HOW CUTE!?!

I am just IN LOVE with this commercial. I think it is just SO stinkin' adorable!

Go here and watch!


How cute are these boots!?! :o)

Ten on Tuesday!

This dang day just sneaks right up on ya! I haven't even posted about Rylee's birthday weekend. YES! A whole silly weekend for a 1 year old!

1. Well this morning just started out SUPER! (insert sarcasm there!) Running late, got in my car, no gas....just great! Filled up at the gas station and five minutes later was pulled over by a cop for going 56 in a 45! YUCK! That stupid cop is always there too! SO mad!

2. Merry Christmas to me! I will be spending a Saturday before Christmas in driving school! Now who has time for that on a Saturday before Christmas!! I guess I will be out shopping with Rylee during vacation! Oh yay! (insert sarcasm!)

3. Rylee's one year check up is today after school. I usually beg Paul to come with me because of the first time I went alone (catch yourself up here!). Well of course Arizona trees must be made of toothpicks or something because every time there is a little wind (ha!) trees go down and fall into houses, fences, and roads. Which brings me to Paul and his crazy busy schedule today! YUCK! People need fences=Paul SUPER busy=me alone at the dr with Rylee with vaccinations and TWO flu shots! GREAT!!! (insert sarcasm!)

4. We turned Rylee's car seat around to face the front on Sunday night. She gets in the car on Monday morning and thinks this is the greatest thing ever! She has NOT taken a nap in the car since!! Ugh! This is not going to work! Or maybe it will....because I am a working mom that is ready for her 1 year old to only have one nap and be cranky for me all night! (insert sarcasm!)

5. Since Rylee has been in the car seat facing forward, she is either screaming her head off or laughing hysterically! Guess which one she chose to do when the cop pulled me over....LAUGH HYSTERICALLY! Ugh!! The one time I want her to be screaming and crying as loud as she can....she laughs!! I thought maybe the cop would take some pity on me and let me go if she was crying. Guess I will never know. Oh but she started crying right when we pulled away. S-T-I-N-K-E-R!!!!

6. On a happier note....the past four dinners I have made at home (not counting my crab muffin snacks over the weekend!) have been new recipes!! All have been good (except the tuna cakes that were good, but just not worth all the effort! Last night I made this.
It was really yummy! I love making meals like this because then lunches are made for the next day! LOVE that!

7. I am craving sushi and think I need a night out for some sushi and a movie! I have heard so many GREAT reviews about The Blindside that I think I might be 40 before I get to see it! Oh wait...I am still waiting to see The Hangover which I think everyone and their mom has seen too!

8. On Saturday we were at a birthday party for my niece, Phoebe. The party was at Skateland in Chandler and on the other side of the parking lot was a store called Ribbons and Lace. Well I just HAD to go in and check it out! MILLIONS and MILLIONS of ribbons (and lace) inside. While there I also signed myself up for a class to learn how to make the bows that Rylee wears (or insists on pulling off 100 times a day)! Paul is just too excited for me to take this class so he can stop seeing Etsy receipts in his email inbox. (If I was smart I would change the PayPal to my credit card not his....but I guess I am too lazy!)

9. I hate when my favorite item on a restaurant menu shows up on the Top 5 Worst things to eat at a restaurant! So annoying! THIS is one of the worst things on the menu at Cheesecake Factory! I think I order this about 90% of the time I go there! :o(

10. 8 more days till Christmas break! Wahoo!

1 Year Old!

I know everybody says it...but seriously....A YEAR!?! I feel like I was just getting ready to leave for the hospital to have her!!! I don't know if it's because I work but the time just flew by!! I think I had a meltdown yesterday morning so I won't bore you with my sob story about how I miss her being a baby but it's really, really hard.

Rylee Rose Thomson-today you turned one!! You have changed Daddy's and Mommy's life FOREVER! What a year it has been.....you have done so much, accomplished so much and have brighten SO many lives(with so many more to come)! You are very enjoyable to be around and the most perfect, happiest little baby I have EVER seen! You just know how to make everyone smile around you and are just fun lovin', happy goin'! You are the most beautiful baby girl and sometimes I am shocked that God chose us to be your parents. You are the light of our lives!

