Best Shot Monday - Innocent Joy

Here is my Best Shot of the week, a picture of the 2 most important people in my life...my husband and my daughter. They mean everything to me. As my blog title indicates this blog is innocent joy and these are the two people that create most of my innocent joys.

Over at Mother May I, Tracey asked the question, What sentiment does your best shot stir up?

This picture can summed it up in one word: LOVE.

Want to see more best shots?

Head over to Mother May I, for more Best Shot Monday's!

Wordless Wednesday -My Nephews!

"T"

"C"

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Theme Thursday - Pure

Does it get any more Pure than this?

Check out more Theme Thursday over at The Land of K.A.

Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentines Day to my beautiful family. I love you both more than you will ever know. You guys are my world and I would do anything for you.

Love, Me

Wordless Wednesday - Butterflies

I know this is supposed to be wordless but, I need to give credit to my husband. He took these pictures while he was in Florida.

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Tag: Six Unimportant Things About Me

I just got tagged from Lynn. I've never been tagged before so hopefully I do it right, here we go!

Here are the rules:

Link to the person that tagged you.

Post the rules on your blog.

Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.

Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.

Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

Let your tagger know when you entry is up

1. I like to watch reality shows, Biggest Loser, John & Kate plus 8, American Idol, Little People Big World are some of my favorites.
2. I can't stand it when the driveway has any snow on it, I'm always outside cleaning off the driveway. My husband thinks I'm a little obsessed with it, he could be right...
3. I like to participate in Meme's, especially Wordless Wednesday & Weekend Snapshot
4. I love to find shop on Ebay, possibly a bit of an obsession.
5. I'm listening to Alicia Keys "As I Am" cd, so far so good : )
6. My 2 favorite movies are "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and "Steel Magnolias"

I am going to tag the 1st 6 or so commenters on my last entry: willthink4wine, sandy carlson, Steve and Emz Journey, Soliloquy, Life Through a Lens, and Liza

Weekend Snapshot - Beautiful Girl

I was playing with the camera and Kylie was willing to let me take her picture. This was the best one. I just love it!

Find more Weekend Snapshots here!

Ash Wednesday

So yesterday was Ash Wednesday, Kylie and I attended Mass last night as you can tell by the above picture. Kylie was so proud of her "Father, Son, Holy Spirt" (her cross) that when she accidentally rubbed it off she was devistated. She was getting tired, Mass was at 7 and 8 is generally her bedtime, and she was trying to lay in my arms and she rubbed her head against my sweater. When she did it I told her to be careful because your cross will wipe off. I had no idea how important that cross was to her. She almost started crying about it, so I told her that when Mass was over I would try to get her another one. That seemed to make her happy. So when Mass was over we waited for Deacon to finish talking with the other parishioners and we asked for another one since hers accidentally was wiped off. He was more than happy to oblige, matter of fact the cross he gave her was much larger and darker than her original cross.

This morning Kylie was looking in the mirror and noticed that her cross was starting to wear off. She said "Mommy look at my Father, Son, Holy Spirit its going away." I told that that is what happens. She was really upset about it, so not knowing what else to say I told her she needed to talk to Jesus about it. She said, "No you talk to him". So I told her I would see what I could do about it. That seemed to satisfy her.

Wordless Wednesday - Nature

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Congratulations Greg, We are SO proud of you!!

Today Greg passed his checkride to become Captain on the ERJ 170 airplane. He is officially type rated on the ERJ 170/190 airplane.

Kylie and I love you so much and couldn't be more proud of you. This was one of your personal goals, and now you have achieved it.

Wordless Wednesday - Look! it's one of the village people

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Stylin'

Today I asked Kylie if she is going to go to school tomorrow. This the dialoge that resulted from my question:

Kylie: Yes, and I'm going to wear my pink flower headband! (She was so excited, her face just lit up when she said this)
Me: Ok that will look very nice
Kylie: And they (her friends) will say I'm Stylin'
Me (laughing): stylin' huh
Kylie: Yeah, and Mommy that means I'm pretty.

Apparently she feels the need to explain what words mean now. I sometimes feel like she is a sixteen year old in a three year old body.

