Sisters Playing!

Now that Sara is older, the girls play together all the time. Often, when they disappear, I find them like this in the box of stuffed animals and dolls. Other times I find them laughing and all dressed up!

Sometimes I find them playing with toys together.
But the game I just can't resist watching is crash.
Step 1: the girls preparing for the game on the hearth.

Step 2: Posing for Mommy pre-crash.

Step 3: Crash on the chair in a pile of kissing and hugging!
Step 4: Show Mommy how much you love this game. Check out these happy faces!
How blessed I am to have girls that love each other and enjoy one another's company! Oh my, Sara is going to miss Laura when she goes to school next year. (So will I, for that matter!)

Possibble

Sara has discovered her favorite summer treat. It's one of the few things that always sits for my pregnant tummy and she just loves them. Here is Sara enjoying her favorite color "possibble." (Yes, after just waking up from a nap with an awesome post-sleep hairstyle)

Nothing is better than summertime and a twin pop; even if that popcicle is "really really cold"!

Memorial Day 2009

We were able to honor our ancestors this Memorial Day by visiting serveral gravesites and placing flowers. We went with my parents to both sets of my grandparents' graves and a few other ancestors as well on Saturday. Laura loved seeing Grandma Ida's whose picture she carries around all the time at my Mom's house and she says she remembers from heaven.

We were also able to explore some pioneer ancestry on the same trip. My goodness, between Jason and I, these girls have so much pioneer heritage it's crazy.

Then we were able to visit Jason's grandparents' gravesite. This was special to Laura because she remembers when Grandma Jo died and helped her really understand the importance of Memorial day.

Under 100, Over 3

Our blog is over three years old.  It is so fun to look back and see how much has changed in our lives.  We've built a house and moved in, added 1.5 children, changed jobs, gone on vacations and grown up.  And I, a person who up until now has been terrible at journaling, has kept record of it all.  It is so fun to look back.  Check out our family when we started all this.

I have less than 100 days left in my pregnancy.  Hallelujah!  After having contractions 2 mins apart for hours last night and having to go to the hospital to stop them, get tests, etc., it can't come quickly enough.  (Thank you, folks for watching girls so we could go)  Only 11 more weeks and she's full term; not that I'm counting down or anything.

Preschool Graduation

Laura graduated from preschool yesterday. She has LOVED going and it was great fun to see her in that environment. She was also lucky that both her grandmas and a grandpa were able to come support her. And, she had to wear her "best dress" and looked so cute for the occasion. Look at that excitement right before we went.
The kids performed their favorite songs and several of the poems they learned throughout the year. So adorable! (And yes, I cried)

They also put on a little play. Laura delivered her line loudly and clearly and right on time. And she cued all the other little ones when it was their turns. Yep, she's a perfectionist too.
Her teacher said that Laura was her "assistant" this year, so smart and a mother to all the other kids. Yep, Laura made sure to take care of everyone else - make sure they understood things and were happy. What a sweetheart.
Laura cried when she realized she wouldn't be going back and seeing her friends and teacher anymore. She is such a tender soul. I think she is going to love school next year. And, oh, how I love her. I am excited that she is so smart and capable and growing up so beautifully, but also sad that another stage (where I get a lot more of her) is past.

Bunco

I took my tasks a day at a time, and got everything done for Bunco last night. Also, thank you to all the people who helped and offered to help - Jason, Mom, Andrea, Karyn you all are lifesavers. I went with a summer garden theme and I think it turned out well.

I particularly liked my tables. The clear plates are definitely my new favorite; I love how they transform with just some fun scrapbook paper beneath. And, it was a great excuse to have to get matching glass bowls to accompany. Fortunately, the bowls were only $1/ea at Walmart. The darling centerpieces were my MVP prizes and the containers (which determined my scheme) were from the dollar store.

I ended up needing to bring in the prizes and set up a prize table due to the rain. But, I liked how it turned out and the herbs smelled delicious in the house! Who couldn't use herbs for a prize?!

I served Tortilla soup (recipe below), caesar salad and rolls. I think a variety to eat is important, but maybe that is just the lady with tons of food allergies talking. I was excited to buy a soup tureen (great sale at Kohl's again) for the occasion. I have a real addiction to dishes!

The night turned out well and I'm not deathly ill today from the exertion; the 5-day plan worked. I call it a success.

Tortilla Soup
4 T oil
1 onion, diced (I use the frozen, pre-diced)
2 T garlic (I use pre diced)
1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces
1 jalapeño, finely chopped, seeds removed
1 T chili powder
1 T ground cumin
1 t salt
¼ black pepper
pinch cayenne pepper
28 oz can crushed tomatoes in rich puree
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
10 oz frozen corn (sweet white is best)
½ C flour
2 cups whole milk
2 limes
1 cup cheese
Tortilla strips

In pot sauté oil, onion, garlic, chicken, jalapenos until chicken just turns white. Add spices and sauté for an additional 2 minutes. Add broth, tomatoes, water and corn and simmer for 20 - 40 mins. Combine milk and flour and add to pot, cook on low for 10 more mins. Garnish with lime, cheese and tortilla strips.

