Leighton 4.0

Really?
Am I actually typing out a 4.0 version of Leighton right now.
I am speechless. Really. I have nothing.
She was my teeny tiny baby just yesterday and then I blinked. Literally, blinked and now she is 4.
You are such a grown up little girl. I just stare at you all the time in amazement at how we made it here and terrified of what the next 4 years will bring. Less attitude? Yeah, probably not.

The other day I saw this post:

Source: sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net via Deana on Pinterest

I totally feel that way, but in spite of me you are turning into a beautiful, sweet, smart-assy little girl. {Yes, I just called her a smart ass because she is. I thought I had sassy down, but wow!}

You love to be a little mommy telling me repeatedly how Micah is your son.

Your intelligence level and skills are on par with other kids--I assume, I actually have no idea since you don't and won't be going to pre-school, but you seem smart enough to me and have eventually caught on to all the big concepts like ABCs, 123s, writing, colors and what have you.

You are very creatively minded. Now that you seem to exceed expectations on. You have some serious mad coloring and crafting skills.

Still not potty trained at night. :( I remember last year being sure that by this time next year it would be a different story...{I don't need or want advice on the matter, it is what it is. I am just stating it for the record. It is totally normal and I am pretty much ok with it...mostly. ;) }

Stats: If I ever remember to get a doc appt. then I could tell you...
ht: 3ft 2 in?!? 3ft 1.5in {again WAY off. ;) }
wt: 27#?!?!? 30#
She and MW aren't too far apart on that.

Now for the Interview with a 4 year old. 

Normally I would type out all the questions and answers and perhaps will someday, but if you want to know you will just have to find 10 minutes to watch. 

Interview with the 4 year old from Michele Keethler on Vimeo.

A look back at your life.

My itty bitty newborn love.

{6 weeks}

 {6 months}

{1st Birthday}

 {18 months}

{2 years}

{2.5 years}

{3 years}

{3.5 years}

{4 years old!}

Happy 4th Birthday Baby Girl!

We love you SO much. But no more growing up okay?

kay.

Turning up Our Doing Dial

Has anyone noticed my absence?
I feel blogged out or really my life just has nothing noteworthy to report is probably more like it. :)

I haven't slept in weeks now. Mostly because I have an ever growing project list in my head and if I sleep then the spinning plates will crash.
Write it down you say?! Brilliant. I do that, but the madness doesn't stop. I am sure it is a disease, to bad my husband hasn't caught it. ;)

I told Chad this Spring Break (which now that I have plans will be sure to rain every.bloody.day) and summer we are doing something. I have a list and if you don't get a job you will be put to work here with no pay. ;) Oh, kind of like my full time job. HA!

So my kids had birthdays...darn those things coming around once a year...AND Christmas. The toys.are.out.of.control. Seriously, I want to light a match pack them up and donate them ALL! I mean no one ever wants to play with anything, all they want to do is bother me while I cook dinner and work on our taxes, fight with each other, or better yet watch non-stop tv. {it's mostly educational. give me a break.} ;)

This weekend I took it upon myself to organize the mass chaos. I found shelving in our storage room and went to town. Shh...don't say anything, but momma got rid of some crap...that's what you get when you don't help. :)

Here is the before {round 2--since this is a NEVER ending project!}

I got this toy bin at the consignment sale last year for a steal! {Please note there are 3 THREE!! bins EMPTY!!!--no grandmas this does NOT mean they need more toys. ;) }

Horrible picture, but the closet. More shelving. I wish I could afford cute, fun, stylish shelves, but I can't and this works. I am actually putting this picture IN the closet so my kids {and husband/grandmas} can remember where everything goes. I did not work this hard and sweat to have it all messed up. :) I am so OCD type-A it can be frightening for those living here. I am sorry. :)

I do have a fun rack for the dress up clothes but it isn't hung up yet...ahem Chad. But it is SO MUCH better in there and there is room to play. I am fairly confident I heard a "Hallelujah Chorus" when I was done.

PLAYING!!!!!! They have been instructed for the 1073rd time that when they get out a toy they MUST put it back before getting out a new one...we shall see. I know when they are on their own they will hear my voice "a place for everything and everything in its place," much like I hear my mother's and THEN I will know I have done my job. :)

On another note Stevie The TV died a few weeks ago. It was very sad. We knew it was coming as "he" was sick for a few weeks prior, then one day I had to pull the plug...literally. It was peaceful and I am fairly certain "he" felt no pain.

Yesterday Stevie the III arrived. Now my tv-aholics can once again enjoy their programming.

I have lots of craft projects on my list and this was one of them.
Leighton wanted a bed/cradle for her babies for her birthday. A few months ago I stumbled upon this "diamond in the rough" at Goodwill and she was $4.99. Sold. I knew that a good coat of spray paint would give her new life. Seriously, spray paint is like magic.
{Before}

{After}

No befores, but this is an "ugly" brown jewelry box I had from my childhood. I had been seeing on pinterest these fun new and improved "vintage" jewelry box make-overs. Lo has a ridiculous amount of "jewelry" already, so I breathe new life into this with a few coats of spray paint. 

Hard to tell but it is the same color as the cradle {off/antique white} and then I painted on the Tiffany blue since that doesn't come in spray paint form; distressed it a bit and then finished off the hardware with some metallic spray paint I just so happen to have. Yes, I have my own "spray paint" section in my garage...it's an obsession. 

I have a larger one I am going to do for her too and then may take on my own. My ultimate goal is to have this jewelry box "collage" in her room to store all her junk keepsakes.

Source: blog.stitchawishdesigns.com via Michele on Pinterest

Anyway, that is what has been going on here...exciting right?! I hope to have more home make-over done soon! I am ready to make this place MINE OURS. ;)

Sesame Street Live {2013}

This past weekend we, along with my MIL took the kids to Sesame Street Live!
We are on our 3rd year of going. It started out as a special date day with Leighton after baby brother arrived, and well, now baby brother is a big boy girl and can "go too."

This year we made it to the "play zone." I use the term loosely because there wasn't a lot of playing, more like photo op time. Which was great, but I really was hoping for more Sesame Street fun than photo booths. Oh well, live and learn. It did help kill the time before the show.

A few scenes from the "play zone."
We went with some of our besties. I just love those girls and well, MW has quite the selection of ladies to pick from as they are all on the "pre-approved" dating list.

They did have some of the cast come out and do a few numbers.

 Micah was scared of them and kept making this pouty face. Grandma Rachel to the rescue to hang out by the window. HA! I was hoping this would not be fortuitous of how he would act in the show...

Show time.
This year I got smart and packed our own snacks and water.
This is what MW looked like the ENTIRE show. Sitting in Grandma's lap, munching on goldfish, memorized.

Leighton was thrilled, yet again. She even brought her OWN camera to take pics. She was so proud. Need to download those I suppose. :)

The theme was Elmo makes music. He found Abby's wand and thus made everyone sing all.day.long.

Again, MW with the staring. He is my tv watcher. Must be a boy thing. HA! When Lo was his age, she watched shows and tv, but usually got bored 6 minutes in and would be off playing something else. Not Micah, he will watch tv all.day.long. if you would let him. So he did really well at the show! 

I tried to get Micah's pic with Elmo...wasn't having it. He isn't always my obedient child, like his sissy. 

2013

Pics from the last 2 years, crazy how much she has grown up!! In 2011 she and MW are the same age!! NUTS! Has it really been that long?!?!

It was a fun date day. I am so glad we have had the opportunity to take them. We may just have to go back one more time...