In case you are wondering...

... I have not fallen off the face of the Earth.:)

I was going to be good and have Kinley's 4 month post ready to go but then I saw a traumatic with Blogger! It told me I couldn't up load anymore pictures without paying a monthly 'storage' fee! Ugh. Who just wants to read words?!? Her cute face is what makes the post! {i am guessing, and hubby guessed too, when the blog world became popular... someone had to capitalize on that and make some money. boo. }

Anyways, I was talking to my teacher friend, who also happens to have a blog (you can read Jana's blog HERE. you could follow it too! she is almost to 100 followers!!) about this issue. She has given me a solution to the problem, I just haven't had a chance to check it out and try to make it work. 

So in the meantime, read Jana's blog. This post of hers had a lot of inspirational quotes that I liked. Go check it out!

Turkey Trouble

Tom the Turkey was in TROUBLE!!! 

He needed my kindergarten friends' help and boy did he get it!

I had seen this project in the past and on a whim decided to give it a try. A note was sent home for my little friends to work with their family to disguise Tom the Turkey so he wouldn't become Thanksgiving dinner. Here are the finished products:

Looks like these turkeys may be safe for another year!
Hope you can find a turkey to eat! 

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Kindergarten Crack Ups

Coming to you straight from the mouths of 5 and 6 year-olds....

{the day after the Election}
"Did you see the news last night?? Cher Obama won!" Oh, I must have missed that. "Yea, Rock Obama is President.  Cher Obama is his wife."

Also said about the Barack Obama... "That's my dad's name!"

And in discussing who won the Election...
"Isn't he [Obama] bad?"

In regards to the last question, a 4th grader was overheard saying, "we want Obama to win. He gives us food stamps and they are awesome!"

3 Months

Oh my goodness, little girl. How can it be that you are 3 months old {and that you are closer to being 4 months old and I am just now getting around to finishing writing/posting this?!?!?!}?!

In the last month, you have grown and changed so much! There are no official stats since you don't go back to the doctor until your 4 month check up. 

You are eating 4 ounces every 2-3 hours. At night, you sleep like it's what you were born to do! We put you down around 11:30-midnight and you sleep until we wake you. Since I am still at home with you, your wake up time is around 9. Speaking of sleeping, you are still sleeping in the bassinet on Dad's side of the bed. I secretly (no, I know) think he likes you there because he can reach in and put your pacifier back in your mouth to get a little more sleep.You still are not much of a napper during the day unless you are being held, which I don't mind doing!

You are standing  up more and more. You look like such a big girl when you do it!

You have found what you seem to think are the coolest toys... Your hands! You are always looking at them and trying to get your whole fist in your mouth.

We took you to your first Tulsa State Fair on Tuesday, October 2nd. We had fried pickles, deep fried beer battered bacon, fried Kool-Aid and chocolate dipped cheese cake on a stick.Since we were full and because it came in a cute little chinese take out looking box, we took some chocolate covered bacon home with us. 

this is how you spent most of your time at the fair..

chocolate dipped bacon

eyes for the deep fried beer battered bacon

deep fried Kool-Aid
(basically it was fried Kool-Aid flavored cake)

chocolate dipped cheesecake with sprinkles on a stick

we even ventured through the pigs...

... and goats wearing coats

Kinley and the Tulsa State Fair sign

family picture under the Tulsa State Fair sign

Thursday, October 11th, we were called to Enid by Pa. He needed to be treated for pneumonia at the hospital so we spent our first nights without Dad and Tobie while staying with Nandy. We managed to survive. When I put her in the Pack-n-Play, she was east/west. When I woke up the next morning, she had turned north/south in her sleep.

