The Poky Little Puppy's First Christmas

Kayla was in her first play! She was Poky Puppy and a very cute one at that. Very suiting for her also with her motto being, "Wait for me!"

I know this will be long, but it was such a cute play, I want to share it with you.

The North Pole is a busy place this time of year and yet Santa makes the time to keep track of each boy and girl and even puppies to see if they are naughty or nice.

Santa: "Ho, ho, ho, let's see here. The children at the bottom of the hill are helping their mother dust the living room. I'll make sure they are on the 'nice list'."

As Santa filled out his list he saw some little puppies were just waking up....

One winter morning, five little puppies tumbled out of bed and ran to the window excitedly. The whole world was white and sparkly.

Puppies: "Snow! Let's go play in the snow!"

Mother Dog: "Very well, but remember--don't sneak under the fence! And don't go running off up the hill!"

Puppies: "We won't!"

But when their mother was busy with her work, one puppy spoke up.

Puppy #1: "Our mother said we couldn't go under the fence..."

Puppy #2: "But she didn't say don't go over the fence!"

Puppy #3: "She said we couldn't go up the hill..."

Puppy #4: "But she didn't say don't go down the hill!"

Puppies: "Let's go!!"

Kayla: "Wait for me!"

Called the Poky puppy as she struggled through the snowdrifts.
(The puppies go over the fence and down the hill. The poky puppy struggles to get over the fence but gives up.)

Bluebird & Bunny: "Those puppies are going to get in trouble!"

The four lively little puppies ran and ran, until they came to a house at the bottom of the hill. They tiptoed to a window and peeked in.

Puppy #1: "Look, a tree, a beautiful tree!"

Puppy #2: "Wow."

Puppy #3: "And a star is shining at the very top of the tree."

Puppy #4: "I wish I had one!"

(The Poky puppy finally gets over the fence and to the middle of the stage and sits down.)


With that they turned and raced back up the hill as fast as they could. They met the Poky little puppy coming down the hill.

Puppies: "Come on! Hurry, let us tell you what we saw."
(The puppies arrive home and sit on their puppy bed.)

Child #1: "Did you see something looking in the window?"

Child #2: "No, but I see little paw prints."

Child #3: "I wish I had a puppy!"

As the puppies were telling the Poky little puppy about every thing they had seen at the house down the hill in flew a very wise crow.

Crow: "Caw! Caw! I can tell you many things about Christmas. I fly everywhere and see everything."

Crow told the five little puppies about Christmas trees and Christmas gifts. He told them about a jolly, fat man in a red suit who comes on Christmas Eve and leaves presents.

That night, as they snuggled under the covers, the puppies made exciting plans.

"Let's have Christmas," they said. "We'll write a letter to Santa Claus and we'll go into the woods and find a Christmas tree."

Santa (at his desk at the North Pole): "Those puppies sure are cute but they are not minding their mother. I may have to put them on the naughty list!"

But the next morning, the puppies Mother said crossly...

Mother Dog: "I saw muddy paw prints on top of the fence. And I saw puppy paw marks going down the hill!" (the five puppies hang their heads.) "Now remember, don't go under the fence or over the fence. Don't go up the hill or down the hill."

Puppies: "We won't!"


But when their mother was busy with her work, one puppy spoke up.

Puppy #1: "Our mother didn't say don't go through the fence..."

Puppy #2: "And I know a little place just right to squeeze through!"

Puppy #3: "Our mother didn't say not to go across the hill..."

Puppy #4: "And that's the way to the woods!"

Puppies: "Let's go!"

Kayla: "Wait for me!"
(The Poky little puppy struggled to squeeze through the fence--shaking her bum. The four lively puppies run to the woods.)

Skunk: "Those puppies are going to get in trouble!"

Puppy #1: "Look, here's a little tree we could take home!"

Puppy #2: "I found some berries!"

Puppy #3: "I found some acorns."

Puppy #4: "Wow, look at all the pine-cones I found!"

They were just ready to start back home when the Poky little puppy came bouncing up.

