Little Ballerina

This afternoon was Raya's first  dance class....and  let's just say she LOVED it!

I told her to do a ballerina pose---clearly this kid is a natural ;-)

She is  required to wear a pink leotard, pink  tights, and pink shoes---so I ordered all  that  through the studio today during class and she will be able to pick it up at next week's lesson. Don't worry, I'll  have her model it!! For today I just  dug for some things in our closet to create something that was slightly  ballerina-ish, so that  we could get some first day of class pictures :-P (She did tell  me this wasn't  very pretty LOL...she was expecting the pink  leotard I think ;-)

Look at that balance

Parents  aren't  allowed  in the dance room during the lesson, but  Raya didn't mind! She ran right  in and within 15 seconds was "dancing" with the other little  girls (and one boy ;-) in her class. I think there are 9 of them today in her section. I did peek in the window once at the beginning and saw her  doing stretches---so was too cute. There  is a family observation day in like Oct. I think when I can watch the class and take photos, so stay tuned!

After class Raya ran out to me and her cheeks were all red...you could see she had gotten quite a workout dancing! I was so glad she loved  it. And after class she told me "one  girl stopped dancing and stood there" ...and I said "oh,  why?" and Raya said "because  she was tired. I didn't stop though....I  just looked at the girl and kept dancing!"    She's quite  dedicated already---or simply excited to tattle on someone else ;-)

We  had  to  do ballerina  hair as well. Raya  LOVES hairspray haha...she should have been born in the south I think ;-) She gets so excited for me to spray her down and then she "pat pat pats" her head until it's perfect. She usually finishes with a look in the mirror and declaration "I look AWESOME!"

After class we went and had  DQ icecream. She was eating her  icecream and said that this was the best day ever LOL. I had to quickly explain that *every* Friday after dance class will  NOT be icrecream ...only  today since it was a special first  day!

Then when she got home she told Daddy all about class and gave it a thumbs  up!

(That's her  thumbs  up, in case it was unclear ;-)

Glad you enjoyed your day Miss  Raya! Mama  is  happy to slave away in the Etsy sweat shop a little  extra to pay for what is sure  to  be your first  class on the way to becoming a prima ballerina <3

And just  as an extra bonus, today  Raya wanted to dress up in some winter  attire...we're  both excited for  cold weather clothes! This vest she wore last year, but it's still  plenty big! She wanted her owl  hat  to top it off too. I think we'll  pair this look with jeggings and brown boots...she is too  stylish ;-)

Sassy pants ;-) I've  got other pics from this  "shoot" to share later!

So in conclusion we have dance  class, hairspray, dress up,  photoshoots, and sassy poses---I  think  it's safe to say I got my girlie girl---and I'm loving it!!!

Things I loathe

Today I watched  Harper while my mom was  at an appt. and Sawyer was at his first day of preschool. Brielle clung to me and whined the entire  time because she's so jealous of Harper. I LOATHE that.

This afternoon I had a dentist  appointment. They scraped my teeth and it made that  horrible grinding nails on a chalkboard sound.  I LOATHE that and I LOATHE the dentist.

Then I went grocery shopping while  my mom watched the kids. I LOATHE grocery shopping. I never make or take a list and then I randomly grab things, because  I hate meal planning. Actually I LOATHE meal planning ;-)

Raya no longer  is afraid to get out of her bed. She doesn't call for me when she wakes up...instead  she flings open the door and runs out of her room looking for me. I can no longer go in and say "nap time isn't over" because she's already running w ild through my house. I LOATHE that.

I would  like a maid, because  I LOATHE deep cleaning my house. And really, as fast as the kids  mess it up what's  the point?


.....things  I  don't  loathe, but  LOVE?

Well I LOVE that Raya  has  her  first dance class tomorrow!

I LOVE that I've  been  staying on top of my Etsy orders this week.

I LOVE that Old navy started a 25% off sale today, so that I could buy the matching hoodies that just came out:

Owl  for  Raya, Monkey  for Brielle---can you say perfect? Or actually  LOVE :-)

I  LOVE that I get  to  go fall  shopping for myself at the outlet mall with my mom for her  birthday on Sunday!

I  LOVE that  my girls continue to be insanely adorable.

I  LOVE that now I'm  craving oreos and actually  have some to eat after  my grocery trip today!

Basically,  my  day has been  a LOATHE/LOVE sorta day ;-)

Happy Birthday to my mom!

Grandma F (as she's known on the blog), or Grandma Donna (as she's called by the kids), has a birthday today!

Sawyer, the inventor of the "sweet smile", has started and trend amongst the cousins....but sadly he is the only one who can pull it off without looking like a weirdo :-P And where was the 4th grandchild during our little shoot? She was off to the side, throwing a tantrum because the photoshoot wasn't *her* idea---not so sweet afterall now is she?!

And here are some others that  I took. If you think getting *four* children of these ages to sit in a certain order, hold signs, keep the signs visible, look at the  camera, and smile is hard then you would be right! ;-)

(We) Love (You) Grandma...at  least  the  two key words are  there :-P

....found Miss "You"  ...she is so stubborn

I thought moving to the step and changing the order  would reset Brielle's bad  mood and get her  to participate---I was wrong!

So happy birthday  mom! Sunday Lee  is watching the girls so that mom and I can go shopping at the outlet mall for her birthday--yay!

