It has been seven posts since I have posted a picture. There are a couple of reasons for that. First we lost our camera (if anyone has seen a little blue Cannon digital camera, it is mine and I want it back, thank you). Second I have been busy. (Not really actually, just lazy). But tonight the girls were put to bed at 6:30pm because of lack of naps and Jeff went to bed at 6:45pm so I am awake, the house is clean and I am bored. (And kind of reflective).

I want to tell about my girls. They drive me crazy and nothing makes me feel like I am losing my patience more than the two of them fighting or diddle-dawdling. And YES they fight. I feel like I am a referee all day long and I can't hardly count to twenty after leaving the room before one of them is crying.

But conversely nothing makes me happier than hearing their little giggles and sequels when the actually are playing nice.

McKenna is so easy going but at the same time has some serious personality. She has a mischievous smile that you can't help but be a little bit proud of, and a cheeser smile that can make even the most solemn person laugh. She has an arm that will guarantee her a spot as a pitcher. When that girl is done with something you had better watch out. She is playful and happy except when she is tired or sick. She is feisty and she is brave. She is a leader.

Lauren is the most observant, and specific girl I know. And I wonder if in her little world she gets scared because she is so aware of where she is and what she is. She is bossy and emotional. She can look at pictures when paired with music and just start bawling. She feels emotions stronger than most. Sadness, and happiness, love for things and hate for things. And did I mention her sense of fashion? Lauren loves songs and will frequently be singing the hokey pokey or rock-a-bye. Lauren is a good Mommy to her babies, but tough. (She once put her baby in time out on the window ledge and left her there till the next day and when I tried to move her she informed me that she was still in time out and I explained that the baby had probably learned her lesson for hitting). Lauren has an amazing memory, she talks about things that happened last summer and is a loyal friend.

I have just been thinking lately about my girls and their differences and their persons in general and wanted to write it down for my own motherly sake.

I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I DID IT. . .

I registered for classes in the fall. Watch out HGTV, I'm on my way.

P.S. for those of you who are not around me to hear me talk about my dreams, interior design is the goal. It is all I ever think about. I try to nap and sometimes I can't turn my brain off long enough to fall asleep. It's always designing chandeliers and couches. So in ten years when I finish school and you want some advice give me a call.

I HAVE

I HAVE

1. Won a root beer tasting contest

2. Been on a hot air balloon ride

3. Been to Target three times in one day, or was it four?

4. Only had three jobs my whole life (I don't work much)

5. Been fired from a job

6. Been given a bouquet of french fries

7. Ordered a Runza at Wendy's (I thought I was at Runza, and I couldn't figure out why they didn't have Runzas and Runza, I later realized as I was leaving the parking lot that it me who was the idiot and not the poor girl taking my order who didn't know what a runza was).

8. Eaten a whole medium pizza from Pizza Hut

9. Won a french toast eating contest (9 French Toast, no wonder I gained the "Freshman 15") (The pizza was a contest too, also my freshman year).

10. Reoccurring dreams about being able to fly and being an ice skater. (What do those mean)?

11. Watched every single episode of Scarecrow and Mrs. King ever made

12. Read every book Sophie Kinsella has written

13. Tried to jump across a creek and ended up in it instead. (Luckily it was after Jeff's family pictures and not before).

14. Eaten Pate (goose liver)

I HAVE NEVER

I have never . . .

1. Purchased a CD

2. Ordered soup at a restaurant

3. Seen the ocean

4. Finished reading/watching Harry Potter

5. Painted my fingernails any color but pink or red. (I just look down and my toes are painted purple)

6. Made a pie crust

7. Eaten at a seafood place

8. had my eyebrows waxed

9. been inter-tubing

10. and will never want any pets

You Know You Have A Two Year Old When...

