Year Two... Continued

As promised... Here are a ton of pictures from Layla's Birthday. We had a great time with the family who endured a day of everything "Bee Movie" and everything Layla. :) Once again, Layla was spoiled to death with awesome gifts and lots of love. It was a fabulous day and we feel blessed to have had such great weather and great company!!

The pictures are actually backwards, starting with the end of the Birthday party at the top, and the beginning of Layla's gift opening extravaganza (before the party even started) on the bottom... Blogspot just isn't super pic uploader friendly and I don't feel like reorganizing the snaps.

I have lots of video too, but I'll save that for the next post!!!


Uncle Ray and Auntie Lindsey with super smiley Layla Bean.
Snuggling with G'ma D after lots of cake and present opening. She was sleeepy.
Uncle Ray helping Layla pick a sticker.
Happy Birthday to you!! Happy Birthday to you!!! She dug her hand right in, to grab a candle but did NOT like the fact that there was frosting on her fingers as a result.
This is Bean when we were singing Happy Birthday. You would never guess it, but when ALL of the attention is on her, she gets really bashful... so, she was sort of shying away from everyone and closing her eyes.

Lindsey got Layla stickers for her Bday... kidding. She, Ray and Nonnie chipped in to get her a portable DVD player which hasn't arrived yet. :)
Layla on the wiggle racer with her dolphin balloon.
Bean got this sweet wiggle racer from G'ma and G'pa Sherman ... the the thing is so fun... It holds up to 250lbs, so we can fly around on this bad cat too!! She loves it!
Look, I'm doin' it!
Grampa Rog got Layla her very 1st Red Wagon!! She loved it... and the balloon that came with it!
Thanks "Gampa"!

MMMmmmm .... Ice Cream Cake!! Layla actually ate some this year!! She wouldn't get it on her hands, but she ate it!
What's up? Bet ya didn't know I'm 2 now!? Suckas!
Family chatting pre-present time... This makes me laugh cuz I'm not sure if Ray was yawning or cheering about something.
Geeze, yeah, I know I'm 2 now G'ma, but really? You want me to figure out this maze? Alright!
G'ma D and Layla coloring in the sun.
Pre-Bee Party set-up!
"Black and Yellow! Hello!"
Bean getting ready to open Brian and Theresa's gift before the party... a cabbage patch doll with her very own car seat. I have video of this that I'll post later.
Dad n' Bean, chillin pre-party.
Baby "Ana" (Layla named her that). From Mommy and Daddy. She really goes potty!
Layla in her new shirt from Rachel, Kevin and Finley! I think it's one of her (an my) favorites now!
She wanted to pose by her car in her new outfit from the Ping's.
Rachel also sent a Bee from Bee Movie for Bean. This is her, cuddling Barry Bee while watching Bee Movie! Hey Guys! Did you know I'm 2 now? Yeah, I am! I'm 2!
Her friends made this hat for her at school last week! Awe!

Year Two

Dear Layla,

Happy Birthday my beautiful baby girl. Tonight, at 7:21 p.m., you turned 2 years old. Funny... I thought I'd be able to get through this post without tearing up. I didn't get past typing "7:21 p.m." without welling up. So, Internet, forgive any typos that may come. My eyes are full of mommy tears.

Every day we spend with you is one more day of love, satisfaction and amazement. You make the darkest days brighter and the happiest best of days even better. Last night, I laid and cried a bit (I know, how sappy, I just truly cannot believe that you've been with us for two whole years already) and thought about how much you've grown. It has gone by too fast. Everyone told us it would, but I never imagined it this way. I'm sad because I can't fully remember your "baby" years anymore. Oh sure, I remember when you were BRAND spankin new and mad at the world - how could we forget your screams?! But I am now realizing that I don,t fully remember the baby time. When you were a ball of pudge and happiness. Clapping and waving your hands incessantly at everything that moved. Thank God for this blog and the pictures... I need to spend some time going back and looking at the posts about your first tooth, when you learned to crawl, walk, your first word. Was it "mommy", "daddy", or "ball"?

When I put you to bed at night, I stare at you and thank God for sending you to me. I ask him to help me remember this moment. This very moment while I'm rocking you. How your face looks. How you smell. The shape of your nose, length of your eye lashes. I ask him to help me engrave the memories of the day with you into my brain. I just don't want to let any precious moments with you slip away.

Layla, Happy Birthday my little love bug. You have absolutely rocked my world. You're an awesome little diva, a super duper comedian, the biggest sweetheart I know and you make me love you like I never thought it was possible for a human to love. Thank you for letting me be your mommy. Please don't grow up too fast. Please know that your daddy and I love you so much, that we are ALWAYS here for you, that we will never leave you and that we live for you.

Pictures from the party to come tomorrow... my eyes are too full of tears to post pics now. And, I'm so pooped for the "Bee" Birthday Party I might just pass out - after I have a left over piece of ice cream cake!

