I'm caught up!

Yesterday was so beautiful we went to the park and had a really good time. Can it be nice and stay nice please?! I love the summer because trips to the park lead to long naps and a big break fo me. While at the park I ran into an old friend (Shanda Sue) it was her son Conner's Birthday, it was really funny because I ran into her last year on the same day same place. So I will plan on seeing you there next year Shanda!

Here is what happens at my house when you leave to go Grocery shopping!

I left to Walmart for about an hour and came home to this! Tony completely gutted our bathroom. It has been a dusty mess around here for the last couple of weeks and our bathroom situation has been pretty interesing to say the least. We have a towel for a door (No privacy) and we don't have any knobs on the tub so we have to us a wrench to turn the water on and off, it is pretty sweet. Tony just put in our new tub last Friday, it is a deeper soaking tub and it has been really nice, I can't wait until it is all the way done, it is hard to live like this with kids. I love that I have a talented motivated husband to do this kind of stuff, it really has been fun fixing up this very very old house!

Easter Fun!

We had a really fun Easter this year. We left our house early Saturday Morning for the big Easter egg hunt in Marysvale, it is fun because they have all sorts of toys and candy spread all over the park. When we got there everything was pretty much gone, and we were two minutes early (small towns are funny like that) Lola got three pieces of candy and someone gave Jesse one of their stuffed animals. We drove almost 2 and a half hours on hardly any sleep (Tony ripped apart our bathroom the night before- pictures to come) for three hersheys kisses. But Grandma and Grandpa made up for it and had a really fun egg hunt with toys, candy and quarters, the kids loved it. We also had a fun Birthday party for Jesse he is now 4 and funny as ever, Happy Birthday Jesse!

Story time and hide and go seek with Grandma Jane.
Cute new Easter clothes and swimsuits from Grandma and Grandpa.
Coloring eggs and the egg hunt. I don't think Lola could carry one more thing!

Goofy egg head bands on some goofy kids! Lola and Jesse Blowing bubbles-serious concentration Lola and Jesse being silly!

Provo Half Marathon!

I know what you guys are thinking, "I didn't know that Carrie was a runner?" That is because, I am not! The last week of February my sister Chellese posted on her blog that she was going to do this half marathon the first week in April, well I decided that I wanted to do something like this that would force me to exercise, so I decided to do it and I paid the registration fee and ran that day (about 2 miles) and a couple days later I ran again (about 2 and 1/2 miles) keep in mind that I really haven't been exercising so I felt pretty good about making it that far. Then on the 5th of march I found out that I was pregnant, so I felt like I shouldn't push myself too hard. Then the following week on the 10th I ended up miscarrying which I was OK with, (bummed, but felt like it was supposed to happen) but then I couldn't run for about another week, so I ran a total of four times before the race, and the farthest I had ran was 4 miles. The day before the race my shoes were really bothering me and I also had a blister on the back of my heel so I decided to by new shoes the night before. I also had a wart on the ball of my foot that was really bugging me, but I couldn't get it removed because it was too close to race time and I wouldn't be able to run on it. Also, I NEVER get diarrhea and right before I did, (Seriously, what the H? the universe was working against me!) sorry for all the details. Anyway, the day of the race came (April 4th) it was snowing and freezing cold. My goal was to make it to the halfway point (6.55 miles) before I stopped to walk, I felt pretty good that I made it 7.5 miles before I stopped, my knee started to hurt at mile seven, but I walked only short periods. It was funny I kept singing songs in my head like, "I'm a survivor, I'm gonna make it, I'm a survivor, keep on surviving, I'm not, gonna give up , I'm gonna work harder!" and I also sang the ABC"S and head shoulders knee's and toes ( I think I need to get an MP3 player!) This is also where old ladies and really heavy people started to pass me and I seriously couldn't keep up with them, it was pretty discouraging, and motivating at the same time. When I got to mile 11 I stopped to shake my leg, to see if I could make the pain go away in my knee and I made it worse I didn't think I was going to be able to walk, I was mad at myself, because I knew I wouldn't be able to make my goal of 2 hours and 15 min, but I didn't want to do any permanent damage so I took it easy and ran carefully and somehow was able to cross the finish line. I made it in 2 hours 33 mins and I felt okay with that considering I was VERY unprepared and I stopped for a bathroom break, dang poop, slowing me down! Now I am excited to try another one in August (hobble creek) it is supposed to be a good one to start out on because it is all downhill, so if anyone wants to do it with me, I would love it! P.S. Thanks Chellese for doing this with me, you rock (under 2 hours!) it was fun and painful, and I love you!