1. The toilet paper in your house is pulled all the way down to the floor.

2. You curse the garbage man for being too loud in the fear of them waking your child up.

3. Your eyeliner is more often used for kitty faces, then for lining your eyes.

4. It takes about 20 minutes to get out the door when you are already ready to go.

5. It takes 10 minutes to get out the driveway when you are already in the car.

6. You find yourself singing "This Old Man" while you are grocery shopping. . .alone.

7. You change not only your children's diapers and clothes but also those of all the dolls in your house.

8. Find yourself asking what your child's doll would like for lunch.

9. You get reprimanded and told "Oh Bugger" is a bad word.

10. You feel as those you constantly wear a black and white stripped shirt with a whistle.

11. Every step you take in the kitchen results in the crunching of cereal.

12. You eat more imaginary food than you do real food.

13. You base who you see most often on who your kid likes the most and plays with the best. (I would love to see the mall and Hobby Lobby more, but two years olds don't play nice with Hobby Lobby)

14. You have vowed never to paint your fingernails again in their presence, it is too diasterous.

15. You laugh everday of your life, and thank Heavenly Father everyday for the blessing of being a mother.

You've got to love it.

I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!

I realize that this wasn't on my original list, but it is something that I have never done before, something I have always wanted to do. I INHALED HELIUM. COOL RIGHT? Last night was our blue and gold banquet for cub scouts and I saw some kids doing it so I snagged a balloon from a little girl and I DID IT!!! (Sorry Mom, I know you always told us not to). I felt a little constricted in my chest after and lucky for me there was a doctor on the scene (I just wanted to be sure that I wasn't going to die or anything, wouldn't that tick you off if it turned out that your Mom was right)??? and he said that I was fine and wondered how I had ever made it through childhood without inhaling helium. I AM A VERY OBEDIENT CHILD.

What I would (will) buy!

1. Two armless slipper chairs. $139.99 each 15% off brings me to $238.00
http://www.target.com/Avington-Slipper-Chair-Leaf/dp/B001CEFDPU/ref=sc_qi_detailbutton

2. New dishes two sets for $50.00 $288.00

3. Pots and pans. Our have gone to pot (ha ha). $40.00 $328.00

4. Platter to put on the table as decoration $16.99 add up to $344.99
http://www.target.com/dp/B0030CRC2Y/ref=sc_qi_emwa

5. I will need a new rug in the kitchen and a couple of matching towels. Estimated at $45.00 totals $389.99

6. Two sets of curtains; estimated at $60.00 brings me to a grand total of $449.99.

Hopefully I can find things on sale and on clearance, because I didn't even get to new towels and rugs for my bathroom, or the sofa table I wanted, or the lamps for the living room, or Easter dresses for my girls. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhHH.

There had better be some good clearance and sales in the next month.

Target Gift Card

So the apartment complex where we are moving was having a special that when you leased an apartment you get a $450 gift card to Target. Well I have my ideas and that will be my next post, but what would YOU do with a $450 gift card. Leave responses here! (I bet I'll have you dreaming of Target)

Growing Up

Make a Smilebox photobook

I couldn't end the day without an ode to my baby girl on her first birthday. We started the day off right with decorations, had a special dinner just for McKenna (Macaroni and Cheese) and finished with presents and cake. All in all, not too shabby.

I DID IT

2010 is the year to say "I DID IT," and so here are some things that I want to say I did in 2010. Now that I am saying these things to all of you readers out there, I might need you to motivate me to get some of them done.

1. Eat a Klondike bar. I have always heard the theme song "What would you do for a Klondike bar?" But I had no idea what they were. The other day I saw them at Target, bought them and "I DID IT."

2. Go to a concert. I have never been to a concert.

3. Write a children's book. I have some ideas, but they are just ideas.

4. Submit an article to the Ensign. I have one written, but I need to work on it a bit more.

5. Go water skiing. I am a bit afraid of the water, so this one might be tricky.

6. Run a half-marathon. I'm only half serious about this, so I won't feel too bad if I don't get to say "I did it."

7. Register for classes. I want to go back to school, and though the timing is not ideal, I know that I'll never do it if I don't do it soon.

8. Go to Arizona, or somewhere south. Just because I want to.

This is a year of firsts. So when you see a post entitled "I DID IT," you'd better check out my latest first. Yahoooo.

For the Love

Today has been a tough day to find loves so in lieu of daily loves I will post five things I love about the three people I love with all my heart!