You are walking/running and into EVERYTHING. No words yet...but I just know they are coming!! You sometimes say hello and bye with your waving but not too often. I know when those words do start....WATCH OUT!! They probably won't stop!! ha! You just LOVE books and would listen to us read to you all day if we could!

You definitely fit well into the Thomson family! You love to eat and sleep....both Mommy and Daddy's favorite! My favorite part of the day is when you come up to me and wrap your arms around my neck and give my HUGE hugs!! Sometimes you even pat me on the back too! (I love it!) It's kinda like you are telling me...."Good Job, Mommy! Keep up the good work!" :o)

This first year with you has been amazing, you have taught me so, so much and I will be forever grateful to you for teaching me to how to be the most important (and favorite) job I will ever have, a mommy!

I look forward to all the years and all the happy memories you will create for us! WE LOVE YOU RYLEE ROSE!! Happy First Birthday Baby Girl!

Oh...MY...Goodness!

Oh My Goodness! I received this from Tricia, Andy and Ollie today at school!! They are so thoughtful and considerate!! It was a HUGE surprise and definitely unnecessary. The cookies were delish though!! :o) I had to use the Internet picture since mine was dismantled in about 5 minutes. I had to give one to cute little Ollie who was standing there looking SO dang cute!! Then I took one home and shared the rest with teachers!

Oh My Goodness! I made this for the teachers for Rylee's Birthday Party at school tomorrow.

(Just love the glare from the toaster! ha!)

This was after I ran errands to Safeway to pick up the 36 cupcakes for the same party!! Of course I then had to run into Michael's, Party City, the dry cleaners and Kohl's! (My schedule today reminds me of what Mel Terkelson's schedule is like everyday!! Single mom, two wonderful kids, full time super-teacher...I swear she does it all with never complaining!) Love it!

Oh My Goodness! This sleeping beauty (yes she is under there somewhere!) will be ONE tomorrow!! I can't believe it, I won't believe it, I don't want to believe it!!

Ten on Tuesday

1. 14 more days of school until Christmas Break! YAY! Rylee and I will be shopping up a storm, baking cookies and just relaxing! (yeah right on that last one! that girl does NOT relax!)


2. I think this is the longest I have waited to order my Christmas cards. I need to be more on top of things! Especially when it takes 2 weeks to mail something overseas!


3. It's not a good thing when I feel like my students have "checked out" and we have 3 weeks left of learning! Especially since we are on the hardest chapter in our math book! Yuck!


4. Last year at this time I was finalizing sub plans for 8 weeks! I could definitely use 8 weeks off this year!


5. People have come and gone looking at our "clean" house and no offers! I bet it's because we live against the noisy street! I don't blame ya people!!


6. I just love the holidays and am kinda sad we are going against decorating for Christmas. I think my wreath and doormat are as festive as we are going to get this year! :o( (Although this does save me from saying "no" to Rylee 800 times to stay away from the tree!)


7. I am in need of a CD player/tape player for my classroom! Some Christmas music playing while the students work would be so relaxing!


8. I know it's only Tuesday but this week I am making all new recipes! (Expect for Wednesday because we are going to Paul's mom's house for David and Garet's birthdays! Two brother-in-laws with same b-day!) Last night I made this.....

Ravioli Bake. It was SUPER easy and SO yummy!!! (Ravioli, sauce, cheese...what's not to like!?!) The ravioli's went in FROZEN. Took me 4 minutes to make! LOVE THAT!
Tonight I am making these....

Tuna Cakes.....Stay Tuned!!

And then Thursday my plan is this.....
Saucy Mexican Chicken.
*I was even so nice to add the link to the recipe for y'all! :o) Super easy!

9. My plan for Rylee's Friday night meal (her actual birthday) was to make her favorite meal. Well considering she hasn't spit one thing out yet (except Gerber mac & cheese, and I can't blame her, that stuff looked nasty!) I guess that could be anything! I told Paul I wanted to go to Olive Garden since she LOVES olives but Paul thought I was crazy wanting to go to Olive Garden in "Sun City of the East" (that's what I call Alta Mesa) on a Friday night!


