How the Cookie Crumbles

2012-02-09T22:24:00.000-08:00

Alexis is such a crack up, seriously the things she thinks up are awesome. The other day we were making dinner and she decided it was time to talk about Uncle Jon cutting his hair(he had longer hair then I do). See Aunt Stephanie had told us earlier that day he cut his hair and this must have been a big deal to Alexis. She starts by telling me that he doesn't look like a girl anymore because he has short hair. I agreed that long hair is usually on girls. She then tells me that he looks handsomer. Haha I love her little words. I then tell her that daddy is the most handsome in the world. She is quiet for a few minutes thinking and then says mom you will hurt peoples feelings if you say that. I smile, you know that all knowing mom smile, and tell her that it won't because all those other people have some one telling them they are the most handsome in the world. That satisfied her that everything is fair in the world.

Today while doing her homework she is given 2 endings and then has to make words with them using certain other letters. The endings were in and ig. She is writting pin and for some reason she writes pis and then proceeds to sound out the word. I am waiting for her to catch it before she says the whole word, but alas she doesn't and says it. I silently laughed and she moved on without another thought and erases the s and writes then n.

She is a sleep walker big time. The other night she came out walked around into the kitchen to the garbage can opened the lid and pulled her pants down. She was so asleep that she didn't even notice my hysterical laughing while I helped her to the bathroom.

Megan has only intensified her NO. If she doesn't agree with me she says no and will hit something or someone. I love this stage even if it means wrestling her to put a diaper on. She doesn't waste words on gibbering. When she speaks it has a purpose and I love it. Megan is a people watcher and is super smart. She understands most of what I ask and can do 2 and 3 step activities. Such as the other day she wanted in Grandma's room, that is where the licorice is, so I told her to go and get grandma's hand and ask her to come get you licorice. She ran her little feet to the other room and did it exactly. Granted licorice is pretty awesome, but to not get distracted along the way and to remember to bring her to the bedroom is really good for a 19 month old.

I love my job!

got the picture

2012-02-02T21:25:00.001-08:00

Funny little onry girl.

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.4

2012-02-02T01:13:00.000-08:00

Perspective is an interesting thing. 6 months ago a job in Everett or Spokane was so far away. Now I would give anything to have Britt working that close. We have made a huge decision in the moving/job front. We decided that being together is the absolute most important thing. Alexis has started school, we can't sell our house without taking a loss, and Alaska isn't paying enough for us to fly and visit let alone making the move. So trusting in the Lord Britt put his notice in and is coming home. I am honestly not as scared as I was when this whole thing started. I am at peace that we have come through some serious fires and are going to be stronger then ever. I know there will be more fires and that the coals are still hotter then ever. He currently doesn't have an offer for work, he will be able to collect unemployment still though. We have started putting applications in and are praying that something good will come through soon! I can't wait for the next few weeks to go bye and we can be reunited. Perspective.

favorite word

2012-01-28T00:14:00.000-08:00

I have a 19 month old. Can anyone guess what word we hear the most? Please, I love you, Thank you....no. Really NO is all that cute little girl says. Megan do you want___________? NO and she purses her lips out and crinkles her nose. She also makes that face to fake cry and when she is throwing a fit. I haven't been able to get it on camera yet, but will try really hard tomorrow. She is also really into throwing herself down if things are not going her way. When it comes to dressing her she is slippery like a wiggly fish. I may just let her run around naked for a week it is so exhausting to put clothes on her. She is even fighting going into her car seat. I try and gt her attention and ask her did you see that? or where is that? or did you hear that? It works 75% of the time.

Alexis delights me with her writing. It is so fun seeing her sound words out and write them down. She is coping a lot too, which I think it great because it gives her practice on writing her letters. She is trying so hard to be a good example for Megan and I love seeing them play together. I have been trying to make changes in my parenting and it is so wonderful to see how much it helps them play better together!

Ice Storm

2012-01-22T22:05:00.000-08:00

We have had the worst weather this week. It started with a little snow which had us all very excited. Then we got more snow and they canceled school Tuesday. Wednesday around 5am it started snowing and we got 8 inches within a few hours(this is a lot for us). By the evening these pictures showed what would prove to be the worst storm we have had ever. Freezing rain is very dangerous add to about 10 inches of snow and you have a recipe for disaster. We went to bed that night and woke up early to no power, low temps and branches cracking and falling. It was honestly scary. It sounded like a gun going off as tops of trees snapped, huge branches broke off and whole trees fell over. At one point a tree branch broke off and the whole tree leaned dangerously far right over the house and in line to fall on Alexis sitting at the table. The whole day was un-nerving. Power was still out, but we were warm at my parents house sleeping in the family room with the wood stove burning hot! The whole day was filled with ice falling dangerously from trees like torpedo's. Getting hit by them was painful and made leaving the house difficult. We went to our church building with the Fox family to cook a good dinner and let the kids play since the building had power. 8pm the church loses power. Still no power when we went to sleep. 1:46am the printer starts up and lights pop on. I jump off the cot and turn lights off and the printer. I fall back to sleep so happy that the power is on. 2 hours later I wake up to Kevin putting wood on the fire. I start to tell him he doesn't have to do that when I realize the power is out again. Then the winds started, 45 mph ones, which started huge ice chunks and more tree branches falling on the house. This made for a really bad nights sleep (2 nights in a row but who's counting). Saturday we went to the Ursenbach's home to shower and eat a hot breakfast, we spent most of the day there trying to feel normal. We went to dinner at Applebees for my brother's birthday and picked up a few things at the store. Jenn texted me telling me the power was on. I didn't dare believe her and every second it took to drive from Target to home. The moment our neighborhood was in view and we could see our street lights on we began to celebrate. Alexis was so excited to get to go home. We went back to my parents home and waited for our house to warm up because it was at 50 degrees. When we got home we got ready for bed and during prayer Megan began throwing up all over Alexis's bed. After getting the beds and her changed they went to bed. Megan threw up a short time later. While I was changing her she began throwing up again. It was so sad. Turns out my mom was sick also, she had given Megan some of her chicken. Food Poisoning. Poor thing just didn't feel good today but didn't throw up again. Thankfully she only had a small piece of chicken. Church was short today only Sacrament meeting, sadly a few people in our ward still don't have power and thousands around the area are out still also. This storm was made so much worse for me because Britt is gone. I wish I had taken more pictures, my mom did so I will get them from her. Hopefully we can move on with mild weather and get the area cleaned up and over being declared a State of Emergency. We would really like some spring hints coming our way.

It was shocking to drive around on Thursday and see the damage, the power lines we covered in ice with at least an inch on the top and icicles hanging down 2 and 3 inches. Not just some but all lines were like that the entire length. This storm was the most damaging I have seen. Even more then our crazy winds we get. Although we have been without power for longer due to wind storms, but I had Britt who held everything together and did all the survival things. Him being gone has forced me to do things he is awesome at. He is way better at this stuff then I am...I cried a few times and a tree leaning over Alexis sent me into a ridiculous panic that caused her to be traumatized. I can't wait to have him back.

2012-01-16T15:58:00.000-08:00

Alexis asked me if she was changing and I said yes you are very helpful. She said yes I am an adult. She is cracking me up lately. she also just talked to my tummy and pretended there is a baby. there most surely is NOT a baby on the way. Megan has spent most of the day crying it is super fun snow day here not. Alexis wanted to go out and play and I asked her to stay inside and snuggle me. So she turned to Megan and asked her if she would snuggle me so that she could go out to play. It was funny.

2012-01-10T21:49:00.000-08:00

Alexis wants to be a teacher when she is big instead of a cop. Because Cops have to drive cars and that will make her tired.

Zoo

2012-01-08T22:22:00.000-08:00

It was sunny and chilly so we decided to go to the zoo. By the time we got there ate our lunch and saw the elephants and tigers and the lower aquarium it was sprinkling. So we went into the upper aquarium. I was pouring when we came out. So we ran to the sharks and spent a long time in there hoping for the rain to stop. It had stopped raining so we went to the kids zone! Ended up being a really fun Zoo trip.

2012-01-08T22:14:00.000-08:00

Pictures from Alexis's camera. I finally downloaded them after a year. She had over 650. These are from Christmas 2011.

