You're doing WHAT??

We are going on a cruise. That's right. A freaking cruise. Tomorrow. AMAZING!! I don't know why I feel the need to justify it for some people, but some might wonder "Why??" or "How, haven't you been living with your parents?" Why? We LOVE cruises, and I feel we've worked our little tushies off getting Nate through school, and at this point in our lives when Grad School is about to start and we're hoping to have another baby within the next year, this is our last shot before Nate starts his big boy job in NYC and who knows when we'll get another chance. So this is it, now or never. And how? We've saved up for this for a long time. At first it was going to be Thailand, but that was just too much right now. Though it may not be the smartest thing to do with our money, we just had to take a jump, and spend some good, unstressful time together. So think what you will about our newest adventure, we needed it so we're taking it. Have a good week everyone, I know we will!!

Personality!

This little girl has more personality than any other kid I've ever met! She makes this goofy little face that I just love and literally laugh out loud every time she does it! (see the top left and the top right picture) Even though at times her little personality is slightly dramatic, she is still such a sweet little girl who lights up my life every day. Love you, Baby Face!!

(small) VICTORY!!

I found some. Sorry the picture is so small, but these are Rachael's current shoes. After spending half of my life, be in online or in store, searching for shoes, I finally bought the ones I fell in love with at first sight. They're pretty versitile and the ankle strap doesn't rub, and she likes them cuz of the jewels! She walks around saying, "Sooos!" and slapping her feet on the ground. Pretty cute... lets not talk about how I found some online for about $7 cheaper than I got them for at Sears. They're definitely not church shoes, too fancy shmancy, just play shoes, and I STILL need to find shoes for Celeste's wedding in two weeks, and that is stressing me out to no end. Seriously, I'm used to this kid having like 6 pairs of shoes for me to choose from, now what?

Shoes (or lack there of...)

I am having the hardest time finding some summer shoes for Rachael!! Not only does she have monster huge feet for a 20 month old, they're currently at the in-between stages of 7-8. I know, I know, shouldn't that mean 7 1/2? Of course it should, however, basically the only store who makes toddler 7 1/2 is Payless. I'll get to why I can't get her shoes there in a minute. Being at this in-between stage, Rachael's feet are too long and barely fit into a 7, but her ankles are too skinney to fit into an 8, they just flop right off. Lame. Finally I just broke down and got her a cute little pair of brown sandals from Target the other day, size 7. They have on strap across just below her toes, a strap that wraps around her ankle and velcroes on the side of her ankle. They worked well, at least for now, minus her toes would slide and hang out a lot of the time. Come to find out in the tub later that night (P.S. Kids feet get a LOT dirtier when they're wearing sandals... FYI) that she had this horrible looking red welt on her little ankle from where the strap dug in. She hadn't been complaining about it all day, poor kid, but I wouldn't want that. This specific style of sandal is basically the only one out there (hence no Payless). And I swear to you I've been in literally every store in this town that sells children's shoes, even some in Phoenix this weekend, and I cannot find her a single pair of sandals. I usually like to spend $15 MAX on shoes for her, and that's if she is going to get a lot of wear out of them, but at this point I'd be willing to dish out $30 if I could just find a pair. Any suggestions? Any of you have shoes your daughters have outgrown and you would be willing to part with?