birthday interview: two years old

Welcome to birthday interview number two!

(a glance back at the first one)

little miss lovely

This year we answered it together.

Well, I asked her the questions...
and she giggled a lot,
gave me a few cautious answers,
 and looked at me like I was a very strange
mommy to be asking her these things.

Halfway through she was done
and ran off to play with her toys.
Figures...she is only two!

I can't wait until she can do the whole "interview"
herself. At which point, she will probably still
think it is strange that I am asking her questions
and/or have no time for it.

Here's hoping, though.

Without further ado,
birthday interview # 2...
(her unedited answers,
then my answers for her)

1. How old are you today?
MMC: "KayKay two"
Me: Two

2. How does it feel to be two years old?
MMC: "KayKay big girl"
Me: Good...I've heard of something called the "terrible twos" but I've having a great time!

3. Do you have any advice from your two years of experience? You know things you have learned that you want to share with people.
MMC: she giggles and stares at me..."ice!" (she sees the ice in my cup and wants some)
Me: Mom probably wants me to say, "You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit!"...but it seems like if you say "Please, Mommy?" and smile pretty you might get it, even if you throw a fit first. :)

4. How was your day?
MMC: "birthday party, uh huh, fun"
Me: I had a great day. I had a fun party and got to see lots of people I love. We fished, played with water balloons and on the slip and slide. I got to eat lots of cake and got fun presents.

5. How is the weather today?
MMC: "hot!"
Me: A perfect day for a fishy party!

6. What do you think is the most important thing you've learned in life so far?
MMC: "KayKay hug"
Me: Please and Thank You must be important things to say because we say it a lot. And, I Love You, too.

7. How do you think you're different from a year ago?
MMC: "I big girl!" (giggling)
Me: I'm a big girl! I can run sooo fast, say a lot more words and use the potty like a big girl does!
Mommy and Daddy tell me how smart I am all the time.

8. What's your favorite thing about yourself?
MMC: "belly button"
Me: I love to have fun!

9. What is your favorite color?
MMC: (points to several things on the sofa, including her blanket, which are all pink so I ask her, "Is pink your favorite color?") "Uh huh, pink!"
Me: still pink, like my favorite night-night

10. What are some of your favorite foods?
MMC: "cheese!" (she sits and smiles at me for a bit) "I wan cereal?"
Me: I love cheese, cereal and milk. Yogurt, turkey, grilled cheese sandwiches, raisins, yogurt raisins, green beans, macaroni and cheese.

11. Who are your best friends?
MMC: "sassy"
Me: Mommy, Daddy and Ty Ty (I love my night-night and sassy, too)

12. What are some things you like to do?
MMC: (seems puzzled by the question, I give her a few examples, she points and says) "TV?"
Me: I like to read books with Mommy, run wild, swim in the pool, watch movies, play outside, go on walks, draw with chalk, color with crayons, take showers, dance

13. What sports do you like?
MMC: (plays with her blanket)
Me: swimming and I can throw things well

14. Tell me about your family.
MMC: (smiles at me)
Me: I go to school during the week while Mommy and Daddy work, and we all play together and have lots of fun when I'm at home. I have a bunch of cousins that I see at church. I love all my grandparents: Nana, Papa, Bumbee and Granpa - I fun with them.

15. Do you think you'll ever get married.
MMC: (laughs and says some random things...probably telling me to quit asking her questions)
Me: Huh? (shrug) Daddy says I can date after I get married, so I guess one day I will.

16. How old do you think you'd be when you get married?
MMC: (playing with her blanket and TyTy dog)
Me: Ummm, old I guess. 30?

17. Do you want children?
MMC: (not paying attention to me, looking across the room)
Me: Sure, I play with kids all the time at school and they are fun.

18. What do you want to be when you grow up?
MMC: "big girl!" (followed quickly by shimmying off the sofa and running over to her toys on the other side of the room)...annnnnnnd interview done
Me: I love dogs so maybe a vet

19. What's your favorite toy to play with?
Me: Anything with water!

20. What do you like to wear?
Me: My bathing suit. Mommy says I look cute in everything.

21. Did we take any vacations this year? Which was your favorite.
Me: We went to Waycross for Aunt Liz's wedding and Christmas. I got to ride around on the golf carts which was fun. We are going to the beach in a few weeks, for the 4th of July. I think I am going to have a lot of fun there.

