March 20th- March 26th 2011

Lesson Learned!

While Ryan was at a BYC meeting Sunday morning, Ellie was in her crib and I was in the shower, this is what Kailee was doing...

Usually when I am in the shower Kailee just hangs out playing just outside the bathroom door, but this time she got into one of Ryans drawers and pulled out a permanent marker and all the cards from his wallet and decided to color! When I got out of the shower I realized I hadn't heard her for a while so I called for her and asked her what she was doing. She said coloring and then came into the bathroom with marker all over her hands. When I saw her I just thought oh man, what have you been doing. Then I walked into our bedroom to find she had colored all over Ryans stuff and my hope chest.... All I could do was laugh. Afterall, Ryan left the marker in reach of little curious hands and I was in the shower not watching her.... so, oh well! I had to leave everything where it was so Ryan could see it when he got home!! Lesson learned! Cute girl. You sure keep us on our toes!

Instead of going to our ward we went to Tawnies Stake Conference to watch John, little John and Emily sing in the choir. Emily had a solo in one of the last songs, If the Savior Stood Beside Me, and she did a wonderful job. Her voice is so pure and sweet and it brought tears to my eyes! I would love to hear her sing every Sunday!!  She is such a sweet girl.

I spent Monday and Tuesday working on my Activity Days lesson for Wednesday. After much frustration I finally decided to do a Family Home Evening kit. One of the requirements for the girls to get their award is to do a Family Home Evening for their families and to teach them about the First Vision and how Heavenly Father answers our sincere prayers. So I thought we would have a Family Home Evening and I would teach the lesson so they would know exaclty what to do for their own families. I put together a lesson, a lesson plan, activity ideas, and a recipe for treats. Then I got some cans from the home storage store and put all that stuff inside and decorated the cans with a ribbon and label.  I stayed up really late Tuesday night and then worked on it ALL day Wednesday. Ryan even got off work a little early to come home to help me finish it up. THEN, I went and did the activity and was totally disappointed. I spent waaaaaay too much time and put waaaaaay too much effort for the response I received. Again, lesson learned. Keep it simple!

On my way home from Activity Days, Ryan was headed to meet me at the church on his bike with Kailee and Ellie in tow. He met me back at home, got my bike out and we went on our first bike ride of the season. It was a little chilly but soooo nice to be outside. Kailee loves to go on a "bike ride" in the bike trailer and Ellie looked to be enjoying it as well. It was fun and I for sure learned how OUT OF SHAPE I am. I was so winded and worn out, but it felt good. We are looking forward to it getting warmer so we can be outside more.

Friday Kailee kept asking me to wrap her up as a peanut (we've called her that since she was born because when she was swaddled she looked like a peanut). Then she wanted me to wrap her up with her baby and then she put her and her baby in the baby stroller. Cute kid comes up with the silliest ideas! I had to grab the camera to get a picture of her and then she kept asking me to take a picture of her sweet little baby too.

And, here's these pictures. Just because I think she's cute!

I have started to put Ellie in her crib when she's tired so she can fall asleep on her own. I have found her a few times holding onto her toys while sleeping. Cute kid!

March 13th- March 19th 2011

Kailee is a water baby! On Wednesday I had to run some errands and while we were out it started to rain. I had a few different stores I needed to go to and with two kids in tow that isn't the easiest or quickest thing to do in the rain. At one store Kailee was getting kinda fussy so I told her if she would stay in the stroller and be happy I would let her walk at the next store. She must have liked that idea because she started to be happy. Of course when we arrived at the next store it started to rain hard, but Kailee wasn't going to let me out of the deal I had made. As soon as she got out of her carseat she wanted to walk. So with Ellie in her carseat in one arm and Kailees hand in my other hand we slooooowly walked across the parking lot, in the pouring rain. The silly girl didn't mind one bit. Good thing Ellie has a carseat cover or she would have been soaked! And then again walking from the store to the car it was still raining, Kailee wanted to walk, and we made it to the car almost soaked! When I got home and got Kailee out of her carseat again she headed right back to the rain. I tried to take her inside and she threw a fit so I let her be. Outside, in the pouring rain, with only a light jacket on. Oh well, she had fun. Her first time playing in the rain!

