Sisters, a Winter Fair, and an Eyepatch

We had a great day yesterday! It was the Annual Tucson Winter Fair and Christmas Parade downtown, and we were able to take Lexie along with us! We headed down to the fair at 3:00 and spent the afternoon eating yummy food and checking out all of the neat things artisans had for sale.

Then we headed to the parade of lights at 6:00 and met up with all of my family as well as Brandon's. It was nice and chilly out setting the atmosphere perfect for Christmas celebrations.

The two girls had a GREAT time together. They literally laughed and giggled all day. As if they had a secret that only they knew. It was so darling! At the end of the parade, while we were stuck in traffic, Lexie and Shaelana watched Horton Hears A Who (very cute movie) and shared popcorn in the backseat. We didn't interrupt the moment with any pictures, but the sight of them sharing that moment was the sweetest all day. We had a late dinner with plenty more giggles and laughter and talking...a much needed experience for the four of us. It was such a blessed day! Here are some pictures of the girls!

Playing together at Grandma's house.

All Smiles!

Daddy and his two girls

Sharing a moment

Lexie riding the children's ferris wheel at the fair

Shaelana watching her sister in awe

Sweet moment of sister bonding

Playing together

Lastly, my daughter is learning where facial features are and how to say them. Her most recent accomplishment is "eyes". She says it perfectly and this morning, lying in bed I decided to test her knowledge. I asked her "Where are Mommy's eyes?" With little hesitation, she showed me just how smart she is and poked me right in the eye! Didn't hit the eyelid at all, but instead got all eyeball! Unfortunately for me, Sunday's are the day I always trim her nails (force of habit) and we hadn't accomplished that just yet this morning, so now I have a corneal abrasion, which feels like sand is in my eye. Thus, the gorgeous new accessory of a homemade eyepatch since it's Sunday and I refuse to sit in urgent care today. Surprisingly it helps, but I thought I would add to the fun and journal this one!

Oh so fashionable!!!

Introducing Santa!

Last night, Brandon and I took Shaelana to see Santa Claus for the very first time! This is a little insight as to how their first meeting went...

Haha! It was a memory atleast. Fortunately, her candy cane made it much much better, and the entire experience wasn't a bad one for her. I can't wait to scrapbook these!

Husband Tag

I was tagged by Jennifer to do this about my hubby, so here goes!

1. How long did you date before you got married? 2 years and 3 months, although he was planning our wedding by the second month of our relationship!

2. How long have you been married? We just celebrated our first anniversary on November 16.

3. What does he do that surprises you? Out of the blue he will tell me how beautiful I am. It always surprises me because he just stares at me with this inquisitive look on his face and then he tells me I'm gorgeous or something edifying like that.

4. What is his best feature? His piercing blue eyes. In the morning when he is getting ready, I still completely get lost in them. SO GORGEOUS!

5. What is his best quality? He is such a great Daddy. He is so interactive and affectionate and both of our girls are in love with him!

6. Does he have a nickname for you? Just Babe. We say that to each other so much more than our actual names that Lexie thought her Dad's name was actually Babe when she was younger!

7. What is his favorite color? If he has to choose...red.

8. What is his favorite animal? Orcas

9. What is his favorite food? Currently he is addicted to the Christmas tree snack cakes. The white ones, not the chocolate. Apparently the sprinkles are different and it DOES make a difference. Some of his other "must-haves" are Pepsi, white popcorn, and he loves my tacos.

10. What is his favorite sport? Definitely baseball. HUGE White Sox fan. When we started dating, I didn't get a choice on whether I had a favorite team or not. I was inducted in by association.

11. When and where did you first kiss? August 12, 2005. It was at the end of our first date in the Barnes & Noble parking lot (I left my car there). I was telling him bye and certain he wasn't going to kiss me goodnight, he leaned in 90% of the way and just waited, so I was forced to kiss him! Still haven't forgot that first kiss!

12. Favorite thing to do as a couple? Watching movies. We love going to the movies together, its our thing.

13. Do you have any children? Our little darling Shaelana

14. Does he have a hidden talent? He makes the best meatloaf!

15. How old is he? 25, for a little bit longer anyway.

16. Who said 'I love you' first? He did! I was a little mad at him that night for not meeting my family and I to go out for family evening. He said he didn't feel good and he ended up out with his friends (grr!) I went and met them afterward and by the funny way he was acting, I figured he was going to break up with me. Turns out he was just nervous and he said "I love you"! Surprised the crap out of me!

