Halloween Cuties

 Today was the annual Trick Or Treat Fest at Mark's Office at the Church Office Building here in Riverton. The office totally shuts down at 2 pm and the families of the employees come in and trick or treat to all the cubicles and offices there at the building. The kids loved the Trick or Treat Fest last year and have been looking forward to going this year for as long as I can remember. After Kaleb got out of school and off the bus at 2 pm, I got the kids dressed in their darling costumes and we headed out. The kids had a blast visiting all the cubicles and filling up their buckets. They really got quite a load, in fact, while we were waiting for one of the elevators to go home, we got talking to a family who said that their daughter got 7 lbs of candy last year! Wow! We didn't get that much because we were only there for under and hour but the kids had plenty of candy. I am pretty sure they would have stayed longer if we had let them. Karmindy really got into it this year and loved going from cubicle to cubicle. 

 The kids and Mark on the lookout for Cubicles with Candy!

 Mom with her cute little Spooks!

Dad with his lil' Munsters!

It was so fun to go and visit Dad at his work and have another Halloween activity to do as a family and make  fun memories.

On another note, the kids have been so excited for Halloween this year!! Kaleb has enjoyed changing our family Count Down to Candy Countdown and will proudly tell me each day how many more days till Halloween. Karmindy will tell me everyday that Halloween is coming and that it will be "Very Sppppooookkkyyy! She says it in her very spooky voice and It makes me giggle.

The kids have also been super excited to dress up. Kaleb chose to dress up as a Jedi Knight  this year and he is so handsome in his costume. Karmindy has been so excited to dress up in the Bee Costume that I found last year. Karmindy has loved dressing up in it and pretending to fly around the house buzzing and pretending to sting Kaleb. She has such an active imagination and it makes me laugh. I have to wonder where she comes up with the stuff she says! :)

The kids are so eager for Halloween to come and truth be told, I can't wait either! I love the whole excitement of Halloween- the weather, pumpkins, candy, yummy baked goods, decorations, and dressing up! Such Fun. It truly is one of my favorite holidays!

The Buzzy Little Bee is Off to Get More Candy!

Funny Things that Kids Say....

I haven't blogged in forever and I will catch up soon with what we have been up to...hopefully soon!!! In the meantime,  I keep forgetting to jot down somethings that I find so cute (and some not so cute) about Karmindy and I don't want to forget them. Karmindy is quite the character and I love her little gruff voice. I really need to record her speaking because her little voice brings a smile to my face. She says the cutest things and it is typically words that she knows but can't pronounce very well and I don't want to correct her just yet because I think it is darling! 

Bizzert=Dessert
Nema-nems=M&M's Candy
Chick-el-a= Chick Fil A Restaurant

- She will ask "You wanna see something cool?" (She proceeds to show us her latest trick like standing on one leg, jumping off of the furniture or running in a circle, usually anything silly).

-Whenever she is asked to clean her room or help pick up her toys she will immediately tell me she has a headache or is tired and will lie down and carry on as if she is exhausted, when five minutes earlier she was playing and was just fine.....(She has a flare for the dynamics!)

When she knows she is in trouble or gets in trouble for doing something naughty, she will immediately tell me that, "I just LOVE you mom!" I think that she says this in hopes that I will lessen her time sitting in the corner or having a time out.

This past week, as I was picking her up from a friends house from playing there for several hours, I called her over to me and told her it was time to go home, she replied, "Mom, you're bugging me. I am tired of you." (Yes, that stung a little bit and she was sent to the corner when we got home and dad talked to her about being respectful to mom and others.) Still so sassy. I am afraid of the teenage years!

Karmindy tends to tell me she "doesn't know what to do" when she gets overwhelmed by large groups or when she is uncomfortable or in a new situation. Mark and I both think she gets like this because she has a lot of anxiety in new or uncomfortable situations.

Even though Karmindy is quite the Little Miss Sassy Pants we LOVE HER and wouldn't change a thing about her and we are so happy to have her as a part of our family!!

Look Who is in Preschool!