(Thanks to my Mom for giving me the party-throwing gene, class, experience, and being only a phone call away to answer questions...you're the best! Thank you to Jason for understanding how much I love to throw a party and indulging me in my indulgences!)

Family Time

Since fainting last Thursday, and really freaking myself out for the first time this pregnancy, I've tried to take it a little easier. But, we have squeezed in a few family events.

We had my Mom over to our house for dinner on her birthday. I would love to take her out for the event, but going out to eat with busy Sara is just torture. Instead we made salmon and the girls sang!
We also made a trip to the cabin with my brother Steve's family and my folks. The cabin and family are just a perfect vacation! Laura loved playing with Kaitlyn. Jason loved hanging with Steve's boys. And Sara, as usual, loved Steve.

Also, Steve had the family over for a celebration of my parent's anniversary and we got to see all the local family. Family RULES! Sara was wonderful for the occasion, and that really RULED! And I brought my brain and camera along and finally got pics of my parents...the one below and the new one on their anniversary post are my favorites.

Weekend Bonus

Since we didn't go out of town over Mother's Day like we wanted to (I've just been way too ill) Jason took the day off on Friday and we played around here. We went to the zoo first off. Sara had the most fun she has ever had there and could not stop talking to and about the animals.

I Think I'm Going CRAZY

Okay, I just have to complain for a minute here. I'm miserable. My IC is in the worst flare ever due to a terrible allergy season and living next to green (weed) space. The flare puts me in extreme pain and makes my bladder twitch. This makes me barf (around 3 times a day) and contract all the time. And we're not even talking about the collapsing in pain that happens when Eliza decides to stick an elbow or foot into my bladder.I wouldn't complain so much if there was anything that could be done to help. Alas, there is not. I'm taking a lot of Benadryl and Allegra (the two drugs that work to help and are allowed during pregnancy) and am praying that the pollen count goes down soon. In the meantime, I'll stay indoors and avoid the quilt that has exploded on my lawn. I'm hoping not to repeat the end of my Sara pregnancy with this one.

Landscaping; Check!

YAY! Our landscaping is finally complete! It's been a month-long process and it feels wonderful to be done.

The first steps of planting the trees and moving all the dirt around were definitely the most difficult. And I'm very glad that we decided to forgo our kidney garden and fill it in with grass. I think it just would've been too much upkeep for me. The baby grass is starting to grow now and I can't wait until it fills in.

I had a lot of help deciding on where to place the four trees we put in the front. I knew exactly what kind of trees I wanted (dwarf variegated willows, and a red leaf maple) but finding their exact placement was rough. Thank you parents and Karyn!

Then came the fun of deciding what to plant where. There were some plants that I knew immediately. To me, home just doesn't feel like home without roses and a lilac bush. My parents and grandparents all had roses and lilacs, so when I smell them, I just feel at home. So, they got planted in the only two sunny areas in the yard. I also put in clematis where there is more sun because I've always loved in on other people's homes. I hope I can grow it successfully.

Finally, we had a ton of shade garden to fill in. I have NO experience with shade gardening. So, after a lot of research we planted Hostas, Heuchera, Astilbe, and Bleeding Heart with a border of Helleborus. Note that they are all perennials, yep we put down landscape paper and woodchips and are praying for low maintenance. I hope they grow well and fill in nicely. Any advice from experienced shade gardeners?

I love having it all complete. It feels like a great place to bring a baby home to.

Mother's Day 2009

This is my third pregnant Mother's Day; yep my third one where I got to throw-up on my special day. I like them better when I'm not pregnant. But, it was a really nice day. Laura (and Jason) spoiled me with attention: breakfast in bed, a nap, cards, etc.

It was also nice that we got to see both our Mom's/Grandma's as well. I saw my Mom speak in Sacrament Meeting that morning (what a miserable day to have to speak) and then the girls brought her cards in the afternoon.

We had Jason's folks over for dinner and enjoyed getting to celebrate his Mom then!

We love you, Moms/Grandmas!

Welcome Summer!

Nothing says "summer" to our house more than trips to the cabin. Laura asked us when we could go on Thursday morning. So, after a phone call to my parents inviting them to come along, we all headed up there Thursday evening. Thanks for the inspiration, Laura!
The girls had a great time visiting their old haunts at the cabin and we adults loved the refreshing air of the mountains. What a great thing to have a mini-vacation and true escape only an hour away.
I think Sara is going to love the cabin this year. She can run like a crazy woman (which she is) play in rocks and climb all she wants. It's going to be a great cabin season! Let us know if you want to come play with us!