22. What do you think about school?
Me: I have lots of fun there and learn things. Every day when I get home Daddy asks me if I learned something new.

23. What do you like learning about?
Me: I like to read Elmo books and doggie books.

24. Tell me what you've learned about boys this year.
Me: I have a lot of boy cousins and they like to run around and we take all the cushions off Bumbee's couch. We have fun together!

25. Anything you are scared of?
Me: I have bad dreams at night sometimes.

26. In the last year, what have been some of your favorite books, movies, and music?
Me: I like to watch DVDs sometimes like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Curious George, read Elmo and dog books, and like all kids of music. \
Sometimes we play music at night and dance around in the kitchen. :)

27. If you had a whole day to do anything you wanted, what would you do?
Me: Spend the day with Mommy and Daddy...go to the pool and for a long walk. Take night night and Ty Ty with me everywhere. Eat something sweet, like cake!

28. What things make you happy?
Me: Sassy, Ty Ty, night-night, my family

29. What things make you sad?
Me: When Mommy and Daddy have to go to work.

30. Any life lessons you have learned?
Me: Say please, thank you and welcome.

31. Anything else you'd like to say? Final thoughts?
Me: I have fun every day, and I'm a big girl!

blonde speed racer

snuggle puppy



happy birthday two you

A few weeks ago Makayla turned two!

(long sigh at how fast time as flown)

pretty in her pig tails

She had a fishy themed party that turned out great...

it was a beautiful day for outdoor games,

water play and the cutest under the sea cake.

adorbs times two

I'll let the photos do the rest of the talking...

right into the water balloons she goes

always good to share your fishing bait

happy birthday dear makayla, happy birthday to you...

ready to dig in!

adorable

sugary goodness

find empty chalk box, check...use as hat, check

lovin' life

(smile)

classic

Another year older, here she comes! 

cherry berry treat

How much do you love the self serve frozen yogurt shops

that have popped up everywhere?

Yum!

There is one close to us called Cherry Berry Yogurt,

so we took M there last night for a treat.

I'm pretty sure she was a fan!

excited pre-yogurt face

She got to try a few flavors:

Cotton Candy, Chocolate and Strawberry.

We settled on Strawberry and made her a little cup.

She dug right in and loved it!

please notice the frozen yogurt hands...

she was alternating between eating with a spoon and her hands

then she took Brandon's spoon and was eating

with two spoons. also zoned into the wall TV

playing cartoons...kiddie la la land

get that camera outta my face,

you crazy parents

some instagrams for you

happy mother's day

may 13

waaay too big for this!

may 13

first pony

may 16

pinterest inspired shelves

may 16

very focused on filling that bucket

may 18

little milkmaid

may 18

makayla's reading corner

may 23

new favorite hat...my little blossom

may 25

silly goose

may 26

adore

may 26

my cutie pie's 2nd birthday cake

june 2

birthday girl!

june 2

silly in her sunhat

june 3

kaykay and her tyty

june 3

30 while 30

I set a goal last year to read 30 good books while 30 years old.

I missed the goal with 25 books read.
(well, 25 books that I remembered to jot down).
I can't say they were all good, though...

Some were less than stellar...some were great.
While I won't offer any recommendations
(read at your own risk)
 I will give you my reading list
and a little critique or tid bit about each one.

First the good, then the bad:

1. Think and Grow Rich
by: Napoleon Hill

A must read for everyone.
Simple and anyone could learn a lot.
May sound too stuffy/business-y or boring but is not.
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2. The Help
by: Kathryn Stockett

Fantastic!
You may have seen the movie,
which was geat, but the book is ALWAYS better.
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3. The Devil Wears Prada
by: Lauren Weisberger

My first job out of college bore a
strange likeness to the one in this book.
You think I joke, but I don't.
(I was asked to leave work
to both babysit and pick up dry cleaning for my boss...
for what seemed like pennies an hour.)
So, I have a fondness and connection
with this fictional character and her work tasks.
I can look back now and laugh,
and this story makes me remember to do so,
and be thankful
for my much more normal job.
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4. 90 Minutes in Heaven
by: Don Piper

