Today

Today

is one of those days

where I understand WHY people abuse alcohol and/or beat their children.

I'm NOT saying it's right.

Just sayin' I understand.

We're Pleased to Announce....

FINALLY

at sixteen months (to the day), Ailee has decided to walk.

The Rule of Thirds

Have you ever heard of this? The rule of thirds. Things happen in sets of three. Three good things; three bad things; three scary things; three calls to 911. Wait...what?
Yeah, what will happen next, I wonder. So, remember last spring, when I had to call 911 about a fire at the park? Well, today wins in the "what the heck do I do" category.
Kade got home early from work today, so, I went out to have some solo shopping time. (I love shopping without kids...it's so peaceful, and actually enjoyable.) My first stop was to one of my new favorite stores here, Wrought 'n Apples. Love it. Cute stuff. So fun. Next, I had to pick up some crafting supplies at Joann's. So, I'm wondering through the store, just browsing, thinking up things I could possibly need so that I don't have to come back with kids. I finally decide I can live with just what's in my hands, and I start to head for the front. As I pass an aisle, I notice a woman acting kind of strange. Kind of spinning around, looking up at the lights. My first thought was oh, there's a bee flying around her head, and she's trying to watch it and make sure it doesn't land on her...but that's a weird thought, I know. It's winter...no bees. I decide to be my usual un-nosy self and keep walking. About 2 steps later, I hear her fall to the ground. I look over and she's convulsing on the ground. I quickly call to some of the workers around the corner that we needed help, and to another costumer to call 911. I tell you, nothing makes you feel more helpless than kneeling next to a person having a seizure. 14 years of CPR certification, and I still felt like an idiot, not knowing what to do. I was so glad when another costumer, a nurse, came over. She was choking a bit on her saliva, so we rolled her onto her side to help her breathe better. I was pretty relieved to turn things over to the paramedics. As I paid for my things at the register, it took all my strength not to burst into tears. What a weird feeling. Somebody else is lying on the floor passed out, and I'm the one that wants to cry. What a weenie!
So what about this rule of thirds? Is it real? We've already covered:
1. Fire
2. Medical Emergency
3.?????
What's left? Robbery? A rabid dog? Weirdo stalkers? Yikes--who knows, and I really hope I don't find out. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go lock all my doors.

How Can I Resist...

...That smile and those pretty brown eyes?

Ailee lives in her own little world. She is a mockingbird, and will copy just about any noise she hears; a songbird that loves anything musical; and my personal cuddlybeast. She loves to play (especially with phones), snuggle, follow her big sister, and show us how stubborn she can be. We couldn't imagine our lives without her!

Tricker Treats

You know, holidays are so much better with kids. I quite like doing corny, silly celebrations, but Kade isn't too big of a fan. Now that I have a 4 year old, I can get away with putting goofy, hairy spiders like this: all over my front porch. I quite liked our spiders this year. Maryn and I made them together, then, with the help of her little friend, Lindsey, we put them up all over the siding of the house with paper clips. If you caught them in the afternoon light, they actually looked like really big, hairy spiders. I'm kinda bummed that I have to take them down, now.
Last Monday for FHE, we carved our pumpkins. Well, I carved...Maryn and Ailee aren't quite ready to use knives yet. Maybe next year. Instead, the girls took on the yearly tradition of painting pumpkins.

It ain't fun unless you're makin' a mess!
Ailee was very serious about her painting.

It makes me laugh how much she picks up from watching older kids. I had her with me in Primary today. She was watching all the kids raise their hands to participate, so she decided she needed to raise her hand, too. At least she has a good big sister to copy cat.

Maryn posing with our finished pumpkins.

Since we had a big snow fall this week, the girls and I went out on Friday to get winter gear. Of course we had to try it out that afternoon. In the spirit of Halloween, we built a snow vampire:

(Don't mind the random carrot stuck in his chest) It's just too bad that he melted before Halloween. Poor little guy didn't have much time on this earth to fulfill his scary destiny.

Saturday morning, I dressed up the girls in their costumes for some pictures. Naturally they were uncooperative, and the sun was shining too bright in their eyes. Ailee was a flower this year, and refused to let me get a good front picture of her. The flower petals did make a great sun hat for her. I had to stick a ladybug on her shirt to cover up a picture. It took a lot of "you're so pretty"s to get her to keep everything on.

She did make a pretty little flower! I thought the leaves were a genius idea. One of those middle of the night, laying in bed epiphanies.

Maryn asked to be a ladybug this year. She has really grown to love bugs these last six months. She often draws pictures of caterpillars and ladybugs for me. They're pretty cute. I tried my best to find a plain black sweatshirt for her costume, but struck out, hence the Tinkerbell on the front. Don't let it throw you.

It shows much better from the back.

I sewed another set of arms onto her costume, but the thread that hooked them to her sleeves, so they moved with her arm, kept breaking, so you can't see them very well in this picture here. They too, were another late night, laying in bed epiphany, and very cute.

Halloween in action. Here we are, scouring the neighborhood for candy.

Maryn loved Halloween this year. It involves her two favorite things: Candy and dressing up. I can't wait for Christmas.