Sick

It's been a while since I've posted something new, but we've all just been sick. Needless to say, we haven't really been feeling up to doing anything or even taking pictures. Emily was tested for development delays because she still isn't talking. They went well. Emily has a small delay in her speech (surprise, surprise) but not anywhere near enough to get into a program. Personally as her mother, there is really nothing wrong with her. When she wants to say something she will. Like the other day my Mom and I were walking down the hallway and Emily walks right up to me and says, "Go to your room." Or she even told Meredith, "Thank you. Say it, say it, say it. Say Thank you." or how about "No, I don't want it." She's come up with absolutely hilarious things to say. The first one is the one that sticks out though. When the lady came to test her she would do NOTHING. She was so ornery. Oh, well. At least they have determined she is ok.

Memory Game

Everyone needs to play...This is Fun!

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember--it can be funny, weird, awkward, random, etc.!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Meredith's Birthday Pictures

I went and got Meredith's birthday pictures (about a month ago) and I'm finally posting them. She was so grumpy and I was afraid of what the pictures would be like when I saw them. I was pleasantly surprised considering how uncooperative she was.

A Lady's Worst Nightmare

Maybe not the worst, but certainly not something wonderful, is seeing your picture with no make-up displayed on the internet for all to see. When moving, cameras and make-up are not the first things on my mind. Jessica, this means revenge. Wahahaha. :)

Lunch Time, Nap Time

By the time lunch time gets around Meredith is ready to fall asleep already. It takes her all of 5 minutes to finish her food and be out cold. I have found that she does NOT want to be looked at while she is doing this process. She gives me the biggest scowl or tries to hide. I got a picture of a scowl. Mind, this isn't a very big scowl. I caught it between a scowl and a smile.

Mommy hard a study, Children hard at ...

DESTRUCTION!!! I wish I could get as far in my school work as they do at destroying the house. This is the best looking room in my house (minus the girls room because I had to clean that up before they napped in it). This is what happens when I try to study. And Emily is also learning how to put in her own dvds into the dvd player. Most of the time she puts it upside down, but not today. Meredith is definitely capable of destroying stuff by herself, but Emily (the girl in the "terrible twos") is incredibly fast and has learned how to get around ANY obstacle. Put it up high, doesn't work. Hide it, don't kid yourself. I have found one place that works. The microwave. I make sure she doesn't see where I put it (usually the plate of cookies). One time we left the cookies on top of the microwave which resulted in quite a tummy ache for her. You think that would have taught her a lesson, no. Mommy vs. Children. Children 1, Mommy 0. Is it time to go to bed yet? lol

Learning to French Braid

Thank you to YouTube, I finally know how to french braid. It is a sloppy braid perhaps, but I think I have the general idea. I always told myself that I would learn and today, inspired by Emily's long hair, I decided to learn. She was so patient. And I had a lot of fun. Here's the instructional video that finally made sense. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up4iO5puug8&feature=related
Happy braiding!

Many Blessings

There are many blessings in my life. The one I hold the most dear is the temple. This of course leads to the next, most important blessing in my life, my family. The temple allows me to be together with my family for time and eternity. In the next life, I will be thankful to be with my family. My two beautiful girls, as well as future children, are sealed to Nathan and me. The temple has always been something I looked forward to seeing even as a child. After being through the temple with Nathan to be sealed, and especially after having two children, the temple has never been more beautiful to me. I am so thankful for the temple which gives me the ability to be together with my family forever.

Families Can Be Together Forever

Visiting with our Cousin

We were able to spend some time with Nathan's sister, Kristen while she was in Arizona for a visit to a friend. They were kind enough to drive her halfway to Tucson, and we met them there.


Kristen and her daughter Genavie. She was so happy and smiley.

Emily loves the slides at the park.

Finale picture.

My favorite. I love watching Nathan play with our girls. What a great Daddy. I love you Nathan.
The girls enjoyed seeing their cousin. Emily went and gave the baby a hug and kiss. And Meredith was fine with hanging out, as long as her Mommy wasn't holding the baby (jealousy issues there, lol, what a clown she is sometimes). Thanks for visiting with us, Kristen and Genavie. We were so glad to see you.

