Pretty Princess in Pink!

We decided to try on Gretchie's Easter dress from last year---she loved the pretty dress immediately and started twirling and singing and dancing and did not want to take it off--DO YOU BLAME A PRINCESS!

I had a hard time convincing her the tiarra had to go on-but got some cute pictures with it on--- So errands were post phoned until after nap today. She found her baby photo inside my Bible---and knew it was her--we put it in a ziplock bag to protect it but she carried it around all morning long and even asked if she could cut it---(she has seen me scrapbooking-thats pretty smart thinking photos had to be cut) I said no we are not cutting this photo---and she then proclaims ITS DANGEROUS!! I said yes Gretchie for you to cut yes!! She smiles and says OK mommy! She took it to return Library movies(BABAR) today and show Kelly and Michelle her teachers. She says I am a tiny baby and I say I want my mommy and daddy and then they came and got me---she is winking in the photo and she even imitates the face she was making when she was 5 days old--ha! She also knows she was born in Guatemala!!

When we left the Library--I have temp. misplaced my lib. card--so Gretchie says Did my friends bring Heffalump to share with me?? What thinking to know you have to share the movies at the library and then she says we take Father Christmas (BABAR) back to library!!! SO..............I need to find my library card so we can check out more on Wednesday. I am sooo sick of Babar that Heffalump sounds good to me!!
We went to Walmart to get 3 things milk for daddy , raisins and stickas!! While we were in line Gretchie spotted an elephant gift card holder. It was a small elephant and I let her play with it--I must have been in a long line and slow because one of my former students came up and gave me a hug and talked and the whole time Gretchen was making elephant noises sitting in the cart!! She had a two year old brother and Gretchen kept making her elephant noises!! I said ok G its time to put the elephant back
(mean mom) she gave it a kiss on the nose and then handed it to me she

then yelled NO!! I handed it back--it was way tooooo cute and why did I even think she would give it to me in the first place with her love for elephants!!! She did put it on the conveyer belt and said wheeeeeeeeew as she watched the elephant take a ride!!! HA! When we got out to the van --she asked if Heffy was in the sack? Can I please hold him----all the way home which is only about 3 miles if that!! Gretchie was in elephant land again!! When we got home she ran upstairs and got the other two elephants and played with all of them while I popped the meatloaf and potatoes in the oven!! As she was playing under the dining room table with her heffalumps------I hear her chatting away to SILENT..............................could she be under the table messing her pants (which has not happened in 3 weeks)

I walked in and leaned over to my suprise---------------G had a blue crayon and was drawing on the underneath part of the table..........OH BOY!! Now I just looked at her and said what are you doing ?? SHE KNEW IT WAS TROUBLE!! I made her clean it with water bottle and a sponge and while she was cleaning she says ARE YOU MAD MOMMY? Sorry mommy! So when daddy came home he looked at her and said hi--she says Mommy is mad! Lee says WHY?? (I had already told him in the garage what happened) She just looked away----He says did you color today? She said YES! He said Show me Gretchen----she got off the couch but would not take his hand (which she always does) She took both our hands and just stood there---She told daddy she colored and mommy was mad and I said sorry. We retold her coloring books and paper only!!!!

Weekend

Friday Gretchie had another friend come play for a couple hours. She loves friends at her house!! Tatianna and Angelica came over and the girls played really well together. Angelica is not two yet. Gretchen's comment after she left was that was soo fun but she doesn't talk! HA! Gretchen also told me Angelica (which she pronounces without the a--and pretty clearly) jumped on her bed---I asked did you jump on your bed too? She nodded yes and put her head down--teehee! (told on herself)

Friday after nap we drove to Pendleton court house again to get the passport --Lee worked in WW Friday and went and got the Oregon b-cert in the safe deposit box and met us in Pendleton at 4 pm! We went to the Dollar Store while we waited for daddy. What a not so kid friendly place with balloons everywhere!! She loved it though!! No problems at the court house and within ten minutes we signed and took the oath! Gretchen then went potty because she said she went potty at the court house yesterday--ha! The squirrels at the court house were a very big deal---but I had never heard her say the word squirrel and she told me to look at the squirrels--so her and daddy went over to the trees to see them!! Daddy said one of her books have squirrels in them!! Poor child we do not have trees and squirrels in Hermiston!!! We then went to DB Farm Supply Store and looked at the bunnies!! Gretchie had fun "shopping."
We then decided to go to the Mexican restraunt for dinner---to celebrate!

