Truckin' Along

Things have been going along as usual at the Cargill Household. Nothing really to report. Therefore, I thought I would just share some random thoughts: 1) I loved Facebook yesterday. I love seeing all the back to school pictures. I always loved school, and the first day each year was always so exciting. On a side note, Ashley you will love this, Payton has been playing with her babies a lot. She has the twins that are two and her five year-old. She has separated her babies into classes because we have been talking to her a lot about moving up to the three-year old class at school. I mentioned to her that Jillian is five and started Kindergarten. I also mentioned that Ms. Ashley cried because her baby was in Kindergarten. Of course, she asked why, and I explained it the best I could. So now her five year old, Jillian, is in Kindergarten and she got toilet paper as tissue because she was so sad that her baby was growing up. I don't think I ever laughed so hard in my entire life. 2) Derek is going out of town this weekend, and I am planning on cleaning out our house. I am taking off Friday, while Payton is at school, to clean out her toys and clothes. I need Derek out of town to do the same to his stuff. If you are reading this Derek, I will not throw it away. Just pack it up and "store" it. We have just hit the year mark on our house and it is already overflowing with stuff. It drives me batty. 3) Payton also says she wants more babies, but her husband doesn't want anymore. Too funny, and in no way reflective of our real life. 4) I am so ready for fall. I am debating on putting out my full decor this weekend. Hey..... it will already be September. 5) Payton has decided she wants to be Pinkalious for Halloween. She declared that Derek could be a pink cupcake. I have searched for adult cupcake costumes, and I am pretty sure there is no way in hell I could talk Derek into it. 6) We currently have no clue what we are going to get Payton from Santa. Yes, I know it is still August, but I like to plan and spread my Christmas shopping out. I am not kidding when I say last year this time that I already had a majority of my Christmas shopping done and already delivered to our house. I feel so behind this year. 7) I love internet shopping for Christmas. 8) I also haven't nailed down Payton's birthday venue. I know, it is August, but I am a planner. This year her birthday is the Saturday before Christmas. However, a lot of the places are closed because of the Holiday, and I fear no one will show up because of it being so close to Christmas. Therefore, we are having the party the weekend before. I am just not sure where. Also, I refuse to do the bounce house birthday party. They are great, but we have already been to three this summer and one more is coming in September. That's all I can think of now..................

Birthday Parties + Bounce Houses = Sickness

Yesterday both Payton and I started to feel a little under the weather. Payton's symptoms include the onset of a running nose that is starting to turn into that icky green stuff and a seal cough in the mornings and evenings. Mine are a massive headache accompanied by congestion that I can feel make it way from my ears to my throat. We have gone the entire summer without sickness. In fact, I can't remember the last time we had this. Maybe back in the Spring? I tried to pinpoint the cause of the sudden onset of symptoms. What has been different regarding our routine? She has been in school all summer. She has been swimming at least three times a week. So, what has happened or where have we been to encounter the sickness germs? The only thing I can think of it last Saturday we went to birthday party at one of those bounce house places. You know the ones with massive bounce houses everywhere that smell like feet with tons of kids running crazy. I am pretty sure that they don't sanitize the huge plastic inflatable bounce houses on a daily or even weekly basis. I did sanitize her hands before and after arriving; however, those germs are sneaky little suckers. I am hoping that this will pass quickly and won't need medical intervention. This is mainly because Payton's doctor is closed on Fridays and then there is the weekend. I also don't want us to have to feel like crap for a long time. I am also hoping that Derek and Grandpat don't encounter the sickness germs. So far so good as far as those two. However, Payton and I might have to take it slow this weekend with a lot of cuddling on the sofa.

All Girl...............

I know I have said this many times before, but Payton is all girl.  Lately, Payton has been talking about wanting a sister.  Payton has about as good as a chance of getting a sister as I do of winning the lottery (and I hardly ever play the lottery).  That being said, we indulge her conversations when it comes to wanting a baby.  She has come up with the most interesting names.  I also tell her that if we have a baby that she would have to share her toys.  Not a problem, she says.  She will just give her the toys she doesn't play with.  However, the other day I think I hit a nerve with her and the little sister desire.  I was telling her that we needed to clean out her closet because she has grown so much.  I mentioned that we would keep a few (keepsake) outfits for her and also if she had a little sister she could also wear them.   You would have thought I poured hot acid on her by the way she reacted.  She informed me in no uncertain terms, that they were her clothes and her pretty things and that no baby would wear her clothes.  I tried to explain that she would only wear the clothes that Payton couldn't wear anymore.  Payton then proceeded to ask me what about when the baby is the same size?  They are her pretty things and she is not sharing.  She then declared she doesn't want a sister or a baby, and that she was "furious" that I would give the baby her pretty clothes.  Payton has not mentioned a little sister since then.  I really didn't mean to crush her dreams.  I had no clue she would react that way.

Payton also loves shoes............So much in fact that she is now sporting these:

They are Vans.  I wasn't planning on buying Payton shoes right now.  I know that her foot has grown, but I was going to wait until it was closer to Fall and buy her a couple of new pairs.  However, on Saturday, after a birthday party, we went to meet my mom and my sister for lunch in Southlake.  I happened to park in front of the Vans store.  Payton saw the shoes (not these, but adult shoes) and assumed that we were going inside.  When I said that we weren't she started to get cranky, so I thought what the hell.  We will go in and they will not have shoes in her size and that will be that.  I have never been in the store before, and I always thought Vans were for older kids and adults.  Oh...... was I wrong.   Once Payton saw the pink, sparkly shoes, I knew I was in trouble.   I went ahead and got them reasoning it was one less pair I would have to buy this Fall.  Payton was a hoot.  She tried them on and stated that they were darling and stylish. 


