meet Steve

My days are sure crammed full. I snap pictures here and there when I can, to help remember the fun little moments, as I go about the day which feels like a race against time. (Anyone else feel that way?)  Some of these pictures below are from the weekend, but a few are from last Tuesday. Life is just busy and full of fun and I wouldn't change a thing. It seems whenever I'm in a new chapter of life I think, "this has got to be the best chapter... I'm so happy and I like this... and I like this..." and then months or even years later I will think again, "I really like the stage we are in right now. I'm so happy. I like this.. .." (And the cycle repeats). I guess it's good to always enjoy what's going on because things change so fast. And it's even better to take the time to record it.

Tues, Oct 4th: Matching twins enjoy the ball pit after a trip to pick up Abby at co-op.

They love having the pit to themselves. They (and I) don't have to worry about any bigger bodies jumping on them.

Tues, Oct 4th: Enjoying grapes, cheese and Cheerios in the high chair.
They were much more smiley before I got the camera out.

Sat, Oct 8th: Coach Ross gives a pep talk before Abby's game. "Go Stars!"

Allen enjoyed running around barefoot on the soft grass.
I let the babies out of the stroller and it didn't take Jane long to crawl up a hill.

Jane didn't want her legs to touch the grass. She looked so funny. A little baby on a big hill doing the "elephant walk."

Emma learned a new trick.
She likes to climb up and stand on the stroller's foot rest.
Then I looked and she was balancing and (not holding on) and shaking her arms.
She never fell back either.

And then Jane didn't it was her turn...

Here's her new trick... leaning forward, balancing and pointing her toes.

It's diaper change time, but also tickle time!

The babies love their daddy!!

Meet Steve. If you don't know about Steve, click here.
Abby didn't want her hair brushed before bed (and after a bath).
We asked her who she wanted to brush her hair. She wanted Steve.
So Ross came back with a wig from our Halloween costume box...
We all thought it was pretty funny.

Emma climbed up to help me cook.
I looked over and she was turning the pages of my recipe book.
And there is Abby in her cute navy jumper.

She's up pretty high and most of the time I kept my arm behind her because I really didn't want to take her to the ER. I don't know much about our tile, but I do know that whenever a Corelle dish falls it explodes all over the room.

Look at her! She is very proud of herself and loves to be up high, watching what's going on.

Other Tidbits:

• We had the missionaries over for dinner tonight. We had Polynesian pork chops, rice, rolls, spinach-fruit salad and festive Rice Krispie Squares. Catherine Sawaya, who the kids and I picked up from the airport earlier this afternoon, came too. It was nice having a few guest readers during our scripture/dessert time.
• I was going to help out and sit in Allen's primary class, but when I got there it was only two boys instead of the usual seven. I went to Relief Society instead and the Bishop's wife, who I sat next to, held Jane for me. I think Jane's active personality wore out Sister Yorke, bless her heart. She wondered if Emma was just as active. "Yes, she is now." And then she blessed my heart.
• Emma has become a climber. We borrowed a ladder from our landlord to change a few bulb in the high ceiling, and it was against the wall by the back door, and I've had to remove her a few times already after she got past the first step.
• Jane and I played ball at Allen's soccer game. We were sitting on a blanket and I would throw the ball to her so it was land right in front of her. She would palm it and wave her arm and it would come back to me. We did it again and again for nearly 5 minutes.
• When Ross went out to mow the lawn on Saturday afternoon all of us went out too. The kids brought out their bikes and I put the babies in the stroller. We did a short walking loop and then I parked the stroller so the babies could watch their Daddy. They get excited about the vacuum so they were absolutely captivated as they saw Ross mow the grass. They have watched many times inside at the window, but they liked it much better being outside.
• We had a fun Spontaneous Saturday evening. First, Ross and I decided to make a trip to the dinner buffet Cici's pizza, which the kids have been asking about visiting again. After a yummy and FULL dinner we played a few arcade games in the back. We played tag-team Air Hockey with Allen, Ross and me. Whenever a person scored, they would trade places with the person sitting out. There was a lot of running and giggling in that game. Allen was pretty smart and sneaky by shooting two goals (that went in) before I got back into the game. Then after kids were in bed, (which was earlier than a regular school night, I guess our Saturday events wore them out) Ross got some Slurpees and we watched more of Lawrence of Arabia during a rainstorm.
• Ross thinks I'm funny when it comes to food. MOST of the time I rarely have an appetite. (All this last week I had to force myself to eat something for breakfast and lunch. I just didn't want anything.) But whenever I like the taste of something I can eat A LOT of it. For example, on Friday for my date night Ross went and picked up some Subway sandwiches. I ate the whole foot long and licked my lips. It was delicious! Did I need to eat that much? No way, but I really liked it so I had no problem eating it up. Ross, on the other hand, just ate half of his and saved the rest for later. Then for dinner on Saturday we went to CiCi's Pizza. I went back to the buffet at least 5 times. Did I need to? Nope, but it was yummy and worth all the insulin. I guess it's good that most of the week I really don't eat very much, because what I eat on the weekends makes up all the difference. But, do you want to know the sweetest thing this weekend? Ross surprised me with a BLT sandwich for lunch (because he knew I wasn't really hungry and I was on the phone)... it was very tasty!
• It was a year ago today that I met a "bosom friend." It was Catherine Sawaya's first Sunday in the ward and I felt very strong that I needed to go sit by her and ask if she led the music. She said she didn't, but that initial meeting led to more talks, and a few weeks later she watched Allen and Abby and even took them to Stake Conference while I had the babies. She babysits for us a lot and it's fun to walk together or do projects together while watching a movie. I haven't had a close girlfriend like this since college. 
• I really enjoy attending Ross's Sunday School class. The teenagers are so funny. Today one particular comment about Paul's name made me laugh. One boy, completely serious, said, "He changed from Saul to Paul because S is an evil letter, like the serpent, and P is good."