The Most Magical Place on Earth

So last week was our big trip to Disney. Some called us crazy, but we DROVE. And i can honestly say that I could not be happier with that decision. Little Bit is a ROCK STAR in the car. We made it to Orlando in about 13 hours with only 3 stops. That included a late lunch about 1n hour away at the ole Bob Evans.

Steven was only able to spend one whole day at the Magic Kingdom with us. But we made it a marathon day. Cramming in a ton of characters and rides.

I'll keep this post short and just post some pics. I'll blog more about the trip when I have time. Right now I have presents to wrap!

First guy we ran into, Goofy!

Waiting for Mickey is hard to do!

The VIPs.

The castle looked beautiful decorated for Christmas!

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

When we bought this house last February I think I started planning a Christmas party right away. And when Janice mentioned wanting to have an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party, I KNEW we had to have one. We tracked down a dickie and Steven went as Cousin Eddie. Love my husband! Next year we are going bigger and better. I'm thinking entertainment, perhaps karaoke or hand bells. Ok, onto the pictures.

Jered wore an "ugly" sweater, just not an Ugly Christmas Sweater. Props for channeling Bill Cosby.

The award presentation. The Jelly of the Month Club. The gift that keeps on giving the whole year!

The 3 finalists. Mark for "keeping it real". Joel for wearing his mama's sweater. Brian for wearing his musical, light up ensemble!

The law school gang. The key is go gaze off to the side.

The A&F gang got really into it!

He's Back!

Guess who was parked on top of our Christmas tree when we walked in from all of our Thanksgiving travels? Chewy, the Elf on the Shelf! I thought Sophie B. would pee her pants when she spotted him hanging out on a branch. So he's back and he's taking notes to report back to Santa.

His story somehow landed on her bed. We had to read it immediately. Of course the most important thing about Chewy is that he can't be touched. Once touched, his magic disappears. Then I guess you are SOL because there is no one to report back to Santa whether you've been naughty or nice.

And of course we had to do some goofing off with the Christmas ornaments.

Now we are parked on my bed watching old school Rudolph. Tis the season! Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

10 On Tuesday

1. Still on a giant Scooby Doo kick around here. Apparently, I bare a striking resemblance to Velma. Whereas my daughter says she looks like the "pretty one" with the "cool scarf" around her neck.

Exhibit A: Mama

Exhibit B: Sophia

Now the bad part of this is that the other day I ordered an orange sweater. A few weeks later, I ordered a red skirt from the same place. The catalogue had them paired together with a purple scarf. Sounds crazy but looked cute. There ain't no way I'm wearing that orange sweater and red skirt together! See exhibit A.

2. My house is officially decorated for Christmas. If GiGi were a Smurf she'd be Christmas Smurf because she came over on Sunday and helped me to do some serious decorating. She can whip up a wreath in .2 seconds. And her secret, fishing line.

3. Ugly Christmas Sweater party is set for December 5. Steven's ensemble is hilarious. Thanks to my aunt for sending me not one but 2 dickies from Uncle Kev's stash. Funny, she said that I did NOT have to return them. Said that the were just going to "disappear."

4. We are about 20 days away from seeing "the mouse" And I'll be truthful, Sophia Carr could really give a flying sh*t. I'm pumped to be spending some serious cash on tickets.

5. My cousin Shane is headed to Afghanistan next week. Stinks.

6. I'm in a "hate the world" kind of mood today.

7. But wait, I saw New Moon and it was awesome despite the awkward pauses stupid Bella screaming as though she's in child birth during her "bad dreams." So maybe I don't hate the world. I came out of the theater on Team Jacob.

8. We are headed to PA on Wednesday for Thanksgiving. Four days full of cousins, a puppy, and craziness! Stella is going to have PapPap's blood pressure going through the roof! But she'll have an ally in Aunt Amy. We are doing our Christmas gift exchange while we are there since we stay down here for Xmas. I know what Soph is getting and lets just say that I have a feeling Snoopy snow cones will be forced upon everyone.

9. Pierced ears have been a hot topic around here lately. Soph's intrigued by them, wants them, but also knows that there is pain involved so the chicken in her takes over. I'm leery because even if she does go through with it, I know that she'll fight me to the death taking care of them.

