Here is my favorite photo...we have a similar picture of her from last year with the piece of hay in her mouth. She is truly Grandpa's little farm girl. : )
More scariness
I knew it would happen after a few weeks of those darn tumbling/gymnastics classes! KK climbed out of her crib today. Well, she actually fell out with much weeping and wailing. It scared me, but she is just fine. She hasn't napped though - it's been almost two hours and she is still up in her crib talking. Apparently she has let Mickey give it a try too, because she keeps shouting "Mickey fell out of crib! Are you okay Mickey?????" Nice try, I'm still not going to get her up yet. And what is scarier than a car wash? High school photos of me wearing a very unattractive outfit. I'm not sure which is most frightening - the open midriff, the unflattering length of the skirt, the Vince Neil wannabe hair, or the Beastie Boys pose. I was on my way to a Crue concert for crying out loud - what's up with the Beastie Boys pose?!?!? Ew. Click here at your own risk (Auntie Sunshine looks beautiful, though, so she makes up for my scariness). Mom and Dad, I'm sorry for all the torture I put you through marching out of the house in those clothes! I'd say Auntie Sunshine and I turned out pretty well, all things considered. We are lucky indeed!
Spooky!
Since birth, KK has been fearful of almost nothing. She'll run to strangers, walk into a dark room, climb ladders, watch Scooby Doo, and have straight up conversations with the "spookies" (Halloween inflatables, mannequins, costumes, etc.) in the stores - some of which could give ME nightmares. But drive the car through a car wash? Nothing could be more terrifying!  She's been this way since she was a tiny baby. She would scream and cry while I held her hand and told her everything would be okay. Now, she only cries for the first couple of seconds, then she covers her face or ears with her hands. As long as I talk to her, though, she keeps it together. What a goofy kid! : )
Pen pals?
First, KK set a new record today and went potty on the big potty FOUR times! We're getting there - it's starting to click (with the help of lots of Disney and Halloween stickers - heh heh). I was having a little pity party for myself today (lots of little reasons, nothing in particular) when something really cool happened. A little history first: In my previous life I had what some people would call a "real" job. Part of my job included traveling around the country, mostly to Native American reservations. In 2004, I spent some time in Monument Valley, Utah, with the Navajo people. While I was there, I took some pictures of families and children. Sometimes a family would ask if I would send them the photos, and of course I said I would. And then, so as not to break with biligaana (white man) tradition, I never did. They probably never thought anything of it - another white person's broken promise - no surprise. But, I kept records for each photo and last week, THREE YEARS LATER (I'm such a loser), I mailed them. Today I got this letter: Hello,
I have received your letter today, October 15, 2007. Thanks for sending the old pictures of my children to me. As I was looking at these pictures I wondered where these pictures were taken or where did we meet? Can you tell me where these pictures were taken and also I would like to get to know you. Do you have a family? If you do, send me a picture of you or your family, your house and where you live. Well, for me and my little family I got two (2) kids, a boy & girl, their names are Sam and Layla and wife, Renee. Well, we're here at home working around my home taking care of my livestock, sheep and goats. I'll stop here until I hear from you.
Sincerely,
Ben If I say that this surprised me it would make it seem as though I think Navajo people are not friendly or appreciative. Nothing is further from the truth. They are wonderful, kind, amazing people. However, they are typically introverted and private and keep a good distance from outsiders. Of course my experience is mostly with older generations, and younger generations are not as much the same. But truthfully, I'm still a little surprised. And thrilled, too! I'm thinking that perhaps this could be the start of a wonderful friendship that KK could be a part of. Maybe someday she'll become pen pals with little Layla! Here are a couple of the photos I sent:   Aren't they beautiful? I'm ready to go back and introduce KK to her new friends! BuddyBuddy is doing well. His ear is ooozy, and icky, and itchy, but he's handling it okay. Maybe his scar will make him look tough and he won't get picked on anymore? We can only hope. Here's some REALLY surprising news: I bought a bunch of candy for our trick-or-treaters and I haven't broken into it yet! Anyone want to place a bet on how long it will take me? Snicker, snicker. (No pun intended...actually that was just the candy calling for me...)
Rouch!
That is the Sc00by D00 way of saying ouch, right? That is what BuddyBuddy is saying today. He is in surgery as I type this, getting damage to his ear repaired after he tried to make a friend at Doggy Daycare. Poor poor fella. It seems he has a major injury about once a year - this one makes me sad as I LOVE to pet his soft ears. Between Daddy's achilles injury, buddy's ear, and KK's stomach flu (which I think we are over now - thank God!) I am getting worn out. When it rains, it pours... 
Happy Birthdays!
Today is Grandpa K's birthday - happy birthday Grandpa! Tomorrow is Uncle Rod's birthday - happy birthday Uncle Rod! Two weeks ago was Auntie Sunshine's birthday - happy birthday Auntie Sunshine! (Shame on me for not posting a happy birthday message earlier, shame, shame shame!) We love you all very much! Today was the last day of KK's farm class - pony ride day! She dedicated her pony ride to Grandpa in honor of his birthday. She talked about it all day, telling everyone about "Rosie", the itty bitty pony she got to ride. Rosie was the tiniest pony on the farm, but she was also the fastest. She really wanted to run, and it was a challenge to keep her on pace and hold on to KK at the same time. They were a very cute team!  This picture makes me laugh....I think the kids look like little black helmeted storm troopers.  The final part of the class was making a little scrapbook with photos taken by the farm staff. It turned out really cute - here is a page:  We'll definitely take the class again next year!
Fall Fun
For the next several weeks we have a full schedule of activities. Farm chores, playgroup, babysitting co-op, tumbling, music, working at the club...potty training...we are having a lot of fun! KK had her first tumbling class this week and it was a huge hit - she absolutely LOVED it! Here are some pictures from the week.   After tumbling class, we went to see baby Addy. After helping to replace Addy's binky, KK quickly decided to rearrange everything in Auntie Jill's house. Sorry Jill! (I need some Addy time without a two-year-old in tow!!!)  To close the week, Uncle Ray helped us take some portraits for our Christmas cards. I had a brilliant idea to have them done in some open space by our house. This open space includes a big lake. What was I thinking???? BuddyBuddy and bodies of water have a magnetic attraction. As soon as he saw the water, it was all over. Of course he had to roll in dirt upon his exit from the lake, then shake right next to us depositing little mud speckles all over us. Oh well, the pictures will still be better than last years: http://watchkkgrow.blogspot.com/2006/12/who-needs-christmas-card-anyway.html
Sweet pink goodness
With lots of love, we welcome baby Addyson Ann....   Congratulations Uncle Geoff and Auntie Jill! Addy is absolutely beautiful!!!
A Cow Tale
Today we went to do "chores" at the local farm. There was a small class of eight 2 to 3 year olds and we got to mingle with the animals in their pens. We don't get to do that on a regular visit to the farm, so it was really fun. KK milked a cow, was bit on the seat of her pants by a piglet, and was nearly catapulted to the moon by a charging sheep. But the funniest moment of the day didn't even come from KK! As the cow was led into the barn so the kids could milk her, a little boy exclaimed, "WOW! It has A LOT of penises!!!" Hope you're having a great week!
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Going to the farm 
Playgroup friends
Scooby!
Neighbor kids at the school event
The company where I used to work does a theme each year. This year it was a storybook theme, and one of the departments did 'Twas the Night Bef0re Christm@s.)
Going trick or treating with Daddy.
