SHE'S WEARIN ME OUT!

WELL, MORE ON Shelby folks. This kid is turning into a 2 year old I guess. Still sweet, but MAN! I now have to run after her in the store, scared half to death when I turn around and she's not where she was literally 1 1/2 seconds ago. I catch up with the little weasel and she is laughing so hard when we all know "it is not funny"all the while trying so hard not to laugh myself.

THE BED SITUATION has gotten out of control. Shelby is no longer a good sleeper. She is constantly waking up, so I decided to set up her crib again since that is all that has changed since the "good sleeper" turned bad. NOW, in her room, there is a big girl bed/wall flower, a pack-n-play, and once again a crib. She still woke up this morning at 6am instead of the usual 8am. Iv been trying to get over strep this week, and she is not helping.

ANOTHER NOTABLE "ACTIVITY", the unloading of the laundry basket. Any full laundry basket gets thrashed and emptied in a matter of seconds.

BUT EVEN AFTER all that, she turns around and says something that reminds me how worth it it all is. For instance, the other day, and you have to keep in mind that she just started to put two words together at a time. She turned to grab my hand as we were walking out the door and said " Let's go sugar". I almost died.

THE DAY AFTER EASTER, EASTER

SHELBY WAS WITH Josh over the weekend like we normally do. She got a pretty new Easter dress from her Grandma that she wore to church that day. She had a good time in nursery then I picked her up and we had Easter dinner with some of my family. Poor Shelby still without an Easter basket (minus some treats from sweet aunt Carol) came home late and finally found a little something from that silly rabbit waiting for her in the living room. So the next day, Shelby and I had a little fun in the back yard with her new "Ssssshep" a.k.a. sheep, some bubbles and some "coco"(any chocolate). Shelbys only food desires being macaroni and M&M's.

SHEEP LAY EGGS at our house. I hid these camouflage eggs for her. I am so mean; she could barley find them at all.

FOR THE LOVE of M&M's!

SATISFACTION

FIRST PAINT JOB

THE WORLD OF girl is so much fun. I painted Shelbys nails last night for the first time. She loved it! There was no protesting, no squirming, no nothing, which is unusual if you knew how "nail clipping time" goes. She sat there perfectly still watching my every move as I hovered over her perfect little toes. Shelby is much more girly than I ever was and still am. She loves to watch me put on my makeup and tries to put it on herself. She loves shoes, loves hats, loves the mirror, loves to brows Old Navy, and always lets me do her hair with pleasure. I just know I didn't have the patience for stuff like that when I was her age. If Beth is reading this I know she is laughing; she has a "tendency" to make fun of this contrast between Shelby and I; but I will welcome the difference and paint her nails princess pink any day she wants me to.

CHECKING OUT THE product.

SHE GETS THE concept!

ADMIRATION

NOSTALGIA

A STAPLE TO any little girls wardrobe, JELLIES! Wistful childish memories came in when I locked eyes on these jellies. I couldn't believe I was buying a pair for my daughter, MY DAUGHTER! What about me? When did I grow up and out of these shoes and fasten them onto my own kids feet? As I watched her run around the backyard with her new pair of shoes she has yet to find her own nostalgic appreciation for, I couldn't help but giggle seeing the little rocks getting stuck in the soles, wedged inside the little rubber caves. The colors, the smells, the glitter, the rocks.......just as I remember.

I LOVE TAX SEASON!

