Sister Love

I just can't begin to explain, or tell about the love I have for my sister Danna. She has just moved back to Utah after a long almost 2 year jaunt to Oregon, Washington and Idaho. I am so glad to have her back!! Well like we did back in the day we are spending tons of time together. Almost every day we say to each other, "I can't believe the kids are doing so well today. No fights, they must be working it out, good. They're growing up so fast." It is just so nice to have family close by and to have the opportunity to let cousins grow up together. We have been planning activities for the kids to do together that will promote kind play and a chance for Danna and I to, well gab away! So here is a few things that we have done over the last few visits together..
SUGAR COOKIES!!

Today we made PLAYDOUGH!! I remember making it as a kid, but I had forgotten how easy it really is to make. We made two batches in about 5 min!! It was so fun! We made them each their own color. Luke couldn't put it down, even though he was told several times because it was time to go. Very very fun!!

Danna came over to my house today and we had a ball! The kids played nicely together and stayed out of our hair and we were able to enjoy eachother's company the way we did back in the day. I LOVE my sister! One of the things we have always had so much fun doing, ever since I can remember, is baking. So she pulled out the cook book our Mom put together for us and we started baking away. I now have a new favorite dessert!! Connie's Pineapple Nut Bars!

Recipe:

1 C flour

1/2 C sugar

1/2 C butter

Mix and press into 9 X 9 pan. bake at 350 for 10 min.

8 oz cream cheese

2 T sugar

1 egg

2 T milk

1 t vanilla

mix till smooth and add:

8 oz drained, crushed pineapple

Spread over partially baked crust.

1 C coconut

1/2 c slivered almonds

1 T melted butter

Combine and sprinkle over filling. Return to oven and bake for 18- 20 min till golden and filling is set. Cool and glaze.

1/2 C powdered sugar

1/2 t rum extract

2-4 T milk.

The Day of Love

Valentines Day has always been one of those days that ,for me, just come and go like any other. I remember my Mom making them so sweet, but with little kids, there is just not the same excitement in the air. Needless to say I didn't do anything special. Nana however came through with amazing results.....

She sent, as you can see, a princess card complete with a crown and bracelet. Ramsey was so excited about it that she refused to let me help her punch it out, and well I'm sure we can all imagine the disappointment.

Happy 6 month Birthday to Paisley!!

Happy 6 month Birthday to Paisley!!

15.4 lbs. 25.5 in.

Well Paisley turned 6 months on the 12th of February and it has gone by so fast! So I wanted to do a little post all about her. Each child truly is different, here is a list of things we have discovered about Paisley in the past 6 months:

She loves her sister. I don't thing there is anything cuter than to see the girls play nicely together. Especially in the early morning. One always wakes the other , the smiles and soft sounds that are exchanged are too precious.

She is definitely a Daddy's girl! Her face lights up when Bill comes in the room.

She appreciates nap time. We find it strange, but I sure do love it, Paisley enjoys being placed in her bed, blanket around her face, given the bink and left the heck alone! So nice.

She loves tummy time. She is already crawling that says it all.

Paisley loves to play with Ramsey. The toy battle has begun. What ever one has the other wants. (It's a little exhausting)

She has two teeth and I don't think the others are far behind, I still get no sleep.

She loves to play in the bath water both while its filling the tub or just splashing like crazy. I always end up wet.

Paisley loves food! She has been staring at our food plates with wanting eyes ever since we brought her home. She is so glad to be given a taste here and there.

She loves to pull Peanut's hair or tail, but doesn't care to be licked.

She is mesmerized by him.

She hates her car seat. The shoulder straps are like a straight jacket.

There is also a short list if things that I, as a mother, am once again thankful for:

family

tylenol

friends

car rides

white noise

king size bed

disposable diapers

I'll do it myself

So last night Ramsey asked Bill seriously 100 times to make her some hot chocolate and he didn't do timely enough for her so she did it herself. I was in the other room feeding Paisley when I heard uh-oh and soon Bill brings her in with a chocolate covered face I had to laugh. She obviously found the cup, spoon and coco mix, but wasn't able to get the water, so she decided eating it would do just fine. So fun to watch them learn and grow.

Christmas

I have to put this picture of Bill up, he will probably make me take it off but I have to giggle to my self. Bill and I had the conversation about Christmas shopping and wether or not he wanted to go with me. He answered with a big YES!! So as the time drawn nearer and I make time to go he is 'unavaliable' to go with me. So Christmas morning we wake up at his parents house and he promptly puts on his Christmas pajamas finishing it off with a night cap, it just made me giggle. Here are the extent of our photos from Christmas at Grandparents Swann's house.

Here is Christmas #2 at our house with our gifts for the girls and gifts from my parents. It was so fun to be able to capture her face with these pictures and the excitement...... Well a picture is worth a thousand words, and I understand that better now!

Cold Play!

Each year as I watch Ramsey grow we explore new things together. This winter was the first that she truely enjoyed the snow. We had plenty of fun out in the yard familarizing ourselves with it and then took it to the park for some family sledding. We had a ball!! Bill was so nervous and at first hesitant about going, (He remembers having to do all the trecking and hauling of kids up the hill) but it turned out to be so much fun we forgot about the chore part. Call me nuts, but I just love winter. It has to be my favorite season!

Two peas in a pod

I always knew that I wanted kids, however I never knew how much my kids wanted each other. I am constantly griping at Ramsey 'leave your sister alone'; 'get off your sister'; 'give that back to her'; 'please don't wake her up I just got her to sleep'. All to which she listens and obeys 100 % (ya right), but for all of you who have more than one bundle of joy can appreciate, she truly is more help than I could ever have imagined. The other morning we were lying in bed and I just finished feeding Paisley and put her back to sleep when Ramsey came in and asked where she was. I told her she was asleep and not to wake her. I guess with a two year old every day is opposite day. She promptly got in the bed and hugged her, and squished her, and woke her. I got irritated and asked Ramsey why she has to do that to Paisley when she is asleep and she said 'I just want to squeeze her so tight for how much I love her' and it donned on me that that is how Ramsey shows her love and affection for her sister, all the pestering and if I would just look close enough I would see that huge smile on Paisley' s face and the light in her eyes when Ramsey is near. I thank God every day for my beautiful girls, my wonderful husband and the life we all share.

I was out doing some shopping and saw these giant snowflakes in a store window and upon closer inspection found that they were really easy to make so I did so and added them to my holiday decorating

So over the last few months with the season drawing nearer I decided to find my girls Christmas outfits. I shopped long and hard and found slim pickin's for matching (due to the size difference). So my solution... make it! I borrowed a sewing machine (both of mine were broken), made up a pattern, bought and cut the material and ta-da adorable matching outfits for my girls!