Chilly Sunday November 9, 2008

We had a great Sunday, but it was really cold. Even though, Emma still chose to wear a dress and sandals on our walk/bike ride this evening. She was SO cold when we got home, I put her on the heater vent wrapped up in a blanket to warm her up. This was one of my favorite things to do when I was little.

Well most people thought we were crazy to get two puppies two weeks apart, but we are really glad we did it. The potty training is challenging and I am glad we are only going to go through it one time. Otto has been having accidents in his kennel, even though the space is just big enough to fit him. So, we figure we have to keep letting him out often and also just wait until he gets bigger and his bladder matures. Fritz is doing great on not going potty in his kennel, and has only had 2 accidents in the last couple of weeks in the house and hasn't had an accident in his kennel in a month or more. We really try to give them very little opportunity to have accidents in the house, as if they are inside, and not in their kennels, they are on their beds while we are in the same room. We take them out often and walk them at least once every day, but usually twice. Otto is catching up to Fritz on size and we figure he will pass him up in a month or so. We really enjoy having both of them, and like the balance of their personalities. Fritz is much more energetic and Otto is more of a loafer. Fritz did start to fetch a week ago, so that is exciting. He seems to enjoy it and I think with a little more work he will be really good at it. Otto just trys to wrestle with him so he can't play with us. This is the same thing our Rottweiler used to do with our Labrador.

November 5, 2008 – Emma’s Birthday

Well, yesterday was Emma's birthday and it was a great day. I made 3 cakes, wrapped a bunch of presents, took cupcakes to class and got Emma all dolled up for school. She looked beautiful. I got her a birthday dress and fixed her hair up nice for school. Last year I, with a lot of help from my friend Marie, make a 2 tier cake with fondant frosting. Emma really liked the fondant and so wanted another fondant cake. I was a little worried about the outcome since now I am in Kentucky and Marie is in North Carolina. But, with some phone calls, it all turned out good. Emma wanted roses on her cake, she ment frosting roses, but then when I went to get balloons, I saw real roses. So, her cake was beautiful and turned out "over the top" for sure. Emma has been wanting the American Girl "girl of the year" doll they put out every year. So, when Carl was in Chicago a couple months ago, he got to go to the store and shop for his little girl.

Playing in the leaves

Okay, so now check these pictures out! Amazing huh! We have had a good week this week. Jesse came up to visit on his way home to Denver from NC. He is done with his apprencticeship program there, and did amazingly well.

Since Jesse was here, on Monday we celebrated Anna's 2nd birthday (her birthday was the 22nd). Carl & I were talking about how amazed we were that it had been 2 years, but it really feels like 6 months. She is such a joy in our lives, I marvel that we have been blessed with such a wonderful spirit with us. Jesse helped make and decide on a pumpkin cake for Anna. She quite liked it, well the frosting at least. I baked a small individual pumpkin for her and a large one for the family. Emma got to help embelish the pumpkin. Anna's favorite gift was a birthday barbie, she was so excited to open the box and then had to dance with her. She also really enjoyed her birthday dress and felt like a princess, a concept that she is quickly embracing. Anna even knew to blow out her candles after we sung to her.

June 2007

In June of 07, our friends the Sorensens came out to visit and we spent several days at the beach. The kids favorite activity was going fishing off of the pier. It was made even better since they all got to catch at least one fish.

We also went deep sea fishing, and had great success there. That was an experience definitly worth doing again!

November 14, 2007

Well, you know if you do something long enough, like 52 weeks in a row, it kinda becomes a habit. Well, I can't bring myself to not take Anna's picture every Sunday, so there you have it. I would rather take the picture than miss the opportunity that can never be made up. I have continued the last few weeks, and expect to keep going. Anyway, the kids are all doing great. We had a great day today, but you'll have to read the Nov email to hear about that. The end of October was incredibly busy. Our whole family drove up to Pittsburg from October 12th through the 14th, then I flew out to California, with Anna, to see my sister Julie from the 26th through the 30th, and came back in time for Halloween. October was a very busy work month, as personal extensions were due and so were payroll tax quarterlies. So, I feel like I should still be in September, but clearly am not. Anna did really well on the airplane, she didn't cry really at all. She just rode on my lap, and really liked that. She got nothing but Mommy for 5 days straight, she even got to sleep with me at night. So, she really soaked it up. On our flight back, we had lunch in LAX, and there is a DARLING picture of her sitting on the other side of the table. She felt, and looked, so grown up. It was really a special time to have that one-on-one with her. Halloween, was fun as usual. Anna was a kitty, Emma a princess (big surprise), and James was a member of the Fett family. Carl took a turn taking the kids around to trick-or-treat. They of course got a ton a candy, and as tradition goes, dumped each bag out on a cookie sheet and watched a movie, The Mummy. So, they had a great time.

September 2, 2007

Furious sewing has ENDED!! Yipee! Well, I have gotten Anna's dress done to the point of needing the zipper set, and the hem done! It is beautiful! Anna's was easier as I had already done Emma's. The sleeves, were very small, but not nearly as mystifying. They have a sleeve stay in them, for those of you that sew, and that is bizarre for me. The ending results are wonderful. Emma's dress is almost finalized by my friend Marie. She said it took an entire day just to set the hem. The satin is bridal satin, very heavy, and she said it is difficult to hand sew. Now, I really only have a few more preparations left for the big day this coming Saturday. I am having a friend make Anna's hair bows out of white satin. I will do her hair like these pictures, here, but with the white bows. I figure when those are in, it will look like she has a headband in. The necklace Anna has on here is one from when I was a little girl. My Uncle Mike sent it to me as a gift. So, it is very special and sentimental, as I remember wearing it. I bought some white lace while in Paris last year, and we are adorning the dresses at the top of the skirt with that. It is a very simple elegant piece of lace, and completely makes the dress. I have hired a professional photographer, I even found an LDS one locally, to take a family picture in front of the temple. In my old ward in Utah, our bishop adopted two boys from Kazakstan. They have a family picture, where everyone is dressed in white standing in front of the Ogden temple, after they were sealed. The picture is HUGE and amazing. So, that is really what I want. I would love to be in front of the Ogden temple, but if were didn't live here we wouldn't have gotten Anna...It will make it special to got to the temple in the future and know that is where our littlest one was sealed. James and Emma are going to be able to attend the sealing ceremony as well. James had to get a limited use temple recommend since he is over eight and has been baptized. A very special experience for everyone! Love to all!

September 14, 2007

I made a new strawberry shortcake dress for Emma and had her wear it to school yesterday. She kept saying, "I can't believe it only took you two days!" well after her temple dress took a month, I can see her surprise. Anna, well she just go too tired!