The Giggles

Here is a video of Karenza and her giggles tonight. She had them for an hour!!! My stomach hurt from laughing so hard, and tears were running down my face. I only captured a minute or so of it, but it was for a straight hour!! She definitely got the giggle bug some where.

Girls and Their Shoes...

If any guys read my blog this may be one that may not interest you so much, but feel free to read anyway.

So ladies, you know that feeling you get when you get a new pair of shoes? Isn't it a great feeling? You are hoping they aren't going to hurt, leave blisters, hoping to get so many compliments and that they are going to go with the perfect outfit (whether you have one at home they can go with or they are just too cute to pass up that now you have to find an outfit to go with them!) I got to thinking about this tonight on my way to get Karenza. I had on a new pair of shoes. Really cute ones for a great price (they are pink!). I was just wearing a white shirt and jeans. I had no make-up on and I had my hair pulled back in a pony tail. But I felt great because mama had on a new pair of shoes! I probably was walking with a smile on my face and didn't even know it. But, it got me thinking that when I have a new accessory whether it be a new pair of shoes, a new purse, new earrings, or bracelt, even new make-up or perfume that you feel a little different. Nobody else probably notices (by that I mean probably not even my husband) knows that you are carrying a new purse or have new shoes on but that you feel like you are walking around while your accessory is just glowing/beaming and everyone should know that you have on new shoes or are carrying a new purse. Only your close girlfriends notice, because us girls just have that kind of sense. I just felt great walking to my truck (15 feet) driving to get Karenza, getting out of the truck to get her, and driving back home and walking into the house. No one even saw my shoes, but as the sun was shining and my sunroof was open on the expedition I could feel my shoes just beeming through the sunroof as I was blasting Mariah Carey through my stereo. Its just great to be a woman isn't it? I can't wait to share these things with my daughter! :-)

P.S. My mother found another great deal too, that just happens to be on a pair of shoes. They were too big for her, too small for Holly, but just perfect for me (as I just typed that it seems almost the line to Cinderella!). They were $65 shoes on sales for $34 plus another 40% off of that. Mom said that she would fine someone to where the shoes, they were just too good of a deal to not get them. They are so cute and fit me perfectly! Holly is hoping I can break them in and then get too big for me that then they will fit her. So we'll see.

Karenza Put To Work...

Karenza wanted to vacuum, so I put her to work yesterday! She did pretty good, but just kept wanting to drive straight and not back up. Can't wait for her to start doing more chores! Is that wrong of me to think? :-)


After I was done cleaning up I walked by her room and saw her room pictured above. It was all picked up and her bed was even made (with the blankets she had on there)!! I couldn't believe it!! She totally shocked me by picking up her room. She picked everything up off of the floor (that is what I always tell her, is that mommy needs to see the floor) and she did this with out even being told! Books on the shelf, toys in the bin, and some things weren't were they usually go (like babies on top of her kitchen), but hey I'll take this any day as long as its picked up! What a little stinker. :-)

Happy Birthday Mom!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! (Karenza wanted it in your favorite color!)

We love you with all our hearts! Wishing you a wonderful and happy day!

Love, Miranda Randy and Karenza

Shortage on Rice...........Really?

Can you believe that there is a shortage on rice, and Sam's Club is limiting your purchase? I think this is freaking some people out because when I stopped at Wal-mart I actually didn't need rice, but I went down the rice aisle and there was hardly any rice on the shelf! There is always rice on the shelfs. I did grab two bags of rice though, because if we ever ran out at home Randy would probably be beside him self. We eat a lot of rice (probably 3 times a week). Just weird! And last time we went grocery shopping I did notice that price of rice had risen. The bag of rice we usually get is only 50 cents, and now it is 78 cents. I did end up buying the bigger bag of rice only because that was my only option. It's probably just a ploy to boost the rice industry!

