Online Peer Pressure

Lila sporting the necklace made for her by Anabelle under G-mas's supervision. Each member of our family has one.

Gramma R. came to hold things together while I went on my exotic personal getaway known as girls camp. She showed up with a bag decorated just for Anabelle with her name on it, and inside were presents for her to unwrap and play with for each day. I came home to a table of crafts and toys that had kept them busy. It was marvelous not to have one tiny little concern while I was away about my babes. I knew they were getting hooked up big time- eating like kings and partying in all the party places. I left my house in no fantastic order, at least not what you would want it to look like when your mother-in-law is coming to stay for the week. But I came home to a clean house and a happy family and that was great. She comes, she cleans, she cooks, she plays with the wee ankle biters, she cracks us up and makes us feel like good parents, and she's off. In one word, she's fabulous!

I realize more and more that I lucked out in the in-law department. It seems I am always hearing horror stories of mother-in-laws and all the drama they bring. So I am convinced that she should start a blog called "How Not to Smother in Law". It would have all her rules about being awesome, not annoying. Plus, she could have a sidebar with all her awesome jokes. She walks the perfect balance of being the loving, involved Mom/Grandma without becoming intrusive or overbearing. And, she's a hoot to be around. I fully support and endorse her to lead the campaign against the growing epidemic of mothers who smother. It's a serious problem that effects a majority of the population in one way or another. She could change the world one blog post at a time. There would be merrier Christmases and Happier Thanksgivings. Less trash talking each other's Moms, and more high dollar Mother's day shopping. This could be huge. Kris Reynolds for president! Or wait, maybe I got carried away...I mean Kris Reynolds for Mother-in-law of the year! (although I think she might be an improvement to what we've got... But that's a whole other post).

Yea for her for cleaning my microwave and stove burners!! (I was gonna get to that. Kind of embarrassing but also a little bit awesome)

www.dontbeasmotherinlaw.blogspot.com coming soon! (right Mom?!)

Little Lila K

To Lila on your first birthday:

Your first year was a hard one for our family. In some ways, it was a long year. But in other ways I can't believe your baby days are coming to an end. I didn't get to enjoy all of those days as I wanted to, but we are making up for it now.

You came with a light in your eyes. From day one you have radiated peace and gentleness. Even when I was a few months pregnant with you, I told your Dad that I felt that way since carrying you. Your smile completely takes over your body and warms my soul. You are mild and content and quick to laugh. You love to watch your sister and she can make you laugh doing anything and nothing at all. These days you hide yourself in blankets and clothes constantly, and yell, "TA-DA!!" when you uncover yourself. You clap every time your Dad walks into the room. Or when you hear the word "yea!", or when you hear anyone clapping.

I love the way you put your head on my shoulder when you know I am about to put you in bed. You begin to sing and hum because this is when I always sing you the lullaby song. I rarely sing anymore as we have now switched roles. It is one of my favorite moments each day. Thank you for your calming role in my life. In a time of tension and stress, you were my constant, steady source of joy. You were so low maintenance, requiring so little from me, yet providing so much. I could hold you and feel love and peace and gratitude.

I love it when I'm standing somewhere and suddenly feel tiny fingers filling up the holes in my Crocs. Or when I tickle you and you completely lose control of your body and all your parts are flailing about. I love your growly, grunty little voice and the way you crawl around the house saying, "Mom? Mom?"

Your vocabulary right now includes Mom, Dad, Lila, No no no no no, YUM!, and my very favorite, TA - DA!!!

You've just recently become mobile and that has been fun. You have already eaten all the fake mulch out of my tree. This is always the place I find you when I go looking. You still don't have a single chomper. What's going on there? Just so you know, there is so much more to life beyond applesauce.

You are so playful. You imitate everything we do. You are a very easy crowd. Recently I ran an experiment on you where I contorted my face and moved my body in every way I could think of to see if you would ever stop laughing. But you didn't. I felt so hilarious. It was awesome.

You weigh 23 pounds. 23 pounds of squishy, lovey, smiley, goodness that I adore.

The gift of you has been amazing. You make me happier and better. I'm thankful every day that there is a you and that you are mine.

