Isabella's Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

For Christmas I would like a DS because I want to play games. A dog so I can play with it. New markers to draw with. And with the DS, can I have some Mario games. A Nintendo DSi with games too. I would also like a new bike to ride around on. I also want binoculars to look at stuff far away. And case for my DS and DSi. Colored pencils to draw with. I would also like a Barbie car. And an air hockey table. And a new yoyo. I have also been very good. I helped my friend Jackson. I cleaned my room and help my mom. Now I would also like a new watch. And a Toy Story 3 book. And most of all an electric guitar. And last, I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love,
Isabella



The letter was translated on paper by her big buddy at school. I'm not sure how much influence she had...happy new year? Can you imagine if Santa didn't bring this flipping Nintendo DSi? This letter came home today and after reading it, Santa needs to go back to the toy shop...



Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! One of my resolutions...to blog more in 2011. 2010 was pathetic.

Easter will never be the same...

"There is no such thing as the Easter bunny. There can't be a big giant bunny in the world." And it's over. Santa is still real...for now. I think I was five when I found out that all the people that did cool things for me once a year were really my parents :-( At least the presents didn't stop. Can you imagine? "By the way, Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy are pretend and you don't get jack." What a devastating day that would have been.

To be honest, I slip up every year so I guess it won't matter anymore. And I finally get the credit I deserve (even if I did go to Walgreen's the night before to fill her basket) :-D

Here are some pics:

How much did I spend?

18 babies
x
$10-$30 each
=
OMG

Wait, change that to 16 because looking at the picture closely, 2 are my mom's babies from when she was little, aka. freaking-scary-porcelain-eyes-moving-creatures :-/

Chore Chart = bliss, peace, and harmony.

She has to do at least 5 off the list to get a smiley for the day. She has to have 14 smileys to get a toy, dinner, or an activity. See you at Chuck-E-Cheese's???? Please????

The Dentist

Highlights:
1.Twenty minutes to take a one minute x-ray.
2.Gagged on the flouride.
3.Took 27 cheap plastic toys instead of 2.
4.Tripped on the cord to the sucker thing.
5.No cavities!

Holy crazy mommy.

I need to work on my need to live vicariously, and selfishly through my 5 year old daughter. I have always wanted long, blond, thin, hair. Yes thin. I despise my thick hair. I want stringy, straight hair. Isabella was BLESSED with this. I have worked 5 long years growing her hair and her bangs out until Monday when all my hard work came to a screeching end. Watching the lady at Dot's-n-Dashes "trim" her beautiful blond hair gave me a nervous stomach ache. All that beautiful blond hair falling to the ground. But afterwards, and maybe 2 inches later, I was pleased. I liked how it was one length and it hung a little neater.

It took me a couple days to get used to it because she did look different to me. She looked older. I could still get it in pretties and her bangs stayed in place with out clips. Yesterday, I call her to find that she has gone back to the butcher shop and had more taken off. Layers were added. Hearts were broken...

And then I stopped being so dramatic. OK? I've seen it and it's really cute and I am happy. But done cutting it for 5 more years.

BEFORE:


First cut:


FINAL cut:

Something I am not OK with:

Tornadoes in California. I was in one when I was in Kindergarten in Colorado. Of course my mom was at the grocery store with my brother and I was at friends house scared out of my mind. We had to go down to the basement and kneel on the ground with our florescent pink/green/orange windbreakers pulled up over our head.

I don't remember anything after that and not because I was knocked unconscious, but because nothing happened. I don't think. I just remember my mom NOT being there, running down the basement stairs, kneeling and pulling the jacket over us. The end. HOWEVER, on Storm Chasers this past season, they did say something about the tornado in Denver in 1988. So FACE to all who never believed me!


Anyways (wow), there was a tornado warning in our area on Saturday. This is a picture of the funnel cloud over Marsh Creek Road, a.k.a. "down-the-street-from-my-house" :-/ No me gusta. I can deal with the fear of earthquakes but don't add tornado's to the mix please.

My Christmas Present

Isabella gave me this last night:





It was in a Nordstrom's box :-) She wouldn't let me wait till Christmas to open it. She said I have to wear it all the time except when I shower so it doesn't get wet or when I go to the gym so it doesn't get sweaty. Thanks.

All I want for Christmas...

Is impossible things. Santa is not God. He works part-time as a recruiter and has bills to pay.

I asked Isabella to make her annual wish list. I reminder her that they need to be things that Santa's elves can actually make or buy at Toys-r-us. Unlike her list last year, involving light up ties and all kinds of really over-the-top shirts.

She's a year older now. She has to be able to grasp the idea of real vs. make-believe to some extent right? No. Wrong.

1. A real dolphin that swims in the ocean.

"Isabella, Santa can't bring that." "OK then, a plastic dolphin that swims in the ocean."

She will be getting a blow-up dolphin swim toy.

2. All the Lego's in the world.

Santa can not afford all the Lego's in the world. Santa was shocked when he found a 250 piece set for $20.00 :-/

3. A remote control dog.

Do-able!

