Pulling Faces at Daddy

We love our little cheap screen door we installed. We haven't bought a door handle for it yet, so we use a couple thumbtacks and one of my hair ties to keep it shut. It brings so much light into the house and Kaci loves to watch the kids play on the playground. She also likes to pull faces at Brad through it. These faces are hilarious.

Beautification Specialist

As the beautification specialist of my family, I decided to plant some flowers. I know they are just going to die in about a month, but, they are supposed to come back in the spring. I'm excited to have something to look forward to. Kaci helped dig the hole. I can't wait for Spring to see if anything blooms. I planted black eye suzans, lilies, and a purple violet.

Keeping You Connected

I love to blog! I think Kaci might like it too! She knows touching the computer is a big no-no. She has her "uh-oh, I got caught face on" We weren't mad, we just figured she was trying to tell us she misses you all. We miss you all too.

Mad Scientist?

We've been trying to come up with a good costume for Kaci for Halloween. After I pulled out her pigtails a few nights ago, I thought, hmm, maybe she should be a mad scientist. Any ideas where to get a baby lab coat?

Completos

"Chi-Chi-Chi
Le-Le-Le
Viva Chile"

Brad served his mission in Chile, so every September 18th, we celebrate their independence day, which is just an excuse for Brad to make mission food and tell lots of stories. This is the first year Liam didn't come, we were sad about that. It was also the lamest celebration we've ever had. We were all miserably sick, but we ate completos anyway. Completos are huge hot dogs with avocado, cheese, tomato, mayo, mustard, ketchup, and onion. They actually are good, unfortunately we couldn't taste 'em. Kaci dug in anyway.

Yankee Candles

(if you got an email about my yankee candle fundraiser, no need to read this post!)

I have a pitiful request, proposition, plea... whatever you want to call it.

So, I've joined a MOMS group here in Harrisonburg. It's great, I get to hang out with people and someone else watches Kaci for a couple hours. They do all kinds of different stuff (motivational speakers, crafts, games, socializing in general etc). It's been great to go and meet people there. I've made lots of friends and Kaci enjoys playing with Summer, the baby sitter for her age group.

Great, but why am I blogging about it? Well, they've asked me to do a fund raiser. They used to charge people per meeting, but they are trying something new this year. They used to charge 3 dollars plus the 3 dollars for the babysitter (which means I'd pay 6 bucks). Honestly, I wouldn't be able to go if I had to pay. I'm lucky the meetings are in walking distance. Anyhow, I'm hoping to raise a little money for the group so Kaci and I can keep going to it.

So, what am I selling? Yankee candles! Yeah, at least it's something people like. They've got some little Christmas gift ideas and what not in the catalog. Just check out the brochure at http://www.yankeefundraising.com/html/includes/catalogs/FallCatalogs.html and then call me with your order. The sale ends October 23rd.

They're also doing a Chic-fil-a night that I'm suppose to invite everyone to, but most of you won't be in town for it, sorry. It's October 14th, just in case you were wondering. If you want to buy some candles that would be amazing. If you don't, well, at least I tried right! I haven't done a fund raiser in so long. I think they'd also love donations if you're more into that. Checks just need to made out to MOMS.

Sorry to solicit like this, I just really like this moms group.

Shoes

Kaci is obsessed with shoes. She always wants hers on. That's the first thing she wants to put on in the morning and the last thing she takes off at night. She also wants us to have shoes on. When we come inside and take off our shoes, she brings them over to us and tries to put them back on our feet. She's always carrying them around the house.
Earlier this week, I put her to bed with her shoes still on, and just slipped them off after she fell asleep, but I didn't put them away. Then at like 2 in the morning, I woke up to Kaci crying. I went to check on her and she was sitting on the floor trying to put her shoes on. We now hide her shoes at night.

Ol' Greene

Let me introduce you to my new best friend Ol' Greene. I got this jogging stroller from a cute old lady whose been storing it for years. It's a little old, but still in like new condition. I got desperate for one, so it's not the perfect stroller, but I love it still the same. Kaci loves to go for a stroll, so she is happy she can again. I needed one with a hand brake because of all the hills here and I wanted one with a swivel wheel that could lock like my old one, but I went for need instead of want. It's also a little too big for the trunk, so it gets shot gun if I want to take it somewhere. Like I said, it's not the perfect stroller, but I love it! I go running at Hillandale park where there are lots of hills. I can now (after 3 weeks of walking up the hills) run the entire trail! Wahoo for me! Yes I said trail, next time I go I'm going to have Kaci video tape part of it as I run so you can see how cool it is there.
Kaci loves it too. The above picture was taken when Kaci decided she wanted to go for an early morning stroll to see the sun rise. I knew she wanted to go for a stroll because she stopped screaming and pointing at the stroller when I put her in it. I think Kaci is going to be "out-doorsy" like her parents.

