Christmas 2010

Our Christmas was extra fun this year. Josie is almost four and she's really into all that is Christmas except SANTA of course. Josie helped me decorate the house this year what a fun thing to do with your kids. We have been trying to start some Christmas traditions for our little family. We went to Temple Square and saw the lights. On Christmas Eve,Eve we drove around and saw Christmas light's on peoples houses. One neighborhood had awesome lights that told the story Twis the night before Christmas a little bit at each house. We also went to Winder Dairy and ate hot chocolate and scones. The scones were great but way too crowded and there lights weren't that impressive, I don't think we will do that again. Were still looking for that amazing tradition that we'll do each year.

Josie also had a Christmas program for her preschool and sang a bunch of songs. We also got to ride on a train around the whole mall. I wish I didn't ride it for her but being the paranoid mom I rode along and got a little motion sick, but Josie loved the ride. We wanted Josie to sit on Santa's lap but she didn't even want to get close to him just like the last two years but its been kind of fun this year because we've been able to teach her all about the true meaning of Christmas and she loves talking about baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph. But I love that if she's doing something she's not suppose to I can use the saying, "you better be good or Santa's not coming." and it usually works. HA! What an evil mom I am.



Christmas Eve we had lunch/dinner with my family and opened presents. We also were able to Skype with my sister Stephanie and her family that lives in California.

Later that night we went to Elliot's uncles house for dessert and White elephant game.
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We spent Christmas at Elliot's parents house. The girls slept so good and woke up way too early but it really felt like Christmas when you wake up at the crack of dawn. Josie was so cute she came up stairs and saw all the presents under the tree with her mouth wide open and said, "already?" She was waiting for Christmas to come and she couldn't believe it actually was here. Carly and Josie got some PJ's and some adorable outfits from her grandparents. Josie got a Tinkerbell doll, horses, a hopscotch rug, zuh zuh pet and the one thing she asked for was a recorder not a flute a RECORDER. She told me all December that's what she wanted. I told her I don't know if we should ask for that because it was too loud, then she said she would play it in her room.

My baby is ONE!

Our family minus Josie.

Me, Carly, Michelle and Jasmine. It just seems like yesterday Michelle and I were huge and pregnant. Were so excited for these two cute girls to grow up together.

The huge cupcake, she loved it. I made it with a cupcake mold...you probably have seen the infomercials on tv.

Carly was so cute when she opened this present from my mom. She put the pj's around her neck, she loves soft fabric.



All the girl cousins...not sure where the boys were. From left to right Allison, Carly, Josie and Paige.





This picture sums up how hard it was to get a picture of Carly holding still. She's always on the move.
Carly turned one on December 11th, I still can't believe she's ONE. I keep saying the 2nd one grows up so much faster than the first one and its still true. She was a little under the weather but luckily she took a nap before her party. We had both sides of the family over for a light lunch, chicken croissants, salads, drinks and cake. We ate lunch, opened presents and ate cake. It was a good party.

A few things about Carly at one. She loves her big sister Josie. Before Josie wakes up she yells in her own words, pretty much saying Josie where are you?,come play with me. Carly usually wakes up before Josie and every time Josie comes down stairs she gets so excited. They are so cute together, when their not fighting. Carly walks every where, some times runs in her own way. She has 8 teeth four on top, four on bottom.
I stopped nursing her 2 days after her birthday. I was counting the days down but when her birthday came I was kind of torn. I didn't think I would get so emotional and I didn't know how attached to the nursing process I really was. I felt that was my way of comforting her or being close to her. I had mixed emotions on the whole subject. I just can't believe how much better I did with nursing Carly than I did with Josie. I met my goal of a year, I'm still not sure if I'll nurse all my other kids but Carly and my nursing experience went well. She seemed to do just fine with out me and that made me kind of sad. My job was done. I've been giving her a sippy cup for about a month and a half so she could get use to it. She's adjusting very well.
She eats pretty much anything but baby food carrots. She won't take her binky any more. It's amazing how different my two girls are. Carly loves to go and do what she's not suppose to. She loves bathrooms, stairs, garbages, and things to climb on. Any place that she could get hurt you'd find her. She's not a thrill seeker but she's very curious. She's still getting use to swings but still hates being thrown up in the air. She's a ball of energy and were enjoying trying to keep up with our sweet Carly. Here's to another year of adventures.

Josieisms

Our family has been talking about what happens to our body's after we die. Because my family dog just passed away and we thought it would be a good idea to explain where the poor dog went. For family night a few months ago Elliot taught Josie that our spirits go to heaven and our body's go to the cemetery and some day we will see them again. He even got on the internet and showed her a cemetery. The next day we drove by one and Josie says, "That's where our bodies go." She was listening to our Family Home Evening lesson. Then tonight she said, "She wants to meet Jesus and see buddy again (our family dog)."

The other day I went by Josie's room and she was a little sad and teary eyed. I asked her what was wrong and she was looking at a owl flash card at this point and she said, " I love Owls." Josie's become very sensitive and emotional these days. What a big heart this little girl has.

On the way home from my parents house out of the blue Josie says,"Daddy's fat!" I laughed and asked does he need to exercise? She said,"YES, he needs to do push ups." HA!

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Look below and you'll find a surprise.

