Congratulations Kaeley

Well, we did Kaeley's wedding and KayLynn did beautifully. She looked so adorable in her little dress, and she was pretty good for the whole thing - although she did walk down the aisle with me!!

She was pretty exhausted!

Visit from Grandma Kay

We got the special treat of seeing My grandmother this last weekend.

This is the back of the new dress that Grandma Kay brought her for her birthday.

About halfway through the evening, I guess she decided it was time for a new-do

KayLynn really enjoyed her time.

Organizing..the cute way

Grandma T made it possible for us to get this for KayLynn's room. It is so nice. It has gotten rid of the shelf (that books kept falling off) and the ugly toy box. KayLynn loves this and it makes it really wasy for her to put everything away before bedtime.

Beatiful Weather

Last Tuesday, while walking Chambers Creek...

A few Sunny Days back...

Sitting in her favorite spot... "Mommy come sit"

Playing with the roses
Eating our favorite sunny day snack
Waiting patiently for daddy...

Playing with the light pole - I have no idea why they are so small

BBQ

Last night we had a BBQ with shishcabobs...We have never done them before. They were sooo tasty.
We had watermelon for dessert, KayLynn loved having her own little bowl.

KayLynn helped Mommy water the flowers while daddy cooked.

Then Max and KayLynn made icees with daddy's new ice shaver that she got him for Father's Day!

We followed that up with some good old fashioned bubble blowing!

And, finally we got that speed demon ice cream truck to slow down long enough for KayLynn to find out that there is nothing scary about the ice cream truck... (She has been crying everytime she hears that stupid music. And may I ask, do they play Christmas music in your neighborhood?)

Way to go Honey!

Many have asked how Max did competing in Washington's Strongest Apple...

He got second, qualifying him for

Nationals in Reno
.

I only took video of the competition, so I had to steal the photos (jimwallingford.com). But here is a little bit to tide you over...

This one is called the Yolk. You put this metal contraption over your shoulders, and they put weights on either side totalling 740lbs. One of the things that makes it difficult is that the weights can swing and make you unbalanced.

He did so well in the Yolk, that the MC (A professional strongman, Corey St Clair) wanted to interview him...Max's advice? "Don't try this at home!"

The Tire flip - it was 850lbs. He flipped it 6 times -- about 40 feet.

the Axle Press is 265lbs that he had to lift over his head as many times as he could, in one minute.

The Farmer's Walk - this one, like the Yolk, is unsteady and is often very hard for contestants to even lift - let alone get it to the finish line. You carry 280 lbs in each hand. That's 560 lbs.

The Barrels... You lift four barrels, 220 lbs, 250lbs

270lbs and 290 lbs... You have to lift them onto a 64'' platform.

Walking away with his plaque!

My Strongman! I am so proud of him.

They were taken by Jim Wallingford, if you want to see more of his work, or the other contestants you can go to JimWallingford.com
As soon as I get the videos put together, I will share!

Poor Baby

Well, maybe yesterday she awakened and sweetly asked me where her necklace was. That was yesterday. Today she puked on me.

She has been saying that her belly hurt for days. So, It shouldn't have surprised me. This morning at 1am she was sick in her own bed, awakening both Max and me. After new clean everything, she got some cuddles from mommy and daddy and went peacefully (I thought) to sleep. When she awakened this morning at 4:45AM, Max, who had to get ready for work, put her in bed with me. She fell right back asleep as did I. Till 5:15 AM.

It all went down hill from there. After three changes of clothing for both of us, Mimi came over and took the munchkin so Mommy could shower (thank the Lord) and go to work. So, please pray for the munchkin, her belly hurts. Please pray for me to remember to be thankful that I have a job when we need me to. But it is things like this that make me hate it.

A Rose Among Thorns

Last night Max and the men (James-my dad, Jim-his dad, Michael-bro, Mark-my dad and Max) got together for pizza, Schwarzenegger and Yahtzee. KayLynn and I came home a little early and they passed her around as their good luck charm. They even had her blowing on the dice.

23 Months!!

The munchkin is 1 month away from 2 years old. She is 1 million pounds and pretty tall now! She counts to 9, and can say her letters A~G (and 'sing with me") now. She loves to read Dick and Jane - she goes through each page and tells me the story that is going on in the pictures. Her favorite is when Dick spills the milk and the kitty "Puff" has to drink it.

She is very independent in some ways (she likes to brush her own teeth, try to put on her own clothes, help with the chores), but in other ways she is becoming a dependant little cuddle bug. I now often hear, "Mommy cuddle? Mommy carry me?"

