Painting Frenzie

Grandma Ruthie came over tonight after she got off of work and brought brought what seemed like christmas. There were many shirts to paint, stencils, sponges, markers and a whole lot more. It was the funnest thing painting shirts with the girls. First the adults cut out designs with the sponges, then the girls got to do their shirts first.
Abbi didn't want me to put the sponge in the paint, she wanted to put her fingers there. She did real well at pushing down on the first couple of sponges on her shirt and then she played in the paint, pulled down everything in front of her onto the floor, then stuck her fingers in her mouth, num. Abbi was aimlessly wandering around after being put out of her chair and so I decided that I would let her help some more. I put some paint on a plastic plate a mushed her feet around in it, She kept saying "eew, eew" it was so cute and now I have little Abbi prints on my shirt. Abbi pulled down the wax paper that had the paint for daddy's shirt, and the sponge that was being used landed right on her cheek. She had a shining star on her cheek. She also ended up with blue paint in her right nostril.

Alona picked which stars that she wanted she had a few of the one that Grandma cut out and then wanted the small one too. Alona wanted to do her handprints, but not on the front, on the back so the back of her shirt has yellow handprints all over. She did an awesome job and helped a lot with dads shirt when she was finished with hers. She got to push on the sponges after dipping them in paint, she made a flag, hearts, stars, a moon and after seeing me put Abbi's feet prints on my shirt she had to do that to, but to dad's. When Paul got home he knew right away that they were Alona's! Alona seemed to get paint up her nose even though when looking at her there was no sign of it.

After the shirts were finished we went outside for a little while where Alona was under the impression that she was a puppy dog! So a stick was thrown and guess where it went?? right into her mouth, yep I have a picture but I thought that it would be a little demeaning to post that one online. So here is a picture of her when they were counting cereal. Then they would shove it into grandmas pocket and eat it later on.

So here are the girls' shirts Alona's is the one with the red heart at the bottom and the little red star at the top. Abbi did the squares on hers, she was good at those, they were easy to pick up and push down.

What fun to be a child!!!

jumping on packing bubbles!! Great gift from the delivery man. Alona had much success! They of course took no consideration to what else was in the box.

Sprinklers!!! Who knew that it was also a great water fountain??!!

After my post about searching for sprinklers, grandma and grandpa gave us one with a hose attached!

It turned out to be a fun day. Even though when waking I wonder how I am suppose to get through today? With absolutely nothing to do and no gas in the car. Of course Alona was distraught that lunch at the park was not an option but I was awestruck to see how well Abbi sat to listen to books being read. We actually got all the way through the first one without her trying to get down today! Then when checking the mail, Abbi starts wandering down the sidewalk, we just follow her. She ends up climbing the stairs to the neighbors door and knocking. I am so glad to have such wonderful neighbors. They of course said come right in!! And played with me and my children for almost two hours. Alona dictated coloring to the mother of the house that we were at and used her imagination with what color a tree should be. They also played with the bead blocks and made crowns and necklaces. Abbi had fun dancing to country music and playing with their hymn book. Abbi started to be hysterical and cry when their dog was growling while playing tug-a-war with Alona. She is such an empathetic child.

Night Lights

last night we went and saw the fireworks in west valley. They only lasted a few minutes and the finale was about ten seconds. It is so fun to get out and do things. Abbi didn't want to sit still but the pretty lights were able to catch her attention for a few seconds at a time and it was great.Abbi kept wandering over to the neighboring blanket where she was fascinated by their clapping along to a song. I so don't know what it is called but I remember it from sesame street from when I was a child, they sing some kind of fun thing and clap hands with one another. Anyway, Alona still has her same responses to the fireworks from a small child, "Wow, wow!" She would call out what colors that were exploding in the sky.

Alona got hungry and so we went to IHOP and got toast to go. Four pieces for a dollar! She really enjoyed the jelly that they give you to go with it. Though she was very sad to pass up the carnival rides, her comment was I never been on those. Children have such a short memory, she went on them last year, but she was content when assured that they were just like the rides at the amusement park that she had just gone on.

