Snow and Gingerbread Houses

It is snowing. I know that that doesn't seem like anything special, but in St. George when it snows it is kinda rare. It has been snowing here almost all day and it is 2:00 in the afternoon, that makes it more unusual. In the 8 years that I have lived here when it has snowed it is only for an hour tops then it is gone in a few minutes, if it had even stuck at all. The snow today isn't sticking but that makes it even better because I get to enjoy watching it fall but then don't have to drive in it. :)

Amber watching it snow.

This year, like last, for J's work party we decorated gingerbread houses. It was fun and a little easier than last year because Amber is bigger, so she helped a little, and Elle was enjoying time with J so no little fingers grabbing at everything. Amber was helping herself to all the different kinds of decorating materials, aka the candy, but didn't go as sugar crazy as she did last year. She had decorated her own gram cracker house at a young women's activity earlier in the week so she knew the what to do. Here are a few pictures to document this years houses.

Amber's gram cracker house

My gingerbread house (after the crash on the way home).

Magical cupcakes

Today we went to lunch with a friend and I got Amber a cupcake. All she really wanted was the frosting but she ate the whole thing, well her half anyway (it looked so good I need to try it too:). Later when we were in the car she said the following.

"I ate all my cupcake and it makes me happy and strong."

I am always telling her that she needs to eat her dinner so she will be healthy and strong. I guess cupcakes aren't so healthy so they must make you happy instead. I agree with that. Dessert is really just to make us happy because we really don't need it. At the same time we so do sometimes.

Some random saying of Amber

So the last couple of days/weeks I have been writing down some of the cute, funny, interesting... things that Amber has said. Here are just a few of them.

"It's Christmas time Elle, it's Christmas time!"
She said this when she saw the Christmas tree that I put up while she was taking her nap. She was very excited and has been asking if it is Christmas time for a couple of weeks.

"I don't need a friend, I just need a book."
Out of context this sounds a little strange so let me clarify a couple of things. Her 'friend' is whatever little stuffed animal or baby that she wants to take around with us when we leave the house. The book part is because we had just come home from the library with five new books to read and she couldn't wait to read them.

"Merry Christmas and Happy New Ear."
She was mostly right. I don't know of anyone who really needs a new ear though. J and I have tried to correct her, but after we laughed so hard about it she thinks it is funny so she keeps saying it this way.

"The ducks won't eat me, they only eat bread."
We were on our way to feel the ducks and I think she was giving herself a pep talk because last time the ducks got a little close and nipped at her pants.

Here are a couple pictures of the girls because they are so darn cute.

Amber and Elle riding the horse.

Amber just being cute.

Elle in the fall leaves that are finally coming down.

Elle shocked about something.

Amber being a little helper.

Fall

Here is the video that I promised. It is just of some random things that the girls have done this fall so far. Enjoy.

Eating

Elle is so different from Amber, especially when it comes to eating. She is only 7 months old and she is already eating things that Amber will not even try. Today I decided that I wanted to have spaghetti for lunch. Elle went crazy as I was eating it so I let her try some. She loved it and kept grunting for more. It is so nice that she will eat anything after how picky Amber was and is still. Here are a few pictures of Elle after some spaghetti. Mind you I had wiped her face a couple times before this but she still had it all over her face.

Halloween Fun

Halloween was busy this year for us. We had three parties that we went to and Amber wasn't just dressed up as one thing but two, a nurse and a princess. Poor Elle just got dragged from one place to another and put up with it really well. It started out with the elementary school parade, then to one of Amber's friends for a party, after naps we went to the ward trunk-or-treat and the day ended with a party at one of J's work buddies. I have some fun video that I am working on putting together but for now here are some pictures of all the fun.

So I was just looking for some Halloween activities online and saw a link from Voltswagon to make a Routan baby. All you do is upload a picture of you and whoever, in my case my husband J, and then they create a baby for you. Here is what they came up with for J and me.