Kayla: "I may be poky, but I'm a good finder! I'm going to make a star for the top of the tree!"

That evening the puppies wrote a letter to Santa Claus and put it up on the fence. It said, "Dear Santa Claus, Please bring up juicy bones to chew and rubber balls to chase."

When they were all snug in their bed the Poky little puppy said:

Kayla: "Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and that is when Santa Claus comes!"

But the next morning, they found a sign on the fence right beside their letter to Santa. It said, "Santa Claus brings presents only to good little puppies who mind their mother."

Puppies: "Oh dear! Maybe Santa Claus won't come at all!"

Puppy #1: "Being good means minding our mother."

Puppy #2: "And eating all our dinner."

Puppy #3: "And keeping our paws and noses clean."

Puppy #4: "And going to bed on time."

Kayla: "And not running off and leaving me behind!"

Crow: Being good also means making other happy. Christmas isn't just getting. It's giving too."

Kayla: "Let's have a party for our friends." (the Poky Puppy scratches her head.) "But if we have to be good and stay home all day who will invite them?"

Crow: "I will. I fly everywhere and see everybody."

All that day the puppies stayed close to home and were very, very good.

Crow: "Hello Miss Bunny. The puppies are having a Christmas party and you are invited!"

Bunny: "A party? I love parties. I'll hop right over!"

Crow: "Hello Mr. Skunk. The puppies are having a Christmas party and you are invited!"

Skunk: "Are you sure they meant me? I don't get invited to many parties."

Crow: "Of course they meant you."

Skunk: "Then I will stroll over right away!"

Crow: "Hello little Bluebird. The puppies are having a Christmas party and you are invited!"

Bluebird: "Little ole me? I would just love to fly over!"

That evening all the puppies and their friends decorated the branch with all the pretty things they found in the woods. Then they danced around the tree and sang a few Christmas songs.

Ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, caw, caw, caw, tweet, tweet, tweet. (to the tune of Jingle Bells.)

Then they all fell fast asleep by their Christmas tree.

At the little house down the hill the children were getting ready for bed.

Child #1: "I hope Santa likes sugar cookies and milk."

Child #2: "I brought some carrots for the reindeer!"

Child #3: "I hope I see Santa tonight; I'm too excited to sleep!"

Child #1: "I hope he fills my stocking with lots of nuts and candy and a big surprise!"

Child #2: "I'm wishing for something cuddly and soft, a puppy for Christmas would be nice!"

Soon the faint sound of bells could be heard in the frosty air. It was Santa!

Santa: "Ho, ho, ho! I'm glad the puppies decided to mind their mother. I have some special gifts for them." (Santa puts the gifts by the tree. Then he rides his reindeer to the little house and puts presents by the tree and fills the stockings. Santa turns and waves to the audience.)

Santa: "Merry Christmas!"

Early the next morning, for the very first time in her life, the poky puppy was up ahead of everyone else.

Kayla: "Merry Christmas!" (all the puppies jump up where they are and smile. they are excited about the presents.) "Santa did come after all! Mother, mother, come see our presents!"

Sure enough the puppies got juicy bones and rubber balls but there was also carrots, apples and birdseed. And Santa brought a warm sweater for their mother.

Mother Dog: "These are wonderful gifts. Santa has been very kind to us. Now I have something for my five little puppies. Something so I will always know where they are going!"

And around each puppy's neck she fastened a bright red ribbon and a big jingle bell!

Meanwhile down at the little house...

Child #1: "Wow! Look at that beautiful box!"

Child #2: "It says it is for the children who help their mother."

Child #3: "That's us!" (children open the box.) "It's the puppy we've always wanted!"

Just remember you never know what Santa night bring you, but he is watching to see if you are naughty or nice. No matter how young or old you night be! Merry Christmas!


Kayla knew all her lines and actions and was just the cutest Poky Little Puppy! I may be somewhat biased, but she was the cutest one on stage too!

Children...

What else can I say? They are so darn cute at times, yet, constantly testing my sanity.

