Fa-la-la-la-la!

Look! It's CHRISTMAS!

From a good snow storm..

..to a brand new snow outfit.. (does someone like to pose??)

..to Bo's Christmas Concert

..to TWO Christmas dresses..

Yup. Definitely Christmas.
Now. About the Christmas cards. The following is the picture I used for my Christmas cards..

It seemed O.K. at the time.. but somehow upon shrinking it into a bordered Christmas photo (which I wasn't happy with, so ended up putting in ANOTHER card border. It's jacked up.)I found I resembled an asymmetrical-faced transvestite with fuzzy ocean-air hair.. it really looked freakishly different from the original(as many of you across the miles will be able to enjoy as you recieve copies of it.) Hmmm. Too late to do anything about it now.. and I know its not ALL about the Christmas picture (but it KINDA is..) So this is my disclaimer. To those of you that find my card in your mailbox.. I know. I look a little creepy.. and I should of gone with THIS one..

BUT! It's Christmas! And we're warm and safe and happy.. Sophie dancing around in her bloomers from under her church dress-- singing random Christmas lyrics, presents tucked away hiding in every spare nook and cranny we could find, and a really cute tin of peppermint bark on the counter. So I won't sweat the card. So I'll love that there's snow to look at, and lights lining our little downtown, and treats from neighbors pouring through the door. So fa-la-la-la-la. Merry Cozy Christmas to you.

Now THAT'S Annoying.

Sophie just crawled up on my lap (that's not the annoying part.. that's cute) and pushed some button that just deleted my whole list of friends blogs. THAT'S the annoying part.

Good Question.

Bo wandered up to me the other day.. double dimples in tow.. and ask,
"Do people with brown hair, have to marry other people, with brown hair?"
(I think he was just checkin' his options.) A few moments later, on a seemingly completely different train of thought.. he was back by my side.
"Mom. When I get older like you-- will I have to worry?"
"Worry about what?" I asked.
"Oh.." he answered, kinda thinking a minute..
"like about, car insurance and stuff?"
I'm pretty confident I have never discussed anything on the subject of car insurance with him ever. I was kinda shocked he even knew it was a thing. I could of responded with..
"Actually, YES. You'll have to worry about that, and maybe even have it, but not get your cracked windsheild fixed for 2 years, like Mom, just cause you'd rather buy Old Navy clothes than pay your deductible."
But I didn't. I just smiled and said
"Have fun being little and NOT worrying about stuff."

SOS Pads. Who Knew??

My sweet Mom, kept a very tidy house. I remember always being proud when walking in with friends after school-- at the clean, orderly-- and always tastefully decorated home she made for us. I always loved all of our houses.. all the decor.. all the well-kept homey-ness it always was. The crazy part is that admist all my Moms tidiness (with 5 kids, a dog, and plenty of church roadshows to write and direct, weddings to decorate for, and football pants to wash..) us kids never had so-called, "chores." Now as I got older I remember always being pretty good at keeping my own room cleaned up.. and secretly helping out around the house with little "The Good Fairy Was Here" notes left behind for my Mom... but it was all.. voluntary. Hard as I try I literally cannot remember my Mom ever telling me to do anything specific around the house. I'm sure there was occassion-- and I remember randomly helping out, vaccuuming and squirting down a bathroom here and there (in fact I do specifically remember her showing me the 'get all around the base of the toilet' technique.. and she called the pee drops from the boys on the rim,'butter stains'..)but for the most part, she did it all. She was just happy to have us being kids, doing kid things. So long as we were making good choices-- and loving eachother.. she was good. (For those who never had the joy of knowing my cute Mom.. let me take this spot to just say she was really, really, great.) SO... this brings me to my blogging point today. I consider myself a decent homemaker. I'm a mediocre cook.. excellent laundry doer, and always make my bed. I vaccuum pretty regularly, sweep a little less than is required, but honed in on my Moms skill of keeping things straight. Presentable. Uncluttered. Sink empty. My ability to never leave a room without taking something out of it that belongs somewhere else is a mastered skill straight from Mom. BUT-- there's a few things I never picked up on. While I was busy picking out Homecoming dresses and deciding which bangle bracelet to wear with my royal blue flats (well, royal blue bangle, ofcourse. It was 1989..) somewhere I seemed to miss the Mom lessons that teach you things like what kind of starch to use when ironing, or what the true process of mopping a floor looks like.. (I always end up on my hands and knees with a wet paper towel.. but I have a feeling there's other options.) Then there's my husband. HE, (although you wouldn't guess it from his own house-dwelling habits.. love ya honey!) had chores. So he will often reccommend a product or process for cleaning totally foreign to me.. which I respond to with a blank stare. So imagine my intrique when he picked up SOS pads at the store the other day. The burner trays (if that's even what you call them.. you know-- the silver things under your burners that your boiled-over pasta gets gunky in)were getting embarrassing.. and my paper towels and hot water just weren't doing the trick. Long story short (wait, actually.. this is just a very, very long story.) I tried SOS pads for the first time in 13 years of marriage. Wow. They work. And TOTALLY remove, gunk. (As well as the finger nail polish Sophie spilled on the table a week ago.) Gone. Poof. Wa-la. I thought Magic Erasers were the only thing capable of such miracles. Other than roughing up my hands a little (is THAT why people have rubber gloves?? It's all coming together.) it was a very exciting experience. So there ya have it. For the other possible TWO of you who haven't tried em.. SOS pads. Getcha some.

