What Happens In Vegas...

Just wanted to let everyone know we are alive and well...and in VEGAS! I wanted to get a post up before we left for CO, but we ended up leaving a day early. Anyway, we made it into Vegas early this morning. Collin was a guest Speaker at a high school here. It went GREAT! We went to the strip and hung out for a few hours, now we are at Sam and Kyle's house. They just got a baby-sitter and we are off for a fun night on the strip. Headed straight to the Bellagio buffet...mmm... I have already taken some pics so I will b sure to put them up when I get back to Colorado!

P.S. We are missing ALL of you who are SUPPOSED to be here with us!

No-Mo-Fro

I have been debating what to do with Marlee's hair for a long time now. It grows out very un-evenly and she has SUCH a FRO. It is SO hard to manage, especially since she is 3 and she still messes with it, and pulls it out, and changes her clothes 3 times a day. So, after the whole self-cut scissor fiasco I decided to just cut it short. I know... little girls are supposed to have long hair (especially if you ask my grandma!). Well, NOT when it is as crazy as Marlee's. I decided to give it a try and see if it would be easier for me to manage short, if not, I can always let it grow back out. Not like it was THAT long in the first place. I am a little sad that I won't be able to put it up cute, and we probably won't even be able to do piggies for a while, but I think it is still cute, and I hope taking that extra length and bulk out will help it not get as tangled and nappy as it did before. She really is Curly Sue. Everyone told me that when I finally cut it she would lose her curl... I don't think so people (although sometimes I wish she did!). Here are the before and afters...

(And I really didn't cut off as much as it looks like I did, it just curled up SO tight!)

BEFORE

(Don't worry, this was after I ran a brush through it, it's not always that nappy)

AFTER

She does NOT like me taking her picture.

No, she wasn't crying because I cut her hair... this is how she has looked ALL week. Poor thing. sinus infection, ear infection, coughing like CRAZY. It is really sad...those "sick eyes".

Valentines Day

Kenna all decked outWe had an interesting Valentines Day this year. The day started out by taking Marlee to the branch primary activity, which of course, she loved. We picked her up and made our way to Sioux City. Collin and I were asked to be the speakers for the STAKE youth activity. I don't know what made them think that we were qualified to do that! Ha ha. Anyway, I thought it went pretty well. Marlee started coughing a little and saying she was "so cold" no matter what we did. We went to the mall anyway because we were already out there and thought she was just tired. Well, she went to the little play place at the mall and after only a few minutes, said she was done. Hmmm...we went to Red Robin for our V-Day dinner and she just laid down on Collin's lap the whole time. Poor baby, we decided we better go home. She slept the whole way home. We rented her a "Marlee movie" and brought her straight up to her room to lay down and watch it. Collin and I went down to watch our movie and about an hour in we heard her run to the bathroom and start throwing up. I HATE it when the kids throw up, it is so sad! Anyway, it kind of foiled our plans for a quiet, romantic evening, but oh well. She seems to be doing a little better today. She hasn't thrown up at all today, but is still running a fever. I am sure I have her first week of school to thank for this. I guess I should have seen it coming. Starting school is like moving to germ city... I just hope Kenna doesn't get it, she has been pretty cranky today...

Marlee was a being shy and only wanted me to take a picture of her "heart-hair" and not all of her. She is such a sass.

The Devil Made Me Do It...

Marlee being the devil, and the fact that she cut her own hair is the reason why I HAD to cut bangs. I REALLY didn't want to, because most of the time, bangs and curly hair just don't go hand in hand... and she already has an afro about 90% of the time. Anyway, after trying to pull it back for a few days and having it all fall out after 30 minutes, I decided this was probably the best option for her right now. Oh well...

The Big Day

It has been a crazy 24 hours at our house. Yesterday after church we had our "family nap" and when we woke up we went downstairs. I had been cutting hearts out of construction paper on Saturday and Marlee was "helping" me. She thought it was fun, and we had just got her some kid scissors. So, after our nap she wanted to cut some more hearts. I ran upstairs to get the baby and when I came back Marlee said "Look Mommy, I cut my hairs!" I ran over and sure enough there was a big chunk of hair sitting on her shoulder. I just yelled "MARLEE, NO!!!" but, it was too late. She had given herself a haircut. I knew that this day would come, she sees Mommy cutting hair all the time...but that night before her FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL? What timing!?!?
I am not gonna lie... I got a little teary. It's not THAT bad, but it's definitely noticeable (especially to me). I thought her hair was crazy before... oh well. The problem is, her hair grows SO SLOW. It has taken me 3 1/2 years to get it this long...and it's NOT long!

Her first day of school went well. She LOVED it. She was so excited when we got there. She ran off with the teacher and could care less if I stayed or went. The teacher practically had to shove me out the door. She was like "Ok Marlee, go give mommy a hug and say goodbye"... I was gonna stay a few, oh well. It was a LONG 3 1/2 hours. When I went back Ms.Julie said she had done GREAT! Smiling and playing the whole time...until about the last 10 minutes. She said she panicked when she saw other people's parents coming and going, and her mommy didn't come. She was a little worried I forgot her. She is doing great now, and can't wait to go back tomorrow! The really surprising thing is that out of the FIVE friends she already knows in that class, NONE of them were there today. All sick. So, if she does that good not knowing anyone, I hope it will only get better!

This is a good view of the short ones she cut on this side. They won't even stay up...

The only funny thing about this was when I saw her I said "Marlee, you are gonna look like a boy" (I know, not very nice) and she said "Oh, NO mom, I don't WANT to be a boy!!!"

I just hope she learned her lesson...

