Curiously Kaylea

Growing Up

2010-02-06T09:47:00.003-05:00

Our "little" Kaylea isn't so little anymore. She is blossoming into a beautiful young lady with a pretty good head on her shoulders. She loves to read (and currently has the most AR points at her school), loves fashion (which is hampered by a school dress-code), and loves her friends (girls and B-O-Y-S, alike). And yes, there is a "boyfriend" in her life.

When I began this blog, I titled it "Curiosly Kaylea" because of the funny things that she would say. We were always so curious about how, exactly, it was that her brain worked. Also, she just said the darnedest things and I wanted to put them in writing so we could remember them for years to come.

Don't worry, I am not thinking it is time to retitle the Blog or shut it down. I am sure as Kaylea enters her teenage years, we will remain curious about how, exactly, it is that her brain works; however, I am not so confident that she will continue to give us the "kayleaisms and DOINK(ers) that so freely flew from her mouth before. I guess I am just realizing that the whole premise of the Blog is changing. You are welcome to stick around and make the journey with us. Who knows what puberty, dating, middle school, etc. has in store for us.

Oh, and as a side note, I am happy to report that Bub and I have finally reaped the rewards of this little Blog. This morning we have sat and read through some old posts and laughed, and laughed, and laughed......

Our "Not So Little" Kaylea

Magna Cum Grocer

2009-08-28T10:18:00.003-04:00

With our move to Florida, many important decisions have been necessary. You know the ones I speak of:

What Doctor should we use?
What Dentist is kind and gentle?
Where should I get my hair done?

BUT, one of the most important questions was:

What school should we send Kaylea to?

In Tennessee, this wasn't really an issue because there was only one school in our small town; therefore, the county pretty much made the decision for us. But, down here it is totally different. We could send her to the nice little neighborhood school, for which we are zoned. We could choose to send her to one of the many magnet schools that cater to your child's academic interests. We could send her to one of the private schools. Or we could send her to an open enrollment, "school of choice."

All of these choices were quite mind numbing. We carefully weighed each option and tried to determine the best school for Kaylea. The neighborhood school, Dixieland Elementary, would normally be a very viable option, but we don't anticipate staying in this school district for the entire school year; therefore, Kaylea would have to change schools again mid-year. The magnet schools are fabulous, but we would have to apply for Kaylea to attend them, and people have been on waiting lists for 2 - 3 years to get in. The private schools are a nice option, also, but unfortunately we don't have an extra 7k to spend on tuition. So, we opted for the "school of choice." We feel we made the right decision because regardless of where we eventually buy a house, Kaylea will be able to remain at the same school.

One of the catches to sending her to the "school of choice" is that the school buses only pick up children that are zoned for the school. So, I am traveling 20 miles round trip, twice a day to take Kaylea to school and then pick her up. I don't really mind the drive because it gives Kaylea and me a little bit of time to talk and share all the important things that are going on.

I do have to say, living in a town with so many schools is hard for Kaylea to grasp. In the morning and afternoon when we are making our voyage across town, she sees many different school buses and always asks me, "Which school do those kids go to?" Of course there is no way of knowing, so I can only guess depending on which school we are close to. One morning as we were pulling out of our neighborhood, she saw a school bus and asked, "Mom, do those kids go to that Winn Dixie School that I was supposed to go to?" I was a little confused at first and then I realized, she meant Dixieland School. I couldn't help but laugh. I guess she was probably glad that we didn't send her there; after all, she wants to grow up and be a doctor not a grocer.

Daddy's Birthday Dinner

2009-08-22T19:15:00.004-04:00

Tonight, Kaylea was finally able to make a birthday dinner for her Daddy. She had studied the latest edition of Taste of Home's Fun Food Magazine, and dog eared numerous pages, just trying to find the perfect meal. There were so many choices and she really had trouble deciding. She even gave the magazine to Bub, and had him look through it. After all, it was his birthday and she was going to allow him to have some say in his meal. After much contemplation, she decided to prepare the Meatball Pizza and Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cup S'mores.

Of course, I had to lend a hand with the oven, but other than that she made the entire meal all by herself. It was very tasty and she and I had a nice time in the kitchen. When I was growing up, these were the things I had always imagined doing with my daughter. So, I guess Bub wasn't the only one that received a gift from Kaylea this evening.

Moths and Balls and Other Stuff......

2009-05-16T12:52:00.003-04:00

Yes, I am still here. I know I haven't posted anything in several months, but life has gotten in the way. For some reason, I just haven't had the time or inclination to write anything. I'm sure it is just a phase that will pass. Maybe when life settles down and things return to normal (or as normal as they can be at our house) my focus and creativity will return. For now though, I guess the entries will be as sporadic as the thoughts that run through my head.

I will stop with my excuses now, because as you all know, this blog isn't about me, this blog is about Kaylea. I will, however, say that Kaylea is growing up and hasn't been giving me as much material as she did in the past. But, it just so happens that we had two hum-dingers that came out this past week. Since I found myself saying repeatedly that these have to go on "The Blog", I decided to put them in print. So here they are (for all two of our readers that have hung around).

First, Kaylea's Grammy told a story the other night that I had never heard before. She said several years ago, she and Pappy took Kaylea to our local KFC for dinner. They walked up to the counter to place their order and Kaylea studied the menu very carefully. While Kaylea was trying to decide on her menu selection, Grammy ordered the "Sr. Buffet." Then Pappy stepped forward and ordered the "Sr. Buffet" also. Kaylea was still having a hard time making up her mind. Grammy tried to help her out by suggesting the chicken strip dinner. Kaylea shook her head, no. Then Kaylea stepped up to the register and told the clerk, "I'll have the Sr. Buffet, also." Grammy said the man behind the counter bent over to hide his laughter, but then regained his composure and quickly apologized for his rudeness. Grammy told him, "It's ok, Kaylea makes us laugh all the time."

Next, this past week, Auntie M and I were unloading more yard sale items into the garage. The items had been in Auntie's attic and basement and smelled a bit musty. During all of the unpacking I commented, "I keep smelling moth balls," to which Auntie replied, "well, I don't know why." Then Kaylea pipes up and says, "WELL, I did see a big moth in here a few minutes ago." DOINK!!! I thought Auntie and I were both going to wet our pants. Bless her little heart!

I have a gripe

2009-01-19T16:25:00.002-05:00

I know that I am not a teacher; I never have been. But, I went to college and got the degree needed to be a teacher; therefore, I feel a kinship with the educators I encounter in my day to day life. Due in part to my educational background, I have always supported Kaylea's teachers and tried to back them in their efforts to educate my daughter. I have always been a very "involved" parent. You know the kind. I was a full-time volunteer in Kaylea's classroom; the first to put my name on the party sign-up sheet (heck, most of the time I was the one that made the party sign-up sheet); always present at class parties; never missed an opportunity to chaperon a field trip; and basically, rallied all the other parents together for various classroom projects and causes.

This year, however, things have been different. Basically, I am a lot less involved than in years past. I began the year by volunteering one afternoon a week, but I just got the feeling that I was not wanted/needed/welcome. For whatever reason, Kaylea's teacher and I just haven't warmed up to each other.

Now that you know a little history, I will explain my gripe. And yes, I felt giving a little history lesson was important so that you wouldn't think I was "one of THOSE parents." (The kind of parent that is never happy with their child's teacher.)

First, all of the students in 4th grade are required to become 4-H members. I don't have anything against 4-H as a club. But I think it should be treated as that, "a club" and all participation should be voluntary. I don't understand, however, how membership and participation in a club can be mandatory. If participation is mandatory, it is no longer a club; it is a class. Which brings me to my second gripe, there are many 4-H activities that Kaylea has been required to do, for which she was graded on. The most current activity (assignment) from 4-H is to write a 200-400 word essay on the 75th Anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. When this activity (assignment) was sent home, Kaylea's teacher notified us that the students would be graded on their essay. Then she asked us to help them with this paper. Well, naturally, I asked Kaylea if she had been told how to write an essay? Guess what? NO! The kids had not been given any direction on how to even begin to write an essay. Oh, and let me remind you, these are 4TH GRADERS. (I don't think I learned how to write an essay until I was in 8th or 9th grade.) So, here I sat trying to explain the mere basics of essay writing to my daughter and "helping" her organize her thoughts so that she can turn them into a somewhat coherent 200-400 word essay. Well, we Kaylea finished the thing today, and I must say I am proud of her for the effort she put into the assignment. But, if Kaylea's teacher thinks that all of these children produced these great literary pieces as a result of what they have learned in school, then she is sadly mistaken. I just hope that we she gets a good grade on the damn thing!

Don't get me wrong; I expect to help my child with various assignments. I am very involved in her education. I just feel that I should not be expected to teach my child how to complete a task for which she is receiving a grade. That is the teachers' responsibility. What if I were a parent that didn't go to college, or didn't even finish high school. Odds are I probably couldn't give the best guidance to my child when it comes to constructing an essay. Should the child be punished for that? I think not!

The end of an era...

2008-12-23T23:35:00.005-05:00

I am a little sad today. It seems my little girl isn't so little anymore. This is becoming more abundantly clear with each passing day. And now, because she has entered "young adult-hood" Christmas will forever be changed in her life and ours.

As you all know, Kaylea is 10 now. For the last 2 Christmases we have fully expected the BIG question to come from her lips. You all know the question I am referring to; it is the question that every parent of every young child dreads at Christmastime. I'm sure each of you are wondering when your little one will ask it, also. I always swore that I would not lie to Kaylea when she directly asked the question. Only she never did.

Finally, this year for many reasons we decided the truth needed to come out. I have received several e-mails over the past few weeks about the "spirit" of Christmas. I would share these with Kaylea hoping it would encourage her to ask me, but no luck. Every opportunity I was given, I would try to ease her into the subject, but she wasn't taking the bait. Then yesterday, she had a friend over to play and they were chatting up a storm. Suddenly, Kaylea looks at her friend and says, "Did you know that there is someone in our class that doesn't believe in Santa Clause?" Kaylea's friend gave her a puzzled and amused look and replied, "yes, like me and a whole bunch more." Then her friend looked at me and said, "Ms. Jennifer, you mean you haven't told Kaylea the truth about Santa Clause, yet? My mom told me the truth 2 years ago."

I guess the thing that rang in ears was her friends use of the word "truth." I know I haven't boldface lied to Kaylea. I would just dance around the subject. She would tell me about a child that didn't believe and I would respond, "oh no, Santa won't come see them if they don't believe." I guess I was so convincing with that argument that Kaylea decided she would believe for life. Even after her friend called me out, Kaylea didn't even ask a single question.

Once her friend went home, I sat her down and talked to her. I told her the truth, but I also explained to her the history of Saint Nicholas and how the modern day Santa Clause came about. I explained that all of us have a little portion of Santa Clause inside us because we share in the magic of Christmas. We give gifts from the heart to our family and complete strangers while expecting nothing in return. That is the true spirit of Christmas. But most importantly, we talked about the true reason for celebrating Christmas. I reminded her that Christmas is the celebration of Christ's birth. This is a time to honor Him and celebrate Him.

After our talk I looked at her and said, "Kaylea, why haven't you asked me if Santa is real?" She replied, "Well, I guess I just believed it so much, I didn't think I had to ask." I wonder how long she would have kept believing, had we not had our talk? I guess I'll never know, but I feel good knowing that she heard the truth from me. I am also so proud of my child for sticking to her beliefs. For several years, kids have told her Santa isn't real, but she never wavered in her belief. I know that her love and commitment to the Lord will stay with her throughout her life and I know she will have the same unshakable faith in Him.

As Kaylea went to bed last night she asked me one final question, "Mom, can I still leave cookies our for Santa, I mean you, on Christmas Eve?" And of course, I told her she could do anything she wanted to. We will carry on all of our Christmas traditions as long as she wants.

Now, here are Kaylea's years with Santa for all of us to enjoy............

Kaylea's 1st Christmas - 1998

She was never afraid of Santa

Ah, those were the days - 2000

I think she was a little star struck

What a cutie pie.

Kaylea getting a great BIG Santa hug.

She just asked Santa for a puppy and he said o.k. (after asking Dad and Mom).

They were having a very deep conversation.

She was probably doin' some splainin'

The last picture of Kaylea with Santa.

We never got her to see him last year (kick, kick!!!!)

Childhood Memories

2008-12-12T13:04:00.002-05:00

As Kaybug drug her lifeless and disappointed (ie suppose to snow, but didn't) body from bed this morning I had to tell her that we received a phone call last night and her great-great aunt passed away. She just sat there looking at me with such bewilderment and sadness. Then she opened her mouth and this is what came out:

Kaylea: "Let me guess, I have to go to another funeral?"
Me: "Well, yes. We will go the the visitation tomorrow evening."
Kaylea: "This is NOT how I want to remember my childhood!"

Poor thing, I think she has lost more loved ones than any other child her age. I know she has suffered more loss than I had at age 10.

Christmas List

2008-12-10T16:21:00.002-05:00

No one can ever say that my daughter doesn't have good taste. She is a girl that know what she wants. This years Christmas list is proof of this. Let's see the list is something like this:

Laptop (she can keep dreaming)
Wii Fit and Wii Fit Game
Wii Ski

In addition to the items above, we are in the process of re-doing her room. Her loft bed has gone bye-bye and a new day bed / trundle bed has been ordered. She is of the opinion that a new bed constitutes getting new bedding and totally changing the theme of her room. I have to agree that the tangerine walls and the luau theme has grown tiresome, but she just might have to wait a little while before we do the total makeover.

Oh and just a little FYI for all of you parents out there with kids that about to enter the tween/teen years. Kaylea and I found a pretty cool website that has the neatest bedding. Now, remember, these are for the tween/teen crowd; definitely not suitable for children. Check the stuff out at Wake Up Frankie!

Favorite Christmas Song For 2008

2008-12-10T16:15:00.002-05:00

Here it is

A post for all of the non-believers (and believers) out there.....

2008-11-09T10:56:00.005-05:00

"Is There a Santa Claus?" reprinted from the September 21, 1897, number of The New York Sun.

"Dear Editor,

I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, 'If you see it in The Sun, it's so.' Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O'Hanlon
115 West Ninety Fifth Street"

The Editor's response:

"Virginia,

Your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence.
We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus? .... He lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood."

_________________________________

......and to quote Kaylea's Mr. Jimmy, "A very smart friend of mine says, to make a point, 'I also do not believe in electricity, because I have never seen any!' "

Halloween 2008

2008-10-31T13:56:00.003-04:00

Tonight will be a Halloween to remember. Kaylea has always loved this night so much, just like her Mom. She has always been one to start planning her costume during summer vacation, just like her Mom. She loves to pull the big boxes of Halloween decorations down from the attic and "haunt" the house up real good, just like her Mom.

Yes, this year is no different with only one exception. No, it's not the pumpkins; they (both of them) are carved and sitting on the porch. No, it's not the candy; it has been bought and is sitting in it's Frankenstein basket. No, it's not the dog's costume; Angel has been outfitted with an Underdog shirt and cape so that she can save the day. No, it's not Kaylea's costume; the scarecrow's overalls, shirt, boots and bandanas were bought weeks ago.

So, how is this year so different you ask? Well, this is the year that Kaylea will remember for a lifetime, because this is the year that Halloween will pass her by without her being able to partake. You see, Kaylea decided she would roll the dice and gamble on getting caught when she told Bub and me a BIG 'ol whopper of a fib. Well, let's just say that Lady Luck wasn't Kaylea's friend and she got busted!

So, tonight will not be one of candy collecting , fun and frolick. Oh no, tonight will be one spent at home reading or maybe doing some laundry. I'm sure Kaylea will be doing a lot of whining, complaining, moaning and groaning, just like her Mom! And not even Under~~dog~~Angel will be able to save us!(ya know, this parenting and teaching lessons stuff really sucks sometimes, but a Mom's gotta do what a Mom's gotta do.)

P.S. I'm really trying to be strong and stick to my guns on this one, but it's hard!