Big Girl Panties

Today is Amber's first day wearing big girl panties. She has been doing so well I just decided it was time to make the switch. It has been a work in progress getting her to today. The first time I tried putting her in panties I thought we would try cold turkey potty training. Just put her in panties and see if she could figure it out. After two day and hours of sitting on the potty we were 0/15 so we (J*) decided to give it a few weeks and try again. Then Amber started telling me when she was going pee pee or right after she had. So I knew that now she at least was aware that she was going. Then one day she came back from her friends Sydney's** house and she had gone on her potty. Nothing like a little competition and bribery. She was so excited she had done it and had gotten a sucker that she came home and tried once or twice without success. A few days later she started asking to go again and was actually going. That was about two weeks ago. She has had a couple of not so good days but for the most part has gone pee pee all day. What really made up my mind about putting on the panties was her going poop on the potty the last two days. So whoot whoot for Amber and being a big girl.

Here are recent pictures of my cute girls.
*J decided that I needed a break after I took out my frustrations on the wall. No worries—I didn't put a hole in it or anything. And believe me, he isn't going to ever let me live it down. I should have kept my mouth shut.
**Thanks Caralee I am glad you let her try:)

Happy sisters

Pretty girl

So happy

Strike a pose

Amber with a monkey on her back

Elle hanging with Grandma Mary

Amber proud to be wearing big girl panties

Elle enjoying her Cheerios

Happy Birthday Honey Honey

Today is my husbands 30th birthday and I just wanted to take a minute and wish him a great one. It is so weird to think he is 30 because I remember being married to him when he turned 23 which I swear was just the other day. So happy birthday my honey honey and I hope it is a spectacular one. I love you.


He doesn't look like a 30 year old to me because he seems to still have fun.

I can't believe it

I can't believe that Elle is already 6 months old. It makes me kinda sad to think how fast the time went by. She has gotten so big and fun though so that is exciting.

I'm so glad when daddy comes home

On Friday Amber started to sing "I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home" but wasn't sure of all the words so she asked me to help her. I didn't know the song so well myself and told her I wasn't sure what the words were. So then she said, "Grandma Mary will sing it to me." She then asked if we could call and have Grandma Mary sing it to her. We did and Amber was very happy while Grandma Mary sang it to her at least three times. Now that she knew all the words she kept singing it over and over again. It was so cute that I got it on video for all to see, especially Grandma Mary.

Here is happy Amber as she listened to Grandma Mary sing to her.

Sad story

So I just read the saddest story that Auntie Nettie linked to. It is a real tear jerker. So if you are interested in reading it yourself you may want to have a box of tissue close by. The story starts here on cjanerun and is still going on. It sounds like they are still in need of prayers and donations, whatever you can do can help this family.
If after reading that you need a pick me up here you go.

Do I really sound like that?

So Amber will sometimes talk to her toy friends like I talk to her. Most of the time it is about things we have done or that her toys need to hold her hand when they cross the road. Things like that are good to hear because then you know she is learning and understanding. But today's conversation with Curious George and monkey saddened me a little. It made me wonder - do I really sound like that? It went something like this:

Amber:"George you have to go to time out."

Amber to me:"George had to go to time out because he wouldn't listen."

Amber:"George you need to listen and be good. Hey, monkey you go to time out right now. Yes right now. You don't talk to me that way."

Amber to me:"George and monkey are in time out because they weren't being good girls."

Oh the good and bad example I set. It is a little funny to hear someone else playing you but it is also an eye opener. Parenting. No one is perfect right?

Fairs and hairs and family - oh my

It has been a busy couple of weeks here with us. We have done so many fun things that we have needed time to re-adjust after it all. It all began with the Washington County Fair. Amber, Elle and I met up with Amanda and her little girl Rosalynn to go and see the farm animals and exhibits. Amber had a lot of fun and seemed to enjoy looking at, holding, and brushing the different animals. She also got to sit in some tractors and pretend to drive them. I guess some of my county side is in her too.

The next big thing for Amber was getting her hair cut. J and I had scheduled haircuts together so that he could watch the girls while it was my turn. I had asked Amber at least 3 times if she wanted her hair cut and each time it was a resounding "NO." So as we were finishing up Amber pipes in that it is her turn to get her hair cut. Kandice, who cuts our hair, said she had time so Amber climbed in the chair and was good. She kept saying "I am getting my hair cut with no crying." I guess I should mention the last time she got her hair cut - over a year ago - she cried pretty much the entire time.

