves it too!




Let's Play in the Creek.

Not me! No Thank you.

Swing Me Daddy


It's COOOOLLLDDD!!

I need to go Potty!

Help Me!

UHOH!! I fell in the creek, but Daddy saved me!

MMM..Yummy Watermelon will make me feel better.


I wanna go water the trees again. (and again and again)

Let's See What Graham is doing


Let's take a picture of Mommy and Grwaham.



AAWWW..Finally, snuggle time with momma: (This never happens, which is why it is documented! :))

What a great day! I wish I could play in the creek and ride 4-wheelers every day. Thanks to the Lankfords for hosting a fun Sunday School Cookout!

Big Girl Bed

I knew this day would come. I just didn't think it would be SO soon!
This is the reason she is no longer sleeping here:








Instead, she is sleeping here:

Although, it looks to me like some things aren't going to change.

Honestly, the transition has been awful! Lila's paci just recently got "broken" and we had to "throw it in the trash." If I would have known that just 1 week later she would be climbing out of her crib, I think I would have let her hang on to it a little bit longer to help shut her pie hole...errr, I mean help with the transition. :)
The girl will NOT stay in her bed. I spanked, I praised, I even stooped as low as bribing with toys. FINALLY, just this week, it has gotten better. We still have to lay down in the floor beside her for a few minutes until she settles down. We are not use to that, as before our routine was, read a few books, say our prayer, put her down, and walk out. It is getting easier, and at least now we are getting sleep. She was even waking in the night crying out for us, which in turn would wake up Graham. Of course all of this happened right before we left to go to the beach, where all 4 of us were staying in the same room. I'll just say this, it was NOT good. We are still trying to get adjusted from it. Anyway, here we are.
It's just another new routine.

Appropriate or Not?

Everytime I paint my toenails, Lila says, "Do me, Mommy. Do me." Everytime I get the nailpolish close to her she says, "No, I don't", so therefore I have never really had to deal with it.
This day, she once again asked me to paint her toenails. Thinking she would never let me, I attempted to paint them. Lo and behold, she let me do it!!
If I would have known, I probably would have chosen a lighter color and not hot pink. She was actually letting me do it, so I didn't want to mess it up by changing colors in the middle of it.
That night, Dear Daddy was getting the kids ready for a bath. I hear him telling Lila that he should get on to me for painting her nails. I walked in to find him taking the polish off. Apparently, Lila would not get in the bathtub until it was off of her toenails. (She's quirky, I know.) I asked if he was really mad and his response was, "She is just too innocent to be wearing toenail polish."
I personally feel it is ok, especially if it is just for play. I would feel differently about it if she was a little tiny baby and it was bright red. Michael REALLY would be mad if I did that to her.
So, what do you think?
Toenail polish on a 2 year old, appropriate or not?