Wednesday Blog Hop Co-Host with Haute Mom

Welcome Everyone! I am co-hosting this Blog Hop with Haute Mom!! Join in the fun and check out some new blogs and make some new friends!! I am very excited!!

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Electronic Catch Phrase Giveaway

The Deals and More and Emptynester Savings and more has teamed up with these wonderful bloggers to bring you this wonderful Electronic Catch Phrase giveaway. Please enter below for your chance to win and good luck.

Disney's John Carter March 9th

JOHN CARTER

DISNEY
Website and Mobile site: disney.com/johncarter
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/JohnCarterMovie
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/DisneyPictures

Genre:                                      Action-Adventure
Rating:                                      PG-13              
Release Date:                           March 9, 2012
Running Time:                           131 minutes

Cast:                                        Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Samantha Morton, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds, Dominic West, James Purefoy, Bryan Cranston, Polly Walker, Daryl Sabara, with Thomas Haden Church and Willem Dafoe
Director:                                   Andrew Stanton
Producers:                                Jim Morris, Lindsey Collins, Colin Wilson
Screenplay by:                          Andrew Stanton & Mark Andrews and Michael Chabon
Based on the story “A Princess of Mars” by:       Edgar Rice Burroughs

From Academy Award®–winning filmmaker Andrew Stanton comes “John Carter”—a sweeping action-adventure set on the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom (Mars). “John Carter” is based on a classic novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose highly imaginative adventures served as inspiration for many filmmakers, both past and present. The film tells the story of war-weary, former military captain John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), who is inexplicably transported to Mars where he becomes reluctantly embroiled in a conflict of epic proportions amongst the inhabitants of the planet, including Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and the captivating Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). In a world on the brink of collapse, Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes that the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands.

Notes:
·         Edgar Rice Burroughs was born in Chicago and is best known for writing and creating Tarzan—still one of the most successful and iconic fictional creations of all time.  “John Carter” is based on Burroughs’ first novel, “A Princess of Mars.”
·         Academy Award®–winning director/writer Andrew Stanton directed and co-wrote the screenplay for “WALL•E,” which earned the Academy Award® and Golden Globe Award® for Best Animated Feature of 2008. He was Oscar® nominated for the screenplay. He made his directorial debut with “Finding Nemo,” garnering an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay and winning the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film of 2003. He was one of the four screenwriters to receive an Oscar nomination in 1996 for his contribution to “Toy Story,” and went on to receive credit as a screenwriter on subsequent Pixar films “A Bug’s Life,” “Toy Story 2,” “Monsters, Inc.,” “Finding Nemo” and “WALL•E.”
·         The award-winning below-the-line team includes Production Designer Nathan Crowley, Oscar®- nominated for both “Dark Knight” and “The Prestige,”   and Costume Designer Mayes Rubeo, whose work is showcased in “Avatar” and “Apocalypto.”
·         Michael Chabon, who won the Pulitzer Prize in Literature for his novel “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay,” is a co-writer on the screenplay.
·         Award-winning composer Michael Giacchino has received numerous accolades for his work on previous Disney•Pixar films “Up” (Oscar® winner, Best Original Score; BAFTA winner, Best Music; Golden Globe® winner, Best Original Score for a Motion Picture; GRAMMY® Award winner, Best Score Soundtrack Album), “Ratatouille” (GRAMMY Award winner, Best Score Soundtrack Album; Annie Award winner, Best Music in an Animated Feature Production; Oscar nomination, Best Original Score) and “The Incredibles” (Annie Award winner, Best Music in an Animated Feature Production; GRAMMY nomination, Best Score Soundtrack Album).

"Like" JOHN CARTER on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JohnCarterMovie and visit the official site: http://www.disney.com/johncarter

JOHN CARTER arrives in theatres everywhere on March 9th!

MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS

              MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS hits theaters on May 4th!

