Thanksgiving 2011

Love that picture? My mom will love me for putting it up. We had gotten up and started dinner before showering or even brushing our teeth. Yikes!

Our Thanksgiving was awesome. I drove down to Vancouver on Monday with the girls and the dog. I surprised my mom and sisters. It was a pretty easy drive to; I might even do it again (not soon though).

Tuesday Kenna and I spent our morning with my cousin Katie. Addie and Rosie played together pretty well. Katie is also having her baby this week! I can't wait to meet him in a few weeks! Also, it was Roxie's 7th birthday. Here's to many more years Roxie!

Wednesday, Marit and I went out to lunch and to the craft store. We also celebrated my dad's birthday! He is 55 years young! We had chocolate cake and played Uno. Mike drove down that night after work.

Thursday! My mom did the turkey, I did mashed potatoes, Marit did the green bean casserole, and Addie even got in the action and helped to do the stuffing. My parent's long time friends and their youngest daughter joined us for dinner. We had such a good time and ate too much.

Friday Mike and I did took the girls over to my Grandma and Grandpa Doty's house. I helped my Grandma do her hair while she held Leah. Meanwhile, Grandpa and Addie watch football and ate lemon drops, a lot of lemon drops. It was so good to see them. Mike and I braved a little shopping at REI and got a ski rack for my 4Runner.

Saturday we headed home to attend my girlfriend's wedding reception. And she looked gorgeous!

PS Leah had rice cereal for the first time yesterday. SHE LOVED IT!

We had a great week in Vancouver

4 months!

Has it been 4 months already??

Weight: 13 pounds 7 ounces (35th percentile)
Length: 24 1/2 inches (40th percentile)

Leah can roll, talk real loud, reach for things, put those things in her mouth, play with her toes, chew on fingers and laugh! I love her cute giggle. Addie loves her little sister.

Leah still doesn't sleep great at night, but we're getting there.

I am just enjoying every moment I have with her. As the girls get older, I realize how fleeting this time is. They won't be little for much longer. They are so precious. I love seeing them both grow up. I am so blessed that they are mine.

Snowman

See this? I am actually quite proud of this. For primary over the next few weeks, I am filling in as the chorister.

The kids can lead the music using the scarf. I made a tube with fringe for the scarf, cut a hole in my tri-fold display board and glued the scarf to the back side of the board. The backs of the snow flakes have songs on it also.

I can't take credit for this idea though, well not all of it. When I was in Primary, my mom made one that was an elephant and you got to lead the music with his nose. And there were peanuts on the display that had songs on it. My mom has some of the best ideas like that. She's pretty cool.
(I'm kinda buttering her up to watch my girls on night next week when I am down visiting)

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1. I want this framed for my house!
2. Addie is the cutest thing ever. She is so sweet and I love seeing her explore the world around her.
3. All mommy friends!! I need advice! Leah is not the best sleeper. She keeps waking up every 2 hours and if Mike goes in, she screams but if I go in, all she wants to do is nurse and won't calm down unless I nurse. Now, I feel like she is to young to cry it out (especially since she is so small and needs the calories). And at night I am usually nursing before I fully wake up and realize what I am doing. So I let her nurse for just a few and then as of late I am just so happy that she is asleep, that I go to sleep. Then we repeat it 2 hours later. What has worked for you to get your babies to sleep??
4. Leah will be 4 MONTHS on Saturday! I can't believe how fast she is growing up.
5. Hello Vancouver on Monday!! Crafts, sushi, Thanksgiving, family (minus mitch). This will be a great week.
6. Addie will only wear dresses as of late. I am trying to embrace this phase.
7. As the weather gets crummier, I am finding its harder to have the TV off more. We usually just watch about 40 minutes of a show in the morning while I get ready and then 10 minutes before bedtime, but lately...its been on too much. I almost want to get rid of it.
8. Jerry Sandusky....guilty, gross, monster, awful. How can he say he is innocent? All this ish (I would use a different word, but this is a family blog, and literally it is that word...) in the world makes just want to keep my girls under my mama hen wings and never let them get hurt.
9. I find it HILARIOUS that the Occupy Wall Street group on NY got a huge $20,000 donation and deposited it at a Wells Fargo bank...ummm...isn't that one thing you are protesting? Oh and they won't share the money with all the protesters. Haha. Dumb.
10. The ski hills are opening this week! Can't wait to go!! Addie got her skis. She is set!
11. Addie and I love to bake together. I really like having her help me do something I enjoy. Today we made pumpkin bread!
12. Leah is officially rolling over. She did it the other day and kept doing it. Its so cute how frustrated she gets when her arms get stuck under her little tummy.
13. Addie wears my heels everywhere. We didn't go to the library today because she wouldn't take them off. I'll let her go out in a lot, but she must wear shoes that fit, and are weather appropriate.

