A Week Off Work

So Bryan had a full week off of work. Unfortunately this wasn't a week filled with vacation fun. It was a week full of cleaning, cleaning, a little bit of painting, trips to a storage unit, a meeting with a real estate agent, getting stuff done for his job next year and more cleaning. It was so great to have a week off to get so much accomplished but I felt so bad that we didn't get to do anything really fun. So after all the cleaning we headed up to an indoor water park for the evening. The girls LOVED it. It was not crowded and it was the perfect size for them. Julia even went on all the big slides.

This was the contraption where all the water dumps on you when the bell starts ringing. I think that freaked my girls out more than any slide there was. The bell would start ringing and the girls would start running, screaming, covering their heads. I like the poor life guard that has to stay up there in his poncho. I bet that bucket dumping water on your head gets old real fast.

Audrey isn't quite as brave as Julia but she still went on several slides. She has to warm up to it a little more.

Julia and I took several runs on the double tube slide. It really was a fun ride. The life guard at the top was some punk teenager trying to hide the fact that he was texting and definitely not hiding the fact that he currently hated his life. It is always a little awkward being this near 30 year old woman asking the punk teenager if it's okay to go down the slide. Like he even cares if I mowed down some kid in front of me. But I'm a compulsive rule follower and gosh dang it I'm going to ask that kid every single time if it's okay if I go down whether he rolls his eyes at me or not.

Little Lily even made an appearance for a minute. She has humid head from taking a little nap. I have on no makeup. Oh well, it is worth the picture of my wild haired sweetie.

Will You Be My Valentine?

Obviously I'm a little behind, but it's been a little busy 'round these parts, so I'm keeping up the best I can.

This little baby just keeps growing and growing. I can't slow it down. We were at a church function yesterday and a petite lady asked to hold her. I wasn't sure it was going to work out. Lily looked enormous! It was like she was lugging around a huge bag of flour. I don't think I fully realized how big she was until that moment. Oh well, chubby babies are dang cute if you ask me.

I, for one thing, can't get enough of her. She is such a happy, laughing little sweetheart.

We have never been "go all out" Valentines people but this year I would have to say everyone pretty much came through. Bryan even brought free balloons home from the hospital. You know it's a big deal when balloons are involved. He also gave the girls and me flowers. Well done husband!

the girls had a valentine's party and each had a party at school. So we made boxes, cookies for the party AND made almost 50 valentines for their class party. Luckily, I am not creative nor do I have a great drive to be, so we made it pretty easy.

Though we did get pretty creative with our boxes. Look at Julia's. Can you see the flying unicorn? A box isn't a box without one of those.

Audrey even wrote her name a couple of times on her valentines. She grew bored quickly and I had to help finish up.

Audrey and her creation. My girls are REALLY into crafts, especially Julia. She loved every minute of getting the boxes and Valentines ready.

I, and every other mom that had a daughter with hair, decided to attempt the "heart in the hair" look. This is Audrey's attempt.

And this is Julia's. Julia's looks more like a heart in my opinion. But all Audrey cares about is that her teachers at school told her she looked cute. And they did so we were good.

This is a video of Julia making Lily laugh. Julia uses this spastic deep voice and it just cracks our Lily up. So, the other day Julia came home from school all distressed. She told us that her friend told her that if she used a voice like that, it was a "demon" voice and she would have to go and live with the demons. We assured her that her friend was misinformed and that using that voice would not result in a relocation to demonville. Seriously, who are these friends? Superstitious ones if you ask me.

Anyways, Lily sure is cute when she is laughing.

Pretty Much the Best Dad EVER

These are two spoiled little girls. Bryan called me from work the other day and mentioned that Disney on Ice was coming that weekend and he wondered if he should get tickets. I didn't feel like a baby would be too much fun at Disney on Ice, so Bryan said he would take the girls by himself. They were beyond thrilled and of course when the blessed day finally arrived they had to dress for the occasion.

Tickets in hand and ready to go. I filled Bryan's pockets with snacks and a bottle of water. He was complaining about how heavy they were and wasn't sure that he should take all of that stuff. I assured him that if he wanted to survive the two hours without spending 85 dollars at concessions he indeed DID want to take all of that stuff.

