12.31.2009

The BEST of 2009

1. Spencer started Medical School

2. We bought a new home in Vegas...warm...great...wonderful..

3. We went on an awesome cruise to the Caribbean with great friends.

4. We celebrated our 5 yr wedding anniversary.

5. Ella turned 3...she is a Princess...She became potty trained (hip hip hooray!) She also started Pre-School...she loves it. She knows her alphabet and can write her name. She enjoys learning and has a wonderful memory. She likes to quote movies too...really funny!

6. Molly had her 1st birthday in August. She is a doll and loves to mimic anything Ella does. It is quite musing sometimes to watch! She loves dolls and handles them with great care..also musing to watch. She really likes dogs...that was the first animal noise she made..

7. I am a stay at home mommy...I get to enjoy my girls! We have lots of fun! We get together with friends for play group and really have a good time. I have mastered the skill of cooking (not really but I am making progress with great help from friends and phone calls to my mother). I just need to master the art of bread making!!!

8. We are taking up biking again...Ella has her training wheels and helmet...Molly rides with me!

9. Spencer got to play some sweet golf...

10. We were able to be together as a family...that is what is most important to me.

We have had a wonderful year. Vacationing...playing...moving...learning...growing. We really have so much to be grateful for. We have wonderful family who support us 100% and do anything they can to help out where needed. We are blessed with great friendships as well.

Hope you all had a wonderful year. Lets make 2010 even better!

12.13.2009

The M Resort

M Resort Christmas Tree
At the M Resort here in Las Vegas they had a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday. The M Resort's 2009 Christmas Tree stands 109-feet tall, making it the tallest cut Christmas tree in the country. It took them 7 days to get the tree to Las Vegas. The 11 ton, White Fur Tree came from a Resort in Oregon.
Oh What fun it is to ride....the escalator!
Those lights behind me are decorating a Palm Tree...that is a different look for Christmas..but hey...large...beautiful Pine Trees don't grow so well in Vegas!
We bundled the girls up and went out for a fun evening! The girls shared some Hot Chocolate...saw some reindeer... & loved the Christmas Tree!
Did I fail to mention that it finally feels like Christmas!

Fun..Fabulous..Festive

GinGerBreaD HoUSe PaRTy!!
Our friends all got together this weekend for a Christmas party. Thanks to Lindsay and Melynda for making the GinGerBread Houses...and thanks to Kendrick and Hailey for letting us party at their cute home!

...We call this Our "Farm Castle"...
The girls...well they ate more candy than we put on the Gingerbread House...yikes!!

So...our friends are great...watch out for some competition from Lindsay and Melissa!

Ella and her friends...they got their very own Gingerbread House to decorate!

To top off the night..the kiddos watched a Christmas movie...Ella likes her friends!
We had a blast!

12.10.2009

Fun with Frosty

*** Meet FROSTY***
Ella helped me cut snowflakes out!

So I had my friends and their children over to our house this week for playgroup! I thought it would be fun to do something festive that the kiddos would like...I came up with making rice crispies...cut them into circles...add some mini M&M's and call him FROSTY!

Bucket List #1

So I was watching the movie "The Bucket List" the other night and I thought long a hard about what I would like to do in this life...

Bucket List #1

So, I am very afraid of heights...but I would love to go on a Hot Air Balloon Ride...that is of course if Spencer will go with me..!

12.02.2009

My day in a NUT--Shell

I used to wonder what a stay at home mom did all day...

So...we are off to a good start...the girls wake me up at 7 (that is sleeping in now...back in highschool I used to dread waking up that early...welcome to parenthood)

We have breakfast...clean up the girls and the floor oh and the table oh and me...wow! What a mess!

We play all day have fun...fold laundry...fold more laundry...do the dishes...do more dishes...watch Dora the Explorer...watch the Disney Princess movie of the day (usually Snow White or Sleeping Beauty)...call Nanny or an Auntie to tell them of Ella's wonderful experience of going peepee on the toilet...lol...find the dolly that Molly lost in a battle against Ella...

We make lunch..clean up...vacuum...scrub toilets...stop the girls from arguing...play with dolls...stop the girls from pulling hair...read books...stop the girls from taking each others toys...go play at the park...stop the girls from whining in the stroller because "she is breathing on me...what really??...have a tickle party...pillow fight...build a fort with 23 blankets...play with puzzles...have a snack...stop the girls from smushing their crackers on the floor...(why is it that everything tastes better once it has been crumbled, smushed, stepped on and left on the floor??)