The "F" word - Now and Then

2008-10-23T21:39:00.003-04:00

~~~NOW~~~

Yesterday Bub and I received quite a shock when we opened Kaylea's school agenda and found this note from her teacher, "Kaylea said the 'F' word 'f_ _k' today. A student heard her say it and then started telling the other students in the class. I asked Kaylea if she said it and she said, 'yes.' She said that her aunt and dad say this word a lot"

Bub and I were quite stunned and confused after reading the note. But before I go any further I must say that I am the last parent you will ever hear saying, "NOT MY CHILD -- SHE WOULD NEVER DO THAT!" There have been very few things that Kaylea has done in her life that have truly shocked me, but I have to say, this was SO NOT Kaylea. She has always instictively known which words were "bad" and has never spoke one. Second, Bub does NOT say this word either. It is one that we do not use. Now Auntie, yes she has been known to drop the "F-Bomb" when she gets a little over passionate about her topic. But, Kaylea has always known that this word was totally inappropriate. Needless to say, we wanted to find out exactly what happened; what was said; when it was said; etc.

I immediately drove to the church and got Kaylea and brought her home for the formal inquisition. Upon receiving the third degree, this was Kaylea's side of the story, "The word was written in K's (her friend) locker. K pointed it out to me and I only read the word out loud. I didn't say it; I only READ it, and you know I always read out loud, Mom! Then when Mrs. T. asked me about it, she didn't let me explain. She even shushed K when she tried to explain. Then she asked me who in my family says this word."

Obviously, we had a pretty legitimate explanation from Kaylea, so I wrote a note to her teacher explaining Kaylea's side of the story (since, obviously she hadn't been given that opportunity yesterday). In my letter I asked Mrs. T to verify that the word was in fact written in K's locker because Bub and I wanted to make sure Kaylea was being honest before we decided what type of punishment would be appropriate. I, also, went on to explain that contrary to what Kaylea said yesterday, this word is not one that we use freely in our home.

When I picked up Kaylea from school today, I immediately asked her what happened when Mrs. T. read my letter. Kaylea said that Mrs. T. asked her and K if the word was written in K's locker. Both girls said, "yes!" Then Mrs. T. took the girls to K's locker and looked for herself. Of course there is was staring back at her, blinding her with its vulgarity. Mrs. T.'s only response was, "Well, I will notify the office and have this removed from your locker." Nothing else was said or done. I didn't get a response to my letter, nothing! I can't believe that she would take the time, as the kids were getting packed to go home yesterday, to write this note letting me know that my child dropped the "F-Bomb" and corrupted all of the kids in the class, yet she can't find the time in a whole entire school day to write me a quick note to let me know that my child was being honest in her explanation about what happened.

To say that I am a little miffed would be quite an understatement. For some reason I am thinking that this is going to be a LONG year.

~~~THEN~~~

Kaylea was in Kindergarten and her class was lining up for lunch. A little boy came running up to me and said, "Ms. J., Kaylea said the "F" word." Again, I was in shock, but the wide eyed little boy had me convinced that my little Kbug had spent one too many days with her Auntie. I immediately went up to Kaylea and asked, "What did you just say?" To which I got the typical 6 year old response, "Hugh? Idunno?" I got eye to eye with her and said, "Brady said you just said the 'F' word. What did you say?!?" Kaylea got a real confused look on her face and said, "Fart?" I swear I almost lost it and ya know I remember thinking at that moment, if "fart" is the worse "F" word that my child ever says, I will be pretty lucky!

Man, I wish we could go back to Kindergarten.

Futon, Tufon or Tofu???? Kaylea Was Confused

2008-10-13T21:18:00.003-04:00

We decided to buy Kaylea a new bed with out BIG yard sale earnings. After much deliberation we decided that a trundle daybed would be the ideal bed for Kaylea's room. When she has friends over, she can wheel out the trundle and both girls will have a nice cozy bed of their own. When only Kaylea is sleeping in the room (which is how it is most of the time) the trundle will be out of sight and out of the way.

Today, we began our search and while we were browsing Kaylea pointed to a Futon and said, "Oh, that's one of those Tofu beds! I really like them!"

I swear I almost peed myself I laughed so hard.

Kaylea took a ride on the turnip truck and obviously fell off.

2008-10-13T21:03:00.002-04:00

Saturday morning we were getting ready to open up the Yard Sale for the day and Kaylea was helping out. She told us she would carry the phone out to the garage and begin organizing a few things. When she came back inside she announced, "Grammy called and asked if I wanted breakfast from McDonalds." Bub and I just looked at each other rather perplexed because we had not heard the phone ring. When we questioned Kaylea she insisted that her grandmother had just called a few moments ago. We then asked her, "Are you sure you didn't call Grammy and ask her to go to McDonald's for you?" Kaylea again insisted, "No, Grammy called me." So, I simply walked to the phone and checked Caller ID where I found NO call from Grammy. When confronted with this information, the child confessed to calling her Grandmother and asking for a breakfast delivery from McDonald's.

Bub and I just looked at each other dumbfounded. First, why would she just make up a story out of the blue like that? Second, does she really think we are that stupid? We came to the conclusion that either Kaylea thinks we just fell off the turnip truck or Kaylea just fell off the turnip truck. I tend to believe it is the latter of the two.

Let's just hope that her lying doesn't get any better when she is a teenager. She is just ditsy enough for me to stay one step ahead of her.

A Couple of Classic Kaylea Moments

2008-09-20T11:53:00.003-04:00

First, Kaylea has been suffering from the normal fall allergy symptoms. Snot, runny nose, snot, cough, snot, stuffy head and most of all SNOT. You get the picture ;0)

To treat her allergies we started with children's Zyrtec, but that didn't do anything to relieve her symptoms. So I returned to the pharmacy in search of a better remedy. I decided to try the Children's Dimetapp which came in a combo package with a bottle of nighttime medicine and a bottle of non-drowsy daytime medicine. I have to say, it has been working pretty good. Until last night, that is.

I had gone out with friends and Bub and Kaylea were home alone. It was time for bed and Bub gave Kaylea her medicine. Then this morning she when she woke up she was complaining that the medicine didn't work last night. She began examining the bottles and quipped at her father, "Well, Dad, no wonder my medicine didn't work last night. You didn't give me the nighttime medicine!"

Bless her heart ;0)

Second, in an effort to show her BIG ORANGE spirit Kaylea emerged from her bathroom decked out in her UT shirt, her UT hairbow, and power Ts on each cheek. When we asked her what she used to make the power Ts, she replied, "marker!" It took some scrubbing, but we finally got it off. I guess I should be glad she didn't use a Sharpie.

Kaylea? Rude? I Think NOT!!!!!

2008-09-17T15:49:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, I surprised Kaylea by joining her at school for lunch and staying to volunteer in her classroom. As I was leaving the cafeteria a little boy that was in Kaylea's class last year approached me. He looked at me with his beautiful blue eyes sparkling and his gorgeous smile and said, "Kaylea was rude to me today!" I wasn't really shocked, because she can be a little "spunky" at times. I asked him what she did that was so rude. Well, he proceeds to tell me that he called her over to his locker to show her his new hat -- it says, "I'm Irish Want To Get Lucky?" then...........................she kicked him!

My only reply was, "and who was it that was being rude?"

You GO baby girl! Don't take anything off of those little boys!

Everything Is Golden

2008-08-14T07:15:00.004-04:00

Our little girl has mastered the Martial Arts. OK, so Mastery might be a little bit of an exageration. But she has mastered all of the skills necessary to be promoted from a white belt to a gold belt. The promotion was a surprise for her and I will say, she was beaming with pride.

I am so grateful that she wanted to take Karate. It teaches and reinforces so much more than just the physical action of the sport. But, the physical activity is a plus for sure.

Once again, we are so proud of Kaylea. Wow, twice in one week. You might start thinking that we are gushing a little bit.

Kaylea at the KMA

2008-08-13T01:09:00.004-04:00

Kaylea's Mini Monet

Kaylea's Still Life on canvas

Kaylea's Wire Sculpture ~ Girl Dancing

We are SO proud of our girl!

Check Her Out......

2008-08-08T08:52:00.003-04:00

...as you all know, Kaylea is our little budding artist. I have mentioned before that she takes art classes after school during the school year. Then over the summer she attended two art camps that her instructor offered. Well, here is the really cool part. Some of Kaylea's art work (and other kids from the class and camp) is being exhibited at the Knoxville Museum of Art. You really need to go and check it out. The kids have done some phenomenal pieces.

The art work will be on display the entire month of August and the museum's hours are as follows:

Tuesday-Thursday: 10am- 5pm
Friday: 10am-8pm
Saturday: 10am-5pm
Sunday: 1pm- 5pm
Monday: CLOSED

Also, if you live in the South Knoxville, Sevierville, Kodak or surrounding areas and you are interested in signing your child up for Art Classes, contact Jackie Wright @ j4wright@charter.net . I can speak from experience that Jackie is wonderful with the kids and she introduced Kaylea to talents she didn't know she had. Thank you Jackie, your the best!!!!!

P.S. I will be adding photos to Kaylea's online Art Gallery in the next few days, so keep an eye on it. Very pretty stuff to come.

Why Oh Why...

2008-08-07T16:23:00.002-04:00

...is it that the one child in the entire 4th grade that I didn't want in Kaylea's class is listed on the class roster?

We will say a little prayer and keep our fingers crossed! --Think positive! Think positive!

The New Class List Is Here, The New Class List Is Here!

2008-08-07T10:23:00.002-04:00

Kaylea is all sorts of excited. As of today, the new class lists have been hung outside the school. She jumped out of bed this morning and that was the first thing out of her mouth. We already know who her teacher is, which was the important thing for me to find out. But, now she gets to find out if any of her friends will be in her class, which is the important thing for her to find out. Since I know most of the kids through subbing and volunteering, I will have a pretty good idea of how the year will go as soon as I see the list. Hopefully, we will win the sweet children lottery for classmates this year. Last year was pretty good, but we did have a few problems here and there - and of course Kaylea was right in the middle of them, as usual.

Kaylea tends to want to be friends with everyone and have everyone be friends with her and each other. Unfortunately though, some kids just don't get along (personalities don't jive, which is ok; more than one "queen bee" in class; etc.) Kaylea tries to play the role of NATO but ends up just being stuck in the middle being pulled both ways. I guess you could say that Kaylea is the Canada of the 4th grade. (Why can't we all just get along?) Oh, don't think that I am under the misperception that my daughter is not playing some role in all of the drama. After all, she is a girl and she is 9. To use a Dr. Phil(ism) I am trying to figure out what her "payoff" is for being in the middle. She definitely has one, otherwise she wouldn't continually put herself there. Maybe this will be the year that all of this changes - I sure hope so. I don't think I can take another year of girl drama. There are so many sweet little girls at Kaylea's school that I know would be a true "best friend" for her. She just needs to find that little girl and stick by her, no matter what!

Now Back To Your Regularly Scheduled Blogging

2008-08-06T09:41:00.002-04:00

It would appear that Curiously Kaylea is back from its summer reprieve. Honestly, I have been a total slacker with all of the Blogs. I don't know why, but I just can't seem to get the story-telling juices flowing. I think I am cracking under the pressure - ha ha.

Kaylea and I were out of town last week and it was pretty much an uneventful week. Well, with the exception of Kaylea getting her first ever UTI. Boy, that was fun. I took her to a walk-in clinic on Monday afternoon and they gave her a prescription for antibiotics. I figured the symptoms would be easing off by Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday, at the latest. Afterall, that is how fast the antibiotics work when she has strep throat. But, oh no, we were still contending with the symptoms on Thursday when we were returning home. Yes, having a child with a UTI on a 5 hour car ride is more fun than humans should be allowed to have. All I can say is, thank goodness for AZO. It was a life saver. Had we not used the AZO, we would probably still be stuck in a bathroom somewhere in Georgia, right now.

This week we both are being a little lazy. Seeing as we only have two weeks until school starts, we better get the lazies out of our systems. We won't have time for nonsense such as this much longer.

Kaylea is a Martha Stewart in the making...

2008-07-18T09:49:00.003-04:00

Yes, I have a mini-Martha at my house. Kaylea loves to cook; I can't get her out of the kitchen when I am preparing a meal. She, also, loves to decorate; she is constantly rearranging the items in her room or the pictures in the living room (and of course I am OCD enough that I have to change them back). And now she has developed a love for Crafts and Crafting. She is attending an Arts and Crafts camp this week at one of our local churches and they have the kids doing all kinds of crafts. She has learned how to weave; she made an ink stamp by carving a block of wood; she made sun art; and the list goes on and on.

I am very excited about Kaylea's latest love because I, too, love to make crafts. I lack the creativity to come up with ideas on my own, but I can copy almost anything (with the exception of knitting/crocheting).

Next week, Kaylea will return for the second session of Mrs. Jackie's Art Camp. She is really excited about that one, as well. Not too much crafting going on there, but definitely a lot of art mediums being used.

I suppose I need to close for now. Mini-Martha and I have to get ready for our dinner party.

To Do List:

Pick cotton to weave for table linens
Gather bees wax to make our candles
Kill and clean the chicken for Coq Au Vin
Pick and stomp the grapes to make the wine
Gather fresh vegetables from the garden
Pick apples for the pie
Milk the cow to make whipped cream and butter

Welcome to Skid Row

2008-07-12T11:33:00.003-04:00

*****Warning, if you don't want to read about laundry, husbands, kids and skids, this isn't the post for you*****

Several weeks ago as Kaylea and I were doing laundry we stumbled upon a pair of Bub's underwear that had a lot of brownish black marks all over them. I mean ALL OVER THEM (they were more brown than white). At first glance, it looked like there had been some sort of explosion in or around them. But, I was quite sure if he had made a mess of that nature in his drawers there would have been a wrecked car, paramedics, savage animals, paranormal experiences, crazed psychopaths or something of the sort involved. So, since I had not heard him speak of any of the above mentioned horrific events, I assumed the stains were not what was originally suspected.

When he got home from work that evening, Kaylea was quick to give him the inquisition about his underoos. She was just certain that her daddy had skids and she was ready to tease him unmercifully. Unfortunately, Bub explained away the stains by telling us that he had used the underwear to clean his work boots. (He is frequently on construction sites and his boots are always covered in dust and dirt). Too bad for Kaylea, she wasn't going to get the opportunity to razz her Daddy.

Now, let's fast forward to last night. I was doing laundry, AGAIN! As I was folding the white cloths I found a pair of Kaylea's panties that were a little (how should I say this?) streaked inside. I took them to her and asked, "Um hum, was there a problem?" Without skipping a beat she looked up at me and said, "No, I used them to clean my boots!"

I thought I would fall over I laughed so hard.

20/25 - Hey We'll Take It

2008-07-09T13:42:00.004-04:00

As I have written before, Kaylea suffers from Amblyopia. Her left eye decided it wanted to get "lazy" and left all of the work to be done by the right eye. Since 2006, we have been working with a phenomenal Pediatric Ophthalmologist trying to improve the vision in her left eye, before she reaches Visual Maturity ("VM") and her visual acuity becomes 'locked-in'. When we began this process, Kaylea's visual acuity in her left eye was 20/200 (she was legally blind in that eye). As of her check-up yesterday, her visual acuity in her left eye is 20/25. Just to give you perspective on how much of an improvement that is, here is an eye chart:

Now, we are trying to get one more line of improvement before she reaches VM, which normally happens sometime before a child reaches 10 years old. Seeing as Kaylea's 10th birthday is in September, we really have our backs against the wall. Hopefully, she hasn't reached VM, yet. But if she has, we will be pleased the progress she made.

As for Kaylea, she is just happy that the patching process is almost over and that she will be able to say goodbye to her glasses, very soon.

More Cheese, Please!

2008-07-08T22:01:00.003-04:00

Today, Kaylea and I were in Wally World doing a little shopping. We were walking through the dairy section and there was a worker emptying a center cooler case to change out the featured product. He was removing Kraft cheese packages and had filled an entire shopping cart and was bent over with his head and half his body inside the cooler to get the last few packages. Kaylea saw him tossing the cheese packages over his shoulder into the cart and replied, "Man, how much cheese does that guy need?"

This post is brought to you by the letters O H N & O

2008-07-02T16:43:00.003-04:00

Oh noes... it's a guest post... from Auntie M!!!! Mwahhhh ha ha ha ha!

Oh there's nothing too bad, yet. But I'm sure we'll all come back from the Great White North with lots of Kaylea-ventures to share and compare... in fact, I'd count on it.

Apparently the first one started in the car today when Mommy discovered that instead of going through her vast movie selection, Kay-bug decided to go the easy route and bring all the same movies that she took to Hilton Head. So now Mommy is listening to Ice Age II, for the 8,432,236th time. So, maybe they'll make it to Kizzy's house, that is unless Mommy's head explodes from sheer joy!

Okay, that's enough out of me... gotta go deface Mommy's blog too!

Weird Pride!!!!

2008-07-01T13:40:00.003-04:00

Last night Kaylea and I ate dinner at popular little local Mexican restaurant. For our meal we ordered our regular favorites. Kaylea got 2 soft tacos - meat and cheese ONLY, please, and I ordered the chicken chimichanga. And of course, we had to indulge in the chips, salsa and cheese dip while we were waiting for our meals. When our dinners arrived, I coaxed Kaylea into trying a bite of my chimi. She was less than impressed and I couldn't figure out why. She likes chicken; she likes cheese; she likes four tortillas; and she likes anything fried. So what was there not to like. She never could tell me exactly why she didn't like it; just that she didn't like it.

