Little Mommy

Brianna went back to school this week after 4 weeks of track, and no one missed her more than her little sister. The girls had been playing a lot with their babies and Wednesday I noticed that Carly was taking extra special care of her babies, at one point she asked if they could watch TV and specified that it be one one Chanel 11. After lunch when she was putting the babies down for a nap again she told me that Bri had left a list for her of all the things she was supposed to do that day with the babies. Since Carly can't read yet she drew her pictures. Notice in the corners the boxes with check marks .


They are the cutest girls ever. I love the detail in the pictures. the zzs coming for the cradles and the notes coming from the radio.


Carly is such a good little mommy. She is my helper and some how has gotten the cleaning gene that I'm missing. She always wants to help me do dishes and cook and lately I will find her cleaning her room or the play room and when I ask her why she tells me she wants to make me happy.
She does make me happy. There is nothing that makes me feel like I am a good mom than seeing my girls pretend to be little mommies. I'm so proud of both my girls and I'm proud to be their mom.

What a pain!

Several months ago the grocery store chain that I shop at was bought out, all that is but the one I shop at. For the last little while my store has been in limbo and now we have gotten the bad news that has of next month they will be closing. I'm so bummed. People have always told me I should shop other places with better prices, but I like my store. I have been shopping there for 10 years now. They know me and my family and are so good to us. Once Carly lost her stuffed kitten and since we were in a hurry to get out of there our Checker put out an APB on the loud speaker and moments later he was brought back safely to us. (Would that ever happen at Walmart? I think not.) I also have a mild flirtation going on with the produce guy, I once asked him to get a fresh stir-fry mix, which he did, and now he always makes it a point to ask if there is anything special I need. He also lets my girls pick an apple or banana to eat while we shop. I will miss the people there.
Now there is another grocery store just kiddy-corner from my store so you would think it won't be such a big deal to change stores, but it is. Every time I leave the new store I will have to take my life in my hands and have the choice of 2 busy streets to turn left on to. The new store is also very big, which in my opinion is not a good thing. The bigger the store the longer it takes to shop. I also have to figure out where everything is at the new store, and get use to new brands. You don't realize how important your grocery store is until it's gone.

Tea for two.

Bri has been off track the past few weeks. The other day while Carly was at school Bri decided to surprise sister with a tea party.

She served pretzels, cookies and pink lemonade, and dressed in her best outfit.

A lovely time was had by all.

Die Hards

You might think that the cold weather would keep Bri from ridding, but you'd be wrong. She is a die hard and not even freezing temperatures will keep her from her horse. She even went on a ride a few weeks ago in a snow storm. Even though she thought she might have black toes when she got back she said it was worth it because she spotted another eagle.



She is not alone there were 5 other riders at her lesson today.

Carly and I entertained ourselves during the lesson. Carly found a chunk of ice that made a great chair.

I really love our camera. And I love my beautiful little girls.

New Hobbie, like I really need another

Jon's parents have been doing a lot of puzzles lately and we have had fun helping them. So for Christmas we got a few of our own. We have really had a great time doing them. The girls like to help and I'm amazed at how good they are even with the really small pieces. It's has been so nice to get away from the TV and just sit and do something quiet as a family.

The trouble with blogs

I have enjoyed blogging way more than I thought I would. When I was younger I was really great at keeping a journal, but have not been so good as an adult that is until I got a blog. Now all those fun stories about my kids actually get written down and when I'm feeling like I'm not a very good mom, I can look back at all the things I do with my kids and realize that maybe I am doing an okay job. But, the problem with blogs is that for the most part we all just write about the positive stuff that happens and not bad things or the things that upset us. I have written several posts and just haven't published them, about things that I need to get of my chest. It's not that I want every one to think that my life is all sunshine and happiness, or to brag about how wonderful my children are, its just that for the most part, when some thing is bugging me it has to do with things that only those closest to me would be able to offer advice on.

I also can be very snarky and cynical and if I were to write about the woman I saw at the ballet the other night who was wearing pajama pants, or how much it bugs me that women wear sandals and bare legs with dresses in the middle of winter, or jeans at a funeral, you would all just think I was an awful person.

So even though the January blues are setting in I'm going to try to keep on blogging, and look for that good things that are all around me.

Thoughts on the New Year and Life in general

Our year did not get off the the greatest start. We woke up New Years day to the news of the passing of Jon's Grandpa Gail. He was 93 so we can't say his passing was a surprise, but he had been in good health, until New Years Eve when took a sudden turn and passed away just after midnight. He was a cute little old man who loved his walks and working on cars. He was quick to laugh and to make others laugh. He smoked until he was 83 when he got pneumonia and we thought we would loose him. Soon after he recovered he was baptized in to the LDS faith. He took care of Grandma till about 5 years ago when he moved in with Jon's Uncle Von and Aunt Dorian. We are so grateful for the care they provided them the last years of their life.

We love you Grandpa Gail! You will be missed.

I hate this time of year. I usually get hit pretty hard with the post Christmas let down. I try to avoid it but some how it always gets me. I think one of the things I hate most about this time of year is all the weight loss commercials. You can get through a commercial break with out hearing at least 2. Everything from weight watchers to the Hollywood cookie diet, I even heard about a diet program called the Taco Bell Drive through diet. Seriously? And we wonder why diets don't work. I do need to get back on the diet band wagon as I have been very bad this year and according to my wii fit I have gained 12 lbs. Yuck! I'm hoping to lose them as fast as I gained them but really it will probably be spring before I will shed the last of my holiday pounds. Even now I'm trying to resist the urge to go up and see what is left of the holiday treats.

