Sisters

Tuesday was a busy busy day for us we started with a fieldtrip to Ye Old Cupcake Shoppe in downtown Ogden. The owner was nice enough to show the kids around and then we bought them some cupcakes. Hallie insisted on a sugar cookie cupcake with pink frosting and sprinkles and of coarse only at the frosting. But it was a fun trip I like taking the girls to new places where they can explore and see different things than at home.

As soon as we were done we made a quick stop to see daddy since he had to teach that night and we wouldn't see him again til Wednesday to give him a cupcake too. Then we headed to Layton to pick up Nic & Rig and head to Salt Lake to meet up with Kim. We didn't have much planned but were looking forward to spending some time together before Nic adds another one to our circus of kids. We decided to stop for lunch before starting our day and Zupas was at the top of the list. I don't know if we could have fit one more in our booth. 

After lunch we all loaded up in the suburban including 4 carseats, 3 stroller(1 double), and all 7 of us and headed to do some shopping. We mostly window/clearance shopped. We went to Target to see what they had and Gracie fell asleep just like this.

I laid her back and covered her with Luke's blankie. She slept for about an hour while we shopped and visited.

We decided it was time fore a refreshment break and made a stop by the food court for some icees. Who doesn't like icees even in February? Here we are will all our kiddos

Can't wait to meet this little girl in Nikki's belly...my 1st niece on my side!!!! She is going to be darling and so spoiled

After a few more stores we had to call it quits to get Nic home to Young Women's(we really didn't think we would spend that long in the places we did and still had lots of places to go but after Nic's dr appointment she is clear to go again so I think we will shoot for next week). Of coarse we didn't even make it out of Salt Lake before the 2 that didn't get a nap fell asleep.

It was an amazing & exhausting day spent with people I love the most. Since getting home that night I have often thought. When I feel like I have no friends God reminds me that he gave me sisters. I truly believe that. I love that they have moved closer and wish they would move closer even still. I feel like I have 2 built in best friends that love me for me and who doesn't want that. I don't want people to think that I don't have friends but not really great friends that aren't already wrapped up in their lives. Also someone to call and vent to anytime of the day, calls or texts me everyday just to make sure Im ok, will come and get my girls just when I need a break, or a shopping buddy that calls you up to see if you just want to go to lunch, or if you just want to talk. I really believe that regardless of who a relationship is with it requires work, love, and attention. I fell so blessed and at time emotionally overwhelmed thinking about how much better my life is with my sister, my "adopted" sister, and other family in it. 

Last week

We have stayed pretty low key lately aside from getting Hallie to preschool and dance we have been home bodies with all the snow it makes it pretty easy. But last week I told Hallie we would go to Treehouse. In all honesty I have been avoiding that place for fear we would get sick with all the illnesses going around but we decided to brave it. Friday morning we got ready and and headed downtown. Hallie loves the horses and if she didn't have to give other kids a chance to ride she would probably stay there the entire time. This time was different in the fact that Gracie was actually old enough to wander around which made the trip a lot busier but still very worth it. We did try story time in the theater this time and Hallie still talks about the silly king that wouldn't get out of the tub. We have really enjoyed our Treehouse passes it gives me a place to go without the excuse of having to pay for something.

Then Saturday we woke up thinking we were going to have a ton of snow and it wasn't snowing at all. Matt went to basketball and then I ran to the grocery store.  We had decided we were going to take it easy. Matt has been gone so much between traveling for work, teaching at night, and studying for the GMAT he is rarely home. The girls and I miss him a lot so when he is home and sits down this has become the norm. I try to remind myself this is just a brief moment in time and it will all be worth it but right now it is hard, really hard. I feel like Matt is missing watching the girls and all the fun new things they do and discover not to mention its not very fun to play single mom its pretty trying on my patience.

The around 10am it hit and we got dumped on the flakes were coming so big and fast. We got about 8 inches and around 7pm it finally quit. I really love the snow and figure if its going to be cold it might as well snow. I remember hearing last fall that they were predicting a dry winter. I was pretty disappointed but as usual the weather people don't know what they are talking about and we have had a ton of snow:)

On Monday(designated laundry/cleaning day) I was folding and putting laundry away. The girls have gotten so good at entertaining themselves and paying really well together. Hallie decided to hide from Gracie under the basket and Gracie just saw it as an opportunity to climb on something. They laughed and played for quite a while. I love the stages they are at and they are at such fun ages.