So the following conversation ensued:
Me: "Do you like it?"
Kaylea: "Yea, it's ok."
Me: "Then why aren't you eating it?"
Kaylea: "Well, it's not THAT good."
Me: "What don't you like about it?"
Kaylea: "I dunno."
Me: "There is nothing in there that you don't like. It should be a new favorite."
Kaylea: "Well, it's NOT."

Me: "You know, your weird!"

Kaylea: "Yea, I know! And I am proud of that!"
Me: "Well Baby, that's you, so own it!"

A 9 year old's take on death and dying

2008-06-29T10:52:00.003-04:00

Kaylea has been in limbo for the past 2 days just like the rest of us. We all have been waiting by the phone for news on Auntie H. We all could hope for a miracle; but, knew that the end was probably very near. There has been a lot of talk about death and dying around our house. The phone has been ringing more than normal and Kaylea has watched me jump to get it each time.

Though Kaylea talks, a lot; she isn't one to share what she is thinking when she is sad. I have to try to start conversations that will engage her and give her a chance to say what is bothering her. Over the past few days, Kaylea hasn't said a lot about how she is feeling about losing Auntie H. We have talked about how sad everyone is and how hard this is on Kaylea's cousins (Auntie H's grandchildren). We have talked about Auntie H going to heaven and getting to see all of her loved ones that died before her. We have talked about Auntie H being in a better place and not having to live with pain any longer.

Kaylea is dealing with our family's loss very well. I often worry about her, though. She has dealt with a lot of loss in her very short life. In 2004 she lost Aunt Thelma (her Great Great Aunt), Uncle Papaw (her Great Uncle), Nana (her Great Grandmother), Uncle Eddie (her Uncle) and Aunt Grace (her Great Great Aunt). Now, she has lost her Aunt Helen. Hopefully, she is coping as well as she appears.

__________________________________________

Out of the mouths' of babes

Kaylea after being told Auntie H had passed away:

K: Man, my life sucks!

Me: Why do you say that?

K: Because all of my ancestors are dying!

Bub and I had to remind her how many of her ancestors (such a grown up word for such a little girl) were still alive. She seemed to get some comfort in that.

Look Out Boys....She's Gonna Be Dangerous!

2008-06-26T10:08:00.004-04:00

Kaylea got her third stripe on her white belt last night. The next step is being promoted to a "Yellow Belt" Way to go, Baby! Mommy and Daddy are proud of you!!!!

Art Camp

2008-06-25T10:50:00.002-04:00

Some of you may remember me Blogging about the art classes Kaylea was taking during the school year. Well, when school ended, so did the classes. It just so happens that her Art teacher is also an Art teacher with the school system in Knox Country, and she likes her summer break just as much as the kids. Hey, I don't blame her!

Lucky for Kaylea that Ms Jackie has Art Camp during the summer. She does two sessions, each being a week in length. Currently, we are mid-way through the first session and Kaylea is loving it. She has made colored tissue paper; clay figurines; a recycled materials project; and who knows what else. I will make sure to post pictures of the final projects.

Our next session will be in July and Kaylea can't wait. She is already making sure that she will be able to continue her art classes in the Fall. How can I say no?

Summer Project #1

2008-06-22T20:06:00.004-04:00

I love to cook. Of course, I suppose I come by it quite naturally. Both of my grandmothers were fabulous cooks and my mom is a great cook, also. Now, none of my cooking role models were 5 star chefs. Oh no, they were/are just good ole down home country cooks. So, naturally, I don't make fancy schmancy kinds of dishes. I am more into dishes that are easy to make and taste great, too. I make a lot of casseroles, one-dish meals and slow-cooker meals. If I had to define my cooking style by comparing it to Food Network shows, I guess it would be a cross between Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee and Paula's (Deen) Home Cooking.

Luckily, Kaylea and Bub are really good about trying new things and generally like whatever is put down in front of them. Most of the time, I don't have a recipe to go by when I am preparing a dish; I tend to make it up as I go. Just like my grandmother passed her love of cooking to my mom and my mom passed it to me, I guess I have successfully passed my love of cooking on to Kaylea. Almost daily she asks if he can help me cook and is always wanting to chop, stir, mix and prepare. Because she has this interest and often will request that we make certain dishes, I decided it would be a good idea for us to make a cookbook for her with all of her favorite dishes. Originally, I thought about typing the recipes on the computer, but I really wanted to personalize this project a little more.

Then, one day, I found this:

It is a blank cookbook that you fill in yourself. It is divided into standard cookbook chapters like Breakfasts; Appetizers; Soups & Breads; Sides & Salads; Main Dishes; and Desserts. Then each page has a place for the Recipe Name; Ingredients; and Directions.

Now, Kaylea and I have a big summer project. We are going to be cooking up all kinds of items and she will decide which are "keepers" for her cookbook. Then, I will write the recipes in her cookbook and give her my own little helpful tips and serving / meal suggestions.

I know after my Nana died and I started looking through her cookbooks, I found several handwritten notes on the pages giving tips and suggestions for the recipes. These notes were a treasure to find and I wouldn't trade the cookbooks for anything. It is almost as if Nana knew that one of her grandchildren would be reading her recipes after she was gone and she didn't want us to mess them up.

Hopefully, when Kaylea moves out and begins cooking meals in her own kitchen she will enjoy reading all of the notes that I am leaving for her..

Prayers, Blessings and Gratefulness

2008-06-19T20:54:00.000-04:00

This morning started like all others have this summer. Kaylea and I slept in and once awake, I meandered to the computer to fire it up and check the e-mail. Little did I know that I was about to read something that would be heart breaking and scary for both Kaylea and me.

You see, Sunday evening one of Kaylea's friends from Girl Scouts was involved in a head-on collision here in town. She and her mother were transported to UT Hospital where they are still recovering. Kaylea's friend received a broken wrist, a broken pelvis, a lacerated liver and a laceration across her abdomen that required 20 stitches. This little girl is only 9, the same age as my little girl.

The mother has undergone 2 surgeries since being admitted, one for her broken ankle/heel/leg and the other to put a metal plate in her broken arm. Oh, and she has a broken pelvis, also.

When I told Kaylea about the accident she immediately asked if we could go to the hospital to visit her friend. Kaylea was very concerned for her friend and asked many questions about her injuries. I emphasized that the little girl was recovering, but Kaylea was so concerned that while I was in the shower, she got on the computer to look at the e-mail herself. Afterwards she copied the web address for our local newspaper, which was included in the e-mail we received, and went to that web page to read more about the accident. I guess she was afraid I might be trying to "sugar-coat" the details for her.

We went to the hospital this afternoon and took her friend a balloon, magazines and a book. I don't think either of us were prepared for what we saw when we entered the room. The little girl was laying there hooked up to a lot of machines with a feeding tube in her nose. She was whimpering and moaning from the pain she was enduring. As she breathed, a rattle was coming from her chest, due to the fluids that were collecting. Her father was at her bedside holding her hand and trying his best to comfort her.

My heart broke at that moment. You see, not only is she Kaylea's friend, but she is probably one of the sweetest girls I have ever had in one of my classes at school. She always has a smile on her face and a bounce in her step. A truly kind hearted little angel that would do anything for anyone. Today, though, she was not herself, naturally.

Kaylea was very quiet while we were in the hospital room. Her friend did ask her to hold her hand though. I think Kaylea was very apprehensive because she was afraid of causing her any more pain. The little girl's father repeatedly thanked us for coming to see his daughter. He looked very tired and I could see the worry in his face. I can't imagine what he is going through. His wife undergoing 2 surgeries and his little girl in critical condition. I'm quite sure he hasn't slept much, if at all, since Sunday.

I couldn't help but think about this family's tragedy and realize that it could have just as easily been my family. Me going through the 2 surgeries; Kaylea in critical condition; and Barry trying to keep things together. I travel the same road where the accident happened. Kaylea and I are always together in the car, and normally Barry is not with us. It is hard to believe how our life could be changed in mere seconds. I think everyone likes to believe that they are invincible and nothing bad will ever happen to them. Accidents such as this really slap you back into reality.

Kaylea and I have both been a little quiet today, which is definitely not normal for us. There has, also been a whole lot more cuddling and one-on-one time. We cooked dinner together and played cards while things were finishing up. The TV wasn't on and we really got to enjoy each others' company. Then when we sat down for dinner, Kaylea said our normal blessing and then added a little prayer for her friend and her parents.

Please say a prayer for this family. They are hurting in so many ways right now and they need all the support they can get. Also, please take a moment to thank God for your happy, healthy and safe children. I know I have and will continue to do so.

******Since this has affected Kaylea and me in such a profound way, this post will be placed on both our blogs, My Crazy Little Mixed Up World and Curiously Kaylea. Sorry for the duplication, but I felt it was worthy of repeating.******

Memory Like An Elephant - or maybe like a Kaylea

2008-06-17T12:17:00.003-04:00

As I was reading Jamie's latest post at Blonde Mom Blog I was reminded of classic Kaylea story. I am so sorry that I forgot to post this one sooner. It is an oldy but goody.

As you know, I play BUNCO. I have been very fortunate to meet such a great group of girls and have the opportunity to cut-up and laugh with them each month. We always have a blast on BUNCO night and I especially like it when it is my turn to play hostess. Being the hostess involves me planning a menu and choosing some type of cocktail that complements the food and/or theme of the evening. Well, last year as I was preparing for the big night I was feverishly running all of my last minute errands which included picking Angel up from the groomers and going by the liquor store to get the libations needed for the cocktail du jour. When I got to the liquor store I told Kaylea to stay in the car with Angel and I would run in and out very quickly. I made sure that I had parked right in front of the store and I locked the car doors and told her not to open them for anyone but me. As promised, I was in and out very quickly and I went home to finish preparing for the party. All of this was so uneventful that, honestly, I didn't give any of it a second thought.

Well, let's fast forward oh, say, 6 months or so. Auntie M took Kaylea with her to pick Lulu and Mabel up from the vet. On the way home, Auntie had to stop at the grocery store to get something for dinner. Because it was the middle of summer, Auntie didn't want to shut the car off for fear that the dogs would overheat. So she pulled into the fire lane and parked without turning off the vehicle. She told Kaylea she was going to leave the car running and lock all of the doors and for Kaylea to stay in the car with the dogs. She warned Kaylea not to open the doors for anyone but her. Then Kaylea replied in a "yeah, I've heard all of this before" tone in her voice and said, "It's ok Aunt Missy. Mom ALWAYS leaves me and Angel alone in the car when she goes to the liquor store."

Imagine my shock when my sister came home and asked me to explain that one!

Happy Father's Day

2008-06-15T18:04:00.003-04:00

From the day Kaylea was born, I knew that Bub was going to be the best dad any little girl could want. I remember waking from one of my many naps the night following Kaylea's birth and seeing Bub sitting in a chair with Kaylea sleeping on his chest. At that moment I saw my husband as a totally different person. Not only was he my husband; now, he was a Kaylea's father, as well.

He was always so attentive to her every need. He would bounce her on his shoulder in the evenings when she would get colicky. He would get up in the middle of the night to give her a bottle. He would wake up with her in the early morning hours and play with her while letting me sleep. He would play games of peek-a-boo; they would spend lots of time watching fishing; and normally Bub would engineer some type of stuffed toy pyramid which would mesmerized Kaylea for hours.

As Kaylea has grown, their relationship has not changed too much. Bub still plays with her and they love nothing more than camping out in the living room when I have BUNCO night. They play ball in the yard, jump on the trampoline and have Super Soaker wars.

In the future, as Kaylea becomes a young woman, I am sure their relationship will change. Kaylea will begin to have boyfriends and will become more interested in shopping and talking on the phone than rough housing and playing in the yard with her Dad. There is something, however, that I know with all certainty; Kaylea will always be a daddy's girl and Bub will always be there for her the same way he has for the past 9+ years.

Time to Redecorate

2008-06-14T13:23:00.003-04:00

Yes, Kaylea and I got tired of the old diggs and decided to spruce things up a bit. We hope you like the new look.

I will say, however, had I know how time consuming this effort was going to be, I probably would have stayed with the same ole same ole.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig...

2008-06-10T10:36:00.005-04:00

...well sorta. We made it home from HHI on Saturday about 4pm. It was a pretty uneventful trip. I will say that the car was a lot quieter on the way home. I think the silence was a combination of depression and exhaustion.

When we got home SJ's parents and sister were waiting at our house; SJ was very excited to see them. I hadn't mentioned before, but SJ dealt with a bit of home sickness while we were gone. She had a rough time in the beginning, but eventually she got over it. I just have one question, though. Why is it that home sickness is at its worse in the evenings? SJ would be fine in the mornings and throughout the day; around 4pm each afternoon she would get weepy. Just something I found curious.

After we arrived home, we didn't have much of a chance to rest. We went to my family reunion Sunday and Kaylea and I have been camping with Memommy and Mr. Jimmy in Townsend ever since. So, even though we are "home" we are not home.

Savannah Smiles

2008-06-06T08:55:00.004-04:00

Savannah was just as great as we last left it. I must say, however, it was very HOT!!! We all thought we were going to melt right there on River Street.

We took Auntie M's auto tour of Savannah. This consisted of us in one car, them in another car and speaker phones being used to communicate. Hey, what can I say? We are thrifty and it was HOT!!!

After our tour we walked down River Street and did a little shopping. Kaylea and SJ just HAD to have new shirts and chocolate gelato, although not in that order. Then all of the us girls got tattoos at the market. Finally, we ended our trek down River Street at Wet Willies. The girls enjoyed their Weak Willies, while the adults sipped on something a little stronger. The slushies were quite refreshing because it was sooooo HOT!!!

Next we were off to Tybee Island to climb the lighthouse and eat dinner at The Crabshack. By the time we got to the lighthouse we all had decided that a climb to the top was pretty much out of the question - you know, because it was HOT!!! I guess it was a good thing that we had made that decision because they sold the last tour tickets about 20 minutes prior to us arriving. We did, however, get to take some pictures of the lighthouse and snoop around in the gift shop. (Now, that's MY way to tour a lighthouse!)

Dinner at The Crab Shack was awesome. We sat outside amongst the palms and palmettos looking over the water and enjoying some fresh seafood. Well, Bub, Auntie M, Vickster and I enjoyed fresh seafood. The others decided to be land lubbers. While we were waiting for our meal the girls got to feed the alligators and SJ got to talk to her mom and dad while they looked at her on another Webcam. I think the only thing that could have made dinner any better would have been a big air conditioner. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention; it was really HOT!!!

We ended our day with the girls taking pedi-cab rides through Savannah. The pedi-cab drivers, or should I say peddlers, told them some ghost stories and pointed out some of the things that the tours don't include. Overall, a good time for them.

I guess the day was a hit. Everyone had fun and hopefully the girls learned a few things. Now, we are off to the pool and beach for our final day of vacation. I'm really going to miss this place, EVEN THOUGH IT IS SOOOOO HOT!!!!

Now you see why SJ and Kaylea just HAD to have new shirts.

Us girls getting our tattoos.

Tybee Island lighthouse - that's a lot of steps!

No, this isn't the alligator they fed.

Another tasty meal - seafood, YUMMO!

I guess we weren't the only ones that were HOT!!! At least we weren't advertising it, though ;)

Another Fabulous Day

2008-06-05T08:47:00.006-04:00

We had another great day. It started with The Salty Dog and ended with putt-putt. In between there was a whole lot a frolicking in the sun. This is the life!

A picture that needs no explanation.

Man was is HOT! The coolest part was SJ getting to talk on the cell phone with her mom while her mom could look at her on the live webcam.

Shouldn't the sign say, "Birds will take a finger off if given the chance!"

Too much fun playing in the waves. Sorry folks, that is as close as you will EVER come to seeing me in a bathing suit.

SJ and her Sandman. She's from Indiana and does what she knows best. Heck, I think their snow just melted about a month ago.

Kaylea and SJ in the stocks.

I know, it looks like Auntie M made a hole-in-one, but don't let her fool you. She was just striking a pose for the camera.

Kaylea loves her cousin, SJ!

Today we are off to Savannah and Tybee Island. There should be lots to tell when we get back.

Sun, Surf and Fireworks

2008-06-04T08:09:00.004-04:00

How better to end a beautiful day at the beach than to watch fireworks over the palm trees?

Kaylea and SJ waiting for the show to begin.

Palm trees and fireworks - amazing!

