SD too!!

Princess SD to your rescue.

SD really wants to play the piano, just like her grand-aunts Bonnie and Laura. She watched for a super long time and tried to play along (despite discouragement from her mom).

Good thing that grand-aunt Bonnie has lots of pianos at her house so that everyone can play.

SD is such a great helper and wants to hold SC all the time.

Afternote: SD has been trying my patience too. Her difficulty today is with house rules that she knows not to break. She love to help with most every chore, even though I have asked her not to. She is a joy to our family and a wonderful big sister to SV and SC.

SV...at her Grand-Aunt's house

After playing outside she had ROSY cheeks.

She is a hard core napper and thumb sucker.

Note her special "blankie" is still in her hand while she sleeps.

Her love for dressing up like a princess did not change just because we were out of state. Her wonderful cousin...well, my first-cousin, her first-cousin-once-removed...helped her and she did prance around like a princess.

Here's a nice cheesy princess pose.

Afternote: I needed to post these today because she has been difficult and I needed to focus on her beautiful, sweet side. I love her dearly even though she has her moments...don't we all. We are working on her "hitting" problem and have tried MANY solutions. If any of you more experienced moms have some advice, please pass it along.

SD Skiing

To preface this movie clip, I want all to know that we love skiing. J and I both took skiing classes in college and decided that we wanted our children to ski. Last year we tried to get SD to go, but could not find rental equipment small enough for her, so this year is her year. J took her to Pomerelle this year and she had 1 lesson (half-day of skiing). The next day J took her to Beaver for a half-day and upgraded her lift ticket after just a little bit from the rope-tow to Little Beaver. Then the next day her took her to back to Beaver. That is where this clip is from...her 3rd day of skiing (first full-day). SV was a bit jealous, but she will have her turn next year.

I have to say that I think that we are adopting the phrase made famous in our extended family (thanks DAVE!)...

"A family that skis together, stays together."

SV Snowplay

Since SV didn't get to go skiing, she got to play in the snow with the boys when they got home. Here she is having some fun on the sled.

All Dressed for Snow

Every President's Day Weekend, we trek to ID and UT for some good ski times. It all started when my cousin Ericka had her mission farewell in 2000 and we went skiing at Pomerelle. It's this little resort in ID that my father grew up skiing. Every year we have a spectacular blue sky ski day there on President's Day weekend. Since the tradition began, however, my grandma's house has been sold (where we all gathered at), BUT my aunt and uncle have opened up their home to keep this little tradition alive. Thanks Grandma, Bonnie & Bruce and Kathy & Rick!! We have widened our ski days to include Beaver in UT, but we ALWAYS have to have one day at Pomerelle. This year, J took SD to Pomerelle, where she skied for the first time.

I really wish I could have been there to watch her.

This isn't just about skiing either, it's about family. I love to spend time with my extended family (which is quite large). Whether playing around-the-world ping-pong or singing around the piano...it's all great! Over the years as I have moved around the country, I have had the opportunity to get to know quite a few of my 1st cousins pretty well, some 2nd cousins, and I am proud to say that SD & SV know some of their 3rd cousins.

I am grateful for the time spent, money spent, and memories made.

SV loves her big, puffy coat.

Opa (between snowballs).

Uncle K & SD on the other end of the snowballs.

J...it's not really snowing, a snowball exploded as I took the picture.

Daddy-daughter team.

President's Day Weekend Snuggles

What a wonderfully nice thing to do

J came outside to play with the girls and this is what he found.

SD knows how to pump, but SV doesn't...so SV needs a little help to keep going.

What a joy it is to see them getting along...because it doesn't always happen. (c:

What babies do best...

Shhhhh! Don't wake the baby.

Lucky wanted to keep us company.

SC always has her hands up by her head...even before she was born.

We actually caught part of her smiling. (c:

Not for long though...then she was back to sleep.

I've been tagged...

First off, I have been trying to get this posted for 3 days...every time I sit down to do it, something has come up. It's been a little rough.

A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning
B. Each player answers the questions about themselves
C. At the end of the post, the player tags 4 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they are tagged


10 years ago I was:

Newly married (by only a few weeks) and living in College Station, TX. J was going to school and I was trying to find a job.


5 things on my 'to do' list today:
1. Shower (cross your fingers for me, I am hoping to get it done before J comes home from work...y'all that have had newborns understand)
2. Laundry (always on the list...as is with most moms I'm sure)
3. Give SC a bath
4. Trip to the store (after J gets home probably)
5. Keep 3 kids alive (so far, so good)


Things I would do if I became a billionaire:
1. Pay off bills (common response, right?)
2. Buy a house (with my own crafty room)
3. Buy a full-size new conversion van (for comfy road-trips)

3 of my bad habits:
1. I procrastinate
2. Not folding laundry (hey, it's clean, who cares if it's wrinkled)
3. Not taking time for myself (we all need outlets, but I can't seem to have time to do mine)


5 places I've lived:
1. Sacramento, CA
2. Frankfurt, Germany
3. Orem, UT
4. San Antonio, TX
5. Richardson, TX


5 jobs I've had:
1. Cashier at Minyard Food Stores
2. Party Hostess at Chuck E. Cheese (I even got to be Chuck on the occasion)
3. Admin person for an Orthodontics office
4. Nanny
5. General Manager for Jamba Juice (before and after merger with Zuka Juice)


Things most people don't know about me:
I received my bachelor degree in Geology (I don't know that much of the extended family knows this) and I LOVE volcanoes and glaciers (their powers amaze me)!!




You've been tagged: Christine, Ashley C., Teagan, Krista