She slept through the night!

Happy 8th anniversary to us! And I'm starting to feel better too. Oh it's going to be a good day!

A new year.

A new year, a new start. My friend, Laurie, chooses a word for her year. I like that, because it pulls all of my goals/commitments together into one word. My word for the year is Focus. 2010 is going to bring new challenges, new trials, but also a chance to chase dreams. If those dreams are ever going to come true, I need to focus. I can't be lazy and indifferent. I need to work hard and use my time wisely. I hope 2010 brings many blessings and a chance to work on dreams, whatever those dreams may be, for all of you.

A birthday in pictures

It was my Mom's big 5-0 and my cute Dad threw a surprise Fifties party!

Everyone dressed in their Fifties best, and we had some great lookin characters show up!

Thanks Aunt Brenda for my skirt!

Monkey looked so grown up in her Poodle skirt.

We sipped rootbeer floats and had hot dogs. Aren't my girls so cute. It reminds me of the song "Sippin Cider."

Every year since I can remember my Dad has gotten my Mom a calendar and filled it with stickers representing the different date nights. Mom always looks forward to it, and they have a date night every week. I think it's really sweet.
This year they are going to Hawaii for their anniversary, hence the tropical calendar.

Lala loves her uncle Matthew.

2 months old

Baby Lala is two months old! She is 10 lbs and 6 oz and 23 inches long. Putting her in the 30% for weight and 70% for height. Long and skinny. She is such a delight to have around. She is amazingly good.
She sleeps about five to six hours a night, rarely spits up so far, loves to be held, perks up when she hears Daddy's voice, looks for her sisters when they start talking and smiles at her momma! I don't know how I got so blessed. Some say it's pity from above, others say it's luck, I'm not sure what it is, but I'm so grateful to have her. You have a huge piece of my heart baby girl. I love you!
My friend Janna from K&J photography took these pictures when she was three weeks old. I am IN LOVE! I can't decide which one is my favorite. I want to blow each of them up on canvas and put them around my house! Thanks Janna, they are amazing! I had a hard time picking which ones to post, so here's a handful. Enjoy.

Oh and may each of you have the spirit of Christ with you this holiday season. Inspirational message found here.

A conversation with Bug

Disclaimer: I am not the artist in the family. In fact Bug draws better faces than I do. And if you want to see some real artwork refer to this post.

Today while Monkey was at school. Bug drew this picture. She then walked up to me and the following conversation ensued:
"Momma, I want a wooser, with eyes, beak, feet and a cwown (crown)." I then preceded to draw a rooster. She immediately got upset and said "No I want a Daddy wooser." Apparently my first rooster wasn't big enough, so I drew a bigger one. She then decided that now that she had a Daddy and a Mommy "rooster" she needed a baby rooster.
When I drew a baby chicken she was very mad that he didn't have a crown as well. I tried again explaining that baby roosters don't have crowns. My clothes horse then huffed off to her room to change into her third outfit of the day.
How I love two year olds. Bug knows exactly what she wants, and she gets so frustrated when she doesn't get it just so. She cracked me up with how specific she was about her roosters. She also has this obsession with stirring liquids. Thanks Bug, for making me and your Daddy smile today when we found my unused pair of chopsticks in the orange juice. That's right we had rice, chicken and OJ for dinner tonight. Oh well at least the chopsticks were clean. :)

The girls are making each others presents this year, any ideas what a 2 year old could make for an older sister successfully?

Merry Christmas!

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A family journey

So for our annual family Christmas party we took a journey to Bethlehem. A local church puts on a live nativity every year and it is quite the experience. We got passports with Hebrew names on them, we were stopped by Roman soldiers, met the Magi and the shephards, saw an angel, were robbed, and turned away at the inn. It was so fun to see my girls expressions. They really got into it. The soldiers really scared them, but with so much family around I think it comforted them a lot. Monkey insisted that I have a passport so that the soldiers wouldn't take me away and Bug adopted her aunts and uncles to take care of her. It was so neat and I can't wait until I can do that again with Mr. Call and Lala as well. Unfortunately no camera's were allowed during the journey so this is the only picture I have of the little girl cousins drinking their hot chocolate.
How do you know when a journey's been a success. The kids make their own passports and play Romans and Jews at Grandma's house afterwards.After eating yummy pizza, my brother in law sat down and started playing the piano. Now christmas caroling is another yearly tradition in this family, but with my aunt living back east, it is usually acapella. It was so nice to have accompaniment.
Lala enjoyed seeing everyone at the house. She and Daddy had to stay home during the journey because it was too cold for her.
Not everyone in the family is into singing. But they have a good time talking. And of course my independent girls refused to leave their toys, no matter how long I begged and pleaded for them to come join the singing.
Overall, a fantastic party! Thanks Thel and Rich.

Stephanie Nielsen a blogger who inspires me to be a better mom, wife and person always includes an inspirational message on Fridays. I thought I might post one today so that it might be enjoyed all week long. I hope everyone has a fantastic December filled with good times, family and Christ.
Inspirational message