Feelin' the Love!

Just a little shout-out to all my 'peeps' (another vocab word sure to keep me young and hip... and classy..) who made my birthday week such a good time! I apologize to the blogging world in general for not having pictures to illustrate my varied and festive activities.. but I promise it was full of friends, food-- and presents. Lots of prettily little packaged presents. I have recently decided that it's O.K. to openly admit, that getting presents.. is really fun. Doesn't matter what it is.. doesn't matter how much it costs-- just being handed a little mysterious something, all tied up just for you.. just cause someone was thinking of you, just cause it's your birthday-- just cause you were BORN.. now that's just sweet. Just good plain fun. I like birthdays. I like that everyone has a day where the people that love them, can celebrate them.. in whatever little way that might be.So thank you to all those I love-- who love me back. It was a perfect week.. even if I am now, 37.

Let's Get This Party Started!

So just for the record.. I.. FREAKY as it sounds.. will be turning 37 years old this Saturday. (I know.. I know.. hard to believe-- I don't look a DAY over 36 and 1/2.)
So what BETTER way to start the party-- then for my darling, fun, so stylish-a cousin, and her Mom, my cute and cozy Aunt-- to drive up from Salt lake to see ME? No better way. Not only did I get to hug and chat and eat with them (three of my favorite things in life right there) BUT, to top it off.. they gifted me my very own 'Duwop Venom Gloss'. The name alone makes me happy. I'm a big fan of the lipgloss in general.. even my very sticky Dollar Store pick.. but THIS stuff.. I mean Jennifer Aniston is rumored to wear it dontcha know (and trust me when I say I look JUST like her with it on.) So thank you my sweet and giving relatives. There's nothin' like family faces at your front door.. (and a new lipgloss in the purse!)

The Boy's Got Skills (And The Princess Prefers Asian)

We are not a "musical" family by any means (I am totally and completely tone-deaf, as the poor little children in my nursery class will attest.. and Jasen has never even SEEN 'The Sound Of Music.' WHO hasn't seen The Sound of Music? I didn't know one could live 36 years in America.. and NOT.) But I gotta give our Jesse some props (I use words like "props" to sound younger.. is it working??) In the last few months-- thanks to a generous hand-me-down gift of a sweet electric guitar (see how I did that again.. "sweet.") and a few lessons.. the boy has totally got it goin' on.. as he displayed here at our own private concert the other night!
(Bo was lucky enough to get an autograph. He'll probably sell it for cash on Ebay.)
In other news..
Sophie the Crazy Princess (she prefers her tiara, upside down..) while eating fried rice, declared, "Princesses like Chinese food."

So. Now ya know.

I'm Grateful for THIS

Who wouldn't be grateful to see THIS coming up the stairs at midnight??.

Followed by this..
While the rest of the house slept in a post-turkey coma.. I hear two silly hushed voices coming up the stairs and around the corner. And there they were. Hard to tell, but Sophie was also displaying a knights sheild on her chest.. and Jesse, an old over-sized cheezy fake leather jacket to top off his look.
So. This holiday, not only am I grateful for the fun 'slumber party' at Jasens sisters-- and the beautiful and delicious and good time it was.. but I am grateful for healthy, happy, silly kids.. who make eachother laugh, at midnight.

I Might Need Professional Help..