Family pictures -kinda (Collage, Minus Tony) Ha!

So If you guys know Tony then you know he refuses to do the whole"Family Picture" thing.
I am realizing that I am not getting any younger (especially this year, gray hair, wrinkles, etc...)
and that my kids won't have anything to look back on to see what I used to look like when they were young. So I have been attempting to take pictures of myself with them, which isn't very much fun, but until I can convince my better half to do some family pics this is what you get! A few Utah photographers have put out a challenge to take photos with your kids (one or all) once a week, and post them for the whole year, so this is what I am trying to do, and you all should do it too. I think it will be fun to look back on these when I am 80 and completely saggy, half blind/deaf, and gray-haired and see that I was young and silly once. My Mom has also commented to me on several occasions that I need to put pictures of Tony and I on here, since it is the Goulding family blog, so here you go Mommy! P.S. I took a side shot of myself (up in the top right corner) because I had a boyfriend once that told me I was beautiful from the side, I have always thought that was so funny, and he was always trying to get pictures of me from the side (it should be a Seinfeld episode or something) It makes me laugh out loud just thinking about it. I used to joke that if we got married we could send out announcements with a profile picture of me and a straight shot of him- kinda funny. I actually have to agree with him though, I think I look much better from the side ,but only my left side, the right not so good! Geez, will I ever feel comfortable in my own skin, can I just be a little kid again?!

Curly-Q!

I Really love putting Lola's hair in curlers even though it looks kinda crazy.

Lola the 3-year-old Lady!

Lola Turned 3 on March 27th, this was an exciting Birthday for us, her Birthday was the same day that Tony finished his last Pharmacy rotation, Yeah! His rotation ended at the Delta Hospital, so went down on Wednesday (March 25th) and stayed until Sunday. It was really fun to be able to spend time with our families. We had a couple of parties and they both turned out really fun (I wish I had all the pictures my sister took) Tony's family has a really big Karate Dojo it was perfect for the parties. We had a Princess pinata, that after one swing from my Nephew Kaden (he is 12?) it was headless, so it had to be hung by it's arms instead. We had all sorts of competitions like- Who could hang the longest (My sister Holly was the winner with over Two minutes) I didn't realize how hard that is, I barely did a minute and I felt like my fingers were going to burst! Then we did the stick pull, where you sit on the floor with someone and put your feet together and whoevers bum lifts off the floor first loses. Lola and Holden (my nephew that is ten days younger than Lola) were going against eachother, that was the highlight of the night they were both screaming and crying but they wouldn't let go of the stick, Lola ended up winning and Holden was very upset to have lost to a girl. I really wished I would have video taped it, so funny! Cousin Sydney (she is the one in all the pictures) got presents for Lola that she had ordered from the book fair at school, she picked them out all by herself and even went and paid for them without her Mom, she is such a funny girl. She made Lola a card with a picture of her and Lola in matching dresses, then she gave her a Popper, a big poster of two Kittens (classic book fair stuff) and the book "You are Special". Lola wore her new Birthday outfit from My Mom and I and she was so excited it had pockets, she was trying to stuff as many things as possible in them. It was a really fun party, my Mom couldn't quit talking about it, she really wants a big room like that for get togethers, Me TOO! Then the next day we partied with Tony's Family because they were out of town on her Birthday. We did another Pinata, except this time it was a Flip-Flop, and much harder to break (we only had Jesse 4, and Lola to hit it) Tony ended up just breaking it open. We ate good food and had lots of fun. Tony's Mom and Dad gave Lola a Camera, and she was glued to it the rest of the night (Thanks Dick and Jane, she loves it!) Thanks to everyone for coming, and making it so much fun for us and thanks for all the nice gifts.