"G" sat on her booster seat and started coloring on the napkin and two crayons I had in my purse. She was starving and she was munching on chips! Until she said she had to go potty---like four times or more!! AND then would lay down on the floor and yell I have to go poopie!! Let me add it was just an attention getting she was dry each time!!! The last time I gave her a talk and she sat on my lap and drank pop with a straw!! So I could finish my dinner!(but I did box it up) When we left she voluntarily said thank-you to daddy for dinner!(cute) Then Lee says that was a great dinner and very relaxing-----probably because I spent half the dinner in the bathroom with a two year old!! Ha!! It was delicious and exausting for me----teehhee! So what ever perspective you want ----I probably will never forget it!!

The ride home it was 6:30 pm soo we sang and did the ABC's and counted! I had no voice left-haha!! I turned the light on and the radio up. As soon as I got on the off ramp into Stanfield "G" fell silent ---and asleep!! YIKES!! She can fall asleep faster than anyone!! I tried to shake her foot awake but NO--so I pulled over at the P.O. and woke her up and gave her some chips from my dinner!! We still had ten minutes to get home!! She was in a great mood---I am not quite sure I would be with the light on, shaking my foot and someone singing and the radio on!!!

Saturday we went to Echo and daddy and mommy took G on the slides and swings at the school playground! We stopped and had two brownies at the truck stop while we used the bathroom!! G turned to daddy and said thank-you so much it was yummy in my tummy!! Saturday nap she took 2 hours to go to sleep----and earned 6 stickas for going potty when she was suppose to be taking a nap!!! Can not believe she went ever time!!

We did our grocery shopping Saturday afternoon while we got an oil change! Then Sunday church G made a candle craft and sang This Little Light of Mine!! She loves music and was singing the song all day!!! Sunday nap she pulled the potty stall trick on me again--she went twice in the potty and the third time I did not believe her--she started crying and went in the diaper---UGH! I should just believe her--but would you under the circumstances of going to bed and being 2 years old and the last couple days history???

Sunday night better going to bed---- but the cat was meowing again and G slept through the night (she has been in a habit waking up once and coming in about 3:30 am!!) She woke up ths morning and said I SLEPT ALL BYSELF!!! ah--finally again!!

She also has been DRY DRY for the last four nights waking up and nap two days!!!

STICK HORSE!!

I never posted the photos of Gretchen's new stick horse Nana made her and she got last Thursday when we went to Walla Walla----She loved her horse!! Mommy told her it was a special gift and now she says its special uh mom?? Gretchen had Nana *Papa *Daddy* and Mommy ride on her horse with her!!! Thanks a bunch Nana and Papa for Gretchie's horse !! We will treasure it forever!!! It makes great friends with my other horse you gave me Clippity Clop!! We decided to name this one BEAUTY!!!

It is Friday!!!

