Snow Babies

Wow, half way through December and we snow is sticking to the ground for the first time! Paige is 9 months in just five days, and I'm trying not to think about how quickly the big 5 is coming for Maci.

I had my friend Anna take family pictures last month. She did such a great job! Somehow she managed to mask our family case of the swine in the pictures and they turned out super cute. Here's one of my favorites. Maci whispers to Paige all the time...things like "pull mommy's hair", or "spit up for the camera", or "eat that leaf," it just cracks me up. Now we have the picture to remember! I'll have to post more another time! Thanks, Anna! ALSO...remember how I was never going to be one of those crazy coupon ladies that held up the line for everyone else? Yeah....also I was never going to live in Detroit or Idaho again, so....just have to say that at Walgreens last week I spent $26 and saved over $90. At Target I spent $11.50 and saved over $45. So proud! So I am that crazy lady now (because I can) and also I sometimes share my kids' food, which is another thing I swore I'd never do. Life is just full of surprises!!!

Girlies

Paige at 8 months She is almost crawling, and cracking all of us up! She is such a cute little thing, sweet as can be, but has a loud voice and she knows how to use it. I remember Maci very well at this age, and I remember thinking that there is no way this kid understands humor already. But she did, and still does. Paige is the same way!! I swear she does things specifically to make us laugh at her, especially to make Maci laugh. It's so fun. Last month (7 mo.) Paige convinced us that she has said her first word and understands fully what it means. And she keeps saying it when she needs me...I'm proud to say her first word was MOM! She also gives me variations like mom mom and momma. So cute. Maci said her first word at nine months (ball) and I remember thinking that it was so easy to teach her that word, that she probably could have spoken sooner- (had I thought to try teaching her.)

Here's my not so little anymore Maci! Jared thought a couple weeks ago to try teaching her how to be part of adult conversations, since she was always complaining that we weren't including her (we're talking things like money, church, cars, the economy, etc.---things that usually aren't interesting to a 4 yr old). SO he taught her how and we haven't had another problem since. In fact, we are having very interesting dinner conversations. I love the change. I love to see her listen and try to add a meaningful comment or question in an adult conversation. It is so cute to see her try so hard.

My girls are already best buds. I hope it stays that way. They need each other to understand their crazy parents together. (:

The Pink and Purple Fairies

The pumpkin patch was last minute and looked fun...see we wouldn't know if it was fun since it was $12 a person and we just wanted Maci to ride the cow train. That's right...you may call me cheap but I will not pay $36 for a little kid ride and a pumpkin. Still, we fulfilled our duty and got a pumpkin the night before Halloween. Maci loved posing on it as you can see. Jared not so much as you can also see.

For those of you who know me well, it may come as a shock to you that I actually made (yes that's right, MADE) Halloween costumes this year. Don't be too impressed, since they are fairy skirts and everyone else already made those last year...in their sleep...and they probably looked better than mine. ANYWAYS, I still am proud that I did a craft without gouging my eyes out (although it looked borderline for awhile). So here are my pink and purple fairies in all their sparkling glory. Paige spit up on her sparkling glory about 2 minutes in. And the candy is almost gone. Paige's wig contributing to the elf look (note her ears)...which is not what we were going for.

Free candy = pure joy

Hope yours was awesome. Now bring on the pumpkin pie!

Things That Make Me Laugh

This tiniest pile of leaves. She still jumped into it. That's when I laughed.

The way Maci dresses herself and I just have to watch and support and not make her change.

The pink rake we found.

Maci and her poochy tummy trying out gymnastics class.

Paige spitting up right in my shoe.

Paige spitting up right in my other shoe...the next day. We're not talking a few drops.

Jared's voice echoing in our house.

Running right into the back of a guy with my cart at the grocery store. OOps..super sorry. Let me zoom outta here before you notice that I am kidless and had no reason to be that distracted. That probably really hurts.

Forgetting the extra Paige dress for church. I wonder if people think I don't bathe my kids.

Paige army crawling. Probably to get another one of my shoes to spit up into.

We call this BEFORE

If it looks like we have nothing to fill our house, and if it looks like the sofas are the same color as the wall, and if it looks like the counters don't match the cabinets....well it is what it is. All I know is I love this house because it's ours, so the "after" changes will come slowly and maybe never, but it will still be OURS! Also, you get extra points if you can spy the crazy little girl in every picture.

Entry

From Entry, looking at garage door

Living Room...pictures will not be staying that way in case you were worried

Kitchen---minus our real fridge which is NOT white but has yet to be delivered

Upstairs common area...looks over entry

Girls' Bedroom

Love the closet shelving

Playroom/guest room

Also love the playroom shelving (messy toys up top...my life is better)

Master Bedroom

Come and visit us! But don't expect any "after" magic.

Paige loves the bath

Cecelia and Paige (7 months!!) @ James' baptism

OK...it's been awhile since I last posted (as has been kindly pointed out by a few of my favorite individuals), so here is a quick update.

My sister Trish called me awhile back with a super fun plan to surprise my niece, Amber, for her b-day! So Trish secretly flew into Boise where I picked her up and drove to Twin Falls to pick up my sister, Colette. Then we drove to Rexburg to see Amber, who did not know her mom would be there. Does this make any sense? It was SOSOSOSOSO fun! My kids loved it and I loved being with my sisters and my niece and it was just a blast. Let's do it again next weekend. Or tomorrow. Whichever.

