Funny little girl

Natalie Joy is seriously one of the funniest people I know...at 3 years old, she already makes her Dad and I laugh hysterically. Whether it's something she says, or the way she says it, or something she does, it's pretty evident she's funny! Last Thursday, we wanted to have a family movie night, so I rented "UP" and sat there sobbing during the first 15 minutes of the movie (sorry for that spoiler alert-it was so sad!) and Natalie sat there watching me and said, "Oh, come here sweetie and let me hold you"...I was crying and laughing at the same time as she was "coddling" me. Then on Saturday night, she wanted to watch it again, so we did and guess what, I start crying again and she says, "Oh not again, Mom", but she held me and cooed at me until I settled down.
She has also gotten more into dressing up and makeup...she loves to put it on and pout her lips, and you have to tell her tht she is "beautiful-not pretty", then she'll tilt her head as if she's embarrassed by the compliment. Here is a picture of one of the "aftermaths" of doing makeup herself

Baby Shower

Whoa

Is it REALLY November? October went by so fast! I had so many plans that I wanted to do, and I don't feel like I got them all done!
And now it's rainy and cold...:(

Natalie is getting so big...I look at her somedays and think, "where does she come up with this stuff?" She "membered" the other day, when we had her "Kyndol friend" and "Chancy" and "Trebber" and Ashley over and Daddy and"trebber" ate the wormies. We had tipped over a flower pot and there were a ton of worms underneath. I thought Natalie would flip out, but she picked them up and talked to them :) Andy and Trevor started pretending they were eating the worms and mortified Kyndol and Natalie. ANYWAY, she was "membering" and I thought I would be a good Mom and teach er something "wise", so I asked her if she knew where worms live (like where do they go?) And she said "um, in Perry with me!" I laughed so hard, I nearly ran off the road...she was right! Getting so big!

She's getting so excited for the baby...and so am I...I am ready for it to be here. Since we didn't find out what we're having, I'm a little more anxious for the date of arrival to get here quick! My dear friends held a baby shower for me on October 17 and I got some wonderful items, including lots of diapers and giftcards! The best! Some cute clothes and itty-bitty onesies have been washed and put away for the near future. Now "it" just needs to get here!

Turning 29

Well I'm officially as close to 30 as I can be without actually being there...no problem...it's already been a great year and with a new baby to be born in late December, 29 can only get better!

My husband Andy LOVES surprise parties...and has thrown me some sort of surprise almost every year we've been together. This year was no different...my Mom was coming up with my nephew Zander that night, so I wasn't expecting to do anything TOO exciting Thursday night. But when Andy called and told me that there was a last minute meeting at the elementary school and his brother would be bringing over his 3 kids and we'd also have our neighbors 2, I thought, "Okay, he's planning something" But when they all showed up as planned to drop the kids off, I was thinking "Okay...no party tonight-but no big deal". So I asked Andy if we should make something quick or just order pizza. While I went to change out of my work clothes into sweats and a tshirt, everyone snuck back into the living room and yelled surprise when I walked out. Oh Andy...you are SO clever! :) So I had a Princess Party-can you guess who picked out the party decor?

She's home again!

Natalie is BACK! And I missed her terribly, but she did have a little too much fun!

Before my Mom left with the kids last week, we took them (Znder and Natalie) to the pumpkin patch at Rees' Fruit Farm...it was that terribly cold Saturday!

She also informed me last night (when she was mad at me) that I was not her Mom anymore...I was still her parent, but Erika (my sister) was her Mom now...WHAT?!

I think she is happy to be home and get back into her routine-she was thrilled to see all her friends at school today and she's even back in time to go to the pumpkin patch tomorrow!

Missing my baby

Natalie Joy went to stay with her Grandma and Grandpa in Oklahoma...and I am missing her BAD!
She has cousins to play with, aunts and unclesto keep her entertained and I'm sure she' being stuffed of delicious food, but I still miss her! :(

They'll all be here on Saturday for my baby shower, but this week is going to be a LONG one!

My Natalie Joy is such a ham! And a royal pain when she wants to be! We went to Wichita last weekend for a baby shower (thank you to Lisha and all my dear friends who came) and I took Natalie with me. Ashley brought Kyndol too for the "all-girls" party. They had a blast, but if one wasn't crying, it was the other one...man! I LOVE being a mom, I really do, but whining in a small space, with two of my friends in there as well does NOT fly! She was tired, I'll give her that! Very much a routine girl, which is good-MOST of the time.
Short trip, great time and lots of nice gifts!

