Josie's Flowers

Grandmommy and Granddaddy gave Josie a sunflower planting kit for her birthday. Josie has been a big helper in helping to water "mommy's flowers". So I knew she was really going to enjoy having "Josie's flowers" to take care of! The kit came with everything we needed!

First, we added water to the pellets and watched them grow into dirt. Then we got to dig around in it with our rake.Next, we got to decorate our planter cups with stickers and then fill them half-way with dirt.

(Mommy had to supervise this project a lot!)

Then we added the seeds. We counted 3 seeds to put in each cup. Then we covered them up with more dirt. Josie is a very good counter!
Then we put them in the window sill so they can get sun and grow big enough to transfer outside to the yard. We did this about a week ago, and the plants are already big enough to move outside! (We would have moved them this past weekend, except that the stomach bug invaded our house and we were all sick!) Hopefully we can move them out to the yard next weekend. At this rate, we may have blooming sunflowers by the Fourth of July! Josie will be so proud! Hopefully it won't take her as long as it took me to acquire her green thumb!

The Wonder Pets: Save Josie's Birthday!!!

Josie and I flew home last weekend to visit with family for her birthday. I was nervous about flying with her by myself. This was the last time she could fly for free....just barely under age 2. We lucked out and both going and coming home, neither flight was full. So not only did she get her own seat, but no one wanted to sit with us so we had a whole row to ourselves! You'd have thought Josie was a princess with all the special attention from the flight attendants and all the "special" new toys I had brought along. Both flights were very pleasant and she really enjoyed flying! Too bad it'll be a long time before she'll fly again since now we have to pay for her a seat, too! (well....starting on Thursday!)
We stayed with my parents, "Nana and Papa" and got to spend time with both sets of my grandparents, "Granny & Pa" and "Grandma & Grandpa." We did some shopping and running around. I got to eat a BBQ Chicken potato at Bob Gibson's---it was sooo yummy!!! BBQ in Texas is just different! At the mall, Josie got to ride the carousel with Papa. We're not sure which one had the most fun....

On Saturday, Aunt Leah and Uncle Philip came to spend the night and go to church with us. Aunt Leah helped me make the fabulous Wonder Pets cake. This thing was a disaster from the beginning! We made it with super-moist cake, which made it super delicious. But the humidity both from the cake and North Alabama climate had the icing sliding off the cake faster than we could get it decorated! This also made the top layer of cake start splitting in half, right down the middle! I had planned on putting some of Josie's Wonder Pets figurine toys on top, and they just kept falling over. We finally got it all finished enough to take some pictures, then took the figurines off to put back on right before she blew out the candles. It turned out pretty cute!
We had the birthday party Sunday after church. Lane's family was able to come--his parents, and both his brother and sister and their families. We had hamburgers and hotdogs...then cake and ice cream and Josie opened a few presents.
It was so good to see everyone and spend some time together!!! I don't think we've every seen so many different people in one trip. Seems like somehow we worked everyone in! Josie and I both were worn out!!!

My Little Mama

This morning while I was typing an email to Lane, Josie was playing in her room. I got a little nervous when I noticed that it was very quiet.....which usually means she's into something she shouldn't be. About the time I finished the email, she came into the living room carrying her baby, one of her diapers, and a disposable changing pad she had gotten off her changing table. So, we laid the changing pad out on the couch, and I showed her how to put the diaper on her baby. Once the clean diaper was on, she put her baby to sleep by wagging her finger in its face and saying "close your eyes!!!!" Then she "patted" it three times, not very gently.
It was soooo funny!!! Obviously, she's heard me tell her to "close your eyes!!!" But sometimes I wonder where she gets her "motherly" nature. I never showed her how to carry her baby or love on it, but she certainly knows how! I was a tomboy and never really played with dolls. But I love my little girly-girl! She's so sweet!
Now she has her baby sitting in the front of her grocery cart. I guess they're going to the store!

Diaper Cake

We had a baby shower at church this past weekend. My friend, Melinda, and I put together a diaper cake. This was my first one, and I was very proud of how it turned out----and it was so easy!!! The family is having a boy and have a "farm" theme in the nursery. I found the cutest ribbon at Michael's that had cows and pigs saying "moo!" and "oink!" on it. It was a tough choice between the chicken or a pig to go on top, but Josie helped us pick the chicken. I think it works.

Our New 'Fridge!

