Santa Baby

Mylie met Santa!  AND she liked him.  AND I'm very happy that she liked him because I got this adorable smile out of her.
I'm loving that she's excited for Christmas this year and understanding it a little more too.  She has been watching Jesus' birth from the Living Scriptures and loves it.  Richie has hated those things since we paid so much for them, but he just mentioned that at least this one has "paid off" because Mylie knows the real Christmas story! 

Pretty Lady

My mom sent Mylie the CUTEST holiday dress, and this afternoon before church I made Mylie model it for me.  She is one cute model!  Thanks mom, you spoil us all!

I'm in Love

Can you blame me?  These two melt my little heart.  They are best buddies--Mylie cant' get enough play time with her daddy.  And Richie is the best daddy in the world.  I love watching them play together.  I hope the love that they share never fades and that Mylie can someday appreciate what a special guy she has in her life.  I sure do!  Love you!

Happy Halloween!

Instead of carving pumpkins we let Mylie paint one.  Boring I know.  At least she had fun and next year we will definitely carve!

Missin' My Fam

I got to take some pics of my parents while visiting Oklahoma.  They turned out so good--here are three of my faves.

Bye-Bye Bottle!

Mylie's pediatrician told me that she needed to be off a bottle by 16 months at the latest.  Today Mylie is 27 months and still has a bottle.  (I'm an awesome mom).  I tried once before, and she didn't drink an ounce of milk for 3 days.  I'd give her milk in a cup and she's throw it across the room.  Wonderful.  I gave up.

My sister-in-law gave me an idea about having a bye-bye bottle party.  Richie and I talked to Mylie about this party for over a month, and decided that after we got back from our trip to Oklahoma we'd say bye-bye to her precious bottle!  Tonight we made a special trip to Walmart and let Mylie pick out her new milk cups.  She chose princess cups because she is totally in to princesses right now!  There was no question about it--Tinkerbell, Dora--didn't even get a glance!  Princesses were the front-runners from the get go.

When we got home we unwrapped her cups and she immediately wanted milk in them.  So we put milk in one, then invited her to throw her bottles in the garbage!  (Which I got out later for hiding because bottles are NOT cheap!)  I couldn't believe it but she actually threw them away, one-by-one, with a smile on her face.  I think she was smiling because we were cheering and clapping and making a huge deal of the ordeal.  Nice.

Even bed time was smooth sailing.  We gave her some milk in a cup, she drank it up and didn't ask for a bottle.  AND she stayed in her bed.  (Which we have been working tirelessly on since we moved to California and she transitioned to a big-girl bed.)  Aaaaaa.   Let's hope for peace tomorrow, I kind of doubt it...

And those of you who know us well also know that we have a finger sucking problem too.  Not Mylie sucking her finger, but MY finger. (And occasionally Richie's finger).  Yes, it's weird, it's gross, it gets great looks, laughs, questions about teething, and I have even been told by a stranger to stop, but it has been her soothy pretty much since day one.  Soooo we decided to kill two birds with one stone tonight and say good-bye to our precious fingers as well.  She "took" our fingers off and threw them in the garbage as well.  I think this finger thing will be harder than the bottle.  She wanted our fingers during "Wizard of Oz" and she begged for mine at bed time.  Sigh.  Did I mention it's not only a habit for her but for me too???  Yup, it's great.  We're in public and she throws a fit or has a melt down--in goes the finger and everything is better.  She gets hurt--oh, there's that finger, shushes her almost immediately.  One o'clock church and she needs a nap, finger time!  It works for EVERYTHING.  But I guess all good things (and bad things...) must come to an end.  Wish us luck!

Videos!

Mylie is just too cute so here are a couple videos of her so you can all agree how cute she is.

My Favorite Beauty Products

I decided to show my favorite beauty products just for fun.  Then I'm hoping some of you will do the same so I can branch out if I ever wanted to.

So let's begin.  I LOVE this stuff.

Clean and Clear Deep Action Cream Cleanser.  My mom's friend's kids had perfect skin and she swore by this stuff.  My little sisters used it and now I do and I would like to swear by it as well.  It works!  I don't get nearly as many zits.  How great is that?

