December 20, 2012

Penguins, Penguins, EVERYWHERE!

We have a fabulous friend who also happens to live about 3 feet away from our front door named Whitney. 

She is a rockstar at anything crafty. 

She brought this over for Lexi for Christmas:


Penguins, Penguins, EVERYWHERE!

Lexi couldn't be happier. She loves penguins. Love is an understatement.

Whitney also designed a penguin crochet pattern and is using it to benefit CHASA. YOU ROCK, WHIT!

December 14, 2012

Princess Stories

as told by Lexi, age 3ish.

"Once upon a time, there's a Princess. Her name's LEXI! She went to a ball. A prince came. They danced soooooo beautiful and happily after."

"Once upon a tiii-iiime, there's a PRINCESS! Her name is LEXI! There's a prince named Tommy. He had a red car. Actually, there's a blue car. They got married at the ball. The daaaaaaaanced and got married. They had babies. There were two of them! Their name's Lexi-babe and Baby Kayson. Live happily after, Mom!"

December 11, 2012

Shoe Carnival

My email to Corporate. What realllly did it was the part about Lexi.

I wanted to relay a message about my experience today, 12/11/12, at your Orem, Utah location.

I went into the store with my 3 year old to buy her some new shoes. She was so excited and happy about them, she wore them around the store and up to the check out lane. I told the cashier that my daughter was wearing the shoes from the box. The cashier told me she still needed to see them, so I scooped up my daughter so the cashier could take a look (I'm assuming to check the sizes and product matched). This was fine all the way until the cashier took the shoes off my daughter. I understand they need to see them, but wouldn't you think the parent should do that? My daughter started crying and so finally I just said "excuse me" and took over. It didn't seem to faze the cashier at all. It also didn't help that my daughter has a disability and has trouble comprehending things. 

After that fiasco, I told the cashier I had a rewards card with them but didn't have it with me. She said they would only do the rewards if I had the card with me. She told me there was no way to look it up. Why would that be? That seems pretty ridiculous that you have to have the actual card with you to even get your points. If that is truly the case, may I suggest that you change that? Not many people remember rewards cards from my experience working retail.

Meanwhile, my daughter is still upset and crying. I paid for the shoes, and as I was herding my daughter out the door, I remembered I had a coupon. I asked them if I could return the shoes and then buy the shoes later on with my coupon. They said no, it was against policy. 
I indicated to their return policy sign above check out and said, "Why is that? It says right there I can return the shoes" to which a reply was "It's a complicated system and it would just mess up our inventory."
 "Okay, I said, "so I can just come back tomorrow and return the shoes? That's what it says, within 30 days, unworn, with a receipt." 
"Sorry, you'd still have to buy another pair of shoes on top of that in order to use your coupon because it's just a complicated system." 
(My order total was already $100 and the coupon was for $59.98 and upon, $10 off) Apparently this employee was clueless about your return policy - I was pointing it out RIGHT there at the STORE. 
What if I wanted to return the shoes because I wanted something different? Would they protest that it was against the policy?? I said, "That seems really stupid, when it's right there on your sign." "Yeah," they said, "it's just complicated."
All he had to say was it was complicated. My reasons were just - I was returning shoes --- UNWORN shoes that perhaps I'd buy later to save a little money.

Your return policy doesn't seem complicated to me. These two employees at your store were rude, clueless, and unaccommodating. That is no way to treat a customer. My experience left me with no intention of ever returning to your Orem, Utah Shoe Carnival.

Perhaps there needs to be some re-training on customer service and your policies. This was unacceptable, to me that was three strikes for Shoe Carnival right in a row.

December 1, 2012

Manicures

Lexi asked Daddy if she could paint his nails. Daddy said no because it was for girls. Lexi was sad, so I decided to do a family activity of tracing our hands and then painting our "nails" on the paper! We had a blast!













Then Daddy painted all Lexi's nails for real!



The First Snow

Lexi was SO thrilled it snowed the other week that of course we had to bundle up and head outside!

Upset I took a picture instead of letting her go outside RIGHT then.

Rosie was very curious....

Very tentative to step in it for the first time!

Come on Lexi!

Rosie 

After she stepped in it, it was the best ever!!! 

Mommy & Lexi

We built a snowman!!!!

Rosy cheeks!

THAT WAS SO FUN!

November 27, 2012

Just LEAF the sweeping to us!

In the previous post, I mentioned we had to sweep all the leaves this fall since none of own a rake. It worked pretty well!











On a side note, Terrell loves playing (I mean beating up) Corban and Zander. It's so funny to watch!

Fall Friends

This post is late, but the pictures (the last 2 especially) were way too cute.
Corban and Zander are Lexi's bestest buds. They live right next door, and she prays for them every night. She calls them her Princes.

sweeping the leaves because we don't have a rake.

Corban kept burying himself, and you literally could NOT see him because he'd go all the way under!

RARRR! Popping out of the leaves.

Corban, Zander, & Lexi Forever

This melts my heart.

