Mom's little helper

Cali likes to help me unload the dish washer. Normally she helps with the bottom shelf. Today she found a new way to help empty the top shelf. She cracks me up! Mommy's little helper.

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Thanksgiving Overview

We had a fun filled Thanksgiving weekend.  In total we had three family Thanksgiving festivities.  Thursday afternoon and evening we spent at Nick's brother's house.  Cali had a great time playing with her cousin Leigha and we had some yummy BBQ.

Cali wearing a fireman hat.

The girls playing

Leigha reading a story to Cali.

Cuddle time

Friday morning I was out with all the crazy people shopping.  After a nap we headed over to my mom's house.  Cali had a blast playing with her cousins and stealing cookies off the counter.  We even helped mom put up her Christmas trees.

The cookie thief

More cuddle time

The boys trying to get the tree lights to work

Toddlers playing

Saturday we had lunch with Nick's extended family.  It was great to see all the cousins, aunts and uncles.  After lunch we headed over to Nick's mom's house to play.  Cali had fun playing with Grandma.

Cali, Leigha, Grandma and Great Aunt Pam at the kids' table.

Coloring fun

Watching TV with Grandma

 Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

21 Months Old

Cali Maple is 21 months old today!  Where has the time gone.  It seems like everyday she changes, learns a new word and does something new.   She is a full on toddler, fits and all.  We are have started to work on discipline and obeying authority.  If she doesn't listen she has to go sit in the corner.  She seems to be catching on.  She was having a hard time listening to Nick today so he asked her if she needed to sit in the corner to calm down, she shock her head no and gave him a hug.   One small victory is nice when there are so many battles.

Cali is really starting to be able to communicate and give her opinions and wants.  I told Nick is it going to get harder now that she can let us know what she wants, before we could just make her do whatever we wanted.   She is also able to do things that you ask her to do, which can be helpful!

Cali Stats:

• Cali has 12 teeth, 2 just showed up!
• Wears size 4 diapers, 18-24 month clothes, and size 6 shoe
• Sleeps from 8pm to 7:30am
• Takes a one hour to two hour nap a day
• Talks and makes noises all day, we only understand some of it but more words come out everyday!
• Loves to play with baby dolls and push them around in strollers
• Favorite foods: peaches, mac n cheese, chicken, fried rice, peas, cookies, french toast, ground beef, ham, MILK!
• Goes to playschool for half a day 2 to 3 days a week
• Loves to read books and color
• Loves to play outside and swing 
• Loves Baby Einstein's and Elmo movies
• Loves to snack.  She will say "bowl" when she wants you to give her a bowl full of snacks.  For some reason she took a bowl upstairs for bath time tonight and went to bed with the bowl.  Not sure why.

Just being cute

This is Cali "helping" clean one of her bowls.  This is the bowl she also fell asleep holding.

She likes to look at herself in the frame around the fireplace.

I can't believe our little girl is almost 2!  Wow! 

She blesses us so much and makes us better!

Surprise Party

Nick threw me an amazing surprise 30th birthday party Saturday!  He and my sister have been planning for weeks to pull it off!  I was super surprised and SOOOO happy when I figured out what was going on.  I'm so blessed to have wonderful family and friends in my life to encourage me and support me!   

We had a great time hanging out, chatting and eating.  Nick even had some of my favorite foods like Swedish Fish and popcorn!  He also made a fun 80's montage of music and TV commercials.  The party was at the church office so there was lots of room for everyone.

Here is one group of people hiding waiting for me to come in. 

More people hiding.

SURPRISE!!  I was so happy, Cali was confused.

Me and Mom

Me and Nick's Mom

 My uber prepared sister brought a bunch of toys for the kids to play with.  She and Nick set up a play area.  In total we had 6 kids under 6!  It was crazy fun!

Mom, Mary, Cuz Dave, and Me

 I love Birthdays!  So I was really touched that everyone helped make my 30th a big deal.  It was been a great ride so far and I can't wait to see what God has in store for the next 30!

The Big 3-0!

Yesterday was my 30th birthday.  It was a wonderful and difficult day all in one.  I think I was emotionally charged up in the morning and let some things get to me that I can normally push through.   After lunch with Nick I was good again!  He is such a blessing in my life!

This sign was on the refrigerator when I woke up.  Can you tell that Cali helped?

Nick's mom came to play with Cali and Nick while I was at work.  They had a great time together.   We had planned on a big dinner outing with all four of us but after my rough morning we decided a quiet dinner with just Nick and I would be better.  So Nick's mom took first shift with Cali (dinner and play time) and our friend Angie took the second shift (bath and play time).   After an amazing dinner we got home in time to tuck Cali in.

Enjoying birthday lunch with Nick, Cali and Grandma.

Nick's four girls

For my birthday Nick got me a new camera!  We got a Canon Rebel XS!  I have been wanting a good camera for a while.  So often a point and shoot just isn't good enough to capture a fast moving toddler.   We are still trying to get it figured out.

Cali looking for squirrels.

Jack is camouflaged by the leaves.

Thirty seems old to me; adults are 30.  I do not feel like an adult most days so the fact that I'm 30 is perplexing.

Yesterday was also the first of many "firsts" without dad.   I didn't expect that to effect me as much as it did.  It was sad not to get a phone call from him.

Family Photo Shoot

I have wanted to get professional photos taken of our family for a while.  Cali is changing so fast I just want to capture how she is now.  I also wanted some good photos for our Christmas card and for some fun wall art.  The photos were taken by Will Page, he is still in high school and takes awesome photos.  The photo shoot itself was interesting.  It took Cali a while to warm up to the idea, but once cookies were used as a motivator she was all smiles.

So here are some of my favorites.

Headband

This is Cali all dressed up to go out to dinner with Grandma Jordan.
Most of the clothes in her current wardrobe are hand me downs from my sister and 2 families at church. We are blessed to have all these free clothes! The down side is many of the dresses are for summer. So we added a long sleeve shirt and tights to make it a fall outfit. I think it looks cute and it has saved us a ton of money.
Cali is also sporting her new headband we got at target for a dollar!

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