Holidays

I really need to get better about updating before I forget things.  Last week when I took Kiersten to school, her teacher was absent so there was a sub, she said oh there is Miss Jacie's shadow.  I love it that loves school.  So when I picked her up on Thursday the director said to me that Kiersten was the star of the show today in chapel.  She was holding up a star and was singing and dancing, and even got to go on stage.....I Love that about my little girl!  
This week God worked a miracle for my family.  I trust in God that all things are possible!
Well Thanksgiving is just around the corner, then Kiersten's birthday, then Christmas....yikes!  Well I am excited for Thanksgiving, especially for all the yummy food.  We will have a packed house.  Saturday my in laws will be here with my nephew and niece.  Monday my parents will be here, then Wednesday night my sister and her hubby and our other nephew.  Wednesday night, Nick, Kiersten, Cheyenne and I are going to see Mickey and Minnie on ice....so excited!  Plans we have for the holiday, Going to Gaylord Ice on Thursday night.  Friday take Christmas pics.  Taking the kids to the movies, shopping, and staying sane!  
I mailed out Kiersten's birthday party invites today.  I can't believe she is almost 2, where did the time go!  So now I have to start planning, what I want to do for goody bags.  
Christmas will be here before you know it and I get more excited about it each year as Kiersten gets older.  I never cared much about it but seeing Christmas through a child's perspective changes everything!  I am excited about shopping, already bought some cool stuff!  
I worked on 2 projects that I needed to get done.  Kiersten's Thanksging shirt, I am so proud how it came out!  Kiersten has a Thanskgiving day feast on school this Thursday so I am looking forward to attending that.  Also some bows for her and my neiece for their Christmas outfits.  Done and done!
Well hopefully we will get thought this with flying colors!

Planning, Planning and more

I missed writing last Thursday. Let's just say I have been so pooped. Kiesrten, Nick and I went to the pumpkin patch on Monday ( Halloween), there were slim pickins with the pumpkins, but she had a lot of fun, she got to see wooden characters, like Dora, Elmo, and Minnie and Mickey. She got to ride the wagon at the patch, and liked looking at the pumpkins. We also all took a Hayride, which was a lot of fun. Then we grabbed something to eat, came home and went trick or treating. she knew exactly what to do, she had a lot of fun giving out candy as well as getting candy. She seen some scary costumes, but just closed her eyes and went around them.
Last week at swimming, she did good and I know she would do better if she wore her goggles. I am glad I dont have to get in there with her anymore, so I snapped a few good photos. I am hoping as time goes on she will keep doing better at swimming and learn the importance of goggles.
Started Christmas shopping already bought Kiersten the Dora Kitchen. Need to think of more things to buy her, she seemed she liked the Furreal dog, so probably that too!
Things I have to accomplish, prepare for Kiersten's birthday party....can't believe she is going to be 2, print out pictures from Disney, etc. Make Christmas gifts.
Last weekend, Nick went hunting so it was just Kiersten and I. It was fun, we shopped, ate, watched a movie, napped. It was a fun girls weekend. Hoping for a similar weekend, this weekend, with just us keeping it low key. Nick won't be in Lubbock...yea!

