Oh the weather outside is...wacky!!!

Okay, again mommy and Kyley are not complaining, but the weather has been so outrageously out of character for the season.  It was mid-December and we were able to get outside and go for a few walks and play.  And, it was not crazy windy either on these days so they were actually enjoyable.

Even the geese and ducks were confused.  They didn't know which way to go:)!  Weird weather makes you do weird things right??  Well, Kyley was so thrilled to see them all come back.  She sat and watched them for about an hour as 100's of them were landing in flocks on the lake.

Yes, she sat on her table and watched.  It was not worth the fight, plus it was the only way she could really see them on her own!  Kyley did have to get down from standing on the chair though...mommy has some rules;)!

The "IT" Girl

Kyley is definitely an "IT" girl.   By "IT" girl she is not the girl trying to fit in or living the life of luxury and glamour lol...she doesn't need any help fitting in as she loves to be the center of attention.  Kyley is an Information Technology girl:)!

Kyley knows how to run mommy's iPhone, iPod and daddy's iPad...almost better than they do!  Seriously, where do kids learn this and how do they learn this so young!  It completely amazes mommy and daddy that she can turn these devices on, play games, listen to music or whatever else she wants to do.

Doesn't she look all grown up?  She looks like she is seriously working hard on something!  Watch out world!!

Kansas City here we come....or went to...

The first weekend in December Kyley, mommy and daddy drove to Kansas City, MO to spend the weekend.  We met up with our dearest friends from Iowa, Laurie, Mike, Palmer and Hadley.  It had been since last October that we had seen them.  

Last December Mommy's bestie, Laurie, was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She had a long year with chemo, surgery, illness, etc., so it never worked out for us to go visit when we planned.  Kyley missed Hadley and Palmer so much, and mommy of course missed Laurie.  FYI...she is doing great and as beautiful as ever!!!

We met up with them at the Embassay Suites near the Plaza area in KC on Friday night. Kyley and Hadley were on a mission to stay up all night Friday, but they finally crashed after burning the midnight oil!  Saturday there was fun eating, shopping, playing, watching an awful NE football game and just enjoying each other's company.

It was a short, but wonderful weekend.  Both families had to part ways on Sunday but not before the kids got to swim and eat lunch together.

 

Distance does make the heart grow fonder, but it really is a bummer too!  Kyley "does it like her mommy does it"...makes up for lost time...and then shuts down lol!

Our Elf "Susie"

This year Kyley got to welcome our elf "Susie" into our home.  Mommy had ordered the "Elf Story" movie, and daddy and Kyley read the book "Elf on the Shelf," so she was pretty excited when Susie showed up in early December.  Mommy and daddy explained to her that she couldn't touch her or Susie would lose her magic, and to both of their surprises...she really never tried.

Kyley got up EVERY morning prior to Christmas looking for Susie.  There was not a morning that went by without first finding out where Susie flew back to after visiting the North Pole the night before.  Kyley got a kick out of all the silly and fun things that Susie did.  And, Susie may have even helped Kyley make some wiser choices before Christmas came around;)!

Mommy, daddy and Kyley headed to Nebraksa for the Christmas holiday.  Kyley could not believe it when Susie followed us there.  She even asked us where Susie was when we arrived.  Kyley woke up the first morning at Grandpa Bob's farm and looked for Susie just like any other day.  AND...Susie was there!  Kyley was ecstatic!  However, we explained that in a few short days Susie would head to the North Pole to give Santa her final report, and she would not be back until next year.

Kyley woke up on Christmas Eve and found Susie in the Christmas tree.  Susie had left a little something special for Kyley, and mommy again explained she would not be back in the morning.  But, Kyley was so happy that Susie let her touch her this one time to hug and kiss her and tell her goodbye!

Kyley still asks where Susie is!  Until next year...

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

Kyley got to help decorate the Christmas Tree this year.  Mommy loves decorating, and this was one of those traditions she could not wait to share with Kyley.  Kyley sure caught the hang of it right away.  In true kid fashion there was a central focus area that had half the bulbs, icicles and all of her penguins.  But, we got it all figured out and had a blast!   Mommy and Kyley listened to Christmas music and truly started getting in the spirit.  Of course Kyley had to be dressed up as a princess while decorating...is there any other way for a little girl????

Well here goes some major back tracking....Thanksgiving 2012

Mommy really is going to try to hold true to her New Year's Resolution of posting on Kyley's blog once per week in 2013.  Bare with us as we catch you all up on 2012.  The last time you really heard from Kyley's Castle, other than a New Year wish, was right before Thanksgiving.

Well, we had the most amazing weather that week before the holiday, and we had so much fun.  Cousin Calyn and Aunt Emily were in town, and mommy and Kyley were so happy we got to spend time with them.  Calyn and Kyley love seeing each other...it is so sweet to see how excited they get.  They played their hearts out, building and knocking over blocks, reading, running, hugging and talking away.  It has been so wonderful for the parents to see them grow up together.  Even though they are in Texas now, we try to get them together every possible chance.  Kyley, mommy and daddy cannot wait to go visit when Baby Girl Smith #2 is born....any day now!!!

As always we had to take advantage of the beautiful "un-Fall" like weather lol and go the zoo!  A few of Kyley's besties joined us again.  Caroline, Annabelle and Kyley sure turned lots of heads when they are together.  Mommy and Tracy are not sure if it is how cute they are or how crazy they are!  They sure have a blast!

The great thing about having a swing set in the backyard is that it is convenient.  The bad thing about it is that Kyley sees it out the window every day and begs to go play. Thankfully we had that wonderful weather that allowed us to go out and play away before the "Winter Blues" set in when mommy had to continuously tell her no.  One of the many things we were thankful for this year...unseasonal weather...love it!

Kyley, mommy and daddy headed to Nebraska for the Thanksgiving holiday as they always do.  We were able to spend time with everyone in both families.  Everyone was in Nebraska, so we had to be too!  Although we don't always get to spend as much time with everyone as we would like...we made sure that Kyley got to see all of her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins!

Kyley even got an early taste of Christmas as we celebrated with Uncle Brian, Aunt Angie, Ian and Erin due to the fact we wouldn't get to see them during the actual Christmas holiday!  She sure had no problem opening presents and getting in the spirit!  It made mommy and daddy REALLY excited for Christmas and seeing how much she would enjoy it!

"When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses."

 ~Joyce Brothers

And then it was time to head home to prepare for Christmas!!!  We picked up this Hedgehog on the way:)!