Colette and Paige

Maci and Amber Colette, me, Trish Paige at about 6 months...(kind-of young to be balding like that). THEN...when I got home, after a bit of DRAMA, which I hate anyway, we got into our new house!!!! And overnight, my life got so much happier and more spacious. Anyone who tells you that apartment living is easier than living in a house is maybe lying a little bit. Here are some of the things I love about having a house: We can walk around our neighborhood, ON A SIDEWALK, without looking suspicious. When we hear noises upstairs/downstairs, they are coming from one of us. Not counting the crazy ghost toilet, but THAT is another story. Me and Maci can have running races. But not anymore because she won. Jared is no longer working with his computer on the kid table, sitting in the kid recliner. Actually, I kind of think I miss that. I have so many cabinets in my kitchen that one just has bananas in it. There is so much more, but I'm starting to lose brain power. I wanted so badly to take pictures of my house for you, but as I walked from room to room, I realized that no rooms were clean. It's weird because I swear I clean all the rooms all day every day. So SOON I will post pics of the house. When a miracle happens and something stays clean. So this picture is in our hallway (on the clean side of the hallway) and Paige is almost 7 months now. Crazy how time flies. Also, if anyone knows how to get a 7 month old to sleep at night, please please please just share the secret. I'm starting to make crazy mistakes. Like forgetting to take my contacts out at night and then not even realizing in the morning that I could suddenly see while driving. What the...why can I see?!!! So...some advice please. More to come soon.

This week's special treat was that we got to see our long time friends, the Thomas's! We knew each other in our first apartment as a married couple, and we used to play games all the time. Then Andrea and I were pregnant at the same time with the same due date for our girls, but that was four years ago and we hadn't seen them since! Thanks for calling on your way through, guys! It was so much fun to see you and your adorable kids. (:

Corina (she's a cutie) and Maci loved each other, of course. Maci has named her baby doll Corina since then. Me and Andrea at The Cracker Barrel. I will soon try to convince her to move here and be our neighbors.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Pics

The trip to Boise was long. We needed a swim! My dad and Maci somewhere in Iowa.

I know Jared secretly loves that he's outnumbered. But he's keeping it secret.

These two are always laughing at each other. So much fun.

Paige is five months old!!! Crazy how time flies. You'll notice her hair is blonde, although not as light as Maci's was. I can't believe how much hair she lost to get to this bald-ish state. She had a full full head of red. I'm loving the blonde, too though! She just started belly laughing. Maci is her favorite.

Maci Moments

Before I forget...here is my conversation with Maci the other day.

Maci: "Mom, how come you made me take my picture off the door outside?"

Me: "I don't want people to know that a cute little girl lives here."

Maci: "Why not?"

Me: "I don't want someone to try and take you cause you're so cute."

Maci: "But if THAT happened, Daddy would stop him right? And he would be so so strong and they would fight and fight and I would be the prize! Please, mom, can that be true?"

I think I'm in LOVE

Those three little words have my attention today...that's right "Birthday Bash IceCream". (You'll notice I combined Ice and cream for the sake of the joke). This stuff is awesome because it tastes like birthday cake and it has sprinkles AND frosting in it. Amazing idea, someone.

Don't ask me how losing the baby weight is going...can't answer cause my giant mouth is jam packed with this birthday bash deliciousness.

Also yesterday was SIX years for me and Jared. We went to Traverse City at the last minute. Had a blast---we couldn't really catch a good picture, though we tried. We wish we would've gone on Friday and stayed the night, but now we'll know for the next time (it seems work that way for us) we live in Michigan.

The background held potential, oh well. (:

Maci Moments

Yesterday, Maci said about Paige, "I think her head is too big for her body." Agreed. That's how babies are.

big HUGE news

FIRST....

Before the reveal, we have had such a busy couple months...

Had the last day of Preschool

Said goodbye to Cale and Suzette...although it's weird...I still think I see them in the oddest places (Kroger, Church, Utah) it's like they never really left (:

Said goodbye to the Johnson's...today Maci asked if Adam and Ellie could come over! Sad!

Met Layla

Met Buzz Light Year

Met Jordyn, and Colby, and Skylie.

Had a blast at the Bell Family Reunion!!!

Outside the cabin. Terrified. Enough said.

Back in Utah...had a fun night at the Myan

Three months. The one on the right.

Loved Thanksgiving Pointe

Loved the tough faces

She literally stopped to smell the flowers at this beautiful garden place

Loved the mountains

Love my babies

Paiginator...3 1/2 months. Went to the hospital for some breathing/choking issues, and we are so lucky to have caught them in time to understand what was going on. She is doing way better and we are certain we are watched over. Also St Joseph's hospital has restaraunt quality meals. Thank you everyone for your prayers.

On to the big news!!!

The vacation was a blast...and we just happened to have an awesome set of circumstances set Jared up for a great opportunity. So he got a new job and we are MOVING to BOISE!!! We are sad to leave, but feel like it's the right move for us. We go in about two weeks!