4. A remote control duck that quacks and says "Hi, hi." in my voice.

A remote control toy that has a record button for Isabella to talk into? Probably not.

5. A hula hoop.

Done!

6. A DS (gameboy)

McRae is selling me his old DS and some games for $20.00. She is only 5 and does not need a $200+ hand-held game system. No way Jose.

There were a few more things but you get the idea. Her Kindergarten teacher said that all the girls in the class wanted some five story Barbie condo with a hot-tub on the roof and Isabella wanted a pet dolphin. That's my girl. So practical...

Dead serious conversations with a five year old.

First, a moment for James the Dark Knight :-( He MAY have hit his eye on the rocket in his tank, causing his demise. I can no longer eat hard-boiled eggs because of it...sucks. R.I.P. JDK <3

And moving on...

Isabella has been saying some really great things lately and I am using my blog to record them. Can we make a book out of our blogs???

Mommy "I am going to miss you this weekend."
Isabella "Why?"
Mommy "B/c you are going to be gone for Daddy's wedding."
Isabella, "It's not Daddy's wedding, it's Jacqui's. She's paying for it."

2. Takes place at 6:50 AM:
"Mommy we are up way too early! It's still night-time outside.

3. Re: cut in between her fingers.

Isabella "I can't go to school like this."

Then I was talking to her while I was trying to get the band-aid out of the wrapper and she says, "you need to stop talking to me. This hurts too much." :-(

My favorite and possibly the most dramatic thing she has ever said "Have you ever had a cut like this? My hand is cut wide-open."

Still with the finger 30 minutes later and a custom made band-aid "I can't eat breakfast (real tears) b/c that is the hand I hold my fork with."

Everyone keep in mind, the cut is a teeny tiny paper cut. I posted a picture of the custom made, purple band-aid.







This picture was taken maybe two minutes after she woke up. EVERY morning, she sits up, eyes closed, and talks for about five minutes straight. Her best material usually comes out during this time. Sometimes I am forced to play a game. The rules are usually complicated and confusing, especially when playing with someone with their eyes closed. Sometimes she wants to know EXACTLY what we are doing that day, play-by-play. Sometimes she tells me about her dreams (usually I already know about them because she speaks full sentences in her sleep). And sometimes she says stuff like this:

"I think that at the carnivals we should win money. Wouldn't that be cool? Winning hundreds of bucks?"

Ok, that's all for now.

Holy catching up to do...

Ok, so my last post was in June. A FEW things have happened since then...

July:

We went on our annual trip to Pajaro Dunes. I wish I was a fancy blogger and knew how to make a link to last years "McRae/Isabella beach pic" to see how they've grown. But I don't so if you're bored or curious, click the link from 2008. I'm probably the only one that will click it.






August:

Kristi's Bachelorette party in Tahoe. We've had a bachelorette in Tahoe for the past three summers. If no one is engaged next summer we plan on going w/a fake bachelorette each night. That's fun.







We DROVE to Portland (b/c i HAAATTTTEEEE flying) for Devin's agriculture show and for me to see Lindsay! We drove the 9 hours Tuesday and drove home the 9 hours on Sunday. It was worth it because of Lindsay <3







August 31, 2009 was a pretty big day. Isabella started Kindergarten. I still can't believe she is in Kindergarten, with a backpack and a snack, and blue homework folder. I miss preschool. She loves it though and is making new friends. There have already been two fundraisers. Want to buy some cookie dough?



September 9, 2009 she turned 5. Again, wow. Where does the time go? Hold on to your babies and cherish every moment because those babies become big kids with big mouths and big hearts. She told Devin this morning, "Devin, mommy is so crazy isn't she? I wanted an english muffin. But that's ok."









Introducing our new family member, James the Dark Knight:

He's a blue (of course) betta fish. I'm kind of in love with him.

Hide-and-seek...they <3 eachother I swear.

Pool Fights

Side Note

This song should be taken off the radio. It is unfair to play it on a station that Isabella and I occasionally listen to. We like Lady GaGa and Britney Spears. There's nothing wrong with that. 94.9, 106.1, and 102.5 play them. But when this song comes on afterwards, or we catch in the middle, or she hears it somewhere else, OR SHE SINGS IT IN THE FREAKING GROCERY STORE(!!!!), I have a problem. I should call in to the stations.

And the song, if you haven't guessed:

Jeremih: Birthday Sex.

Isabella, "Birthday sets. Birthday sets." Spelled out it seems harmless, but a four year old saying "sets" sounds different.

DANG YOU JEREMIH

The weekend.

Thursday 6/18: Isabella's Graduation. Cute. Proud. Hot.





Friday 6/19: Pool. Fun. Noodles. Fights.






Saturday 6/20: Peter and Callie's Wedding. Beautiful. Wine. Old Friends.






Sunday 6/21: Father's Day. Appetizers. Dad's. Eclairs.