I went to see Edward. Again. I NEVER see movies, again. Don't buy movies when they come out on DVD.. don't watch HBO reruns. Just don't. Not interested. (Wait. Except for Notting Hill. And Breakfast Club. And O.K.-- Titanic. But that's IT.) But somehow, after at least 6 months of not even being IN a movie theatre.. just hit it twice in 5 days. For the same movie. Should the people closest to me be concerned? When does one recognize it's time for an intervention? And when will I realize that no real man is ever gonna think I smell THAT good.. or take me to a restaurant when HE'S not even eating?? Call it an obsession. Call it a fantasy..(call it a mid-life crisis. I won't be offended.) But something about the forbidden yet undying (literally.. hardy-har) devotion and intensity of the relationship in the film, really has me fixated for a minute here. I will now do my best to focus on real life, and NOT return to the theatre for at LEAST a week-- but I can't promise anything.

My Heart Belongs To Edward

Seriously. I haven't been so moved by a movie since Titanic.. (and embarrassingly, I was incredibly moved, by Titanic.) I'm still tingly. I'm still trying to finagle a way back in to the theatre to see it again without looking pathetic.. but most of all-- I'm still hoping that one day I too.. can be a very strong, very fast, very attractive, vampire. So I haven't even read the books. Just went cause it was a night out with the girls.. and I like 'hype'. I mean really people, I loathe sci-fi as a rule, and up until this moment, the visions and bad make-up that the term "vampire" itself conjure up for me are just annoying. But not any more. I choose to love Edward like the rest of the female population. I would let him monkey-climb me fast as lightening up any tree, anytime. He can creepily watch me sleep, and sniff my blood scent unceasingly.
I am not afraid.
(Needless to say I will be starting the books, immediately.)

Waking Up To Hot Crocked Chicken..

So.. things get busy. You're movin', you're groovin'. You've got dinner on the table, and another dinner in the crockpot for TOMORROW even. (Why? Cause you've got thawed chicken you've been meaning to cook for 5 days, you can't RE-freeze, and if you don't use it NOW, it's rotten.. and there goes 4 chicken breasts of the 60 you bought at the case sale.. DOWN the drain. We cannot be wasting perfectly good chicken in such times as these, now can we?) And then you're cleaning up dinner.. you're doin' dishes.. you're giving baths, homework advice, and tuck-ins.. and NEXT thing you know-- it's 7 a.m., and the house smells VERY strongly of crock-potted chicken. So if the now 12 hours it's been going isn't enough.. you get busy. You're rushin' kids to school, ya gotta fit in that work-out.. you really gotta SHOWER after that work-out (ESPECIALLY if you've worn that work-out get-up 2 days in a row like you KNOW you have..) gotta meet that friend for a birthday lunch, and you GOTTA read Sophie her new books from the book fair. Suddenly, it's 2:00. You MUST pick up your oldest from school, and you MUST get on-line and be sucked into the blog/facebook/snowboarding jacket websites for at LEAST a good hour.. before you realize you can't even SMELL the chicken anymore. You have become one with the overpowering stinch of it. And now.. NOW, 24 hours later, it is dinnertime. And there the chicken sits. Dark. Shriveled. "Well-done". And you serve it up. Because it's your chicken. And you cooked it.. and it will not go to waste.

Just Your Average Sunday Afternoon..

Some people rest. Some read. Perhaps a few go on nature walks.. or pray alot.
Us? We decided it was a great afternoon to demolish our famously hideous, at LEAST 40year old, tater cellar. Wasn't long before the hammers were pounding.. rusty nails we're flying.. and there were even neighbors gathered round to join in the festivities. Due to highly uncooperative participants-- I failed to get a shot that truly shares the excitement and energy of pure destruction.. but WAS able to capture just HOW nasty of a structure.. how truly offensive to the naked eye.. this particular tater cellar, is. Make that, WAS.

Let me know what kind of awful visions of slum-like poverty it stirs up for you personally. The back side's even nicer.

Jesse dared to take on the surely haunted innards.

Brynne and Bryan.. crutches and all.. just couldn't resist joining the party.
(Don't let the sitting fool you.. Brynne took out a whole wall single-handedly before the day was done. Who said bunion surgery has to slow a girl down??)
And ooh! Look! There's our other 'fancy' shed behind them! Jealous?

Off to shed heaven.

All in all-- a good time had by all. Only 97 more home improvement projects to go..