Happy 1st Birthday Sugar Plum!










Is this not the face of a fun kid?

At Toys R Us picking out a birthday present. Which turned out to be a front facing car seat. It got frustrating to try to explain to a baby that we are out of milk and I need her to suck in while I buckle her straps so we can go to the store. A bit of a lame present, yes. But can you you put a price on safety? I think not. (but if you could it would be somewhere around $67)

A week of prayers

Anabelle will now say her prayers at night all by herself. It has been very sweet to hear her little voice pray and very interesting to hear what she prays for. And sometimes downright funny.


-"Please help me to be......hmmmmmmm........NICE?.....or somethin like that"

-"I'm thankful that I could stand up like this (she stands up), and sit down like this (she sits down), and fold my arms like this (she folds her arms), and lay down like this" (she lays down)... I tell her after a few more bodily demonstrations to say something different so she ends with, "and thankful that I can make Mom's hair a little bit later".

-I must have been very tired and I prompted her when she was stuck to bless President Hinckley. She stopped, opened her eyes and said, "No. I'm not saying that".

-"Thank you for the rain. Thank you for the blessings. Thank you that daddy could work hard for us. Berry, berry hard!!

-"Thank you for this day. HELP ME TO GET BIG AND STRONG"!!!! (said in a deep growly voice)

-"Thankful that we can say prayers"

-AB:"Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this day" (then she whispers to Braden, "Dad! Lila's not drinking her drink! Dad, Lila's not drinking her drink!"
Braden: "Anabelle , say your prayer".
AB: "OK. Dear Heavenly Fath-" (giggles) ...."Oh, I said the wrong thing!" (more giggles)...I was s'pose to say about Jesus"

-"Help Lila that she's not a sickie"

-"Thankful for my toys"

-and the three things that always seem to make it into each prayer are "please bless President Monston, thankful for Jesus, help Grandad to feel better".

The great outdoors

My bed mates sleeping soundly. Lucky ducks. I want to not be a temperature sissy but I can't help it if I need 30 pounds of cotton or animal covering me in order to slumber.

Anabelle was loving that tent. Until she realized she was sleeping alone in there. I was summoned to sleep on the rocks with her and share a sheet-like blanket. A bit of planning won't hurt us next time.

Anabelle throws sticks into the fire. Ninja style.

Last Friday night we were eating dinner outside and I mentioned how perfect the weather was to Braden. He agreed. I said that it was even camping perfect (which in Alabama simply means that it doesn't feel like you are awkwardly sharing a shower with the general public and that bugs aren't presently gnawing your legs to the bone). He said, "We should go camping". I said, "Yes, we should". So we threw some stuff in our car and went camping. Best choice I've made in a while. We forgot stuff, I slept maybe 2 hours of the night because I was freezing and uncomfortable, but something about "living" in nature, if only for a matter of hours is soothing to my soul. Now, after just returning from girls camp as the director, I will say that my family must have played a huge role in the charm I was feeling because at the end of the first day of camp, I willingly crawled in the trunk of my car and remained in fetal position through the rest of the night in order to avoid anymore female banter and chatter and whining and trash talking. I strongly believe that even Anabelle would have been appalled at the whining at girls camp (among leaders!). It's good she wasn't there to see that she isn't even coming close to tapping into full female capacity for annoyingness. I would hate for her to have been inspired. The girls were great for the most part and now that it's over, so am I.

Back to the family camping trip...Anabelle was one happy camper...

For the first time, her passion for stick gathering not only mattered, it was encouraged and rewarded. She ate somewhere around 15 marshmallows for dinner, went to bed very late without taking a bath, and met lots of people and puppies.

For Braden I think it's about any chance he has to get cold.

I didn't have to do dishes, got to snuggle with my family while looking at the stars, and Braden made me laugh my head off. I loved that it was just my family, my favorite people, alone in nature with no distractions. I made immediate mental resolutions to do it more often.

We mocked those who paid for bundles of firewood when they were sitting in a forest. I think our laughing kind of died down with our fire, which lasted only a few minutes because we didn't have enough wood.

Right before bed Anabelle said, "I love it here! It's fun to cook fire".