Tire Shoes???

This morning when we were getting ready I was putting on Karenza's shoes. She said "Mommy, let me tie it." Well, she can't tie her own shoes yet. But, I put the other shoe on and then I "helped" her tie her own shoes. Then as I was putting her in the truck she said, Mommy "Why do you say tire shoes?" I laughed, and said really slow "No, babe, I said tie-your-shoes" She said, "That's what I said Mom, tire shoes!" I just laughed and tried telling her really slow again, and she just didn't get it! HaHaHa.

It was so cold this morning. I was so busy this morning that I hadn't had time to check the weather before we went outside. The truck said -19! Brrr!!!!!! The car barely started (I started the car for Randy when Karenza and I were leaving this morning). It still never doubts us, and eventually started!! I later found out it was -41 wind chill this morning. Wow!!! I also found out today that if we get another 3 inches of snow this month we will have beat the record of snow ever received in the month of December. We have already received 19 inches of snow this month. The record was set back in 1916!! It is suppose to start snowing again tonight and tomorrow. Christmas it is suppose to get up to 17 degrees!! Yippee. I don't ever remember having this much snow for a long time!!

This past weekend Randy had a Holiday Shootout up at Horizon Middle School for his 7th grade boys. They did end up winning the tournament and they only won by one point! It was a close one!! I do have pictures to upload but I can't find my USB cord. Friday night we told Karenza it was her night and she got to choose were we ate and what to do. She choose McDonald's and a movie. So we took her to Madagascar: Escape to Africa. It was a really good movie. Better then the first one we thought. Sunday night Randy had free tickets to the Wizards game (NBA Development League team her in Bismarck) from his work so we took Karenza. They were really good seats! Really close to the floor. I took a picture of the coach of the other team because Karenza told Randy and I "Mom & Dad, look, there is the guy we voted for!" I said "what?" She said, "Right, there Mom, that Obama guy!" We just laughed, and told her that it wasn't really him, but it sure did look like him. Even though he really didn't! HaHa After the game was over we sat close by where the guys would run into the locker room, and I leaned Karenza over the railing and she slapped all the guys hands and said good job. They all stopped and gave her high-fives. They loved her, and she loved them! She told us that we can take her again to those games! She loved the mascot, Dunkie - the Wizard. She kept telling me "Mom, he isn't a real wizard he's just a fake one!"

Today I did a little more Christmas shopping for Karenza, and I am done (I think, I hope!). I am horrible when it comes to her. I just keep getting stuff. Anyway, Tomorrow is Karenza's last day at daycare until after the first of the year. Tomorrow I do have a workshop I have to go to for my Unemployment. I do (finally) have an interview scheduled for Jan. 6th for an Accounts Payable job for the County. I think there are a lot of people applying for the job, so we'll see how far I get! At least I have an interview I am excited about that. I have applied for, what seems like a million jobs and no one calls me! We'll see. I would love to start working soon!!

For Christmas Eve we are heading to Mom and Dad's. Hol and Jer won't be coming until Christmas Day. I can't wait, I absolutely love Christmas. I love watching Karenza and Cassidy opening presents. I love just being together drinking Mom's famous daiquiris. Or eating Grandma's goodies! I love it because I remember all the good things/traditions we did as a kid and now I get to do those with Karenza and Cassidy. The remind me of Holly and me so much! I just have to giggle! Anyway, I just can't wait. :-)

Karenza's Short Stories

I haven't stopped thinking or stopped giggling to myself about the short story Karenza told me this morning. It went a little something like this (I will try and type how she pronounces these words):

"Mom, can I tell you a pretend story?"

"Sure, babe."

"Okay, Once upon a time there once was this little Santa. And he went for a walk. I sawed him so I waved to him and then I walked with him. The little Santa was so sad. He didn't have a Papa or a Grandma. They had died. So I told the little Santa that it would be okay that Karenza will make you happy. So the little Santa tooked me to the North Pole with him. And his Helpers had died too, so I helped the little Santa make all the toys for me and the other kids. Then the little Santa was too little to ride in the sleigh so I went home all by myself. The End."

I think that is so funny. I can't ever read it without laughing!! I have had her tell me this story so many times tonight. It has been kind of different every time, and she has added some more here and there and forgot some too. But, this is the gist of it. I thought that was a good little short story for only being two months past her 4th bday!

Elf on a Shelf

Below is a neat little idea/tradition to create for you and your family. I had seen this last year, but I just ordered this today. I had been meaning to do this earlier so that I could do this with Karenza this Holiday season. But, I figure it's never to late to add a new tradition to the family! Once the elf comes you have to name him. I can't wait to see what she will name him. It should be interesting! The description they use on the website is: "During the holiday season, the elf watches children by day and reports to Santa each night. When children awake, the elf has returned from the North Pole and can be found hiding in a different location."

Only one week until Christmas!! I can't wait. I still have to get the package in the mail to Randy's parents, but then I will be done Christmas shopping (hopefully!!). I sent the package to Alaska yesterday for his Sister's families, but they won't get it until the day after Christmas so that's okay. Hope you all are able to spend time with your loved ones over this holiday season.

More Pictures

I forgot that I had pictures of Karenza standing in line to see Santa and of Cassidy's Christmas Concert.

Watching Santa just get back to his seat after a short break

Smile for Mom!

Mom, Look it's head moves!

Then of course you can't ever take a picture without doing a silly one!


Cassidy doing a solo (she is on the far right)

Cassidy is on the top row and the far left.

It sure was a fun concert, especially the Kindergartner's concert!