Three things I DIG about Lola

1- She Loves to Dress up, make up stories, and is super animated- Free entertainment!

2- She always says I Love you, and she completly adores me.

3- She is full of personality and spunk!

One quick story about Lola that happened Yesterday, I had just given the kids a bath and then put Ray down for a nap, then I went in to take a shower and while I was getting out Lola had this bath toy watering can and she dumped the whole thing out on the floor when I noticed her doing it I quickly grabbed it from her and asked her why she did it, and she said, "Ray did it!" and I said, "No he didn't he is in his bed!" I asked her again and she again said that Ray did it, then I said, " you don't lie to me Lola!" then she said, with a very concerned look on her face, "No, I do Like you!" She thought I said, "you don't like me Lola!" (Like I was commanding her not to like me) I couldn't help but laugh, because she really wants to be my best friend, and lucky for me she is!

Lola's Stats

Weight- 31.6 pounds

Height- 3Ft, 1 inches

I'm almost caught up!

If you can't tell, I am REALLY behind on my blogging, I almost wanted to just give it up because I felt overwhelmed about getting caught up, but this is for posterity right?! I just thought these pictures were too funny to leave out. Lola is always trying to get Ray to be in pictures with her, it cracks me up she is totally wrestling him (notice the head-lock) and all the while still smiling for the camera. That's my girl!
I love her lens free glasses, she got them as a prize when she want to the Doctor, (in case you were wanting some!) I especially like that the one side does not even sit on her ear.

Lola's Birthday treats "practice run!"

I Saw these adorable Cupcake pops on Bakerella's website and
I thought they would be fun to make, then Lola walked in and saw
the Hello Kitty pops and said that was what she wanted for her
Birthday (NO PRESSURE!) So I searched high and low for all of the
makings and I first tried the little cupcakes, simple enough right? Well I
was all out of oil for the cake mix so I substituted applesauce instead
(BAD IDEA! It tasted great, but wrong consistency! I learned my
lesson - follow the directions!) The Cake worked fine for the mini cupcakes,
but when I attempted the Hello kitty pop, her whole kitty head fell off of the
stick and it was too squishy, and heavy (I blame the applesauce) when I tried to
retrieve it, it was totally munged up. It was supposed to look like the picture of the
clean white kitty's with the pick background, but instead I got a lop-sided lumpy
freaky kitty- But do you think Lola could tell the difference?..........Me neither, she was
so happy with it. I am really glad I did a practice run before the big day, they actually
turned out really cute (the Two that I made!) I wish that I had pictures, but my sister
was the one who took pictures of all the food, so this is all I have for now. So if anyone
wants to make these you should check out bakerella's website, I think they would be so
cute for a baby shower. Check ya later!

Ray had a Birthday Shout Hooray!

We didn't do much for Ray's 1st Birthday Just had some Family
over for food, cake and Ice cream. (Thanks for coming!) Poor Ray
had the worst cold and his little nose was so raw from all the wiping.
(He still has this over a month later, what is up with that!?)

He was totally different then his sister when it came to digging into
the cake, he didn't hardly eat a thing if it weren't for his cousins
and Lola I don't know if he would have even touched it, which is strange
because he gets into everything! Lola was a huge mess on her first
Birthday and we actually had to remove her from Ray's cake because
she couldn't keep her hands off of it.

It sure has been fun to see this little boys personality come out. He makes the
cutest little sounds, he is always jabbering. He has been able to do the
motorboat-thing with his mouth since the day he was born (seriously!)
and he does it all the time, especially while pushing things around.

