What's Going On!

2011 is off to a busy start! We have been in and out of doctor visits with sick kids, and preparing for Bella's surgery this week. She has to have her tonsils and adnoids removed, and tubes put in both her ears. I am nervous to see my baby go into surgery, and for the recovery afterward. I had my tonsils out when I was 15 years old, and it wasn't very fun at all. I have loaded up with pudding, icecream, popcicles, and juice. Hmmm...doesn't sounds that bad of a diet now that I see it written down. :)

We just got her fitted ear plugs at the ENT office. She has to wear them whenever she gets in water to pretect the tubes. I was worried she would fuss about wearing them. But the nurse mad a big deal about them being cute and pink, so now she thinks they are fun. She wears them like a girly accessory.

 I had all girls home due to 2 snow days last week. Alyssa and Bella were SO excited about playing in the snow. Alyssa stayed out a lot longer than Bella did. Bella got too cold and her gloves got wet after about 20 minutes and she wanted to come in and gert warm. No surprise there. Alyssa is our adventurous one, and Bella is a little prissy pants.

 We got a little stir crazy after all of us stuck in the house for 4 days straight. The girls were not used being together that much and they needed a break after that much time together. But they did have some fun together too. It is fun to watch them grow up together and become good friends.

 We got a  puppy!.....ya right! I won't be getting a puppy for the girls for a LONG time. The deal is that they have to be old enough to take care of it themselves. (sorry aunt Olivia) But they had a lot of fun torturing our friend's puppy for hours on end. I have to admit it was really cute watching Bella love on that puppy. But not cute enough to clean up it's poop! :)

 Me and my good friend Krinny! I love her to bits.

 Layla is 5 1/2 months old and is getting SO big. I mean she is really big. These pictures are to document how chunkey our baby girl was at this stage. She is such a delightful and delicious little girl. I love her SO SO SO much! I just can't stop smooching her all over her little chubs!

 Today was Grandparent's Day at Alyssa's school. Grandma Judy came and picked her up for school and her grandparents had breakfast with her at her school and spent some time with her in her classroom. She was just so happy to have her there. Thank you Judy for making my girl so happy! Bella wasn't going anywhere, but insisted in making it in the picture before they left for school. Funny girl.

 My sweet Isabella came in to say hello while I was working today. She looked so dang pretty I had to snap a picture. I wanted to capture my happy girl before she is hurting and sad for awhile due to her surgery.

2011 IS HERE!

The holidays have come and gone. The Christmas decorations have all been put away for another year. Alyssa is back to school starting a new semester. It is official! We are now in the year 2011! WOW! I can't believe it. We had another busy year in 2010, it was our first year in our new house, went to Wyoming for my little sister's wedding, my hot summer being pregnant, baby Layla being born,  and Alyssa starting school.

Life in the past 5 months since Layla has become a part of our family has gone by in a giant, wonderful blur. Although times have been stressful and exhausting, they have also been beautiful and wonderful.

However, I have hit a point that I feel like I need to reclaim myself again. My body, a full night sleep, a day off from mommy duty here and there, a date out with my husband that I rarely get to spend time with. (without kids)

I asked Rob the other night when the last time it was that he and I went out on a date or when we just sat around and did nothing because we had nothing we had to do. Needless to say, it has been a long time. Way past overdo. But this is the stage of our life right now. I need to remind myself that this time won't last forever, and when it is gone, I will want it back. So our goal this year is to try and stop and cherish each moment with our kids more. I am going to train myself to stop moving long enough to enjoy my chaotic life around me more. We are so fortunate to have 3 healthy and full of life little girls around us. I love them each so much and I'm excited to see what kinds of things they discover and master in 2011.

 

 We got a little snow the other day! Alyssa is waiting for the school bus and was SO excited to see the snow.

 Layla at 5 months old and growing up too fast! She started to sit up on her own the other day. I think she surprised herself when she did it.

Bella all bundled up to go out in the cold. She has been very sick, and we have discovered that she will need her tonsils and adnoids taken out in a couple weeks. We are not looking forward to her hurting, but hope she will feel so much better soon.

Merry Christmas!

We had a relaxing Christmas weekend at home this year. It was just our family. We opened presents alone. I made Christmas breakfast for us. We did leave the house to Robert's parents for Christmas dinner, but other than that, we just stayed at home and watched movies, and played together. It was kind of nice to not have to go anywhere for a few days and just be together. That doesn't happen very often, so we soaked it up.