Dinner time...oh wait what is for dinner?? question?? Why is it so hard to plan a meal??
Well, the day isn't over....we have dinner...play with daddy...take a bath...oh and I may shower for the day now...wait the day isnt over...wow!...bed time...my favorite! The girls are asleep...I get to read a book..blog...watch a show or GO to BED!

I love being a mom...Life really is the BESTwith two wonderful little girls and a great supportive husband who is so wonderful to me and our children.

Presents All Around!

Ella Jane had a BIRTHDAY in November and turned 3!!
Ella is our new Fairy...she was so excited to get this from her cute little friends Olivia and Aida...
I made a birthday dinner for Ella and I (since we share the same birthday month!) Ella's favorite meal is Chicken roll ups...and we had to have chocolate cake! Ella of course got to blow out the candles.
So....Ella was READY to go for a spin on her new bike! She had her horn, basket for her bike, knee pads, elbow pads and helmet....She is only missing one thing...CLOTHES!
I am sporting my new apron Spencer and the girls gave me for my b-day!...I love it!
My wonderful girl friends took me to the OLIVE GARDEN (my favorite) for a birthday dinner.
(Left..Hailey,Melynda,Loraine,Tandy..Right..Me, Melissa, Lindsay, Shannon)
I had a great time...who doesn't with great friends, food and a night out with adults....

11.18.2009

The BIG 25!

Happy birthday this month to me and my twin Julie!!
This is still my favorite pic of the two of us!
I miss you Julie...can't wait to see you for the holidays!!




11.17.2009

White Coat Ceremony

So I am a little late in posting this...Congrats to Spencer on getting his White Coat for Medical School. We had family come into town 2 weeks ago for a wonderful visit and to see Spencer @ his White Coat Ceremony. Congrats for getting here Sweetie!!




The following video depicts Ella...what can I say...She was putting "warm fuzzies" in my sister Allison's ear, eyes and nose for a good portion of the ceremony. Whatever kept her quiet right?....lol

11.13.2009

Miss Ella

Ella...she loves music, dancing, learning time, crafting, using her imagination...which is so amusing....cooking, playing with her little sister Molly...and most of all puzzles (which she is very good at might I add...just like her dad) !
We started Ella in a little preschool class...photo of her first day leaving...it was a very windy and chilly day in Vegas (63 degrees if I remember) She was so very excited to learn... Ella Jane is a very talented girl in many areas but she excels well with her alphabet! She can write her name before the age of 3!

Ella Jane is a crafter! She really enjoys artwork, especially when there is chocolate involved...she gets that from her daddy!...the two of them can eat a dozen chocolate chip cookies by themselves in 2 days!

Ella loves her daddy...especially when she has him all to herself (usually while molly is napping). She made Spencer throw her up and down about 12 times and still wanted more! Spencer needs to get pump'n some iron...to keep this girl entertained! (J/K spence)

Ella enjoys being outside ridding her bike or anyone's bike really...guess what she is getting for her birthday??
I love my Ella Jane because she is very loving and trusting...She loves to read books and cuddle with me or Spencer before bed...I really treasure that time....Ella has a great memory... She can quote me 3 days later on something I told her she could have or do. (I have to really think before I talk) Ella is a wonderful big sister and teaches Molly so many things. I love being a MOM!

11.12.2009

My Molly

Molly has discovered how to successfully climb up the stairs and go down the slide at the park!
Molly is very determined! When she wants something Ella has, she will get it...hence the potty! However, it is usually a barbie or baby doll...
Molly has discovered the wonderful world of ART! I found the two partners in crime the other day...in my closet...quietly playing with the markers (thank goodness they were washable) coloring their hands, feet, ears and any other body part that didn't have clothing on it...
Molly has a new passion for water! She would stay in the tub or swimming pool for hours if we let her!
The great outdoors!
I love my Molly because she is very strong willed and sensitive to feelings. She is my cuddle bug! She is so curious about the world around her and is always finding a way to use the objects she finds as a toy or some sort of entertainment!

11.03.2009

Candy??

