Busy as bees

Wow, the month has flown by...

We've been monstrously busy with Football, pre-school, storytimes at the library, shopping, parks, errands and 'US' time. The pre pre-school with parents is a blast; boy do I love seeing my daughter eyes shine. She loves other children, so what could be better than socializing my sweet girl...Not a darn thing! She's still scared of the parachute, but I'm sure she'll be use to that in no time.

I haven't had many free moments lately, and the ones I do have are spent cooking and cleaning the house. So those aren't so free, and I'm exhausted. Funny how I don't see an end in sight...scary! Geez, I hate cleaning. Football is here and my fantasy team won their first game, thank you very much. My husband and I are now tied...and he's a great coach. I love some football, but I didn't think I could master a fantasy team, but he's a great teacher when it comes to Football. We have fun sharing this together. And, I won my first game last Sunday...oops, I already said that. I rule! haha Finally picked up Mads costume...oooh lala. She's a doll and a keeper! Halloween is going to be awesome this year, I can feel it I tell ya. Scored an awesome and free interior and exterior car detail. Love free people. Bought a ton of fabric to start and finish a few projects I have in the works. A dog big and fluffy pillow, and owl pillow, blanket, skirt, doll...etc.e..etc. My sewing machine was dusty and I need to get on with it...sad when you get in a ruts. Blah!

So, I am going to make a real go of potty training-starting Friday. I figure it makes sense to start on a weekend where we don't have big plans to go anywhere. I have no idea what I'm doing, but I suppose that's the fun part. Right?! Hope so. Wish us big pees and poopies. Ah, the joys of motherhood!

My girl turns 18 months old in just a few short days. My cup runneth over...literally. I have an amazing husband who supports and cares for the two of us...a daughter who adores and needs me. I couldn't be luckier I tell ya. I must have done something right in a past life or something. The word I'm looking for is 'thankful,' because that's exactly what I am.

Till next time folks...have a wonderful Hump Day!

Capture this

My girl is absolutely stunning if I do say so myself. It's a moms right folks!

Personality

This babe has loads of personality. She is my keeper of keeps...my lover of loves...my heart of hearts! I dig her totally and completely.

Labor Day week and weekend

Spent a week up in Paradise visiting my family and inlaws. Maddi was spoiled by everyone...and she loves attention. She especially loves all the animals at my parents place...horses, cows, dogs, cats, birds, a turtle...to name the ones she loves the best. She's still a bit afraid of being up close and in a horses face, but that's to be expected since they're soooo large. She loves the freedom and space they have to run around and play in the red dirt. It makes most sense to dress her in all brown, since the dirt there is red/brown...Next to impossible to get out if ground in enough. Anywho, like every other trip up there...too short. I guess no matter how many visits you make not living close to your family makes it hard to really feel a part of much, especially their lives on a daily basis. I'm thankful for every moment I can be with them, and for now...it's enough.

My baby got her FIRST haircut

I've had mixed feelings about cutting this gorgeous hair since Maddi was 6 months old. She was born with these beautiful locks and with tender loving care they were still healthy and gorgeous, just uneven because of how baby hair grows. I don't know how other moms out there feel or if it's even a big deal to them, but it was difficult to pull myself towards this haircut for a long time. My baby has never been bald (I don't even know what her head looks like under that hair) and it's sort of like crossing a bridge. If that makes sense. I just want to bottle her up and keep her young, beautiful and baby FOREVER! But also let her grow and bloom and see what a wonderful little person she comes to be. A little mixed feelings there as well. Being a mom isn't easy, but it is the most amazing thing in the world. I wouldn't change my life or alter it in any way...this life is the exact life I was born to lead. She was always suppose to be here, and I was always suppose to be here for her. So, watching this young woman cut my most precious babies hair off was hard, to put it mildly. I know this is the first of many (many that I cut on my own) and it's a milestone for her and I, I just can't help but think time really just does pass by unless you embrace each and every moment and take a mental picture. That way when time has gone by you can relive these precious times over and over in your mind. They come and go and sometimes we don't take the time to notice...Ahhh, but this time I did!! And I have a very clear picture in my mind of my girl and the love that surrounds her every single minute of every single day!!

