5 Kylie is PRE-crawling

Kylie sure isn't in a big hurry to get moving. She has started to scoot around a bit on her tummy, but mostly is content to just sit & play with toys within reach.

4 Jammin'

Saying Allie is into Strawberry Shortcake is an understatement! She has dolls, a pillow case, coloring books, DVDs, and even a chopstick of her favorite gal. Today I got out the new 'Straw-Cake' CD..."Jammin". It was a hit!!! She already knew most of the songs from the movies. She's been singing along & dancing for 2 hours! Here is a bit of video I got of her dancing.


Note: sorry about the side-ways thing. I'll know better for next time.

6 I appolgize for the delays...they will be more frequent I fear

Yes, I know I have been aloof lately. Well, if I was treading water teaching the USU Stat 1040 Wednesday night class on top of 20 hours a week for the Center for Epidemiological Studies AND being a full-time-stay-at-home mommy to an teething infant & a potty-training pre-schooler, now I'm drowning with teaching ANOTHER USU class (stat 1040 broadcast/distance ed Tues & Thursday mornings) on top of all that. (To put it in perspective three class alone is considered full time, so I'm over full-time now.) I started writing a post about HOW I ended up in this situation, but it never got finished. Keeping that in mind, I haven't downloaded any pictures from my camera for a while. Although I don't have a lot of time, I did want to post a few updates.

1. Potty Training: 2 steps forward, 1 step back
After a week of no accidents, Allie figured out how to do #2 in the potty, but became inconsistent with #1. Now she is treating her sleeping panties (i.e. pull-ups) like a diaper - only going for fun. I'm battling the age old question of should I let her learn on her own (& clean up accidents)? I don't want to give her a complex about it, so I just took all the panties & pull-ups way. Back to diapers. We'll re-evaluate in a week.

2. My husband wins the award today!
I left bright and early this morning (leaving my family all in bed) to run a few errand in town, before running my campus errand, before teaching my class. I left Nate a list of 'chores' to do, but didn't expect much. WOW was I wrong. He did everything on my list by my return at noon! Swept AND MOPPED the kitchen, did dishes, moved/folded/put away 2 loads of laundry, took out all the garbages & made all the beds. This while tending to the girls (clothes, food, naps, ect). EVEN MORE he installed the new kitchen sink facet that I bought a year ago & didn't even mention. WOW oh WOW! Let me tell you, I was blown away!!!!!!

3. MORE praise for my husband!!!
Last night Nate painted our downstairs bathroom & another bedroom. Pictures to come...soon?

3 We are doing a happy dance

Yes!!! Allie wore panties ALL days long and stayed dry. She even used the potty at a friend's house & at a store (both firsts). She got to wear "sleeping panties" (pull-ups) during nap, but that's it. It will be interesting to see how tomorrow goes, especially with church. We are definitely on the right track!

3 Where's Rudolf?

Yesterday, Allie came to me with a jacket & sandals proclaiming she was off to play in the snow. What a silly! Her resolve wasn't damped when I insisted she wear all the snow gear: snow pants, coat, gloves, & boots. Once appropriately dressed she jump (literally) outside & into the snow banks. Kylie & I watched out the front window as Allie played in the snow. She even made a snow angle "ALL BY MYSELF" (the new catch phrase).

A little while later, as I was busying about the house, I heard tapping at the back door. There was Allie, minus the boots & gloves (discarded on the back steps). "MOMMY, I SAW TWO REINDEER!" Just as I was about to reminder that this wasn't the North Pole, I looked up to see two real deer jumping through the neighborhood backyards! She was right.

Update: Allie has been going pee-pee's in the potty (big & small) about three times a day for most of the week. I think she might be on to something! She's keeping her diapers dry for the most part, but had no desire to wear big-girl panties. Oh, well. I guess it will happen...eventually.