10. In my shopping cart for my one Cyber Monday purchase was 2 pair of boots and 3 pairs of flip flops. I am sure whoever is packing that box at Old Navy is a little confused! ha!

Oh where oh where....

Has my camera gone? Oh where oh where could it be!?!
I failed again in my attempt for a post every day in November! I was going to back track and add a Thanksgiving picture of our family for the Thursday post and I can't find my camera!! Then I missed Saturday and Sunday so I missed 3 out of 30! (Not too bad!) So much better than last year's attempt! We have been SUPER busy around here. It's birthday after birthday this week and we end it with Rylee's on Friday!! 4 days to go......

It's BLACK FRIDAY!

I am out shopping!! What are you doing home reading blogs? Get your butt out to the stores and find some deals!! I hope I find some! :o) We'll see......

BEST DESSERT!!

My sister made the most delicious cake ever on Saturday night. (I will give some credit to Pat too since I guess he made the box cake!) It's called Butterfinger Cake and was delish! It's from Kelly's Korner and the recipe and pictures are here! It's super easy and SUPER yummy! I just love easy, yummy recipes...don't you!?!

Is it POSSIBLE?!?

For your head to EXPLODE from being overLOADED!?! 10 Things that are going through my mind about 100 times a minute!!


1. Oh the drama of selling a house! Which by the way I realized we have NO where to go! I thought that short selling a house would be a long, drawn out process but no one threw in cash buyers into the mix. Are mortgage companies that dumb to pass down that? Oh we will see!


2. People coming into my house, looking at my house while being a MESS! Our realtor said it didn't matter what our house looked like and people actually come through with it not looking the best! WHATEVER! I guess when the first sentence on the listing says "WOW! What a ridiculous price for a golf-course property with a quarter acre lot!" people come running! Ridiculous is right!


3. My fabulous dentist now wants to schedule my professional pictures within the next month! Oh, and it can be a family picture so we can use them as our Christmas cards. Just what I have time for! Go shopping for 3 coordinating outfits for pictures! Ugh! STRESS!


4. Back to Number 1....NO where to go! I am sure a realtor is plenty busy around the holidays and doesn't want to spend their time showing houses to us! I guess a box by the river is in my future!! Ha! (SNL anyone?!?)


5. Only 4 more weeks of school until Christmas Vacation! Oh wait! That would be only 3 weeks when we come back! Thank goodness progress reports don't come out until after the break! This pile of papers to grade gives me a headache every time I look at it! Anyone want to be my personal assistant for the month of December?!


6. One and half weeks until Rylee's birthday party! I am sure the people coming through my house are loving the goodie bags that I am currently trying to put together for that! ha!


7. Meetings, parties, get togethers! Oh my calendar is filling up fast with the holidays! I think I check my calendar at least 15 times a day!


8. Sleep?


9. Instilling some Holiday Traditions for my daughter. Guess we will have to wait till next year for that one! She won't know...right? ;o)


10. Oh....I have 24 students I have to teach every day! Can't forget about them can we?!?

*I am now off to go get my H1N1 flu shot. Wish me luck that I don't pass out!

My Biggest Challenge YET!

Well it's official...I guess. (Didn't really know it was until a realtor called Paul this morning wanting to show it!) Our house is on the market for a short sale! (Yes, I am being honest because who can really sell a home normally these days!!?! And we are moving to Glendale so we are leaving Mesa! :o( Don't get me started on that whole issue because I cry every time! There is just NO happy middle! I have gone back and forth 100 times and I think I have ended up in tears the 100 times!)
Anyway....I know this just adds to the stress of everything else since I have seen how long a short sale home can actually take, but seriously....whose brilliant idea was to do this during the holidays?!!? I need to get my butt in gear and get cleaning!! Anyone who knows me knows that I am not the cleanest person on a daily basis but when people come over...I get cleaning!! So now...not only do I have to do a thorough cleaning....I have to KEEP it clean!! EVERY. DAY. YIKES! This will be my BIGGEST CHALLENGE EVER!!
Ooohhh...Maybe a before and after shot should be in order....that would be REAL honesty right there!

Speaking of....

....Grandparents! Rylee was a little hurt that I didn't include her grandparents! She really is a lucky girl with so many people that love her! We couldn't have asked for better grandparents for Rylee Rose! She just adores all her grandparents!