A Day In Charleston

2008-06-03T08:22:00.006-04:00

Yes, we all had fun in Charleston. I don't think Kaylea and SJ were really "into" the History lesson that accompanied the Carriage Tour. Go figure, a 9 & 10 year old bored by History. (psst...I was kinda bored, too. I just won't tell them.) They did, however, think it was cool to ride in the carriage and they loved the horse, so I guess that portion of the trip was not a total loss.

Later, we went to Battery Park - or as the locals say - Batree Park. There were lots of statues of REALLY old people that they had never heard of. But they liked climbing on the cannons and connon balls.

The girls, also, enjoyed the market. Kaylea bought a little sweet-grass basket. She was so excited when she found one that she could ACTUALLY afford.

Overall, we had a good day and one that the girls will remember. Today we are off to the beach again. Yea, more sand dollars!!!!

SJ with the biggest french fry known to man. Aaron's Deli really knows how to make 'em!

SJ, Kaylea and Me as we waited for our carriage tour.

Kaylea and SJ taking a ride on the cannon.

Kaylea and SJ in front of a statue of a really old person. I don't think they noticed he was wearing nothing but a fig leaf, a sword and a shield.

All our beauties posing. From top to bottom: Miss C, Vickster, SJ, Kaylea

Fun In The Sun

2008-06-02T08:44:00.013-04:00

Yesterday we spent the day at the beach. Finally, Kaylea and SJ were able to not only see the ocean, but play in it, also. We found lots of Sand Dollars, flew a kite, splashed in the water and built a nifty sandcastle. We hope you enjoy the pics.

Kaylea and SJ on the beach.

SJ with her sand dollars. She was the first to make a find.

All the girls playing in the sand. L to R: Miss C, SJ, Vickster, Kaylea

Well folks, today we are off to Charleston for a carriage tour, lunch at Aaron's Deli and a stroll through the market. More pictures will follow.

Let The Fun Begin!

2008-06-01T07:50:00.003-04:00

Yes, by looking at our nifty countdown clock, you can see that our happy little family is at the beach. The week that had been "FOREVER" away is finally here.

Our "little" group is not so little, though. We are actually closer in appearance to one of those polygamist families with all the youngins. The happy family consists of Mr. Bob, Auntie M., Miss C (Mr. Bob's 16 year-old daughter), Vickster (Auntie M.'s 18 year-old niece), Bub, Me, Kaylea and SJ (Kaylea's 10 year-old cousin). I'm sure people look at us and try to figure out which kids belong to which adults. Oh well, "Keep em guessing." That's our family motto.

We arrived at Hilton Head yesterday afternoon after the longest car trip known to mankind. I'm quite sure that Kaylea and SJ thought we were taking them to the far side of the moon, as opposed to the beach. Heck, they probably think we are just pulling their leg at this point and they are somewhere in Idaho. You see, we haven't actually seen the ocean, yet. Yesterday when we got here, we had to unload and unpack, then there was dinner to eat. After dinner the girls went swimming in the pool while Auntie M and I went to the grocery store to buy all of the needed supplies for the condo. So, like I said, we could be playing a mean trick on them right now, and they would never know it. "Trust us, girls. We are at the beach. We promise."

Needless to say, we don't have any pictures to post, yet. But stay tuned; there will be some appearing shortly. Now, since I didn't come to the beach to sit in front of a computer and blog, I am going to excuse myself and go get ready for a day of fun in the sun!

Catch ya later!

Greenhouse Flatulence??????

2008-05-26T10:41:00.002-04:00

Kaylea has been in Chorus this year and last week they performed their end of year production. I knew the program was about "living green" and "saving our planet", but imagine my surprise when I was seated and viewed the bulletin board behind the children:

Could it be that they were doing a Chorus program on Greenhouse "Gases". I could just imagine the songs about flamingo flatulence and bovine belching.

I told Bub that he might need to listen closely because I have been convinced for many years that the methane explosions he frequently experiences CAN'T be all good.

All joking aside, the kids gave a wonderful performance and we were SO proud of our little KayleaBug. Now, we are one more end-of-year program closer to summer. So to quote her only speaking part in the program, "Let's just keep on, keeping on!"

***DISCLAIMER*** The program title was really Update Earth. I just couldn't resist. Hey, you don't have to be 10 to find humor in anything flatulence related.

????? ADHD - XYZ - HDTV - LMNOP ?????

2008-05-23T09:54:00.004-04:00

I know the title of our Blog is Curiously Kaylea and all of the posts are normally about Kaylea. However, today I am going to share with you a cute little story that, miraculously, Kaylea had no part in. You see this story is about Kaylea's cousin, P Man, and it was told to me by my sister-in-law, JillyBean.

One day last summer, JillyBean had the P Man out at the pool at their condo. There were a lot of other kids at the pool that day, so P Man didn't have a hard time finding someone to play with. JillyBean found a chair and laid back to catch some rays. She was rather enjoying the relaxing afternoon, listening to the kids play in the pool. Then she heard a conversation that almost made her wet her suit.

You see P Man and his new found friend had been playing for a while in the pool. Then the friend asked the P Man, "So, do you have ADD or ADHD?" P Man replied very matter of factly, "No, we have Comcast."

How funny is that? I wish I could claim that one as a Kaylea story, but that just wouldn't be right, now would it?

Kaylea The Budding Artist

2008-05-20T13:17:00.005-04:00

As I mentioned before, Kaylea began taking an Art class back in March. She absolutely loves the class and can't wait for Thursday afternoons to arrive. Being the proud mom that I am, I wanted give her a virtual art gallery to display her works. So check it out. Who knows, she might just be the next van Gogh or Warhol.

This was the first project she did in the class. This was done with oil pastels. If you ask me, I think it is pretty good for a newbie.

This was her second piece. It was done with acrylics and the "whipped cream" was made with some type of putty, which makes makes is multi-dimension.

And finally, we have Kaylea's first attempt at Pop Art. She had a blast making this one and for some reason I feel she will be making many more like it. I think she enjoyed this particular type of art because there were no rules and she could do it however she wanted. Typical Kaylea!

I hope you enjoyed our tour through Kaylea's Gallery. Hopefully, we will be adding more pieces soon. Stay tuned!

Kaylea On Mother's Day

2008-05-12T08:19:00.003-04:00

Kaylea is one of those children that gets very excited anytime a birthday, holiday or celebration comes rolling around. She doesn't believe in saving her gift(s) until the big day. She likes to begin the gift giving way in advance. I am proud to say that she approached Mother's Day with her usual zeal.

Last week, Kaylea began making me homemade Mother's Day cards. You know the ones; they are construction paper with cut-outs and doodles. All of them carried the same message, "Best Mom or #1 Mom" (Actually, she wrote "1# Mom" but I knew what she meant.) Her homemade cards are the BEST. I would much rather receive one of those than any store bought card. When she makes a card for me, I know that she is expressing her love for me in ways that a store bought card could never do.

Anyway, there was the constant stream of cards and then she began bringing Mother's Day projects home from church, Art and school. Each day I was receiving a new treasure that had been made with love from my little girl.

Once the weekend arrived, I felt like we had already celebrated, but I was wrong. Saturday, we went to a Mother's Day brunch at church. We had lots of goodies and then the girls interpretive dance ensemble performed for us. Also, the Children's Ministries Director helped the children perform a Mother's Day poem for us. It was all so touching and sweet.

Yesterday, I was awaken by the smell of coffee and the bustle of Bub and Kaylea in the kitchen. They were beginning the preparation for my Mother's Day lunch. Bub had taken Kaylea to the store on Saturday and they bought all of the food to prepare a nice meal for me. I was told to stay out of the kitchen and let them do the work. So, I obeyed my orders and just relaxed. After our yummy lunch (steak, baked potato, green beans, corn, rolls and homemade ice cream) I was presented with yet another Mother's Day card and gift. Kaylea had chosen to give me a silver key ring with a heart charm. It is beautiful and I will carry it with pride.

Overall, I couldn't ask for a more perfect day. I spent it with the man that gave me my child and my beautiful daughter; both of whom I love more than life itself. It just doesn't get any better than this.

Why Doesn't Anyone Want To Play With Us?

2008-05-10T23:12:00.003-04:00

As you all know, Kaylea had the atypical case of chickenpox a few weeks ago. Well, if you remember, she had them for an entire week before I realized that they weren't bug bites and that I needed to take her to the Doctor. As it turned out she had, POTENTIALLY, passed the pox to her entire class. (I am happy to report that no one else came down with them though.)

Well guess what? This week Kaylea was sharing with her classmates again. Only this time it wasn't chicken pox. OOOOOOHHHHH, nnnnnoooooo, way better! Here, let me set the stage for you. Tuesday, I was at the school subbing and spent a lot of time out on the playground. While I was out there, so was Kaylea's class. They stayed out for an extended recess of about an hour. At the end of my day (2:00), Kaylea, all red faced, came up to me in the hall and showed me her arms. They were covered in welts and a red rash. At first, I thought it was from being out in the sun, but then she said her sides were starting to itch, again. I took her into the bathroom to check her over a little closer. When I lifted her shirt, I could see that she was beginning to get the rash on her torso, also. I decided not to be a slacker this time and rushed her to her doctor's office right then. When her doctor came in the exam room after a quick lookover we were told that Kaylea had Fifth Disease. I was unfamiliar with this particular illness, so naturally I asked what we needed to do to treat it. I was totally surprised with the response I got. The doctor said we didn't need to do anything. With Fifth Disease, once the child breaks out in the rash and has the "slapped cheek" look they are no longer contagious. It is the 7-10 days prior to the rash that they are contagious. Unfortunately, during those 7-10 days there were no symptoms indicating that she was sick. So wait, let me get this straight, ONCE AGAIN, my daughter has, POTENTIALLY, infected her entire class with a contagious disease. You have to be kidding me. This just can't be.

So friends, if you drive by the playground at Kaylea's school and see a lonely little girl standing by herself in the corner of the field with no one around to play with, well, that will be Kaylea. I am quite sure all of the kids' parents are telling them to stay away from her.

I promise we normally aren't a breeding ground for infectious diseases. She just seems to catch everything coming and going this year. I can't wait for summer to get here. Then we can get her away from all of the kid germs at school. Oh yea, but speaking of summer reminded me that I forgot to mention the best part about Fifth Disease. The welts and rash can reappear for 1-5 weeks following the outbreak; whenever the child gets hot or is exposed to the sun. Sounds like a fun beach trip for Kaylea. Whatchathink?

Kaylea Being........Well, Kaylea

2008-05-03T11:47:00.002-04:00

Kaylea's Grammy had a humorous story about Kaylea that she shared with me yesterday. It was so good, I thought I would pass it along.

Last weekend, Kaylea was over at her Grammy's and Pappy's house getting in some quality time with the grandparents. They all worked in the yard planting flowers and spent a lot of time outside enjoying the pretty spring day. Kaylea decided that it was so pretty outside that she wanted to go swimming. Well, she has a little inflatable pool at their house so they told her she could go swimming if she would inflate the pool. Kaylea decided to accept the challenge and inflated the pool all by herself and then she filled it with water from the garden hose. While all of this was going on, Grammy and Pappy were continuing to do their outside chores. Not long after Kaylea got the pool filled and took her first dip, Grammy saw Kaylea get out of the pool and go into the house. Then she sees Kaylea come back outside with two large plastic cups. Kaylea walked over to the pool and poured the water from the cups into her pool. Then she went back into the house and repeated the process. Grammy watched Kaylea for awhile as Kaylea continued her go inside and return with the water filled cups. Finally, curiosity got the best of Grammy and she asked Kaylea what she was doing. Kaylea replied, "Well, Grammy, the water in the pool was really cold so I am adding hot water to warm it up."

Kaylea is probably the only kid in town with a heated inflatable pool. That's my girl - always using her noodle.

Everything Is Better With Music

2008-04-27T15:22:00.002-04:00

I hope you enjoy the beach music. We are just doing our part to get everyone ready for summer. Look out Hilton Head, here we come - well, o.k. we have a few more weeks, but who's counting? OH YEA, we are; that's right!!!!!!!

Kaylea Is A Happy Beachcomber!

2008-04-25T09:16:00.003-04:00

While Kaylea was home with her "pox" she did get some news that put a huge smile on her face. We got an e-mail letting us know that her FAVORITE cousin "SJ" will be joining us on our trip to Hilton Head this summer. Kaylea was so excited; she had to tell everyone!

****Just to fill in the family tree - SJ's mom is my first cousin, Cizzy. Cizzy's mom, Aunt Shashan, is my mother's oldest sister****

Cizzy is two years older than me and we were very close as kids and teens. Cizzy lived in Kentucky and I lived in Florida, so we were loyal pen pals (yes, I am dating us - this was way before e-mail) through Jr. High and High School. I always listened to Cizzy's advise and felt like she was a sister.

Cizzy has two beautiful daughters, K8 and SJ. K8 is almost 15 and SJ is 10. Bub and I spent a lot of time around K8 when she was small. She was more like a niece than a cousin. Then when SJ came along, Bub and I were really taking notes. You see, SJ is only 10 months older than Kaylea, so I would turn to Cizzy with all of my pregnancy and parenting questions. Cizzy was the best mom I knew and I wanted to do everything just like her.

Needless to say, SJ and Kaylea have kinda grown up together. Well, as together as they could, being 5 hours apart and only seeing each other about 3 times a year. Kaylea always wants to see "her cousins". I think she looks up to K8 and SJ the same way I did with Cizzy when I was younger.

When we began planning the trip to Hilton Head, we (Auntie M, Mr. Bob, Bub and I) decided that it would probably be more fun for Kaylea (and us) if she brought a friend along. When we told Kaylea she could invite someone, she immediately said she wanted to see if her cousins could come. Kaylea hasn't seen K8 and SJ in over a year and we all agreed this would be the perfect opportunity for them to get to spend some quality time together. Well, I guess K8 decided to forgo the trip, but luckily SJ was on board.

The girls should have a blast. We are planning a day in Charleston and a day in Savannah, but other than that, they will just be riding bikes, playing on the beach and swimming for the entire week. Auntie M. has even talked about us going crabbing, which could be fun, also. Especially, when we get to eat what we catch.

Luckily, we don't have that much longer - only about 5 weeks and 7 hours until we will be leaving. I think I am going to try to figure out how to install one of those countdown clocks on the Blog, so Kaylea can always know how much longer. (It will also keep me from going insane). Now, all we have to do is just wait - oh, and start making my lists! We don't want to forget anything!

Can You Say, Stir Crazy?

2008-04-23T15:28:00.002-04:00

I'm not so sure which one of us (Kaylea or me) is crazier. But I think we both are doing our share of stirring. God love this child of mine, but she doesn't handle illness well. She cannot stand having to stay home from school (yes, it makes summers SOOOOOO much fun). She is beginning to work my last good nerve and I am seriously contemplating sending her back to school tomorrow, chicken pox or not. We live in a small town, there couldn't be that many kids infected by her, could there?

So far she has read an entire chapter book; caught up on all of her missed school work; watched way too much tv and built a fort (jail) in her room for her and Angel. We did venture out to Sonic today, just to get a change of scenery. The people probably thought we were stalkers seeing as we sat in their parking lot for almost an hour enjoying our little feast. But, alas, we are home again. Kaylea is now in the shower (yes, at 3:15 in the afternoon) just to kill some time.

All prayers and thoughts are appreciated by both of us.

First A Flea Circus And Now A Chicken Coop

2008-04-21T19:52:00.004-04:00

As of my last post, we were thinking that Kaylea might have come in contact with some fleas, either from Angel or the yard. Well, the "bites" have continued to multiply over the last week - not a lot, mind you, but a few new ones each day. I have thoroughly cleaned Kaylea's room; went over her bedding with a fine tooth comb; washed everything in HOT water that would fit in the washing machine; vacuumed on my hands and knees around the baseboards; and vacuumed the rest of the her room as well. All of this and not a single flea in sight; additionally, Barry and I have yet to receive the first flea bite.

I just couldn't figure out where the "bites" were coming from, so I decided it was probably best to take her to the Doctor on Monday (today). In the meantime, I spent quite awhile Saturday on the Internet looking up all sorts of insect bites and children's rashes. (Man there is some funky stuff out there - just sayin'.) I quickly eliminated the possibilities of shingles and body lice; however, I was questionable about the whole bed bug thing. So, I sent Bub to Walmart to buy a microscope so I could examine some black flakes I had collected in Kaylea's room during the cleaning process. (I know, I watch way too much CSI.) When I looked at Kaylea's crime scene - I mean bedroom samples, well they looked like the same black blobs of stuff as before, only now they were just really big. In other words, I still couldn't tell what it was.
*****Note to self: Horatio Cane didn't get his microscope at Walmart!