I can hardly believe that my baby is starting her last year of Preschool this year! I am a little sad but excited for what is in store for Karmindy. She is such a special little girl and I am so proud to be her Momma! Karmindy's first official day of Preschool was held today. She was so excited and couldn't wait to go to school. It was hard for her to watch Kaleb start school a few weeks ago. She desperately wanted to be like her big brother. I would find Karmindy wearing her cute cupcake backpack throughout the day prior to starting school. It made me smile when she would do this. The day finally came and off to Preschool she went! Karmindy is LOVING her teacher, Ms. Gaylene and looks forward to each Monday, Wednesday and Friday so she can wear her backpack and go to school to learn about something new. She loves Show n' Tell and having her Best Friend, Emilia Pidcock, in her class. I can't wait to see what you accomplish this year Sister, you are one amazing little person!!

Happy Birthday Karmindy!!

After Grandma Stewarts funeral and burial, we headed out to lunch to celebrate Karmindy's birthday. The birthday girl chose Mc Donalds for lunch and after we picked up lunch for the kids there, Mark and I swung by the Burger Bar for some more "grown up" food for us. We sat and ate lunch in the car and visited with the kids...it was nice to be able to spend time with them.

After we got home we let Karmindy open her presents. She was truly spoiled this year and got lots of nice gifts from us and her grandparents in Southern Utah. After presents we had cake and ice cream. Karmindy requested a Toy Story Cake and he wish was granted! She was thrilled!!

Karmindy and her birthday presents!

 The cute Birthday Girl!

 Karmindy loved all her gifts but was especially excited for her Buzz Light Year Doll. She has been wanting one for so long that she was truly giddy with excitement when she opened her gift!!

Kaleb is a truly adoring brother to his little sister and really looks out for her welfare. He is truly kind and compassionate to his little sister. While opening presents he was really excited for her to open her Buzz Lightyear Doll. He drew her the sweetest card and was very excited to give it to her. Since he knew she likes all things Toy Story he drew Toy Story Characters all over it! Darling! He is so thoughtful of his little sister! It is so hard for me to believe that our Sweet Little Girl is 4!!

Happy Birthday Karmindy!

Yearly Cardiology Appointment

 Cardiology Checkups come around way to often around these parts. Each year, we take Karmindy in for an Echo and other tests to see how her heart is doing. Mark and I HATE THEM!!! Each year, it is a constant reminder of all the things that we went through 4 years ago with Karmindy. As Parents, It was a very hard time in our lives, to watch our precious little girl go through something so heart wrenching... it is a time that I feel left us emotionally, and mentally drained. We are truly grateful for her life though and each year we try to remain positive and use these appointments as a time to celebrate her life and what she has over come!!

For Karmindy's Appointment this year, we were blessed to just go to the Primary Children's Extention here in Riverton, which is just up the street from our home. We are so grateful to live so close to this facility. 

This particular appointment was our best one we have gone to yet. Each year they take Karmindy's blood pressures in her arms and legs and then compare them to see how close they are together. Normally they are way far apart, which is not good. This year after her echo, and after taking each blood pressure in her limbs, (they all came back very, very close to one another) we got great news. What a relief!! Karmindy's Doctor, Dr. Ronald Day, thinks that this may have something to do with the Cath procedure that she had last year. Dr. Day thinks that something was tweaked just right! We were overjoyed with the news and hope for good news like this in the future. We pray that the help that the Cath did, will help Karmindy's aorta to be good for a long while!!

We feel truly blessed for the news and are so blessed and grateful for modern medicine and its hand in helping our little girl live!!

 Karmindy hanging out in the waiting Room and playing with the Globe.

Patiently waiting to see Dr. Day! She was such a trooper and held really still for her 30 minute Echo! We were so proud of her for being such a big girl! Sitting still for 30 minutes when you are 4 is hard to do!!

Karmindy is still happy but getting anxious to see Dr. Day!!

We are so proud of you Karmindy and your positive attitude and the example you set. You are truly an example to your family and we are so glad to call you ours!!

Pool Time and Sassiness!!

 The weather is finally warming up here in Northern Utah and thankfully that means we can pull out the shorts, short sleeved shirts and swimsuits! Hooray!! 

This also means that pools are starting to dot the neighborhood!!

One hot afternoon a few weeks ago, we joined our friends for a little pool get together for our two girls. We had so much fun... 