This week has been pretty low key. Not much happening, ever since basketball is over. Randy has been home at night pretty much this whole week. It's nice. Besides for the hour he trains some of his clients at the YMCA. Last night Randy was to have his first softball game, but the weather was really weird. It was raining/sleating and really windy. We took Karenza to Mom and Dad's after I picked her up from daycare, and I came home to get Randy. The game ended up getting rescheduled but we did stay for a couple beers. When we went to go get Karenza at about 7:45pm she was not ready to come home. She was in her little Senorita dress (if you have been following my blog you saw pictures from Easter with this dress on) that she absolutely loves. She had bracelets on, and was looking fabulous I must say. Mom said Karenza could see us driving up the road and she ran into the other living room and started crying. Mom asked her what was wrong and she said "My mom and dad are coming to get me!" We stayed for a little bit to try and tell her that she did have to come home and sleep in her own bed. I mean why would you want to leave Papa and Grandma's house? Plus, my Dad had only been home for about 30 minutes and that wasn't enough time for Karenza (or Papa). It's Mom's birthday tomorrow so we all are going out to eat at Paradiso. This weekend is another soccer game for Cassidy, and the NFL draft. I better get the steaks on I have marinating in the refrigerator for supper. Have a great weekend....

Drum Roll Please....

It's a Girl!!!!! We are delighted and extremely happy to be welcoming another little girl to our family August 27th! Cassidy is extremely excited to be having a sister! They got great pictures of her that were really cute. The baby girl gave a great profile. They also got a CD/DVD of the sonogram of the baby actually moving around! That must be new because that wasn't offered when I was pregnant with Karenza. How cool is that? There is a little concern about the baby's heart, and she has another ultrasound on May 15th to make sure that it has fixed itself. It's called Echogenic intracardiac foci (EIF). They said that they tell this to 3 out of 10 families that come in and only .5 of them ever have to worry. According to the research we have done it will probably be okay. It seems to be a greater issue for women over 30. Holly was really upset about this, and I tried making her feel better. But, her has a Mom and person I know how she is and I know she will be worried until she knows for sure. I would be the same way. Everything will work out for the best. God has special plans for this little girl, and we can't wait to meet her! Now I can begin planning the baby shower! :o) Congrats Jer, Holly, and Cassidy.

Boy or Girl?

So tomorrow is the day we find out if our family will be welcoming a baby boy or another baby girl! I have attached a picture of Holly that I just took over lunch today. Doesn't she look so amazing? She is at 21 weeks, and is just glowing! I love rubbing her belly when she stops for lunch. Holly said that if she has any motherly instinct at all she thinks it's a boy. And according to the Chinese Birth Calendar she has a 58% chance of having a boy! So we'll see. We will be happy to have whatever, and just the new addition of having a baby in the family is exciting in itself. I told her she should wear blue tomorrow like she did today and see if that helps. Anyway, I can't wait to hear the news. Her appointment is tomorrow at 1:30 and so I can't wait to get the call! Hopefully I will be able to stand it waiting to get the call.

This weekend went by so fast. Cassidy won both of her soccer games, and by the time we got up to BSC where Randy's basketball game was at it was already over and they had won by 22 points. So we went to Applebees for lunch and back home again until they played again at 4:00pm. They won their second game by 17 points. So yesterday they played at 11:00am and won 60-7 and then they played for the championship at 4:00pm yesterday and won 67-17! It was nice that they ended the season that way. After the game the parents presented Randy with a picture of the team in Dickinson that they took with all their 1st place trophies. They also gave him a gift certificate to the Dairy Queen to take his family out for a treat on Chaos for the time Randy was away from us. This is all in addition to what they have paid Randy for being their coach. They thanked Randy for his sportsmanship he showed to the boys, his dedication, expertise, and his time with the boys. The parents really appreciated Randy doing that, and the boys really enjoyed their time with Randy. They really look up to him I can see. The parents and boys hope he will coach the next 3 years for them. Which he will. He can coach them up until they play on a varsity basketball team. Once they play on a varsity team they are not allowed to play on a traveling basketball team for fear of injury. It will be nice to see these kids grow up, and watch their basketball game develop. From when I saw them last year at Prairie Rose games in Fargo (which was last July) they have come a long way! Very proud of my husband and the work he put into those boys, and all the nice things the parents had to say about him. So now with basketball over it will be softball (I think Randy is playing on two teams) and then it will be getting ready for the Midget Football Season in August. Randy is thinking he might hold some conditioning camps this summer for the kids. A lot of parents have asked him to do this, and he can make some good money doing this. Our hope is to one day have him run his own business doing this because he has so many clients now and he has to turn away some families. Our biggest obstacle right now is finding a building to be able to do all the things Randy wants to do. So we are keeping our options open and doing some research.

