It's about that time . . .

Well, it's about time to start thinking of names for our new little girl. Please vote on your favorite name! We are open to suggestions(for a middle name too)!

Happy Birthday Riley!

I know this is a wee late, but better late than never. Happy Birthday Riley! Here are a few of his favorite things:

1. Soda pop, hands down his favorite thing ever. Maybe this is because we never let him have it.

2. The "blankie" Grammy made for him.

3. Playing outside.

4. Asking impossible-to answer-questions all day long. Here is an example of one of millions asked in any given day. We were driving somewhere and Riley saw a small dirt pile off the side of the road in front of a pasture.

Riley: What is that dirt doing over there?

Me: I'm not sure. Maybe someone put it there.

Riley: Who?

Me: I don't know. Maybe a farmer.

Riley: Why did the farmer put it there?

Me: I'm not really sure. Maybe a farmer put it there because he had lots of extra dirt.

Riley: Why did he have extra dirt?

Me: Maybe he didn't have room for any more on his farm.

Riley: Why?

Me: I don't know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And on and on.

5. Kallianne Borden, his little "crush."

6. Helping mom cook, clean, pay bills, etc.

7. The Henry and Mudge books.

8. Playing hide and seek with dad.

9. Peeling oranges (but then not eating them).

10. Jay Jay the Jet Plane movies.

11. Easter egg hunts. We've been hunting for months.

12. Dancing to music.

13. Marissa.

14. Swimming.

15. His soccer shirt. He wants to wear it every day.

16. Going to Target. Free cookie anyone?

17. Those jeeps that drive like a real car. Keep dreamin', kid.

18. Anything to do with tractors, dump trucks, or cement trucks, including talking about, playing with, thinking about, etc. He told me he is going to be a "tractor man" when he grows up.

Here is a list of his not-so-favorite things:

1. Getting in the tub.

2. Getting out of the tub.

3. Marissa.

4. Picking up toys.

5. Mac & cheese. Hard to believe, I know, but he has never been a huge fan.

6. Motorcycles. He only likes them from a distance.

7. Coloring. Booorrrrriiiiiiinnggggg.

8. Ants. The ones here in the south are vicious.

9. Time-outs.

10. Lotion or chapstick anywhere near his lips.

So much for clutter-free

I haven't posted in awhile because I am working on Christmas pictures and a slide show for Riley's 3rd birthday that should be done soon, even though his birthday was last Thursday. (I'm going to use the pregnancy card on this one--I often resort to it when I have procrastinated certain chores.) Anyway, in the meantime I would like to discuss clutter. I have prided myself in the past on keeping a mostly clutter-free home, but yesterday I had this overwhelming hankering to clean under my bed and realized that I am slacking a bit. Here is a list of what I found:

1. A book that I started reading months ago and forgot about. Must have been a real page- turner.

2. Four journals--2 for the kids, 2 for me, although I haven't written in mine since Marissa was born.

3. A host of parenting magazines that were ripped to shreds. One dated back to January 2007. Also, one lost Ensign magazine and one Men's Health magazine that I'm sure Ryan picked up in an airport somewhere.

4. A duffel bag from our vacation last summer with socks still inside.

5. A really, really dusty Bible.

6. A hair claw.

7. A hair clip.

8. A bobby pin.

7. Two thermometer covers.

8. Three used dryer sheets.

9. A plethora of toys that apparently nobody has missed. These include but are not limited to: a ball, a piggy bank car, a small wooden book, a helicopter, and a very annoying guitar that I was probably trying to hide. Because they were not missed, I should probably just take them out to the trash.

10. A box filled with last year's tax information. So that's where that went.

11. A hair appointment reminder card for June 8. Year unknown, but I know it wasn't last year because I can't remember the last time I went to that salon.

12. Marissa's physical therapy appointment reminder card for Wednesday, February 7, 2007 9:20 am.

13. A Babies R Us catalog.

14. One dum dum sucker wrapper.

15. Ryan's broken word pad.

16. Tons of lint, dust, and dust bunnies, especially on the baseboards.

The junk is gone! Now on to the closest . . .