Product Rave

On my aforementioned shopping trip with my mom we went to the Bath and Body Works store at the Outlet. They don't carry everything the stores within the mall carries, but what they do you can get for $2.00 or less. Some things are 5 for $5, but it's nice for stocking up on things you use. While I don't use a lot of their products I do use some things. I had a merchandise credit to use so we went in to the store. It was pouring outside at the time so I was looking around a lot more than I would normally. I came across some lotions that are anit-bacterial and moisturizer in one. I am sure many of you have seen these. They had some smaller size which is perfect to carry in my purse, keep at my desk and travel with, plus I really only use the lotion on my hands and arms because my legs are sensitive and tend to break-out when I use anything other than Ucerin (sp?) lotion. I found a scent called Sensual Amber and I love it! I use it all the time at work, probably more so then any other I ever have. It's smell reminds me of light, sweet, baby powder type scent. I have more merchandise credit left and will definitely get more of this lotion.

Shout out to my Mama....

Most of you who know my mom know she's the coolest! But just wanted to give her a shout out for our birthday shopping trip. We went to the Lighthouse Premium Outlet in Michigan City, Indiana for the day last Sunday. Despite some rain and getting a little wet we had lots of fun. The girls did really well for themselves even though they weren't there and their birthday's have already passed :) But it's always fun to find them things especially since kids really look cute in anything! My mom bought me some new clothes, way more than she needed to. It was fun to spend time with her and I'm grateful and blessed to have such a fun mom; who, no matter how old I get, still tries to make my birthday a special day! Thanks Mom....you're the coolest!

Me and My Dad

Last Saturday Kaylee and Brad went to the Discovery Museum for a class. They got there early to play and then went to the class entitled Me and My Dad, played some more and then went to lunch at Carle's and then came home. They both had such a nice time. Ainsley and I hung out together. It's nice to have one on one with each child, and I think it's important for them to have that as well. Kaylee made some wonderful paintings and a card for my birthday. While I was posting her birthday pictures and blogging about how it's hard to believe how she is grown it made think of last Saturday. Just before she and Brad were leaving she was telling him to come on and just talking about things as she normally does. Brad looks at me and says "She's like regular kid now, when did that happen?" I had to agree. I remember working at Montessori when I had Kaylee and thinking what she would be like when she was the age of the kids at Montessori. Now she'll be going there in August. It just doesn't seem possible....

Kaylee's Birthday

So, on my birthday, I am posting photos of Kaylee's birthday. There are some from her actual birthday and from her party. I didn't get as many from her party as I would like as we were pretty busy. I have to give credit to my wonderful husband as he did a lot of the cooking and "grunt" work for the party. He is so good about that...which is good since he's a much better cook than I! It was a beautiful day and we were so blessed to have so many family and friends join us to celebrate our first born turning 3. I can hardly believe it! She really is a fun kid. A little too spirited and vocal at times and while it can be very challenging, and frustrating, to dial it back and help her channel her opinions in a more calm and productive way, I am glad she feels she can express herself. Thanks to all who help celebrate Kaylee's birthday! We hope you all had fun.



Kaylee on her actual birthday getting ready to open presents. Brad had been mowing during nap, so when she came down after nap she was really good about being patient until Daddy was done. We did however have some issues with wearing her nightgown (yes she often likes to change into PJ's for her naps, but who can blame her really...)and keeping her legs down for photos. Thanks goodness for digital where you can quickly delete! One gift not seen here is her "Better Batter Baseball". It's like a T-ball thing that is made with ESPN sound bytes and automatically gets the ball for you. She saw it a few months back and asked and asked for it. I have to say she does love it and we get it out a lot. It's really fun, even Brad and I have played with it. She also does really well, I wasn't sure how well she would be able to hit but she does. I have to admit that we had forgotten about it, we had hid it in the garage after we bought, and a week later it hit me we didn't give it to her, which was pretty bad because that was her big gift. So I guess in a way it was good because her birthday was extended.


Here is Kaylee's cake and the Nemo pinata from her party. We took her to the party store to pick what she wanted. She had said before we went that she wanted Nemo, but I really thought once we got to the store she would change her mind a million times and we would have to narrow it down for her to choose from. However she found Nemo, and while she was so excited about everything else she saw she stuck with a Nemo theme. That's Kaylee though once she's decided she generally sticks to her guns. This was the first cake I did not make. I just knew I couldn't do Nemo justice. Wal-Mart had a Nemo cake but it had been discontinued so they said they could do the underwater scene and write Happy Birthday Kaylee on it. I found a Nemo candle and some Nemo character confetti, so I decorated it with those as well. It was easier to make a cake that way then my usual method of doing myself. But I do enjoy making them so I'm sure I will continue to do so, but I also have realized it's ok if I need to have it made too.

Kaylee opening some of the many, many gifts she received! It's fun to watch her now that she can do it all herself, however she goes so fast that now we have to try to slow her down. This is post-birthday but wanted to show Kaylee and Ainsley playing with their sand and water table. Grandpa and Grandma Duffy got a picnic table and this table together and gave the picnic table at Ainsley's party and the sand and water table at Kaylee's. They have a lot of fun playing in it and has been a lot of fun! Ainsley still is tempted to eat the sand but she is getting better!

Stay tuned...

Ok so my updating skills of the blog have been non-existent lately to say the least. Please don't fret there will be more to come. Just to keep you waiting in anticipation, and to help me remember I have created a list:

• Kaylee's B-day
• Shout-out to my Mama
• Newly discovered favorite product rave
• Swimming Lessons 101

I'm sure there will be more to add to this by the time I get ready to do the above. We have just been so busy lately, and I have to say it may not be so bad if we were able to get internet, that's non dial-up, at our house....that's what I get for living out where I can have a big yard!