A weekend in the big city!

We recently had our annual weekend in Salt Lake

with these folks....

 and this guy.

 We went to Trolley Square for dinner,

 saw Santa,

 went swimming,

 and had lots of fun!

We also went and saw "Tangled," which was wonderful.  Alli had a blast.  Jane was super tired at dinner and wouldn't eat anything.  She went right to sleep when we put her down.  She was a lot happier in the morning.  Alli had a blast.  She was so excited to sleep on her pull-out sofa that she practically put herself to bed.  She even got put on an elevator the next morning by herself by an adult, who will remain nameless.  The nameless adult found her roaming the second floor talking to a cleaning lady (she was supposed to have gotten out on the fourth floor.)

  My family has been doing this little getaway since I was little and I always look forward to them.  We have created lots of fun memories and I look forward to the ones ahead.  Judd, Kellie and crew, you were sorely missed.  

Gratitude

grat-i-tude

–noun

the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful

Our young women lesson on Sunday was on gratitude and I'm trying to practice what I preach this week by remebering what's really important in life.  I am striving to be worthy of all that I have been blessed with and it being the season of "thanks,"  I want to make a simple list of what I'm grateful for right now.

-hugs
-kisses
-grandma's
-choc. chip cookie dough frosty from Wendy's
-patience
-band aids
-advil
-work
-challenges
-jetted bath tubs
-the sound of hands and feet running/crawling on my hard wood floor
-Alli hugs and kisses
-memories
-pictures
-journals
-family home evening

I am so lucky in life right now and always have been.  I welcome all the joys and challenges that life brings.  I never have anything profound to say but I know what's important and what I want out of life. 

Update on the girls

Recent stats on skinny minnie.  She just had her 3 yr well child check.

HT: 38 in. (80th percent)

WT: 28 lbs (20th percent)

She was quick as a whip with all of the questions and activities that the Doc had for her.

She started preschool this week and loves it.  I wasn't too excited about paying for preschool when she's only 3 but she was so ready for it.  I couldn't find my camera on her first day so I will have to take pictures this week.

This little beauty is 10 months old now and currently weighs 21 lbs.  She got her first two bottom teeth at 6 months.  Her two top teeth are finally coming in and they are ginormous.  Poor girl.  She started army crawling at 8 months and can crawl on all fours but prefers to army crawl.  She started saying Alli.  It sounds like "Aaadddeeee."  My girls get along pretty well as long as Alli isn't too rough.  They are so much fun.  We are so lucky to have such wonderful girls. 

It's a Party!!

We had our annual waterslide party for Alli's 3rd birthday this year complete with slip n' slide, cake, presents, snacks and lots of fun. Andy made her a fabulous Dora cake that we will be talking about for the next year I'm sure. She got a croquet set, art kit, Ariel doll, clothes, and a bike. Thanks to everyone who came. Alli had a blast!

Alli's current favorites;

color: yellow

movie: Little Einstein's

person: Carver (cousin)

song: You are my Sunshine

favorite thing to do with Jane: scare her

treat: a sucker

We love this little girl and life would definitely be dull without her. She still loves to be the boss and has a great time playing with the neighbor kids. She loves to read books, ride her bike, sing, talk on the phone, play at the park, go to the library, swim and much more. She is CONSTANTLY talking and keeps us laughing everyday. She has so much energy we can hardly get her to go to sleep at night. I don't know how she survives. She hasn't napped for almost a year now. It's bitter sweet to watch her grow up right before our eyes. I'm always telling her that she's too smart for her own good.

Happy Late Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day Everyone! I certainly had a wonderful day and I hope you did too.

We are so blessed to have such amazing women in our lives and cannot thank them enough for all they do for us.

Happy Late Birthday Post

Andy celebrated his 26th birthday last month. The Friday night before his birthday I planned a surprise dinner at Fredrico's with our families. It was a fun get together that hopefully was enjoyed by all. Words cannot express my feelings and appreciation for this man so I will stop now and just show the pictures.

Happy birthday Andy, we love you!!

2010, what the?!

I'm not quite sure where 2009 went but it was a pretty darn good year for us. We moved into our house on August 10 and we are extremely glad that we're not building through this winter. It's fantastic to finally be living in something that is our own. We had some great parties with family and friends and we are so glad that we have you all in our lives. My last day of work was Nov 3 and we welcomed baby Jane into the world on Nov 4. It all went very smoothly and recovery was good. She has been an extremely good baby and I don't know how we are so lucky. The spirit that a new baby brings into your home is so amazing and humbling. Andy is just as wonderful as ever with his love and patience. I am reminded everyday of how lucky I am to have him and I know that my girls have the best daddy in the world. This is usually how the photo shoots go. Mom, she hates your camera. Hopefully this will change.
These two angels keep us humble and remind us of what's really important in life.

This little girl is large and in charge. She definitely wears the pants at our house. We usually don't accomplish anything without some major tantrums and meltdowns. About a month and a half ago she informed me one evening that, "Mom, I need to go poopy in my room. Can you turn the light on for me so I can see please?" We had been trying to potty train her and it was a constant fight to get her to sit on the toilet. I had been questioning if she was ready or not but after that statement, I knew that she was ready and now she is doing great! She is sooooo much fun and keeps us laughing and amazed at all of the things she says. She is a wonderful big sister and has done really well with having a new baby. I think it's because it's another person that she can be the boss of.

And this amazingly handsome devil (or saint I should say) is going on a mission to Seattle, Washington. We love you and are so proud of you Uncle Judd!

Side note. Our computer is old and not working very well so I haven't been able to read up on all of your fantastic lives. I'm sorry if I see you and don't congratulate you on something that you wrote about on your blog because I probably haven't read it. I am posting this at my mom's house and I can hear both of my girls crying in the other room so I really should go. I'm still trying to get used to being a full-time stay at home mom and entertaining a two year old that doesn't nap anymore. It is wonderful and I wouldn't trade it for anything.