A Wonderful Christmas

Our Christmas festivities started Christmas Eve with Aaron's family. We spent the evening singing Christmas Carols, reading in the scriptures, acting out the Nativity, and sharing with one another our successes and disappointments experienced this year. It was a wonderful evening full of the kind of memories Christmas is all about. Grace enjoyed playing Mary, while Eve was content to just watch (she was feeling lethargic with a 102 fever.)

The next morning we spent at home as we enjoyed the shrills of excitement that accompany a day filled with gifts, goodies, young children, and time together. We feel so blessed and are very grateful for Jesus Christ's gospel and what it means to our little family.

Aspen

For the last two weeks since arriving home from our Colorado getaway, I've wanted to write about the fun we had, but it kept falling to the bottom of my list (other things took precedence like getting packages out in the mail, Christmas cards written, presents made for teachers, putting up lights...you get the idea.) So here I am with a moment to spare.

Our dear friends Adam and Julyssa invited us, along with Chelsea and Travis, to spend a couples weekend with them in Aspen (Adams grandparents have a house there that they so generously offered.) We had a wonderful time relaxing by the fire, playing games, watching movies, etc. We also got out and did some really fun things in the snow. We skied one of the days at Snowmass, and had a snow-shoeing adventure the next. We also had fun walking around town window shopping, admiring art galleries, and eating in a couple of the restaurants. It was a great time to be together as a couple and also spend time with good friends that we don't get to see very often. A special thank you to Aaron's family for looking after our little ones while we were away. The time was greatly appreciated!

Rendezvous in San Fransisco

Julyssa is in San Fransisco visiting some of her family for Thanksgiving and invited us out to spend a day with her and the kids. The girls and I drove out as soon as Grace was finished with school yesterday. We had so much fun taking our time, enjoying each other and the vibrant city. We watched the sea lions at the pier, a clown on the street that made each of the kids a balloon creature, and the artist bread makers at the Boudin sourdough bread factory work their magic (their hands really do seem to work like magic!) We stayed at the factory for dinner and enjoyed a variety of sourdough bread dishes, and then walked back over to Pier 39 to marvel at the enormous, lit Christmas tree. We finished up with ice cream and romp in the play area at a mall near her sister's home. The kids were enjoying their day of fun together and didn't want it to end. As Grace and Nyomi hugged each other good-bye Grace looked straight into her eyes and said, "I'll think about you everyday." So far Grace was telling the truth, because when she woke up this morning the first thing she said was, "Mom, can I call Nyomi?"

Making Memories with Cousins

Aaron's sister Angela and her family are in town for Thanksgiving. Today we had the privilege of having her two oldest kids spend the day with us at our house. Grace and Eve loved the time with their cousins Julia and Dallin. The four of them spent hours dressing up, putting on plays, building forts, and creating their own art projects. It reminded me of the fun I used to have playing with my cousins. I love to think they are making those same kinds of memories!

I love the one of Eve as a "bunny ballerina" and Dallin as "Super Chicken!"

Abstract Art

This morning while Grace and Eve were coloring together, I overheard their conversation. It went something like this:

Grace: "Oooo, that's pretty Eve. Is that a sunset?"
Eve: "No"
Grace: "An egg?"
Eve: "No."
Grace: "What is it?"
Eve: "I don't know."

Little Tiger

Grace had her last soccer game today. She was actually very happy to be done with her season. It turns out that she's not as big of a soccer fan as we had hoped! Although she really did enjoy playing goalie. She would pretend to be a tiger when in the goal (her team's name was "Tigers.") It was really cute...she would growl and claw at the ball as it came to her. She was actually very good at stopping the ball from going in the goal, but as a player on the field she just ran around aimlessly. It was very fun to watch!

After the game we had her team party at a pizza parlor. The kids received trophies and gave one last Tiger cheer. As fun as it all was...We're glad to have our Saturdays back!

Sick Day

Grace stayed home from school today; sick for the second day in a row. She has a dry, very persistent cough. Yesterday she was coughing so much that it made her vomit. We actually had quite a pleasant day once her cough died down, but then it was back again this morning. She really wanted to go to school and was even dressed for the day, when we found her in her room hacking up a storm. We kept her home to be safe (the last thing we wanted was a repeat of yesterday's vomit incident.) With some good naps, and going to bed early she should be feeling better by Monday.

A Perfectly Pink Party

We celebrated Eve's birthday last night. When I asked her what kind of party she wanted, she answered with one word: "Pink!" So that's what we gave her, the pinkest party we could come up with. Pink Balloons, pink crate paper, pink plates, a pink butterfly cake, pink presents, a pink pinata; all the guests even came dressed in pink! It was our three year old's pink dream come true. Aaron's family joined us for a truly fun night that we all enjoyed.

I was so impressed with how pink everyone was! What a fun way to show a little girl how much you love her!

Eve having a whack at her pinata (She is wearing her new pink gown that she got for her birthday. Her one birthday request was a "pink dress.")

Things

" I will pick up the hook. You will see something new. Two things. And I call them Thing One and Thing Two. These things will not bite you. They want to have fun." Then, out of the box came Thing Two and Thing One!