Also - I will have to post some pictures of my new dining room set my mom and dad bought me. My mom is the best person at finding deals I swear! She saw a sign that said 60% off of Broyhill furniture. With me working for Conlins Warehouse in college I know that Broyhill is great furniture. It was Conlin's number one seller. She told me she went and looked at what they had and she saw a nice dining room set for Randy and me. We have been looking at getting a new set for some time now. The one we've had since we first moved in together isn't cutting it anymore. Anyway, my mom (and dad) saved a lot of money on this deal! The whole set should have been over $1500! ($705 for the table, and each chair was $189 a piece). She paid $465 for the entire set (table and 4 chairs)! She said she watched some show on TV that said you should always ask if they can come down anymore of their price (even if it's 10% it's better then nothing). At first when she asked they immediately said no, and that this is as low as they can go since it's already a steal. Mom then asked to speak to the Manager, and the Manager at first said no. But my Mom's uncle works at this store, and then the Manger said she could give mom Ray's employee discount of 20% off of the total. After the cashier rang everything up I saw that when she put in the 20% off the total the savings was $116! All together she saved over $1000! She is the best deal finder I know! And it looks great in my house. Its the high table and chairs what I had been looking at and wanting. Thanks again Mom and Dad!! I better get going to start supper. Have a great night.

Kids Say The Darndest Things....

Okay, so today was kind of a busy day. Cassidy didn't have school and Karenza didn't have daycare (it was closed) and so Mom took the girls in the morning. She took them to see Dad at work and brought him lunch. Mom said they sure had fun and that Karenza is getting so big. Randy took the 2nd half off the day off to be with Karenza so I could still work. Mom had to be back at the hospital by 3:00pm because the doctor was going to be doing his rounds and Mom wanted to be there to see what he had to say about my Grandpa (he hasn't been doing too well). So Mom dropped off the girls at my house and Holly was going to pick up Cassidy when she got off work. Randy had basketball practice for his boys from 4-6 so I had the girls from 4pm on. They are so funny! Cassidy and Randy were playing Guitar Hero. Good thing I didn't get any calls because they were really rockin' out! And Karenza with her Hannah Montana Guitar and she thinks she's playing with them. Hey, whatever works to keep a 3 year old happy! Cassidy wanted to play the Sequence game with me, so we started the game. Karenza was kind of playing (with our discarded cards and leftover chips). So she was still happy. Cassidy told me while we were playing cards that she hopes she doesn't have to go right away when her mom comes because she loves my house! She said I wish I could stay here forever, and I wish I could live here. So when Holly showed up I told her all the stuff Cassidy was saying to me so she asks Karenza "Do you love Auntie Holly's house?" Karenza said "Yes" Holly said "Would you live with me forever" Karenza said "Yes" and wanted to get her shoes on to go with. They stayed for about an hour and as they were getting ready to leave Holly asked Cassidy what she loved so much about "Nana's" (that's what she has called me since she could talk) house, and she said Nana! Oh my gosh! I melted right in my seat! I told Holly I am good for a month! Then Karenza came running down the hallway and Holly asked her "What do you love about Auntie Holly's house?" Karenza said "Cassie!" We had a big laugh! She sure is a hoot! Well this weekend is another busy weekend. Cassidy has soccer at 10:30am and then Randy has his last tournament this weekend and his first game is at 11:00pm. So this weekend will fly by again. Have a great one.....

Happenings This Week

Below is a link that you can access new pictures/slide show I created. There are various pictures taken throughout this week. Since we got Karenza's hair braided we were told that we should probably wrap it at night so that it stays in longer. We hunted and hunted around this house for something and finally found one that Randy use to use. She looks so cute with it on. There is also a picture of her sleeping in it too. But, the next day I went and bought her own, a pink one. It looks so cute on. Also, there are pictures of us outside using sidewalk chalk that she got from the Easter Bunny (Grandma/Grandpa) since it was nice outside. But it sure was windy!!Then there are some pictures of her last night. Randy and I had put her to bed right after I got home from having dinner with a girlfriend. Then before we went to bed I walked in her room to check on her and to make sure she was covered up. When I walked in to her room she was not in her bed. My heart dropped for a second. I checked the bathroom thinking maybe she got up and went to the bathroom. She wasn't there either. I checked back in her room thinking maybe she rolled under her bed (she has done this before - part ways), and that's when I noticed that her Bronco blanket was missing too so I knew she must be in our room. I turn the hall light on and walk into our bedroom and there she is sleeping on my side of the bed on my pillow! What a little stinker. I couldn't resist so I snapped a couple pictures before we moved her to her own bed.

