Wish of Wellness and raunchy chimps

My company had a booth around the track at Relay for Life in Saginaw this past Friday. The entire event raised over $100,000 dollars. Sarah, who works for me on my team, is pictured below in the purple "Survivor" shirt.

My Mom also has squamous cell carcinoma on her head. My good friend Kristen came and sat with me until midnight, when I weenied-out. It was COLD! We went back home and tried out our "floozie koozies" that we bought at one of the booths around the track. Sitting in the garage drinking beer was how the night ended...


Saturday was pretty uneventful. I was lazy after the long night on Friday, so I took a nap. John ended up staying up late, and the girls and I went to bed early. We had to go to the zoo on Sunday for Kayden's friend R.J.'s 4th birthday party.

Kayden, Kylee and I took off to Target on Sunday morning to get R.J. a present. We ended up with Cars stuff. I have no idea what in the world to buy a boy. We tried our best! We came home and washed the truck and I cut John's hair. We finally made it out to the zoo at about 2:30, and the party was at 3. We took about 400 pictures, naturally, and the kids wore themselves out running all over the place. That was the first time that I had been to the zoo with the girls, so it was really really fun. I think it was probably only the third or fourth time in my life I had been to the zoo period. I think the chimps were my favorite.

R.J. and Kayden in front of the glass part of the primate exibit. This silverback was beautiful.

There was a guy that was teasing one of the chimps, and in return the chimp kept giving him the finger and sticking his butt up in the air. He also kept throwing his arms in the air at the guy and kicking in the air towards him. It was pretty funny to watch. Who knew you had to censor the actions of the animals at the zoo?!?

The chimps acting crazy.

Kylee and Mommy in front of the elephants.

It has been forever and EVER since I have posted... I've been in a funk at work, simply because people disappoint me. I have seen a shady side of some co-workers that I wish I had never seen. ANYWAY...

We had a good weekend. We went over to "Jevon and Randi's House", and he really has found "the" keeper. We love her, and we really love them together. I think she won Kayden over immediately, and Jevon even became more in-touch with his paternal side around Kylee. Apparently, she woke up in the middle of the night, when he went in their room to pee or something, and she was in her pack 'n play in there. He comforted her and rubbed her tummy to put her back to sleep... too cute...

We adults had a good time, too. They cooked steaks and chicken for everyone (i.e. Ry, Kellie, Byron and Whitney, and John and me.) We drank beer until God knows how long and played Cranium. Some of the highlights were when Whitney had to act out a vibrator, and John sculpted (to lead me to correctly guess) a wedding cake and bowling ball....it was funny. All he had to do was make the dumb pillars that he wants in between the layers, and I guessed it. As many heated debates as we have had about those stupid things, and as many nightmares as I have had about my wedding turning into a tribute to the Go-Gos and Michael Jackson.. who knows.. maybe that would be RAD DUDE!! ... uh, just kidding..

Kylee playing in the yard at Randi and Jevon's house..

Kayden and Randi swinging on the hammock... Kayden wanted to wear her "pretty dress" to their house, and everyone thought it was cute. I think John was surprised that I let her wear a play dress, but I didn't think twice... My Mom never would have let me wear play clothes anywhere, and she would have brought hair spray and a brush to boot.... I left the hair brush and hair spray at home....

I'm in a unique and challenging situation in my life. I know someone (not anyone that is family) that has lied to my face numerous times. This person knows that they are lying and knows that I know that. The interesting part is that I have to assume that this person is telling me the truth. I know that I am being slightly vague, but I have to be. I need to vent, and at the same time I feel like I'm in a movie listening to this person talk. I didn't realize how vile people could be, until I was faced with situations in which in an instant someone can come up with a lie to talk their way out of something. It amazes me that people can be so good at lying.... Doesn't it eat them up inside to be so dishonest? I feel like karma is going to strike me down, when I even tell white lies, and I feel like I would end up like the street guy in Ghost being carried away by transparent demon-like things to the depths of hell. Seriously. I think everything ends up coming full-circle at some point in your life.

I guess I'm just frustrated. To sum up the rambling... There is an individual that I have caught in numerous lies in the past couple of days that I have to deal with on a daily basis. I chose not to take action against this person in the hopes that this is just some sort of rebellion against a stressful environment. Others know that this person is lying, and it would be my call to take action. I choose not to, simply because I would feel badly about any negative action that I pursued. Oh lordy, long story...

Personally, I can't stand liars. Liars make me sick. Give them enough rope I say. I'll post pictures of the girls later, and add more cheerful commentary. When am I going to win the lottery, so that I don't have to participate in adult daycare? grr

Engagement Pictures!!

We finally got our engagement pictures done! We went to the Gaylord Texan, which is beautiful inside. I am completely in love with the Spanish architecture in the atrium. If you ever pass through Grapevine, I think it is well-worth visiting. The hotel rates are high of course, but there are four or five restaraunts, some shops and a spa all within the resort. Anyway, it was recommended that we take them there by our photographer, so kudos to Chris! I loved it!

Here are a few from the shoot. We literally took hundreds, so these are some of the ones that both of us had on our LONG list to narrow down for prints...

waiting for John to change...
I liked this doorway and I really wanted to get it in the picture... not quite the effect I was hoping for, but it is still nice...

We both love the colors in this one.

The doors behind us were enormously heavy Spanish doors, and I really liked them obviously. We have a ton of pictures in front of them.

I have to say that I adore this shot. I think this is my favorite, and this might be the best picture that we have ever taken.

Time is flying...

So Kylee is now walking with her push-toy. We got her ears pierced, and we turned her around and put her in Kayden's seat. We got Kayden a big girl princess seat. It's pink with gold crowns and "Princess" ALL over it. I will post pictures tonight, and I will also add video of Kylee walking....

