Weekly Wrap Up and iPhone Dump!

Look at me... following through with things... :D

So our potty training journey has been long and hard. But we are nearing the end. I hope. No! I am determined that it is! As a reward for doing so good, Em got to go see Brave on Sunday!

Then her Daddy came home with a new Swap Shop purchase....

Wagon!

We went to the Summer Movie club again to see Kung Fu Panda 2! Em picked up some new moves and showed some while shopping afterwards...

And isn't she the cutest little hipster ever?

And I continued the spoiling of my child by bribing her to poop in the potty with a pedicure!!

Hey! If it works, it works....

Then I got some girl time and went to the midnight release of Magic Mike! Whoot! Whoot! How about these awful, silly pics?

We had a lot of fun! Oh yeah... and I did my share of hooting and hollering! As my sister says, "Hotter than fish grease!"

Today, has been spent soaking up some sun in the backyard!

Have a good weekend!

Blog Commenting Challenge- Day 5

I did it! I've completed the challenge! I'm surprised at myself!

Today's topic is "tell us about your dream vacation"!

Oh, there are so many!
Right now, its the Caribbean Disney Cruise! Because, we are going in January! Woo Hoo! I'm super excited and can't wait to see how Em reacts!

Of course, anytime I get to go to New Orleans, I am happy!

Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?
My Favorite Place
Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler- Parade Post
Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler- Food Post

Any beach vacay would be heavenly. I would love nothing more than to lay in the sun like a lizard. Em loves the sand, too, so its easy!

Bucket list trips include all 50 states, England, France, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, Tahiti, & Australia!!


Now that the challenge is over, I just want to say thank you for all of my visitors and commenters! And THANK YOU to my new followers! I'm so thrilled to have people read my nonsense, I can't even tell you!

Blog Commenting Challenge- Day 4

Day 4 is here! Today's topic in the challenge from Jenna's Journey is to talk about hobbies!

This is always a hard question for me. What DO I do during my free time?? The big question is do you mean free time WITH Emma in the house or WITHOUT Emma in the house? It makes a difference, people. Ha!

I love to read. Always have! What's my favorite book? Now, that's another hard question. Usually its whatever I am currently reading. My interest in books is varied. I'm currently RE-reading the Sookie Stackhouse series, and that's big because I never read books twice. But True Blood is back on HBO right now, and I'm obsessed with it! Before that, I read the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy and I devoured The Hunger Games trilogy. I, also, keep The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes on my Kindle and read a few stories here and there. Before I bought my Kindle, I would read whatever my mom would read, then pass down to me. Usually romance novels or Jodi Picoult books.

Em and I love to crank up some tunes and sing along. Not well, but loudly. 
 

My taste in music is so eclectic. Here is a snap of just the A's & B's on my current playlist...

As you can see, the Glee Cast is pretty heavy in there... Em LOVES it! That's just a snippet of what I listen to!

Hmmm. What else do I do during free time? Veg out and watch crap TV. Text my friends all day. Get pedicures. Stalk Facebook. Stalk blogs. Pin things on Pinterest. Nothing productive at all!

Blog Commenting Challenge- Day 3

Day 3 of the challenge from Jenna's Journey! Today's topic is to tell about my social media and favorite websites!

I have a Twitter account, but it is usually neglected unless I'm entering a giveaway! ;) I Facebook for personal use. And I'm on there entirely too much. It's become a knee jerk reaction. Have 30 seconds where my mind isn't occupied? Fire up Facebook! Who cares if I just looked at it 2 minutes ago? Maybe someone posted something NEW that I haven't seen yet! That sounds oddly obsessive, doesn't it. 

I ADORE Pinterest! I have gotten so many good ideas! AND I've even done some of them! I'm so proud of that fact, I've blogged about some of them!

A Pinteresting Learning Time

Happy Father's Day

A Pinteresting Meal- Trying out new recipes!

A House Divided- A Recipe Post

I Found it on Pinterest!

Please follow me on Pinterest! Here is my page! Sorry in advance for pinning so much! :)

As for favorite websites, I've already mentioned that I stalk Facebook and Pinterest daily. But I check The Pioneer Woman, This Week for Dinner, and Yahoo! (for the important news) regularly! I, also, read the blogs on my blog roll regularly (if not daily)!  Wow! It really sounds like I spend a LOT of time on the internet.