I chickened out on multiple occasions. The first time, i was 4 and went with my best friend. I made the mistake of letting Allison go first so I saw what went down and said, hell no. Then finally a few weeks later my great aunt was watching me and i announced that I was ready to bite the bullet. Not wanting me to change my mind she said, "get in the car, lets roll!" I distinctly remember that I had on wonder woman under-roos. That's it. And I remember her taking me down to a small town beauty shop, climbing up in the chair, and that was that. In my under-roos PEOPLE!

10. On that note, I'm out. I'll leave you with a photo of Hanna Montana. This was from a birthday party where Sophia's behavior was class act. NOT.

44 Months

Daphne, I mean Sophie,

Scooby Dooby Doo, where are you? Perhaps you are in Puerto Rico chasing el chupacabra. Running from ghastly ghost pirates (my personal favorite). Or maybe you are hanging out with Sunny and Cheer, the Harlem Globetrotters, Batman & Robin, or Don Knotts. It all blurs together considering that I've watched no less than 3432 episodes in the last month. All I know is that you can't get enough of the Scoob.

The highlight of this past month was of course trick-or-treating. This year we ventured over to Ben's neighborhood since there are only 7 kids in our new neighborhood. Why is it that kids feel the need to run as fast as they can to each house. It's as though you truly believe that they are going to run out of candy before you can reach their doorstep. So run you did, and fall you did. Skinning your knee and causing us to make a quick costume alteration in the middle of the street. But you picked yourself up, dusted yourself off, and quickly ran to the next house. We chuckled when you announced to a few people that you couldn't eat peanuts but not to worry, you would give those snickers bars to your mom and dad. Thanks for thinking about us baby girl!

You are still a kid who loves music. And I hope you are always a music lover. And I hope you always love such a wide variety of music. Nothing makes me laugh more to hear you break out in a song that it's particularly age appropriate. The other day your daddy was dumbfounded when you broke out into a chorus of "Walkin After Midnight." On the way back from the mall the other day you told Gigi, that you "woke up dis morning, smiled at the rising sun." And I often hear you, singing, "a hip hop, a hippie the hippie to the hip hop, you don't stop the rock."

You love all of the kids in the neighborhood. Every.Single.One.Of.Them.Nicholas, Nathanial, Zack, Toby, Tanner. And I love that you love them. I love that you get excited when you see someone outside and run as fast as you can to join them. I love how you go next door, ring the doorbell and ask politely if so and so can come out and play. I love how we literally have to bring you inside kicking and screaming when it's time to go to bed. I'm so happy that we moved here. When I told you that some little girls would be moving in to the house down the street you got so excited and immediately asked if they were going to be your friend and play outside with everyone.

Christmas is right around the corner and you didn't need anyone to tell you that fact. You've asked me countless times if "Chewy" the Elf on the Shelf would be able to find your new house because he needed to report to Santa how good of a girl you were being. And also, that the jeep that you want is pink.

This coming month we'll be heading to Grammy and PapPap's for Thanksgiving. So far you have told me that you are thankful for dinner with your family, Reggie, and Stella. But not spiders or lady bugs. In fact, you "hate their guts." Oh and you are thankful for John Denver and yesterday on the way to school you asked me if he would be able to play his guitar at your school Christmas show. When I explained to you that unfortunately, John Denver is in heaven, and not almost heaven anymore, you said, "oh, well then I guess Michelle's daddy will have to play then." Poor old John Denver. Who needs him when you've got Michelle's daddy. Maybe your daddy could come to school and swing a golf club for the class.

So happy 44 months Little Bit. This time next month we'll be hanging with Mickey Mouse. And big surprise for you is that your friend Allie from school is going to be there too! Same week, and same hotel! What are the chances. Of course I'm not sure why we are spending so much money taking you to Disney World when for $5 there's a perfectly good Snow White in Hurricane. Who knew!

Love Mama

A Wedding Interview

My child must plan on marrying Warren Jeffs and become a child bride since she says she's getting hitched at 14! Please excuse her rat's nest hair do and my obnoxious voice!