Yesterday, Grammy offered up a diagnosis of the mystery "bites". She said that Bub use to get similar spots when he was little and they were caused by his allergies. That gave us something else to think (worry) about. I was afraid the Doctor would want to give her an allergy test and this child is deathly afraid of any type of needle.

Kaylea went to school this morning armed with her Benedryl Itch Stick and I told her I would make a doctors appointment and check her out of school early. When we arrived at the Doctor's office the nurse seemed a little stumped when she looked at Kaylea's "bites." She took down all of the information and left us to wait for the Doctor.

When the Doctor came in she looked at Kaylea's "bites" and then confirmed that I was correct. She does not have shingles or body lice or flea bites or bed bug bites. The Doctor seems to believe that Kaylea has an atypical case of the ..........................................CHICKEN POX! Bub and I were quite surprised by this diagnosis, especially since Kaylea received the chicken pox vaccination twice, with the last one being within the last two years. The Doctor said that the bumps had the appearance of chicken pox sores and since new ones had continued to appear each day over the last week this would match the cycle of chicken pox, as well. She felt that because Kaylea had been vaccinated twice, her symptoms were not normal for the illness. Nonetheless, she said that Kaylea is contagious and we needed to keep her home from school through Thursday. Typically, the pox will develop for about a week, so we should be about done; however, if Kaylea develops any new pox tomorrow or Wednesday, we are to keep out of school through Friday. If she is still developing pox by Thursday they want to see her again, because it isn't chicken pox that she has. If that is the case they will have a dermatologist look at her.

Well my friends, now you know as much as I do. I might have a child with chicken pox and then again, maybe not. I guess the good part is that Kaylea gets a second Spring Break, but, unfortunately, she doesn't understand why she can't play outside this time.

Oh and P.S.
I bet you had always wondered why this Blog is called Curiously Kaylea. Now you know - she just gets curiouser and curiouser!!!!!

Welcome To The Flea Circus!

2008-04-16T17:28:00.004-04:00

Sunday, Kaylea and Angel were playing outside in the yard. They were rolling around and having all kinds of fun. Then, Monday morning, Kaylea awoke with some mysterious little red bites on her tummy and chest. I looked her over carefully and did a sweep of the bed sheets, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. I figured she had been bitten by something while playing in the yard the day before.

I treated her itchy spots with Benedryl gel and sent her to school. We have been watching the spots the last few days and they have not spread, but they have not gone away as of yet, either.

Today, while I was playing with Angel I found a flea, yes just ONE flea, climbing on top of her fur towards her head. She had just come inside from using the bathroom. I immediately pinched the little sucker's head off (NOT Angel's - THE FLEA'S) and then proceeded to give Angel her first dose of K9 Advantix of the season.

As I was sharing Angel's adventure with Kaylea after school, she asked me, "Mom, do you think I have fleas, too?" My only response was, "Well dear, anything is possible."

Since the K9 Advantix clearly states in big bold letters, "KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN" and warns against any contact with skin, I guess I will have to come up with a different treatment for Kaylea. HMM.....I wonder if they make flea collars big enough for a 9 year-old?

Did You Know......

2008-04-13T11:14:00.004-04:00

...the Dogwood Arts Parade is for dogs with wooden teeth. At least that is what Kaylea visualized when Auntie M. and I were talking about the parade over the weekend. Only Kaylea could come up with that one.

Kaylea Is Going Green

2008-04-09T07:35:00.003-04:00

Let me start by saying that Bub and I are BAD - very very BAD! We do not recycle; heck in our neck of the woods we do good to get the trash hauled off to the dump before it overruns the cans. You see, we don't have city trash service because we live out in the little unincorporated town that wants to big but wants to stay small. So, recycling is something that I have yet to tackle.

Kaylea has been learning about recycling at school and wants us to begin. Kaylea's teacher is encouraging the children to bring their recyclable items into class and deposit them into the appropriate bins. Well, last night we had to hang a new roll of toilet paper and imagine my surprise when Kaylea asked if she could take the old used cardboard roll to school. When I inquired as to the reason, she said, "Well, Mom, we are suppose to recycle paper and this is paper." I controlled my inner laughter and told her "yes" she could take the toilet paper roll to school. So this morning, she put the TP roll in her backpack and proudly marched it into her class. Yes, friends, my daughter is doing her part to save the planet - one toilet paper roll at a time.

P.S. I think I am going to put out some tubs for paper, plastic and metal at home. Maybe, I can save Kaylea a little bit of future humiliation.

Everything Is Just Ducky!!!!!!!!!

2008-04-08T08:27:00.003-04:00

As I mentioned before, Kaylea is the princess of fashion. And, if you remember, she has outgrown almost everything in her closet. Normally, I eBay her clothes, but I am a little peeved at them right now because of the changes they have made to the feedback system. So, I did a little research on the internet and found the Duck-Duck-Goose website. This is a HUGE children's consignment sales right here in Knoxville. Luckily, I found the site early enough to get all of Kaylea's stuff in the sale (all 150+ pieces). So, all of you local readers out there, the sale runs Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday from 10 - 8, AND Monday is 1/2 price day on qualifying items. If you want some good deals on gently used children's clothes, I would recommend coming out and taking a look around. I know I'll be there!

Extreme Makeover - Puppy Edition

2008-04-04T22:45:00.004-04:00

Today, Angel went to the dog groomers for her Spring haircut. She has shed her winter coat and is ready for the beach, also. Just take a look see.

Before

Angel looking more Poodle(ish) in her long fluffy winter coat.

After

Angel looking a little more Schnoodle(ish) with her snazy new cut.

Look out cousins, Lulu and Mabel. The "Rat Dog" has returned!!!!!!!!!!!!

Life In Kaylea Land

2008-04-03T07:34:00.003-04:00

Things are crazy, as usual, in Kaylea's little corner of the world. The child is involved in so many activities, it makes my mind spin. She has chorus at school 2 mornings a week; Girls Scouts every other Tuesday; Handbells and Church Choir every Wednesday afternoon; Karate every Wednesday evening; and Art Classes every Thursday afternoon. WHEW! (You can't tell me that my child wouldn't be adversely affected if I returned to the regular working world.)

More important than the extra-curricular activities, we are currently trying to get her prepped for the Terra Nova (TCAP) Test. This is the year end standardized test that is administered by the school system to track the progress and academic level of the students. Personally, I hate these tests! Last year, Kaylea didn't do as well as we thought she would/should. Bub and I were a little shocked when we saw her results. They weren't bad, but mostly just in the middle percentile. With the excellent grades that she brought home on her report cards last year, we were just assuming that her test scores would be in the upper percentile. Her teacher, Ms. W., was a little surprised, as well. Ms. W. said that Kaylea just might not be a good test taker. Well, if that is the case, we are in for a long road ahead. Unfortunately, as all of you are aware, our educational system uses "tests" for the primary method of evaluating a child's learning. If the child knows the material, but doesn't test well, the grades are an inaccurate reflection of comprehension and knowledge. Seeing as I can't single handedly change the philosophy and practices of the entire educational system, I suppose we might need to invest in some study skills classes for Kaylea in the future. Can you say, "Hello, Sylvan!"

After TCAPS are completed, it is pretty much a downhill ride for the rest of the school year. There will only be six weeks left and those weeks will be filled with parties, field days, field trips and other special activities. It is hard to believe that the school year is almost over. We are cutting Kaylea's school year short by one day so we can head out of town to Hilton Head the first week of June. All of us are starting to get excited about the trip. We can almost hear the beach calling our names. It should be a nice and relaxing way to end the school year and begin the summer.

Now, I guess it is time for me to start researching some summer programs to keep Kaylea busy and away from the TV for the remaining 10 weeks of summer vacation. So far, we are considering a reading program at UT; an art camp; continuing with karate; and a summer reading program at the library. Oh, and of course, there are the Kid's Summer Movies at Movies on the Parkway and we have our Dollywood and Splash Country season passes. I think I will be able to keep her entertained, how 'bout you? If any of you have any additional suggestions, I welcome all of them! I am always looking for new things to try out.

Now that I have made you conscious of the fact that there are only 6 weeks left until summer, go day dream about your vacation(s)!

Kaylea's "Best Pick" DVD

2008-03-26T09:52:00.004-04:00

Kaylea is absolutely in love with Enchanted. She saw it at the theater with Auntie M and Uncle Bob and then was lucky enough to receive two copies of the DVD for Easter. She has already watched it three times and can't seem to get enough of it. I have to say that it is a cute movie with a good message to all of the little princesses out there; they no longer need a prince to save them - they can be there own hero. Way to go Disney; you finally got it right!

If you haven't seen this one, add it to your must-see list. I will warn you though, if you have little ones the end might be a little scary and intense for them (typical Disney style i.e. evil queen, dragon, good vs. evil with good being triumphant).

The Easter Bunny

2008-03-18T08:17:00.003-04:00

Kaylea has had an internal struggle over the past few years in regards to the Easter Bunny. You see, she wants to be BIG and mature and not believe in the Easter Bunny, but she still wants to get the Easter basket and all of the goodies on Easter morning. This all started when she was in 1st grade. We were discussing Easter and what she was hoping the Easter Bunny was going to bring her. In her very grown up voice she quickly told me that there was "no such thing as the Easter Bunny." I just replied with an, "Oh?" Then I proceeded to ask her if she wanted me to let her pick out an Easter gift or if she still wanted an Easter basket. She said she wanted to get some new clothes and she wanted to pick them out. I was ok with this little plan because I thought, "hey, less work for me!"

In the days before Easter we went shopping and she chose a cute pair of capris, a t-shirt and some matching shoes. All the while, I was reminding her that this was her Easter gift. Well, imagine my surprise when she awoke on Easter morning and immediately bolted for the living room to see what treasures she had in her Easter basket. She was quite traumatized when she did not find an Easter basket sitting in the usual spot on the fireplace hearth. She kept saying, "Did the Easter Bunny forget about me?" I was quick to remind her that SHE said she didn't believe in the Easter Bunny anymore and SHE chose to go shopping instead of having a basket. Unfortunately, this was of no comfort to my little darling. She hung her head and made her way to the bathroom to get ready for church. (I swear her lip was dragging the ground). Well, me being the softy that I am, I immediately started trying to figure out a way to make it all better. I switched gears into recovery mode and managed to scrounge together some jellybeans and M&Ms to fill some plastic eggs and put them in an old Easter basket along with a little Easter bunny snow globe that was sitting in the living room. I quickly ran to the bathroom and told her to hurry and come into the living room. I explained that the Easter Bunny just stopped by the house and he apologized for being late. She was thrilled with her basket even though she knew my story was about as lame as the Easter Basket was.

So, even though Kaylea knows that there is no big white bunny that bounces around leaving baskets filled with colored eggs and chocolates for all of the little boys and girls of the world; she will always find a basket filled with goodies sitting on the fireplace hearth waiting for her on Easter morning.

Kaylea Is Our Star!

2008-03-14T07:51:00.004-04:00

This morning on the way to school Kaylea and I were having our normal little chit chat. It was about everything and nothing all at the same time. Suddenly, out of nowhere, she asks, "Mom, why is Pluto not a planet, anymore?"

Well, to be quite honest, I haven't kept up-to-date on the latest news in the astrological society, so I incorrectly told her I told her, "I think the scientist discovered that Pluto is really a star instead of a planet." Frankly, I don't feel quite so bad for being confused on this one, though. Especially after Googling it and finding that scientists can't even agree on what Pluto is. Anyway, because I hadn't had my cup of coffee yet AND I'm still feeling the effects of all of the flu medications, I told her she should go to the library and check out a book and we could see the difference between a star and a planet. (hmm...good research opportunity for her and little thinking for me). Well, Kaylea replied in one of her normal little quippy tones, "Mom, I don't need to look that up. I know the difference between a planet and a star. A planet is ROUND and a star is POINTY."

Now, I know I shouldn't laugh at my child, but this one about made me bust a gutt. I told her that a drawing of a star looked quite different than a "real" star. She was insistent that I was wrong. She even got a piece of paper out and drew me several stars just to show that she knew what one looked like. So, in an effort to get her to think this one through (yes, we have to do this a lot) I asked her, "well, if the stars in space have 5 points, like you are drawing, then why do they just look like little round lights in the sky?" I could tell by the proud smile on her face that she didn't think she needed to think this one through and she already had an answer for that question. She replied, "Because the stars are so far away in space you can't see there points from Earth." DOINK!

So, yes my friends, in your world the stars look like this:

But, in Kaylea's world they will always look like this:

Stat Counter Is A Wonderful Thing

2008-03-08T11:26:00.003-05:00

I just wanted to share with our viewing audience some of the funny and weird statistics from our little Blog. You see, I set up StatCounter, a tracker / statistic thingy on Curiously Kaylea when I started the Blog. Basically, for those non-Bloggers out there, this tool allows me to see all sorts of statistics about who has been on the Blog. It lets me know the I.P. address of the person visiting; the city and state of the I.P. server they are using; the time of their visit; and the best part, how they found our Blog.

A lot of you find us because I know you and I gave you the Blog address. Others end up here because they see a link to Curiously Kaylea on another blog. So far, I can thank the following Blogs for adding us to their Blog Roll and sending readers our way: The House of Flying Monkeys; The Three Miracles; Overtly Trite and Not In Front of the Children. Additionally, I have found that a lot of readers end up on Curiously Kaylea because they have Googled a topic and we show up in the results. These Google searches crack me up sometimes. I just can't get over what people look for on the Internet. For example:

Someone Googled, "school thumbs" ???? What?????? And this is where they landed when they hit Curiously Kaylea. For some reason, I don't think we were what they were looking for.

Someone Googled, "Tah Dah". Why would you Google this? Hopefully, we had just the Tah Dah information they wanted. Ya think?

Then, someone Googled, "Fashionista Sayings". I really doubt that this person wanted to read about Kaylea's closet; how 'bout you?

Then there are the reoccurring searches that send people to our little corner of the Internet. Our most frequent Google referrals come from the following searches:

Lazy Eye / Amblyopia (I am hopeful that our story has helped others!)

Science Fair Projects (I wonder how many have copied Kaylea's project?)

Needs vs. Wants (I hope our post was everything The New York State Office of Mental Health was looking for.)

Hey Kool Aid (Sorry folks, no Kool Aid pictures here. Maybe I should add one so their search wouldn't be in vain.)

Like I said, these are just humorous and fascinating to me. The Internet has such a vast amount of information and I am always surprised when I see that people from Spain, Dubai, Thailand, Africa, Germany and many other countries have been on our Blog. It is neat to be able to see how they ended up here.

Then of course there was that person from China that Googled "Camel Toe" and found this post of ours. Undoubtedly, we were in NO WAY what they were looking for. But, rather than assume that she/he was a perv or a freak, I like to think they were researching some sort of hoof fungus. People Google the darnedest things!!!!!!

Little Miss Fashionista

2008-03-05T10:15:00.010-05:00

I am really looking forward to the arrival of Spring. It is beginning to tease us a little, by warming up for a day or two and then turning cold again. The bulbs are starting to peep through the soil. The birds have begun practicing their springtime songs. And the trees are covered with buds that are ready to burst into color. It is as if nature is rehearsing for opening day at its annual production.

Another sign of the upcoming season change is our semi-annual wardrobe check. You see, each year in the Spring and Fall, Kaylea and I go through all of her clothes and try on, sort through and evaluate her needs. I am not really looking forward to this task this year; it doesn't appear that the child will have anything left from last summer that will still fit her. Typically, she has several pieces that carry over from Summer into the next Spring and from Winter into the next Fall, but that's not the case this year. Last summer and at the beginning of school she was able to wear some 7's, but mostly 8's. Now, she is in 10's and 12's, depending on the cut. Oh, and did I mention that her foot has grown a full size since last summer, as well. Basically, for the first time since she was a newborn, we will be starting from scratch in building a wardrobe.

I guess I better get busy designing my eBay auction listings, because the shopping this Spring is going to break the bank. I have always consigned or used eBay to fund the purchase of Kaylea's new clothes; it's my way of recycling and generating a clothing allowance for her. Of course, Kaylea's grandparents and her Auntie M. like to shop for her, also. Needless to say, Kaylea has never been given a citation by the Fashion Police. Heck, she didn't receive her "Most Fashionable" awards in 1st and 2nd grade for no reason!

Yes, Kaylea is a clothes fiend. But, the shopping thing is not really her favorite. Her Memommy, Auntie M and I are still trying to convince her that it is really fun. Unfortunately, we haven't been successful in showing her joy and pleasure in hunting down and finding great bargains, though. She definitely hates the act, but loves the outcome!