*Lesson learned from making this blog....grandparents need to be in more pictures!!

Grandparents

My sister mentioned something about our grandma on her post today and while looking through pics on my computer, I came across some good ones of my grandparents. I just LOVE them! Best grandparents anyone could ask for!

Married 50+ years! I can only hope I am still as happy as these two 47 years from now!

I am thinking....

...that I actually want to add one of these to my Christmas list!! It might actually make sense!! When I actually have the opportunity to lounge around, I am always cold! And when I do get that opportunity ...I am usually reading, on the computer, flipping channels or texting on the phone! All things you need your hands for! Looks like it might be a winner to me!
*You would think that the word "texting" would be in spell check by now! ha!

Do you ever?

Do you ever feel like this?

But wish you could be this instead?

Wordless Wednesday

Ten on Tuesday

1. These weeks are just flying by! I feel like I just wrote last week's Ten on Tuesday! 2010 will be here before you know it!

2. I am so super hungry right now! I am craving Fajitas ever since Dianna mentioned them! Dang it! The ones I make just aren't the same as at the restaurant. But that's probably what's for dinner tonight. Well it would have been if I had defrosted the dang chicken! :o(

3. Rylee is getting more teeth and they are the molars! Oh it's good times at our home and at the Gomez's! Poor thing!

4. There are just not enough hours in the day! My weekends are booked and I am thinking I am going to have to start shopping at night when Rylee is sleeping. SO don't want to do that considering I go to sleep at the same time she does!

5. I am STOKED for my vacation! A free week in Rocky Point! YAY! My first trip to Rocky Point was when I was in 7th Grade and have been a HUGE fan every since. I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the food. Yes, your digestive system might be messed up for a bit...but SO worth it. I just think of it as a cleansing diet! ha!

6. I need to go to IKEA and I can just never find the time to get there. I can't find what I want on their website and it's bugging me!

7. I have a little "Rylee counter" on the bottom of my blog. (No one ever probably scrolls all the way down to see it but I look at from time to time) She is 11 months, 1 week and 6 days!! OMG!! So soon and she will be ONE!

8. You know you're a parent when.....all the fun vacation deal sites still come into your inbox and you just automatically delete them now without even opening them to see the deals. Just makes you depressed to see them all and realize you can't go! I guess this should say..."you know when you are a poor parent when...."

9. BUT.....you get to see this every morning, noon, and night! :o) I just puffy heart my girl!

10. For the first time in 11 months....I did NOT wake up to Rylee crying last night. It was her last whimper before she fell back asleep that I walked into her room to Paul rocking her back to sleep! I didn't even have a drink last night or anything! I'm kinda nervous now.....I used to wake up to everything!

Sunday Funday!

We had such a busy day yesterday! We met my family at Build-A-Bear so the kids could build a Frosty the Snowman. Well...we got there and Frosty in our opinion is SUPER overpriced....so we decided to go with Build-A-Whatever you choose! (Or whatever Mommy and Daddy chooses for you in Rylee's case!) Jackson went with a bear, Tyler chose Hello Kitty (so close with the Turkey Colleen!) and Rylee got a puppy dog! Good times were had and they all left with something to love!

Tyler being scared of the noise of the "stuffing" machine and Jackson filling her Hello Kitty!

Rylee being fascinated with the "stuffing" machine!

Rylee not sure what to think of the machine pedal and the lady, Catie, stuffing her puppy, Patch!

Good times had by all!

Gala

Last night, my friend Jennifer from work, and I went to the Phoenix Boys' Choir Fall Gala. I wasn't too excited about going....didn't really know what to wear...what we were going to do there...but we decided to go for a little bit.

Once we got there were some of the younger choir members there selling raffle tickets so Jennifer and I each put in $10 for a $20 raffle ticket. We are now winners of a week stay at a time share in Rocky Point! YAY! I am just too excited! I love vacations! I love Rocky Point! I love the Beach! And now....I love The Phoenix Boys' Choir! What a great organization! If I had a boy...he would definitely be joining! ;o) I can't wait till I get the e-mail with all the final details!