In case you are wondering why in the world she says she's getting married in Puerto Rico, Steven and I got married there, five glorious years ago. Five looooong years. Just kidding. So she thinks that's where you go to get married. As for being a cow girl when she grows up, I have NO CLUE where that came from Maybe she'll end up marring a millionaire rancher like the Pioneer Woman!

Tuesday Halloween Edition

1. Out of 12 months, October is probably my favorite because of Halloween. I start thinking about costumes in August. This year, however, Sophie was dead set on being a witch. As I've mentioned before, a witch with a crooked hat and crooked broom. Score on the broom but not on the hat. Regardless, I think she turned out pretty cute!

2. We also carved pumpkins! What I thought would be a fun activity for the kids in the neighborhood turned out to be the moms standing around the table carving pumpkins for them while they ran around like wild Indians playing.

Here's Sophie and Nathanial showing off the pumpkin that his mom carved. HA!

3. Trick-or-treat night really made us miss our old neighborhood. People in our old hood really go all out for Halloween. This year, since we are in a new neighborhood with only a few houses we decided to go trick-or-treating with Ben. The kids had a blast but it just wasn't the same. Gracie joined us too!

4. Since little Owen was a monkey for Halloween, I thought "wouldn't it be great if his dad would dress up as a giant banana?!" So I talked to Joel and asked if he'd wear a big banana if I found one. $5.49 later, this is Joel:

5. However, my plan to point fingers and laugh at Joel back fired when his wife called and said, "lets all dress up!" She had just dressed up for work and told me that she had these "awesome" costumes. Behold:

Yeah, not so awesome! Stephanie and I look like idiots dressed as flower pots while Shannon got to be the cute gardener!

6. So knocking on doors and saying "trick-or-treat" is becoming a thing of the past. It seems like everyone sits out in their driveway now. I know three little kids who got very excited to actually ring a doorbell and wait patiently.

Unfortunately, the old bag who opened the door gave each of them on single Tootsie roll. Wow.

7. Saturday we had an adult/kid Halloween party to hit. I wanted us all to dress up but for the life of me I couldn't think of anything. Then a few days before the party, crikey, it hit me! We could easily be the Irwin Family. A few iron-ons and plastic snakes later Sophie was Bindi Irwin.
8. I was a chubby, brunette, Terri Irwin.

9. And Steven was the legendary, Steve Irwin, may he rest in peace. Had there not been kids we might have went with some blood and a stingray.

10. So that was our Halloween. Sophie has been stuffing herself with candy and passing us all of the peanut filled treats.

Hoop it UP!

My kid desperately wants to hula hoop. Unfortunately, try as she might. Girl friend just can't quite figure it out.

She even tries the hoop around the neck method.

Mama, on the other hand, can hoop with the best of 'em. Actually, GiGi is the BEST hula hooper around. Wonder if we can snag a picture of that at some point!

All she needs is an ark

I'm not even lying when I say that in one day, my crazy child picked up and/or petted no less than 10 different animals. She picked up a cat, a dog, 4 or 5 different goats, 2 chickens, and a rabbit. Petted an alpaca, a sheep, a pig, a mini horse, and a 40 year old turtle. She tried to pet a kangaroo but he wanted no part of it. I bet that I haven't picked up that many animals in my LIFE! Especially a chicken! Who in their right mind feels that a chicken needs picked up? No doubt about it, the kid loves her some animals.

I guess I should explain where all of the animal lugging and petting came from. Sophie's little friend Hannah, from gymnastics, had a fall/birthday party and they had a petting zoo at the party. Who knew that you could even rent something like that around here! But you can, and it was totally AWESOME. At least for Sophie. I made Steven go out to the car and grab a bottle of hand sanitizer! Of course it was pointless because right after she would clean her hands she would head right back in with the animals.

Wednesday Woes

1. This past weekend we hit the corn maze with Sophia for the second year in a row. Last year it was 80 degrees. This year it was a muddy mess. Sure enough Soph slipped on some mud, hit the ground, and yelled "Holy SMOKES, lets just get outta here!"

2. My friend Jenny emailed me at work today to tell me about the deal of all deals at theGreenbrier, $59 rooms! Rooms at that joint are normally $275 a night! But for a few dead weekends in November, December, January, and February they are doing a Tribute to the Virginias . So if you are from West Virginia or Virginia you can get a sweet deal. Jenny opted for a weekend in February but we can't go then because tax season starts rolling in February. So we are going in January sans Sophia B. Carr.

