tippy toes

We were waiting at the dance studio for the older girls class to get out and another mom pointed out Savannah and Lexi on their tippy toes. She said you need to get a picture of that by the end of the year they will be able to look in and not be on their toes. I was amazed. I never thought of it. By the end of the year they will have grown and changed so much. We are past the time where they change every day but nine months they will be very different. I feel blessed that I am able to witness small things like this and that a nice mom helped me realize the blessing I have and I was able to capture a small thing like this with a picture. I know I am lucky to be home with my kids. At times it doesn't feel so lucky but i really do enjoy watching them grow and learn!

monday night television

Monday night used to be my least favorite night for TV. But this summer that has all changed. My DVR is working over time. In fact, if it crashed or froze I might freak out. Here is a list of my favorite Monday Night Shows.

• The Closer -- Kyra Sedwick is amazing. I actually believe she has a crazy southern accent. And Eric can stand to be in the same room when I am watching this show. (My mom loves it too!)
• The Hills. Thanks to Nicole I watch this show. This one I can live without but it is just kind of fun to watch dumb young women make silly decisions and party.
• The New Adventures of Old Christine -- So funny. Never watched it until a few of my friends (Leyla & Julia) told me how good it was. I have to agree.
• My Boys. This is on TBS. Crazy adventures of PJ a sports write for the Chicago Sun Times who has all guys friends. It is good and I laugh. Sometimes makes me wish that I was single again and could hang out in a bar and play poker. Well, not really that much.
• Greek - ABC Family. Okay, I have to admit that I am having a hard time admitting I like this show. But it just brings back fond memories of my sorority days (and sometimes makes me realize that it is full of stereotypes that don't exist in the Greek system) It is just fun. Plus Spencer Grammer (who is Kelsey Grammer's Daughter) plays a great Pledge Educator (New Member Educator for those of us who are now Resume Friendly and what I was back in the day)
• How I Met Your Mother -- Okay I only watch this during the regular season since I have seen all the episodes but I do love it so it had to be on the list. I loved the Robin Sparkles one. In fact, I can't bring myself to delete it off of my DVR.

Okay, I know it makes me look like I just sit around and watch TV all night long. But I don't and I only watch what I want when the kids are in bed. That is what DVR's were invented for (and I hate commercials!) I will be glad when the normal season starts and I don't have to watch all these shows. Just kidding. I love it! It also makes me wonder am I the only one who has a favorite tv night or a line up of shows like this? I hope not!

Saturday Nights

It is amazing to me that saturday nights are the biggest change in my life. They used to be all about going out to some cool place to eat, midnight movies or just hanging out for hours doing nothing. Now, we spend most of our saturday nights at home with the kiddos. Tonight was no different excepts we had a few extra. Danielle & Paul went to hob nob with local celebs so we watch LP & Ben. It was actually good for all involved. They had pizza and ran around screaming. It was a success. I sometimes miss midnight movies (or just going to the movies in general) but I wouldn't trade my new life for anything!

can you say tired?

After a day of playing with lexi, swimming and just being a 3 year old, Savannah came home at 5:00pm and crashed! This is how I found her.

Alaksa Adventures

Eric returned home from Alaska. He had great time with my dad, Paul H. and Paul B. They were sad that Trevor couldn't go. They had a lot of fun and E is now an expert (or someone who knows more than I do) on fishing in Alaska. We welcomed him home with open arms. We are glad to have the overnight excursions put on hold for a little while. With Scouts and everything else we are glad to have Daddy home. Olivia didn't recognize him at first with his full beard but after he shaved she was happy to see him. We have lots of fish. Salmon, Cod, Halibut. Welcome home! So glad to have you back! Now all we need to do is make up for all the lost sleep!

My Mommy Says.... or McDonald's Cookies

This morning I ran an errand to the bank. In the car was Savannah (S), Olivia (O), and my niece, Alexis (A). The conversation / arguement went a little something like this. I am M for mommy.

S - "I want cookies."
M - "OK, where you do want to get the cookies?"
S- "From McDonalds"
A- "My mommy says they don't have cookies at mc donalds"
S- "Cookies at McDonalds"
O- "AAHHH (meaning I am trapped in here!)"
A- "My mommy says no cookies at McDonalds"
M- "Lexi, they have cookies at McDonalds"
A- "My mommy say no!"
S- "My mommy says yes!"
A- "My mommy says no!"
S - "My Mommy says yes!"