Karmindy and Emilia are two of the most Sassiest Girls I have ever met! Between the two of them they truly are quite the Saucy Pair! They love each other to death but definitely keep each other in line. In other words, they don't let the other one get the best of them! They truly bring a smile to this mom's face and I am so glad for the cute little friendship that they have. One experience, I wanted to write down was that we had gone out for lunch and as we pulled up into the driveway to drop off Emilia and Misty, Emilia turns to Karmindy and in the most Sassiest way says, "Karmindy you need to shoooooosh!!!" Karmindy in another sassiest voice, reply's back, "No you Shooooooooosh!!" 

Wow!!

(We attribute the excess of sassiness that day to them being hot and tired....hopefully.)

Misty and I laughed at laughed.... Silly Girls!! We hope that it will be the start of a long, loving and healthy friendship!!

I LOVE YOU TOO, MOM!

Having had the experience to be the mother to two beautiful children, I would say the hardest part of parenting small children (for me) is Potty Training. I know that there will be different challenges that will arise through each stage of life but right now Potty Training gives me a run for my money. Kaleb potty trained pretty easily with only a few accidents. Karmindy has been a different story and we have struggled. For the most part she is potty trained it is just when she gets busy playing or she gets tired in the afternoons she will have accidents. I have tried not to yell but it truly is so aggravating and I do yell because that is the only thing that gets her attention. Everyday she has an accident in the afternoon. Everday.....!!! So I yell on a daily basis, and I HATE THAT!

 Some days  Most days I think she will never get it. As you know I have yelled, I have sat her on the Naughty chair, She has stood in corners and put her nose on the wall. I know that sounds so mean, but what do you do when my free spirited child doesn't seem to care about punishments. Also, it is hard because she knows that I am furious at her and when she knows I am mad, she will yell, "I LOVE YOU TOO, MOM!" How do you get mad at that?! It has spilled over into all aspects of her naughtiness. Whenever she is in trouble, she will yell, "I LOVE YOU TOO, MOM!!" I believe she thinks that is she says the words, I love you, that it makes everything all better. :D I still follow through with the punishments and She still has to sit on chairs and stick her nose in the corner to be punished. I have also taken toys away. However, she still doesn't not grasp it!! I am hoping that she will be completely potty trained soon! Wish me luck!!! On a positive note, at least I get told on a daily basis that my daughter, "Loves me too!"

Princess Party Time

Karmindy was invited to go and celebrate one of her friends birthdays yesterday and she was so excited. Her little friend Claire Trimble was having a Princess Party and all the guests were encouraged to dress up as one of their favorite princesses. Karmindy's Grandma Laurie had given her a very nice Snow White Dress for her birthday several years ago and so she chose to wear that. It is really too bad that she has only wanted to wear her cute little dress the past couple of months because it is now getting too small for her. However, it still fits a little bit and it worked out splendidly for the party. Before the party, Karmindy and I enjoyed getting her all dolled up for the Princess Party. We did her hair and sprayed glitter in it and put on some make up and did her nails. Karmindy looked like a princess....literally. I got a little choked up thinking that in the near future how she will have the opportunity to get dressed up like a princess (homecoming, prom, and her wedding). We had a really fun afternoon together and before she left I took a few darling pictures of her so she could remember her fun event.

Girls Afternoon!

I am so fortunate to have always been blessed with good friends. Good Friendships mean so much to me and they are something that I truly value and cherish. There is nothing better than knowing you have a Good friend that is there for you through thick and thin. I know that previous sentence sounds corny but it is true to who I am.

This past week, me and one of my besties decided we were in need of a break from the mundane of life's responsibilities and decided to take our girls to the mall, for lunch and to let our girls ride the carousel. Karmindy and Emilia are the same age and love playing together. They are also in the same Pre-School class. Karmindy has truly made some good friends in her Pre School this year- Avery, Emilia and Grace. I love that she enjoys doing different things with each of her friends!

I love these pictures of our little Girls' Afternoon!

 Karmindy on the Horse!

 I love this Picture. These two little girls are not lacking in personality! They are both fiesty and strong headed! I am looking forward to their tween and teen years! They will keep us moms on our toes!