3. I can not even explain the frustration I've had with the Happiest Place on Earth this past week. More than 60 days in advance, almost EVERY character breakfast, lunch, and dinner, is booked up at Disney World. Such crap! What's even crappier is that their reservation system. It doesn't require a credit card or anything to reserve a time. So I'm guessing that turds just jump on the site and book any and everything, "just in case."

4. For the 1st time evah we are going to have some family photos taken. They aren't until February because the photographer was all booked up but that gives me plenty of time to find the perfect clothes and maybe loose some junk in the trunk. It's time. I want to remember how we are right now. Sophie and her crazy 3 year old, going on 4, self is the perfect time. AndRuthie Mae Cooper is the perfect photographer for us! I think we are going to do an urban session downtown.

5. Miss Stella is growing like a weed! 26 pounds already and only getting bigger. She's sleeping through the night which is SWEET. Lord, sounds like I'm talking about a newborn!

6. Oh I forgot this one. It's official, Sophia is OBSESSED with weddings and getting married. She discusses HER wedding all.the.time. Apparently she's having a pink cake that she's going to smash in her husband's face. A white dress with flowers on it. A veil. And candy WITH peanuts so other people can have them. Isn't that thoughtful, ha! She also says that she is going to marry a little boy in her class named Aiden. I don't think Aiden is aware of this. But the best part is that she was overheard chatting with some girls at school while waiting for the bathroom that she was, "falling in love." Can you believe that! I wish we would have never taken her to my cousin's wedding a few months ago! And where did she learn about "falling in love?!"

Ok I think I have to stop there. That just blows my mind. I hope that Steven is starting to save for his daughter's wedding because it sounds like its going to be quite the event!

43 Months

Dear Sophia,

I'm on time this month! That's pretty impressive considering that I've slacked off in the blogging department. This month you've been interested in toilet humor. Seriously. Everyone is a poopy head these days. Or a poop stink, poopy butt, or poop nasty. And yes poop starts with the letter P. As does, pee and puke. I think this all got kick started when your daddy sang you a nice little number that goes something like this, "when you're sliding into first and you feel something burst, diarrhea!" Lovely isn't it?! You see I don't think your daddy realized how much you love singing and how you inherited that trait from yours truly. We can hear a song just a few times at it IS on. No matter the song.

Case in point, one glorious fall day in 1983, when your mama was in kindergarten, I walked in the door singing a song that goes, "there once was a man named Bill, who swallowed a dynamite pill, his chest expired, his arse backfired, and his, "gonads" (edited for grandmas) blew over the hill." You see GiGi, was unaware Pappaw Rocky had sung that little number and that it fell upon my cute little 5 year old ears. So when she came to pick me up from school that day, Mrs. Debbie pulled her aside and said, "do you know what Kimberly sang today?" I'm sure my mother, your Gi, wanted to crawl in a hole and die. Luckily, the word was out about Pappaw Rocky's antics so everyone knew that GiGi was an innocent victim.

I'm not exactly sure why I'm telling you this. Maybe it's because I now find it completely hilarious. Or I'm just preparing myself for you to go to school one day and sing the diarrea song, or worse!

So other than the toilet humor you've been a busy bee this month. We went on a little mini va-cay with Pappaw Rocky. All I'll say about that little trip is that Pappaw Rocky doesn't understand the significance of letting a 3 year old push the button on the elevator. You've spent a weekend with Grammy and PapPap and had a sleep over with Zachary. Before you went on this visit you told me that, "Zachary and Tyler and better not talk, or snore, and keep you up all night or you would, not be a happy camper!" I'm guessing that Zachary isn't a snorer because you ended up having a blast.

We have lots more to look forward to this month, especially Trick or Treat night. And you already know that Christmas is around the corner. I have a feeling that Christmas with an almost 4 year old this year is going to be magical. We can't wait to see how it all goes down.

With love,

the Man from Nantucket, I mean, your mama.

A "Different" Use for Chapstick

Note to the Sophia reading this 20 years from now. I'm sorry but some things are just too good not to memorialize in writing. So just laugh and smile and know that when you were 3 years old, your mom and dad loved you more than anything. And you provided us with hours of pure comedic entertainment.