“Like” MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/MarvelsTheAvengers

FRANKENWEENIE

Website and Mobile site: disney.com/frankenweenie
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/FrankenweenieMovie
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/DisneyPictures
Genre: Animated comedy
Rating: TBD
U.S. Release date: October 5, 2012
Running time:

Voice Cast: Winona Ryder, Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, Atticus Shaffer, Robert Capron, Conchata Ferrell Director: Tim Burton Producers: Tim Burton, Allison Abbate Executive Producer: Don Hahn Screenplay by: John August Based on an original idea by: Tim Burton

From creative genius Tim Burton (“Alice in Wonderland,” The Nightmare Before Christmas”) comes “Frankenweenie,” a heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog. After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life—with just a few minor adjustments. He tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor’s fellow students, teachers and the entire town all learn that getting a new “leash on life” can be monstrous. A stop-motion animated film, “Frankenweenie” will be filmed in black and white and rendered in 3D, which will elevate the classic style to a whole new experience. In Tim Burton’s “Frankenweenie” young Victor conducts a science experiment to bring his beloved dog Sparky back to life, only to face unintended, sometimes monstrous, consequences.



4 Months Old

Yep, already, Hailey is growing like a weed. She now can hold her head up most of the day, without getting too tired. She has begun more tummy time even though she still hates it. She has begun to play with more toys, grab things, and recognize that it is actually 'playing' time. She smiles at you all on her own, she looks at you wanting attention, and she wants to make eye contact. It still amazes me, even though we have done this once, how fast they grow and learn.



She is laughing, yelling, and cooing. She just talks and talks. She wants to play so badly. She will swing herself while propped up on a knee. She chews on her fingers, not a big BINK baby. Her big blue eyes will follow you across the room. She loves her sister. She will try to jump forward to try to get to Ava. She knows her daddy, that's for sure. As soon as Kenny begins talking, her little head turns to his direction and she smiles so big. She is eating baby food, 4-6 ounces a bottle, and sleeping better. Not sleeping through the night yet but sleeping better.



She is 14 lbs and probably 24/25 inches long. I havent measured her, but we weighed her last night, so that is accurate. She has rolls in her arms and legs. She is starting to get interested in trying to roll over but only when a toy with noise and lights is out of her range and she trys to grab at it. Watching her learning to play is a joy, her smile is contagious, and her laugh is delightful.



Her love for Ava is amazing. In the mornings, she wakes up looking for Ava. Once they spot each other, there is a big smile by both. I always tell Ava to tell her "Good Morning, Hailey" with a kiss. Ava is always happy to do it. My heart melts watching them together.

UpComing Giveaway..Sign Up Opportunity

Curious Wisdom and Other Everyday practicalities..: I don't get Sundays...

Curious Wisdom and Other Everyday practicalities..: I don't get Sundays...: Congratulations Kristin over at I Don't Get Sundays You had the most visited link from the Finally Friday hop last week! If you a...

Too Connected?

These days everyone has lots of technology at their fingertips. My smartphone is always a arm stretch away. But are we too connected? Do you ever find yourself looking at your phone when its a time you ready shouldn't be?

Last week when it was beautiful outside, I drove acrossed town to pick up the girls. There were several families outside with their kids. Every adult had a phone in their hand: on the internet, checking email, on facebook, or texting?? Who knows but their children were playing, why weren't they playing with their kids?

I will admit there are times at home I will get an alert and its hard not to check it immediately. But my kids need my attention. I don't want my kids to be dependent on technology I want them to play outside and get dirty.

Techology has its perks and we cetainly will take advantage of those but one of my peeves is seeing a parent telling a kid to 'hold on' to finish a game, email, or something when all he/she wants to do is play. Do you take time out of your busy technology filled day to just have down time??

It’s Official

No more babies for us! Sad isn’t it!?! 2 is enough, at least that’s what I keep being told. Hailey is 4 months already. They grow so quickly, that I know it’s why I keep wanting to have more. They are only truly dependent you for about 12 weeks, then they are holding their head up, seeing the world. Not that she still doesn’t need me for food, to be changed, and she can’t speak yet, but mothers know what I mean. At 12 weeks that new born is gone. You have this little person that is figuring out the world.

When I first got pregnant with Ava, I knew I wanted 2 children, knew I wanted them close in age, and knew that I would be overwhelmed by it all but do it. When I got pregnant with Hailey and was miserable and sick for all of the 9 months, I still said 3 would be nice. I kept being told by my wonderful husband, 2 is enough. That is the song he keeps singing.       