For Kylie, Just because I Love You...

I Understand Completely...

We were swimming at the YMCA today and I was helping her put on her bubble so we could go swimming. I was telling her how she doesn't have to worry about going under the water (this something she worries about) because the bubble will help her to stay above water and while she is swimming. Before I could finish she looked at me and said "Mommy I understand completely, I completely understand, just don't worry about it" while looking down and shaking her head. It was like can you stop trying to explaining already and just go swimming already????

It just just too funny, but are 3 year olds really supposed to be talking like this?!?

Happy Birthday Jesus

The above video is from Kylie's preschool Christmas progam. I thought it fitting to post it today, to remember the true meaning of Christmas. The birth of Christ.

Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family, we love you.

Wordless Wednesday - Christmas Pictures

My Angel

Reading her book

Hello Santa!


Kylie's true smiley personality!

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Too Much Little Einsteins

For Thanksgiving Kylie and I flew to North Dakota to visit my parents. Daddy couldn't come because he ad to work over the holiday - that kind of stunk since we don't see them that often. While we were taxiing to the runway Kylie said "When we gonna take off?" "Pretty soon, we have to get the the end of the runway" I said. "No, Mommy were just driving on the road."

When Daddy dropped us off he told Kylie to make sure that she waved to him since the airplane flies almost directly over our house. So as we were taking off Kylie yells in her loudest voice BYE BYE DADDY!!! ...It was 7 AM, I'm sure everyone that was trying to sleep was more than impressed with her.

As the airplane left the ground Kylie looks up and says "Activate the lights Mommy and Activate the air! Pat your legs faster!" I really think she has watched waaaay to much Little Einsteins. Then she looks at the clouds we were flying through and says "How are we gonna get through these clouds, this is badiculous (ridiculous)."

She was so proud to be able to sit in the seat with her booster seat. I was so relived that she sat as well as she did, I was a little worried that she wouldn't sit good or that when we got to North Dakota she would think she was too big for the booster seat in the car. But that didn't happen either.

Jesus and God

Kylie and Daddy were talking about who loves who more, this is the conversation:

Kylie: I love you this much (with arms spread as wide as she can)
Daddy: I love you as much as the whole world
Kylie: Well, I love you to Jesus and God

Does it get cuter than this? When Greg told me about this conversation I thought it was so precious.

Works For Me Wednesday - Fun Family Christmas Website

For this weeks Works for Me, I want to share a really great website I found for Christmas. The website is http://www.northpole.com/. This site has so many fun things to do with your children for Christmas along with lots of great recipes. Here are some of the FREE Things To Do:

*Send a letter to Santa *Send holiday postcards *Stories to read & color *Santa's Birthday Cards *Games to play *Christmas Karaoke *Holiday recipes *Northpole Wallpaper *Puzzles & Activities *Good Deed Calendar *Visit Elf Pal Academy *Educational Activities *Q&A with Santa *Find the hidden stories *Naughty or Nice List *Santa Tracker (Dec. 24)

The stories are cute, you can personalize them with your childrens information. What child doesn't like to hear their name in a book.

This is what works for me! Check out Rocks In My Dryer for more great ideas!

Works For Me Wednesday - Backwards Edition

This week is a backwards Works For Me Wednesday, where I ask you a question, and you help me with you answers.

I am trying to figure out how to explain to a three year old what lying is. I have been told that she is too young to understand and that I should just chalk it up to it being her age. But I would like to at least introduce her to what lying is, but I really not sure how to do it and make an impact. I have tried to call her out when she its very obvious she's lying to me - or not telling me the truth.

For example, I will ask her she picked up all of the toys in her bedroom like I asked, and she will say yes and then when I check they are still all over the floor. Usually I will say something like "I asked you if you picked up all the toys and you said yes but they are still all over the floor - that is lying. Telling me something that is not right" I don't know if this is the right approach or not.

I would be grateful for any suggestions you may have. Be sure to check out Shannon's blog for lots more great WFMW posts!