To complete the total girly, girl on Sunday Payton got a mini/pedi.  Payton has gotten her toes painted ever since she was about 18 months during the summer time.  The nail place was right next to her music class and my mom would take her with her when she got her nails done.  However, on Sunday I really needed a pedicure.  Payton was with me and I was going to just get her toes painted, but that takes all of five minutes and I knew Payton wouldn't sit still for the remaining time for me to get my much needed pedicure.  The lady said that they do a kid's pedicure.  Okay then.......why not?  Payton got her very own chair (next to mine) and they put a pillow behind her so she could rest her back.  She did awesome.  She sit there and put her feet in the water and let them rub her legs  and paint her toes and nails.  The only thing that I noticed was some of the other women looking at me like she is way too young or that I was crazy.  I was half tempted to yell out that I am not a toddler and tiara's mommy.  I realize it is a little much to have a three and half year old get a pedicure.  However, she did so awesome just sitting there.  If she just got her toes painted those women would not have had the relaxing atmosphere because she would be going crazy.  Did I also mention that I really needed a pedicure?????


To balance out the all girl, Payton and Derek have formed a unique bound over this:

We downloaded this app in San Antonio.  Cooper has this on his Ipad (not really his but my sister "old" Ipad since the school bought her one).  Payton loved this game.  Cooper was so funny because at one point he asked if Payton's Ipad (mine) only had educational games.  Yes, it does.  However, when you are in the car for four to five hours with little ones fighting over one game, I went ahead and paid the $1.99 to download it on my Ipad.  Payton cracks me up because she was showing Derek how to play. She would yell things like jump, move, and awesome.  She also would say Coolio.  Derek taught her this instead of cool.  Lord help me!!!  So this Sunday they were both laying on the sofa taking turns playing this.  Derek was into it probably more than he would admit. I wish I would have taken a picture because it was pretty darn cute.

On a side note, it appears that I will be taking one more vacation before the end of the year.  Derek decided that he wanted to go on vacation.  He already has a couple of little vacations planned with his friends, but he wanted a bigger one.  Therefore, at the end of November we (Payton, Mommy, & Daddy) will be going to Winter Park to ski.  Payton is so excited about the ice skating and getting a snowsuit.  I am a little curious to see how much she will enjoy skiing.  I think I am going to sign up for ski school with her.  I am not a great skier.  I like doing the bunny slope and little greens.  I never took ski lessons so I am sure it couldn't hurt.  Also, Derek loves to ski and I am sure Payton will get the hang of it.  Little kids have a way of learning things quickly.  Since I predict there are going to be a lot of ski vacations in our future, I might as well actually learn how to do it.


Hope everyone is staying cool.  Only one more month until September and Fall weather. 

Guess How Much I Love You? (The Real World)

I am sure anyone with a child has read the book Guess How Much I Love You?  It is a heart warming book about a Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare (I hate the names by the way) telling one another how much they love one another.  Also, complete side note, but Disney Jr. has made a show out of this.  Back to the story....... they each love each other in the cutest ways.......like over the river, as high as they can hop, and ending with Big Nutbrown Hare saying, "I love you all the way to the moon and back."   Awe...........

I was thinking of this book a couple of weekends ago when I had to do something for my child that I absolutely hate!!! As I was having to do this awful task, I thought, Guess How Much I Love You, Payton?  I love you so much that I would willing step inside a Wal-Mart!!!!!  In my book, that is more than to the moon and back.  I know some people may like Wal-Mart or at the very least aren't bothered by going.  I am not one of those people.  I have never liked it.  I much prefer Target.  It is cleaner, nicer, and just more spacious to me.  Also, I don't feel like I am in a freak show.  Total side note, when our accounts were hijacked when Payton was first born the first check that was posted was to Wal-Mart for $1400.00.  I immediately knew something was wrong because we don't shop at Wal-Mart. 

So, why did I have to go to Wal-Mart you ask?  Well....... Payton has decided that she is done with pull-ups.  Little Miss Thing has been taking care of number one on the potty for over a year, but the other thing not so much.  However, about two weeks ago she had a break through and she hasn't looked backed.  Her reward for this......... a brand new bike.

The night before we looked online at Target and found the cutest bike.  We woke up early Saturday morning and went to Target.  However, when we got there they had NO bikes her size.  Payton was disappointed because she really wanted her bike.  Therefore, I took one for the team and went to Wal-Mart to get my baby a bike.   I will say that this is one of the new Wal-Marts and it had the new layout.  However, if I am lying I am dying, I saw every stereo-type of the typical Wal-Mart joke walk of life there.

I am so proud of my of Payton for becoming such a big girl.  I am also a little sad that the last real baby thing is completely gone.  Just a little.  Actually, I am not sad.  Bye-bye stinking diapers.  So, I was thinking of all the things as parents that we do to show our little ones really how much we love them.  Here's my list:

Guess How Much I Love You?

1.  Willing to have blood drawn.  (I hate this.  I pass out.  I actually fill sick.)
2.  To have strange nurses/doctors check under the hood.
3.  To give up sleep.
4.  To have all types of your bodily fluids on my clothes.
5.  To go to Chick-Fil-A on national dress up as a cow so you could have your chicken and fruit.
6.  To accept the fact that my house, car, or any other material item will never be truly clean/organized.
7.  To watch cartoons in the evenings with you.
8.  To play dress up or go around the block when I get home from work when all I really want to do is veg out.
9.  I would say to the moon and back, but that really isn't enough in my opinion of how much I love my daughter.  She is my world, and I would bravely go to Wal-Mart again if she wanted me to.  I know this isn't a complete list, but I am truly amazed at all the big and little things that I willing give up or do to make my little one happy.