Back from Disney and now Halloween

We had a fabulous time in Disney.  Kiersten did considerably well on the plane ride.  She loved looking out of the window of the plane.  We got to Disney Tuesday afternoon, we were so tired but wanted to get out.  We ventured out to have some lunch then we went to Magic Kingdom.  We had a fantastic time, we got to ride rides, watch shows, see some characters,  then we decided to get dinner.  We wanted to get to bed early that night, but it was nearly 9, before we got to the room.  Kiersten did very well for having a very long day.  The next day we went to Animal Kingdom, we rode a train and seen some animals, we walked around and seen some animals, but the best part was taking the safari drive to see so many different animals.  Then it was nap time so we went back to our hotel.  We stayed at Animal Kingdom lodge, it was amazing, we got to see animals right outside our patio door.  It was neat to see what animals were sleeping outside our patio each morning, Kiersten loved it, she mainly loved the giraffes, elephant, and goats....even though there were no goats....LOL!  Kiersten took really god naps there anywhere between 2.5-3 hrs a day.  But it was okay because we got to stay out late.  That night we went to Epcot, we ate Italian food, got to see fireworks, walked around, seen some shows, even got to meet all the Disney Characters and signed her autograph book.  Kiersten did so well, and she was just so cute interacting with them.  However, she was not a big fan of Goofy.  We got to see lots of Nemo shows and she LOVED the fish. The next day we went to Magic Kingdom, and finished up seeing things there that we missed, rode more rides.  There was a parade and Kiersten got to take part of it and danced in the parade, and met the girl from Toy Story.  We had lunch then headed back to the hotel, I slept for a little while, so I got up and got a massage while Nick stayed there with Kiersten as she slept.  She woke so cranky, but we went to Hollywood Studios, ate dinner, seen shows like Fantasmic.  That was pretty amazing!  We walked around some more even tried to get on a Toy Story ride, but the wait was too long.  So we left and headed back to the hotel.  The next morning I wanted to get an early start because we had dinner reservations at 6, with Mickey and Friends,  so Kiersten had to take an early nap.  We went to Hollywood studios finished some rides we wanted to go on, got some fast passes for the Toy story ride, then headed back to the hotel for a nap.  She woke up and was so full of energy.  She may have been excited.  We all had a good time, and I received a lot of compliments on her outfit I made, so I felt good.  At Chef Mickey's we got to meet Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto.  After that we went to Hollywood studio's to finally ride this ride, with no wait we made it.  It was so much fun!  Then we came back to the hotel, walked around, looked at some animals, with night vision goggles.  Then we headed back to the room because we were headed back home the next day.  We got some souvenirs.  The next day we went to Downtown Disney, its mostly shopping there.  Bought a few more souvenirs.  Then headed for the airport.  It was a long day for all of us.  Kiersten was beside herself but finally fell asleep and had a good flight home.
This week has been busy too, finishing laundry, shopping, etc.  Kiersten also has started to swim with only her teacher at swim school and has been doing very well in her class.  Def a proud moment!  Kiersten got to dress up for school today.  As I dropped her off she said bye bye to me, but I wanted to take her picture.  Her teacher was a baker and Kiersten was a cupcake so it was a cute combination.  Also got her school pictures in, they turned out amazing,  that photographer worked her magic with Kiersten.  
So I been getting ready for our big Halloween bash this Saturday, buying candy, and things for the cotton candy machine, snow cone machine, and popcorn machine, and planning activities, and making a food list.  Making sure the bounce houses were still in order.  The next few days will be busy putting it all into place.  But my sister is helping and it will def be worth it.  I wanted to go to the Pumpkin patch today but it decided to rain.  We will try again Sunday after we get home from Texarkana.  Then trick or treating Monday....yay...can't wait!

Girl time

Kiersten and momma has spent a lot of time this week together.  On Tuesday I had lunch with one of my best friends, we had a good time and chatted then went to Bath & Body works.  I turn to my amazing girlfriend about parenting advice, she makes me feel so much better after we chat.  I always think I am not doing a good job, and what's wrong with my child.  But she always seems to say the right things, that we are just "normal". I have been struggling with feeding Kiersten and finding healthy and nutrious foods.  It seems all she wants is to eat ice cream and cookies all day long.  In helping Kiersten have "healthy" bowel movements, the doctor recommended a high fiber diet, including lots of fruits and veggies.  Yea, that's not going to happen, or least that easy.  There are a handful of items Kiersten will eat, some fruits and no veggies.  I have been giving her Benefiber in her milk at night to get her "regular", until she does eat more veggies.  So now I have been looking at the foods I serve to her and see how much Fiber it has in it.  If it does not have any fiber I try to incorporate a fruit that she does not like or a vegetable in it.  There's this book, deceptively delicious by Jessica Seinfeld, and she gives you recipes and instruction on how to incorporate veggies into meals.  So I thought I'd try this for now.  It's a lot of work, but worth the try.  Today I just wanted to give up and just give her cake to eat all the time.  She frustrates me!  She did not want to eat dinner and what she did eat was only half eaten mostly by playing with her.  I know I am not the only one that has food struggles but I feel like throwing in the towel!
On a more happier note, she did great at school this week.  She waved bye to me on Tuesday when I left.  On Tuesday we were getting our roof done, so I decided to spend the afternoon at the mall looking for luggage for our trip.  Kiersten was so good, I could not have been prouder.  She sat nicely in the stroller, after I was done, I let her play for a whle, then she got her favorite treat...ice cream!  Thursday when I dropped her off at school, I was talking to the teacher and she said bye bye to me, as if she was throwing me out....that was too funny!  
It's almost time for our trip, and it will be a busy few days, we are going to Lubbock this weekend, then I have to wash clothes when we get back, pack, get last minute stuff, and clean the house.  It will be exhausting.  But I know once I am on my trip, there will be no responsibilities.  I finished her felt book and picture book...yay!  I just pray now for nice weather in Florida.