Abraham Lincoln

2011-12-29T15:09:00.000-08:00

Alexis on Christmas

2011-12-29T15:07:00.000-08:00

Megan on Christmas

2011-12-29T15:03:00.000-08:00

A Great Surprise

2011-12-24T22:38:00.000-08:00

Britt gave us all the best Christmas present EVER. We couldn't fly him home for Christmas and it was going to be very sad and depressing. My parents decided to help us out and use air miles to fly him home. They all kept it a huge secret and went to pick him up in the middle of the night. He showed up to the house at 7:15 after my mom called and asked if she could hide a gift here. I opened the door to my awesome husband. I had a hunch that something was going down though. The night before Britt had called my dad and he left the room. I was hopeful but reserved just in case it wasn't to be. So we have been in Heaven having him home for Christmas. Today is Christmas Eve and time for our Annual Bergman Party. It was great, the kids playing, football on, lots of food, an announcement that we will have a nephew due in May and Alexis all of the sudden not playing. She was whiny and laying across me. She had a fever of 102.2. All the Aunts jumped into action with medicine, cool packs, and water. We chose to take her home and leave the party early. Very sad but we made the right choice. It was really nice to be home before 5 on Christmas Eve. Normally the kids fall asleep in the car on the way home at 9pm. The presents are wrapped, stockings full, cookies and milk eaten and Santa has come and gone. Buddy or Elf went with Santa back to work on Christmas for next year. Merry Christmas.

Thanksgiving crafts

2011-12-21T17:48:00.000-08:00

Grandma came over and made turkey and pilgrim treats with the girls. Alexis loved making them, Megan ate them!

She climbed up here and just put her head down and went to sleep. Sweet girl. She alomst slept through Turkey dinner.

2011-12-21T17:45:00.000-08:00

We have no clue how she got in there it must not have been easy!

2011-12-21T17:43:00.000-08:00

Minnie Mouse

Mermaids!

I like the bandaid on the forehead!

Eating Suckers with Friends.

Waiting for the ferris wheel

2011-12-21T17:22:00.000-08:00

They made out trick or treating.

Obsessed with the laptop!

Playing in potatoes flakes and no it was not planned.

She loved the gooey insides!

She drew the face and I cut it out. Alexis actual hates the insides of pumpkins!

2011-12-09T23:05:00.001-08:00

In May we had a little photo shoot done with our crazy big family. I just got them so I thought I would share.

Family picture(Greg is the only one missing)

He loves kissing me in pictures!

Megan can you smile? I love when Alexis smiles and tips her head. So cute.

No I can't smile mom....

Moo

2011-12-09T22:42:00.001-08:00

Yesterday Megan walked up to me patted me and said "moo." Later she tried lifting my shirt up. Today she wanted to nurse during the day, I have decided in an effort to start the stopping process to not nurse during the day. So several times she would lay down and trying to lift my shirt and I would tell her no milkies. After a few moments she would except the cup of juice or water that I was offering. About the 3rd time of this she walked over and got my nursing cover that I have hidden behind the little table and handed it to me. She is very determined to nurse whenever she wants. I won though! I will still nurse her first thing in the morning, because then I have an excuse to stay in bed longer, and at night before she goes to bed. It is so relaxing for her that is just makes it easier to put her in bed. I am a bit sad, but relieved. Not nursing her will give me lots more freedom from my worries that she is going to want to nurse and I won't be there. Silly, but true. Oh and she hates Santa. I can't wait to get the picture from the ward party! Ha it is going to be hilarious. I really should have just gone in and stood there letting her see what happens, but I thought if I just plopped her down that we might be able to snap one picture before she noticed....nice try but she instantly looked back. She was arching her body away from Santa, I tried stand by him holding her(almost took his beard off picking her up, opps) Tried having her stand in front and nothing worked so I cut our losses and left. When Grandpa gets back from Mexico we will have him put his suit on without the beard and let her get used to it and try and get a good picture. Alexis asked Santa for an American Girl doll. Santa is getting her the copy cat doll from Target to see if she can take good care of a doll like that before getting the real one. The AG doll's are $100 a pop and the one from Target is $30. Big difference for a 5 year old. Besides when we do get her a AG doll I want to take her up to the store and have it be a really fun day of getting her doll and eating lunch with her. Honestly she probably won't notice the difference unless she has it right next to a AG doll. The eyes open and shut on hers and they don't on the other. There is a horse for the doll that I am so tempted to get, but then I need to find another present for Megan and it was tough buying for her this year.

2011-12-08T18:15:00.001-08:00

Alexis can count and write to 100. She downloaded it into her brain.

2011-12-05T00:09:00.001-08:00

Daddy is my Hero.

Alexis age 5

2011-11-29T13:30:00.001-08:00

Megan's words at 17 months
kiss
no
dog
sis
alexis
hot and puts her hand up like stop
Please
stop
don't
grandma
grandpa
momma
dadda
brrrr
baby
juice
cup
tickle tickle
nose
eye
toes
shoes
mine
more
hiya (this is for both hi and bye)
cheese
She can also sign please and more
loves babies real or pretend, climbing, playing hide and seek, peek a boo, summer saults, playing with Alexis, markers (eating and coloring on her body and clothes), doing laundry which includes carrying clothes around putting themin and out of the machines and shutting the doors. Absolutely loves being outside and going to get Alexis from the bus. Talking on the phone, playing with the Wii remotes and the phones. Helping me unload the dishwasher one spoon at a time and looking out the window. She likes to howl like a wolf and meow like a kitty. She is such a fun baby/toddler and lights up the room with her sweet personality! We sure love this baby!

2011-11-24T09:27:00.001-08:00

To the airport we went to pick up Daddy. Alexis was so excited she was jumping up and down as we got our shoes on. Britt texted me while I was still on I-5 passing Kent which stressed me out just a bit because Megan was crying and I didn't think we would make it in time to park and go in. Well as luck would have it the airport is a mad house and with his flight coming in 20 minutes early they had to wait to be docked. traffic was so slow getting to the terminal so I decided to park. As we walked away from the car he texted me again saying they had just docked. So glad I parked because driving around again would have taken forever. We went in and went to the escalator closest to United and hoped we had the right one. While on the phone we confirmed that he was coming up to that one, he told he was coming up. Alexis was watching so I asked her if she could see him and she said nope. I looked and he was indeed coming up but with the beard, hat and anti-glare glasses he didn't look to familiar. When he got closer she realized it was Daddy and hugged him tightly. Megan was standing about 3 feet away and was really unsure. Britt just picked her up not even giving her a chance to fuss. he put her down on the sky bridge so she could walk across but she wouldn't so Britt offered to pick her up she looked at him turned around and backed it his arms. She has been so cute by coming and snuggling on his lap and not wanting to be put to bed without him. it is like he wasn't even gone. Thank Heavens for Skype. We have more to be grateful for then ever before!

2011-11-23T18:19:00.001-08:00

I told Alexis I was going to sit on her with my big butt. She wisely replied you don't have a big but it is just large, and mine is small and Megan has a cute little butt. Funny stuff. Britt is in the air on his way home for Thanksgiving. I have never been more thankful for my little family then I am right now. I never appreciated having a good job and good health more then this year. We are blessed and I can only hope that it will continue. In Ward Council we talked about Fast Offerings and how the windows of Heaven will be opened if we give and that the difference between tithing is that the only time in the scriptures that window is plural is when referring to Fast Offerings. I have never been really consistent with paying Fast Offerings partly because I thought it had to be paid on Fast Sunday, which is not so. I have committed our family to paying a generous Fast Offerings.

DSCN2097

2011-11-06T23:44:00.000-08:00

Silly Children

2011-11-06T23:39:00.000-08:00

Silly kids

2011-11-06T23:32:00.000-08:00

Putt putt golf

2011-11-06T23:24:00.000-08:00

Zoo with L kiddo's

2011-11-06T23:21:00.000-08:00

PP 2011

2011-11-06T23:20:00.000-08:00

Pumpkin Patch

2011-11-06T23:17:00.000-08:00

2011-10-11T21:06:00.000-07:00

Today I have been thinking of those who serve in the Armed Forces and more directly the Army, because that is where most of my family and friends are. A friend lost her husband yesterday in Iraq and it is just so tragic and heartbreaking. It causes me to think of my brother in law Lim who has been there 3 times and possibly a 4th before the end of the year. I am so grateful that he has made it home safe every time, he had some close calls that had the holy ghost not directed him may not have turned out well. I think of Travis who is just starting his Army career and probably faces Iraq soon also. I can't really explain why this has me so emotional, I cry about 15 times a day thinking of my friend. Maybe it is because Britt is away from us right now and maybe it is because this is the only soldier to die in this war that I personally knew, but I am struggling to hold it together. War stinks. I am forever grateful to those Men and Women who devote their life to serving our great nation and my family. Thank you Lim, Travis and Andrew you are in my prayers.

