Thomson Family

Merry Christmas 2011

2011-12-22T18:46:00.002-07:00

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Happy Birthday Alex! (August 4)

2011-08-29T07:29:00.003-07:00

Alexander James Thomson (Alex) made his appearance on August 4, 2011 at 11:57 a.m. He was 9 lbs/14 oz and 22 inches long! He will be 4 weeks on Thursday! It has FLOWN by!! We are all adapting to our new life with Baby Alex and LOVE him to pieces.

The night before the c-section.

Big Boy! Had NO clue he was going to be that big! :o)

Showing how she really feels about having a little brother! Lol :o)

Our first family picture with our new addition.

39 Weeks!

2011-08-03T07:37:00.004-07:00

39 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 39 Weeks
Size of baby: the size of a mini watermelon
Total Weight Gain/Loss: 22 pounds
Maternity Clothes: It's really whatever I have that fits!
Movement: Still movement-just not as strong. I don't think there is much room left in there for him.
What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach, sandwiches, moving without some kind of pain, having a glass of wine with dinner (I figured it's my last post so I would just post everything I miss! ha!) Just from this week alone I would have written "sleeping through the night" but that's not going to change for awhile, lol! :o)
Cravings: Smoothies, cold fruit, ice water
Symptoms: Nothing strong enough to send me to the hospital.
Best Moment this week: My nesting stage kicking in and getting everything ready! I have made 4 meals to freeze, cleaned 90% of the house and feel like I will be able to relax when I bring Baby Boy home!

I can't believe this is my last pregnancy post! Tomorrow we go in for my scheduled c-section at 11:30. He will be here soon!!! I will try to update with a last pregnancy picture tonight.

38 Weeks

2011-07-27T06:56:00.004-07:00

38 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 38 Weeks
Size of baby: as long as a leek and estimated to be 7 pounds. I am thinking he will be bigger than Rylee and she was 8 lbs/8 oz
Total Weight Gain/Loss: I think I am up 20 pounds now. Didn't eat the healthiest the last trimester. :o(
Maternity Clothes: Yes. I think I rotate between 3 pair of shorts and 3 shirts. Thank goodness it's summer and I didn't NOT have to find cute teaching clothes!
Gender: a little BOY! :o)
Movement: Still movement just not as strong. I don't think there is much room left in there for him. I had them monitor the baby at the last appointment and he passed with flying colors.
What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach. :o(
Cravings: Juice, smoothies and milk shakes.
Symptoms: Just the same pains. Probably some Braxton Hicks contractions but nothing strong enough to send me to the hospital. I am thinking he is staying put until the 4th!
Best Moment this week: The nursery getting more complete and still having fun with Little Miss Rylee. As hot and miserable it is, I still try to do one fun thing a day with her! I hope she is loving it! :o)

And one picture of A) me being pregnant and B) our vacation we took a month ago. I am being a horrible blogger recently so I figured I would post a picture of our vacation in my "weekly" update! :o)

Ummm...Really?!?

2011-06-09T20:32:00.007-07:00

Paul and I love to watch Man vs. Food! And I think I may have just shocked Paul when I said that this looked good.....

Jethro's BBQ in Des Moines, Iowa-
Start with our huge pork tenderloin, add our Angus steak burger, top it with slabs of Texas brisket, apple wood bacon & fried cheese, finished with buffalo chicken tenders. We smother this mountain with melted cheddar cheese, and white cheddar sauce, serve it with your choice of side.

They also had these on the same episode. Looked Good! :o) (A Heart attack waiting to happen!)

High Life Lounge in Des Moines, Iowa-
Tator Tots wrapped with jalapeno slices and bacon then fried and topped with cheddar/jack cheese.

Kind of reminds me of the time we were in Vegas eating at the Grand Lux Cafe when my sister, Colleen was pregnant and she ordered this.....

The Max Burger
Our Chop House Burger Topped with Cheddar Cheese, Crisp Bacon, Sauteed Mushrooms, Onions and Roasted Short Ribs. Served with an Organic Green Salad or French Fries.

When I was pregnant with Rylee I wanted NOTHING to do with meat! Couldn't even look at a hamburger the whole time!! This time......SO different! :o)

30 weeks and 30 months!

2011-06-06T07:12:00.002-07:00

I am 30 weeks along with Baby Boy and Rylee Rose is 30 months! I can't believe she is 2 and a half!! She has grown so much and her personality is just shining through! I love it!

30 Weeks
Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 30 Weeks
Size of baby: size of a head of cabbage
Total Weight Gain/Loss: 11 pounds total.
Maternity Clothes: Yes! I now don't have to worry about finding a cute outfit for work! I am officially off until end of maternity leave! yay! :o)
Gender: BOY!!
Movement: ALL THE TIME!! The most movement still being at night.
What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach. :o(
Cravings: Cold fruit, orange juice and ice.
Symptoms: All the same. Movement, sharp pains, RLS. All worth it! I can't wait to meet him!
Best Moment this week: Last weekend was all the BBQ's with families and a night getaway with Paul. Thanks Grandma Bobbi for watching Rylee! We got dinner out, saw Hangover II, and brunch out the next morning! Fabulous!

30 Months-Rylee Rose
How does one little girl have SO much energy!?! She is full of fun, knowledge and questions!! Oh My!! We are 90% sure she will be starting school when I return from maternity leave and she is Oh So Ready!!! I can't wait to see all she learns being with other children!
She is potty trained, only wearing a pull up at night time and is sleeping in a big girl bed! Her vocabulary BLOSSOMED like crazy! She was just storing up all the words and sentences until SHE was ready!

*Blogger won't let me upload anymore pics.:-(

29 Weeks

2011-05-25T18:50:00.003-07:00

29 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 29 Weeks
Size of baby: size of a butternut squash
Total Weight Gain/Loss: I would definitely say gain but not too sure on exact number. Find out in a week.
Maternity Clothes: Yes. MUCH more comfortable! And I am LOVING the Bella Band!
Gender: We found out at 18 weeks that we are definitely expecting a little BOY! :o)
Movement: ALL THE TIME!! If Paul liked the name Beckham that would SO be this little boys name since I think he thinks he's playing soccer in there! And poor little guy seems to have his days and nights mixed up already. He is SO active during the later hours of the day! (He obviously didn't get the memo that I am a Babywise mom! ha!) ;o)
What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach. :o(
Cravings: Cold fruit and chocolate.
Symptoms: Lots of movement and so many different aches and pains! The one that is the worst and is really a symptom is RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome). It came in my BabyCenter email the week after I was trying to describe it to Paul!
"If you feel an uncontrollable urge to move your legs to relieve crawling, tingling, or burning sensations, you probably have restless legs syndrome (RLS)."
Best Moment this week: Getting ready to start summer with Rylee Rose! We have LOTS planned for her last summer as an only child.

Rylee's "sister" Emma Sophia was born on Monday! She's too cute! Emma is the daughter of Rylee's babysitter's daughter :o) (Did we follow that?)

I can't believe I only have about 10 more weeks to go. As different as this pregnancy has been (definitely not as easy) I am trying to savor EVERY moment and remember it all (instead of rushing through it) since it will be my last time.

16 Weeks

2011-02-23T08:02:00.003-07:00

16 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 16 Weeks
Size of baby: size of an avocado
Total Weight Gain/Loss: I would say loss since I couldn't keep anything down last week due to illness. (I have never been so sick. Had a combination of cold symptoms with flu symptoms. What the heck could that have been?!?)
Maternity Clothes: Still none yet.
Gender: I am thinking Boy! We have a girl name (I think) picked so of course it's going to be the opposite!
Movement: None.
What I miss: Taking any type of medicine you want when you are sick! It was very hard to be sick and only take a select few medications.
Cravings: Cold fruit and goldfish crackers.
Symptoms: Headaches every now and then. Don't want to jinx anything but I have been feeling better regarding tiredness and being nauseous.
Best Moment this week: I would really have to say nothing this week since I was so sick. First time in 7 years that I called in sick to work! Looking forward to March 9 when we will find out for sure boy or girl.

13 Weeks

2011-02-06T06:59:00.004-07:00

13 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 13 Weeks
Size of baby: Size of a peach
Total Weight Gain/Loss: Still maintained same weight. After I heard that at the doctor's office on Wednesday I decided that I would have TWO donuts on Friday! ha! I go back in 5 weeks for next check up. I DOUBT he will say I maintained any weight! :o)
Maternity Clothes: Still none yet. I was hoping to finally purcahse some Old Navy maternity jeans tomorrow at Old Navy's 30% off all adult items sale but of course it excludes maternity! :o(
Gender: I am thinking Boy!
Movement: None.
What I miss: Still turkey and cheese sandwiches. I already told Paul I need one in the hospital. He said he would go get me one with a glass of wine. Ewwww! To me, that just does NOT sound like a good combination.
Cravings: Still ice cold fruit.
Symptoms: Just mainly tired.
Best Moment this week: Phone call from the Nuchal Translucency Ultrasound saying my results came back negative and everything else looked good. Also hearing baby's heartbeat at the doctor's office on Wednesday.

*As I sit here and type this post, I have a baby doll in my lap that I am supposed to be "feeding her a baba (bottle) to." I so got this parent to two children thing down! Nothing to it! ha ha! Oh all you parents of two out there probably got a laugh! :o)

Do things REALLY happen for a reason!?!

2011-02-05T06:32:00.002-07:00

Over the past couple months certain things have happened that have made me wonder. They have made me worried, stressed and concerned. I am always one to say to others, "Things happen for a reason" or "Well, it wasn't meant to be." But I have a REALLY hard time trying to live it out myself. I always appreciate these things when I see the end result but it's the unknown until then that leaves a pit in my stomach. I can't stand the wait. I want to fast foward a month, 6 months, 12 months and see what all the worry, stress and concern was really all for. I am one that needs answers and I want them NOW! I might consider myself a patient person (most of the time) with my students, daughter, etc., but this is one area that I definitely need to improve my patience in. Let God be in control and know that he has a plan for everything and everyone. I need constant reminders that I need to slow down sometimes and just know that "Everything does happen for a reason." I need to enjoy my family and friends and live in TODAY!

"Wait on the Lord and be of good courage, and he shall strengthen the heart." -Psalm 27:14

Our Ultrasound Pictures

2011-01-31T07:45:00.001-07:00

Here are three of our ultrasound pictures. The first two are the profile pictures where she showed us she thought BOY! And the third one is just a head profile picture. (These explanations are really for my mom who can't figure out what she is looking at sometimes with these pictures!) :o) I was going to post some 3D/4D ones for my sister but thought I would spare her since she "LOVES" those ones! ha!

12 Weeks

2011-01-30T07:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, you will be blessed with some weekly updates!! I don't have weekly belly pictures with Rylee so I don't think I will take them this time. I will try to post a picture every now and then though. I started this post sometime in week 11 and now getting around to posting it 12 weeks, 4 days.

12 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 12 Weeks
Size of baby: The size of a lime
Total Weight Gain/Loss: No loss, No gain.
Maternity Clothes: None yet. I did purchase a BellaBand though so I am hoping I won't have to buy too many maternity clothes.
Gender: I am thinking Boy!
Movement: I feel like I am feeling something but I know it's too early.
What I miss: Out of all things...LUNCH MEAT! I just need a nice turkey and cheese sandwich! :o)
Cravings: Watermelon! Ice cold Watermelon! Or any cold fruit.
Symptoms: Tired and Nauseous. I am hoping this leaves the second trimester!
Best Moment this week: NT Screening Bloodwork/Ultrasound.*

*Although it was great to see our baby, I would NOT suggest doing this if you are pregnant because you just lay there for an hour and a half full of worries. They spend the whole time trying to get a measure of the fluid behind the neck and if you have a baby like mine....it is NOT cooperating! Then you have your husband next to you not realizing what this "scan" is for all worried because he thinks the ultrasound lady is trying to find something that she can't find that is supposed to be there. Then he is all worried. Oh it was a good, hour and half of fun. I did not get this done with Rylee and would not do it again. Then the lady tries to take a guess at the gender in which she says is not 100% guaranteed and not to go out and buy paint and keep receipts of everything you buy because "all babies look similar at 12 weeks." So she guessed boy! I will show you some pictures I found on the internet that were rather fascinating. I had NO idea how really alike they really do look at this stage! They don't look between the legs at this stage, they look at the profile! The first picture is boy and second is girl. Our definitely looked like the first one!

We still have to wait until Wednesday or Thursday for the results of the bloodwork for them to give our 1/? number for what our chances of our baby having Down's Syndrome or 3 other syndromes they test for. And we wait another 6 weeks for our 18 week gender scan ultrasound.

Great Expectations

2011-01-17T07:37:00.004-07:00

After 11 months of waiting, going back and forth, a false positive back in June (from a Doctor's office!)....we are anxiously and very excitedly awaiting a new addition to our family! Rylee Rose is going to be a BIG sister! In August 2011, we will welcome a new baby into the Thomson family and I can't wait to have a baby around again! I am definitely one that LOVES the baby stage and EVERYTHING that comes with it. And yes, many people know that I am dying for Rylee to have a sister but truth be told, EVERY time I think of this baby, I think BOY! I don't know if it's just because the names are easier to think of for boys (D'Brickshaw Thomson anyone?) or if it's because this pregnancy is 100% different this time around....either way...it's a little red-headed boy that comes to mind. I am EXCITED and HAPPY when I think of Rylee being a sister to either a baby girl or baby boy! (And of course are praying every day for healthy and happy!) I know Rylee will be a loving and very attentive big sister just based on how she treats her baby dolls! (Let's just hope she doesn't hold the baby upside down by their feet! ha!)
We have had two ultrasounds already and everything is looking good! I go on January 28 for another detailed ultrasound and was told that maybe we would find out the sex. I am torn on whether or not I want to know the sex or not, but either way, that is amazing that at 12.5 weeks along...they might be able to know!
(Well at least D'Brickshaw would come up with Rylee in spell check every time also! ha! All I will say is you definitely find a lot names while it's football season!) ;o)

Random

2010-12-11T19:32:00.006-07:00

-We had a great Halloween this year. The whole family dressed up as the Flintstone family. It all started with Rylee being Pebbles and just went from there! Rylee's babysitter made her costume (super cute!) and we found ours at Target. It was a super cute, fun idea! Our good friends dressed up as the Rubbles and we just had a good, fun time!

