New Things Good and Bad

Good

Emily started AWANA on Thursday. I think I was just as excited about her starting as she was. I have wonderful memories of being in AWANA. She loved it and was so excited about her AWANA bucks she earned! I'm also excited to work on Bible verse memorization. It comes so incredibly easy for her. If you haven't already, ask her to tell you all the verses she memorized for church. There are three pretty decent sized ones and she'll tell them all to you. I was never like that. I memorized ok, but it was kind of out with the old in with the new. We also have to learn the Sparks song...Ally LOVES it. It's a really cute song. Ally missed cubbies by a few months as she has to be three. But I think I'll try to put her after her birthday.

Emily also got Star of the Week at school. She got to take home the spanish/english speaking Elmo doll over the weekend and journal all of the things Elmo did with us this weekend. I'm not overly fond of Elmo, kind of think he's over the top but she had a great time, so we took some pictures.

Mike had to work all day Saturday so my mom and dad let us come hang out all day. It was nice to let them play outside and to have adult interaction and help with the kids.

Bad

Poor Rylee got an eye infection in both eyes, conguntivitis (spelling?), to be exact. So my mom and I had to switch off holding Rylee at church so she wouldn't expose everyone. She took her while she practiced singing and I set up kids church, then I took her for the opening of church and kids church, then she took her while I taught and so on and so on. It worked but I am thankful to the nursery staff who normally watch and play with them!

Right now my girls are eating ribeye Mike cut off from a huge prime rib and because of our diet we aren't even eating any of it with them. Somthing's wrong with that picture. It looks and smells amazing. They love steak though and have lived on grilled chicken, salmon and lean pork for too long.

Good and Bad

My mom couldn't take the kids home for our regular day off because Devon couldn't be exposed to Ry's eye infection. Bummer because we were going to bike ride and run today. The good though is that it was stinkin hot anyway and Emily and I, (and Elmo), got to go to Barnes and Nobles by ourselves and look at books. We had a fun time doing that.

Dieting and Exercising

As you all already know, our church is doing Biggest Loser Bridge Edition. Tricia and I were kindly told we were not allowed to participate. So we've been doing an 8lb challenge for fun. We both happend to want to lose 8lbs so we've been working hard.
So Mike and I find ourselves eating really healthy right now. It's funny because usually I would be craving anything and everything bad...carbs, sweets, salts, ect. But surprisingly I haven't. We've been doing great and not with too much temptations! I've been hearing that from a lot people who are involved, that it's been easier this time for some reason. So to be like Joel and ask some things I've been pondering...

Is it because
A. we're a major competitive bunch?
B. God is helping all of us push through together?
C. We're just all in major denial?
D. We're just that committed to losing weight?

Not sure, but I am curious as to why so many have been saying it's not been to challenging eating. I think for Mike and I it's been a competitive thing, even between us. We don't want to eat bad if the other person isn't. Same with exercise. Mike an I have been running the McConnel Foundation's 2 and a 1/4 mile loop everyday, (Mike is more faithful than I am). Anyway, we've been grilling each other on who finished faster, who ran the, as we call it, the hill of woe and who walked it. If either of us stopped running and walked for any length of time and so on and so on. We've also started using our children free sunday afternoons to bike together and then run/walk the 6mile loop. It's so much fun to do together and the best part? IT'S FREE!

In closing, running sucks. I don't like it one bit. But I do love the feeling AFTER I run. I feel so good and am proud that I made it as far as I have. I definitly recommend pushing through for all of you who hate running too!

Just wanted to share what Mike and I have been up to lately!

Lesson On Vanity

Emily was getting dressed in her room Saturday and I was in their room getting something. I overheard her say..."I deserve to wear a crown." So I asked her, "why do you deserve to wear a crown?" Her response was..."because of the kind of person I am"

Duh, what was I thinking? After holding in laughter, I gave her a lesson on vanity!