1 I'm back!

After a holiday break, I'm back to the world of posting. If you wondered where I've been, just scroll down. Since I had a break from both of my payroll jobs, I took the time to enjoy LOTS of time with my family...immediate & extended. I've noticed that some of you haven't been posting much lately either. OKAY, BREAK OVER ;) LOL I want to see your holiday pictures, so get them up there.

5 Resolutions 2008

I started my New Year's Resolutions a little early this year. I've got the standard eat better, work out more, get more sleep, ect. ideas but my main focus for the past few weeks has been the Fly lady way of life. If you don't know what I'm talking about, neither did I two weeks ago. Now I'm a Fly-baby with a shiny sink. After MANY friends had mentioned the www.flylady.com website I had to check it out...and you should, too. BUT not until you have a bit of time to check it out. It is like information overload. I would be overwhelmed, but they stress BABYSTEPS to gain control of your home. I'm really excited about this, so look for more post about my adventures in FLYing lessons.

One of my first lessons was creating a bedtime routine for Allie. This was easy, as we pretty much have one down. Last night I drew the sign & this morning she colored it. Allie LOVED the colored pencils!

I bet you are curious, so let me know what you think when you check out the site.

0 More Paper Dolls

While we were in Rexburg after Christmas, my sister Maren & I made more Cricut paper dolls. I made a pair of boys to go with the three girls I made with my other sister, Abby, a few weeks ago. All the pieces are laminated & fixed with sticky-back velcro. I even made the clear plastic pouch to hold them. They are our CHURCH dollies.
{CLICK ON THE PICTURE BELOW FOR A LARGER VIEW}

I've had my cricut for just over a year & have LOVED it! BUT the warranty is just one year. I have been ill for weeks as my Cricut has been getting sicker & sicker. It started freezing up after our Nov/Dec Bear Lake Scrap Retreat (my Cricut's birthday). Then the power button started sticking. I called customer support when the issues started and we did a manual reset that seemed to help at first. They asked me several times it I still had my recite, but alas I don't. The last straw came when it started shifting the mat (that holds the paper) during cutting. Crooked cuts are worthless. So with a heavy heart, I called CS again last week. Again they asked about the recite. Without it, I was told they could fix it, but would charge parts & labor. Drat! But, then she said she would check with her supervisor. HOPE! I almost screamed when she came back to tell me they would make a "one-time exception" and a NEW CRICUT was on its way & to follow the directions to return the old one. YEAH!!!!! It came TODAY!!! I have nothing but praise to sing for Provo Craft. What a great company! If anyone is on the fence about purchasing a die cutting machine, this is the one to get! Well worth the $$$!!!!!

2 Two Princesses

Today the girls got dressed up.

Kylie is Tinkerbell & Allie is Sleeping Beauty.
Look VERY closely...Kylie is sporting her FIRST ponytail, pathetic as it may be!

I love watching the girls interact. Is the the biggest blessing, one I am grateful for everyday.


I picked up this play makeup-hair dryer (works!) set in Target on Black Friday. It was a total impulse buy, but I'm so glad. A week after I bought it Allie really started getting interested in my make-up routine. She asks what every is & why I do it. She is growing up WAY too fast!

0 Days after Christmas

The day after Christmas, we headed to Iceburg...I mean Rexburg...to visit my parents & family. I thought we had lots of snow in Cache Valley, but they had easily DOUBLE! Here is a cute picture of Kylie.

"KATE-&-ALLIE" has become a single word in our family's vocabulary. It refers to PURE CHAOS! Allie is 2 1/2 & her cousin Kate is almost 2 and SILENCE is always a sign of trouble when they are together. This is a shot of an innocent moment for them.

When we returned home we were able to spend an evening with more family. The kids loved wrestling uncle Nate.

2 Christmas Day 2007

After a late night, we got a good night's sleep. We actually woke the girls up at 8am, which is an hour after they usually get up! Allie was a bit slow to wake, until Nate asked her is she wanted to see if Santa had come. That was all it took and she was up! She was excited to see Santa had brought her the scooter and helmet she had asked for, but kept saying "now Lou needs one." (Lou is her best friend next door) How sweet! She also got a load of dress-ups. I'm so glad I got the plastic rubber-maid drawer unit to keep them in, too.