Also, too I haven't blogged about Randy's success in coaching this past weekend for the tournament he had at BSC and Simile Middle School. They ended up making it and playing for the championship game, and the game ended up going into overtime. His team came back to make it go into overtime. Then they ended up losing by one point! It was such a great game! He has his last tournament this weekend at BHS (Bismarck High School) it should be another good basketball tournament. Randy wants to have all the boys come to our house on Friday night for a little bit just to hang out. There would be 9 teenage boys in my house. I am not sure I can handle that! I told him that we don't have room for 9 boys running around and what would they do. He said he would have them watch a motivational movie. He then suggested The Departed (and if you've ever seen this movie it probably isn't for teenage boys!). Then he laughed. They will be having practice on Friday night so hopefully the "gathering" won't happen. Anyway, better go get Karenza ready for bed.

http://www.slide.com/r/SkGt3LwD4z_5-tAfgYY0bz4KR9VO746J?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

Slide/Pictures

Hey There! Here are some pictures from this weekend and from last weekend at the circus. Where she road the elephant (I had to go with her). It was my first time riding too. She got her face painted as a tiger too. We also finally found someone to braid Karenza's hair. So we took here over to a lady's house named Janeane. She charged us $25 and said it should last all week if we wrap it before bed. It looks so cute. She usually only gets her hair braided when we visit Randy's sister otherwise its in pigtails or a pony tail. Which is easiest for me to do in the morning during the week. She has to get used to it though. She sat really good, but it did hurt a little bit with trying to get the small hairs in. But, what a trooper! She got ice cream as a reward, and she got to go play at the park by our house. It was so beautiful outside today. Well Desperate Housewives is finally back on TV, and The Rock of Love finale is tonight so I better wrap up this post. Yes, my husband isn't too pleased with my selections tonight, but this is what he gets married to a reality tv junkie! :-) Although I think he likes watching deep down inside because we'll have multiple conversations about it this week. I am rooting for Daisy tonight. I do not think she is pretty, but as for the whole thing about a better "fit" she suits him perfect so we'll see if I'm right! Have a great week!!

More Basketball and Soccer

Just a quick update. Today we have another basketball tournament, but thankfully it is in Bismarck. Randy has already left and is at the gym. Their first game is at 12:00pm today. Cassidy has a soccer game at 11:30 today and so I will be heading to that first and then Karenza my Mom, and I will head to the basketball game. Last night we had a team get together at a parents house and we didn't get home til 11:30. I thought Karenza would sleep in, but she was up at 8:00! Why can't she do that in the middle of the week when she knows she has to get up? I always have to wake her. Oh well! It will be another busy weekend, and I'm sure it will fly by. This upcoming week we are suppose to have beautiful weather (in the 70's). Can't wait. Have a great weekend. I have some pictures to post but I will probably do that on Sunday night.

I Love Survivor!

