Snow Day

We ended up getting close to 4" of snow by this morning. I much rather have snow to play in, than ice. I found out today, that playing in the snow is a lot more fun when you're a kid than an out of shape adult. Needless to say, we had fun. I bundled Adriana up today because she kept pointing outside saying, "no,no" (No meaning Snow). We didn't stay out there very long. I think it took longer to get her dressed in all the gear than the time we actually spend playing outside. Ryan went to work for a little bit today, but was still home around 1:30pm. When Adriana got up from her nap, Ryan took her out to play again. They were outside for close to an hour. They didn't want to come it, but my baby's cheeks were rosy red. Here are some pics from our fun day out in the "no".
P.S. This was the first time Adriana has really ever seen snow or gotten to play in it. Next year we need to by a sled!



She loved eating the snow.


However, it left her face very cold.

Zoe weathering the cold weather.

Well, I have to hand it to the weather people, they got it right for once! It started sleeting and freezing rain yesterday afternoon, and it took Ryan about an hour and a half to get home from Branson (it normally takes 25 minutes or so). I don't know that it has stopped since it started. I personally don't mind this kind of weather, I wouldn't want it everyday, but its nice every once and a while. It was pretty slick out today, so Ryan didn't go to work. We actually made the best of our day today. We FINALLY got Adriana switched over to a "big girl" bed. I am/was very nervous about this transition. I'm mainly concerned because, I think she'll get up and play or tare up her room when she's suppose to be in bed. I have been anxious/nervous about the switch. I bought her bedding for her room a few months ago and have had the bed in our spare room, just waiting for the right time. I'm glad we did it. She had a blast help set up and she loved climbing in it and pretending to sleep. The test was at nap time today. She did so good! She went right to sleep. It is now bedtime and we are having some trouble getting her down, but hopefully she will go to sleep soon. For some reason, bedtime at night is harder for her to wind down and go to sleep. Here are some pictures of her new bed and her zonked out during nap time.




Her room is still a work in progress, but hopefully we can finish getting everything in its place by tomorrow.


Here is a video of Adriana "talking" to her daddy, while putting up her new bed.

Sorry I have been so slack on my blogs lately, for some reason, I just feel like I have been so busy, although I haven't.
I have been meaning to write for some time now, but with the threat of a "big ice storm", I figured I would write in case our power goes out. They say its suppose to be pretty bad. I really don't put much stock in what weather people say, since they are wrong most of the time, but I do think we will see some ice out of the whole thing. The last time we had a big ice storm was in January 2007, we didn't get ice as bad as people in Springfield, but we had it bad enough that our electricity went out for a few hours. If that happens again, I don't know what we will do. It dawned on me today that if our electricity goes out, we won't be able to run any water, since we have a sewage lift pump. No flushing the potty, showering, brushing teeth, or washing hands, needless to say, we won't have many friends wanting to come by and save us, since we would be stinky and gross. Anyway, I guess I'll believe it when I see it.
On to a more pleasant topic, besides our odor. Adriana has really been talking a lot lately. She has been jabbering and telling us lots of things. She really can't say too many words still, but I think her vocab has picked up a few new words. She also has really gotten into learning sign language and has caught on so good to that. She is really becoming more and more like a little kid and outgrowing her baby ways.
Here are some random pictures taken within the last few weeks.


Adriana's Chocolate Goatee


Adriana sleeping. I thought she looked so peaceful
and that Dora's hair on her pillowcase looks like
it belongs on Adriana's head.


Me and my girls, none of which looked at the camera.



Zoe not so happy to have her sister so close.



Coloring with daddy.

Catching up

I felt like its been forever since I have posted anything. A lot has gone on since I've posted last, but just haven't had time to sit down and write.
For starters, my parents FOUND A HOUSE! Its such a cute house! I'm so glad they got one. They don't close on it until Feb 20th and are still getting all the paper work taken care of, but they are very excited to say the least. They are still renting and hopefully the land lady will let them brake their lease. Anyway, when they get settled in, I'll post pictures.
I have also been busy planning Adriana's birthday. She turned 23 months old on the 19th, and its hard to believe that she will be 2 next month. We are having a Dora themed Birthday party and I hope she will enjoy it. I'm looking forward to Ryan's family coming up and spending a couple of days with us over her birthday.
I know that there is more, but I feel brain dead. Life is good with us, and we're staying busy. I'll try to post something more interesting later.

