I'm trying....

I'm working really hard on a new post with pictures, but blogger isn't cooperating. I can't get my pictures to upload right now....stay tuned!

Catching up again

So it occurs to me as I'm sitting at the computer eating my post swimming lessons salad from BK (we probably shouldn't tell Matt how much dressing coated lettuce I've been flinging around, 'kay?) that some of you are probably going through Mallory withdrawal. Sorry 'bout that.

First, yep, we've started swimming lessons. Mommy got smart this time and signed up through the local YMCA for indoor lessons instead of the ones we tried last year at an outdoor pool. That was just too flippin' cold for all parties involved. Mallory is having a great time. The Y has a zero-depth pool, which is really cool (I mean warm), so there really isn't the shock of jumping right in. Although, speaking of jumping, she really does enjoy jumping off the side into the water. She also will blow bubbles on occasion - however, she's still not super fond of putting her whole head under water. Lots of spluttering when that (accidentally) happens. I'm hoping I can get Matt to come along at least once to document with pictures, so we can share some of our fun. Stay tuned.

Last weekend, we spent most of the days at my sister's house. It was cousin Joshua's 2nd birthday on June 8th (he picked an easy to remember day - our anniversary) The whole clan was down for some fun, including pizza at a local pizza place that also had a few arcade type games. It wasn't quite Chuck E Cheese, but with $4 gas, that's quite okay.

Mom and Tessa stayed at our house Friday night. They arrived a bit later than planned due to unforeseen restaurant issues, so Mallory was already in bed by the time they showed up. However, she was very excited to get to break the fast with them Saturday morning.

I then made use of the extra hands staying at my house and eating my cereal, by roping them into helping decorate Mallory's room. A friend of mine had recently had an Uppercase Living party and I ordered a set to put on Mallory's wall above her crib. Tessa courageously faced the spider in the corner and between the two of us (okay, she did more) we managed to get it on the wall without major complications. Note to self: swirly letters...not such a good idea. I'll remember to get a pic one of these days so you can see how cute it is.

Then we all got ready to go.
Off to Kasey's house for fun with all the party guests. First, a little chase with Grandpa.

Then, some quality rockin' on Mr. Fish. Hmm, I had a bus driver in elementary school named Mr. Fish. Strange how these memories pop up, isn't it?

Then, my brother, Tyler, actually thought he might be able to sneak in a nap. On the livingroom floor. Oh my. Do you recognize those cute little legs sticking out in front? Nope, not mine!

Finally a cute picture of the silly-ness that was the norm for the day. I still have pictures of the party, but I don't want to push my luck with Blogger tonight. And besides, my mom said I didn't have to share all at once!

p.s. If you'd really like to see some more cute pictures without the waiting, check out my sister's blog - she's got lots!

Meow meows

WARNING: Lots of cute kitties coming up! We had two momma cats have kittens within a day or two of each other in the same place (Buddy's old dog house). I was really trying to visit and handle them every couple of days, so that we could have some kitties around that were actually pet-able for Mallory.

However, that ended when these monsters....I mean kitties....came to live with us. They were dropped off at one of the clinics. Since that clinic also serves as the city pound, we were pretty full of cats already, so I said they could come live at the farm and be mousers. They are nice and tame. However, my momma cats were threatened enough that they moved their babies out to the barn.

We started out with five, but the day after they came home, another mom from Mallory's daycare called and asked if I'd mind parting with a couple. (They had an entire litter killed by a tomcat.) So they came and took two - including the little white one in the upper right corner of the picture. She was my favorite.....

Mallory actually enjoyed playing in the kennel more than anything. It was a really neat canvas one that had a zippered door. Oh the fun that can be had!

We also managed to get Mallory's Christmas present put together...I think it was Memorial Day weekend. Mallory is a very good helper - her and I managed all by ourselves. It's a really wonderful wagon with nice big rubber tires for our gravel roads. Mallory is still working on convincing the kitties that a ride is a good idea.

Finally, a poll. Which is cuter? I have my personal preference, but I may be biased....

Thanks mom!

I needed a kick in the pants to get back to blogging. I had such good intentions - honest! In fact, I had so many pictures that I spent a whole night uploading only to somehow have all my hard work disappear into cyberspace! Ugh. I just haven't had the heart to take another long night to redo my work. My mother oh-so-subtley (is "subtley" a word?) informed/reminded/TOLD me that I didn't have to get all the pictures up in one sitting. So. I just finished cleaning out my truck (except for vacuuming - I couldn't find an extension cord) and loading up the dishwasher and Mallory's still napping. I thought I'd grab a Diet Coke and appease the masses...or at least my mom and sister! ;)

This is the new addition to our yard. As if I didn't have enough obstacles to mow around.... Anyway, Mallory needed (yes, needed) a swingset. The silly plastic ones at Walmart are about $300 and look as if a slight breeze would blow them to South Dakota. So I was really hoping to talk Matt into investing in a wooden model that may last through a summer or two. However, before I really had a chance to make my pitch, Jo (Mallory's daycare provider) asked if we wanted one. Her friend from St. Cloud (about 2-3 hrs away) had one they didn't want anymore and so did the friend's neighbor. They were planning on chopping them up for a bonfire! Egads!! One of the other daycare families was planning on heading up to get the one and were so kind as to bring the second one back as well. FREE! Okay, twenty bucks. That's all they would take for gas money! Hooray!

This is how it arrived at our house. It was in four pieces. Fortunately, Matt was around to put it together right away - poor Mallory was about jumping out of her pants yelling "whee, whee" (her word for slide and swing).
However, because the pieces were so big, we had to leave Daddy alone to put it together. This is the face I got when we had to go away. She continued screaming about halfway to Grandma and Grandpa's house.

But, she was all smiles when we came home to find that the "whee" was fully functional. Now, she never forgets to remind me that "Daddy whee". (translation: Daddy was such a nice guy that he put together my swingset the very same day it arrived. I love Daddy and my swingset!)
Never fear....I still have lots more pictures to come!