My little Ellie is moving around like crazy. The other day I had her on the floor in the front room. She rolled over to the sofa table and pulled the plant off the shelf. She sure knows how to get where she wants to go! She is also starting to grab at everything. If you hold anyting in front of her so immediately tries to grab at it. Cute kid!

On Thurdsay we went to the annual Neighborhood St Patricks Day Picnic Pot-luck. They usually have it at the park, but since it was so cold this year they had it at a church. I didn't take the time to make anything for the pot-luck so I bought Kailee and I lunch at Cutlers instead. Yummy! The party was at 12:30pm and Kailee usually takes a nap around 1pm so needless to say she was less than friendly to the other kids there. We stayed about an hour and headed home to get Kailee her nap. She sure is a bear when she doesn't get her mid-day nap. But what 1 year old isnt?!  

Saturday Ryan spent the day working on the trim in Kailee's room and I spent the day working on her quilt. As soon as it is completely finished I will take pictures. I am sooo excited. It is going to be so cute! To keep Kailee occupied Ryan brought her slide in and put it on the stairs and Ellie hung out on the floor and in her papasan! They did so good at entertaining themselves so we could try to get our projects finished. We were hoping to get it all done this weekend so we could get started on the outside projects. We didn't quite finish, but almost!!

And, just because I think she's cute..

Kailee has crazy hair. I do her hair many times throughout the day, but she always takes it out.

This picture is of her before she went to bed one night. But this is usually what her hair looks like all day long!

Freckles

Just a thought...

My niece had this posted on her blog and I love it. Quite frequently I go through moments where I hate things about me and my appearance and I saw this during one of those times. Thanks for sharing it Allyse!

Freckles by Natasha Bedingfield

I used to care so much about what others think about

I almost didn’t have a thought of my own.

The slightest remark would make me embark on the journey

Of self-doubt, but that was a while ago.

This girl has got stronger, and if I knew then what I know now,

I would’ve told myself don’t worry any longer, it’s ok

Cause a face without freckles is like the sky without the stars.

Why waste a second, not loving who you are?

Those little imperfections make you beautiful, lovable, valuable-

They show your personality- inside your heart,

Reflecting who you are

I wondered if I could trade my body with somebody else in magazines

With the whole world full at my feet

I felt unworthy and would blame my failures on the ugliness

I could see, when the mirror looked at me

Sometimes I still feel like that little girl who doesn’t belong

In her own world

But I'm getting better I'm reminding myself

Cause a face without freckles is like the sky without the stars.

Why waste a second, not loving who you are?

Those little imperfections make you beautiful, lovable, valuable

They show your personality, inside your heart,

Reflecting who you are

March 6th- March 12th 2011

Happy Birthday Mom! For my moms birthday on Monday, the girls and I took her to brunch at Mimis and then we all took her to dinner at Olive Garden that evening. While we were at dinner it started to snow. By the time we finished, everything was COVERED in a thick blanket of snow! It was crazy how much it snowed in such a short amount of time. My poor mom had to drive home in the yucky stuff too. I am glad it didn't start to snow till after we got to dinner though because she wouldn't have come up if it started before!!

When we got home from brunch with my mom I was trying to get a picture of the girls together.
This is what I got. Silly kids!

Wednesday was my first time going to Achievement Days. The other leader, Rondee Adams, did the lesson on how to be 'Charming', a lesson about manners. After the lesson she gave the girls a bowl of Lucky Charms cereal for a treat. It was a cute lesson and of course the girls loved the treat. I do have to say though that we have a hyper bunch of girls!! Whoa, it's sure going to be 'fun' getting them to pay attention!! After Achievement Days I went to our Relief Society Birthday Social so I was gone from 4pm till about 8:30pm. Again, it was nice to get out for a little bit.

The girls and I have been sick, sick, sick all week. We all have yucky colds and none of us can breath. Yuck. It is not fun. Kailee is the funniest. She keeps saying, "Nose. Nose, bugging me. Nose, cleaned." haha, Funny girl!

On Saturday we bought a swingset for the girls! We had been thinking about it for a while and I got an email from Toys R Us earlier in the week about a sale they were having. Then Friday I got another email that some of the sets were an additional $100 off. So we bought one! I am so excited to have it since summer is on its way and Kailee will have something to do outside!!

