a toy story

These are pictures of my first trip to Toys R Us! I don't think I had ever been before! Surely I'd been to the toy store as a kid? Right mom and dad? But I have no memory of it... so it doesn't count. And I certainly haven't been as grown up. So of course Leah hadn't been either, unless maybe a grandmother has taken her... I am not sure. Anyway, she enjoyed the trip. I, however, was totally overstimulated by the zillions of toy options and marketing ploys.

We went with some friends who are regulars and so they showed us the ropes. (Do I sound like I live under a rock?) Leah's favorite thing were the cars... and not just any cars... you guessed it... Lightning McQueen! And I thought I would include these pics of Daniel and Caleb driving the pink, Barbie Smart Car! You know, to make their dad proud. ;)

PRICELESS!

I was amazed Leah didn't ask me to buy a single toy while we were there. But she did have the quintessential toy-store-temper-tantrum when I misunderstood her intentions about the ride-on Thomas the Train toy... apparently upsetting her greatly! She even threw herself on the floor! It is so hard to cope when you are 2 1/2. So she had her first trip to the toy store, her first temper fit in a toy store, and her first spanking-in-a-toy-store-bathroom ALL IN THE SAME DAY! What a special memory! Despite the fit... it was a good time overall. We'll definitely be back. ;)


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LC quote of the day

"Mommy, how does Beans pray?"
(Mommy pauses a long time to figure out how to answer this question... But before I can come up with anything she answers it herself...)
"Maybe when I close my eyes she folds her hands and closes her eyes too!"



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A little family

Leah has been saying she wants a brother for quite a while now. She even prays for it occasionally. And she will tell me "there's not a baby in your tummy YET mommy!"

So we had some good laughs when she brought this home from Sunday School...

She said "That's Daddy and me and Mommy and my brother and Daddy."

Kevin said to me "that better not be her brother's daddy!" Hahahahahaha! She is absolutely head over heels for her daddy... so I figure that's why she put him twice! ;)

I love our family portrait!

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LC quote of the day

"We had sap-getti because daddy ate all the tortillas."





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bow season

This October we celebrated much more than just fall, and harvest time, and pumpkin time, and Halloween. This year was Kevin's first time to shoot a deer with a bow and arrow! (You know... the way His people have always done it.) I will spare you the picture of the dead doe... :(

We are SO glad to be filling up our deep freeze a whole month earlier than usual! We have shared lots of good venison dishes in our house lately.

Kevin hunted last year during bow season for the first time, but didn't ever have a good enough shot to take with confidence. Apparently it is a whole different ball game because you're sitting so much closer to the deer. Bow hunting takes even more patience and more intense concentration than rifle hunting calls for. (Or so I am told... I'm also told I would NEVER cut it in a bow blind. I simply can not be this still or this quiet... ... ... ...how does he know???? You don't know til you try! I've just never tried!)

For little Leah Curley, bow season is year round. Its the first thing we do in the morning... "Mommy, I need a bow." Here are some memories of Octobers gone by... same girl, same month, same bow. ;)

2009

2010

2011 - What a poser!?!?!?!?

A little shepherd

We came out to the barn for some drenching and shearing and hoof trimming... and maybe a wee bit of playing.






For certain chores... you need a red head lamp.

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LC quote of the day: Halloween Special

"One day I will grow up and be big like you, daddy. And I can be a daddy for Halloween! ...Or maybe Bruce the shark... (imagine us laughing ALOT right here) ... oooooor maybe a princess!"

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multifaceted

Here are just 3 of the 4532185 faces she might have in a day...




Fun!


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party people

Don't want to leave any good parties off the blog...

August: Bibby's birthday party...

September: Granstan's birthday party...

October: Grannie's birthday party...

(another one of my mother-in-law's yummy cakes!)

LC quote of the day

Is more like the conversation of the day today...

Leah: Those ducks are taking naps, mommy!
Me: They sure are.
Leah: When they wake up are they gonna go swimming in that pond?
Me: I think they probably will.
Leah: Mommy, do ducks wear swim shoes?



It was chilly this morning so we busted out the snuggle bunny boots (which I purchased this summer for $1.99!! Yay mommy!) When we got in the car she told me "Their names are Kevin and Leah Caroline."

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A little ladybug

When we joined our church 6 years ago, we joined a Sunday school class that was becoming too big for it's britches... And so a split was imminent. The class was divided. Kids vs. No Kids. I called it the "haves" and the "have nots." We joined the have-nots, which was naturally just a slightly younger group of married couples... And what do you know? A few short years later we are the "haves." I counted 39 kiddos in this picture. There were some that could not be wrangled and half a dozen or so buns that were still in their ovens. Not to mention the friends that couldn't make it to the party at all.

My little lady bug is just above and to the left of Thomas the Train.

She picked to be a ladybug (after her mean, sexist mommy told her that only boys dressed up like Lightning McQueen and they didn't make his costume for girls!!! Can you believe I said that???? I am the world's worst!!)


And here she is with her sweet friend, Ian the astronaut.


I wish one of these hadn't been blurry! What a pair!

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LC quote of the day

"I think my allergies are broken. I need new allergies."




Today was the first day she's wanted to carry a purse. She said "I will carry mine just like you, mommy!" Oh.So.Sweet! (And you know who else... of course... my girlie little tomboy)

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a little baking

If Leah had her way, there wouldnt be any cookie dough in cookies at all... Just chocolate chips and m&m's.


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LC quote of the day

"I am drawing God mommy! See, He is wearing purple."



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Farmer Lessie

We met Aunt Leslie for dinner last night at chick-fil-a. Leslie came straight from the barn, wearing her overalls and red rubber boots (legs tucked in of course... How I wish I had taken a full body pic...)

When I saw her coming in I said "Here comes Farmer Leslie!" I said it once... without any reaction from Leah.

An hour later, after we had eaten, talked, stopped to smell the flowers


and played for a while on the playground, I took Leah to go potty. When she was all done with her business she said "Lets go back and see Farmer Leslie! Farmer Leslie will be so proud of me. I love Farmer Leslie sooo much."


That's Aunt Farmer Leslie to you little one... :)

Here I said "Would both of you please look at the camera at the same time??"


Two peas in a pod!

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