She is a girly-girl. She loves pretty dresses, putting on chap stick "makeup", painting nails, and this morning the first thing she said to me when she awakened was, "Mommy? Where's KK's necklace?"

She is a joy to mother!

What do you Think?

NICK NAMES

How many of you know that my name is Christina? Well, probably everyone who reads this - but other than that, the list is small.

Everyone calls me Tina. When I was young I had many nicknames, Teen, teeny bop... My sister and I call each other 'sister-sue' because my mom used to call us that when we were little - don't ask, I have no idea why.

I named my daughter KayLynn. I had no intention of calling her anything else. What do we call her? Munchkin or KK, which coincidentally is also Kaeley's nickname. My husband calls me "Lil Hunners", which KayLynn has started calling me. KayLynn calls Max, honey and sweetheart, because that is what I say all the time.

What are your nicknames? How did you (they) come up with them?

A little bit married...you're kidding me right?!?!

As I was reading an article about being a 'little bit married' I was reminded how much I love being totally and completely married. I love the security in knowing that I am married to this man 'till death do us part' not till he makes me really mad, because I am pretty fickle. I am so thankful to the Lord for giving me THIS man. Not some other man who couldn't possibly complete me, as Max does. I love you honey.

Year of the "New Me"

I have been working hard this year to become a new-better-me. I want to be the best mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend, gardener, home-maker, baker, encourager I can be. I don't want to start tomorrow or Friday - I want to start today and yesterday. And, I must say that I am on my way... I have lost some weight. I cut my hair. I am more patient with KayLynn. However, I am disappointed in myself.

I DO NOT read my bible faithfully... And, of course, if I am not communing with the Lord faithfully - how can I do the other things well?

I have decided to make a pact with myself (and the Lord) to get up earlier each day to have my quiet time with the Lord. This means on weekdays I will be getting up at 4:30AM. So, I am going to pull out my coffee maker (buy some coffee) and get started... Please pray for me as I try to make this aspect of my life the best it can be as well!

Things that make you say hm??

Every morning KayLynn and I get ready and head to the babysitters. Every morning we drive past this one house and KayLynn gets excited and says, "horsey". There is no horse. I have never seen a horse there. There are no toys in the lawn. What is that crazy girl talking about?

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KayLynn identifies the sounds of trains and airplanes. However, now when anyone in the neighborhood mows their law, she runs to the window shouting "airplane, airplane!"

What do you think?? Challenge

Are you willing to tell me (us) how many toys your kids have?? I'm talking ALL the toys. Piece by piece. I don't think I realized just how many toys K had, until I did an inventory...down to the last block. As surprising as it was to me, I will share my results. Let me know what you think.

Minus the books, here is what I found...

Everyday -in her room- toys:
Kitchen (2 plates/2 cups/2 sets of flatware, salt/pepper, pot, pan)
Big shape puzzle
Singing/Talking Mailbox (with 3 letters and 1 package)
Piggy Bank (10 coins )
Mrs Potato Head (with eyes, hands, nose, mouth and hat)
Wooden Blocks (10)
Shape Sorting Ball
2 Cell phones
2 finger puppets

Stuffed Animals:
Winne the Pooh
monkey
baby doll
elmo

Outside toys:
1 balls
pushing/ride on lion
Music Bench

Bath toys:
pink rubber ducky
letters that stick to tub
yellow duck that swims
frog that tells temp

Rotating toys (stay in closet/only played with with adults:
little ABC puzzle
Magic colors drawing pad
Box of dress-up clothes
Mrs Potato Head (the rest of the parts)
The other half of the wooden block set

The toys highlited in blue, will be going to the basement this month because she is no longer interested in them. I find it very easy to get rid of stuffed animals (because they are hard to clean) and unused toys. I find it almost impossible to get rid of learning toys and books.

What toys do you have, really?? What toys are easy for you to get rid of and what toys are hard to get rid of??

Vacation Pictures - 3

OK, here it is, the unadulterated version of our vacation...

KayLynn learned to drive

She loved on Silver (the cat), and he kept taking it...
KayLynn tried to open the door to Owl's tree, Piglet watched!

We ate baked macaroni and cheese dipped in ketchup (yuck!)

We relaxed...
all of us...
We bathed in the sink - you think she is a little big?
Bedtime stories with daddy
Got all dresses up and ready to go
Posing to show off her pretty new dress
We did our nails
I made K sweep the floors - I work this kid hard...
KayLynn gardened
and Mommy gardened

And visited with friends
It was a good vacation, although someday I want to take a vacation that is synonymous with relaxation...