-Why does Eczema return every winter?!? Do children ever grow out of that or is it something that you will always have?! Anyone else have kids that have it and have a really good lotion they use? We use this one and it works but just seeing what other options are out there.....

-Why does Rylee seem to be potty trained EVERYWHERE else except in MY house?! Hmmmm? She seems to be doing ok, but I am seriously dreading the day we go with panties full time!

-At the grocery store today I bought the fixings for sugar cookies. During one of the three potty training boot camp days, Rylee and I will be making cookies for Santa! (I have high hopes that mine turn out like the picture! ha!)

-Why is it whenever you return home from the grocery store you already have a list for when you go back next! Ugh! No joke, within five minutes of me being in the door I already had a list going for next trip. Four items are waiting to be bought....and they will just have to wait.

-Rylee is officially 2!!! I know everyone always says that time flies, how did this happen so fast and I seriously have to agree! She has taught me so much in her two little years and I can't wait for more! So in love with her!

-I have debated about not getting a Christmas tree this year but I think we are just going to do it. No one will be over at our house from now until long after Christmas so I really don't see the need to decorate anymore. But we have put lights on the house and will get a tree tomorrow. It's all about making it special for Rylee!

-I won a day off from work and used it Thursday. (Yup, I had to win a day in a class contest in order for me to have off, lol) Paul took off too and we had a VERY relaxing day going to Target, got Starbucks, Total Wine, Ikea, Best Buy, Barnes and Noble, ZTejas for lunch, Walmart and Sprint. I can't remember the last time (if there ever was one) where Paul and I shopped and had lunch together during the week! A VERY good day!(I probably would have been done Christmas shopping if I had been by myself, but hey....it's all good!)

-The stop at Best Buy had two purposes and one purpose was for my Christmas present. Merry Christmas to me early! Paul bought me an HTC EVO phone. I had gotten him one for his birthday and have been using it non-stop so he decided I needed my own. Thanks Paul. (I am currently not happy with the Twitter App on the phone as it is not working but I hope to fix this tomorrow!)

(Yes I got the white one. Why? I am still not sure because once I put a cover on it you won't be able to tell it's white anyway....oh well!)

-I think this title of this post fits it well!

Black Friday FAIL

2010-11-27T09:42:00.004-07:00

Just like every other year, I braved the crowds for Black Friday. I didn't set an alarm, just woke up at 5:30 am and started getting ready to go. Rylee and Paul woke up also so we all decided to go shopping together. I can't decide if it was because
a) we all went together (No one should go Black Friday shopping with a toddler, or maybe I shouldn't)
b) I didn't go when the stores opened right away or
c) half of the stores I went to opened at 10 pm and 12 am
But whatever the reason, it was a BIG, FAT, FAIL! We really weren't going for anything exciting, I think I always just want to go get some deals! The only thing I think I even succeeded on (and this is a stretch of a success) was the Target Door Buster sheets but they had NO king left so I bought a queen with high hopes that I will be able to exchange them for the correct size in a week! Here's hoping!
Good thing I have a day off from work in the middle of December to get some Christmas shooping done, TODDLER free! :o)

FREE Christmas Cards....YES please!

2010-11-10T17:55:00.011-07:00

Who out there doesn't LOVE Shutterfly. I am definitely a lifetime member of their site. Even before Rylee was born it seemed to be the "go-to" site for my pictures. After Rylee was born....it was SO easy to share my pictures of her. I remember sitting at the computer in the hospital sharing pictures of her the day after she was born with Shutterfly! So easy. Even relatives in Scotland were sharing in the excitement with Shutterfly!
Now with Christmas VERY quickly approaching....I find myself coming across Shutterfly's website looking for the perfect Christmas card to be the background for Miss Rylee's picture!
Here are some of the cards that I am obsessing over now....which one will I choose?!?

Besides getting my Christmas card from Shutterfly this year, another product I am browsing over recently is Baby Shower Invites! I am throwing TWO baby showers sometime next year! Rylee's babysitter's daughter Amanda is pregnant and due in May and my sister-in-law, Lorna is pregnant and due in June! I will be very busy and plan on using some of these cute products! These, These, and These are TOO cute!

If you would like to take advantage of this amazing offer, spread the word about Shutterfly's Christmas card selection. Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly if you click here: http://bit.ly/sfly2010

Ten on Tuesday

2010-10-05T06:29:00.008-07:00

1. Once again, I am trying to get back into the blogging swing of things! November is Blogging Month so I am trying to prepare for a blog everyday!

2. I just can't believe it's October already. October through December is ALWAYS the busiest three months but I just LOVE it. Fall, Football, Halloween, Thanksgiving, LOTS of Birthdays, Winter and Christmas....what's not to love?!

3. Our school just had a four day weekend since we just held our annual Fall Festival. Then this Friday we have an in-service which means we only have a 3-day teaching week....SCORE! :o)

4. Rylee had a BLAST at the festival and I only have one picture of her there and it was on a ride since that was the only time she was actually sitting! She insisted going on the rides with Dre, her babysitters second oldest (out of five). They are seriously like sisters and a brother to her! LOVE them!

5. I L.O.V.E. Hobby "Heaven" Lobby! I am forbidden to go in there by Paul now. Supposedly, it is NOT good for our budget! :o(

6. Last Saturday we took Rylee to her first Diamondbacks game. She had a great time and the Dbacks won! It was great!

7. I get to do another tasting at Ztejas next week and I can't decide which one I am more excited about....the free, YUMMY food...or actually getting to go to Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall!?! Finally!! Haven't been there in FOREVER!!

8. I can't wait till it cools down here in AZ so I can start using my oven for more meals. I have so many more meals I can make but they all require the oven for so long....it's still way too hot here for that!

9. My fantasy football players SUCKED this week! Boo for that! :o( How does a team (New England Patriots) score 41 points and the quarterback only get 10 for the game!?! Oh well....

10. I am sure hoping the teachers get a raise this year at work. I will be so disappointed and mad if they don't! I can't handle these times with no raises.

Over the Summer we....

2010-09-29T19:27:00.019-07:00

Hung out at home with pony and cartoons

Went to the Zoo (I think on the hottest day of the Summer!)

Finished Swim Lessons

Ate some sushi

Played at some mall play areas

Did plenty of swimming all around!

Set up my classroom

And Celebrated Dora's Birthday with cupcakes at Walmart!

We are going....

2010-09-02T16:39:00.004-07:00

CAMPING! That's right! If know me IRL...you are probably saying..."Am I on the right blog?" "Katie's blog, right?" Yup, you are at the right spot and yes, the Thomson family is going camping. I am currently researching glamping, thanks to Karissa! :o)
I am actually excited and it was my idea to go! When we got invited by Paul's sister, I just knew we should try it! I am trying to do new things for Rylee's sake and I really think she is going to LOVE it! She absolutely LOVES being outdoors and will have her 3 cousins to play with! What is not to love?!
And for myself, I am fully looking forward to sitting around a campfire, teaching Rylee to make s'mores, and having absolutely NO WHERE to go for 3 whole days! Pure Bliss!

Better Blogger!

2010-08-22T15:04:00.003-07:00

So I have been a horrible blogger recently but I am going to try and get back into the swing of things! I have many posts that I am behind on including a big one from Scotland! Rylee and I are trying to get back into our working/Gomez Family schedule and it's harder than I thought! Two and a half months is just a tease to have with her and I need more time! I don't like having to do all my errands on the weekends and I liked having all week just the two of us! Boo for that....but on a upside...I only have 20 students in my class and I see this being a very good year! Here's to a good school year, more blogging and balancing out my working mom schedule again! Have a good week!

Ten on Tuesday

2010-07-27T06:42:00.000-07:00

Ten Things I will miss from Arizona while gone for 2 weeks!

10. Mexican Food. I am going to go out on a limb here and say that Scotland probably doesn't have good Mexican food....or Mexican food at all for that matter! I guarantee I will be at Fajitas or Macayos after school the first day back!

9. The sunshine. Yes, maybe I won't be missing this the first couple days but I bet the rain will get old fast too!

8. Blogs. Although I am not a very good blogger myself, I love reading other people's blogs!

7. Back to School Socializing. I am going to miss out on the teacher's first week back, getting caught up with teachers' summers, and back to school meetings.

6. Sushi. I am going to try and fit some in for lunch today somewhere! Here's hoping!

5. My own bed. There is nothing like sleeping in your own bed, with your own sheets, pillows and blankets!

4. My cell phone/social media. It will be hard not pulling out the cell phone every time I want to catch up on Twitter/Facebook!

3. Big Brother. I will be missing 6 episodes while away! I might have to watch them on the Internet since I am ADDICTED!!

2. Family and Friends! Enough said!

1. Rylee Rose Thomson! I PUFFY heart her!

*Getting to experience where Paul grew up, his home town, and meet all of his family....Priceless!

Warning Sign!

2010-07-21T19:49:00.004-07:00

Children should come with a warning sign attached! "Beware: I grow up VERY fast!" Boo for that!

And the winner is....

2010-07-19T07:22:00.003-07:00

EVERYONE!! (See..I told ya I didn't have a big following!)

Well since Rylee was picking the winner and saw only four (and who the four where) she said she wanted all of you to win since she loves you all! She is just too sweet for words! :o) I wish I could put a picture of her on here of her telling me the rules of this giveaway and how everyone needs to win (she is so bossy!) but once again....no cord, no handy computer! Boo!

So Jennifer, Grandma Bobbi, Auntie Rock Star (Colleen) and Aunt Karissa will all be receiving a $50 gift certificate to Restaurant.com! (This child of mine is costing me money left and right....how come no one tells you that part of having a baby!? ha!) And a little side note...Rylee would like to be invited to eat at some restaurants with y'all! Lol

Giveaway!

2010-07-14T18:32:00.006-07:00

Well I had so much fun doing my last giveaway that I thought I would do another one. This one is not sponsored by anyone...you don't have to do anything fancy to win....you, the reader just benefit from my generosity! Gotta love it!

So if you leave any old comment on this post, you will be in a drawing for a $50 gift certificate for Restaurant.com! If you read my previous post about Restaurant.com you know I am a BIG fan and so this is just a way for someone else to become a BIG fan like me. I am always retweeting the coupon codes (80% off!) that you can get some amazing savings on these gift certificates! So if you catch a code you can get a 25.00 gift certificate for only $2.00!! So you could be eating out at 25 different restaurants (or 1 restaurant 25 times) on me! Lucky you!!

So just leave a comment and on Monday I will have Rylee draw a lucky winner! Wahoo! (And chances are you have a good shot at winning since I don't have a huge following!) ;o)

Good Luck!

Ten on Tuesday

2010-07-13T14:44:00.002-07:00

1. We have made it through 10 lessons of swim and I can see a progress with Rylee. I am hoping to continue in August with some more lessons because I would hate for her to come this far and the have to wait 11 more months just to learn it all over again!

2. I made these for dinner one night last week and I had HIGH hopes for them. #FAIL (If my sister says you can # in a text, then I am assuming you can # in a blog! ha!) Paul L.O.V.E.D. them but I was just not feeling it. Maybe it was because I spent 40 minutes making it all and then just wasn't' hungry by the time I was done! Does that happen to anyone else? (These only used the oven at 200 for a little bit to keep the tortillas warm, not bad!)

3. I think we should start a betting pool of who thinks (and who doesn't think) that I will be able to keep my Scotland suitcase under 50 pounds and will NOT have to pay the extra charge! I had to pay the extra charge one time for going to Vegas for a weekend. This is Scotland, for 2 weeks and with winter clothes! I feel like I should take a practice run! ha!

4. I love monsoon season! Where is it?

5. I am glad I didn't get those other shoes for Scotland that I had mentioned previously...(found a right one at one Macys, found the left one at a different Macys) because I found some C.U.T.E. shoes that I love even more. They were originally $80.00 and I got them for $27.00! Score! I would love to add a picture to my post but that leads me to Number 6....

6. Our computer that uploads the pictures by putting the memory card directly into the computer is currently getting a new hard drive (thank goodness for warranties!!). I still haven't found the cord for the camera so I am going to have boring posts with no pics for awhile....unless I find that cord!

7. I am having a technology crisis the past couple days and if I see Best Buy and Sprint again anytime soon I might have to scream! L.O.V.E technology but sometimes I just HATE it!

8. One month till school begins again and I have NO idea where the summer went. I really have nothing to show for it! Gym classes and swimming lessons for a little miss but that's about it! I am about 50% ready for students to enter the classroom and the rest will be finished this Friday. That's a miracle in itself. Usually I am there the day before scrambling to get ready! With a small class of only 21 kids...I am really having HIGH hopes for this year. (Please, oh please don't let me down!)

9. I am off to make enchiladas for dinner! So much for not using my oven in the summer! (That's what I get for asking Paul to help with the dinner menu before leaving for the grocery store. Learned my lesson with that one!)

10. And for my giveaway....I will just have to post it since there will be no pretty picture of what you will be getting! (unless I do a mad search through the last couple boxes!) So tomorrow it will be up. No picture is really needed...I just like posts with pictures SO much better!

Experimenting..

2010-07-07T14:12:00.008-07:00

...with some new blog designs and layouts. I know I could design my own if I gave it my all and worked through it a bit more but I get so frustrated when it's not working that I always end up giving up! Boo! Now I know why people who design blogs charge so much. It's a lot of work!

We recently had Rylee's 18 month pictures taken with a photographer that I went to high school with and she posted a couple on Facebook the day they were taken but we recently got the CD in the mail of all them. She did an AMAZING job and I am glad I got to have the opportunity to have her take Rylee's pictures! I am blessed to know two great photographers! I love the header picture too and added this first one to the side.

After my last giveaway about 2 months ago, I stated that I wanted to do another one soon. So...I am going to do another one! It will have to do with my latest obsession....Restaurant.com! YUM! ;o) Stay Tuned!

A Day of Blog Silence for Cohen

2010-07-01T00:01:00.004-07:00

SendingLoveToCohen today. Pray for his parents as they have his memorial today.

Ten on Tuesday

2010-06-29T07:54:00.003-07:00

1. Busy, busy, busy! Summer is flying by and it's hard to believe that we only have a little more than a month left. Sheesh!

2. Rylee is still going to swim lessons and the crying has minimized a bit. She likes it but I think she would like it more if I was in the water with her. No thank you! Swimming with Rylee makes me nervous and stressed out! I guess it would be cooler than sitting by the steps with my feet in and sweating in the sun but umm....still no! :o)

3. We have been visiting splash pads around the valley and she is warming up to them. She is more interested in what I am doing sitting on the chair then the water and we only stay for about 45 minutes but it's something easy and free to do!
A couple weekends ago we were at Tempe Town Lake Splash Pad.

