ARIANNA'S ADVENTURES

Earrings once again

Well, if you remember, I had Arianna's ears pierced when she was 11 months old.  I then took them out after a close call between an earring and a ladybug sweater.  Well, Arianna has been bugging me for the better part of 6 months to have her ears pierced again.  I finally relented.   

She was not at all thrilled about losing so much of her hair (and the ability to wear pony tails), but is thrilled that her short do shows off her earrings. They cut 3 1/2 inches off the back of her head, but unfortunately, not much could be done with the sides or the bangs.  They will just have to grow in.

 

She picked out a very pretty pair of pale blue topaz studs (her birthstone) and was very brave!  Both ears were pierced and the same time and I am sure the folks in the parking lot heard the scream!  She knew that it would hurt (I was brutally honest with her), but the thought and the reality of it were 2 different things.  Thankfully a sucker, a Godiva truffle (almond) and a Chik Fillet kids meal made it all okay.  This morning she proudly showed off her pretty new earrings at the farmer's market and has been cheezing it up all afternoon. 

 

My happy girl is back again!

The Haircut

Arianna decided to cut her hair tonite.  While I was in the bathroom, she climbed up the top of my desk grabbed scissors, brought them back to my bedroom and cut.  She was supposed to be in bed.  Thankfully, she didn't cut herself.  From all the hair on my bed, it appears that she stood on my bed and looked in the mirror while cutting her hair.  Nice.  At least that ensured that no blood was shed.  I am furious, to say the very least, but thankful that she wasn't harmed.  Her hair, however, is a different story.  Looks like she will be at the salon this weekend getting a very short bob.  The bangs will just have to grow back.  Until then, she looks like a freak (I actually told her that too - very bad call on my part) and hopefully she will never do this again! Oh, and the scissors are all now on top of the refrigerator.

No grass under these feet...

Well, I took that line from a friend's reponse to the following news.  I start my 2nd master's degree program in September!!  I am so psyched.  I really have missed school.  This program is completely online through Boise State University (a real school, even if it is in Idaho).  The fall start date gives me the summer to finish up the other certification I have been working on. 

This degree will be in Instructional Design and Performance Technology.  What on Earth is that do you say?  Assessing needs and designing training programs (traditional and media based) to improve performance.  Cool, huh?

There may be more changes coming down the pike too....   

In the meanwile, I do have some video clips to post (once I figure out how to do it) and promise to get some new pics up soon.  It has been quite chaotic down here of late, but I assure you the camera hasn't gathered any dust. 

Arianna's First Wedding

Well last weekened we traveled up to NJ for my cousin Leigh Ann's wedding.  It was a grueling up one day back the next trip, but definitely worth the exhaustion.  My girl spent most of the night on the dance floor!  What a little party girl I have!  When she wasn't dancing, she was following the disco lights across the floor - too cute. 

It has been 6 months since Arianna had see Uncle Bill "Abo" and almost a year since she had seen Aunt Kirstin.  Their presence absolutely lit her up!!

Dancing with Abo

A family affair - Arianna and Grandpop AND Abo and Aunt Kirstin.  Gotta say, I love the way my father absolutely lights up around my daughter. 

Things Kids Say

So once again Arianna got a boo boo doing something that she wasn't supposed to be doing.  So, after the tears were dried we had the following conversation:

Me:  Mommy tells you not do to these things to keep you safe baby.

Arianna:  I know Momma.

Me:  When are you going to start listening to Momma?

Arianna:  In January.

Ah, gotta love a girl who gives herself lots of wiggle room for compliance!

AH, AT LAST....PICTURES

OKAY, I know I have been remiss in posting pictures over the past few months.  Hope today makes up for it!

It amazes me how quickly the girls can go from this (above) to this (below)

Miranda and Arianna are such good friends.  I wish they could see each more often.

All dressed up for Chinese New Year

This girl is all about a good party!! 

Invasion of the Underpants

Dora, Dora Mermaid, My Little Pony and, of course, Disney Princess....we have finally traded in the pullups for underwear.  That's right, we have toilet training success!!!

5  days ago Arianna put on a pair of Dora underpants and that was it.  Just like that we were done with toilet training.  If I had only known 3 months ago that it could be this easy, that one day it would literally just happen.  She still wears pullups at night and in the car, but we haven't even had a wet pull up in 4 days. 

She is so proud of herself and so excited to be wearing "big girl underwears". 

HORSING AROUND

YEE HAW, DORA COWGIRL!

My girl is as comfortable in a saddle as I am in a lounge chair.