Things I love:

- Need I say more?? (Don't worry I will)
- The fact that Addie called Cinderella's castle a temple
- Listening to an apostle and feeling the Spirit so strong and receiving guidance.
- Trading recipes with Marit
- Teasing Makenna about living at the North Pole
- Learning Mitch has pretty eyes
- Relaxing, eating homemade cinnamon rolls with my attractive husband. All we need is for CSI:Miami to start.

5 for Friday

1. Look at that cute baby! And her headband! My sister is making and selling headbands and hair ties. She might open an etsy shop!
2. Yesterday my mom and I went to Country Village for lunch. I went two weeks ago and lost one of Leah's mittens. On our way bacK to the car, I turned my head to the right and sitting on a picket fence was her mitten! I was so excited.
3 I think Addie gets cuter every day. She knows what zebras and giraffes are. She loves our new window markers. She dances every time we hear music. Adds is on a mitten kick. She just loves them right now. I love that she loves Leah so much. Addie always wants to hug or kiss her.
4. Daylight savings has messed up the sweet schedule I worked so hard to get Addie on.
5. My mom just took Leah from me, so I'm going back to sleep! Love having her and my dad here!

Winter must haves

Do you ever wonder what you need to complete your winter ensemble? Look no further than this picture of Addie.

She takes a cute dress and dolls it up. Hat? Why yes! It must be a little silly or it will get no attention. You must have boots to go with it. Snow boots, church boots, rain boots, it doesn't matter (that's why they aren't pictured). Instead of a purse, try carrying around a dingy hippo that your mom can't wash because it will get ruined. And to top it off, a cupcake. Why? To lick off all the frosting. If your legs get chilly, be sure to throw on a pair of leggings under your dress. If you happen to need a coat, put on a pink coat with lots of animals on it; mix up your prints: animals and flowers, stripes and polka-dots, the sky is the limit!

For more fashion advice, just ask the mom that is following Addie through the store with her head hung in shame... no, she'll be smiling proudly that her two year old picked out her very own outfit.

Leah's Blessing

First, I apologize for the lack of pictures. I took them on my real camera (and since I blog from my phone, I don't have them handy), so they'll go up here later.

We had a great weekend! Mike's parents came into town on Friday and my parents and sister, Marit, came on Saturday. It was so nice to have everyone here. And I know its probably not to common, but we love to have EVERYONE from both sides together. I think we mesh pretty well.
Sunday, my Grandpa Ray also joined the party. Mike gave Leah her blessing and he did such a good job; he said some very tender things. I got a little teary eyed, but held it together. I am so glad to have Leah in our family. She is so easy going and sweet. Addie is sweet too, but a little busier. Mike is a great dad and I love seeing him with our girls. I am so blessed to have the family that I do. I really missed having my brother, Mitch, and sister, Kenna, there. Addie likes to call Uncle "Pitch" on the phone.
Monday, Randy went to work with Mike and Jenny and I went shopping. I think whenever we get together shopping is a requirement. We had a good time. Monday afternoon we spent about 2 hours talking about everything from the Gospel, to having babies, and almost everything in between. I cried in front of her... I felt goofy, but since I've had Leah, I cry at almost everything. I really enjoy the time I get to spend with my in-laws. I do feel pretty lucky to have married into a good family.
It was sad to see them go this morning. Addie has been asking for them all day. We are looking forward to Christmas when we can see them again. My parents are coming back up Thursday, and I am really looking forward to that too.

