A Fly on the Wall

My neighbor Melissa said one time that she wished she could be a fly on the wall of our house sometimes, so she could see what my girls do while I'm busy getting ready, and doing housework. Well, today wouldn't have been the best day to be a fly on the wall! This morning we got up, I exercised, scrubbed the bathroom, and showered. I was getting ready and I heard the girls downstairs laughing and squealing. I thought, "I LOVE it when they play and have fun together." Well, a few minutes later I decided to check on them and see what they had been up to. Looks like they thought the kitchen sink was a nice place for a bath!

Video Overload

Sorry about the 3 videos in a row! I wanted to post a video of Caitlin and Abby singing "I am a Child of God" in Portuguese, so I grabbed the camera tonight, and told them to start singing. The first video clip is actually about the 4th try to get them to sing it without interruptions. Even though Abby still has the hiccups in it.

I thought this was funny. Caitlin started singing, and Abby says, "But I keep burping!" She thinks the hiccups are burps.

Ok...before you watch this last one, let me explain. Actually...nevermind. Watch this one, and then I'll explain after about the end. It's Abby singing "I'll Follow Him in Faith". (I'd advise about the last 10 seconds you turn the volume up a bit...)

So it's hard enough to get a 2-year-old to sit still for anything, so by the end of the song, you can tell she's bored. So of course, at the end of singing this cute spiritual song, she stands up and cranks one on the whoopie cushion with her foot. I about DIED laughing. In fact, I was laughing so hard after I turned the camera off I had tears streaming down my face and Caitlin was so worried about what I was crying about. Maybe I shouldn't think it's funny...but it gave us all a good laugh.

Such a Sweet Break

Well, what more can I say than this has been such a sweet break! It has been so nice to have Nate home for 2 weeks. I will admit, with the weather being so cold lately, and living in a small town, we have been forced to get a little creative to find fun things to do. Nate spent hours (ok, not that long, but it seemed that long to Caitlin) styling Caitlin's hair like this today. (I think there are a total of 17 braids.)


I must say, I would NEVER have the patience to do that...but she looks pretty darn cute!

We made a little obstacle course for the girls in the living room, and had timed races for QUITE a while. They had fun, in their usual attire: dress-ups. Their favorite dress-ups are leotards. I always have long sleeves, pants, and socks on because I am usually cold. I don't know why they insist on wearing these all day, but sometimes I don't get their clothes on for the day before they change into these. Girls are so much fun...can't wait for little Emma Jo!!!

I thought Caitlin was still asleep for a nap the other day, when I heard something in the living room. I went in to find her all 'fancied-up' for the rest of the day. Can't get enough dressing up!!!

These boots don't look quite as ridiculously big when they are actually on Nate's feet. But this picture makes them look gigantic!

We went to Columbia last Friday, and stayed in a hotel overnight. I had had enough of the near or below freezing weather, overcast skies, and nothing to do in Kirksville. Plus, I wanted to get a couple of maternity things to feel a LITTLE bit better about this extra 'baby weight' I've been packin'. It was SO MUCH FUN, and the girls loved staying at the hotel.

Daddy and the girls in the hotel bed. They have enjoyed every minute of him being home for the break. Now...notice the headboard. Nate's got this weakness for doing projects (kind-of like my Slurpee weakness). He can't be home for more than a day or two without wanting to do a project. Which is GREAT for me! Anyways, seeing this headboard at the hotel, he decided he wanted to make one for our bed. So far this week he has made 2 stools for me, and almost finished the headboard. Ahhh....what a guy! In the cold and all. I'll be posting pics when it's done...don't worry!

I'm sad that Nate has to go back to school on Monday, but I am so grateful for the wonderful break we've had. I can't believe that we only have 12.5 weeks until this baby comes!!! I am so excited, and I love to feel her move all the time. She is so ACTIVE...sometimes I can't concentrate on anything else because she is practicing gymnastics routines for minutes on end. So far we've decided on Emma Jo for her name, but we'll have to see if Nate gives his seal of approval. Kids are so much fun, and I can't wait to meet this little baby girl!!

Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!!!!!

Today has been relaxing thus far. We have just been playing around at home, doing some last-minute shopping, and we also took the girls out to lunch. Now they are napping...preparing for a fun night of wassail-making, and other festivities. Caitlin once again is sick, and her eyes are infected too. Just a little FYI for why her eyes look so bad in the pictures. Merry Christmas Eve to all our family and friends! We love and miss you all!!!

Oh What do you do in the Wintertime?

What DO you do in the wintertime around here? I can't figure out what we did last winter to make the time pass, but we've been trying to do some fun creative things this winter while we are cooped up and such. The girls LOVED making their own 'gingerbread' houses. (Ok...so more like graham cracker houses....but SO good to eat!)

Caitlin was a shepherd in the Nativity at our ward's Christmas party. It was SO cute...all of them were Sunbeams. Before Caitlin would try on her 'get-up', she was throwing a fit about it, so I had Abby try it on 1st to try and convince her to wear it. I think they both make cute shepherds. The Elders Quorum pres. commented at the party that she looked like a cross between a shepherd and Indiana Jones. True I guess, but a CUTE cross between them!

Sugar and spice and everything nice...

Abby and Catlin have had the opportunity to chat with Santa 3 times already this season. (To Abby's utter dismay.) This is the ONLY time that Abby didn't cry hysterically when I put her on his lap. And she only didn't cry because she knew our neighbor Melissa was standing right next to Santa with a present for her if she sat on his lap. Ahhh....the bribes.

"No really Santa...I'm ALWAYS this angelic......" I don't know about that.

This is a common occurrence at our house. I have unfortunately passed on my passion of country music on to my girls. Caitlin is a fan, and Abby is a straight-up music loving GENIUS. She'll run in to find me WHENEVER a song comes on that she knows. (Which, by the way, is just about every country song on the radio.) She can name most of the songs before the people even start singing them...before I even know what song it is! She's so smart it's crazy. Oh...and to my utter dismay...their current favorite country singer is Taylor Swift. I must say, it's better than Kellie Pickler, whom they loved listening to Red High Heels this summer. And with all due respect to Taylor Swift...can't they pick someone a little more...well...mature? Oh well...

Yes, this was them rockin' out to Taylor Swift's 'Our Song'. And yes, I gave in and downloaded it onto my computer, so they can listen to it on demand.

So I guess that's what we do in the wintertime. We sing, dance, make things, visit Santa, and dress up. And draw, write and color....the girls favorite past time. Abby's new favorite thing to do is cut with kid scissors. She'll make little cuts around the edges of a paper until there are a million of them!

Despite the nasty weather, we are all healthy, and doing well. Nate has a test tomorrow morning at 8am...and then he is FREE FOR 2 WEEKS!!!!! We are so excited, I can't even tell you. Happy Holidays...and happy last-minute shopping!