Hot Air Balloon Ride

Well everyone else is updating their blogs so I thought I would join in. For those of you privileged to be around me, you have probably heard me talk about our hot air balloon ride. After two cancelled attempts, we finally had a nice enough night to fly. So here are the pictures to prove that we went (in case you thought I was lying).

Here is the inflating of the balloon

This is all of us in the basket (There was literally no room to move) The lady with the hat (whom you cannot really see) on was celebrating the end of her chemotherapy for her brain tumor and the other lady is her daughter. It was really sweet the nurses at the cancer center bought the balloon ride as a present for her. I just want to mention how hot it was up there. Not only because it was a warm day, but because the burners are really hot. I was the tallest one in the basket and I could really feel the heat on my head and neck. I thought it was going to fry my hair off.

Here are some cool pictures of the view:

These are pictures of our shadows/reflection. During our flight we had a maximum speed of six mph and height of 1500 feet. Rich, who is an avid balloon competitor told us his max. height was 18,000 feet and his max. speed was 97 mph (which was a major disappointment because he wanted to go 100 mph) He holds a record for the longest flight time (23 hours, which was also a disappointment because he wanted to go 30 hours). His flights are in the middle of winter because the fuel is more efficient and this year he hopes for -40 degree weather. What a nut.

We were in the air for about an hour and during the flight we had an unexpected visitor:

The landing was really the coolest part, mostly because it was the scariest part. We landed on the highway. Yes literally cars had to stop for us. We landed and then the chaser dragged us into the grass. We landed pretty soft but Rich the flier said on one of his solo flights he landed going 37 mph (he said it was pretty much a wreck). Once you land you have to wait a little while for the balloon to steady and cool off. You get off one at a time as instructed, I guess if the balloon wasn't cool enough you'd take off again. It was hard to fight the urge to just bail once we landed.

Here is Jeff and I happy to be back on the ground safe and sound. We did have to sign our lives away to go on this ride. I'm serious.

Here is the deflation of the balloon.

This is a picture of us all helping to put the balloon back into the bag. It was kind of fun that we got to be apart of the ground crew.

I just thought that is was amazing that the chute all fit into this little bag.

After the balloon and basket are put away safe and sound it is tradition to drink "bubbly." Rich instructed us to kneel down and he poured us all bubbly. We were supposed to hum America the Beautiful while he recited the balloonists prayer which goes like this: "The winds have welcomed you with softness.The sun has blessed you with his warm hands.You have flown so high and so well, That the gods have joined you in your laughter and set you back again into the loving arms of Mother Earth." When he finished we were supposed to pick up the bubbly with our teeth and drink it.

And when we bent down Rich dumped bubbly on our heads. Luckily I was last and saw what was happening so I missed the sticky fluid.

It was really a fun adventure and we were blessed with a beautiful night.

Bragging Rights

brag, bragged, brag⋅ging, noun, adjective

–verb (used without object)
1.to use boastful language; boast: He bragged endlessly about his high score.

–verb (used with object)
2.to boast of: He bragged that he had won.

–noun
3.a boast or vaunt.
4.a thing to boast of.
5.a boaster.
6.an old English card game similar to poker.

Consider this your warning that this is going to be a bragging post.

THINGS TO BRAG ABOUT

1. Jeff

2. Garage Sale deals
3. My Cake

4. My Girls

1. Jeff- Some of you may know that Jeff is pretty much a genius (or really, really blessed (well actually it is both)) so you can imagine that he did really well in medical school. Yesterday we got a letter in the mail telling him that he is a REGENT SCHOLAR. Which means that he is top seven in his class, and means we don't have to pay for tuition next year. (a.k.a 20,000 less debt). Congratulations, your girls are so proud of you.

2. Garage Sale deals- This is actually due to popular request that I post pictures of the amazing deals we've found.

This here dresser, two nightstands and a mirror cost us only $65. I know, gape right?? We've also picked up a little slide for Lauren, some fun dress up clothes. A 10 dollar golf bag for Jeff and a cake stand for me. I love garage sales.