I am not sure how many of you are Survivor fans, but I have always been hooked on it! Tonight's episode had to be one of the best! For those of you who don't know this season is Fans vs. Favorites. It started out as Fans on one island and the Favorites on the other island in Micronesia. They compete in reward challenges (for fire/shelter/food/ect) and immunity challenges (keeping someone safe from elimination). The winning team of the reward challenge gets to send someone from the losing team to exile island where you spend the night by yourself with no food or shelter and then they rejoin their team at the immunity challange. The good thing about going to exile island is there is an individual hidden immunity idol there to find. If you find this you can play this at tribal counsel if you think you might get voted out. The person with the next highest votes would be sent home instead. Well Ozzy (who you either love or hate, I happen to love him!) was sent to exile island early in the game and I swear he is part fish, and has lungs of a whale. It took him a while to locate the idol, but he didn't give up. He created another fake idol to replace the real one in hopes that the next person sent to the exile island would find it and think its the real thing. He carved a little face in it and tried to make it look authentic. It wasn't as good as the real one, but hey it was a great strategic move on his part. Well, Jason (a Fan), was sent to exile island and low and behold he finds the fake immunity idol that Ozzy created. He seriously thought he was a leg up on everyone. Well, tonight they merged the two tribes into one meaning now that instead of team immunity you are fighting for individual immunity. Each for their own now. Well, Jason ended up showing Eliza (a favorite and his alliance) the idol that he found, and she was convinced that it was fake because it didn't look like something the real idol would look like. She was convinced Ozzy had the real one. At the immunity challenge Jason won immunity so he was safe from being eliminated everyone else was up for grabs. Eliza told Jason that she should try and use it tonight (because she thought she was going home) and see if its the real immunity idol. At tribal counsel everyone had casted their votes and Jeff (the host) asks if any has the hidden immunity idol and would like to play it now would be the time. Eliza reaches in her backpack (and Ozzy is just grinning) and she pulls out the fake immunity idol. Jeff proceeds to explain the meaning behind the hidden immunity idol, and then said that this was not it. Eliza jumped up and yelled that Ozzy has it then, and that he created the fake one. She grabbed it from Jeff and threw it in the fire. Ozzy still laughing, and James cracking up was hilarious! When Eliza threw the fake idol in the fire Ozzy said "Come on, that took forever to make!" As he was laughing. Eliza ended up being sent home. But if it was the real one Ozzy would have been sent home. It will be interesting to see how Ozzy will use this now, and how the others will use this information. Makes for an interesting Survivor. I tried finding a clip so you all could see it for yourself, but they must not be posted online yet. If I find a small clip I will put it on here because their faces are priceless.

Ghost in My House...

I took this video last week sometime while I was making dinner(supper). I was cooking at the stove and when I turned around the drawers in my island were open and Karenza was no where to be found. I pushed them in, and then I heard her underneath in the cupboard. She always climbs in here and thinks this is her "truck" and that she is driving. I mean one time I went to get a pot for cooking and there was one of her dolls in it. And the conversation we have towards the end is funny, because this is how most of our conversations go. She tries to repeat what I say but instead of saying ghost she says chicken. Enjoy...

One Tired Momma....

I can't believe it had been about a week since I wrote last. Last week was a crazy week with month end (which went great!), the circus, and another basketball tournament in Dickinson. On Friday it was so nice about 63 degrees and Karenza had a spring jacket on and I had no jacket on. Randy had packed the Expedition while Karenza and I went to the circus with my mom and dad. After the circus was over off to Dickinson it was so we never did grab winter jackets. Saturday morning we woke up to cold, windy, blowing, snow, and only 20 degrees! Only in ND can that happen. Anyway, it was a good weekend Randy's boys won the tournament so it was a great weekend for him. The place where they played was a brand new community center. It was beautiful. It has a rock climbing wall, indoor water park, two full-size tennis courts, three racquetball courts, 3 gyms, work out area, indoor walking track about the basketball courts (this was nice because Karenza was running with the brothers' sisters on the track and I could still see her while I watched the game), and it also had a cool indoor playground. Everything was padded and it had slides and tunnels. I took Karenza in there a few times and let her play. It was nice! We didn't get home until about 7:30 last night and I am so tired. There was not resting or sleeping in this weekend. On Saturday morning we were up at 5:45! The team had to be there at 7am! Karenza did take a nap on Saturday. Her and I went back to the hotel and I had her lay down on the bed with her blanket. She said "Mom, you lay down and take a nap. I am just going to lay here and watch TV." I agreed because I knew that if she had laid down longer then 5 minutes she would fall asleep. She ended up sleeping for 2 hours! This momma is tired though, and with month end last week and being gone for two weekends in a row my house is a mess! Hopefully tonight will be early to bed! I will have to post some pictures of the circus as they are really cute. She rode the elephant, the little ponies, took a picture with Spiderman (which was $8), got her face painted as a tiger, and went on the inflatable jumpy things. She is getting so big! I actually rode with her on the elephant (it was my first time ever actually!). Her favorite were the little ponies. She wants one as a pet and told me she would walk it everyday! Ha! I told her how about we work on picking up her My Little Ponies every night first before we start thinking about real ponies! I better get going to get dinner cooking. Have a great week.