I also sewed the playhouse tent that slips over a card table, complete with matching pillows of all sizes.


Note to self: LESS IS MORE!
I didn't think we had many gifts for the girls, but after un-wrapping about 3 gifts Allie was done. She just wanted to play. Even after opening more throughout the day, there were still 3 under the tree after she went to bed. I've stored then in my closet for a rainy day. By far, her favorite gift was a talking/singing plush Strawberry Shortcake doll. Of course this is because it was the cheapest gift of all...in fact it was free! I've been hunting for Strawberry related gifts for months, since Allie is a total fan of "Straw-Cake". I guess this isn't her year because I couldn't find much. I was complaining to my neighbor Teresa when she offered this doll that she had gotten for one of her girls a few years ago, but that they hadn't played with in years. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

The Sorensen clan joined us for our traditional Christmas morning BRUNCH.
(no pictures - what was I thinking?)
We had hash browns, bacon, sasage, eggs, & some undercooked Christmas rolls.
I've got to try my sister-in-law's recipe again!

Christmas afternoon was spent at Nate's brother Paul's house. His wife, Maho, is an excellent hostest & we had a fabulous HAM dinner & more games.

Grandma JoAnne & Grandpa Eldon Schwartz got Allie a set of play jewelry & 8 pairs of dress-up shoes. Talk about bling-this girls is set!

2 Christmas Eve 2007

Christmas Eve morning we took the girls to the Mall to see Santa Clause. Yes, it was totally last min! It turned out to be a good thing, though. We went first thing in the morning and the mall was almost empty. There wasn't anyone in line, so we got to walk right up to the big guy...who was asleep & his hat was falling off. He was a mellow Santa & didn't say much - not that our girls would have been intimidated. We plopped the girls on his lap, got this scrapbook shot, & went home. Mission accomplished.

Christmas Eve evening was spent at Nate's parent's home. We ate our traditional Papa Murphy's pizza & played the card game 'Can Field'.

The teenage cousins couldn't get enough of Kylie's "baby bird" grins. I think they took about 1,000 photos of her.

Nate's older brother, Layne, slipped this sweatshirt on Allie while we weren't watching. He had it made especially for her. The front simply says "BUSINESS". The back boasts "NO DEAL TOO BIG TOO SEAL". We know that Layne didn't have any help on this one; just check the spelling.

A week before, I picked up this little dinosaur pinata for the kids. Allie was so excited to get the candy, bouncy balls, & toy necklaces she helped pick to stuff it with, but when it came time to begin the festivities, Allie (youngest competitor designated to go first) refused to hit poor dino. We'd been explaining all week about breaking him open to get the goodies, but when came down to it, she just couldn't do it. She just laid down her weapon of war & backed away. We had to calm her as tears flowed when the cousins took their turns. I just prayed for a quick ending, but that wasn't to come. Not only was dino a strong guy, but Nate & Layne wraped him in DUCT TAPE (to keep the innards from popping out)! The little kids weren't having any luck, so we let the teenagers take turns...still no sign of damage. Nate even had a go, but the stick broke & the end hit his brother Paul in the foot. Finally, uncle Layne got out his pocket knife, which upset poor Allie further. The worst came when the head finally gave way & went flying across the garage. Allie wailed! There was no stopping the tears now. Aunt Julie scooped her up to give her some therapy.

Finally dino gave way & the treats spilled on the floor. Allie wipe her tears & ran to get her share of the good. Whooh! For days she recited what had happened to the "pin-in-ah-ta," always ending with "get another one...at the grocery store." Well, we will see about that.

Note to self: Smarties are NOT good fill for a pinata. Too delicate. Next time we'll go for batter resistant treats, like tootsie rolls.