2011-10-05T21:53:00.000-07:00

I just notice that the last 4 posts have begun with Alexis. I think Megan needs a post....

Megan was skyping with daddy tonight and tried to put candy corn in his mouth. It was adorable and it had both of them laughing! She also says please now, only it sounds more like peas. She also says grandma and grandpa and that sounds more like gampa or gama. Sunday night we put skype on the TV so daddy was really big and Megan would say dad and then do something silly like run in a circle or dance. She would say dad over and over! She also says mom, not mommy or momma. She blows kisses by making kissing sounds towards you complete with puckered lips, at least she is starting to understand that kissing mommy is better with her lips closed. She also is Houdini with belts and buckles and squirms out of them in the shopping carts. So she was in the basket, can everyone see where this is headed? Everything was great and we were headed to check out and all of the sudden she pitched herself over the end and flipped over landing on her back. Scared me to death. I hate that cement feet feeling. Alexis was even stunned and tried to catch her but couldn't get a hold of her. Now Megan will not go in a cart at all. I will use my stroller, that for some reason she is just fine with sitting in for hours. I am still rattled and am a bit nervous about going into the store with my kids.

2011-10-05T21:36:00.000-07:00

Alexis is in a mood lately. If I ask her to do something that she doesn't want to do like get ready for bed she will run down the hall, yell something about how mean I am and slam her door. Then she will come out and demand I give her a TV show or a fruit snack or some other treat. So I am tried of always asking her to say nice things or to act kinder to get what she wants so now she will do extra chores. So tonight she had to clean the living room floor without crying to not be in trouble. I also saw this really cute idea that used clothes pins to help the kids visualize how they are acting and the effect it will have on the things she wants most, sweets and TV. So Sweets for Sweets is going to be introduced. If she wants desserts, fruit snacks or other treats she will have to keep her pin up, she can earn it back up by doing things for me. Not sure exactly how I am going to arrange it but I will take pics when my thoughts become reality. Something has got to change around here and it better be her attitude!

2011-09-26T10:46:00.000-07:00

Alexis wishes she had school everyday. She doesn't want me to ask her to stay home with me anymore. Sad. She also told me about her friend named Cookie. I wouldn't have believed that was really her name but when I was at the school last week for curriculum night and sat in Alexis spot right next to her was a tag with Cookie on it. She also told me today that nobody plays with her at recess. I find this really hard to believe since she makes new friends everywhere we go. She can be funny about stuff like that. It is so hard not knowing what is really going on. I think I will have my friend who teaches there keep an eye and an ear out. Megan is really into throwing fits and screaming when things don't go her way. She gets mad at Alexis who is always picking her up and taking her away from things. Last night she had enough and tried to bite Alexis. Of course Alexis cried which made Megan cry. Oh the joys of children. I talked with Alexis about letting me do the mommy stuff with Megan so that Megan didn't try and bite again she said no I want her to bite me. Love them, especially when they are sleeping, ha!

2011-09-17T14:24:00.000-07:00

Alexis made me breakfast. it was soaking wet. She wanted to put frosting that was hard on it so she tried adding water, so when she put it on the bread all she really put on was sugar water. Then she put candy pearls and princess shoe sprinkles. It was sweet but I didn't eat it.

Megan fell asleep sitting next to me.

Tooth fairy came to our house.

2011-09-15T22:42:00.000-07:00

Alexis said she got in trouble at school for showing her food at lunch and had to go to a table that nobody was sitting at. Not sure on all the details and will ask her teacher for more info, but when I asked her why she did it she said her brain was upside down and now it is only crooked. Still wondering if someone told her about her brain or if she came up with that all on her own.

Megan says "get up" a lot. It is funny and so we laugh and she says it more and more. Makes me glad I don't swear so I won't hear it from my children's sweet little mouths. Sad thing is Alexis is hearing it outside of our home and will try and say a few of them. Yesterday she said one and I heard it. So I called her on it and she had to say 3 nice words. She choose "I love you" and "I'm sorry." She is also wanting to sleep with me since Daddy is gone and I must be lonely because my bed is so big. So I told her she had to sleep in her bed on school nights and she decided that meant all the rest are ok. So everyday she says do I have school tomorrow? I made a deal that she can fall asleep in my bed and then I will move her.

Fall is coming and honestly I am ready. Usually I want summer to just keep shining but we aren't doing anything anyways so we might as well move on! Besides I have started to crave apple cider and pumpkin stuff. It has cooled down and is barely getting to 70 so not quite cider weather. I got the deck all ready for the kids to play on rainy days, slide and picnic table, play tent and rug all swept (I love having a covered deck).

2011-09-12T22:49:00.000-07:00

So silly! She is pretty good at self portraits!

2011-09-12T22:47:00.000-07:00

This is not a picture of Megan standing on her piano to get scissors, it is of the hunky cartoon guy on the TV!

Just look at that forehead. She fell twice on cement and landed on her forehead...really baby girl you have to put your hands down to catch yourself. It was really sad. She also found a can of soda or punch and tried to drink it...she was able to soak her shirt, pants and the deck.

She loves to look out the window and sing to her hearts content. It is pretty cute and super funny. Oh the lyrics she comes up with.

I didn't eat your chocolate.

Daddy. I miss him more then I ever have before.

2011-09-12T22:39:00.000-07:00

Here is the proof I did her hair today. She is crying for a nap and maybe because Alexis is getting ready to leave for school!

2011-09-12T22:29:00.000-07:00

Alexis is a great little photographer. Here is a collage of her pictures! I didn't crop any of them, this is exactly how she took them.

2011-09-12T22:19:00.000-07:00

This are from her first day orientation. School started this day for all the kids except kindergarten...so in away she went to school the same day!

I had to have her come back out for this one little miss is so big and ready for school that she walked right in before I could snap a picture!

Mrs. Maloney and Alexis!

Her first Assembly at the back to school bbq!

2011-09-12T22:14:00.000-07:00

Waiting for Alexis to get off the bus. She was so excited to see her that she wouldn't let her out of her site and chased her around the house playing! It was really cute.

I promise I did her hair today.

Hmmmm something isn't right here?

Climbed on Sisters bed by herself.

Rolling around because that is what you do when one can climb on a big girl bed!

2011-09-12T22:10:00.000-07:00

She had a big day today of first. She lost her tooth during lunch at school. Her teacher had told her last week that she gets to write her name on a tooth chart when she looses it and so I guess she decided today was the day and instead of eating wiggled her tooth until it came out. She was so excited that she kept getting out of bed to ask when the tooth fairy would come! So her glittery money is waiting for her!

The letter from the tooth fairy appeared after this picture was taken!

She is having a hard time looking at the camera lately.

Cute little space in her teeth!

P.S. Daddy wanted her to send it to Alaska since the tooth fairy pays more there(well it does cost more to live). So he said $20, I asked him if he really wanted her to send a tooth and he decided not so much to just tell her he called the tooth fairy and she would fly down special for her and give her $10. Well I didn't have a ten but had $5 ones. Goodness that is one tiny little expensive tooth!

K is for Kindergarten!

2011-09-12T11:14:00.000-07:00

Her spot! She was writing her name when I left. I didn't cry, although I felt emotional and could have if i would have let my guard down.

Saying bye to me. I am so nervous and excited for her. I hope she just loves school!

2011-09-12T11:11:00.000-07:00

Waiting to go out to the bus stop.

Almost time!

Good byes!

Getting off the bus, I can't wait to hear what she thought of the bus!

Putting her stuff in her cubby.

2011-09-04T23:04:00.000-07:00

Love the crinkled nose smile.

Blow out that candle birthday girl!

Her favorite part! The presents. Sadly I didn't get a picture of everyone sitting around our yard for the movie, we filled our yard. We had 30 kids and their parents plus a few more watching Rio, fun movie and perfect for a backyard flick!. Truly awesome and way fun. We also did glitter art on all the kids.

2011-09-04T22:57:00.000-07:00

On her birthday we let her pick something to put a candle in(we did her party the next day so I didn't want to make cake 2 nights in a row), she picked a sugar covered donut.