Now here we are, Hailey is 17 weeks old, and its official, there will be no more babies from this Bowers family. I guess we will leave it up to the other 2 Bowers boys. My heart is sad. I never saw myself with a big family, maybe no children at all until I met Kenny. When we began dating, all my views of parenthood changed. I had not really wanted children until at least the age of 30. I wanted to work.

 I met Kenny at age 21; I wasn’t quite ready for children at that point. As we continued to date and to get to know each other, I knew he would be a great husband and a better father.  In 2007 my niece Emily was born and I wanted a kid. She was the most precious little thing I had ever seen. It amazed me that I had felt her in my sister’s stomach then here she was.

So I started bugging Kenny, wanted to get married, needed to get married, so we could start having babies. He, as usual, does everything in his own time, he kept telling me he wasn’t ready and no we weren’t getting married anytime soon.  I had set a date for 2008, told him it was a great year to get married and start our life together. We both had good jobs and we were awesome as a couple. He just laughed at me. It became a thing. He would say something negative about marriage, especially in front of our already married friends, and then I would just spit out the date! Almost like he already put the ring on my finger and it was set!

He totally surprised me with a marriage proposal in 2007; I honestly didn’t think he would do it until 2008 or after. So I took a year to plan our perfect day and then started talking kids. We agreed on 2 little ones, even though I was talking 3 or 4. I told him that my sisters and I were close in age and I would love to have ours close also. He agreed.

I kept telling people while pregnant with Hailey, we are going to keep being poor until we are done. Children are expensive. It takes a lot to provide for them. We have one using formula and both are in diapers. Those 2 expenses alone are high demand in our house.

People look at me like I am crazy when I mention I wouldn’t mind another child. I always get ‘a family of 4 is what the world was made for’ ‘don’t do an odd number’ ‘you want 3 kids why?’ ‘why don’t you wait a while’ ‘you should be happy with what you got’

I am happy, I would never tell my girls, ‘I had you but I really wanted another’ OH NO I would never. I just feel in my bones that I am not done with babies.

A friend thinks that just means I will have a higher calling, maybe adoption, maybe foster care, maybe just watching friends/families children to give them a break. Kenny and I haven’t discussed any other options other than he is done with babies. He likes Ava’s age; he likes to be able to be rough playing, he likes being able to be told what they want instead of the guessing game, he likes being able to run errands and no bottle to worry about. Ava is at an age that she is very low maintenance.  She plays, most of the time she can entertain herself while you are busy with housework, she can talk clearly to have a conversation and tell you what she wants, and she eats whatever we eat.

So while we are done, I will look forward to family and friends having more, spoiling their little ones while mine are growing into independent little girls. It won’t be long before Hailey is crawling, walking, talking, and then the attitude. Ava is well into the terrible 2’s and I have been told that the 3’s are worse. Yay for us!

So no more babies for us but we are blessed, we have 2 healthy little girls that are in love with us and each other. A house full of laughter, crying, screaming, and love. No day is ever the same and there is never a dull moment. You do not use the word “Bored” when you have 2 little girls 2 years apart in the same household. If one is happy, you can bet money that the other one is either crying or mad. Probably all the reason why my husband keeps saying “No”.

Valentines Day!

Yes, I am a week late but better late than never. Our Valentines Day was great! Kenny was actually off for it this year also, his work schedule has has him working the past few years. We started our Valentine's celebrations on the Sunday before going to lunch. We got lucky, mom had taken Ava for the afternoon so we only had Hailey. This allowed a more relaxing lunch. Restuarants and 2 years old don't mix well sometimes.

On Valentines Day, the girls stayed with Kenny, while I went to work. That morning, I gave Ava her treats that were left in her "Love Bug".



She was so excited for all her treats and stickers and pencils, she didnt know what to do with everything. I gave Hailey a card for her scrapbook and she got to taste a few suckers. She also got a Love Bug "Bee" that will be waiting to be filled next year for her.


Kenny received cards from the girls and me. He also was treated with some of his favorite candy.

What did I get? Well I got a beautiful arrangement of flowers with the sweetest note.



It really made my day. My cube smelled wonderful the rest of the day and everyone kept telling me how pretty they were. I am so thankful for my loving family and special days like Valentines. We always tell each other how much we love each other but theres always been something special about Valentines Day that just makes it so magical.

