C.G. 3 months old

a gift from Penny... so sweet. sweeter than sweet! we love it.

{she also made the silver bracelet evan had with his name and birth date on it. he wore it to his finalization, blessing and sealing. :) }

done. :)

the end...

Friday 5 (on Saturday)

1.Something you are OCD about:

Nothing

2. Your favorite quote:

The lyrics to Michael's song he wrote and the lyrics to "Love Songs" by Flemming & John

3. What is the farthest you have been from home?

Puerto Vallarta Mexico in 1992 for my Senior Trip

4. Do you do a real or fake Christmas tree?

I 'do' a fake one but prefer a real one. I love the smell and freshness. I think I will get a real one this year since we will be home. Ahhh...

5. First Blog you ever read?

I have no idea but maybe it was for photography?

Daddy-Daughter Time

Pictures of the weeks

Here you go folks, the latest installment of (almost all our) family photos. There were some really really cute ones I took with Michael and Cora having Daddy - daughter time/conversation but, we'll say, the 'daddy' part didn't like how he was dressed so, he will work on that for the future. :) Otherwise the pictures are actually in opposite order of when they were taken the first you see were just taken today. the last one was taken the 15th of the month. Have fun. I'm excited to hear what you think....

one of these kids is too small but supposed to be in this new exersaucer. the other is moonlighting as his younger self...

mommy - son time. you're lucky i got THESE! ha ha ha ha.

a little mommy - daughter time. i couldn't pick a favorite, sorry.

smokey the dog

yes, she's still blond but here you can see her potential for being a brunette. ;)

Aladdin?

pshh... adorableness.

mom & evan LOVE his tunnel, it is one of the best 'toys' you can get your kids in my opinion.

newest talent: making bubbles :)

where oh where has my johnny jump gone...

So those of you that have followed my blog for the past 2 years know that Evan LIVED in his doorway jumper from about a month or two on. He LOVED it so so sooo much and so did we cause it gave him something to do and he was adorable in it. {you'll have to go to old posts from 2008 November or December to see how it started} Well... I can't find it anywhere!? :( I want it for Cora Grace now but it has disappeared from where I thought I stored it. I have ZERO memory left and thought I had lent it to my friend but I didn't. I do remember seeing it in the last 6 months I thought so if you are reading this and possibly YOU are the friend I lent it to, let me know so I can feel better about myself and memory of where I thought I put it.

Someday...

...I'll remember these days that a burp cloth served well as your blanket :), sleep tight sweet baby. Xoxo

-- Sent from my Palm Pixi

Calling all babysitters...

So, this week our beloved in-home babysitter of under 2 months, Text messaged me that she can't watch the kids anymore. UGH! I don't have to go into our disappointment or why she felt she wasn't going to be up to it anymore. The point is, we need a permanent babysitter asap! I have many very LOVELY friends that have helped in the past and are willing and some able to help us in the future at least for a little while but we need a permanent babysitter for the two adorable miracles we have and you all love. It is only 2 days a week and for about 8 hours a day. I hope by putting this on here, since I'm no longer on facebook, someone will know someone who knows someone etc. I would most prefer someone LDS that is mature, reliable and responsible and oh... loves adorable children and spastic moms of those children! But if they meet the other criteria, please tell me about them. If you need my email, leave yours if I don't have it and I will get back to you at my earliest convenience. ;) I'm not posting days needed on the internet or payment, so call or email me. So there it is, praying and pleading for an answer to my dilemma. I hope you will help us out. :)

I am from "Tumble Weeds"....

I am from Holly Hobby wallpaper, a rectangular trampoline, from Nature's Sunshine and Chevron Gas.
I am from "the Compound", Tennis court, Orchard, peaceful clear skies with occasional clouds going by.
I am from the Tumble Weeds, Honeysuckle, Avocado, the Pepper Tree, Star Jasmine, Dirt.
I am from Christmas Eve Dinners, Zuma and Tweekiness, from "E" and Allan William and Karla Ellen.
I am from Sarcasm and Humor.
From Having a beautiful name and saying "Naughty Naughty Girl" and "Pinopp".
I am from "Here's a prayer" from mom and Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam or I am a Child of God..
I'm from Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, Germany and Stockholm, Steak and sour cream, Spaghetti or Burgers on Sundays and homemade Thousand Island Dressing & Croutons.
From the calling Jesse to close the cupboard, the waking Jenalyn up with our laughing, and the 'favorite son'

I am from the Master bedroom fireplace mantle and deep recesses of the office or Dad's desk drawers full of old teeth or Mom's fishbowl of photos and report cards and important newspapers under our parents bed.

