Ego shmeego!

The arthritis walk was this morning. I was thrilled the past few months to see that I was still the top fundraiser with $615, but of course my bubble burst. I saw that yesterday a little girl named Hailey (11 years old and has rheumatoid arthritis) stole my thunder and won top billing with well over $1000 in donations. You all know I like to win everything, so this was devestating for me. Then this morning I met her. It turns out this whole walk was in her honor. (Head hanging low). I gave myself a good slap in the face and remembered that I was doing this for Jill to begin with and it doesn't matter if I "win" or not, because I still have painfree full use of all my joints. So I'm considering myself - and everyone else who donated - winners because we raised a lot of money for a fabulous person. AND I GOT A T-SHIRT!!!
We had great weather for the walk. Danica had a blast running around and eating brownies - yum, yum! And of course I forgot my camera. Duane did get a couple pictures on his phone so we can show Jill the turnout. Great time had by all!

Dani and I went garage sale shopping yesterday and hit the mother-load! We got a "little tykes" kitchen set for her. It's HUGE and too cute with lots and lots of dishes and such. She's absolutely loving it. She hasn't played with anything else since we set it up. We also got her a shopping cart (to teach her the importance of a good sale at an early age), and a jeep. It's the kind that goes with the push of a peddle, but it needs new batteries. The jeep was $10 and the batteries will cost us about $50... typical!!

Big girl snack

My big girl decided it was time to eat her snack in the grown-up chair. How is it possible?? Wasn't she just crawling and learning to walk? I think I've time-warped.

Here's a little proof for you disbelievers in schedules. Yesterday Dani and I were on my bed watching Teletubbies (as we do everyday before nap time). I was reading my book and didn't want to stop, so I thought I'd let her stay up for a few more minutes. After her show was over, she gathered her blankies, got off the bed and headed for her room. When she noticed I didn't follow her, she turned around, pointed her finger and YELLED, "Come on Mama!!" I said, "Is it time for a snooze?" Reply: "Ya, COME ON MAMA!" Ok, the book can wait. How often does a toddler demand bedtime?? Thank you Jesus!

Tissue issue

Yesterday morning Duane had left a couple tissues on his nightstand (you probably already know where this is going). I noticed them and meant to pick them up, then got side-tracked. About a half hour later I noticed that it was way to quiet in the bedroom, so I went back there to see shredded tissues EVERYWHERE! I spent a very long time picking up every last piece of tissue when I noticed Dani with a very suspicious look on her face and her mouth closed tight. I told her to open up and she opened wide and stuck out her tongue. Out came a huge wad of spit soaked tissue. Double yuk! But at least they weren't used tissue.
I was working last night so Duane was on Daddy duty. He told me a couple cute stories when I got home. He said he was watching t.v. and Dani came up to him with her guitar wanting him to play. So he paused the t.v. and she looked at him and said, "Seriously! (sissy) What's going on?"
Reminder for anyone reading: the arthritis walk is this coming Saturday, so if you haven't yet donated... get to it!!!

Busy Bee Weekend

Well, what a fun and busy weekend we had! Hopefully you all got to sit back, relax, and enjoy your long weekend. We spent all Saturday doing yard work. We layed decorative bricks around our gardens, cleaned out the garage, and played a bit as well.
Sunday we took a trip up north a ways to help our friends build their cabin. Duane got up on the roof (yikes!) and helped with that while I stayed safely on the ground with my two girls. Dani had so much fun playing with her friend Bella (Bellalala or Bella-ella, as Dani calls her). She really enjoyed the freedom of the wooded outdoors. Of course we didn't think to bring the camera either!! Dumb mommy. Emma had a great time as well, once she got used to the two giant dogs there sniffing her rear. We checked for ticks after we got home and all was well. (Whew!)
Yesterday we spent the day painting our bedroom. Dani was a bit unnerved by the whole thing, but it's over and done. She's teething so that didn't help matters.
We didn't get too much time for relaxing, and still haven't even cleaned the grill for the summer! But it was still a great weekend.

More abc's

I couldn't decide which video to put on, so here's both of her singing.

hats and shoes

Look out for falling debris!

Our big girl is very proud of herself that she got her shoe on!

Sweet girl

Well, just when I thought my girl couldn't get any sweeter, she has. When we hug (which is often cuz she's so dang cute) she puts her head on my shoulder and gently pats my back or shoulder. I just can't stand it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She's started pretending now too. She comes up to me now with a fake little whine and says, "Oh, hurt" while holding her head or her hand or something. And she'll get on her knees and put her head in her hands down on the floor and fake cry for 2 seconds and then look up with a grin. Sometimes I think I'm just going to burst and my proud Mommy brains are going to splatter everywhere!!!

Spaghetti Betty

Here's spaghetti night... always entertaining. You can hear her sing, "pick up, put away!" That's a new game Daddy taught her and she loves to play it! Although, she's still not quite sure what pick up put away means, it's still fun.

Wonderful day

Wearing the cutest little shoes that Auntie Jill bought for her. They're little high top converse (like the old pf flyers). She loves them and they're so cute! Thanks Jill!

Getting ready to "go go bye bye!"

Just chillin' on Mommy's bed!

We got to stay up a little past bedtime cuz Mommy was reading! You'd think all we ever do is just lay around!!

Dani got cozy with me and Duane couldn't resist getting the camera. Too cute.

I love my little beauty!

She's a natural poser. I think we should get her an agent and start the modeling career right now! I'm sure she could avoid the cocaine and champagne life of a model - especially at only 19 months!!

