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.