The birthday girl and her table decorations...even though the theme was supposed to be drive-in movie she just had to have princess stuff.

I think they want a cupcake!

One pleased little lady!

2011-09-04T22:50:00.000-07:00

Bathtime with Conner!

I think she just saw her hair! Too funny.

The excitement for her own birthday was almost to much...every 30 seconds she asked if she could open her gifts.

Seeing the Just dance for kids game.

it knocked her over!

Her birthday breakfast, she asked for waffles, ice cream and milk. She also didn't want anything for dinner. We took her to Superjump and let her jump for about an hour.

2011-09-04T22:44:00.000-07:00

She insists on climbing from the toy box, chair and then the table. Usually she pushes everything off the table too.

What you don't sit on a bike and cook?

Watching a movie in their cars...test run for the birthday bash!

Easiest way to play with toys, don't have to keep standing up to get a new one!

2011-09-02T13:54:00.001-07:00

I do have pictures to post about Alexis and her 5th birthday, but well I am too lazy to transfer the pictures. I love Alexis with all my heart, she is such a fun girl and so smart. She is very excited about starting Kindergarten! On the 31st her school had a back to school bbq and a meet your teacher night. We didn't know who her teacher would be until that night. She has Mrs. Maloney and got to see her classroom and find her backpack cubby, and her name tag at her table. She got to walk around the room and see where somethings are like the bathroom! My parents took Megan so that Alexis and I could go without a baby, funny thing is Alexis was upset when she realized Megan wasn't coming. Alexis has been carrying a purse around with us everywhere for the last week. It is cute to see her acting like such a big girl. She is very protective of her sister and wants her to do everything with her(except play in her room) she will pick her and carry her around. Megan adores her and they love to laugh and be silly.

Megan tickles people, it is cute! She also will no longer sit in a cart, no matter how tight I buckle her in she finds away to stand up. She is a petite thing which I think makes it easier to squirm her way out. She hasn't been sleeping well since her first molars have started emerging, one is almost all the way through! She has started the dreadful scream if things aren't done her way...it is not cute at all.

We had an awesome weekend with Britt home. He surprised Alexis by coming home for her birthday. His boss paid for his ticket and then he was going to drive his truck back with my dad. Long story but Britt wasn't allowed to enter Canada, I got him a flight using air miles, my dad tried to drive through but the check engine light came on and a tire started having trouble so he turned around and came back. Just a very frustrating end to his trip. So we are back to square one on getting him transportation. Well mom duties call so more later.

2011-08-25T07:55:00.001-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEXIS

WE LOVE YOU GIRL!

2011-08-19T06:25:00.001-07:00

We are surviving Daddy being gone. I am actually surprised the kids are doing so well. Alexis is a bit snotty with me though telling me no a lot and being stubborn about doing things for me. So she has been loosing privileges for it and it seems to be helping. Megan is jabbering up a storm and is just cute. She says
Britt
hi dad
ses (Alexis)
mom
hi and waves at everyone
stop
one two (after I say it)
sit (to Rudy)

and probably a few others that my sleep deprived mind can't remember. She is getting all 4 of her 1 year molars right now, I guess in the long run all at once is quicker just not easier the poor little baby is not wanting to eat, but is hungry so she is nursing a lot.

Alexis is in swim lessons and is coming along well. On the first day she wouldn't float on her back without looking like a chuck of wood, it was funny to see her so stiff. Now she will lay her head back and let her teacher help her relax. She will dog paddle about 10 feet real well and does bobs where they have to go under all the way and blow bubbles out. She is kicking with straight legs and just all around doing better. I hope by the end of next week that she will be really comfortable with the floating and other swim stuff. I wish that the summer had been different and I could have put her in one more session, but it just couldn't happen.

Britt is starting to like the job more in Alaska. He is surprised at how the guys up there haul cars, not in a good way either. He has been trained so well by my dad and the others he has worked around for the past 10 years that he feels he has a lot to offer the company. We are trying really hard to figure out a way to get us up there. I sold my piano yesterday which put a big chunk of money towards the move. We are trying to decide now if we head up there and leave our house empty and try and make it for the next year or so with no renters or if we try and rent it. Renting is so stressful for me and leaving it empty is so tempting, but it will put a strain on our finances. Oh decisions to make sometimes being an adult is no fun...although I am sure Alexis at nearly 5 feels being a kid is not fun either because your mom is always telling you what to do!

2011-08-09T22:17:00.000-07:00

Daddy is the big huge love
Mommy is the large love
Alexis is the little love
Megan is the tiny love

Thanks for clearing that up Alexis. So I have talked to Britt on the phone a bunch since he left, but tonight we Skyped and I got all teary eyed. Megan cried when she saw him. Alexis was really excited and talked is ear off for a few minutes. I don't think it will get easier and hopefully we will be re-united again soon. I am trying to think of this as a work deployment not just like in the military because he isn't in harms way fighting bad guys, but gone just the same. I just hope that as we read the scriptures and pray together still as a family or at least as a couple that it will help.

High or Hi

2011-08-05T10:03:00.000-07:00

Today the girls were playing high five with daddy. Megan watched Daddy and Alexis play a few times and then he turned to her. When they got to "up high" she waved to him instead. It was really cute. The simple things that we don't think about.

Megan is a serious climber, if it is wide enough for her body she will try and scale it. She loves to play with the toilet paper(so if you come over and it is in a pile on the back of the toilet you know why) and she is so quick about it.

Britt is going to Alaska on Monday for work. I tell ya 1 month of unemployment is a huge stress, but we have grown as a couple and a family. I wouldn't want to go through it again, but I am grateful for this time that we have had together. We had planned on him taking a month of next summer because he was going to have 3 weeks vacation, so I guess we just got blessed with it early. We are going to miss him like crazy and are doing all we can to save up so that the girls and I can join him as soon as possible. We are planning on flying him home every 6 weeks or so. I am so torn between moving. It will be really fun to live somewhere new and at the same time scary. It also is sad to leave family, my girls have such a special relationship with my parents. They get the privilege of seeing them multiple times a week, going to church with them and just having a very close bond. I was moved from my grandparents when I was 11 and still to this day miss being with them(they are all in Heaven now). We will have to make really good and sure that we come back often so that they still get that grandparent time!

Alexis had a hard time sleeping last night she said because she was thinking about what school will be like. Sweet girl, I hope that she doesn't stress about it too much. She knows where her school is and even where her class will be, where she gets a lunch and the library. They do a free lunch at her school and I plan to take her over there a few more times before school starts so that she gets more familiar with the school.

upside down?

2011-08-02T05:47:00.000-07:00

The other day we had pineapple upside down cake. We asked Alexis if she wanted a piece and she said no. We were confused because this girl loves pineapple. She cleared the confusion a few minutes later when she asked if she could have hers right side up because she didn't want it upside down.

Love her!

Cherry picking

2011-07-29T09:51:00.000-07:00

if you look in the top of the tree you can see a yellow blob, that my friends is Britt.

She fell asleep just sitting next to Britt on the couch.

2011-07-29T09:48:00.000-07:00

2011-07-29T09:46:00.000-07:00

2011-07-29T09:43:00.000-07:00

2011-07-27T08:17:00.001-07:00

We went "camping" at Ensign ranch and stayed in a bunk house....I may never set a tent up again. It was so nice to be out of the dirt and have room to walk around indoors, especially for Megan. The other nice thing about the ranch is were our friends camped in tepees it was all grass. I think this is the cleanest we have ever stayed while camping! It was so warm and fun. Alexis rode a horse, slip and slide...they have a huge one built that is so fun, caught grasshoppers, played until she dropped, throw rocks and sticks and anything else into the lake and river. Megan walked around trying to keep up with the big kids and carried sticks and rocks to her hearts content. It was truly just what I need to regroup and relax. I came home with peace in my heart ready to pick up the job search again. I will post pictures soon of our fun weekend. We are already planning next years and will be staying at least one more night!

2011-07-18T22:28:00.000-07:00

Alexis wishes Megan was 4. Megan ate another slug today, this time her mouth was coated in slim. Alexis plays so well with Megan and looks after her so sweetly. Megan loves to carry purses and bags on her arm. We got my barbie house from my parents and both girls have been having a blast playing with it. Life is moving along at a snails pace right now. I am tired of the stress so I am taking a vacation from it and going to move on. Things are what they are and thinking about it 24/7 will not change it. I have a great family and I love them with all my heart, that will never change and as long as we have each other nothing else matters. I got some good snuggle time in with Alexis last night because she couldn't sleep. Oh how I miss when she was a baby and she needed me to lay with her each night to go to sleep. I am so pleased with who she is becoming! What an amazing young lady we have!!!

