some things i love...

-taking a tasty family nap on the weekends
-watching the girls run over to the front window so they can watch the "garbag guck" drive by on monday mornings
-going on dates with my favorite guy (and beating him at mini-golf:)
-freshly mopped kitchen floors
-reading good books
-taking walks with my family
-watching the girls fold their chubby little arms for prayer and tell each other to shush
-baking
-hearing the front door open at 3pm when jordan gets home from work
-listening to my girls singing in the other room
-going to nursery (this is our calling in our ward and we are having a ball)
-taking a few quiet moments in the mornings to read the scriptures and pray
-finding a swimsuit online that might actually work
-helping people feel better through massage
-painting mini toe nails
and much, much more:)

partying "last airbender" style...

the entire four years we have been married, i have never really done anything spectacular for jordan's birthday. we usually just end up going out to dinner and having some sort of family party on the nearest sunday to the date. we always have a good time, but this year i wanted to really go all out. so, with the help of my sister and our dear friend sally (the arteest), the "avatar: the last airbender" surprise party was set in motion...



surprise!







jordan thought we were dropping the kids off at my sister's so that we could go out to dinner... little did he know that the party of all parties was waiting for his arrival...




we had element bending games, a yummy spread of chinese food (thanks costco), and awesome paper lanterns and cartoon paintings to decorate...






the kids and adults enjoyed themselves-- but best of all, my big adult kid was completely surprised and thought it was the best party ever:)







p.s. if you are confused as to why we all have blue arrows on our heads, i recommend you watch the series. after a 5 episode commitment, you will realize that it is a show very worthy of your time:)

do you ever find yourself whining over very small things that don't make a bit of difference in the long run, but seem like a really BIG deal at the time? the worst part is when you look back and feel really silly for every being upset or overwhelmed by something so small because you realize how incredibly blessed you really are....

the girls spilled an entire pitcher of orange juice all over the floor the other day, and this is why i am now grateful for it:
- my girls are typical, inquisitive 2-year-olds who are right on target for their age
- they have healthy and strong bodies that were able to walk them over to the fridge, open the door, and lift the heavy pitcher out of the refrigerator
- they were working together to get the job done--they are learning about teamwork
- they smiled really cute, teethy grins at me when i discovered them

...yeah, i guess sticky floors aren't so bad in the great, grand scheme of things...

nummy...

avery wearing my rain boots...

fun new bath toys from grandma and grandpa:)

you might think me weird, but have you ever just wanted to eat your little ones all up? sometimes my girls are just so stinkin' cute and delicious-looking, that all i can think about is getting a good nibble. lucky for me, they generally don't mind if i steal a kiss, or a squeeze from their very pinch-able cheeks and thighs. and it's a good thing too, because they sure endure a lot of it with me as their mom:) anyway, here are a few things the kiddos have been doing lately to enhance their cuteness...

-- recently they found grandpa's cane in the house and we taught them how to do the can-can to the tune of 'new york, new york' while holding the cane in both hands. it is pretty darn cute!
-- they also love to jump off of anything. lately their favorite has been the fireplace, which i am fine with because it is within a safe distance from the floor. they best part is they usually shout something out before the big leap like "look!" or "watch this mama!". the best one i have heard lately is "i'm watching!"-- as that is usually what i say in response their getting my attention:)
-- one of my favorite things to observe is when they echo me and try mothering each other. for instance if i say something like "please eat your dinner tilly" avery will persist with "eat dinner, kay tills?" in the cutest, squeaky voice, like she is talking to a baby. oh, i love em!
-- another thing they have been doing lately is spilling their drinks only to ask for something to wipe it up. i admit, the spilling is not so cute most of the time, but i can't help but smile when i hear "need a wipe, please?"
-- perhaps one of my favorite hours with my girls is the hour right before dinner. i used to dread this hour--it's not easy trying to accomplish something in a kitchen with two two-year-olds under foot. but when i had the idea to include them in on the cooking, it made a huge difference! the look of pride on their chubby little faces when they pour a cup of rice in the cooker, or help mix a batter is priceless. they just stand on chairs near the counter and look on when something is too hot or dangerous. i love my little helpers. they are at such a fun age.
-- we also do music makers (kind of a musical joy school) at my sister's every tuesday, and i just love seeing them in that setting; learning new songs with motions, putting the puppets away when it's time, and marching with instruments. however, my absolute favorite part of music makers is when they do a spotlight song. this is when one child from the group stands in front of everyone and sings a solo. oh how i love to watch my girls sing snowman, wiseman, abc's, twinkle, and the like with a gooney grin from all the attention. they always do so well. i think they may grow up to be singers:)
-- before we left for our vacation to california, the girls talked about "sitting on the potty" non-stop. since we have come home, there has been little progress on that front, but we'll get there. i really don't want to rush anything only to regress because they weren't really ready. however, it is still really funny to watch them run for the potty now and again, as if they know what they are doing.

