Bilberry bowling 2007!

Lately I've been thinking that I've got to come up with more indoor activities for the upcoming winter whent the kids can't go outside anymore and I thought of bowling. I've been making Jeff drink a whole bunch of mountain dew so I could use the bottles as pins and I bought a cheap volley ball as the bowling ball. Jeff was happy to oblige with the Mountain Dew request.

Tonight we gave it our first go around after we ate supper. We had a blast! I think Jeff and I got into it a little more than Kadyn. Jeff did win, but I've got plenty of time to practice up with the kids during the day. It took Kadyn awhile to realize that the point was to try to roll the ball from afar rather than drop the ball right on the pins. We enjoyed it so much that we are thinking of making it a Bilberry family tradition that we do every Christmas after Lunch. We'll see. We really want to start some traditions that are uniquely ours and this one seems to be a forerunner. I highly recommend it!

Hot pepper!

Last night we went to the spooktacular put on by our local zoo. It was really neat. There were jackolanterns lining the entire walkway, cutouts of all kinds of children's characters within the exhibits, Christmas lights everywhere, and all other kinds of Halloween decorations. There was a maze, dinosaur bone digging activity, and a blown up castle trampoline. Along the walkway there were also booths with people in costume to give your little trick or treater some candy. Kadyn went all decked out in her chili pepper costume. She did really well until we saw Ronald McDonald, then she FREAKED out! She dropped her pumpkin and came screaming to me. I guess she doesn't like clowns. After we were done we walked out with 10 pieces of candy and one exhausted little girl. There was a lot to take in. She couldn't do a lot of it, but I think she really enjoyed herself.

In other news, today I tried to find a coat that fit Kadyn. Grabbed a hand me down out of the closet that looked like it would fit and instead she looked like a giant marsh mellow. I laughed so hard when I saw her in it that I had to take a picture.

I also have attached a video with Kadyn teasing Brutus with her new ball. Brutus pops just about every ball we give Kadyn so this seemed like a good way to play with Brutus and keep the ball intact. She thought it was hilarious.

The newest fan of the retired Orange Poodle Juice!

Seems Jeff discovered and old OPJ hat. Kadyn was sporting it around the house on Saturday!

The fascination with belly buttons.

I'm not sure what it is, but it seems every toddler has some odd fascination with their belly buttons.

Big shoes to fill!

So many endearing things.

For everything that makes raising a toddler so challenging, it seems there are many more things that make it so rewarding. Yesterday I saw Kadyn laying on the back while holding her babydoll up in the air pretending to play airplane with her like I do with the babies at the daycare. Then when I rocked her and sang to her before she napped, she started singing along; there weren't any real words, and it was completely out of tune, but it was so adorable. At supper time she finished her meal and then proceeded to say "ishee." That is her version of icecream which she learned the night before when we made a impromptu trip to Culvers for icecream. Apparently that was a memorable moment for her. It seemed all day she was just being so ridiculously cute and it really made me glad I'm at home with her and getting to experience these moments that I know I will carry with me forever. I love my little girl!

I love tents!

I made Kadyn and the other toddler in my daycare a tent out of some sheets, our kitchen table, and chairs. She loved it.

Bologna/cheese/mayo sandwhich and ketchup?

Sound gross? Kadyn didn't think so. Seems since I started this nasty habit of giving her dip to get her veggies down she feels entitled to have dip for every meal. Yesterday I gave her tator tots with ketchup for dip. Only problem was she dipped her bologna sandwhich in it too. She loved it. Ate every last bite. Gulp!

I love play with daddy!

Kadyn has been having a lot of fun with daddy lately. I attached some of her latest play sessions. I also attached a picture of her using markers for the first time. I'm sure some of you have seen much worse, and honestly I was expecting her to get much more on herself. That's why I stripped her down to nothing but her diaper. Jeff calls the picture nude art.

I think I have finally found resolution to Kadyn's sleep issues. Leaving the door open is doing the trick. I have even had a couple of times where she didn't cry at all. If she does cry, usually going in a time or two does the trick, so I am feeling much better about the entire situation. Wonder what she'll trip me up with next:)