The other day I told Jason I wanted to make some gift tags, but dreaded the idea of dragging all the stuff out because children always want to 'help.' I ended up getting it out, and he laughed at me for using the term 'dragging it all out' since that is exactly what I did.

Can you imagine what happened next? Yes, children! They all left their beloved T.V. shows (which they rarely get to watch) and decided to join me at the table. I've got paper here, templates over there, stamps and markers somewhere, and next thing I know, all my things are being stacked on top of one another and now falling off the table. They have taken over! We had fun though, even with Cheyenne's grabby little fingers; taking things and running away screaming 'Nah Nah Na Nah Na' and touching everything, getting glitter-glue on her and everything else.

Then the last two nights have been a test of wills and strength. The girls play in their room and literally trash the place and then scream and cry that they have to clean it up. We told them all kinds of things to try to get them to clean that room: 'Aren't you supposed to be good little girls right now? Santa's not going to bring you anything when you don't mind your parents. He won't be able to fit another thing in this house if there's this huge mess.'

On and on it went. Screaming and yelling and crying and...where's the rum and coke? It finally came down to, "Obviously you have too much stuff. Let's get rid of some things and then there won't be so much to clean up."

And then the crying and wailing, "NNNOOOOO! I don't want to!"

"Then clean up and let's be done with it!"

"It's too hard!"

"Then let's get rid of some stuff."

"NNOOO! We play with it all."

"I can see that because I can't see your floor! So put it all away!"

"WWUUAAAHHHH!"

"AARRRRGH!!"

They finally got it done. Well, kind of. Everything seems to be thrown in the closet. My first thought is to pack up ALL their toys and then they can't make a mess, right? Seems a little harsh though. So my next thought is to go through their stuff and decide for myself what needs to go. What they don't know they can't miss. But then it's a job I don't want to do. Is it my turn to throw a temper tantrum? Guess it wouldn't be very 'mommy' of me.

But, something in our house happened over night. This morning those girls were ready and waiting for the bus to come - a whole 5 minutes before! That hasn't happened since...um...well...the first week of school? They are usually hollering and scrambling, while one of them jumps out the door, hoping the bus driver will see them on the porch as he drives past our house. Then they run down the street while he patiently waits.

Then they even apologized, "Momma, I'm sorry." Confusion on my face I ask, for what? "For not cleaning our room and making you mad. And we'll do our chores right when we get home and we won't screw around either." I believe my eyes popped right out! Did Santa visit them in the night and have a talk with them? I don't know, but I'm liking it. Do I still clean out their room now? But if I don't, I'm sure the change of heart they had will be changed once more once they are home from school. AAhhh, parenthood.

Even little Cheyenne is being a cutie this morning. She has been on edge. or rather, putting me on edge, for the last few days. How can she know Santa's coming and this is the time of year to test the parents? I don't know. But like I said, she is being so darn cute I've just been rolling with laughter.

In the morning she does her usual hang-on-the-pantry-door-knob and whine until someone opens it. She then says no, or, her favorite, 'no-pah,' to everything you offer her, until she decides she wants vienna sausages or cheese crackers for breakfast. This morning, however, she settled for oatmeal. I just grabbed a package and it was raisins and spice. Mmm, raisins, her favorite. She hasn't ever had this kind of oatmeal because the older two usually beat her to it.

Once it cooled down and she was in her high-chair, she became a jibber-jabber. "Momma!" she screams! I look at her and ask her, what? "UUHHH!" She has fished a raisin out of the oatmeal and has to show me. Then, "Momma," she has to show me that she put it in her mouth, and then, "UUHHH," she shows me that she swallowed it. Again and again she did this until all the raisins were gone and she was covered in oatmeal.

She finished it all and I got her undressed. Oatmeal everywhere! Her forehead, eyelids, hair and elbows included. I was rinsing out the wash cloth for the third time, when she says, "mess!" (a new word by the way). I look up just in time to see her throw her messy shirt in the garbage! I guess she thought it was too messy to clean up. I pulled it out and told her that's not where her shirt goes. She put her head down and started picking at her nails (what she does when she doesn't want you to be there) and says, "howwy" (doesn't quite have the 's' sound down yet, or 'r', but sure cute).