Countdown and politics

Maddi and I are taking a little flight to Sac alone on Tuesday to see the fams. Hopefully it won't be hotter than the depths there and the weather is a little cooler than it has been lately. I'll wilt and so will the mini monster. Should be a lovely week of family, horses, shopping, gabbing and relaxing and chitchatting. Ryan is driving up on Friday night after work, so he'll be running the house for 4 whole days without us. I'm sure he's looking forward to the nights where there is plain peace and quiet. We all need it now and then. A little alone time never hurt anyone.

Now, onto the economy. I was reading an article that my dad emailed me today and I was plain outraged. I can't believe Ms. Obama has the nerve to spend over 1.5 million dollars a year on personal staff. Article below:

First Lady's Servant List First Lady Requires More Than Twenty Attendants Recession, Depression, What, Michelle Worry? Dr. Paul L. Williams "In my own life, in my own small way, I have tried to give back to this country that has given me so much," she said. "See, that's why I left a job at a big law firm for a career in public service, " Michelle Obama No, Michele Obama does not get paid to serve as the First Lady and she doesn't perform any official duties. But this hasn't deterred her from hiring an unprecedented number of staffers to cater to her every whim and to satisfy her every request in the midst of the Great Recession. Just think Mary Lincoln was taken to task for purchasing china for the White House during the Civil War. And Mamie Eisenhower had to shell out the salary for her personal secretary. How things have changed! If you're one of the tens of millions of Americans facing certain destitution, earning less than subsistence wages stocking the shelves at Wal-Mart or serving up McDonald cheeseburgers, prepare to scream and then come to realize that the benefit package for these servants of Miz Michelle are the same as members of the national security and defense departments and the bill for these assorted lackeys is paid by John Q. Public:
1. $172,2000 - Sher, Susan (Chief Of Staff)
2. $140,000 - Frye, Jocelyn C. (Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Policy And Projects For The First Lady)
3. $113,000 - Rogers, Desiree G. (Special Assistant to the President and White House Social Secretary)
4. $102,000 - Johnston, Camille Y. (Special Assistant to the President and Director of Communications for the First Lady)
5. $???????? - Winter, Melissa E. (Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
6. $90,000 - Medina , David S. (Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
7. $84,000 - Lelyveld, Catherine M. (Director and Press Secretary to the First Lady)
8. $75,000 - Starkey, Frances M. (Director of Scheduling and Advance for the First Lady)
9. $70,000 - Sanders, Trooper (Deputy Director of Policy and Projects for the First Lady)
10. $65,000 - Burnough, Erinn J. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)


11. $??????? - Reinstein, Joseph B. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)
12. $62,000 - Goodman, Jennifer R. (Deputy Director of Scheduling and Events Coordinator For The First Lady)
13. $60,000 - Fitts, Alan O. (Deputy Director of Advance and Trip Director for the First Lady)
14. $??????? - Lewis, Dana M. (Special Assistant and Personal Aide to the First Lady)
15. $52,500 - Mustaphi, Semonti M. (Associate Director and Deputy Press Secretary To The First Lady)
16. $50,000 - Jarvis, Kristen E. (Special Assistant for Scheduling and Traveling Aide To The First Lady)
17. $45,000 - Lechtenberg, Tyler A. (Associate Director of Correspondence For The First Lady)
18. $??????? - Tubman, Samantha (Deputy Associate Director, Social Office)
19. $40,000 - Boswell, Joseph J. (Executive Assistant to the Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
20. $36,000 - Armbruster, Sally M. (Staff Assistant to the Social Secretary)
21. $??????? - Bookey, Natalie (Staff Assistant)
22. $??????? - Jackson, Deilia A. (Deputy Associate Director of Correspondence for the First Lady)
Over $1,500,000 of Tax payers money There has never been anyone in the White House at any time who has created such an army of staffers whose sole duties are the facilitation of the First Lady's social life. One wonders why she needs so much help, at taxpayer expense, when even Hillary, only had three; Jackie Kennedy one; Laura Bush one; and prior to Mamie Eisenhower social help came from the President's own pocket.
Note: This does not include makeup artist Ingrid Grimes-Miles, 49, and "First Hairstylist" Johnny Wright, 31, both of whom travelled aboard Air Force One to Europe . Copyright 2009 Canada Free Press.Com


I'm sorry, but this is plain shameful! This country is in the toilet!!

The Beach

We spent our sunday at the beach in Laguna. Beautiful day, beautiful family...what else could I ask for?! Dolphins...there was a pod about 100 feet out, about 6 of them. They were enjoying the beautiful weather and company as well.