On Monday we went to the Desert Ridge Marketplace Splash Pad and ran into one of Jackson's friends! There is Sarah and Rylee.
These next two pictures are what Rylee likes to do at the Splash Pads! ha!
4. Speaking of another free thing....we are also doing the Summer Reading Program at Glendale Public Library. We go about once a week....she runs around the library like a crazy, wears me and herself out and we come home. Good times! ha!

5. On Father's Day we went bowling. It was Rylee's first time bowling! She was not too interested in the bowling aspect of it.
Tyler was being a great helper here! :o)

6. I can't believe that during the month of June I have seen TWO movies. That is unheard of since the movie I saw last before Sex and the City 2 was Bride Wars which I just watched on HBO Sunday night! I think the third movie will be this week too. (I think I will bring Paul with this time! ha!)

7. Once Paul decides on a day, I believe we will see Get Him to the Greek and go to Bluewater Grill.(Formally the Fish Market) I have heard great things about Get Him to the Greek and I am a huge fan of Restaurant.com. Restaurant.com is a website that you can get restaurant gift cards to a variety of restaurants around the valley for a really good price! Usually the are $10.oo for a $25.oo gift certificate but Hip2save.com always has coupon codes that give you 80% off the price which means you are getting a $25 gift certificate for only $2.00! You get to print the gift certificate right after you purchase and they are good for a YEAR after you purchase them! They are always adding new restaurants and I just noticed that they added Valle Luna which I L.O.V.E.! I always go on a see what I can get when I see that deal. I currently have one to Bluewater Grill, Fox Sports Grill and Grimaldis (which is a small pizza joint by our house). The catch with these gift cards is that you have to spend between $35.oo to $50.00 to spend the $25.00 so in the end you do have to pay between $15.00 to $25.00 for your meal. That's why I usually only get them for places that it shouldn't be that hard to spend that much at! (The link to Hip2save.com has a coupon code up and ends tomorrow so go and type in your zip code and find some deals around you! This lets you try new restaurants in your neighborhood for a great price!)

*This was NOT paid advertisement for Restaurant.com but I seriously LOVE this site and who can beat getting $25.00 for $2.00! :o)

9. I just love little toe toes painted! :o) Brings a smile to my face! Of course the face that goes with the toe toes does too!

10. Speaking of toe toes, here is Paul's Father's Day present from this year. Each year I take Rylee to As You Wish and make him a plate with her feet painted on them! (I was kinda sad that the stand covered the name, but oh well!)

Here is last years. I love them both and think I will continue this tradition until her feet or hand prints don't fit on the plates anymore! It's really probably not so much for Paul as it is for me since I think it's just the cutest thing...but I really can't see Paul taking Rylee to do it for Mother's Day...so that ends up being his gift! lol

*A bonus! Go over to my sister, Colleen's blog and enter to win some pizza "dough! California Pizza Kitchen money! YAY! Can't go wrong with that! (We should get an extra entry for shout outs on blogs! lol)

Ten on Tuesday

2010-06-15T07:54:00.002-07:00

1. A Ten on Tuesday! Yay. It's defnitely been a while since I have done one of these. Summer just gives me SO much more time!

2. Rylee has had two swim lessons so far and I think my dreams of her being a Rock Star swimmer is vanishing each time we have a lesson! Boo! Swim is one of the things I like to watch in the Olympics so I really was thinking I could be a swim mom! Maybe not....
3. I am going on a hunt for recipes that require NO oven baking time! It is WAY too hot here in AZ to turn on the oven and it seems that everything I want to cook requires the oven. I do NOT need it any hotter in this house than it already seems to be! I am dreading the May/June APS bill!

4. I am craving some sushi and need a trip out to Mesa for my favorite sushi SOON!

5. I am also craving some Postinos. I have only been there twice but I LOVE me some brushetta! :o)

6. I am only on number 6 here and 50% of this post has been about food! Yikes!

7. I bought a dress for Scotland and found some fabulous on sale shoes to go with it at Macys. Well at the Macy's in Scottsdale they somehow can't find their right shoe that goes with the pair. At the Macy's at Arrowhead they have the right shoe but can't find their matching left one. SERIOUSLY!?! Now why is it that I am the only one that thinks that each store should give me each show so I can make a dang match!!! So annoyed!

8. Going with Paul today to get my phone and his phone fixed at Sprint. Will I leave with an EVO? Hmmm...I can only hope!!

9. We have been fish this week and it's only Tuesday! Yesterday we went to As You Wish at Desert Ridge and right outside they have a splash pad. I just happened to still have our collection of suits from Saturday in the car so I put Rylee's on and off she went for about an hour. Hence last minute plan...no picture. Today we have swim and then off to a swim party at my sisters! Good thing I bought a BIG size sun tan lotion!

10. This little girl is just a joy to be around and keeps me going all day long!

Pictures

2010-06-03T04:21:00.001-07:00

So we made it through our day at Gymboree Learn and Play! We signed up for a month and aslo are previewing the Art class next week! YAY! (I would not have made it through the class as well if we had been in the following class! That's the one that would have turned me away! I would definitely need a weekly salon appointment for that one! ha!) Here are some cute pics of Rylee enjoying her time! It was really fun! And the fastest 45 minutes of my life! I need a job there....your day would FLY by!

And yes, I was the only crazy with a camera! Oh well! :o)

Oh Dear!

2010-06-02T06:17:00.004-07:00

So today is the day Rylee and I head off to Gymboree Play and Music. The class is for 16-22 month olds and I am not quite sure what they do there but I signed her up and off we go to try it! Rylee loves to run, play, "sing" and dance so I thought....this could be for her!
So why is it that the 28 year old mom (me) is N.E.R.V.O.U.S.! Paul just laughed this morning when I was telling him but he's a guy....guys just DON'T care. So why do I?
Why do I care if the other moms there don't like me?
Why do I care if Rylee is the only child there not talking?
Why do I care if the other kids there don't like Rylee?

Why is all about acceptance and fitting in? Why do I feel like I should have gone to the salon to get my hair done yesterday?! ha! (A good thing the lady that called me yesterday to confirm told me that parents wear socks! Otherwise I just might have been at the pedicure place! lol!)
This is ALL about a little 18 month old going to have fun and play! I read Lindsay's blog this morning and boom...she said it all with this quote:

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. -Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss)

Hopefully I can remember this while there! As long as she is having fun, that's all that matters! And if the parents there don't like me, or the kids don't like Rylee...well then, that must just mean that it's not the class/place for us! (This must be the reason the place offers first class free/trial, right?!) ;o) It is just always hard being the new people, moving into a new neighborhood, starting a new class...it's just all uncertain. But the best I can do is just go in and be myself! (And spend only 30 minutes getting ready instead of an hour! ha!)
I plan on going with the camera and posting pictures when I get home! Maybe another mom there will see the camera and think....that mom must blog! ha! Not....that mom is crazy and needs to document EVERY step of her daughters life! :o)
Oh Dear....that's all I got for now! Oh Dear!

L.O.V.E.

2010-05-18T20:50:00.001-07:00

her!

WINNER!

2010-04-26T20:14:00.002-07:00

I about to lose it here in Glendale with my internet so no lovely pictures of Rylee choosing the winner (yes, I had to do it old fashion way since I was NOT about to pay $5.00 for Random.org), no fancy updated blog...just the name of the winner of my giveaway! So boring I know....but Paul is going out tomorrow to buy me a new router (and maybe a stove/oven too, but that's a WHOLE different story, ha!)
WINNER of the $25.00 Build-A-Bear gift card is....KARISSA! Congrats Karissa! I am sure Kai and Leila will have a ball making a stuffed animal! I have a coupon for you too so email me your address and I will get those sent over!
Thanks to everyone who participated.....I had so much fun doing this that once my internet is back up and ready to go and I am going to do another one! (You have to admit....gotta LOVE my giveaways since you have a pretty darn good chance of winning here. 1/23 was some good odds if you ask me!) So check back soon and I am off to think of what to giveaway next!

It's Giveaway Time! (Finally!)

2010-04-16T17:54:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I am not super-blogger by any means but I was set to get this going on Tuesday! If there is one thing I miss about Mesa it was that my Internet was all set up and ready to go EVERY time I sat down at the computer. Here in Glendale...not so much! (Ok,Ok...there are plenty more things I miss in Mesa including my mom, Paul's family and of course Matta's!) My Internet has been in, out, and selectively working on certain computers but I am finally ready for my big first Giveaway! I feel like it's something anyone could use so that's why I am so excited about it! So after taking a computer to school, downloading the pictures there and now back at home. I am ready to post! (Yay!)

I am SUPER excited about this giveaway! Not only is it my first giveaway, EVER....it is a super cute one in fact! I was asked by Build-A-Bear to do a review on their new graduation bear! I chose to have a bear monogrammed for my good friend, Mel's daughter, Megan! She is graduating 8th grade in May from Ss. Simon and Jude (which just happens to be an Alma Mater of mine too!) If you know someone graduating soon, you just have to get a bear for this person! Jayme over at Build-A-Bear was "PAWESOME" to work with! (Customer Service at it's finest!) I just gave him all the information regarding what the school colors were, her name, school name and where to send the bear to and 1 week later...this cute thang should up at my door step! How cute is that?

And what I loved the most....it came with a bag of different color tassels that are interchangeable. I chose green since SSJ's colors are green and yellow and the monogramming was in yellow so I thought green would compliment it well! I am hoping Megan just loves this bear as much as I did and it will be something she can treasure forever with memories of her school! Build-A-Bear did SUCH a great job meeting the needs of all graduates with all their color options and easy ordering! Miss Rylee Rose will surely be getting one of these for her graduation down the road (In 12 years! ha!)

And of course this little munchkin couldn't take her little "paws" off the dang thing until I agreed to take a picture of her with it! (Mel and Megan, I promise her "paws" were clean and it's been safe in the box ever since!)

So if you would like a chance to win a $25 gift card to Build-A-Bear, enter my giveaway and you too could be shopping for some cuteness! You do have to be a U.S. Resident to win and please make sure your profile is public or you leave your email in the comment. I will notify the winner via email and also post it on my blog. The giveaway will end on April 23, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. (Arizona time). No better way to end my birthday than to give away a gift!! :o)

Ways to enter the giveaway:

1. Leave a comment on my blog.

2. Blog about this on your own blog!

3. Follow Build-A-Bear on twitter.

4. Follow Build-A-Bear on Facebook.

Please make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry. Good Luck!

Disclosure: Build-A-Bear Workshop has sponsored this giveaway by providing a $25.oo gift card to the winner and Megan's graduation bear! :o)

Busy!

2010-04-11T09:13:00.010-07:00

Well I downloaded some pictures from the past couple weeks so this will be a busy picture post! We are all moved but not boxes are unpacked yet. We are waiting for a weekend where we can anchor the furniture to the walls since the carpet is making it somewhat unstable. After that...we should be good to go! Also...make sure you come back to my blog for a GIVEAWAY! Yup, my small little blog did a review and now gets to do a giveaway! So excited!!

The week before Easter, we went up to Las Sendas for an Easter egg hunt! It was Rylee's first time looking for eggs and she did well! There were tons of kids so it was hard to get her moving past them, but it was super fun!

Rylee getting ready to get those eggs!

She found one!(I think she found 4 all together, A for effort!)

MELT my heart! I don't think I could love her more!

Easter Sunday, we had a fun, busy day! We started off at my mom's for lunch and an Easter egg hunt(which because of Calli's and my crazy drive there, I didn't get any pictures!) Then off we went to Paul's brother's house for another egg hunt and dinner. We definitely were full after a delicious lunch and dinner.

I am sure Paul is hoping that I choose green or blue for next Easter! Ha!

Rylee posing after the egg hunt at David and Brandee's!

Cousins!

So proud of herself for turning on the Easter Bunny that giggles!

Then just last night we went to a birthday party for Amy who turned the BIG 4-0!!! A friend's son, Ben, was there and is turning one on Saturday. Rylee just LOVED Ben and they gave each other hugs and kisses! I just had to take pictures just in case one day they actually do date and get married. How CUTE!

Don't forget to check back sometime this week for my first ever GIVEAWAY!

Rylee's ER Visit

2010-03-07T06:31:00.008-07:00

Last Saturday, February 27th, Rylee fell off the couch and into the coffee table, leaving her with a gash in her head, right above her right eye. We decided to take her to G. Night Pediatrics where they told us to go to the ER. So off to wait in the ER we did. Exactly 5 hours later....we left with a tired, bandaged up Rylee Rose. I think the cut looks worse in pictures than I remember it being. (I had to copy a picture from my sister's friend, Shannon, who blogged about her son Will and his experience from just this thing back in July! And to read the comment that I left now.....ha!)

The longest part of the ER visit was waiting for the extremely busy doctor to come back to the room to stitch her up! And to strap her to the papoose board! POOR Rylee!

No head part to the board that Rylee was attached too and her feet definitely didn't reach the end. (And this child does NOT represent what a child would be doing while in one of these things!)

Here are a couple pictures from beginning to end of the ER visit.

Here she is waiting to be seen by the doctor.

The nurse wanted us to hold a gauze pad (with some cleaning stuff on it) with pressure to Rylee's head and she wasn't having ANY part of that so we ended up wrapping the small piece of gauze with a WHOLE bunch of gauze to her head. Just to get all the blood off!

And here she is at 10:00 p.m. all bandaged up, with a sucker, waiting for our paperwork to go HOME! Those are some SLEEPY eyes!

We went on Friday to get the stitches out and she is looking good, a little scar but nothing her eyebrow won't cover up! I told Rylee that there are NO more hospital visits until she is 30 and I am there visiting my grandchild! ha! :o)

Weekend Fun!

2010-03-06T20:25:00.008-07:00

It's only Saturday night and we have had a great weekend so far!

Friday night we went to Saguaro Lake with Paul's parents for Fish and Chips! YUM! Rylee had to feed the ducks some goldfish before we left! Too cute! They followed us as far as they could because they wanted more!

Then on Saturday we started off with my goddaughter, Violet's baptism at Ss. Simon and Jude. Rylee slept through the whole thing and my camera was in the diaper bag so I got no pictures! :o( She looked SOO super cute though! Loved the bow!

We then decided to go to my mom's house tonight since Jackson and Tyler were over there. Rylee had SO much fun! She just loves them!

