Here Piggie Piggie!

Patrick and Carly came to visit us a few weekends back so that Patrick and Richard could go pig hunting. Richard fed the pigs the entire week prior so that Patrick would be sure to "get one"....and, he did! They arrived on Friday afternoon around 4:00 and the first pig was shot right around 6:00. They took it to the processor and all of the meat is stacked in my freezer until we see Patrick again to pass in along. Until then, random blocks of pork continuously fall out threatening to smash my toes each time that I open the freezer.

Carly, Kamdyn, and I enjoyed some girl time. We talked, we watched cartoons, we went to Jazzercise, and fun was had by all three! I wish they could visit more often!

Mission complete!


Carly was BRAVE!!


I hate these things running around my neighborhood and I'm glad they are getting rid of them even though it seems like we have only eliminated one needle in a haystack.

Chick-Fil-A Birthday Party

Kamdyn's friend from school invited her to her 4th birthday party at Chick Fil A. Kamdyn enjoyed the food and friends, but she's not keen on the LOUD playground! She wouldn't really play and didn't like the cow at first because she didn't know he was coming to the party. It scared her! She quickly warmed up to the cow though! She had a great time and I am so glad that she has met some sweet little friends from school.

Doesn't she look thrilled to have me taking her picture?


Kamdyn HAD to sit by the birthday girl to her right!


Scared at seeing the cow!


"Mommy, take my picture!" Notice, she doesn't touch the cow! :)

My New Favorite Month

The older I get the more I realize how important "down time" really is. Before having Kamdyn, January always seemed like the most boring month of the year. Christmas would end. New Year's came and went. Family get-togethers were minimal. College football would pause for a few months. Friends would stay in their respective cities. And, I was always thinking.....What can we plan? What can we do next?

Now that I am a Mom, I am loving January! Although we are busy with our normal schedule, (work, school, dance, Jazzercise, basketball, church etc.) our weekends are OPEN!! There was absolutely nothing on the calendar for any of the weekends in January. February is looking pretty good, too!

A few things that I LOVE about these "nothing" weekends!

I love getting caught up on sleep.
I love a good afternoon nap.
I love spending time (without being in a rush) with Kamdyn and Richard.
I love getting things in my house organized.
I love not waking up with an alarm clock.
I love having to look for things to do.
I love staying in our PJ's ALL day on Saturdays.
I love having time to actually cook a family meal.
I love beating my husband in a "friendly" basketball game of HORSE!


I love my family and I love my life!

(Please remind me of this in the Fall when we are rushing to do laundry on Thursdays; packing our bags to leave on Friday immediately after work; loading the car with everything a 3 year old needs (and it's A LOT) for a calm two hour ride; sitting in a field for 12+ hours; cheering on our Tigers, just to return home on Sunday afternoon to go back to work on Monday morning!) It makes me tired just thinking about it. YAY for January!!

Convo with Kamdyn

Much to my dismay, Kamdyn woke up around 6:30 this morning. The only quiet reflective time that I EVER get is during my one hour morning routine from 6:00-7:00 everyday. My little sweetie has decided that she needs to wake up as soon as she hears my hair dryer. I, then, have to stop the hair drying. I have to turn on a movie for her and answer any questions that she may have that early in the morning. All of this takes up precious morning minutes. I will have to start getting up earlier if this is going to become our "normal" routine.

Today when she woke up I was trying to get her to understand why I needed her to stay in her bed until 7:00 so I could get ready every morning. She looked at me very politely and said, "Mama, I hope you are nicer when you get off work today." (She made me feel like dirt!) I said, "What do you mean, Kamdyn." She said, "I mean, you're aggravated and I hope you're not aggravated when you get off work."

I immediately stopped everything I was doing. I walked over to her. I picked her up and gave her the biggest hug EVER! There's nothing like having a 3 year old put you in your place!

Panic!

On Wednesday night we discovered that the hard drive on our computer that we store EVERYTHING on went bad. To say that I had a "fit" would be a complete understatement. Luckily, we backed most everything up (i.e. pictures) exactly one year ago. Unfortunately, all of the pictures and small video clips from this past year were LOST! I sobbed knowing that a years worth of pictures and my sweet 3 year-olds voice were gone!

After a night without sleep and a day of mourning, I came to the realization that it could have been worse. I could have lost everything, birth-3 1/2. Thankfully, blogger saves ALL of the pictures that I post on the blog to Picasa web albums AND I can download them back to my computer! All of the times that I sat for hours waiting on my numerous pictures to post, suddenly seems worth it. Otherwise, I would not have them. I am now praising myself for not being about to choose "a few" pictures to post. Usually, I post most all of them. If only I could have those videos back.

I also lost ALL of my school work over the past 9 years which is really upsetting. Again, I was finally able to see the bright side after my HUGE meltdown because I do have hard copies of most of these documents. I just have to retype them when/if needed. :(

My advice to ALL of you is to back up your pictures/files frequently. Mine will forever be backed up monthly! With digital photos we don't even print copies as often as we used to. We take for granted that computers store information forever. Never trust a computer!

We could pay $800 to try to have the files recovered. I am still debating over this! What do you think? Is it worth $800?

One last Christmas present....

Daddy's favorite hunting buddy, AL (aka Desert Eagle), gave Kamdyn a Christmas present the other night after coming over to hunt pigs. What would you expect a present from a hunter to be wrapped in?

Camouflage, of course!


Kamdyn with her present. Dalton and Keith in the background watching.


What could this be?


Ta Da! She loves these crazy balls and she loves Mr. Al and The Turner Family!

Richard's Entertainment vs. Mine

While I was watching this beautiful sunset from our living room, spending time with my sweet girl, and getting church clothes ready for Kamdyn, I hear a loud "POW YOW" in the distance.....What was it?


Another pig down in RiverNorth!

Happy New Year!

Looking back on 2009 all I can say is WOW!! This was, by far, the fastest year of my life. I "hear" that they only get faster. Watching Kamdyn experience and learn so many things has been my greatest joy! I was sad to see her start school, but I am constantly amazed at her love for learning. She loves school and can't wait to get back on Tuesday. Here's what she learned in a few short minutes a couple of days ago....

She can efficiently work both our desktop computer/mouse as well as our laptop computer/mouse. She enjoys playing Starfall and Sesame Street. I sat in awe after only a literal 2 minute tutorial, she was ready to go. I remember learning how to use a mouse back in the day. It wasn't nearly as easy for me. I am convinced that kids these days are "wired" technologically advanced.


Anyway, since her computer lesson she has been obsessed with playing on our computer. Poor Daddy! Not only does he have to share his TV with her, but now he has to share his laptop, too. Mommy, well she only gets to have TV time or computer time when the two of them are sleeping or if they aren't here. That's completely fine with me! :)


As for me, I've enjoyed my two weeks with my angel. I will miss her tremendously; however, I am a schedule oriented being. I always have been and I feel sure that I always will be. I am ready to have my routine back as hectic as it may be. On this last day of vacation Richard has described me as anxious! That, I am! I am ready to get this new year started. I am looking forward to all of 2010's challenges, changes, and joys!