As I sit here typing, I am looking at my husband taking a much needed nap by me, baby Layla napping in her seat by the couch, and Alyssa snuggled by the Christmas tree playing her Leapster. (Bella still napping in her bed) I feel just a small slice of heaven. Quiet, stillness, peace, love, and safety. These are the feelings I feel right now. Although I miss my family in Wyoming during the holidays, there is no place I'd rather be than right here.

 The girls frosting the sugar cookies for Santa to come Christmas Eve. It was funny to me how focused they were on it.

 The girls opened one gift on Christmas Eve. It was a family gift from my brother Travis. It is a game called Zingo. Bingo with a Zing! It helps teach the kids Spanish words while playing Bingo. They girls loved it!

 The girls setting the cookies and milk for Santa before bed.

 Christmas morning with their stockings and pillow pets from Santa. They have been begging for those darn pillow pets everytime we go to the store. Mom- It guess it is like I was with the poppels. :)

Thank you Tamara for helping us surprise Alyssa with her Leapster. She has been on that thing non stop for 2 days!

 The girls being artistic with their new art easel and art supplies.

 Me and Layla on Christmas Day. Check her shirt out! "All mommy wants for Christmas is a Silent Night

Layla and her stocking my mom made for her. She wasn't really into Christmas this year. She was happy Christmas morning though.

See you in 2011!

Winter Fun!

Since it has been cold outside and I have a baby in towe, I've had to get creative to find fun things to do with the girls. Going to the mall playcenter, driving around to see Christmas lights, visiting Santa, playdates with friends, and snuggling up and having movie nights with popcorn.

I have been busy baking, shopping, wrapping presents, and now that it is 2 days before Christmas, and I think I am finally prepared for it to be here. Christmas is a lot of work when you are a parent. I remember it being much more relaxing when I was a child.

Cedi, Bella, and Alyssa at the Bass Pro Shop playing around.

Visiting Santa at Bass Pro. Bella was hilariously scared of Santa. She wouldn't go anywhere near him. This was the only picture I could get because I was with her.

Sunday before church in their Christmas dresses.

Snuggling together for movie night.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I can't believe that the countdown to Christmas is just 1o days away. There is just so much to do still, and I'm starting to feel the Christmas rush as I know many of you are too.
I got really lucky this year. While Layla and I flew home to Wyoming for Thanksgiving week, my sweet husband and 2 older girls were home decorating our house for me. They were busy little elves! Even though the OCD in me wanted to decorate the tree myself, every night I sit and look at my glowing tree I smile thinking how they did it for me.

My mom makes homemade stockings for every new family member. Here is the newest stocking that was sent to us just a few days ago! Thanks momma, it is SO cute!

The lights my family put up on our house.

Hot Chocolate from QT is something I really love during the winter weather. If you haven't tried their hot chocolate, you really need to. IT IS THE BEST!

Bella all dressed up in her cold weather clothes. You can't see her rain boots in this picture, but you can bet she is wearing them. She wants to wear them with EVERYTHING right now.

Alyssa waiting for the school bus. She has so much happy energy in the mornings. I don't know where she gets that!?

Layla in her warm suit. Does this not scream The Christmas Story! Poor baby can't even move in this thing. But it keeps her nice and toasty when going outside.

Sisterly Love! I love it.

Merry Christmas to all of our family and friends! We love you!

Growing Girls...

Robert was cleaning out the garage a couple Saturdays ago, and Alyssa came out all decked out in her bike riding gear. She has been wanting a new and bigger bike, but we told her she couldn't get one until she learned to ride her bike without training wheels. She decided that she was ready to learn to do it. I didn't get footage of her riding the bike. But she did pretty well for her first time without her training wheels. We will see if Santa feels like she is ready for a big bike.


I was in the shower one morning, and Layla was napping in the pack and play. She woke up and started screaming mid shower. (why does this always happen?) I came out and Bella was already checking on her for me. I thought it was cute how she had climbed up so she could see her better. Layla didn't think so apparently.


Today Bella was playing with Robert's chess set. One of the glass pieces was chipped and broken and she cut her wrist on the jagged glass pretty badly. The poor baby was so scared because it took awhile for me to get the bleeding to stop. Once it stopped and was cleaned, she sat like this in the rocking chair for a couple of hours afraid to move it.

Little Layla is growing up so fast! She is 4 months old and weighs 15 pounds. She rolls back and forth. She coos and laughs. She is sitting up in her bumbo seat like a big girl. She just tried rice cereal for the first time the other night. She seems like think it was okay, but she doesn't know any better yet. :)

This Will Get You In The Christmas Spirit

This Year I'm Thankful For...

