I would do this ANYDAY

Last night Ella invited Alissa to snuggle in her bed.  Alissa gladly accepted and bundled right up to her big sister.  Soon Alissa came wandering in my room because Ella was falling asleep on her.

She was up another hour or so saying over and over, "my not get squished by car, my be safe." 

I will admit it had me freaked out seems how Ella had that "snail slime" dream a few weeks back and has had another dream since then that Alissa was hit by a car.  I didn't rush her to sleep and let her unfold my laundry while I folded and thought of other incidents throughout the day of her throwing flashcards all over, dumping juice out on the floor and I thought to myself, I would do this ANYDAY before I would live a day without this sweet baby girl.

Today we played memory, jumped on the trampoline and rode on the swings.  I wish I was a little more quick to savour every moment with these little girls.  There is no joy that can compare to having these sweet friends.

On a happier note, here is a little funny Alissa said yesterday.  You will appreciate it if you have ever been a nursing mama.  She hit me in the chest:

I said:  Hey!  Be nice to me.

She says:  Be nice to Molly's baby food?

April 24 - Easter Sunday

We had a really good Easter Sunday.  We had the opportunity to visit my parents sacrament meeting out in Iona and hear both my parents speak about the Savior.  Ella and her cousins Kailey and Kaitlynn got to sing with Aunt Heidi - I'm trying to be like Jesus.  They did great!  I was super impressed that Ella found the courage to do it.  Earlier in the morning she was sure she wasn't going to but after telling her Kailey was going to do it by herself then she changed her mind.  We said a prayer for courage before we left and without hesistation she walked right up and sang.  I was proud!

April 23 - The Easter Egg Hunts

Saturday morning my sister Heidi and I took the girls out to a few Easter Egg Hunts.  We were trying to go to Tautphaus Park, but made it just in time to get stuck in the traffic of cars leaving the event.  So we headed over to Iona's Easter Egg Hunt.  Heidi took Ella and I stayed with Alissa.  Alissa was funny, she just kinda stood there and watched as the kids and parents swarmed the area and clean up the eggs.  She ended up with a little whistle and juice which was just fine.

Ella aparently froze at the whistle, so Heidi helped her get going and she ended up with the GOLDEN EGG and won a bike and kite.  It was pretty exciting!

We went to Bonneville's hunt after that and let them get a few more eggs and see the "Easter Bunny".

Finally we went to my parent's house and mom did her 3rd annual Adult Easter Egg Hunt.  I must admit it's super fun running around like a bunch of little kids. 

Mom hides eggs for the grandkids and they get to find theirs first and then she hides eggs for us all over their huge yard.  Each person gets 6 eggs and 2 bags of candy.  The eggs all have money in them so once you touch it you have to keep it. (unless you are Jeremy and didn't listen to the rules :) )

Then we all headed out to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in town, Canton.  I seriously love spending time with my family, they are so great!!

April 20 - Coloring Easter Eggs

Wednesday night Dustin had to work late so we made the time go by faster by coloring Easter Eggs.  The girls had a ball. 

I love this picture of Alissa imitating Ella. 

Alissa had some stained hands to show for the great time she had!

April 17 - Binki Balloon

At Alissa's 12 month appointment the doctor told me to take the binki away by 15-16 months.  I was sure I would be able to do it and haven't really had a problem following advice from my doctors before this.  15 months came along, I was pregnant and I shrugged it off, then 18 months, I just had a newborn and it was a huge part of my sanity, now 2 years and there we were 1 year from the time I was supposed to have it taken away and she still sucks that most fabulous piece of plastic.  We were at a roadshow practice when our doctor showed up for his ward's practice.  He looked down to see my 27 month old "baby" sucking her binki as she is asleep on the gym floor.  I felt so much guilt and finally it drove me to do something about it.

So I started thinking about what I was going to do to say goodbye to the binki.  I've heard numerous stories of how people have done this sort of thing.  So I decided, we will pray for Alissa this weekend and on Monday we will tie it to a helium balloon and for family home evening we will support her in letting her binki go.  It probably sounds pathetic, but it's a big deal for us!  Sunday rolled around and it was a SUPER windy day.  I mentioned out loud that it would be a good day to tie the binki to a balloon and let it go.  When we got home from church I blew up a balloon and let Alissa play with it and throw it out the back door just to make sure it wouldn't get caught in the fence and then have a big ordeal of it.  No mention of the binki was ever made to her.  The balloon swirled around in the yard and then lifted up over the fence and disappeared. 

Later that day I asked Alissa where her binki was she said, "binki in the balloon".  It caught me by suprise because I never mentioned the idea to her, she just overheard me.  I got excited and gave her high five and that is what we would do any time the binki was mentioned over the next week.  It has now been 9 days with no binki and we're coping just fine.  :)  I seriously never thought I would get myself so attached to that dumb yet fabulous piece of plastic.  It served it's purpose that's for sure and I'm glad we finally got rid of it.