So a few days ago, around bed time, we were all sitting in the living room playing with Stella. Abruptly, you jump up and claim that your butt is itching. Being the concerned parents that we are we tell you that you need to learn how to wipe better and not to worry you would be getting a bath in 10 minutes.

You disappear from the room, walk back in and say, "don't worry about it guys, I put some of Daddy's ChapStick on it and it doesn't hurt any more."

Classic. Daddy did thank you for telling him that it was his ChapStick that you used for your home remedy.

Child what are we going to do with you!

Ten On Tuesday

1. It's not even October 1 and I'm thinking Christmas! How sad is that?! But the reason is because yesterday my mom found the Barbie Jeep that I wanted to get Soph for Christmas on sale! SCORE!

2. And that Barbie Jeep is just about all she's getting. I'm not sure if I've mentioned it but we are going to Disney World the week before Christmas! So instead of sunning on the beaches of Mexico for our anniversary, we'll be riding "It's a Small World." Steven has a conference at Disney World so Little Bit, me, AND GiGi are tagging along! We'd be crazy not to go. But believe it or not, I want to drive down there, which might question my sanity. But I'm just freaked out about not having a car. What if I want to go to the Outlets, or McDonalds, or Sea World. Sophie is usually a champ on car trips so I don't see it being an issue.

3. I've decided that spitefulness is an inherit boxer trait. Stella will have an accident and pee RIGHT IN FRONT of us, get in trouble, and then pee RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. It's like she's telling us to kiss her a-double-s. The girl will hold it practically all night long so I'm chalking it up to her being a turd at heart. We start puppy training with the folks who train a lot of the police K9s around here. When I told the lady that we had a boxer puppy, she laughed. And said, that she's never met one yet that wasn't a suborn hard head.

4. Oops almost forgot, we are heading to Pigeon Forge this weekend with PapPaw Rocky. Now this should be quite the trip. I don't think my dad has spent 24 hours with a 3 year old in over 25 years. Bwhahahhaha, he has NO clue what he's in for but this little jaunt was his idea. I've never been to Pigeon Forge and this is a short trip. I know we'll be hitting Dollywood and how knows what else. Probably the interstate to come back home after!

5. The Amazing Race is back on TV! YAY!!!!!! I love that show more than anything. I told Steven the other night that watching it is the most stressful hour of my week! I'm on edge the ENTIRE time. But I love it! And I'm loving the two dudes from the Harlem Globetrotters. What is it about Globetrotters that just make people smile. Even the host of the show is grinning like a fool when those dude step up to the pit stops. Remember when the Globetrotters did a guest appearance on Scooby Doo? They'll be coming to Charleston in January, maybe I should go.

6. I finished the Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood books and now I'm on to Dan Brown's new book AND the second book of the Hunger Games. Man did I love those True Blood books. Now I need to watch the first season of the show!

7. I've given up on trying to find a "crooked hat" for Sophie's witch costume. Kid is just gonna have to deal with the fact that she's going to have a pointy hat.

8. We went to a midget league football game on Sunday to watch my cousin's little boy play. As we were walking back from the concession stand for the 3rd time Steven says to Sophie, "did you see the Winfield cheerleaders over there, you can do that next year." My child says, "nah, I want to do THAT!" And points to the football field. The entire way home she kept saying, "hey daddy did you seem them tackling each other out there!" I'm saying right now, that my tiny little daughter is NOT going to play football. Jesus Christ what is wrong with that child! But here she is practicing her touchdown dance:

9. I'm on the hunt for THE ugliest Christmas sweater that i can possibly find for my husband because I'm bound and determined to have an ugly Christmas sweater party this year. A light up Rudolph sweater might be kind of cool. But Steven had more of a "cousin Eddie" look in mind. You know, thin white v-neck sweater with a black dickie underneath. I didn't even know they sold dickies any more but apparently I have an uncle who is a fan so my aunt said she could hook him up!

10. We saw Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs last weekend. Sophie had to point out that it was not anything like the book (a girl after my own heart)! More importantly, guess what movie they previewed that's coming out in 2010. The SMURFS!