Baby proofing

I'd just like to state (for the sake of the previous post) that I have that kitchen heavily baby proofed. I have stuff on the oven so they can't turn the knobs, something for the fridge so they can't open it, and a baby gate for each opening. I am still looking for something to baby proof the water dispenser, so if you know of anything PLEASE let me know. Emily likes to grab one of her little chairs and climb the fences. I thought about taking those away, but then I realized that she will just use her radio rocket (has wheels, not a good idea). And if I took that away we have countless other things we could climb (dolly stroller, toy grocery cart, etc.). And a higher fence, just more dangerous to climb. So, I keep it up to keep the baby out of most of the messes and to slow Emily down. Lets just say that I took the fence down for all of 5 min and accidentally left the butter on the counter.

Butter and Bread (Bread and Butter)

Anybody for some butter and bread? We like a little bit of bread with our butter. :P


And of course, Emily denies all of it. (Doesn't that piece of bread look tasty? Mmmmm. (gag))

Innocent or guilty? Definitely guilty. Proof caught in hair.

And Meredith has had so much fun. At least that makes one of us.

Note to self - add butter to grocery list (it was an almost completely full thing of butter).

Fourth of July

We went to the Fourth of July Parade in my hometown this week. The girls had a lot of fun.

Nathan is attempting to keep Meredith on the sidewalk. She wanted to go in the street like everyone else.

Emily, running for the candy.

Picking up the candy.

Meredith thought that this time she was going to make it out into the street. Of course Mom was right there with a camera, so she really wasn't going anywhere.

We ate barbecue afterwards and then the next day Grandma babysat the girls while Mommy and Daddy went to the rodeo and watched fireworks afterwards.

Home Sweet Home

We're really enjoying our new home. We had a request to see some pictures, so here they are. I'll put the rest of the pictures on a slide show.

The Girl's Room

Our Bedroom

Kitchen

Living Room - You can't tell how big the living room is from this picture, but the girls and I love to run around and play in this room. It's been great because we don't get outside too much because it is so hot.

Bubbles

When Emily uses the potty we blow bubbles. Meredith gets so excited and says "Bubu, bubu". She's so adorable. The girls love bubbles and Daddy loves to blow them. This movie has Meredith saying bubbles. You can also seeing her rubbing her eyes because it was bedtime.

Lost Wallet

My husband is absolutely wonderful. Today I couldn't find my wallet. I told Nathan and he was helping me search but I had this absolutely sick feeling because inside that wallet was a lot of cash I was supposed to put in the bank. I didn't want to have to tell him I lost a couple thousand dollars, so we hunted. Then I finally told him. He was shocked, didn't get mad at me in the slightest and forgave me (instantly or not you'll have to ask him). The girls were taking a nap and finally I just collapsed in the bean bag ready to just cry and told Nathan that as soon as the girls were down for bed that night I was going to go through the entire garbage can (the big, nasty outside one). So a little later Nathan went outside. I thought he was looking through the laundry and the car and strollers one more time. When he came in he said, "well I didn't find it, and it's not in the garbage can". It was almost as good as him saying, "I found your wallet." What a wonderful, absolutely fabulous husband. How many husbands out there would go through a garbage can for their wife? It was a very nasty batch of garbage too (it's 100+ degree weather out there so you can imagine the stench). Nathan said he went through a lot of dirty diapers.

Oh. And I found my wallet after a great many prayers. Emily decided to put it in Nathan's drawer.

Playing with the Girls

Yesterday I dropped Nathan off at the UofA, went to the property management office to take care of rent, and then took the girls to the park. You can imagine in Tucson that it gets hot fast and then when Emily ceases to listen (not that she minds really well in the first place) we had to leave. So we came home and they took their naps (I don't think Emily went to sleep and I think she woke up Meredith). Then I took them swimming. Just me. I wasn't sure how I was going to do that, but I wanted to go play. It turned out well. Emily wanted to play on the stairs and Meredith and I stayed close and played together. I love to hear her laugh and to make her laugh. I love to hold her too, and being in the pool is a wonderful excuse. She doesn't let me hold her too much anymore. She wants to go explore and walk around and chase after sister. We were swimming for about 40 min before they got tired of it. That's pretty impressive for two very wiggly little girls. I wouldn't let them run around the pool (can't imagine why) and they had to stay close. We were exhausted though. The girls were ready to go to bed very early. I should have followed their example, but I stayed up late watching a movie with Nathan instead. (And now that it is morning I'm payin the price). :)