I was still cleaning the high-chair when she climbs in a chair to get to the table. She opened the box of colored pencils and dumped them out. She starts screaming "WAIT!" as they are all rolling around and falling off the table. She says, "Momma, uuhhh!" I say, "Yup, you made a mess. Now help me pick them up." "Mess!" she screams again as she grabs handfuls of pencils.

I got a 'high-five' when we were all done!

Me me me...

Alright, enough about the kids let's talk about me - LOL! I'm just kidding, I just want to say a few things. Lately I have this bad habit of talking myself out of things and I find, more often than not, I regret my decision. I wanted to post about Thanksgiving some more and have each of us post our thanks, but I am too much of a perfectionist for my own good. Since I didn't have the photos I wanted, and the older girls are at school and Jason is at work while I do this blog, I got frustrated with myself and gave up on the idea. However, it has still been on my mind. There are things I have wanted to let others know for a couple years now. Last year we were late to Thanksgiving dinner and missed the giving of thanks. This year it was decided to give thanks after dinner but then it was forgotten. So here I sit with all my thoughts wondering what to do. Now, I'm not very good at expressing my feelings, much less sharing them. The right words always fail me, besides I always cry when I share my feelings (just ask Jason). But here I go:

I am so thankful for my wonderful parents. I feel like I don't tell them or show them enough for all that they have done for me and my children. Through all my not-so-smart decisions and the trials and tribulations I caused myself, my parents stood by my side with their unconditional love, support and patience. I can't imagine making it through those times without them.

I am thankful for my beautiful, talented and intelligent girls. They gave me courage in the darkest times and the will to trudge through it all. They gave me hope for something better and they continue to do so.

I am thankful for the extended family we have gained. Everyone has accepted my children and me without judgement for my past. Jason tells me that's just who you are, but I know there aren't many people out there with the kind of hearts that you have. I couldn't ask for better friends.

I saved the best for last. I am so very thankful for my amazing husband. You know, after my divorce and the couple guys I dated, I told my mom, somewhat joking, that I was going to find me a sugar-daddy - screw love, it hurt too much. Even when Jason and I started hanging out and talking more, I was scared. I wasn't ready to give any piece of my heart away again. Luckily, neither was he. But as time progressed, and the more and more moments we shared, we realized there was an undeniable love - one of which I told my mom I have never felt before. I told her that I didn't know you could love someone as much as I love Jason. He is everything I could've imagined and more. Not only does he love me like no other, he loves my children as much as he loves me and as if they were his own. He is my greatest support and best-est friend. I couldn't dream of a more wonderful man to be my husband and my children's dad.

I love you!

Sing...Sing a Song...

Monday night the school put on a Christmas program - in the high school gymnasium where every one can fit. The principal announced that this year they now have about 500 students. Makes me wonder how many students I went to school with in the Big City.

Jason didn't know if he would make it. His pickup was running strangely and when he went out to work on it, it wouldn't even start. I took him to work since he didn't even know how his day would go and couldn't leave me without a vehicle to get the kids to their program. A long, horrible-day story short, things were changed and moved around and he was able to bring his Big Truck home just in time to head out the door.

I recorded my little darlings singing to their hearts content, although, like the video of Abriana's 3rd grade program, it's not all that great. In fact, I think this one is worse. A couple sat down next to us where I had left a one little-person space. I wanted to be on the end to jump up at will to take photos and such, but Cheyenne was playing musical parent-laps. So I left that little space for her when I needed her off my lap.

So the mother sat on the steps while the father squished next to me with his little brat - I mean boy. This child was about 2 and just a misbehaved little...Oh I shouldn't talk bad about other people's children! This little boy had a set of lungs and a mouth! He kept screaming at his dad to let him down now, and that he was stupid and mean. The father would quietly tell him "silencio." Then he would bounce the screaming boy on his knee causing the whole bleacher and every one on it to bounce also, including my camera.