3. My Cake- I recently helped throw a baby shower for a girl in my ward, and the theme was "Born to Be Wild." I made the invitations and offered to make the cake. I realize that the cake is by no means perfect, but I do think that it turned out pretty well. What am I saying, if it's on my brag list than I must think that it is fantastic.

4. My Girls- also due to popular demand (okay well only Natalie) a picture of each of my girls.

This one of McKenna wearing her hat is of Lauren's choosing. Yes McKenna is a huge finger sucker. Which is nice because it means we won't have to look for lost pacifiers.



And this one of Lauren is with her little boyfriend Corbin. They are so cute; we were at the zoo looking at the monkeys and she and Corbin were off on there own eating fruit loops. Later they held hands back to the gates. SOOO CUTE.

Anyway that was my brag blog post. Are you jealous???

A Birthday Message

I can't believe that as of yesterday I have a two year old. It has gone by so fast. We have had many tears of frustration (from me), and yet so many moments of joy. So hope you all enjoy this little montage of Lauren's first two years. They have been magical.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Due to my overwhelming popularity yesterday, it is already time for a new blog. Now the only problem is thinking of something exciting to write about that will warrant my blogging friends to leave comments.

10 Things that have made me laugh today, or yesterday or anytime if I can't think of any.

1. An elder in our ward calls chapstick "lip chap"
2. Lauren wore two left shoes today. (Yep, that would make them non-matching
3. A guy was laying out at the pool yesterday and when he was walking into his apartment he was checking out his tan (which needs another month of laying out)(he was actually really scrawny and geeky looking, which adds to the hilarity of the picture)
4. Lauren has started to talk baby talk to McKenna
5. Tonight while grocery shopping Lauren was helping to push the cart and it looked like she was playing "SuperMarket Sweep." She grabbed the biggest bag of cheese imaginable, broccoli, marble artisan bread, salami and some other interesting stuff.
6. When McKenna farts Lauren kind of looks surprised and laughs then says "Poop"
7. At a garage sale today they were trying to sell a little girls shirt for $5.50. Hello I am so not paying that much.
8. I tripped going down the stairs last night on our date. I kind of hurt my finger when I was trying to stop myself
9. What did the snail say when he was riding on the turtles back? "Weeeeeee"
10. We went to the park the other day and Lauren was dumping buckets of sand on herself. Anyway when we got home she had pooped and I was changing her and was surprised to see so much sand in her diaper. I told her she had sand in her poop. Now every time I have changed her she say "sand. poop" "sand. poop"

I hope that these weren't too much of the "you had to be there experiences" or they won't be funny to you. You can tell I need to get a life when I think poop is funny.

Criteria

Some of you (like my sister Alissa) know that for me to post a new blog I have to have a least six comments. Yes I am a comment snob and other kinds of snob, but this is who I am. Well thanks to the two comments Alissa made just so I would update my blog I am once again updating.

UPDATE

Well lets see what has been happening. First of all Jeff is doing a rotation in Valley for three weeks which leaves me car less. Me being the pioneer that I am met some friends at the park in their neighborhood. It is probably a little over two miles there and back. Not really a big deal except add in the hills, the strongest wind you can imagine, and a double stroller. Lets just say that I am a little tuckered out and I don't plan on doing that anytime soon.

Lauren has pretty much mastered putting her shoes on. Today she came in with one blue shoe and one purple flowery shoe. I took them off and put her crocs on and she was livid and when I went to get her snacks put her first choice back on. Oh and she also wore not one hat to the park, but two.

What else is new. hmmm. Oh my Nanny addiction is over, but only because I watched every episode there was on You Tube. Speaking of addictions, Garage Sale Season is back. Jeff's mom, Marlene and I went on Saturday morning while they were here and we got some awesome deals.

Jeff and I are on the lookout for a double jogging stroller, and as evidenced by craigslist, so is everyone else in Omaha. We have the crazy idea to run in the Cornhusker State Games.

Well I guess it is up to my blogging friends as to when I'll blog again.