Loving school won't last forever.

Kiersten just absolutely loves going to school.  When I dropped her off on Tuessday she gave me a kiss and she was totally fine, she loves it there.  This makes me feel so much better when I drop her off and go through my day.  On Thursday when I dropped her off she gave me a kiss and started to dance....she is too funny! I thought well, I guess you are ready for mommy to leave!  But I am totally happy she loves it there and so glad we have found a great mothers day out program.  
Thursday was picture day at school, so I wanted to make her a special shirt. I bought some green and pink fabric that I cut out in a circle, then I used my cricut to cut out a K, to paste on the circle.  Of all the things that I've worked on this was the most important thing that I needed to come out perfect.  I mean I have made about 7 shirts using the same method, but it just would not stick permanently using heat and bond, so I used spay adhesive, and in the morning it would peal off if you took it off.  I was so frustrated!  So I told the teacher to just peel it off after pictures.  I am excited about pictures, the teacher said she did really well.  Surprisingly, because she is horrible when I try to take her picture.  
Anyway, this week I have been busy with crafting.  I of course made her shirt that came out disastrous, then worked on making Kiersten an autograph book to bring to Disney to get all the characters signature.  It came out pretty darn good.  Last thing I worked on was making a quiet book, with felt.  I cut out shapes with fabric and glued them on to the pages, ribbon, is holding the pages together, then I made things she would recognize like ice cream and cookies.  The next project I have in store is making her a picture book of all the family members, well at least the close family.  So my goal is to have it done by our Disney trip, but we'll see!
Kiersten also got her flu shot on Wednesday she didn't even cry....what a big girl!  The doctor encouraged her to eat more vegetables, so I am trying to make myself and Kiersten eat more healthy.  Sunday we are planning to go to the pumpkin patch.  I know she will have a blast!  
I will write again after our Disney trip.  I am sure I will have lots to write about!

Another milestone

Today was Kiersten's 4th week at MDO. I have been praying that when I bring her she will surprise me and not cry. Well today was it. I dropped her off, we put her lunch up, I kissed her goodbye, and she did not cry. I knew she wanted to but she held it in. I was so proud of her, this makes it so much more easier for me. When I picked her up, she had a good day as always. Laughing, playing and being silly. Today was a good day and ended the night with a swim in our pool and hot tub.

Up to date

Ok so now I need to jot down some things that are memorable to me about Kiersten.  Let's see, she was baptized in April 2010, got her ears pierced at 4 months, loves to swim, cut her first tooth by 6 months, began crawling by 7 months, began gymnastics and swim class at 9 months, took our first family vacation when she was 10 months to San Antonio, TX., started walking by 11 months, experienced her first snow storm in February.  We started our pool construction in February and was finally done in April.  It took almost 9 very LONG weeks, but definitely worth every bit of it.  Kiersten loves to swim and is just a little fish in the water.  We took our second vacation to Branson,MO.  She got to meet Spongebob, she loved the rides.  The highlight of our trip had to be when I had a proud moment of Kiersten helping herself to syrup at breakfast for her French toast, mamma was so proud she was helping herself and being a "big girl", well not 2 seconds later, Kiersten dumped the syrup in her hair.  I just wanted to die, and I could have killed her.  So I had to change her in the backseat of our car, gave her a sponge bath with some water bottles we had on hand.  Anyway, that was the highlight of our trip!  
We mainly spent our summer in the pool, trying to keep cool with triple digit temps.  I started scrapbooking in July, and just really took off then with my crafting. My awesome aunt gave me her Cricut which I LOVE!  I've made some decorations for our house, some bows, and recently I have been into making appliques.  Tonight I made a pumpkin appliqué for Kiersten and few other children.  
As of right now, we are still pretty busy during the week.  Every other Monday we have playgroup, Kiersten goes to Mothers Day Out, Tuesday and Thursdays.  She still cries when I drop her off but she LOVES it there.  I had some reservations about sending her but I know I made the right decision.  I also love getting things done, like working out, shopping, scrapbooking, crafting and running errands.  Wednesday's we have swim in the mornings, and we have Friday to relax.
I think that is it we are all up to date.  Oh yea, we have a Disney trip planned next month.....I am so excited!!!
Until next time.  Have a good night!