The only picture I got was of our winning ticket! I tried to take a self picture of Jennifer and I but I am obviously not good at taking those and they were deleted FAST!

A Baby!

A new Baby Dolly for Rylee that is! Baby Lucy is what we call her. She is the Cabbage Patch Doll that my mom got her for Christmas last year. Finally out of the box and she just LOVES it. Her name is Rylie Lucille so we went with Lucy! :o)

So there is a post below this one for Friday...so technically I cheated a little but I still have a post for everyday in November! I was only one day off so it's not too bad.

There is a new header picture...not the greatest considering Paul is laying in the background but I will be changing it again soon anyway. I was just so annoyed with the Halloween, non-matching one that I wanted something different. Her eyes are SO SUPER blue!

I am off to the Phoenix Boys' Choir Gala tonight so I am sure I will have a post for tomorrow. :o) Have a good weekend everyone...what's left anyway!

And by the way...the Rylie spelling is highlighted by spell checker too!

Curls!

Rylee Rose has curls! Small ones...but they are there! It's hard to capture them on camera but I took some shots to try to get the point across. They are just little ones that flip out a bit. And in the process got some shots of her scar too. Looking pretty good these days! Soon a whole bunch of hair will be covering all that.

Thankful Thursday

I am SO extremely grateful for these two....

Hey You!

Work on your blog Miss Lorna Jane! Love ya!

Ten on Tuesday

1. Well that's just great. I sit down and start to write my Ten on Tuesday and I have nothing to write about! Just super!

2. Parent/Teacher conferences are this week and I have 7/24 done. That's only 29% of the way complete! Boo! :o( I would have had 8/24 done but one didn't show up. That's just RUDE I think. We (teachers) have a life too!

3. I was going through my old posts from this time last year the other day and I had posted the same sadness about Parent/Teacher conferences and I also had posted a picture of what my feet looked like at this time last year.....YIKES!! Those are some BIG, SWOLLEN feet! My size 8 flip flops were putting indents in my feet! But all so worth it!

4. Yes, I am still debating Child #2. Paul swears he is on board with whatever I decide, so it's making it hard to make a final decision. I think I will make one before I move though cause I need to sell some of this stuff that is cluttering my house!

5. I want to add a poll to the side of my blog that asks for your opinion on the issue. One kid? Two kids? But I want to know why you vote the way you do so a poll wouldn't help. But if you would kindly give me your input in the comments....I would appreciate it. I am going to make a pro and con list! I know what my mom, grandma and sister all have to say about the issue! (They all vote no!) Maybe they just think I can't handle two.....but I think I am doing a good job with one....what's one more...right? ;o)

6. I posted this picture on my facebook yesterday. (One of Inez's daughters posted it on her facebook) I think Rylee is saying...."I think we need one of these at our house!"

7. Supposedly all Rylee does when Baby Kaylee is there (which is only 4 hours on Mondays) is "take care" of the baby. Kaylee drops her pacifer, Rylee picks it up. Kaylee cries, Rylee points to her. I think she gets this from Tyler who does everything for Rylee! My little girl isn't a baby anymore!!

8. I think that's what is the hardest about the whole thing. I LOVE babies and LOVE the baby "stage" and she didn't stay like that very long! She went from baby to toddler within 5/6 months!

9. I am sad that I am working tomorrow with all the good Veteran's Day sales going on. I guess that means I need to go to the mall after work. We will see how that goes!

10. Rylee is getting dance lessons as soon as she is potty trained! Every time ANY type of music comes on she starts moving and shaking! I don't know where she gets it from!

Contest

My sister is having a contest over at her blog. My ____________ is bigger than your ________! I decided to go with My EMERGENCY FOOD SUPPLY is bigger than yours! Lol! My sister ALWAYS makes fun of me that I could eat for MONTHS without going to the store! This picture is only of the pantry....which doesn't include our freezer and fridge which are stuffed too!! The picture doesn't even show all Rylee's Gerber meals piled up in the left corner! My name is Katie....and I have a grocery shopping problem!