Thanksgiving

This year we had two Thanksgivings. Our first one was at Elliot's uncle Richards house. I was assigned to bring rolls and 2 Chocolate pies. I attempted to make my mom's home made rolls for the first time. The dough didn't rise and the rolls tasted pretty yeasty...maybe next year they'll taste better. My father in law loved them he said he ate five. At least one person enjoyed them. Elliot's uncle Richard and Cousin set up Rock band 3 in the basement and everyone loved rockin out. It's not really my thing. I don't really like Karaoke or video games. I played a few times but..meh. I'd rather play games and talk. We also played ping-pong and ate lots of pies. I love pies. Josie loved playing with her cousins and Carly loved walking around and playing with all the toys.
Carly and Grandma Lisa

Josie and I attempting to take a picture together.

Carly and Aunt Emmy


Carly and Me with my new brown hair color, I chose the wrong color and we had to start all over. I'm getting use to it but I think I like it a little more blonde.


On Friday afternoon I got together with my friends I grew up with. It was fun catching up on old times and seeing what is going on in there lives now. Good times.

Later on that day we had a second Thanksgiving at my parents house. All the cousins played and got along well. All the girls dressed up in anything they could find...such silly cousins Josie has. I hope next year we will have less sports (BOYS) going on and more family time. I wish boys would quit saying, "its an important game." In there world every game is important....it's so annoying. Can't wait for Carly's birthday, Christmas and Josie's birthday. Its a busy time of year for our family.



Carly, Me and Mom

HALLOWEEN

Josie as Tinker Bell, her first costume.



This year we went to my mom and dad's and did the usual trick or treating. For some reason our ward doesn't do the Trunk or Treat like every other ward does. But we still had fun going door to door. The fist door we went to the guy who opened the door was dressed up as a mummy and that scared Josie to death. She was very scared to ring any more door bells after that. But then she relized that not everyone was dressed up and enjoyed the rest of the night. We went out twice with the kids right after the first rain storm and then a little later. I wasn't satisfied with the first hall so Elliot and I took them out again. My nephew Brayden and Josie were good sports about the whole thing. Elliot and I took them around the whole neighborhood, well almost all of it. By the end Josie was yelling Trick or Treat and saying thank you after she got the candy. When we were done she said lets go again...I had to tell her next year. She was a little confused but I know she'll even love it more next year. Josie was going to go as Tinker Bell but it just was just too cold. Elliot's awesome aunt has 5 boys and a lot of old costumes that are in great condition. The one that fit her was the leopard costume, but I called it the cheetah costume first so that's what Josie kept calling herself. Brayden was Tigger, a very cute Tigger. Carly and Jasmine (the baby's of the group) were a bumble bee and a butterfly. We also carved pumpkins before we went trick or treating. I carved one of those stencil things and those things are hard. Mine was a skeleton and a cat, Michelle's was the hardest being the spider in the spider web and Elliot made his way too hard...he cut a pumpkin in the long strips and then was trying to do some kid of abstract thing then ended up having to put the whole thing back together with tooth picks and cutting out squares in it. Elliot always makes things harder than they have to be...silly guy. It was a great Halloween other than the ride home (15 min) Carly cried the whole way home...ahhhh.

Journal

Josie started Preschool, I know she's only 3 and 1/2 but I think she really needed the social atmosphere and to learn more of the basics from someone who's not her mom. Our ward is pretty small and there's not too many kids around here so its nice for her to interact with kids her own age. I'm totally impressed with her teacher, she's been teaching them songs, doing tons of art projects (painting is Josie's favorite), show and tell, and snack. You might all think,"I can do that all at home." I could too, but I think for her she needed to get away from her mom and learn some independence.
We've been working a lot on independence, this past few weeks. She can dress her self, brush her teeth, comb her hair, put her shoes on and make her own bed (for the most part). She's been able to do all of these things for about a year but now she really loves doing them by herself. She's really has become such a great little helper. I'm so proud of her progress in such a short amount of time. She's still trying to learn how to share better. Especially with her cousins and sister but she's trying ( I guess its just really hard for her to accept). If I ask her to share, her usual response is, "not right now." She ask a lot of questions these days. The other day I got pulled over for speeding and Josie was with me. She didn't understand why we were pulled over to the side of the rode. I told her I was going too fast and the police officer has to give me a ticket. She then says while pointing to a car that was speeding past us, "they need a ticket." She's so smart and she really does understand pretty much anything.
She still isn't a very good eater, loves her Mac and Cheese, Juice, PBJ, cheese, pancakes, yogurt and Milk. Someday's I just don't understand how she's still growing. Hopefully she'll grow out of that soon. She also loves to pretends to be a dog on a regular basis and she wants me to play fetch with her ( I go along with it for a little bit). But in all honesty I hate dogs and I don't want to play fetch with a real one or a pre-tend one. I also hope she grows out of this.
Carly just turned 9 months old she weighs 17lbs 15oz and is 27 inches tall. She's pretty much tall and skinny. She's been such a fun baby. She use to be a really good napper but she decided to be a kitty cat napper ( in Josie's words) and is now a wonderful night sleeper. She sleeps about 8 hours a night...yes you read that right...EIGHT HOURS!!!! As I write that I'm afraid that this will stop. I'm so proud of her and myself for that matter. I've become so heartless and I just would let her cry when she'd wake up in the night. I think she's really going to be a good sleeper from now on. Cross your fingers, I sure am. She really gets in to mischief she climbs into the dishwasher while I'm trying to unload or load up. She loves to bug her sister. She doesn't laugh very much, she's kind of like her dad she laughs on the inside. She has this little evil laugh especially when she know's she's not suppose to be doing something. She's so funny. I wish I could get it on camera. She's eating more and more finger food, I seem to not have to nurse her that much anymore. I love my girls and this stage of life I think my only complaint would be that I don't get as much scrapbooking done as I would like...I hate being 6 months behind.