So....where do I start??
Monday morning Ella gets an owie (ok...that is mommy talk for a scratch) she needs a bandaid. I go to the cupboard in the kitchen and hand Ella the green basket of bandaids (also in the basket are the pepcid complete chewable tablets for those nights when you get a little heart burn from the pizza you made)...back to the story...I leave the basket on the couch in the living room and let Ella put her own bandaid on and proceede up the stairs to the laundry room to get the wonderful basket of clothing to be folded. I come back down about 10 mintues later and find the lid of the pepcid lying on the floor...and Molly's face covered in pink and purple "stuff." I realize she has eaten several pepcid tablets and is really quite enjoying them...they are candy to her! (yucky...have you ever eaten them, it's like chewing on chalk)
Well, I quickly text Spencer (he is at school in class) to tell him of the discovery and all he has to say is, well I think she will be fine! WHAT...do I need to call the doctor or poision control?? The bottle clearly states..."do not administer to children under the age of 12....and do not take more than __ in a 24 hour period...
Molly woke up today with a sore bum and the runs...might I add...all day!! Poor girl has felt horrible...but she is still so happy...aren't children really the greatest, even when they really aren't feeling well.
Morale of the story....don't let your child eat Pepcid...this is not good for their little tummy's.
p.s. I have adjusted all of the medications to one basket out of the reach of children...should have done that a long time ago... :)

10.23.2009

Pumpkins

'Tis the season for Pumpkins!'
Fun facts about pumpkins!
1. The name pumpkin originated from "pepon" – the Greek word for "large melon."
2. The largest pumpkin ever grown weighed 1,140 pounds.
3. the "pumpkin capital" of the world is Morton, Illinois

How do you mend a broken Jack-O-Lantern?
(with a pumpkin patch!)

History of the Jack-O-Lantern
The Halloween night, glowing jack-o-lanterns, carved from turnips or gourds, were set on porches and in windows to welcome deceased loved ones, but also to act as protection against malevolent spirits. Burning lumps of coal were used inside as a source of light, later to be replaced by candles.
We now carve pumpkins as a festivity of fun....

The origin of pumpkin pie occurred when the colonists sliced off the pumpkin top, removed the seeds, and filled the insides with milk, spices and honey. The pumpkin was then baked in hot ashes.
Pumpkin Pie is my ultimate favorite!! I have a delicious receipe from my Aunt...that post to come in November...for Thanksgiving...
































10.22.2009

Do I really??

It is 8:00 a.m. I am eating breakfast and Ella is watching the Disney movie 'Sleeping Beauty'. I can hear her rambling on about something but I was not sure quite what...I ask her "Ella what did you say?" She turns to look at me and says, "Nothing Mom, I was just talking to myself like you do sometimes." lol

I thought about all day today, and yes I do talk to myself...So does Ella...often actually!

10.19.2009

Funnies

Here is what happened today.... I am coming out of the girls room, into the hallway and over to the top of the stairs. Here I find Ella Jane with her little plastic fisher price bike (really Molly's now) going straight down the stairs on the bike! I stop her halfway down the stairs and said "Ella that is dangerous you can get hurt...who taught you to do that?" she responds exactly in these words.."Mom, its ok... really...Uncle Jay said I could do this if I am careful."...thanks uncle jay! lol

So... apparently Uncle Jay is full of wisdom and greatness in the mind of a child...If he told her drinking glue was ok she would do that too!

(For those who don't know...Uncle Jay is Spencer's brother and Ella's favorite Uncle...)

10.04.2009

*There is a Difference*

Reasons I miss Utah

1. It is GREEN
2. There are beautiful Mountains!
3. Family (mostly my mama!)
4. I miss Costco...located right across the street from us...and really everything for all your shopping needs for that matter.
5. I miss Sunday dinners with either Spencer's family or my family...

Reasons I like Nevada

1. We have a beautiful new home... that is a wonderful blessing for us!
2. Spencer and I have met so many new, GREAT friends and so have Ella and Molly.
3. I found out I really enjoy cooking!
4. I like the warmer weather...especially when it is 82 degrees in NV and 49 degrees in UT
5. The stop lights are longer...silly... but when you have a screaming child in the backseat that needs a cracker or sippy to keep her quiet... that extra 2 minutes at the light is really nice!

9.29.2009

Top 5

Top 5 reasons of knowing your spouse is in Medical School....

1. I am tickling and wrestling with Ella and she says "stop mommy that tickles my sturnum!"

2. I am feeding Molly and Ella points to me, "mommy what is that? That is my tummy Ella... she says...No it isn't silly, that is your stomach and your liver!"