Cute and Sassy Emilia!

Polar Express Christmas Party

Like I have jotted down before, Karmindy is truly loving Pre-School this year! She has a fabulous teacher and enjoys seeing her 3 little girl friends every Tuesday and Thursday! Before Pre School let out for Christmas Break, her cute teacher threw a Polar Express Christmas Party. The kids were given a Polar Express Train ticket so they could ride the pretend train to the North Pole. 

 My Sweet Girl so excited to Go to Her PreSchool Party! I sure love my little Princess!

Also, everyone was encouraged to wear their Jammies to head to the North Pole. Karmindy was truly so excited for her Christmas Party!! She had such a fun time with her class mates and enjoyed all the fun little activities with her class! They made reindeer food to Give to Santas Reindeer on Christmas Eve, drank Hot Chocolate and played games. Karmindy came home with a lot of loot from her teacher and Classmates! She had a fabulous time!

One Cute Chick and her Turkey Hat!

Putting Karmindy in Pre-School this year has proved to be a good for her. I was hesitant on putting her in for two years of preschool but I did it in hopes of that she would learn to be a little less shy. She has been learning so much the past 4 months! I have definitely noticed a huge improvement in her social skills, as well as, her knowledge of  the colors, alphabet and numbers. She truly is learning so much and loves her teacher "Mrs. Heather." Whenever we drive by Mrs. Heather's house, Karmindy will yell out, "There's Mrs. Heather's House!" It is very cute! Karmindy has also loved being in preschool with 3 of her friends: Avery Hawkins, Emilia Pidcock and Grace Van Leeuwen. One of Karmindy's favorite thing is doing the art projects in class- she is so proud of her work. It is always so fun for me to see her race out to the car after preschool is over and proudly waves her artwork for me to see. Today, she came out proudly wearing her cute Turkey Hat! She looked so cute! I wish that I could have gotten some video of her and all her classmates marching out through the gate with their hats on. It was so darling. When she got home I had to snap a few photos of her wearing her hat. From the picture above you can tell that the newness of wearing the hat had worn off and she wanted to take it off but kept it on for her mom to take pictures. How dare I put the "princess out!" :D She was a good sport! November is a month to remember your blessing and I am certainly grateful for my "Cute Chick!!"

Say Cheese...

I have really enjoyed the new camera that I got for my birthday. I have wanted a new camera for so very long and so it has been such a treat to have nice equipment to work with to capture cute moments like this one of Karmindy. There is also a really cool editing program called piknic on the www. The program lets you do all kinds of nifty things to pictures. I am loving it. This is my first picture to edit and play around with. I think I may be in love with this program and I might even upgrade to the other fancy gagets. We will see. 

However, all hasn't been rosey with my camera, a few weeks ago, Little Missy a.k.a. Karmindy was caught stepping on my camera.Yes, she was using it as a stepping stool to climb on to our bed. Yikes. She totally jammed the lens so I could even take pictures in manual. After Mark, my go to fix it guy, looked at it and popped it back into place all was not well. I was ticked and so sick to my stomach at how much it was going to cost us to either repair or replace the lens. After calling around and talking to photo professionals they said that buying a new lens would be a lot cheaper than repairing it! One hundred and fifty bucks later I am back in the business to snap more pictures. That amount definitely hurt paying for a whole new lens. From now on, I will be a little more responsible and not leave my camera on my nightstand or even in arms reach for little fingers to touch or use as a stepping stool.

Loving Pre-School!

 Karmindy proudly displaying her "Nake" (Snake) that she made in class.

It is hard to believe that Karmindy has been enrolled in Pre-School for over a month now. She is loving it! She truly enjoys going to school to see her friends in our neighborhood. (Avery Hawkins, Emilia Pidcock and Grace VanLeeuwen. There are also two little boys in her class. For me as her mom, it is so fun to see her growing and learning. Over the past month she has just taken off in her learning and social skills. She can pick out and say her colors and has become so much more social. with others. I enrolled Karmindy in preschool this year in hopes that she would become a little less shy- it is working!! Karmindy is also loving her teacher Mrs. Heather and talks about her constantly. She also gets really excited to wear her backpack to school, participate in Show and Tell and loves bringing home her Art projects for me to Look at and OOOO and Ahhh over!! I am really proud of my little girl!