They are so growing up...

Kylee poops.

So, it's been a sluggish couple of days. We had the pleasure of Leo and his new girlfriend's company on Friday night. We had too much fun. I'm not sure if SHE did, but I can say that I entertained myself, anyway. I know John had a good time. He's easy - all you have to do is add alcohol and shake a little, and he's good-to-go. We had a few drinks over here and then moved across the street to the Thomases to play pool. It's nice to have adult company, even if we have four sleeping kiddos collectively somewhere in the house. Kayden didn't take to Leo at all, but Kylee loved him. He says that Kylee is "his girl" :-) I'm sure she's going to grow up loving her Uncle Leo. I think it's pretty neat that John and Leo have known eachother from a couple years older than Kayden is now, and they are just about as close to brothers as you can get. Leo is a really great guy. He's the best man at our wedding. I told him that as long as he gets John there, and I can't smell the alcohol, he's done his job ;-) I'm not worried. I also reminded him that he will be wearing purple, and he said he had come to terms with that. Pretty funny. It's not too bad for them. The color is actually a light lilac, and they will perfectly match the bridesmaids. I tried to get a good smile out of him, but it was like pulling teeth, and he was a little sauced, so here's what we came up with...We spent the day yesterday "resting" (i.e. nursing a hangover), and the weather was perfect for it. It rained all day and was crappy. I left the house only to go and pick up a half pound of Starbucks, and I came back and hibernated. The girls seemed to need the rest, too. They napped all day, right along with us.
Then there was this morning...
John and I are odd. We can poop three to four times a day. Not joking. I'm sure that's too much information, but there is a reason.. Kylee can do the same thing. So, my Kylee Ray alarm clock started going off about 7:30 this morning.. I had already given her another bottle at 5, and she seemed satisfied and went back to sleep at that point. So, I drug myself off of the couch (I can't sleep with John. He kicks and saws down forests.), and I opened the door to the most God-awful stench... it registered before I saw what it was... POOP-O-RAMA! The scene would have made a Dad lose the previous day's dinner. She was covered in poop. From head to toe. Looked like she had eaten a chocolate chip cookie. Her diaper had come off from being so full. So, I went into sterilization mode. I snatched her out of the poop box, and plopped her stinky heiny in the bathtub and turned the water on. She was none too happy, but I think I soaped her down at least three times, and I even rinsed her mouth out. Ew. Her skin was pink and she was playing by the time I was done with her. She was looking at me like, "why all the fuss Mom, I was bored!". Ew. Again. Thank GOD for steam washers with a sanitary cycle. I tossed around the idea of just chucking all of the contents of the poop box, but I only threw away the bottle that was in there. I'm on the second wash in the sanitary cycle with bleach and an extra rinse. We'll see if it lives up to poop. Kayden did that once, so I wasn't shocked, but I don't think that is ever something you get used to. Obviously.

So, Miss Kylee is learning new tricks every moment. She is now walking with mommy, and I don't think it will be long before she starts pushing her two push-toys. She pulls up on any and everything, so I think she'll be a pro before she turns 1. Oh, and she's also clapping. Very cute. I'll have to catch all of that today, when she gets up from her nap. Adios for now.

I'm a slacker

So, I have been doing some SERIOUS slacking in the Blogger department. I hate excuses, so it has nothing to do with the fact that I have two very mobile and spirited children under the age of four, a career and boss that ignores the existence of said children and a wedding that is inching ever so close and gaining momentum all the while.. oh, AND it is taking control of my finances... WHEW... I'm just sayin'...

Anyway - I have to say a humongous public prayer and acknowledge my new Mommy Hero. The owner of the daycare (Endless Discoveries) that Kayden and Kylee go to just delivered a baby boy by c-section, after 48 hours of labor at home without drugs. I'm not sure of the details as of yet, but I do know that both of them are fine and recovering. I went walking with her mom and her on Saturday afternoon, and she went into labor Saturday night at midnight. Kayden didn't want to walk, so I carried her the whole mile-and-a-half or so. I couldn't really complain, as Kristin was TWELVE DAYS OVERDUE by that point. It was actually a pretty good workout.

I have to say that I only experienced being dilated to a six without an epidural. I know I would be strong enough to "do" 48 hours, but I would NEVER, and I mean NEVER want to. So, mentally there is no way. I can only speak for myself to say that she is a stronger woman than I am. I can assume that most women would say the same.

Other than that excitement, we have had some of our own! Kylee pulled up this morning on one of her toys. I didn't run to get the camera; I just watched. She was looking out the doorway to see if I was watching, but she didn't look high enough, or she would have seen me. She has been slow to really care much about crawling, pulling up, etc. She has the cutest "commando crawl" that I have ever seen! I haven't been worried in the least. I have come to learn that the best thing to do it sit back and watch them. They grow up way too fast, so the longer I can keep her "little", the better. Kayden was walking by this point. She took her first steps at 9 months old. The picture to the right is at 8 months, and she also had teeth. (Kylee has yet to have one emerge).. The picture to the left is of the first time she pulled up on March 25th 2005. After that, my little baby disappeared. I thought I would take my time with Kylee. Every moment is so precious.

Here are a few pictures of the last few weeks.

My Mom brought this kitchen to Kayden this past Saturday. It does a bunch of cool stuff like make water sounds, the microwave dings and it asks her what she's cooking. John's Mom bought her one for Christmas last year, but back to the "little" thing.. she has outgrown it already. I put it in the corner of the kitchen for Kylee, and this new one went in Kayden's room. Now, they both have kitchens!

John and "Uncle Jevon"... We finally left our house last Friday and went out with Jevon and, I swear, his future wife. He gave Kylee kisses, when we got home... such a sweetie.

Kylee is my Ladybug. She is always the happiest little soul.