Uuuuummmmm

Didn't know what to really title this post....still not even sure what I'm posting about. But yet I feel it necessary to post something. It's been a really emotional few weeks. Lots of changes going on in my life. All for the better, I feel, but still a LOT of changes. And sometimes it just overwhelms you. But I'm so grateful to have amazing, wonderful and supportive people around me.

The last year or so I have taken a lot of time to get to know "me" to figure out who I am and what I want my life to be like and I've worked really hard to make the changes that I feel are necessary to have the life I've always dreamed of. Am I there yet? Heck no, but that's okay. The journey is all a part of it. But I can't tell you how truly good it feels to just be me. All the time. No matter who is around or what I am doing. This is me, take it or leave it. And that feels so. darn. good.

I think we might be finally ready to let go of the binky. I never thought I'd get to say it but I think we are there. Hallelujah! She did find one hidden in some dark corner of the house so there was one night she had it, but the babysitter put her to bed and he didn't know. So I'm just not counting that night.

Sassy also got measured for her first dance recital costume. I AM SO EXCITED! I actually started to tear up when she was getting measured. I have always love music and dance (though I'm not really talented at either) and so to have my daughter show the same excitement for things that I love is so awesome. Of course I will support her and be her biggest (and let's face it, loudest) cheerleader in anything she pursues, but I'm really excited that she loves dance. We have random dance parties at our house at least once a week.

I made this collage the other day in Picasa. Can't wait to get it printed and hung up somewhere in the house. I just love this girl!

Its just a random collection of pics of Miss Sassy Pants & me, nothing that took extreme amounts of creative talent to make. But I know that I can look at this and on days when I miss her like crazy because we are apart or when we are screaming at each other and both slamming doors like a couple of teenagers, I can see the smiles and think of all the good times we have had and the great times that are yet to come.

Opposites

Do opposites really attract? Okay forget the science behind all that with magnets and such, not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about people. I agree that yes, initially we are attracted to people that are, in many ways, opposite from us. Makes sense. This other person is comes from a different place, they are interested in different things and can introduce us to new worlds we had never explored before. But can that attraction (meaning the relationship be it friends, spouse, etc.) really last? What happens when you both certainly support each other in your differences, those variances that you just can't share (his love for the sport of curling, your incessant desire to attend poetry readings), begin to add up and soon your penciling each other in for date night and when it comes you can't think of a single thing to do? Then what? This is why I think that opposites may attract, but they don't stay together for very long. There has to be enough common ground that you and this person you like so much can actually figure out what to DO when you spend time together. There is nothing wrong with trying new things and expanding your horizons but if you just can't bring yourself to play Risk even once every three months or so when he plays on a weekly basis with his buddies (and once or twice on his own)...there might be an issue. Just sayin.

Okay this is what happens when I'm sick and can't sleep. I go on crazy, goofy rants like this one.

Too cute

This one was just too cute not to share...

Mom, it's Belle!

Saturday at Harmon's they had breakfast with Belle so Miss Sassy Pants and I went over. She had lots of fun, and I had a yummy breakfast! (I cannot get this kid to eat more than about 5 bites of anything and if its not Mac N Cheese, Peanut Butter, waffles, or crackers she won't touch it. Argh!)

She had lots of fun and loved seeing Belle. When we left it wasn't nearly as dramatic as when she met Belle at her friend Clara's birthday party last year....

She was so upset that Belle had to leave. She cried for about 30 minutes! Then she kept going to the window saying "Belle, come back!" It was so funny!

It Snowed!

Santa made a pit stop

 Sasha showing off her dance moves on Christmas Eve at my moms. This girl is SO ready for dance class!

 And of course Tuffer had to get in on the action...though he needed the help of Just Dance 3 for the Wii for his moves. :)

 Super cute hat & I totally love that I, yes I, took this picture.

 I know I say it all the time, but I just love this girl. She is absolutely hilarious and never ceases to amaze me at how smart and creative she can be.

Yes, the Lakin girls were very good this year (ha, ha) and Santa and his elves definitely made a pitstop at our house.

Thanks to everyone who made this a good Christmas for us this year. It was really hard not having Sassy all day on Christmas. But I did get to have her Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. That was awesome. This has been the first year she has really grasped the concept of Santa Claus and presents and such. Every day she would ask if I had more presents for her, or if we were wrapping something for someone else she would ask if it was for her. When I told her who it was for her she would say "Oh yeah, for my Mandi (meaning Aunt Mandi, my sister) she will like it" It was so cute! She was never upset that all the presents weren't for her and was happy to take things to other people. She's got such a big heart. She's nuts, but I love her!

She's Three!

Okay I'm going to say it. I'm going to say that annoying thing that every Mother says. "How on earth did my baby get so big so fast?!"
This little thing is seriously the light of my life. She has more attitude than that little body can handle and I love it! She turned 3 on December 1st and was lucky enough to have 2 joint parties with her cousin Violette (her bday is only 6 days before Sasha's), of which I have pretty much no pictures. :( Bad Mom! Though I plan to get better since Santa was VERY nice and brought me a sweet new DSLR camera. Guess I was finally good enough this year to get one. ;)
But enough about me, this post is about the birthday girl! She loves to dance (signing her up for classes ASAP!), loves anything girly or princessy, loves Minnie Mouse, her friends and cousins, and her favorite book is Chicka Chicka BOOM BOOM (we read it every night without fail), her favorite song is A Dream is  A Wish Your Heart Makes, or Cinderella's song as she calls it, has to look for and say goodnight to the moon every night and sleeps with no less than her 2 Minnie Mouse dolls, a Mickey Mouse doll and her two "babies" (Aurora and Ariel dolls, courtesy of Aunt Mandi).
She started preschool this fall at Discovery Academy and I swear her vocabulary doubles every single day. She talks to me all the way home from school and I love it! As soon as we get the whole peeing-in-a-toilet-instead-of-a-diaper thing down she can move from the Toddler class to the Preschool class, which she is definitely smart enough for. But darn it if even the cutest princess big girl panties will not entice her to just pee on a stinkin' toilet! Oh well...all in good time right? Hey, wasn't it just me complaining about her growing up so fast? Ha ha.

Sasha- you are my bestie, my Mini-Me, my gal pal, my Little Miss Sassy Pants. I love you so much!

Hello- ello-ello- ello...

Anyone out there? Anyone still actually check this thing for a periodic update? Sorry. Life has been...well, it's been busy.
A visual update for you....

 This is one of my favorites....

A very good friend of mine was kind enough to spend a day with Sasha and I taking pictures. I think they turned out pretty darn cute!

You might notice that the name of the blog has changed, and that there's someone missing from these pictures. Many of you may already know, but for those that don't, Josh and I have separated and are getting divorced. It's unfortunate, but it's best for all of us.

I am still living in our house in Farmington until it sells (hopefully soon!) and Josh is with his parents for now. Once I am able to leave the house in Farmington I plan to move in with my brother Ryan and his awesome family for a while until I figure out my next move. Sasha spends half her time with me and half with Josh. It's been an adjustment but she is the most easy-going kid I have ever met so I know she will adapt.

I hope to get back to updating this thing regularly and from here on out it will be updates of the fabulous Miss Sassy Pants and myself, living life the best and most fabulous way we know how!