Jeff:

1. I love Jeff's sensitivity to my feeling, my thoughts and dreams!

2. I love Jeff's eagerness to help anyone who needs help

3. I love Jeff's protective nature of his country roots! (Do not make fun of North Platte in front of him, or small high schools).

4. I love that when Jeff feels frustrated, he will stop and say a prayer. (This happened yesterday, so it is fresh in my mind).

5. I love that Jeff doesn't mind sleeping on six inches of mattress. I was making the bed the other day (a rarity) and noticed that my pillow was in the middle of the bed and his pillow was hanging off. It's not that I am a bed hog, I just like to sleep RIGHT NEXT to Jeff. He must have scooted over and I must have followed. If he doesn't want to fall off the bed he should scoot to the middle instead.

McKenna:

1. I love McKenna's big front teeth, and the smile that shows them.

2. I love that whenever McKenna wakes up, she is happy. (She gets that from me by the way).

3. I love that when she gets excited she makes really loud noises. And it seems like it is always at church.

4. I love the way she eats mac and cheese. She grabs a handful and shoves it in.

5. I love that when you give her her blanket she snuggles it and puts her fingers in her mouth.

Lauren:

1. I love Lauren's ability to love. When she loves something or someone, it doesn't matter if it is reciprocated or even ignored. She will just go one loving it.

2. This girl has some real spirit. When she wants something she is AVID. I usually end up weighing why I don't want her to have something, and usually decide that it is easier for me to help her get what she wants versus telling her no.

3. She is observant. Even this morning she kept asking me "Whats matter, Mommy"? I wasn't saying anything, but she could tell that I was frustrated. She notices everything.

4. She is my feelings girl and I love it. If you have hurt her feelings, she will tell you.

5. I love her way of being loved. She loves being bought things. It doesn't matter what it is. Months after I bought her her pacifiers she still says, in the cutest voice I might add, "Mommy, you buy these for me? Thaaaaank You!!!"

More Love

Well here is my list of things in the last two days that I have loved:

1. Jeff and Lauren built a snowman. It is a lovely snowman, but with a square nose (don't ask me why). It has been snowing for a couple a days and the snow was so wet and so perfect.

2. We finally found us an apartment to move into. After looking at it three different times. Sorry to anyone who comes to visit us because it is on the third floor. This will be mine and Jeff's 5th place to live in 3 years of marriage. What can I say, I get bored in one place. Which seems funny, because I lived in the same house until I was a sophomore in high school. (But I guess that was a house and not an apartment).

3. Last night Jeff and I went with some friends to see Avitar. Not really a movie that I would normally go see, but it was pretty cool and I loved the 3-D glasses. (I brought them home with me). We went to this totally chic theater/lounge place that serves you dinner while you are watching the movie. (Just a note: If you are going to eat dinner while watching a movie, it might be better if it wasn't a 3-D movie. Watching it was making me a little nauseous, not good when you have food in front of you that you are trying to it. It was fun because that place is multi-level and it was packed. There is just something more fun when the theater is full, than when you are the only person watching it.

4. The theater was downtown. And believe it or not, I have lived here for two years and this is only the second time I have been downtown. Totally lame. It is where all the cool people hang out. Well I guess that answers the question that I am not hip.

5. I made some really great strawberry trifle on Friday night. Totally my favorite dessert.

6. Also for dinner on Friday Jeff and I waited to put the girls to bed until we made dinner. I was fun to cook together and have a quiet, non-messy dinner.

7. I took McKenna to the doctor on Friday per Jeff's request because she has had a high fever, only to be told that there is nothing wrong, except a cold. I called Jeff after and told him that I am never going to the doctor when he tells me to. Anytime that I have taken them in they have actually had something wrong with them that could be fixed. Score one for Dr. Mom.

8. Only one week till Valentine's Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Loves of Yesterday

Some things I loved about yesterday:

1. Stick Shifts. I love to drive them. (After our car broke down we were in a bit of a pinch and Melanie said we could borrow her car for the day). I drove a stick shift after high school and it just reminded me of how much fun they are to drive.