Laughter Really Is The Best Medicine

Wanted to post this picture of my very halarious.. and here, quite tickled, brother-in-law. This was taken back in St. Louis, near the end of our emotionally exhausting week. Jasens Dads funeral had been the night before, and after the cemetary the next morning, with heavy hearts we had returned to the church for a lunch that had been prepared for the family. Sitting together we began to talk, and laugh.. really hard. Just the thing I bet Grandpa would of loved to see-- and hopefully did. Thank goodness for family. Warm, loving, cozy, funny.. family.

Being Little Is Exhausting

Tonight after a full-blown fling herself on the floor tantrum (all because she didn't get a Subway sandwich like Dad had.. apparently she prefers a foot-long.)Sophie finally settled down. About 10 minutes later she took me by the hand and said.."Can you come lay down with me? I'm tired from all that screaming."

It just never gets old..

So Snow White, a hippie, and a pirate, walk into bar...
(Actually.. they just walked into a school carnival, a donut party, and a whole lotta streets to trick-or-treat.) By the way.. I do have another child-- he just recently hit his 'too cool for costumes' year.

Kay.. this one made me laugh unusually hard..

Why do I insist on dressing up? (I must have skipped the 'too cool for costumes' year.) I just can't help myself..

Oh. This would be Jasens latest contribution to "holiday traditions". It just ain't Halloween without a little lighter fluid.

One More Angel's Watching Over Us

Last night, Jasens sweet Dad, suffered a sudden heart-attack, and has passed away.
We are so very sad. Please keep Jasen in your prayers this week.

How I will remember my darling father-in-law..

He was a project away from being done..
and football on t.v.--
he was a rancher in his heart of hearts..
but a business man, to raise a family.
He liked to stay up watching movies,
with his sons there all night long.
He'd joke,"Sounds like a personal problem"
if ya told him what was wrong.
But he was tender.. he was loyal.
Unwavering in times of fear.
And his arms were a favorite place,
for all his grandkids gathered near.
He loved steak made outside on the grill,
and "chocolate bagels" for dessert..
and when his loved ones suffered,
was the only time, you knew he hurt.
He was loving. He was gentle.
He was honest. He was fair.
He was making patato salad..
and glad to have you there.
Dennis. Husband. Brother. Son.
Dad. Poppy,and Grandpa.
In every part he played..
it was a great man that we saw.
And that is why we'll miss him.
In his jeans and white tennis shoes.
He was someone we love with all our hearts..
and that it breaks our hearts, to lose.

Have You Seen My Stuff??

The following items are constantly missing from my home.. or at least very VERY hard for me to find. I am convinced someone is rearranging my things to mess with my head.
1. Pencils with eraser still left.
2. Sophies OTHER "good" ruffle sock.
3. The new special spot I put my ipod at so I wouldn't forget where it was.
4. My single token spool of thread, with my single token needle stuck in it.
5. The checkbook.
6. The dog leash that retracts.
7. Jesse's lunch card, every morning, at 7:15.
8. A ponytail holder when I'm doing housework and my hair is making me HOT.
9. A safety pin when I'm late for church and my bra is showing.
10.The phone when it's ringing.

Apparantly, My Pants Are NOT Flattering.

Tonight, as I pulled on my navy blue velour drawstring pants from circa 2002 (because, let's face it.. not alot fits over the 2 layers of bandage wrap on my post varicose leg..) Sophie observed from the bed. When I finally had them up and on with matching jacket in place.. she clearly stated,
"Mom. Those pants do not look cute on you."
Good to know. Good to know.

My Life As A Stripper

It's true. I HAVE been stripped. But before you all go getting excited about my post 4-babies-body all naked for the veiwing.. I'll end the suspense and explain that I was indeed stripped.. of my big nasty varicose veins that is. Most of ya know (along with many of your small children that have been frightened by them..) that I've been plagued with a mess of old lady lookin' veins on the back of my right leg, for years. Welp.. I'm guessing, and hoping, that the 15 incisions-- and 2 hours of horrible, awful,terrible, very bad pain.. means they have been destroyed at last! 2 months ago I tried a less invasive, method (hot cathedar up the vein. Yum.) that I thought was pretty bad in itself, and included 6 weeks of wearing a compression hose after (the story just gets sexier, anad sexier..)didn't seem to take. So today I was suprised and terrified to experience exactly what goes down in a 'stripping'. It feels alot like it sounds. After a ridiculous amount of injections in the MOST tender inner parts of your calf and thigh.. they cut you in their strategic spots, and then proceed to RIP.. we're talkin' PULL, TUG, and YANK your veins outta your insides. So NOT totally awesome. I've always taken pride in my bravery in similar situations.. barely whispered a moan in 4 labors.. have had all kinds of large chunks a skin taken outta all places because of skin cancer.. but today.. I am ashamed to say I made sounds I've never heard come out of my mouth. Not even the People magazine I had plastered over my face to hide the gore, could muffle my displeasure. So. If you're in the market for a 'strip'.. just wanted to get ya good and prepared-- and reccommend demanding to be knocked out COLD for the entire procedure. Good night now!