He still isn't walking but I am happy about that, he is way more into things that he
shouldn't be into than Lola was (Like the toilet and anything poisonous or dangerous,
I think "Danger" should be his middle name) he is always into something.

He loves to help me unload the dishwasher, it's so funny because he really gets mad
if I don't take the dishes from him he doesn't want me to get them out on my own.
He really has a mind of his own, he knows what he wants and he lets you know it.

He is still such a cuddly boy and I love that. He also has a tender heart, he gets his feelings
hurt so easy, but it is the cutest thing to see his little lips curl under and see his eyes water.
I love this boy so much!

His Daddy is seriously Crazy about him, he thinks he is the cutest baby ever and would
like it if the rest of our kids were just like him. (I think he feels pretty cool that he got a boy
that he can teach all his manly stuff to)

Happy Birthday baby Chuggies! We are so blessed to have you in our family and we love you A-LOT!

P.S. His favorite present was his Little Elmo airplane (Thanks G-ma and G-pa Goulding!) he rides
it like a champion!

Picture Problems!

So I have a ton of stuff to catch up on like- Rays 1st Birthday, Him going to the Hospital (by Ambulance) for RSV and lots of other day to day happenings, but my computer is jacked! I can't get my pictures to upload, so I guess for now I will post some of the funny things Lola and Ray have been doing lately.

She calls Ray -Chuggies or Chugs- I love this because she came up with it all on her own.

She has been giving all of her dolls and toys the name - "Sodyonna" (I have no idea where she got this either, I mean it's not your average name!). I forgot to post that she named her doll that she got for Christmas "Princess Pony Toni" pretty cute, so if any of you pregnant girls out there are struggling to find the perfect unique name for your child you know who you can call!

She came into the bathroom the other day while I was getting ready and said, "Mom My bum is slammed!" I said, "your bum is slammed?" she replied, "Yeah, like my underwear are slammed!" She uses the best words to describe a snuggie, it kills me!

She loves to sing "I am a Child of God" She sings a few of the words wrong her version goes like this, "I am a child of god and he been sent me here, has given me an erf of home wis parents kind of dear, lead me duide me walk-side me and help me find da way, teach me all dat I must do to live wis him someday."

She loves to say "I love you" and I love to hear her say it.
A couple of weeks ago we went to Delta, while at my Moms house she was fixing food for everyone and all the grandkids were making lots of special requests to my Mom like, "Grandma can I have honey?" "I want Jam", " I want salt and pepper" etc..... and while this was going on Lola was following my Mom around the kitchen saying "Grandma, Grandma, I need to tell you something!" she did this over and over and finally my Mom was done with all the requests she turned and said, "Yes Lola" Lola said, " I love you Grandma!" It was so cute.

Almost every night (like at 4 in the morning)Lola will wake up and yell, "Carrie!" and as soon as I say, "what?" she replies, "I love you!" She does this several times in a row and it never gets old.

This is one of my favorites- Lola was sitting on my lap last week and she said, "Care, I love you, your my laugh!"

Last Sunday Lola was in Nursury I think they were talking about Temples or forever families(help me out Suzette if I'm telling it wrong) and one of the little girls said, "I'm going to the temple when I get big." Then Lola said, "When I'm big I'm going to get baptized and have a baby in my tummy!" (We hope Lola realizes when she is eight years old she will not big enough for babies in her tummy!) She is so fun I love all the new things she is learning and doing, but I am so sad that each stage goes by way too quickly!

RAY-

He isn't walking yet, he only takes a few steps inbetween furniture, but he is always thinking of ways to get on top of things like the coffee table or couch. He drags things around while crawling like shoes or anything really it doesn't matter the size and he will try to stand on it and get on top of whatever it is that he wants to be on. We were at my sisters a couple of days ago and Ray moved a tupperware lid over to the couch and stood on top (keep in mind that it was only like a 1/2 inch thick or less) and was able to get up on the couch, it's funny I think it is all in his mindset and it makes him feel so much bigger and more confident, but I'm sure he could have gotten on that couch without the lid!