We skyped for an hour every night {which your Dad has never talked to me on the that long...}

family skype session

During this stay, you were able to spend a lot of time with Nandy and Grandpa O. 

talking with Nandy

snoozing with Grandpa O

The first time I left you home with those two to go visit Pa at the hospital, Grandpa O called me and said, ” Is there anymore milk? She's acting... thirsty.” I laughed and said, "I think hungry is the word you are looking for and yes, the milk is in the fridge." I proceeded to tell him how to warm it up in a cup of hot water. He assured me he could do that and that I didn't need come... right away. "We'll try this." he told me. After hanging up with him, Pa kept saying, "Go home. Your baby is crying. She needs you." I told him I thought Grandpa O could handle it and that he hadn't called back frantically so they must be okay. And you were!

you had a blowout on Nandy's lap

can you tell what Grandpa O likes to do with you???

we even stopped to see Pa on the way out of town

"Poppins LeFlore" came over to watch you for a few hours while I went to Parent/Teacher conferences. Wednesday, October 17th was your first day with Miss Ruth (or as I call her, Baby Ruth). We had planned to drop you off together but timing was an issue so Dad had that dreadful job. He did survive... barely. 

heading home from my first day with Baby Ruth

You were on your third outfit by the time I picked you up. She seemed concerned that your poop was so runny but I assured her that my breastfed baby always has poop like that. :) 

That night, we took you for a swing test run at the park. By the time got there it was dark but you know we took pictures anyways.

Until next month, which is only a week away!

Paddling to stay afloat...

Life has been crazy lately!

Hopefully this sweet face can tide you over until life slows down for an update!

Dads and Daughters

I borrowed this from my friend Heather who blogs here. She mentioned how she can't wait to see these with her husband and daughter but not too fast and I couldn't agree more. Just seeing how hard Preston fell for Kinley (which I knew he would, because of how hard he fell for Tobie, but I still tried to prepare him for it) makes me eager to capture sweet moments between the two of them.

Here are just a couple sweet moments that took place at the hospital. 

{I knew before we all left the hospital that I was chopped liver compared to his girls}

kisses from Dad after Kinley's first bath

snuggles at the hospital while waiting to get our discharge list competed

50 Rules for Dads and Daughters

1. Love her mom. Treat her mother with respect, honor, and a big heaping spoonful of public displays of affection. When she grows up, the odds are good she’ll fall in love with and marry someone who treats her much like you treated her mother. Good or bad, that’s just the way it is. I’d prefer good.

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2. Always be there. Quality time doesn't happen without quantity time. Hang out together for no other reason than just to be in each other’s presence. Be genuinely interested in the things that interest her. She needs her dad to be involved in her life at every stage. Don’t just sit idly by while she adds years to her life… add life to her years.

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3. Save the day. She’ll grow up looking for a hero. It might as well be you. She’ll need you to come through for her over and over again throughout her life. Rise to the occasion. Red cape and blue tights optional.

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4. Savor every moment you have together. Today she’s crawling around the house in diapers, tomorrow you’re handing her the keys to the car, and before you know it, you’re walking her down the aisle. Some day soon, hanging out with her old man won’t be the bees knees anymore. Life happens pretty fast. You better cherish it while you can.

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5. Pray for her. Regularly. Passionately. Continually.

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6. Buy her a glove and teach her to throw a baseball. Make her proud to throw like a girl… a girl with a wicked slider.

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7. She will fight with her mother. Choose sides wisely.

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8. Go ahead. Buy her those pearls.

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9. Of course you look silly playing peek-a-boo. You should play anyway.

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10. Enjoy the wonder of bath time.

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11. There will come a day when she asks for a puppy. Don’t over think it. At least one time in her life, just say, “Yes.”

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12. It’s never too early to start teaching her about money. She will still probably suck you dry as a teenager… and on her wedding day.

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13. Make pancakes in the shape of her age for breakfast on her birthday. In a pinch, donuts with pink sprinkles and a candle will suffice.

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14. Buy her a pair of Chucks as soon as she starts walking. She won’t always want to wear matching shoes with her old man.

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15. Dance with her. Start when she’s a little girl or even when she’s a baby. Don’t wait until her wedding day.

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16. Take her fishing. She will probably squirm more than the worm on your hook. That’s OK.