This weekend is the 1st (new)Annual Perry Fall Festival and I'm on the committee that has been planning it. The group is a bunch of community members who just want to bring something positive into their community...nd I want to be a part of that!
So far, we have had a ton of support from the City and local buisnesses...BUT we need people there. My biggest fear now is e'll ahve all of this cool stuff to do and no one will show up-I'm sure that there will be people there. I've heard lots of comments about it, but there's always the nagging felling in the back of my mind...you know?

Frontier City

Frontier City is an amusement park in OKC, somewhat similar to Silver Dollar City in Branson. They have the old time photos, the vendors dressed in plaid, entertainment, etc...

Natalie and I traveled down South to Oklahoma to see my family...Andy couldn't go-he got to work :( but we had a gret time. Got there Friday night and had my first Jamocha from Arby's...pretty tasty! Kissed on my nephews, Zander and Carson (mostly Carson-Zander was busy playing dodgeball with pillows and Natalie)

And went to bed...

We got up early the next morning and set out for Oklahoma City an hour and a half away...where we were meeting my Aunt Susan (it was her birthday we were celebrating), cousin Ryan, my sister Emily and her boyfriend Garrett. We had quite a troupe...matching shirts and all (thank you MOTHER!) We went to Cracker Barrel for dinner...YUM-O...and had Braum's ice cream on the way home

It was a great time and we were all exhausted that night!

August FLEW by!

Whew...IS August really almost over? This is crazy! Summer just started the other day, I promise!

Let's see...what has gone on in the last (almost) month since I last posted?
I had a birthday/camping trip with some of my dearest friends...Lisha turned (ahem) 29, and we celebrated in a different way this year...hot dogs, smores, and fires...not in the order. First, our friends, Dustin took us out on his boat...thank you Dustin for enduring us all! and we zoomed around the lake a few times. Then hung out and "tanned" for awhile in the Cove. Around 8, it started lightening, so we headed back to start setting up our camp. We had Mandy aka Ms. Coleman, with us and with her expertise in camping gear, she had us set up in no time at all.

After some trouble with finding wood, we had a nice fire going and cooked us some hot dogs, smores and Doritos-is that not the best dinner EVER?!
It was all great until 1:30 when it started raining, some of us climbed in the car, and then back to the tents when it stopped. I tell you what though, sleeping in anything but my bed STINKS when there is already NO comfortable position!
Anyway, around 4:30 it started rainging again, or should I say, down pouring, and seeing as Jennifer, Sarah and I didn't have the Coleman tent, we ran to the cars to avoid getting soaked! Erin, Lisha and Mandy soon followed and I called to say, "Let's go home" So we carpooled back to Perry and slept until 9:30 at my house. It was a fun time though!

Happy B-day weekend!

Two birthdays were celebrated this past weekend...a dear friend of ours, Joshua Reece (aka: Pampers, Make-A, Pickles, Ua, Pamps, Gerberbaby) turns the big 3-0 on August 4th and he and his lovely wife Erin had some friends over for a Cajun-style dinner at their awesome house in ALLEN. Natalie always has a good time at their house, so after being assured that other kids were going to be there, we brought her along for the party. Andy helped cook the boil...mussels, shrimp, kibasa, corn, potatos made up the cajun boil and the guys did an awesome job of laying it all out for us.
Then came the karaoke, and anyone who knows me knows I'm kind've a microphone hog :( Sorry it happens....but I have created a little mini-me, and she loves it just as much as I do...Natalie walks up there and sang her little heart out several times, including a new song, written by her, called "Butterfly Fairy"-a tribute, no doubt, to the new butterfly fairy Barbie her Daddy got her earlier that day. Part of the song that lasted FOREVER, was (after I started clapping to try and end this particular song) she gracefully sang the words, right along with her music, "Mom stop clapping I'm not done"...it was hysterical! She asked if Andy would dance with her and fell asleep almost immediately around 10:30...it was a LATE night for the Meyer's...we're usually in bed by 9pm!
The second birthday party was on Sunday for my 7 year old nephew Nolan! I can NOT believe he is 7! Boy time goes FAST! We had fun swimming and eating ice cream cake (thank you Amy!) and opeing gifts...lots of boys there, so Natalie got to practice shooting (and getting shot back at) with water guns. She and he cousing Olivia, who is two, had fun chasing people and shooting them, but it was NOT fun getting paybacks!