that's all i will write about my delicious children for now, but don't worry, there will be more. and have i mentioned lately how wonderful my husband is? cause he is. i will blog about his awesome birthday party soon!

well, hello...

yes i know, december has come and gone, and it is high time i posted something--so here i am. with an update. lucky you:) to begin, i graduated--yippee! what a good feeling it is to no longer have homework due, or classes to attend. don't get me wrong, i absolutely loved the special ed program at byu, and i really loved and will miss being a student; it was the time it took me away from my family that i didn't like. so here's to just being "mom" again!
to celebrate my graduation, we went to disneyland for christmas. jordan had never been, so we really went more for him than the girls--but we all had a wonderful time! it was raining the entire time we were there, but that didn't stop us from enjoying ourselves. and to be perfectly honest, it was kind of nice because the rain kept the crowds away--that means short lines:) our girls were complete troopers in the rain, and on all the rides. they didn't cry once--not even on pirates of the caribbean (which was good since we rode that one a couple of times). yes, our children are awesome.


also, if you haven't been to dinseyland at christmas time, i highly recommend it. i almost felt like it was my first time too, since i had never seen it so decked out in christmas. small world is an entirely different ride at christmas.


the girls really loved dumbo too, but their all time favorite ride at the park? you guessed it, the merry-go-round. we didn't mind taking them on it several times, since there was never a line, but seriously? we came all the way to disneyland to ride on something that can be found at a mall? whatever floats your boat babies...or floats your huge plastic horses, as the case may be...


another really fun detail about disneyland is that my mom came with us. not only was she fun to have around during the day, but she also volunteered to stay with the girls at night in the hotel so that we could go back out while they were sleeping. those late nights were so much fun! we felt like little kids running from ride to ride, ooohing and ahhhing at all the work that goes into the happiest place on earth...



yes, we had a fantastic time, and we can't wait to go back someday when the girls are older.


and did we mention the turkey legs...mmm...



during our trip to southern california, we were also able to visit with my uncle chuck and his family, as well as jordan's uncle john and his family. we had a blast with them, and we were so grateful for their hospitality. we then traveled up north so that we could be with my family during christmas. it was so fun to get all of the siblings and cousins together for some good old fashioned togetherness:)



we also got to meet the newest baby in our family, baby jonah, visit my uncle rich's house to sample his heavenly bbq-ed christmas turkey, and dress up like princesses...


after christmas, we were able to stay long enough to enjoy one swingin' new year's even party--and we even got a visit from the new year's baby!


it was a vacation thoroughly enjoyed, but after so many nights on an air mattress, we are happy to be home.


stick with us--more updates on potty-training (you like that diaper turned loin cloth above?), the new home front, and our cute girls to come soon!

"i will be bock"...

sorry guys. not like you didn't already know, but this blog has definitely taken the back burner lately. unfortunately, now my stove is so crowded i am going to have take it off completely for a while. don't worry, i am not abandoning the blog altogether-- it is just going to be severely neglected for the next 3 months or so while i try to plow through student teaching. so, in the hilarious words of ronith from agt, "i will be bock"...

reaching milestones...

it's true. i am nearing the end of my college career, and the girls are nearing their 2nd birthday (aug 30th). i still have student teaching in the fall, but i am planning on walking next week because the only graduation date after december is in april, and we are not sure we will still be here. the girls, however, will still be 2 no matter where we end up:) i feel like they have grown leaps and bounds in this last little while. they are able to reach everything, get into everything, communicate most things, and make us laugh daily. we are so happy these little rascals are a part of our family. happy birthday girlies:)