Colorado

Chris and I got to go on an adult trip to Colorado last month. It was so fun. We went mountain biking in Breckenridge, added another 14er to our list(Gray's peak), and just had a fantastic time in the 70 degree weather while everyone else melted in Oklahoma. Chris and I both came home with a few scrapes and bruises, but it was totally worth it. We brought the camper and 2 huskies (Keira and Taiga) We are so grateful for the best parents in the world who watched our babies during our adventure. Here are some pics.
  

XOXO
Stacey

"Momma, is Justin Bieber a girl?"

So, LP starts pre-school in a few weeks.  Here are a few things she has done in the last few weeks:

 1)      smashed a 2 lb dumbbell on her sisters’ foot. 

2)      Bit her sisters leg hard, causing 2 day teeth marks.  After being punished, I asked her why she did it.  Her response was“Because I love her sooo much.”

3)      I have signed 3 behavior reports at school due to her failure to listen and mind the teachers directions at daycare.  When asked to do something, her reply to her teachers is, “No.”

4)      She went to Vacation Bible School a couple weeks ago and after a whole week of learning about Jesus, the only thing she remembers is; “I Don’t Care!”  which was apparently in a song that they sang.  She doesn’t remember any of the other words, but that is what stuck.  She says it ALL THE TIME, mostly when I ask her do things.

5)      She has begun to scream really loud when I am on the phone with her in the car and when I drive up to a drive thru to order.  As soon as the attendant asks, “How can I help you?” the screaming starts.  I almost don’t hear it anymore.  The fast food workers hear it though, loud and clear.

6)      I attempted to start LP in gymnastics.  She actually got kicked out for not listening.  All of the other 3 year olds stood in line and waited their turns.  Leighton jumped from side to side of the gym while she was waiting.  The teacher told me she could come back when she would listen.  We left since that won’t be until she is in her 30s.

 These are a few things she has asked me this week

1)      Momma, who makes our boogers?

2)      Do trucks die when fireworks hit them?

3)      Momma, do you love me?  Because if you love me you would never drop me off on the side of the road, because you would never see me again and you would really miss your little girl.  (Chris and I have threatened this when she has thrown her incessant fits in the car.  I guess this one won’t work anymore-she’s getting too smart)

4)      Momma, do you think I’m pretty?

5)      Momma, Is Justin Bieber a girl, because he sounds like a girl.

6)      Momma, is that spatula you are using to make the cookies for spanking and for cooking?

Wow, I hope Chris and I survive raising her because she is going to be quite a spirited adult. 

On another note, Elliot took her first step today.  She has been standing on her own but took her first step towards me tonight.  Yay!  She just turned 8 months.  That's a new family record.

taken by Leighton Paige

Taken by Leighton Paige

 XOXO

Stacey

Make believe

Leighton has always joked with us, but her sense of humor has just recently undergone some fine tuning as she has grown up a little. A 3 year old’s sense of humor is extremely cute and funny. One of the games that she made up involves her pretending that Elliot is a random baby that someone just dropped off at our house. She starts by saying, “Momma, who is this precious baby and where did she come from?” I say, "I don't know but she sure is precious." I usually make up a name for her. Last week it was Sally. Then Leighton continues by saying, “Sally, you are such a sweet baby, how did you get here?” Elliot smiles and laughs at her during all this. This is usual Elliot behavior. She is still the best baby ever. She wins over hearts right and left. Chris and I are so grateful for her and Leighton's differing personalities. Elliot has started pulling up on everything. She is only 6 months old and way too young for that so I told her to stop growing so fast. Needless to say, her obedience could use some work. :)

Here are a few Leighton-isms from the last few weeks:

When Chris got on to Leighton the other day she said, "Daddy, you made my feelings go away."

After loudly sneezing/gagging/coughing the other day, I went to her room to make sure she was okay. She said. "I didn't throw up mom. It was just a cough mixed in with a bless you."

These times are so precious and I just want to wrap them up and trap them so I never lose them.

XOXO--
Stacey

We don't throw babies or fits

Leighton amazes me with her words of wisdom.  The title of this blog is one of her most recent observations.  It's hilarious but so true.  She talks constantly and says some of the greatest things.  For instance: "momma, little girls don't drive because they could bump into things,"  or, "momma, if you get under the car, it will squish you flat like a pancake.", or "momma, look at that trash on the road, that is bisgusting, we have to move out of oklahoma" (If that is not straight from the mouth of Chris Tracy I don't know what is.)  The quiet game has become our favorite game to play with her.  She ALWAYS loses, but at least Chris and I get a few miniscule moments of peace from it.

We found out she often volunteers to pray in her Sunday School class. (I am the shy one-this comes from her daddy) She likes to pray at dinner also and these prayers could last until the end of tomorrow if we didn't tell her to "wrap it up." Her little quirks are adorable though. Speaking of quirks-she just came in the room, knocked a giant glass of water all over me and pushed Elliot's walker to make it sing, hence waking Elliot up and making her cry, all in a matter of seconds. My life is so G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S.

Here are some pics from the last couple weeks. The first ones are from the Dinosaurs exhibit. LP was terrified of these life like creatures. lol

These are from this weekend at the drive thru safari in Arkansas:

XOXO-Stacey

Wiggle wiggle wiggle and Praise the Lord!

There is not a more appropriate title, considering today is Easter Sunday.  Leighton comes home from Sunday school and sings the songs that she learned for days after.  Last week, she walked in the room and showed us the song that she learned.  Apparently it has a dance that goes with it.  Shaking her hips back and forth, she says, "Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, and praise the Lord!"  I have yet to speak to her Sunday school teachers, but I am pretty sure that this song was not on the Sunday school singing list.  She has started composing songs all by herself and telling us she learned them at school, Sunday school, etc.  It is truly the most hysterical thing ever.  I can usually tell the ones that she makes up because they are about strange things that do not quite seem to fit together, like trees and cheese or last week it was mommy and hallelujah.  Not to say that you can't wiggle and praise the Lord, we are Methodist, so this does indeed happen, we just don't sing a song with that exact title.  That kid never ceases to make Chris and I laugh.  We have been trying to teach her about being quiet and not interrupting.  Chris and I were talking in the car the other day and she interrupted us saying that we needed to be quiet because her legs were falling asleep.  Wow.  Disciplining this child without laughing is our greatest challenge. 

Today is mine and Chris' anniversary.  Together for 10 years, married for 6.  In honor of that and the Easter holiday, here are some pics:

us then

us now