Easter Bunny for one

Only one of my kids would sit with the Easter Bunny this year.  At least the one that did, smiled and made the picture perfect.  Hopefully next year we can get them both to cooperate.

Easter 2013

It's Rodeo Time!

Ladies and gentleman, I would like to introduce you to Peyton Jones, a real life mutton buster!

Saturday night we took Peyton to her very first rodeo.  Fort Myers held it's First Annual Pro Rodeo and Peyton was invited to participate in the pre-rodeo mutton busting....aka, sheep riding.

To say I was nervous is an complete understatement.  I had been showing her videos on YouTube of mutton busting and she had been talking about it incessantly for two weeks. However, I wasn't sure she would actually do it.  

We arrived a little early to get her checked in..  And as luck would have it I ran into a high school friend who's little boys were also going to mutton bust.  So we fitted helmets and chatted while we waited for the show to start.

I kept looking for a sign that Peyton was nervous or going to back out but it never came.  She was so excited and brave.  

They didn't allow parents out int he arena, which totally freaked me out, as I thought Mike could go with her while I took pictures. It was at that point I really became worried she would get out there and decide it wasn't going to happen.

But it never came.  She just marched out into that arena and never looked back. To be honest, I was a fearless kid in a lot of ways but I don't think I would have hopped on a sheep at the age of three without my parents there by my side.  

But Peyton did!  And she rode that sheep like a pro!  

I can't tell you how proud I was of her.  Not because she rode a sheep, yes of course that was awesome, but because she said she was going to do it and she did!  

She had so much fun and has not stopped talking about her mutton busting experience.

This little dancing rodeo clown was so awesome!

After mutton busting we stayed to watch the rodeo.  I am not sure who had more fun... Mike watching the bull riding or Peyton watching the barrel racing.  Our friend Margo was the first barrel racer out of the gate.  So Pey and I took a spot on the fence to watch.  After Margo's run Peyton turned to me with the biggest, most excited eyes I have ever seen and said, "Mom, I want to do that!".  Of course my little daredevil does!

We spent the rest of our time eating popcorn and reminiscing with old friends.  It was one of the best Saturday nights I have had in years!

And who knows, maybe I have the next world champion barrel racer on my hands???

A little sun

After an insane Saturday complete with a yard sale and lots of Etsy, we decided to take a few hours to relax on Sunday.  The weather was so beautiful on Saturday, that we made the decision to try the beach.  It was CJ's first official trip and he did great.  Just laid around under the umbrella and chewed on his toys, while Peyton made mud puddles and kicked around in the chilly water.  It was just what we needed.  Oh and Aunt Nicole went too, so it was nice to have an extra person to entertain the kids.

 Sometimes Peyton gives me a hard time with pictures.  If she isn't in the mood she will cover her face or just look sad so I stop taking them.  But yesterday she was in rare form and posing like a crazy woman.  We were cracking up because she was sucking her little tummy in and putting her hands on her hips.  Apparently she has been watching Top Model when I am not around.

 The above picture is my favorite!

 See, I told you he went too!

We hope everyone enjoyed their weekend and St. Patrick's Day!

Better

Peyton has spent the past few days sick but as you can see she is finally feeling better.  Now we wait for her brother to do the same.

TGIF!!!!

Edison Festival of Lights

Here is a crazy fact.  I was born and raised in Fort Myers and I can count on one hand how many times I have been to the Edison Festival of Lights night parade.  My dad isn't a huge parade person and oddly enough that weekend always seems to be extremely cold.  However, we decided to brave the chilly temps and bundle up for the parade.  

Some friends got us a great spot right the start of the parade route. It wasn't crowded so we were able to sprawl out with all of our stuff and enjoy the night!

Please don't laugh.  That is the best family pic we were able to get.

Peyton got cold right when the parade started and snuggled up with Mr. Garrett.  He said he didn't mind because she was keeping his lap warm.

We had such a fun time!  I think we will make it a yearly tradition!

Happy Valentine's Day

A hundred hearts would be too few
To carry all my love for you.
~Author Unknown

Happy Valentine's Day my sweet children.  Your Dad and I love you more than you will ever know!

xoxo

Kids are funny!

Last week my sister sent me the links below.

