Halloween recap

Wow, seriously, we partied up this Halloween season and I'm officially exhausted. It was a blast though.
I had worked earier that day and as I was driving home I found myself tired (shocking) and not really in the mood to trick-or-treat. Not even 10 seconds after we walked in the door, kids started knocking. At first Kels was a little skeptical but once she figured it all out she was hooked. One of the neighbor boys came over in a really scarry scream costume & mask. I was worried Kels would have nightmares so I made him take off his mask before he got any candy so Kels could see who it really was. She laughed so hard and loved it. And then she was ready to trick-or-treat all night long. I let the night be totally up to her. We started at Heather's house and then went to Jenni's. Then she couldn't decide between Miss Kathryn's or Bentley's so she vetoed both and decided to go to Grandma Suzy's. We thought Grandpa Jerry had to work but when we got to their house he was there. What a fun surprise! The loaded Kelsie's pumpkin up with pretzels and chocolate and next thing I knew she was raiding their pantry for goldfish and cheetos. Awesome. Then Larry called and decided to come over too. Jerry & Suzy bought Kels a little motorized 4wheeler that she loves to cruise around in. They asked if she could ride it and go trick-or-treating in their neighborhood. The weather was amazing and Kels was on an obvious sugar high so I naturally agreed it would be a great idea. We made bank in their neighborhood. One lady held the bowl out for Kels and said "take what you want" so she grabbed THREE full size chunch chocolate bars. At another house a really old man opened the door and gave her a fiber one bar. Super. And she also managed to score at another house a new pencil, coloring book, and eraser with a black cat on it.  That was her favorie of the night. In fact she even slept with it last nigt.

Holy Temper Tantrum

I always hear people say that the "terrible two's" are nothing compared to the TERRIBLE THREES. Well today we demonstrated that truth. I've actually been pretty lucky. Kelsie is pretty mellow for the most part. She doesn't throw major tantrums... until just lately. Last week she cried hysterically because I wouldn't buy her a toy at the store. Sure, she is spoiled and normally I might give in but this time was different because we already had that EXACT same toy at home. That's a little rediculous.

She is 100% girl and usually we have issues with shoes. The ones I pick usually aren't right. She will yell "they're buggin me" and kick them off. Sometimes its because they aren't the right color. A couple weeks ago she was out playing in the dirt and had some ballet flats on. They got some dirt in them and now no matter how much I clean them they are still dirty to her and she won't wear them. Seriously.
Its been a little chilly lately and today I had picked out the cutest outfit for her to wear. Its purple pants and pullover hoodie. Super comfy- I promise. Well I put a tshirt on her first and then the hoodie. Instantly the hood part was "buggin" her. Awesome. I pretended to fix it and hurried her out the door so we could go to grandpa Jerry's before preschool. Well, the tantrum escallated and she bloody murder screamed the way. I knew it wasn't hurting her. In fact, I knew it was one of the most comfortable outfits she has. So, the horrible mom in me, turned the radio up really loud to drown out her screams. I know its awful and I never would do that if I knew she was hurting. We got to Grandpa Jerry's and she stopped crying but wasn't about to let go of me. I carried her inside and laid her down on the couch. I gave her a big hug and kiss and told her if she needed to take off her hoodie she could. Her eyes welled up with tears again and I ran out the door (knowing Grandpa Jerry would take good care of her). Then I cried the whole way to work. Then I came into work and cried some more. My friends at work came running in my office wondering what was wrong. It was hard explaining that I was only crying because my kid didn't like her shirt. Sheesh- what a morning. And all this happened before 8:30. Then I texted Jerry to make sure Kels was ok. Her replied and said that she was happy and singing along with the TV. And here I am bawling at work. Awesome. After preschool I picked her up. She was happy as could be (in her purple hoodie too). I asked her why she was so sad this morning and she said it was because I covered up her favorite snowbird tshirt. Then she put in the request that I go to the halloween store and buy all the snowbird shirts they have. Um....

Being a mom is seriously the hardest job I've ever had to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Zoo

I'm not ready for snow

Dear Mother Nature. We need to have a talk. I'm really not ready for the snow. Its just barely fall and I haven't gotten my share of leaf viewing pleasure in yet. Just because I may be clumsy and "fall" quite a bit doesn't mean we need to skip the season. Please. I know Kelsie got excited and screamed YEAY when she saw the white stuff today but its still not ok. And sure, she was so cute shoveling a big handful of powder in her mouth, but she'll also be just fine if we wait at least one more month. Then, I will gladly welcome the winter. Please take back what you just dumped and consider my plead... 