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Happy

See this moment? Its one where I am perfectly happy. My sleeping Leah turns her head and falls asleep. Laundry can wait, floors can be swept later. Me? I'm content to sit right in my rocking chair for a while. Today has been perfect. New blow-dryer came. We went to the library. Addie and I shared fries and a frosty. My house is almost clean. Its Friday.

I am thankful for small moments like these that help keep me happy.
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13

1. I went out by myself tonight for the first time in MONTHS!! I bought some new clothes that I needed (ok, I only needed jeans...)
2. The past few days have not been our best. We have watched lots of movies (Open Season) and eaten way too much candy (candy corn). But Addie is happy, and I am feeling much better.
3. Mike's parents get here tomorrow! Then my parents and sister come saturday! I am so glad they can be here for Leah's blessing.
4. This has been the longest week.
5. Parks and Rec is slowly becoming my new favorite show.
6. I am thankful for prayer.
7. I am filling in as the Primary Chorister for a few weeks. That is one of my favorite things to do.
8. Leah slept almost 5 hours straight last night. Woo-hoo!
9. The other night we were on our way home from the store and Addie wanted an M&M. I gave her one for each hand. She ate one then asked for more. I said, "you need to be all done, let me see your hands." She showed me her right hand, keeping her left hand down, holding on to her spare M&M. I asked one more time and I saw her switch the M&M to her right hand. As I was about to say, "you need to eat it before you can have another one," Addie says, "Trick-or-Treat!" I couldn't say no; she got another M&M. It was too cute.
10. My parents come back up next week for a few days for my dad's work. Yay!
11. I can't believe that in a week and a half, my baby sister turns 17!! I honestly remember the night she was born. She will always be the baby, but I am so proud of the young woman she has become. And she is so pretty. I got her a great birthday gift too!
12. I am going to bed in a few minutes. I do need to fill out my ballot. Maybe I'll do that first.
13. (Warning: politics by alyse...skip if you want) What the heck to the people participating in Occupy Wall Street really think they will accomplish?? That the rich 1% will just hand out there money?? And who seriously has 30+ days to sit and protest? Oh yeah, the ones not working, probably living off the government. Get off your buns and get a job. The Gap is hiring, so is Ann Taylor and J. Jill (can you tell where I shopped tonight?). And the very capitalistic government that they protest is the same government that gives them their freedom to protest. And I just learned that there is a labor shortage for the apple orchards in eastern Washington. They could come out and work and get $22 an hour! That might not push them up to the 1%, but it will give them a way to provide for yourself. Also, steal from the rich and give to the poor is only a good idea in a Disney movie. (Do you get the feeling I don't appreciate Occupy Wall Street?)
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A Little Sneak Preview!

Here is Leah in her blessing gown that I made. No pattern either! Holla!!
I must say she looks like a perfect angel in her dress. She looks beautiful all the time, but just look at how gorgeous she is! And she rolled over while I was taking her pictures! Yay!!

I took some pictures of her today in the dress. When we blessed Addie, I had plans for taking her picture in the dress, and with us, but our morning plans changed at the very last second, so I only have one picture of Addie in hers. I did not want that to happen this time, so we did some pictures today.

I will put up more pictures on Sunday of Leah and all of us dressed up.

I got her cute headband from an Etsy shop, I can't remember which one, but she had tons of cute baby headbands. I will be buying some for Christmas dresses I think.

PS: One year ago today, we blessed Addie :)
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Halloween 2011

Our Halloween was really fun! For dinner, I made jack-o-lantern pancakes. We got the girls ready for Trunk-Or-Treat (it was an unofficial ward activity where families could come to have a safe place to trick-or-treat). Addie's costume was a hit! I didn't make it, but wish I had. Everyone thought she was so cute. Little Leah stayed cozy in her flower costume (I did make hers!). And of course, she was just as sweet as Adds.
Mike and I didn't dress up this year, but next year we are going ALL out! Party included!
After the girls went to bed, Mike and I had our favorite snack, Rotel. We watched DWTS (to kill time) until Castle came on, which we really enjoy. I hope everyone else enjoyed their Halloween!
On to the Holidays!
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