Yesterday my little princess turned 3.  I can't believe how quickly the past 2 years have gone by.  We had a wonderful time, and pictures will follow soon. Time is going to start getting tight again.  I start my new job tomorrow, so if I don't post for awhile, please understand that I am once again setting an alarm clock (for 5:30AM) for the first time in 6 months and Arianna will going to school 5 days a week.  This while be a huge transition for both of us, though a good one.  So, please be patient, but don't hesitate to drop me a comment or email to kick my butt into picture gear if too much time goes by!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

There seems to be so much to be thankful for this year, yet at the same time there are so many things that are deeply saddening.  Friends and family that are ill, not being with my brother, and of course, missing my Mom.  Sometimes it is hard to focus on what's good in our lives, what we have and what we are grateful for.  It is so much easier to contemplate what we are missing.  Each night my daughter's prayer ends by stating the one thing she is most grateful for that day - her greatest blessing.  Last night it was her friend Gwennie, today it was me.  Now that is something to be thankful for.

We are off to South Carolina to spend the Holiday with family and then I am off to Biltmore with a friend to see the holiday decorations - sans child.  Yet one more thing to be thankful for.  Ah, a day to play as an adult -they have a winery :-) -while the Princess is spoiled by her dear Aunt Emma.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! 

FUN IN THE PARK WITH GWEN

A NATURAL IN THE SADDLE

Arianna has been wanting to ride a pony for quite a while now.  After several let downs, today was finally her day.  Quite honestly, I expected her to be all excited until she actually saw the horse.  Boy was I wrong!!  She willingly strapped on the helmut and couldn't wait for me to lift her into the saddle!

This is Black Jack, a 12 year old pony.  All I have heard all afternoon is how Black Jack is HER pony and asking when she can ride him again.  We even picked up some horse treats at the General Store and fed the horses.  The folks at the stable were pretty impressed by how steady she was on the horse, even when he kicked out.  I was down right amazed!!

I promised her another pony ride for her birthday.  Looks like riding lessons are in our future.   

I GOT A JOB!!!!

Need I say anymore?  YIPPIEE!!!!!

HAPPINESS IS....

Fun Day with Jeffrey

We spent Saturday with the relatives in South Carolina.  There is a wonderful family (with 5 children) across the street.  They are all such sweet kids!  Jeffrey spent most of the afternoon over with us, playing with Arianna and Yogi.  As you can see, a great time was had by all!

 

Poor Jeffrey - Arianna wore him out!!   

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!

My Pumpkin Pal

Look at all the candy I got!!!

Soaring Through the Weekend

BACKYARD FUN

Click on any picture to enlarge.

I just LOVE riding my tricycle!!

I am getting so good at peddling around the yard and our street!!

Listen Mommy, I hear a plane!!

Look Mommy, I see a plane!!!

I do, I do, it's over there!! Look Mommy, its over there!!

I just love T-Ball!!   Batter Up!

Swing....

Wow, what a fast swing!!!!

It's a home run!!!! 

Gotta go get my ball now....

Halloween Warm Up

Today was another FCC get together at another farm.  This one wasn't so great.  We went to one a few weeks ago up in Mt. Ulla, NC where there was face painting, pumpkin painting, a playground and a corn pit.  Very cool.  This one, not so much.  However, we did go on a wagon ride, Arianna got to feed some sheep and and goats and, of course, pick out a pumpkin (which we will be painting at home tomorrow).  Here are some pics from the day.

Arianna was really looking forward to a pony ride (her first) at this farm.  Unfortunately, there was a line 25 kids long and by the time we even got close the ponies were too tired and taken out.  So, as a consolation (and a lousy one at that) she got to sit on a saddle.  Not quite the same, as you can tell by the look on her face.

Struggling to carry out her pumpkin.  Of course, Little Miss Independence insisted on carrying her own pumpkin (and only dropped it once, not bad)

Ah, the joys of fall...

Is this total joy or what?

The "mean monster" look.

Jumping for joy!!  Ah, its great to be home.

Random Pictures

Too cute for my jacket...(not too bad for a kid who just had a flu shot!)

Cheezzzz

Princess Arianna

On the carousel at the North Carolina Zoo 10-13-07.

Riding the baby elephant.

Arianna just adores Kimberly!

We have a tradition of getting a group picture anytime we visit a zoo.  The last one with with my brother last December at the Philly Zoo.  Unfortunately, we waited until we were almost ready to leave, by which time my little Princess was quite tired and, dare I say it, cranky. It certainly was a great day (but then any day we spend with Kimberly is usually pretty great :-). 

New Stats

As of Saturday, October 20, 2007, Arianna is 37 1/2" tall and 28.2 lbs.  She cleared 3ft, but can't clear 30 lbs!  Pretty soon she is going to outgrow her car seat (by height, certainly not weight).