What to do...

So what do I do when I'm having one of those days where I am just at my ropes end? I make cream puffs that's what I do. I will also say they are fantastic and did help a bit in making my day better.

Happy Girls

So last night Savannah had her first soccer practice and this is the face she makes whenever I ask her about it. Jacob ended up taking her to practice because she kept asking if daddy could take her and watch her play soccer. Jacob said she did fairly well for having no prior experience or knowledge about what she was doing. We went over the basics for her but I guess she kept picking up the ball and taking it to the coaches. Jacob said she ran up and down the field and her face was bright red. She was so excited when she came home and just kept talking about soccer and asking when she gets to play again. The reasons we decided to put her in soccer were because this program isn't too time intensive, they have 3 practices and 5 games. It only cost $20. Her second cousin is also on her team and she loves playing with her. So far I'm really glad we signed her up, so if you want to know what we'll be up to for the next 5 Saturday mornings we'll be watching this crazy girl "play" soccer.

I thought I'd give an update on what Olivia has been up to, she is the same sweet girl who has developed a small temper to match her small frame. I say this somewhat jokingly because this girl can throw quite the tantrum if the mood suites her. I am amazed at the screams she can belt out because she is such a sweet heart. She loves feeding herself, she is still a great sleeper, she has walking down and now attempts to run. She basically leans her upper body forward to help her momentum. She loves to play with Savannah and her favorite game to play is tea party. She loves to dress up already and will usually have a hat or crown on her head. I caught her yesterday in my closet trying on a pair of my shoes, it was one of the cutest, funniest things I've seen in awhile. She is still just an absolute joy and blessing to our family and we fall more and more in love with her everyday.

New Love

While we were in Maryland I tried to take lots of pictures. I had mentioned to my mom that I sometimes had a hard time getting my pictures in focus and how it was kind of annoying. One day she took a few pictures using my camera and realized how right I was. That is when my amazing mom offered to let me have one of her cameras. If you've read my blog you know what a great photographer my mom is and she has/had 3 cameras so me being her most favorite daughter got to inherit one. I am already in love and have been having fun taking pictures of the girls. Also like many others I love photography, I love having pictures up in my home and I love taking pictures of my sweet girls. When I drive around I look at my surroundings and think of how I could get the best shot. My family is full of photographers so it doesn't surprise me with how much I love it even though many don't know I do. So here is your first picture I have taken with my new camera and I am in love. Thanks again mom, you really are to generous but I don't think I'll ever stop you.

Christmas 2011

We had such a great Christmas!The girls and I got to spend 3 whole weeks with my family in Maryland and Jacob joined us for the last week and a half,  it was just so fun to be with my family. Our days were filled with fun activities and just hanging out and it went by all too quick if you can believe it. It had been a year since the girls and I had been out for a visit and 2 years since Jacob had been so we were all due for some time back east. While we waited for Santa to bring Jacob the girls and I had fun hanging out with my mom during the day, we took the girls to the mall and let them ride the merry-go-round and Savannah got to talk with Santa again.

Another day we took the girls to lunch at McDonald's and and let Savannah run all around the play area.

Savannah LOVED going to the grocery store because they had little mini carts that she could push around and put some of the groceries in. She really was in heaven and asked to when we were going shopping again.

Olivia got worn out and even fell asleep in the car which is VERY rare for her, she has to be beyond exhausted to even consider falling asleep anywhere besides her bed.

On Christmas Eve we made sugar cookies for Santa and Savannah had so much fun cutting out different shapes. When we put the cookies out I thought she would burst because she was so excited.

Both the girls were very excited to find their first present that Santa had brought for them, their dad. Here are Jacob and Savannah after opening presents. Grandma and Grandpa helped Santa pick out a V-Tech computer for Savannah.

Olivia was quite smitten with Mark just like Savannah is. She'd crawl all over him and run to him when he'd come home from school or where ever he'd been.
The Thursday after Jacob got there he and Mark got to go on a tour of the Secret Service Training Facility which they both loved and had so much fun doing.
Also while we were there we celebrated mine and my dad's birthday's, I always love being home for my birthday. We got to eat at the Cheesecake Factory (my favorite) and my brothers, Jacob, and I got to go to the movies.

After Christmas we took the girls to the DC Temple to see the lights and the Christmas Tree's in the Visitor's Center. Savannah has a very deep love already for the Savior and was very excited to see the large statue of Christ in the visitor center. When we were leaving she kept asking to see Jesus again.

On New Year's Eve we all hopped on the Metro and headed to DC to visit some of the museums. Savannah thought it was the coolest thing to go on the train and she loved going to all the museums.

Olivia of course had a good time being pushed around in her stroller and she even got to see quite a bit because there is glass around most of the exhibits so she could see almost everything from the comfort of her stroller.

The weather on New Years was amazing we put jackets on the girls just in case it got too windy but it was in the high 50's.

Our first stop was the Natural History Museum and Savannah loved looking at all the fossils and animal exhibits.

We then headed over to the Air and Space Museum (Jacob's favorite) and checked out all the airplanes. They have an exhibit where you can walk through an old plane and Savannah made us take her threw twice.

