Fingernails

I remember when I was younger being annoyed by either a sibling or a friend (I can't remember) when they got fake nails for the first time. You know what I am talking about. Them trying not to smile, the exaggerated use of their hands, the constant clicking of their nails together, and the tapping on any flat service. Well, take all of that, and put that excitement into a four year old!No I did not take the girls to get fake nails, but we did get her those little stick on ones. (Which they are so nice now days! They already have the sticky on the nail and you just stick it on! I remember the sticky stuff being on paper and then trying to maneuver them onto your nails without it folding or whatever. Ugh!) Our babysitter had "real" fake nails a while back and Sadie has been asking about them ever since! So, we got some for her to do with the babysitter last night. She LOVED it! Being four years old, she had absolutely no reservations to hold back the tapping or whatever else that suited her fancy; as a normal teen would kind of know to hold back ("trying not to smile"). Sadie was all smiles and ALL taps and clicks. Even getting our attention to hear the different sounds as she tapped on different objects! And boy was she ever graceful with her hands. I just had to laugh as I remembered the annoyance of it as a youth. Also remember, I was a teen myself! So, snotty and impatient! She and our babysitter put them on last night, but then took them off. She wanted to put them on again this morning before church, but because she takes FOREVER with compromising on an outfit, we did not have time. Especially because we had to be on time today for the Primary Program; which went well. Chris and I are primary teachers, so I was on the stand as well, and Chris was down with Lucy. So a little before it was time for Sadie's part (which was "We read our Scriptures together." After the teacher asked ways they can strengthen their family) she turns around to me and is mouthing that her teacher said her part was "We read the Book of Mormon." So she was so concerned! I mouthed back that she can pick which one she wants to say. I later explained that it meant the same thing. :) So it gets to her turn and her teacher is holding the microphone to her and she shakes her head no and after a little coaxing from her teacher she whispers into the mic "I don't want to." I wasn't surprised because the past few times at practice she wasn't wanting to either. We are still so proud of her. Her favorite song from the program is, "I Love to See the Temple." I love to hear her sing that! When we were in Utah this summer she kept singing it at all the different Temples we saw, as Lucy was insisting that they were castles. :)

Anyway, the fingernails are fun for about a half an hour and then she decides to take them off. (Thank goodness, because that is probably all the tapping I can handle myself!) Lucy saw Sadie putting them on and wanted them too. She liked them for as long as it took to take the pictures and then she was done. :) Aren't girls fun! I love that I get to do these fun girly things with them. They are too cute! Not that cute of a picture though. Sadie, would not stop talking/suggesting ways to hold their hands, while Lucy could not stop looking at them. Ha Ha :)

A New Do

When we got Lucy's hair cut this summer Sadie had been talking about getting her hair cut short too. But when we were there she still wanted it long so we just trimmed it. She has kept talking about getting it cut short but is more adamant about it whereas before she would want it short one day and long the next. She is SO picky about her hair (and clothes) that I was hesitant to cut it, fearing she would want it long again. But I have told her a few times about the process and that she wouldn't be able to do braids or ponytails or anything. And that it will grow back but it will take a long time. But it is fun to have a change. I understand! So every time we talked about it, she said she DID want to cut it short. So we went today and made the plunge! Here she is on our way in before:Drama: the sun was in her eyes! I even had her come in the shade. Lucy thought Sadie was posing so she had to put her arm up too.Notice even though she is turned around her arms are still up! Silly Girl!The BIG cut!! She couldn't stop giggling after the lady did that and she saw! She was concerned that there were still long pieces, thinking that the hair cut was done!She did NOT like her braided hair! I showed it to her and she wanted to hold it and as we were leaving, she threw it away! Then later at home she took it out of the braid! "I didn't want it in a braid anymore!" Still particular when it isn't even attached to her head! Doesn't she look so cute though!Seriously, SO CUTE!! And can I have her highlights!?!! Lucky girl!So the second we get to the car, she asks if I can put it in a pony tail!! UGH! And then when we got home, she put a hat on and didn't take it off until bath time. But with Daddy home and him saying how much he loves it, I think she has warmed up to it! And after not needing detangler after the bath!! WooHoo!!! My only beef, she is going to be Alice in Wonderland for Halloween! I should have waited. Oh well, I didn't even think about it until after! She will still be the cutest Alice ever! :)

It's Over!

