Two Percenter

So... 98% of the world (or at least Texas) was all about the World Series.  While I realize the Rangers have never won and it was a HUGE deal that they were in the Series, I didn't need to get 100 facebook feeds during each game.  I was what the Aggies like to call a Two-Percenter.  I didn't support the team... no t-shirts or late night game-watchin' for me.I wasn't against them or anything...  just not a crazy, dye your hair blue kind of fan. 

So it was a little ironic that my family had a Ranger-watchin' birthday party for me this year. I think I'd rather watch the history channel than watch baseball on tv.  But it was fun because we were all together... just hanging out and enjoying time as a family.

I can't say I watched much of the game, but at least I knew who won before watching the news the next morning. 

Roasting Smellows

Grandma's are the best.  And Reese, Tucker and Rylan have literally the best Grandmas in the world!  They do crafts with them, take them for walks, host Cousin Camp, let them stay up late, play games with them, make them things, surprise them with treats on holidays and sometimes for no reason at all, and... the list goes on and on. 

They are so blessed to have Grandmas close by that they can grow up knowing so well.  Grandmas just make everything more fun.

This plain ol' Friday night turned into a smellow roastin' blast....

 Reese looks like an 80's punk rocker with her rooster tail hairdo. love it.

Some of the smellows weren't edible as you can imagine... but they sure had fun burning them. 

Freeze Bumps & Fruit Loops

Have I mentioned how much I love it when the kids say something wrong and it sticks?  The teacher in me doesn't even try to come out to correct them.  We just change the name of whatever it is they're talking about...

Freeze Bumps = goose bumps
Stunk = skunk
Chicken Lake = Chick fil a
Candy Smarts = Smarties
Smellows = marshmallows
Fruit Loops = belt loops

My babies will officially not be babies anymore when they stop telling me they have freeze bumps when it's chilly in the morning.

Some days I can't wait for them to grow up so they can get dressed and make their own beds.  But some days I want them to stay little forever!

Roaring 20's

I'm ridiculously behind on posts, but have to jump ahead and post Halloween pictures... CUTENESS!!

Rylan made the cutest sack of money you've ever seen.  And I have to say that her costume is totally appropriate... diapers, day care, medical bills... the money sign is right on target!

Chris was sure to note that this would be the only time in Tucker's life when he could wear liquid eyeliner. Daddy did a great job on his facial hair.

 

I'm pretty sure the kids had no idea what they were.  When people asked them what they were going to be for Halloween, Reese said "A Princess Flapper" and Tucker said a "Monster" instead of a "Mobster." 

Reese wouldn't wear her feather boa (imagine that... Reese being difficult). But she made a mean swing dance partner though. 

I'm pretty sure this is the last year they're going to let me coordinate their costumes... so I had to go all out.  They were adorable and had tons of fun Trick-or-Treating and playing at the Church Fall Festival. More pictures to come. 

Two Planes and a Bus

Reese, Rylan and I took off for a long weekend with Grandma last month. We hadn't been back to Michigan to see the family in a couple years and this made for a great girls weekend. Reese was so excited to tell everyone that she got to go on two planes and a bus (a Hertz bus that is). 

Reese was an unbelievably good flier... really unexpected since we took the red-eye on the way there.  She was happy to sit and color/draw, read books, etc. 

It was so fun to get to see everyone...

Mom & Aunt Rose

Aunt Vanessa and her beautiful daughter Brianna

The Dailey Men... Uncle Jeff, Cousins Justin and Brett

Me, Mom and Rose

Handsome little (but not so little anymore) Cousin Trevor

Granny, Vanessa and Mom

Reese being silly with Cousin Kelsey

Aunt Dee lovin' on Reese. She was totally spoiled by everyone! It was really fun to see Reese open up to everyone.  She used to be so shy... not anymore.  She worked her way through everyone on this trip, being careful to get each one to play with her. What can I say? She had to be fair.  

Reese gettin' in some quality coloring with Granny.

Aunt Amy and sweet Cousin Ian lovin' on Rylan

Reese had so much fun playing with Ian, Brooke and Natalie!

All the kids love Cousin Kelsey... she and Justin and Brett were so sweet to come home from college to visit us.

Granny with the girls... love this one!

After spending a few days with Granny and all of Dad's side of the family, we drove a couple hours to see Mom's side...

Mom, Aunt Marianne and Aunt Pat

Reese loved playing with Uncle Curt... they had a really silly time together! 

This was exactly what I needed after only being off for 6 weeks with Rylan.  The family had a lot of adjustments to make with a new baby, the start of the school year, mom back to work and the kids in school.  It was nice to take a long weekend to just get away and relax.  We'll have to make these girls trips a regular thing! 

Not this girl

How can someone so beautiful...

And so funny...  

And so smart...

And so spunky...

 And so innocent...

 And so sensitive...

Be so mean???

If you think she's being mean to the geese... just wait until you see how mean she is to her brother. And to me. And to Daddy.  We are going through a rather challenging time with little Miss Priss right now.  She's always been our more temperamental one, but she's totally out of control right now.  She's so smart and I keep thinking that I can reason with her to get her to behave, but that's totally not working.  Incentives aren't working.  Time out and spankings aren't working either.  Think I might have to call Super Nanny if we can't get this girl under control. 

We're thinking that a lot of it has to do with sleep deprivation.  She's in school all day now and isn't getting much of a nap.  Plus, Tucker needs a freakishly small amount of sleep to function and he keeps waking the girl up.  We're trying out separate rooms right now to see if it helps. 

I want my sweet girl to look like this all the time...

without giving her everything she wants, the minute she wants it, regardless of how she asks for it, and whether or not it's what's best for her.  Ugh... parenting. 

2 Months

How has it been two months already? Okay, actually it's been almost three... but it's hard to keep up these days.  Rylan is growing and changing like crazy.  She's still sweet, content and super easy... and now she loves to talk and smile. It's fun that's she's interacting with us now, but I totally want her to stop growing!  She's the only one in my house that doesn't argue with me... so right now, she's totally my favorite. Ha!

She went for her two month check-up and was 10lbs, 11 oz (50th percentile) and 24 3/4 inches long (100th percentile).  Never thought there would be a Tims baby in the 100th percentile for anything.

She's beautiful in every way....