Our lives may seem boring to some but I love it! Yes, some days are hard and not my favorite but I always seem to wonder how we manged to be so blessed.

Gracie Update

Gracie is now 13 months old. She is an active fun loving girl that brightens everyday. She has started to try to talk. She says many things that we can usually figure out what she is trying to say. Among them are Mama, dada, Hallie, more, and baba(bottle). She masters the stairs over a month ago and it is one of her favorite places to play. She also loves to play at the top of the stairs on the landing climbing up and down the 2 stairs and plays with her toys there. She has become really good at making fishy faces and folding her arms for prayer. She hates socks(I would guess) everytime I put them off her unless I top them with shoes she has them off pretty quickly. Then she carries them around swinging them or putting them on her hands like the picture below. She and Hallie will often chase each other and Hallie will growl at her to get her to run. She has picked up on that and now does that while she chases us. Yesterday in the car Hallie was singing at the top of her lungs and Gracie started to do it right along with her(it sounded more like yelling) but she was having a ball. She has become very affectionate. Earlier this week I left her with Nick & Brit while I took Hallie to a Jazz game. While she was there Livy ran into something and was crying. Brit asked if she needed a hug. Gracie went over and gave her a hug as well as hugging everyone else. She loves to give kisses especially before bed and naps. Along with becoming more active she has also found a mind of her own. I will try to feed her and she will throw a fit and refuse to eat it. It usually only takes a minute for her to realize that Im ignoring her throwing a fit then she will come over and let me feed her. She got all 4 front top teeth at the same time. It has been miserable and sad but they have now all broken through so we will make it. She is an awesome eater Im not used to that....a child that needs seconds!?!?!? She has also started to try climbing on things. Last week she climbed on her learning table and attempted to climbing on the window ledge. I warned her to get out of the window, the 2nd time I went and set her back on the floor. Then she started to climb up again. I sat there trying to decide what to do. I went and grabbed her and put her in time out. Yes...time out. She quickly stood back up and I put her back it took 5 times of placing her back in time out for her to stay for her 1 minute but she did it. And to this day she hasn't tried to climb again. I think often times people underestimate how smart their kids are. Speaking of smart the other day I had lost track of time  talking to Kimber and let nap time pass. Grace came to get my hand. led me into her room, and put her arms up to be held. I said do you want to go to bed? I laid her down and she went right to sleep. Oh how I love scheduling. So here is somewhat a day in the life of Gracie: 9-930am wake up, have a bottle, change bum and get dressed for day and have some breakfast. 11am-2pm nap #1, 1-2pm wake up have bottle and lunch, play with Hallie. 4-5pm nap #2, 5pm have dinner and play, 7pm get ready for bed, have bath, put on pjs, stories. 9pm bedtime. 

Hallie Update

The other night I took just Hallie to run errons with me for the evening, When we stopped to get a few groceries Hallie quickly reminded me we needed trailmix...one of her favs. So on the way across the parking lot I let her sit in the front and eat her trailmix. I asked if I could take a picture she said only if I would take a silly one after so we did...I love my little girl and personality she is developing.

Our Hallie Mae is now 41 months(3yrs 5 months). She is full of life and personality. She continues to be one the most polite and sweet kids I have ever met. She says funny things and makes us laugh and smile everyday.  On Sunday after church I asked what she had learned in primary she said she had learned about Jesus so I continued by asking what about Jesus and she responded by saying Jesus and his 12 friends. To her everyone is a friend its part of her sweetness that makes me nervous she is just so innocent and loving so we have been talking a lot about stranger danger. While we were making dinner it wasn't working out just right Matt said what should we do Hallie replied just add some coolwhip it fixes everything. Hallie loves to play with Grace and is so good with her. They are slowly working through the sharing thing now that Gracie wants to be a part of everything Hallie does. She loves to play chase, read, sing, dance, and help with anything. She has really found her nack with singing and now can sing songs on tune and with the right time. Some of her favorites are Daylight and payphone by Maroon 5, Thousand Years by Christina Perry, and call me maybe. She loves her dance class and gets really excited to go each week. I realized this past week that Matt & I are in the midst of parenting. Little did I know that parenting doesn't really start until kids get mobile and can talk. She has started getting invited to birthday parties and have friends over...where did the time go. She is a little person now. She is loving primary and the singing time is her favorite. Im looking forward to her getting to sing with the primary in the sacrament programs. Favorite show: Team Umizoomi, Movie: Little mermaid, Food: Watermelon, Candy: Fruit Roll up, Toy: Little people airplane, Activity: Sticky Dress up girls, Book: Princess stories. She loves her Minne Mouse Pjs, White kitty, white and pink poka dot blanket, and books. Her daily routine usually goes something like this get up about 830-9am go potty, ask for a sippy, maybe some cereal, and watch a show(usually something on disney channel) 10am get dressed, hair done, and teeth brushed. have a snack. 1030-4 depending on the day have a friend over, go to preschool, read, watch a movie, play with toys, play pretend, dress up and dance, art time, playdough, go to dance, or play with grace. 4pm help make dinner 5pm have dinner and play with daddy. 7pm get ready for bed(bath, pjs, stories) 8pm go to bed.

