A Teachable Moment

TJ Maxx is one of Layla's favorite stores. Why? Because, in her words, they have toys, shoes and purses. What more could a girl want? She may look just like her daddy, but she's all me!

Saturday, Layla and I got to go to TJ Maxx. She was trying on shoes on one side of the aisle and I was trying them on the other side. After just a few minutes Layla came to me and said she wanted her shoes back. "Are you sure?" I said. "You've barely just started."
"I know mom, but a lady was laughing at me."
"What do you mean?"
"I was trying on these fabulous, high heeled shoes and a lady laughed at me."
"Layla, I'm sure she wasn't laughing at you, I bet she was just laughing because you looked so cute. You know, how you make Daddy and me laugh when you do something we think is adorable?"
"No, mom, she was laughing at me."
"Well honey, I don't know why she was laughing. But, when you're doing something you love, don't let the way other people act take away your fun. Don't let them steal your joy."
Pause......
"So," I said, "do you want to go back and try those fabulous shoes on again? I'll come with you."
"No," Layla said, "I'm done."
End of conversation

Today, while driving home from school, out of nowhere, Layla says to me....
"Mom, remember that lady who was a stealer?"
I'm thinking hard....."No."
"Yes you do, the one at TJ Maxx that stealed those things while I was trying on shoes...the one who laughed at me."
"No, sweetie, she didn't actually steel something, she just took away your fun," I said.
"Mom, I didn't see her take anything. That makes no sense."

So much for my deep, teachable moment.

A Little Reprieve

We got a little reprieve from the frigid weather this weekend. The Kellens all headed to a hotel in Des Moines for a little hanging out and swimming. Our kids love hotels, so they were in heaven! Cooper, no surprise, turned into a little daredevil. And not in a "oh your so cute and brave" kind-of way. It was more like "holy crap, someone grab him before he drowns!" He just started jumping in with no one to catch him and got to the point he didn't even want anyone to hold him in the water. That's a problem when the shallowest part was 3 feet and little man is 35" tall

This all got a little tiring, so I thought it was time for some natural consequences. The next time Cooper wanted to jump without anyone catching him, I let him. He jumped.....and he sank to the bottom of the pool. I pulled him up, thinking he would be a little scared or rattled.....nope, he loved it. My, oh, my! My visions of a happy, fun summer at the pool, with both kids, are fading

Our reprieve was short lived as we had another blizzard Monday. Less than 30 days until Cabo......

They Carry a Heavy Load

Here are a few pictures as I drove back up our driveway today. As I look at these, I'm amazed at how heavy a load our trees can carry........and, amazed at how much stinkin' snow we have! In the fall, as I began commuting Layla to DSM for school, we considered going with a smaller vehicle. I am now very glad we didn't. In the last 6 weeks, I have used every inch of traction and bit of horsepower the Excursion has to offer. We've even pulled Dave's truck out of the end of the drive during the last blizzard. I think the ol' gangsta-mobile is sticking around for awhile!

The Fabulous Five

This is a rare picture of all five Kellen cousins. I love it! They are so sweet. By this summer, The Fabulous Five will be The Sweet Seven. Zach and Darci will have their second boy this Friday and Jeremy and Kelley will have their first child in July. I love being an aunt and I'm so excited to hold some newborns again.

Fashionista

I think it all started with the bangs. In the last 6 months, Layla has been expressing herself more and more with her clothes and hair. I feel as though, most days, I'm a candidate for What Not to Wear due to my love of sweats. I think to myself, where does Layla get this from? She loves creating outfits and hairstyles. It's not from me! Then, it occurred to me.....maybe she is so interested in her clothes and hair because of what I DON'T do, rather than what I do. Maybe she looks at me and thinks, "Oh Mommy, I love you, but not those sweats again!"

You can only imagine how tortuous it is for her to wear khaki's and a plain shirt to school! I love it, because it's easy. Well, the letter of the week last week was J. To celebrate, the kids got to wear jeans to school on Wednesday. Layla Faye was one happy girl and here is what she selected to wear (she wore boots to school, not the flip-flops).

Cake 101

We headed to Nevada yesterday to have our Christmas with Grandma Marcia and Papa Dean. We also fulfilled a request of mine.......learn, from Marcia, her cake baking and decorating secrets. I come from a long line of cake bakers, so I have no excuse not to learn! My Grandma Leona made cakes professionally, my mom made us wonderful, complicated cakes for our birthdays and Dave's mom has also made cakes professionally. So, I finally took the plunge!

We enjoyed our day so much and I learned a lot. Mostly, that decorating takes a lot of time and I have a lot of practicing to do. Grandma made Layla a small heart cake for her to practice on and she loved that! I will attempt my first cake for Cooper's 2nd birthday......please keep your expectations LOW.

How We Grow, By Layla Faye Handsaker

Here is a recent conversation from the back of the car. Layla was telling Cooper about growing up.....