Grandma Bobbi is behind there too! See the wine?!? ;o)

More Blogging catching up to do coming up! As much as I can do in the middle of moving :o) Rylee's ER trip will probably be next....

Really?!?

2010-01-06T14:14:00.005-07:00

I know I haven't posted in awhile and there will be major "ketchup" but I couldn't NOT post this! Really?!! Time for romance?!? Issue 1 with that....you have 8 kids!!! I have one and am too tired for "romance!" Issue 2 with that....what guy is going to take on being step-dad to EIGHT kids?!! Hmm....there are some better people out there than me, that's for sure! I sure as HECK don't side with John but not her either. I think they need to step BACK from the media and re-direct their attention to their 8 kids! (Oh and her hair....the hair!)

HOW CUTE!?!

2009-12-11T19:40:00.004-07:00

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!

2009-12-08T10:47:00.003-07:00

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!

2009-12-04T18:39:00.001-07:00

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!

2009-12-03T20:22:00.005-07:00

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

2009-12-01T08:20:00.007-07:00

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....

2009-11-30T17:34:00.003-07:00

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!

2009-11-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

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!!

2009-11-25T13:39:00.002-07:00

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?!?

2009-11-24T08:06:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-11-23T09:53:00.003-07:00

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....

2009-11-22T11:26:00.000-07:00

....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

2009-11-21T20:43:00.004-07:00

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....

2009-11-20T10:46:00.005-07:00

...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?

2009-11-19T08:26:00.005-07:00

Do you ever feel like this?

But wish you could be this instead?

Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-18T06:35:00.000-07:00

Ten on Tuesday

2009-11-17T14:30:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-11-16T08:36:00.000-07:00

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

2009-11-15T16:33:00.004-07:00

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!

2009-11-14T14:51:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-11-13T15:44:00.000-07:00

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

2009-11-12T16:47:00.000-07:00

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

Hey You!

2009-11-11T20:11:00.002-07:00

Work on your blog Miss Lorna Jane! Love ya!

Ten on Tuesday

2009-11-10T11:52:00.000-07:00

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

2009-11-09T19:18:00.003-07:00

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

2009-11-08T19:10:00.002-07:00

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....

2009-11-07T10:38:00.004-07:00

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

2009-11-06T07:09:00.001-07:00

Me....one year ago!

So Jealous!

2009-11-05T05:38:00.002-07:00

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!

2009-11-04T06:18:00.001-07:00

Ten on Tuesday

2009-11-03T17:21:00.000-07:00

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)

2009-11-02T19:15:00.004-07:00

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!)

Guess what month it is....

2009-11-01T08:25:00.000-07:00

Yup...that's right....it's....

I tried it last year....and FAILED!! But I am back and ready to try again!! Here's hoping.....

Happy Birthday Daddy!

2009-10-30T05:02:00.004-07:00

This is Rylee Rose blogging today. I thought I would help out my mom since she obviously can't figure out that when you have a blog....you actually have to blog more than once a month (Right, Auntie Lorna!?!) It's not like my mom is busy doing anything else. Sheesh. You would think she was chasing around an 11 month old or something.

So today is a very special day.....it's my Daddy's birthday! Oh I just love him so much! I think he is just the greatest! :o)

I feel safe when you are with me;

You show me fun things to do;

You make life so much better,

the best father I know is you!

I am so happy you are my Dadddy

and so I want to say

I love you, Dadddy, and wish you a

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Ten on Tuesday

2009-10-27T19:49:00.000-07:00

1. There is a great special going on at Dolce Spa and Salon. $135 and four hours later I was relaxed with a 60 minute massage (HEAVEN!), a 60 minute facial (REFRESHING!), a shampoo and style (LOVELY!), and a makeup touch up and free gloss! I ended up know the girl that did my facial so she actually recommended not getting the makeup done (since I had no where to go) since I should let me face "breathe" from the facial. I think they have this special until the end of November! It's SO worth it! (I would recommend going somewhere after though since your hair and makeup end up being done! :o) I just love girly fun days like that!

2. Two Sundays ago, after my horrible Fourth Grade Mass experience I decided to cheer myself up and go by myself a Chi straightener! I have wanted one FOREVER and with some styling advice from Michelle...I decided on the pink one which ended up getting exchanged for a Chi Turbo 2"! YAY! I have all these gift cards from Christmas last year that are going to start deducting money from them if I don't start using them soon! I am not about to waste money!

3. While I was babysitting/housesitting three weekends ago, Paul cleaned, did all the laundry and watched Rylee while I was "gone." Just another reason among the MANY that I love him. He is such a good dad! (and husband of course!)

4. On Friday last weekend, we had dinner at Yard House for our friend Lauren's birthday (YUM!) and then caught the end of the Suns game in the Sanderson Ford Suite at US Airways Center! Thanks Tricia and Andy for inviting us!

5. Last Saturday we headed out to Schnepf Farms for some pumpkin patch fun! Rylee got to go on the carousel/merry-go-round twice and the bumble bees once! She wasn't too excited about any of it but was a trooper the whole time!

6. Last Sunday, we headed to LoLo's Chicken and Waffles with Dianna! YUM-MY! Great food, a super band playing music and great company. What more can you ask for!?! (I was about to take a picture of Rylee chowing down on some yummy goodness when I realized that I forgot my camera. I think Dianna was blown away by all the food Rylee ate!) Then Dianna and I got to head out for some girl shopping at Fashion Square! I love when I can relax and walk around without having to be on Rylee's schedule!

7. Great news!! An H&M is opening up at Fashion Square! I also heard there is one opening up at Kierland Commons! I am hoping that at least one of these locations has a kids department!! I just love me some H&M!

8. Barneys New York at Fashion Square....HUGE disappointment! I don't know if it was because I couldn't afford anything in there that I liked or if it was because it was so small or if it was because they had no kids department....whatever way you look at it...I don't think I will be returning!

9. This past weeked we had another busy weekend! On Friday we went to Paul's cousin, Angela's Surprise 50th Birthday Party! On Saturday we had some pictures taken of Rylee and then I went to the Diocese of Phoenix Night of Hope (big fundraiser dinner) and then Sunday was football Sunday at my grandma's house! BUSY!

10. I have been SO bad at blogging that I told Paul he need to go to the grocery store for me so I can catch up on my blog so people don't stop reading it. I think he thought I was CRAZY! :o) I have had a Ten on Tuesday written for the past two weeks....I just HATE downloading pictures!

The Picture Process with a 10 month old

2009-10-08T19:48:00.000-07:00

I don't know HOW someone does this professionally or WHY they would choose to do this for fun! This 45 minute session was NOT fun! I understand that all professional photographers do not have 10 month olds in all sessions...but when they do...oh geez! I was sweating, crying, laughing, and at one point praying! All I wanted was one cute picture of my cute baby girl in her first Halloween costume....all my baby girl wanted was Mommy's camera! Umm...that's NOT going to work. Here's what I tried!

I tried giving her her own camera. That would end up in the pictures.

I would try taking the camera away real quick. This is what I would end up with.

I would try giving her pony. Then pony would just end up in the pictures!

I would try taking pony away....and she would run away...leaving me with this.

I would try a sippy cup.....

I would try hiding the can of cheese crackers in the trick-or-treat bag. Then I would get a picture where you could see the cheese crackers.

Or I would catch one with the cracker in her mouth!

In my mind, Rylee was going to sit on the couch, next to her nice monogrammed trick-or-treat bag so all could see her name and she would smile until I got the perfect shot. Instead, 75 shots later, I have a little stinker, sticking her hand into her bag, trying to fish out a cracker that are now thrown into there without the container with a lovely little smile that says "Okay, Mommy. All you want is a smile? I can do that for you." S-T-I-N-K-E-R!!! (That's what should be monogrammed on the bag!)

45 minutes later

a full container of cheese crackers

75 shots on my camera

a sippy cup full of juice

one container of deodorant (for Mommy!)

This is the final result....our little ladybug!

I just love her little costume and of course her too!! :o)

I don't know if I should have written this 3 weeks before Claire (photographer) is coming over to get Rylee's pictures. But Claire has SO much more patience(and skill) than I do!

Ten on Tuesday

2009-10-06T18:37:00.001-07:00

1. We FINALLY got Rylee's ear's pierced! They look so adorable! She screamed and cried and the "crew" that was watching ended up in that Gymboree behind them after the first ear got pierced! My godmother, Joanie, was holding her. She said she looked up after the first ear and everyone was gone! Rylee Rose was SCREAMING! I think the whole mall heard her! She doesn't even remember they are there now! Even Paul thinks they are cute! Jackson's response to the whole thing..."That's why I am glad I am not a girl!"

2. We had our annual Fall Festival at my school this past weekend and we had so much fun! Miss Rylee Rose had a mini meltdown right in the middle of the festival so we headed to my classroom to regroup and tried again. Then we were ALL better. Paul, my mom, my grandparents and I headed to play some Bingo (where Paul and my grandma won! yay!) while my Dad and his girlfriend, Mindy took Rylee around the festival. They did take her on one ride, the train and I guess she just sat there with no emotions. Hard to tell if she liked it or not. Only one picture of the fair! :o( My dad didn't want to play Bingo....he wanted them to raffle off the RV behind her instead. Um, yeah...I don't think so. We aren't millionaires at my school!

3. I had Friday and Monday off work and LOVED getting to spend time with Rylee. I really think I like BOTH ways. The working mom way and the stay at home mom way. I think I am so blessed to experience both! :o)

4. For Paul's birthday this year I had a big surprise trip planned and everything. (Last year I was 9 months pregnant so I got kinda lazy and never did anything for his fortieth so this year was going all out!) I had a trip planned to go to Disneyland for the day (you get in free on your birthday in 2009) and then come back to be with Rylee on Halloween. I didn't book the trip yet so I thought I would run it by Paul instead of being a surprise. Good thing I did....since that was a negative! He wasn't a fan of my surprise trip! :o( So we are back to square one with nothing to do on Paul's birthday...again! No Mickey for us until January 2011.

5. The construction at school has got to stop soon! The constant headache is going to be the death of me! I bought another BIG Costco size bottle of Advil and I left it at home! :o( Today had to be the worst with the noise too! See Paul...that's why I bought another bottle!

6. Rylee had her nine month check up on Thursday, which really ended up being more like a ten month check up since she turned 10 months on Sunday! She currently weighs 20 pounds (60%) is 28.5 inches (60%) and a head circumference of 18 (90%). She is totally off bottles now and just sippy cups! She is also on all "adult" food and no baby food! She is getting to be such a big girl! She loves the doctor's office and is always in a good mood there! Her favorite food at 10 months: Watermelon! That girl could eat watermelon all day long if we let her!

7. I got a new purse! It's huge and I swear it's big enough to be a diaper bag and a purse all in one! I just love the big bow on it! Picture coming soon! :o)

8. If anyone has some extra boxes lying around, would you please kindly drop them off at my house! We aren't moving yet but I want to start collecting boxes since I can't really justify paying for boxes! That's ridiculous when I know how many boxes stores recycle on a daily basis!

9. I have a massage scheduled for Friday afternoon and I am super excited! I just love massages and getting to relax!

10. I announced it on Facebook and Twitter but I am so excited I will announce it on here too! Chili's 3 course dinner for $20 is back! I saw the banner....it must be true! You get SO much food for that $20! Guess where I am eating dinner Thursday night?!?! YUM!

Ten on Friday...Picture Style!

2009-09-25T11:50:00.000-07:00

Going through my camera, I have noticed I have a lot of pictures from things we have done and I haven't posted them! Here is a 10 on Friday...with Pictures! :o) (This has been written and waiting to go since Tuesday but I HATE downloading pictures!)

1. We took Rylee to a splash pad awhile back and she LOVED it. I know some are not fans of these but when your child loves something as much as mine love water....you just deal with it. I am NOT a fan of the parents who sit there and don't watch their crazy children trying to run over my little one but I am in there with Rylee so I just knock down the big kids myself! :o) Being in there makes me think I need to bring a swimsuit myself because Paul and I were soaked at the end!

2. Every year for Mother's Day, we plan an outing that all the girls go and enjoy. This year it was dinner at the Hyatt Gainey Ranch and gondola rides! So much fun!

3. We had a mini staycation at Arizona Grand over Labor Day and had SO much fun. It was raining the first day there so we headed across the freeway to my ALL time favorite (next to Sushi Ave. of course!) Joe's Crab Shack!! Delish! And yes, that was MY drink. YUM!

4. Rylee is a CLIMBER!! My sister's kids weren't climbers so I am not quite sure what to do with this issue. She climbs into suitcases, out of highchairs (even when strapped in), onto our bed (we have a low IKEA bed), anything she can get her little body onto...she's up there! Ugh....MONKEY! Any suggestions would be helpful! I guess just waiting till she understands the word no will have to do for now....

5. We had lunch with Tricia, Andy and Ollie at Benihana's on Labor Day. They have some amazing lunch specials for Monday through Friday! If you able to go during the week...do so! I snapped this fun picture and sent it out in Rylee's Grandparent's Day cards! I did snap one of the Groft family but Tricia would kill me if I added it on here so I guess I will be nice to the pregnant lady! ;o)

6. We headed out to Sushi Ave for Ian's birthday since he is also a big fan of the sushi! Lorna and Garet joined us and we all had a GREAT time. The five of them headed to a movie after and Rylee and I headed home. (Not too sad about it since I really didn't want to see the movie anyway!) Only one more year till Ian turns 16!!

7. The day after Ian's celebration, we went to Peter Piper Pizza to celebrate Tricia and Andy's son Ollie's birthday! He turned the big 3!! This was Rylee's first birthday party she might have had a clue to what was going on! She had a blast! It was her first time eating pizza and she LOVED it!

Nope, it's not upside down....just Rylee's new favorite thing!

8. The day after that celebration was my mom's birthday celebration! BUSY weekend! I was trying to snap a cute picture of the stinker in football gear for so I could redo my blog, football style but this stinker was NOT cooperating that day! I guess I will have to wait to redo the blog. She definitely does NOT look like that header picture anymore!

9. This past weekend, Lorna, Anne Marie, and I headed to Vegas for a girls weekend/bachelorette party! SOOO much fun! We gambled, ate, shopped and went to see Thunder From Down Under. SUCH a good show! Recommend it to anyone....especially fun for bachelorette parties! There was no pictures allowed in for the show so the best I could do was a picture of the outside of the theater! It seems to be that I always "win" when Paul isn't with me....is that bad? And when I say "win" I just came back with my money that I left with, after eating, shopping and show watching. Which I guess is winning to me! Free vacation...LOVE it!