17. What is his favorite music? Country for sure. He loves alot of different genres but prefers country most often now.

19. Do you think he will read this? I am certain. He doesn't post on our blog (not yet anyway), but he lurks!

Okay. I tag Hope, Danielle, and Beth! And any husbands on here who want to reverse the tag and make it about your wife you adore!

Our little dolly

I am SO excited! We had Shaelana's pictures taken for the holidays, in honor of her very first Christmas and I simply had to show her off. Her matching headband was made by yours truly...a project I have never tackled until now, but I'm thinking of making more to match all her clothes that don't have headbands now that I completed this one! Here she is...our very own little doll.

Wonderful Holiday

Well I am finally feeling more up to par since the surgery and can take some time out to post a few pictures from our Thanksgiving. We truly had a wonderful day. We spent half with Brandon's family and half with mine which in the past has always been stressful trying to split ourself equally between 2 mothers who don't like to share us, but this year it was so much more peaceful! It was Shaelana's first Thanksgiving and she thoroughly enjoyed the turkey and all the trimmings at both meals. We had family come in on both sides from out of town which was a treasure in itself, not to mention the beautiful wintery weather that stuck around! We were so happy to have a chill in the air that day!

I can't begin to list the many things that I am thankful for, but at the top of my list are:

My comforting husband, Brandon, who has taken care of me and Shaelana so wonderfully since my surgery and been loving and doting when we emotional girls needed him. He is such a wonderful man and in him I have found what being in love is. He is my best friend and the love of my life!

My gorgeous daughter, Shaelana, who brings laughter, love, and joy just with her presence. She teaches me daily and I am mystified at how we ever lived without her. She astonishes us at how rapidly she learns things and how much she is growing and developing her very own little vivacious personality. How she contains it all in her tiny body amazes me!

My wonderful family who still expresses the same never failing love that they have my whole life, and who make it a fun event on just an ordinary day by their company.

And last, but certainly not least, my heavenly father who I know has never let me go or left my side through all of my struggles and experiences and who has blessed me with an abundance of things to be thankful for. He has given me strength and comforted me in times that I wouldn't have known how to keep going and His promise of my eternal life a priceless gift.

I am so truly grateful for the life that I have!

The three of us on Shaelana's first Thanksgiving.

Shaelana playing with her Great Aunt Jewel and second cousins Dakota and Paige

Shaelana and Papa Chuck enjoying the crisp winter air.


I love this face! Shaelana decided to use Papa Chuck as a jungle gym while playing in the floor with her Grandma Ruth

Papa Jim enjoying Shaelana's feistyness on Thanksgiving

Shaelana playing car-car with her Great Granny. Cars are her latest obsession and she is especially thrilled pushing the monster truck around!

Also, a couple of weeks ago, my family and I went to a classic car show here in Tucson and I HAD to post these pictures of my little diva in the making!!!

She's a movie star!

Enjoying her very first snocone! She had a rainbow one and refused to lick any ice but the cherry flavor! Boy was she ever feisty when it was time to throw it away!

Medicated Blogging

Well. today I finally did it. I had surgery at 7:30 this morning to have a cholesystectomy....otherwise known as a galbladder removal. It went incredibly well and while I was very nervous about the possibility of leaving my baby girl and new husband behind my fears were calmed when I went in today. I told my anesthesiologist not to kill me and he looked at me with total shock! It was funny. I am now home and extremely sore with 4 slices in my tummy that aren't so pretty. I actually have pictures, but I will spare you all of the gore! As you can tell...I am in good spirits and that is thanks to the many doses of vicodin I have consumed to help ease the pain. I won't neglect to mention that it is also because of my wonderful husband who has stood my side without fail from the moment that I awoke this morning. He has catered to my every need and cared for our daughter in the midst of it all. Our parent's have played a big part in helping us out through this as well! I am so blessed! The surgeon was very surprised at how bad my galbladder actually was and she is confident that once I heal I will feel MUCH better than before! YAY!!!

Happy early Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you all find many things to be thankful for and have a safe and wonderful holiday.