Hallie's 1st Jazz Game

What a fun night! Tuesday morning Linnie text to see if we were interested in some tickets to the Jazz game that same night. Matt was in Phoenix for business and would fly back in just in time to get back to WSU to give a test to his class so he couldn't go so my initial reaction was that we would pass. Then just as I went to hit the send button I got the idea that I should take Hallie. Every time Matt goes to a game with a subcontractor Hallie is always begging to go. I asked if Linnie cared if I took Hallie, she didn't so I gladly accepted the tickets. It was so weird to me to think about going to a Jazz game with out Matt(he is such a big fan) but he has been so busy with work, school, and studying. I originally thought about taking both girls but quickly realized it would be more enjoyable to just take Hallie. So I called Brit and she quickly said she would be happy to keep Gracie. We went down early and ate with Nick & Brit before heading to the game. It was strange to leave Gracie. I kinda had a hard time it was this night that I realized how much I entrusted Hallie to watch out for Gracie. But I knew she was in good hands and off we went. I quickly realized that it had been a long time since I had driven at night(Matt usually drives when we go as a family) and that I knew where Energy Solutions was but hadn't been the one driving there in a very long time. Never a better time to reestablish my independence. We found a parking spot without a problem and headed to the game. We got to our seats just in time to watch the last few minutes of warm ups. We sat on the 23 row which was close enough that we could see all the action. Hallie was so excited she kept saying all day, "Mom you know I have never been to a Jazz game and this is my 1st time."

 She loved when they turned the lights down to introduce the team and asked repeatedly throughout the game if they would turn the lights out again. I tried to explain to her how the different points work but it was a little over her head at least for now. I think we both enjoyed having some just she and I time.

 There were so pretty entertaining people that sat around us. An older guy sat in front of us every time they introduced Hayward she would stand up and swing a shirt around. Hallie would giggle uncontrollably. On another instance a man behind us was yelling at Golden State's coach some not very nice things. Hallie asked who he was yelling at I explained to her and pointed to him. She looked at me a little puzzled and said does he think he can hear him. That got a laugh out of me and the people in front of us. Oh the innocence.

 She liked the seats and thought it was so funny that she could fold herself up in it.

 After the game I asked her what her favorite part was and she said the cheerleaders she really liked time outs and half time. Matt said spoken like a true girl

 After half time we went to pick a  treat. She asked me to tell her everything they had but I knew what she would pick before I had even told her. Cotton Candy her absolute favorite...I of coarse was disappointed and was hoping she would  pick something I would have wanted to share. I didn't realize how big the bag was until she held it up to her.

 I love Hallie and the sweet loving girl she is. I love being able to spend one on one time with her and getting to know her better. We had a great time and although it was her 1st game Im sure it wont be her last.

Valentine's Week

Valentine's doesn't seem to be just a day around here more like a week full of fun. On Monday Hallie got Valentine's at dance class from her teachers and the fun began. When we got home there was a box from Grandma Sheryl full of Valentine's goodies for all of us. She is so good at making birthdays and holidays special even when she can't be here. And of coarse it is so cool to get stuff in the mail.

 Hallie's little package included 4 princesses that she loves and has already played with for countless hours.

