MEAN ole' Daddy-o

I opened Megan's door when I heard her talking to Little. She usually pops right up and jumps out of the bed, a pink little blur past me to see Gran. However, this is what I got this morning:

Mommy: Megan, you going to get up?
Megan: Daddy said I can't get out of bed. (Daddy is gone to work, for hours at this point.)
Mommy: What? No, you can get out of bed. Come on.
Megan: NO Mommy! Daddy said no get out of bed.
Mommy: Megan, it's okay. Daddy wants you to get up and eat breakfast.
Megan: (crying) No Mommy. Daddy will be sad. I stay here.

This went on for a while until I physically picked her up out of bed. I'll have to have a little chat with Daddy about this...

Centerfold

I should've blogged this a long time ago, but it's hard to write a post about your daughter's first centerfold...I never imagined this moment...HA!

Megan is "Miss June" in the city calendar. Grandma submitted a picture of Meg at Splash Factory, and it was chosen for the calendar! Let me know if you need your own personal copy of the calendar...I'd be happy to share! Look at that photography...

Elmo package

Megan got a package in the mail from Aunt Karen and Uncle Rick. It was full of really cool Elmo stuff....pajamas and a t-shirt/panty set. She mixed the two sets together, hence the interesting outfit in the picture. Thank you for the present! She loves it!

Hopped up on icing

These were taken at about 10:30 p.m. "Mr. Worm" is Daddy's pinky finger and voice, but somehow he entertains Megan like nothing else. He visits her in the car, on long car rides, and at other special times (like when she's hopped up on icing). I tried to get her singing, "Itsy bitsy fider went up the fider fout," but she had a problem concentrating on anything for more than a second.

2nd birthday party!

Poor Megan is stuck with me, the world's worst party thrower. I hope I grow out of it.
Anyway, we had Megan's Texas family and her friend Ellie over for dinner tonight for her 2nd birthday. I'll have to admit, I think it was fun. The house looked like a tornado of 7 kids hit it, but they all had a blast. First we got out her parachute, and everyone but Kyler loved it. Even the adults participated. Daddy-o was in charge of the cake, and I can assure you he will not be buying the icing balloon cake again. Most of the kids had to have a balloon, which was 100% icing. Gross! But they ate them like they were candy. Made me sick. Megan ate most of her orange one, and was still awake (in bed) talking to Little at 11:00 p.m.
Thank you to all the party people...Megan had a wonderful birthday party. And Aunt Kelly, she played with her baby doll and even introduced her to Little! :)

Perhaps...

This post is a shout-out to my friend, Kay. For years she has teased me because I say "perhaps". She says that is very old-fashioned sounding and thinks it's such an English teacher thing to say. Well Kay, I asked Megan if she wanted to watch "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" and her response? "Perhaps, yes, Mommy!" I see now what you mean...kinda dorky. I've dorkafied my kid! She doesn't stand a chance! (But with a computer geek dad and an English teacher mom, did she ever stand a chance anyway?) Love ya, Kay!

Uncle Scott is the man!

We made it to a wrestling tournament! And what a good one for us to make it to...finally! Uncle Scott took 1st place, beating (literally...look at this picture of him inflicting pain) a kid that he had lost to earlier this year. He let Megan wear his medal, and she was so proud. She made sure everyone saw it. "See, Uncle Scott is the winner," she told me. We're ready for Districts next week! Yes, wrestling takes precedence over moving....

Toddler in an empty house...

After lunch with Grandpa, we headed down to our new house to do our first walk-through. Hmmm...what to do with a toddler, in an empty, freshly painted house for 3 hours? Well, first we played with her new Princess beauty kit present from Aunt Karlie. We pretend put on make-up, painted our nails, fixed our hair, etc. That was a huge distraction! But then that wore off...and she took off through out the house. She hid in closets and started pulling off the blue tape we had placed where we needed things fixed. I had to carry her around for a while, but that got old. She came up with her own game...we have an electrical outlet in the living room floor, so she decided that was the pitcher's mound. We played "Rangers" for a quite a while (see her wadded up wipey, or baseball in her left hand?). First she was Saltilamacchia; then she wanted to be Marlon Byrd.