1) A husband who is capable and willing to do whatever it takes for our family to be successful.
2) A husband who is forgiving and loves me even on the days I don't deserve his love.
3) Our health and strong bodies that allow us to work hard.
4) A nice warm home that I love to be in everyday.
5) A new baby girl that brings our family so much joy.
6) Layla sleeping more during the nights.
7) Alyssa enjoying school and that she loves learning more everyday.
8) Isabella discovering her voice and talking more each day.
9) Mine and Robert's employment. Good jobs are hard to come by these days, and we are lucky to both have one.
10) Being able to create life and being a mother. This job is the most challenging, and the most important of all the jobs I will have. Nothing stretches me quite as much as being a full time mother does. Being a mother has taught me so many things about myself. Good and bad. I'm working on the bad stuff.
11) My daughter's unconditional love. This one is a BIG one for me because I know I am not a perfect mommy. I am SO thankful that my daughters love me each day, even if I fail at something.
12) A warm, cozy, king sized bed. I never knew I could love a bed so much until I was a tired mommy.
13) Living in a country that we are free to choose for ourselves. I know a lot of changes are happening in our country, not for the good in my opinion, however, we are still a very blessed people to live in the USA compared to other countries around the world. I think especially as a woman, I feel blessed to feel like my opinions matter, and I am allowed to have a voice. A lot of women in other countries are not treated as an important part of their nation.
14) Warm running water in my home. This is something that I have overlooked in the past. But oh my, how I cherish every long hot bath or shower I get to have now. I need them.
15) Getting to see my family members 3 different times! I normally only see my family from Wyoming once a year, but with my little sister getting married, me having Layla, and then getting to go home for Thanksgiving, I got to see my mom, dad, sisters, brother, cousins, aunts, uncles, and my grandmothers 3 times this year. I am very thankful for the time I got to spend with all my loved ones so far away.
16) My granmothers looking healthy and strong when I saw them at Thanksgiving. I grew up with my grandparents just down the road from my house. I am used to seeing them all the time. It is hard to see them only once a year and not knowing when the next time I will see them will be. I miss them.
17) Good friends old and new. Some old friends from back home, I won't see for a year and we can just pick up right where we left off. Those friends are hard to find. I also have met such wonderful great friends here in Oklahoma who without them, my time here would be very lonely. With my family so far away, my friends have become my family. Blessings, brithdays, holidays, BBQs, play dates. I'm blessed with some great people in my life.
18) My faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement He made for me. I'm so thankful for the Sacrifice that was made on my behalf. Boy do I need it!
19) The the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Without this road map in my life, I would be lost.
20) Disposable diapers. Need I say more?
21) Washing machines and dryers. I hate to do laundry, and I would REALLY hate to try to do it in the river or scrubbing them by hand. YUCK!
22) A new year coming up soon. It's another year to try and do better. Be a better wife, mother, friend, and follower of Jesus Christ.

Potty Training and a Birthday!

My sweet little Bella turned 3! I still can't wrap my mind around that yet. It seems like it has just gone by too fast. She has been the easiest, mild tempered, and most quiet child so far. She is such a joy to have in our family. Happy Birthday Bella Boo! We Love You!


Potty training is something I just dread. I really do. But isn't she cute as heck with her tiny dora panties and her potty treat bucket?

Bella and her friends playing at her party.

Princess Bella and her red velvet cupcake.

I love to bake, however, I don't decorate cakes well. So I went for a cupcake tower. Much easier, and still pretty dang cute I think!

Layla at the party. I just had to take a shot of her in this onsie. Our neighbor friends gave it to her, and I just think it is adorable! Too bad her hand is covering most of the L.

The sea of birthday presents Grandma Wyoming (Peterson) sent via UPS to Bella. They got here on her birthdate and she was so excited! Thank you grandma for always thinking of us.

A Barbie car! Both grandmas got her this car. But it is actually perfect because now both Bella and Alyssa have one to zoom around with their Barbies and they don't have to fight over the one.

Look at me...I am 3!!!

Family photos with our newest addition

Our good friend, Andria, took some family shots of us about a week ago. She does a great job taking pictures of little ones. She is so patient and my girls love her. It was a beautiful fall day, and even though my girls were a little sassy side, and my husband showed up 40 minutes late, I think they turned out pretty well.
Thank you Andria for making taking family pictures a lot more fun!