Karenza Singing

Danielle (Karenza's babysitter) sent this to her Mom's (April) cell phone and then she sent it to me. I hope it works I had to send this to my email and then save the clip to my desktop. This is Karenza jumping on Danielle's bed and singing Nobody's Perfect by Hannah Montana!

Santa, Christmas Party, & Blizzard

Hello! What a busy weekend. Friday afternoon I went to the Civic Center with Mom and Dad to watch Carrington Boys basketball team play. It was nice to see them. I hadn't seen a boys basketball game probably since I stopped cheerleading for them over 11 years ago! We saw some old friends from Carrington, and the boys won so that was good. That night Clete and Karen were in town so we went out for drinks. Saturday we took Karenza to see Santa. We were standing in line for about 5 minutes and then Santa took a 10-15 minute break. When he came back Karenza was so excited to see him, as he walked right by her. He waved, and said thank you for being such a good girl and waiting in line for me! She said, "Your Welcome, and Santa, I have also been a very good girl for my Mom and Dad!" He said, "I know I've been watching you!" She jumped up and down and was clapping her hands. It was finally her turn, and she couldn't wait. She sat on his lap and proceed to tell him that she wanted a Barbie as big as her. He made her stand up and he measured her and said I better get the elves to work right away. He said is there anything else you would like? She said a jewelry box would be nice too. Then she said "Santa I saw your reindeer last night" (On Thursday we went to Linton with Mom and Dad to Cassidy's Christmas concert. On the way there we had to stop on the road because deer were crossing. You should have seen Karenza's eyes! I mean my Dad honked the horn and they didn't run. They were looking in the vehicle and Karenza just thought that was amazing as she saw Santa's deer. She then told us "Well Rudolph wasn't there, because I didn't see one with a shiny nose!") So she tell's Santa this sitting on his lap. And he says "Sometimes I am to busy to be watching all the kids all the time so I have to send my Reindeer." And that is exactly what Mom, Dad, and I had told her! Perfect. There was such a long line, but she wanted to chat with Santa some more. She had her arm around his shoulder and was playing with his buttons on his shirt, and she asks him "So Santa, How are things at the North Pole?" I laughed, and Randy shook his head like he always does when she does something funny. Santa said "Pretty busy, you sure do know a lot about Christmas!" I had to tell her we had to go because it was the next kids turn in line. She didn't want to leave. Santa gave her a book, a coloring book, and some crayons. We bought 3 pictures for $16.00 and the quality didn't turn out very good. But it is what it is. After we got our pictures (we had to wait 5 minutes) she said "Oh, shoot!" I said "What?" She said "Mom, I forgot to tell him I wanted a laptop!" I said "What are you going to do with a laptop, Karenza, you're 4!" She said "Mom, I would push buttons just like you!" I said "Well, we'll write him a letter!"



Saturday night we had Dr. Brian Gale's Christmas party. He coaches football with Randy and we've become really good friends with him. We had it at his office. He owns his own Ankle & Foot Clinic. It was blizzarding outside, but we still made it. Drinks and good food inside! It was fun. We played Guitar Hero in the conference room on the big screen with it hooked up to the stereo system. Karenza was excited for us to be gone as she was being babysat by the "Cheerleader" that is what Karenza calls her, but her name is Danielle. She is a cheerleader for football and is just beginning to babysit. So we took her to her place so her Mom could help out a little bit. They both had a blast. Yesterday we stayed home all day. It was -11 and with the wind chill it was close to -50! So I thought nothing better then to be using the oven and make some goodies. I made little cheesecake tarts, Randy wanted brownies, and then I made chicken, rice, and stuffing for supper. And being home all day yesterday I am terrible, and let Karenza open a present. I let her open a Party Boat Polly Pocket set. She loved it of course and has been playing with it all day!! It was -19 below this morning when Randy left for work and close to -50 below wind chill. I wasn't sure if the truck would start. It doesn't have a block heater in it. When we bought it our Expedition the car dealership we bought it from a car auction in the south I believe. But it did start just fine this morning as we had it parked in the garage. But the garage isn't insulated. Anyway, Karenza and I are staying cuddled inside. I am having supper with a girlfriend tonight though. Brrrr!!!!! Have a great week, and stay warm!!

Karenza's Present from Santa

I successfully won Karenza's present she wants from Santa. The Life Size Princess Liana Doll that stands over 3ft. tall. I won it for $70.00 (double the cost of in the Walmart Ad) and plus shipping was $30.00. So her Santa present wasn't very cheap!! Below is a picture of it:
Anyway, it is supposed to be delivered today. According to the tracking information it is on time to be delivered on 12/10/2008. Well it is now close to 7:15pm, and there is still no sign of this doll. Thing is that the seller from ebay sent it through UPS, and they wouldn't let her send it in the brown paper covering that she had it. So after she mailed it she sent me an email to warn me that it will be arriving in the box. (She knew it was for Karenze for Christmas). So now I have been worried maybe it will be delivered early and be sitting at the front door when we get home from daycare. Well, today it is supposed to be really delivered according to the tracking information. Randy and I had made this deal that if there is a knock at the door that we will pre-occupy Karenza and one of us will take it out and hide it in the garage! Well we are leaving for Randy's basketball game in a little bit and I am wondering if its going to be delivered while we are gone. So much stress in just one expensive Santa gift!! We haven't taken her to see Santa yet, probably this weekend. I am hoping this gift can be kept a secret and can still be from Santa and that it won't just be an "early" Christmas gift! Cross fingers and hope things will work out.