3 year olds are crazy!

This morning Nixon woke me up at 6:30am. I was ticked. Especially because he shares a room with Oakley and has to wake her up to and there is no persuading a 1 year old to go back to sleep unless its the middle of the night. And even then, I am not sure if it is possible with Oakley. I put Nixon back in his room gave him an alarm clock and told him not to come out until it was 8 o'clock. He actually listened. I was impressed.

Then while Nixon was sitting eating breakfast I was vacuuming. He yells out to me and says "Mom its really rude to vacuum while I eat." I asked him why he felt that way and he responds "because you should be sitting here keeping me company. Plus the vacuum is too loud."

Nixon has been on a kick of things and people not listening to him. He will put his toys down and shame them while saying "you're not listening!!!" He gets pretty upset and wild about when he feels he is not being heard. I feel this might have some underlying issues... but the kid talks SO much, there is no possible way that I could always be listening. (I bet his toys feel the same way too.)

While he has a lot of character, he is also quite smart. Since we are back to a normal schedule AKA Jeff is back working, we have been able to start back working on learning. Nixon knows his ABC's and number like a champ. He also knows the sounds to all of the letters. This is not all my doing, a lot of it came from out leapfrog letter toy that magnets to the fridge. I love getting people that toy because it works wonders, and I would highly recommend that toy to ANYONE who has kids! They now are not magnetic to go on the fridge, they just come in a bucket. Not as cool, but it is still an awesome toy. It teaches them the letters and the sounds that the letters make. This has taught Nixon some sight words because he would see them around and started to sound words out. He knows Nixon (because he loves his name a lot) Mom, Dad, Cat, at and usually Dog (I think he tries to mess with me and be a trickster, he thinks he is funny when he doesn't want to cooperate).

It have been really fun being home with the kids and helping them learn and grow. I am itching to start back up with my schooling though because I find myself needing more meaning and more of a challenge within my days. I look forward to my last semester starting up here in a few weeks however it will be bitter sweet. Once I am done with my bachelors degree I am not sure where to go with school next. I always thought I would work my whole life. but I love staying home with my kids. I have always felt I would regret missing out on their childhood. As much as I love it though, I always find myself needing a project or something to keep me moving more. I have decided to round up some friends and do joy school with Nixon. It is super fun, and will keep me busy and keep Nixon busy too! He needs more interaction. Nixon and Oakley love playing together, but she still needs to grow up a little to really have fun with one another. I look forward to those days.

We are sad that summer is almost over. I won't lie... it kind of sucks that Jeff is gone (from 7:30-4-5ish). The worst thing is that I cannot talk to him or get a hold of him throughout the day. I find that hard, but its also something that we have never had to do before, but I am sure that I will get used to it. Inside the school that he works at he has no data on his phone, and no service. I find it kind of weird....but then again his work days are not that long that its bad, it is just a change really..... Anyways, the other thing that sucks with summer ending is that our pool is getting colder and going to close soon. We went to go to the pool yesterday and there was a DEAD MOUSE in it!!! AHHH SICK! I called the guys to come and clean it, and told them about the mouse. He told me that the chlorine levels were so high that it was fine to swim with the dead mouse in there. Ew. Just ew. That for sure was not happening.
(I took a picture, but it wont load.. sorry!)

Anyways, Nixon is going stir crazy that he is not number one on the attention list, so see ya next week!
-K.

O turns 1

This past Sunday was Oakley's first birthday. We just did our little family to celebrate. Although its a big deal for us, it never is for other people. So I made a 2 layered pink cake, and got Oakley some my little ponies as a gift. She loves the ponies and loved the cake too! This has been a great past year. Full of love and laughter. I absolutely love my little girl, she lights up my life in a way that no one else does. Of course I love Jeff and Nixon too, but us girls we just get each other and I hope that never changes!

We saw an Oakley truck and had to take a picture especially the day before her birthday!

A video; she is so cute. Nixon always loved the attention, I am not sure it Oakley will...

