Happy Thanksgiving!

Sadly, I was not in a picture-taking mood on Thanksgiving Day. Not totally sure why...just wanted to talk and eat, not take pictures. I think. Anyway, the pictures that I did take are just silly. We had a fabulous day eating and laughing with both of our families. We have so very much to be thankful for, and may we be wise enough to remember that every single day. :)

 Lainey gave Lucy some halos. Such a patient dog.

 And Sofi got a bowl hat.

 Walker shared an ice pack and a toy hammer with Grandmother.

 Sofi wore yet another accessory.

And Lucy got to chew on a soft bone while wearing a halo and taking a nap. :)

Walker's favorite time of day...

is when he gets to pick out a piece of candy from his Halloween bucket. He's awfully picky. He wants proof that it's good before he tries it!

And this is what happens when Walker is left alone with a marker for 30 seconds. It's almost instantaneous! I'm just glad he hasn't colored on the walls. Yet.

Pagosa Springs Family Pictures

My parents arranged for some family pictures to be taken this past September while we were in Pagosa. Here are just a few of the ones that we ordered; they are scanned copies, so the quality is not fabulous. However, I still like them! I like that we were able to capture the beauty of Colorado in them as well. The photographer did a great job!

Santa and Dancing

A Saturday trip to WillowBend Mall included....

an impromptu visit with Santa (hence the non-Christmas-y outfits)

and a performance by some dancers during which Lainey decided to show off her moves (not on stage, thankfully). Sorry for the horrid video skills; it was so hard to get a good angle because of the crowd! I couldn't back up at all. Stuck. So, anyway, here is Lainey trying out some hip-hop moves...

Dear Santa...

So, yesterday, at our dentist's office, Lainey told me she had to go to the restroom. Well, because we both get excited about these little things, we were giddy that this bathroom had TWO potties and TWO sinks and TWO toilet paper rolls. One adult-sized and one kid-sized. Lainey about had a fit over it. How cool! She was so excited that we could go potty together! And the toilet paper even had roses on it! I tell ya, this might have been the highlight of Lainey's experience at the dentist's office. (Sorry if all of this is too much information for some of you!) Well, this morning, while Lainey was going potty, she said, "Mommy? Maybe we could ask God...um, I mean Santa...for a little potty that we could put next to the big potty so that we can go potty together!" I tried to explain that that job might be a bit bigger than Santa. Lainey was convinced that we could just "glue" the small potty to the wall next to the big potty, but I told her it wasn't quite that simple. We'd need a plumber and probably a contractor to get that done. Anyway, we now have another item added to Lainey's Christmas list. A small potty. :)

Big Boy

So, Walker is 21 months old. What a pumpkin he is - full of personality (the good, the bad, and the ugly) and full of activity. It's so hard for me to believe that Lainey was just 21-1/2 months when I had Walker. :) I can confidently say that I'm okay with the fact that I'm not having a baby in a few weeks. Walker is a precious one, but oh my...he certainly keeps me busy and a little confused at times! 

Words...

He will try to say a lot of words. And he's really trying to communicate. It's so cute. Every time he says something, Lainey says, "Yay, Walker! Mommy, he's getting so big!"

• Cows say "mmmmm."
• Monkeys say "ah ah ah."
• Balloons are "bbbbbb."
• The letter “B” is "buh buh buh."
• Dogs say "ooh ooh."
• "ha" - hat, hot
• "Umma" - Elmo
• "ah ha" - all gone
• "buh buh" - boo boo, bubble
• "bbb" - moon
• "abb-uh" - apple
• "muh" - milk
• "ht" - heart
• "hp" - hop
• "bah-bah" - bye-bye
• "boo" - boo
• "ah-dy" - candy or cookies or any snack he wants, really
• "bah" - ball
• "Da Da" or "Da" - Dada
• "Hi Yiyia" - Hi Yiyia (only when he has a phone to his ear)
• "tee" - tree
• "shh" or "sheey-ah sheey-ah" - shoes

Good at...

• making an awful whining noise when he can’t do something
• getting his blankie and binky from his school bag whenever he wants
• leaning over, feet on the floor with his hands in front of him (think downward-facing dog yoga pose) and looking between his legs
• going through other people's legs
• turning around in circles
• throwing/hitting when mad or upset or if we're not paying attention to him (this is a big problem...ugh!)
• being "all drama" (according to his teachers - HA! - although I completely agree!!)

Loves...

• the song "If You're Happy and You Know It" and will push the buttons on his train until that songs comes on so he can just start clapping his hands
• loves pomegranate seeds
• art time at school and can’t wait for it to be his turn - his teachers say that art and music are his favorite things
• singing/songs - he can (kinda) do the hand movements to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and the song they sing at school that goes, “Walking, Walking. Walking, Walking. Hop Hop Hop…Running Running Running, Running Running Running, Then we stop...then we stop.” (I don't know the actual title but if you start singing it, Walker will immediately start doing the actions and smiling)
• making conversations  by saying “sheesh eesh sheesh”
• coloring on any available surface with any available media: marker (table) /crayon (hardwood floors)/chalk (couch)/dry-erase marker (carpet)

 We love you, Walkiddy-Doodity! Happy 21 months! 

Gymnastics

Tonight, parent shows were held during Gymnastics class. We enjoyed sitting on the bleachers and watching the kids and Lainey did well performing in front of the whole group. I was a little unsure as to how she'd do in the spotlight, but she did great and wasn't shy at all. She even put her own little twist on the moves and jumps...such a ham. And she was always smiling.

Each girl had to step out of line and announce their name. I was surprised that Lainey did it!

Gym class memories, anyone?

Graham and Lainey

(Interesting fact: When Lainey was just a few months old, I coached my nephew Collin's soccer team. Graham's older brother, Gray, was on that soccer team. It's funny that little Graham (who was just a year old at the time) is now in class with Lainey.)

cute little Addison and Graham

sweet Lilly

This picture is funny - Lainey is pointing her toes but flexing her feet. Ha!

receiving a certificate and a blue ribbon (that, in fact, does not fit over her head like she wished it would so she could wear it as a necklace)

Lainey, Addison, Lilly

(I usually sit with these girls' moms during class!)

Vocabulary Lesson

"Aargh! I'm so operated! Operated means you're not feeling berry nice."

(And she wasn't.)

Walker's Turn to Dance

The little guy has some moves...he was having so much fun trying to keep up with his cousins!

Make it work, Buddy. Make it work.

Walker is determined to keep sucking on his binky while eating his cereal. For the most part, it worked. He only got a little frustrated with the process when bits of food ended up on his binky. He did not like that. :)

Memories of a Second Grader

One of my former students, Becca, has just been named the winner of the 2011 Kim Dawson Model Search! She is - and always has been - a beautiful girl, inside and out. She was my little helper in the classroom and could always make me smile. I have many memories of her as a 7-8 year old - it's hard to believe that she's now 15. Time flies, I tell you. I still tell the story of her response when I once told her that I was going to take Reagan to get groomed; she asked if I was taking her to get married. As in a groom gets married to a bride. She also made me a book about me getting married to "Mr. Harris" that I still have saved with other items from my teaching days. (I was planning our wedding that year and she must have had wedding on the brain...as I'm sure I did, as well). Anyway, darling girl, and I'm so proud of her. She's a sweetie and comes from an incredible, down-to-earth family. Best of luck to you, Becca Boo!

December, 2004

 Becca and her mom (Monika)

Kim Dawson Modeling Agency, 2011