Like Sunshine in the Morning. . .

Lauren has been sleeping in as of late and usually McKenna snoozes too, but today she is awake so I thought I would take advantage of this time and review Mothers Day. I'm not usually the gushy type when it comes to blogging but I have to say what a wonderful Mother I have. I can't think of a single person who has more love for her children. My Mom cares about every feeling, every failed attempt, every pain, every idea when it comes to her children. Thank you Mom.

A special thanks to Marlene for raising the man in my life to be so kind and patient. You did such a wonderful job.

More thanks go to all the moms that I am surrounded by, your example and friendships help me to make it through the day.

On to the fun stuff. Yesterday the boys were in charge of dinner. See Photo below. It was really a great dinner. Poor Jeff has such high ambitions. He decided that he wanted to make a homemade fresh peach pie AND a banana cream pie. The sweet man was in the kitchen for about 31/2 hours. There were no tears shed, but it was a close call.

But Jeff went all out, I feel so spoiled but also have the need to brag. He bought me a corsage to wear. "Lauren"got me a certificate to go get a massage, since I do blame her for my back pains. "McKenna" got me the greatest gift I could ever imagine:
I have always wanted a beach towel. I was always the dorky kid at the pool with just a normal bath towel. Now I can be in style with my High School Musical beach towel. It had to be from McKenna because there is no way Jeff would have bought me a Zac Efron towel.

Thanks Jeff for being so thoughtful and loving. (Sorry about the spacing of this post, I am so computer illiterate)

A Slow News Day

Apparently my blogging friends are experiencing the same slow news day (or week) that I am because there aren't any new posts. So I decided to blog anyway, about something, though I am awaiting the uh... uh... (the opposite of the writers block). The inspiration hit me to write about 10 things I love. Here goes.

1. Twinkies
2. Shirley Temples (the drink silly. . .though the girl is awfully adorable)
3. A good afternoon thunderstorm (thunderstorms at night scare me)
4. The smell of a craft store
5. Hearing the song that you been wanting to hear being played on the radio.
6. Seeing my beautiful girls sleeping (they just look so peaceful and calm)
7. Reading a book (I love that longing you have when you can't read it because you are doing something else and plan when you can pick it up again. However finishing a book always makes me sad because it's over, and you have nothing to look forward to).
8. Matching hangers (someday all my hangers are going to be wood, no mis-matched hangers (call me O.C.D.)).
9. A perfectly folded shirt, towel, sweater (actually anything folded lovely
10. You know when you finally replace a burnt out light bulb you notice how much brighter your life could have been if you had just replaced the light bulb when it first burnt out. I love that realization.

I have many, many more things that I love, but I think that we'll keep it at ten for those of us with ADHD and can't handle any more.

"Girls in White Dresses With Blue Satin Sashes"

Well not exactly but I thought that I would post some pictures of our beautiful girls in their Easter dresses. We had a lovely Easter weekend spent mostly in Lincoln.

My Mom did a scavenger hunt for us grown up kids because we begged her. She is a brilliant poemest (I think I just made that word up, I believe the correct word would be poet). All the clues rhyme AND make sense, something that I can't seem to accomplish.

Lauren "pre-hair bow" on Easter

Lauren's piano recital (sorry for interrupting aunt La-La's recital (what can you do-she's two))

Here is Miss McKenna in her Easter dress. She is such a sweet baby.

Our Easter Family picture. Thanks to Alissa who took about a hundred pictures and this is the best one. Yep you guessed it. It was the first one she took. And yes I am aware that I clash with the rest of my family (ahh the beauty of black and white).

Life has been pretty chill here (what can I say, my niece stayed here for a week and she rubbed off on me). I went for a run tonight and decided child bearing t'aint (thanks for the word Marni) good for the body. I think that anyone who gives birth will be guaranteed a glamour body in the resurrection. Oy Vey. Speaking of which I found out that I can watch the Nanny on YouTube. So exciting. Needless to say I haven't been taking a nap the last couple of days (shame on me).