Sick Day

My poor precious babies!!! The cold season has officially set in around our home and for some reason I have had immunity to it so far (knock on wood). My two loves however are dealing with the worst of it and take my word for it when I say that when Shaelana started getting it, the whole household lost any hope for sleep last night. The three of us were up all night long and she was screaming and crying, and her Daddy and I were on the verge of tears ourself! Having a sick baby is the saddest thing! If only they could tell us what hurts or what they need in words. She wanted to be walked and bounced, which is something we have never been in the habit of doing, and Brandon was a total trooper and catered to her until it was bath time this morning. No one really rested at all.

So, I was checking my email and the two of them were cuddled up on the couch when I left the room. Here is what I returned to...

My sweet babies!

Soooo tired.

They still have no idea I was even back in the room. If only I could take it away. My prayers are for speedy recoveries and no hospital visits!!!

Catching Up!

Okay, so some of you know that I have been gone on vacation and just returned. What started out to be a 4 day trip, turned into 2 weeks, so I am way behind on blogging! Shaelana and I flew out to Mississippi and spent time with family there, then drove to Oklahoma and accompanied my grandmother back to Arizona. It was a fun trip, but we did miss daddy terribly and are happy to be home!

Shaelana attacking her great-cousin Garretth and LOVING it!

My Aunt's neighborhood in Mississippi...I'm in love with all of the GREEN!

My little dolly

Shaelana dancing with her Great Auntie Tanette

Shaelana and her Great Granny playing on the counter

I love this picture!

Having fun walking

My pretty cousin Splaressa

Garretth and I on our way to Oklahoma

Entertaining ourself

Having fun at his big sisters expense while she is sleeping

Going in for the kill

Attacking her great-cousin

Okay, these next two deserve explanation! I laughed so hard! I was actually sitting on this stool and pre-occupied. I hear Shaelana whining and realize that it is coming from beneath me! I still don't know how she managed to worm her way into a standing position, but when I saw her I died laughing!!! Ofcourse, I had to take pictures before coming to her rescue!!! KIDS ARE THE FUNNIEST FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT BY MILES!!!

Completely trapped! Makeshift playpen while traveling?! LOL!

HELP MOM! Put down the camera and get me out of here!!!

Before Leaving for Mississippi, Brandon, Shaelana and I, along with Brandon's parents and cousin Paige went to Trail Dust. It is a little western town here in Tucson that is really cute. We ate dinner at the steak house, shopped in all the little darling shops, had hot cocoa on a train ride, and enjoyed an interactive show put on by actors in the town. There were plenty of effects including gun fights, explosives and ghosts in honor of halloween. It was loud and entertaining, and Shaelana really loved it! We had a great time and enjoyed it very much!

Entering Trail Dust

NOTE THE SIGN!!! We found that especially funny!

Paige outside of the country store

My husband the miner

Fun with explosives?!

A little western girl

She didn't eat all her veggies at dinner!

My precious baby enjoying herself

Palm readings and fortunes told here!

Finally, we celebrated Shaelana's first Halloween! She was a darling little sunflower, I dressed up as a witch (fitting?!) and her Daddy was a hillbilly. Too funny! We joined my siblings and niece and nephews for trick or treating, all dressed up and got way too much candy! Tiger, Papa, and Granny joined us for the fun as well. Tiger being my mom...yes, that is her "grandparent" label. She is not a grandma, nana, mamaw, etc...she is a Tiger! She loves it, and it certainly fits. She spells it Tyegrrr! I love it, and the kids do to. Her favorite thing to say is "everyone has a grandma, but not everyone has a Tyegrrr!" The best pictures from this night are on her camera, including the whole family shot, but here a few to show you how darling Shaelana looked! She ofcourse stole the show! We had alot of fun, but I think the adults had the most fun with the costumes! We are still just a bunch of kids at heart I suppose.

Shaelana and I slightly hyped up on candy!

All the Mommies and the babies.

Raderika was a sexy devil and her boys, Kyzek and Zairek, were a scarecrow and a skeleton. Jessica was a Rockstar and Zareonna was Scooby Doo. I am the witch and Shaelana is the Sunflower.

No, that isn't dirt on her face...just a hard earned tootsie roll!

Raderika and I in all of our get-up!