Drive Inn

Wohoo! we made it through going to the drive-in with our children. Not so bad, but they should really put childrens movies and then adult movies. Over the Hedge was playing second so we knew they would be asleep by that time. So we ended up going to see Lake House and Poseidon. Lake House I really liked! Paul says that it is a chick flick, but hey I'm a chick. I liked the whole concept and how it turned out. Poseidon, well it was ok! The story outline was good the actors were pretty decent but the language I could have done without that! Our camera's betteries died after the first picture so this is the only one that we took. They were playing with the seatbelts.

The girls were real cute, Abbi just wanted to run around or play with everything in the car. Sitting still, not an option but thats okay she was real good at getting to sleep after Paul trapped her in the 4runner for ten minutes she came and layed on my shoulder and fell right to sleep. Alona wanted to get up and down from the 4runner to the chairs and couldn't make up her mind. I felt so bad though Alona wanted to be held to, and I told her that I would after Abbi fell asleep. By the time that Abbi fell asleep I looked over into the childs folding chair and Alona was slumped over fast asleep. Paul put her in the back of the 4runner and they both slept through the last 20 minutes of the first movie and all of the second.

It was nice to be able to spend time with all of them. It would of been better for the kids with a childs movie but it was still great! It actually got chilly in shorts at 1 a.m. and all of the blankets were being used by the children. So the two us tried to cuddle, it felt good to be able to feel like we were on a date and to be close.

Lagoon...Its what fun is.

We went to Lagoon today! Me and the girls went at about 2:00 with Ruth and they just loved the new water thing in the middle after you come in the entrance. It squirts water from one hole to the other and then water just bursts up from all these holes straight into the air and lands on the ground. Abbi got wet, as I went over to get her with her in awe a stream of water landed right on our faces. Alona was bending over right next to a spray of water when she got drenched she ran away crying. Abbi loved being near the water but would not be as brave as most of the children and actually be willing to get wet. The picture that I got of her was her running away from the water, I tried unsucessfully to get her in a picture with water in the background. They both had a blast!

Then we ventured to lagoona beach for a little more than two hours. Alona actually went down one of the kiddie slides but went "into" the water. Abbi only dared stick her feet in and then she turned around and clung tight to me. They both enjoyed riding through the river on rafts. Alona rode with her grandpa and was very giggly. Abbi went with me twice and grandma once while I went to get dad. She held on tight to the handle that she was sitting next to and didn't mind when we went under the waterfall. Pauls wrista are both hurt and he was exhausted and tired so he didn't go in the water. Alona refused to get a picture with me so I am alone with Abbi.
MMM...Pioneer villages food is good wish that they would have corn ready to eat though, I went up to get some and they said it would be atleast a half an hour wait. But we went and got their wrangler meals. Definetly like their Chicken more than the pork. I got myself the pork and then I got the girls the chicken to share. Of course they would not touch the chicken, so I tried mmm much better, should have just gotten the chicken for myself!
We went on the Merry-Go-Round, all four of us. Alona was on the Giraffe it didn't move at all I felt so bad for her. Abbi I tried to stick in this litle bear that is meant for really small kids, she wouldn't have none of that. Crying hysterics she really wanted to climb out of that thing. Then I tried to put her in a carriage where I could sit next to her or hold her, that didn't work either. So Paul held her and she was fine-n-dandy!
Then all six of us went on the train and looked at the animals. Alona was very attentive and saw all of the animals. Abbi kept looking at her sister and was watching her talk. I tried to get her attention several times to look at the animals, her interest just was not there.

The girls had fun riding three more rides, fighter planes, cars and boats. I was surprised that Abbi did not scream way up high in the planes. Alona kinda knew what to do, she was moving her gun all around. The cars they both really loved, they both had steering wheels and were both just glowing they were so happy. And on the boats Alona was incestuously ringing the bell she really enjoyed that. She didn't give her sister much of a chance to ring it, but Abbi didn't seem to care. They were all smiles !!!!!!! I was sad that I couldn't go on any rides, I was expecting that I wouldn't be able to go on the roller coaster rides I had remembered seeing the signs on those rides when I was pregnant with Abbi. But I thought for sure that I would be able to go on atleast the swings or maybe the ship ride that is next to it. But nope, both read the same thing....Those cautioned not to ride, pregnant women. And it had a picture of a lovely stork carrying a basket with a line crossed through the center, for you better not ride here or else. I still do not get why I do not understand what the swings could do to harm my unborn baby.