My girls are getting along so well. This is great news especially since Bri is off track and home from school for the next 3 weeks. And, they are just not getting along but they are so cute together and are happy to spend every second playing together. I have heard a few squabbles break out, but they work them out quickly and with little intervention from me. I've found them several time snuggling on the couch as they watch a movie, and are currently playing polly pockets in the playroom. The strangest thing thought is that this morning I asked them to spend a half hour cleaning the play room and they actually did it. No crying or whining I didn't even have to be in the room telling them each item to pick up and where to put it, they just did it. Miracle! I really hope this behavior keeps up for the next few weeks.

A Night at the Nutcracker

When I was little my sweet grandma , Dramy, Would take my sister and I to see the Nutcracker every Christmas. My Grandmother had been a dancer when she was young and My sister followed in her footsteps and also danced for many years and even performed in the Nutcracker many times. Going to the Ballet was a big deal, we would get all dressed up and and to this day it is one of my best and earliest memories. So when Jon mentioned he could get tickets from his work I was very excited to get the chance to take my girls.


All dressed up for girls night out. I was able to get tickets for my mom and sister and my niece, my sister-in-law and her mom.

We rode the train into the city. It was a very cold night but the girls were troopers.

The girls were very well behaved. They waited patiently for the show to start and the looks on their faces were better then the show on the stage. Brianna especially was so enthusiastic.

I had bought the girls matching dresses for Christmas and they all looked so cute. It was a wonderful evening despite the bad weather and I love spending time with the wonderful women I call family. I hope this is a tradition we can keep up.

The Christmas Post

Christmas Eve is my very most favorite day of the year and this year it was extra fun.

We started or festivities by going sledding.


The kids were cold but I think they had fun.

Uncle Jon and Atty.

Mommy and Carly heading up the hill.

The highlight of the day for Bri was that she spotted a bald eagle is a nearby tree.

Next we headed back to my brother's house for dinner. I love Christmas Eve dinner. We all make our favorite appetizers, so dinner is things like stuffed mushrooms, Lil' smokies, bacon wrapped chestnuts, and dips. We also had chicken noodle soup made by my brother that was delicious.

Then the kids frosted some cookies for Santa.

Then the spoiling began. This year Christmas Eve was extra special because my whole family was together for the first time since my parents divorced 15 years ago. It was great. I just have so much fun with them and laughed so hard I cried.

The girls came in our room the first time at 4am. We had them get back in bed with us and manged to sleep a few more hours. They were so exited to see what they got.

Bri got her Microscope.

They both are very, very spoiled girls. We always say we aren't going to go overboard , but every year we do. They are just so cute we can't help ourselves.

For breakfast we headed to Jon's parents for Swedish pancakes and more presents. Here are the girls and their cousin Courtney.

We had a really great holiday. We are lucky to have great famlies and lots of love.

Santa!

My Aunt Sherrie host our family Christmas party every year. She has an in with Santa so we are lucky enough to get to see him every year. The kids have so much fun.

Bri asked Santa to bring her a microscope.

Carly was so excited when he arrived that she was jumping up and down like she was on a pogo stick. She was so cute with him.

Who cares if they are naughty or nice, they are just too darn cute!

Joy!

It is worth every penny and all the time I spend standing out in the cold to see this look on her face.

Two little dancers

Dance recitals are always very exciting but this year we have two reasons to be exited because Carly got to dance in the recital for the first time.

Miss Brianna in all her 50's fabulousness.

My little ballerina Carly. She was so excited to wear make up and kept asking all day long if it was time to get ready yet.

Bri was so cute to help her sister out. She would practice her dance with her and tell her all about how things would work at the recital.

First up was Brianna with the Jingle Bell rock.

She is such a little performer.

Bri and her class have really improved since last spring. I was very inpressed.

I'm glad to know she has so much fun.

Next was Carly in Once There was a Snowman.

The song was so cute and the girls all knew just how cute they are.

My favorite part of the song. His arm's, are twigs.

The Flash trick step. Her favorite part of the dance.

The other thing Carly was excited for was for her daddy to give her flowers after the performance. They do two shows one right after the other, but at the break in between shows. Carly said to me "Isn't anybody going to give me flowers?" She was so excited when Daddy gave them to her after the 2nd show.

Of course sister got some too. I'm so proud of my sweet little dancers.

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth! (and a pony)

She is so stinkin cute, even without teeth! I love that kid.


I'm having more fun than usual decorating and thought I'd show a few pictures of our cute house.

I love our tree. It is fake and we got it our first Christmas after we got married so this is it's 14th Christmas. Somewhere along the way we wrapped the lights on it so they stay on. Every year we say that if some of the lights don't work we will get a new tree, and every year they turn on. Our tree is starting to look a bit like Charlie Brown's tree but I love it anyway. Our decorations are ones we've collected over the years and I make sure to write the year we got them somewhere on them. We usually buy new ones when we are on vacation and we always let the girls pick a new one each year. My favorite part of decorating the tree is remembering the stories that go with each ornament. We have one from my Grandma who passed away 7 years ago and it is nice to remember her every year. My favorite is the story of the star on the top of our tree. When Bri was 3 she thought the tree needed a star. When we got home from the store after getting the star, she walked in the house and said. "We're home tree! And we got you a star." Good times.

We especially love our fireplace and think it looks extra fabulous decorated for the holiday. I made our stockings. The first one I made was for Jon when I was still in high school and he was living in Tennessee. I later replaced the cuff on the stocking and embroidered our names on them. I kept the extra fabric and made one for each of the girls when they came along.

We went to Jon's company party last night. Bri took our picture before we left. I think we still make a pretty good looking couple.

I hope your all enjoying the holidays!