Cute Stuff

Last night after an Easter party and a marathon nap (3 1/2 hours by my count) Anna woke up an hour before bedtime. She was uncharacteristically cheerful and cute. I was showing her the pictures of the party that I had on my camera. She jumped off the bed and said "Mommy take a picture of me...wait."- runs to Daddy - "Daddy, lets take some pictures together" It was adorable. So here are the pictures of a happy Anna and her happy Daddy.

Happy Easter

Here is our Easter in a nutshell. Anna loves finding eggs and eating candy, so we could pretty much do no wrong. But we expanded our repertoire and it turns out she also loves coloring eggs and pinatas. You know, Easter classic.

This was at the UVU Easter Egg hunt last weekend. Luckily Anna didn't mind that there weren't enough eggs to go around, she loved the jump-jump and indulged us to get a picture with the Bunny.

Eliza is very close to turning over, she didn't do it during this picture but while I was uploading the picture just now, she did.

Here was our egg dying adventure. I cooked 7, of which 2 broke in the pot. Then during Anna's dyeing she broke 3. So we had 2 to take to the party the next day. That turned out to be all we needed. 

Eliza and Uncle Thad. Eliza was sporting a cute Easter sweater.

The pinata my brother made, we strung it up in the front yard and let the kids beat the candy out of it.

This was Eliza today while Daddy was playing Mario with Anna. She just looked like a little Toadstool. So cute.

6 months stats

Eliza:
Weight: 14.79 - 19.45%
Height: 24" - 2.82%
Head: 16.75" - 46.3%

Pictures courtesy my friend Stephanie at http://sweetbeanphotography.blogspot.com/


And also, presenting our new family picture!! (Also from Stephanie)

Crocheting

So, I was serious about learning how to make those little crochet guys. Last Wednesday I went to my lovely and talented Aunt Trea's house and she taught me some basics. It was a rough start (I was doing it so tight I broke my hook right away), but here is the first attempt. Hint: it's supposed to be square.

Last night, 8 days later, I finished this little guy. 

So, while crocheting is slow starting, it has a steep learning curve and it's SOOOO addicting.

Sisters

This is Anna roughly 6 months old

This is Eliza 3 months old.

Happy Birthday baby!

April fools! It's only her half birthday.

I love how these two make each other laugh.

 She is always super cute and super happy.

She even slept through the night a few times this week!

 Not turning over quite yet, either direction

Happy 6 months baby!

Hold on to your Hats!

 Ok everyone, if you thought the robot quilt was cute, you might want to prepare yourself. Also, men - if there are any - you will like this too.  This is the quilt I just finished for Ben.

Yoshi Quilt!

Isn't he cute? Ben likes him too.

I think this is my magnum opus. I'm going to take a little break from quilting while Jethro gets ready for the quilt show. I think I want to learn how to crochet some of these -

Superficial

This is a superficial post, that is all it is pretending to be and all it is supposed to be. Also it would make more sense if I had pictures, but I do not. Also, by way of an excuse, I have been sick all week.

The girls and I went to the dinosaur museum today when I just couldn't take it anymore. Just after we went in, two moms and their  two kids came in. These were the typical Utah Valley moms, very fashionably dressed in their perfect hair, skinny jeans, ballet flats and cardigans. Their kids were little carbon copies perfectly dressed and primped and groomed. The one-year old girl had the same little cardigan that Anna has - but was not wearing (we'll get to that later). They were just a perfectly cute little group.

*JUXTAPOSITION*

I suddenly became very aware of what I was wearing. Decent jeans-though probably dirty, walking shoes, italian soccer jersey, black zip hoodie with "TGS with TRACY JORDAN" written in large, gold letters on the back. Hair in its typical ponytail. I know that I had spit up stains on at least my pants and hoodie. and maybe a pie stain on my t-shirt.
I sent this text to my friend: "If Utah Valley had bouncers, I would not be allowed to live here"
She called me to hear the whole story and we agreed that there is no hope for the likes of us who like to be comfortable - like pajama comfortable. I just know that one minute I was weeding, and the next I was headed to the museum. I need a versatile wardrobe.

While I was on the phone I realized how Anna fit into this whole situation - Walking into the museum she was wearing a monkey costume.
When we got to the sand/water table I removed the jacket of the monkey costume and she was wearing a Utah Jazz  jersey on top of a bright pink t-shirt. One white sock, one pink sock.
Her hair was frizzy at best.

At least her face was clean.
It may be too late for me, but it's not too late for her.

From now on, we'll try to wear matching socks.

It Happened Last Night

I wasn't feeling well yesterday so I put the kids to bed a bit early and then myself. I thought this would be easy because Ben was gone.

9:00 go to sleep
10:30 Eliza wakes up for no reason
12:30 Eliza needs to eat
1:30 Anna joins me in my bed (which is fine as long as she stays over on Ben's side)
2:33 I narrowly miss being headbutted
2:34 I get a nice punch in the face
2:35 Anna gets put back in her bed
4:30 Eliza needs to eat
7:09 They both wake up an hour early and want to be fed

Sigh.

Accomplish!

Guess what I did on Wednesday?