2011-07-13T09:38:00.000-07:00

Alexis has a little notebook with a lock on that she lovingly calls her diarrhea. It is the funniest thing and I laugh every time she says it. She was playing princess yesterday and tried dressing Megan up which she didn't like so she had Megan play the horse. True to a 1 year old she would not stay where the horse was supposed to and was sent to pasture to not play princess anymore. It was funny. Megan likes to follow the big kids around and around even if they run in circles. I love watching my beautiful daughters grow up! I love watching Megan adore Alexis and how much Alexis loves having a sister.

Last night Megan was playing with her stroller and would wave bye to us and walk away. These girls are really great to each other. Alexis loves to play with her, except when she pulls her hair. I really truly am blessed with amazing children and a great husband. We are currently in a career change and trying to decide if he should go to school or what. Either way we are putting all our faith in the Lord that he has a plan and that we will find the right thing.

2011-07-09T23:07:00.000-07:00

Megan talking on the phone, funny story we were at my parents house and she had gone to the family room to see what Alexis was doing and the phone rang. I answered in because it was my mom. While we were talking I kept hearing buttons being pushed and asked my mom if it was her. It was not so I went to the family room and found Megan with the phone, pushed the talk button and was pushing buttons. She had to reach up on the table to get the phone and had pulled the charging station down with it. Such a smart little cookie.

I asked her to not smile, just look at me and I love it! Her eyes are open and she has such pretty skin and features! Not that her smile isn't gorgeous but she is in this funny phase with her smile that makes her eyes closed, or gives her surprised look...so it can be goofy.

Mud Mountain Dam Annual Ward Picnic! This is the dam is pretty cool with it's history and being the largest dirt and rock dam ever built. Wish they had the lower observation deck open!

This dirt spot was a favorite for the babies. We finally gave up and let them play. We ended up being the last from the ward to leave...it was that nice of a day.

Parachute time! Alexis just warms my heart with how full of energy and excitement she is. Everything she does is with passion!

Tonight Alexis informed us that she doesn't want to be the child, she wants to be the dad because dad's don't do anything and children do everything. I may ask her what she thinks daddy does at work.

2011-07-09T22:46:00.002-07:00

Got my book signed by the authors! I love this cook book and that says a lot for my because I hate buying cook books, it stays on my counter!

These girls love their daddy!

A day at the park for a little play and a birthday with our friends!

Watching fireworks in Eatonville on the 3rd!

Some more daddy play time.

Great Wolf Lodge

2011-07-09T22:37:00.002-07:00

Great Wolf Lodge was a blast this year. Alexis was tall enough to go on everything but the tornado! We spoiled her rotten getting her a Paw Pass which allowed her to do a bunch of stuff. Megan loved, loved the water just as much as Alexis does. It was seriously great to have the big room with the 2 little kids. We put them in the bedrooms for bed and then watch tv and talked it up with my parents and brother who split the room with us. Alexis keeps asking if we can go back tomorrow, silly girl. We surprised her about where we were going. She thought we had to take daddy to his hotel for work, sweet girl had been counting the days until we would go and just didn't put the 2 together. she fell asleep during the 1 hour drive and when we woke her up she looked around and started screaming "Great Wolf Lodge!" To say she was excited is an understatement. She hoped out of the car when I went to check in before we could even say stay in the car. I just love when she is so excited that it bubbles out and causes her to jump up and down.

Alexis changed almost the second we hit our room!

See her arms are full of things the pass gives you.

one of her first times down the big slides!
(it is not a mistake that I am not in any of the pictures...I had a baby a year ago and am still not in great shape!)

2011-07-06T19:11:00.001-07:00

Favorite thing today was putting Megan in the cart at the store, you know the ones with the car on front, and she looks up at me with the sweetest and purest smile of joy. She does it each time I use the car carts...totally makes up for how awkward they are. We went to Deep Lake today and used our 80+ degree day wisely. Alexis swam for pretty much 4 hours straight. She was using a baby floaty that you stick your feet in the holes and a life jacket and suddenly turned duck on me and flipped upside down in the water with her feet kicking wildly in the air. Just as I took my first step into the water to rescue her her feet slid free and she popped up. Scared me pretty good, though. Megan likes to play in the rocks and dirt, even eating them. I'm sure she has a few tiny ones rolling around in her tummy right now, hopefully they pass without trouble. We didn't get sunburned, only a bit pink on Alexis nose, but man is she dark after just a few days of sun. Sadly I left my camera in the car so I just have my memories of the day!

Megan has learned how to sign please for otter pops, make spit bubbles with her lips by slowly opening and closing her mouth and says Rudy when looking at the dog. It sounds like rue d, with the d being delayed and sounding really cute! She also puts the phone up to her ear and says hello.

2011-06-27T17:53:00.000-07:00

Get ready for a ton of pictures of our little 1 year old. She is the funniest baby, except the scream she has developed when ever things are not going her way. She says hi, mom, dada, boo, oh, owee(like when you get hurt, not sure how that would be spelled). She plays peek-a-boo, patty cake and thinks Alexis is seriously funny, she walks everywhere and loves to push her new stroller around, hugs and talks to her babies. She is very serious though when people talk to her and intently watches them. She loves to feed herself, but still won't drink from a bottle, straw, every once in awhile a cup. She loves to be outside and doesn't complain about being in a stroller if it means she gets to be outside. Megan loves to get into the bathroom cabinet and Alexis room. Her party was a blast and the weather turned out perfect a bit chilly so Britt started a fire and the kids roasted marsh mellows! Love this baby girl and can't wait to see her grow this next year! We also taught her to hold her little finger up and say one! She claps at everything and waves hi and bye, She will not wave bye to me though and if I am near the door she will cry thinking I am leaving.

2011-06-27T17:52:00.001-07:00

2011-06-27T17:52:00.000-07:00

2011-06-27T17:49:00.001-07:00

Bad

2011-06-15T08:24:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I feel bad for Megan. Being the second child I have forgotten things that I should be teaching her. With Alexis she would hold up 1 finger when we asked her how old she was, haven't even thought of that with Megan. We also had her pointing to parts of her body when asked, Megan just started with nose, today. I feel like Megan is still a little baby. I think the difference is Alexis started walking at 9 months and was cruising around at 1, while Megan is just starting to walk. I am repenting and as of today will be educating my youngest child. She does say hi, mom and dada, bampa(grandpa), and bah. This morning she looked at daddy and said "hi dad." So I guess I am not completely slacking, I just like to hold her and hug her tight. She also does most of the actions for patty cake and dances when I sing other songs. Such a silly thing since I have taught and worked with so many kids through the years that I slack on one of my own kids.

2011-06-14T21:29:00.000-07:00

What a difference 4 days makes. Today is 1 year from her due date and she is walking all over the place. It is so cute and exciting. She walks about 20 feet without falling and will crawl over to something stand up and do it again. She hasn't figured out how to stand from a sitting or crawl. I just love being a mom! I am in a bit of mourning though that my baby is walking and will be turning one in a week. We are working on going to sleep without nursing down, it is lots harder. I am not done nursing I just need more freedom in the evenings...Britt needs to be able to put her down too.

Alexis has been such a great helper lately and I am doing my best to thank her each time, she is relishing the positive attention. I love that she is self-correcting her behavior now. I am not asking her if that is the right or wrong way as much, so nice! She plays her last soccer game on Saturday, not sure what we will do with her next dance, gymnastics, swimming who knows but I am sure it will be exciting! Alexis is the best at remembering to pray and is always willing to "help" in primary. If one of the assignment chairs isn't occupied when she feels it should be she will ask if she can do it. I love her willingness to serve and want to encourage it as much as possible.

2011-06-10T16:46:00.000-07:00

Megan is still not walking full time. She does take a bunch of steps toward something she wants and then sits down to crawl. Crawling is much faster. I consider her a semi-walker, she walks really steady when it suits her. It is funny though when she is unsure of depth, her little face gets a panic look when she doesn't get to something when she thinks she should. Alexis is done with preschool, sadly they didn't have a program because her teacher got sick and is moving to Utah. She has improved so much this year. They do a kindergarten placement test and Alexis scored 88 of 100. Her teacher said that is what they hope kids score leaving kindergarten. We are going to work hard on sight words and start teaching her to read this summer. I am kind of nervous about this because I have never worked with kids past preschool, so kindergarten is a new thing for both of us. Should be a fun summer. We just got back from her reward for learning to control her temper and behave at school, Great Wolf Lodge! We had a blast, fun times!