November 3, 2012

My 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Day 1
I'm thankful for an excellent Occupational Therapist that not only helps Lexi, but cares about her, and loves her.
Day 2
I'm grateful for good friends whom I can be around to lift my spirits.
Day 3
I'm thankful for the drink Emergen-C, which I could never have survived this week without.
Day 4
I'm grateful for a little girl who know what true beauty is - a royal daughter of our Heavenly Father, a beautiful princess.
Day 5
I'm thankful for a handsome husband who will be home from travels today!
Day 6
I'm grateful for the opportunity to vote for who I believe is best for my country.
Day 7
I'm thankful for a cute daughter who has such a happy demeanor.
Day 8
I'm grateful for my cute little Yoda, who turned 9 today!
Day 9
I'm thankful for my cousin's ward who graciously donated to Lexi's Piggy Bank! And that I got to go on a date with my honey!
Day 10
I'm grateful for my thoughtful parents (and brother) who sent Lexi a fun package to help her feel better!
Day 11
I'm thankful for the United States military and servicemen/women - past, present, and future.
Day 12
I'm grateful for my sewing machine that lets me make things. Even though I'm not very good!
Day 13
I'm thankful for SKYPE and modern technology that allows me to communicate with my husband while he is away on business!
Day 14
I'm grateful for The Friend magazine.
Day 15
I'm thankful for a fun sister who goes to school here in Utah.
Day 16
I'm grateful for our pretty Christmas tree!
Day 17
I'm thankful for a fun surprise visit from friends.
Day 18
I'm grateful I got to play board games with my husband! Just like old times!
Day 19
I'm thankful I got to see my sister and her cute family today!
Day 20
I'm grateful for blankets.
Day 21
I'm thankful for good books.
Day 22
I'm grateful that we were able to celebrate Thanksgiving with some family.
Day 23
I'm thankful that Lexi loves the temple so much.
Day 24
I'm grateful for modern medicine.
Day 25
I'm thankful for wonderful talks at church to help me feel the spirit.
Day 26
I'm grateful for a sweet woman from the ward who had her kids do a project and earn money for Lexi's Piggy Bank.
Day 27
I'm thankful that Terrell was finally able to get a new pair of shoes!
Day 28
I'm grateful that I am an aunt - 13 times!
Day 29
I'm thankful for my own aunts and uncles.
Day 30
I am so grateful for the Gospel in my life. I'm so thankful for the knowledge of the true Church, and of my Savior, Jesus Christ, the companionship of the Holy Ghost, the power of the Priesthood, the holy scriptures to guide me, and pray to comfort me, and a prophet, Thomas S. Monson who gives us guidance for our day.

October 22, 2012

Meet Rosie

Meet Rosie
born August 30, 2012
Blue Heeler & Mini Aussie (australian shepherd) mix
Current age: 8 weeks
[she is here to stay]
[poor Cooper, we miss you]
Right after Lexi picked out her puppy (Saturday)
picture taken of Rosie by the breeder family, for Lexi.
We picked her up! Lexi is thrilled! (Monday)
Headed back to our house. They snuggled the whole way home.
picture montage sent to Lexi from the breeder family
Rosie
Lexi reading Rosie stories the first night home
The following morning: "Mom, I'm so happy to have my puppy at my house!"
Helping Lexi calm down and relax after a meltdown.

We purchased Rosie from a wonderful family farm (breeder) where she was with her 12 siblings and 10 half siblings. Yeah, those are huge litters. I'd been in contact with Chantell (breeder) for a few weeks, finding the right fit for Lexi.
Lexi picked out Rosie from all the rest. She's shy, (yet sassy), and Lexi wanted "the wittle owange one, Mom!" 
So, Rosie it was. 
Lexi followed her everywhere on the farm, even climbing in the doghouse!
[Rosey] was the name the breeders gave her to help distinguish her, and Lexi wanted to keep it, so, we just changed the spelling. Not a huge fan of the name but it'll work!
We picked out Rosie down in Genola (west of Santaquin) on Saturday night and on Monday night, Lexi and I drove down to pick her up. Lexi couldn't have been more excited. Chantell (breeder) had Rosie all bathed and cute with a big tulle bow around her neck for Lexi. She was SO happy to finally "snuggle that Wosie"!
We got Rosie at age 7 weeks, which is super young, so there is a lot of training that will go into this puppy. After she is housebroken, we will begin obedience/service/therapy dog training, eventually trying to get her officially certified.
Rosie and Lexi have this "sibling" complex. Rosie likes to "bite" and jump on Lexi because Lexi gets attention. Well, duh, dog...Lexi's our kid! ;-) We're working on the biting thing!
So far she's been a good puppy, and I'm very anxious for her to get a little older so life is less "NO ROSIE" and more "GOOD DOG". 
;-)

October 17, 2012

Little Lady

Classic pictures of little girls wearing their mommy's heels. I got lots. Except they are dancing shoes. Not heels.
Look at my Little Lady!