Both an amazing story and tough to read.
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5. Lone Survivor
by: Marcus Luttrell with Patrick Robinson

My favorite book.
A truly unbelieveable story.
This is a tough book to get through, has a good bit of language,
and you will shed tears, but it is fantatic. I've read it three
times and will probably continue to read it every year.
Whatever I say will not do it justice...
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6. Unbroken
by: Laura Hillenbrand

Another amazing story,
that is hard to believe really happened.
This will make you aware of the cushy lives we lead.
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7. My Heart Remembers
by: Kim Vogel Sawyer

eh...meh
Randomly picked this up.
Light read...didn't love it.
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8. The Business of the 21st Century
by: Robert Kiyosaki

Good and pretty interesting.
Definite read if getting into a home-based business.
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9. The Hunger Games
by: Suzanne Collins

I was a fan of the series.
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10. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
by: Stieg Larsson

Intense and a bit long.
Not sure what to say...
 I really liked some parts of this book
and how the story played out,
but also really disliked some parts of it
and the character development at the beginning of the book.
Haven't seen the movie.
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11. How to Stop Worrying and Start Living
by: Dale Carnegie

A++
Perfect for someone that is type A or a worriwort!
I am both, of course :)
Lots of great stories, examples and motivation.
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12. Catching Fire
by: Suzanne Collins

Again...was a fan!
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13. The Mockingjay
by: Suzanne Collins

Ditto of the above.
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14. Made to Crave
by: Lysa TerKeurst

Well thought out book with a good message.
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15. Playing for Pizza
by: John Grisham

Light read, so-so
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16. The Rockstar's Daughter
by: Caitlyn Duffy

another so-so...beach read book
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17. Bloom
by: Kelle Hampton

Loved it!
I am a huge fan of Kelle Hampton
and read her blog often, so I knew
the story of Nella's birth and their story.
Still loved it and wish I hadn't read it so fast.
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18. Filming God: A Journey From Skepticism to Faith
by: Darren Wilson

Interesting...thought-provoking...would love to hear yours
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19. Confessions of a Scary Mommy
by: Jill Smokler

Ha!
Over the top honesty,
but so good to hear that every one else in the world
isn't as "perfect" as they appear to be.
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20. Something Borrowed
by: Emily Giffin

Started this once and lost interest.
Saw the movie and it was ok, so went back and read the book.
Beach book but wouldn't re-read.
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21. Water for Elephants
by: Sara Gruen

Actually didn't like this book...read it because of the rave reviews,
but I thought there were a lot of dark and strange parts.
Saw the movie the other day and actually liked it a lot better.
Might be the first time that has ever happened.
Usually the back story and dialogue that you don't see
in a movie is a shame, but this time it was a good thing.
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22. Shanghai Girls
by: Lisa See

Another book that got great reviews...
I thought it was alright.
The story seemed to drag on and was sad.
Not that sad is always bad, but this was just...eh
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23. Bossypants
by: Tina Fey

If you know Tina Fey
and are expecting the kind of off color humor
you are getting yourself into...it is quite funny.
If not, stay away!
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24. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
by: Rebecca Skloot

Another highly rated book.
Presented a good debate and interesting story
but very scientific and of course a bit sad.
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25. The Book Thief
by: Marcus Zusak

This book was so highly rated
and even appeared on a reading list
for a Chrisian women's book club.
I finished it, but really didn't like it.
I almost quite reading it a few times...
Of course the story was sad,
but there was just something else about it
that turned me off. I thought it odd,
and the book club recommendation odd as well.
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However, I don't want to end this post on a bad book note.
I did read quite a few Elmo books to Makayla,
and we did lots of picture dictionary looking and pointing.
Maybe that can count as my number 26-30?

I love to read, but sometimes I put off starting a new book
just because it might turn into "one more thing to do."
Sad, I know!
But we all lead very busy lives,
and reading like I do on vacation just doesn't
happen in a normal week.

This "30 while 30" goal really spured me to keep on reading...
pick up a new book...watch less TV...
put books on hold and visit the library more.

There is ever more learning
to do, so 31 while 31 has now begun!

I'm taking out the "good"
in the title because that is so hard to judge,
but hoping they
will all be great reads.

Hope you happily have your noses in books this year as well!