The picture below is Anne Marie winning us big one the slots. We each put in $10 for a dollar slot machine and each left with $50! Wahoo!

This picture CRACKS me up! I really want to send it in to Jay Leno. It was outside a buffet that is advertised all over Vegas and inside the Excaliber. When walking out of the show, this is what I saw....WTF?!!? Is anyone else seeing what I see?

10. Number 10 doesn't have a picture from me....but a link to a picture of me and Paul! Paul's boss Brad is a DJ and starting a website for his business. They were googling AZ DJ's to look at some other sites of DJ's and the first website they googled has a whole bunch of wedding vendors on it and Paul and I are the first picture that pops up! (You have to wait a minute for the image to appear. We are on the top of the page.) You sign a little piece of paper saying "yes, you may use me for advertising" but you never know where you might appear! TOO FUNNY!
http://www.infinityent.net/

And these are a few of my Favorite Things...

2009-09-15T14:16:00.001-07:00

Well, I have a million pictures all ready for a post stored away on my camera.....but I don't have my camera and can't find the energy, the motivation or the desire to go and get the camera!! Although I will have to before Vegas this weekend! Yay! So excited and can't WAIT!

So for now...here is a list of some of my favorite things at the moment.

1. White Cheddar Cheez-Its! I have a box in my closet at school and take it with me to lunch everyday! Obsessed! Why I can't just put them in a baggie...I am not quite sure...but it's with me everyday!

2. Biter Biscuits! Yes I found them and they are a life saver when getting home with Rylee Rose and she is hungry. I am trying to feed her what we are eating for dinner and I need some time to get the dinner ready! She will sit in her highchair and chomp away at one of these for at least a couple minutes to buy me some time to get the dinner started and cooking!

3. Sunbeam timer! We are in testing week at school and I swear the kids would be getting hours to work on each test if it wasn't for this thing! LOVE it! The clock is behind me while sitting at my desk and I have LOTS of grading papers to catch up on so I can definitely loose track of time!

4. Etsy.com! I have been busy planning away our fall/winter! (Whatever seasons we have here in Arizona!) Halloween costumes, birthday outfits, Christmas presents galore! October through December ALWAYS seems to be the busiest three months of our lives and I like to be prepared! I am a planner and always start early! Yes, I have ordered her Halloween costume already and yes, it is from Etsy! SOO cute!

5. Advil! Testing week, construction starting at school, and planning overload= major headache! Only more to come I am sure! Progress Reports, Festival at school, and Fourth Grade Sunday Mass. OMG....OVERLOAD!!! I think I see a break in my calendar around January....

6. Dr. Brown Sippy Cups! Rylee Rose loves these! I am a big fan of Dr. Brown and love the products. BPA free EVERYTHING!
7. Snickers Ice Cream Bars! LOVE them. It's kinda weird too because I am not a fan of the regular Snickers but you add some delicious ice cream to it....YUM!
8. Sharpie Pen! I have always been a fan of ALL sharpies....but we can't get any better or thinner than the pen version! LOVE it! I have school boxes filled with all the kinds of sharpies in my desk and school and home! Don't leave home without one! :o)

9.Reality TV! Big Brother is over (YAY for Jordan winning!) but I am not too sad since the new season of the Hills starts (Tues. Sept. 29) and so does a new season of Amazing Race(Sun. Sept.27)!! At what age will I actually stop watching these shows?

10. Fajitas! Cooking them at home, eating them at Chili's, or better yet....at actual Fajitas!! There is a restaurant in Phoenix that is called Fajitas and has the BEST fajitas. Our school is having a fundraiser on Monday in which 15% of your bill goes to my school! Umm....yes I will be there! And hopefully you can be too!! Let me know if you want to come too! (You need a flyer so text me or leave a comment and I will bring you one!)

100th Post!!

2009-09-01T11:45:00.002-07:00

It's my 100th post and I have no idea what to do for a giveaway! Karissa's idea was too cute and I couldn't compete with that so I will have to keep thinking of something creative for 200! :o) I better get blogging more to reach that soon! So instead I thought I would do a "10x10 on Tuesday" post. Almost a 100 facts about me. It will keep you reading for awhile! :o)

1. I LOVE sushi. (I was not so willing to try it at first but now I feel like I need it once a week.)
2. I have one daughter and am thinking I would like more.
3. My husband and I have a 13 year age difference and it doesn't seem like it at ALL!
4. I have ALWAYS wanted to move back to Phoenix and now that it's happening....I am having SUCH a hard time with the decision!
5. I am so glad that I love where I work! How many people can say that?!
6. I am one of FEW people that I know that can seriously say, "I LOVE my in-laws!"
7. I want a husky for a pet but really don't know if that would be mean in Arizona with all their fur.
8. It's September and I am already thinking of Rylee's birthday party in December!
9. I want to be a surrogate mother one day and can't wait for Scotland to go by so I can start researching more seriously!
10. I LOVE fall! I wish I lived somewhere where it actually became fall, but I love the decorations and the candle scents for fall!
11. I live in a place that really only has two seasons. In Arizona, it seems like we just have a summer and a winter.
12. I feel like a different teacher now that I have kids. In a way I want to be nicer because I don't want a teacher to be mean to Rylee. :o)
13. I am debating whether to upgrade my cable channels to get HBO and Showtime to see what all the hype about True Blood is.
14. I believe I had a GREAT childhood and my wish is for Rylee to say the same!
15. I wish I knew a guy I could set my mom up with to go out on a date!
16. If I do have another child, I would want another girl so Rylee could have a sister. I feel like everyone needs a sister! I love mine!
17. I love the show Amazing Race! Still want to be on it one day but seem to get the idea that no one wants to be on it with me. But Paul seems to be a HOT choice to be partners with!
18. I always wonder why some people feel the need to ask questions that are really none of their business!
19. I hate going to the grocery store hungry because I always come home with more than I need! 20. I want to get back into scrapbooking but it's so dang expensive.
21. I want to open up a place that delivers breakfast! We are never home for breakfast during the week and don't plan well enough to buy items for weekend breakfasts!
22. I would love to stay home with Rylee but feel like I would get bored quickly. Especially at the age she is now.
23. I always need a little something sweet after meals.
24. Is anyone actually still reading this?
25. I need Rylee needs to start eating regular food because Gerber is receiving WAY TOO MUCH of my money at the moment!
26. Sometimes I feel like I work just to support Gerber, Pampers and Similac!
27. I love that Rylee is SO loved by so many people. Her birthday invite list is going to be SUPER long. Uh-oh! Maybe two seperate parties are in order...
28. I am glad that once we move we won't have to change pediatricians. Glad I didn't choose a Mesa one!
29. I am thinking that Rylee is going to be lactose-intolerant to some degree. It seems like it comes from both of our families so I am thinking she might have gotten it.
30. I really was hoping to do a giveaway since it seems to get those "closet" readers to comment.
31. I would love to win the lottery! I am hoping one day.....
32. I am thinking I will need to convince Paul on sending Rylee to private school. I think I will win but WHY wouldn't you?? It can't be more expensive then daycare! :o)
33. Uniforms should be reason enough for me!
34. The Best of Phoenix magazine is one of my favorite magazines. Next to People!
35. My mom is a great mom! (Another wish: For Rylee to say that someday!)
36. Last night I had 10 hours of sleep! Thought today was going to be great until Rylee dumped a whole glass of water on the bed this morning which added laundry to the morning list of things before heading out the door!
37. Even though my family fights, I wouldn't trade them for anything. I love my family! Both of them!
38. I would LOVE to try living somewhere different, like a different state, but I know that I would miss our families WAY too much. I obviously have a difficult time with change since I am having a hard time with a different CITY!
39. I am glad that I get to experience the "working-mom" title and the "stay-at-home mom" title. Even though the stay-at-home title is only for 2.5 months, I feel like I get to experience both worlds. Both equally come with there own pros and cons!
40. I am still hoping to go back to school one day to get my masters! I would love to be a counselor in the future! I just don't like homework! :o( (Grading it or doing it!)
41. I am ADDICTED to Target! I seriously can't go in there without spending some money.
42. I am glad that Paul is addicted too! When talking about where to move, he said we need to drive around and get an idea of the neighborhood. Like where the closest parks, grocery stores and TARGETS are located!
43. When Paul and I lived in an apartment in Chandler, it was right across the street from a Target!! I think that was Paul's favorite place to live! lol.
44. I am hoping that Rylee will be a good traveler from now on. She wasn't so much in Prescott. I am thinking/hoping that it was just because she was getting sick!
45. I am grateful that I don't have a job that requires me to be outside in the Arizona summer heat. Only for 15 minutes every Tuesday and Thursday for recess duty! ;o)
46. I love the fact that my sister-in-law calls me her sister! So sweet. I just puffy heart her!
47. I think I am in need of a vacation! Like a real vacation...far away that includes a beach and a drink with a little umbrella! :o)
48. I have started working when I was 16! (Babysitting started probably when I was 14!) This past summer was the first time EVER that I did not work!! I LOVED it! Although since I love money, I think I might find a job next summer.
49. A good thing about moving: You get to de-clutter and start fresh! Ahh...a clean start!
50. Half way done! 49 more things about me to go! :o) A giveaway would have been much easier! ha!
51. I am having a hard time deciding what Rylee should be for Halloween. There are SO many cute, cute choices! I only have one year before she can talk and tell me what she wants to be!
52. After my crazy morning today, I forgot to defrost something for dinner so it looks like I will be at Cheesecake Factory using my free piece of cheesecake coupon! Something to look forward to!
53. Rain, rain go away.....do not ruin my "stayaway!" (a.k.a. staycation!) Sitting inside a hotel room with my family is not why I paid money to go to the Arizona Grand this weekend!
54. I hate laundry! I have debated over taking it somewhere to get it done but that still would not help since that is the part I don't mind. I need someone to come put it all away for me!!
55. Lunch time is the best part of the work day! Too bad it only lasts 25 minutes!
56. I want the Blogher convention to be in Phoenix so I can attend. Having it in New York City is not helping me!
57. I just love blogging. I love reading blogs too! I feel like I read too many sometimes! Shouldn't it be required for everyone to have a blog? I think so!
58. Today is going by SUPER slow! Maybe it's because I am looking forward to my cheesecake tonight!
59. I was a Eucharistic Minister at Xavier and now am one at St. Louis the King and have my first mass tomorrow. Wish me luck so I don't fall down the stairs! :o)
60. Don't Fourth Graders require a nap time in their daily schedule? Oh, I wish they did!
61. We are on the three month count down to no more formula! YAY! I am just hoping it's not going to be Soy milk I am going to have to buy next! Dang that stuff is expensive!
62. I don't think I am going to have anything to say next Tuesday on my 10 on Tuesday! :o)
63. Paul is a SUPER dad and Rylee is SO lucky to have him as her daddy.
64. I am dreading the day Rylee starts school and I have to send her to a school other than my own! I don't have an issue with my school at all but we only have one class of each grade and I DO NOT want to be her teacher!
65. I think that I might have gotten Paul hooked on Big Brother. (He has watched two!) I wished he watched all my reality tv shows with me!
66. Why don't kids like to sit and "AR" read for 40 minutes!?! I would just love for someone to tell me I could sit and read uninterrupted for 40 minutes every day!
67. I love water with lemon! My teacher friends make fun of me and tell me I should just order lemonade by the way my cup looks at the end of a meal!
68. I love that Paul's mom asks if Paul is always good with Rylee or if it's just an act when they are around. NOPE! He is just ALWAYS really good with her. She definitely has him wrapped around her finger.
69. I feel like I could make a Mastercard commercial for Rylee. $100 for a new phone. $40 for a new vase. $10 for a new bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. $2 for a new tub of wipes (after she pulled them all out!) Having the sweetest baby girl in the world....PRICELESS!
70. Rylee is a biter. She just randomly walks up to people and bites them! Inez's (Rylee's babysitter) theory is to have them bite themselves back. Well...this didn't work. Rylee just chomped away at her hand! ha! My theory is to bite them back! I tried...I just can't bring myself to do it hard enough that she gets the point. I don't think she is really getting the point of either at 9 months!
71. As much as I hate Shark Week, sometimes there is actually something interesting on it. I should do a lesson on sharks in my class because I feel like I know so much about them!
72. I love decorating for Christmas! To get a tree or not to get a tree with a 1 year old? That is the question.
73. I think Rylee's hair will be a mixture of blonde, brown and red. All three! She will just have to choose one when she goes and gets a drivers licence! What does Aunt Lorna choose?
74. My daughter is 9 months old and still hasn't be in a swing. A swing in a park. She went in a baby swing once and I had never seen spit up fly so far so she never went back in there again! I am thinking she is ready for a park swing! Where is the fall weather!?!?
75. This is much harder than it might appear!
76. I think that everything happens for a reason! I always wanted to be a cashier in a grocery store growing up so I decided in college to fulfill that "dream." That's when I met Paul. Go figure! 77. I am typing this during my student's lunch time. They eat lunch in the classroom. A child is adding hot cheetos to his sandwich and smooshing it down and now enjoying! Makes me think what Rylee is going to do when I am not around! ha!
78. I don't like ends of things! Crusts, corners of cakes/brownies, ends of hotdogs (either one).
79. I love baking! Another reason why it needs to get cooler! So I can turn on my oven and not feel like I am sweating to death after 15 minutes of it being on!
80. Paul's name for fantasy football couples league is "Nightmares of Two" Mine is "Dreams of Two." That shows you where Paul stands on more kids! ha! Last year was "Eating for Two" and "Drinking for Two." Had to change since that didn't apply anymore!
81. I was supposed to get a blog makeover and was hoping to get one before my 100th post but have been procrastinating on doing it! I need to get it done. I feel like everyone elses is so cute that mine wouldn't be as cute!
82. I am sad that now when driving I can't turn my volume louder than an 8 because I am afraid to wake Rylee up. I miss some loud music in my car sometimes!
83. Someday I will have a black car! Silly Honda Civic Hybrids not coming in black!
84. Paul thinks it's ridiculous that I live in Arizona and want a black car! Hello!?! The tinting has got to help some...right?!
85. My biggest fear when moving....Paul complaining about the 45 minute drive! I am just so use to it!
86. We have half day on Friday and the teachers have to stay until 2! SO not fair! Silly accreditation process!
87. I feel like when my grandparents die they should die together because I don't know what one will do without the other.
88. On our ladies night out Saturday night, my grandma had two sips of a gin and tonic and shared with us what we should all wear to her funeral. Sad. (It has to be something nice!)
89. I hope to be married as long as my grandparents are! They are just amazing people!
90. I would love to try camping at least once! I mean like real camping, not in a cabin!
91. My dad is a great dad. (Last wish: Rylee to say that when she is older!)
92. When they sell a "convertible crib" in the stores...don't you think it should just come with the "convertible" parts!! You would think that would make the most sense!
93. My mom is scared of the swine flu which now makes me addicted to washing my hands! Every time I walk by the restrooms, kitchen, wet ones on my desk, antibacterial in purse and diaper bag! My hands will be SO dry from all the cleaning! But I will be healthy!
94. I am glad that I got into Fantasy Football. It really is fun and I like getting together to watch and "compete." It's even fun when you don't win!
95. When do little girls get enough hair to "style"? I am too excited to put Rylee's hair in pig tails and braids! When oh when?
96. I have learned my lesson about Target Clearance! When you see an item on sale...buy it then! It will NOT be there when you go back in a week! Ugh! So annoying! I have lost out on some good sales!
97. My dream car right now would be a Toyota Sequoia. It's funny to think that a year and a half ago it was a Lexus IS250.
98. I LOVE the fact that I get pictures texted to me of Rylee during the day! You wouldn't get that kinda service from a daycare facility. (Or anyone else!) Even if the picture yesterday was of Rylee holding a St. Mary's plush football!
99. I am so glad that Target and Walmart actually have CUTE clothes for babies/toddlers! And for cheap! I think I find more at those two places than at Macys, Dillards, Nordstroms....
100. Yes, a giveaway would have been better but just think of all the things you now know about me that you didn't before! Have a great Tuesday!