I love how excited she gets to show me what she made when she gets home from Pre-School. Priceless.

Hope

Back in the day, like when I was younger and even up until I had Kaleb, I didn't mind going to see the Doctor. Over the past three years, that "like" has turned into an absolute hate. I hate 99.9% Doctors with a passion, I hate hospitals, and the sterile hospital buildings and offices. Although, I am grateful and can appreciate what Doctors are capable of doing for those in need, as well as, for the sterile and clean environments that they work in, I still HATE EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM!!! It is amazing how life's trials and twists and turns can change our opinions, our mindset, our sensitivity to things and make us tough and callused. I feel this way. Even though I feel that I am still an incredibly sensitive person and strive to recognize and tend to the feelings of others and be there for others, I also feel so hard and callused at the same time. I don't like feeling like this and I don't know how to change it. In some ways, I feel like I have lost "hope" even though I still continue to have it.

Today, I took Karmindy to her 3-year well check up. Before Karmindy was born, I celebrated every well check up with Kaleb. I loved seeing from month to month and year to year the progress my little boy was making. When Karmindy came along, it wasn't that I didn't celebrate but things took on a whole new meaning. I was happy and celebrated but felt hollow and empty inside too. Each visit I try to find the good. Today's visit I found out Karmindy has perfect 20/20 vision. Our Doctors nurse was happy to report that she has never in all her years of working been able to record that a 3 year old has perfect vision. Yay, for Karmindy!! However, even though I celebrate that wonderful and miraculous thing like vision, I dread to talk about my daughters heart condition. The heart is also a wonderful and miraculous thing. After Karmindy's Angioplasty in June, my heart has been so, so heavy because the condition that Karmindy now has. It is rare. The Doctors haven't seen it before. No one has really seen an aorta fold the way that Karmindy's has been doing above a coarc surgery site.  Before the surgery, I could do research and scour the internet to find outcomes of coarc patients but now I cannot scour the internet to find "Hope" for what Karmindy has. How can I have "Hope" if I cannot find percentages or facts that will tell me that my daughter will be ok or help give my mind a little rest? I know that I need to have  more Faith but how can I have more, when after watching my daughter go through this for three years,? My bucket of faith is wavering on empty. I don't' feel like I have any more faith or strength to give. It is hard to explain to friends and family and even though they offer support and love, and I appreciate all they do, it is hard because they don't quite feel the anguish I feel. There is nothing more painful then watching your child suffer or go through something that could potentially be life threatening and feeling like you have absolutely NO POWER to help them. I want to make this go away for Karmindy. I want to have my little girl with me always... 

Why do we have to continue to go through this hard stuff. It seems like it never ends. What am I supposed to be learning from this? Maybe the faster I learn the faster it would go away?

Today,I had a long talk with my wonderful pediatrition and we cried together over Karmindy's latest surgery and prognosis. I have the most remarkable Doctor for my kids. She is a mother as well, and knows where I am coming from. It helps to have a Dr. who has knowledge and empathy. These are qualities that are almost never found these days among health care providers.

I feel blessed to Have Dr. Val.

After talking about "Heart Patches" and stints among other fun Heart Stuff  with my dear and patient Doctor and me asking for "hope" on how Karmindy might weather over the next few years of life, I left feeling so helpless. I sobbed all the way home. 

I have tried to be strong over the past 3 years and have celebrated those wonderful milestones and have continually been given some hope from doctors. Now our last options with Karmindy are waiting and seeing how her body will fair. If  it does not fair well, then we will Have open heart surgery in store for our Daughters Future. Open Heart is not something I feel like I can mentally and emotionally handle...again. We have already gone through this. This condition that Karmindy has, will  it ever be fixed? I feel as if its not an if anymore but a when. It feels like time is ticking...and I am not for sure what to expect. I found out today that a patched aorta isn't an end all fix but one that may need to be patched again and again. 

If they can't fix my daughters heart, who is going to fix or patch mine if she doesn't make it. Why do trials have to be so hard and almost suffocating?

All I want is to Have Hope that all will be ok for my special little princess, my little girl. 

