Aleia playing in the back yard on one of Darren's toys

Dinner in the only diner in Pecos Texas

'Hangin out' with Grandma Marjean, Amanda, Aleia and Darren

Horses and Tractors at the Worlds Greatest Horseman Competition in San Angelo Texas.

Yee haw!

Texas Travels

I went with the girls and Matt's mom and Bruce down to Texas for two weeks! It was fun to be there, but I don't think I'd want to do the three day drive any time soon. In spite of the drive, my girls behaved remarkably in the car. And we all had fun with the cousins, Matt and Amanda. The weather there was so great! Every day we were there it got warmer and warmer, until it reached about 76 degrees. Yess!!! It was so nice. We had a nice snow storm to bring us back to reality when we got home. Sigh. Matt was on a business trip when we came home, and we all reunited yesterday. I was sure happy to be with my hubby again!

While we were gone, Matt studied for the CPA. He's taking part 4 tomorrow! Go Matt! Then, our lives will be free of study stress. That will be SOOOOO nice.
I should have some pictures and stories about the trip soon!

Christmas Pleasures

Christmas this year was spent with both families! We were so happy to have Leonard and Amy make the treaturous drive from Oregon. We played a lot. So much that I forgot to take pictures, I was having too much fun. Jon and Sarah brought their family out for Christmas too, and we loved being with both families. I'm sad everyone had to go back home. I think family is the best part of Christmas memories. We love you all!

Macie is still a bit wobbly with sitting up, but this is her with her first 'pet'. A doggie that walks and barks. She loves it!
A family gift this year was a massage chair (a vibrating one) the girls really like it too!

Mostly we just loved being together!

Aleia got a cool new train set, that we can put a cover on and it turns into a table. Genius! The only problem is she needs some people to play with! Come over and play with us!

Simple Pleasures

My girls remind me everyday of the simple pleasures in life. Such as how good clothes feel right as they come out of the dryer, or how fun a basket is to play in.

Okay, I'll Go Find You One!

Allright, so it's time for another "Aleia Moment." Our apartment does not have a built-in dishwasher, so we had to buy one of the portable ones (full-size, just on wheels. Kinda cool really). Anyway, so we have 4 steps to go down to get into our apartment, and the dishwasher decided it wanted to jump down instead of taking an easy ride on the hand truck. Basically, the piece of countertop that was attached to the top of the dishwasher completely fell off.

So, a few Saturdays ago I was fixing it. To make a long story short, it was a bit frustrating; I mean, you try screwing on a piece of countertop from underneath with the dishwasher in the way. Short of having a piece of elastic for an arm, it just wasn't that easy.

Anyhow, so there I am, tools strewn about next to me, arm wedged in between some stuff, looking rather perplexed. Aleia walks up to me and says: "Do you need some help Dad?" In a tone of voice somewhere between calm and annoyed, I replied: "I don't need help, I need a miracle!"

Without missing a beat, Aleia's quick response was, "Okay, I'll go find you one!" Whatever frustration I had, was gone in an instant and the thing was fixed a few minutes later. In this particular case, I think Aleia's sweetness WAS the miracle. Kids are great.

Winter Fun

First of all, a sincere apology for anyone that has taken the time to look at the blog, only to realize it hasn't changed for a long time. Matt's been studying for the CPA in the evenings, and I just haven't had much of a chance to get on the computer during the day. We're home alot now. Especially with the colder weather. And it's often a battle to get Aleia to put socks and shoes on and get out the door. It snowed here quite a bit yesterday, so here's some pictures of the fun! All Aleia wanted to do was eat it.

Macie doesn't miss a thing. She likes to be very involved. She's quite a good teeth brusher!

Wraping Christmas presents :o)

I love this stage where they eat their toes!

Macie is 4 months!

We sure love having Macie in our family. She is such a joy. Macie is 4 months now, and doctors say she is very social, with bright smiles for anyone who will look at her. She loves her family, and is ray of sunshine everyday for us.

You can't tell it's freezing

Do you remember what it was like to really play? Aleia and Sammy reminded me. To really play, one is so into what they are doing, they don't even realize they are playing. It was 45 degrees outside, but you sure can't tell. The way they were playing and laughing, you would think it was a perfect summer day. Ahh...to be young again.