He is such a boy we don't have any big trucks or anything for him to push around yet, but he gets our box that all of our Baby Einstein dvds go in and he pushes that around like it was a big truck or something. I think it is so interesting to see the difference between boys and girls, they really are so different, I am learning so much from them, and I'm thankful for all they teach me.

Ray-
blows kisses
puts his arms up when I say, "reach for the sky" then I tickle him and he laughs so cute!
claps his hands
dances
Nods yes
waves
covers his nose and lips instead of his eyes when we play peek-a-boo
gives the best hugs (he squeezes so tight)and kisses.
loves the bath and kicks and squeals everytime you take him out
knows what he wants and gets mad when he doesn't get it.
loves to bonk heads with Daddy.
Is a really good baby and so much fun.
he says-
"Ya" Yes
"Da" dance
"Dada "Dad
"Mama" Mom
"Lala" Lola

I sure am on lucky Mama!

P.S. Tony is done with his last Rotation for Pharmacy next Friday I am so excited and super proud of him!

Imagination!

These pictures are old (oct) this is when Lola's imagination started to show. She used her leftover star stickers background and made herself a crown.
Just stick it on.......
and wa-la it's a crown!
Pose like a princess,

and give a sweet smile and your a recycled princess!

Lola has had quite a large imagination lately, she pretends anything is her friend or cousin or anyone that she knows(crayons, pieces of paper or plastic, bags, etc.) She makes up songs and sings them all day long, she loves to have pretend conversations on the phone, and If you didn't know she was pretending you would really think someone was on the line with her- she is that good!(Scary) Well, today she went to the bathroom and when I went in to wipe her bum she said, "that's not my family!" I said, "what?" she replied, "that's not my family, that's poop!" (as she flushed and pointed to the toilet)So there you have it, we are not poop! I'm glad she doesn't resort to pretending her poop is us, phew! I can't wait to see what things she will come up with over the next few years. I hope that I can remember most of them.

Where does she come up with these things?

Today I made Lola a cheese taco (her favorite lately) for lunch and as she sat down to the table to eat it she turned to me and said, "Your my life Care!" I had to have her repeat it to me several times, and sure enough that was what she said. I laughed then said, "Your my life too Lola, and I love you" Then she said, "I love your whole life in the whole wide world!" I love her! One more thing she said the other day that cracked me up- I was sharing some of my food with Lola and she wanted to sit on my lap, but I didn't want her to spill food all over me so I told her to sit in Rays chair, she sat down and said, "I don't want you to buckle me, I'll be too restricted!" This was another one I had to have her repeat several times, I have no idea where she learned that one. I think at this rate she is going to have a better vocabulary than me by age five- scary! A few more things that she says that are cute- "I'm too Tie-red" (tired)"I'm tursty" (Thirsty) "My Best" (purple's my best, Ray's my Best, your my best) I love it! She also has been saying things backwards and opposite like, "I can't pick up my room, it's too easy!" "It's too bright, turn the light on!" or when she is holding something and I want her to do something for me, she will say, "I can't do it, I have two hands!" She sure is full of it, but I wouldn't change her for anything!

Future Drummer!

Last night Tony was drumming on the Coffee table and Ray was totally dancing. I wish I would have recorded him when he first started doing it, when he was really into it. I love how whenever Tony stops, Ray grabs his hands and makes him do it again. Sorry for the whiney Lola in the background she just woke up and sorry you have the hear me too!

Christmas!