Now, onto my eBaying. By the way, if you have a Little Miss Fashionista, as well, just let me know and I will send you a link to my auctions. Heck, if you're local you won't even have to pay the shipping; we can arrange for a pick-up.

It's Jabber Jawz!

2008-02-29T16:21:00.005-05:00

If you thought I was talking about the cartoon character then you are, OH SO wrong! This might be the original, but we have the new and improved version!

Let me introduce you to our family's version of Jabber Jaw. (Actually, we have a few in the family, but this isn't their/her BLOG.) No, no, no, the Jabber Jaw that I am referring to is my darling daughter, Kaylea.

Kaylea has always been a - well let's just say - verbally expressive little girl. She has never been one to "hold her tongue." When she was a baby she jabbered and squealed and cooed constantly. Now that she is older, we often think she just loves the beautiful sound that her voice makes as she speaks to us, and anyone else who will listen. Kaylea's great-grandmother, Nana, said that she made more noise that a clatter bone in a goose's hind end. (I am assuming that is a lot of noise.)

There has been a lot of discussion over the years as to where Kaylea's adoration and mastery of the "gift of gab" came from. It certainly wasn't from her father or me; we both are a little on the quiet side. But I will confess that I have a long line of "talkers" in my family. My Papaw LOVED to talk! He didn't really need, or want, anyone to talk to; he just wanted someone to sit and listen to him. If Papaw ever got you cornered, you knew you might as well sit back and get comfortable because you were going to be there for a while. Then, of course, there is my Dad. As a child I never really noticed that he was a talker, but now, Lord help us. We can't go to the store, Dollywood, or anywhere else for that matter, without him finding someone to talk to. We just have to walk away and let him catch up. Oh, and I can't forget the most famous family talker, my ThiThi. She is a lot like Papaw and Daddy. Growing up, I never had to say a word because Sis did all of the talking for both of us. Hell, it's a miracle that I ever learned to say a word. A few years ago, Mom and I were visiting my great-aunt, Beulah, and she just kept looking awkwardly at me as I was talking. When I finished, she looked at Mom and said, "You know, in all these years I never thought Jennilu could talk!" She was plum amazed.

Well, as you can see, Kaylea comes by her verboseness quite honestly. Yet, her Grammy still likes to put the blame on me. You see when Kaylea was a tot and going through the stretch, point, whine and grunt stage of communication, I would always tell her, "Kaylea, use your words." Now, Grammy says that Kaylea is just a good little girl and she is just doing as she was told all those years ago.

Angel - Kaylea's Best Friend

2008-02-26T16:14:00.006-05:00

She's our little Angel,

The BEST puppy in the world!

Blonde and cute and cuddly,

A gift from Santa to our girl.

She's a member of our family,

Kaylea's bestest friend.

They play together all day long,

True pals until the end.

She's a unique little doggie,

That likes to pee on trees.

She hasn't figured out yet

That's something just for he(s).

She really looks quite silly,

When she's standing on two legs.

Backed up against the tree,

With her butt above her head.

We laugh at her a lot,

With all her funny habits.

Especially when she leaps through the air,

Just like the Easter rabbit.

What would we do without our Schnoodle?

She makes us all so happy!

Our little Angel is so sweet,

Too bad her kisses smell so crappy!

Who, Me?

2008-02-20T20:47:00.003-05:00

Gee, thanks Auntie M. This is really COOL. I am glad that you enjoy all of the stories that Mom writes about me. Personally, I think they are pretty embarrassing. Oh well, at least you are the only one that sees them. Imagine if the whole world could read these things and they stayed around forever. Man, that would be awful!

I love you,

Kaylea

WOOT! WOOT! School's Out For Winter Break

2008-02-13T15:43:00.003-05:00

Yes, the little children of Sevier County are dancing in the streets.

All winter long, they have prayed for snow to no avail. The teachers have worn their lucky snow day outfits, but no luck. Shoot, I have even seen kid's on the playground perfecting their snow dance, but NOTHING!

Now, they finally have been given their days off. Unfortunately, it had to come at the expense of some very sick and flu ridden children here in the county. You see, our absentee percentage has been teetering just below the acceptable maximum for a few weeks now. Each day the Central Office was requesting the absentee reports, asap. Apparently, yesterday our sick children tipped the scale and school was called off for the remainder of the week. We were already scheduled to have winter break the 15th - 18th, so we just got two more days added on.

I would never say that anyone was glad that there were soooooo many sick kids; however, I will say I saw a lot of happy people (students and teachers) yesterday afternoon while walking the halls of the school.

To all of you sickly ones out there, I hope you get to feeling better over the extended break. We will be thinking about you as we head out for the beach! See ya!

A Day Just For Us Girls!!!

2008-02-05T21:08:00.000-05:00

Today, Kaylea, Auntie M and I had a Girls' Day. We went to lunch, did some shopping and then went to the movie. Kaylea got to make all of the choices as her reward for working so hard on her science fair project. She wanted to go to Steak and Shake for lunch. Auntie M and I were really surprised. Normally when she is given the opportunity to choose the restaurant, she will always pick Olive Garden. But today, she was in a cheeseburger, shoe string fries and milk shake kinda mood. I guess is was a good thing that Auntie M and I were too.

Kaylea also got to pick the movie we went to. She has been wanting to see Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, so of course, that was her choice. Auntie and I were not that enthused about this choice, however, at least it was at the $1 movie. I will say that all of us really enjoyed the movie. I was very "magical" and touching. Dustin Hoffman did a fabulous job playing the eccentric and off beat, Mr. Magorium. I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone with children. Just be prepared to get a little misty eyed. I think this will be a "must have" for our home movie collection.

Tah Dah!!! We Proudly Present Kaylea's Science Fair Project

2008-02-02T15:33:00.000-05:00

Well, folks, here it is. Bub and I are so proud of Kaylea. She has worked really hard on her project. We hope you like it!

Science Fair Project - Update

2008-01-31T19:23:00.001-05:00

I know many of you are probably wondering what ever happened with the Science Fair project. Well, Kaylea has remained dedicated to finishing the project and has been working diligently on it. So far, she has completed the research phase; written the report; made the graph; and now she is working on her board. I am hoping that I will be able to post the final project this weekend. Stay tuned........

We Have School Pictures

2008-01-29T17:54:00.000-05:00

Yes, the school pictures have arrived. Now, aren't they good? See I didn't lie.

Now we will just pray that the yearbook staff takes mercy on Kaylea and uses this photo instead of her 1st attempt. You can read about Kaylea's "Hey, Kool Aid" picture here, if you haven't already.

Thumbs Up For Wonderworks!

2008-01-28T09:12:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Mr. Bob and Auntie M. gave Kaylea a reward for her awesome report card by taking her to Wonderworks (and yes, Bub and I tagged along, also) I didn't really know what to expect, especially from the looks of the upside down building that you see from the street. I guess I would compare it to Imageworks in the Imagination Pavilion at Epcot, only on a lot smaller scale. I have seen it described as an amusement park for your mind, and it really is. We all had a blast!

Kaylea loved climbing the rock wall. It was a little harder than what she is use to, though.

She did manage to make it about half way to the top. Yea Kaylea!

And, then, Aunt Missy decided to ride the Extreme 360. They strap you into a bicycle looking contraption and then it whirls you around in circles, taking you backwards and forwards and upside down. I think a better name for it would be the Barf-O-Matic!

If you don't do climbing walls or the pukey rides, there are plenty of other things that you will enjoy. They have several interactive displays such as a bed of nails you can lay on; a bubble room where you can make ginormous bubbles; an optical illusion art gallery; airplane and spaceship simulators; and the list goes on and on. It really is a great place for the entire family and you might even learn a thing or two amidst all of the fun. I am wondering why it is that Kaylea hasn't been there on a field trip, yet - hmmmm.

I would highly recommend Wonderworks to anyone!

Note to all of the Knox County readers out there - Wonderworks has Knox County Days underway until Feb 2. Basically, bring your Knox County I.D. and make a donation of a few school supplies at the door and you will get in for $10 per person (that is 50% off the normal admission price).

Kaylea's Feeling Icky

2008-01-25T15:04:00.000-05:00

Yes, we have a sick child at our house. Well, I think she's sick, anyway. Yesterday when I picked her up from school she said, "Momma, I think you need to make an appointment for me to see the Doctor." She went on to say that her throat was really sore, she had a bad cough and the night before she felt like she was going to throw up. When we got home I took her temperature, but it was normal. After dinner, we went to Walgreens and stocked up on Throat Lozenges, Triamenic Cough and Runny Nose meltaway strips (way awesome product, no more having to measure liquid), and Children's Motrin. When we got home I told her to take a long hot shower and then get ready for bed. Honestly, she looked and sounded terrible. You know, droopy eyes, dragging around, scratchy voice and croupy cough. I guess it was about 7:30 when we laid down and she fell asleep almost immediately. Unfortunately for her she didn't stay asleep. Her cough kept waking her up and she would get up and get more throat lozenges.

This morning I let her sleep in and set-up a Doctor's appointment for her at 10:30. Of course, the first thing they tested for was Strep, but it came back negative - Thank God! Then the Doctor looked at her ears, nose, throat and listened to her chest. The verdict - everything was clear. I was told to keep on the Triamenic during the day but to give her Atuss DS at night. Supposedly it will help her sleep; great I get to drug my kid!

She says her throat is feeling better, but the cough is still there. Who knows what kind of bug she has. We'll keep our fingers crossed that it doesn't get any worse.

The Report Card Came! The Report Card Came! She's An Honor Student Again!

2008-01-24T16:44:00.000-05:00

Yeah Kaylea! She made the "A" Honor Roll. She even got an "E" in Gym. You go girl!!!! (That was one of my "C" subjects!)

The only area we have to work on is the whole "Avoids Unnecessary Talking" thing. I don't thing the "N" stands for Neato.

Oh well, the child can't be perfect, now can she?

Mommy Has Her Own Blog, Too!

2008-01-24T16:42:00.001-05:00

Yes, it is true. I have started my own blog. I hope all of Kaylea's readers (all 4 of you) will enjoy reading about my random thoughts, also.

Go check it out.

My Crazy Little Mixed Up World

Another Story From Our Little Blondy

2008-01-24T10:20:00.000-05:00

Bub and Kaylea had some bonding time last week while I was feeling a little under the weather. Bub was going to fix dinner for Kaylea and asked her what she would like. Well, of course, she wanted his famous chicken noodle soup. He makes it by using Lipton Chicken Noodle Soup mix and then adding spaghetti so there are lots of extra noodles. This is their little thing that they love to make and eat - me not so much, though - but to each his own.

After Bub made the soup and fixed a bowl for Kaylea she told him she needed some hot sauce for her soup. Apparently, she had watched her cousin add hot sauce to chicken noodle soup and wanted to try it, also. This was rather shocking to Bub because Kaylea won't even eat black pepper (or anything that looks like it might have black pepper in it). He told Kaylea that hot sauce is hot (thus, the name) but she was insistent. So, he got the Texas Pete and gave it to her. He just stood back and watched her give her soup several drops of the stuff. When she put the first bite in her mouth she started waving her hand in front of her face and blowing air out of her mouth. She finally swallowed the soup and then ran to the kitchen and got an ice cube. She came back and put the ice cube in her soup. After the ice cube had melted she tried another bite of her soup. She had the same reaction, then went into the kitchen and got another ice cube. She came back and put the second ice cube in her soup. After it melted, she repeated her taste test, again. Then she looked up at Bub and said, "Wow, Daddy that soup sure it hot. This is the second ice cube I have put in it and it is still too hot for me to eat." Barry just shook his head and said, "Kaylea, the soup is hot from the Hot Sauce you put in it. Ice cubes won't cool it off!"

Bless her heart!

The Hard Facts Of Life

2008-01-22T08:13:00.000-05:00

Kaylea says the darnedest things!

With Kaylea approaching the time in her life where she will become a young "lady", she and I have been having discussions about the changes that she will experience in the coming years. I wasn't sure when was the appropriate time to start "the talks" but found that it was a necessity a few months ago. We have talked candidly about all of the changes her body will be going through and what she should expect. I told her when she had her menstrual cycle she might have stomach cramps, a back ache, bloating, and a head ache, but most of all she will probably get very cranky. She just looked at me and said, "Do you have your menstrual cycle EVERYDAY?"

Kids - you gotta love them!

Coping With Amblyopia, Otherwise Known As Lazy Eye

2008-01-21T12:19:00.000-05:00

When Kaylea was in first grade she began complaining about not being able to see very well. I asked her teacher if Kaylea could have a vision screening. Her teacher filled out the paperwork and we waited. The day the nurse gave Kaylea her vision test, I happened to be substituting for Kayela's teacher. The nurse brought Kaylea back to the room and called me over to the door. She was unaware that I was Kaylea's mom. She told me that I needed to send a note home to Kaylea's parents and have them take her for an eye exam. I explained that I was Kaylea's mom and asked what the problem was. She informed me that Kaylea appeared to have some vision problems and would probably need glasses. She didn't know if the test was accurate because of Kaylea's age and the lack of reliability when testing children. She advised following up with an eye doctor.

That afternoon I let Bub know what the nurse said and we made an appointment for both Kaylea and me at the Wal Mart vision center. I was needing to get my contact prescription renewed so we thought we would take her in with me. Imagine our shock when the Optometrist told us that we really needed to take Kaylea to a specialist. He said that if the test he had given her was accurate, she most likely had Amblyopia "Lazy Eye" and we needed to see a Pediatric Ophthalmologist, immediately.

Luckily, we were able to get in with the specialist fairly quickly. When they tested her, our worst fear was verified. Kaylea was legally blind in her left eye. She could not even see the largest letter on the eye chart. Basically, her brain had quit communicating with her left eye and the vision was dying in that eye. Her overall vision was 20/20, but her right eye was doing all of the work. The Doctor told us that we would have to begin treatment immediately because we were working against time. Kaylea was 7 years old at that time and most children reach visual maturity between the ages of 7 and 9. Up until a child reaches visual maturity the brain can be coached into communicating with the "lazy eye" again by patching the strong "working" eye. The treatment that was prescribed for Kaylea was to patch her right eye for 4 hours each day. Also, she had to start wearing glasses to try to correct the vision as best as possible in the left eye. Her glasses had a thick lens on the left and a normal, no prescription, lens on the right.

Bub and I tried to get her as excited as possible about the whole process. We let her pick out her glasses frames and I even ordered special eye patches that had luau flowers, princess crowns, hearts, stars, etc. on them. Anything to make her think they were neat and want to wear them. Of course, as her parents (and adults), we realized the severity of the situation. Kaylea, on the other hand, didn't. She was OK with the glasses because some of the other children in her class had gotten glasses, also. She thought they were cool. However, she wanted nothing to do with the patches. She cried, screamed, fought and begged so that she wouldn't have to wear them. We were lucky in the respect that most of the time she could get her 4 hours of patching done after school, but she still didn't want to do it. My heart broke for her every time she cried and begged me not to wear it. She became very self conscious and paranoid from the experience. She would always say, "Mommy they are staring at me. They said I look weird."

Last summer, we thought we had won the battle. The Doctor told us Kaylea's vision had improved and they were going to let her go through the summer without patching to see if the improved vision would hold with her just wearing her glasses. Well, when we went for our last check up the vision had slipped in the left eye again. This was good news / bad news. The bad news was that she had not reached visual maturity and we were going to have to start patching again (only 2 hours a day this time). The good news was that she had not reached visual maturity and we were still able correct the problem with patching. (Kaylea didn't really think that was such good news!)

As a Mom, this is one of the hardest things I have had to deal with. Everyone wants their child to be perfect. We want the best for them in every way. I never wanted her to have to feel like she is different. I never wanted her to have her feelings hurt by a supposed "best friend" who wouldn't sit by her because her patch looked weird. I never wanted her to have self confidence or body image issues, especially at such a young age. All I know is Kaylea has dealt with the situation a lot better than I would have. When I was little I was so painfully shy that I couldn't stand the thought of being looked at or noticed. Kaylea, however, loves to be the center of attention.

As of now, we are still patching 2 hours a day. Kaylea has had the prescription changed in her glasses so that the lenses are almost equal widths. And we still have our battles over wearing the patch. I will give Kaylea credit where credit is due, though. As she has gotten older, she has learned to deal with the patching a little better. I think she now realizes that we fight with her because we love her and we just want what is best for her. This is one of those things in life that a child can't truly understand and appreciate until they grow up and have children of their own, though.

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

2008-01-19T10:44:00.000-05:00

No, I am not referring to Christmas or Halloween or even Easter. Oh no, this is WAY BETTER!!!

!!!!!!!!!! IT'S GIRL SCOUT COOKIE TIME !!!!!!!!!