Jen and I were just standing there with our teeth chattering the whole time. :o)

Sammy's House

We got to play at Sammy's house this weekend. Hooray for friends! Jen was nice enough to take these pictures of our cute girls. We're very excited for Macie to have a playmate too in a month!

I Love You Rituals

Everyone has seen a babies face light up when they play "Patty Cake" with an adult. The one-on-one time, the complete attention of the parent, and the play time are eaten up by the baby who smiles, giggles and coos.
But what happens as babies get older? We stop doing those touching games with them. A book I've been reading called I Love You Rituals by Becky A Bailey explains that these types of games

• boost brain potential
• encourage cooperation and caring
• promote learning and literacy
• increase attention and decrease power struggles and
• build bonds of unconditional love

I've really enjoyed the ideas for games I can play with Aleia. She loves the games and craves the attention.

So, for all the parents out there, I decided I would post a new 'I love you ritual' once a week, or one a month. (I haven't decided which yet) so that we can all build stronger relationships with our kids whom we love SO MUCH!

So watch for the new rituals, posted on the right.

When Aleia and I play this game at nap time (Good Night Elbow), she is a lot happier about taking a nap, knowing I'm not just trying to get rid of her, but still love her unconditionally. Try it out! See how they work for your family! I'd love to get feedback.

Time with Dad!

So, I try to spend about an hour of good "one-on-one" time with Aleia every day, and we have a lot of fun! As Macie gets older, and other kids join the family, I will have to share and take turns for that special time with other kids, but right now it is a lot of fun to be able to play with just her! The below photos are from our most recent ventures together...she is such a little heart melter!

Aleia holding "Sparkles," her favorite dog in the world.

She is already pointing and laughing at me...I wonder what will happen during the next 10 years.

She loves to swing...

With her mouth wide open.

Cheezin' for the camera

"Come get me Dad! (as if I could ever fit in there.)

Aleia workin' her climbing skills

She got pretty far up the slide!

This is what happens when your daughter says "I want to stay in the car for a minute."

For the record, I did not suggest, teach, or show her how to do this.

Maybe we'll put her back there on our next trip.

Thanksgiving Point Farm

Friday was fall break, and we finally got Grandma to come to the farm! (I forgot it was UEA weekend and everyone and their dog would be at the farm). It was still fun. They had a big haloween event set up, and it cost more, but was still a lot of fun.

All of us on a wagon ride pulled by Clydsedale Horses

Aleia and a real cowgirl.

Aleia and the 'real' belle horse. (She has a toy horse named Belle whom she loves dearly)

Fall strolls and Joy rides

We have been really enjoying the beautiful weekend weather. We love fall! Here are some pictures of my family enjoying the fall.

More Funnies

Aleia and I were playing 'dogs' while I was feeding Macie. Aleia wanted me to play on the floor with her, but it's harder to get up while nursing a baby if I'm on the floor so I remained in the chair. I put the dog on my knee.

Aleia, addressing the dog said "What are you doing up there?"

Justifying sitting in the chair my dog said "I'm looking out for danger."

Aleia said "oh." Then pulled out another dog. "Hi. I'm Danger."

Funnies

Aleia and I were hanging out in the car. She was up in the passenger side in the front, and found some gum packs in the center console. Aleia grabbed both of them and looking at the one said, "Mom, you're gonna have raspberry, and I'm gonna have..." She looks down at the picture on the label... "leafs." (Spearmint.) I think I like 'leaf' flavor better.

Back in the Market

We pulled out of our contract on the duplex in Provo. We were very excited about it, the place was perfect. And then, just days before our due diligence is up, we discover....Its a MANUFACTURED HOME! ARGH! There are lots of problems with manufactured homes. The financing is ridiculous, there's a bunch of red tape to weed through, not to mention they are incredibly difficult to sell, and this one happened to be thirty years old. Who knows if it is going to last another thirty? It was already showing signs of cracking in the ceiling and walls.

Sigh.

So, it's back to the market.

We're just really grateful we found out now, and not later.

Sisters

I love this one with Macies arm on Aleia, and Aleia's around Macie
Macie looking up to Aleia
Cute smiles from my girls

Cute pink Pajama friends!

All in all, things are getting better having two. Macie always gives big smiles to Aleia, and Aleia is a very sweet and caring sister. We feel so lucky to have such great girls.