A Date Night Post

2009-08-28T15:24:00.002-07:00

We get to go on ANOTHER date night tonight. Thanks Grandma Bobbi. So here is a fun post in honor of date night again!

♥ What are your middle names? Katie Ann, Paul Grant
♥ How long have you been together? 7 years
♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating? About a month and a half. I started working at Albertsons at the beginning of May and we went on our first date in June
♥ Who asked whom out? He asked me out.
♥ How old are each of you? Me-27 Paul – 40
♥ Whose siblings do/did you see the most? Probably both equally. We go to dinner at Paul's parents' house a lot during the week but hang out with my family on the weekends.
♥ Do you have any children together? Miss Rylee Rose
♥ What about pets? No pets. :o(
♥ Did you go to the same school? Well I guess we technically did since we both went to ASU but we weren't there at the same time! ;o)
♥ Are you from the same home town? Nope, I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. Paul was born in Scotland and raised in Scotland, Canada and Arizona.
♥ Who is the smartest? I think that one would have to go to Paul.
♥ Who is more sensitive? Definitely me. I don't think I have ever seen Paul cry.
♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple? Sushi Avenue or Cheesecake Factory
♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple? We have been to New York City on the same vacation that led to an Eastern Caribbean cruise. We are going to Scotland in August 2010!
♥ Who has the craziest exes? I am going to go with Paul.
♥ Who has the worst temper? We can both have a temper when we want to. Rylee Rose gets her temper from both of us. ;o)
♥ Who does the cooking? Usually me :o( Although before we needed a baby wrangler away from the oven we used to do 50/50.
♥ Who is more social? Probably Paul. He gets along with EVERYONE!
♥ Who is the neat-freak? I like for things to be organized I just hate getting it there! Neither one of us HAS to have things clean.
♥ Who is more stubborn? I would say both of us have our stubborn side.
♥ Who hogs the bed? That would be me. I don't think Paul moves at ALL during the night.
♥ Who wakes up earlier? Me. Even before Rylee, I would always be up before Paul.
♥ Where was your first date? We went to Cheesecake Factory at Chandler Mall.
♥ Who has the bigger family? Paul. He has a brother and sister and they both have kids!
♥ Do you get flowers often? Not too often but sometimes.
♥ How do you spend the holidays? We try to split our time with both families.
♥ Who is more jealous? Neither of us is really jealous but I guess I would take that claim since I think girls are always a little more jealous than boys.
♥ How long did it take to get serious? We dated for 3 years before we got engaged but lived together after 1 year.
♥ Who eats more? He does.
♥ Who does/did the laundry? We both do since we both hate it!
♥ Who’s better with the computer? Probably me since I am more from the computer generation! ;o) Although he is better when it comes to music and the computer!
♥ Who drives when you are together? It's equal. Although I usually get stuck with the drive home while he gets the easy drive there!

Moving Woes

2009-08-26T11:02:00.004-07:00

1. I spent 2 hours driving around Phoenix/Glendale/Peoria searching for the perfect neighborhood to move to soon.

2. I think I found the perfect neighborhood. I LOVE it! But there has got to be something wrong with it. Isn't there always something wrong with every neighborhood/house?

3. I wish there was a "trial" night in which you get to try the house out first to get the feel for the noises surrounding the home. There will be NO more living against a busy street! I want quiet, peaceful, relaxing. On this "trial" night you also get a feel for neighbors too. Quiet neighbors, partiers, family friendly?

4. I would like a neighborhood where people trick-or-treat! The past 5 years there has not been ONE trick-or-treater at my house. Rylee Rose is finally getting out of retirement ville!

5. 3 bedrooms? 4 bedrooms? Paul wants a 4 bedroom....probably for TOTALLY different reasons than I would be thinking (maybe) the four bedrooms would be good! ;o)

6. Pool? No pool? I would LOVE a pool! Paul....not so much. I think all the fire ride alongs he has been on has taken this dream FAR away!

7. I don't want to move. My two great babysitters (a.k.a. grandmas!) are in Mesa. Paul's job is in Mesa. Weekly dinner night is in Mesa. Sushi Avenue is in Mesa. I don't have to worry about running into people I know at the stores. (Which means I can go spur of the moment if needed!)

8. I want to move! My job is in Glendale. (I am sick of driving 45 minutes to work everyday.) Paul's future job is in Glendale. Rylee's (main) babysitter is in Glendale. All the people I normally hang out with are in Phoenix/Glendale.

9. Why can't there be a nice city in the middle of the two? Can't afford North Scottsdale and South Scottsdale/North Tempe isn't really close enough to Glendale for me!

10. Excited to start a new adventure in our lives!

Random Happenings

2009-08-23T06:07:00.009-07:00

We will start with Wednesday night, Fantasy Football Draft night. I had a dentist appointment that was WAY longer than expected so Paul came and took Rylee home. There was a trying to walk that turned into a "I think I can run" incident that turned my beautiful girl's face into this:

She was NOT a happy camper! (So I heard. I was not home so I take NO blame!) :o)

Then on Friday, we decided to attempt date night again. This time Rylee was feeling better, but Mommy...not so much. I wanted to go so I got all ready and out we went, runny nose and all! Paul had made reservations at Melting Pot so we had a 2 and a half hour dinner which made us decide to skip the casino afterwards. (We are usually in bed at 8/8:30 and when dinner doesn't start until 7:45...that makes for two sleepy parents!) Our waitress was thought that this was TOO funny. She was pregnant and every time she came to our table we were done with the course she had just brought us! She would just giggle and bring us the next course. I told her she would be like this one day since you just learn to shove your food down pretty quick with a baby! 2.5 hours later we were done with our four course meal! YUM!

A Love Martini! With floating heart shaped strawberries. YUM!

At the Melting Pot.

A SURPRISE! This was under my napkin when I came back from the bathroom! I was so surprised! It wasn't even a holiday or anything. Inside....

A ring that says "I Love You" all around! I just love it! And of course Paul Thomson too!

My second Love Martini!

The only picture I got of the food. The final course, DESSERT. Which is the best course anyway! We went with white chocolate and got to dip all these yummy goodies in it! HEAVEN!

Ten on Tuesday

2009-08-18T08:28:00.001-07:00

1. I went wedding dress shopping with my sis-in-law, Lorna, on Saturday and it was SO much fun. I was glad that it wasn't me getting in and out of those BIG, HEAVY, HOT wedding dresses but then at the same time, I LOVED the whole planning a wedding process! I just loved sitting and watching girls try on SO many different types of dresses. It amazes me what some people will pick out! I just want to go up to them and say.....THAT DOES NOT LOOK GOOD ON YOU!! or WHAT ARE YOU THINKING!! On a side note: Lorna got a BEAUTIFUL dress for her wedding in Hawaii! I think I got a picture of EVERY other dress she tried on EXCEPT the one she chose! Ugh...go figure!

2. Rylee chose to be sick the FIRST week of school. I had all summer to take care of her while sick and the stinker chooses right when I go back to work! The good thing is that her babysitter doesn't have other kids to watch so it's ok to still bring her with me. Her temperature when we got home on Friday was 101.3. Poor thing! I think it might just be teething or then again...maybe not. We are off to the doctor at 3:00 today! I am sure my principal is SO happy with me right now!

3. I am wishing that it wasn't so hot here so I could have a garage sale to get rid of some "crap" around our house. I cannot justify sitting outside in 110 degree weather selling stuff. And I can't imagine a lot of people getting in and out of cars wanting to "shop" in it either!

4. Excited for Fantasy Football this year!! My team name is Team K.R.A.P.! Can anyone guess with that stands for? Oh, the cleverness of my husband.....

5. I am dreading the thought of moving! We have been in our house for 5 years and have accumulated a bunch of that "crap" I mentioned earlier. Lots to pack up and move! I can only imagine how much "help" a 8 month old can really be!

6. What part of homework is confusing to students? Why do some choose not to do any at all? First night of homework and some can't even figure it out!!

7. Why was it that not only was it the first week of school that Rylee got sick, but it was also on the night that Paul arranged a babysitter, made dinner reservations and had a date night planned!?! The first time in FOREVER he has done that!! I just told myself, welcome to motherhood!!

8. I wish Paul and I both worked at Brophy only for the fact that the faculty and staff get FREE lunch every day!! Oh the time that would save me in the mornings!!

9. There is a family here at school that the wife is giving the husband one of her kidneys. How AMAZING is that? Tomorrow is the surgery day and I can't imagine how nervous those parents must be!

10. This is kinda of a downer post. I guess that's what you get for the first full week back at school! :o)

Teaching and Teeth (Finally!)

2009-08-17T16:16:00.001-07:00

So this year I had to start fresh in a new classroom. I am so mad that I didn't get before pictures before we started painting but the cabinets that are now purple, pink and yellow were green blue and red. And the cubbies that are now BLUE were the ugly green that the ones under the windows are. We ran out of time and hopefully will get to those cubbies over Christmas Break. I went with a Hawaiian theme in my classroom and it looks very festive! I still need a lot more decos but it's a work in progress! If anyone sees Hawaiian/Luau decorations on sale now that summer is coming to an end, please let me know so I can add it to my room!

Those first three were the first ones I took and once I uploaded them I realized that they weren't very good and close....so today, I went in and took three more for your viewing pleasure! Thanks to Jennifer and Mel (fellow readers too!) for all their help in getting my room ready before school started!!

Don't you just love the Hawaiian deck fringe over the windows?!? So festive!

And last but not least....thanks to all that voted for me in my contest back in May!! I won and I finally got the end result!! WHITE, WHITE teeth!! They are super white but my theory is...EVERYONE (ok, maybe not the cashier at the grocery store) knows that they are fake so I was going for movie star, Hollywood white! I LOVE THEM!!! Thank for everyones support! And yes...the picture is up close, but it was so you could see the teeth!

Ten on Tuesday - A Summer of Accomplishments

2009-08-11T19:36:00.004-07:00

Rylee has had a BUSY summer and has accomplished SO many things!

1. No more pacifier!

2. No more swaddling!

3. No more feet pajamas! (Until the winter!)

4. No third nap!

5. SIX teeth! (And I am sure some more on the way with all that drool!)

6. "Adult foods" for dinner and some lunches!

7. No more "baby" bath in the bath tub!

8. Drinks out of a straw! (Learned that at Starbucks! Go figure! Don't worry, it was on a strawberry-banana smoothie!)

9. Loves her sippy cups!

10. WALKING!! Rylee is now up to 10 steps without assistance! (With a partial "run" in there too!)

*We have been close 2 times for the ear piercing. I wish I could have added it to the list! SOON!*
The "baby" stage went by WAY to fast for me! Oh to have another, or to not have another, that is the question! I really want to have one that would be due 08/09/10! But I will be in Scotland that day and I don't think they let you fly that far along! And then and I really don't think my principal would be real appreciative when I go in a say I need 6 weeks maternity leave starting the FIRST day of school! ha! Speaking of first days of school...that's tomorrow! A MILLION of things still left to do and only 12 more hours until the kids enter the HAWAII room! Need to stop blogging and Facebooking and WORK!

A "Many Faces & Thoughts of Rylee" Post!

2009-08-07T06:03:00.017-07:00

"Hey, paparazzi! I am trying to play. Only one picture please!"

"Okay, fine! Here is a wave to my fans!"

"I said, NO MORE PICTURES!! Argh!!"

"I just LOVE my Daddy!"

"HEY! How did crazy Uncle Pat get in my picture post?!? What is he doing anyway?"
"I just love water! Pool water, Bath water....I am a fish like Daddy!"

"Umm...what exactly am I supposed to do sitting here on this itchy grass? What is that spot doing on my pretty pictures anyway?"

"Okay! This grass is fun! But that spot is still on my picture! Where is Claire the professional when you need her?! Seriously Mommy!"

"Oohh....SAND! This looks YUMMY to eat!"

"What? You didn't think I had 6 teeth?! Oh but I do! SEE!!"

"Mommy is finally on the other side of the camera! We are sporting our Star Wars stickers from Jackson!"

"Seriously Mom?! Even while I am eating?!"

Does it ever STOP!?!?

2009-08-05T05:21:00.000-07:00

The CONSTANT worrying. It's not like I never worried about Rylee before. I think I have said that she was never going anywhere after watching some scary movie that I can't remember the name of right now. But now....after what has happened next door....I can't sleep, drink, eat....
Why didn't anyone tell me that this WORRYING would keep me up at night?!? I don't even like being in this house anymore. I know that this kind of stuff happens all the time but I never thought it would happen right next door! How do I know that it won't happen near the next house we are in?
Does the Mom Worrying EVER go away? Ugh! I don't know what I would do if anything EVER happened to Rylee!