We love you Layla!

Cash for Clunkers? More like, "Car for Bottles"

Well, we did it. Finally made the big step and enrolled Layla in the "Car for bottles" program last night. We asked her if she'd like to have her very own car and she smiled really big and said, "Yep." Then, we told her, "Okay, but you have to throw all of your bottles away and be a big girl from now on. No more bottles, only big girl cups and then you can have your very own car." She looked a little freaked at first, but then we got out the garbage bag and told her she could put all the bottles in the bag herself. That did it. She basically spiked every last one into the bag. Then we praised her and said, "Okay, say bye-bye to the bottles!" She said bye-bye, we wheeled in her car and she hasn't looked back. Sure, you might call this bribing or spoiling, but I really think the car served as a huge distraction from the fact that her bottles were gone.

She did great last night, didn't even ask for a bottle and not a peep about them this morning. NO MORE BOTTLES!!! Yeeeaahhhhh!!!! I'm so sick of washing those damn things!!! And luggin' them around! Really makes me realize she's a little girl now and not a baby, but it's part of life, right? Holy Crap! I am gonna drive the poop out of this thing!! Look at this! I'm pushing my very own car! In the living room!!

Let's go! Let's do this! Who needs bottles!? I have a car now!!

Vrrroooom! Vrooooom!!

And, on a separate note, here are a few pics that I thought were funny ... the first, Layla in daddy's old hunting jacket from when he was a baby (this is up at G'ma and G'pa's a few weekends ago)!! Thank goodness Heavy D saves everything! How cute is this?!

Bean in daddy's hunting jacket from when he was a little guy!

This one is from a while ago... Bean has discovered "boobies" (or, as she calls them, boobas). So, you can imagine her delight when she found my cami w/ a built in bra. She was pumped to have her own "boobas".

Conversation With my Daughter

Last night was just your normal run-of-the-mill night at the Sherman house. I got home from working out and Jake blasted out the door to help a friend sight in his bow -- Gotta do it now I guess. God knows the whole world is going to come to a screeching halt when September hits! Layla and I were just hanging out, prepping for bedtime and then we started to have our mommy / Layla chat... It went something like this....

More from our Staycation!

Layla throwing pennies in the fountain by Nonnie's house. I asked her what she wished for but she wouldn't tell me.
Petting the Georgia O'Keefe cow in Sun Prairie --- awe.
Riding the cow -- she then proceeded to tell me the cow was hot and she wanted to get off. ;)
Walking in circles around the "fountain of youth".
Mommy, do you think this flower matches my dress? Or is it the wrong shade of pink?
Layla walking in the pool with Nonnie. Love this pic!!
Check me out! I am such a big girl!! Layla probably went down this slide 2909 times!!
Holla!
My little sunshine.
Right after she dunked under water!! She was super excited!!

Sorry blog followers... this is going to be a quick update as we're packing up and heading North for the weekend. But, knew it was far past my due date for posting more pics of the Sherman family staycation so forced myself to do it!!

The pictures are of our trip to see Nonnie in Sun Prairie. Layla loved the Georgia O'Keefe cow that's down town and loved making wishes with pennies in the water fountain. She had a SUPER time at the SP Aquatic center... I think she would've stayed and played there for the entire week had we let her! The funnest part for Jake and I was to watch how Layla would get increasingly more brave as the day went on. After about 20 times down the slide with help from Nonnie, Layla wanted NO help at all. And, soon after that she was hard charging into the water to jump into daddy's arms with no sense of caution what-so-ever. I think we may have quite the little swimmer on our hands!!!

Heading up to see G'pa and G'ma Sherman for the weekend. Lots of pictures will be taken there... all of Layla having a blast. She loves it there and I'm looking forward to a quiet weekend in the woods.

Later internet!!

State Fair on the Sherman Family "Staycation"!

Oh yes dear friends... I've done it. Posted pictures of an event that took place just a less than 24 hours ago!!! Whoo hooo!!! ;) Yesterday, we went to the WI State Fair with our friend Kruse. He was able to get us free tickets and free parking as his wife, Becky, works for U.S. Cellular (fair sponsor) and was able to pass the tickets our way. Thanks to you both, Becky and Jason!

Layla had a blast and was SUPER good. We were there all day and we didn't have one meltdown. Amazing. Layla's favorite thing was doing the bungee bounce thingie. Unfortunately, we don't have pics of that (by that time, my battery was dead on the camera). Jake has a great pic on his phone and we're in the midst of figuring out how to upload it to the computer. Anyway, it was the funniest thing I've ever seen. They put layla in a harness and set her on a huge trampoline and just started bouncing her up in the air. Jake was right there with her, telling the "assistant" how high she could go (not too high) so it was safe. Her face the ENTIRE time was VERY serious. But we could tell she was having a blast.

