The 5 hour extrication

Alex's dollhouse fell right on top of "Bullseye the Lamb". We gathered only the strongest to help lift the house, Woody, Tiny Tiny Baby, Buzz Lightyear and Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl.

Those darn Fairies just sat around and talked about the horrible tragedy of the tornado.

Eventually he was freed, then the house landed on Woody, and so on, and so on, and so on and so on...

Ice Skating

Alex's friends ganged up on her and wrestled her into her ice skates.

She cried, and cried, and said, "Alex's shoes are too heavy. Alex no like ice skates."

So sad

Alex is sad. She absolutely REFUSED to wear her ice skates, but she wanted to go on the ice with her friends...dilemma for a 2 year old.

Don't worry Virtual Friends, Alex explained her situation to the box office, and we got our money back.

Santa!!!!

Santa brought plenty of gifts for Alex. She LOVED opening her Kriffus presents.

Finnley at the Vet

Mommy took Finnley to the Vet for her Strep test. Alex was very protective of her dog, but she managed to talk her through the procedure.

Potty training

The chicken is doing GREAT with potty training. She is also picking out her own outfits these days. I think this would be a perfect outfit for the Roller Derby.

Kind of a Big Deal

In case you didn't know, Alex is kind of a big deal.

You have got to be kidding me!

Virtual Friends, let me catch you up on what's been happening around here.

Yesterday Alex had a Doctor appointment to make sure the pneumonia was out of her lungs, and it was. But you know what we discovered?????

I'll bet you can guess. FREAKING STREP THROAT, AGAIN!

(Keep in mind, it is RARE for a kid under the age of 4 to get strep throat, let alone 5 times in 6 months.)

I absolutely came unglued when the Doctor broke the news to me. I will not expand on what that looked like, just use your emotional imagination.

So now what?

Mama and Mommy tested negative for Strep.

What next?

The dog is getting tested tomorrow (and I'm not even kidding).

Can I tell you how awkward it is to ask your friends and their kids to get tested when they exhibit no symptoms??? Extremely.

For now, the sleeping issue is on hold until our little monkey feels better.

This is a happy video that we made yesterday to Alex's favorite song, "I'm Yours".

Look at what Alex does when Jason Mraz sings, "...open up your mind and you will see".

Keep the "Kriff" in Kriffus

We went to see zoo lights the other night with the Keeley clan and K-Man. Alex will tell you that we saw the "Kriffus lights".

help us

In a desperate attempt to get Alex to sleep in her own bed again, BFF broke out the Aquarium Christmas present for her room.

Alex slept in our bed while she was sick, and now she REFUSES to sleep in her own bed again.

And believe me, we have tried. The first 3 nights we did the "cry-it-out method". By the third night, she cried for a total of 90 minutes. Sweating, crying, slobber, screaming...FOR NINETY MINUTES!!!!!!!!!!

We decided to wait until I was off for a few days to deal with it again...here we are. Wish us luck. If you have ANY advice, it is welcomed, seriously, BRING IT, cuz nobody is sleeping well in this new arrangement.

our little decorator

The tree has been redecorated numerous times by our little assistant.

It looks simply AMAZING now.

Mickey and Minnie

When Mickey and Minnie Mouse get together, they can't keep their hands off each other.

CAPTION CONTEST!!!!

2nd Annual Caption Contest!!!

Submit your caption in the comment section below by midnight on December 20th, and you might be the winner!

cookie decorating 2010

The Keeley's came over to help us decorate cookies. Alex likes to put A LOT of sprinkles on her cookies.

She has decorated cookies two nights in a row, and both mornings after, she has woken up and said, "Alex's tummy hurt."

Not surprising.

Griswolds

Getting ready for Christmas!

Pneu fun

What's up with Alex?

Pneumonia, that's what. It's pneu fun for anyone.

The chicken's immune system was able to fight it with some uber-strong antibiotics and several baths.

She had a rough week, but has finally turned the corner.

Now it's time to decorate for Christmas!