I am so sad, I accidently deleated the Christmas video I took of Lola, it was so cute. When she woke up her and her cousin Jesse (4) went upstairs where the tree was and it was gone, so were the stockings, they were both convinced that the Grinch stole everything! The plate of cookies and carrots that they had left out for Santa and the Reindeer was empty, all except for one little sprinkle, Lola was excited, her eyes got so big and she said, "a sprinkle!" and she ate it like it was the best thing ever, it was too cute! We all thought it was really funny that they came up with the whole "Grinch" thing on their own. Then we went out to the garage and there was the Tree and stockings along with all the presents, they both were pretty excited! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Goulding for letting us have Christmas at your house. They spoiled us way too much- as always!
I caught a few "excited" looks from Lola. Funny thing is she got the most excited over her stocking stuff- chap stick, shampoo, and tic-tacs! I think next year I'm going to spend less and give her strictly hygiene products, she will be the freshest little girl around! I really didn't get anything for Ray (he did make the good list, he just didn't ask for anything!)but he had a good time all the same!

Daddy and Ray Chillin.

This was Ray with uncle Clay on the way outside to find where the "Grinch" took Christmas! Ray looks like he is saying, "oh, I know where it is!"

Every year Christmas morning we go to my Sister Holly's house and eat breakfast, it is always so good. Lola got to open her favorite present, Grandma and Grandpa McCausland got her dressup's, my Mom also gave her a whole bunch of old jewelry, she loves it all so much, I think I will have to buy her some more dress ups in March for her Birthday, these Chrismas ones won't last for sure, she wears them all the time, usually more than one at a time, so cute! Thanks Holly and Russ for always letting us come over and eat your yummy food and make way too much noise!
This was the Sunday before Christmas, Grandma and Grandpa Goulding bought their cute outfits.

Updating!

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!This last month has flown by for me. So much has happened , I will try to give a little summary of it all. This is the bath Foam Grandma and Grandpa Goulding gave Lola for Christmas, she loves it, she wants to take a bath several times a day (her skin is getting quite chappy!) Thanks Gouldings!
I love Rays kooky hair in this picture. He Just turned 10 months on the 27th and he is as sweet as ever. Some updates on him are: He loves to pull himself up and climb onto anything that he can, he especially loves the dishwasher, he cries every time I pull him away from it. He doesn't like to use his knees much, he slithers like a snake then slimes up stuff until he is on his feet (Talk about some serious upper body strength, the ladies are going to love him!) it's really funny. A few days ago I was taking a shower and when I got out I heard him crying, when I went to check on him he was standing at the coffee table with his head bobbing he was so tired but he didn't want to let go because his way of getting down is to fall, (He often bonks his head on the table) he REALLY needs to use those knees! He has two teeth on the bottom and he does some super cheesy grins. He nods his head yes and no. He started waving "Hi" like a little puppy dog, I don't really know how to explain it and he won't ever do it for me on camera, but it is so cute to me, he keeps his fingers together and bends his wrist up and down (sounds kinda femme) it reminds me of a little dogs paw when you ask a dog to shake your hand. Anyway, he is really cute!

Lola loves this stuff, I highly recommend it if you have a child that doesn't like to take baths, it also turns the bath water really green, kinda fun.

A Few weeks ago I gave Tony a Buzz and left him with a little Mohawk, don't they look like twins?

Side view, Rays is quite a bit longer. Last week at church a little boy in primary about 5 years old turned around and told me Ray needed a hair cut, I thought it was pretty funny, but I can't do it, I like his crazy hair too much!

The weekend after Thanksgiving I went to Roberts crafts because they were giving away free gifts to the first 100 customers, The gift was this snowman kit (minus the hat and mittens)Lola couldn't wait for it to snow so she could build a snowman. We built this the week of Christmas the snow wouldn't pack at all, so we just built a little pile and a tiny ball for a head. Lola was so cute, the whole time we were make it, she was giggling and kept saying, "This is gonna be fun!" and "I'm makin Frosty the snlowman" She says "Snow" but she adds an l sound, it's pretty cute!

Ray thought the snow was pretty fun too, I'm sure in a few months he will be playing right along with Lola. Lola has such a funny face in the background. Christmas update coming.................Soon!