Update: The girl is okay next door, nothing actually happened but was very close to happening. Still I am sure, she is shaken up and still trying to think of a fun "care" package to send over.

The Final PUSH I needed....

2009-08-04T18:58:00.004-07:00

To MOVE!!

Paul has been wanting to move for awhile now and I for some reason keep pushing it off! Most of our family is out here in Mesa and I want Rylee to grow up surrounded by family. But when you leave your house in the morning to cops pulling up to the house next door and then arrive back home six hours later to crime tape crossing off your driveway....I think that is the FINAL STRAW. It's more of a sad story than crazy story but when you might have a sex offender living NEXT door and a daughter inside your house.....it's time to G-O!!

We love(d) our neighborhood. Quiet, golfcourse, retirement community. About 30 houses in our cirlce and about 2/3 of the residents live in Minnesota, Illinois, etc from about May to October.

I was pulling out this morning to a car blocking my driveway so I sat there until someone came out. The lady came out and said "there is a bad situation going on, I can't move it right now, can you maneuver around it?" And then goes back inside. The other next door lady comes out as I am driving along her rocks and is on the phone and says that the cops are on their way because the next door neighbors roommate "tried something with the little girl next door." TOO SAD. I was hoping that maybe nothing happened but then returned from our sushi dinner to the forensic unit van outside as well. The cop outside said "we wouldn't be here if something didn't happen." I am currently waiting for them to leave so I can go next door and ask the "non-involved lady" if the girl is ok. I was prepared to take more pictures but people were standing outside the house and I didn't want them to think I was the paparazzi so I will just post the one that I took standing inside my garage.

Standing in our garage looking out at the crime scene tape and cop car.

An uplifting picture at our sushi dinner. Which was followed by Dairy Queen, not Baskin Robbins. Maybe I should forget about that diet that was mentioned earlier.....

So the next couple weeks will be filled with phone calls about our options for our house. So when the neighbors come and ask, "Oh-why are you moving?" I can respond, "Well we really don't like coming home to crime scene tape crossing off our driveway." I feel so bad for the little girl and have looked out the window to see if the cops are gone about 10 times since writing this post. I will definitely be thinking of things I can do for her that might be able to keep her mind off things. I don't even know if that is possible but I will try. These were not the pictures I intended to post this morning when talking about pictures but got me to download some of the other ones to a picture post is closer than I thought!! :o)

Ten on Tuesday

2009-08-04T06:09:00.003-07:00

1. Still patiently waiting for my lumineer day to approach! It is officially now August 13th since they are on vacation for two weeks. But then again, that could change August 12th when they call to reschedule again!

2. I need to go shopping for back to school- teaching clothes but am dreading it. I always go in, buy the comfortable size and the hate that size that I buy knowing/thinking that I am going to loose weight during the school year and then be pissed when I do and then I have no clothes to wear since I bought the bigger size. Now that will just discourage me from loosing weight since I won't have money to go and buy a whole wardrobe in a size smaller. What to do? Buy the bigger size and forget loosing weight this year? Or buy the smaller size hoping to use that as a motive?

3. I am going to try again tonight for the second time to go to Sushi Avenue for dinner. They must have changed their hours again because now not are they only closed on Mondays, but add Sunday as well! Hopefully they are open tonight because I am craving me some Sushi Ave!

4. I wish I had taken before pictures of my classroom so I can see the difference all this painting I am doing is making! I am off after this post to go do some more painting. Of course the guy at Home Depot sold the girl the most expensive can of paint they have! Go figure. I even brought Paul with me, but we all know how handy he is! ha! I told him I should have just gone with Jennifer, she knows a little more about painting than he does. :o)

5. We had a great time at our staycation at the Hyatt Gainey Ranch. We are off to Prescott this weekend and then have our second staycation at the AZ Grand to look forward to on Labor Day weekend. Trying to save for a Scotland vacation makes these staycations so great!

6. I am nervous about starting Rylee on a new schedule Monday morning. I never know how she is going to adapt and that could just make or break my first week back to school. I hope it goes well!

7. I have mixed feelings about going back to work. I enjoyed my summer off with Rylee but got bored quite easily. I didn't want to join any play groups because then I would just have to quit in August and then feel left out when I couldn't be a part of it later on. We hardly went anywhere during the day because it was SOOO hot so i would always wait for Paul to get home. I spent way too much money when I did go out, because what else am I suppose to do? I want to go to work but am going to miss seeing Rylee everyday! Ugh!

8. Speaking of spending way too much money. This July in Arizona was ranked the second hottest July in Arizona!! And of course I was sitting at home using more electricity than two people should be. Ever since I started paying bills my electricity bill has NEVER been over $200. Well, my July bill was $212!! I will definitely be looking for FREE things to do for Rylee and I to engage in next summer! Out of the house and using other people's electricity!!

9. I think I had a dream about Baskin Robbins last night so now I am thinking there might be a trip there after the Sushi Avenue dinner! YUM!

10. Rylee turns 8 months old today! It is super exciting and I am looking forward to planning her 1 year birthday party! Then again, it's super sad since I miss the "baby" stage!! She "grew" up WAY TOO FAST. I wish I had more money....a bigger house....patience of a saint.....

*I wish I didn't hate downloading pictures so much! Picture post to come!

Ten on Tuesday

2009-07-21T05:54:00.000-07:00

This Ten on Tuesday is going to be a Ten on Tuesday, Not Me Monday Style. This comes from My Charming Kids blog a.k.a. Baby Stellan's Blog! Every Monday people blog about some imperfections and reveal a few moments they'd like to forget, not me style.

1. On Wednesday last week, it was not me who dropped of my daughter at her babysitters and then ran into Cost Plus before meeting the photographer to pick up pictures. It was not me who was late because I "ran" in to see if they had any more FREE bags that they were giving away. And it certainly wasn't me, who came out of there with NO free bag but 50 dollars off wine that included my Ed Hardy wine! See what happens when you give me a day without a baby...first stop..WINE!

2. It was not me that had to get the six bottles because then you get the 10% discount so I added 3 bottles of Firehose wine to the cart! It was not me that then went to track down Paul's cousin Angela and her captain firefighter husband, Richard all over the city of Glendale just so I could give them a bottle! It was not me that found them in a salon and was certainly NOT ME that walked in with the bottle to give to them!

3. It was certainly not me that put a hat on Rylee's head before we went grocery shopping because I was afraid to answer questions about her scar. I am not sure which one got more looks, the summer pool hat inside Fry's or the scar on her head. ;o)

4. It was not me that was dreading Monday, 10 days post surgery because now we can go back to giving Rylee a bath every night. Nope, not me. I LOVE giving her baths and trying to make a squirmy 7 month old try to SIT DOWN in a bath tub! HA!

5. It was not my lumineer day that has been changed three times now to be moved FINALLY to this coming Thursday. It is not me that wanted this SO bad and now is SO nervous! Nope!

6. It was not me that has been a commenter on many people's blogs for giveaways and found out over the weekend that I was a winner on a blog (The Cochran Crew) and I won a discount on a blog makeover! It is not me that is staying up searching millions of blogs to figure out what I want mine to look like!

7. It was not me that went on the internet and diagnosed Rylee's rash on Babycenter.com just so I wouldn't have to take her all the way to the doctor's office. She has a rash that doesn't quite look like a diaper rash so the internet said the next thing it could be would be a yeast infection. Off I go to Walmart!

8. It was certainly NOT ME that when explaining to the pharmacist where this rash was located I simply stated "surrounding her private area." Paul made SO much fun of me for that! He told me that when talking to doctors, I can call it what it really is. Or maybe I should follow Oprah and call it a va-ga-ga. (Don't even know how to spell that one!)

9. And then it certainly WASN'T ME that when the pharmacist asked, "Did you make that?" and just pointed at Rylee I simply replied yes to later figure out she was talking about Rylee's BOW! I don't have ANY clue why I would think she was talking about Rylee herself! This Walmart trip was after we had gone to Red Lobster for dinner and I didn't even have a drink!

10. It was certainly not me that called Postino's wine bar and said "I am sure that this is not a common question for a wine bar, but do you guys have highchairs?" It won't be me later today sitting with my daughter inside a wine bar, having a glass of wine with lunch! And it certainly does not bring to mind the Sweet Home Alabama scene where Reese Witherspoon is in a bar and sees her friend with her baby and says to the friend, "You have a baby!....in a bar!" NOPE! Certainly won't be me there!

They are here!!

2009-07-16T11:56:00.012-07:00

Claire Beeler took these wonderful pictures of the Thomson family. They were taken July 4th at Freestone Park. You can check out Claire's photography website at http://www.clairebeeler.com/. Her work is wonderful and they turned out absolutely amazing!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-07-15T16:32:00.001-07:00

Ten on Tuesday

2009-07-14T07:20:00.007-07:00

1. We had a crazy busy week! And have another one to come! At least maybe I can fill up these next two Ten on Tuesdays! How can one person have such blue eyes?!

2. Miss Rylee had her second and FINAL surgery on Friday morning. She is such a trooper! Yes, she was a bit cranky on Friday afternoon and a couple times after that but other than that....PERFECT! She participated in all of our family activities this weekend and was great through all of them. I think the only time we did give her some Tylenol was when we were home with just the three of us. (Maybe she wasn't cranky and in pain, maybe she just wanted to tell us she was bored and where were all the people that she was used to be around since Thursday afternoon!)

We had the sides up for about a minute. Too cage like for us!

So happy while waiting patiently. She has NO clue what she's about to go in for! Poor thing!

After surgery. SO hungry!

3. Let me tell you....if Paul or I had THIS done to our heads....we would NOT have done all the things that Rylee did post surgery! I would STILL be lying in bed with my Vicodin! Ha! My c-section scar is SMALLER than this one and I took my pain medicine until it ran out with a refill! Kids are amazing! (Well at least mine is) :o)

4. What do you think goes through people's mind when they first see this? Mine would be, "Oh, poor baby, did she need brain surgery at such a young age?" The scar will look SO much better and not so dark once I can wash the dried blood off but I can't get it wet for 10 days. So for the next 6 days I will continue getting the curious eyed stares while out. (I will post a picture once I can wash it) Grow hair, Grow!! What food helps hair grow? Or is that why they make those great big bows? Right Karissa? ;o)

5. Yup. That was her LAST one. The doctor got it all out and we don't have to go back! YIPEE! Everyone who saw her right after the surgery said she looked so different, her face looked like it lost 10 pounds. Her eyes were all red and black underneath and Paul said it must have been from the doctor pulling her skin around so they had enough to make no bald spot left. So not only did Rylee Rose get plastic surgery to remove her bald spot, she also got a mini 7 month old face lift. She can never say we never paid for a plastic surgery. I am sure this is not the one she will have in mind 30 years down the road but hey....you take what you can get! And she got a bonus face lift! :o)

6. The following two items are like Baby Crack! Rylee will sit and eat endless amounts of these crunchies and then suck her sippy cup DRY with the yogurt juice inside. I will admit...I have tried one or two of the crunchies....YUM! Ok..fine! It was more like half the container of crunchies but they are GOOD. We have tried the zesty tomato and the mild cheddar!

7. I get to go and pick up the Thomson Family pictures tomorrow! I can't wait to see how they turn out.

8. My dentist appointment was moved to Monday so now I have to wait all weekend for my lumineers. I am so excited for them. Nervous, but excited!

9. I did it. I joined Facebook. Facebook is Adult Crack! SOOOO addicting!

10. Lunch with teachers, dinner with friends, dinner with Thomson family, teeth becoming Hollywood white, new tires on my car, starting to get my classroom ready....busy busy week ahead!

A Little Disappointed in

2009-07-09T07:34:00.003-07:00

Forever XXI. I went in to the store in Chandler Mall last week and bought 2 pieces of jewelry and a skirt. I am a definitely one of those shoppers that likes to buy the stuff and then go home and try it on, and then return it if I don't like it/it doesn't fit. Just what I did in this case! Well yesterday I went into Forever 21 to return one piece of jewelry and the skirt. As I was standing at the counter I was informed that they don't take returns on their jewelry AND they don't do cash/credit refunds. Everything goes back onto a store merchandise card. As the lady is telling me this, I noticed their refund/return policy that is printed on a card maybe about 5x7 with the print size of this. NOT ACCEPTABLE!! If Rylee wasn't in my arms, fussy and screeching....they would have heard my point of view!! But instead, I left with my piece of jewelry that I really don't know when I will wear and my $24.oo merchandise card with the sales lady telling me it NEVER expires and won't deduct money every month like some! I don't care lady! Who's to tell me you will still be in business in 12 years when I want to come back and shop with my daughter who will probably like the clothes more than I do! UGH!

Ten on Tuesday

2009-07-07T08:12:00.000-07:00

1. Yay for a great Fourth of July weekend! The pictures were a success and I can't WAIT to see them! We went to two BBQ's and then on Sunday had lunch with friends and watched two movies. Taken = Rylee is NEVER going anywhere without me. Curious Case of Benjamin Button = LONG, LONG movie!

2. Nails and toes turned out great. I haven't had nails in about 2 years and I can't type or text worth crap! My hair appointment was at Toni and Guy and the cut and color turned out super. It is blonder than I had in mind but I think it's just because I have gone dark the past couple times. Time for a change! :o) The stylist straightened my hair with a straightener and I LOVED it. No one has ever straightened it like that before and I am contemplating a Chi Straightener. Does anyone have one? Yay? Nay?

3. My goal before the end of July is to have a Facebook page. Yes, I believe I am going to do it!

4. When driving to Las Vegas from Arizona, they are building a bridge so you don't have to drive through the Hoover Dam. Once this bridge is complete I will NOT be driving there anymore. I will be flying every time! You cannot tell me that this bridge can be safe. NEVER!

5. On Sunday after lunch with Tricia and Andy we stopped by the Splash Pad at Tempe Marketplace. I wasn't a fan of Splash Pad's before but how can you not be? It is ROASTING outside and when Rylee LOVES water....how can you not put your child in the water for a bit. I am going to have to travel with swimsuits from now on. I heard that they have a fun water park area at the zoo so I am thinking that I might have to try that one out next. It will have to be after the 114 degree weather though.

6. I need to stop going to the grocery store. Or any store for that matter. People are recognizing us! The cashier and greeter at Fry's know us (or maybe just Rylee and her bows)! Then when walking around Fry's, a lady says "Oh, you two were just at Target!" Yes, yes we were! How many days till school starts?

