We got Tangled!!

We took advantage of Travis having the day off today and enjoyed a movie out with the kids. Trav made me realize that this was the first movie that we have all seen together (minus seeing Toy Story 3 at the Drive In) as a family! I've taken the kids with my parents to see movies but I guess we haven't seen one with Daddy. That's pretty sad but was happy we remedied it! When we first got there, Jordyn had to go to the bathroom and ran right into the Men's bathroom!! Makenna ran right in after her and I had to yell for them to get out while the guy taking the tickets laughed at me:) Once we were seated, the previews started and one came on about Justin Bieber. It was very loud so Jordyn covered her ears and said her ears hurt. Travis then replied, "It's ok sweetie. My ears hurt when I hear Justin Bieber too!" He had me and everyone around us laughing. Jordyn was a lot better than she has been in the past. And even when she got restless, she was fine once she got some licorice or kisses:) I think it had to do with it being a Princess movie too! Baby boy was good as well. I was a little worried about it since he is a lot more mobile. I kept him in his car seat for as long as he would let me, feeding him puffs and stuff and then nursed him when he was tired of sitting. He did really well. Jordyn also loved making her shoes light up in the dark (something I didn't think of before). Makenna was just awesome. She loved the movie and just sat there enamored by it and eating her popcorn. She ate that popcorn during the whole movie! She is just like her Mommy! And on the way out, she asked if she could play one of the games. I was confused for a minute and didn't know what she was talking about. Then we came out of the theater and I realized she was talking about the slot machines!! Sorry honey!! You can't play 'those' games!! Haha!! Only in Vegas!! We had a great time and I'm glad we went:)

I'm off....

I leave for Texas in the morning!! I am so excited to have a girl's weekend with my best friend. I know it will rejuvenate me and help me to be a better mom. I am a big wimp when it comes to my girls though. I don't think I've ever left them overnight before, let alone for 4 days!! But I know they will be in good hands and I know I will be fine once I'm there. My plane better get me there too. That wasn't very nice to see a plane crash the day before I go flying;-) I'm so thankful for a wonderful husband that gave me this gift and wonderful family that helps out with the girls. I've been trying to tell Makenna that I would be going on a trip and she has been really good so far. She just told me to bring Bella back so she could play with her;)
On a couple of side notes, my poor Makenna hasn't stopped saying that she doesn't want to see that lady doctor again! Over and over. I keep telling her that the lady wasn't the doctor but she doesn't get it. The more I think about it, the madder I get so I'm trying not to think about it.
Trav also wanted me to add this pic of his wonderful decorating of his mom's birthday cake! Isn't he mean....but very clever;) He added the twinkie last minute!

And I thought this pic was adorable. Jordyn loves her rocking chair! She looks so big in it!!

Christmas Eve

We always spend our Christmas Eve with Travis' family. We have a nice dinner and then open some presents. It was a full house this year because Trav's sister's family was here instead of in Virginia. The cousins had fun playing (most of the time) and it was a nice night with family.

Nevermind her messy shirt....I love her eyes in this pic.

It didn't take long for Jordyn to figure presents out.

Makenna had a blast unwrapping presents this year. She couldn't do it fast enough and wanted to help everyone else open theirs too;)

Makenna and her cousin kind of butted heads in the unwrapping department. They both wanted to help the other one unwrap their presents but they didn't want help when it was their own gift.

Jordyn was putting her new dress on her head and made her hair look like she has a comb over;)

Our new printer/scanner!! Yay!

A rare pic of us!!

Makenna loved her books!

Jordyn was being a serious daddy's girl that night.

Lady.....enough saidÜ

Travis decided to put J.J. in a stocking....so cute;)

We had fun and had a hard time getting Kenna to bed once we got home. I finally told her (after a potty break) that Santa couldn't come if she wasn't asleep. She finally got it and kept saying, "Hurry mommy....I need to get to sleep so Santa can come.....Hurry!!" It was so sweet. She was definitely at a fun age for Christmas this year.