April 16- Jacob's Wedding

My cousin Jacob got married on the 16th to Jessica Andrus out at the Ucon church.  It was fun to spend the afternoon together as a family all dressed up.

Alissa & Aunt Heidi

Molly Girl.

Uncle Cody & his neices.  My girls love to give him a "tight squeeze" and "pop his head off".  

Kailey, Ella, Kaitlynn & Alissa.

 Here are all the grandaughters with my mom. 

We had fun taking pictures out in the crazy wind.



April 7 - Baby Ryan's Baby Shower

We had a little baby shower/get together for Dustin's nephew David and his wife and their new baby Ryan at our house on the 7th.  They are getting ready to move to Italy with the Air Force for 3 years.

We will miss them!

I attempted to make little cake balls for a treat.  I think they turned out pretty cute!

April 6 - Great Grandma's Birthday

We got to go visit Great Grandma for her birthday again this year.  She turned 88 and says she is feeling pretty darn good.  Isn't it amazing that my girls have 2 great, great grandma's?  We're pretty lucky.

April 13- Molly 8.5 months

I have been pretty bad about updating on Molly through this first year, but something is better than nothing is my motivation today.

Molly weighs 21.5 lbs (only 3 lbs away from Alissa now)
She is rolling everywhere!  She rolled off my bed yesterday so now things are going to get tricky.
Gets on her knees to crawl, but doesn't actually crawl yet.
Says "da da" all day.  Which we all know means mom :)
Imitates you sticking your tounge out or clapping your hands.
Eats super well by herself and doesn't really turn any food away.  She loves to eat!
Is still nursing, but only a few times a day now.
Still has stranger danger but loves and is comfortable with the people she lives with.
She dances to music by bouncing and waving her hands.
Nicknames:  Moll, Molls, Molly girl

She is such a sweet heart.  She is usually pretty content as long as mom is nearby or holding her.  SPOILED!  That's ok, they just grow so fast!  Love you Molly girl!

April 13 - Utah Trip 2011

My mom and I and the girls loaded up Friday and went to Logan to visit Baby Animal Days at the American West Heritage Center. 

My kids and I love going there and this would be our 4th visit.  Unfortunately it snowed giant, wet flakes all day, we only got to see a few animals and had to heave the stroller through the muddy ground. 

But we still had fun.  With a little help from the man running the booth, Ella won 2 frogs.  Yay? 

The kids absolute best part of the whole trip was swimming in freezing motel water and jumping on the bed.  I have so many memories of my dad getting so mad at us doing this.  I guess that's why I think it's funny when my girls do it.  (only on the 1st floor)  Besides we don't visit motels very often so why not have fun?

Who wants to go swimming??  ME!!

We got to visit some of our favorite stores: Hobby Lobby, Sugar & Spice and Tai Pan.  And eat some yummy food at the Mayan and ice cream at Charlie's.

Saturday night we got to watch my cousins dance in a BYU ballroom show which was incredible and Sunday we got to hear my cousin Nathan talk in church before he leaves for his mission and visit with family we don't get to see too often.

April 1 - Picnic at the Park

Friday the 1st we ordered a pizza and took it to McCowin park and sat on a blanket and had a picnic.  This is a weekly thing for the kids and I during the summer, but it was extra special to have dad there.   The kids were LOVING playing outside and I was LOVING having my husband as company on the blanket as well as an extra set of eyes to watch the kids. 

Dad & Ella swinging.

Alissa running SO fast!

I'm wishing for some sunshine and warmer weather.

April 1 - 4 Generation Temple Trip

This week I had the opportunity to attend the temple with my mom, grandma and great grandma.  I felt pretty lucky to be a part of 4 generations.  I made sure we got a picture in front of the temple before going in.  I am sure I will always cherish this picture.

March 29th - P is for PARTY!

This weekend Dustin was out of town fishing so we decided to do some fun things.  I let Ella invite 2 friends over on Friday night to have a party.  After we started planning for it we decided it was a "p" party.  They thought of as many things as they could that we were doing with letter P.  They wore their pajamas and brought their book-its from school for a free mini pizza.  We ordered pizza and ate pears and pink punch with it.  They played Barbies and then watched the new Barbie Fairy Secrets movie.  They called it Princess Barbie movie though.  Of course they requested popcorn for the movie and they had fun dancing to the fun music.  After it was all over we painted their fingernails and toenails.  It was a perfect night for three friends.

Saturday morning we did our chores like normal and then planned to go to the river and feed the ducks.  The girls love feeding the ducks, but honestly I think I enjoy it just as much as they do.  It's so fun and I especially love that the temple is in sight at all times down there.

I realized that I am most definitely out numbered by these kids.  I made Ella the "mini mom" and asked her to help me take care of the kids.  She does an excellent job.  I put Molly in the stroller, Alissa was strapped into a backpack with a leash and Ella took great care of herself.  We had a fun time, but missed dad a lot!

Ella's favorite was dumping bread out on the grass and letting seagulls come peck at it.  When there was about 20 seagulls she would run at them with a stick and scare them away.  Pretty funny!