3. I am in my room folding laundry...Ella walks in..."mom what are you doing?...I am tired of folding laundry Ella...oh, well you should take some tylenol, that will fix everything...like your spine and your elbow....what??" (wow, I wish tylenol would magically fold all the baskets of laundry I have today)

4. Ella pulls out her Fisher Price doctor kit the other day. She makes me sit on the floor...she does all her procedures (blood pressure, checks my heart, tongue, ears...) she tells me what a good nurse she is then leaves the room while stating that the doctor would be back in to see me in 16 minutes...lol... She comes back in the room and tells me "I have one pill to give you (tic tacs...mint flavor) but you can only take one. She whispers next...I will give you two but don't tell the nurse! this child is a crack up!

5. I am cleaning up the toy room from a fun moring of playing and also getting all of the toys unboxed from the move... Ella tells me she is tired.... I tell her to go lay on my bed for a few minutes. She does....2 minutes later she is in the toy room telling me her legs hurt.... I ask her why...she says, cause daddy told me how my bones grow and i think they are growing right now so I can't help you clean anymore....This girl needs to stop studying with her dad!

I hope you got a good laugh. We are having a good time and Spencer is doing well with school!

Moments of Reflection

With the move and all the changes going on in our lives, I finally had some time to myself while Spencer took the girls to a birthday party for one of his buddies in Medical School (who has 3 darling girls Ella just loves!) I had the opportunity to attend the Relief Society Broadcast and really enjoyed the message I brought out of it. "I'll Strengthen Thee, Help Thee and cause Thee to stand...." I really am grateful for moments of inspiration and reflection where I can evaluate my life. I am glad I was able to go...thanks Melinda and Hailey!

9.07.2009

Livin' Outside!

Molly

Ella Jane

While staying at my parents house until we make our big move to Vegas for school....the girls love to play outside! We spend our day in the sun...playing...eating creamies and otter pops...swimming...swinging...and enjoying our time together!

Molly's 1st Birthday

Happy 1 st Birthday Molly!!
Molly's birthday was in August...so we had a party for her.
Ella picked out the little Elmo decor and Hello Kitty and My Little Pony....she thought Molly would want it all....Whatever makes her happy!

8.29.2009

Home for the Weekend!

Can I say happy!!

So...Spencer started Medical School the first week of August and has been in Vegas by himself (well with roommates)... we are building a house that won't be done until the end of September...the two girls and I are living at my parents house in Sandy....I got him a plane ticket to come to Utah for the weekend!...

We picked him up Friday night at the Airport. I had the girls in the stroller and we were patiently waiting his arrival. When the girls saw him they didn't know what to do...Ella was happy and wanting his attention after about 3 minutes but Molly didn't know who he was for about 10 minutes....The whole way back to Sandy the two girls were all SMILES and GIGGLES! So happy to see their daddy again! I was just as happy to see him!

You are a handsome man Spence...so happy to have you for the weekend!

p.s I can't wait to have our house finished...

8.09.2009

Pictures!






So my friend Monica started a new photography business *Limelight Photography*
and she wanted a few photo shoots with people. I gladly accepted! She did a great job!
Molly will be a year old and Ella is almost 3...where does the time fly??

7.20.2009

Cherish Each Moment

Life at Our HouSe....can you say CRAZY! With trying (notice I said trying) to pack to move for medical school, taking the girls to the pool, library, park, play dates, routine doctor and dentist appointments for all of us, teething, potty training and summer fun...loving to vacation...we have been a little busy.

I actually had a few minutes earlier today while the girls were both sleeping (yes they did take a nap at the same time today!) to lay on the couch and think a little bit about life. This is my conclusion to my ever busy life right now....Cherish each moment for each moment, new word or phrase, each hug and I love you mom, each trial and triumph pass so quickly.

Ella is almost 3 and Molly turns 1 in August. Spencer starts Medical School in August and I get to be home with the girls... :) I am looking forward for all the time we will have as a family to really spend together and make new friends with our move. I am a little nervous...having family so close has been such a blessing with our two little girls. Every day Ella asks to go to either Nanny's house (my parents) or Grammy's house (Spencer's parents) to play. We will miss being so close! Thanks for your love and all your help! WE love you!
Now...please wish me luck with packing!!! :)

7.08.2009

Did you say Teeth??