Jeff and I went on a date on Friday to P.F. Changs it was so fun to have a date planned in advance so I could go shopping and get a new outfit (I used to do that when we were dating). When he figures out how much this "date" cost us, he will probably never ask me out again. (Thanks again to Natalie and Jeremy for watching the kiddos).

Update for Marni: Lauren has started to fall asleep in her bed. Despite all of our efforts (and my reluctance to admit it) I think the reason she started was because of Tellytubbies, the part where they get into their bed. So no more door kicking thank goodness.

Here are some random pictures of what we have been up to the last couple of weeks. Hope all is well with all my blogging friends.

Here is Lauren sporting a crown that we made together.

Hi-Ho-Hi-Ho its off to ..... I go (I remember my Dad singing that before he left for work sometimes).

One of my most recent "culinary masterpieces" Lemon Curd. The cups are chocolate. Aren't they adorable. (You can buy them at Target).

This is a picture of our Missy May on her blessing day. Thanks to all of our family and friends who came from near and far and in between to show love.

Shopping Frenzy

Recently I have finished reading the shopaholic books by Sophie Kinsella. It is a five book series. They are hilarious and addictive. I'm not sure I can recommend them because there is swearing in them. (I'll repent later). Anyway she describes so well people's outfits and shoes in the stores that it just makes me want to go shopping. So that's I did. Gosh there are so many lovely things to own. I really am much happier when I don't know what's out there to have. But the damage is done.

I didn't really buy a lot, just a pair of shoes that I have been dreaming about for the last couple of weeks, two shirts which I needed to buy to match the shoes (those are the kind of shoes I like, ones where you have to buy an outfit to go with them. It means they make a statement). And I went to Once Upon A Child to buy summer shirts for Lauren. While I was there I found an adorable pair of skinny jeans for her. I don't know if we can pull it off, but we are going to try.

I try to be really good and not shop, but it is like this internal need. I can put it off for so long before...I just can't anymore. Then I tend to go a wee bit overboard. So I think that I have discovered a solution: buy something every couple of weeks and that should curb the appetite. I think that I will try it, and if it doesn't work the bonus is I've got a lot of new things :)

A Fun Filled Week

Last week was spring break and we had so much fun having Jeff home, everyday there was an adventure to be had. On Monday we went to the zoo with Garry, a recent convert in our ward, and he is just the sweetest man (we told him he could be Lauren's Omaha grandpa).


On Tuesday my sister Kristie flew in from Salt Lake so she and my parents dropped by to chat. We also picked up our new double stroller that we found on craigslist from Papillion. Lauren got soooo mad when we put it in the trunk, so we tested it out at the outdoor mall and ate dinner.

On Wednesday Jeff had to go to his preceptor for the day so Lauren and I had some friends over for breakfast and that was really fun. Later that night we met up with Jeff and Tasha for dinner at Valentinos, and thanks to a whole lot of mini m&ms and Jeff B doing a million magic tricks with Lauren she was mostly well behaved. :)

Thursday was story time at the library and we were so excited to have Jeff come with us. At breakfast we tried a new purple carrot juice (we might try it as a lipstick as well). We later went to Lincoln to see Kristie and everybody else.

Friday Jeff and Lauren went swimming and had a blast. And we had a little "accident" with the stars on our bed. So we have been sleeping on crumbs for a while, but a least it was fun for Lauren right?

Saturday we went to the zoo again this time with Jeff and Tasha (and again they were a really big help with Lauren. We then had a young womens dessert auction which Jeff signed me up for. (husbands, aren't they great?) It was actually really fun and the young women raised $1,900 for girls camp. Yahoooo. Jeff thinks we should do a fundraiser for his tuition, we'd only need $39,000 more. :) And after that I made Jeff watch Twilight with me because he hadn't seen it yet.

Sunday we had Kemp and Jenny down for dinner and played ticket to ride in which I got my bum kicked, ending up with the lowest score ever of 49. Yup. This is a picture of Lauren being a great big sister and sharing her doll with McKenna (actually I think the doll was there first but I took her out so I could put McKenna in the swing. Lauren got mad and put her doll back in the swing).