Making Your Mark in March Giveaway Event

How does winning $200 worth of beauty products sound to you?

Be sure to come back on March 1st till the 15th to enter the Making Your mark. in March Giveaway Event!

 

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The giveaway will be live on March 1- March 15 and is open to U.S. & Canada readers only – we wish we could include international readers as well but we hope you guys understand.

If you're a blogger & would like to participate in the event as a sponsor, sign ups for this event are still open but HURRY because we are down to less than 10 spots left! $6 to sign up and to get 3 links (Facebook, Twitter & Google+) on the Rafflecopter Form. Blogger Participants are eligible to enter in the giveaway as well as the blogger participant giveaway which is $25 PayPal Cash. Sign ups close February 25, 2012. To sign up, click HERE.

If not, just be sure to come back on the 1st of March to enter for your chance to win! :D

No Kiss Me Too

No Kiss Me Too

Ava speaks like a 2 year old. I don’t know how else to explain it. She is learning to speak complete sentences, yet proper grammar isn’t being used. It will probably be a while before it all clicks. She speaks her way, a cute way. I will ask her certain things sometimes just to hear her answer.
    What she should be saying: “I don’t want a hug”   Ava says “No hug me”.
    What she should be saying:  “Don’t pick me up”   Ava says “No pick me up, Mommy!”
     What she should be saying: “I don’t want you to touch me” Ava says “No touch me”

But then there is this OPPOSITE talk she does when she is playing. This is cute! When she wants attention, wants to be hugged, or kissed. She will smile, look at you and say “No kiss me too”, this usually happens during goodbye when either Kenny or I are leaving for work. After clarifying that she doesn’t want a kiss, she runs so you can catch her and kiss her.

She has also started this when Kenny gives me a kiss or a hug. It is so funny, almost like she gets jealous that I kiss her daddy. How dare I kiss HER daddy? So Kenny has to chase her down and give her kisses too. She loves her daddy so much.

Does your toddler say things in a funny way?

THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY opens in theaters this Friday, February 17th

Cast Members: Amy Poehler, Bridgit Mendler and Carol Burnett in Los Angeles to promote the film.

THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY
DISNEY
Disney.com/Arrietty

Genre:                                      Animation/Adventure
Rating:                                      G
Release Date:                           February 17, 2012

Voice Cast:                                           Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Carol Burnett, Will Arnett, David Henrie, Moises Arias
Director:                                               Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Producer:                                  Toshio Suzuki
Screenplay by :                         Hayao Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa
Based on “The Borrowers” by:    Mary Norton
Director – English Language
Version:                                    Gary Rydstrom
Executive Producers –
English Language Version:        Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall
English Language Screenplay by:      Karey Kirkpatrick

Residing quietly beneath the floorboards are little people who live undetected in a secret world to be discovered, where the smallest may stand tallest of all.  From the legendary Studio Ghibli (“Spirited Away,” “Ponyo”) comes “The Secret World of Arrietty,” an animated adventure based on Mary Norton’s acclaimed children’s book series “The Borrowers.”

Arrietty (voice of Bridgit Mendler), a tiny, but tenacious 14-year-old, lives with her parents (voices of Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) in the recesses of a suburban garden home, unbeknownst to the homeowner and her housekeeper (voice of Carol Burnett). Like all little people, Arrietty (AIR-ee-ett-ee) remains hidden from view, except during occasional covert ventures beyond the floorboards to “borrow” scrap supplies like sugar cubes from her human hosts. But when 12-year-old Shawn (voice of David Henrie), a human boy who comes to stay in the home, discovers his mysterious housemate one evening, a secret friendship blossoms. If discovered, their relationship could drive Arrietty’s family from the home and straight into danger. The English language version of “The Secret World of Arrietty” was executive produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, and directed by Gary Rydstrom. The film hits theaters Feb. 17, 2012.