2011-06-02T21:27:00.000-07:00

Playing songs for me! The high chair is the perfect height.

Megan loves to take things out so if I want to keep her busy I just put stuff in a basket or bag and she will entertain herself for awhile.

Alexis is trying to earn money to buy Megan a birthday present. It is so sweet. She already has it picked out and will have to earn 16.99, so she is helping me a lot more. Sadly it does make simple tasks take twice as long, but I welcome the time it gives me to hear the cute things she thinks and says.

This is how we all look right now as I post. I was fixing my memory card and so I snapped some pictures to see if it was working. Get ready for the rare picture of me! Alexis is watching Barbie so Britt is watching a movie on his phone, although he did watch Barbie with her last night. Gotta love the toys all over in the back ground, I have decided it is the mark of children having fun and not a messy house.

2011-06-02T21:17:00.000-07:00

Mmmmmm right from the carton.

Cutting banana's and eating whip cream on Mother's day.

We have had so much rainy and chilly weather and Alexis begs everyday to go swimming. If the sun peaks out for even a second then it must be time to swim! So I put some water in the pool and let them play. Alexis actually quit before Megan did.

Fell asleep while I did dishes and cleaned the kitchen up.

First little hair cut by Jaclyn. It was just a tiny bit off the front so that she wasn't looking through the fringe anymore. She didn't want to sit still.

change

2011-05-24T22:06:00.000-07:00

Walking! So Megan has been walking, or taking steps while falling for a few weeks, she cruises around the furniture and even walks up and down the hall using the wall but today she would stand up to the couch turn her body and take 3 or 4 steps away before falling, without help. I don't consider her a walker, but she is getting so close it is crazy! I actually can't wait for her to walk I really dislike the crawling stage because their hands are on the floor...eeeeeeeewwwwwwwww! It is very cute though. So I think before she is 1 we will have a walker. She is pretty silly when daddy comes home. Big smiles and laughs, hugs and then she wants to play. She has this weird fear with Grandpa though. I left her with him a while back and she cried the whole time after he took her jacket off and now if he even touches her hand she will force a cry. I am trying really hard not to just pick her up and soothe her. I will sit by her and give her a hug and tell her it is ok but she is going to have to get used to Grandpa being around. I won't however leave her with him alone so that it doesn't make the situation worse. It is really sad though. Megan and Alexis are starting to play together it is really great, although noisier. Sunday night they were playing and Megan fell and put her tooth into her gums again, this time it was right behind her other tooth. After a blessing we felt a lot better and not so worried about her tooth falling out. We don't even think it will discolor. Kids, they make us worry so much!

Last night for Family home evening we told Alexis her birth story. She embraced that we had prayed for a baby to come and that Heavenly Father needed another mommy to grow her for us. When we told her this she said you prayed for me, Alexis Bergman, Yes my sweet girl we wanted you more then anything else! We told her that she slept in her room before she was born. We told her how she didn't hardly cry after she was born and was placed right in my arms and I was able to cut her cord, she then inspected her belly button. I never wanted to let anyone else hold you, but I shared because everyone was so excited to meet you! We told her about going to court and the judge asking us questions and us promising to love her and take care of her. Next we talked to her about the temple and how she got to go inside and upstairs where kids go only when they are given special permission so that they can be sealed to their mom and dad and that Megan won't get to go up there until she is an adult. It was such a spiritual Family Home Evening and she loves having a special story that is just for her. I am sure she will have more questions as time goes on, but for right now she is happy. We also told her that she is our first born daughter and that she had to come to us this special way and that because she came we can now have other kids come to our family and that she has a special job of being the big sister! We are not however telling her anything about the biological parenthood, it is to close and would honestly be detrimental to her right now. One day we will feel the time is right and we will tell her. I just would like to thank everyone who knows and hasn't told Alexis until we felt it was right. I also truly appreciate my friend who was adopted and shared her story with me and helped me understand why it is important to make this a part of who Alexis is instead of dropping this on her when she is older. I love Alexis with all my heart and am so blessed to be her mother.

2011-05-19T22:45:00.000-07:00

2011-05-19T22:44:00.000-07:00

It was only about 67 and the puget sound was not warm, never is. It makes me cold thinking about them playing in it.

2011-05-19T22:40:00.000-07:00

Ferry ride

2011-05-19T22:38:00.000-07:00

Happy 35 Britt!

Shark teeth

2011-05-19T22:35:00.000-07:00

spring break hike

Mallori and Alexis

Cambree and Megan

Making cookies

2011-05-19T22:31:00.000-07:00

2011-05-19T21:27:00.000-07:00

2011-05-19T21:13:00.000-07:00

Megan starting waving today. It is truly the cutest! I wonder how I can upload it here from my phone??? I will work on that because everyone will love it! Not sure why the photos in the last 2 posts aren't working so well, oh well. I will fix them later.

2011-05-16T22:19:00.000-07:00

too tired to try and turn them!

2011-05-16T16:10:00.000-07:00

This morning Megan pointed with her cute little chubby finger at me and said momma and to prove it wasn't a fluke she then pointed to daddy and said dada. Applause followed and she was very pleased with her self. She also likes to play the piano on daddy's phone using her one finger. It is very cute. She now has 5 teeth. The 5th one came in on Friday. There is a 6th one on the way, I can see it on top right next to her new one. That will make 4 on top and 2 on bottom. She is trying to climb on things now. We have been using a pack and play that is in it's bag to block her out of the bathroom and she climbed on top of it yesterday, but then didn't know what to do next so she cried. She is such a mess maker. We will clean up the baby books and she will crawl over and pull them out. Megan did the same with her pants last night, i put them away and she pulled the right back out. Such a contrast to Alexis who is a bit OCD on things being a certain way. Alexis loves to sing the songs for this years Primary program. She even hums along to the music only versions of the songs.

We had the Horn cousins here for a few days and had a fun day on a ferry and playing in the water...it really wasn't warm enough but they splashed for a good 30 minutes. We took family pictures of the whole crew with only 1 Brother in Law missing. I am so excited to see them! Our nephew Malachi was baptized(he is the first on Britt's side!) It was fun having them!

2011-05-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

Today I celebrate my 5th mother's day. I have 2 of the cutest and best girls in the whole wide world! I have a Mother's Day off kit from my family with treats and chocolate, bath salts and plenty of hugs and kisses. I really feel loved and blessed to have such a great family that I get to be a part of. Right now they are making me breakfast and it is so cute to hear them whisper and see my Alexis cutting bananas and washing Strawberries, Megan crawling at their feet, I can hear her breathing as she tries to pick up everything on the floor...LOVE my life!

I have a great mom who is always there for me, to babysit, to chat with and to cry with. I have a wonderful mother in law. Honestly as a Young Women just out of high school thinking of my future the one thing I knew I wanted was a great Mother in law. I know I got the best one with the best husband. I am so grateful to have such great moms and know that I am blessed to be taught and led by them. I love you both so very much.

I have 6 sisters; one that I have known all her life and the other's came into my life the day I meet my husband. I love you sisters! They are great Mother's!

I have been raised in the church and have had so many women who have taught me and helped me become who I am today and I am grateful to them for being my Mother's in Zion! I wish I had a picture to go with this post of my moms but I don't have any on this new computer...in 1 week we are getting new family pictures with Britt's entire family and I will post them!