Sugar Cookie Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

I want this for Lola!
Sugar Cookie Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Cheese-ball!

I have never been one for hats or scarfs, not because I don't think they are cute, but because I feel weird wearing them. This year I bought myself a few, and I'm debating on keeping them. Today I had Lola model them- she feels comfortable in anything (or nothing for that matter!) I think they are really cute-especially on her! Should I keep them? You can't see the hat very well, but it has two big buttons in the front and I love buttons. Anyway-I was messing around with photo shop and I think this picture is cute-kinda funky colors.

Tony taught Lola how to wink (she can't really do it, as you can see, she just kinda turns to the side and closes both eyes, pretty tricky!) and make a clicking sound when she does it, it cracks me up every time. She looks pretty funny doing it.

This is Lola's Halloween costume I made her (this is the only thing that I have sewn start to finish) last year, I have had it stored under our bed because it is too small, and it's not really a regular day to day get-up. Well, Lola has this amazing way of finding everything I don't want her to (can't wait till Christmas-no surprises!) and she found this and put it on and immediately started to shake her booty, I don't know why but I never get tired of her doing this, there is something so cute about her little round body shaken like crazy.

Dinner Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Dinner Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Crazy Wonderful day!

This day didn't start out so well, I woke up at 5 am. because little Ray puked all over me, then I couldn't go back to sleep. (I'm really tired!) I took Lola to gymnastics, then took both kids to story time, which I love except I can't get Lola out of there. She loves books, and wants to take all of them home! We then went to walmart (rarely a pleasant experience, but I have to go for the good prices!) I was really craving homemade Cafe Rio, I had loaded my cart and needed two more items, When Lola said she needed to pee. She hadn't gone since before she went to bed at night, so I knew she REALLY needed too. I headed for the bathroom, and here is where my day went downhill. Remember she had gymnastics so she was wearing spandex tights and a leotard. I get to the bathroom and I'm trying to balance Ray on my hip and take off her clothes, leaving one leg still in her tights, to make redressing a little easier, then I go to lift her onto the toilet and it automatically flushes and splashes her. Lola wasn't liking that one bit and she wouldn't sit on the toilet, she kept saying, "try again later!" I kept saying, "No, we are not leaving until you go!" This girl has no problem peeing her pants just to get to me. I really didn't want to let that happen in my cart of groceries! Anyway, Lola won, she stood there, in a wide stance and said, "I'm going!" and peed all over the place, including all over my shoe, that's what really set me off, Gross! I was so mad at her she has never had a problem going on any other store toilets grrrr! I stood there in the stall with her for a few minutes, wanting to spank her, but instead I pulled on one of her pigtails, and then I pinched her ( I know this is terrible, but I was a little past my limit!). I didn't even want to come out of the stall, I was thinking what are the other people in here thinking, "abusive, Russian Mama's in the next stall!" I calmed down a little and opened the door, and there was a Wallmart worker that had just come in to clean the bathroom, I apologized for Lola peeing on the floor and she Held Ray while I washed Lola in the sink, I was so embarrassed! She also told me that I could have put my hand over the sensor and that would have kept the toilet from flushing. That would have been nice to know five minutes earlier, but can't you imagine that picture in the stall? Me holding Ray, balancing Lola on the toilet with my other arm and covering the sensor with my foot up in the air, too funny! (Can't wait to try it! NOT!) Then she gave me a gigantic sized plastic trash bag and told me I could wrap it around Lola, I thanked her and used it for the peed on items instead (I still had to finish my shopping!) then I looked in my bag and found a pair of under wear and a pair of knee high socks put them on Lola and strolled out of the bathroom looking like Mother of the Year! I got lots of looks, and felt pretty suckee. On the way home I told Lola sorry for getting mad at her, pulling her hair and pinching her, and that I think those toilets are scary too and we will have to make sure that she goes potty before we go to walmart! Lucky for me, Lola forgave me! She teaches