You get the idea. Savannah knows they have cookies at McDonald's because I love them. I miss the sugar cookies. I haven't seen them in a while! It was funny and annoying. I have a feeling Lexi has never had a cookie from McDonald's. We may have to change that after Olivia's nap!!

Home Again, Home Again....

Well, we went to St Geoge this weekend. Actually, we were only there for about 48 Hours. We arrived around 1 pm on Saturday afternoon and then we left today (Monday) at 1 pm. It was crazy. Danielle and I drove down. We joined my mom and kris and her kids for a non-stop party weekend. We had tons of fun and lots of screaming. Savannah loved it! Olivia was the star of the show. Every one of her cousins and her sister would always be trying to touch her. She is loved!!! We swam, ate, swam and ate. It was lots of fun. We watched a few movies, I am not sure I can admit the ones we watched but I will give you a hint... it is about wildcats. All and all it was a great weekend. Glad to be home in our own house and beds. (I drew the small straw and slept in the office on an air mattress.) I would post pictures but Eric has my camera!

Friends & New Hair

Last week I went out to dinner with some friends. It was a great time! We went shopping and to Harry's for sushi! So much fun! Before that I went and had my hair done. Monica is the best! She likes to experiment so this time along with the blonde highlights, she added a few copper ones as well. I love it! I don't know if you can tell but she also curled my hair. And it stayed in! My hair is super straight and heavy so it is not a friend to curls but Monica made it so cute that I wanted to show it off! The night ended with a movie for everyone else and me going home to feed Olivia at 10 pm to find my house full of energy. Eric's sister Vickie had stopped by with her 3 kids to visit. They had a great time, kids and adults. Megan (vickie's daughter) even clean up Savannah's room. Come back any time!!

Real FOOD!

Well the time has come for Olivia to eat real food. We started her on rice cereal last week. I am not sure how she is liking it but it is mostly going down.

Savannah paints

With Eric gone for a few days, I found lots of ways to keep Savannah busy. One of them was using watercolor paints that we got on an excursion to Target. As you can see she loved painting. She painted her face, her nails, her chair, her clothes and oh the paper! Luckily, it was "washable" watercolors!

Ready for church

Savannah is taking an active role in dressing herself these days. She picked out her dress, shoes (notice the missing socks), hair bow and Little Mermaid Sunglasses. She was ready to go! Luckily, I still have control over Eric and Olivia.

Not much new....

Not much new around our house. Still potty training, still working on trying to get the house clean, still the same old same old. Mood not so hot lately, I think it has to do with the fact that I always am holding one child or have a child clinging to me. How does the Dugger Woman do it with 17 kids. (Eric loves to talk about the Duggers in Arkansas, they have a show on TLC or Discovery or some channel) Finished a few crafty items.... not really anything else going on....

Smoothie Kick

I am on a total smoothie kick. I can't get enough. Here is the recipe for my current favorite:

1/2 cup 1% milk

1/2 cup yogurt

1/2 T. flax seed meal

1/2 T. (or more) whey protein powder

5 frozen strawberries (big bag from costco)

1 banana

1 T. frozen orange juice concentrate

lots of ice cubes

blend away. i like lots of ice cubes since they make it a bigger smoothie with less calories. i also vary the amount of whey powder depending on whether or not i need more protein for that day.

First Day of Dance

Savannah's first day of dance was today. She was so excited to put on her "ballet shirt" (leotard) and go to ballet. She was running around the house yelling and screaming that she needed to go to ballet right then. We left for class about 15 minutes early just to quiet her up! Class went great. Savannah & Lexi are in a class together and they had so much fun. I think they even go into trouble for playing around too much! She had so much fun she didn't want to leave and she cried all the way home. I think this will be a great way to spend 45 minutes every wednesday!

love to blog!