Doing the Dee-shes

Adriana's new hobby is helping anyone do the dishes (or as she calls them, the dee-shes). She just dances around and keeps saying dee-shes, dee-shes. It really does make her day to help with the the dishes. I have taken this video for evidence when she gets to be a teenager and hates doing the dishes, that there was once in her lifetime that nothing made her more happy than to help with the dishes.
Now every night after dinner, she and Ryan do the dishes and sweep the floor, she's in hog heaven!
Also, in this video you can hear her say "Doh" which really means Dora the explorer. She loves "Doh" but has never really seen the carton. I just bought her cups one day with Dora on them and she has loved "Doh" ever since. Whenever Adriana sees Dora, she just says real loud, "Doh, Doh!". When we were in Alabama we went to a restaurant to eat lunch after church. At the table next to us was a little girl that resembled Dora, with a dark complexion and dark hair. Adriana spotted her and kept saying "Doh, Doh!" real loud. Of course, they didn't know what she was saying, and may have been offended if they did know that my child was calling their child Dora, who knows. Anyway, me and Ryan thought it was so funny. Since she loves Dora so much, we are going to have a Dora themed Birthday Party for her next month, its hard to believe that she will be 2 in 34 days!




P.S. Her telling me "bye" is her settle way of telling me to get lost.

H2O

They say to drink a lot of water each day. Since starting to work out, I'm trying to eat better and cut out sodas. So today, I tried to drink more water. Well, both my girls, Adriana and Zoe, managed to knock over my full glasses of water at 2 different times throughout the day. Maybe I'll stick to sodas, at least I've never had those knocked over.

Wrapped around her finger

We always spend Sunday afternoons at my parents house. Mom makes a yummy lunch for all of us and we let Adriana take a nap there and then play games or watch TV. Yesterday we stayed there all day. We didn't leave until 7:30pm or so. I had a KILLER headache. I know I'm a baby. I never get headaches but this one throbbed with every heartbeat. I told Ryan that if I didn't feel good on Monday that he would have to take Adriana to school for me. Well after popping some Tylenol PMs, I was out like a light and woke up refreshed. Ryan was going into town this morning anyway, so I had him take Adriana to school, so I could go to my new workout class, Zumba (which by the way, I was 30 minutes late to, because I read the time wrong, way to go!). Anyway, Ryan took Adriana to school and she normally goes in so happy and ready to spend some time there. This morning, however, she kicked and screamed and held on to her daddy's neck crying, "No Addy, No!" Well of course this was like ripping out Daddy's heart. Ryan can't stand to see his little girl so upset. The teachers pryed her off of him and he just had to walk away. He called me when he got outside all upset and told me how sad it was to leave her like that. Now, don't think I'm not a robot or anything, but I know she LOVES school so I figured this was just an act for Ryan. When I went to pick her up, the teachers told me about the drama this morning, and said that as soon as Ryan walked away she was fine. She knows how to pull at her Daddy's heartstrings, and let me tell you....it works!

Christmas Pictures....Finally!

Note: I tried to get this posted last night, but it took over an hour and a half to download pictures, so better late than never.


These first set of pictures are of Christmas day. The kids had a lot of fun opening gifts. It took Adriana and Riley a little longer to get into, but Jack knew the procedure and was very excited to play with all his new toys.


Ryan reading a new book to Adriana.


Everyone say "cheese!"


They had a blast in the big tub.


The cousins in their PJs after bath time.


Jack trying to stop all the Wii madness.



This set of pictures is from the surprise party we threw for Ryan for his big 3-0. We had invited is best friend and his wife and then a friend from high school was able to come. We had a great time and Ryan was very surprised and happy to see his friends. The guys had fun reminiscing about high school days and playing football. We had a great time!



Ryan's look of surprise after walking in the door.


Ryan blowing out 30 candles.


Danny, Ryan and Stephen. All good friends from High School.

This set of pictures is from the Sunday after Christmas. Ryan's grandparents and aunts and uncles were able to drive up from Florida for the day to see us. We had a blast! We were able to get a good visit in with them and catch up on lost times.


4 generations.


Adriana giving Mamarine kisses.


All Us Girls...we missed you Kara!


Papaw and Adriana playing


Just a Swingin'



Picture with Great Aunt KK (Adriana wasn't in the mood)


Playing with Great Uncle Metz. This was the first
time she had meet Metz, it took her a while to warm up.


