A Plan

Tim and I have a plan.

It may or may not involve poisoning our neighbors' dogs (on either side of our house).

We may or may not have already worked out how we will deny that we had anything to do with it.

We will probably use dog treats, peanut butter, and a large amount of roach killer, since that's what we have on hand. Also, when the police come to question us, we'll be able to show legitimate reasons why we have all the supplies. I've learned from mystery novels. You can't make any suspicious purchases close to the time you kill your neighbors...ahem, neighbors' dogs.

The only reason we've worked this out is because these dogs bark ALL THE TIME. There are two on each side.

My dog practically never barks outside.

No really, it's true.

Do you know why? He's too busy following me around the house, from room to room, making me CRAZY.

* I know Patti and Sandy from the Milwaukee VA (shout out!) are reading this right now and having a cow. Don't worry ladies, I solemnly swear no dogs were killed (or even beaten) as a result of this post.

Sometimes I Freak Out

Sometimes I freak out and I can't take out the trash at night because there are clicking bugs in the trees. I can hear them clicking and I don't know what they are but I'm pretty sure they are going to drop in my hair, crawl down my shirt, and EAT MY FACE OFF. I know that could happen so I make Tim take out the trash.

Sometimes I freak out when we go to the library and even though it doesn't look that clean I think, hey, I'll be the cool, laid back mom, and I let my baby crawl on the floor. And then when she's crawling on the floor she goes to move a book, and a roach crawls out! Then I really freak out and I scoop her up and we run back to the car, and of course she isn't wearing shoes and before I can get out the hand sanitizer her hands and feet are in her mouth. Then I really really freak out because for sure, my baby is covered in roach eggs.

Sometimes I freak out when, a couple of days after Tim and I looked up stuff about roaches crawling in people's ears (no I don't remember why we did this), I feel this weird thrumming in my ear and I am now positively convinced that I have a roach in my ear. If that makes you not want to hang out with me, I understand. I'm kind of freaking out right now anyway.

Balloon Fiesta

It was cold.

It was dark.

It was earlier than I like to be conscious.

It was worth it.

There was something for everyone. A cow for my Wisconsin friends.

New Mexico pride.

For my VA friends.

And for the Star Wars fans.

Ok, maybe there wasn't anything for the Coke product fans.

Cami and Billie.

Grandma Batt, me, Cami, Billie, Kathy

And for the Milwaukee friends, remember cute Miss Brynn? I got to go to the Balloon Fiesta with her one night, but we didn't get to see much because the weather turned foul. But here she is, in her last year of her ER residency!

Party Rauch-Style

We were lucky enough to have some of Tim's family out for the Balloon Fiesta, including his parents, his Grandma, Cami, Billie, Ashleigh, Kyle, and the Wells family. We had a sweet quadruple birthday party for Lily, Ashleigh, Cami, and Billie. We appreciate all the driving and traveling that everyone did to get here, but I think the award for "Worst Trip To Albuquerque" goes to Ashleigh, who threw up several times on her way here due to being sick, and all on her birthday, too. I decided that for this year at least, October 8th should be renamed: Ashleigh's Barfday.

Me with birthday girls Billie and Cami.

Tim's cousin Lindsey came with her husband and kiddos from Logan, Utah.

Lily never hugs anyone else like this. She adores her cousin Billie.

Grandma Batt, Billie, Cami.

Lisa, Cameron's cute date to the party (who so kindly put together Lily's new playset with Cameron), Cameron, Timbo

What would a birthday party be without some trauma? Lily checking out this penguin, which bounces back at ya when you hit it.

Trying to get it away from her.

"It keeps coming back! No matter what I do, it keeps coming back!" Don't worry, we're doing exposure therapy with the penguin so that she can play with it one day. Today we looked at it while Lily sat in my lap and clung to my neck. We'll forge ahead.

You've been waiting for these.

Going in for the kill.

She definitely still has some chocolate frosting up her nose, and Tim was concerned at first that she was going to suffocate.

Blissed out.

Aunt Wendy

Paige and Jack kindly helped Lily open her presents. They were very sweet with Lily the entire time and Lily loved the attention.

Getting tired - so much partying!

Grandma Batt, Billie, Cami, Ashleigh, Kathy, Lily, and of course, Tim.

Grandma Rauch, just checking to see if Lily's still uber-flexible.

Aunt Ashleigh, even when sick, is always willing to share her iPad with the kiddos. Lily was busy on the drawing app.

Lily's Big Day(s)

Here is Lily on her birthday, in the adorable onesie that Aunt Wendy made for her.

Luckily she's an expert at eating.

Daddy's girl.

Playing with her toys on the morning of her birthday.

She has recently been refusing anything in her hair, and will automatically take whatever it may be out of her hair and put it right in her mouth. This makes me a little nervous, so I've given up. Mom: 0

Lily: 1 (Get it?)

365 Days of Sweet Lily

Yep, I'm going to post 365 pictures of Lily, so get ready. Just kidding. I will however do a picture of each month in honor of Lily turning 1 tomorrow, and I'll post a picture tomorrow of the cutie on her big day.

August

July

June

May

April

March

February

January

December

November

October

September