Everyone should comment and wish Grandma F. a happy birthday!! :-)

Happy 19 months (a little late :-)

So Brielle was 19 months old on the 11th...a little late, but better late than never right? ;-)

When I think about Brielle being 19 months old all I can think of is the fact that Brielle was born when Raya was 19 months old....wow. I mean, I guess perception is everything, and at the time with Raya I didn't think much of it, but now with Brielle I simply can't imagine bringing home a baby right now....Brielle is still a baby! haha. As I've said many times though, I love that Raya and Brielle are so close in age, but at the same t ime I'm extremely glad that I  get to continue enjoying Brielle as my youngest and I don't  have to go through months of tv and cheerios for  her while I'm constantly feeding and caring for a new baby!

As far as 19 month stats, Brielle has  officially outgrown size 12 month now! She's a pretty solid 18 months now....and most of our winter stuff for her is size 24 months (hand me downs from Raya) and when I held them up to her the other day they still look so huge....so we'll see what I can make work! Actually the 18-24 month size for tops is ok, it's the pants and dresses that  are way too long on my little shorty :-) She is in size 5 shoes and size 4 diapers. She takes one nap a day (usually 12:30-3) and she sleeps all night long (8pm-6:30/7am). She's forward facing in her  carseat now this month and she can now do shorter trips without a stroller or diaper bag (yay!). New moms are so excited to carry diaper bags, but I celebrate it's death lol. I now stick two diapers and a baggie of wipes in my purse and we're off---sweet freedom! She eats well with silverware, can drink from a straw, can climb anything and at the park she plays on the "big kid" equipment and leaves the baby section in her  dust :-P

Milestone wise the big development  this month has been LANGUAGE! Wow, she's had quite a language boom. I don't know if it was getting the tubes in her  ear (she can probably hear better now) or just a coincidence, but she now repeats pretty much anything you ask her to say. She says "mom-meeeeeee"  all  the time, and  it's usually  in a squeaky little whine voice lol. When she wakes up in her crib she goes through the list of people who might come to get her ..."mom-meeeeeee, dad-deeeeeeee, gram-maaaaaa"  ....and her favorite word by a mile  is "no!" ...she  says this with great force ALL. DAY. LONG. As far as multiple word phrases she doesn't say a ton yet...but she does say "there it is!" when we're looking for something and then find it haha.

Now for some pictures from yesterday, to document her 19 months....enjoy!

She was in a modeling  mood again lol...I think she likes the attention she gets when  she's being cute for pictures!

Trying to figure out how the  whole pose thing works hehe

Raya of course got jealous then and  wanted in on the photoshoot

She just keeps getting prettier as she gets older!

...well, except for these crazy smoosh faces haha

Yesterday Raya dressed herself. She told me, "you can't  go in my room, because it's MY room. Only I can."  ....ummmm, excuse me?! Anyways I  threw a jean skirt on her when we went to the post office so that it looked like more of an outfit---Note to self, hide everything except specific put together outfits so that  she can  pick  her own stuff and still where what I like! ;-) 

And like the diva poses here?

I was chasing her and saying I was going to pinch her  butt lol...it's a favorite game of  hers

Ok,  now stop it  Mama...game over :-P

Did I mention that Raya  is all signed up for dance class?? Yep, she starts this Friday!! She has to wear a pink leotard, pink  tights, and pink  ballet shoes....so I'm ordering those and they won't be ready yet for Friday so she'll just be wearing normal clothes. But when I get her  cute pink  stuff  I"ll take pictures! She's super excited to start class :-)

At 19 months Brielle still has puppy paci! ...and monkey, which remains paci-less :-)

Here's to the next 19 months! :-)

State Fair, continued....

Figured out how to get my pictures on here now :-) Enjoy the  random pics from our fun day at the state fair! (My mom came along too because she hasn't  been to the state fair in years she said!)

We're lucky  in that  Raya couldn't have  cared less about the rides....she just wanted to see the animals! And looking at animals is free---so great bargain LOL. She was such an angel all day---she just walked around and looked at animals for hours.

No idea why this calf looks  so skinny and sickly in this picture

Before  we got the the fair Raya was telling  us about the monkeys and hippos she was going to see haha. No surprise, we didn't happen to run into any of those at the fair :-P

We did watch baby chicks hatching though!

Love Raya's wide-eyed face in this one haha

Brielle was saying "duck!" 

My mom had been  walking  and  holding Raya's  hand...Brielle  got jealous and insisted that  Grandma hold *her* hand too LOL

She  also thought she was hot stuff riding on Daddy's shoulders :-)

The big boar

Giant bull

Watching  horses

The girls were fascinated with the sweet treats behind the glass in the 4H hall haha. Brielle  tried to eat them :-)

Damn point and shoot camera haha...the girls are all blurry, but I thought it was cute anyways

Wearing Daddy's glasses!

Grandma treated us to the one ride Raya really wanted  to go on...the skylift! Lee stayed behind and watched :-P

My mom said Raya  talked her  ear off up there haha

Me and Brielle

The  girls got nurse hats...and posed with  my mom the nurse!

They  also met Clifford the big red dog!

Giving him a high five :-) They weren't scared at all....time for Disneyworld soon I think! hehe

"wow, bee hives are amazing!"

"so is  mulch!"

Walking with her  sassy pants on ;-) Such a little  diva!

Icecream!

Yum :-)

Asleep within 2 minutes on the way home!

When we finally got home Raya said she wanted to watch a show---she  said "It's been a long day!" lol

Can't wait to go again next year!