St. George / Little Mermaid at Tuacahn

It takes a village to raise a child

Our lives our crazy. Monday Wednesday & Friday's, Kels spends the day at Gay's. I do the morning carpool with Kels and Kailee. Brittany picks them both up after work and brings Kels home. Tuesday and Thursday's we're all over the place. Here's our morning routine on those days. Wake up between 6 & 6:30 am. Breakfast, dressed, hair done, bags packed (one for preschool & one for Gay's) & out the door by 7:45. Kels gets dropped of to Grandpa Jerry around 8 am & I head to work. Grandpa Jerry takes Kels to preschool at 9:30 and then he goes to work. I leave on my lunch break around 11:30 and pick up Kelsie from preschool and take her to Gay's and then rush back to work. Its crazy, trust me, I know. I just want the best for Kels. I love how much she is learning. Her brain is like a sponge and soaks up so much information. I know I don't have the skills/knowledge to teach her everything. It makes me that much grateful for everyone else in her life. She comes home with art projects and letter and number recognition almost every day from both preschool & Gay's.

Today Jerry had a Dr. appointment and wasn't able to take Kels to preschool. I ok'd it with my work and brought her with me for a couple hours before she needed to be to school. As we were driving there, she sat contently in the back seat excited to see her friends. As I turned down the road she piped up and said "hey, is this sugary factory road?" I was a little blown away and shocked that she knew which street we were on. Then we made another turn and she said "and is this wasa street?" Now my jaw was on the floor. Obviously its something that Grandpa Jerry had taught her but I never in a million years would think to teach her about streets and directions. I don't think I even knew that streets had names until college. Ok, so that's a little sarcastic but at 3 years old??? Seriously. I want to say that I'm sure she got her smarts from me but as soon as I say that I'll completely lose my mind. I'm just waiting for the day when I show up at the wrong place and at the wrong time. When/if that happens, please forgive me. I've got a lot going on in this little cranium of mine. :) Most of all I need to express my extreme gratitude to all those involved in Kelsie life and for teaching her so much.

I just read this article and fell in love with it. Check it out here:  It takes a village to raise a child.

Kels has been doing so well at preschool. Here is some of her work:

Reading anywhere & Rama-noody

Kelsie LOVES book. A lot! Usually she asks me to read to her but sometimes she just likes to read to herself. This is where I found her "reading" the other day...

 Her favorite food is still ramen noodles. I swear she could eat them for every meal every day. Of course I don't let her but when she sees me making them she gets so excited and runs around yelling "rama-noody" Its so cute!

So I found her slipper collection on the stool the other day. It made me realize that I just might have a slipper buying obsession. I can't help it. She loves them and wears all these!

Cowgirl it up, baby!

We made a quick trip to Roosevelt last weekend. Kels has been begging to ride Pizza (her horse). She talks about him almost everyday! I need to frame some of these for my office. Too freaking cute!!!

 Even Mazee got in on the action!

 LOVE this picture!!! When it comes to Kelsie, Dustin AND Pizza are such good sports...

 Giddy-Up Mister Billsters!

Good Mommy

Kelsie is a super good mommy to all her stuffed animals. They receive special treatment all the time. Usually she makes them beds and tucks them in tight. This one particular day I walked into the kitchen to find several of them with bibs on "eating their dinner".

Elephant

Kelsie really loves her big giant elephant. She's actually grown taller than him! :)

Healing Field

Last Sunday was the 10 year anniversary of 9-11. Have you been to the healing field in Sandy? Colonial Flag puts up the display for about a week every year. I am lucky to work so close and have visited the field every year so far. It takes my breath away and puts in perspective how many lives were lost that day. A local artist made a huge sculpture of the 3 firemen that raised our flag in all the rubble that horrible day. The sculpture will be a permanent display in front of the Sandy city building. I was anxious to take Kelsie even though I knew she wouldn't understand. Brittany & I made plans to take the girls over after work. I was excited that Emily, Kalo-man & Aunt Stephie could join us.  

After visiting the field for a bit we all went over to Chick-fil-A for dinner. I realized how many people lost someone special that day and it really made me appreciate those close to me. I have such great family! And at the end of the day when my kiddo was begging for ice cream there was NO WAY I could tell her no.  

Snowbird, again Part 2

These are a few more fun pics from our last week at Snowbird. We had a pizza party and even even played in the room with beach balls. I think my favorite was eating dinner out on the  balcony. Easy Mac anyone???