Pics from Zoo trip #2

Some pics from our Wichita Zoo trip

Busy summer days

Okay...good grief...it's been a month since my lst post! July has FLOWN by.

Busy with friends and family, work and life...keeps us entertained everyday!

Natalie has been to TWO big zoos this past month...we went on a mini family vacation with our friends, Trevor and Ashley Gray and their daughter Kyndol to Omaha...mainly to see the zoo, I don't know who was more excited though, the girls or the parents. Daycare told me that Natalie wouldn't stop talking about the Omaha zoo...and the "fishies all around us" (I told her there was a place we would go into and there wouldbe fishies all around us. Needless to say, we all had a good time and the girls were such troopers...no naps and they were still great!

It would be nice to spend a week up there...just to eat at every cool place down in the old Market Street area...

Then, I took my two nephews, Nolan and Mason and my neice Olivia with Natalie and I to the Wichita Zoo where we met my two sisters, Erika and Stephanie and my two OTHER nephews, Carson and Zander...we had a BLAST! It was supah-hot, but luckily, the zoo had tese water fan things on and we were able to keep cool with that. All the kids had a great time and no one had a break down :) Here's some pics of the two events!

More pics from Territorial Days

Territorial Days and Turtle racin'

Last weekend was Lecompon's Territorial Days and was only the second time I have had the opportunity to enjoy the festivities. This time every year, the people of Perry head over acrss the bridge to enjoy vendors of food, crafts, rides, a parade and a street dance with a live band.
Friday night we took Natalie over there to enjoy the "wristband night"...I was thinking, okay $7-10 for a night of all you can ride rides won't be too bad... I was a little off.....$18!!!!!!!!! For ONE night! AND it wasn't like Natalie could ride the Squirrl cages or the Twister thingy...but they did have some kiddie rides and she seemed to have an awesome time...plus she went on the BIG slide and the swings (which scared me to death) and had a BLAST! I think she rode the swings 10 times and went up the stairs and down the slide at least 10...so maybe I did get my money's worth. We were there until 10 and got poor, tired lil' Natalie home way past her bedtime.
BUT she got up at 6:30am ready to go "ride the swings" again...we had to get the trutle there by 8am to get in the turtle race...On Thursday, Natalie named our borrowed turtle (Thanks Trevor-again) Monisha...and then it's name changed to Sally...so "Monisha/Sally" was a pretty good turtle...loved to be petted and such...Trevor even gave us an insiders tip when he told us to sing "Eye of the Turtle" to it before the big race, which we did...but unfortunately, there were like 100 other racers there and poor "Monisha/Sally" didn't stand a chance. She lost in the first round...oh well. When we went to let her go "Back to her Mommy and Daddy" Natalie cried and was so upset, I was half tempted to crawl amongst the Porta Potties and bushes to find her again.

Onto other things, we tried to distract Natalie by eating some pancakes and visiting with our neighbors, John and Kay, but didn't stay long. Our friends the Golders showed up and we played hard at the playground until 11 when the parade started. Lots of candy (and I'm sure some cavities later) Natalie, Ceci, Dustin Cox and Andy and I went out on Dustin's boat and had a blast sailing around Perry Lake...

That night, we went back to Lecompton for the street dance where Natalie had an awesome time shaking her groove thing to the music...but after an hour or so, she (and I) was "off her face" tired and I got her home to bed...what a weekend!

Good times with the 'rents

My parents came down on Sunday evening...we don't get to see them very often and when we do it's usually the mass chaos that is my large family. They came alone, just the two of them, so it was a nice "quiet" time with Grama and Papa for Natalie
She had so much fun while they were here and asked for her Grama when I picked her up from school on Tuesday...she was so upset when I told her they had to go bye-bye. She said, "they had to drive a long way and turn?" I'm not sure where she got the "turn" part but she is always asking to see her cousin Zander and I tell her it's too far away and we'll go soon. So cute!

My new nephew Carson Kaleo Dobbs

Carson sleeping...something he does a lot!