42 Months

Dear Sassy-er-I mean Sophie,

I know that I've dropped the ball on these monthly letters. Every month your month birthday comes along and I have every intention of writing but then time gets away from me. And truthfully there hasn't been to much to report. You are reaching the age where changes are coming gradually. You aren't doing monumental things like walking and talking in complete sentences.

That's not to say you've been boring. You've been anything but boring. You can ask more questions in a 5 minute period than the contestants on an entire episode of Jeopardy. Totally strange and bizarre questions. The other day you must have over heard me talking to someone about a gastro-scope. The next day, I'm pounded with question after question. "Mommy are you going to the doctor to have a camera put in your belly?" "Will they leave the camera in your belly." "If there is a baby in your belly, would the baby see your camera?"

And speaking of babies, I can NOT for the life of me figure out a way to explain to you why you weren't at our wedding. I've just giving up on that one because you end up getting ticked off and yelling at me for not taking you to Puerto Rico. Because didn't I know that you would loooove Puerto Rico! So sue me for not making you a bastard.

We started gymnastics back up this month. We are trying a new gym since the one we went to last year didn't have a class right after I got off work. So far you aren't a fan. You miss your old teachers and the entire place is different. Once you get out on the floor you are in your element and you have a blast. But the entire ride you whine that your belly hurts or that your leg hurts. It's going to be a long winter!

Halloween, my favorite holiday is right around the corner! For months and months you've wanted to be a witch. A witch with a crooked hat and a crooked broom. I found the crooked broom but the crooked hat is causing a problem. I've got 40 days to make you think that crooked hats SUCK and only lame witches wear crooked hats. Where you even got in your mind that a witch costume required a crooked hat and broom is beyond me.

In your 42 month of life you became the co-owner of a puppy. You love her lots. But as I watch you with her I can tell that your love for her is no where near the same as it was for Oscar the Boxer. Stella is like your annoying little sister. Oscar was your protective older brother. I guess both are love but different kinds of love and nothing can change that.

So happy 42 month Sophie B Carr. Next month I'll get this sucker up on time!

Rocking your Mountaineer Leotard! Purchased my yours truly for a whole $8.

In Case You Haven't Heard...

...we are a family of four once more! Yes, we are that crazy. And yes, she is the most adorable thing on the planet. And yes, she is going to be gigantic!

Introducing Miss Stella Rosa Carr!

The Damn Dam

So Little Bit was in the bathtub this evening splashing and playing around. I was in the bedroom and I heard her drop something and say, "ah damn it!" NICE. But what was nicer was the little conversation we had when I went into the bathroom...

Me- "Sophie you really shouldn't say that it's not very nice."

Soph- "So I can't say damn it?"

Me- "No I'd rather you not. Your great grandmother might frown upon it."

Soph-"So only big people can say damn it?"

Me- "Yes, only big people and you said it again so quit."

Soph- "But I'm not "saaaayin damn it," I'm just telling you that I can't say damn it."

Me- "Seriously child did Johnnie Cochran come back reincarnated in your little body?"

Soph- "Can he say damn it?"

Me- "Oh damn it just get out of the tub!"

I could not could the number of times that we have had conversations exactly like this. Usually, just out of the blue she'll say, "momma, we can't can't shit can we?" Or "shut-up isn't nice to say is it."

And people have the chutzpah to ask us when we are going to have another kid. I think we are all stocked up with kid here!

Game Time

On Saturday it started. Mountaineer football! Did I get to watch one play of the game on TV? That would be a great big NO. But I did have fun listening to it on the radio, stuffing my face, and hanging out with all of my friends and their kiddos at our tailgate party. Truthfully, living in Morgantown for 7 years, I bet I only actually went into the stadium a handful of times and you can bet your sweet pickle that at halftime I was outta there. There was always too much fun going on in the parking lots! And I like to talk and gossip! Keeping it real people.

All of the kids looked so cute decked out in their WVU gear. And boy do kids love to wack the heck out of a pinata. I have pictures of the actual wacking but those are on my mom's point and shoot. I think I'm going to have to have a pinata for every occasion! I wonder if they sell baby Jesus pinata for Christmas? Kidding mom.

Emma with her game face on!

Cutest and littlest neighbor in the neighborhood, Ty!