For some reason lately, blogging has gotten so hard for me. I got off to a good start at the beginning of the year and now for some reason I have hit a wall and have a hard time wanting to do it. I set the goal to do it once a week because I didn't want the memories to slip away. I wanted to be able to have something for us to look back at to remember our lives. Ugh. I wish I had more of a talent to write and have it be fun and entertaining. One night this week I was looking online for some activity ideas for Achievement Days. I came across a lesson about Journals that suggested doing a Journal Jar. You list a bunch of ideas to write about, cut them into strips and keep them in a jar. Everytime you go to write in your journal you pull out a strip and that's what you write about along with events from the day. Good idea. I might do that, we'll see. Oh well. For now, it is what it is.

And, just because I think they are cute...

My two little best buddies. I hope they stay this way. I hope they will always be best friends.

February 27th- March 5th 2011

Kailee had her first binky relapse Saturday night. Around 4am Kailee ended up in our bed. Shortly after, Ellie woke up so I grabbed her out of her bassinet and put her in bed with us too. A little while later, Ellie woke up fussing so I started fumbling around trying to find her binky to help her get back to sleep. Ryan woke up while I was trying to find it and got up to turn a light on.When I turned around to look in the bed I found it... in Kailee's mouth. She was sound asleep, sucking on the binky!! I am sure it was just second nature to her. She woke up, felt a binky next to her and put it in her mouth. We laughed and I took it from her and gave it back to Ellie. Haha, nice try Kailee!

Kailee did really well in nursery again this week! Yay! I think she is getting used to seeing the same kids and the same teachers every week. It's a bonus that she likes to sing, play games, color and catch bubbles!

She was so cute in Sacrament too! Every time there was a prayer said she would fold her arms, bow her head and close her eyes! Of course, she would frequently peek to see if everyone else had their heads down and eyese closed too! We have never actually shown Kailee what to do when a prayer is said... she learned it just from watching us and those around her. It has really shown me that she is a little sponge! Better be careful huh?!

Ellie is really becoming a little mommys girl. She is starting to cling to me and mostly only wants to be with me. Considering Kailee would rather be with her dad, I am more than excited that at least one child is a mommys girl, even if it is only for now! Ellie makes the cutest, little sad face when someone approaches her that she isn't familiar with. Her bottom lip turns under and she looks so sad. If someone takes her from me she lets out the cutest, little scream!! Too cute!!

This week seemed REALLY LOOOONG. For some reason both girls were miserable all week long. I don't think they did anything but cry all day, every day. Gotta love it. It's funny though, I would so much rather deal with two grumpy kids for 8 + hours than have to go to work.

Saturday Ryan treated me to a trip to American Fork to go to some shops that I had been wanting to check out. After getting the house cleaned, we all headed out and spent the afternoon eating, shopping and eating some more. Saturday was also our date night so around 8:30pm we dropped the girls off at Jolies and went to Kneaders to eat some more. Before picking up the kids we took a drive through Bountiful to check out the huge homes!! I love looking at homes. I love it even more when people leave their blinds open and lights on so I can look in to see how they have them decorated. :).  It was definitely a much needed day/night and was so nice to get out. It must have been much needed for the girls too because they were both as happy as can be all day too!  

Can't forget to mention... Ellie turned 5 months old on Saturday! She now rolls from her back to her tummy, she is eating cereal, and she is the most patient and calm little girl. She spends most of her days hanging out on the floor keeping herself entertained. She is a happy little girl most of the time too. She gets the biggest smile on her face and giggles when we talk to her and play with her. Kailee has watched me help Ellie roll over a few times and she now thinks it is her job to help her. When Ellie is laying on her Kailee will get down with her say "want to roll over", grab her side and roll her over. She sure is a good little helper! Now if I can just teach her to be gentle with little Ellie! 

Kailee started to speak in full sentences this week. We were sitting at the table one morning eating breakfast and she looked out the window and said as clear as can be "there is snow out there!" I couldn't help but chuckle and give her a hug. Later in the week she kept saying, "I want juice more, I want juice more." Cute kid! I love to see how much she is learning every day.

Just because I think she is cute...

I have mentioned many times that Kailee loves to clean when I am cleaning. Here she is in action!

(I wasn't cleaning the wall with windex, but she thought she would.)