Grandpa Day

We had our own designated "Grandpa Day." We went to Grandpa's work to show off the kiddos. Then we went to lunch. Megan was intent on holding baby Karah, "I hold baby Karah myself, okay Mommy?" was pretty much all she said to me the whole day. She got to hold her, but man, it scares me when she even touches Karah...glad Aunt Karlie wasn't around to see her man-handle her. Also, she found a little haven at the table. Her own little Chinese restaurant window bed, and made herself right at home.

Good Read

Just thought I'd share this for any book nuts out there...
I just finished a great book titled, Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. It is a wonderful story about a man, who after a pivital event, goes to work for a circus. There are very few books I recommend as a good read (Lovely Bones, Secret Life of Bees, and Ana Karenina are on the list, too), but this is definitely one. I felt like I knew all of the characters before I even got to chapter 3. Anyway, if you are in need of a good book, check it out. *Gran is sitting next to me reading it right now.*

I'm good for something....

I'm Megan's new slide!

My POOR minivan!!!

I was working on my grants at the library today, when they made an announcement..."Would the owner of a silver minivan, license plate #..." Yeah, that was me. What, did I leave my lights on? Nope. Someone broke into my minivan! In the library parking lot! The moron smashed the driver's side door, trashed my car (more than it is normally trashed), and stole Jason, my GPS navigation system. Luckily one of the librarians saw the whole thing, and even chased the guy (that's not a normal service provided by the library, you know) - but didn't catch him. When the jerk broke in, he pried the window with something, so he bent the frame; when the glass sheet fell, it scraped the paint all down the driver's side door. I'm pissed! But I'm so glad I had taken my camera and purse in the house last night!!! Off to the repair shop, without a window, in the freezing cold...

The House looks like a HOUSE!

We have carpet! We have a backsplash! We have light fixtures! We have electricity! We have a final walkthrough on Friday! We should close on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday of next week!

Negotiations with a 2 year old

Over the past few days we've had to bribe Megan to take her medicine. It was pretty nasty stuff, so I would tell her that if she took it nicely (not spewing it back into my face) that she could have a sucker. It's been the same sucker, put back into a baggie, but a sucker none-the-less. Now she's become the queen negotiator. Anything I want her to do, she turns around with a suggestion for a reward for herself if she does it. For example, "Megan, do you need to go potty?" with a response, "I go potty and then I get a sucker, okay?" And if I do not agree, then she won't do it. Seriously. "Megan, please pick up your toys," with a response, "I pick them up then get a sucker, okay?"..."No, not this time," with a response, "No clean-up." At the doctor's office yesterday she told me she'd get a shot if she could have a Jamba Juice! (by the way...no Jamba Juice, but the nurse walked in with a sucker!!)

Tootsie Pop Club

You're looking at the president and VP of the Tootsie Pop Club. What's better than an 'aquareene' Tootsie Pop with Papa?

Welcome, Letter R

The Letter "R" made it's debut in Megan's vocabulary this weekend. Gran is no longer "Gan"; tree is no longer "tee". While it's so much easier to understand her, it's kinda sad! She's growing up so quickly! I'll just go into depression when she learns how to say her "sp" and "sm" sounds instead of "fell" for smell, and "feshull" for special.

Good birthday

Daddy and Megan treated me to a wonderful birthday. We ate at Cheesecake Factory (mmmmm), and they bought me a new Trek bike and helmet! I'm sitting here in my workout clothes, waiting to go for a spin around the block. Hopefully it goes better than the sled ride! :)

**UPDATE: You will be happy to know that I made it around the block upright! No cut on my face...no accidents. But it was freakin' cold!!!**

Sweet Grandpa and Grandma

Grandpa and Grandma brought us dinner and chocolate ice cream cake last night for our birthdays! Megan had a hard time blowing out the "candles"...it threw her into coughing fit and made Grandma a little nervous when it looked like she was about to cough all over the cake! :) She got a card from Granna and Double G with...drum roll...McDonald's money and stickers in it. She cannot wait to go spend her McDonald's money.

