Marble Maddness

On Saturday we got a package from my dad for Damen. It's a marbleworks set from Discovery Toys, where you build a tower let the marbles go down. We hadn't opened it up on Saturday and I had mostly forgotten about it. Then on Sunday, during my afternoon nap, I awoke to this strange sound of clinking, banging, and gleeful laughing. I came out into the living room to find this:



They had been playing for about an hour and continued to play with it until 6:45pm! It was the first thing Damen wanted this morning too, yes at 6am when I finally let him up. So, thanks Dad for the fun!!

Also, I know it's not until Friday but we had to try on Damen's costume, SO CUTE!! We also took him and Olivia, who is Minnie Mouse, to get their pictures taken together in costume. We'll have them in about two weeks, they were adorable!

OH HELP!

For the last four, that's right, FOUR days in a row Damen, our sweet sweet son, has woken up before 6am, ranging in time between 5:15-5:40. His bedtime has been varied too because of different things he went to bed at 8pm once, his usual is at 7pm, then we tried to put him down early because he was exhausted by 6pm. Yesterday he was the grumpiest thing I've ever seen and it took everything in me not to harm him. He literally cried for 20 minutes about something, I never did figure out what it was he wanted. This morning was no different, here I am at 6:12am hoping, praying, that this morning will be better. As soon as he woke up from his two hour nap yesterday he was the awesome, sweet son that I usually have. So, anyone reading this in the next six hours before nap, any suggestions on how to keep my cool?? Or, on how to keep him happy?? Thanks from a slightly stressed, tired, feeling guilty mom.

Saddest news EVER!

Ok, maybe not the saddest news ever, but for today, it was sad to hear. A fantastic cookie company has crumbled under the ecenomic stress. Mothers cookies is no more! The frosted animal cookies, the taffy sandwich, and my personal favorite, the cookie parade. So if you come across any of them in the store, it's a miracle, buy them up, eat them up, or freeze them to be eaten on another day. Try not to cry now.

Sept 29th - Oct 3rd

What a busy busy week!! It started on Monday with a very domestic day canning peaches. My friend Kerri was very excited to teach me and I was excited to learn. I had enough to make 11 jars and at the rate we're eating them, they're not going to last long!







Then on Tuesday my friend Allysia, who is currently residing in Bakersfield, came down with her lively daughter Belen for a few days. We had a great girl bonding time shopping, playing, swimming, and catching up. I'm sure I haven't spent that much time with her since we were in High School, so there was a LOT of talking we had to do:) It was also nice for Damen to have a live-in playmate for a few days.












Most importantly on Tuesday, Dustins sister Terra gave birth to a handsome baby boy! Benjamin Howard Huff was born at 8:33pm, weighing in at a whopping 8lbs 6oz and 21in long. He's quite a cutey, and we couldn't be more happy for his parents, Josh and Terra.


Allysia stayed until Friday then headed back. Oh, and Damen was so heart broken that Belen got to sleep in a bed and he didn't that on Saturday I moved in a bed and out went the crib. We're still trying to decide if that was really the smart thing to do. . .
That was a busy fun-filled week, now on to the next one!! (I do realize it's already Tuesday)

Happy Birthday Babe!

On September 25th, of an undisclosed year, Dustin Ryan Howard was born into the world! I am so grateful for Dustin and all that he has done for me and my life in the last 10 and a half years. He is always supportive, faithful, strong(spiritually and physically), and most important he loves me. Also, I'd like to say "thank you" to Dustins parents, Dennis and Marda, who raised this fine man to be the wonderful husband and father that he has become. We are so fortunate to celebrate his birthday with our good friends the Cheesemans, Heiners, and Moesers. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

I've been TAGGED!

This one is about your kids, so since that's all I blog about anyway, it shouldn't be too hard.

Name and Meaning: Damen Robert. The name Damen is greek and usually spelled "Damon", but I didn't like that so I changed it. It means different things everywhere I've looked, dramatic/spirited/constant/to tame. Robert is a family name on my side and it works out that Damen has the same initials as his father and grandfather.


Age: 2 years and 2.9 months!!

Nicknames: Bug-a-Boo and Monkey

Favorite Activities: Anything outside, walks, park, backyard, his favorite outside activity is by far swimming!


Favorite Foods: Hmmmm, this kid will eat pretty much anything, but he especially likes Fruit and will disregard anything else to eat it!

Least Favorite Foods: Potatoes, except for fried and dipped in ketchup he does not do potatoes.

Favorite Music: We rock out to the kids tapes I listened to when I was little (thank you Lori), I have to sing the Popcorn and Temple songs from nursery all day, and Childrens Hymns.

Favorite Toys: Definitely his Thomas Train set, for now anyway. . .

Favorite Book: Don't Tickle the Duck. We read it over and over again, I think he likes it because we tickle him too.

Favorite item of clothing: This kid could care less if he was running naked he'd be pretty content. He does get excited about putting on shoes because that means we're going outside.

What makes him happy? He loves to growl at us and see us get "scared". He laughs and laughs. He also loves his baths and would take two a day if we let him! He loves it when Daddy comes home, opens the garage door and runs out to the driveway to see him, that definitely makes him smile.

What makes him sad? Not getting his way, going to the grocery store, he seriously starts crying as I pull into the parking lot, and when his little buddies Darrel or Olivia have to go home.

That's Damen in a nutshell. Now it is my responsibility to Tag someone else. So, Esther, Yvonne and Allysia have at it!

MY blanket!

So lately Damen has taken hold of my T-Shirt quilt my mom made for me and claimed it for himself. He carries it with him everywhere and must sleep with it. If I'm using it on the couch he flips out, "MY Blanket!" and yanks it away. Sweet huh? Damen has NEVER had any kind of lovey or apparent need for one until now. For now we'll accomodate him, but there's no way he's laying claim on my blanket, not for too long anyway.