The Chosen One

It appears that Grandpa Bill has a new girlfriend. I teased Shirley earlier today and told her that for the first time in 50 years of marriage, she may have some real competition. Shirley laughed and doesn't seem to mind at all.

Cozette has decided that Grandpa Bill is the chosen one!

I sincerely prayed that Cozette would be gracious to all of the family. I never can tell who she will let hold her. The last time we were with Bill and Shirley was on Cozette's birthday in August, so it has been a few months since we last saw them. I didn't want Cozette to be shy.

Cozette greeted Bill and Shirley like they were old friends!

It is the Simpson family tradition for Bill to prepare the Thanksgiving dinner. When we arrived, I took Cozette to the kitchen to see Grandpa Bill. He was very busy sauteing the celery and onions for the dressing. It only took a few minutes for Cozette to decide that she wanted Bill to hold her. In fact, she was a little disruptive to the schedule and Shirley had to take over. We would put Cozette down and then she go back to Bill, put her arms up in the air and say, "Uh."

Translation: "Please pick me up, Grandpa!"

Bill was perfectly happy to oblige her.

And for the past day, Cozette has been partial to Grandpa Bill. It pleases all of us to see her want to go to her Grandpa. Shirley's face beams with joy as she watches Bill hold Cozette. Brad and I especially love it because it gives us a tiny break.

I know that being the chosen one can really make you tired.

I am hoping that Bill will not figure that out anytime soon!

I Feel Fabulous

Isn't it wonderful to be fabulous? Funny, I did not feel so fabulous today as I went about my normal routine. My dear sister, Quincy, nominated me for a fabulous award. I feel it is the least I can do to nominate five bloggers who I think are fabulous.

Hmm...I hope I can come up with five.

Do five people even read my blog?

Here are the rules for receiving the fabulous award:

1. You have to pass it on to 5 other fabulous blogs in a post.
2. You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions in the post.
3. You must copy and paste the rules and the instructions below in the post.

Instructions:
On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them. When you post your five winners, make sure you link them as well. To add the award to your post, simply right-click, save image, then "add image" it in your post as a picture so your winners can save it as well. To add it to your sidebar, add the "picture" gadget. Also, don't forget to let your winners know they won an award from you by emailing them or leaving a comment on their blog.

Five Fabulous Addictions:

1. Eating gummy bears.
2. Having Kayleigh scratch my back.
3. Smooching Cozette.
4. Going to QT for special fountain drinks with Kayleigh and Everett.
5. Calling Brad 10 times a day.


And the fabulous winners are:

1. Meredith: The Simpson Crew (She is my most fabulous sister-in-law who I consider to be my go-to person for anything crafty and technical. She can answer any question. I highly recommend her.)
2. Kayleigh: Kayleigh Bug Simpson (She is my fabulous daughter whom I love with all of my heart. She is my best companion.)
3. Mary-Faith: Mary-Faith Martinez ( She is my fabulous niece who is so faithful at commenting on my blog.)
4. Rachel: The Shumway family (She is my fabulous new friend, who just happens to have a fabulous daughter who is exactly Cozette's age.)
5. Natalie: The Kipper Family (Another fabulous friend who also has a fabulous son that happens to be Cozette's age. We have a fabulously fun play group.)

Being fabulous is so much fun!

I must admit, I would have never dreamed that I would actually participate in something like this!

Warning: CAT-5

Please...Don't let this angelic face fool you!

Maybe it's because I am getting older, or maybe it's because Cozette really is a force of nature, but I must admit that she makes me tired.

"Cozette sure has a lot of power," are Brad's exact words.

Hurricane Cozette fiercely blows through our home everyday. There is no end to her curious destruction.

She loves to get on top of the kitchen table. I have to take her off of it about 30 times a day. She likes to get really quiet when she is in the living room. She has figured out how to open the buffet and pulls everything out. She loves the computer, and I fear she is going to break it. She has figured out how to climb onto the chair and bang the keyboard.

I think she is trying to blog.

She pulls drawers out and throws our clothes over her shoulders. She's famous for unfolding the clean clothes. She climbs on top of the dish washer. She takes the clean silverware and runs with it. She takes the batteries out of the remote control and tries to eat them. And last but not least, she likes to unroll the toilet paper.

There is always that one time that I forget to close the bathroom door.

We did learn very quickly and have been vigilant about not forgetting to keep the toilet lids down.

Did I mention that she likes to play with the toilet bowl water?

Kayleigh and Everett recently asked if they were this powerful when they were little. I tried to remember and came to the conclusion that Kayleigh was about a CAT-3 and Everett was a strong CAT-4.

I think that secretly pleased him.

Our little Cozette keeps us hopping. She recently withstood a severe fall. I found her at the bottom of the stairs on the hard wood. I scooped her up and took the pacifier out of her mouth to check if she was bleeding. Her mouth was fine, but then I noticed drops of blood coming down her face and it was in her eyes. We both had blood all down the front of us. She had gashed the top of her head. We are very thankful that she is just fine and she did not have to have stitches.

That one really unnerved me.