Wordless Wednesday - "Dorfy"

Dorfy has returned from the land of Oz! Kylie had so much fun being Dorfy this year, she is already thinking about who could be Dorthy next year. She said she would even share her dress! I thought that was quite kind of her.

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1st Report Card

Greg and I went to our first parent/teacher conference today. I had no I idea that they even had conferences in preschool! Kylie is three so we will have a lot more conferences to look forward to. I was actually kind of excited when I found out about the conferences, I really didn't know what to expect. We were pleased with everything we heard, there wasn't anything that I could say we were suprised to hear. She is doing well, she has adjusted to the schedule and the class rules (even points out to the teacher when she missed something), and very outgoing (which is an understatement). Her areas of improvement are: needs to work on picking up better, and playing with all the children. She likes to pair off with a couple of her friends and then not let anyone else play with them. Her teacher said both things she needs to work are are age realated. Overall her teacher said she was very pleased with everything. Greg and I are very proud of Kylie, we feel very blessed she is our daughter.

Works for me Wednesday - No Tangles for long hair

My 3 year old daughter has fairly long hair - past the middle of her back, not quite to her bottom. One of the things she hates more than anything when it's time to comb her hair is, you guessed it - TANGLES!

One of the best ways I have found to combat the terrible tangles is after she is done with her bath, I comb her hair while wet, then I twist her hair into a bun on the top of her head. I try to put the bun as close to the top of her head as I can so she doesn't have to sleep on it and I try to leave the bun quite loose so it isn't pulling. Then in the morning take out the bun - without pulling her hair and voila! no tangles! Style as desired.

Another great thing this does for her hair is it makes it really curly. She has some curl to her hair but this really enhances it.

This is what Works For Me! For more Works-For-Me-Wednesday participants, check out Shannon of Rocks In My Dryer.

I'm trying to WIN a DYSON Vacuum!

The Domestic Diva has a Pink Dyson to give to one very lucky person! In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness, Dyson has agreed to give away one of their Dyson Vacuum Cleaners in the Pink color. Dyson is notorious for being known as the vaccuum that never loses suction.

I would so love for the winner to be me, because I really, really want a new vacuum! I've been bugging my husband for at least the last 6 months or so for a Dyson vacuum. Imagine how happy he would be if I won it?!

Wordless Wednesday - Making Dinner

Kylie apparently busy "making dinner"! She is wearing her costume for Halloween. She just had to put it on as soon as it arrived in the mail. She is so excited to be "Dorfy" from the Wizard da Boz.

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Wordless Wedneday - At the Lake

When they got on the boat...



A few minutes later...


The girls had so much fun look at the water and trying to find fishies in it. That kept them busy for quite a while. So much so that Kylie fell asleep before the ride was over...

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Kylie sings...

This video isn't the greatest, it was one of those moments where I just had to capture the moment. So I took this video with my digital camera over my back in one had and drove in the other. This is Kylie's favorite song that Daddy recorded. She calls it "Daddys fast, fast song". She loves to hear it and asks to hear it just about everytime we are in the car. Greg and I have both decided that maybe Greg should record a different song for her to like. Anyway it is just very cute to see her singing with Daddy.

Butterflys and bugs

This week in Preschool Kylie's class is learning about the letter 'B'. Today when Kylie came home from school Daddy asked her about what she learned about today. This is the conversation they had:

Kylie: I played with clay today.

Daddy: What did you make with your clay?

Kylie: I made a butterfly and a bug. Did you know a butterfly is a bug?!

She said that with such amazement, she just had no idea. Butterflys and Ladybugs are her favorite bugs. It is so much fun to watch and hear the innocence of a child.

AN OPEN LETTER TO MR. JAMES THATCHER BRAND MANAGER AT PROCTER & GAMBLE.

I found this on the internet somewhere (I don't remember where) but I thought it was so funny I just had to share. If it is from your website email me and I will give you the proper credit you are due. Enjoy!
__________________________________________________
Dear Mr. Thatcher,

I have been a loyal user of your Always maxi pads for
over 20 years, and I appreciate many of their
features. Why, without the LeakGuard Core ™ or
Dri-Weave(tm) absorbency, I'd probably never go
horseback riding or salsa dancing, and I'd certainly
steer clear of running up and down the beach in tight,
white shorts. But my favorite feature has to be your
revolutionary Flexi-Wings. Kudos on being the only
company smart enough to realize how crucial it is that
maxi pads be aerodynamic.