Notes:
Hayao Miyazaki is one of the most influential and admired filmmakers working in animation today and is a major figure in the Japanese cinematic landscape. His films have inspired moviegoers and colleagues around the world, from Pixar's John Lasseter to fantasist Guillermo del Toro to Chinese director Tsui Hark, and consistently top the box office in his native Japan.
Director Hiromasa Yonebayashi, a top animator at Studio Ghibli, was responsible for the animation in a signature scene in “Ponyo,” in which Ponyo runs atop ocean waves.
English language voice talent director Gary Rydstrom is a seven-time Academy AwardÒ winning sound designer/mixer (“Terminator 2: Judgment Day”). He joined Pixar Animation Studios as an animation film director in 2003.  His directorial debut for the studio was the Academy Award®-nominated short film “Lifted,” and he directed the short film “Hawaiian Vacation,” which was released with “Cars 2” in June 2011.
Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall are highly successful producing partners whose films, separately and together, include “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “E.T.,” “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?,” the Indiana Jones films and the Jurassic Park films. In total, Kennedy and Marshall have earned 11 Oscar® nominations.
English language screenplay writer Karey Kirkpatrick’s credits include “Spiderwick Chronicles” and “Over the Hedge,” which he also directed (with Tim Johnson).

Baby Food

Yes, don’t shoot me, Hailey isn’t 4 months old yet but YES I have begun to give her some baby food.  My little chunky monkey is hungry! She is doing great with it also. I started about the 10^th of February, at 3 ½ months.

I did it one evening, just to see, giving her some oatmeal, she isn’t a big fan of it so the next evening I put a little applesauce in it to flavor, and she gobbled it up. So I bit the bullet and decided she should start some solids. My wonderful Mamaw had given me some for Christmas as a present to Hailey. So we started with the basics: apples, bananas, sweet potatoes, pears. I am going to keep her on the yellow/orange baby food for a while and move her to others at a different time. I want to take it slowly since I have begun so early with her.

Yes, I know people will criticize but she’s mine. And I believe she was ready, she does great with the spoon and when she sees me getting everything ready while sitting in her highchair, she starts kicking her feet. I cannot believe how big she is getting.

She’s eating between a half a jar and a full jar depending on when she signals to me that she is done. I can tell when she doesn’t want anymore; she will begin to just let it drain out of her mouth.

My only big obstacle with feeding her has been her big sister, Ava. Ava is old enough to ‘help’. Most of the time she is good help with chores around the house but when it comes to feeding Hailey, she is in the way. She doesn’t always pay attention, she puts way to much on the spoon, and she will have baby food all over Hailey’s face and highchair. But despite all these things, I still let her help. She loves it and I love trying to keep Ava involved. It’s really hard sometimes because she is young but I love that she wants to try. Some nights are worse than others and I have to kick her out of the feeding process but most nights I try to roll with it, while holding my breath.

As Hailey grows I know it will get easier, one of the best things of already been there and done that. Cannot wait to watch her grow and become more coordinate with her hands to mouth movement. I know it’s all coming in due time, as sad as that is.

A Girls Day...

Today I did something that I rarely do, I left my babies at home with their daddy and went to lunch with the girls. It was really nice. I seriously need to do it more often. It feels like I do it once a year or so. It takes a lot to get me to do it. We all have our families now so we begin planning about a month or two out. It's the way it has to be. It's amazing how much work it takes just to get together for lunch.

I had a wonderful time. I got to talk to adults, get other views of other mothers, and eat a meal without sharing. I love the girls I went out with, one being my sister in law and the others being my cousins. We had a great time and there was lots of laughter and lots of story telling.

Once the girls get a little older, I hope its easier for me to leave them. I feel guilty even though I know I shouldnt but after working 40 hours during the week, to leave them is hard. They are my world. My husband is always telling me to plan something and to go. I think I might take him on it eventually but right now I dont want to miss anything. I miss too much as it is.

But if I could do it like today, I think I would do it more. We ate lunch, ate, shopped a little (formula for the babies), and then I came home and played with my girls. Ava and I built with blocks, Hailey cooed and yelled at me. Once the evening came, we cuddled up in bed and watched a movie.

A perfect day.

If you agree all mommies need a day, vote for me!

PayPal Giveaway

Who doesn't like a little extra in their pockets? Want to go shopping with an awesome prize? Well sign up for a chance to win!!

I Dont Get Sundays has teamed up with Uncreative Mommy; Unorganized Mommy of 3 ; Nifty Mom and other moms to bring you the $50 Paypal Cash Giveaway.

The Lucky Winner will receive $50 via Pay Pal.

