The calm after the storm

Once Papa had wiped his flu bug away with Ambien and 24 hours of sleep, he was almost feeling like himself again.  So before we headed back to CO, the girls got to take a little swim with the dolphin and enjoy our last hours of 80 degree weather.  If you ask me, it doesn't look like the girls would mind living in that all the time!?!;-)

And once Gramma's flu bug was over, she was able to join us for a last stop lunch at my favorite bagel place in Dana Point.  Our lunch date didn't end well (Molly refusing to get off the ground because she wanted to be held--wasn't going to happen!) as we were passing through a much needed nap, so I'm glad I was able to capture happy faces in the beginning:)

We got to have dinner with our cousins the night before we headed back, an fortunately the nasty little flu bug got through Ayla and Zoey just in time for all the girls to enjoy a fun night playing together.  If baby #3 is a boy, he better get used to babies and princesses real quick if he wants a shot at playing with his sisters and CA cousins!!;-)

Goodbye California!!  Next time we'll be seeing you, we will be a family of 5! (6 including J-dog!)

A Thanksgiving to always remember...

I thought I would post about this Thanksgiving while i am still in the midst of it before I forget!  I wouldn't exactly describe it as the best, but maybe the most memorable.  We started out by getting to celebrate an early Xmas with the Sadlers and Lanoha's before heading to CA.  Below is an attempted pic of all the kids in their matching outfits that Aunt Kalley so kindly hand picked and bought for each kid... Low and behold, we have the one child who refused to wear the Xmas uniform and would not cooperate in any kind of picture with her cousins.  While I appreciate Ellie's independent sense of style to not follow a crowd, it can be extremely frustrating when it comes to family photos with cousins!  And I can't say this was the first time for this either, I'm jut hoping one day I will appreciate her strong will and stubbornness as part of who she becomes.

The girls and I arrived in CA on Monday and was welcomed by mid 80 degree temperatures.  M and E were so excited to see Papa and Gramma and all their cousins.  

In addition to Ellie's refusal of certain clothing, she will be seen with a bandaid on her forehead in every picture taken in the past 7 days because she refuses to take her bandaid off from bumping into a door, which had absolutely no need for a bandaid.  Also while being in CA, she demanded on wearing her new Summer dress for the entire first 3 days of our visit... I picked my battles wisely because 1) it was hotter weather then I had packed for and 2) it's a pretty cute outfit in my opinion:)

On the 2nd day, I came down with a stomach bug and thankfully had my dad to take care of me, and my mom to take care of the girls.  It was nice to be able to take it easy knowing we were all in good hands.  Meanwhile, back in CO, things were going south and the computer system crashed at the shop, whih resulted in too much work for Braden to leave behind.  So it was our first (and hopefully last) Thankgiving not together for the holiday:(

Over the next couple of days, the bug travelled to Connie, Gavin, Ayla, Zoey, Papa, gramma, and Christa... So far!  back in CO, it travelled through Yaya, Bompa, Pro Yaya, Uncle Steve, and now Braden.   Talk about feeling guilty for passing along a sickness!!!

The fun at the beach before the storm bug took everyone down!

Before it hit my mom, we took M and E to the park I grew up at.  They loved playing at "mommy's park' and seeing the houses I grew up in.  It was a fun day down memory lane!

Soon to be big sisters!

Little Ms Ellie has become quite the Ms Sassy pants, and a lot over the past couple of weeks. During our freezing cold/zero degree temp week, Ellie stubbornly insisted on wearing a tutu and tap shoes to preschool every day.  In addition, Yaya bought the girls new dresses...for NEXT Summer, however, try explaining that to a frilly 3 year old when it's snowing and 10 degrees outside.  So as I've been doing more and more lately, which I've tried to promise myself I would never do, I've been giving up on certain battles and letting them run with their independence and making their own choices.  So, Ellie got to wear her new Summer dress in this frigid weather...I guess she's just a California girls daughter at heart!!

Ms Molly however is easier to please and just wants to have fun!  The neighbors came over Sat night in single digit temps and Molly was all in to go shovel, sled, and play in the snow! She got her snow gear on like a champ, with her boots and hat and joined in on the fun!  Meanwhile, Ellie refused to wear the boots and wanted tap shoes on, and insisted on only wearing rainbow color gloves...which of course were not the gloves available and on hand!  Molly had a blast and I'm sure she's looking forward to more snow next time!

While both girls could not be more opposite in personality, I am constantly amazed at their love and support for one another.  Their beds are pushed together but they tend to end up in just one if the beds together every night.  We are on a new bed time routine, since it was important to get this fixed before the baby comes, and they have been surprisingly cooperative!  However, a little bribing from mom never hurts anyone!;-)

31 Weeks!

Just 9 more weeks to go until we get to meet this little babe!!  At this point, all the joys of pregnancy are already in full force, but I know the second I meet him/her, I will forget all about the heart burn, the congestion, lower pressure, back aches, hip aches, inability to move around without any ease, and all the rest!  The end result is more than worth all the complaining I have done the past 7 months!  I just needed to document it so I can remind myself when I'm wanting that 4th!!;)

Cousins!