Well, for the most part...morning sickness! Seriously this pregnancy has been SO much better than my other ones. I wasn't nearly as sick and it ended so much sooner! So I am glad! As of right now, I have not enjoyed being pregnant though. This first little bit just stinks! You just feel sick and FAT! I won't even say how much weight I have ALREADY gained!! The baby is two inches right now, right!?! Plus because of my scare a couple weeks ago, I can't even workout! I went back to the Dr. on Tuesday hoping I would get the okay to exercise again, but no! I have to wait another 2 weeks until my next appointment! Not helping with the weight gain. For those of you that don't know, I started heavily bleeding a couple weeks ago. I was told to lay low and stay off my feet. So the kids were fending for themselves! I got up to change Lucy's diaper and lay her down for her nap but that was it. Later I started bleeding again and a ton! So we went to the Dr. thinking we had lost the baby. But as soon as they put the ultra sound thing on my tummy we could instantly see the baby moving around and his/her heartbeat was great! YEAH! They think a pocket of blood formed when it was attaching to the uterine wall or maybe it attached too close to a blood vessel. It finally worked its way out. Crazy! We are so relieved that everything is okay! And praying that it will remain that way! So as long as I have a healthy baby I am happy and am willing to get fat! :)

Since I haven't been as sick this time, everyone is saying it is a boy. When I went in to the Dr. on Tuesday I told the Dr. that we want to find out the sex, so if she can tell, don't be shy! I am only 12 weeks so obviously we couldn't tell yet. So we'll have to wait and see! But maybe I have just gotten better at knowing what my body needs! Or I found a better multi-vitamin! I took one from the Dr. for a few days and the two days I took it I felt HORRIBLE! So I stopped, and I felt better! Anyway, it has been funny to notice the different things that are main staples for me during my pregnancies. With Sadie and Lucy, I had to have eggs a lot! Yes, Twilight fans, Bella copied me! ;) Now with this one,

Milk! If I start to feel yucky I either have a nice glass of milk or a go-gurt and my tummy is settled! But the go-gurts have to be frozen! YUMMY! And for the first tri-mester, cheerios! Whether it be plain or honey nut! Delicious! So I am glad for these things that have gotten me through the yucky times! They are precious to me! Oh, the joys of being pregnant! We can't wait for this little one to join or family!

Patience

As a mother of two crazy little girls, this is a trait that I am continuously struggling with and praying for more of! I have realized this more, as I am learning that patience is a trait that Lucy is JUST learning! And as she is learning it, she is testing mine!!

We will be in the car and she will ask for her drink or one of her two "precious" Belle Princesses (notice you can see them in the picture above!). Since I am driving, usually just backing up, because she instantly becomes needy of things the second we start moving, I can't get them for her right away. So I say, "Okay Lucy, just a minute." She then continues to ask and whine for whatever it was she was asking for like I hadn't said anything at all to her! So I answer her again, "Okay Lucy, just a minute." With each time she asks, I get more stern (not so patient) with my answer! She doesn't stop until she gets what she was asking for! (Patience Mommy!)

Her other famous words right now are, "Just a minute." Every time I ask her to do something or come here or lets get out of the car, she answers, "Just a minute." And she does it in the cutest "sing - song" voice! But when she says "just a minute" it does not mean just a minute. She just keeps doing what she is doing and has no intentions of listening to any one's request! Once again, patience! Like whenever we are getting in or out of the car, she has to get in the back row and buckle all the seat belts, or some other necessity that HAS to be done before we go! But even though she is testing my patience, I just can't get enough of her. She is so fun and so silly! She just came in with an oven mitt on her hand and said, "Mommy, hi-five mac-n-cheese?" Which means Chuck E Cheese. Our girls are always just brave enough to give Chuck E Cheese a hi-five, they get to touch him but still have their distance by Mommy or Daddy. Whenever Lucy puts a glove or anything on her hand she asks everyone to give mac-n-cheese a high five and I love it!

Even though there are moments of frustration, I would not trade any of it for the world! I am glad that I have such cute teachers to help me learn the things I need to learn! Right now, that is patience. I have a feeling I will be working on this one for a LONG time! But I am ready!

Taken by Sadie this morning at McDonald's. We went for breakfast so Daddy could sleep! He has been working late EVERY night this week and then Sadie keeps coming in our bed at night and she "snuggles" with Chris. Translation: kicks, hits and lays across! She is the roughest sleeper ever! So, he hasn't gotten much sleep lately!

School Days!

I can't believe this is Sadie's last year at Preschool!!! We were talking to Sadie the other day how she is going to grow up so big and get married and have her own babies and she said, "I don't ever want to get married, I want to stay a kid!!" Boy do I feel the same! As much as I can't wait to see her do all she is going to do, I just wish I could freeze our girls at every stage! When we first had Sadie, so many people would tell us, "enjoy them because they grow up so fast!" I remember thinking, yeah yeah! But I truly understand now what they meant! I just get nervous about her going to school and it's all over! Those fun times we get to have at home together are gone! She's all grown up!! I just wish I could freeze time! So I guess I can a little bit with these pictures! Here is Sadie with her teacher, Mrs. McDonnell. She really likes her. She is a very sweet and loving person! This was at the "Meet your teacher."

Sadie so excited to go to school!
In front of the little school sign!
Lucy had to get in on the action!
What a big girl!
Walking to class!! WooHoo

Here is her classroom!

Sadie standing by her cubby! Her class is the Mighty Tigers!