The guys just chillin'

I am truly blessed, I say this from the bottom of my heart, that I have the best "in-law" family (by family, I mean Ryan's WHOLE family) anyone could ever ask for. Everyone is so loving and accepts me and my family for who we are. I so wish we could all be closer and see each other more often. We truly had a great time in Alabama, and can't wait to go down there again, hopefully soon.

I know, I still have been a slacker and have yet to post pictures, who knows, I might still do that tonight. I went to this exercise class at this church here in Ozark, the same church I go to MOPS at. Anyway, the program is called Zumba. Has anyone heard of this? Its a salsa, African Dance type class. (Well, since its at a Baptist church, they can't call it "dance" so they call it "creative movement") I know it sounds weird but its really a fun way to get some exercise. Anyone who knows me and my coordination knows that seeing me in a fast paced, dance type aerobics class, can imagine what a fool I made of myself. The good thing is, I wasn't the only crazy one there. I had a lot of fun and signed up for a months worth of classes. Who knows "Dancing with the Stars" maybe calling me next...

Random Thoughts

I don't know why I feel like writing all these little things down that I have floating in my head, but I guess if you're really bored, as apparently I am, you'll read them.

We are currently at the beginning stages of potty training, no not Ryan, but Adriana. She thinks of it more as a game, but at least she is showing interest in sitting on the toilet. Last night she was sitting on there and actually tinkled a little and looked so shocked. I started clapping and telling how good she did, and then she did the sign language for "more" also while saying the word more. She went a little more and grew even more excited for herself. That was the first and only time thus far that she has actually gone, but we are so proud of her.

I was sitting here a few minutes ago e-mailing someone and all of a sudden Adriana came up to me screaming and crying. She had gotten a bottle out of the trash and had put it in her mouth. Earlier I had done a load of laundry and had cleaned out the lint trap. Well, I guess when she went to get the juice bottle out of the trash, she grabbed some lint and put it in her mouth. She had it all over her hands and in her mouth. I tried to clean it up the best I could and told her to take a drink of water to help it get out of her mouth. The tears were still flowing! The child could fall off the back of the couch (not that she has), and not cry as much as she did with some lint in her mouth. Can we say, Drama Queen?!

I was out and about today and had this thought. I saw someone in their pajama pants. I don't get that. I have to admit that when I was in college, I might have ran to Wal-Mart in my pj pants, but when I see adults running errands with Spongebob Square Pants on their PJ pants, I just have to stop and ask "WHY?" . I don't get it at all! If they ran out of clean laundry, stay home! I don't know, just one of those things. If you are guilty of this crime of fashion, I'm sorry.

I had some more deep thoughts, but I have forgotten them. I'm sure you are highly disappointed not to hear all of my ramblings. Have a great day!

I feel like I'm letting everyone down by not having new posts. It has been so hard for me to get back into the swing of things. I can't even tell you the date without looking at the calendar. The holidays screwed me up being towards the end of the work week. Ryan would work 2 days and then was off for the holidays and then worked one day and then was off for the weekend. That just screwed me up! If you could get such a thing like Jet Lag from riding in the car from to and from the same time zone, I would have it. This last trip to Alabama just wiped me out! Don't get me wrong, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and I wouldn't have changed anything about it (expect maybe stay a few days longer), but its a lot of work to drive that far, with a toddler in tow.
Adriana was back to school today and was so excited. She loves school and I think she really missed her teachers and friends there. Ryan's back to a full week of work and I'm doing the same thing. Somehow laundry, dishes, cooking and cleaning never take a holiday vacation. Ryan helps out a lot around the house, so I'm very thankful to have his help.
I know, I still need to post Christmas pictures, but our computer just takes so long to download and half the time the stupid computer shuts off in the middle of doing posts, that I just don't have the energy right now to fool with it. I hope to get something up in the next couple of days.
I don't even know what I wrote in my last post, but Adriana has a double ear infection so we've been fighting that along with a bad cough. Again, I miss my sleep!
Well, I hope all is well in the new year with everyone. I know this year will go by just as fast if not faster than 2008, so enjoy each day!

Back to "normal"

Well, we're finally back to the same ol' same ol'. I have taken down all Christmas decorations, I have almost finished unpacking from our Alabama trip and we are starting to get back into a regular routine.
We had a great Christmas holiday. We had so much fun going to Alabama and seeing our wonderful family and friends. I have a lot of good pictures, but don't think my computer can handle downloading pics at the current time.
I have felt like the last few days have been a whirlwind, once I get everything in order, I blog something more interesting. Hope everybody had a great holiday season. Here's to a great New Year!