Counting Sheep

The last couple of nights (including this one) I have had the hardest time falling asleep. After Violet goes to bed I spend some time working on more things for my shop, Cristian relaxes and eats dinner and then we head to bed. He falls asleep within SECONDS it seems like, and I end up laying in bed tossing and turning until about 3am. It's exhausting, obviously.

Things I do when I can't sleep:
Watch The Mentalist
Browse Pinterest
Cut my nails
Think about Cristian
Think about Violet
Munch out
Work out
Do back stretches
Hum songs
Pluck my eyebrows

Sighs.
In other news, I'm in love with these fabrics. It's part of Violet's Christmas present and I'm SO excited to share with everyone what I'm making for her.

Messes

The other night I went to bed without picking up Violet's toys and arranging her books. I felt like such a rebel, and it was ridiculous. In other news my Etsy shop "BeadsAndTwine" will be opening next weekend with dreamcatchers, nature garlands, and maybe a few more things if I find time to whip them up :D.

Out Back

 Check out those leopard pants. We love them over here at the Navas house. Tonight Cristian and I went on a date to see "Thor", and Violet spent time playing with her Uncles. I guess she had a really good time, but I was glad to see her all excited to come home with her mom and dad.

Riverwalk Sundays

 

 

 

 I love those little hearts on her socks :D

 She loves her daddy so much!

Daddy's Chair

This morning Violet and I went to a Stake Primary Activity. Our station was set up so the kids could make fall centerpieces to take home with them. It was fun to feel involved, help the kids get their "vases" going, and spend time with Violet. We had cups, sticks, helicopters, leaves (thanks so much mom!!), glitter, feathers, and candy corn to make the centerpieces and everyone did such a good job. Even most of the mom's came and made one to. I was happy it seemed to be such a hit since I've been kind of slacking on my part with Primary. It was hard to get there for awhile because if I wasn't sick, one of the other two were and around and around it went for about a month. Now we are all healthy and I'm just hoping it stays that way. Tomorrow I have the lesson, and the week after because both Kaitlyn and Tawnya will be gone for the holidays.


Anyway,
Violet LOVED the activity, they had fishing, and donut bobbing, and a tub you had to crawl through and find candy, and a foam croquet court set up and I've never seen her run around so much in all her life. She had a fantastic time, and even helped mommy make a centerpiece.

After the activity we returned the shears to Grandma's house and had some fun swinging outside, playing in the leaves, and helping Grandpa feed Uncle Nick. It was good, but she was SO ready to take a nap by the time we left, which she did all the way home and once tucked up in her bed.


Later in the evening she helped me make a card for Cristian listing all the little things he does that make both of us smile. I think he really appreciated it and I need to do those things more often. Violet loves to color ( and has recently decided the walls are a good surface to draw on), and a little later on she found her centerpiece on the table and decided to eat the candy corn out of it.
Yeah. I let her..
We hardly ever give her sweets ( especially CANDY) so why not....right? I'm not sure what I was doing but at one point I looked over and saw a huge slobbery ropey mess come dripping out of her mouth. She'd thrown up all the candy corn......all over her daddy's chair...........yeah.....

I cleaned it the best I could, then threw her in the tub. I guess candy corn in a no go, and we will always have a reminder of that because his camper chair is stained lol.

Tonight we had a stay-at-home date night (and Cristian actually got off work on time!) because we have no money :( Bleh. We went to RedBox for a dollar movie, and I tried my hand at making authentic chicken tacos for dinner (which turned out DELICIOUS, and Cristian approved..so did Violet), we snuggled up on the couch and nibbled on popcorn with her putting crayons in and out of buckets on the floor.

At one point she stood up by the mantel and discovered HER SHADOW! It was the cutest thing we've ever seen. She kept tilting her head back and forth, waving her arms, and trying to follow it around the corner of the fireplace. Then she'd look back at us and come giggling onto the couch. It was pretty special and I love watching her discover different parts of the world.

Today has been a very busy, and very good day.
Tomorrow we have Primary, making Victoria's birthday present for Monday, and if weather permits, duck feeding.