Look Out World, Here Comes Rylee

I think Rylee is going to be a pretty interesting little girl. She already has many opinions and isn't afraid to share them. Unfortunately, right now it's through the best way she knows how...screaming. She knows what she wants and really doesn't like anyone to tell her no. The worst place to take her is Blockbuster. For some reason, she absolutely LOVES Blockbuster. She strains and arches to get down the minute we walk in, protesting in a shrilling scream when I don't let her. She just loves those irrisitable movies lined up so nicely on the shelves. I can see it in her eyes, she just wants to go rip them all off onto the floor. Eventually, when I give her a movie to hold, she squeals in delight holding it out like a newly won trophy. That's always worked well when we go there. Until today that is. Today she wanted to also eat the movie, which I can't let her do for so many reasons! So, the squealing and arching started all over again. Finally Mike told me to take the girls to the car...which I gladly made a hasty b-line for the door!

I think the next 18 years are really going to be a roller coaster!

Ally's New Snack Box

I brought goldfish crackers upstairs for Rylee and of course Allyson wanted some too. So I went in to Em's room to try to find a play cup or something I could put them in for her as I didn't bring a baggy up. I found the bug holder that I had given out at Rylee's first birthday party. It didn't have the magnifying glass lid on top so I just put a handful of crackers in there, put it around her neck, and off she went. She loved it and since it doesn't tip, when she bent over to get something, it didn't spill. Sorry for the fuzzy pics.

Calling All Moms...

I am going through Rylee's room and today I hit the changing table. I have cloth diapers for burp rags. They are almost new as, thankfully, my girls never really spit up. And a few nicer burp rags, green for boys or girls and pink for the little girlies out there. I have four baby hooded towels, 2 could be either gender and two are definitly more girly. I have a pile of baby wash clothes and also that pink fleesey blanket/whatever you call them. you lie them in their crib on top of it, then zip it up around them. I never used it so it's brand new.

It's fine if no one wants them but they are up for grabs or being tossed!

Never Leave 2 two year olds together...

Mike and Jed both had a church meeting to be at tonight so Jenn and I ordered pizza for us and the kiddos. After the kids finished, we were downstairs cleaning up when Tessa quietly and calmy comes down annoucing that Ally and Bella were upstairs playing with water in the bathroom. Jenn went upstairs, not thinking much about it. What did she find? The entire floor completly covered in half an inch of water, about a dozen empty, crumpled dixie cups lying on the floor and two drenched two year olds. They had been happily filling and dumping cups of water on each others heads for who knows how long. It took four towels and 2 hand towels to clean it up.

Positives and negatives of Ally's life right now...

Positive: She's potty trained.
Negative: That's her favorite excuse to get out of bed.

Positive: We finally got rid of the nighttime binky.
Negative: She tortures us with screaming when we put her to bed. What happened to 2 nights of screaming and then they're fine? That's what every other parent has said.

Positive: She's really taken off on her talking.
Negative: She can express her every wants, desires, and dismays in life.

Positive: She is so so so excited to now be a part of kids church.
Negative: She asks non stop to go to kids church and doesn't accept "there is not kids church today, that's on sunday's."

She'll be 3 and past the terrible 2's in exactly four months!

She does crack us up to no end though!

The Gate

Rylee's friend Jack came over to play today and wanted to play upstairs. Since he's fallen down the stairs badly once and again a little today, we decided to put the gate up so we could work on our project free of worry. Well, that didn't go so well. As you can see from the picture, they were less than thrilled. They were all screaming, and I mean top of the lungs, get me the heck out of here kind of screaming. We were laughing so hard...and we even teased them by hopping over the gate to get the camera and then back over to take a picture. They cried all the harder! It was hilarious to see them all standing there, hanging on, screaming. We did let them loose after the picture was taken and they crying stopped. Rylee slept through the whole incident, although who knows how.

Memory Lane

I just ran across these pictures and laughed, it's been posted before. Remember right before Em's fourth birthday when she decided to cut off

her own hair? Look how short it was? Crazy! Definitly not the hair-do for her! And the funniest part...that top picture was the cutest picture of her hair that short. I remember thinking it looked cute. Not so much now! I had to keep that clump of hair picture as insurance that she won't kill me when she's 15, looks at that princess dress picture and want to know why the heck I cut her hair like that!

Little Bits Here and There

We've been super busy but nothing really blogworthy. So here's a little of just here and there kind of stuff.

I love when Mike is home for a 3 day weekend. We did nothing huge but had a great time. Mike really likes to spend quality time with all his girls when he's off. He even took us shopping on Monday trying to hit some of the deals. And he bought himself some nice clothes too, I'm so proud of him! I wish there were more three day weeks!