Breathing Treatments

The most upsetting thing, to her, is that she can't suck her thumb while the dinosaur mask is on her face.

Unbirthday

Poor little Megan has to postpone her 2nd birthday "party" (which was really just a family dinner) due to a very deep chest/respiratory/cough thing. I say thing because we just found out it was not pneumonia - whoo hoo - but it is still something causing a cough and fever. They gave her a breathing treatment at the doctor's office, and that just about sent her over the edge. She cried and cried and cried because it scared her and because she couldn't suck her thumb. I had to promise her a Jamba Juice to get her to stop having a spastic fit. It worked. From the doctor's office we went to get a chest x-ray - or in Megan's terms, "A pretty picture of my belly." We're going to spend some quality time indoors watching cartoons and movies...Megan will love that!

I love it when...

I thought since I have been so mean and cranky lately that I'd share something on a positive note:

I love it when...
Megan holds up one finger and says, "Just a minute."
Fox News pops up with "This is a Fox News Alert..."
the Tylenol P.M. kicks in.
Joann's has 50% off coupons.
I put pajamas on, straight out of the dryer.
other people have updated their blogs.
Daddy-o brushes my hair back from my face.
they call with an update on our house.
I finish a good book.
my Jamba Juice is ready on the counter.
my mom calls and says, "Have you had dinner yet?"
my dad calls and says, "I've been thinking..."
my friends and co-workers send an email 'just because'.
I run into a former student (only if I don't look like crap).
Uncle Scott wins a tough match.
I find cash that I've stashed somewhere.
Bobby Knight gets pissed and throws something during a game.
I get a new scrapbook magazine in the mail.
it snows.
Megan breaks out into random song.
a big thunderstorm is on its way.
I get to shop at Pebbles in my Pocket.

Please go to the big girl potty today...

Megan just ate almost an entire pint of blueberries for lunch, with a bite of pizza. I do NOT want to change that diaper!
*UPDATE: Daddy got it!!!*

My Little Elephant

Several weeks ago, while at Sundance for Christmas, I had a sledding incident. I went down the mountain, hit a bump, hit my head, and cut my cheek. It freaked Megan out. Yesterday, my little elephant that won't forget a single thing, retold me the whole entire story of how I went sledding, "fell down on the ice" and hit my face. From beginning to end...very specific details. Apparently that memory triggered the memory of Thanksgiving Day when I fell and broke the camera because she then led into that whole entire story too. Is this how it's going to be? She's going to remember and tell people about my incidents???

New favorite shirt

Megan came home from Grandma's house in Uncle Scott's pink wrestling shirt. She wore it for several hours after getting home.

Mommy: Megan, let's change your clothes.

Megan: No! This my Uncle Scott shirt.

Mommy: I know, but let's get something with shorter sleeves.

Megan: No! This my Uncle Scott shirt. My wrestling shirt.

Mommy: Aren't your legs cold?

Megan: No! This my Uncle Scott shirt for wrestling.

I finally got the message.

She's talented!

How do you get 5 toddlers across a busy parking lot safely? Ask Aunt Kelly! She is SO good!

Bouncy Day

Our friends and cousins went with us today to Bouncin' Bonanza. We had the entire place to ourselves. Although Megan doesn't actually love the bounce place, her cousins and friends do! Cousin Jayden had an absolute blast. He bounced all over the place, and ran to each destination. The girls were more interested in baby Karah and made for great babysitters. We are so lucky to have fun friends and cousins (and Mommies willing to drive, pay, and play). If you didn't get to go with us this time, we'll go again soon!