Yes, Girl Scout Cookie order taking began yesterday. don't worry though, the green vested militia won't be camping in front of Kroger and Walmart just yet. The cookies won't be here for another few weeks.

So for all of you Thin Mint fiends and Tagalong junkies get your cupboards cleared and your tummies ready. Soon you will be able to replenish your stockpile for another year.

And yes, Kaylea will be contacting you soon so that she can perfect her selling techniques. You know the ones:

The high pressure technique, "is that ALL, you need to buy more than that!"
The heart string technique, "all the other girls in my troop have sold a lot more than me."
The self serving technique, "Pappy you need to buy two boxes of these for me."
And lastly, the guilt technique; nothing said just an irresistible pouty face being made. This is probably the most powerful technique in her arsenal.

So get ready readers; here they come.

(Man o man, a girl can't get a break; I just threw out all of the leftover cookies and candies from the holiday baking. I guess I can start that diet in February, no that's Valentines. How about March, no the cookies will be here then. It will have to be April, but wait a minute that's my birthday. Oh crap, I guess I will be fat when I turn 40.)

Kaylea is Trilingual!

2008-01-16T17:31:00.001-05:00

Not a whole lot going on in our little corner of East TN. Just getting back into the swing of things after the Winter Break. The third six weeks ended Monday, and currently we are anxiously awaiting Kaylea's report card. School has always been easy for Kaylea (until this year, that is). Now, she is really starting to realize what it means to have to work and study to get those A's that she likes so much. Last six weeks she made her first B. I was kinda hoping she would be a little upset by the grade. (not totally devastated, but a little bit upset would be OK) But of course, she was neither! She thought there was nothing wrong with a B; she thought they were really good. I told her she was correct, but A's were better!

Of course, Mom would have been thrilled if my sister and I had been A / B students when we were in school. Unfortunately, though, I made my fair share of C's over the years (and we won't even talk about Auntie M's report cards ;) I remember Mom and me arguing about the abundance of C's on one of my report cards and me trying to convince her that the mediocrity of a C was just fine. After all, a C is described as "average" which is what she should want for her child. Subsequently, if I wasn't average, then I was some kind of freak (I think I was in 8th grade, which would explain the thought process, hugh?) I continued my argument by explaining that "average" meant that most kids were making them and I was normal for making them, too. Mom didn't really buy my argument, though.

One of the subjects that has given Kaylea the most challenges is English. I guess I shouldn't be that surprised by this. You see, when Kaylea was in 1st grade she argued with me and was adamant that she didn't even speak English. If I remember correctly, Kaylea was telling me about learning a Spanish word while watching Dora the Explorer. I was very impressed and asked her how to say the word in English. She was quick to tell me she didn't speak English. I was rather confused and corrected her. She continued to argue with me saying she DIDN'T speak English. I finally got tired of the arguing and said, "Fine, Kaylea, if you don't speak English then what do you speak?" Her response was, "American!" DOINK!!!

Now, I wouldn't argue with her if she told me she didn't speak English, but she speaks Hillbilly, instead. That is the truth. The child can't say crayon to save her life; she says crown. She doesn't call me "Mommy" or even "Mom"; she calls me "Mama" (Bub and I find ourselves quite frequently breaking out into the Judd's rendition of Mama He's Crazy after she calls for me). She doesn't say "pants"; she says "britches." And yesterday while standing in Coldwater Creek she was quick to tell me she needed to go to the bathroom because she "had the gut ache." What a proud moment!!!!

Now that I think about it, we should be thrilled if she gets a B in English, seeing as, they don't give grades in American Hillbilly. Bless her heart!

Daughter Of The Year Goes To Kaylea!!!!

2008-01-09T16:12:00.000-05:00

....and Mom of the Year (in the lousy category) goes to me. In case any of you out there have ever doubted the fablousness of my daughter, just sit back and read this.

As you are aware, from reading the Science Fair post, yesterday we began working on the experiment phase of Kaylea's project. Kaylea was very excited about making an entry in the Science Fair. The entry was not a requirement for the 3rd graders and she was excited because she was going to be one of only a few children in her grade that were participating.

As I mentioned before, the material for the Science Fair was sent home several months ago (I believe the beginning of October). I looked over the requirements and dates at that time and then filed (ha) the paper on the top of my computer desk where all of the things that need to be dealt with go. Pretty much since the day the paper came home, Kaylea has been pestering me to get started on the project. I just didn't see any need to start that early since the Science Fair wasn't until February (so I thought). I wanted her to wait so that the research would be fresh in her mind (and also because I have a BAD habit of procrastinating).

Today, I dug to the bottom of the paper pile on the desk because I needed to know the dimension requirements for the display boards. I thought it would be neat to take Kaylea to the store and let her pick out all of the "pretties" for her board. Well, imagine my shock and sickness when I discovered that her school Science Fair in TOMORROW! YES, it is tomorrow! The date in February that I had ingrained in my head is the date of the county-wide Science Fair. Boy o boy, did I screw up!!!!!!!! Now I only had to figure out a way tell my daughter without causing too much therapy in the future.

As I drove to school this afternoon, I rehearsed the impending conversation with her in my head. I have to admit I was very nervous about telling her. Not because she would know that I am not perfect (I have proven that many times over) but because I hate to think that I am causing her any type of sadness, disappointment or grief. The last thing on earth I want to do is let down my little girl, and in my opinion I had let her down in a big way!

When I picked her up I told her that I had something to tell her and she was probably going to be mad at me, AND THAT WAS O.K. Then, I told her I was really sorry for the mistake I had made. Finally, I told her that she was not going to be able to participate in the Science Fair because I had not written down the correct date.

You know, she just looked at me and said, "It's o.k. Mom. Parents make mistakes sometimes, too." Can you believe it? Wow, what a kid! I know she is great but let's face it she is NINE. Most of the time, her little universe has her in the middle with everyone else orbiting around her. But today, she was so mature. She wasn't disappointed, at least she didn't show it if she was. She was so understanding and accepting and even gave me a hug and told me not to worry about it.

I'm sure some of you probably think I made way too big a deal about this and maybe I did. I just know that it makes me sick to think of letting her down in any way.

Bub and I discussed the situation and pondered our options at this point. We both think it is important for Kaylea to finish her project. She needs to be able to have the satisfaction of completing the project that she has been looking forward to. Also, it won't hurt her to learn the steps involved in conducting an experiment and completing a Science Fair project. So, we put our heads together (Daddy, Kaylea and Me) and decided that when she is finished Kaylea can enter her project into the first ever Curiously Kaylea Cyber Science Fair. Yes, our little Blog will be having its own Science Fair. I will post lots of pictures of her project along with the results of our test when everything is complete. Of course, we are going to need some judges for our Cyber Science Fair. If you would like to be one of our judges, just leave a little comment when you see her finished project on the Blog. She will be anxiously awaiting your feedback.

The Science Fair Project

2008-01-08T07:55:00.000-05:00

A few months ago Kaylea jumped into the car after school and was bubbling with excitement. She says, "Guess what Mom? I signed up to do a Science Fair Project. We don't have to do one, but I really want to because I love Science. And we get extra credit for it!"

Well, I was immediately taken back to 8th grade when I had to do a Science Fair Project and my Mom did the whole thing for me. You see, I was not exactly a star student in Science and had no interest in doing any kind of project that would be on display for the entire school to view. So I picked a topic that had something to do with hair follicles, or something like that (I'm sure Mom could tell you in more detail the subject) and my Mom "helped" me. Actually, she did the whole thing. She wrote the report (but I typed it, I think), she supplied the pictures, and she even did my board. I remember it was real pretty and I was very proud of it (her).

Though I had never been a real Science whiz, I was kind of excited about Kaylea's project. I thought it would be a lot of fun and a good opportunity for Kaylea and me to work together. When we got home, I read the material that was sent home from school and had to chuckle. It clearly said that the project is to be completed by the child or it will be disqualified. First of all, she is nine; she has no idea what a Science Fair project is let alone what type of topic to choose. Second, I wouldn't be doing it for her I will just be helping her with it. Well, that afternoon I began Googling "science fair projects for children." After I had compiled a list of about ten to fifteen different projects I let her choose which one she wanted to do. Well, she chose to find out which brand of soap would dissolve the quickest in water.

The Science Fair is next month so we are going to begin today. I have already formulated our plan of attack on the experiment. We are going to start with four bars of soap (different brands but equal weight). Each day we are going to let the bars soak in a container of water for 20 minutes and then weigh them. She will be recording the weights each day for two weeks. In the end she will make a chart to show how much each bar dissolved each day. Sounds easy enough and she should be able to do this without too much help from me (ya think?)

I was telling Auntie M about the project and all of my ideas for decorating the board. "I was thinking she could get a blue board and cover it with bubble stickers and put a rubber ducky on the table and......." Then Auntie abruptly stopped me and said, "Jen, don't be one of THOSE moms. Make sure it is Kaylea's project and not yours. It needs to be her work, no matter how bad it may look."

Well, this got me thinking. Maybe I am trying to finally do my Science Fair Project from 8th grade. Just like my Mom was trying to finally do the project she never completed. Wow, what a revelation. OK, the cycle will stop with me! I will let Kaylea do her project her way! I will only offer assistance when asked or needed! I will make Kaylea be responsible for this assignment!

But, I just have a few questions. Do you think it would be over the top if Kaylea had a strobe light on her table? Or how about a boom box playing Splish Splash? Or how about if she wore her robe and shower cap to the Science Fair? OOPs, there I go again, sorry!

No, really, I will let her do it herself ;)

Vacation Is Almost Over...Boo Hoo!

2008-01-05T19:16:00.000-05:00

As usual, time flies when your having fun. Tomorrow we will be leaving our little oceanfront paradise do drive back to Tennessee. We have had such a good trip, getting to spend time with family. We are not looking forward to leaving, but Kaylea and I are anxious to get home to Daddy and Angel. If they were here with us we could just stay forever.

Yesterday, we took a day trip to Charleston. While we were there, we went on a tour of Fort Sumter. Kaylea was interested in the old structure; however, I did have to explain to her, on her level, the importance of the Fort. Since it was the site of the first battle of the Civil War, I also had to explain to her the purpose of the Civil War and its importance in US history. Hopefully, she learned something on the tour and will be able to go back and share her discovery with her classmates.

After the tour we went to lunch and then walked through the outdoor market. Kaylea found a beautiful handmade Russian Matryoshka Doll that she fell in love with. She decided that she wanted the doll as her souvenir from the trip. It is truly gorgeous! If you are unfamiliar with the Matryoshka Doll, it is a hand carved and hand painted nesting doll. When you open the outer doll, there is a smaller doll inside and so on and so on. Normally, there are five or six dolls that nest inside one another. The doll that Kaylea found has ten dolls that nest. The smallest is about the size of a peppercorn. This will be a collectible for her to treasure for many years.

Today, we stayed on the island and went out to Salty Dog for lunch. Then, of course, we had to do a little shopping. We can't take a vacation without some type of shopping going on. Upon returning to the condo, we walked down to the beach to look for shells and draw in the sand.

Though we have missed Bub/Daddy terribly bad; it has been nice for Kaylea and me to have a little bit of Mommy/Daughter time. She has been such a good girl and I am so proud of her. She can really be a pickle at times; but moreover, she is a very kind, caring and loving child. I treasure each moment with her, the good and the picklish ones.

Good-bye vacation! We will see you again in a few months.

Greetings From Hilton Head BBBBBeach......Man It's Cold!!

2008-01-03T21:48:00.000-05:00

As many of you know, Kaylea and I have gone to Hilton Head Island on an impromptu vacation with Auntie M, Mr. Bob, Memommy and Mr. Jimmy. We all were sad that Bub couldn't extend his vacation and join us, but we will make sure and bring him back a t-shirt. So far the trip has been very UN-beachy. That would probably be due to the cold weather and cutting winds. I haven't even made it down to the ocean yet; however, Auntie M badgered Mr. Bob into going down to the beach with her and Kaylea this afternoon. I don't know about you, but it doesn't seem like a place I would want to be under the current conditions.

Kaylea on the beach, BRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!

Kaylea wrote, "I Love Vacation" in the sand

Kaylea is having a blast, though. She doesn't care how cold it is outside; she is on vacation at the beach. I think she will probably live near the ocean when she grows up because she loves being near the water. Today, we took a day trip to Savannah, another one of Kaylea's favorite vacation spots. Unfortunately, she was very disappointed when we were not able to eat lunch at Paula Deen's restaurant. Apparently they were closed for the week to do some yearly maintenance. Boo for us - yeah for her employees!

We, also, walked on River Street and stopped in at the Savannah Candy Kitchen. It isn't a trip to Savannah without getting a few pralines and some taffy. It was really too cold to do much walking so we all decided to take a tour of the city in a nice HEATED trolley. I think the tour was a little too much excitement for Kaylea because she was passed out on my shoulder within fifteen minutes. I was able to wake her when we stopped at Saint John the Baptist Cathedral. She was very intrigued by the Holy water pool at the entrance to the cathedral and the rosary candles at the alter. You could tell she wasn't a good Catholic girl, however. She was trying to figure out how to drink out of the Holy water pool and lit about five candles before I could stop her. I tried to cover for her error by explaining to her the purpose for the rosary candles and telling her since she lit five candles, she needed to say five prayers. We used the kneeling bench and prayed, at least I think that is what she was doing. If not she was at least acting like she was praying. It was a lot of new stuff for a little Baptist girl from East Tennessee to take in. She was very interested in their faith and practices, though. I guess I can be thankful for that. I always try to emphasize to her that our religion is not the only religion and she seems to take interest in learning about how others worship. Thank goodness she looks at things that are different with curiosity and wonder instead of shying away and just thinking they are weird.

Well, that is enough for today. We are going to bed so we can get up early in the morning and head out to Charleston for the day. I'm sure the day will be filled with new adventures for all of us.

Welcome 2008

2008-01-01T13:14:00.000-05:00

Wow, 2008 is here already. Where has the time gone. This year I will be turning the BIG 4-0 and my baby will be 10. I did the math this morning, while watching UT play in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, FL, and I was reminded that 15 years ago today Bub and I had our first date while watching UT play Boston College in the Hall of Fame Bowl in Tampa, FL. In so many ways, that first date weekend seems like it was just yesterday and in other ways it seems like it was a lifetime ago.

As most people do, I am making several New Year's resolutions this year. I make the same ones every year: lose weight, exercise more, drink more water and less Diet Coke, and eat more meals at home. Hopefully, I will be able to stick to them this year (as I type this I am eating Chex Party Mix and drinking a Diet Coke). Oh well, I can't really start them today because we are leaving for Hilton Head tomorrow and you know I can't diet while I am on vacation - that wouldn't be any fun now would it?

I asked Kaylea if she was going to make any New Year's resolutions. She replied with a very puzzled, "Hugh?" I then had to explain to her what a resolution was (and no I didn't say it was something that people say they will do and then don't). She said her resolution will be to read more. You have to understand the humor in this resolution; Kaylea loves to read! She was "Star Reader" and had the most AR (Accelerated Reader for all of you who don't have kids) in her second grade class last year. This year she has started reading the Harry Potter series.

Of course I was thinking, of all things the child could choose to work on, reading would not be anywhere near the top of the list. I guess I was hoping she would say something like, "Oh Mommy, I am going to listen better." Or, "Mommy, I am going to work on not having the sassy mouth this year." Or, "Mommy, I am not going to argue as much." Or I would have even been happy with, "I am going to clean up after myself." But, of course, I didn't get any of those responses because Kaylea thinks she needs to read more. Well, I didn't discourage her with her choice for her resolution, but trust me I will be making suggestions for additional resolutions as the opportunities present themselves. And trust me, they WILL. I will probably be able to offer up a few suggestions before the day in done.

We hope each of you have a safe and prosperous new year. I will keep up the Blog and the silly stories about Kaylea. If we can make you smile, laugh, or touch your heart in some way, then we are accomplishing what we set out to do. Thank you for staying plugged into our life through this silly little thing we call the Internet.

Love and best wishes for 2008!

Bub, Jennilu, Kaylea and Angel

Christmas Pictures For Your Viewing Pleasure

2007-12-28T15:32:00.001-05:00

Kaylea munching in her present fort on Christmas Eve

Kaylea with her Grammy and Memommy

Kaylea trying to stay awake to see Santa

Everyone enjoying their Christmas Eve munchies.

Clockwise: Bub, Auntie M., Mr. Bob, Pappy, Grammy, Papaw Jay and half of Mamaw Chris (Sorry Chris)

Mr. Jimmy and Mr. Bob
(yes, Mr. Bob has on an Elmer Fudd Christmas hat that says, "Bah Humbug!")