I moved a tree!
This cherry-ish type tree was growing on the other side of the driveway and was overcrowded from the other big bully trees standing too close, so I have been dreaming of moving her for months.
In my mind this blogpost had a picture of me standing next to the tree to illustrate how crooked it is. To clarify, she was growing crooked before I moved her. To clarify further, her name is Eileen.
If she lives, I will train her up right and she will be a strong beautiful element of foliage that will block our large living room window.

Childish Mandate

I've noticed a few times this week that I have been stalling when bedtime came around for Anna.  It wasn't out of exhaustion (well maybe a little) I realized I didn't want her to go to bed because I didn't know what to do with myself without her around. I didn't know who I would talk to or what I would do.
That is really pathetic.

Since she doesn't nap anymore she is around constantly, more or less mandating every little thing that I do and how I do it. Especially what I eat - Pancakes. While it is exhausting and she is a dirty little life-stealer, it's also a bit comforting not to make decisions based on what I want to do, I have no choice. I guess that's why people live under dictators.

Brownilocks

 This is where we found Anna sleeping this morning. I knew she had woken up at 6:00 but I chose to ignore the pitter patter of her feet as she walked through the kitchen. As long as she was letting me sleep and I wasn't hearing any crashes or bleeding I would let her do as she pleased.  Apparently she read several books before falling back to sleep. She stayed here until 10:20.

3 Short Years

This little girl is 3 years old today. She is a busy girl.

We had some family come over for a little party. We started with a monster-drawing competition with sidewalk chalk. 

Anna discovered a picture of last years Easter Egg Hunt and asked that we recreate that for her birthday. So we had a Birthday Egg Hunt! It was fun and we were lucky that the weather held out.

She asked for a pink cake, so I rocked a Red Velvet Cake mix with loads of pink frosting and star candles. No pictures unfortunately. And she got lots of great presents from everyone, she cannot be slowed down.

She has come a long way. I think we all have.

Happenings

Anna heart-attacked the door for Daddy for Valentines

Anna got into some serious fingerpainting of late

Serious fingerpainting

Eliza helped. By being adorable.

Daddy went to Tokyo and got us some cute presents. Eliza got piggy socks

Anna got Lambie socks. The only socks she is willing to wear around the house or sleep in, she calls them her sleeping socks.

He also got a Hello Kitty and a little baby chick. We taught Anna that if she has one, Eliza must get the other, she has become very diligent about it.

Holidays

So Ben and I are not really holiday people. We enjoy Christmas as much as any but we aren't crazy about it and that is probably our most celebrated holiday. We just don't get excited about these things, maybe we need some good traditions to get us going.
I barely stayed awake for New Years, we watched a movie in our basement and I complained about being tired the whole time.
I really wanted to have tacos for Thanksgiving. It just sounded tastier than the same old turkey and mashed potatoes.
We have never dressed up for Halloween - I can't even remember the last time that I did even before I met Ben. Anna still hasn't gone trick or treating (this year I think we'll have to).
Ben does enjoy the firework season in the summer, he bought a bunch in Wyoming but he is too law-abiding to light them. We haven't stayed out to watch fireworks for several years.
I don't remember celebrating Mother's day and Father's day. (Ben reminds me that we were on a train to Moscow on Mother's day last year)
St. Patricks Day?!?? what is that even celebrating?
No Easter baskets - but Anna did enjoy the Easter Egg Hunt at Grumma Sue's house.

and finally, for Valentines we agreed to get each other plants - like house plants. But that makes sense because its like the flower that never dies (until it dies, then it's very sad because you killed it). Plus Ben likes house plants in his cubicle.

In conclusion, here is a beautiful picture of Anna getting hit in the face with snow after the only major snow storm in December.

I have no new pictures of Eliza.

This is for the man we miss

We miss you Daddy!

QUILTBOT 2011

Here is a project I just finished for a friend (and her baby), I had so much fun and it turned out so cute. Ben wants one too.

But I will let it speak for itself.

Greetings, I am Quiltbot 2011.  I am compatible with all BABY Models 2011 and greater.

My Functions include: 

Cuddling up

Tummy Time/Playtime mat

Indoor Picnics

Absorption of fluids (body and other)

Fort Building

etc...

Care for QUILTBOT is easy, just give me a clever new name, lots of love and an occasional bath in the washing machine. I am here to serve you and your new BABY Model 2011.

I got the pattern from this book, which I love.

Fun Fact

So I've noticed for about a year or so that when I eat especially delicious, crave-quieting food - I can feel it in my ears.
The first time it happened, we were at sushi and I had been looking forward to having a delicious, eel-sauce covered caterpillar roll. On my first bite my ears just came alive, I told Ben it felt as though my ears were expanding. It's hard to put the feeling into words really, and sometimes it sneaks up on me.

Yesterday - Cream of Wheat with raisins and brown sugar.
Today - Water

So that's a fun fact about me.

Remember...

So, remember that time I only had one baby and I blogged about her relentlessly? And now I have another equally adorable baby and I never blog at all? It's gotten so bad that I really have to force myself to read other people's blogs. Is blogging dead? Too much effort? Life is dull? Not willing to put all and every detail of yourself on the interwebs?
I suppose it's some of all of these.

In any case, i just wanted to reconfirm how cute these girls are with you all.

3 Short Months

This baby is 3 months old now.
She is a big girl.
And happy too.

Happy Birthday baby.