I can't tell you how safe and secure I feel each month
knowing there's a little F-16 in my pants. Have you
ever had a menstrual period, Mr. Thatcher? Ever
suffered from "the curse"? I'm guessing you haven't.
Well, my "time of the month" is starting right now. As
I type, I can already feel hormonal forces violently
surging through my body. Just a few minutes from now,
my body will adjust and I'll be transformed into what
my husband likes to call "an inbred hillbilly with
knife skills." Isn't the human body amazing?
As brand manager in the feminine-hygiene division,
you've no doubt seen quite a bit of research on what
exactly happens during your customers' monthly visits
from Aunt Flo.

Therefore, you must know about the bloating,
puffiness, and cramping we endure, and about our
intense mood swings, crying jags, and out-of-control
behavior. You surely realize it's a tough time for
most women. In fact, only last week, my friend
Jennifer fought the violent urge to shove her
boyfriend's testicles into a George Foreman Grill just
because he told her he thought Grey's Anatomy was
written by drunken chimps. Crazy!
The point is, sir, you of all people must realize that
America is just crawling with homicidal maniacs in
capri pants.

Which brings me to the reason for my letter. Last
month, while in the throes of cramping so painful I
wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus,
I opened an Always maxi pad, and there, printed on the
adhesive backing, were these words: "Have a Happy
Period."

Are you kidding me? What I mean is, does
any part of your tiny middle-manager brain really
think happiness - actual smiling, laughing
happiness-is possible during a menstrual period? Did
anything mentioned above sound the least bit
pleasurable? Well, did it, James? FYI, unless you're
some kind of sick S&M freak girl, there will never be
anything "happy" about a day in which you have to jack
yourself up on Motrin and Kahlúa and lock yourself in
your house just so you don't march down to the local
Walgreens armed with a hunting rifle and a sketchy
plan to end your life in a blaze of glory.

For the love of God, pull your head out, man. If you
just have to slap a moronic message on a maxi pad,
wouldn't it make more sense to say something that's
actually pertinent, like "Put Down the Hammer" or
"Vehicular Manslaughter Is Wrong"? Or are you just
picking on us?

Sir, please inform your accounting department that,
effective immediately, there will be an $8 drop in
monthly profits, for I have chosen to take my maxi-pad
business elsewhere. And though I will certainly miss
your Flexi-Wings, I will not for one minute miss your
brand of condescending BS.

And that's a promise I will keep - Always.
Best Regards,
Wendi Aarons

Wordless Wednesday - Birthday

My daughter enjoying her 3rd birthday at Chuck E Cheese. We were really suprised she wanted to go there considering she doesn't even like Chuck E. She did great as long as he stayed far away, if she thought he was comming close she would start to get scared.

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If I Die Before You Wake

It doesn't matter how you feel about the war, this a moving and heartwarming video. It is sung by Dustin Evans, an American soldier

Photo Hunters "Happy"

Watching my daughter and her best friend having fun watching Chuck E Cheese & the band is what makes me happy. Watching them enjoying themselves and being happy makes me happy!

For more great pictures and to see what make other people happy check out PhotoHunters!

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Best Friends

This is a great picture of Kylie and her best friend. His mother and I took them to the zoo in Michigan City, IL. This picture was taken at the zoo playground.

A POEM called "I love her then, tomorrow, and always "

I found this poem at http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/ and I thought it was so perfect, especially since Kylie just turned 3 earlier this month. Enjoy...