Ya Ya's Hat

She loves to play with Brad's hat. She lovingly calls him "ya ya". I LOVE the little curl, she is just too cute!

Hippie Stuff

Since I'm a hippie I figured I should do hippie stuff.

We went to a Reggae concert in the park. It was fun, good music, fun people, nice weather. Brad was sick so it the perfect thing to do without doing anything.

Just Cruisin

WARNING: this is a long video during which nothing particularly exciting happens.

Kaci has learned to stand up and walk on her own, so she is officially FREE to wander. Amazingly enough, she follows right behind me when we walk through the store or where ever. I was telling Brad about it, but he didn't think much of it til we went to the mall and Kaci just followed right behind us the whole entire time. She never ran off or got into stuff, just danced occasionally when a store was playing music she liked. Brad wanted everyone to see this for themselves. So the video isn't very exciting, but it is 6 whole minutes of watching an adorable little girl cruisin the local mall.

To be or not to be?

Ok, apparently when my brother-in-law called me a hippie he was right. I had no idea I was a hippie! I have shocked an appalled several people here because:
I don't watch movies nightly
I don't obsess over politics
I don't own nor do I watch T.V.
I don't wear make-up
I had a natural delivery
I like to be outside
I cut my own hair
We went camping for our Honeymoon
and I like granola.
In my opinion, you need to have some type of musical talent to be a hippie, and that is why I do not consider myself one, but maybe I just need to embrace it. I guess Brad must also be a hippie because he, in addition to the above list, also likes to be barefoot.

We like it, but we've noticed it makes other people a little uncomfortable. We're worried we won't be able to keep friends. We've found we can't participate in 80% of the conversations at social gatherings because they revolve around movies and television. We have no desire to change our lifestyle, what do we do?

At least we have the internet!!

In a year....

Brad had a funny thought last night after dinner, "what we were doing exactly one year ago today?" Answer, living in Hawaii with a one month old with no idea whatsoever that we would be in Virginia a year later. Which led us to think what in the world we would be doing a year from now.
Our prediction:
I will either be large and in charge with another baby, in the best shape of my life, or seriously considering getting pregnant again. I am not pregnant now, don't worry!
Brad will be in his second year at JMU and we will be contemplating where to go for his internship.
Kaci will be talking up and storm, potty trained, and solving basic algebra problems.

Wow, so much can happen in just one year!

Blue Hole

The water hole? What's so great about the waterhole?
I'll show you when we get there!
or in this case- I'll show you with these pictures!
Anyone remember that scene from the Lion King. Brad always quotes it.




H'burg has some sweet water holes. Today we went to Blue Hole. They call it that because the river looks blue next to this big ol' rock you jump off. The water was the perfect temperature, cool but not cold. The rock was fun, and the water is clear. You can see down to the bottom when it's 6+ feet deep. So clean and refreshing. We jumped off the rock and Kaci threw rocks. We had a great time... yet another reason to love this place!

blue hole

me jumping!

Dance

Kaci came up with this move all on her own. She can officially shake it. She does it anytime music come on. Brad loves their little dance parties!

Picture Anyone?

My lil sis gave everyone a 4x6 magnet of her for Christmas. I'll be honest, I love it! I always have it on my fridge. Kaci has taken a liking to it lately. She'll walk over to the fridge and put her face up to it, or just touch it and smile. It's funny. I wish I had one of everyone in the family for her to look at. So, if you'll send me a "good" picture of yourself (just send it to my email) I'll make a magnet so Kaci can see you too. So far, Anut Krysie is the only one she plays with everyday.

Marge

When Brad brought this amazing free sectional home, we set her up a million different ways in the driveway at Bruce's. When we got here, we did it again. She's is so versatile. Our favorite way to set her up is the long way. We figure we can squeeze at least 13 people on her. She's a beauty isn't she?

We Love "the burg"

On Sunday I told Brad, "I'm glad this place doesn't suck". Brad emphatically agreed. Everyday we think of a new reason to love H'burg, or "the burg" as some people call it.
Our top 3 reasons we love it so far:
Numero Uno: The church we go to is super friendly and everyone loves us. We have tons of new friends and we've only been here two weeks.
Numero Dos: The Parks ROCK! Huge, fun, and completely different. Purcell with the castle playground and Hillandale with the mountain biking trails and jogging course. Simply heaven for us and they are close!
Numero Tres: Kaci and I have stuff to do. We go the library for story time as well as Mom's Groups (we are going to start the Mennonite Mom's Group next week and the Mormon Mom's Group tomorrow).
(this picture doesn't do the playround justice, I could only fit half of it in the pix, you'll have to see it to really appreciate it! hint hint, come visit!!)