We are sad to let our papa dad go back to school. It has been so fun to have him home. He got up and made breakfast for us in the morning and helped out with McKenna at night. Gosh he is just the greatest. He always works sooo hard it was nice for him to have time on his hands to take a nap or read a book (both of which he did this week). Jeff we love you and are going to miss you. You are a great daddy.

A First

The other day Lauren and I had our first conversation. Other than her saying "No." It went something like this:

Lauren: Nnnnnoo, nnnooo
Me: No what, honey?
Lauren: Aaaall Goonne (all gone)
Me: What's all gone?
Lauren: Botlle (bottle)

She was looking for her baby's bottle and whenever she looks for something she always looks under the couch and under the bed (apparently she has seen us look for her pacifer more than one time) Anyway is was just really fun to carrying on a conversation with her and realize what a big girl she is.

Consumer Depression

So I went to Michaels tonight to get a couple of picture frames for Lauren's room and I knew that their frames were 50% off, so I went and found some that I liked and went up to pay for them and that particular "collection" wasn't on sale. BUMMER. It made me feel so depressed. So obviously I didn't get the frames, so I went to Walmart to see if they had any, but they didn't have any cute white frames so I wandered around looking for something to buy. Is it crazy that spending money makes me feel happy (much to Jeff's dismay)?

I wanted to buy something, but everything that I wanted was sooo expensive, or I didn't really need it, so I didn't buy anything. Well that's not true, I did buy a power cord. Exciting Huh? I came home feeling so depressed and asked Jeff how many more years it was until we'll have an income. :)

I would eat some ice cream but I've already had some already today. Our neighbor brought down brownies and I have already most of them, and it is too late to start a movie, oh well I guess I'll just sleep off my consumer depression.

Marni, I miss the garage where everything is "$Free.99"

Baby Update

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

So on Monday night I started having contractions every five minutes while I was laying down. I told Jeff, who was working on a project with someone for class, and didn't really think a ton of it. I had gone to the doctor in the morning and I was a 31/2 and 90%. My Mom called during my contraction-mactions (this is what Jeff and I call them, we like to rhyme) and asked how I was because she was in Omaha for a temple office party and wanted to know if she should stay. I asked her if she had her bag packed and with her, and she did so I told her to come over and we would just see how things turned out. She and my Dad came over and I kept having them so Jeff and I decided just to go to the hospital mostly because it was convenient.

We got to the hospital and the nurse asked me my pain level and I said that it was zero. I should mention that my contractions are painless braxton hicks contractions until about 6 or 7 cm. So she kind of gave me a funny look, and Jeff and I were off to walking. At this point is was about midnight and we walked for over an hour, reading magazines and laughing, and at one point the nurse said "Stephanie, that doesn't look very laborish." Anyway she checked me and I was at a five. She told me that she thought that I was going to be going home, but since I dilated more they admitted me. Anyway she told us to get some sleep (by now it was about four in the morning)

At 7:00 in the morning a new nurse came in and told me that I was only having one contraction an hour. So they broke my water and started oxytocin and I was off to walking again. I still wasn't having very many contractions, and they weren't painful and the nurses were laughing because I was walking so fast and dragging my I.V. Another check only had me at a six, still no pain. I decided to take a nap in the rocking chair, a little bit later I started to have painful contractions, so I asked for an epidural (thinking that it would be a while till an anesthesiologist got there). Turns out he was next door so like five minutes later I had the meds. There was a spot where I was still feeling painful contractions and the pain increased with each contraction. The nurse being quite observant decided to check me again, and I was complete. She had just checked me 10 minutes before. I had no idea that I was that close to transition, thank goodness the anesthesiologist was there so quick. So labor took from 8:30 on Monday night to 3:05pm on Tuesday, it was painless except the last 45 minutes. By the way ha ha to all of you who said that I would jinx myself for saying that I was going into labor on the 16th. I was right.