Potty Training in Fashion

That is one happy girl! The above picture in this post is a real life depiction of how the last two weeks of my life has been! Super fun!

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Frankly, it has been the worst of times. There is one thing in my few short years of being a parent that I despise...and that is potty training. I think it is one of the hardest things you have to do as a parent. I think it is hard because you have no control over the matter and it has too be your child's idea and readiness to take the next step toward being a big girl or boy. It is also hard because when I potty train my kids, I feel like I have to stay close to home for them to have any success. So needless to say, it has been a long two weeks spent inside and close to home-limited errand running. During my attempts to potty train Karmindy, I stripped her down to just a shirt and her panties. It's summer so I have been pretty relaxed about it all. In fact, I have been so relaxed with it all, that I have let Karmindy out of the house in her shirt and panties. I know what you're all thinking...I know, I am ONE OF THOSE KIND OF MOM'S who let their children run naked in the streets. Frankly, when you are on your second go around with potty training you just don't care. :) I know, I am horrible. Gasp. It gets better, Karmindy in the last two weeks could be seen riding her tricycle up and down our road in her bike helmet, shirt,undies and tennis shoes. Talk about a fashion statement. Also, I didn't forget to let her blow bubbles in this remarkable outfit, but hey who is judging? Everyone? :)

GLAMOROUS!!

The road to having Karmindy potty trained has been a long, and hard one. At first.we tried everything with trying to get Karmindy interested in potty training- bribes, new toys, trips to McDonalds and candy. Nothing was working and anyone that knows Karmindy knows how feisty she can be if she doesn't want to do something. Fast forward Two weeks later, and we are finally have success.

This is where this journal entry cuts out and the angels in the heavens start to sing beautiful potty trained praises!! 

Oh it is just Beautiful.

I am really hoping Karmindy will stick to being potty trained because if she doesn't I am going to need a lot of cupcakes from the Sweet Tooth Fairy and Large Amounts of Cherry Coke to get me through this hard phase! :) Wink.

All joking aside, I am really proud of  Karmindy and hope she knows how much her family loves her!

Little Art'ists'!

I am so loving all the "Back to school" specials they have at Wal-Mart right now. This week when I went grocery shopping I scored some killer deals on crayons and other school supplies. While I was there I picked up some water color paints. My kids love to paint and I love to indulge their creativity. I have always been an advocate for the art subjects in schools. I am such a dork sometimes when it comes to this topic. For I am really passionate about it. When I was in school, art was my favorite subject because I was allowed to be creative. I really do think art is important and helps so many kids grasp other subjects. It helped me.

This afternoon, we pulled out our great buy and the kids went to town creating. I loved watching their little minds go to work.

Look at the concentration...

 Look at their beautiful creations-

I am so proud of my budding Artists.

Karmindy's First Haircut

Over the years I have just trimmed Karmindy's hair. Her hair is so fine and thin that It hasn't required much maintenance. Over the past month or so it has been growing and was really uneven on the bottom and I knew I needed to take her in to get in trimmed. Today I took the kids to go get there hair cut at Great Clips. Since Kaleb needed his cut, I figured I would get Karmindy's done at the same time as well. We have always had a positive experience there. When we arrived, Kaleb hopped up in the chair and was done in a jiffy. Karmindy however wouldn't let the lady near her. I don't blame her though, I knew from the start that the older lady cutting her hair wasn't really into the idea of working on Karmindy. I am pretty sure Karmindy could sense it too. Kids aren't dumb!! Needless to say, Karmindy threw a huge fit and we left with just Kaleb's hair cut. I was so frustrated. I really wanted Karmindy's first hair cut experience to be a positive one and I had been told about Cookie Cutters so went went there directly afterwards. Cookie Cutter's is a little Salon tailored to kids. The kids get balloons, suckers, and get to pick out a movie or game of their choice to watch or play while their hair is being cut. They even get to pick what kind of chair they want to sit in. Karmindy picked a pink convertible. The whole experience was a positive one and the hair stylists knew just how to get down on Karmindy's level. Karmindy got the ROYAL TREATMENT  and left with cute piggy tails. The gal also sprayed glitter spray in her hair so she would feel like a princess. Karmindy also got a couple of suckers and a balloon. I left happy and Karmindy left happy. I just wish that the whole experience would have been a little cheaper. :S

I laugh because this whole situation is so typical of Karmindy and that is that she prefers the royal treatment. Anything for my Princess. Wink.