-The Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss

For Halloween the girls were Thing One and Thing Two...from one of their favorite books, The Cat in the Hat. It all started a year or two ago when Aaron and I began using code names for the girls. We would call them Thing One and Thing Two (respectively) when we didn't want them to know we were discussing them. Eventually Grace caught on and that was the end of the code names, but Grace quite liked the titles. A few months ago when she and I were discussing Halloween costume ideas she said she would like to be Thing One and have Eve be Thing Two. Well, Eve was easy to convince so that's what they settled on!

It was easy to find red sweats, so I just cut out some felt and ironed it on and there were their outfits! After looking for the perfect wigs online, I found some thing even better: a way to make my own! A came across the idea to knit beanies out of a special yarn called "fun fur" to come up with a wig-looking cap. I didn't have any experience knitting, but I did know how to crochet so I adapted. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to crochet a beanie! It feels good to learn something new. And I was so excited about the results.

Eve's Birthday

Our little Eve turned three years old today. She's been practicing holding up three fingers all day (it's infinitely harder than holding up just two.) Even though we won't be having her party until Saturday, we tried to make her day as special as possible. As tradition in our family (begun by Grace) we started the day with bringing Eve breakfast in bed. We even put a candle in her muffin! Eve chose to wear a pink tutu all day to commemorate the day of her birth. After our usual morning at the gym, Eve and I went to a special Halloween story time at the library. Later in the afternoon we watched " It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" and carved our own pumpkins (well actually more like I carved 3 and a half pumpkins...Grace did some of her own.) After dinner when Daddy got home we built ice cream sundaes.

I was realizing the other day that there are no longer evidences of a baby, or even a toddler in our house. No more diapers. No more booster seat at the table. No more bibs. Not even a sippy cup. The only glimpse of my baby comes at bed time when I hold her close as she sucks her thumb. I kiss her soft cheeks, and there is only a slight pudge to them now. Where did that sweet baby fat go? Well, at least she still has her curls!

Field Trip

Grace's Kindergarten class went on a field trip to the pumpkin patch last week. The most exciting part for Grace: riding on an "actual school bus!" Eve and I got to meet her there.

Who would have thought that getting two kids to look at a camera and smile at the same time would be so insanely difficult. Believe it or not, after taking what would have been half a roll of film (back in the good old 35 mm days) this is the best that I came up with. At least one of them is looking and half smiling!

Olive and Learn

So, I was really proud of myself when I found a way to use up my leftover marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and Italian sausage from the Lasagna that I made the other day: Mini Pizzas! Of course, I had to open a big can of olives to make the pizzas just right, and now I have a new problem: What am I going to do with all of the leftover olives?

All On Her Own

I have tried to teach Grace to tie her shoes in the past, but gave up thinking it was a skill she'd just have to learn in the future. Then a couple of days ago Aaron showed her how to do it again and she caught right on. The next morning I found her tying her own shoes without a bit of help! I guess sometimes Dad just has the right touch! Thanks Aaron!

My Titles

There are a lot of things I could call myself. My titles are endless:

• Book reader, critic, and repairer
  
• Lullabyer
• Silky finder
• Button sewer
• Dish washer
• Moderator
  
• Tear wiper
• Potty trainer
• Life Coach
  
• Chubby cheek kisser
• Floor moper
• Lawn mower
• Bike rider
• Toddler dance partner
• Tummy tickler
• Culinary artist
• Referee
  
• Shuttle Service
• Energy conserver
  
• Interior decorator
• Personal shopper
• Rule enforcer
• Reading, Science, Math, Social Studies, and Religion teacher
• Shoe tier
• Creative Art director
• Handy (wo)man
• Love sharer
• Life giver
  

With all of these titles I've given myself, I have never labeled myself a "home-maker." I don't know why I've been afraid of the term. Maybe because it always sounded old-fashioned (almost Betty Crocker like.) But I've never really analyzed the term before. Home...maker: someone who makes a home! That is me! All of my combined titles equals some one who creates a welcoming home environment. Someone who is there to kiss my little girls' owies, or hug my husband when he comes home from work. And although it is still not my favorite term, I am more than happy to be a "home-maker."

Fingerpainting is Therapeutic...

I found a non-intimidating artistic outlet today in dipping my fingers into some primary colors! I thoroughly enjoyed sitting with my girls and simply creating with nothing in mind. I highly recommend it!

My Day

Julyssa has inspired me to document my daily life. She took pictures of her daily doings for a whole week and sent out a challenge for others to try it. I am amazed that she had the stamina to keep it up for seven days (I had a hard enough time trying to take pictures of everything for one day!) Of course I wasn't able to document everything, but I think you get a pretty good idea of what my days are like.

6:37 a.m.

Choices, choices. choices...

Getting set up for my step aerobics class (Eve's helping me before she goes to kiddie care in the other room.)

The girls conducting their "apple experiment" (The day before we checked a book out from the library about apples. Grace was fascinated that there are so many different types of apples and said she wanted to try them all. I told her that I would be happy to buy every kind I could find the next time I went to the grocery store. The store only had 6 different types (we learned there are actually thousands of varieties), but that was enough for our experiment!

The girls like to play princesses in the front yard while I mow the lawn.

Grace often helps put Eve down for her nap.

I finally got a shower!

Eve offering me a "present."

Daddy's Home!

Many of these things happen everyday like taking grace to school, going to the gym (although my class varies each day), doing dishes, and a lot of the other normal routines...but my days may also include such fun things as playgroup, Costco, library, soccer practice, etc...