Ally is officially in the "terrible 2's" phase of her life. Or as nana likes to refer to it, the "stubborn 2's". Ally is quite persistant with what she wants and there's basically no telling her no if she gets something in her little head. She usually doesn't scream, or cry, or throw a fit. She just slowly wears you down. Kind of like this...(Keep in mind, this example is about mints....the girl LOVES her mints)...

Mommy, I want a mint.

No, you can't have a mint.

Oh, ok.

(2 seconds go by) Mommy, I want a mint

No, Ally, I just said no mints. Don't ask mommy for another mint.

That goes on until I finally put her in time out. She cries, tells me she'll be a good girl, says sorry to me....we hug....and then she calmly asks for another mint...and on we go! She wears me down! ALL DAY LONG!!!! The thing is, she is so strait faced and calm about her bad behavior. Her attitude is literally..."I have all day, this doesn't bother me one bit. I have no where to go, I'll eventually wear you down mommy!"

Mike picks Emily up from school every day and then takes her to his office where she plays computer learning games until 5. I miss her. I want him to bring her home. Luckily, she has a homework packet so I get to insist she come home at least once or twice this week!

The thing I'm most excited about right now is starting our new program for childrens church. I really feel God leading me to make this really work and he's provided awesome material, amazing help in workers, and great creative people to get this going. I'm am so so so excited and anxious to get this kicked off on Sunday. I know the kids will be blessed by it and we'll be doubly blessed by them. Can't wait! If you have a kid, bring them to Bridge, you won't regret it!

Best thing of all...sitting at bunco tables with all of the women's group playing and Emily running out with Jasmine pajamas, her school shirt on as a cape, and that day's underware on the top of her head as a helmet. I didn't even bother to tell her to take it off right away, it was just too funny! I did eventually have to tell her not to put dirty underware on your head, it's just not sanitary, but it was good for a laugh!

Randomness

Emily had a rough start at Kindergarten, getting sick and having to leave home. But it seems as though she's getting into the routine now. God's blessed me because I didn't fullfill my plan to get the bedtime/up early routine going the first of August. But she seems to be doing ok with it. I get up at 6:30 to shower/get ready and by 7, when I'm ready they are usually coming out to say good morning. That helps because you haven't met a more grouchy person than Emily is when you have to wake her up in the morning. She gets that from her mommy!

Her teacher called the parents wed. to update them on how the kids were doing. She said Emily is doing excellent. She was impressed because during her assessment one day she was the only kid in the whole class that was able to read the book she gave them and sound out all the letters correctly. It's always nice to hear good things coming back, even after only a few days.

Rylee had her one year well baby checkup last friday. The doctor says she looks great, do they ever say they don't? She weighed in at 16lbs 6oz. She's still not on the growth chart but she's made a small leap closer to it! She also was 29 inches long...exactly 50th percentile on that. Our girls are tall and lean! It's funny, if you saw what this girl could put away, she should be 30 lbs easy! She's a HUGE eater.

On just a funny note, I have found that Ally pronounces all her "f"'s as "P"'s. Like, punny (funny), pinger, (finger), pour (four). I have a lot of fun with that one, making her try to say "f" correctly. If she tries to do it right, I usually just get spit in my face, or pace as she calls it. The other thing she loves to do right now is put on her Cinderella dress. And she insists you all her Cinderalla. I also have to greet her. "Hello Cinderella." "Hello" Ally says. Then "how are you doing?" and this goes on for a few minutes. It's too funny.

Move Over Jack, There's A New Climber In Town

Long Awaited Flordia Trip

There are a ton of pictures here. We had the best vacation ever. We were there almost 2 weeks and I would have stayed longer. We had such a good time.

Emily and Ally jumping at the Daytona Beach mall

Playing at the Beach in Daytona

Rylee with a much needed nap, sunning herself

at the beach while her sisters play.

Rylee and Ally watching the light parade

Emily and Mommy riding the teacups together!

Taking the Ferry into Disneyland from the parking lot.

The girls stood in line to mee the princess. Ally was probably the most exited, suprisingly. They took the families in by groups and we were the last family in our group so they let us take a picture with all of the princesses. The other families only got to take the pictures with each of the princess one at a time. We did that, then all together. It really was fun for them!

Playing in the hundred acre wood water area.

Ally's very favorite ride...the trolly from the parking lot!