"Brother, you start out as a little dot in your mommy's tummy. Then you grow and start looking real and come out of mommy's tummy. Then you have bangs, but when you get bigger, you don't have bangs anymore, like me now. When you get really big you get flat cheeks and that is when you're a grown up. See, like your cheeks are chubby because you're little. Mine are kind-of flat because I'm bigger, but mommy's are all flat because she's the biggest."

Very interesting interpretation of what makes someone a grown up! She has marked her milestones by growing out her bangs and losing her chubby cheeks.

Quirky Brother

Cooper loves wearing things on his head and face. He always has and I find that interesting. Most kids don't choose to wear the things we put on their heads, but don't have a choice as we usually strap them on. And, if they do keep them on voluntarily, it's usually not for long.

Not Cooper. Here is his get-up he wore to church a few weeks ago. Keep in mind that church is 35 minutes away and he kept them on. Remember this? Today, he insisted on wearing Daddy's hunting (yes camo)stocking cap to the library. Nope, he wouldn't take it off all morning, even though he had to keep pulling it up, off his eyes.

The Lion King

We are very thankful to Grandpa and Grandma Handsaker for taking "the big kids" to the Lion King on Sunday. We met for brunch and Paige and Layla were even treated to a t-shirt at the performance. Layla truly loved it and everything that is special about going to the theater.....including wearing a fancy dress! I know she loved it and knew it was a blessing and privilege. Three or four times, out of nowhere, she would say, "Thanks mom for taking me to the Lion King. That was really special." I had to explain to her that, although we physically took her in our car, we did not buy the tickets or the experience! That was all G&G! Here are Layla and cousin Paige showing their excitement!

Blogging Probation

If there were a court system for blogging, I would be on probation! As I download photos from both cameras, I realize how behind I am.

We love Christmas break! Dave takes a little time off and we get to all be together for much of the two weeks of Christmas and New Year's. During this time we go and do, with no worries about bed times and school/work schedules. This year, we were able to take Cooper to his first Iowa State basketball game. Hard to believe that it has taken us so long to do this since Layla had two full seasons under her belt by his age. But, with two kids and living over an hour away, we gave up our season tickets this year.

Cooper was amazed by all that was around him and really didn't move much for the whole first half. But, by half way through the second half, he was nothing but a wiggle worm! Still, he did pretty good! Especially since the game was during nap time! We were then able to take Layla back the next weekend for a big girl night out at a girl's game....inlcuding dinner at Hickory Park!!!

The Hole

So, little Cooper put his first hole in the dry wall. I hear this is all just part of having a boy!

Dave and I purchased a Select Comfort mattress system. Interestingly enough, it was shipped to our house in 5, 50# boxes....which sat in our entryway for about a week! While I was in the shower one day, I heard a little ruckus in the living room. But, since no one was crying, I chose to finish the job at hand. When I went out to the living room I found the kids had taken the bed rails from the boxes and were riding them down the steps like sleds. The rails are a heavy, hollow plastic and come in pieces that are about 12"x32", perfect for a sled! I knew they couldn't ruin them and, since they were going down just the first set of steps, they couldn't really hurt themselves. So I stayed back in the doorway and watched.

Brother just couldn't figure out how to keep the "sled" under him as he went down the stairs. He was getting so mad and then, even madder, when sister offered him a ride. Finally, he got it! And let me tell you, he flew! Luckily, it wasn't his head that made the hole, just the rail. Needless to say....game over!

Too busy living it......

.....to blog about it! That is how I feel lately...that we are so busy living life, I haven't had a chance to blog about it! But, here I sit, on my couch, with my laptop, with nothing that needs my immediate attention! Praise the Lord!!

So, let's play a little catch up! In the last 7 days, we have......had another blizzard, put together and have slept on our new bed (have no idea why we waited so long to make that purchase!), Cooper put his first hole in the wall, I found a lump in my breast (sorry I just blogged that word!), had a little freak out, had my first mammogram, but all is well, I spoke at my first women's retreat (had another little freak out), and took Layla to the Broadway production of The Lion King (thanks G&G Handsaker)....

Now, I will attempt to download some pictures and expound on the aforementioned....

"Why do you get to pick my nose?"

It was just Layla and I driving home from Des Moines yesterday. It was quiet, peaceful, we were both tired and lost in our own thoughts. After about 20 minutes, out of nowhere, Layla asks, "Why do you get to pick my nose?"
"what?" I reply.
"Why do you get to pick my nose and I don't?" This is actually a good question. I'm sorry to be gross, but it's true...I really do pick boogers out of my kids' noses. You know the boogs I'm talking about, the ones that are just hanging out there.
"Well honey, I just don't want you walking around with boogies hanging out your nose."
"Well neither do I, that's why I pick it."
Fair enough.