We Survived Christmas, But Will We Make It To 2008

2007-12-27T20:12:00.000-05:00

Well, it appears that we all have survived the Christmas holiday. All of the out of town guests arrived safe and sound last Wednesday and then the games began. The days before Christmas consisted of:

Shopping, Shopping and more Shopping
Eating, Eating and more Eating
Wrapping, Wrapping and more Wrapping
Cleaning, Cleaning and more Cleaning

Then there was that whole death in the family, the many dinners and celebrations with family that doesn't come to our house, plus preparing a Christmas Eve get together for 11, a Christmas breakfast for 9, and a Christmas dinner for 13. Wow, it is amazing that we were able to drag our lifeless bodies out of bed at 4:45 am on Christmas morning to open presents.

Kaylea was thrilled when she saw that Santa pulled through once again and he had brought her the Wii that she had been longing for. Hey, he is such a nice guy that he even through in a couple of games to go with it. She got the much sought after Hannah Montana game and a Harry Potter game. Boy, he is such a swell fella! Kaylea, also, received a Zune, lots of Gymbo outfits (we luv Gymbo), and too many other things to mention. I do have to say that Auntie M and Mr. Bob get the prize for the present of the year. You know the one; it's the one that the child will not put down and plays with constantly from the time it is opened until it breaks. Well, this year, they decided to give Kaylea the redneck child's dream giftbox. It included a remote control fart machine, a can of Flarp, a whoopie cushion and a belch-o-matic. I'm telling you it was like a regular symphony around our house.....THANKS SIS!!!!

The rest of us had a good Christmas, also. Santa was very kind to all of us, too. I am just a little confused about something. In years past, we have been accused of over doing it for Christmas. So, this year we ALL decided that we were going to cut back and not buy as much. Well, you tell me, do you think we managed to stick to our plan???????

You know, it is pretty bad when you have to rearrange the furniture to accommodate all of the presents. In our defense, all of these presents are for 9 people. So, we didn't go too overboard, did we?

Now, we are still trying to recover and recuperate so that we can get ready for the New Year's Eve party that we are having. We only have to find a place for all of the new stuff; clean the filth in the house and get Kaylea's bathroom redecorated. Yeah, we started scraping paint and stripping wallpaper this morning. Say a little prayer for Bub and me. We will post photos when we finish; hopefully, it will be before the new year :)

We hope all of you had a joyous Christmas, as well. Enjoy what's left of 2007.

The Magic of Christmas

2007-12-22T10:46:00.000-05:00

With each passing day, I watch the excitement grow in my daughter. She can hardly wait for Christmas to get here. I remember when I was little and how the days before Christmas seemed to be the longest days of the entire year.

I think this is probably our last Christmas for Kaylea to be able to see Christmas through a child's eyes (if you know what I mean). She has asked a lot of questions, which I am answering with total honesty. I refuse to lie to my daughter, but she will have to ask the "right" question to get the answer she is really looking for.

Kaylea keeps telling me about the kids in her 3rd grade class that don't believe in Santa. So far she has argued with each one of them and been able to hold on to her belief. You see, Kaylea has had some pretty BIG requests of Santa in the past, and he has always pulled through for her, even when Mommy and Daddy weren't 100% in support of the gift ;) Let's see, there was the year that she asked Santa for a puppy - and she got Angel (even though Mommy and Daddy are allergic to dogs and didn't think she was old enough to take care of a puppy). Then, there was the year that she asked Santa for a trampoline - and she got one (even though Mommy and Daddy thought they were dangerous and she would get hurt). Because of these Christmas "miracles" Kaylea stands steadfast in her belief.

When the kids try to burst her bubble and say, "Santa isn't real; it's just your Mom and Day." Kaylea is quick to argue, "Oh yeah, then how did I get Angel? All of the pet stores are closed on Christmas Eve after I go to bed, and my Mom and Dad can't hide a puppy in a closet or under the bed. Anyway, they are allergic to dogs and would never get one for me. AND where did my trampoline come from? It was all put together and everything; they couldn't hide something that big in a closet or under the bed, either."

I do have to agree, she has some pretty strong arguments. (And then there is the whole thing about her Auntie M working at Santa's doll factory at Disney World, but that is a whole other post for a different time).

Now, this year, she is asking Santa for a Wii, which she knows is the impossible gift to get a hold of. If Santa can pull through again this year, her faith will not falter, at least until she gets back to school after Christmas break and the kids start at her again. But, just so you know, the rumor around town is that Santa was seen standing in a real long line at Best Buy with a Wii voucher in hand way back before Thanksgiving. And to quote Kaylea's Pappy, "I think he caught his death of foolishness! " ;)

Well, let's just hope that we can make it through another 3 days without a slip of tongue on our part or any sneaky peeky spying on her part. If all goes as planned, Kaylea will experience the "Magic" of Christmas, once again.

Join In All The MeMe Games

2007-12-20T17:58:00.000-05:00

WOW, Kaylea received her first MeMe. So, she is going to answer all of these questions the best she can. Just remember, she is only 9.

Once you read this, if you would like to join in the game, just copy the questions and post your answers. Leave us a comment so we can check it out!

1. Wrapping or gift bags? "I like wrapping presents. I have practiced a lot and I am getting better, too."

2. Real or artificial tree? "I like an artificial tree better because it's easier to decorate."

3. When do you put up the tree? "When Mom and Dad pull it down from the attic."

4. When do you take the tree down? "When Mom tells me to."

5. Do you like eggnog? "EW, No!"

6. Favorite gift received as a child? "My little Angel that Santa gave me." (This is her pet Schnoodle)

7. Do you have a nativity scene? "No but when I was in Georgia this summer, I went to Camp Ocmulgee and I made Baby Jesus out of clay. We have him sitting on a table in the living room."

8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? "A pair of underwear."

9. Mail or email Christmas cards? "Actually, I have never sent Christmas cards."

10. Favorite Christmas Movie? "Oh, that's easy, The Santa Clause 2."

11. When do you start shopping for Christmas? "When Auntie M takes me."

12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? "Lots of COOKIES"

13. Clear lights or colored on the tree? "Definitely, colored lights"

14. Favorite Christmas song? "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer"

15. Travel at Christmas or stay home? "Always stay home so Santa knows where I am."

16. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? "Hello? I am nine; of course I can name all of the reindeer.

17. Angel on the tree top or a star? "On my tree in my room, I have a pink star and a turquoise butterfly."

18. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning? Duh, Christmas morning. Isn't that when everybody opens them?"

19. Most annoying thing about this time of year? "Having to wait to open all of my presents."

20. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? "No, just bright fun colors and cool ornaments."

21. What do you leave for Santa? "Milk and cookies for Santa, celery and carrots for the reindeer, and a piece of cheese for Santa Mouse."

22. Least favorite holiday song? "I don't have a least favorite. I like them all!"

23. Favorite ornament? "The big purple glitter ornament on my tree that says, 'Dream' "

We hope you enjoyed all of Kaylea's answers.

Where O Where Has My Little Girl Gone?

2007-12-20T13:51:00.000-05:00

This time of year is so busy for our family as I am sure it is with yours. Kaylea sings in the children's' choir and plays the hand bells at church. She is also a member of Chorus at school. All of these activities have involved Christmas concerts over the past couple of weeks. As I helped Kaylea get ready for her performances, I was reminded of when she was little. Kaylea always thought is was a big deal when she was able to wear "panty toes" with her dresses. And she especially loved trying on my dress shoes and walking around the house. She would always say, just to make sure I was aware, "Look Mommy, I am wearing your 'knocking shoes'" You see, we had wood floors in the dining area and linoleum in the kitchen and she just loved the sound the shoes made as she walked across the floor.

While thinking back on these moments I realized that my little girl wasn't so little anymore. She has become a very grown-up and independent young lady. I no longer have to help her get dressed; she can now put on her own "panty toes" and "knocking shoes." Though she has grown up a lot, she still thinks it's a big deal to get dressed up and still loves the sound of her heels clumping across the floor, as do I.

Kaylea in her "panty toes"

Kaylea in my "knocking shoes"

Kaylea all grown up (well, almost)!

"Hey Kool Aid!" "Oh, yea!"

2007-12-19T10:07:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Kaylea brought home the proofs of her school pictures and they were great. I am very excited about receiving the prints! Many of you are probably thinking, "Wow, they are getting their school pictures awfully late in the year." Well, we had to have retakes this year. And yes, of course, there is a humorous story to explain why.

You see, this year is the first year that Kaylea has been able to take a morning snack to school and keep a water bottle on her desk all day. WHOOT!! WHOOT!! (She thinks she is a BIG kid, now) Anyway, on the first picture day, Kaylea asked, for the first time, if she could take a Cherry Kool Aid Mix Stick to add to her water at snack time. I was trying to be a super cool Mom and I didn't see any harm in it, so I said, "of course." (See where this is going?)

Well, that afternoon when I picked up by beautiful daughter from school, imagine my surprise (you will hear me say that a lot when referring to Kaylea) when she got into the car and had a lovely red Kool Aid mustache. Oh, but it wasn't the typical Kool Aid mustache; you know, the kind that peaks out the corners of their mouth and makes their smile a little more exaggerated. OH NO, you see Kaylea sticks almost her entire upper lip inside a water bottle when she drinks, so her Kool Aid mustaches kinda resemble Hitler's. They stretch from her upper lip to right under the tip of her nose.

I very calmly asked Kaylea (with all of my fingers and toes crossed), "So, did you have your picture taken before snack or after snack. She replied, "Oh, way after." I just kinda sunk into the seat and said, "Well, you are going to have a really pretty Kool Aid mustache in your school picture, then." At that time Kaylea proceeded to argue with me and tell me "No, I won't." I was very insistent in saying, "YES, you will, because you still do." Apparently they have no mirrors at her school, or she is the least vain person I know, because she had no clue that she had walked around all day with her upper lip stained cherry red. To my surprise, she was only minorly embarrassed when I brought this to her attention. So, to stress the importance of GOOD school pictures, I pointed out to her that this picture was going to be in the yearbook and everyone in the school was going to see her Kool Aid mustache. Of course my message fell on deaf ears because she just rolled her eyes and said, "Mom, the mustache isn't going to show because the yearbooks are in black and white." (DOINK!!!!!)

Anyway, we have beautiful pictures, now. We will just keep those fingers and toes crossed that the yearbook staff will take mercy on her and put in the retake.

Once again, you might wonder what lesson I, as Kaylea's mother, have learned from all of this. Well, once again, there are a few:

1. Kaylea does not take Kool Aid Mix Sticks to school anymore.
2. I have a lot more vanity that my daughter.
3. In Kaylea's future, I think she will hear the following saying quite a lot, "bless her heart."

Needs vs. Wants

2007-12-18T09:31:00.000-05:00

For all of our readers that are family members, you have already heard this story. It is such a good one, though, that is deserves being repeated.

A few months ago, Daddy went to pick up Kaylea at school. He was giving her the usual third degree about her day and getting the usual responses. You all know the dialogue:

Daddy says, "How was your day?"
Kaylea's response, "ok."
Daddy asks, "What did you do today?"
Kaylea's response, "Nothing."
Daddy says, "You had to learn something."

Then he starts questioning her subject by subject. When he got to Social Studies, he finally struck gold. She actually remembered the lesson in Social Studies. She tells Daddy that they talked about the difference between their needs and wants. Well, Daddy is very intrigued about Kaylea's answers.

Daddy asks, "What did you say your wants are?"
Kaylea said, "Oh that's easy! I want a plasma TV, a Wii and a fireplace screen." (I have no idea where that one came from)
Daddy said, "Ok, well, what did you say your needs are?''
Kaylea's response, "I said we needed food, clothes and plants."
Daddy was a little puzzled by the plant answer and said, "I think I would have said food, water and oxygen."
Kaylea responded in a very condescending tone, "DUH Dad, that's why I said PLANTS. Don't you know that plants take in carbon dioxide and convert it over to oxygen then release it into the air?"
The only retort Daddy had was, "Well, Kaylea, I guess I just didn't think it through far enough."

When Daddy told me this story, I almost fell over laughing. I told him that she had won and we need to surrender now.

This is an example of how our quirky little girl's mind works. She is way too smart for her own good. I have told her many times that she is a super smart girl and I am hopeful that she will use her powers for good, not evil, as she grows up. We are in soooooo much trouble ;)

Webster would be horrified

2007-12-17T07:44:00.001-05:00

Yesterday while Aunti M and I were working on round 2 of the Christmas bake-a-thon we were having one of our normal (or not so much) conversations. Auntie M was making fudge and Kaylea was helping - and listening. Auntie made a comment about a certain food item and how is really "sucked." Suddenly, Kaylea chimes in and agrees whole heartedly with her Aunie and says, "Yea, it really does suck!" Well, I was quick to correct Kaylea that "suck" is not a word that she should say. Then Auntie with all of her wisdom informs us that "suck" is now listed in Webster's Dictionary as an adjective, as well as a verb. Kaylea's response was, "I didn't know there was a Webkinz Dictionary!?!

Scenes from our Life

2007-12-16T15:49:00.001-05:00

The First Post

2007-12-16T10:00:00.000-05:00

Well, here I am, doing what I have talked about for awhile. I am making a written record of all of the silly, crazy, frustrating and hilarious things that my daughter does. I will be honest, though; I am feeling a little bit of pressure with this being the first post and all. I have 9 years worth of material and don't quite know where to begin. I guess since it is the holiday season, I will begin with our latest Kaylea story.

You see, in our family, holiday cookie baking is a tradition. We make several different kinds of treats and prepare trays to go to Dad's office, to the neighbors and to the school. Well, the crowning jewels on the cookie trays have always been the hand decorated sugar cookies that have obviously been made with much love and given the utmost attention. Yesterday, Auntie M and I began the bake-a-thon and immediately Kaylea wanted to make her sugar cookies. I told her she would have to wait for a little while. After about the 50th time of her asking, we finally agreed to let her choose her cookie cutters and begin the process. Well, Auntie and I had already thought through this task at the grocery store, thus deciding to buy the sheets of cookie dough that merely get unrolled and cut. It sounded, to us, like the simplest way to approach this chore, since we would be preoccupied and wouldn't be able to stand over Kaylea to make sure things were done correctly. And after all, she is 9; how hard could it be to press a cookie cutter into cookie dough??? We let Kaylea and her cousin, Miss C, spread out on the dining room table, each armed with cookie cutters, their own sheet of sugar cookie dough and their own baking sheet (you know, we can't get their cookies mixed up). After awhile Miss C was through and had rejoined the fellas in the living room for the Christmas movie marathon, but Kaylea remained in the dining room working feverishly on her cookies. I didn't know what was taking her so long, but thought I would let her do it her way. I was feeling a bit of pride that she was showing such attention to detail (not a trait she demonstrates very often.) Imagine my surprise when I walked into the dining room to find Kaylea with her cooking dough in a ball and her Playdough rolling pin in hand. Apparently, she didn't like the number of cookies that she cut the first time ("there weren't enough, Mom"), so she took them up, smooshed the dough into a ball and traded in her large cookie cutters for smaller ones. Finally, Daddy had to go into the dining room to help her finish. We noticed that Miss C's baking sheet had A LOT more cookies on it than Kaylea's, but we just assumed it was due to placement of cookie cutters and the fact that Kaylea's were a little bit thicker. Later on in the afternoon, after the two sheets of cookies had baked and cooled, the girls began the decorating process. They had Christmas sprinkles along with various shades of frosting and sugars. We thought we had ensured that we would have lots of gorgeous sugar cookies. Well, Auntie and I were quite surprised when we overheard a conversation between Kaylea and Miss C. Kaylea was complaining that she didn't have as many cookies to decorate. Miss C responded frankly, "well, if you hadn't eaten all of your dough when you were cutting out your cookies, you would have more cookies to decorate."

Auntie M and I just looked at each other and nodded saying in unison "ah ha". You probably could have seen the little light bulb light up over our heads at that time. Our synopsis of the afternoon was that Kaylea decided it would be a lot quicker and easier to eat the cookies before they were baked instead of wasting all that time waiting for them to bake and then decorating them.

At the end of the day, we only had about 10 sugar cookies that survived. Oh well, I guess the jewels in the crown on our trays will be a little more sparse this year.

You might wonder what lesson I, as Kaylea's mom, have learned from all of this. Well, there are a few:

1. Nine is not old enough for Kaylea to be trusted with raw cookie dough.
2. When Kaylea is really anxious to do something, she probably has an alterial motive.
3. Once again, Kaylea has shown she doesn't share her mom's great attention to detail.

Tune in again tomorrow and I'm sure I will have a new story for you. If I don't, I will gladly pull one from the archives.