We then headed over to the National Art Gallery which is my favorite, they were doing renovations on the galleries I love to walk through but it was still fun and it really is one of my most favorite places to be.

We got to visit with family and we went out to eat, we went to movies, played games, ate lots of food, and just had a wonderful time. I'm so lucky to have such a generous family and one that loves me and my little family so much. As always it was hard to leave and while being there I was reminded of all the things I miss while I'm living away. Its a good thing we can visit once an awhile.

Happy Days

My days are always happy when I'm in Maryland, I love being here. I love that I grew up here and I miss it when I leave. Its not just my family that I miss its the actual state. I miss all the green, I really miss the beach, I miss going to museums, I miss all the people, I just miss it. I love coming back to visit and we always have so much fun. This trip is no different, the last 4 days have been filled with playing, outings, reading books, coloring, decorating the Christmas tree, and seeing Santa again. Our flights out were so much better then I anticipated. I once again flew out with both girls by myself since Jacob couldn't come out as early as we were. I beyond love flying with Savannah. She is the most amazing flyer hands down. She doesn't throw a fit, she stays with me, listens, and is so excited the whole time. She is just a joy to travel on a plane with. Olivia had me a bit more nervous because she is in the stage of life where she hates to sit still. The night before our flight I kept telling Jacob I was so nervous I thought I might throw up. Oh and as a side note the night before our flight Savannah threw up chocolate all over my mother in laws white carpet, our furnace blew up literally, and the girls both woke up repeatedly. Anyway back to our flight, Olivia exceeded my expectations greatly and only threw a fit during out layover in Salt Lake because she wanted to get into things she couldn't while walking around and the last hour of our flight into Baltimore. She basically just screamed because she hadn't slept all day and was done traveling and was just beyond tired. She fell asleep on the way to my parents and was so passed out she didn't wake up while being taken out of the car seat or while having her shoes or coat taken off. She slept all night in her pack-n-play which was another worry of mine because Olivia is very particular about where she sleeps. She only likes to sleep in her bed which is very annoying to be honest. She only threw a fit twice the next day about having to sleep in the pack-n-play and now she goes down just the same as if she's in her own bed. Its a huge relief and just plain fantastic. Savannah has become quite smitten with my dad and whenever he's home you can typically find them doing something together. They watch movies, play air hockey, read books, and when we go out to eat Savannah asks to sit next to poppa. Its very sweet to watch. Olivia really only wants me all the time which is a bit tiring and it makes me very excited for Jacob to join us. I can't believe how fast our trip is already going and soon enough it will all be over but I'm trying to enjoy these happy days in Maryland as much as I can and we'll see how much we can squeeze into our stay.

Jump Time

So we went to Jacob’s work party last night and it was fantastic! This is the first time they’ve had a party where the whole family could come and it was just so much fun. There was something for everyone and our family had a blast. I didn’t get any good pictures because we were all running around so much I couldn’t get anyone to sit still long enough to get a picture in focus but these 3 are suitable enough. The girls loved the trampolines, Olivia wouldn’t let me hold her while we were on them at all. She was content to try bouncing on her own and walking around and falling over a lot. She’d just giggle and squeal and had a permanent smile on her face almost the whole night. Savannah loved jumping and playing in all the bounce houses they had too. Her favorite was the one shown below with the slide. She and her little friends she made had a blast running up the steps and all sliding down together over and over again. She also really enjoyed running down the long trampolines into the foam block pit. Jacob’s work also provided dinner so we had pizza, sandwiches, veggies, chips and tons of sodas and water. After going to these parties for the last 5 years I can say this one was my most favorite and we all loved every minute of it. Thank you Woodland Manufacturing for a great night.

Quite Time

I started quite time at our house and I absolutely love it as does Savannah. Some days she even asks me if its quiet time yet. Her quiet time starts when Olivia takes her afternoon nap (yes Olivia still takes 2 naps and sleeps from 7:30pm-8/8:30am, I know that I am quite lucky with this.) Anyway back to Savannah while I’m putting Olivia down for her nap, Savannah goes to the bathroom and gets in her bed. She then has to stay on her bed for 45 minutes. I give her a drink and some books that she can look at, if she gets up at all I add 5 more minutes to her time. I have come to love this and have questioned why I didn’t start this sooner. I honestly think Savannah wouldn’t have taken so well to quite time if I had started sooner. Savannah needs to understand why something is happening and she needs to feel in control like its her doing and she is finally at an age where I can reason with her. The way I explained quite time is its not nap time and she does not have to take a nap (at least 2 times a week she does end up falling asleep.) She is allowed to have her door open but I do close the door to the girls hallway so some of the noise I make is muffled. I tell her what I’ll be doing so that she knows I might be making noise and I tell her when the timer goes off I will come and get her and that she will then be able to get out of bed. I tried to make quite time not seem like a punishment and I also explained that mommy is having her quite time too. I rarely have to add more time, sometimes I do have to remind Savannah to whisper because she’s reading her stories to loud. Overall quite time has been a huge success and it allows me to clean up from the morning of playing and I can usually work on a project, catch up online, or read a book. Also it calms Savannah down for the afternoon and gets her ready for the evening. I love quite time.