This wasn't supposed to be a rant about the couple next to us. I guess I was, and still am, a little more upset than I thought. Oh well, it was a good attempt that, maybe, after I review it, will still be shared at Christmas with the family. I'm sure every one understands and has been in a similar situation.

I took some pictures of the girls as well. The zoom on our camera makes things kinda blurry, but you get the gist.

The whole school sang The Little Drummer Boy, Things I Almost Remember, It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Abriana's class sang I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas and Kayla's class sang Mr. Santa. It was another cute program (even though I could hardly hear it). The girls had fun and that's what counts. Even Chey made some friends with the little boy and girl sitting next to Jason. She sure isn't shy around people her size!

The other night we all wondered where Cheyenne was and what she was up to - she was way too quiet. This is what we found:

Asleep on the couch watching TV!

Check out the comment Jason left under the post 'Here Fishy fishy.' Makes the story funnier than how I told it.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!

Last year we had no clue about our small town and the fact that there are no tree lots near. If you want a real tree you have to get your tree tag the day after Thanksgiving, and then you have that weekend and the next to harvest your tree - we found this info out on the last day. So we had no choice but to put up our fake tree and burn pine candles. But as soon as the tree came down it went out with the garbage - sorry mom. Jason said that this would ensure we get a real one.

But of course, a year later, do you think we could remember all this? Luckily we heard a commercial, through static, that it was time to get a tag. Couldn't hear exactly where they were being sold so Jason made a few phone calls - SOLD OUT! They sell all their 1000+ tags in one day! However, I saw a sign in Salina and Jason had Monday off. He needed to go to Salina anyway to get a new pull rope for the chainsaw, so going there to get a tree tag was not out of the way.

As soon as the older two girls got home from school, we loaded up and headed up the canyon. We stopped and looked at a few trees we saw from the road and thought there's no way we are going to find a good one from the road. Jason wanted to get up higher and then look on the way down, sunlight was running out. The girls and I kept going AH there's a- and Jason would do his 'Dr Evil' SHUSH, SSH, ZZ, ZIP...But then we all saw it at the same time, a beautiful, skinny but stately, douglas fir.

(You may have to turn your head to see some of the pictures. I got too frustrated trying to figure it out so I gave up. OH well!)

We had a lot of fun, and stress, decorating the tree. Chey was SSOOO excited she just had to touch everything - then throw it. I gave her an ornament I knew she couldn't hurt; she walked right up to the tree and chucked the ornament at it, turned to me clapping and screams, "YAAAY!"

After we cut the tree and roped it up, we still had sunlight so we continued up the mountain. We were hoping to get a look at some wildlife and came upon a frozen pond. At first the girls were scared to step on it, even after Jason jumped up and down all across it. Then we couldn't get them off it! That is until Cheyenne was screaming ouhwee because her hands got so cold.

We did see quite a few deer - actually more than a dozen - in little groups of 3-4.
We had so much fun. Now I just gotta keep Chey from toting the ornaments around and swiping at the branches of the tree.

Exploring some more

I was going to post pictures of our wonderful Thanksgiving, however, I realized afterwards, that I was side-tracked in taking pictures and I only ended up with a couple. These things happen when one hasn't seen loved ones in ages and is also trying to stop the three rug-rats from screaming and running and climbing and fighting. Oh well, Christmas for sure I will get photos of everyone.

I did get a really great one of Chey. After everyone else had gone for the night, we stayed and played poker with Eric, Leslie and Michael. Cheyenne had found a nice place to settle down for the night:

Too cute! Who needs a bed when you've got a hearth? :)

Sunday we took a drive to explore more area around us and I was sure to take pictures this time. We went down I-70 towards Green River and took a ranch exit, only 60 miles from home, to see the country you can't see from the highway. We were looking for a place to call coyotes or see prairie dogs or rabbits and we found gorgeous sights! With no real plan in mind we followed some signs that we thought would be interesting, such as the Mussentuchit Sand Dune. It's nothing like other sand dunes we've been to, however, this one was quite amazing in that it is a mountain of pure fine sand in the middle of rock.