We didn't get home until after ten, not fun for Paul he has to wake up before eight o'clock to leave for Idaho with us to go to a family reunion. That will be fun, horseback riding , fun games and lunch!!

Extra Extra, read all about it.

Today Abbi reluctantly got her first haircut. Only about a half of an inch off of the hair right by her eyes, so now she has bangs! She wanted to hit whatever I was holding with her arms which proved to be difficult and scary when holding scissors.

Then Alona when I went to give them a bath at 7:oo, She is sitting undressed in the tub playing with her hair when she looks down and says..."When I grow up I'll have boobs!" Where did that come from? She understands more than I give her credit for. The other day she asked about it, and I told her that she did not need them now she would get them when she was older that she would go through puberty. Of course that is to big of a word for a three year old to understand but she got the rest of the conversation, obviously.

Halfway there

YAY! The Halfway Point has been reached. So this is my comparison from 15 to 20 weeks. A little bigger, in the first I am not standing very straight. The second the belly pokes out a little more and am standing straight and you are able to see my stretch marks come forth once again.

Glimpse Inside

So today was my twenty week ultrasound appointment. It went really great. I got to see the baby put its fingers up to its face and rub its eyes and kick even though I couldn't feel the slight movements that the baby made. Paul really enjoyed the attempt to suck the thumb, the fingers didn't quite make it to the mouth. It wasn't scrunched up at all, there was plenty of room to be sprawled out and not curled up. The heart beat was normal 151 beats per minute. The baby is approximately 13 oz. so far (3 oz. off of a pound) and is set to be due around the end of October though with its growth this ultrasound says the 23rd, but my others said the 29th. Paul was really joyous I guess I would say to be there and of course when we got home, Alona's convictions still stand when asked whether she is having a brother or sister "I'm having a brother".

Don't be fooled

We're not hobo's we just ate dirt cups is all. Alona actually got more of the pudding and oreos in her mouth than on her face. Abbi on the other hand is another story. She played more with it trying to get it into her mouth. She has such a beautiful gotee. Grandma had bought the boxed dirt cups while babysitting them awhile ago and we finally made them.
They both wanted to help making them. But Abbi's version of help was putting the wisk full of chocolate all over the carpet.


We planted tomato plants in milk jugs outside today. There were too many aphids in our dirt to plant them in the ground. Our plants would have gotten eaten. Alona helped me get dirt and plant them, and Abbi likes to call them"frowers"and touch the tomato plant its really cute. We had fun!

I'm Married?!

Yep, thats what they said. Instead of saying that we are sealed, we are now married in the temple for time and eternity. It truly was a great day! Alona and Abbi were as good as to be expected or maybe better. They were good where it counted, during the sealing. Alona before hand did not want to get dressed and especially did not want her hair done. After having walked in the doors at about 3:20 and out of breath, the temple worker at the desk asks me to breathe and calm down. I told him that we ran there with our two little girls(from our car of course not our house) and that we were late. He calmly assures me that I could not be late and I need not worry for they will not start without me. We were supposed to be there by 3:05.

I was so happy today and yesterday. Yesterday It was so great to look across the rooms of the temple and see Paul there. This is something that I can now share with him. And today, I got to be with him almost the whole time, well except for when we were changing. The sealing was great there were plenty of people there to support us. Our old Bishop was there and his wife, our new bishop and a few members of our ward. My Grandma came, two sets of my aunts and uncles, Both sets of Paul's parents Marta and Ruth helped out a lot with the girls, and two of Paul's aunts: Melanie and Jane and their husbands. His Grandma Bagley was there and my great aunt and uncle and the biggest surprise for me was my brother Christopher coming up from behind me after leaving the temple doors. I was not expecting him, it was truly a great surprise! He wants to come down here and be with ME for his 16th birthday? Wow what have I done to deserve a great brother.