Then we had about a week of spending time with family. First off we went up to Beaver Mountain for a family reunion with the Arnold's (my mom's side). After I told Amber that we would be sleeping in a cabin up in the mountains she kept telling me and anyone who would listen that she was going to "sleep on the mountains." On Friday, August 15, as we were getting ready she kept asking if we were getting ready to go to the cabin. She asked J at least 10 times. She was very excited. We didn't get to the cabin until around 10PM but she was still wide awake and just happy to see people she knew (my siblings and parents). The next day she woke up and wanted to be with anyone but J or me -well, except the male cousins (guys are still scary to her for some unknown reason). She especially enjoyed being with my mom or Bonnie. J and I were even able to get out for a 4 wheeler ride for about an hour. It was a nice break.

On Sunday we headed up to Heber to spend the next couple of days. On Monday, August 18th, J and I had tickets to see Jack Johnson in Salt Lake. J put a couple of good songs he sings here if you are interested. It was my first concert and I really enjoyed it (click to see J's take). Then on Tuesday Amber and I went to Seven Peaks with my mom, Bonnie, and my oldest brother John and his family. Amber loved going down the big rides with me and didn't want to leave. On Wednesday we went to the Hogle Zoo with my mom, Bonnie, Paige, Zach, Natalie, Lauren and Camdon. It was a little warm but we had a good time and all the kids were good. On Wednesday night J and I went boating with Bonnie and Kirby. J and I were the only ones that actually got wet though. I was a little rusty water skiing because the last time that I had been was over 8 years ago. I was able to get up on my second try, though. We also went on the tube and knee board. It was so nice to have family around to watch the girls so that we could go and do these fun things.

Now we are back in St. George getting back to normal life. J is teaching two classes at Dixie State College, one of which I am trying to get things arranged so I can take. It is Photoshop, which I have always wanted to be able to use.

*I will put up some pictures of J and me boating if or when I get them from Bonnie.*

Interesting

Just something I found interesting.

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 11 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Pictures through the years

Here are the pictures I promised. I was only going to add a few, but I got carried away looking through all our pictures. There are a lot. It was fun looking back and remembering all the things that J and I have done together.

Seven!?

I can't believe that today is my 7th wedding anniversary. Seven years, how did it go by so darn fast!? How can someone stand to be around me for so long? Poor J, he has put up with me for over 2,555 crazy days and nights. He has had to suffer through all the emotions, drama, and insecurities of me going to school, working, being pregnant - twice, being a first time mom and being a mom of two. There has been ups and downs, high and lows, but he has managed to put up with me. He has had to give up a lot of thing that he would like to do for our sweet little girls and me. I just want to take a minute and remember how we met. It was 2000 and I decided to move down to St. George to go to Dixie College. I moved into a small apartment complex called Bluestone just across from the college. There were only ten apartments so not that many people lived there. The first time I remember seeing J was on Halloween. He came running into our apartment, without knocking, and ran around the room shouting something that I can't remember. I just remember thinking that he must be weird. After that he would come over occasionally to talk to my roommates Tara and Lisa. I was dating someone else at the time so I didn't pay much attention to him. The first time that we hung out was on Thanksgiving Break when everyone had gone home. I was meeting family on Thanksgiving day at my Uncle and Aunt's house in Paragonah so I stayed and worked the other days. J invited me to come over and watch a movie with him. I was bored and lonely so I agreed. We talked a little and watched Jerry Maguire. After that we talked to each other ever once in a while. Then around Christmas times he came down to "asked to borrow my vacuum" but really he wanted to ask me if I would go to breakfast with him the next morning. I agreed and then he asked me to his work Christmas party. After that we started hanging out more and more. I am going just leave it at that. I am sure that he would go on about how I couldn't make up my mind if I wanted to be more than just friends. But as you can see I did and now we have been married for seven years (still unbelieveable no matter how many times I say it) and we have two sweet little girls that adore him. I love you my honey honey and look forward to the years to come.
*I will be scanning a few pictures of us to put up I just ran out of time today. *

Memory Lane

My friend had this on her blog and I loved the idea...so leave a comment!!!. Here are the directions:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember! I guess good or bad, but be nice!!!!!!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Sisters

People are always saying that Elle looks just like Amber. I thought I would pull some pictures of both of them at the same age and let you judge. All I can say is that I think they are both pretty darn cute.