Entries are open from February 10 to February 17. Everyone is welcomed to participate! The more the merrier!!

Enter below in the Rafflecopter!

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Weekend Blog Hop

Wednesday Blog Hop

Bead Jewelry Giveaway Winner!

The winner of the Beaded Jewelry Giveaway is Patty Chase! You have 48 hours to contact me by email. Congrats!!!

Paypal Cash Giveaway Sign Up

Need more followers?  Why not co-host a giveaway?  Giveaways are a great way to gain more followers.  Sign up today to co-host the Uncreative Mommy and Unorganized Mommy of 3 Paypal Cash Giveaway.  $2.50 gets you a Facebook link and a Twitter link.  But don’t fret, 3 additional links can be purchased for $1 each.  So don’t forget your RSS, Email Subscriptions, G+ and more.

Giveaway will be held from February 10, 2012 until February 17, 2012

Deadline to co-host is February 7, 2012

Grand Prize is a Paypal Cash prize that will be determined after all sign ups are completed.
To join this giveaway, fill out this form

Payments must be made by February 10, 2012 in order to be able to participate.  Send paypal payment of $2.50 + additional $1 each for extra links as a gift to lena.blair@yahoo.com.

All participants are required to post about the sign up and the giveaway once it is started.

The 30 Minute Scream

Yes that’s right, my 2 year old is really GOOD at being 2. We have had a couple trying evenings. It’s like the button gets stuck on scream and cry until you are over heated and coughing.

Last night really did it for me. Kenny was at work of course, seems like she can’t pull this when Daddy is home and I have help. I picked them up at Vickie’s, of course she is having a blast, doesn’t want to leave. I pick her up, she asks to ‘walk’. So I put her down to walk and she runs into the yard to play in water and dirt from the melted snow. I grab her again, she kicks and says she wants to ‘walk’. I gave her one more chance. She’s 2, I try to pick my battles with her, if she wants to walk to the car no big deal, but we only play the game so long before I turn into the ‘mean mommy’.

So the second attempt to allow her to walk to the car fails! I was duped. She got me. She played me well. She goes to Vickie’s porch yelling and crying that she wants to stay. I love that she loves it there but really we need to go home. By this point Hailey is in the car crying. Thankfully for now I only have one that is stubborn and fights me on every little thing. So while Ava cries and Vickie tries to help with her, I go and put the bink in Hailey’s mouth. She is good to go.

Ava, still crying, won’t come to me. So I told Vickie we would see her the next day they are scheduled there and scooped Ava up and walked to the car. She is kicking, screaming, snot running out of her nose. I had to fight her in the carseat. I am not kidding, I had to hold her down with one arm while the other arm buckled FAST. I wasn’t playing around. I knew if I didn’t do it quick, I would miss my chance. I had to adjust her wiggly butt twice before I got her sitting back far enough to latch everything properly.

So here we go, on the road to home. She is crying, I hear a thump on my seat. While at a stop light I look back at her, she is bear foot. She was throwing her shoes at my seat! Yes this is a big I am totally angry temper tantrum. I turn up the radio a little. I try to reason with her. I ask her why she is crying. I tell her if she doesn’t stop, she’ll go to bed when we get home. I try everything that normally would work to get her to stop.

Twenty-five minutes later we are at the top of the mountain, 5 minutes from home. Hailey chimes in with a yell, then a grunt. Ava stops crying asks ‘whats that’. I immediately try to make it work to my advantage. I tell her Hailey is tired of hearing her crying and is telling her to be quiet and act like a big girl. Ava quits. Just like that. She is sniffling, kinda whining, but not screaming at the top of her lungs. Hailey yells again, Ava looks over at her and tells her ‘it is okay, we are almost home’.

For a half hour I had been telling her this same phrase. “Ava calm down, we are almost home” It didn’t do any good but it made me feel like I was doing something. Trying to drive and deal with an upset kid is the worst. Then she uses it with Hailey. Hailey wasn’t even upset, she was just talking.

So my 2 year old proved she can scream almost continously for a half hour, not loose her voice, be snotty, and throw her shoes. When we got home, all was forgiven, she played with Hailey and ate a good dinner. Almost like nothing happened.

So anyone else with a good temper tantum story?? Gotta love 2 year olds!