I have not posted much at all ths week---the pictures are taking an incredible amount of time to download---which yes we still have dial-up service for the moment! Yesterday after nap we drove to Pendleton (30 min ) to meet Lee to apply for Gretchen's passport! We had all the documentation and plus some we thought we needed by the instructions!
We got to the court house and the lady was adament on us having a state birth certificate (which was in the safe deposit box in WW!) We had the original Guatemalan b-certificate and the court order (certified) saying she was ours legally!! We had her permanent resident card, social security card and Guatemalan passport--all which should have worked!!
Long story ----but Lee called the National Passport Agency in the parking lot after being rejected----The National Passport Agency told us we would be ok with the docuentation we had----so I whispered to Lee --CAN THAT GUY STAY ON THE PHONE AS WE WALK IN AND TALK TO THE LADY BEHIND THE COUNTER!! The guy would not do it! RATS!!!! So we decided to go to the passport agency at the post office a few blocks away!! Yeah--good idea!! (So we thought)
We walked in it was 3:45 pm---the postman looks at me and then the clock and then says oh I think I can do it---as the post lady says You are going to get in trouble and run out of time---THE INTERNET POSTED THE CLOSING TIME AT 4:45 pm----but he was going home at 4!!! So here we were---Lee gathered up all our info and said we will be back tomorrow--first of all our confidence in the postman was zilich!!(to put in nicely) The postman looked nervous and not sure what in the world he was doing!! We then decided to try the clerk back at the court house!! I missed most of this conversaton but as Gretchie and mommy were waking in the hall--I saw her with her three ring binder and restating her stand on the issue---we needed state birth certificate!! Then I caught a glimpse of her on the phone---ha--Lee came out shaking his head she would not budge and my husband was pretty calm! So we will try again today------who would have known this would take so long!!
Gretchen was awesome as we were running around and all the way home and through dinner!!! I was putting her to bed and telling her how very proud I was of her being quiet, listening, gong potty at the court house and just being a "lovebug."
It did backfire on me----After going potty at 8:20 pm (teehhee)-which she does often) she would not get back in bed---she said she had to go poopie (100 times) I ignored her ploy to get out of bed!! She usually does go poopie at 8:20 pm--but tonight she had already gone around 6 ish! So I was not falling for it---IT MADE HER SOOOO MAD!! She tossed and turned and I just sat in her doorway--I did relay her down a couple times --after ten minutes of this ---I got thinking maybe she is right (she usually is right about going potty!) So I said ok---lets go but then its BED!! She stopped crying climbed out of bed and then stood in the middle of her room and yelled at me to go see daddy!! She usually says this when she wants to do it all BYSELF!!! I gave her space and she shut the door--laid down on the floor to sleep!! I went back in and she had forgotten to go poopie--I said lets get back in bed and I will rub your hair and back!! NO I WANT TO SLEEP ON THE FLOOR!!!!! THEN SCREAMED JUST TO SCREAM----I swatted her!! Picked her up to kiss her and she had a massive temper tantrum--I walked out and said when you are ready I will be sitting in the hall!! She walked past me and had another throw down fit in our room---I was shocked my angel was so tired!! She was ready to be held and I came down and rocked her and we talked---she told me she was ready to be good and go to sleep in her bed!!! After ten minutes we were ready to go back to bed....................rehugged daddy! And no way was she going into bed---Daddy came up and rubbed her back..she then started crying I have to go poopie again.........we did let her sit on the potty just to calm her down--she would not talk or look at either of us put her blanket over her head!!! AFTER minutes...we just sat there and looked at each other in the hall----we gave her 2 minutes!! NOTHING! (just like we thought) she was put back in bed by both of us and rolled over and was asleep with minutes!!! WHEW!! Hope I never see this again!! WOW~~

Loads and Loads of Laundry!

Our 6 loads of clean laundry--that needed to be folded!!
MMM---good this dryer sheet still smells good!!
Oh this is soooo comfy!!! Take a nap with me please!!
Do you see me???
There you go mom--the basket is EMPTY!! What else can I do to help???

RESTING----------------Just for a few seconds before I toss more laundry!
AHH *** My shirt landed on my head!!!
There goes my cute ponytails!! Another blanket to make a tunnel!!!
PURE ENJOYMENT!!!!! LOADS AND LOADS OF LAUGHTER!!!!
ROLL OVER **** ROLL OVER!!!!!
CHEEEEEEEEEEEEEESE!!!!!

BURY ME IN ALL THE CLOTHES MOMMY!!!! OOOPSIE I BONKED MY HAED!!!

I am trying to get up---ha ha ha!!!

Ok--It is pretty sad when you have tons of fun folding laundry!! No---not really with a two year old everything is FUN!!! After we went to Boogie today and Storytime and let me add this was the first time I let Gretchie wear "big girl panties." We were gone a good two hours!! She was Super!! I had 6 loads of clean laundry piled high--in fact my two baskets would not hold it all!! I had even done four different loads on Mon/Tuesday!! So when G went down for a nap I started folding and folding until I was sick of it!! I had it all folded except towels and her clothes!!! She dumped ALL her clothes out and started playing in them!! I got some cute snapshots and she had a blast!! Aunt Amber came about 7:30 pm and spent the night--Gretchen was so excited and had fun with her aunt!!!

Cutie Pie!!

Do you see me mommy?? This lego bag is perfect just for me to hide in!!

