Monday thoughts

Jaelyn has a teething fever.  At least I think it is from teething.  She is delirious and clingy.  It's fun.

Paige is overdosing on television today because of said feverish baby.

Can I still call her a baby now that she's a toddler?  Maybe I need to change it to "my baby" to make it acceptable?

I am still in my pajamas.  And by pajamas I mean comfy pants and a ratty t-shirt.

The only thing I have accomplished today is doing laundry.  And hours of comforting my baby.

I actually don't mind it at all.  I am very aware that in the very near future, if she has a fever she will prefer I not touch her at all instead of wanting to be as close to me as possible.

Our copy of "The Little Mermaid" is MIA.  Paige is not pleased.

Things in our house just disappear.  There are no fewer than four pairs of the girls' shoes that are missing a match right now.  I have no idea.

I want to decorate and organize the girls' bathroom.  But, it is also our guest bathroom -- so that kind of takes the fun out of it.

My hair needs help.  Not sure how, but help is indeed required.

I have pictures to post, but haven't had a chance to even glance at them.  Most are over a week old.  UGH.

Lauren lost her first tooth yesterday.  Well, technically I pulled it.  Actually - technically Jaelyn pulled it.  =)  She couldn't wiggle the tooth backward at all because her new tooth was poking through already.  So it wasn't going to come out on its own any time soon.  So, I tied a string around it and tied it to a doorknob, and while I was arranging Lauren and preparing her for the inevitable, Jaelyn walked up and slammed the door.  Problem solved.

The tooth fairy was ill prepared for Lauren's tooth to get pulled.  There was candy involved... I don't want to talk about it.

It's fall, apparently.  So I am making chili in the crockpot and pretending that previous statement is true here in Phoenix.

I want chickens.  I am crazy.  There is a speaker at Whole Foods this afternoon to talk about having urban chickens and I am actually considering dragging all three kids there, fever included, to hear about it.  Like I said, ka-ray-zee!

Pretty sure chickens would drive our back neighbor over the edge.   I am a horrible person because that actually makes me want them more.

Sad I missed the Women of Faith conference this last weekend.  I could have used it.

There is a cactus wren on the railing of our front porch calling out with all his might.  Wonder what he's looking for...

Time to hold an inconsolable baby some more.  Thanks for reading my rants!

Happy Monday!

It's Friday

What a week!  It truly has been the longest short week ever.  Each day sort of drug on by, though I don't remember much of anything bad happening... just the daily doldrums.

I will trickle in some pictures from our day in the woods last Saturday while I ramble.

Trigger worked on this hole the whole time we were there.  It was hysterical!  Justin proclaimed this to be the "best day of his life so far".  I kept saying, "Excellent hole, Joe."  To which no one batted an eye.  Hmmph.

the big girls were off on many adventures while I hung out with the baby -- so I didn't get many pictures of them!

My fast from many of my internet vices was a very good thing for me.  I realized there are many other things that need to be prioritized over that stuff.  It's not like I get paid to blog or anything!

Though I should be blogging more for my business... which is the one vice I do not have.  Odd.

We found some wild apples, and this one went after it with all the gusto of her usual attack on meals!

She is in the crying stage, as I like to call it.  Cries for everything.  To be picked up, for a snack, for a drink, for help, to get down, an hour ago, fifteen minutes ago, right now... you get the idea.  Makes for a frazzled mommy come 3PM.

We are looking into vegetable juicing.  I am excited and terrified all at the same time.

Going to meet a potentially sketchy person off of craigslist to buy a jogging stroller.  I am excited and terrified all at the same time.  About the sale, and about "jogging".  *snerk*

Have a great weekend everyone!

Ten on Tuesday

1.  In case you didn't see one of my other posts, I am taking a break from many of my internet "vices" this week - including Twitter, Facebook, Pintrest, reading blogs, and online shopping/browsing.  Just trying to get my priorities right and gain a little perspective on my time.  That being said, this will probably be my only post this week!  

2.  Paige decided she wants to grow her bangs out.  Ugh!  She looks super cute without them, I just hate all of the work that comes with growing them out.

3.  I need more ideas for Lauren's school lunches!  Seriously, the poor girl has the same four options over and over again.  Sides are easy -- but I need to get more creative on the protein options.  Really, I can't wait until her bento box gets here!

4.  Really excited about the women's bible study starting up again next week!  I missed last year because of Lauren's half-day Kindergarten, so I am really happy to get back into it. Anyone want to come with me?!?