Blog Commenting Challenge- Day 2

 
Today is Day 2 of the Blog Commenting Challenge from Jenna's Journey! It's working! I've gotten 4 new followers! I am happy a clam over here! Last night, I kept calling Clinton to come in here and look at my new comments. I'm easily entertained! He is not. Ha!

Today's topic is to tell y'all all about this blog!

I started to blog to just keep everyone updated on Emma. Nothing in particular, just her life. Now, I've turned it into my scrapbook of sorts. Sometimes I will share a recipe or a organization project, but mostly its the comings and goings of our family. I asked Clinton if he thought Emma would appreciate how much I've written about her on the internet for all the world to see. And he said yes. Then I said, but what about when she's 13. Probably not so much. Sorry in advance, Em!

I am usually ok with sharing things on here. I've wrote about low points and I've written as tears streamed down my face a few times. Thankfully, those times are few and its usually upbeat here. Sometimes I'll think about things that I think are hilarious, but have to put myself in check. The world is NOT ready for everything that crosses my mind. :) When I take pictures of Em with other kids, I do TRY to always ask parents if they are ok with me posting them. Sometimes I forget, and I feel guilty about it.

My blogging inspiration is, of course, Emma. I am constantly blogging in my mind. And let me tell you, the ones I've written in my head are way funnier than the ones I actually get on here. For some reason (Mommy Brain, I tell you!), I've forgotten all the funny little quips and quotes I had planned to put in by the time I write! Aggravates me to no end!

Blog Commenting Challenge Day 1

 

I'm doing a blogging challenge this week! The purpose is to find new blogs to follow AND help others find this blog to read! Yay! Not that I don't love my current readers, (I do!), I just want to share my nonsense with many more blog stalkers (like me!). If you blog, too, go over to Jenna's Journey and join in! So I will be blogging everyday this week (crazy, huh?!)

Today's topic is to introduce myself! So if you already know all this, sorry! If not, learn something!

I am Kayla Cheatwood! I live in Paris, TX with my hubby, Clinton, and our 3 year old daughter, Emma (whom this blog is named for, of course)!

Clinton and I have been together for 12 years and have been married for 7. Feels like an eternity ;) After two years of marriage, we started trying to have a baby. Though we got pregnant right away, I miscarried twice in 2007. Then in February of the next year, I found out I was pregnant again! Emma was born on October 31, 2008! She is hilarious, loving, and infuriating. Aren't all kids, though? I do want to have another baby, but Clinton is sold on the concept yet. I'm working on him ;)

I am currently working part time from home as an account for a construction company! After staying home for 2 years, this job opportunity came along, and I love it! I really get the best of both worlds! I go into work one day a week, when Em is at Mother's Day Out, and I still get to stay home with her the rest of the week.

Dang, it's hard to write about myself like this. Kind of like those moments when someone says "Please stand, introduce yourself, and tell us something unique about yourself." Eek!

So, welcome, new readers! Thanks for visiting!

Look at me go!

Here's my weekly wrap post! Three weeks in a row! Week 1 and week 2 in case you can't believe it!

It's bad that I think following through with something for three weeks is an accomplishment, ain't it?

We started the week off right by going to our favorite church!

Nakota & Emma

Nakota, Kinsley, & Emma with their "be quiet" lollipops!

I have no pictures for Monday & Tuesday because I didn't have Emma! I vaguely referenced my frustrations with potty training and Em's behavior in Week 2's post. I've seriously been at the end of my rope. So... I sent her to boot camp. Yup, that's what I said. Boot camp. At my sister's house.

My nephews are always being praised for being so well behaved! Not to say that they are always good, but they know how to act MOST of the time! My sister is very adamant that they do, or there is consequences and they know it! So I thought I'd give her a try in making Em behave. Aunt TT's Boot Camp was born. Really, she just kept Em for me a few days so I could have a BREAK! But while she was there, might as well try....right?

It didn't work. Em minded, listened, and didn't throw any fits like she tends to do here. So there wasn't any Aunt TT discipline to dole out. Dang it! Trishia did work with her on pottying, though. And we've made some progress. Still have a LONG road. We have passed the "learn how to" stage and are in the big ol' power struggle stage where she flat out refuses to poop on the potty 99% of the time. I'm going to lose my mind before this is over.

Anyway, I picked her up Wednesday and we went visiting in Cuthand.

Playing the iPad with Papaw

and eating tomatoes from his garden!

And to end the week.... I got a new car today!

Its a Toyota Camry!

