Halloween Night

This post is a few days behind because I kept forgetting to bring my camera in. On Halloween night we went to Willowbrook and participated in the festivities there. Kaylen really likes the moon bounce stuff. She also had fun this year with the trunk or treat. Of course we always like the cotton candy!!! We had to be there at 5:30 but at about 4:30 I decided that Kaylen needed a mask. So I set out to make her one. It turned out cute and she really liked wearing it.

All of the pictures of Allen and Kaylen have been turning out so cute lately. (At least to me ;)

Me and Kaylen has been more difficult to capture! Wiggle worm! :)


In this picture Kaylen is going through an obstacle course. At one point I thought I was going to have to go in after her. She was not in a hurry to bust through things. She preferred the more gentle approach. So she took her time but enjoyed every second of it!

I looove this picture of K looking up at Allen - she has gotten so sweet lately. She will just tell you that she loves you randomly. It means so much more when she was just thinking that on her own rather than being prompted by me first. I love this age!

Kaylen and Allen flying down the slide. I think it was more fun with her daddy because she went even faster!


A few things that Kaylen is doing right now that I don't want to forget:

She will say that she wants to tell you a "feecret" (secret - all of her s sounds are f's) So you bend over and she will say something random like puppies. Then she will giggle.

When she toots she will say, "I hear a wittle tooter monfter and I think he came from mommy." (or insert whoever else happens to be near by)

She loves her baby dolls and her favorite thing to do is to punish them. She will tell me that Shelly hit her and has to go to time out. Then she will ask her if she is ready to tell mommy that she is sorry. We play this game lots and the crimes are always different but this tells me that she really does understand right and wrong.

Last night she didn't eat dinner at all. I am resting on the couch and she comes in with a half-eaten cookie and says, "I have a tookie, mom?" I told her no because she hasn't eaten one bite of dinner. But that "tookie" is gone. So a few minutes later I come out of the office and she is running from the kitchen and I grab her little hand (complete with brand new cookie) and she said, "hello". Just as sweet as she could. So I took the cookie away and told her she had to eat dinner first. She cried and then she looked up at me and squinted her eyes in a glare! She was angry at me! I can't believe my little two year old can glare like that! Anyway... they learn quick!

Kaylen's Halloween Party at School

Today Kaylen had a little party at school. They did a performance where they sang songs and did motions. I couldn't get there until a little later so I missed that part but Allen showed me a video they took. Let me just say that the year and a half of music classes has not paid off for my sweet darling. We have the child who is completely oblivious that she is supposed to be doing what everyone else is doing. She is the one playing with her nose and even eating boogers while everyone else does the motions. Don't think that those videos wont be some serious blackmail when she gets older! I keep trying to tell her not to pick her nose and she just wont listen to me. Ha! After the program she got to go trick-or-treating around the building. Then they had a little snack party. She is going to be on sugar overload and there will be lots more where that came from tonight! I will say that I didn't think that I would be able to go and my planning period just so happened to allow me to catch part of it and I am so thankful! She is so stinking cute! On a sad note... I have looked absolutely everywhere for those darn owl glasses she had and I just can't find them. She is still cute but I loved those glasses. I will update our evening next week! Happy Halloween!!!!

Advanced Art Halloween Party

Okay so I really did a bad job of getting pictures from the night but we did have a great time. We had pizza and snacks, a smoldering cauldron of fruit punch, and a pinata full of candy (that we forgot to bust open). We carved pumpkins... I don't have one picture of the awesome creations :( We had a pie eating contest... the only thing I got pics of... they were fishing for worms with their mouthes. It was a mess! Then we just played games and basketball. It was lots of fun!

Blissfully Unaware

No Picture Update

With a title like that... why even read the rest?!?!

I haven't been taking too many pictures lately but I have had a lot going on! This past weekend we went camping with the Carlisles and the Foxes. They both have campers and the Carlisles camper is big enough for us to join them. It was really a good time. Kaylen's favorite part was the playground! The playground! we have that in our backyard! That night she kept saying she was ready to go home... she didn't quite understand that we were sleeping there. She finally understood and had the best time. It was really cold in the morning and the kids played constantly the entire time we were there. We didn't stay Saturday night because we had to go to our church and then we had Disney on Ice...

This was quite the adventure. For me, it was rather enjoyable. For Allen... well, let me just tell you what happened. We get there right on time and our old neighbors Erin and Ben Boles were there with their kids right behind us. So it was great to see them. (For those of you who don't live around here... she is one of our local news anchors). Well, soon after the event began Kaylen had to go potty. Allen said he would take her and so he grabbed her bag and left. When he came back he wasn't happy at all. Apparently her diaper had shifted or something and she didn't make it to the bathroom. He said it was like someone poured a large glass of water (but substitute that with urine) all down his leg. He was absolutely drenched. So he comes back and sits down with her and she ended up falling asleep. He asked me why he paid so much money to sit in the VBC doused in pee while holding his sleeping child. I will say she did wake up and saw the rest of the show and loved it. She is still talking about it. I think her favorite part was Tinkerbell. She is really crazy about her right now.