Zander and Natalie playing in the sandbox

Natalie holding her "Baby Carson" and giving sweet kisses

Symphony in the Flint Hills

This past Saturday, Andy and I went to an event I have wanted to go to for a LONG time...Symphony in the Flint Hills. Since they first started, and I started this job, I have tried, in vain, to get tickets. They literally sell out 5000 tickets in a little over an hour-and tht doesn't count the 600 volunteers they allowed this year-getting most of them signed up within a day'stime! So I was either going to have to get supah-fast at getting online to their site, or donate $10000000-lots o'money as a sponsor to get tickets. PLUS...they are a little pricey at $63!

So last Friday I was THRILLED when my boss, Olivia, came in asking if anyone wanted to go. Becky Blake at the Kansas State Travel and Tourism department had extra tickets and no one in her department wanted them! ACH! So I called Andy and informed him of the idea...he was game...so a dream of mine was to come true!

We rode up with a former co-worker and friend of mine and her husband, Melissa and Curt DeDonder, and although it took an hour and a half to get there, we were pumped! Once we got to the "ranch" where we were to park...Mel pulled her tickets out and I got mne out Andy saw that they said "Patron"...not knowing what that meant, but seeing a special "Patron" parking section, we headed that way. When we got up to the gate, we showed our tickets and were ushered over to the Patron entrance...also known as the VIP entrance...what LUCK! Not only did we get a special wristband that would get us in to a tent and special section that included food and drinks and a covered seating area, but we also got to reserve really close seats. We sat down at an empty table, ate, had some good converstion with other Patrons and went down to our reserved seating. At intermission, we met up with Mel and Curt and as the boys headed into the tent again, Mel and I went down to our seats...they were fantastic and the KC Symphony was amazing!

Not something I'd probably do again soon, but definitely a wonderful experience!

Lots O'stuff

Ah...spring/summertime! My "busy" time at work and it has been a crazy one this year...good grief! Last week was a blast but I literally wore myself out. I was sick Sunday and Monday...ugh. It doesn't help that I can't take anything that actually might help me feel better.

I heard the heartbeat for the first time yesterday...even when you know you are pregnant, there's no relief like hearing your baby's rapidly beating heart. It took Iyanna (my awesome nurse) a little while to find it and I had to pee like a MOE, so it didn't help when she started pressing harder around my bladder area to catch that little person inside me. Already a problem child ;)

Natalie turned 3 on May 27! We had a nice party for her in our backyard with all of her friends and ours...and family of course. My baby is such a big girl now...wearing big girl undies to bed and getting up when she needs to go "potty"...oh, *sob* my baby is gone :( But her big news is that SHE is also having a baby! A little girl to be named "Isabelle Grace" and her baby and my baby are going to be sisters...hmmm...she even rubs her belly when she talks about it.

We had a family party at my parents house in Oklahoma the weekend before Nat's bday so that Stephanie (who had just given birth that week) didn't have to travel right away with new baby Carson Kaleo Dobbs! We hd a princess party with tiaras and cupcake cake...we had a blast! I wish I lived closer to them!

Last weekend, Steph, Zach, Zander and Carson (along with Zach's mom, Jan) came up to Topeka to see us. We went to see Thomas the Train in Baldwin City and had so much fun! The train ride was fun although if I had to hear Thomas the Train song ONE MORE TIME, I think I would've screamed ;) But we had a great time! Until I got a speeding ticket on the way home...UGH!

Saturday night was the Perry Pride committee's first ever Summer Social with a Fish Fry, Ice cream social, popcorn and a movie...whew...it was a huge hit and we are planning another one soon.

Okay...enough rambling for now...

New baby

So there will be a new Meyer baby sometime in the winter...which is awesome, but I TOTALLY didn't want to be pregnant in the summer...I'm already not a nice person when I get hot. Just remember, if I'm short with you for ANY reason...it's probably not you!

I'm already feeling it and uncomfortable in my clothes, that don't fit...ugh!
When I told Natalie about there being a baby in my tummy, she just says, "Me too!"

Best Friends

Natalie is such a sweetie! The other night, Andy and I were laying with her in her bed...she has started being difficult to go to bed alone and at a decent time...and she was singing to us (every song she could think of) saying silly things to us) and she said, "Mom, Dad, I love you so much! We're best friends forever" sniff sniff...I had to write this as proof when she's older that she really did love me THAT much!