Summer 2014

We had quite the busy Summer this year and will be sad to see the warm weather behind us. We started out with a work rewards trip to Cabo San Lucas in April, which was a much needed adult trip away. We stored up on our R&R to be followed with Disney World in May with Yaya and Bompa and the Freese's. Courtney graduated from college, which called for a stop in Orlando to see Mickey and Minnie. Molly built herself up and had daily talks with Ellie about seeing Mickey and taking a picture with him. When we got to the parking lot, she refused to get out of her seat because she didn't want to see him. After a lot of negotiating, we were able to get out of the car and have a great day at the Magic Kingdom. Needless to say, we left with no pictures with Mickey or Minnie:( Maybe next year! DW was followed by finally getting a positive pregnancy test with Baby #3! We have been wishing and hoping for this baby for a long time so maybe the happiest place on earth really does "make dreams come true!" Along with number #3 was a small celebration for the girls big #3! We had a family bbq at our house with burgers and birthday cakes. Molly asked for a blue cake, and Ellie asked for a pink cake, which both girls' wishes were granted:) Pretty easy to please if you ask me! In June, Braden takes an annual camping/fishing trip in Meeker, so the girls and I decided to make a trip to CA for Ayla's 5th birthday. It was much needed family time and nice to be apart of celebrations we don't usually get to be there for. Molly and Ellie loved the time with their cousins, gramma and papa. We enjoyed the weekend with lots of swimming, roasting s'mores, and some beach time. We came home and regrouped just in time to get to meet our God Daughter, Julianna! They made a trip out to Denver for her baptism, which was so special to be apart of. She is the happiest, smiliest baby ever and we are so honored they chose us as her God parents! That was followed with a girls trip camping! I decided to brave it out and take the girls with Meagan and some friends camping near Sedalia. I figured I should do it before my belly got any bigger. They LOVED sleeping in tent and making marshmellows over the fire...we will definitely have to do it again next year! After roughing it camping, we took a long flight over to Hawaii with Papa, the Vettraino's, and the Abraham's. It was a great week filled with tons of swimming, cousin time, turtles, mermaids, Mickey and Minnie and daily naps! Hopefully we'll get to go back someday soon!

S'MORE!

We decided since we love our kids soooo much, we would have S'More! This is a late post on Baby #3, but better late than never! Expected due date is January 21. I have been slacking a ton on taking belly pictures this time around, mostly because my only photographers of choice are two 3 year olds! However, at this point of 21 weeks along, I appear the same size as I was when I was pregnant with the girls at this point. So it really meant nothing that I had two babies in me last time, unless this baby is just a giant! It has been a pretty uneventful pregnancy and time is starting to go by faster since I have the distraction of M and E. He/she is a little mover, and I felt "it" kick at 17 weeks. He/she is positioned very low, which makes for some uncomfortable times. Even though it has been a smooth pregnancy, I've come to terms that even though I am a huge fan of my babies, I am not a huge fan of being pregnant. I don't like the feeling of my stomach stretching, and the rest of my body getting larger each week. I will anxiously be awaiting for January to meet this little baby...not only to meet them, but to find out if "it" is a girl or boy! Braden will be finding out the gender next week, and I will be holding out for the surprise at the end! We will see if he can keep a secret, and if I can hold out!!!

Preschool!!

After much anticipation and anxiety, we finally had our first day of preschool.  I wish I could say that it went great, and better than expected and the girls loved it... But I can't:(  The drop of situation went worse than any Hollywood movie preschool scene where the mom leaves the kid and has to peel them off her leg.  I was on my own leaving TWO screaming little girls with crocodile tears and two teachers having to prey them off me as I had no choice but to leave them and let hem figure out the ropes on their own.  I left the building as a typical hormonal pregnant mom that couldn't keep it together and battled with an on the fence migraine all day.  A half hour later I received a text from the school that they were both happy and painting together.  However, when their dad picked them up at the end of the day, Molly had been crying from the accident she had during her nap and  had already used up the change of clothes I had sent.  Both girls came home with fevers and were sick all night.  No wonder they had a rough day!!  It turns out, they both picked up hand, foot, and mouth disease within the past week and were at the peak of the virus.  So Molly's wish came true and she won't have to go back until next week.  Ellie has asked to go back several times which gives me hope for her sister.  I think it was a good bonding day for the two if them, as I don't think Ellie left her sad sisters side for one second.  They were sent home with 3 paintings, all named "Molly and Ellie," so either they stuck together or the teacher hasn't figured out who is who yet!  We will see how week 2 goes with all my fingers and toes crossed!!

Almost 3!

With these girls approaching 3, time seems to be going by faster and faster and they are growing up more every day. They are becoming kids and not toddlers anymore.  I am finding myself having real conversations with them and no longer talk to them like they are my babies:(  

Both girls love to dance and "shake their booty."  They are in ballet, which they LOVE!  They play together really well, for the most part, and their imginations are growing all the time.  They love to play "mommy and baby" and will take turns with each role and will pretend to cry and feed each other.  I over heard them the other night talking to each other during this game and this is how it went "you need to go pee pee Ellie? Yes? Okay go in the potty.... Did you go? Okay, good job Ellie, you get two jelly beans!"  They are very supportive of one another and are constantly building each other up and complimenting one another.  I am always hearing them say "good job Molly/Ellie..." Or "it's okay sweetie, are you okay?"   As of this month, they are finally potty trained (yay!)  Molly has willingly walked into this and doesn't need or expect rewards for her success. Meanwhile, we have learned that Ellie will do just about anything for jelly beans or candy!  My sweet toothed child is also in a "honey" phase and will eat anything as long as it has honey on it!  I guess there are worse things out there that it could have been!  They also like tic tacs right now, which Ellie calls them her "chip chaps."  

They moved into "big girl beds" in the beginning of the year.  I started out with their beds apart, but as of a few weeks ago, Ellie was falljng asleep in Molly's bed every night.  So, I put the beds together to make one big one and now they sleep by each other every night, which is so sweet:)

I would describe this "almost 3" phase as the calm before and after the storm.  For me, 2-2 1/2 was the most challenging age.  We spent a lot of time with tantrums and time outs, and fortunately those two things have been decreasing and they are playing pleasantly together instead of fighting.  I'm holding out because from everything I hear, it's about to get worse!