So...we have 2 teething girls at our house! What fun! Little Molly has 3 new teeth in the last 5 days and she has been miserable. She hasn't slept well and neither have I or Spencer for that matter. We have been living off of Tylenol and Otter Pops! Ella Jane has her 2 yr molars coming in and she has a runny nose and says her mouth hurts. NOT FUN! I have two girls who are both miserable and they have a mom who is tired and needs a refresher on a little patience. Any ideas for some soothing relief on these teeth coming in??

6.22.2009

"Diva"

"Mommy, can I do my makeup with you?"
"Yes Ella you can."
"I need to look pretty too cause I am a big girl."
"Yeah, big girls do their makeup and their hair."
"We should go to cookie cutters and get my hair cut cause I like to ride in the little car."
"Mommy will take you there next week."
"Is it next week yet Mommy cause I will look like a diva pretty soon!"

Ok, someone please tell me where the girl learned the word Diva! LOL

So we are trying the potty thing with Ella...no luck yet! Spencer told her if she wore her princess panties she could have a cookie. She happily puts her panties on and gets a cookie. About 10 minutes later she says panties itch and she wants her diaper back on...after a fit we put her diaper back on. She comes out into the kitchen and tells Spencer the following:

"Daddy, we need to talk about binki's"
"Yes we do need to talk about your binki...
"Dad, big girl panties are Terrible!"
WE both started to laugh...I guess that trick won't work....any help with the potty thing...please! We have tried several tricks from suprises to treats...nothing seems to work. HELP!

Driving on the freeway, UDOT is doing construction to widen the road in Davis County. I am driving to Sandy to visit my family with the girls. I get cut off and veered to take I-215 instead of I-15....the comment out of my mouth was:

"oh you have got to be kidding me."
Ella thinks about that for a minute and says,

"Mommy, What are you kidding about?"
Boy was I grateful nothing else slipped out of my mouth!

We are at church on Sunday..Ella hasn't had a nap (1:00 pm for church is rough!) she decides to
pull my hair and kick and throw a fit...I take her out in the hall and set her on a chair and tell her to stay on the chair and not to talk. She sits there quietly for a few minutes then turns to me and says...
"Mommy, we need to talk about hitting and pulling hair and also about you being nice to me." lol
"Ella, we do need to talk about those things because they are not nice things to do to mommy."
"Yeah, but you need to be nice cause I don't like it when you tell me not to talk."

ok...someone please tell me how to keep a straight face when she says comments like that! lol
Ella is 2 going on 16!!

"Dolly"


My sister Amie and her husband bought a cute little puppy a few months ago and she is adorable! Dolly is Ella's favorite when we visit at Nanny's house. She takes her on walks (or is it the other way around?) She gives her treats, runs with her, Dolly licks her and then at the end of the day she says to me"mommy, can we get a doggy just like dolly and name her Rafiki ?" lol


6.11.2009

Disney's "UP"



While Ella Jane had a sleepover at Grammy's house, she watched movie trailers with Grammy and Jill...well she was repeating lines from the Disney Pixar movie "UP" and wanted to watch them at home as well. So...We took Ella Jane to see the movie "UP" last friday. Half way thru the movie she looks at me and says, "Mom is it time to go yet?" She enjoyed the movie...but not as much as Spencer and I did. This was a cute show! A must see for sure!

6.08.2009

Play'n Time




Its play'n time...We have this little Firetruck that Ella and molly fight over...Molly can't really move yet but she likes Ella to push her on it.


5.30.2009

Caribbean Cruise

We took a fun cruise for a week to the Western Caribbean! It was the BEST vacation I have been on! We went with our friends so we had a great group! I will definately go again!! Special thanks to our families for watching the little girls so we could go play!
On the small boat in Grand Cayman heading out for our adventure that day
from L to R we have Sarah, Tyler, Spencer, Me, Stephanie and Colby. We had a blast! Oh and did I mention, we got some good sun??

"Sting Ray City"...I was a bit frightened by the whole idea of being out in the middle of the ocean and touching, feeding and holding these wild sting rays. It turns out I had a good time!

"What's up?" So the group went snorkeling...I decided to sit on the boat...I don't know how to use those silly masks or flippers?? They found some star fish while out snorkeling, oh and Spencer swallowed lots of salt water...oh yeah --that's why I didn't dive in!

Zip line in Honduras! We hung above the trees and had a beautifl view of the ocean. This was lots of fun...the beach in Honduras was even better! We had 4 stops on our trip and Honduras was everyone's FAVORITE! It is a beautiful island!