The girls were in the temple nursery (Youth Center). It looked really fun, there were videos and coloring, lots of toys a kids table and play house. They had a great time and didn't cry any of the times that we had to leave them. They were really cute in their white dresses. And Abbi had these saltine crackers that she did not want to let go of...so now they are holy crackers.

I held my brother's hand in one of mine and Paul's in the other. I have two good lookin guys here, I commented. We got some good pictures outside before the girls gave out and really didn't want to take any more. Everyone waited so patiently for us with the pictures and getting changed and everything. We all met at Chuck-A-Rama definetly not Paul's choice, it usually makes him sick although he seemed to enjoy the chocolate milk. Abbi fell asleep on the way to eat dinner, maybe that is why she was so hyped up and wanted to run around everywhere she didn't want to eat. Alona did really well she ate almost all of her food and had desert too and then she got down and played with Kaden and posed for pictures with him too, they were so adorable. Joey had brought Kaden to eat with all of us, and his birthday is tomorrow so they brought out a cake and sang happy birthday to him. They children might have enjoyed that one more than Joey?

I am so happy to have gone through today and to have been able to share this with Paul, our children and all of the other guests that shared it with us. And all of you that get to read it.
And for the first time it wasn't just little butterfly feeling or little kicks that only I can feel. Our little baby kicked while I was talking to my brother at dinner, I felt it quite distinctively and saw my shirt move, it was great.

Then on the way home Alona fell asleep and Abbi was wide eyed the whole time.They took their turns being wiped out.

Kicking and Screaming

Ice cream, White Mustache and All!
Abbi said cheese just fine for me and listened when I asked her to stand by
her sister. Alona would stop between licks and bites to utter "cheese" as well.

Well today I attempted to take Abbi and Alona to get Abbi some white shoes to go to the temple in. We went to payless and of course they didn't have her size. Then we went to the new sears grand right next to wal-mart. There was this really cute play house that of course I was oblivious to, but not Alona she was commanding me to go that way when I was going another way. I told her to come with me, and when I saw why she was so enthused to go the other way I told her that we could go and play if she was good the rest of the time. While looking at the shoes Abbi starts kicking Alona, Alona of course likes to stand right next to her feet and push the cart so this is inevitable. But then Alona starts hitting Abbi's legs after I ask her to move away from her sister. After this episode I put her into the cart. Alona starts grabbing and hurting her sisters hands because Abbi turns around and holds onto the back of the seat. I repeatedly pull Alonas hands away and she decides not to be nice to me either. I tell her that we are going home. She of course did not take that very well. She is in screaming hysterics when I pull her out of the cart and have to carry her, Abbi and the bag out of the store..because Alona refuses to walk! So kicking and screaming I drag her out of the store, she exclaims that it hurts (of course it hurts her not that it was meant that way, I am holding onto two girls one in each hand as tightly as to not drop either of them.) So Alona decides to walk when given the option again.

The rest of the day went a little better, although Alona refused to take a nap for atleast an hour after getting home. I let her watch a cartoon while I fixed dinner and of course Abbi wanted to follow me around and help. Then we turned on music and they played with blocks. They ate their chicken fried steak quite well and we actually found someone to watch the girls tomorrow while I go to the Temple with Paul for his first time. Oh man are people busy!...there are graduations that people are going to, dates that couples are going on, jobs, people that are just going out of town or childrens parties for the last day of school that their parents are throwing them. I was lucky to find someone!

We visited with our neighbor that is going to watch the girls and then we came home and had orangesicles and fudgesicles! Abbi did great, she actually held it at the stick instead of at the middle like she loves to do with popsicles. And then when I told Alona that we didn't have popsicles and I asked her if she wanted a fudgesicle or an orangesicle " I want the chololate one!" she says. She really enjoyed it. And then they had baths, prayers scriptures and bed. Abbi did not want to be put down while getting ready for bed she was so cute. If I tried to put her down she would just stand there reaching up at me. She screamed at first when I laid her down and that a few seconds later she was out.