5.  Jaelyn is nearly done with her last molar - and then we will be on to the eye & stomach teeth.  I am dreading that big-time!  She is my worst teether by far.  Thankfully, I finally found our baltic amber necklace and she is doing much better!

6.  Trigger got fixed last Friday.  They said to expect him to be lethargic and sleepy for 2-3 days.  Not so much.  The pup was the same when I picked him up as when I dropped him off.  You would think nothing happened to him at all!  If only all my children had that kind of pain tolerance!

7.  Praying really hard for a project Justin's company is going after on Thursday.  They really need this work!  Trusting God to help them win it.

8.  Jaelyn's favorite thing to do right now is growl.  We were playing with horses yesterday and I was making all kinds of pony noises, but all that girl would do was growl like a monster!  She is a crack up!

9.  I dyed my hair brown.  Dark brown.  I still haven't got used to seeing it in the mirror -- but the outgrowth will be much better.  No more roots!  

10.  SO excited for a long weekend coming up!  But, I also can NOT believe it is September already.  It's okay though, the summer going by fast is fine.by.me!  =)

Have a great week!

First Grade

Monday was Lauren's first day of first grade!  She did amazing - loves her teacher, has a friend in her class from last year, found her "best" friend on the playground at recess, all-around loves being there full day!

I had all sorts of picture ideas in my head for her first day - but, the birth that I have been waiting to photograph went to the hospital that morning, so I was crazed - making sure I had everything together for everybody and only snapped a few pictures of her on our porch before we left.  There are a few more on my phone for posterity's sake as well.  =)

When did she get so big?!?  Got me.  She is amazing and sweet, and I can't wait to see what growth she makes in school this year!

Wickenburg, AZ

We have driven through Wickenburg many times in the last ten years, on our way to visit my parents in Las Vegas.  This trip was to visit a friend of Justin's that lives there, for the girls to see her animals, and to pick up some fresh eggs!  It was a very nice morning, cloudy and not too hot.  We started out by feeding the llamas and alpaca.

Jaelyn was so cute - she loved looking at and pointing to the animals.  At a distance, anyway.  =)

Then, a couple of the horses were brought up from their pasture.

The owner asked, "Who wants to go first?!?"  And there was Paige, "MEEEEE!"  

Love her.

When it was Lauren's turn, she said she didn't really want to.  Chasing a lizard up the road instead.  I just said, "Come on."  Took her by the hand, walked her over, and Justin hoisted her up before she had a chance to think about it too much.

I think she was pretty glad she did.

Then Jaelyn got a turn just to sit.  She was less than enthusiastic. 

Kids are so much fun!

Then we got a tour of the chicke area, which made me re-think my adamant "No" to keeping chickens. She has a really great set-up!

That big guy is one of her two "Trader Joe's chickens" that she incubated from a carton of their fertile eggs!  That is just amazing!

It was a great time!  We planning on heading back since their eggs were yummy!

Beautiful walk

We went to Payson somewhat spur-of-the-moment last weekend, and it was a wonderful choice!  It was so nice and cool up there, the girls (and puppy) all loved being outside most of the days - and Justin's parents always take great care of us!  =)  Saturday evening we went to the park for a walk and some playtime.

I was playing around with backlighting.  It needs more practice!

Jaelyn LOVED the grass!  She was running, I had the puppy and could barely keep up!

They were chasing a HUGE butterfly!  Do you see it?  

I love this picture - if you have kids and have read Fancy Nancy Bonjour, Butterfly -- there is a page where the two little girls look just.like.this!  Such a great childhood moment.

Walking with Daddy.  <3

My little adventurer!

So grown up, Lauren!  She has a loose tooth today.  I am excited, grossed out, and sad all at the same time!

This picture was impossible.  But, I am glad I took it (and fifteen others), it is all my loves in one spot!

Pretty Paige.  I love her eyes...

The marks on her face are from when she jumped off the bunkbed at home.  

And landed on a toy that was left out.

There were too many life lessons that day to mention here.   =)

Still working on my silhouettes too!  Ha!

Hope you are having a great week everyone!

Soda - Diet?

Just in case you read my post the other day about soda and thought you were safer because you are drinking diet soda instead... PLEASE read this.  Not only does it have the other post's major problems, but a whole host of additional ones.  Ugh.  I am moving on to the sparkling mineral water!

Is it weird that I am having deja vu as I type this?!?  Did I write this before?  ;o)