I had mixed feelings about going from SUV to car, but you can't beat 35 mpg! And thank you, God, Em was good at the dealership! We had a smart salesman, who has a little girl, that let Em play with his Kindle Fire. You can't beat technology for keeping kids quiet and still!

Blankie!

What's better than a blankie?

A free blankie!

My friend Tiffany hosted a giveaway on her blog for a free blanket from 585 Boutique last week. And I won! Yay! And the blanket came today!

Look at this cute fabric.

And the edges are crocheted in a matching color!

It's big enough for Em to wrap up in and really cozy! Em has a great love for "covers" (she doesn't actually call it a blankie, its her "covers"). She is wrapped up in it right now!

Snuggled it right up, but played possum for the camera!

These blankets are really affordable and come in lots of cute fabrics! Would make a fantastic baby shower gift, or birthday gift for a blankie (covers!) lover! Go on over and take a look! 

Thanks Tiff and Sarah of 585 Boutique! We love it!

Happy Father's Day!

I just want to start off by saying I have a lot of great fathers in my life. I do not know many "dead beat dads" and for that I am extremely grateful! So Happy Father's Day to my husband, my Daddy, my father-in-law, my grandpas, my uncles, my brother, my brother-in-laws, my cousins, and my friends.

Now that that's over with, get ready for a looong post. :)

Last year, Em and I got crafty for Mother's Day. This year, we got artsy fartsy for the grandpas!

The footprinting got a little CRA-ZAY!

Bahaha! They are two different lengths!

But it turned out cute!

We didn't really craft for her Daddy. Instead, we cooked for him! He requested creme brulee, and that's what he got! It really is easy! A baby could do it ;) We got this recipe from The Pioneer Woman!

Preheat oven to 325 degrees!

Put a quart of heavy cream on medium low heat. Add 1 tsp. of vanilla. Pull off heat right before it boils!

Meanwhile, separate 10 eggs. Put yolks in mixing bowl.

Add 3/4 cup of sugar to the yolks.

Whisk it until it is light yellow!

While the mixer is still running, SLOWLY add 1 cup of the cream to temper the egg yolks! Then add the rest of cream.

When its all incorporated, eat the foamy part on top. Em said "It tastes like ice cream!" YUM!

Pour into ramekins. And a giant baking dish because it makes a lot! :)

Put them water bath, meaning put ramekins in larger baking dish and fill 1/2 way up the sides of the ramekins with warm water. Bake until for about 30 mins, or until they are just set. After they've cooled enough to go into the fridge, chill for at least 2 hours. (We did ours overnight!) Before serving, sprinkle with sugar, then torch the top. I don't have a torch, I want one! So I just put ours under the broiler... WATCH them though!

I didn't take pictures of those last steps. Typical. But I did remember to snap a picture of the rest of the meal Clinton requested!

Smothered pork chops, rice, and corn maque choux! Yummy!

After the meal, Clinny and Em enjoyed the creme brulee.

And of course, there were presents!

She was so excited!

I love to see them together!

Em made him a hand print tree at school!

Em and I made a questionnaire book for Clinton that I found on Pinterest! It turned out really cute and he loved it!

A couple of my favorite pages!

I liked it so much I had to make one for the grandpas, too! I forgot to take a picture (ugh!), but I downloaded it here!

If you noticed that Em is wearing different clothes in all these pictures, its because we don't do anything on a regular timeline! That would be too easy! Crafting on Thursday, cooking on Saturday and Sunday, eating on Sunday, and presents on Wednesday! Ha!
Ok! Finally done! Buh-bye! And Happy Father's Day!

For the Little Ones- Busy Saturday!

Saturday was a busy day for me & Em and it all started with Ryder's 1st Birthday party! I've written about Baby Ryder on here before! Sweet baby girl has had a rough first year...

 

But she has got it kicked now! Just look at this face!

Rory, Ryder's big sister, showed off her high heels for me!

Em showed off something at the party, too...

Happy 1st Birthday sweet Ryder! We are going to miss you and your family when you move!

Saturday afternoon was spent at a benefit for Carter Townes, a cute, cute little boy who has leukemia. My church put together a great benefit for him and his family! Despite lots of rain, the community came out and really pitched in!

Of course, Em wasn't concerned with raising money, she just wanted to have fun!

Em and her cousins, Alex & Maylee.

Fishing for candy!

Playing in puddles.

Carter is in the red war paint. Looks like they are having a serious conversation!

And of course, getting painted.