"Underwear!!!!" fit

Well, here we go with panties again. To explain, Megan was almost potty trained and then decided she'd had enough of that business. She wanted diapers and Pull-ups again, pretty much refusing to go to the potty. Okay, fine. But she'll hold it, even over night, and will go sometimes but on her schedule. I'd pretty much just given up and decided to focus on it after we moved. Tonight her cousins were over at the house, and she wanted to be a big girl like them (went big girl potty a few times today), so now panties are cool again. She was SO exhausted from her no-nap day that she threw a huge fit - alligator tears and all - about wearing "underwear" to bed like the big cousins. I got her calmed down, and had a talk about not going pee pee in bed, while Daddy covered the bed in towels, etc. Didn't I just read about this on cousin Mandy's blog? Those girls are so alike it's scary!

Let's see how tonight goes...stubborn little munchkin!

It's getting there!!!

We visited the house today. The brick is almost finished (they were finishing while we were there). The tile is all laid, and most of it (minus the bath and shower) is grouted. The cabinets are all in; the granite should be in tomorrow or Tuesday. There's not much left to do - whoo hoo!!

Play day

We finally broke into the Christmas loot. Megan and I played Candyland for about 5 minutes (she lasted longer than I thought she would). She did very well drawing cards, telling me the colors, and moving her player. After her 12 minute nap, the party moved into the kitchen. We played with Playdoh! We made worms, jewels, stars, and many other unknown designs. Daddy even joined in on the fun during half-time.

Forever the nosey English teacher

I'm currently working on a project that got me thinking. I am reading Romeo and Juliet, which I hated in high school. Now that I'm old, it's not so bad. What an interesting story and phenomenal characters. Shakespeare truly was an artist with words.

Just out of curiosity, I'm wondering what literature (novel, play, poetry, etc) you were forced to read in high school or college that you later enjoyed or influenced you in some way, and why. Also, I'm wondering what project(s) you remember having to do over a book, poem, movie, etc. Please respond in the comments or to me via email - I respect your privacy, so anonymous is cool too. Feel free to encourage other friends and family members to participate. I really am curious to know!

Megan LOVES baby Karah

I found this while looking through Christmas pictures tonight. This is how Megan was with Karah the entire trip. I wonder what else I can find to post from the trip...

Eyeball update

I had my first follow-up appointment today, and it is official - 20/20 without my glasses. Even though I was less than thrilled with the whole thing yesterday (pissed is a good word for it), I am extremely pleased with my LASIK today. Unfortunately, there are no pictures of me without my glasses because, well, there are these hidious black circles under my eyes that have been hiding behind my glasses for the past 10 years. As soon as I'm released for eye makeup, I'll be at the Clinique counter begging for help. THEN I'll take pictures.

I appreciate all of the help during this LASIK thing. My mom, sister (in town for a visit), mother-in-law, and hubby have been so sweet to help. I've had drivers, and MOST importantly, help with Megan - which I was informed yesterday they could not understand how I do it all day!!! Validation! She's SO fun, but she is SUCH a handful. Oh, and not to discount Megan's help; she has been very helpful with my eye drops. She checks on me regularly and supervises all eye drop sessions. She's also offered to give me a flu shot, several times, to make my eyes better. Her little doctor kit has come in so handy for those flu shots.

I can see clearly now...the glasses are gone!

We're home from Utah and getting back to normal. As normal as we've ever been.

So, I did it! I had LASIK today, and despite the Vasaline glaze over my eyeballs, I can see very well. Although the surgery sucked, and I would never want my eyeball suctioned again, it was over very quickly - 4 seconds of a laser on one side; 3 seconds on the other. And I can always use a good excuse for a mandatory nap! :) No more glasses for me. Now maybe I can go sledding and not cut up my face (if you haven't heard that story, it's a good one).

"Can you say...?"

