just in case you were wondering...

...what would happen if you decided to take a nap right after you had just created a masterpiece of paper and marker...

you would, most likely, end up looking like this... that is... if you had the habit of sucking your thumb as well.

...how embarrassing...

an exploration of individuality...

we have reached the mark. the point of no return. our dear sweet little miss schmutz is starting to have an opinion in matters that concern her - food, toys we play with, and... oh dear... what clothes she wears.

Now, don't get me wrong.. I LOVE her rain coat and hat. please just continue to read the story to find out what happened...

The morning began as usual. breakfast. maybe watch curious george. and, not far into that morning was the promise of a "walk" introduced. no more needed to be said about the subject. "shoes!" ashlyn squealed and ran to find the appropriate pair of footwear; this expression of individuality i, almost, have no problem with. she usually is very good and finding the shoes i want her to wear.


our problem all started when the realization that little miss schmutz did not have on a coat. if there is one thing she knows, it is that she must have shoes and a coat on before she may venture outdoors. we opened the closet to see what coats she still had available to wear, as i had not done laundry for the week and she is amazing at dirtying coats, jackets, and whatever clothes she happens to have on.

as soon as that closet door slide open, her big round eyes spotted the coat. she quickly reached and grabbed the bright pink fabric and that is the end of story. there was no way that i was going to get her to wear any other coat.in.the.world.

so, on that gorgeous, dry, sunshiny day in seattle paradise my daughter and i went on a walk.. with her rain coat on. i guess i can rest assured that she will never become a weather lady.

back to the basics...

...there once was a boy who met a girl. And even though, after that first night, neither of them thought they would ever see each other again.. they did.

..and they fell in love..

..and made a "couple" into a "family"...

..and even though that small family has seen better days, there never has been a happier time. Because, you see, that boy and girl are still very much in love with each other, their daughter, and where their lives are headed.

This is the point where we have realized to just get back to the basics. We have seen more financial secure days, more glory and honor, more fancy clothes and food.. yet we still were never happy with it all. We are only happy being our little family.

...isn't that wonderful...


thanks Rachel for the wonderful family pictures! They turned out wonderful even though little miss schmutz was so not interested.

...You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away...

rub.a.dub.dub.. an ashlyn in a tub..

my little miss schmutz has finally found the joys of playing in the bath tub. She has never really enjoyed it all that much. She would usually just tolerate the ordeal, splash a bit, and then be happy when the time came for her to be wrapped in a warm towel and rushed away.

Well something finally clicked in Ashlyn. And that "something" was the realization that she could not play with any of her brightly colored, animal shaped bath toys unless she was taking a bath.

So now, she is asking for a bath almost every morning.. sometimes even before breakfast!

I don't mind. True to "Ashlyn fashion" she will still cry if I leave her in there by herself. So I usually grab my Young Women's manual and go sit on the bathroom floor and prepare my sunday lesson while little miss schmutz busily fills and empties buckets, and pretends with her little toys.

you are invited...

... to our little tea party. It was very yummy and very fun. I am not sure if ashlyn enjoyed eating the cheerios or serving the cheerios more.

this was our "test-run" but I think we've got it down. Next time i think we are going to invite ashlyn's baby doll and stuffed bunny.

...that now has ballooned into morning, midday, and even at night routine. little miss schmutz has decided that her little "following" of "friends" {aka. stuffed animals from her room, plus her babydoll} must follow her almost everywhere.

so, you will see me, at least three times a day, gather up my little miss schmutz in my arms as well as a babydoll, a stuffed dog, a stuffed giraffe, and two stuffed bunnies... luckily, i have not dropped anyone.. yet.