Target

Last night Violet and I went on an impromptu trip down to Target. I really wish my town had one, but they haven't gotten with the program yet ;). I didn't really have any intention of buying tons of stuff but man... I tell you, I bought a lot. Tons of hats, gloves, and leg warmers for Violet, decals for her room, enough "Thank You" cards and stationary to last me a couple of years, Christmas gift bags, gold sticker letters. It was an adrenaline rush (how sad is that?).
It was good to get out of the valley and spend some time away, and we stopped at Carl's Jr on the way home and split a chocolate malt. Poor Cristian got leftover Kung Pao chicken, and had to find a ride home after work. It was a good time but both of us crashed once we got home. Well, all three of us really. But not before Cristian told me he was taking over a store after Christmas! This was exactly what we were hoping for and I'm so proud of him. So we get to enjoy the holidays a little more stress free than it would have been if he started right now. It was a good night, so I think today I'll make him a celebratory dinner.

Today, well.....
This morning Violet and I woke up about the same time Cristian left for work. We were both showered, dressed, and ready to go by the time he came home for lunch. This never happens. Violet is always ready but I usually end up lagging. Trying to have both of us fed, get a workout in, showering, getting dressed, getting Violet dressed, fixing both our hair, applying my makeup, and having lunch ready before Cristian comes home is a struggle sometimes but today it worked out! After getting him food, taking him back to work, and grocery shopping, I decided Violet and I would pack a lunch and go eat with the ducks at first dam.

It was FREEZING. Much colder than I thought it would be, but we had a yummy Nutella sandwhich, and some kiwi.

Her lips look blue because when we went to the bank this morning the lady gave her a blue raspberry sucker.

She would chase the geese, but once she got really close to them she would turn around and run laughing and screaming back to me. Now she's snuggled up in bed and I have some time to figure out how I'm going to turn our leftover Kung Pao Chicken into something delicious for dinner tonight.

Munchin'

First Snow

Sunday's are my favorite day of the week. And today was no exception though it did snow last night! Instead of feeling dread stir up in my stomach I was actually excited. I think it has to do with Violet. Everything is more exciting when you're sharing it with someone who's experiencing it for the first time. I say "first time' because I doubt she remembers the snow from last year lol.

Today was wonderful.
Primary planning activities.
A short brisk walk with Violet.
Making breakfast and dinner with Cristian.
And my favorite, all of us falling asleep in bed for about 2 hours. It's so nice to wake up snug and warm with my wonderful husband and enthusiastic daughter.

We spent most of the day coloring with Violet, and then watched Home Alone before heading to bed.
Such a good day.

Sweet Dreams

This morning I woke up and very anxiously looked out our bedroom window. Yesterday afternoon I spent about an hour and a half raking up leaves. Violet was extremely patient with me but couldn't last any longer then that to allow me to bag them up. So this morning I viewed the damage..... and it was bad. It must have been windy last night because all of my leaf piles had been scattered back across our backyard, so this morning I was on a mission. Every last leaf would be raked and bagged so help me. I do not want to be responsible for a damaged lawn come next spring. Violet was much more cooperative and had a great time flopping herself down into my piles, rolling onto her back and making leaf angels. She also helped me pack down the leaves I placed in our green waste garbage bin. She didn't like being in the bin that much so the help was brief in that endeavor.

We did it though. It took a few hours but our lawn is no longer coated in Autumn. I figured she would crash afterwards, but after a roast beef sandwhich she basically exploded with energy. So I left her to her toy box and got my workout in, and showered. (21 lbs down)

Tonight is my sister-in-laws 14th birthday. We are celebrating with her at The Jump Zone later once Cristian is off work. I left Violet on the bed with some books and my makeup bag, and got to straightening my hair. I didn't how realize how quiet it was in the house until after I was done. I walked into the bedroom to see what mischief she might have gotten into and saw this:

I almost burst into tears right then and there. Poor thing fell asleep reading. Isn't she just adorable? I don't ever want her to grow up. Ever. This stage is just so much fun and I can't get enough of her. I rearranged her (with some struggle, I guess she really was comfortable despite how it looks), and now she's sleeping soundly while I type this. It's a little late for her to be taking a nap, but I figure The Jump Zone will wear her out considerably.

She's perfect.

Happy Halloween!

 

My magical unicorn sitting on a cloud!

Novelty Glasses and Breakfast

 

This basically sum up my morning. But I suppose I better get my workout clothes on and start my Insanity for the day. On days (like today) were I really don't want to do it, all I need to do is look at that beautiful little girl right there. She's been my motivation for this round of Insanity and I think it's working. 20lbs down as of yesterday morning. Happy first of November!