Christmas Card

I had plans of sending out Christmas cards this year.  That plan fell through during the sicknesses and the business of December.  I wanted new family pictures to hang on my wall because Audrey has grown so much since the last ones.  On Christmas Eve we all got dressed and took a few.  Audrey was tired and some of the pictures didn't come out right.  We've planned to give it another try at the end of the week.  There are a few that I'm in love with...here they are.  

We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

Sick

Audrey and I missed our trip back home to see my sisters wedding because I woke up with the stomach flu.   There is nothing I hate more.  A couple days later Audrey got it. She had a couple awful nights and during the day she did a lot of this.  

I felt pretty terrible about missing my sister's wedding.  It was on my mind the entire week. I heard the she was a beautiful bride.  I'm still waiting to see the pictures.  The pictures that I will be missing from.....still sad. 

Moving...again

 I was a little teary as I walked away from our apartment.  I was attached and it happened over such a short period of time.  I watched Audrey do a lot of growing there.  It had become our little sanctuary.  As a result it took me a good week to fall in love with this place.  I'm glad I've finally unpacked all the boxes and life is falling back into normal pace again.  This move was so much harder and I'm not exactly sure why.  I was so overwhelmed and Audrey got sick the day we decided to move.  It was a nightmare.  I just remember sitting there thinking...where's my family when I need them.  A couple hours later I got a call from Merian.  The next day she went shopping with me, unpacked my kitchen, and even started my dinner for me. She and her family have been too kind.  I will never be able to repay her. 

Can I just say....I love not having to share walls and neighbors conversations.  Its weird to have so much space....I'm not sure exactly what to do with it. Once the Christmas decorations come down it's going to be pretty bare. 

 Audrey has been trying to tell me for a week that she just wants to go home.  After being in Utah and then moving it was a difficult transition for her.  She's been doing much better these last couple days.  I think she likes having more space to run.  When the clouds clear up and my backyard isn't a swamp anymore I will have to show her the wonders of playing outside.  I'm sure she will never want to come inside again.  

We decorated for Christmas on Sunday.  We made gingersnaps and rice pudding and decorated the tree together.  Audrey loved helping me decorate...she also loves un-decorating, but we're working on that.

Late Thanksgiving Post

Thanksgiving in pictures.  It was really nice to spend a week at home with Paul last month. We quilted, colored, made food, ate food, made headbands, celebrated birthdays and babies,talked and laughed, played with blocks, and saw animals.  Audrey got to ride her first horse....something a mother can be proud of.  

There's nothing like home.  Hours after arriving it felt like I had never left.  I love having long conversations with my Dad in the morning before everyone gets up.  I love spending time with my sisters in the bathroom as we get ready for the day.  I love being in the kitchen with my Mom.  I love movie nights at Jenn and Derricks.  I love talking about the old times with my brothers, and creating new memories with Paul's brothers.  I love watching Audrey spend time with each of her grandparents...even if it's only from a distance. I love to listen to Paul have long conversations with his Dad that he could never have with me.   But most of all I am so grateful to be apart of such an amazing family and that I have the resources to be able to go home to visit them.   

Audrey's Animal Noises

Her favorite noise to make has always been the lion. Lately she does a lot of Elephant.  

It just ain't like it used to be...

Hahaha...can't go a Halloween without having a posed scared photo.  Totally classic.    

We had our ward Halloween Party Saturday Night.  I had good intentions with the costumes but I seemed to have one blunder after another.   I was making Paul's costume.  I had him try it on before I finished and he told me he looked like the green giant.  I gave up and let him be the green giant....I'm pretty sure he didn't want to be Peter Pan anyway.  After finding Audrey's tinker bell costume, I was looking for the perfect blue night gown that I could refashion at the thrift store to be Wendy but came up empty handed.  I settled for refashioning something into a fairy costume.
Next year, like every year, I commit to start earlier.  Earlier means crazy awesome costumes!    
I found out this year that I can no longer allow myself to eat endless amounts of sugar without side effects. ugh!  It must be a sign that I'm getting older.  I also found out trunk-or-treat isn't like it used to be when I was a kid.  A plain dark trunk with scary music just isn't acceptable anymore.  Next year I will be prepared to deck my trunk out with all kinds of scariness.  I also realized that polite trick-or-treating is a thing of the past.  If you want 20 pieces of candy just stick your grimy little fingers in there and take what you please.  And by all means, yell things like...."I'm not leaving till I get my candy!"  I bought 4 bags of candy thinking that I would have a few Snickers left for myself but I was sad to find out that the ward we were combining with had 170 children in their primary!  No Snickers for me.  By the time we started with the trunk-or-treat Audrey was exhausted.  She didn't even get to visit one trunk.  Maybe next year.  Maybe tomorrow I'll get brave enough to visit my next door neighbor....or maybe I won't.   