Hoho, Alex wants her present

Santa was ALSO at the firehouse this year!! When he came down the stairs, Alex said,

"Ho-Ho (that's what she calls Santa), Alex wants her present."

Alex was scared of him, but she graciously accepted the gift.

A little piece of Wyatt

Alex's friend Wyatt drooled in her Hello Kitty Music Box. He really loved it.

curly goodness

Alex, much like her Mama, does not like to make 2 trips when carrying items from one place to another.

Santa, K-man, Mommy and the chicken

BFF took the kiddos to the upscale Cherry Creek Mall to visit Santa. Apparently Santa falls asleep between kids. We think that's how he maintains his slow metabolism in the winter.

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving was fantastic. We went for a hike, BFF prepared an amazing feast and we watched movies.

Our little chicken hasn't been feeling so well for the past week though. She's had a fever and a cough. I took her to the Doctor today, and it turns out that the chicken has Strep throat (again) and Bronchitis. Double whammy.

This winter blows. We haven't even seen an inch of snow here in Denver, and we've all been swapping germs like crazy.

Anyway, keep Alex in your thoughts because she wants to get back to Gymnastics and Music class real soon.

Mama and hiker girl

Our little hiker wanted to be carried down so that she could eat her snack, and I can't say that I blame her. Given the option, I would also like to be held when eating a snack.

Fives a monkey jumpin on bed

Alex come wis you

Funny story.

I went for a run yesterday while the neighbor played with Alex. I returned after an hour to find Alex happily playing with Iris. She comes running into my arms and says...

Alex: Mama, I'm cryin!.

ME: Why are you crying?

ALEX: Mama go for run, and Alex want come wis you.

ME: You would like to come running with me?

ALEX: Yes. Tomorrow Alex come wis you.

Gymnastics Report Card

Gymnastics Class Report Card (written by Mama)

Participation: A

Listening: C-

Motor Skills: A

Sitting still while Teacher gives instructions: C

Number of Timeouts given in 45 minutes: 2

Crossdress much?

Crossfit much? This photo should be titled "Crossdress much?"
Check out foothillscrossfit website for more info on crossfit itself...I've been having fun.
The second annual CAPTION CONTEST is coming up, but not on this photo, so save your witty comments for when they count.

Eating crayons and pooping rainbows

Meet our new dog.

She was on craigslist (or craig's corner as a friend's mother calls it).

Pertinant stats:

Name: Friendly (this was the name previous owner gave her, we are open to suggestions)

Height: Short

Weight: Less than Alex

Breed: Unknown

Check out that drivers' side leg and paw. No, it did not get caught in a wood chipper. We think God might have been in a hurry when he was creating this dog. It appears as though the left leg is on the right side, and the right leg is on the left side.

Oh, and she literally pooped rainbows the other day.

Friendly ate crayons and pooped rainbows...this has got to be the dog for us.

Nana and the zoo

Nana was explaining the intricacies of kangaroo anatomy to Alex yesterday at the zoo.

Timeouts are harsh

Here's our little chicken.

The chicken has earned several Timeouts lately. She always cries during Timeout, then we hug, then she begins to award Timeout to each and every one of her dolls for the same infractions that she incurred.

It's hilarious to listen to her during these scoldings. SHE SERIOUSLY YELLS AT THESE DOLLIES! I don't know where she gets that, because I don't yell when I give her a Timeout, I simply put her in the Naughty Chair, and go about my business for 2 minutes.

Her dolls however, they really get yelled at.

Rioja, we're still hungry

I met the Hot Tomato Girls out for a real trendy dinner at "RIOJA".

We underwhelmed the patronage with our classless clothing (read, we were underdressed), but holy cow did we ever have fun!

And Rioja, if you're reading this, Anne and I were still hungry after dinner. Riddle me that Batman.

Jersey Jen and Anne the Hot Tomato girls

Jersey Jen and Anne are feeling no pain after a few "lightyourassonfirejalapenomartinis".

You might think Anne isn't watching you in this picture, but she is, she's watching.

