My house... the way it should have always looked.

Finally! The projects are done and the tools have left the building! I finally don't feel stress walking through my house. Too bad it took almost 5 years for it to look this way.....

I'm waiting for the realtor and I took some of my own pictures just to get an idea of how the house would photograph.

Breakfast Nook

Kitchen and breakfast nook

Guest Bedroom

Hall Bath

Living room

Dining Room

Livingroom

Master Bath

Master Bath

Master Bedroom

Master Bedroom

Alyson's room is being painted tomorrow, so I don't have a picture of it yet because it is still a mess, but I will post her room later.

Alyson: " But I want to wear it this way, Mom!"

This is one of her favorite shirts to wear... and normally she wears it the right way. However, on this particular day, she kept pulling her arm out of the sleeve and screamed "no, no, no" when I would fix it. Finally, I gave up, took a picture and told her to explain her one sided sleeveless style to her daddy, when he got home.

Aly has a new form of entertainment in the kitchen- letters! Now, she was given a bag full of about 50 of these things, but let me tell you, after stepping on one and sliding halfway across the kitchen floor and nearly busting my you know what- she is limited to only a few at a time. So right now, the letters spell out: mom, dad and Aly. That way I know which ones are missing and need to hunt for so I don't trip again. I switch out the letters and spell new things each week. Not that she puts them in the right order or anything... wow...now, that you all now I'm a letters Nazi.... we should move on.... to baking!

"MMM.... needs more chocolate!"

I had a doctor's appointment, so Sister Ruiz kindly watched the little munchkin so that I could go in peace. As a thank you, we made brownies and sent them with Alyson. Aly was used to making cookies with me for the missionaries, but not brownies. She enjoyed licking the bowl. I would scrap it with a baby spoon and then give it to her. And yes, she is using her left hand, but to be fair she uses both at different times, so we still don't know if she is right or left handed.

"Check out my mad coloring skills. I got this, Mom.

You should have bought me these a long time ago!"

Well, as she will be in nursery soon, I stated thinking about everything that she would need to know how to do: color, pick up toys, sit in a big girl chair, fold her arms... etc. So we have been learning all the things that a soon to be 18 month old needs to learn. Which means, buying Aly her very own crayons and coloring pages. I am proud to report- not one crayon went into her mouth and she colored only on her coloring page. She can also hold 5 crayons in one hand- at the same time- something she was quite proud of and that she can say "Dora". Never even seen the cartoon, but she can say Dora.... kids...

All grown up... or not

Alyson always seems like she is such a little grown up. She's already helping me cook, clean and do laundry. When she tries to talk, it sounds like sentences "there's the ball" "look- it's Daddy" etc. And her attitude... don't get me started on that... it's like living with a teenager sometimes. But despite her attempt to be grown up and outsmart us, I still get glimpses of my baby girl. Like on this day, when all she wanted was her pacifier and Daddy bear ( The build a bear that her dad made her the weekend before she as born)
"Oh you must of been a beautiful baby... You must of been a wonderful child"

We got the beat!

Alyson loves and I mean loves to dance! She will dance to commercials, the radio, sacrament hymns, any musical toys- everything. She has pretty good moves for someone so little too. Well, we have tried to get it on video and it is tough! She will stop and look at us like "Did I tell you could video me dancing?" Anyway, here are two clips that have some dance moves. Jonathan's side of the family will get to witness her mad dancing skills at Jenny's wedding in May. You know you can't wait!

Wounded in the Line of Duty

In trying to tire out, I mean entertain Alyson yesterday morning, we were playing tag. Basically me just chasing her around the house and tickling her when I catch her. Well we had a tripping incident and to avoid a major pile up, I managed to bang my leg up on the way down to the ground. Good thing no one was around to see it, because I'm sure I was ever so graceful- not!

Anyway, I bruised my left thigh as I am laying on the ground in pain, Aly thinks this means that it is her turn to tickle me. So I have her crawling all over me, kneeing me in the ribs and wounded leg. Talk about kicking me while I'm down! I had trouble walking yesterday because the bruise it right on my thigh muscle, and it has turned a wonderful shade of purple. I would post a picture, but I was told that was gross by my oh so wonderful husband.

However, I will nurse myself back to health and I'll live to play again, because that is what good moms do.

Thank you Alyson for giving me my first official "Mom injury"

Easter Fun

"Mine, Mine, Mine" Alyson was so excited to hunt for Easter eggs. She spent Easter with her Texas cousins, Gracie, Madison and Jett. The Easter celebration was on Saturday at her Me-maw's and Da's house.

Her Easter basket was full of fun surprises.... blocks, a CareBear book, new clothes, books and more candy!

Outside hunting up Easter eggs

Mostly, she needed help, but she learned to grab a few on her own.

Carrying her basket full of eggs, it was almost as big as she was!

Da (granddaddy) helped her find the hard eggs in the tall grass.

Mamaw came out on her porch and watched the Easter egg hunting

Gracie, her olderest cousin, was really good at finding the eggs. She found a lot and then helped the younger kids.

Sometimes, Alyson would take the eggs out and throw them back down to the grass. He she is grabbing for an egg to throw back to find again.

Jett finding Easter eggs.

Madison finding Easter eggs

We had so much fun over at Me-maw and Da's house finding eggs with our cousins. We love Easter and are thankful for the Atonement and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

All in a days work

The weather has been so nice, we've played outside everyday. I finally caught Alyson on video playing with her ball. In this video, we are playing outside, waiting for Jonathan to come home.

Just a little video of use playing tag, tickle, learning body parts and other randomness that is Alyson.