I sent him with a twenty dollar bill and told him to bring me back change, but these little wands that glow in the dark were calling out to my girls. Bryan couldn't resist. Such a fun little date for the three of them. I'm glad he spoiled them a little bit. Because we all know if I was there they would probably not have gotten special glowing wands. They would have been stuck with the goldfish and fruit snacks in daddy's pocket.

He said they were transfixed for most of the show. Audrey got a little restless during the second half but then again she is only three. Julia could have watched it ten times. They loved all the princesses and castles. I just love Disney for making my little girls' lives a little more magical.

Julia was extra happy that Minnie Mouse was wearing the red polka dot dress just like her. Audrey was bugged that Belle's dress was short and not long.

Overall a very successful night. These girls sure are lucky to have a dad that loves them so much. I am pretty lucky too.

Lily's Special Day

It was Lily's blessing day yesterday. It was very special and always reminds me of how much Heavenly Father loves his little children.

I sure do love this baby and she looked so beautiful all dressed in white.

Bryan hates it when I make us all pose for pictures but I feel that pictures are something you never regret having too many of and always regret having too few. We took a family shot before we left. I sure love this family of mine.

My little girls. How lucky I am to have them.

James and Natalie (Bryan's brother and his wife) drove down to see us for the blessing. We really appreciated them coming. It means so much to us. Cousins are so fun.

And of course I had to torture this sweet baby and take a million pictures. I just cannot get enough of that face. She is such a calming influence in our home and Bryan spoke of that in her blessing. She will be a peacemaker in our home. You can already tell, well until she turns two of course.

I know all these pictures look the same but to a mother they are completely different and I need to show them all. I was overcome with emotion pretty much the entire day. I just feel so blessed to have healthy beautiful girls, a husband that loves me, such wonderful friends and a supportive family. It was a day filled with happy tears.

Julia made a very good friend last year in preschool and in turn I made very good friends with her mom. We get together quite often and they came to the blessing which meant so much to us. They are such wonderful people and we just love them.

A group shot with James and Natalie and their cute kiddos. Check out those Lily thighs. They have got the most awesome fat rolls right now. I just love it.

Our family. Bryan gave Lily such a beautiful blessing and I am so thankful for him and what a wonderful father he is to our girls. I tell you. Emotional.

We had dessert later on that evening and some friends came to celebrate with us. We are surrounded by such wonderful people. And though we missed SO many, we were so thankful to have so many come and support us.

We took turns holding this sweet baby. Thankfully she waited until after church to blow out of her diaper onto her blessing dress.

We sure do love these people. I didn't get pictures of everyone but thanks to all that came.

And our "family" the Gaileys drove all the way from Cincinnati. It wouldn't have been right without them here.

What a wonderful day it was. It makes me so thankful for eternal families.

A Plug

So I am a little bit hesitant about all of this. I actually woke up to feed my baby at 6:00AM and couldn't go back to sleep because I knew today was the day and I was feeling that sickish pit in my stomach. I don't generally enjoy putting myself out into the world wide web like this so when the opportunity presents itself it gives me some serious anxiety. You are probably wondering what all of this is about so I will tell you. A week or so ago I received a facebook message from a girl I went to high school with. It was very much out of the blue, I haven't spoken to her in probably nine years. She told me that she and her sister have started a website and wanted to see if I was interested in contributing. Of course as I look at the website it is all serious mom advice and tips and as you know, I am generally not serious. So I spent the whole week brainstorming ideas, thinking, writing drafts I wasn't happy with and finally one day it hit me, I wrote an article and submitted it. I didn't even have Bryan or anyone read it because I just couldn't stomach that they might think it was dumb, unfunny or not good. So now it is up on a website for the world to see and they could all think it was dumb, unfunny or not good. Oh well. Every once in a while you have to take a chance and so I did. Before I share it on facebook I thought I would do it here. It seems safer for some reason. I feel like this is where my friends and family gather, my closest friends and family and they would be supportive even if the article was crap. So if you get a minute go and read it. And even if you hate it go to the bottom and "like" it and maybe leave a little comment on it. That would make my day. Soooo..........(ugh that sick pit in my stomach) here it the link:

The Article

I am also going to put the button on the sidebar. I do want my friends website to do well. It is a great idea and they are such nice girls.