Baby Stellan

I just don't think I have said more prayers in my life than I have for this cute little guy. It's so weird how a blog story can just touch you so much without even ever meeting the person in real life. I feel like I do know him though and I have never wanted a person to get healthy and healed more than I have Baby Stellan. A risky surgery is in his very near future and I am just praying that it goes well! I pray for the mom's strength and for Baby Stellan. No one should have to go through what he has. Visit "My Charming Kids" to update yourself with his status and send your prayers to them!

What Happens To....

What does one do when you only win second place (which I think is still $500,000!) on Big Brother!?! They are out working at Blockbuster of course!! Natalie from Big Brother is now currently working at Blockbuster at Brown and Higley. (Wasn't she from Tempe, not Mesa?) Paul comes home from there Thursday night and makes me get out of my pajamas to go into Blockbuster to see if it was really her. How can you really get that annoying little voice mixed up with someone else? Doesn't $500,000 last a little longer? Wasn't she a pro-wrestler or something like that? Blockbuster, really? There is definitely nothing wrong with working at Blockbuster....I just thought these people went on to bigger things? Not just my local blockbuster? I mean....the girl can be found in Google images! Then again...it is reality T.V. we are talking about here! :o)

I am not sure which one shocked me more....1) The fact that I was really getting out of my pajamas to go to Blockbuster or 2) The fact that Paul (Mr. I Don't Watch Reality T.V.) actually recognized someone from a reality t.v. program that I watch!!! I am so secretly impressed!! :o)

Flashback Friday

Me....one year ago!

So Jealous!

Of a lot of things acutally....but today....it's of my 11 month old daughter! I wish I had my own bed and could sleep like this....

But I don't so....oh well!! She is so peaceful! I just adore sleeping pictures!

I hope everyone has a great Thursday!

Wordless Wednesday-11 months!

Ten on Tuesday

1. Another busy weekend down....a not so busy, kinda calm weekend ahead!!

2. Friday was Paul's birthday, he took the day off and I had it off from school so the three of us hung out all day! We had lunch with Joanie and Colleen at White Chocolate Grill (still haven't had this banana cream pie...so mad!). Rylee stayed the night with Grandma Bobbi and Paul and I went to the casino for 15 minutes, won $20 and then had sushi with David and Brandee. YUM!

Sounds like a good birthday to me!

3. Saturday I spent about 2 hours making these lovely cupcakes

And then we went to my sisters for dinner and then to go trick-or-treating. We were one big, massive trick-or-treating group. I think I need to add a wagon to Rylee's birthday/X-mas wish list so A) we can put her in it. B) We have somewhere to put all the stuff we had to carry. (Plus drink refills!!)

4. Sunday we had football Sunday at our house since it was Paul's birthday celebration as well! We had a great time and there is only thing that comes to mind with 23 people in my house.....BIGGER HOUSE NOW!!! I might have to compromise on the location if I want bigger....but I NEED bigger! :o)

5. I just love making my list and getting ready for some Christmas shopping!!

6. I can't wait until Rylee is older and we can start holiday traditions that she will have a clue about what is going on! Halloween witch, making Christmas cookies, Thanksgiving at GG's house. I just love October through December!

7. I really wish Paul would make up his mind about child #2 or an operation for himself! I just looked at my friend, Tricia's baby registry and I think I have about HALF of the items on there that I could give her. I really don't want to pack and move all these baby things and then later hear that we aren't having anymore. Which I am FINE with....just let me know the plan buddy!

(The deal is Paul goes for vasectomy or I get my tubes tied after c-section with #2! Haven't heard the answer yet....)

8. I need a new picture for my header but I haven't gotten a cute one yet!! It bugs me every time I look at it!

9. Rylee's birthday party is about 90% done and planned and it is still a month away! YAY for that!!

10. Rylee's doctor update: She seems fine and the triage nurse said a red ear on the outside and her pulling on it isn't a symptom of an ear infection. We decided to take her anyway since my pro-H1N1 vaccine and they had it in so we received that along with a cleaning out of the ears. Wax...that's what it was. Other than that...Rylee's ears look good! :o)

This little girl is off to the doctor's office AGAIN tomorrow. Poor thing! Every week it seems like! This time....ear infection....I think. We will see.....update tomorrow! (You can tell who is always behind the camera since I am NEVER in pictures!)