46 Reasons my three year old might be freaking out...

http://jasongood.net/365/2012/12/46-reasons-why-my-three-year-old-might-be-freaking-out/
3 Minutes inside the head of my two year old
http://jasongood.net/365/2011/08/day-215-approximately-3-minutes-inside-the-head-of-my-2-year-old/

You HAVE to go read them both.  Whether your kid is 3 or 30, you will find it funny.  Heck if you have no kids and have just babysat once you will find them funny!
I could not contain my laughter and read the majority of the post with tears streaming down my face.  Seriously, it so scary the level of irrationality of small children, we as adults can't even comprehend what the hell is going on half the time.

A few of my favorites:

He’s not allowed in the oven.

His sleeve is touching his thumb.

The inside of his nose stinks. (for the record, Peyton has said this to me)

After I finished reading I sent the links to a bunch of friends with kids and immediately started getting responses back.  Everyone was dying laughing and had funny stories of their own.  So I asked them if I could share their funny kid moments here on my blog and they agreed.  So here ya have it....the good, the bad and the crazy!

Landyn: Age 2

Let's start with Landyn Audrey.  Her Mom, Amanda is an old friend of mine and she is hilarious, so it is only natural that Landyn is a character was well.

I was loading the dishwasher the other day and Landyn yelled Knife very loudly picked it out of the dishwasher and proceeded to run away from me.  I was trying to be very calm and ask her nicely to please give me the knife back since I could just picture her running and falling and stabbing herself with it….luckily there was no stabbing that day and only a minor knife fight as I tried to wrestle it away from her… Agreed, they are insane!

Connor: Age 4

Next up is Connor.

Last week, Connor and I were going through the McD's drive thru and Connor asked if he could have his window down too like me (he sits in the seat directly behind my seat).  As I paid the somewhat grumpy and socially-disturbed woman with dreadlocks at the first drive thru window, she gave me my receipt and I said "Thank you!"  Connor decided to chime in as well and said "Thanks lady with the funny hair!!"

Other weird things--

*I often ask Connor, "Are you coming or what?!", "Are you going to get out of the car or what?!"...and he ALWAYS responds "Or what!"...and its as if he's being smart but in fact, he doesn't even realize that hes not supposed to respond to the rhetorical question.  

*Connor insists that we play hide and seek with his toy story friends (he hides his stuffed animals and  then I have to find them).  He either tells us where everything is before we find it or he forgets where he hides things and we spend the next few hours trying to recover all "friends" because God forbid we not have all toy story friends with us at all times.

*Connor likes to announce what you are "doing" when you're using the restroom, especially when you're in public.  On more than one occasion, Connor has exclaimed, "Mom, are you going poop?! Can I see?!"..."Sure buddy....Shhhhh...."

Maddie: Age 3

Here is Maddie.  She is Peyton's classmate and a spirited little girl to say the least.  Cute as can be too!  Her parents might say that is part of the problem.  :)

Honest to God prayer my daughter said last night: "Dear God: I love you God. Thank you to Jesus for making me feel better (referring to her ear infection). I love my mom. My daddy too. And sometimes Baby Gavin. Thank you for getting rid of my nasty attitude so Bella can come over and play. And for making me be respectful. (clearly she had been scolded about this multiple times throughout the day). Ok, that's all, Amen." 

Peyton: Age 3

Last but not least is Peyton.  I had a funny thing she told me the other day as my original quote from her.  "Mom, I can't get this screwdriver in my straw".

Because God only knows why that is important. But then this weekend we had the following exchange and to date it is the strangest conversation I have ever had with her.

From the other room she yells, "Mom, I have to go potty".

Me: "Okay, get up and let's go."

Pey: "No, I want to go later".

Me: "But you just said you needed to go".

Pey:  "I went yesterday".

Me: "That's great but you said you need to go so let's get up and go."

Pey:  " I will wait and go tomorrow". 

Me: "Peyton, get off the couch and go potty".

Pey:  "I just already told you I went yesterday and I will go tomorrow".

Me:  "Fine Peyton don't go potty".

....less than 3 minutes later she walks into the garage to tell me she went potty.  So I opened a beer!

If you have a funny kid story or quote and want to share it, I would love to hear it!  Until then, best of luck staying sane!