I recently heard on the news that Hurricane season is over.

I sighed.

I think at my house it is just beginning.

Could we love this baby any more?

Gift Exchange

To a certain baby sister and a certain sister-in-law,
who said it was SCARY that I was making a craft,
Please try not to cry since you will not be getting one!
(Unless you humbly repent!)

Since I am the coolest aunt in the world, I decided to make Zoe and Kaija a cute craft as part of their Christmas presents. Our family celebrated Thanksgiving early, and the cousins exchanged gifts over the weekend, because we will not see each other again before Christmas. I have quite a bit of scrapbook paper left over from Kayleigh's birthday party and decided to put it to good use. My friend gave me a great idea.

I actually made them journals.

My entire family was very impressed with my craftiness.

The children had a wonderful time exchanging presents. Kayleigh received her first bottle of perfume; Hailey by Aeropostale. Kayleigh loves that store. We were actually in there the other day smelling the lovely perfume. I will try not to sneak using it! Everett received a Rubik's Cube. (so, Kirk went and bought one for himself too!) I have not decided who enjoyed trying to solve it more: Everett or Kirk?

Kirk, naturally being inquisitive, researched how to solve it. He solved the Rubik's cube about 11 times over the weekend. He and Everett spent hours trying to solve it. I guess if Kirk is going to solve the energy crisis, the least he can do is solve a little Rubik's cube!

How can I forget little Cozy and baby Susie? Cozette received some fantastic new books and Susie received two very cute headbands.

Who knows?

I just might make some more crafts very soon!

Look at how Zoe and Kaija love their journals!

Keeping the Old

Carrie, Jeannie, and Jori.
Looking good after all these years !

Make new friends, but keep the old.
One is silver and the other is gold.
A circle is round, it has no end.
That's how long I will be your friend.

There's an inextricable bond that ties childhood friends together. No matter how many years pass, you seem to pick-up right where you left off. It is a bond that even time cannot touch.

I am blessed to have such friends.

Jori and Carrie came to see me on Friday. The last time the three of us were together was four years ago when Jori was married in the Atlanta temple. Jori lives about 30 minutes from me, but Carrie lives in Chicago. It was wonderful for us to see Carrie again. Our afternoon was spent catching-up and reminiscing on the good old days. Some of my happiest and funniest memories happened when we were together. It was great to see these two ladies that I love so dearly.

Our reunion was far too short.

Who Is It?

I'm a big bad robber and I'm gonna get YOU!

Brad told me to blog this.

Around noon today, Brad called to check in with me. I had just put Cozette down for her nap and came downstairs to finish a craft project when the phone rang. This is how our conversation went:

Brad: Hey love, how's it going?

Me: Good. I just put Cozette down for her nap. How are you?

We continue to talk for a few minutes when all of a sudden the door knob started to turn!

Me: Um, Brad I think the door knob is turning. Are you home? ( I asked because sometimes he will come home for a quick break if he is on this side of town. I thought he may be surprising me.)

Brad: What? No, I'm in my car.

Me: Brad, someone is turning the door knob!

Brad: Are you sure?

I then walk towards the front window to look out. I see no one.

The door knob is still turning back and forth like someone is trying to get in. I am distressed now.

Me: Brad, someone is trying to get in!

I then walk towards the front door to look out the peep hole, I couldn't see anybody but the door knob is still being turned and then there was a loud knock.

Brad: Jeannie, is everything OK?

Me: No! Oh my Lands... Who is it? WHO IS IT? I was very alarmed.

It's me, Everett.

I then open the door.

Me: Oh my lands, Brad. I TOTALLY forgot. Today is early release.

Brad: Jeannie!! He said this with relief and like I was a crazy woman.

Everett: Mom, are you OK?

Me: No, I thought you were a robber trying to get in.

Everett starts to laugh really hard and looks at me like I'm nuts. All of the commotion wakes Cozette up.

Brad: Bye-bye Jeannie.

Me: Brad, I really was scared. I have to go get Cozette. Sorry, I scared you.

Brad: I could tell you were scared.

Then we both start to laugh really hard.

Me and Brad at the same time: Bye-bye.

The End.

I must be losing it.

Amen

For the record, please notice how sticky Cozette is.
She also decided to put her pacifier in the yogurt.

Eating lunch together is a special time of day for little Cozette and me. I make every effort to sit at the table and eat with her. We always begin our lunch with a prayer. I love teaching my children how to pray. Cozette and I go through the steps daily.

"Cozette, let's fold our arms," I begin.

She has not done this yet.

We then offer our prayer.

Then we close it, "In the name of Jesus Christ."

Yesterday, after I said Amen, she repeated me.

"A-yih."

I was very surprised.

"Oh! Cozette, you said Amen, you are such a big girl." I praised her. "Will you say Amen again?"

"A-yih."

Today Cozette said Amen again. This time she said it louder and then laughed at herself. I know she was pleased that she repeated me. Yesterday was a little milestone for Cozette and a special reminder to me of how important it is to teach the gospel to my children.

Amen!

All of this picture taking is making me tired!