2011-05-05T21:23:00.000-07:00

Megan now has 4 teeth. She has the 2 bottom middle and then the top right middle and the one next to it. It is pretty funny because her top one looks huge in her mouth. She is pretty silly and will just laugh at Alexis, who thinks that Megan is laughing because she is making gas sounds or saying fart. Tonight she was sitting on the couch looking up at daddy just laughing, cute!
Alexis made me a very cute little bird house for mother's day and she is the bird, it makes me smile just thinking about how excited she was while making it. She is feeling so big because we will let her walk across the street to Ashlee's to play all by herself. So now she asks all day long if she can go over there. Megan is trying so hard to walk. She is getting brave and letting go of stuff. She took 3 steps from daddy to mommy today, but I consider it more falling with style. We finally are getting some nice weather, which means hitting the park for some great playing...sadly this also ended with Megan having very burnt arms. Luckily I had a hat on her so just her arms are burned, but they are lobster red and have a few very tiny blisters...breaks my heart. We now know that she will burn easy and will not go in the sun without her being covered or having sun block on. We are gearing up for a visit from Aunt Erin and Uncle Lim and their 4 kids next week! Alexis loves her cousins and is willingly giving up her bed for them. Malachi is getting baptized and we are going to just play hard especially since they will be moving to North Carolina in July. Fun times ahead with 2 nephews baptisms, cousins visiting and Great Wolf Lodge. Alexis was promised if she did good in school with following the rules that we would take her. School ends at the end of this month so we will be taking her, unless she totally melts down these last 3 weeks. Soccer started for Alexis last week, she loves it. Stayed tuned for pictures of it all!

Pictures anyone???

2011-04-27T08:33:00.000-07:00

Easter Egg Hunting in Orting, It was a fabulous day reaching 71 degrees. It was heaven sent (although Sunday was stormy)!

All smiles for eggs and candy! This is Megan's first time standing up in her crib....oh was she mad that I went and got my camera before getting her out.

She loves to watch the laundry...now if only I could get her to do the laundry. Not really I want her to stay a baby.

Look at those cheeks....hehe all of them.

Alexis is very eclectic. She is just like my Grandma. Oh the smile on this baby lights up the room!

Tea party anyone? She got out her fake food and set a picture of Megan and her next to each cup. She is a party planner after my heart!

Crawling

2011-04-22T23:15:00.000-07:00

Megan has been crawling for a month now and boy am I worn out. She is walking with a walker and along furniture and will let go for a few seconds to balance before grabbing back on. I will do a big post with pictures after Easter now that we have a new lightening fast computer. I am typing this on Britts fancy iPhone he got for his birthday. He wanted a boat for 35 but settled for the phone... I think he Is happier! Alexis is doing so good in school both with learning and behavior, so we are taking her to the happiest place in Washington Aka great wolf lodge! Finally the sun is shining and we can do yard work and get the garden ready, play outside and eat dirt(Megan loves the stuff).

weekly post

2011-03-15T22:36:00.000-07:00

So I didn't get the pictures done last week, ohwell. Megan is at a hard stage.....the stage before crawling. She just will not crawl, she gets up on hands and feet and then pushes back into a sit. She does this over and over and slowly moves around in a big circle. She also rolls to things. I am beginning to think she will just stand up and walk never having crawled. She climbs all over me and pulls herself into a stand. Megan loves stories and songs, I truly mean loves. She absorbs them, she may not look just like me but she loves the written word like me! We have been very spoiled having daddy home every night for the last few weeks and Megan has decided she likes daddy putting her to sleep. The proof is tonight he is gone and she kept waking up crying (for him).

Alexis loves to help in Primary, since we have a gigantic primary we try to be fair and pick their names out each week to help. She got picked for music time and was jumping up and down in pure joy in the hall waiting for them to hide the object. Then later during sharing time she got picked again(music and sharing time use different name containers). She was told it was her lucky day, oh how excited she was. Smile from ear to ear!!! She is such a joy to have around....most of the time! Last night she sleep walked and used the living room carpet as a bathroom,, then she went back to bed with wet clothes. I heard her and went to check and found her in bed. After cleaning her up and putting her in a sleeping bag(really not going to change beding at midnight) I tried to find the puddle. Not finding it I went to bed assuming she peed the bed. Nope Britt found it in front of the TV this morning(luckily seeing it before stepping in it). So now I get to clean the carpets, fun for me!

I was spoiled for my birthday. My friend Jenn arranged a surprise birthday lunch for me on the Friday before. It was fun and nice to go out to eat! Then that night Britt also arranged a little surprise dinner. We already had plans with our friends the Pines he invited the Schaubs and then claimed he was not going to make it. He showed up with a huge bunch of balloons and a gift. He got me a Kindle...I love it. I can't wait to load it full! We had dinner with my family on Sunday. My parents got me a gift card to Amazon so that I can buy the scriptures and other books for my kindle(or what ever I want from Amazon!) I love gift cards!!!! Alexis was sad she didn't get me anything, she didn't help pick out the kindle so she didn't feel it was from her. I got her to feel better by telling her the best gift she can ever give me is a big hug and kiss. Next year Britt is going to let her help buy me a gift. I will try to get pictures done this week, but I am alone so don't hold your breathe!

Weekly update

2011-03-06T22:37:00.000-08:00

We are on the count down to Megan crawling. she gets up on her hands and knees(and sometimes feet) she can keep her head up now and is sliding her hands forward. She has gotten back to sitting twice now from her tummy. During the sacrament she looked at me and made this little sound 3 times until I took her from Grandma. Megan is growing up so fast and will be walking before I know it. Megan has mastered drinking out of her sippy cup and surprisingly doesn't spit it out. She still has a 5 bite limit of food and prefers nursing. She is not lacking to much though so I am not worried. Megan was looking at her hand turn and poked her self in the face today. She also was holding her binky and crying, I took it put it in her mouth and she stopped, funny baby. She is so proud of herself and claps a lot!

Alexis is busy cracking us up every time we turn around. We got a new water heater and she has been playing non stop in the box and desperately wants Megan to play with her. So she puts her on a blanket and drags her down to her room and puts her in the box. When I ask her why she says Megan loves to play in the box. How to explain she is not really given a choice. Oh well I would rather they play well then fight! At least she isn't carrying her down the hall. She gave Megan a ride in the little wheel barrel that hooks onto the ride on toy and Grandma's. Oh how they both laughed. Alexis has problems walking...but only when we ask her to do something, suddenly she grows weak. She declared herself the queen and queens don't do anything. If I count backwards starting at 3 she will tell me I did it wrong because I am supposed to start at 1.

My calling is going good. It can be frustrating when teachers don't show without calling or getting a sub but well that is the life of Primary. I have never understood why people don't like it. I have always loved being in with the children. The sweet spirit they have is the best of anywhere in church, hands down. Britt has 2 callings, how that happened I am not sure since he went for so long without one and then within 2 weeks he had 2. We also have such a big ward they are doing there best not to double up callings. He is the 10 year old co-teacher and on the scout committee. Work is going great for him, huge blessing. He has a lofty goal this year to be the top hauler...I hope he can without sacrificing too much family time. A big bonus at the end of the year would be grand too! I promise to do pictures this week.

2011-02-26T19:52:00.000-08:00

I just adore my children. Right now Alexis is sneaking jelly beans and Megan is studying our pictures in her little book. It is so adorable she turns the page and looks at the picture then touches it. She is trying so hard to crawl, she can get up on her hands and then her feet with her bum in the air. Sadly she was doing this and her wrist gave and her little fingers bent backwards and she laid on them. Nothing broke, thank heavens, but she cried and then held her little hand for a awhile. Megan has 2 teeth the second one popped in Monday the 21st some time during the night. Alexis is writing letters now when she writes "letters" to people. She loves to draw and color pictures. I love watching her art evolve (and that I can tell what things are now.) On Monday I turn her kindergarten registration in. I am so excited for her to start school at the big kid school! I think if I cry it will be for joy that she has become such a great little lady! She wants to do dance class so I will start the hunt for one, there are tons around here. I have a ton of pictures on my camera but lack the motivation to do anything with them right now. We went to Northwest Trek on Monday and had a snow storm that blew in Wednesday. It has been getting down to 14 or lower and is just plain cold. We are supposed to get more snow tonight, as much as I love snow I really am wanting spring. We have some fun goals this summer Alexis wants to learn to ride her bike on 2 wheels, Megan walking and turning 1, getting this body back in shape, exploring this part of the world we live in. San Juan Islands, beach, camping oh so much fun!!!

2011-01-31T00:12:00.000-08:00

Gums

2011-01-30T22:09:00.000-08:00

Megan is getting teeth! Her first little pearl broke the gums today before church. I am excited but sad at the same time. I absolutely adore her gummy smile. I know I will love the toothy one too, but the gums. I truly don't want her to grow up fast at all. It doesn't bother me one bit if another baby is doing something at a younger age then Megan. I love it when she snuggles me and just wants me to hold her...I hope it never changes. Both girls have a cough that won't go away so I have gotten extra cuddles, even from Alexis who barely sits down. I Love my Family!!! I think I will throw some pictures on the post....maybe a gummy smile from the mushy squishy.Don't you just love it!!! I sure do.