It poured, and I mean POURED everyday from mid afternoon until 7 or so. We weren't expecting it the first day and got soaked to the bone. The other days we tried to avoid it or went home when we saw the clouds rolling in and put them down for naps.

Getting ready to watch Disny's philharmagic. A 3D show.

Watching a show, although I honestly couldn't tell you what.

Riding the train that wraps around the park.

A little sisterly love?

Riding Jasmines magic carpet ride.

Waiting to see the fireworks show and eating sweets!

Killing time being silly!

This really nice lady sitting next to us heard Emily say

She wanted a princess crown so she let her wear her's to

take a picture.

Emily and Mike were riding a roller coaster so we

found a cool place to relax and wait.

Going to see it's a bugs life in 3d.

Mike and Em rode the cars while the girls slept.

The light parade, a huge favorite of the girls.

Tired girls resting on daddy during the fireworks.

Did you notice a binky theme for Ally? From the moment we got there if we didn't give her one we were miserable with her tears asking for one. Before that, she wouldn't even think of taking one except during bed. As soon as we got home, she ditched it again. Even though she was having the time of her life, she obviously was out of place and needed it for security.

Hope you all enjoyed the pictures. I wish you could have all been there to see their excitment. Ally still sings all the songs like It's A Small world and her favorite...Yo Ho Yo Ho A Pirates Life For Me!

Em's First Day of School Pictures

****Update Below*****

Well, we finally made it. Emily was off to her first day of kindergarten. She was actually not as excited as I thought she would be. She told me at breakfast this morning..."Mommy, I hope Mia is going to be in my class." I had told her maybe one or two of her friends from kindergarten would be in her class as she was worried she wouldn't know anyones names. When we got to school this morning...who was walking up the ramp to her class? Mia! Emily was soooo excited. They played together all last year. Aidon is also in her class and he, too, was in preschool with her. We found her place at the tables and put her name tag on, snapped a few pictures and off we went. Mike told me he felt a little like he was leaving her at Daycare, which we've been blessed never to have to do. So it was a little strange. She has a long day ahead of her. She goes to school from 8:15-2:05. But I think she is ready.

I'll add on to this later today when she gets home from school and we hear about her day. I'm sure she'll have a lot of good stories if I know Emily!

Update: So much for school until 2:05...Emily's teachers name is Ms. Maeder...and we now know the school nurse's name..Mrs. Wood. Emily threw up 2x at school. Emily has a tiny stomach bug it seems, although she already seems better. She threw up a teeny tiny bit this morning but I figured it was just a fluke. I guess not! Daddy had to go and pick her up at 10:30, she made it just over 2 hours. Happy first day of school! So, I guess we'll give it a try tomorrow...hopefully!

Rylee's First Birthday Photos

Friday was Rylee's birthday and Leslie and Zach surprised Rylee with a cute balloon and a bug birthday banner for her. It was so sweet as we weren't having her birthday for a few days and I was feeling a little sad for her,(okay, for me too). Thanks Leslie, that really lifted my day! Then, Mike, my mom, myself and the girls went to Red Robin for lunch. We got this server that we always get...sigh...and I don't think she likes us, although I have no idea why. She's just never friendly. Anyway, I had brought in Leslie's balloon with us and tied it to her chair and the girls were telling EVERYONE it was her bday. And the server didn't do a thing. They sang to three tables around us, but Rylee didn't even get told happy birthday. How sad is that?

We had Rylee's huge buggy birthday bash on Sunday. It was so fun to see all the kids playing and the babies all over the floor! Yet again, we feel so blessed to have such awesome friends and family who truly love our girls! So thank you to everyone who made her day special! Rylee absolutely loved her cake, I think she was so excited to get to eat as much as she wanted, (within reason). She's such a piggy I stop her every meal and it breaks her heart. She wasn't super into opening her presents, she just wanted the cards, and to crawl around with all the kids surrounding her. I think I should have just let Tessa and Emily break into them, they would have had a blast!

And just for fun...Rylee's decided to treat herself to some more teeth for her birthday. Her top two finally popped through!

Peek-A-Boo

Rylee loves to play peek-a-boo these days. I got a small video of her doing it, but she wanted the camera so she wouldn't do it very long. Usually she'll do it until I've had enough and stop playing. Please ignore the annoying mommy voice on the video, it couldn't be helped if I was going to show you her cute new game!