Sussa and Alex

Alex and Grandma Sussa (Sunshine) had quite a day of painting and sharing noodles.

They are both 2 years old.

belly full of snow

These photos were taken one year apart.

Today we had the first snowfall of the season. When Alex woke up, we showed her the snow through the window, and she had to go outside THAT VERY SECOND OR SHE SIMPLY COULD NOT GO ON LIVING.

I bundled her up, and she cleared our lawn of snow by eating it one handful at a time.

full contact piano playing

Look at them all stacked up. Alex earned her spot on that piano bench by waiting her turn (that was VERY difficult), then she sat next to a girl who her mom describes as "spirited".

Well, little "Miss Spirited" started by roughing up the boy next to her, then she wanted to play an octave higher, which was TECHNICALLY Alex's territory...it was real aggressive, but Alex held her own.

The incredible precision

Alex is gifted, in so many ways.

BLUE

Alex not only painted her own nails, she also painted the toes of every doll that she owns...blue, just blue.

hiding in the jungle

One of Alex's favorite things to do is to hide in the jungle. We do this for hours, I'm not even kidding, WE DO THIS FOR HOURS.
Alex hides Buzz Lightbeer, Flamingo finds him, Alex hides Jessie, Rae finds her...

Jam session with Sally

The chicken is having a serious jam session with Sally and Mieke. I can't remember if it was Winnie the Pooh or John Denver who composed this song originally, but it sure sounded beautiful. Sally is moving to Belgium, and we are very excited for her and her new love. We love you and will miss you Sally June!

Halloween 2010

Jessie showed that buried skeleton who's boss. Halloween was super-duper fun this year. Mama ate lots of candy, Mommy took Alex trick-or-treating, and Alex charmed the neighborhood with her cowgirl smile.

Jessie and the Ghost

Interesting Fact: Alex actually likes being scared. She was scared of this ghost, and yet she still wanted to be around it.

Stamps are the bestest ever

Alex was SUPER DUPER excited to get a stamp on her tummy at the end of music class. When I told her it was time for stamps, she jumped off my lap, pulled her pants down, lifted her shirt, and walked over to Ms. Leah for her stamp.

handstand/pike

This is Alex's signature move in gymnastics. She feels as though she's perfected hanging on the bars, now she's moved on to the handstand/pike.

"He's scared. He's scared."

Fester is scared.
Alex's two favorite emotions are scared and sad. She loves to comfort her dolls when they are really suffering.

Kids Eat Free!

Kids eat free at Denny's on Tuesdays.

Alex had syrup.

BFF and I agreed that Denny's is more delicious with a hangover.

Rocket

Alex fixing her Rocket.

Sick sick sick

Fall has been beautiful. Unfortunately Alex has been to the Doctor 4 times in 4 weeks. First Strep, then complications from Strep shot, then nasty kid virus, now croup. Mommy took her to the Doctor yesterday. When she parked the car, Alex took one look at the building and said,"BLUE SUCKER COMING!"

"Sucker me."

When Alex wants a sucker now, she says, "Sucker me", or "Sucker time".

"swimming"

I took the chicken swimming. If you ask her if she had fun, she'll say, "Alex cold. Mama cold."

Fall Colors

Fall in Colorado is short and beautiful.

"Sucker Mama. Playground and sucker."

This is the face of a child PLEADING with me to let her have her sucker while she plays on the playground.

SCORE:

Mama 1

Alex 476

(I'm finally catching up.)

Apple pickin'

Finally! Time to pick the apples.

Anyone have a good apple recipe?

Intubation of Fester with Alien named Gravis

This is Fester's 3rd trip to the Doctor's office in a week and a half, poor guy.

Alex and Mama have been sick, sick, sick (Mommy has stayed healthy, knock knock).

I believe we are getting better, FINALLY! Good thing, cuz we were gonna have to get Alex to pee in a cup if she didn't get better. (She would have done it for a sucker, she'll do anything actually, for a sucker.)

In the photo above, Alex is intubating Fester with a plastic Alien. She is incredibly precise.