The last thing I wanted to say is that I am having my Advanced Art Halloween Party at my house tomorrow. I hope it goes well. My cleaning ladies have bailed on me and it has been a month since they last came. I thought I had a lot to do even with them coming... now I am totally swamped! On top of that... Allen and I have to dress up for our youth group's Halloween gathering this Sunday.

What should I be? I want to be comfortable, I need an easy idea... I don't want to do any sewing... I want to be funny... help!!

Sponge Rollers

Did anyone else out there spend many a night sleeping in sponge rollers? I know I sure did! And boy do those things curl your hair! I have been wanting to curl Kaylen's hair and I finally found some rollers at Wal Mart the other day. Last night after Kaylen's bath we set to putting the rollers in her hair. Now I hate to admit this but as a kid we always put panties on our head to keep from getting our curlers snaged while we slept. They were always clean... so don't go too far with that concept in your mind. For Kaylen, I had plenty a pair that had never been used so she really lucked out. Anyway, this was the scene after I took them down this morning: I must say that she cried the first three times she looked at herself in the mirror. I couldn't stop laughing. Mean old Mommy!




I tried to fix it a bit but her bangs were straight... ugh! That wasn't exactly what I was looking for but I had to be at work in 10 minutes and I am not using a hot curling iron on my wiggley 2 year old! Next time I will have to be sure her bangs are in rollers too... and I think I will use a bigger roller. What do you think?!?!

The best part about my birthday this year

There is nothing more precious than your 2 year old singing happy birthday to you. This was the highlight of my day:




Here is another outtake that ended in a trip to change the ole diaper. It cracks me up how she hides her face. So funny!

This is the Day!

If this isn't the cutest thing you've ever seen...

More Swimming!!! (Get ready for a lot of this.... I just can't help myself!!!)

This first pic is a Halloween preview. Can anyone guess what she is going to be? She absolutely loves wearing these glasses. I can't wait for her outfit (that I won on ebay for sooo cheap!!!) to come in!

The next two pictures are of Kaylen and her daddy. I had to run in the Care Center's 5K on Sat. morning so I got there a little late. Kaylen swam without a float belt (a.k.a. "backpack")! She replaced it for a noodle. She just keeps surprising me!

Okay... so she is seriously a monkey...

Last night Kaylen and I were at Emily's house since Allen was out of town. Well, the guys were all outside (Skip and Skylar were over there too) hanging out. The girls had been playing in Rylie's room and Emily and I were working on resizing some photo's so that she could email them out. Anyway, we go to check on the girls after we are done and this is where I find Kaylen:






















She has a banana in her hand (which she got off the counter on her way to the seat)and she is sitting in that seat. The only thing is that she had to of climbed up the stools and onto the counter on her own... then she climbed off the side of the counter and into the seat... so dangerous and she didn't even bat an eye! She was just sitting there happily munchin on a stolen banana!

I am so blessed!

I have been feeling extremely thankful lately. I truly have some of the best friends on the planet! Since moving to Huntsville, I have become so close to a lot of incredible people. I would consider many of these people as close as family. For example, Allen isn't out of town much but when he is, I have never gone without a meal at a friend's house. When I lived at my old house I always was invited over to chef Russ and Katherine's house. I desperately miss living next door to them. I hate that I am missing watching their new son grow up. (we were easily replaced by the new owners of our old house... boo!) But just because I moved doesn't mean that I am missing out on meals completely. This is because my army of amazing friends runs deep. The Foxes have always been right there having me over for dinner - even when I lived on the other side of the mountain. They are so good to me. And dinner isn't the only thing they have helped me immensly with. When we took on this project of renovating an older home, we really were not up for the challenge. We dont know all that much about rennovations. The Foxes are both very tallented in their fields that both lend itself to home beautification. When I was working on the inside I would call Emily and she would come to where ever I was... Lowes, the house, anywhere... and she would help me. She is a color queen. And have you seen my kitchen?!?! She did it! Amazingly talented! So then we get to my landscaping... I always hesitate to ask Stewart for help because that is the way he makes his living and he handles estates... he doesn't design beds for people who have a budget, if you know what I mean. He is a very busy man and I didn't want to take his time. But he said he would help me... Just look for yourself what he did! It is beautiful! I can't believe the difference it has made to my house. These plants aren't in the ground in these pics... we have a guy working on it today and then I will be finishing up what he doesn't get to this weekend. So I will post updates but I wanted you to see it so far. I came home and Stewart had these plants sitting in their spots. I am crazy about it! Georgous! The only thing I did last night is plant the junipers in the raised planter that runs along the front porch. Anyway, I am so excited about how great it looks. Here is a sneak preview:

PS. I have many more great friends than the ones mentioned in this email... So many of you are blessings to me and I feel like one of the luckiest people in the world! I know I could call many of you at any time and you would be there for me... even if it is just to say hi. I want you all to know that I am very thankful for your friendship and I am praying for all of my friends... especially today.