Am I Wrong??

As I type.. my very awake, very noisy, but VERY happy kids are all in the basement.. screaming and squealing in delight. I couldn't tell ya exactly what it is they are saying or doing.. just that they seem to be having a great time. They are dinnered, desserted, bathed and brushed.. trottin' around down there in their jammies laughing really hard as they bang into furniture and wrestle, and then stop to discuss a super hero or annoying teacher. Did I mention it's 10:00 on a school night?
I know.. I know. Kids need their sleep.. and 7:00 am comes sickly quick for both Jesse and me when the painfully boring middle school classes call.. (Jesse cannot express just HOW lame his education is. Gone are the elementary school days of Dinosaur reports and field trips. It's all algebra and literary terms for miles..)and I realize that most kids on the block have been tucked away tight for at least an hour by now. But there's something about the magic of pre-tuck in moments.. that somehow turns daytime siblings complaining of boredom.. into the best of friends completely entertained by one anothers presence. I don't know if it's the fun of just knowing they SHOULD be in bed.. and aren't yet.. or the simple void of the busy days distractions.. but whatever causes the friendly bonding to erupt almost on a nightly basis-- is hard to disrupt. Hard to force to an end. Hard to break-up, for bedtime.
I think deep down I just know these precious minutes of giggles and impromptu games--can only happen, now. Before I know it they'll be dating and driving and off to be grown-ups.. have mortgages and jobs and kids of their own.. and now is their time to be kids. Be siblings. Be friends. In their jammies in the basement. At bedtime.

Worth The Weight..

For those who know me well.. you know, that a cook, I am not. And a 'good cook', I'm SO not. I do feed my family on a regular basis (that's the rule, right?) and although it may not be shockingly tasty.. is usually somewhat healthy ( I heart organic) and mildly filling. It just seems every time I've risked trying out a new recipe-- my family takes the first bite, and gives me that "Really Mom?" look. I vividly remember being embarrassingly impressed with myself for picking up what looked like 'fancy' marinated pork chops from the meat department (did I mention I'm a tad intimidated by that particular department? The men in their white coats and bloody gloves. Disturbing.) I sat to the table that night relatively confident that I would receive only positive feedback for my exciting entree.. as one by one each member of the group.. kids and hubby alike.. enthusiastically tried it, chewed it, and then shared their subtle, but clear disdain for the food in front of them. I should mention that in my enthusiasm over purchasing something different as our main dish and sure that the shape alone would distract and engage the troops.. I had let the side items slide.. and next to the big attraction, was only white rice, spray buttered broccoli.. and some pathetic looking sliced wheat bread on a plate.So there they all sat.. picking at plain rice and dry bread. Couldn't help but giggle. Something about that particular nights failure.. about that millionth mediocre meal.. and the fact that I'd actually believed it MIGHT be tasty.. just struck me as hilarious. Without warning, my giggle broke out in to one of my 'can't stand it' laughing fits. Laughed so hard, and so long, tears rolled down my face, as my family looked on utterly confused, wondering WHAT was so funny about bad pork chops. So. You can imagine my surprise, when after recently trying a new homemade Alfredo recipe-- EVERYONE loved it. Like, LOVED it loved it. Asked for seconds loved it. Ask for LEFTOVERS loved it. It was crazy. What adds to my giddiness, is that not only is it truly dee-lish.. it's stupid easy. The only downfall I can pinpoint, (and therefore the only reason I haven't decided to make it morning, noon, and night..) is that I'm pretty sure it holds at LEAST 1,000 calories per serving. I'm sure that as a family unit we would all die early and obese deaths, if I don't take some responsibility on regulating our intake of this paticular dish. But being that swimsuit season is over for a while anyway.. I will now post the recipe I have lovingly named 'Alfredo for All'. They will ALL eat it. I swear. It's good over any kind of noodles,(and if you're feeling over-achiever, grill some chicken to throw in it.. but don't feel you must.) READY?