Sliding

Daddy's girls

Healthy snacks? I don't think so.

The birdies are getting bigger!! At least they don't look like they're inside out anymore.

What a perfect Mothers Day!!! (Still weird to say I'm a mother)

I think poor Daddy needs some more testosterone in the house.

B-ball baby

Well, the Klabunde's will be happy to know that we have a basketball player on our hands! I took Dani out to play this morning in the front yard. We're trying to teach her how to ride her tricycle - peddling and all - so we took that out on the driveway to practice. By practice, I mean she sits on it and I push her... (shoulder shrug). While she was playing I brought out the basketball and played a little myself. She, of course, took over and I haven't gotten to see that ball since. We took it into the back yard too and it went down the slides (all 3 of them) and inside her little house. She had a ball with that ball!!
And by the way, there's never been anything cuter than her running around the yard in her little white sundress.

Prince and the pea

As we were going to bed last night, Duane laid his head on the pillow and realized there was a present left for him. He lifted up both his pillows and there was a maraca. ??? So he removed it and continued to try to get comfortable. Tossing and turning, finally he lifted up his top pillow and there was a plastic block. Leave no stone unturned!!

Silly Daddy

I had to work yesterday morning, so it was up to Duane to get Dani ready for the day. I asked him to be sure to comb her hair too, cuz that's something that's often forgotten by Daddy. So I got home and all was well. Then we were getting ready in the afternoon to go out to do some shopping. Dani needed her hair combed again, so out comes Daddy with the comb and her detangling spray - or what he thought was detangling spray. It was actually my perfume. I told him the mistake and asked if that's what he used in the morning on her. YEP - sure was! I don't know what in the world he was thinking... but at least her hair smelled good.

So last night as I was getting ready for bed, Emma went and pushed Dani's door open (which she does often). I went to close it and got a good whiff of P U Butt! I got Duane to come help me investigate, and yep, it was definitely some p u butt! We thought a while about how to handle the situation, and figured we of course had to change her. So while she slept we carefully unzipped her jammies and tried to get her feet out. She wouldn't bend her legs for me to get her feet out, so Daddy jumped in and forced the issue. :) I successfully changed her poopy diaper while she remained asleep and all was well. And I'm thrilled to find out that we finally have a sound sleeper! If she can sleep through that, she can sleep through anything!!

Birdies eating

Hopefully you can all see this okay. It's the babies eating. If you can enlarge it on your computer screen, it'll be easier to see. But you can kinda see their little heads popping up for food... too cute.

Baby birds

Relaxing

Dani Mow!

She's obsessed with mowing now... just like her cousin Tate!

Chillin' on her new couch with barney and bj!

This is the cutest couch... it folds out into a bed for days when she's just too stressed out to sit. I got this at a garage sale (I know it's kinda ugly, but it was cheap). She also got a barney computer that she loves and a barney puzzle. Gotta love garage sales!

Outside fun

Weeeeeeeeee!

precious girl!

This is the 58th time going down the slide.

Quietly pondering the meaning of life.

If you can watch this video without smiling, you're dead inside.

We all had a great time playing outside yesterday, Emma and Dani particularly. They had lots of fun chasing each other. We found some newly hatched birds in a nest by our flower garden. I tried to get in to take a picture, but was afraid of Mama Bird. The babies are all skin with a bit of feather... their eyes are huge and still closed. It looks like they were just hatched yesterday. I'll try to get in close enough to get a picture or little video. If you don't hear from my by Friday, that means Mama Bird got me. Wish me luck!!!

Missing Aves

I woke up yesterday morning at 6:30 hearing this coming from the monitor, "P U Butt! P U Butt!" There was no actualy p u butt, so I'm guessing it was either a dream of p u butt, or a really good toot!

Dani and I went to the grocery store on Sunday and there was a little girl about 5 or 6 helping her mom put groceries in the car. Dani thought it was Averie so she kept saying, "Hi Avie!" When we were done and I was putting her in the car she kept yelling, "NO! NO! AVIE! AVIE!" My poor girl cried all the way home. She misses her cousin Averie so much. She asks for Tate once in a while too. Poor thing!

Pitty Hay (pretty hair)!

Her first day with piggie-tails!! I actually cried after I did her hair. Seeing her with piggie-tails made me realize she's not my little baby anymore, she's a big girl!

Little Duane!

Totally, dude!

I was in the kitchen putting the groceries away when this little cutie pie walked in with Daddy's hat on. She went in the cupboard, grabbed the crackers and took off. I guess now she's our little skater dude!

Dancing Queen

Oh Sh**!

You can judge for yourselves, but I'm pretty sure we've got a sailor on our hands. I guess Mommy will have to start watching what she says!!

Ready for my close-up

Vogue, here we come!!

Enjoying Teletubbies

Dani had a little playdate this morning at the office. Our office manager brought in her little girl, who's 4 months older than Dani, and they played for a bit. And by played, I mean stared at each other.

baby shmaby!

It's clear to me that Dani needs to get into a daycare at least part time. I had her with me at the office yesterday again because I'm interviewing. There was a nine month old baby there with his mom and dad who are clients of ours (he's walking like a 2 year old already by the way!). Danica was less than thrilled with the sight of another kid. There was no smile, no attempt to play with him, or to help him in any way. It was simply a look of total annoyance. It's safe to say she's not fond of those younger than her.

On a happier note, she's busy counting along right now to seseme street. It's a counting song and she's totally into it. She's dancing, twirling, and counting, "one! two! one! three! two!" and by the way, the hard hat and tool belt are securely in place on her body. what a kid!