XXX ...treme cuteness!!!

I really didn't think I was going to be one of those granola/hippie type parents who lets her kid run around in anything less than a darling outfit, appropriate, of course, to her current activity. Turns out I was wrong. I still don't consider myself to be a granola or hippie parent. But I've grown quite fond of letting Kendall run around naked! Then again, maybe "naked" IS the most appropriate "outfit" for the activity of running around your backyard? This afternoon, we spent about 3 hours in the backyard and I just let her stay naked. Even through her dinner. She just seems so comfortable without clothes ... and it can't be good for her skin to be in a diaper as much as it's STILL in a diaper. But it's also really refreshing to see someone so completely and utterly unabashedly comfortable with her nakedness. Wish it could be that way for her forever ... then again, my dreams for her don't necessarily include a nudist colony so maybe not this comfortable. :)

Zoo Trip with Friends

Had another BEAUTIFUL Thursday morning last week so back to the zoo we went!!! Met up with Sean (far left) and Jackson (middle). I love, love, love these little boys, as does Kendall!

These next set of pics are my absolute favorite pictures of Sean. The boy's a character!! And if you look past the three adorable children, there is also a "cheetoh" posing (although not nearly as awesomely as Sean) just behind the window.

Pony ride #3 - this time on "Tank," an appaloosa, paint. Sweet guy but very young. As in 2 years old. Had I known this before putting Kendall on his back, I'm not sure she'd have had a pony ride that day. Appaloosas are cute, but I have some pretty vivid memories from my youth of various Appaloosas with some seriously loose screws. And 2 years old is awfully young. Worked out ok, though!

Little Things I Want to Remember - 8

1. Recent Conversation:

Chris: "Kendall, where do you live?"

Kendall: "Dallas!"

Chris: "And where does Mommy live?"

Kendall: "Dallas!"

Chris: "And where does Daddy live?"

Kendall: "WORK!!!"

2. Kendall was pretending to give Daddy a bath (fully clothed, of course). She gave him a shampoo, put him through the "rinse cycle," then "pat patted" his face with a wash cloth to dry him off. Then said, "Ok, Daddy. Stand up! Time to get the undercarriage!" I thought I was going to wet myself I was laughing so hard!

3. The lyrics of Ring Around the Rosie typically end with the words, "all fall down" Kendall has added an addition lyric so the song now ends like this "All fall down ... and hurt ourselves!"

4. "That's the RULES!" This quote is usually said with a cute little shrug whenever she wants to do something that is typically against the rules and can't think of an appropriate reason.

5. When I asked Kendall what she wanted to drink with her supper, she enthusiastically responded with "WINE!" (that's my girl!)

6. As Chris was leaving to go pick up lunch, Kendall yells after him, "Bring me a present Daddy .... and a pony!!!"

Return to the Arboretum!

Well, it happened again this year. My perception of outside temperatures has been severely warped by the practically unbearable Dallas summers. It's mid (almost late) September, and still over 90 degrees outside ... BUT it's been hovering between 105 and 114 for so long that 90 degrees SOUNDS like a reasonable temperature. It is not. Nor is it a comfortable temperature in which to go to the Arboretum and have a picnic. So, as I was drenched with sweat just walking around looking for "the perfect picnic spot," I decided we'd eat fast and get back inside asap.

(She ate 2 bites of her sandwich. I ate the rest. Then she wanted more and it was gone. Ooops. Guess she'll learn to eat when she's supposed to!)

THEN we realized it was "Tiny Tots Tuesday" and there was face painting!!! Unlike her first face painting experience this past spring, this time Kendall was perfectly happy to sit in a 15 minute long line and then chose one of the most elaborate designs ... and sat perfectly still for its application.

Then she said "meow" to everyone who passed us on our way out (the child is one heck of a comedienne when she wants to be!) ... and promptly turned Bo Bear, me, and the entire back of my car blue. A bath was required when we got home. In the future, face painting may not be the best of ideas just before naptime.
Here are some more of my "playtime with Hipstamatic" pictures.

Hipstamatic iPhone app - lovin' it!

Halloween costume dilemma

As of September 15th, these are the things Kendall has told me she wants to be for "Hoween" this year:

1. Minnie Mouse (again)

2. A spinosaurus

3. A triceratops

4. Buzz Lightyear

5. A bunny

6. Super Why

7. The puppy dog from Super Why

8. A boy

Something tells me I might need to have an assortment of costumes to allow her to come back home in between houses when she changes her mind and decides to be something else.

Little Things I Want to Remember - 7

1. Recent conversation:

Kendall: "Make some french toast for my hi-hi's, Mommy."

Me: "That is not a polite way to ask for something."

Kendall: "Pleeeeeezzzz???"

Me: "I'm sorry, I don't have any of the french toast ingredients but we can make pretend french toast for your hi-hi's."

Kendall: "Oh. Then they can have that bagel!"

Me: "Um, no. That's my breakfast."

Kendall: "It's polite to share, Mommy!"

Result - I had to offer a bite of my breakfast to no less than 20 "friends" before being able to eat.

2. "Are we there yet?" Repeated ad nauseum during her first long distance (sort of) car ride on the way to the beach and on the way back from the beach. Not sure where she heard this or if maybe it's just an innate line of questioning in all kids?

3. After Kendall tossed a large beach ball down the stairs and broke a glass on the kitchen island, I asked her to please roll the balls down the stairs instead of tossing them. 2 seconds later, I turned around just in time to see a beach ball flying through the air, clearly tossed not rolled. As I looked up, prepared to give the evil eye, she quickly said, "Sorry Mom. That was on purpose." Pretty sure laughing wasn't the appropriate parental response.

4. Channeling the Beatles??? When I put Kendall to bed, as usual, I told her to call for mommy if she needs anything. She responded, "No. I get [by with] a little help from my friends." All she was missing was 2 little words!

5. Another recent conversation:

Me: "I'm going downstairs to get your dinner ready, Kendall."

Kendall: "Okay, Mommy. See you at the finish line!"

Me: ?????

6. At the beginning of September, Kendall started asking me to take her to go see Santa and to "bring the snow back." That's my girl!!! :)