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17. Learn to say no. She may pitch a fit today, but someday you’ll both be glad you stuck to your guns.

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18. Tell her she’s beautiful. Say it over and over again. Someday an animated movie or “beauty” magazine will try to convince her otherwise.

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19. Teach her to change a flat. A tire without air need not be a major panic inducing event in her life. She’ll still call you crying the first time it happens.

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20. Take her camping. Immerse her in the great outdoors. Watch her eyes fill with wonder the first time she sees the beauty of wide open spaces. Leave the iPod at home.

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21. Let her hold the wheel. She will always remember when daddy let her drive.

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22. She’s as smart as any boy. Make sure she knows that.

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23. When she learns to give kisses, she will want to plant them all over your face. Encourage this practice.

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24. Knowing how to eat sunflower seeds correctly will not help her get into a good college. Teach her anyway.

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25. Letting her ride on your shoulders is pure magic. Do it now while you have a strong back and she’s still tiny.

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26. It is in her nature to make music. It’s up to you to introduce her to the joy of socks on a wooden floor.

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27. If there’s a splash park near your home, take her there often. She will be drawn to the water like a duck to a puddle.

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28. She will eagerly await your return home from work in the evenings. Don’t be late.

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29. If her mom enrolls her in swim lessons, make sure you get in the pool too. Don’t be intimidated if there are no other dads there. It’s their loss.

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30. Never miss her birthday. In ten years she won’t remember the present you gave her. She will remember if you weren't there.

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31. Teach her to roller skate. Watch her confidence soar.

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32. Let her roll around in the grass. It’s good for her soul. It’s not bad for yours either.

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33. Take her swimsuit shopping. Don’t be afraid to veto some of her choices, but resist the urge to buy her full-body beach pajamas.

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34. Somewhere between the time she turns three and her sixth birthday, the odds are good that she will ask you to marry her. Let her down gently.

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35. She’ll probably want to crawl in bed with you after a nightmare. This is a good thing.

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36. Few things in life are more comforting to a crying little girl than her father’s hand. Never forget this.

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37. Introduce her to the swings at your local park. She’ll squeal for you to push her higher and faster. Her definition of “higher and faster” is probably not the same as yours. Keep that in mind.

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38. When she’s a bit older, your definition of higher and faster will be a lot closer to hers. When that day comes, go ahead… give it all you’ve got.

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39. Holding her upside down by the legs while she giggles and screams uncontrollably is great for your biceps. WARNING: She has no concept of muscle fatigue.

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40. She might ask you to buy her a pony on her birthday. Unless you live on a farm, do not buy her a pony on her birthday. It’s OK to rent one though.

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41. Take it easy on the presents for her birthday and Christmas. Instead, give her the gift of experiences you can share together.

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42. Let her know she can always come home. No matter what.

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43. Remember, just like a butterfly, she too will spread her wings and fly some day. Enjoy her caterpillar years.

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44. Write her a handwritten letter every year on her birthday. Give them to her when she goes off to college, becomes a mother herself, or when you think she needs them most.

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45. Learn to trust her. Gradually give her more freedom as she gets older. She will rise to the expectations you set for her.

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46. When in doubt, trust your heart. She already does.

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47. When your teenage daughter is upset, learning when to engage and when to back off will add years to YOUR life. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

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48. Ice cream covers over a multitude of sins. Know her favorite flavor.

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49. This day is coming soon. There’s nothing you can do to be ready for it. The sooner you accept this fact, the easier it will be.

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50. Today she’s walking down the driveway to get on the school bus. Tomorrow she’s going off to college. Don’t blink.

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Kinley and Tobie are lucky little girls to have a Dad that loves them so much! There is no doubt in my mind that anything will ever come before or between him and his girls.

More from Pa

(He sure is going to regret telling me that I need to update my blog more often...)

This was said when they visited on September 18th. 

Pa was just looking and talking from a distance

"I could just squeeze the shit out of her! Would you mind?"