Photo of a Beached Whale

I thought that I would post this for those of you who haven't seen me pregnant, in case you are curious. I am 37 weeks today so I figured I should hurry and put up the picture before I have the baby since I'm planning on having her on Monday :) However Jeff and I decided that if we had a Valentine's Day baby we could be in the newspaper and an added bonus being that Jeff wouldn't have to plan a Valentine's Day for at least 18 years because it would be our girl's birthday. That would be good for Jeff because he does tend to struggle with the concept of Valentine's Day (Hence the reason I am blogging on Valentine's Day, just kidding, we went bowling and got ice cream on an afternoon date).

A Special Valentine Message

Need I really say more? Probably not but I will anyway. Lauren and I were making Valentine cards for our friends and she was doing a lovely job, but she got just a little marker on her hand, she became obssessed with coloring on herself. I was just going to wash it off, but what is a little more marker to make a really special "personal" Valentine. So Happy Valentines Day to all of our favorite friends and family. Watch out Husker Games.

"A SMATHERING, IF YOU WILL"

Well just a few random comments for all my blogging friends. First of all a baby update.


- I am 36 weeks and four days. Which means that if I were pregnant with Lauren I wouldn't be pregnant anymore.

- I went to the doctor yesterday, and Kudos to my Mom who guessed I would be dilated about 2cm but no more than three, I measured two and a half. (But the lady had big hands so I say I am a three) I'm also 80% effaced. For those of you who really wanted to know that kind of information. They made it sound like I was coming back next week for my appointment, but I have no plans of needing that appointment. Nine months is tooo long to have a baby in the oven, I don't have patience for it. Think about it, cookies are always better a little gooey.


- For anyone who hasn't heard we like the name Reese, it is not final, but we don't have any back-ups either.


- I would post a picture of me being pregnant, but I look like a beached whale. Just kidding. I just never seem to look good when I think about Jeff taking a picture of me.


Now for my other information. Many of you have heard me talk about my chair that I was getting. I told Jeff that it was the only thing I wanted with this baby (not really true, but a good way to get what I want.) So here is a picture of my chair that came after only three weeks of waiting. They say it take 6-1o weeks. I was so excited when they said it was ready. It is the most lovely thing on earth. It rocks and swivels, and best of all I can nap in it. So I have been very diligent about making sure Lauren's hands are always clean, that I take her clothes off if she gets food on them, and have enforced the rule that all food must be eaten at the table. But last night Jeff was sitting in my chair, and I was on the floor making a grocery list, and Lauren was drawing on my paper, when she ran over to Jeff with the pen in her hand, I quickly asked Jeff if the pen was clicked, but it was too late. My chair had already been defaced. So Kim I can relate to hot chocolate on your bed. To quote Kemp "this is why we don't have nice things." Here is a picture of the damage
Can you see it? Those two offending lines of pen. It will probably come out, but I was too degratated to try. (Is that even a word? Amy says it in "little women") Being pregnant and all, things are a little more dramatic then they seem.

Scared

Last night before bed I drank three glasses of water. NOT SMART. So needless to say I got up a few times in the night. Then Lauren woke up at four and almost ran out of her room like "hey it's morning I want to play." I put her back in her bed and went back to my bed. At five I heard her knocking on her door, so I thought the only way she is going back to sleep is if I give her a bottle, So I went in with her bottle and she saw it and bless her little heart, ran to the chair. (I think she might be going through a growth spurt.) Anyway at 5:15 I went back to bed. Jeff gets up a 6:00 and so I move to the couch so the shower doesn't wake me up. At 6:25 he says "I know you hate it, but could make my lunch, I'm late." My response was a resounding "NO, buy a lunch" and I went back to sleep.