Panic Attack

I just had to write a quick note. I almost had a panic attack on the way home from church today. Marlee is starting school tomorrow. My BABY! Oh my gosh. I know it's "just pre-school", but it is 4 days a week, 3 1/2 hours a day, and 2 meals! We got her backpack all ready tonight, and let her pick out her outfit. (Let's just hope I can do her hair after the scissor incident this evening...more on that later.) Everyone keep your fingers crossed...hope it's a good day!

Exorcism...

I was just wondering if there was anyone out there who could possibly perform an exorcism on my 3 year old. I am almost positive she has been possessed by some kind of demon.

I am not naive enough to think that she is a perfect child...or even close to it, BUT she is usually pretty well behaved (with some sass here and there). She loves playing with friends and going places. But lately, she seems to be getting more out of control by the day. I don't know what she is thinking. Any little thing can set her off. One minute she is sweet as candy, then you do one thing she doesn't approve of and she turns on you. Today was a particularly bad day for us. This has been one of the hardest days ever for me as a mother. She has started this screaming thing. When she gets to her boiling point she screams bloody murder at me. It is beyond obnoxious. It's like by the time she get's that far gone, she can't control her anger, and in turn it makes me feel more and more upset with her. Today she had me in tears. I felt like a total failure as a mother. I wondered where in the last three years I let her think that she could get away with doing some of this stuff. We try to do what we think is best for them, and sometimes I guess it's just not enough. To anyone who has seen her act this way lately...I swear I discipline her!!! I am really trying to be more consistent but MY GOSH she wears me down. It is a bad weekend for this too because Collin has his weekend class. So... he's been gone all week, and he'll be gone all weekend. Anyways, just needed to vent a little I suppose...

Intuition?

So, for about a month and a half now, I have been noticing a particular old man at Wal-Mart almost every time I am there (he is not an employee). He is probably in his late 60's, wears a black coat and has a long white beard and glasses. I saw him in the cake isle the week before Makenna's birthday and he was asking me all sorts of strange questions. I could tell he was making them up just to talk to me. Weird. I left, thinking he was probably just some lonely guy who wanted conversation. Well, several times since then I have noticed him in the store. We will walk passed him, and if he sees me, he will turn around and just stare at us. We haven't spoken since that first day. He just stares. It is BEYOND creepy. Collin has seen him do it twice. This last time was on Tuesday. We were in the frozen food isle and out of the corner of my eye, I saw something dark pass by the end of the isle....then back up, turn and just stand there. Without even looking, I knew it was him and got a terrible SICK feeling in my stomach. Sure enough, when I finally looked it WAS him and he was just standing there facing me, staring. I know there is a chance that I am just paranoid and he could be a really nice man. But, I don't think so. I really believe that it was my "mothers intuition" and the spirit telling me something was NOT right.
I have been really cautious and have had to promise to Collin that if I go there by myself and see him there, I will have an employee walk out with me and my kids. I have just had a weird feeling about it all week. I even got on Familywatchdog (the sex offender website) yesterday to look for his picture. I know...I am probably loosing it...but better to be safe then sorry.
I just thought...if I go missing... you should all know where to start the search!!!
(Sorry mom, I know you don't think that is funny)

Bootylicious Baby

Just kind of an update. Makenna was 13 months on Sunday. I can't believe it. Maybe part of it is because she still looks like a 9 or 10 month old. She still seems like so much more of a baby than Marlee did at this age. She still isn't walking...or even standing on her own really. She walks along the furniture and pushes her little hippo around, but she is NOT INTERESTED in trying to walk by herself. Oh well. She is a talker and is obsessed with phones! She will hold almost anything up to her ear and say "Hi" and "Buh-Bye". She still has NO TEETH! Which, I think, makes her look a lot younger too. Her little toothless baby grin still melts my heart. She is FINALLY feeling better, and is acting like her normal self for the most part. She had these pants on the other day and I HAD to laugh and grab my camera. Unfortunately for them, both of my daughters have been cursed with their Mama's booty... I have never seen such a bootylicious baby. Keep in mind, this is a FRESH diaper, no pee or poo fillers....this is all Kenna. I love it, I am sure those thunder thighs won't be there much longer. I am trying to catch her new "dance moves" on my camera, but she always stops doing it when she see's my phone. She puts her head down to the floor between her legs and pushes her bum up in the air like she is gonna do a somersault, but then she just bounces her booty like that. She does it whenever she hears music, it is HILARIOUS! She is such a sweetie. I did catch Marlee doing an impression of Makenna's dance last night, and it was 50% hilarious 50% disturbing...we'll see if I put it on here.And for anyone still interested. Yes, they FINALLY got to wear their Christmas dresses on Sunday. Feb 1st....how pathetic. It's been a crummy couple of months!And I LOVE my new calling, doing the music in Primary. This is my first time being in Primary as an adult, and it's gonna be awesome! I am just sad I will be moving in 3 months!

Baby Dax

I am really going to try and get caught up this week with my blogging. My camera cord is apparently busted, so I have been waiting to get my pictures off of my camera. Hopefully I will have a few more posts up this week. One of my best friends out here, Paris, had a little boy 3 weeks after I had Makenna. His name is Dax (or "baby Dack" if you ask Marlee). It has been such a fun year watching them grow together. A couple weeks ago we celebrated his 1st birthday with him. It was so much fun watching him DIVE into that cake...as you can tell he was not shy. It was hilarious. Just thought I would post some of my favorite shots and tell him how much we are gonna miss him when we move! (even though he will be my son-in-law some day!) Marlee had so much fun playing with all the kids. She really does love baby Dax. She's gonna miss him.

Kenna just loved playing with the balloons

(Rachel, it was good you weren't there, you would have had a heart-attack watching kids put them in their mouths!! I was extra cautious!)