On the way to the dune we saw a couple buildings that looked like old mine shafts but they had windows in them. The girls thought it was cool that they could stand on the roof. And they would have if they could have but we told them not unless they want to bust their heads.


The geology that we came across was absolutely amazing. Makes one wish to have pursued a career in it...or maybe...I'll just raise one instead!


We drove through Cat Canyon and went through layers and layers of earth. The picture below does not even do the sight justice. It looked like black fins all along the brown and red ridge.


The layers of colors and the curvature sure gets your mind a thinkin'. We sure love it.


Since we detoured a few times, we didn't make it to the part we really wanted to see before it got dark. Next time we'll go in the way we came out to see it first. But this is what we do, and living down here makes it so much easier and more enjoyable.

A star is born!

We all knew that Abriana had a knack and liking for being center-stage. Ok, she's not quite 'center,' but here she is in her school program!


(our camera didn't like the lighting in the auditorium, but it sure is better than nothing)


The third-graders did a program called "Catch the Spirit" and dedicated to the 145th Battalion. They practiced for WEEKS and I was almost tired of the songs before the time was near for them to perform it. She was just so excited, yet being her dramatic self, feigned embarrassment and nervousness.


It was a really cute program and still the songs echo through the house as Abriana does her chores. She is 'Proud to be an American!'

Here fishy, fishy...

We met Grandpa Russ at Deer Creek Reservoir last Saturday after he had sent us a pix message the weekend before, his catch barely fitting inside his 18" wide sink. We hadn't been fishing for some time or seen Grandpa since the archery deer hunt, so it seemed like an awesome day trip.

We were late - as usual - but not by much (the girls do not function at 5:30 in the morning), and as we crest the hill in search of where Grandpa was, we saw Ruger already getting a good scratch around the ears. Russ said he watched Ruger, 30 feet away, making a bee-line along the rocks when, just as he was about to pass Russ up, Ruger made a sharp turn and ran straight to him. Ruger sure knows his people!

The fishing was slow going at first, fish weren't even jumping. So after teaching Chey to slide down the rocks and sand on her butt instead of screaming, the kids all started digging and playing.

Then Jason caught the first fish! Ruger came bounding over through the water to watch Jason net it and Chey squealed YEAH. Ruger licked the fish while Abriana and Kayla cheered Dad on, too. Chey kept clapping and screaming with excitement trying to get a close look at it, then it flopped. She shrieked and fell over in her haste to get away! But as soon as it stopped moving, she was leaning over it again. And again it flopped and she shrieked and...funny kids.

I caught the next one, which was just a bit smaller than the first one. Sorry, no picture of that one.

Then, as I was getting after Abriana to put her socks back on - "but my feet are sweaty! FINE!" - I saw her pole dive into the water.

"Abriana, your pole!"

"What!? I don't have my shoes on!"

Some people's children - oh, yea, they're mine. She finally got over there, saved her pole and reeled in a fish just as big as Jason's. She was so excited, she's never caught a fish that big!


Jason caught another fish proportionate to the other 3. My second one decided he wasn't going to let me win and broke my line. Abriana must've had the same one come along trying to satisfy his hunger for power bait, because she lost her hook with her second one. Russ kept wondering when it was his turn - I guess he forgot his fish call.

Again Cheyenne was over at the flip-flopping fish; screaming each time they moved and trying to touch them every time they weren't. Then she decided she had enough fun with that and now it's time to lay down. But oh, where was that binki? We searched up hill and down, under rocks and through sand castles, even along the shore line. Sorry missy, you're just going to have to lay down without it. Yeah, right! She cried and scowled and screamed, but finally sleep was too much to hold off, she curled up on Jason's jacket and accepted her defeat!

Russ decided it was time to take a walk. Jason and I were admiring Russ's pole; he was telling me that pole has got to be older than he and I put together, when it twitched. Jason hollered up the hill to get Russ to hurry as he set the hook. Russ arrived to reel in the long awaited fish, Jason ready with the net. It was close, almost there, but then there was a pop. Pieces of the reel fell into the water.