If you want to understand this and do it yourself, go here; http://www.swva.net/fred1st/wif.htm

:) I would love if my family did this and sent me an email of 'their story' and I can't wait to see if any of my friends do it too on their blogs. :) Thank you Gretchen!

Do you love Gretchen? We do. :)

Our friend Gretchen is one of the busiest women and mom's we know. A busy summer with her active four children and husband... not to mention all those crazy extended family members they always seem to hang around with ;)... we were still able to finally get our 2 crazy schedules together for a newest baby visit a couple weeks ago. Lucky for us, it also involved her bringing one cute daughter and her camera. We love you Gretchen, thank you for sharing your talent with us and especially your love and excitement for the gift we have been given. xoxo.

Here are a few of my favorite moments:

Hello?

-- Sent from my Palm Pixi

Opinions

So I just told some friends today that I don't like to blog about negative things but since I don't have facebook anymore to make a status report.

I do not know why I cannot stay away from a report of an abused child in the news! Not only can I not turn my head, I can't even blink! I am ABSOLUTELY heart broken about the report that the mother in South Carolina that yesterday claimed her car 'accidentally' went in the river with her 2 year old and 18 month old still strapped in their car seats. Today she has admitted to suffocating them first after a hard knocks conversation with her mother. This woman is so horrible. Her life is sad but ultimately, we are responsible for our own choices in this life and taking a life is taking a life. She not only took two lives but the lives of two innocent children that were entrusted and gifted to her from God. The ONLY peace I get from this story is the fact that they died in innocence and are spared the further abuse their 'mother' would have caused them. It just makes me soooo soo so sad and I wish I could have these little boys for my own, to love and hug and encourage.
I hope people out there that are feeling the stress she was feeling will reach out for support from their family or friends.

Cora Grace's "Finished" Room

Before I start on the Room report, I just had to put a couple sweet shots up. Keep in mind you can click the pictures to make them larger to see the details, if you want. Enjoy! I'd love some feed back so please tell me what you think. :)

Evan's first official 'Art work' on the inside of his closet with a dry erase marker (it doesn't come off as easily as you think, I'm gonna have to use a magic eraser I think). If you look closely, you'll see he also has it on his lip. ;)

And the cuteness...

I'm going to put the lyrics (My Heavenly Father Loves Me) I considered for the wall in this shadow box around a smaller framed picture of Cora Grace. The twig and bird hooks for the towels were just bought at "Harmony Home", a home decor place behind my work. They have lots of unique things in there and a Baby gift corner too that I love to find unique gifts in.

The new single bird hook I just got. How can you not love this? :)

The whole Cherry Blossom Tree that I painted freehand. I am so impressed with myself for doing this and am so happy with the outcome. I love the little nest's I made on it.

Drapes from Ikea and Armoir (sp?) from Kmart 10 years ago that I painted back then. I hated this thing till I got the idea to change the boring wood nobs to cute ceramic ones from Hobby Lobby. Now it is ADORABLE! :) It holds C.G.'s hanging clothes, shoes, future toys, linens and 6-12 month clothes. Whew! That's a lot of stuff.

My sister in law, Lael is a very thoughtful (and crafty) woman. She's the one responsible for all the amazing quilts I own. Well, she surprised me with this Little Tykes beauty shop that she's had for her girls (the oldest is 16? sorry Colby if that's wrong) and saved for me in the hopes I would have a girl one day. :) Little does she know that Evan is obsessed with it and plays with it EVERY day! he he he. (no, not while wearing my heals silly geese)

The changing table. On the shelf with the turtle light are a picture of my grandmother Grace on the right, (C.G.'s namesake) and her set of "Mother's Encyclopedia's" from 1935. There are crocheted booties from Mike's grandma Grannie and a heart shaped music box that plays a pretty song. The rest are newer collectibles and gifts, including the Tutu my sister in law Jennifer and I conceptualized and made for our baby girls born on the same day. :)

Bed wall. I decided not to do the original wording I had planned over the bed and chose, "Love is spoken here" but the 'is spoken here' part didn't look good to me. Instead, eventually, I'm going to collect different words that appeal to me in different fonts etc to put around the word "Love". Also, I'll decide how I'm going to do Cora Grace's name on that some wall I think. Wish me luck on that one. :)

A little closer look at the long awaited bumper and skirt that my friend Kristyn made as a gift. All I did was pick the fabric (that I love) and get it measured. She did a fabulous job! :) Thank you!! xoxo

The complimentary dresser to the one in Evan's room. They belonged to Michael's grandmother, "Grannie" who passed away in 2002. We feel very lucky to get to use such special pieces of furniture.

Choo Choo, TRAINS!

Reading "Jamberry" to Cora Grace.

What a good big brother

So strong. :)

I tried to load a video of the finished room but I think it was too big :(.

:)

-- Sent from my Palm Pixi