I LOVE HER THEN ,NOW, AND ALWAYS
© Danielle R. Workman

My baby girl is now three
I have wiped her tears, cuddled her fears
shared her cheers
I love her and she loves me
But see she is only three, we will disagree
With age, emotions will turn like the weather
I will wipe different tears, cuddle new fears
And hopefully still share cheers
I will always listen, that’s a guarantee
New things will come up boys, rules, beers
I know life as a young adult is exciting
But scary and hard at the same time
I hope she loves me as much then as now
I hope I steer her in the right direction
So hopefully she will avoid a crime
Communication, understanding, affection
Hard! WOW!
But whatever she chooses in her life
I will always be there for her
The good, bad and indifferent cause
I love her now, then, and always

Wordless Wednesday - Silly Faces

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She's moving on...

Saturday was a big day for Kylie. She has been taking swimming lessons at the YMCA since April. She was in the class that was for infants ages 6 mos to 3 years old. In this class the parent "swims" with the child. It is really a water familiarization class.

Since this coming Saturday will be the last week of the swimming class for the this session and the fact that Kylie is now too old to be in the same class Kylie's teacher and I were discussing what class to put her into. There are 2 different classes, they are both called Pikes. One of the Pikes classes is with the parent the other is without. We were trying to decide if we should enroll in the class with me or not. Both of us had decided that she really didn't seem ready to go without me so we enrolled her in the class with the parents. But then in a stroke of pure geniusness her teacher asked if maybe we could try the class without the parent. This was a great idea because Kylie is never ready to get out when her class is over and the Pike class without the parent is immediately after her class so we could just stay and see.

Well, I have to tell you it was a very proud moment for me. Kylie did absolutely wonderful, she didn't cry for Mommy and she did everything her teacher asked her to do. I was so happy for her.

So she's moved on...to the next level swimming class. The Pike's without parent class. This actually works out better since the class is on Saturday mornings instead on Tuesday evenings.

Wordless Wednesday - Roses

wordless wednesday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KYLIE!!!!!

Our baby girl is 3 years old today! It is truly amazing how quickly time flies. Everyone tells you when your baby is born they grow so fast and at the time its hard to believe. But now as you get another year older we are understanding what everyone has been saying. This is such a wonderful time in our lives, you are independent and yet you always seem to realize when you need help. You always seem to know when Daddy or Mommy needs a little pick-me-up by saying "I love You Daddy" or "I Love You Mommy" out of the blue for no reason at all or just by coming up to us and giving us hugs and kisses just because you want to. Those gestures mean more to us than you will ever know. You are kind and compassionate. Daddy and Mommy get to hear compliments all the time about how polite you are, and it makes us so proud of you. We love you so much, you are such a beautiful and smart little girl with a full range of emotions, ideas and goals. We want you to know that no matter what you do, what you think, or what you say you can always depend on our support and love forever. Daddy and Mommy wish you only the best that life has to offer you.

I found this poem and thought it was perfect for you.

Fragile as a Rosebud, More Radiant than the Sun
Full of Love and Wonderment
My Precious Little One.
You Touched my Hand, You Gazed at me,
Your Heart so Pure, so True,
I Wonder, do you Realize,
My Life Began with you

Happy 3rd Birthday Sweetheart!

Love, Daddy & Mommy

This post is done in Kylie's favorite color: pink

Wordless Wednesday - Sleeping Flower Girl

It's hard work being a flower girl...

This was taken at my sister Samantha's wedding while waiting her turn for her picture to be taken.


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My sister's wedding

This past weekend we drove to North Dakota to be in my sister Samantha's wedding. It was a beautiful day, bright a sunny and maybe a little hot. I was a bridesmaid and Kylie was the flower girl. My two nephews Tristen and Cole (both one year old) were the ring bearers. I was a little nervous as to how well Kylie was going to do as far as walking up the aisle by herself. During the rehersal she wanted nothing to do with it and only wanted to do it if Mommy was going to walk with her. When Saturday morning arrived we asked her if she was going to throw the petals by herself and to our suprise she said yes! Of course that remained to be seen because she had yet to see all of the people in the church and she was NOT going to get a nap before the wedding. That is part I was most worried about - NO NAP! She is going to be 3 next week and definatly still need the nap.

Anyways she was a little uncooperative for the picturs, but all in all they turned out great. I know without even seeing them they will be cute. She looked like a little angel in her dress.

Wordless Wednesay

wordless wednesday