7...9...10!

As promised, Kenna "counting" to 10! Turn up your volume!

It's kind of hard to understand her. But, it is a little something like 1,2,3,4,5.....7....9...10!

Am I the only one who thinks this is super cute?

A Lesson

Tonight was one of the nights that I dread. It started out so nicely. Collin got home from work, we laughed and played with the girls, and decided that for family night we would go rent a "Marlee movie", get some pizza and treats and all have movie night. We went to the video store, picked out the movies and a treat and jumped back in the car to head home. That's when it started. Marlee wanted to eat her treat before we had dinner... so, I said no. She got upset and started being rude, so I told her to cool it, or she wouldn't get a treat. She didn't, so she lost her treat, then Daddy decided to lay the smack down and tell her to apologize, or no movie. No apology....which led to no movie, which lead to a lot of screaming, which lead to no dinner, which lead to more screaming. It was a mess. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry! I heard her yelling things downstairs at Collin like "You lied to me!!" and "I'm SO ANGRY!!" or "I HATE bed!!". So she screamed herself to an early bedtime. No movie, no dinner, no FHE. What a sad night!

The worst part was her face, and her screaming "MOMMY PLEASE...NO, I WANT MOMMY" as daddy dragged her away. Makes me feel so guilty, but I know that she learned a lesson. Hopefully one she will not forget, because I REALLY don't want to do this again.

Kenna

(pardon her orange teeth...she was eating a pumpkin cookie)

So, I am feeling a little bit guilty. Looking back at my blog lately, it is very Marlee heavy. I don't want you all forgetting I do have another little princess at home. She hasn't been neglected in real life as much as on the blog, I promise!

She is at SUCH a funny stage right now. She will be 22 months on Sunday. I can't believe she is almost 2. She is SO hilarious, I can't get enough of her babbling. She seems to be talking so much more, so much earlier then Marlee did...or maybe I just don't remember very well. Some of her favorite things to say lately are:

• "I poop in the potty"
• "I love you mommy" (or sissy, or daddy)
• "No, it's MINE" The other day she even added a "GOSH DANG IT" at the end.
• "I miss you"
• "I'm hungry"
• "shoes on" - if she so much as sees anyone think about leaving, she RUNS to the shoe basket, grabs her shoes and yells "shoes on, shoes on!!"
• "aaaawww, my blankie"
• "Bless you!"
• "I'm sassy!"
• "Mom, where's Collin?" -When daddy is at work
• "I wanna brush tooth"-she's obsessed with brushing her teeth.

She can count to 10...kind of. It's a little more like "1,2,3,4,5.....7.......9....10!" I'm hoping to get a little clip of it on my cell phone or something soon. She also likes to sing her ABC's...although she doesn't get far past C!
She runs around NON STOP. For those who knew her as an infant...she is pretty much the exact opposite now. She is still sweet, but she is always talking, and running. She is a total ham, and loves making people laugh. I'm pretty sure she will be my "naughty child". Not because she actually is naughty, but she is just so curious...she get's into a lot more than Marlee ever did.

She still only has 4 front teeth on top and still the same two middle on bottom. She is cutting some molars, but has a long way to go before her little mouth is full.
I love her SO much, and I appreciate her ability to make me smile every single day...even the bad ones.
I love you sweet Kenna!

Smarty Party

Yesterday was Marlee's Halloween party at Smarty Pants Preschool. I was the parent in charge, so I got to go and read to them and do a few activities. It was fun and they were all SO well behaved. I was shocked. I may be a LITTLE biased, but I thought Marlee pretty much made the cutest pirate EVER. I was so glad I convinced her not to be a princess this year. I already have two girls in princess costumes every other day of the year. It was fun to do something different. Hooray for preschool!

Lara Loo

My dear friend Lara is, for lack of better words, ready to POP! She is due any minute and we finally got to rush around and snap some maternity pics for her yesterday. I know, I am NO professional, and I have NO idea what I am doing, but I like taking pictures. Here are a few of my favorites....hopefully by the time I post again little Brian will be here. I hope you are pleased Lara!

Employed

Collin FINALLY had his interview with B & S Law firm yesterday (I don't know if I am supposed to write their name, since this is a public blog). Anyway, they don't have an attorney position available right now (nobody does), but they did offer him a clerking position and the chance to work his way up. We jumped on it. The market is SO terrible right now, no one is hiring and if they are they want 3-5 years experience. Anyway, this is a good firm and decent money, so we are extremely thankful for the chance. I have NEVER been so excited to pay my bills. We were going on 6 months with no income coming right out of school, and it has been nothing but stress. I will be so glad to see that first paycheck and try to catch back up with life. Hallelujah!

Pretty Pretty Princesses

On Saturday, a local Halloween shop did a "Meet the Princesses" day. So, Marlee, Lizzie and Tori got all dressed up and we took them. It was really cute. Marlee has never been to Disney Land/World, so she's never really met the Princesses. She was in awe. She was SO excited when we saw them, but when she actually got to go hug them and take pictures she wouldn't speak. It was actually kind of funny. I did make the mistake of telling Belle, she actually kind of looked like Belle and then we all had to back pedal...because she IS the real Belle...right? Oh well, I don't think they caught on. It was a fun little outing. We had apple cider and they gave them princess bags with candy. Very cute idea, I am glad we went.

HE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!

It's official. Collin passed the BAR! I have been sick for the last 24 hours and haven't slept well for days. But, HE DID IT!!!! When we found out, I SCREAMED (yes, it was in public). Then, when we came home, I looked it up on the website just to be sure, and dropped to my knees and prayed and cried. It has been a LONG journey. We started this process in 2004, when he took the LSAT the first time. He didn't get into school, so we had to wait a year and try again. So, 2 LSAT's, 3 years of law school, and a BAR exam later, he did it. I can think of few moments in my life that I have been so proud. I am thankful to be the wife of such an ambitious and brilliant man. Collin, I love you more than life, and couldn't be an happier for you. You deserve it babe. Thank you for you years of hard work to accomplish this goal for our family. We love you.

The Cure

Today my mom, grandma, sisters,Ali and myself walked the 5K Race for the Cure with my Grandma Audrey. A 34 year breast cancer survivor. This is our first year doing it, I should have been doing it for years. It was such an amazing experience. Everyone there is supportive, cheerful and has their own story. A lot of people wore bright pink signs that were either "in celebration of" or "in memory of". We met some amazing women, both survivors and family of those who have passed on. There were at least 10 times throughout the day I fought back tears...ok, maybe I let them out a few times too. My Grandma was SO thrilled that we went. We all made signs, and hats that said "team Audrey" and "34 Years". There were not many people there with more than 34 years as a survivor, so as we walked the streets of downtown Denver with her, people literally stopped to applaud as she passed. It was so touching, I can't even explain it. It was an eye opener for me because there were several survivors there that were my age, or not much older. Women with new babies, or young children. It was heart breaking, but also very inspiring. I am so glad we went, and plan to do it again next year. Congrats Grandma, we're proud of you and we love you.
As we got to the finish line, Gary Shapiro with 9 News was waiting to interview people. He saw Grandma come down the hill and asked us if we could wait and do a live TV interview. It was pretty cool. We have watched 9 News for years, so we know all the reporters.

The video is terrible I know, but I was using my phone to record off the TV! The first one is Grandma, and the second is myself and then Angie. I don't know why they picked the two of us, but it was kinda cool!

She's towards the end of this one with my mom, and us girls. This is the Denver Post interview.