I wish that I had taken my camera but when we got home I snapped a few. 

My princess with her goods- balloon and sucker= true bliss.

Karmindy's cute hair.

Having fun with Side Walk Chalk

When the weather warms up here in Northern Utah, my kids love to be outside and play. One of their favorite things to do is put their creativity to the test and decorate our side walks with their chalk artwork.

 This past week, a friend of mine needed me to watch her little boy while she ran to an Dr. Appointment. Kaleb was at school, so Karmindy and Dylan headed out back to have some fun. The kids had fun drawing and I was able to break out my new camera and take pictures of the two of them while they were having fun.

Karmindy Playing with Side Walk Chalk

Dylan, Karmindy's Friend

My Precious Daughter

I am so grateful for my children. I can't imagine life with out them. There is nothing more fulfilling, tough, or exhausting than being a mom. Even though there is a lot of good with the bad. I will take it! There are a few things that I want to remember about Karmindy at this time in her life and I wanted to write them down before I forget.

1. Karmindy loves Animals; especially dogs. Our neighbors have a dog named Toby and whenever it is outside she will give me a play by play of what he is doing whether it is barking, sitting or just telling me that he is, "So Soft Mom!" She also has a collection of stuffed animals in which she takes excellent care of. Her favorite is her pink monkey named, "Boots."

2. Karmindy is very tender hearted!  She doesn't like to see anyone cry or feel bad. Whenever she does, she will go up to that person and tell them, "Don't be sad, It'll be ok." She loves to give hugs and whenever I rock her in my rocking chair I will pat her on the back and usually she is patting me in return.

3. Karmindy is feisty and can hold her own. She has been known to take down her brother who is 3 years older and make him scream like a girl. She doesn't take crap from anyone! Just this past week she was playing with a friend and the friend was telling her to go away. Karmindy tried to give her a hug but her friend wanted nothing to do with it. So she clenched her fist and slugged her. Her friends mom and I had a good laugh. Moral of the story is to never cross Karmindy and always give her a hug when she is trying to hug you  and be your friend or you might get decked! :)

4. Karmindy loves to help me in the kitchen. She loves homemade bread, cookies and cake.

5. Karmindy favorite foods are: mac n' cheese, French Fries, Chicken Nuggets, Chocolate Milk, cookies, and anything sweet. Her Favorite Fruit are oranges.

6. Her best friend is her Big Brother. She loves to see him out the door in the morning and will yell, "Have a good Day!" "I will miss you!" She also gets very excited to go and pick Kaleb up from Kindergarten. The moment Kaleb gets in the car she will say in a very excited voice, "Hi Brother!" 

7. She loves to play with her dolls, doll house, and dress up. However, her favorite things to play are "Pirates" and sword fighting with her big brother.

8. She is very athletic and loves to play soccer, hit baseballs and jump on the tramp.

9. Karmimdy loves music and has her own set of songs that I sing to her every night before bed. Here they are in order: Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam, Twinkle Star, Smile, Popcorn Popping, Once their was a Snowman, One Little Speckled Frog, I know that Heavenly Father loves me, and I love to see the Temple. She knows the words to all of these songs and after singing I love to see the temple, she will immediately say, "Good Night" and roll over and go to bed. I often can hear her singing in her room during the day and she will also hum her own little tunes.

10. Karmindy loves watching movies. Some of Her favorites are Dora the Explorer, Sleeping Beauty, Tangled, Little Einsteins, and Cars.

11. She is very polite and has just learned the words, No Thanks. Over the past few days, we will ask, "Are you ready for bed?" She will reply, "Mmm, No Thanks!"

12. She has mastered her trike and rides like a champ. We are amazed at how quickly she learns new things and we attribute that to her trying to keep up with her big brother.

13. She loves to get her hair done in the morning. After I am all done she will ask to see herself, and will immediately tell me she is, "So Pretty!" I hope she never forgets this!