This is typical Alexis, if she is happy about something this is what you will see. Jumping, laughing and smiles!

I just love babies sleeping with daddy!

Alexis has a reward system at school, the teacher has a little chart and she gets to have smiley faces or frowny faces marked on it. We have promised her that we will take her to Great Wolf Lodge at the end of the year if she keeps get mostly smiley faces. Well tonight I reminded her to say her prayers and then left, I came back a few seconds later and heard her asking for help in getting all smiley faces so that she could go to GWL. She said I know I can do it. It melted my heart to hear her asking for help. If I could I would take her right now just for that prayer. She is such a good example to me of how we are supposed to believe and have faith.

2011-01-24T23:24:00.000-08:00

This is our family painted by Alexis. Mommy, Alexis and Megan being held by daddy. She loves to paint and write!
I love babies right out of the bath. I need to find the one of Alexis like this!
To cute for words!
Our mini photo shoot, gotta love the knee high striped socks.
She is such a ham for the camera! Love her!
Tired girl, wearing an old tank top of mine...
Mom we are just playing. Poor thing had a cold settle in her eyes, she is still super cute though.
Sisters playing, hey put some clothes on that girl.
Tired Baby.
Christmas morning. Alexis had already opened the glow board behind Megan before we even got out there.

Stay tuned I have more to post but right now I am going to bed...well after I feed the baby who just woke up.

A miracle

2011-01-24T22:33:00.000-08:00

Today I decided to download the pictures from Christmas and do a blog post; in the process I noticed that there were more then 600 pictures on my camera. As I inspected them I realized they were the pictures I lost with the computer crash. Not all of them mind you because I have 2 cameras but a good chunk including Alexis's birthday and my sister in law's visits. So yeah!!!! I am not erasing my card until I have the pictures safely stored online and on cd. So I think in honor of this I will post some of them.

Megan update She started saying dadadada Yesterday. It is so cute. She says it to all of us, but of course Daddy is extra excited. She also started clapping her hands today. I love seeing her learn these firsts! She still hates being on her tummy. I was able to get her on her hands and knees and show her rocking and she tolerated it. But she is a pro at sitting up and can catch herself before falling and she isn't falling quite so hard now when she does go down. She also leans all the way forward to get things and can right herself. She still prefers to only nurse. I can get her to eat a few bites of anything before she refuses to open her mouth. Her 2 bottom teeth are so close to popping out and she gets real grumpy about it. Poor baby girl. She loves hair...pulling it that is. She is the cutest mushy squishy 7 month old I know weighing in at 18 pounds!

Alexis is doing really good in school. She can write her name for the most part. She still has a hard time with the x's and will claim she doesn't know how. She thinks they look too much like little t's. We have fun finding letters at the stores and places we go. She likes to tell me Megan's needs, they already read each others thoughts I guess. She is very much into princesses and being fabulous and fancy. She loves to cook dinner with me. She has really grown so much since school started and is such a joy in our life. She can't wait to be 8 to get baptized and asks me everyday if she is 8 yet. I tell her she is 4 and she says that she is big and is a CTR 4 now. Apparently that is the coolest thing ever because she tells us everyday! She is doing pretty good with me in primary. She gets up and comes to me only a few times now and only if I am in front. She is so funny in Primary, she answer every question with the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ and a few other's. I guess she figures she is sure to get it right some of the time.

Being a mom is the best and even on tough days it still beats working with adults, their hugs are not nearly as great(kind of creepy if they hugged) oh and according to Alexis I am the best mom ever...sorry everyone I claim it(at least in this house!)

I have picture of Alexis like this also!
Cousins at Alexis's family party! I love having the kids pose up there.
Kansas cousins staying with us. Breakfast time!
Alexis writing her name, I think this was her fist week of school.
Sleeping baby!
Cambree kissing Megan, they are 9 months apart!
All Alexis's friends at her swimming party!
Silly baby
Alexis putting the finishing touches on her tree...she did everything but the lights, can you tell?
Cute little girls!

Today I decided to download the pictures from Christmas and do a blog post; in the process I noticed that there were more then 600 pictures on my camera. As I inspected them I realized they were the pictures I lost with the computer crash. Not all of them mind you because I have 2 cameras but a good chunk including Alexis's birthday and my sister in law's visits. So yeah!!!! I am not erasing my card until I have the pictures safely stored online and on cd. So I think in honor of this I will post some of them.

Megan update She started saying dadadada Yesterday. It is so cute. She says it to all of us, but of course Daddy is extra excited. She also started clapping her hands today. I love seeing her learn these firsts! She still hates being on her tummy. I was able to get her on her hands and knees and show her rocking and she tolerated it. But she is a pro at sitting up and can catch herself before falling and she isn't falling quite so hard now when she does go down. She also leans all the way forward to get things and get right herself. She still prefers to only nurse. I can get her to eat a few bites of anything before she refuses to open her mouth. Her 2 bottom teeth are so close to popping out and she gets real grumpy about it. Poor baby girl. She loves hair...pulling it that is. She is the cutest mushy squishy 7 month old I know!

Alexis is doing really good in school. She can write her name, every once in a while. She still has a hard time with the x's and will claim she doesn't know how. She thinks they look too much like little t's. We have fun finding letters at the stores and places we go. She likes to tell me Megan's needs, they already read each others thoughts I guess. She is very much into princess and being fabulous and fancy. She loves to cook dinner with me. She has really grown so much since school started and is such a joy in our life. She can't wait to be 8 to get baptized and asks me everyday if she is 8 yet. I tell her she is 4 and she says that she is big and is a CTR 4 now. Apparently that is the coolest thing ever because she tells us everyday! She is doing pretty good with me in primary. She gets up and comes to me only a few times now and only if I am in front. She is so funny in Primary, she answer every question with the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ and a few other's. I guess she figures she is sure to get it right some of the time.

Being a mom is the best and even on tough days it still beats working with adults, their hugs are not nearly as great(kind of creepy if they hugged) oh and according to Alexis I am the best mom ever...sorry everyone I claim it(at least in this house!)

Our holidays

2011-01-04T13:22:00.001-08:00

Christmas is over, it was great! Alexis absolutely loved every second of it from putting up lights, decortating the tree and wrapping presents. She lived and breathed on the hopes of presents. She got a glow board from Santa and asked daddy to color the picture and has erased it yet (so it has been played with except to turn on the lights and watch it for a few minutes). Megan really liked that pretty boxes kept getting placed in front of her, she would grab them and smile and even ripped the paper off. It was pretty cute. Our tree was down on the 27th and now it seems it was a month ago. New Years eve found our family in different states. Britt was in Oregon on his way home and we were here in Washington. It was sad and weird, didn't even feel like a holiday. The girls and I went to the Keven and Shiree's and partied until Alexis started complaining of a headache. So we packed up and drove home. While on that 15 minutes drive Alexis threw up and then fell asleep. Sad and gross, so she had a bath at 11pm and we watch Despicable Me until midnight. A few minutes later she threw up again, lovely. I called Grandpa in for a blessing and then went to bed. Very anticlimactic for sure. School has started back up and so life is speeding by again. I will post our Christmas pictures later!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-15T12:05:00.000-08:00

So this year has zoomed by so fast I can hardly believe it. Funny how at the beginning I was 4 months pregnant and thought time was going to drag on by. I guess in a way it did go slow but that was only those last few weeks before Megan was born. Now she is almost 6 months old and such a fun and sweet girl. She loves to spit, laugh at Alexis, grab her toes, jump in the bouncer, look at the Christmas lights, shake her toys, and people watch. She is more sensitive then Alexis and startles easy, totally dislikes being on her tummy; so much so she only rolls half way. The bottom half rolls over and then rolls up on her side and does it over and over to move around the room. She adores her sister, absolutely adores her. Alexis loves to dance and sing, she does shows for us. Loves to dress up and be a princess. Alexis has such a great sense of humor and is always laughing. She is in preschool and loves it, loves her teacher and her classmates. Alexis loves to draw and color. She wrote me a picture story last night about a snow man. Loves parties, birthday party, Christmas party, pj party any kind is her favorite! Britt is still working hard delivering cars. He just got back from Georgia picking up his brand new truck! He is very excited about that. I am doing the mom thing, I love my kids so much. Every single cell in my body loves them! I am looking forward to next year, seeing Megan turn 1, Alexis go to school and doing my new calling!