So, LAST Thursday night, I went to get some ice cream after I finally got Josie settled in bed. I noticed it was a little soft, but I figured I hadn't closed the door good earlier. Friday morning I went to get Josie a waffle for breakfast, and they were completely thawed--as were several other things towards the front of my freezer! By Saturday afternoon, neither the 'fridge or freezer were even remotely cold. I had to throw everything away which seemed like such a huge waste of money, but there was nothing I could do about it.

I got some ice so I could keep milk for Josie in a cooler, and began refrigerator shopping. Usually when we make a major purchase like this, Lane researches things for weeks and reads all kind of reviews on it. Well, that was out of the question and this was an emergency! I began scouring websites for something that would fit in our space. I had room for 68" under our cabinet, but most 'fridges are 69-70". I didn't really want another side-by-side because I HATED the one I had. The 'fridge side wasn't so bad, but I complained all the time about the freezer. It was probably only 7 or 8 inches wide, so it was very difficult to fit things in there. Last summer I made a frozen dessert, got it all made and put together....only to discover the pan wouldn't fit in my freezer. ARGGG!!!!

I only had two options for what would fit in our space. I finally found one with a bottom freezer that I really, really liked. Was it worth the extra money to get what I really wanted (and something better!), or should I just settle and get basically what I already had??? I finally decided that either way, I was going to have to spend a chunk of money, so I might as well get what I wanted.....SO I DID!!!!!! And I LOVE it!!!! Seriously----I love this refrigerator! Granted, it was just delivered yesterday, and I just went to the store to "restock" this morning. But I love it!!!!
The refrigerator part has a compartment for everything! The "gallon" bins in the door are easily accessible. The deli drawer can be set to extra cold. There's a special spot for Lane's Diet Dr. Peppers! There's also a water filter on the inside (which was a must-have for us!)
Still looks a little barren, I know!
The freezer is a pull out drawer with an ice-maker. When you pull it out, there's a big basket/bin all the way across. Then there are 2 more drawers you can pull out over that one. So easy to organize! The big pull-out drawer will be perfect for frozen pizzas!

After going a week without a 'fridge, I am VERY thankful for this guy!

Happy Birthday Tyler!

On Saturday, our friends from church (the Fryers) had a birthday party for their little boy, Tyler. Tyler was turning 2, as Josie will soon be doing. I knew he was getting a swing set for this birthday, and I was anxious to see how Josie would enjoy it. We've been thinking of getting her one, too. She just loves to be outside! (And I love giving her an outlet for all that bottled up energy!!!!)
I think this was one of the funnest birthday parties I'd ever been to! When we got there, we were ushered out to the backyard and it was like a carnival for toddlers! There was a bubble machine blowing bubbles all over the yard. Besides the new swing set, Tyler also got a new sandbox with a picnic table attached and a John Deere wagon. Our other little friends Zoey, Nathan, and Natalie were all there and they all had the BEST time!!!! It was so much fun to watch them play and enjoy everything!
I'm pretty sure Josie is going to be a tomboy like her Mommy. She LOVED the sandbox! I finally gave up on keeping her out of it and let her plop down right in the middle of it! (When I took her shoes off later, sand went everywhere!!!!) She did a great job climbing up the ladder for the slide. She still needs a little help, but it won't be long before she can do it all by herself! She also loved the wagon rides and the swing, of course. By the time we left to head home, she was all tuckered out! It was a challenge to keep her awake until we got home for her nap!
So, now we are shopping for a swing set for Josie's birthday!

Picnic

The "Housecleaning Crew" came today, so we had to get out for a bit. The kids typically nap from 9-11, and eat lunch at 11. The cleaning crew was scheduled to come at 10:30, so I was nervous about where we were going to eat lunch and also how the kids were going to do "off-schedule." We left the house right at 10:30 and went to Wal-Mart for a bit.

By the way, save yourself some misery and do NOT go to Pearland Wal-Mart for ANY reason! Luckily, we weren't really shopping, just walking around. They've got it all torn apart. It looks like they are moving everything that was in the back of the store up to the front, and the front to the back. Seriously, nothing is where it should be! There are random aisles here and there. It's awful!

We left there about 11:20 and headed home. The kids had not had lunch yet, but no one was complaining! When we got home, the cleaning crew was still here. Being the genius that I am, I quickly developed a plan to set up a picnic in the garage! (It was too sunny in the backyard.) And that is what we did! It was actually fun! I still can't believe no one had a melt-down. They all love to be outside! We might have to "schedule" picnics more often!