Mudpuddle Style

The print on the onsie was created by Brooke Walsh, a local QC area artist-- isn't it fantastic?!?

Vada's onsie and headband was purchased from our friends delightful shop here in Moline-- Mudpuddle Roo's.

The Littlest Climber

When Vada's physical therapist Kim said to start making "obstacle courses" for Vada-- so that she could begin climbing, I don't think that this is what she had in mind....

Confessions of a Dork

I have recently become obsessed with watching Netflix. We have had it for quite sometime now and there are a lot of great shows and movies to choose from. I was on a Family Ties kick for awhile and now I have gone to Melrose Place-- pure mind numbing drama. I have even downloaded the Netflix app. for my phone and for our trip to Saint Louis I plugged it into my car radio and listened to episode after episode after episode all of the way there and then again all of the way back.

I bought a pull page calendar that has a new word and definition each day. I thought that it would help improve my writing abilities. My vocabulary knowledge is stuck at a third grade level. Okay, so maybe I am exaggerating-- but not by much.

I am constantly finding gray hairs! GRAYS! I have too much damn hair to dye it and I have grays! Grrr...

I'm in the process of growing my bangs back out and I am having a constant bad hair day. Plus I really, really need a trim. My ends suck!

It's September and I am already sleeping in sweat pants, long socks, a t-shirt that I cover with a sweat shirt and three blankets, two faux down comforters and a quilt! I don't know what I am going to do when winter is actually here! However, with the cold weather I have become so excited to bake and make hot meals again. I'm taking the girls to the Apple orchard next weekend and were going to make our first homemade apple pies, even Vada will get her own personal baby pie!

I have a slight OCD when picking up Vada's toys. They all have a specific place, even if its just in a basket. I sort them all out, count them to make sure that they are all there. Then I forward face display them if they are on a shelf. With her books, they have to be tallest to shortest and all have to be spelling/words facing downwards, so they are easy to read. I don't know why I do it or when it began and if someone else picks up I don't complain when they don't do it my way, it just kind of bugs me!

The new Twilight movie is coming out soon and I am soooo excited to see it! I went to the movies with Vada and my mother-in-law Annette the other day (we saw The Help--fantastic movie btw) and I saw the previews..., I got serious goosebumps. When the last book was released (quite awhile ago) Justin took me to Boarders Books at Midnight to get one. We stood in line until close to three in the morning. We were undoubtedly the oldest ones there and I didn't even begin to read it when we got home-- I went to bed! I may end up going to this movie all by myself but i'm gonna see it and I am sure Ill be the oldest dork in the theater!

From Yellow to Blue

This evening Jasmine was promoted in Karate again. She went from a yellow belt to a blue one. She has been going to classes anywhere from once a week to four times a week for several months now, with the exception of a few weeks during the summer. She helps teach up to twice a week and just last week she stayed late to help a brown belt who has not been to classes in quite some time and needed a refresher course. Jasmine's confidence has improved so much. She talks about herself and her accomplishments humbly but with a proud tone to her voice, it's really been neat to watch her grown over this year, not just in karate but in all areas of her life. She makes me so proud! She's a pretty amazing girl.

Justin was able to come and watch the whole ceremony. With his work schedule he usually has to leave early and doesn't get the opportunity to see her get handed her new belt. Tonight Jasmine was the highest rank in her class and was awarded her blue belt first and because of this he was able to finally see this part of the ceremony. He's a proud Daddy too. He loves Jasmine and he tries to always be at these things for her because he knows that its important for her to have him there. I love that she will have these memories of him being there for her. That's one of the many reasons that she calls him "Dad", he's earned that title.

Yellow is pretty but in this case blue is better!

A Core Workout With Daddy

This is a video of two videos combined. Last night Justin began doing this with Vada and I made him stop.., I really wanted to get it on video. It was so funny to watch and its actually pretty impressive how strong Vada is. Justin is holding her right under her hips, she is holding herself up the whole time... So strong this girl of ours!



This video was done this afternoon at Justin's parents house. He was showing his mom, Annette, their new workout. Annette thought it was a riot!