Aren't I too old for this?

So on Tuesday I discovered I had chicken pox. . .at the age of 28 :) As one of my friends from school asked, how did you not get it in kindergarden like the rest of us? I wish. I always thought I was immune because I never had them when all my friends had them and we were exposed at the same times. My daughter is vaccinated against them and had no symptoms when the little guy at daycare had them a few weeks ago. The good news is I don't really have that many; probably 2 dozen and then are pretty concentrated so you only see a few if you look at me really hard--and those sort of look like bad acnce! Plus, they don't all itch like crazy, only a few are driving me crazy. The final straw is that I found I had them once I had traveled 600 miles from home! But that's a whole other story. . .

Grandparent's Day

Keith, Paige, and Ryan--April 23, 2006

Jane and Rick at Paige's baby shower, early May 2006

Mom, 4-5-06

The above pictures are all pictures of Paige and her grandparents. Several of the pictures are of their first meeting their granddaughter. The one right above of my Dad, you can tell it was love at first sight. That is my favorite picture of my dad--ever. The pictures of Rick & Jane at the hospital were very grainy, so I found these much better ones of her baby shower a few weeks later.

Paige is fortunate to have fabulous grandparents, and I hope as she gets older that she realizes how fortunate she is to have them, and to be so near them. We live very close to 4 out of the 5; so obviously she's not spoiled at all! They are great at helping us out, and there are many days when she is mad at Mom or Dad that you hear the wails for a gramma because they would obviously give her sympathy when Mom and Dad are being mean.

So thanks to all of you for being so wonderful.

This picture is of my grandparents and my parents on our wedding day. Probably one of the best pictures I have of them, so I felt it should be included. I never got a good picture of Paige, myself, and Gramma Alice, and I deeply regret it. I do giggle at the one below of them the day she was born, and I laugh because I think Grampa hated that camera of Gramma's because it never worked for him. I have a copy of the picture he did end up taking with it, but I like this one better because I can remember that moment so fondly.

Streaker. . .with pearls

There are somedays as a mom, that I just have to take a picture because its funny. I also am mean and think of how funny it will be when she is 16 :)

This particular moment was captured on Labor Day. We had a long weekend and were finally at home. Paige said she just wanted to stay home. Good idea. She ran around in her pj's, and then got dressed. When she is dressed at home, that is normally either a shirt or pants--not both. That afternoon got warm and she streaked around in her undies. Whatever. Then she started playing ball and I suggested she should go outside. I heard silence and assumed she was getting her clothes on. I heard the door slam, so I followed and found this young sprite in the driveway. Flip flops and pearls. Nice.

Thank goodness we don't live in town.

Leaving on a "jet" plane. . .

My aunt and uncle flew in on Friday of Labor Day weekend and we all went to see them off on Sunday morning. They save a huge drive from Minneapolis to Hettinger with a flight. Paige is enchanted with their plane, and loves it when she gets to 'fly' it.

In case you land and have no idea where you are, they have signs.

Saying goodbye.

Lack of ground control led to our own signals.

Almost ready. . .


Up, up, and away!

Big Kid

I learned this summer that I don't have a baby anymore--this has been evident in numerous ways. One large factor in making me accept this is the park. I have a small little blur who can run and jump on the 'big kid' stuff. She doesn't need me to catch her, or help her climb things. She is fearless and it sort of scares me at times. She does need help on the monkey bars, but its minimal. I figure later this fall she won't need me for those either. I also do have to help push on the swings, but she's learning how to pump her legs. My job is pretty simple now, I just have to watch and wave most of the time.

We'd put it in a jar

Tonight I was laying in Paige's bed with her and we were whispering about things. She all of a sudden got very animated and starts with, "I was chasing a bunny today and I almost CAUGHT it!"

"Really? What would you have done with it?" I ask, playing along that she actually got close to it and wasn't actually 10 feet from it.

"I was chasing it and it went into the tall trees." she replied, ignoring my question.

"If you had caught him, what would you have done with him?" I ask again.

"I would have given him to Kimmy and we'd put him in a jar." she replies simply.

I ponder this for a minute, and ask "Do you guys put bugs in jars at her house?"

"And butteflies, and ladybugs, and one time a bug crawled on Kayla's arm. . ." she continues.

I listen captivated, trying to imagine jars of rabbits and smiled.

I'm so happy we have a girl. . .

There are days I am so happy I have a daughter. This was one of them. If I didn't have her, there would be no puffy pink princess dresses prancing around my house. There wouldn't be tiaras floating all over, and none for me to wear! There wouldn't be layers of necklaces or bracelets to pile on for fun. We wouldn't get to giggle over all the sparkles on her skirt or how shiny it is. I love how she spins around and collapses in a pile of pink netting. I think no matter how old you are, a girl is never to old to spin in a dress, and the bigger the better. Older girls just get wedding dresses. I love there is someone else who says 'Ew, gross' when her Daddy does icky things. I love that she loves to have her nails painted and thinks makeup is fun. I love that she is a girly little thing who is a fabulous shopper. I adore her cute little phrases and mannerisms. I even love her independent stubborn streak. I love that she is mine.