This was my DIY project this week. I cut the vinyl all up. I was going to use my Cricut, but I am missing the cutting board portion! Anyways, it was not really fun to do, but I am glad I did it because I love it! 

Also I am trying to coupon, but only for really good deals mostly because I do not want a ton of extra crap in my house! Here is what I got this past weekend ALL FOR FREE!

Anyways, that's it for this week!

-K.

Butt Load

I've got a butt load of catching up to do!

Well since I last blogged, we got out of the lease of our condo, and left for Canada. This all happened very quickly... we pretty much just made the decision, packed up and left within a week. It was hard not having a house for almost 3 months, but we loved spending lots of time with Grandma and Grandpa Hall and our other family and friends up in Canada for the summer. Jeff worked back on the dairy farm while the kids and I went between a few places trying to not overstay our welcomes anywhere. I am sure my mom was relieved when we left her home for a bit, not that she would ever admit it. Nixon absolutely loves her and just follows her everywhere while asking her a million questions. I was a hard decision deciding to stay in the Las Vegas area. There is a lot of crime that happens here, and that was a big con to staying. There is also no family close, and that is something I really wanted near by, but it is also fun to make our own lives here and see where life takes us. I am all for the adventure and this looks like it will be a fun one! Plus when I get super home sick, its not too expensive of a flight home!

Well this summer, we had lots of ups and downs. We had a close member of the family lose their mother, my sister bought her own house, and we just recently had a new addition (little baby boy Sanders) to the Hall side! Plus my cousin had her first little girl, and other friends had their kids too which we were super excited to meet!

Here are a few highlights of our summer time!

I got to see my long lost friend Paige!!!

Got to hang out with my sister LOTS! Here is an awkward pic at Costa Vida! haha

Got to go to West Edmonton Mall, we went with some friends, it was a blast!

Grandma Hall got to spend LOTS of time with the kids. 

Found out Oakley LOVES these mini doughnuts! 

Fathers Day at the Cabin

Oakley learned how to climb stairs like a pro

Sarah and I went out to Moxies for nachos and a while chocolate brownie, then head off to the Michael Buble concert. It was SO much fun!

Auntie Kristin looking like a Mom! Love it! She bought a house, so we went a few times to pick up some things she needed. 

Went to BWW with Auntie Kristin. I love that place.. and my kids love to stick out their tongue apparently?

Again with grandma

At Great Grandma Halls house playing in a bowl!

Raymond 1st of July Parade! We got soooo much Candy!

Headed out to the Waterton Damn with some friends!

At the Cabin!

I hiked Bears Hump in Waterton with Jeff's Aunt Deb and Uncle Sid.

Then we stopped to get some ice cream with the rest of the family.

At Grandma Hall's playing in the sprinkler. Don't mind the background, we were taking down the dogs house. 

Zane and Sarah came over to play too!

These are some baby quilt presents I made for friends and family this summer. 

Went to Calaway park with Sam her kids, Sarah and Zane. It was lots of fun!

This is at Channing's wedding! I loved the decorations!

We went out to visit Uncle Sid one night, Jeff caught a fish, but we let him go. 

Last night in Calgary! - Oakley started to walk last few days in Calgary, just before she hit 11 months!

I went out with some great friends, we had a blast catching up! It had been too long!

 Tessa's wedding with great friends!

2 Weeks at the Cabin with the family!!!!

On the drive home, we hit up Texas Roadhouse, because we miss it!

This is MOVING DAY!

Happy to have out own place again!

Brad and Megan were here, so we went and played with them a bit.

Nixon and Oakley love playing together. I thought this was too cute!

We went to set up Daddy's classroom. Oakley loved his Canadian Flag...

...while Nixon loves the peg board.

Ready to hit up the pool!

HAHA Oakley Just chillin, she is such a cutie!

We love our backyard and their sweet Del Sol shirts that change color in the sun!

So there is the update of the past few months for us! Will try to keep back on the weekly updated! 

- K