We love you big girl Sadie! I love how determined you are! You definitely know what you want and work you hardest to get whatever it may be!! I LOVE your eye for fashion! You always know exactly how you want your hair done, and what you want to wear! Yes, we have struggled with the outfits, but you have really become good at picking out cute things! I am impressed with your ability to match! I LOVE that you are such a BIG helper! You have always had a connection with others and how they feel! You know when someone is sad and you always try to help them feel better! I love that! You are the BEST big sister ever! You take such good care of Lucy and teach her so many things! You are a great example to her! I love that you two are the best of friends!

WooHoo!

So Sadie has had absolutely NO interest in letters! I have tried so many different ways to help her with her letters and she just doesn't want anything to do with it! I've gotten multiple different tracing books/boards, etc! She half does it once and will be over it! So Chris and I BOTH sat down with her a few weekends ago to try to help her. We bribed her with some ice cream...and low and behold...

She did it! Obviously the circled one is hers! She just puts too much pressure on herself saying she can't do it. Or if it isn't perfect she has to erase it or scribble it out. So I am trying to focus on trying again and again, and that it doesn't have to be perfect. I am just so proud of her. Now she has a little more confidence in herself! Yeah Sadie! You are getting so big!

Cruise!

Jamaica:

Here we are having lunch on the beach in some Dr. Cove Beach or something like that. It was a little beach club type thing. SO BEAUTIFUL!!! The water at all of our stops was absolutely amazing. I am used to murky freezing cold ocean water, well and then murky hot water here in TX. Let me just tell you, it was in between and PERFECT! You could be up to your neck in water and still see your feet! So pretty. During lunch it started to pour but we were under an umbrella so we waited it out and soon enough, the sun came out and we got to enjoy the water!

These guys came over and sang, "Can't help fallin in love with you" or whatever it is called, by Elvis. It was cute!

Okay, I wanted this picture to show how clear the water is and let me tell you, this was no easy task! It was so hard to keep ALL of our feet from not sinking! It took us forever! People were probably thinking we were freaks, which I guess we are! So here are our feet! We went with our good friends Eric and Sheila Mott.

Another foot picture. You want to document it, but who wants a million pictures in their swim suit!?! So hey, feet are good!! :) Chris was done with it, so Sheila and I were the only ones game!

Back on the boat up on deck with Jamaica behind us. We made it safely home. Those markets were a little scary! And they separated me and Chris! AHHHHH!!! They kept pulling you into their own store to look and buy "something small." But every store had the SAME stuff!!! I have seen this stuff 50 times!! But they just kept saying, "you live, I live." We were glad to be done with the market. So hot too!

Me and Sheila!!

Chris and Eric being tough!! I don't know if it was their shaved heads and sunglasses, but they got offered drugs ALL the time!!! Crazy!

They can't keep their true identity from showing!! :)

Cayman Islands:

We went snorkeling! My first time. I was a little nervous but of course I loved it! We went around a coral reef and there was a HUGE fish and I was all by myself and it totally started coming right to me! I freaked and swam to find Chris. He didn't believe me. Here we all are, ready to go! Chris, Lanae, Sheila and Eric

We looked so silly! So I had to make it worse!

I don't know why we all kept doing "thumbs up!?!"

We had gone to some shopping seminar on the boat that talked about the shopping at all the ports and the chick said that Cayman had the BEST shopping in the entire world. Great deals, blah blah blah. So we were all excited to shop and it sucked! Nothing special, nothing great! So that was our only disappointment. We wished we would have gone to the beach and not "shopped."

Cozumel:

My favorite part was that we got to swim with dolphins! I have always said, I wanted to do this before I died and now I have! It was so cool and this place was absolutely beautiful!

Chris wasn't dying to do this, and for the price, he passed. But good thing because then he could take pictures! Here is Sheila and I excited for the swim!

We got to do some "free swim" where the two dolphins just swim around you so you can pet and play with them! It was SO cool! They really liked me and Sheila because at least one of them was by us the entire time! If one swam away the other would come over! This one even let us rub her belly!!! Our dolphins were Marina and Atlantis! So cute!

The kiss!!!

Dancing!

This was too cool! We got to do a "belly ride." You held your arm out and it swam up behind you, rolled over so you could grab both fins and then swam with you like this! It was so cool to be belly to belly!

Here we are making them sing! It was too cool! You just hold your hands up and wiggle your fingers! LOVED IT!!

We had lunch at this crazy place. This guy came up behind me and put this hat on my head. It freaked me out at first because all of a sudden someone was touching me! He made one for me and Sheila and then the boys said no thank you. But he made them one anyway, but I won't post the picture because it is a little vulgar. Just use your imagination! ;) Then they made us dance on our chairs! Crazy place!

Our room attendant guys always left little towel animals in our room and this was our favorite!
Yeah we made it home and we were ALL excited! Here's the girls in the Jamaica jammies! We had such a great time and can't wait to go on another cruise!!