Payton's parade...

Here are a couple of photos of Payton from her 4th of July parade at daycare today. It was pretty cute. She had a good time:)

We are leaving to the UP in the morning to spend a week at the lake. We are really looking forward to it. Should be fun. I just found out that one of my friends from high school will be in town. I haven't seen Laurie in over 7 years I think!

Happy Fourth of July everyone!

Hard at work...

We have been busy around here lately. Over the weekend we were able to get a little more landscaping done on the east side of the house. Brian really wanted to get the landscaping in around the air conditioner and the gas meter to cut down the amount of hand trimming he has to do. We did manage to get that done and planted a miss kim lilac bush and an evergreen shrub. It turned out great. On Sunday I decided that it was time to start painting the kitchen. The white was starting to get old. I finished about 2/3 of it now. It is a really nice warm brown/gray color. It looks great with the 2 red walls in there. It is funny how a coat of paint (or in our case 2-3 coats) can really change a room!

Payton has decided that 5am is a good time to start waking up. Yesterday Brian actually just took his pillow and laid down next to her crib and she did lay back down. Today she actually slept until 7am. That was HUGE! The early sunrises are not making it easy for her to go back to sleep!

Last night we were working on getting Payton to say her name. Right now she says Paytee. Super cute I know, but when we asked her if she could say Payton she just nods her head. I wasn't sure if she was just nodding for the fun of it, so I asked her if she could say alligator. Now mind you that alligator really is not a work we say around here and we have never heard her attempt it. She didn't nod, but said actually said alligator. Or something very close to it!

Mackinac...

Here is Payton on the porch of the Grand Hotel, and down on the lawn.



We had a really nice weekend and were able to see most of our families too. The weather was great and Payton slept great. She did have an aversion to the high chair that the hotel had, but we were able to deal with it. We stocked up on fudge and bought a few things. All in all it was a perfect weekend in Mackinac!

Please be good....

Today we are leaving for a weekend with Brian's family at Mackinac Island, MI. We are stopping to see my sister Nicole on the way there and my sister Val on the way back. Just to break up the 10 hour drive. Last time we took Payton on a road trip it was to Milwaukee for Mother's day to visit Brian's grandma. She was an angel! I am thinking that we really lucked out that weekend. She wants to be so independent, which is great, but very frustrating. Like when we are in a parking lot walking to the car and she wants to "push" the cart amongst the traffic. Mind you it is a full size cart and she doesn't even reach the handle yet. Yesterday I tried to take that job over and she looked at me like "what you you doing mama, I've got it!" Or when we are in the library and she thinks she is so funny to run around laughing as I try to quickly pick out some books and videos for her. Then she throws herself down on her butt so we won't leave. She seems to love the library! It is funny now, but I will say that yesterday she was on my last nerve! Especially as I was scrubbing spaghetti sauce out of my dining chair cushions... why didn't they have that same style table without the cushions?!

She redeems herself quick though. I took her out of her chair and she reached up, gave me a big hug and said "hi" with the biggest smile you have ever seen. She knows how to work mama...

You know your child rules your every thought when...

your husband asks you during dinner "If you could marry a Wiggle, which one would it be?" And if you don't know what a Wiggle is, you are totally missing out!!! ha ha... By the way, I picked Anthony:O)

New Patio

Its only been 10 days since I first called for an estimate and the patio is already finished. Those guys did quick work at a reasonable price. I don't mind doing work myself, but this was probably a little over my head. I did add the stairs myself. Now we have a place to put Payton's sandbox, our fire pit, and a vegatable garden in the corner.

More of the cutie

Here's Payton in the outfit my mom bought while she was in San Francisco a year ago...she finally fits into it.

Blowing bubbles...

Here are a couple of photos of Payton from the weekend. She can't get enough of playing outside and she really loves blowing bubbles. She dragged her bubble pail over to my mom every chance she got!