VIDEOS of K's second swim lesson

Bangs, Swimmer Kaylen and Manual Labor Allen

Allen and his dad framed up and poured a concrete ramp out by our storage shed this weekend. I was so proud of Allen for doing the majority of the work! They did an awesome job!



















Kaylen got a haircut last week. Ashley White cuts my entire families hair and she is awesome! If you dont have a great hair stylist, give her a call... she is at Attractions (soon to be Posh Pomegranate... I think). Anyway, Kaylen got bangs!



















Kaylen has been doing awesome in her swim class! I mentioned this in an earlier post but I am blown away by her. Those of you who have seen her death grip and blood curdling screams know the advancements we've made in two short weeks! Here are a few pictures of us but the best part is the two videos that blogger isn't letting me upload right now. I am going to keep working on it... anyway, she is a rockstar!

Kaylen

I am thinking about Kaylen right now. She is at the Doctor's office and I am missing it for the first time. Her daddy is with her so she will be just fine... I am more sad to be missing out than worried about anything. She has had a fever since Saturday so we are getting her looked at.

I have been meaning to write about our last boating event anyway. Notice the life jackets on the kiddos? Well, we had just gotten a citation for them not having them on while the pontoon boat was anchored and they were trying to sleep within arm's reach of Emily and I. The guy wasn't nice at all... definite power trip. But the end of the story is that I got the citation for the girls and will have to go to court (I think it is because it involves a minor) and the whole ordeal will be very pricey. I know court costs will be $228 and then whatever the fine per child is... I heard that it could be $150 per kid... Any math majors? Yes... $528! Extremely frustrating... especially considering their little lives weren't being threatened at all while they took naps under our watchful eye. I am thinking a warning would have sufficed... but what do I know?










































These last two pictures are from this morning. I got her ready to see the doctor before I left for school... everything but her shoes. Allen called me frantic about 10 min before her appointment looking for the shoes. I immediately told them they were in our bathroom... didn't think that would be difficult to see if he were getting ready in there. Oh well. Guys are funny. Kaylen's biggest thing lately is to have "puppy dog ears" (a.k.a. pig tails/pony tails... you get the point) She says it so cute and loves showing them off.

Recent projects and update

Congratulations to our good friends, the Eiland's. They had a gorgeous baby boy. He has the most beautiful blond hair ever! He was a week early so I didn't finish my projects for him until today. I really liked the burp cloths. My embroidery lady is awesome. I sewed the coordinating fabrics on and she did the magic. The last three photos are of a sleep sack I made out of one of Russ' old t-shirts. I did some sewing on the front to embellish things up a bit. I like the woof part but the dog bowl and bone (which you can barely see) didn't turn out as great as I would have liked. I should have stuck with the thicker thread. Anyway, here they are:



























UPDATE:
This weekend was awesome for the Wilson's - we didn't do anything at all! We had the most relaxing weekend and it was much needed after such a stressful week full of viewings, funerals, and a grand opening of our new youth facilities. On Saturday morning I took Kaylen to her first swim lesson. Some of you know how incredibly frightened she has been of water she cant touch in. I am talking clawing your neck, holding on so tight you cant pry her off of you, blood curdling screaming. This was again the scene when we got into the pool. All the other kids were splashing and playing... so happy. Not Kaylen. She was horrified. Let me just say that by the end she was wearing a float belt, kicking to me while holding on to no one! I couldn't believe it! I am so hopeful for the next 5 weeks! I couldn't be more proud of her. I really didn't expect her to get as far as she did yesterday until maybe the end of the time period. She blew me away! I hope to get pictures of her in swim class doing these amazing things I am talking about but that will have to wait until her daddy is with us to help out.
Kaylen did get sick on Saturday evening. She has been running a low grade temp but has been such a good girl. I have enjoyed it because she has been so snugly. This morning I had to get to church early for our big grand opening and she woke up while I was getting ready. I couldn't convince her to go lay in bed with her daddy so I got her a pillow and her blanket (Pooh Cover) and she fell asleep in the bathroom. This was around 7 am. Allen said she slept there until 9:30! Poor little thing. Tomorrow starts a new week. I have a huge paper due this week, a major project due the next and the equivalent of 10 two-page papers due two weeks after that. Then I can relax. So If I don't talk to you much over the next few weeks... you know why!

Yearbook Yourself

I decided to Yearbook Allen and I. Here is a recap from over the years:



1970


1970


1978 How come I look best as an African American?


1978


1988


1988


1994


1994


1998


1998... Allen had a pudgy stage...


2000


2000 Is that really Allen or what?!?!