Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Mobile Uploads

So this is a post full of pics from my phone of things we've done in the past few weeks.
Miss Emma--she was posing for Daddy and saying "I love you Daddy!"
Kaylee is our accessory girl. This is a hat she got from my good friend Kasey--she loves it! Miss Mallory being her!
We went to Chucky Cheese's for the first time. What a great outing! We were there on a weekday and got there right at opening time...so basically had the place to ourselves along with 1 or 2 other families. The girls loved riding the rides, climbing on the rides, dancing to Chucky's music when performing on the stage, and eating pizza!
Emma got invited to her first birthday party that was for a friend. It was at Lollipop Park at Family Sports Center. She was a bit of a grump though....rode 3 rides (maybe?) and the rest of the time sat in this chair...all the other kids were having fun riding rides. Don't know what was wrong with her that day. They did cake and presents and we were out of there! When we could have stayed longer to ride rides...who knows? Being 3 is hard!
One ride that she did...and I got a picture of... A park day---it was like 65 in January...no coats!!!I just liked how Kaylee was sitting here in this picture, just relaxing!
The girls being their princess selves. They got princess crowns and jewels from Gram and Papa for their birthdays.

Monday, January 9, 2012

A Look Back...2011

A good friend Janet did this on her blog and she has had such the year, I loved reading it. So, I did it as well! Thanks for sharing Janet and you are incredible!!! Enjoy.

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before? Can't think of anything..... 2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Don't really make resolutions. Wanted to start exercising again---didn't do it. Wanted to get more sleep---didn't happen. This year...exercise more, notice I did not say lose weight. Yes that is a bonus, but really I just want to feel better with more energy. More sleep...so far so good...everyone has been healthy! 3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My bestie from college Shelbi. 4. Did anyone close to you die? No one 5. What countries did you visit? Stayed here in the U.S. Did not really go anywhere this year. We did go to Idaho! 6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you didn’t have in 2011? Go on a family vacation and have a much needed weekend away with my hubby. 7. What dates from 2011 will be etched upon your memory, and why? none come to mind...pretty uneventful year 8. What was your biggest achievement of this year? Making it through day to day working full time and being a mom to 3 under 3 9. What was your biggest failure? Feeling like I can't keep up with everything and everyone who needs me 10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nope. Healthy...does sleep deprevation count? 11. What was the best thing you bought? New bras! No seriously!!! I was finally done with breastfeeding (at least the last couple months of year) so I bought bras that fit well (and look good)..and that are not breastfeeding bras or tanks! 12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My husband. He has worked so hard and has changed work stuff so he is home more with his girls. My parents. When they are here in town they help me out SOOOOO much! 13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? No one specific comes to mind. The crazies who are on the news every night! 14. Where did most of your money go? Normal stuff....A LOT to daycare and we did paint our house 15. What did you get really excited about? Emma's birthday and Christmas this year. Both things she really "Got" this year. Had so much with her! 16. What song will always remind you of 2011? Katy Perry's Firework. It was played ALL the time and I love what the lyrics say. Here's a link to it if you are bored Firework 17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer? Happier, same-but softer, richer-or at least not struggling as much as last year! 18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Sleep!...Relaxed more and not worry about everything that is not done. Spend more alone time with my hubby 19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Eating crap, like chocolate and ice cream! 20. How will you spend Christmas? Already over, but we spent it here at home with our little family, Jeremy's family and Jamie and Essence. Then went to the mountains and spent 4 days in a cabin my parents got...there was 19 of us! 21. Did you fall in love in 2011? Josh and I celebrated 8 years of marriage, so I didn't fall in love, but I think our relationship is stronger than it has ever been! 22. What was your favorite TV program? Parenthood, Up All Night, and Glee come to mind 23. What was the best book you read? Just read The Help and The Art of Racing in the Rain---both were great! I am finally finding time to read again...so really I can't think of what else I read.... 24. What was your greatest musical discovery? ???? 25. What did you want and get? A Kindle Fire 26. What did you want and not get? more sleep 27. What was your favorite film of 2011? Did I see any movies? On DVD...I saw Hangover....loved it!!! but don't think it is from 2011. 28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 34 and celebrated with some girl friends! We went to dinner and a movie--Breaking Dawn. 29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Slowing down. Though am not sure that is possible with 2 kiddos 30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2011 ? Comfortable...fast...hopefully flattering! 31. What kept you sane? Knowing after a hard-long day I have 3 wonderful girls that make me smile and give me so much love! (though they made me insane some days as well!!!) 32. What political issue stirred you the most? Don't really follow issues. Though I love to listen to people who know what they are talking about so I can hopefully learn more about politics. 33. Who did you miss? My friend Shelbi!!!! Love her and we just don't see each other enough! 34. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011. To enjoy my girls and worry about laundry and dust later....they are only this little for such a short time! 35. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. I don't have a quote...but I saw this at mom's group at my church and love it....it sums up my life right now, and for the next 18 or so years! Do watch...I'm sure some of you have seen it but it is great. The Mom Song

Merry Christmas!

What a great Christmas we had this year! This was the first year Emma really knew what it was all about. YES....we do Santa, but we also celebrate "Jesus's Birthday" as well. I put this in quotes because Emma knew all about this! She told me, "I learned it at Sunday School." Love that she can tell me these things. Kaylee is just as cute...she takes her cues from her sister and repeats everything she says.
So here is this year's Santa picture. No one crying, but look how serious they all look. Josh ended up in the pic because Mallory was not having anything to do with Santa! I also love how Kaylee is sitting next to him, but looks like she is leaning away from him! HA! Emma was the only one who actually said anything to Santa. She asked for princess panties (seriously!) and a princess castle. I had to talk to her about adding the castle...all she wanted was the panties every time I asked her before, but I kept prompting her...."wouldn't a princess castle be neat?" so underwear wasn't the ONLY thing on her list! Silly girl!
We started our Christmas happenings on Christmas Eve with Church. Emma and Kaylee's class sang with the rest of the kiddos Jingle Bells and Silent Night. It was so cute to see them both up there. Emma hated it...but she was so brave. You could see on her face how scared she was. She held herself together through the first song, but by the second song she was crying and the teacher had to hold her the rest of the time. I asked her later about it and she said, "that was scary, Emma did not like it!" I told her that she was so brave! Kaylee did great! We will see how next year is when she is older.
We got home and had some white chili and opened one gift. Jeremy, Laurie, Hope, Jamie and Essence all celebrated with us this year. They all came over on Christmas Eve and stayed the night. After our one gift and after the kiddos were in bed the adults had game night! Checking out what Santa brought. Princess panties and a princess castle for Emma.
Car thingy for Kaylee with some Dora panties.
Rock and Roll Elmo and some instruments for Mallory.
Fun times opening gifts and spending time together!
A few days after Christmas we headed to the Mountains to Nana and Grandpa's house. We celebrated with them and then headed to Steamboat to celebrate and hang out with my family for several days.
On our way to Steamboat we stopped for some lunch with some yummy ice cream for dessert. I think this is only their second ice cream cone ever.
The weather has been so nice there wasn't a ton of snow, which is weird for this time of year in Steamboat. BUT--enough that we played in the snow and we brought the snowmobile to enjoy. the cabin is on 40 acres, so there was plenty of room to play.
The girl winding down each night with a video on the computer before bed.

What a wonderful Christmas we had! We loved being able to spend so much time with all the people that we love the most! Below is a video of a bunch more pics from our Christmas. It is like 5 minutes...so just warning you!

Christmas 2011