Last bootcamp

Last night was the "official" last night of bootcamp in Perry...at least for awhile. Summer is here and lots of women have families and BBQ's and t-ball games, etc...going on. We stopped it until fall...thanks to all who participated...I had a blast getting to know you all better! I feel like I have made some wonderful new friends in the process! See you in the fall!

Last night after cleaning, I went and picked up Natalie Joy from Denise's house and started home. Once home, I had a ton of groceries to carry in, so I let Natalie in the house and told her to go and find her babies or Barbies...when I came back in, there was a chair pulled up to the cabinet and no Natalie. I look around and see that her bedroom door is shut...I open it up in time to see her stick a handful of SUGAR in her mouth...ohhhh...she was in some trouble! ;} She acts like I deprive her of sweet things...good grief!

But I couldn't stay upset for too long...I mean look at her! AGh...I'm in trouble!

Spring is here

We have had pretty nice weather but until I pulled out my bike and little buggy for Natalie, it just didn't feel like spring. It is here...although the rainy part is too...before I know it, it will be 80 degrees and I'll be complaing about the heat! ;)

Brilliant Child

We have been doing Parents as Teachers since Natalie was itty-bitty...and last night was our "second to last" meeting with Awesome Angie Bloom...our PAT rep.
She did the Denver screening on Natalie and although I already knew it, my child is supah-smart! I love listening to her reason things and tell me and Andy "somtin".

Man I can NOT believe she will be three a month from yesterday! AGH...where did that time go?

Saturday Fun

Friday night, after bowling and making sure Andy was having fun fishing with his crew, Natalie and I picked up some ice cream and headed to see Ashley and Kyndol (Chance was sleeping)

We invited Kyndol to have a sleepover and didn't get to bed until 10 (whoops).

Natalie got up at the crack of dawn and was ready to wake poor tired Kyndol up, I made her wait until at least 7am...after their shower and singing to Barney, we drove into Topeka to the Combat Air Museum's Pancake Feed and Fundraiser. BIG planes and jeeps, singing by local talent, pancakes and "hot dogs" (sausages) we had a blast! The girls were running all over the place and Natalie even got into the cockpit of the huge Air Nataional Guard plane that flew in for the special occasion.

After that air adventure, we went and cheered Mason on in his soccer game at Shawnee North...he was awesome! ;)

Lunch was next where we met Ashley and Chance at Las Fuentes at Gage Center (yum) and THEN went to the zoo and rode the train! It was a busy day!

Bowling baby!

Natalie and I joined my co-workers at the annual Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl-a-thon on Friday night after work. I didn't think she would like it very well and I would spend my time chasing her around the center, but she had a blast...as we all did! She was so upset when we left..."I want to roll the ball again" :(

First major haircut

I couldn't remember who I had told but Natalie got her first haircut. It's been a few weeks, and it's growing longer now, but here's a pic of the event.

Baby's getting bigger

Last night I got home a little early and (finally) cleaned my (disgusting) car out. I remember the days before Natalie when I would take pride in cleaning my car, Windex and all, at least a few times a month. Now I leave it there because I have other priorities in life...anyway...I got it cleaned out with my little helper and got her new (sniff, sniff) big girl seat in. Natalie is now sitting in a booster chair. And although it's not the "true" booster seat, it is detachable and I will eventually pull the back part off. I only kept it on because it ad the seat belt adjuster on there.
This morning as she sat in her new chair, I teared up...just a little...my baby's getting bigger!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

So, as I'm sure everyone knows...yesterday was Earth Day...well last night, Natalie and I went to Target and Toys R' Us to find my nephew, Mason, a birthday present. Natalie starts saying "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle". Thinking that I am either world's greatest mother for teaching my child the importance of these things at such a young age or she learned something wonderful at her daycare, I ask her, "Honey, where did you learn that?" Beaming with pride because I just knew it was my doing, she replys, "um...Special Agent Oso" Oh man! Some cartoon on Disney taught my daughter an important life lesson...not me...oh well.

Some pirate pics from my grandpa's b-day

60 years of being married

Last weekend was my Grandma and Grandpa Manley's 60th Anniversary!
It makes me wonder if Andy and I will live to see that long...I mean, come on...that's a LONG time! But we had a really good time...and witnessed the renewed love they have for each other...AWWWWW...

in honor of them, we held a family concert. Kudos to my entire family...even Uncle David (the lost 5th Rat Pack member) sang to my grandparents.