Here's Bean petting a giant horse... Now of all the things we did, THIS made me nervous. I hate horses. Don't trust 'em since I gut thrown off one at girl scout camp when I was a whipper snapper. Thankfully, this guy seemed pretty tame. He did almost eat the crayons Layla tried feeding him, so that was pretty funny. See his big old eye staring back at the camera?! Yikes!!
Oh yes blog fans... that's me, sitting right next to a giant cow! Aren't you proud Meyer's?? ;) Really though, I love cows. I think they're adorable. Sorry, I just do. And surprisingly, it wasn't too stinky next to this heifer. Bean was a smidge nervous, but she warmed up very quickly...
See?? :)
Awe daddy, you're cute.
Daddy, you look hot. Drink this water.
Ahhhh.... apple juice. Holla.
Mommy and Layla, just strolling through the fair grounds. Layla... such a ham for the camera!!
I just love this pic. She looks like an angel!!
Watching the pigs... another favorite of Layla's! She thought they were very amusing, even though they weren't doing anything spectacular. Just sleeping.

Today, we're off to see Nonnie (my mom) and will be hitting up the Sun Prairie aquatic center (water park, essentially). Layla will have a blast and will be so exicted to see Nonnie. She loves her sooo much!

More to come... :)

Promises, Promises

Stella, Theresa and Brian's niece... smartest kid I've ever met. Freaky smart man.
Don't pour water on my head man! I told ya I HATE that!!! God! (They were both totally fake crying in this pic).
Cheeeese!
Bath time! Stella, Layla and Logan.
Just chillin' on the steps.
Logan being a bucket head.
Bean being a bucket head.
Wrestling time!
This is GOOD!
Layla on her 1st airplane -- or as she calls it, "airpeeeen!!"

Oye! Just recently, I sent an email to my friend Meg, razzing her about a "goal" she set for herself for the weekend. She vowed that she would have her pictures from our Vegas trip posted to Facebook before the end of that weekend. When I saw her message, I replied back to her and asked if her goal was like one of my goals that I've recently "committed" to -- finishing my budget spreadsheet, completing our will, assigning legal guardians for Layla and of course, posting to our blog twice a week. Turns out, Meg's "goal" wasn't on the top of her priority list at the time. Apparently, neither was mine.

I haven't done well at all with my recent promise to post to this blog on a regular basis. I think I have figured out a way to do a much better job at this though. It's really quite simple... all I need is for my fellow blog followers to find me a personal assistant. It shouldn't be difficult. I'd like someone who is overly ambitious, proactive and not reactive, outgoing but not loud and she (yes, it needs to be a she) can never talk back or say no. First on her list, remind me each morning that the blog needs to be updated. I will then dictate to her the latest events and Sherman happenings that I'd like to document and she can transcribe them creatively into my blog. Then, I'll leave it to her to use her creative thinking and and innovative ways to choose the most recent photos of our family that will go with each post. Sound good? Great. Send resumes my way and I'll let you know who's been chosen for the role by August 15th. Thank you.

So, since my last post -- let's see. Last Saturday, Jake, Layla and I traveled to MN. It was Layla's first airplane ride and boy did she LOVE it. I had to work in Minneapolis Mon - Wed, but was able to hang out with the Meyer's for the weekend before heading to the city to be a slave to the man. Layla played her little tail off with Logan and crashed HARD each night. I was thoroughly impressed with the Meyer's garden, apple trees and bees (yes, they have bees. Bees that they brought in to help pollinate the garden and apple trees). I was also impressed (and intimidated) by Theresa's cooking. Yuummmmyyyy!!! Now I have some severely high standards to live up to here at home. Step 1 - get some damn groceries.

One more day of work this week, then we will be kicking off the Sherman Family "Staycation" of 2009. On our agenda of things we'd like to do (we'll see what we can actually fit in): Dells trip, State Fair (gotta get us some lard on a stick, don't ya know?), visit to Nonnie's house for a trip to the S.P. aquatic center and a visit w/ Uncle Ray and Auntie Linds, "date" day/night for mommy and daddy, and some other stuff.

Mother of pearl... it's 9:45! Where does the time go??? Hope all is well with our fellow blog followers and that you're keeping the faith (take from that what you will. Go with it... be creative, use your imagination). Oh and Tee, you're gonna love this - I can't find the USB cord for our camera, so uh, stay tuned for pics. For a glimpse at our weekend trip, please see the Meyer Ranch. **Update - found it... hence the pics! ;)

Also, found out today that the big execs at my company just got slight salary increases... at the top of the list, our CEO is now making $900k / year and earned himself a nice $4.7 million in company stock today. It continues on from there and is quite sickening if you ask me. I recently heard that the president of the U.S. makes around $250k / year. Which one of these things is not like the other. WF - go ahead, tell me we're not getting bonuses this year... and that our raises will be "subtle". Try it. I saw the recent earnings report. I know how big we are. SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!! (And Dooce, if I am fired for posting this, would you please hire me as your personal assistant? I will even pick up your dogs' shit.)