Ok, I disappeared

And essentially failed the blog challenge...

but it's not my fault!  We have no internet!

I do what I can.

Kate can talk.  She can imitate words.  She's a smart cookie.  Her latest favorite is to learn animal (and some other) noises.  These are the ones she can make:

Bear:  RAAARRRR
Dog:  Woof woof
Wheat:  Shhh Shhh (it's in one of her books, lol)
Monkey:  Ah ah ah!
Pig:  (snort snort through the nose)
Wolf:  ooohhhh
Sheep:  baa baa

She can also correctly point to the following body parts when asked:  nose, hair, ear, foot, belly, tongue (the last one she just sticks out at you). 

:)  I love my smartie pants.

I might have a hard time keeping up...

We finally moved and don't get our internet for a couple more weeks.

Yay new house!

Boo no internet!

September 11

There's not much I can say about this day that others haven't yet said.  This was the first world event that gave me pause and truly impacted my life.  I was a junior in high school and home alone while my family was in Florida.  I remember going home after a day of watching it all unfold in my classes, sitting on the family room floor with my tv on and crying.  I was scared for my family who was supposed to fly home that day... scared for the families that had been directly impacted... scared for the country's safety as a whole... and scared for myself and what this all meant for my future.

While September 11th will always be a sad, tragic day for our country, it also serves as a reminder to be thankful for every day that we are given and it resurrects in all of us a pride for our country.

We will never forget.

I will eat you up I love you so!

Disclaimer:  We were getting out of the car... hence the unbuckled chest clip. :)

Sometimes working with kids is extra hard

Like when one of them whips another one in the face repeatedly with his naptime blanket.  And when I go to take it away he screams, yanks at the blanket, and then kicks me.

Good thing I've had a lot of practice in the patience department...

Make this... eat this

Rocky Road Pie

1 (18.25 ounce) box Betty Crocker Super Moist chocolate fudge cake mix

2/3 cup water

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 3/4 cups chilled whipping cream

2/3 cup miniature marshmallows

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

 

Chocolate Glaze

1 tablespoon whipping cream

1 teaspoon butter or margarine

1 ounce coarsely chopped semisweet chocolate

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and dust a 9−inch pie plate with sugar.

 

Reserve 1 2/3 cups lightly packed dry cake mix. Beat remaining cake mix, water, oil and eggs  on low speed, scraping bowl constantly, for 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed, scraping bowl frequently, for 2 minutes. Spread in pie plate. Bake until cake springs back when touched lightly in center, 30 to 35 minutes; cool completely.

 

Beat whipping cream and reserved dry cake mix until stiff. Fold in marshmallows and chocolate chips. Pile on top of cooled cake.

 

Prepare Chocolate Glaze. Heat whipping cream, butter or margarine and chocolate over medium heat, stirring frequently, until chocolate is melted and smooth. Immediately drizzle over top. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.

Enjoy!

Best hug ever

I was working on the house today with my little side-kick "helping" every step of the way.  I was standing painting some trim and she came waddling over... wrapped both arms around my legs and SQUEEEEEZED as hard as she could.  Then she gave my knee a kiss with a loud "MUAH!" and walked off.

Best hug I've ever gotten. :)

We're getting ready to move

Back in April we sold our house in Bufu and bought a new house that is less than a mile from both our parents.  We have been working and working and working on the house while living with my IL's.  It was a gorgeous house to start with, we just wanted to change some things to make it "ours" and didn't want to be living there while doing.  So we added in a brand new master bathroom upstairs (we now have 3 full baths in the house) and we're working on the basement to put in an office and playroom. 

Well...we are FINALLY looking at moving in!!  We've been working our butts off this weekend to get stuff finished up so that we can at least move (but the basement won't be finished for a while yet).  I think we're going to actually start sleeping there this coming Friday so that we can have the weekend to settle in and get Kate used to her new digs before going back to school/work. 

So yeah... eventually I will do a photo tour for you.  But for now you have to believe me that things are lookin' mighty good over there.  :)  I can't wait to have a home of my own again!

She blows

My mom was determined to teach Kate how to blow kisses.  And she succeeded.  The best part?  Kate makes a very loud "MUAH!" sound to accompany the cute little hand flying from her mouth.  So even if you don't see the kiss being blown at you, you can definitely hear it!

She has also learned how to blow her nose.  Which is fabulous because there's nothing worse than wiping boogers off her face to just have to wipe again 2 seconds later because it's a never-ending stream.  Now we can put the kleenex on her face and tell her to blow and she does. 

Cutie Patootie

Shoes

I love shoes.  Not for me.  But for my child.  We "had" to buy her a new pair today because her other pair gave her trouble while she was walking.  I think they were too stiff or something.  So we got these new, cozier shoes.  I love them. :)