1 pint heavy cream
1 stick butter
1/2 package cream cheese (or throw the whole thing in if ya want it crazy thick.)
1 cup parmesan cheese (feel free to add more!)
1 cup milk (I use skim, but whatever.)
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder ( I was out and used garlic salt, and it was fine too.)

Got it?? (Gained a little around the middle just reading it?)
So just melt the cream cheese and butter.. add everything else, and make sure to simmer it enough to get the parm good and melted in there.. then loosen your belt!
May you have many happy, easy, unusually fattening mealtimes ahead.

Me. On a Budget.

In the last month.. I have canned tomatoes from our garden, picked--blanched (yeah, I know what that means now)--sliced--syruped (yeah, I made it a verb) and frozen peaches from our very own peach tree, weeded and pulled up old pumpkin vines wearing real gardening gloves, mowed my 1/2 acre, joined and prepared multiple meals for a 'dinner group' AND started, (and have stuck to for a MONTH now) a budget.
All I have to ask, is WHERE the crap is Katy Rees and WHAT have you done with her??? Is this what happens to everyone when they move to Utah? I must say, of all my latest adventures-- the budget has opened my eyes the most.. (even more so than the fat grey cat that sprang outta nowhere in my shed yesterday. Oh my gosh. I have a shed.)
Though many of you may be saying, "Surely in all her 36 years, Katy has at some point followed, or at least pretended to practice the art of budgeting".. but there's where you'd be both embarrassed for me, AND wrong. Funny how now that I am.. I find pretty much everyone else in the WORLD has been the whole time.. and the tricks and tips you all have revealed are something of a wonderment! For instance.. at any given time, Kaly can give you the lowest chicken by the pound price in town-- and Marnie has a rebate plan for almost everything you need to survive. Candice has her coupons organized in such a remarkable fashion it's almost as entertaining as a scrapbook to revel in.. and a number of girls at church have secret internet codes that can take your bargain world to a whole new level. So. I've decided to blog about my new and exciting "Random Acts Of Cheap".. because after all.. like a new outfit-- what fun is it if ya can't show somebody. For instance, in Wal-Mart (everybodys favorite place to HATE being alive. Have you ever left NOT dirty?)just
yesterday.. by check-out I was OBVIOUSLY dehydrated (after all, I'd shopped BOTH sides. Who are we kidding.. that's gotta burn like, 400 calories..) but instead of grabbing the somehow accepted but outrageously overpriced chilled Dasani for a spankin' $1.33.. I opted to pitstop at the in-store Subway on my way out and asked if I could pay for a water cup. What's that he replied?? 'Oh you can have it for free.' Ch-ching! There;s $1.33 in my pocket just waiting for that next pack of starbursts Sophie demands! I know it's exciting folks.. so I'll hold back on my 'Can I speak to a Manager' move that got me my $1.69/lb chicken tonight long after the meat department had shut down for the evening.. and just let you sit back and soak in the satisfaction and delight of the first tale. There will be more. I am ON this train (for at LEAST another month..) so stay tuned.

Girls Will Be Girls..

As most of you know.. after 10 years of strictly sword fights and football (of which I'd grown to appreciate and had accepted would be my only entertainment for years to come..) somehow the heavens (and perhaps my cute Mom, while hanging out up there) decided to bless me with this marvelous little thing. A girl.
And since she was bound to be my only one (seeing how we've "closed up shop" here at the Rees baby factory!) I truly believe that when they picked her out.. they made sure she was the girliest of ALL girls, ever. I can honestly say, I've never had more fun.. (and I have HAD some fun!) Just thought I'd give you a peek into a few Sophie Jo moments that make my insides happy. Enjoy!

The girl likes her purse...

I mean, she REALLY likes her purse.

She loves having imaginary make-up applied.
Even by Jasens man hands.

It can't be this easy..

Seriously? Am I blogging RIGHT now?? I thought this was an all-day affair.. and perhaps when I get to posting pictures and creating cute polka-dotted backgrounds-- it will be.. but for now, go ahead! Welcome me to the world-o-blog.. embrace me with your cyber limbs.. and entice me with tips and formats I may delight in!