Jessica's bath time

Yesterday Jessica was taking her bath and wanted company in the bathroom. So, what kind of mother would I be if I didn't take some pictures or a video?

Blessing for February 4, 2009: Prayer

Protective Sister

Today was beautiful, in the upper 60s and lower 70s. So we played outside. I am not sure why, but the girls like to sit right next to the gate of our next door neighbor's house and talk to the dog. Well, at one point Cailyn wasn't there and Jessica was standing looking at the dog. Just then someone drove up across the street and got out of their car. Of course, the dog starting barking, startling Jessica to tears. She just stood there crying and hollering. Cailyn went running over there and started to defend her sister by yelling and pointing at the dog, " Be nice to my sister." It was so cute. I love that she defends her sister, it shows that she really does love her(even if most of the time she is the one that we need to protect her from).


Blessing for February 3, 2009: Evidence of sisterly love in my children.

Blessing for February 2, 2009: Indoor plumbing

Visit from the Gropps

Cory, Andrea, and sweet little Emma came over this weekend. It was so nice to have them here. We went to the Chili Cook-off, then came home and just talked. We love having people come over, it just doesn't happen that often. We all got up to go to church, but Cailyn is a bit under the weather so only Jessica and I stayed for all the meetings. Jessica ended up falling asleep in nursery so she didn't nap when we got home(Jason actually got up from his nap to let me get one--I will never be able to repay him for all the naps he lets me have). That was a bit frustrating, but when everyone else woke up from naps we made some pizza(Papa Murphy's) and watched a movie.
We hope that you guys come back(even with the mishaps) to visit because we loved having you here. We might even get a more comfortable bed for you to sleep on.
I want to say thank you to Cory(and Jason) for returning the tables to Weatherford. The person who picked them up for us ended up not attending the party because he and his family were sick, so there was no one to take the tables back for us. So, Jason took the seats out of our van, loaded up the tables, and took them back to the other building. A BIG, BIG thank you guys for doing that for me. Will there ever be a Branch party without glitches?

Blessing for February 1, 2009: Family that are also friends!

Branch Activity

Saturday night our Branch had our first activity for 2009. We decided to have a "Chili Cook-off". We made 3 competitions out of it though. Best Chili, best dessert, and the ugliest sweater. It was a lot of fun. We had 7 chili's, 6 desserts, and 5 people enter the ugly sweater competition. Overall a really great time and one that we will do every year.
We had to borrow some tables from another building(and had a little miscommunication on the timing there--Sorry Tonia), and still ended up without enough seats for everyone, but it was a great turnout and everyone enjoyed themselves.
We invited Cory, Andrea, and baby Emma to join us and stay the night. They came and sampled some of the hottest chili, and GREAT desserts, and decided not to enter the sweater competition. I somehow forgot to take my heartburn medicine so I didn't even try some chili, but almost all of it was gone but the time the party was over.
I am sorry to say that I don't have any pictures, but when you are in charge it is hard to justify walking around taking pictures instead of helping to serve, clean, or just keep things running. So, maybe next time. Thank you to everyone that helped and participated.

Blessing for January 31, 2009: A wonderful Branch with members that are fun to spend time with. We love y'all.

A few changes, and a lot of SNOT

Today I guess I was experiencing some nesting because I rearranged our toy/TV room. We spend a lot of time in there and it was driving me crazy with stuff everywhere and bare walls and the like. We had a keyboard in there(on top of an amp) that wasn't plugged in and was just taking up space. I moved that into a closet to make more room for the toys the girls play with. I removed a toy table that the girls never touch, and then proceeded to hang pictures. Jason is quite the artist and I wanted to display his work, but I felt it needed to be in as much of a uniform way as possible. So, in the miscellaneous room it went. I am very proud of what he has done and am glad to have found a place for it.

This is a figurine that Papa(Jason's dad) made. Until now it was kind of hidden on our mantel, but now can be seen in our play/TV room.(I am very pleased with this change)

This is the corner of the play room.

This is above our couch that now displays some of Jason's work.

This is at the end of our hallway. My favorite change for today(even if the pictures of our families are out of date).

For the past 2 nights Cailyn has had a hard time sleeping because she is sick(but when it is time to get up she is ready to play like a normal day--I am sad to say that I don't bounce back from lack of sleep the way she does). She can't breath very well and her eyes are constantly wet with tears. She has run a fever but nothing too serious. However, today while I was working she used an entire box of tissues and 3 rolls of toilet paper. Needless to say, her nose is raw and we are now helping to teach her the most effective way to wipe/blow her nose. I think that we will use less tissue tomorrow.

The trash was emptied this morning, but now is completely full with Cailyn's snotty tissues.

Blessing for January 30, 2009:

Having the energy to get some things done before David Christopher gets here.

Clothes, blessings, and amputation

Yesterday I decided to go through the girls' clothes and make sure that everything in their drawers fits them(just one project to complete before David's arrival). This is a BIG project and I started it WAY TOO LATE! But, it is done now . However, when I was putting Jessica's clothes in a bag to be sent to her cousin, Emma, my eyes starting filling with tears. I know that I am just pregnant and emotional, but it was sad to see some of my favorite clothes leave our house not to be worn by one of my children again. I am not saying that I am disappointed that we are having a boy, just that I remember Cailyn wearing some of those clothes and they looked just as cute on Jessica. I know that Emma will do them justice, but it is still sad to me.
Now I can't put this post on here without mentioning my sister, Lynnae, because MOST of the clothes that my girls wear came from her daughter, Becca. I remember getting bags of clothes from my cousins growing up and being so excited to see what they had sent. It was always fun. So, we want to shout out a big, "THANK YOU, LYNNAE! WE LOVE YOU!"

Today's blessing: My sister who is so giving. It truly does help us more than you will ever know!

OK so I have to tell you what is happening as I write this. Daddy is playing and giggling with the girls and I don't know why, but Cailyn is being taught the meaning of amputation. As she is learning this new word, this is how the conversation is going:

Cailyn: (with tape on her finger) I hurt my finger, Daddy.
Daddy: Do you want me to amputate it?
Cailyn: No, it will get better.
Daddy: Can I amputate THIS one(pointing to a different finger)?
Cailyn: No
Daddy: Can I amputate THIS finger(pointing to a another one)
Cailyn: No
Daddy: Can I amputate Jessica's finger?
Cailyn: Yes

hehehe I guess Jessica's finger doesn't mean as much to Cailyn as her own fingers. Jessica might have protested if she knew what was going on!