7. We lowered Rylee's crib down two spots. It is so sad because that just means she is not a little baby anymore! Do all the months/years go by as fast as the first one? She managed to climb onto the bottom of a little side table we have so we figured it was a matter of time before the monkey climbed her way out of the crib! I missed a picture since my memory card is full! :o(

8. Friday is surgery day and I can't wait till Thursday night to find out if it is the same anaesthesiologist as last time. (He called the night before last time, so I don't know if all of them do that or just this one?) The one Jackson had and the one Rylee had last time. He was amazing! What would the odds be?

9. I think I have a picky eater!! I would have never thought! Ha! Yesterday for lunch we started with little cubes of avocado and she cried. I then tried little chunks of banana, she cried. Then we moved on to Gerber broccoli, carrots and cheese and she cried. I searched for some applesauce, found it...ate it right up! Then she decided that the broccoli, carrots and cheese was ok to eat. Then at dinner same thing. Didn't want the macaroni and cheese, just the apples and peaches. Then cried again through the macaroni and cheese! Ugh. I thought maybe she was sick of the pureed stuff so I have been trying more "solid" foods. Who knows? I just know one thing....I think she gets the pickyness from Paul ;o)

10. Off to do some errands. More like returning errands. I had 5 different outfits for Rylee for family pictures so now I need to go and return the 4 she didn't wear. I am so proud that I am returning them and not just keeping them! There is only so much black and white a baby can can have!

Ten on Thursday

2009-07-02T06:30:00.001-07:00

1. I was super busy on Tuesday. We were gone from our house for 11 hours! Exhausting! I started by dropping off Rylee at Inez's house where she was greeted by all 5 (Including Inez) Gomez ladies!! I think Rylee was just as excited to see all them too! She had a blast!

2. While Rylee was partying it up at Camp Gomez, I was running errands, going to lunch with my teacher friends, and then spending a PAINFUL 3.5 hours at the dentist! July 17th is Lumineer Day! WAHOO! I can't wait. They are going to be Hollywood white! :o)

3. My first errand on Tuesday morning was Target. This is where I believe I lost my AMAZING coupon box that took me about 2 hours to make. I am really sad about this. I know that they were just coupons but I am proud to say I do use coupons and I get the Sunday paper delivered to my house, just for the coupons. I am glad that it wasn't my wallet, or my purse, but it really is sad to me. So embarrassing but I love coupons!

4. Rylee is getting tooth after tooth. The doctor said she should get one a month! Umm...I don't think so...we have 5 already! She is just a bundle of energy lately and I am anxious to start some new foods with these new chompers! I think she is over this Gerber stuff!

5. July is going to FLY by. Every day I am adding something to my calendar for July. We have Rylee's surgery, my dentist appointment, Uncle David coming to visit, lunches with teachers, Mother's Day Night Out. I am exhausted thinking about it all!

6. I have been super busy getting ready for Thomson family pictures on Saturday. We are going to do one big family picture with 15 people. There is a total of 6 kids for the picture so I am hoping they all cooperate for a least one shot! What are the chances? With all the wardrobe coordinating, hair and nail appointments, I am ready for this to happen! And then of course today, Rylee was playing with frames when Boom! One fell right on her nose! Why can I not have a professional picture taken withOUT a scrape on her nose?! UGH!

7. We returned from our first trip away from Rylee on Sunday. We left for Vegas on Friday at 2:00 and returned Sunday at 3:00. Gone for about 48 hours and it was definitely harder than I thought. It was relaxing and fun to be gambling but just hard to be away. Rylee has spent the night at my mom's house before but I think it was hard to know that if I did just want to go see her it would take 5 hours to get to her! I have seriously pondered how much Tylenol it would take to get through the flights to Scotland with a 1.5 year old!?! Maybe (hopefully) it will be easier then!! I could NOT imagine that flight going well. I think I will hand out complimentary ear plugs to the passengers upon boarding! Ha!

8. My tire drama with Honda was solved. They told me that my Honda Civic Hybrid tires at 27,000 miles were beyond the point of an alignment or rotation helping. My argument was that I was JUST there back in March and if they are THAT bad, then someone should have told me in March....not waited until they were beyond help!! So after much debate, we are getting two new tires free and we have to pay for the other two. Not a bad deal but the price of two tires at Honda would probably be the same price of four new tires at Walmart! Oh well. It's better than we expected them to do...so we will take it! I love my car so I was sad thinking I might be giving it back in a year!

9. Paul has signed up for two more scuba classes which I can only imagine come attached with more scuba trips. Oh the Joy! Why can't he like things that I like too? I just have one big fear of drowning so NO THANK YOU! And then football season starts which starts the unlimited amounts of volunteering at the stadium. I am praying very hard that this will be the LAST football season he has to volunteer! I HATE football just for this very reason. Although when he gets hired, I am sure he will be working SO much overtime that it will be just the same. (At least there will be a BIG paycheck that comes with not seeing him as much! Hopefully that will make it a little better. Poor Rylee, I will have to frame a picture of him for her room!) :o(

10. Happy Fourth of July to everyone! Have a safe and fun-filled weekend!

Have Fun Grandma Bobbi!

2009-06-26T13:06:00.000-07:00

We are off to Vegas! And Rylee is partying it up with Grandma Bobbi! And I am sure with Ty Ty and Jackerdoddle too! (She will have to let me know how that half birthday party goes!)

When I asked my mom to baby-sit...I left out these fun little things Rylee likes to do now! :o) She will definitely be keeping you on your toes! Thanks for watching her and we hope to come back millionaires! :o)

Wordless Wednesday

2009-06-24T07:52:00.003-07:00

*Feel free to play along like last week*

Ten on Tuesday

2009-06-23T07:22:00.000-07:00

I should have no problem filling this Ten on Tuesday since I missed a week in there!

1. I missed last week's T on T since I was at the airport and then went to Chili's for lunch and then came home to cook dinner for 12 people. Paul's niece Amanda is in town from NYC and it was a surprise for everyone! Rylee has been so happy having someone other than me to play with! (Amanda is 19 but she plays with Rylee and keeps her entertained while I cook dinner! She is NOT returning to NYC if I have anything to say about it!)

2. Before I left for the airport, I was making a dessert and Rylee was playing with the items on the bottom shelf of the pantry. I was just about to scoop out the melting ice cream for the dessert when CRASH! Rylee was sitting on the floor (the newly washed floor I might add) in the middle of a big puddle of olive oil and glass. (My mistake of the week!) She was previously playing with a salad dressing bottle and I did not realize that the bottle of olive oil behind it was glass. I scooped her out of the mess, washed her off, put her in her crib so she couldn't crawl through the glass and went to mop my floors again! Oh the joys of cleaning oil off tile! NOT FUN!

3. We had Rylee's six month check up last week as well. She weighed in at 17 pounds, 11 ounces and is 27 inches long. These are both in the 75th percentile. She is in the 90th percentile for her head which was 17.5, yay for a c-section is all I have to say. The doctor was very impressed with her crawling and pulling herself up already. He said that babies don't usually start doing these things until 7-9 months. Go Rylee!

4. We had a wonderful Father's Day. Rylee Rose was also baptized on Sunday as well! It was a busy, fun-filled day. We do things a little differently in the Thomson household. Rylee has two godmothers, my sister and Paul's sister, and she was also baptized in a tutu and a big flower bow! Too Cute!!

5. Paul's side of the family is doing a big family picture on July 4th in the morning and the lady that does my hair is not working on July 3rd. Does anyone have any suggestions of a not too expensive of a place to go. I would even settle for a place just to get it blow dried. I HATE blow drying my own hair! It's too wavy/curly to get it exactly the way I want it!

6. I think that Rylee might be a fish like Paul. I would not be surprised if she loves snorkeling and scuba diving. She gets fussy right when getting in the water but then loves it after that! Content as can be! Paul even dunked her all the way under on Sunday (we thought another baptism would be good) and she didn't even cry! What a trooper!

7. We are getting ready to buy Rylee's next step up car seat. This is a big decision. Britax has a new car seat (pic below) out that has side impact cushions that would cushion against the window during a crash and would cushion another passengers head during a crash. Now do I spend the additional $50 and go for the new one, or do I just get the next one down since we normally don't have an additional passenger riding in the back with her? When it comes to the safety of your child, $50 is NOTHING! But does God already have a plan for her whether she is sitting in a $370 car seat or a $150 one?

8. How come it is the end of June and I have not paid child care in a month and I have no extra money to show for it! SO ANNOYING!! July better be a different story!

9. Oh Shocker! The work at my school still hasn't been started on so I still don't have a classroom and all my stuff is in boxes. Does this mean that fourth grade doesn't have to start school until all the work is done!?! That would be SUPER! (Unlikely, but SUPER!)

10. We got a super deal on a room at the Arizona Grand and we booked it for Labor Day weekend. It will be super busy I am sure but I am looking forward to it! Our first "vaca" is at a Scottsdale hotel for a night. We are all over these "Stayca's" they are advertising around here. Oh, and maybe a trip to Las Vegas this weekend but we have to drive now since we left it to the last minute and I HATE driving! :o( But I LOVE Las Vegas!!

One Word Wednesday

2009-06-17T07:20:00.016-07:00

MESS!

ESCAPE!

SWIMMING!

YUM!

EXHAUSTED!

PEACEFUL!

READING!

Now it's your turn!

Caption the picture below with one word....

Ten on Tuesday

2009-06-09T17:00:00.000-07:00

I seriously do NOT have ten things to write about this week. This has probably been the hardest Ten on Tuesday yet. Well here goes nothing....

1. I want to get Rylee's ear's pierced SO bad! We were so close to going two weekends ago and then remembered that when you go into surgery that they make you take off all jewelry so we weren't sure if hers would close up in that small amount of time. It was ME that thought of this small detail and totally had Paul ready to go. Ugh! We should have just went!! Those pictures would have been a tad bit cuter with earrings. (If that's even possible!)

2. Summer is going to FLY by. Rylee and I do at least one thing a day so we aren't stuck inside and bored! Today we were out of the house by 7:30 and waiting for the doors to open at Target. This was all so we could be the first ones in the door at Sprint at 9! Then Sprint tells me that it will take 45 minutes to see what is wrong with my phone. An hour later I return for them to tell me that they can't fix it because it has liquid damage and it is covered under insurance but for a $100 deductible. If I am going to be paying $100 then it will be for an upgraded phone! Besides, it is working...for now...

3. Rylee is officially non swaddled, non pacifier, learning to drink out of a sippy cup big girl! The swaddle and pacifier have been gone since middle of May and our sippy cup adventure began this week. I have kept one pacifier just in case for the hospital. She probably won't take it but I just want her happy as can be that day.

4. My money has been well spent on Etsy so far! Rylee has received SO many compliments of all her bows! Everywhere I go someone comments on her bow. Even yesterday at Macy's a guy commented on her pretty flower! Go figure! I LOVE IT! I will have to start taking pictures of these cute bows in her hair!

5. My one mistake, in regards to sleeping habits with Rylee (there are PLENTY of other mistakes that could be a whole other post!) is her not being able to fall asleep on her own. She has always been a wiggle worm, a go-go baby. It was always my thing that I would rock her to sleep since it was really my only time to hold her. She RARELY falls asleep without been held and rocked. I am trying to put her in her crib sleepy but not asleep but she just cries for what seems like forever. I will go in, hold her and she will fall fast asleep within a minute. Today, when on the phone with my sister, she heard Rylee crying and then Tyler started to cry and then Rylee stopped. Hmm....I might have to call the Howell household everyday during Rylee's nap time. I know all the baby books say not to rock them and hold them before they are asleep, but I couldn't help it and now I am trying to do something about it. Truthfully, I will miss holding her because in a blink of an eye, she will be too big to even hold and rock!

6. Her nap started at 3:30 when I started this post and now it is 4:00 and I hear her crying. That was NOT long enough. Especially since Paul is still in Florence for work and I don't even know how long it takes to get back but one parent plus one cranky baby does not equal a fun night! :o( Crap! Maybe it was cause I forgot to change her diaper before her nap! See I told you there could be a whole "Mistake" post. Coming soon for your reading pleasure!

7. I go to the grocery store once a week buy tons of food and I am SO sick of cooking! I sit and think of all the places I want to go and eat and I just continue to use my electricity and heat up my house when it's already 100 degrees outside. I am craving some Mexican food and some Olive Garden! YUM! I haven't even eaten out a lot since my May no eating out madness!

8. Now it's 4:34 and the problem was hungry. She just downed a small jar of Macaroni and Cheese dinner and a container of Hawaiian Delight Dessert. Nutritious I know. Good ol' Gerber! Just so you know (and I checked) the Macaroni and Cheese dinner did have sweet potatoes in it! I didn't feel too bad after that.

9. While in there feeding her, I really don't know how single parents do this. I am giving a shout out to my friend Mel at school who has raised her two kids pretty much all alone. When these days seem long and I can't wait for Paul to get home to help out, I can't imagine what it would be like to never have that relief when you need it! She did an amazing jog raising her two kids as a single parent. Props to her!

10. Now off to start my first glass of wine for the night. It's 4:38 and I still haven't heard from Paul that he is on his way home so Cheers to everyone! Maybe my sister will be my friend today since I am drinking! (Read her blog, Howell Family, Ten on Tuesday to get that point!) *And off to change the stinkiest diaper EVER! Geez that was fast. TMI I know!

Finally! Pictures!

2009-06-07T18:51:00.009-07:00

After a long debate of outfits, studios, times and dates....we took Rylee for professional pictures for 6 months! I was so nervous about how they were going to turn out, if she was going to be cranky and outfits! I took 4-5 outfits and we went with 2 outfits and a diaper shot. Bows, flip flops, and stuffed animals all came along too! I was SWEATING by the time this was all over. My sister was SO right when she said to wear a swimsuit! I don't know how the photographer did it in a long sleeve shirt and a sweater vest! AGH!
We went with 4 different shots and received a MILLION pictures. They can totally tell when newbies like us come in and have NO idea what they are doing! We are their money makers! :o) Below are the four shots we purchased and the new header is just a cute one I thought and her new side picture was another cute one. It was definitely a hard decision to narrow 84 pictures down to 4! Glad we got the CD! :o)
Update (5 minutes later): The header picture is a new one already. Paul's favorite and my sister's favorite. Now I am mad I didn't purchase it.) Oh well. I guess Aunt Colleen will be coming with us next time so she can sweat it out with us too!