Thanksgiving fun

We had a great Thanksgiving. We enjoyed spending time with both sides of our families. It is so nice to have our families so close to us. The girls just played and played with their cousins and were very tired by the end of the day;)
Jordyn loved playing with this grocery cart. She pushed this thing everywhere.

Jordyn is about ready to pass out here.

Makenna was so busy with her cousins that I didn't get a chance to get her picture. So I had to post this one with me. She's such a doll.

And since I reached my goal of 15 pounds before Thanksgiving, I figured I would post a recent pic of me. I was going to post a before pic but I realized that I don't have too many pics of me. I'm usually the one taking the pics;)

Jordyn's Party!!

For Jordyn's birthday, I took her to the park to play and to feed the ducks. She loved the swings but wasn't so sure about the ducks. I think her sister had the most fun;)

There were a ton of ducks and they were not shy!!! There were these huge ones that would just take the bread out of my hand. Unfortunately, one got Makenna right on the hand which she did not appreciate very much. There were a ton of turtles around sunbathing too.

That night it was just Travis, Makenna and I and we got a cake for her to try out. She picked at it for a few minutes and thought it was pretty good but got uninterested pretty quickly.

Then, Saturday was our big party day!! We decided to have everyone over to our house for Jordyn's party. It was a great turnout with a total of 25 people that showed up (and it was all family!!). I'm so glad that our girls' birthdays are at good times of the year because we were able to have people inside and out!! We barbecued burgers and hot dogs and my dad made his yummy potato salad!! I don't think Jordyn knew what was going on with all these people at her house but when she started to figure out that these were her family, she finally relaxed and had fun.

Party time!!! What a beautiful birthday girl!! And her sister had a blast with all of her cousins!

Her cakes. Travis started cutting into the one at the top before I got to take a pic. The bottom two were made by her Grandma. Thanks Grandma!!

She hates getting into her highchair now so she made it a little difficult to get her to stop crying long enough for her to realize that we were giving her cake!! It was pretty much the same as the other night. She picked at it for a few minutes and then she was done!!! O-well. I guess my girls just hate getting dirty;) The bottom pics are of her finally happy in the sink getting clean.

Pinata time. We didn't have anything to hang it up on so I just held it while they took turns pulling those strings. The kids went crazy after that candy!! And yes, those beautiful Asian girls are part of our family too;)

Present time!! She made out big time!! It was like Christmas for J.J.Ü Thank you everyone for coming and sharing our baby's first birthday with us. I love that we have so much family so close.

Posterity

Today is pioneer day. Both Travis and I had ancestors that came over to the Great Salt Lake. I'm thankful for their sacrifice and I always wonder how I would have handled being a pioneer. I don't think I would have done so hot. The theme for our family reunion was remembering our posterity and the treasures that they left for us. I learned over the weekend that Travis' dad writes poetry. I have no idea how I didn't know this;) He wrote this poem and I wanted to share it so that hopefully one day my girls will read this and get to enjoy it. I will eventually get to post about our trip but I still don't have my computer so it will be coming soon;)

The Old Oak Tree

Once there stood an old oak tree

filled with acorns plump and round,

a majestic sight for all to see

its arms upright as though toward heaven bound.

Through summer heat and winter storms

it stood so straight and tall

giving love and protection to everything

all creatures great and small.

But came one winter cold and dreary

and with it wind and snow

and though it had stood for many a year

weak and weary its trunk did grow.

On one bleak and blustery day

it groaned and fell to earth.

and with its passing we felt the loss

of a friend we had known since birth.

When winter had passed there came the spring

with its warm and sunny skies,

and there stood a forest young and strong

right before our eyes.

Our dear old friend whom we had thought

we nevermore would see

was with us still vibrant and young

clothed in the robes of posterity.

Like the mighty oak are we

standing tall and straight

and when our lives on earth are done,

we'll pass through heavens gate.

But here on earth we'll be remembered

and live for evermore

through our lives of those we blessed

and the posterity we bore.

By: Gordon R. Millett