My "craft" from last week at Story time! Peek-A-Boo!!

PHEEE.... Uuuuuu!! She had nothing that smelled bad! She was saying Uuu...Pheeee!! Her cousins Blake and Cole taught her this and she loves saying it even when nothing smells bad!!

Blocks, Ballon, Bike ,Bed, Books & Bathtime(story) !!

Well........mommy took a break taking photos after our "big commotion" with passport photos last Thursday!! Although the weekend was not all that exciting either! It snowed again Saturday night about 2 inches but melted again. I woke up after going to bed at 8 pm at 1:34 am and finally fell asleep for good by 3:50 am!! Poor mommy did not go to bed until 1 am---and only got 34 min of sleep before I woke up and then slept from 4 to 8 am---Children's church was fun as we made collages with leaves and popcorn--I was a very good cleaner but then I was eating the popcorn while cleaning--ha--good motive uh!

The photos are of me playing with my new blocks from Uncle Jeff and Aunt Janny, the balloon we got at Denny's Saturday morning and then Daddy fixing my Christmas bike and moving the seat forward---(I decided to help with the screwdriver!) Sunday night mommy went grocery shopping so I watched NEMO while daddy watched the Superbowl and me playing under my bed------Monday morning my friend Norah came and played because I have had no accidents for awhile!! YEAH---I am doing soooooo good!!! We then went to Taco Bell with Maria and Norah for an early lunch!! Norah helped me put my shoes on even though I can do it all BYSELF!! I liked the quesadilla and can say that word really good!! I also went potty at Taco Bell!! We ran errands Monday afternoon---as we were at the Post Office I had our van keys (mom is so cautious about handing me them after I locked me inside when I was 11 months old) As mommy was trying to decide how to send their passports certified ?? or registered mail?? I tapped her on the shoulder and said mommy our van is making a noise---Can you believe my mother ignored me---the noise got louder and I again said our van is making a NOISE !!! By then she realized I had hit the alarm PANIC button!!! We walked quickly out to the van and turned it off!! GREAT!! Then mommy had to go back in the post office and get her $10 change from the postman! As we were at the bank---I was being really good--the guy in front of us turned around and said I see you got you alarm turned off!!! Thats a small town--can't even hide your mistakes!!! Mommy dropped a couple bills in drop off boxes and then we still had a few min. to go get some books at the library. Guess what?? I found Babar(elephant movie) again and was so excited--(we had just returned it 2 days earlier) I marched up to the counter and only had my mind on it!! (Mommy is really really sick of it so its going back on Wed--little does G know its a 7 day checkout) (Gretchie loves the song on the tape and already has it down by heart)

Another cute story from last week was---our cat was sleeping on a chair in the front room---I hear Gretchen say OWIE --and backed off and was pouting (kinda cute in my opinion) I asked her what was wrong---Mommy I was just playing Pat-a-Cake with MEOW and she went like this (showed me a swipe motion) funny thing was G did not get hurt in the slightest --our cat is declawed!! It just hurt her feelings and made me laugh! I then find Gretchen sitting on the cat on the chair telling the cat to get up and let's take a ride!! Today TUES 5th Gretchie was "snuggling" with me watching a show--she sees Tashja enter the room --mommy go catch Meow and have her sit with us~~here kitty kitty~~ mommy Meow is Not listening to me!!! ( I tell her frequently to listen to me and then I say do you understand!)

Bath time has been a BIG DEAL lately --she loves to swim and play! In fact this child loves her hair washed and yells more more when I rinse her hair---and I am not gentle as I dump bucket after bucket over her head!

She asks to take a bath two-to three times a day!!!

She likes to play HEFFALUMP in the tub ( spit the water out in the tub--which we tell her its gross to drink the tub water and then the water sprays out just like an elephant) HA HA--its so funny and she laughs her head off!! I guess a child can't get too sick drinking bath water--YUCK!!! Daddy did make us take the rubber ducks out where water lies inside if not drained propperly!!! She lives in elephant land all day long!

Tonight G had soap on her hands and rubbed her eyes---then started to cry --I took a bucket of water and started splashing on her eye to rinse the soapy off!! She started yelling----I scooped her out of the tub-(needless to say I was drenched) She then said it had gone in her nose---She can tell you the whole story!