I AM NOT being sarcastic. I may be one of two people in the U.S. who rejoice with the glimpse of a W2 in the mail, or who race to the computer to so bravely do their own taxes and get that return as quickly as possible(although this is my first return in 3 years because of Josh's business). I love the feeling of having all my bills and credit cards paid off with a little left over for savings, and to go and get that one big gift I allow myself every year around this time. So I took myself down to the new HUGE Bass Pro Shop for a little gift to self shopping. Anyone who knows me well, knows I am a fly fisher woman! Yea!!! So I perused the Fly Shop and set my heart on a new pair of waders(my old ones were my grandmothers, bless her laid to rest heart, they were to big and very, very, bright purple. Every time I used them I couldn't help but have flashes of a certain purple dinosaur who's name we all know that I had to have looked like; but ill never be able to get rid of them). The thought of this(NEW waders) along with the mere fact that I am standing in a sea of top quality fishing and camping equipment made me want to squeal intermittent squeaks while jumping up and down and waving my arms almost violently. Now I say "big gift" I allow myself but really it was under $100. While maintaining my firm belief in being a responsible single parent and not squandering all our money away on one thing for myself I passed up the Gor-Tex $500 pair of waders that made me have to hold my breath, turn around, and walk away. I purchased the 30% off pair for $69 and made myself feel more excited by looking forward to putting a little money aside for a good fishing trip this summer and a trip to Mexico with my girlfriends(something we do every year[a different place every time]). So, after the glorious afternoon that was Bass Pro Shops, I went straight home, put on my new waders and squealed intermittent squeaks while jumping up and down and waving my arms very violently.

PICKED UP A couple hats for this summers sun. Shelby loves hats!

PETER PANS SISTER!

SHELBY GOT A big girl bed. The bed frame was my grandfathers when he was a little boy, I also slept on the bed for three years growing up. I was so excited when we got all settled in the house to set up the bed for her. I got her a pretty cotton and chenille antique bedspread, crisp new white sheets, her very own pillow(for looks), waterproof mattress and pillow protectors, a guard rail, the whole works. She wants nothing to do with it, it is just this object in her room that might as well be the wall. She just wants to sleep in her pack-n-play. Now I know this is a sign that she is just not ready yet, she feels safe in the pack-n-play, and I wont push her but this smart little girl is taking her sweet time growing up and I am just so eager to teach her and help her along to her next levels. On the flip side, I am so glad she is as careful and timid as she is. That is just the best way to describe Shelby. She really trusts herself, her own instincts. I guess I can wait(to put that dang pack-n-play away)!

PAPAGO PARK

TODAY SHELBY AND I went to hike around Papago Park. We only live about two miles from it. It was such a beautiful day. Shelby did a great job hiking. I was so proud of her, my little side kick.

PHOENIX ZOO

SHELBY GOIN IN for the kiss! This girl LOVES animals.

THE GROUP

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

PARADA DEL SOL RODEO
Going to the rodeo today brought back a flood of memories of me and Amy rodeoing in Springerville. Won a whopping $16 my first time. I sure miss those days and hope to get them back soon enough.

TEAM ROPING




I LOVE THE shot below solely because of the clown hauling butt away from that bull.


CANT LEAVE THIS guy out.


WELL NOW THIS one speaks for itself! A true blue Stetson commercial. (OH, and he won the team roping, of course!)

FRIDAY AFTERNOON

MY GOOD FRIEND Beth and her family invited us to the Scottsdale Dog Fancier Show where they were showing two of their Rottweilers. We had such a good time. The weather was perfect, the people were nice and the dogs were gorgeous. It amazed me but did not surprise me how well behaved the dogs at shows are, so well trained, very sweet, very calm. While I still maintain the belief that certain breeds harbor certain tendencies due solely to their type[(i.e. pit bull and aggression)some would argue that it is all in the way they are "raised"]I don't believe that, there is something to be said for DNA and all that it contributes, including character flaws. Like the way an alcoholic father would pass down to his son the higher probability that he too will be an alcoholic, even if the son never met his biological father. That's nature. But the treatment of animals always shows up in their character. Lucky for us we saw an assuaging display of what well maintained canines could become. Finally, our afternoon....

THE ROTTIES


THE WOLFHOUND. I have known horses smaller than these gentle giants. We had an Irish Wolfhound as a therapy dog at the hospital at one time. Despite the look of them, they are very sweet.


IN THE RING now. Its the kid show, playing house I guess?


ONE OF MANY looks thrown by Shelby. Weren't we just talking about inherited character flaws? I believe this look is the "another flippin picture of me mom?" look.


GREAT DAY TOGETHER, just me and my nose picker! Seriously, that is her best Hobby right now. She is fascinated by it. I just hope she doesn't figure out that they are edible.


PLAYING IN OUR new (very old - 1950'S) house that we are renting. Where's waldo, I mean Shelby?


HERE SHE IS, behind the pillow. Gosh I love her so much.