Girly Girl

Audrey loves everything girly.  She loves to pretend to put on her make up in the mornings with me.  She loves painted toes, crossing her legs, and headbands.  The only problem is that she likes to touch and look at the headbands, which isn't conducive to keeping them on her head.  A few weeks ago I took on a project.  I wanted to learn how to make all the cute headbands that I see floating around facebook and pinterest.  It took me a couple weeks to actually get up the ambition to do it.  I was pretty proud of the results.  

Now back to working on the Halloween Costumes.    

The Foot Book Commentary

She loves to read books.  This is one of her favorites.  Her commentary is always the thing that keeps me reading.  I can't get enough.

Halloween Costumes

I love Halloween!  I love this time of year.  

 This weeks objective: make Halloween costumes. I'm so excited! I have no idea what I'm going to do.  Originally I wanted Audrey to be Tinkerbell.  Then I couldn't find any white wings, so I settled for blue ones.  She might have to be a generic fairy.  Unless I can find something amazing at the thrift store tomorrow.  I have a feeling we are going to make magic!  I'm going to have to re-sew the straps, but doesn't she look so cute in her wings?

Dancing, Sleeping, Missing, and a Visit

We had new neighbors move in upstairs a couple of weeks ago.  I would say I hate them...but some how the word seems a little strong because I've never really met them.  They are SO loud.  If I didn't know any better I would think that they were having a Dance Dance Revolution Party ALL DAY LONG.  Considering I don't think anyone can dance for that long without taking a break I don't think that's the reason.   A couple of days ago I became THAT NEIGHBOR, you know the one that knocks the broom handle against the ceiling as hard as they can.  I know they can hear me because magically it's quite for 5 minutes...and then it starts all over again.  While Paul's parents were here last weekend they said they thought it was thunder....it's that bad.  I wouldn't mind if it was just walking, but the 24/7 jumping has got to stop. Do you think they would stop if I brought them cookies?
Getting off my soap box now. 

I feel so liberated.  Who knew having your child sleep for longer periods of time could make you feel so good.  I had created this monster child.  When she was 2 months old she started having really bad stomach aches and constipation.  I never felt like I could let her cry because most of the time she was crying because she was in pain.  She got to the point were she required me to sleep with her.  Finally we solved her stomach aches with what I call liquid gold, but I was still fighting her when it came to sleep.  I tried everything short of letting her cry.  I didn't think I could be that Mom. After a really bad week with really no sleep I decided to start letting her cry.  The first couple times were SO HARD.  It required a large tub of ice cream and constant reassurance from my sister to get through.   Then she got sick which made her go backwards.  Monday I started again and she took a 2 hour nap today....2 HOURS!!!  It was so much easier the second time around....less ice cream was consumed.  I am one happy Mom, and she is one happy baby!

Today I am missing my husband.  He left me to fly to Fairfax, Virginia for work a week ago. It is the first time I have ever been alone in my life!  He comes home tomorrow and I couldn't be happier!

 Right before Paul left we spend a great weekend with his family.  Paul's parents came down to visit for a few days.  Anne bought us some books (thank you!).  She must know it's Audrey's favorite thing to do.  I was getting bored of reading the same ones over and over.  Thanks Ana and Grandpa for coming to visit.  We feel bad that it ended in the stomach flu.  We hope you are feeling better!

Lets go fly a Kite...or an Airplane

We went flying.  This airplane finally took it's maiden voyage.  It's really fun for me to watch Paul do something he loves.  He's been flying these things since he was a kid. From building them to flying them...he loves it!  He took a class at BYU his last semester where all they did was build and fly airplanes.  Awesome.  I love that he has something to take his mind away from the daily grind. 