2. New car smell. Since it will be a while until Jeff and I purchase a new car perhaps I should buy a new car air freshener.

3. McKenna woke up at about 10:30pm last night so I brought her into our room to let her play for a bit, and it was so much fun. Jeff and I never get to spend time with just McKenna. She was also smiling so big and she would crinkle up her nose so that you could see her two big front teeth.

4. Jeff rocked her to sleep when she wouldn't go to sleep at 11:00pm.

5. The hole in Melanie's ceiling got fixed yesterday.

6. Lauren fell asleep last night with her only her head and her arms on the bed. It was really funny, and also very progressive for my floor-sleeping girl. We have been telling her that the "Bed Fairy" would come and put money under her pillow if she fell asleep on her bed. Now she wakes up and says "the bed fairy put monies under my pillow?"

We'll see what kind of things I will love today!

Things I love

I absolutely love Valentine's Day. Now some of you may think that this is because I have such an amazing husband who does lovely things, but in fact as a married couple we have had pretty much flops for Valentine's Day.

I have always loved Valentine's Day and to get into the spirit of things I will post some of the things that I loved about today and yesterday!

1. Lindor truffles (if you have never had them you have never had chocolate)

2. I love this dress: http://www.shabbyapple.com/p-437-carousel.aspx (and pretty much every dress on this website)

3. The target dollar aisle (enough said, right)?

4. Our car broke down yesterday and when I was explaining to Lauren that the man was going to hook it up to his truck and take it somewhere to be fixed Lauren said "our car broke? We put tape on it!!!"

5. French dip sandwiches for dinner (Thanks Natalie for introducing me; I am totally hooked)

6. I love our new Community Center where we will be spending every second at from now on.

7. I love that in a 1/100,000,000 chance my girls slept till 8:30am. Yahoooooo.

8. Cinnamon french puff things (thanks Kim, sorry I can't remember the name)!!! They were super-good.

I hope all of you will think about the things and people that we love this Valentine season. And yes it is a season to me!!

Trains

Me: Lauren do you want to be potty trained and be a big girl and go peeps and poops in the potty?

Lauren: I want to be a train!!!

Me: (Confused) You want to be a train??????

Lauren: I DO!!!!!!!!! I DO WANT TO BE A TRAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Looks like we have watched too much Thomas around these parts.

Victorious

Yesterday I reached my weight loss goal of seven pounds. Hooray. I guess that is the only benefit of the stomach flu:) Think I'll keep it off????? We are all feeling a little down the last couple of days and today we all napped at 10:00am. We have been filling our daytime hours with Thomas and Maisy and filling our nights with HGTV.

Needless to say we are ready to feel better and get off our couch potato buns. (Even though mine is so slim now). ha ha.

Many blessing to Jeff for staying well and staying home from class and studying to take care of us.

Also blessings to Natalie for watching Lauren whilst I was sick, only for Lauren to get sick at her house.

"Silly Gurl"

Lauren has been saying some really funny things and I wanted to write them down so I would have them.

Conversation #1 -today

Lauren: Mommy you vacuumed your room?

Me: Yep. I vacuumed your room too, doesn't it look so much better clean?

Lauren: Uhh? (A look a disgust on her face) Stepnie, no don't vacuum my room. . . I like it dirty.

Conversation #2 -Yesterday

Lauren: Mommy whats you got? (I popped a zit and had a little piece of toilet paper on it)

Toilet paper?? ha ha Silly! Toilet papers for yours bum.

Conversation # 3 - a while ago

We were at the mall and I was putting Lauren into her stroller and was tightening the straps when my hand slipped and bonked her in the nose.

Me: Oh, Lauren I'm so sorry, are you okay.

Lauren: Daddy going to be a DoCtor?? He get me a band-aid.

Rocker-Do

So I got my haircut on Saturday and this is my new punk hair-do. I am not so sure it is me, but I guess I will rock it as best I can. Peace Out.

I know, I know

I realize that it has been forever since I have last blogged, and many thanks to those of you that have pointed this fact out. It somehow makes me feel loved and slightly pestered.

