Paige's Christmas List

Soooo, I know its early but I am getting inquiries from grammas, etc. of what Miss P needs for Christmas. She doesn't need anything. Seriously. I don't think she is deprived in the toy department at all. However, I know that's not an acceptable answer. I was sneaky and have purchased a gift that the bearded man in red will deliver on Christmas morning. I got her this. Technically I got her the swan castle and the horse drawn carriage. However, it is a whole little world with other pieces to buy--which are under $20! I find that a great trait in presents. She's very into princesses right now and I was thinking a dollhouse; and found this. Seemed like the best of both worlds--for a very decent price.

Other than that, she's into horses, princesses, and dress up stuff. She's seen some pretty horses with fairy wings that Breyer makes, and oohhed and awed over those. She has almost outgrown her princess dress; so another costume dress would be great.

Clothes are always good--size 4T fits right now. She has lots of jeans and t's--but needs some sweaters, sweatshirts, etc. A cute dress that isn't for Christmas would be a hit.

That's about all I got--but feel free to be frugal and limit yourself--that is my goal! Grammas of the world--restrain yourselves! Or buy savings bonds--she can cash them in for college :)

A beautiful day

Paige and I enjoyed the day on Veteran's Day by not going to work/daycare. Perks of being a banker. We did spend some time at the park. Otherwise, we were lazy and in our pjs until about noon and decided we better leave the house for a bit. Its so nice to have those days.

Girls Weekend

So I had a wonderful weekend--took Friday off to trek to Williston to visit with some sorority sisters. A bunch of us tried to get a girls weekend together, but 5 of us ended up making it. We camped out in the fabulous Conlin cabin at Lake Sakakawea and attended the Lady Antebellum concert on Saturday night. It was so great to see a bunch of wonderful ladies I haven't seen in a long time. We drank wine, stayed up way too late, slept in, ate more food than imaginable, relaxed, etc. A small road trip led us to the greatest concert I have attended for $20--and a pregnant designated driver doesn't hurt. It wasn't a drunk fest by any means but a more mature version of a college gathering perhaps. I think we just all know our limits now and understand that having fun doesn't have to involve a 2 day headache :) I just want to thank those ladies for setting aside some time for their friends--its hard to do that in the real world, to leave kids and jobs and hubbies behind for a day or two. However, I think those same hubbies and kids get us back as much happier rejevenated ladies. I know I was. AOT.

"Just walk away Mom"

Tonight we were all in the office, and Cowboy was messing with his coyote call as he was rummaging in his hunting stuff. He kept blowing on it and it hurt my ears so I said "stop it" several times to him as he kept doing it and smirking, being a boy. My very astute three year old senses my aggrivation and said, "Just walk away Mom!" and turned to leave the room.

I tried not to giggle in front of her, as she told me this yesterday at one point too. I quizzed her on this--and find out if someone makes you angry, you should walk away from them. I ask her if she has learned to walk away from people at Kim's house when they make her angry.

"Yes, when Kyler's being cranky, and won't share, I just walk away."

The simplicity and brilliance amazes me.

Halloween revisited

I don't know if I am getting really sentimental because my baby is getting big or what; but I spent some time tonight looking at all the pictures of her first year and just smiled. Paige sat on my lap and looked with me at the tons of little video clips of her. At this time in 2006 she was almost 7 months old and trying to scooch across the floor and jumping in her jumper.



I found these pictures which were my favorites representing Halloween. This first one was a taken while carving pumpkins at my parents and I thought it'd be fun to put her in a pumpkin. She had a ton of fun and my grandparents were there to share it with us. Plus, a bath in the sink by gramma gets the pumpkin residue off pretty well.

The first Halloween costume, and also the picture we

entered in the beautiful baby

contest. . .and WON. Obviously.

Popcorn and Pumpkins

Normally I am one of those people who carves several pumpkins and will spend a few hours getting my pumpkin to look perfect. I remember that first Halloween Cowboy and I were married, we had 4 of the most wonderful pumpkins. I had a ton of candy. . .and we got like 12 trick or treaters because the weather was awful. Now we live in the country, so we don't get any trick or treaters, but we usually still have a few pumpkins on our steps. However, we aren't even going to carve a pumpkin this year--we are just painting them. Paige and Cowboy worked on two of them the other night.

A budding artist

Her creation

Cowboy's creation. . .I didn't marry him for his artistic flair!

Tonight I made my annual batch of Halloween popcorn balls. Apparently this is a known thing I do as my good friends Jackie and Noel purchased an air popper for my bridal shower--note I still use the same popper. That's the gift receipt from October 2003 still taped to the box--I am trying to see how long I can keep the box in one piece! I always laughed at my Mom who had a few things in their original boxes that she only used a few times a year--its scary to see how that happens to yourself.



Here is my final product--I think I ended up with about 30 popcorn balls and only one really burnt finger from the lava hot marshamallows. My gramma used to make hundreds of these to give to trick or treaters--I can't imagine how much work that work be.

Leaves through the years

October 2006

October 2007

October 2008

October 2009

So through the years its been customary to take pictures in the leaves. It started on that one beautiful Indian summer day when Paige was a baby and I had her in a onesie outside; and we got great pictures for our Halloween card. That year it was great joy to try to eat them. Now each year, I try to capture a few pictures with the leaves to carry on our tradition. This year it was pretty easy; I tried to rake and someone tried to demolish my piles!