I love to blog! I never thought I would say that. I was a lurker for so long and never had the courage to voice my own opinion online. But I have to say that I love to blog! I loved reading other peoples blogs (first danielle from college and then sister danielle!) I feel that i am in touch with people who live far away. Leyla, Danielle, Nicole. I just love it. Eric thinks I am nutty but I am a little and that is okay! I love it! Thanks to all those who comment and all those who lurk!

cute smiles

olivia smiles all the time. here are just a few of the pictures.

patterns, fabric, ducks and candy

Danielle had a great idea today! She wanted to go to Pine Needles which is located at Gardener Village. It was a great time! She picked me and the girls up at 10:30 and we went with Mom (Grandma). The kids loved the ducks! We loved the fabric and patterns! We found lots and lots of cute stuff. If we only had an endless supply of money.... We then took the kids to Sweet Afton's and they picked out their own candy. Savannah choose yellow & purple M&M's (she calls them num a nums) and hard candies shaped like peanuts. Paul had more fun when he realized you scoop your own candy in a bag! Ben just loved it all! Olivia fell asleep. We had lunch and were home by 1:00. Such a nice day!! The best part is savannah took a nap just after we got home!!!

can i get her up?

This morning at 6:25 while eric was getting ready for work. Olivia started crying. Eric hurried to get dressed. She stopped crying. Eric said, "Does this mean I can't go get her up?" In that moment I realized every thing I do with the girls eric misses out on and it makes him sad. He was so happy to see olivia first thing in the morning!! It reminded me of the time just after savannah was born that he was smiling as he was getting ready for work. I asked him why he was so happy that early. He simply said he couldn't wait to get home from work to see savannah because he loved her so much! What a great guy!

33

yesterday i turned 33. hard to believe that i'm in my 30's. at times i still feel like i'm 18 or 25. depends on the day and who i'm with. it was an okay day. pretty laid back. i had lots & lots of phone calls from family & friends. a few really nice emails. an applebees's lunch with my sisters jacque & danielle (the first time with danielle on my birthday in 5 years) dinner with eric & some friends and ice cream from coldstone. if there weren't a few potty training mishaps and disgruntled employees (eric's) it would have been a better day! lunch today with the neighborhood ladies so the birthday week continues! thanks to all those who celebrated with me!! this was the only picture i had taken of me!

I am ready to go!

Savannah announced she was ready to go! She was wearing lovely strawberry shortcake glasses, a pink tank top, snow white underwear and cowgirl boots. She thought she looked great! I just had to take a picture!

Love the muscles!

Ruth Chris Steak House

Last night we went to Ruth Chris Steak House. It was fabulous! We went with the Bedrock Clan. It was a mini party / celebration of recent events! It was great. I had never been before but every has raved about how great the steaks are. they were great. There were 8 of us. We had our own little area with 2 servers and a buser. The service was amazing!! I had the chopped salad, a filet (oscar style! the best!) and the apple tart. Steve had the creme brulee and we all agreed that was the best! It was a great night. I didn't take pictures because well I forgot. It was Dave & Laurel, Alan & April, Steve & Becca and Eric, Olivia & me! Olivia slept for about the first 10 minutes!
Special thanks to Danielle for watching Savannah! It was hard to find a sitter on young women night! I owe you big time!!

binky, plug or pacifier.

whatever you call it, we love it! savannah never took a pacifier and for those around us you may have wished she did. olivia takes it and her thumb. we don't care. she is happy as can be and we love it! we never gave up trying to get her to take it and in the last few weeks she takes it and she is happy!! during the night when she loses it she happily sucks her thumb. i should stop that but i figure why fight the a contented child that lets me sleep. i sucked my thumb for year and i turned out fine (my teeth did too!)

3 year check up

on monday we had savannah's 3 year check up. this was the first time she was scared of going to the doctor. she sat on my lap the entire time while dr valentine was in the room. it was also the fastest appointment to date. 35 minutes from start to finish. i think that is a new record. she is completely healthy. when i told eric that he just looked at me like what are you thinking of course she is. she weighs 27 pounds and is 3 feet 1 inch. dr valentine said she is on the "slender" side of average. he wasn't worried and asked if i was worried. i said no that the jorgensens happen to be A LOT thinner in general. all and all it was a good visit!! olivia slept through 20 minutes of it! that was the best since miss savannah really needed a lot of attention.