A New Balloon

Myah got a new balloon from the grocery store yesterday.
You gotta love free balloons!

Loving the balloon.


Showing off her standing skills.


Check out the sneakers and headband!

The Trip That Just Keeps On Giving

As many of you may recall, we had a wonderful little camping trip last weekend. As a follow-up to that trip, I have been blessed with two trips to the doctor and three prescriptions. As many of you know, I don't go to the doctor or take medicine unless I have to.

You see, while I was sleeping, the only part of my body that wasn't covered up was the lower half of my face (freezing temps tend to make you bundle up as much as possible). It seems that while I was asleep, a little spider came along and bit me on my chin. Now, I must give congratulations where it's due, so kudos to you, little spider, for finding a time when I was actually sleeping. Anyway, long story short, I am now fighting a gross and annoying infection in my chin and feel like the love child of Popeye and Jay Leno (if that's even possible). My doctor is optimistic that the current round of antibiotics will wipe out whatever junk has taken up residence in my chin and hopefully, it won't be too embarrassing to go out in public soon.

Boy, I can't wait till it gets warmer and we can all go camping again!

The Good, The Tolerant and The Stupid

Caleb had Thursday & Friday off of school so we thought it would be a great idea to sneak in one last weekend of camping (in a tent) before it gets too cold. We packed up all our gear, both kids and a bunch of warm clothes and headed off to the Santa Catalina Mountains to camp after Rob got off work on Thursday. Here is the play-by-play:

4:00pm - Leave Scottsdale
5:00pm - Kids are fussy - they proceed to eat a whole sleeve of Ritz crackers (food is the one thing that can keep Myah quiet in the car)
5:33pm - Sunset
6:15pm - Arrive at Catalina State Park - Set up tent in the dark (thank goodness for headlights) - Myah is crying so Caleb pushes her around and around in the stroller
6:20pm - Car battery goes dead - windows are rolled down and keys are stuck in the ignition. Dig out propane lantern, pray lighter works, set up tent by lantern light
6:45pm - Tent is set up - Rob pumps up inflatable mattresses by hand - Melissa sets up propane stove to cook beef stew for dinner
7:15 pm - Food is ready, kids are fussing, Rob & Melissa are (almost) ready to go home
8:00pm - Kids put on two pairs of winter pajamas each, go to the bathroom and go to bed - one is a bit louder than the other (guess who?)
8:01pm - Due to dry conditions, wood fires are banned - Rob & Melissa decide that looking at each other by the light of a hissing propane lantern is not as romantic as lounging by a crackling fire
9:00pm - Rob & Melissa decide to go to bed after checking on the kids and making sure they are bundled up - Melissa discovers that she pulled a muscle in her side while setting up the tent
11:00pm - Myah cries - Melissa gets up
12:00am - Myah cries - Melissa gets up
1:00am - Myah cries - Melissa gets up
4:00am - Myah cries - Melissa gets up
4:30am - Myah cries - Melissa cries - Rob gets up - The decision is reached that we will not be staying another night
5:30am - Myah is wide awake - Melissa is wide awake - Rob is wide awake - Myah joins us in bed
5:45am - Caleb climbs into bed with the rest of us
6:00am - Everyone gets up, gets dressed and bundled up to go outside. The kids eat breakfast at the picnic table (with a portable heater) - Rob and Melissa break down tent (in 40 degree weather - without gloves)
7:15am - A park ranger is radioed in to help jump start the car
7:45am - The car is packed, the kids are packed, the parents aren't sure if they should laugh or cry
9:15am - After three unsuccessful attempts, a shop is located to replace the car battery
10:00am - Get detoured all over Tucson because highway is under construction and all ramps are closed
10:30am - Pancakes at IHOP - Melissa can finally feel her toes again
7:30 pm - Return home

The rest of the day is spent driving around Tucson, hiking, visiting different parks and seeing old Indian ruins. All in all, it was a good trip - we learned that Myah can pack away a lot of crackers, Caleb enjoys listening to Vivaldi CDs and is good at keeping track of time (are we there yet?) and that you should never, ever go camping in a tent with a baby who is a lite sleeper or when it is going to get into the high 30's/low 40's at night. Now that you've read my novel, I'll let you decide who best fits which description in the title. lol

Halloween Pictures Coming Soon

As you may have noticed, I am the only person who has yet to update their blog with adorable pictures of small children dressing up for Halloween. For this, I apologize.

We went to a birthday party on Halloween for one of Caleb's little friends and while we were there, my camera was dropped and broken. The person who did this shall remain nameless, but they were heard crying and saying, "I don't deserve Halloween this year."

Needless to say, I don't have pictures of the kids first Halloween together. I do have several pictures coming from some friends who took pity on us and snapped a few shots for me. Once I have these pictures I will gladly post them. For now, this is all I have - it was the last (and only) one taken before the camera broke.

It's My Balloon and I'll Cry If I Want To...

Myah loves balloons. Or maybe I should say she's obsessed with balloons. Whenever we go to a store that has balloons, she goes nuts. She points and, very loudly, announces to everyone in the store that there are balloons in the building. We went to Trader Joes the other day and, after laughing at her vocalization about the balloons, our cashier gave her a green one. She was in heaven for the entire trip home (which is rare for her). The next morning when we came downstairs for breakfast, the helium was gone from the balloon and it wouldn't float. You would have thought the world was ending. All I can say is that this girl is a balloon addict - she wouldn't let go of the string, but she sat there looking at it crying the whole time because it wouldn't float anymore. It was hilarious and of course I had to take a picture. I can't wait until she's a teenager.

Pumpkin Time

We decided to carve our pumpkins last night. Unfortunately, in Arizona you have to wait until right before Halloween to carve pumpkins because it is still 90+ degrees here and carved pumpkins only last a few days.

Caleb had a lot of fun designing his pumpkin face and scooping the seeds out. Myah, on the other hand, didn't enjoy it too much so she and Daddy went on a walk while Caleb and I worked.

Birthday Party!

We finally had Myah's birthday party today. It was at the park by our house and it was a fun little get together with four other families we know. Myah loved her cake (white cake with raspberry filling and cream cheese icing) and it was nice having a playground right there for the kids to play at. Unfortunately it was a little windy and the sun melted our coffee mocha truffles, but all in all, it was a very fun afternoon.

A Day Off From School

Caleb had a day off from school on Friday for Parent/Teacher Conferences. Our conference was on Thursday, so we had the entire day together on Friday. Things got a little silly...

Caleb made himself a pair of glasses

Myah tried out a new hairdo

Myah's One Year Portrait

Happy Birthday Baby!

Myah turned one year old today! Happy Birthday Sweetheart!


What is this thing?


Why are you putting a cupcake that's on fire in front of me?


The fire's out - now what?


Hmmm... Not too bad.


Not bad at all.


I could get used to this!


What do ya mean I'm done? There still some crumbs on my tray!


The clean-up crew has arrived.