Why am I scared you might ask. When I was feeding Lauren a bottle I had visions of feeding her, then as I laid back down, having to feed the new baby. I felt scared and exhausted. What made me think that I could handle two kids? I'll answer my own question. When you think about having more kids you don't think nine months ahead, you think in the moment. Eight months ago Lauren wasn't walking yet, she was sleeping through the night about 13-14 hours and taking a two hour nap. She wasn't running away when I got her out of the car, or throwing tantrums when I put her in a shopping cart, or when leaving the park. She wasn't throwing her food on the ground when she was done, or coloring on the walls. We thought, we can handle another baby, we got this down. I have decided that you never have it down for long. Lauren was really much more manageable when she wasn't this age.

And so this is the life our new baby will be born into. And I feel worried that I am going to lose my mind, and be highly sleep deprived. Any tips?

Tag, I'm it.

I have been tagged by my dear friend Kim (by the way Kim I always check your blog but I can't comment on them because I don't know your e-mail. So don't think that I don't love you anymore).

Rules

1- Post the rules on your blog

2- List 6 random things about yourself.

3- Tag 6 people at the end of your post.

4- Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.

5- Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

This should be extremely easy for me to come up with six random things. Well here it goes.

1-The second toe on my right foot is longer than the first, but not on the left foot

2-In middle school I ate a nutty bar and chocolate milk everyday for lunch. (Don't tell my Mom) (Sorry Mom if you read this)

3-Twister is my favorite game

4- I think that grocery shopping is the dumbest thing in the world. Think about it. You go to the store grab a cart, fill the cart up, then take it all out to pay for it. Then put it all back into tuhe shopping cart. Take it all back out and put it in your car. Drive home and take it all out. Then put it away in your cupboard. Really dumb when you write it all out isn't it?

5-I ran track in high school my senior year. When pressed if I was good I tell people "I never won a race, and I never lost a race." But let's be honest, I was almost always second to last.

6- I like to dip french fries in my shakes (strawberry and vanilla only thank you, I don't like chocolate ice cream.)

Well I hope that that was entertaining for all of you. I tag Jami H., Diggity Dang, Diantha, Adrianna, Tasha, and Alissa. :)

Nesting mixed with O.C.D.

Finally an update to my blog. My sister asked why I haven't blogged anything for so long, and I told her that I haven't had time. (I'm not blessed with a job where I get paid to do nothing) She and my Mom scoffed at that comment of not having time, and I told them that I can't blog while Lauren is awake and when she is napping, I have to nap, and when she is in bed I have been busy nesting. To quote Mary Poppins "A robin feathering her nest has very little time to rest, while gathering her bits of twine and twigs."

I didn't nest at all when I was pregnant with Lauren so this is a very strange sensation that I need, need, need to have the rugs in the bathroom washed today, or that the lamp in our bedroom has to be spray painted. Only to be spray painted again the next day because I didn't like the color (thanks Jeff). I told Jeff tonight "I'm nesting" and he said "I'm well aware." Because not only does my nesting affect me, it also means Jeff's honey-do list is longer. But poor Jeff doesn't have the energy boost that comes with nesting.

Anyway I should probably post a few pictures because what is a blog without pictures? These are all very random pictures that I should have blogged before.

This is a snowman that Lauren and I built. When Jeff saw the picture he asked if I used oreos for the eyes, and I said "no, those would be raisins." What can I say the snow is cold on bare hands.

Hope you enjoyed the crazy gingerbread cookies. Kristie I think that you and I should have a competition on the best decorated cookies:) This last picture is from the car ride to North Platte for Christmas. We were taking a picture to Grandma that Lauren made in story time at the Library and I turned around and she had taken all the stickers off and put them on her face. She does really love stickers.

This is a picture of Lauren on Christmas wearing Alissa's princess jewelry. I had the stomach flu, but still enjoyed Christmas.

This was my birthday present. Jeff and I went to the Nebraska City to the Lied Lodge and had a carriage ride and spent the night, because what I wanted more than anything was an uninterrupted night of sleep. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for watching Lauren and waking up with her at 5:00 am. He He. (She was still excited about playing with her Christmas presents, so she was waking up really early ready to play)

I am just totally impressed by this. I was out doing something in the kitchen and I came to check on Lauren and she had done this all by herself. I was so afraid that she was going to knock it down before I got a picture of it.