Let me first explain the reason for my absence, and it is a good reason. I have become an HGTV junkie. (I know that there are plenty of other people who can sympathize with me). Melanie I love your home but it will be much healthier when I am forcefully removed from the satellite. When I was bored I used to just jump on the computer for some blogging, but laying down on the couch and vegging is so much easier. Thus the reason for my lack of blogging.

Our Christmas was wonderful and having Jeff here with us was such a treat. We all miss him, but we express it in different ways. For Lauren she called him on Monday morning when she discovered that he was back at school and started crying when she said "I miss you daddy." Or when he tried to lay her down that night she clung to his neck and said "Hold you daddy, Sleep here on MY pillow." So Jeff ended up sleeping on her floor just to reassure her that he did indeed love her and would play with her when he got home the next day. For me, I just feel lonely without him around during the day and being snowed in doesn't help matters. McKenna misses having me all to herself. When daddy is around Lauren clings to him which opens me up for McKenna.

So here are a few pictures of our holidays and some other random favorite photos.

This is our lovely table spread for our Christmas Eve dinner. Take notice of the ice candle holders. Super cool (thanks HGTV), but melted before we even started dinner. Perhaps in an Arctic climate it would have been better.

Here is McKenna opening her present from Santa. This little lady has her top two teeth and her bottom two teeth and she grinds them together. Before I couldn't hear it before because her teeth weren't out all the way but she must have been able to feel it because she would stick her bottom jaw out a lot, and I just figured her teeth were bothering her, but now I can hear it and it is kind of sickening.

This is just one of my favorite pictures of Lauren. She has really blossomed in her abilities to do everything. I am trying to find an art class for her and she loves to do anything artistic.

My birthday was on the 27th and I turned 24. Jeff and my Mom teamed up to make me eclairs. Don't they look beautiful, and they were delicious. Here is the proof . . .

For my birthday Jeff tackled the feat of buying me clothes. This was the first timed he attempted to buy me clothes and I think he did a great job. The pumps, the shirt, necklace and tank top were all of his choosing. I do have a question for you fashionistas: What is the proper bunch necessary for wearing skinny jeans with heels. I usually just wear boots over them but know that I have heels I need to know. I personally think that the lack of bunch makes these too short.

Probably the highlight of our vacation was taking part in the making of a guest room in my parents basement. They were kind enough to listen to my input because they know I love this stuff, and I have nothing to decorate. This room had a lamp, desk and the couch in it before. Then in two days the walls were painted, a headboard was cut and covered. We brought down the bed from upstairs (My Dad and Jeff). A curtain rod and curtains were put up. Pillows were made, the couch got slipcoverd, vinyl was cut and put up (don't say anything about the "levelness" of it, or that the 's' isn't cut out because trying to get it straight about killed me and the 's' just didn't cut out)

This is the wall opposite the bed. Look at those pillows. I made them. Well not the green one, we bought that one. It was so much fun. Now all I need is a house and some money and I can play designer a my house.

I know that her eyes are closed, but this picture just makes me Laugh.

I'm posting this one because I think that I look good in it, and those kind of pictures are so few and far between, right????

Here are my two Oreo lovers. Got Milk?????

Jeff brought me down my toothbrush so we could stay on schedule and I've left in my mouth for like five minutes and I think that the toothpaste has burned off my taste buds so, I guess I need to go spit. Hope everyone is having a lovely and encouraging start to their new year.

CAST VOTES HERE

I'll quickly update my blog for those of you who have been nagging me (hmm...Marni). So I pose a very serious question. A couple of weeks ago Jeff was babysitting for our friends and their daughter is potty trained, but needed help wiping after she went poops. Well Jeff has never helped someone go potty before so he was pretty clueless. So Jeff gets a couple squares of toilet paper and starts to fold it, and she told him not to fold but to bunch it.

When Jeff was telling this story I started laughing and said that he was probably one of the only people who folded their toilet paper. He disagreed and now the question is posed to you.
ARE YOU A BUNCHER OR A FOLDER???????? Leave your comments here.