We tried for some time to get it back together and thinking we were missing a part, searched the bank. Nope, the reel is broken, not repairable. I asked Jason if I should've kept my mouth shut about the pole. His reply was that maybe Russ wouldn't have gotten a fish if we weren't discussing it. Who knows.

So we decided it was time to pack up. Everyone said their good-bye's and then Ruger hobbled over to us. Poor old dog somehow over-extended two of his toes, and it hurts too bad to put weight on it. We loaded the bunch up and headed home. After half an hour I started wishing I had brought some drinks. The screams and cries from right behind me for 'me-me' were getting to be too much; we still had an hour or so to drive. If it hadn't already been our goal to be done with it, I would've made Jason pull over to buy a stupid plug. She was already only wanting it at naptime and bedtime, so this was our chance, I mean, what else to say to her except "you lost it, it's all gone."

We got home, unloaded the jeep, and I was changing when Jason came in. "I'm such a bad dad," he said. I looked at him and said, "YOU have the binki?!" It was in his coat pocket. At the time of the search he wasn't wearing it, so he didn't think to check those pockets. We decided that we had already come this far without it, so we hid it well. I am glad to say that the crying for the 'me-me' hasn't been as awful as that first day. She still has not had it. And Jason isn't a 'bad dad.'

Well, nothing new or exciting has been happening at the tiny ranch. There is another fire near us enough that the air was thick with smoke; so much so, it burned my eyes. The kids wanted to play outside so bad - it was a day they didn't need to wear their jackets - so instead, they got out ALL their craft stuff! Oh the drama! Shrill sounds of 'Help me puh-leeezz!' and 'That's not fair' and the littlest one chiming in with 'MIIINE!' They are cuties though.

Chey loves to be in the middle of everything and be a little helper too. Here's a photo of her last year helping daddy install the new dishwasher. She was handing him tools until she decided something in her bedroom needed tinkering with, and took off with the screwdriver.

I'm not sure how much she was actually helping here:

I think she was definitely having too much fun with the styrofoam. There were little balls EVERYWHERE! When all three girls were completely covered, they decided to run through the house and chase each other and Ruger. Talk about vacuuming everyday for a complete week...nevermind, let's not. They had fun and that's what counts (can you hear me laughing?).

Well, until next time...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN...

Well, a day after anyway...after I got the kids fed and settled down for bed, I couldn't muster the energy to post pictures last night. So here they are! This one Jason took a couple nights ago. It seems to fit the theme of the week.


Last Friday the school put on a Halloween Carnival; the kids dress up and take their tickets from room to room for some fun games and prizes. Cheyenne was laughing at the older girls as I put their make-up on and when I turned to her and said 'Ok, it's your turn,' she ran out of the room screaming! I found her buried under her blanket on the couch, still crying. So we decided to skip her make-up.

Halloween night I decided to do Chey's face first. It worked out much better, until she realized she hadn't had a nap and she just wanted to lay down.


She cried and rubbed most of it off, but she was still a cute witch. Abriana was a dead bride and Kayla was a vampire.

The town gets together and does a trunk-or-treat and once we got there Cheyenne did a 180, she was screaming with excitement! When she figured out what we were doing I could not keep her next to me. She was running from car to car, butting kids in line so she could get candy - you could see it in her eyes and the little skip-hop she does...candy, candy, candy!

Abriana and Kayla were great helpers getting Cheyenne in and out of the jeep and up the porches of the few neighbors we visited. All in all, it was a great night and the kids had their buckets full in less than an hour!

Testing...testing...1,2,3...

So after much contemplation and everyone wanting more pictures of the girls, I have decided to follow my brothers lead. I have been debating whether to start a blog or not since shortly after we moved, so almost a year now. What the heck, right? I don't have all that much to do with my days anyway. Hahaha!
Most of you have seen this one, but it is my favorite picture of the girls (and the last one I could get of all 3 together).

Well, this is just a start! I'll be sure to take more pictures now and share them this way so every one interested can see our little rugrats growing. I am going to post older pictures just to get them out there and figure out how to do this whole thing properly.