Clinique Moisture Surge is my newest love.  I got this as a white elephant gift but it is the greatest moisturizer EVER!  I only use it in the morning because it's expensive, but it keeps my makeup on and from my face getting greasy!  LOVE IT!

Mary Kay's Timewise Day Solution.  I don't know if it really works, but I think it does.  It's an age-fighting moisturizer. I put one squirt on with my Clinique Moisture Surge.  It has sunscreen in it to protect my face too, which is what I need cuz I'm getting some serious sun spots on my face and I'm only 30!  (Okay, almost 31).

Clinique Superbalanced Makeup for Dry/Combination skin.  This stuff rocks.  It's medium coverage but smooths out my skin quite well (minus those nasty sun spots).  I have this theory that we dry our faces out too much while trying to get rid of those zits so our skin overproduces the natural oils trying to compensate for losing so much.  SO my recommendation is to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!  This stuff is awesome.

Mary Kay Eye Primer.  This stuff is one of my favorite products ever.  I put it just under my eyes and on my eyelids and no kidding, it keeps my eye makeup from smearing, creasing, running, etc.  And when I forget to use it my shadow doesn't got on as evenly and smoothly.  Greatest product.  Small tube but lasts FOREVER.  Like a year or more.

Love Mac Eyeshadow.  Period. (Not this color though!!!)

Also love Mary Kay Eyeshadows. This one is cheaper so more attractive.

Mac's eye brushes.  I would NEVER go back to using sponge applicators.  These brushes are fantastic---make my eyeshadow go on flawlessly.  And they are washable (I use shampoo) so they NEVER have to be thrown in the garbage!  Well worth the purchase.

Love Mary Kay's eyeliner.  Glides right on, stays on.  Couldn't get any better than that.

Mary Kay's Eyebrow Definer pencil is the truest hair color pencil I have ever used.  My grandma was sold on it long ago and my mom recently discovered it's wonderfulness.  So if you need to enhance your eyebrows without looking fake, here's the way to do it.

Mac's Lipglass.  This is a fabulous lipgloss that actually has color when it goes on, AND it stays on!  My favorite color is Oyster Girl.  Light pink--I don't do bright lip stuff.  I need to get more daring I guess!

Mary Kay Ultimate Mascara is great.  I get the lash lengthening one though because it's cheaper and still good!

But I think my newest favorite mascara is Clinique's Lash Power Mascara.  The only problem is that it doesn't come off with soap or eye makeup remover.  And not just water.  Well you only use water but then you have to pretty much pull it off your lashes.  Kind of a pain but it's the best I've used.

So there you have it.  That's what's in my makeup bag...what's in yours?  I guess I'm a Clinique/Mary Kay/Mac user only.  I haven't branched out much besides the cheaper products (Cover Girl, Maybelline, etc.) which I am NOT a huge fan of at all.  So if you have any cheaper secrets to share, let me know, or post it on your blog!

Fall Mini Sessions

We Love the Mumford's

We made some really great friends while living in Tucson.  One family was the Mumford's, and we were lucky enough to have them come visit us!  They came Saturday while I was still in Utah, but I got back a few hours after they showed up.  Since my plane was late, Wendy was privileged to make all of US dinner on her first night of vacation!  Thanks girlie!  We played lots of Mario on the Wii, played cards--Hand and Foot, ate way too much ice cream and Oreos and drank more than enough cream soda.  Monday we went to Hollywood and saw a Chinese theater, theHollywood  Walk of Fame, and went to Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum.  (Very interesting!)  We also went to Santa Monica Beach and Pier.  Tuesday was Disneyland Day.  We were trying tirelessly to convince Wendy beforehand that Disneyland is FUN and magical and amazing!  I think she liked it just fine, but not as much as the rest of us!  We love you  Mumford's!  Please come back!  Mylie needs her bff Brooklyn and I need some close friends around me...

love the face

such sweet friends!

favorite ride--pooh bear

all tuckered out!