Heber Adventures

For the 4th of July weekend we ended up going to Heber. It was a lot of fun for most of us. Amber really had a great time being spoiled by family and friends. She thinks Heber is this magical place where:

• there are fireworks
• she gets to stay up late
• she gets to sleep with papa
• she gets to ride horses
• she gets to go down a really big slide with grandma
• she gets candy and other goodies all the time
• she gets to go outside during the day
  
• she gets to play with the cats, dogs, and horses whenever
  

As you can tell by the list above she/we did a lot. Friday we had a more relaxed day and then we had a BBQ at my parents house and stayed up to watch the fireworks. Saturday was a busy day. Amber rode Duke, my dad's horse, for as long as we would let her. She had to take turns with her cousins Zach and Natalie. Then in the afternoon she went swimming with the family at the Kamas Rec Center. My mom was kind enough to get in with her so I could take care of Elle and visit with Lauren. Amber loved the big slide and had a lot of fun. Then straight from there we went to a BBQ at Aunt Bonnie's house in Kamas. Amber visited with everyone and loved all the attention. Elle didn't seem to mind that we were in a different place, she was happy as long as she was getting her naps and food.
The hard part about the trip was Amber sleeping. It was hard on her because we were in a new and strange room that wasn't hers. She would cry and cry until J (mostly) or myself would go and sleep by her. We are still trying to get her back on schedule and back to sleeping by herself again. It was fun but it is nice to be home where we can get back to normalcy.

Here is a video of Amber on Duke

Maxfield Girls

For my birthday J arranged to have pictures taken of Amber, Elle and me. We finally had them done on Monday by Amber at A Blue Iris. They are available for your viewing pleasure here. I really like the ones of the girls together. I was a little bummed that we couldn't get Elle to smile (she was tired) but I think they look cute anyway.

Hot Hot Hot

Oh how I hate the hot hot summer months in St. George. It is really hard when by 10:00am it is too hot to be outside anymore. That is for now anyway, in the next few weeks it will never be cool enough to be outside. So far this summer we have been going out to visit J or friends or have found something fun to go see or do but now that gas is so expensive and the car gets so hot we are not doing that anymore unless we need to go somewhere. I was trying to think what I did last summer to pass the time. Then I remember I took Amber swimming at the outdoor pool at our gym at least every other day. The only problem with that now is Elle is too small to be in the sun (she can't even wear sunscreen yet). We did meet some friends* at the new Washington Recreation Center to go swimming. It was fun but really hard with two kids - one whom didn't want to be there and the other so excited but not willing try anything by herself. So I was really glad to have Amanda there to help out. Enough complaining but if anyone has any good suggestions of fun things to do at home with a two year old I would love to hear them.
*thanks Chrissy for inviting us

Hair

Who is trying to look like whom?

Amber after she woke up

9 hour hairdo from testMonkey on Vimeo.

Father and Husband

So I know that Father's Day was yesterday but I am just going to call this Papa Week. Yesterday J didn't get much of anything except a can of Shasta Root Beer (click this to see how he felt about that) and some sugar cookies. Amber, Elle and I did do something for him but it won't be ready until tomorrow because I didn't realize it would take so long to finish. But I would like to take a minute to say how much the girls and I appreciate you. Thank you for all the tickles, hugs, kisses, dances, laughs, knowledge, memories, wisdom, love, compassion, silliness and understanding. Thank you for working so hard for us, even when you would rather be doing something else. Thank you for being at all the doctors appointments or where ever else we need you. Thank you for giving me a break so I don't go crazy. We love you and all your craziness. Thanks.

Papa and Amber

Papa and Elle

Elle and Grandma Mary

Elle has really started to coo and make other fun baby noises lately. She is growing so fast. Here is a cute video of her talking to her Grandma Mary.

Elle's Blessing

Elle's blessing was yesterday and she was so good. I thought for sure that she was going to cry all day or at least during the actual blessing but she didn't. She did however poop on her pretty white dress right after the blessing. J said that she must be his child because he doesn't like dressing up either. It was so nice having family and a few friends come to be here for her blessing. We had a nice time this weekend and want to thank everyone that came. Here are a few pictures from the day. Lauren has some other pictures from the weekend here.