My Valentine

As Valentine's Day is approaching this year I keep thinking about the first fall when I met Kenny. I really don't know why. But it keeps replaying in my head, some of the interactions we had in class, during or on breaks, until I handed him the paper with my number.

The fall of 2004 we both signed up for a Communications class at Blue Ridge on Saturday mornings. As I walked up to the classroom, there stood this tall, handsome guy with a WVU hat on. He was staring at the floor, swaying back and forth, clearly irritated that the door was locked and we were waiting for someone with a key.






After class, he bolted out and was gone before I could get the chance to even say hello. Most Saturdays, it was the same, I couldn't get him to talk. It was aggravating. During breaks, we sat in the hall, everyone chatting in their little circles, he kinda sat there, looking at this watch, like the break was taking forever. One Saturday, we were talking about hanging out and he chimed in. His smile, so handsome. It still takes my breathe away. For the next couple Saturdays, he talked a little more and a little more.




I kept telling my cousin how much I wanted to date him, even if just one date. He was and still is so cute. I told her that by the end of the semester we would go out on at least one day, at least I hoped so.




In early October I gave him my number, told him to give me a call sometime and we could hang out. It took him almost 2 weeks but he did call. I dont know why but I was so happy he did. By the end of October we were dating and here we are today together for 7 1/2 years, married for 3 1/2 years, and 2 babies later.







Love him so much, I couldn't imagine it any other way. He makes it all better.

 

So many Kids....

This past weekend we had 2 birthday parties. A cousin on my side and a cousin on Kenny's side. When talking with Kenny this weekend we realized how much our little circle has grown since beginning our journey together 7 years ago. When we first started only my sister had a baby, Emily was born in 2007, we had been together for 3 years.

Now it looks like we have a birthday party or two or three every month this year including our two little angels. It is so different now. A good different.

Here are some pictures for our first weekend of birthday parties!

We have a couple in March and so on...its going to be alot of fun. I cannot believe how fast all these little ones are growing.



A Special Connection

When changing babysitters, the girls were moving from one cousin’s household to another cousin’s household. It was scary, exciting, and I was an anxious momma until I picked them up on their first day. They have been there for a month now. It seems like they have always been there. Ava fits right in with the other kids and has a great time there. My little chunky monkey, Hailey, is being taken care of and loved very much when I cannot be with her.

Vickie is my mom’s first cousin, my second cousin, Ava and Hailey’s third cousin. She is on the Raines side; her mother and my grandfather were brother and sister. My pap pap Rawhide has been gone for about 15 years now.  Aunt Kathleen, Vickie’s mother, is 86 and battling Alzheimer’s disease, but still moving and able to interact with the kids.  

For whatever reason, Ava just gravitated to Aunt Kathleen. The kids call her ‘grandma’, so does Ava. Aunt Kathleen has a stuff dog toy that she holds onto and treats as if it alive, she cuddles with it, takes care of it, and usually has it right under the blanket with her. Ava has began to carry around a dog toy of her own, (a gift from her Aunt Gail), and has ‘grandma’ take care of it during the day while Ava is playing.

When we walk in the house, she must know where ‘grandma’ is and when she will be up. Vickie has told me that Ava will follow ‘grandma’ around the house and makes sure she stays out of trouble. When Vickie has to take care of grandma and bathe her, Ava has been going in with her and helping. Keeping ‘grandma’ company and talking to her during her bath. I absolutely am amazed about my kind hearted little girl. A 2 year old is being gentle and making sure that this older generation is being taken care of.

One day when we picked them up, Ava and ‘Grandma’ were at the door looking outside, Ava had the biggest grin on her face. To watch Ava interact with her is nice.

My mom thinks that Ava only being 2 and a child of pureness and innocence can sense that something is wrong with Aunt Kathleen and she needs attention. Ava has taken to Aunt Kathleen quick and wants to make sure she is okay. Aunt Kathleen spends her day in the recliner or on the couch; Ava usually has her cup and dog or baby doll next to Aunt Kathleen. She will tell me that ‘Grandma’ is watching it all for her so she can play. I am tickled that Ava is able to be with a generation.

I am proud as a mother that Ava does not pick on her, does not take advantage of Aunt Kathleen’s condition, that she isn’t mean to her, and that she is helping her during the day.