Aunt Krissa and I would ask Rylee to say words while we were driving in the car. Eventually, Megan picked up on it too. She'd ask Rylee and Rylee would respond. It was SO cute! I love the part where she asks if Rylee can say "gas station".

Impromptu SLC tour

I'm blogging the rest of the Utah trip - finally! One night we went to pick up Uncle Matt from the airport, but we had some extra time to kill. We walked around Temple Square for a while, and sweet lady took our picture together. (I wasn't prepared to be out in public, hence my sweats and ragged out look).

"My beautiful gown..."

Megan got dressed for church in her Christmas dress (specially made by Gran) and said, "Oh Mommy, look at my beautiful gown!" It's all about the gowns, shoes, tiaras, etc. Too bad she wouldn't pose so gracefully!

Bow Count

Okay, the K&E Bow Factory is now closed. Final count: 68 bows in 2 days. Isn't that sick? Please do not ask me how much we spent or what we did with our children while we "bowed". It was a very bonding, literally sometimes with the hot glue gun, experience. We have only a few flesh wounds, yet no visible blood on any of the bows, and we did not burn the house down (although the oven and glue gun worked overtime). At this rate, Megan and Rylee will have to wear 5 bows a day to get them all worn. Must they all match? :) And PLEASE do not inspect or analyze the bows on the heads.

Hey, we have brick!

K&E Bow Factory

If you know me, you know I'm way too cheap to pay out the wazoo for Megan hairbows - which is why Megan's hair normally looks pitiful. BUT, I've been borrowing Rylee's bows for Megan's hair while we've been here, and I've felt bad about how homely I let her look. We were at the store the other day, and a lady showed/told us how to make a bow. Last night we got ambitious, Googled other bows, found an awesome bow instruction site, and wha-lah the K&E Bow Factory came to life. We made several trips to craft stores to select ribbon to match outfits and then got busy. Perhaps we stayed up a little late...is 2 a.m. late???? We are so proud of ourselves!!!!!

Missing out on Lone Star

Okay so I thought it wouldn't bother me, but for the first time in 8 years (I think) I'm missing the Lone Star Duals wrestling tournament back at home. I miss watching Scott wrestle! But I guess I'm getting a taste of what my out-of-state siblings have to go through. The only way I know what's going on is to wait for a phone call after the match is over. That sucks.

50 degrees just isn't the same

I heard on the news that it was 50 degrees, with a "lizard" due tomorrow, so I suggested we go to the park. Aunt Krissa looked at me funny, but agreed, so we headed out with the girls. I know now why Aunt Krissa looked at me funny...50 degrees at home is WAY different than 50 degrees here. It was freakin' cold and windy! We made it for about 5 minutes before we chickened out. The girls were irritated at us and both pitched fits on the way back to the car. Silly Texas Mommy!!!

Worn out

You'd think we ran them up and down the mountain or something...both girls were so tired so early last night. Because we weren't sure how much longer they would last, we went to dinner at the same time as all the old folks (at around 5 pm). Rylee was really sleepy; Megan was just being cute. We made it through dinner with little incident.

The Target Challenge

Holy cow. Krissa and I are in way over our heads with these two, out in public. We tried to keep the little jumping beans in the basket, but they just kept standing up and being obnoxious. We tried bribery - that didn't work. We tried trickery - that didn't work. We tried time-outs (Aunt Krissa administering time-out above) - that didn't work. But hey, we're feeling pretty good about ourselves...at least we weren't asked to shut our kid up by three people in a store today (we actually saw a knock-down-drag-out confrontation about a kid screaming at a different store today - wow, that's a story for ya).

Where does she get this stuff?

Megan's two favorite things to say in public these days are: "...round yond virgin..." and "...gay apparel...". What in the world? She keeps saying them at the top of her lungs, in public. Aunt Krissa and I just shake our heads and laugh. Could she not pick ANY other part of the songs to repeat over and over?

Updated house pictures for 2008