 Tuesday ment preschool and a fun V is for Valentine party. They exchanged valentines, decorated cookies, and made a heart necklace. Hallie said I love this time of year. Im not sure if its the sugar or just the presents.

Thursday was the actual Valentine's Day. We got up and got ready for the day and started preparing our special Valentine's dinner. We have never liked to go out on Valentine's...to many people. So we have now made it a tradition to spend Valentine's at home with our little family. 

The girls were thrilled when I offered them each a beater from our flourless chocolate cake. I think Grace had more on her face than she got in her mouth.

 Growing up my parents always got us a little gift for Valentines whether it was an outfit, a toy and always a few little treats. I loved it so we have decided to do the same thing for our girls. But we decided we wanted to wait until Matt got home to be  part of the fun. By the time Matt got home from work Hallie especially was dying to open the presents she had seen sitting on the table all day so before dinner we let them open them.

 Gracie got a little people airplane with a few more little people that lights up and plays music as well as a few treats. We are starting to have quite the little people set up.

 Hallie got a princess hair kit that she has been wanting for quite a while the look on her face was priceless. We have all had a turn to get out hair done even daddy.

 For dinner we had bacon wrapped filet mignon, butter poached lobster, asparagus, rolls, sparkling cider and of coarse our flourless chocolate cake with whipped cream and strawberries.....all gluten free. We were all quite happy with how it turned out. And it really wasn't a lot of work at all. Hallie's favorite part is always the sparkling cider.

 Matt bought me a new blow dryer and some dark chocolate treats. I got Matt a couple new shirts and some flavored almonds. Then we had one more surprise for the girls back in December I had a wild hair idea to make the girls each a "sleeping bag." It turned out to be a much bigger project than I had anticipated.

 I think they really like them and its a good thing because there was a lot of work and money that went into them. This project really made me evaluate how much something is worth if its handmade with love as opposed to buying it. Would I do it again?....probably not but it was worth it

I know many people think of Valentine's Day as a commercialized excuse to sell more chocolate but I think its an extra day dedicated to showing the ones you love how much you love them in different and creative ways than everyday. I love my hubby and my sweet girls and the special day we were able to have together showing each other how much we mean to one another.

Leave Hallie Alone...Poor Gracie

The other night Hallie was so tired and after dinner laid down to watch a show and within 5 minutes was asleep. The only problem was that Gracie was so sad to have to play by herself. She multiple times attempted to wake Hallie up to play so I did my best to keep Grace away so Hallie could rest. Once Gracie realized that she couldn't get to Hallie she sat on the floor and cried for about 3 minutes before she finally got up and played by herself until Hallie woke up. I love the stage that both girls are at they play so well together and are so fun to watch. 

Family Fun Night

We have been doing a "pom-pom" jar with Hallie. For every good deed, or doing chores with out being asked, eating all her dinner, keeping her panties dry, ect she gets a pom-pom and when she doesn't do those things she gets one taken away. She has been wanting to go to a trampoline place for a while so we told her once she got her jar full we would go. To be honest it took us all a little while to really get in the habit of being consistent with it but were getting better and it helps a lot. It just so happened that we had more to celebrate our lot funded and we were able to pay off our suburban on the same day so needless to say it was well deserved fun. Here's Hallie in the foam pit.

 Originally we didn't know what Gracie would think but decided with as active as she is she wouldn't sit on the sideline. It took her a while to warm up to the unstable ground but once she did we had to chase her to keep her close and safe.

 I attempted to get some pictures of the girls together the following 2 pics were as good as it gets when they are having so much fun.

 Gracie loved the little dodgeballs and it was quite funny to watch her try to carry multiple ones at a time.

 Hallie liked using the incline of the tramp as a slide...to each there own I suppose

 Gracie figured out how to climb up so she could slide to

After we had worn ourselves out we headed to Cherry Berry and got there just in the nick of time before they closed so we made out perfect mixes and headed for home. We had attempted to get a family picture while at the trampoline place but we failed so once we got home we tried and succeeded.  

 I said to Matt hurry and take the picture before Gracie realizes that Hallie has her ice cream...these pictures were taken about 5 seconds apart.

We had a great time and will go back soon. They said Mondays were one of their slowest nights and we were thrilled with that it made it easier to let the girls have some freedom without worrying about them getting ran over. Im so glad that we have the opportunity to take our girls to do fun things and hang out all together.