me everyday that I need more patience, and Sleep! Sorry, you probably thought I was done, but I'm only about half way. When we got home from Walmart I put all my groceries away and went to set Ray in his high chair and I noticed that there was mouse poop in it, yuck! I don't even want to know how it got up there! I can't stand mice, they make me almost unfuctional, I can't sleep when I know we have one in our house and I hate not knowing where they have been or are. I wash all of my utensils before I use them just in case they got into the drawer, ewe! Back to my day. Our ward Christmas party was that night and Lola was asked to participate in the nativity program, as one of the Angels. I was thinking to myself, yeah, she will be a "GREAT" angel! Tony had to work and I really didn't want to take both kids by myself, but I am so glad I went! Right when I got there, I dished up my food and sat down, right then Ray puked all over himself and me (He hadn't thrown up since 5am. I thought he was all better). I wanted to leave right then, but instead I just took off his shirt and wiped off his pants, and hung in. Lola didn't eat her food, she spilled her entire cup of water all over, she ate only the frosting off of her brownie, then she wouldn't let me wipe off her face, and I'm thinking, "seriously, why am I here?" Just then they announced for the children participating in the program to go up on the stage to get ready. It was crazy, I told Lola it was time for her to go and get her Angel costume on, and just like that she turned into a complete perfect Angel. On the way up to the stage she was telling everyone she passed, "I'm going to be an Angel!" (This is not like her to talk to people she doesn't really know) Then I went and put her costume on and several of the kids were not wanting to do it, so I thought that Lola would decide not to do it either, but she was so cute, and let me get her dressed and put her tinsel halo on and never touched it and just smiled so sweet and angelic the whole time. When they opened the curtains Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus were the only ones on stage, but Lola peeked around the curtain so cute and waved to everyone, then while she was on stage, she stood perfectly still and had her hands all cupped together and had the sweetest look on her face, it was perfect. Then Santa came and we had to wait in line for almost an hour to see him, but I'm so glad we stayed, Lola was so cute. While we were in line I was prepping her and asking what she was going to ask Santa for and both times I asked she told me she wanted dress-ups, but when it was her turn she asked for a new baby doll with new clothes and a Binky, then she hugged him and touched his beard and his clothes so soft and told him thank you. It really was so cute! I had several people comment on how she was the perfect angel and how she really looked angelic up there on stage, I told them, I was surprised she did so good, and that if they would have spent the day with me they would have known why. She really was so friendly that night, she was hugging people left and right and letting them hold her and carry her around, she was so fun and sweet. I was so glad I went and I was really sad I didn't have Tony there with me to she the magical look on Lola's face, when she saw Santa. I really do Love my kids so much! I'm excited to watch them learn new things. I hope I can be a better Mom and continue to learn from them and grow with them, and enjoy my time with them, even when it's hard (tantrums in stores, potty training accidents, when they are sick, etc...) I know they will be gone way too quickly! Sometimes I wish I could reverse Lola back to a baby. I really don't know that she could have been any better of a baby, unless she was a toy doll (didn't need to eat or need diaper changes) she really was an amazing baby, and so much fun! Now she is so spunky and we butt heads, but I wouldn't change her if I could, she has so much personality and she is just as sweet as she is sassy, I Love Her. Ray is such a sweet baby too, he is so handsome and tenderhearted. It seems like he is always sick, I have to give him extra loves and hugs it makes me feel so close to him. I hope he will stay sweet forever!
I'm considering making her an Angel costume so I can see more of this angelic behavior at home!

I Love how she is holding her hands like that. And one of the wisemen couldn't stop picking his nose, I think he had his own treasure in mind!
Sweet Ray fell asleep while we waited in line, doesn't he look sweet. If I didn't know better, I would think this was the real Santa, he was amazing.

Ray woke up when I sat Lola on Santa with him, he was like where am I!


When we were leaving the party Lola said, "Santa is nice, he loves me!"