 Someday I might try my hand at flying one of these, but for now I'm just content to sit and watch.  I have this nightmare that it might come whirling down out of control and crash into pieces under my control.  Audrey has enough interest in watching it that I'm sure when she gets old enough she'll want to try too.  Maybe we'll start with the simulator.   

 She loves my sun glasses.  I've thought of getting her a pair, but I'm sure they would spend more time off her face than on.  

 Awesome but Awkward wave.  

Audrey's Babble

This little girl loves to talk.  She never stops . 

Here's to Firsts

As you all know I picked up photography as a hobby about 7...8 months ago.  I have never really intended to take pictures professionally.  The only thing I've ever wanted is to be able to take beautiful pictures of my kids and help other people when there's a need.  I didn't expect such an experience to come along so soon...to say I was not ready was an understatement.

This last week, days before her wedding Angela asked me if I would take her pictures.  I've been nervous, scared, and excited.  It came and went, I made mistakes, and learned a lot. I'm so happy Angela trusted me enough on such a special day.  She and her husband got married yesterday and got baptized today with their two daughters. I'm so happy for them and this new chapter that they have started together.

I know you're dying to see so...Here's just a few of my favorites.

My favorite Elders (the ones that serve in our ward) are in the Black.  They are awesome!

I had to stuff this one in there just because they are so cute!

Like Mother Like Daughter

I have an unnatural obsession with snapping.  I've never been able to snap or whistle.  So naturally I was always jealous of those who could.  It got even worse when I became an adult.  

When a 5 year old asks you if you can snap, you can't tell them you can't.  So, you cross your fingers hoping that this time it actually works only to be disappointed by a very pitiful finger rub.  Then the 5 year old proceeds to show you up with a loud echoing snap.  Crap.  Was I just out snapped by a 5 year old?  

This is when jealousy turned into an obsession.  

In my last choir concert of before I graduated from college my professor announced that we would be performing this.  I was excited....and then I remembered I couldn't snap. Contrary to popular belief, practice does not always make perfect.  I spent a lot of time working on it with Paul.  Yes, I realize how ridiculous I sound.  It wasn't until months after the concert that I picked it up.  I still find myself snapping all the time because I'm so pleased with myself for actually getting it.  

Today I was eating dinner with Audrey and she started snapping. Obviously no sound coming out of those little fingers yet but she was actually snapping.  I starting laughing out loud.  I never realize how much I do something until I see Audrey doing it.  This is something I must get on video in the future.      

Within the last couple weeks she started putting my shoes on.  She always gets frustrated when they don't stay.  I don't think she understands that her little feet are too small.  

Goodbye

  Audrey brought me my shoes this morning and waved goodbye.  Either she wants to get rid of me or she wants to go somewhere.  I put my shoes on and started toward the door.  She was right at my feet with arms stretched upward still waving goodbye.  I guess it's time to get out of the house today.  Everyday I am amazed at how well she communicates without words.  

One of my new loves is the splash pad.  We go almost every week with a few friends.  Audrey loves to splash around and I love to spend a little bit of time with some of the Moms in the neighborhood.  

 Drinking the water seems to be standard among the kids that come here.  I suppose whatever makes them happy.... This our friend Garrett.  One of the two boys Audrey likes to follow around.  I think she has a crush, and he doesn't seem to mind.  I didn't get any pictures of Audrey in the water because she wouldn't let me leave her side.
 She's walking well enough now that I don't think she'll care where I am the next time we go.

Walking video coming soon....

Something New

Paul and I may have bought a new car.  I feel very spoiled.  I've fallen in love.  You may wonder why we bought such a large vehicle.  The answer is simple.  Our car doesn't hold a second car seat (no this is not an announcement) and I plan on having more than one child.  Paul often gives rides to new converts and investigators. The best reason of all....when my family or Paul's family comes to visit it will be nice to be able to carry more bodies.  Beach trips will be a lot more comfortable!  I thought I wanted an SUV, but the SUV I wanted was way less bang for my buck.
I have found a whole new life in owning a second car.  Where I stayed in the house all day...which can get very very boring and sometimes depressing.  Now I have a lot more freedom to go to the library, grocery shopping, to the splash pad and all other sorts of activities.
Some of you have requested to see her....here she is

   So for those of you itching to get away...we are only a plane ride away!