First talk and prayer in primary

Siena gave her first talk in Primary today and Aria gave her first prayer.  Before church I tried to get a good picture of them both to document and they were being so crazy.  It's pointless getting them to pose for pictures, they are either crazy, not looking, not smiling, or have the ugliest pretend smile.  So I just took some candids and called it good.

Ok back to the point of this post...
We practiced all week and they were doing great.  I knew it would be a different story once they got up there.  Sure enough before we even walked into the room Siena had to go potty...that's what she does when a situation makes her nervous.

We sat up front and Aria stood right up and as I whispered the prayer to her, she only repeated the last 2 words of each phrase.  But she spoke right into the microphone so I was pretty happy she got right up there and didn't seem to be that phased by it.

Siena stood up and immediately started backing up.  She actually started to tell me she had to go potty but I just cut her off and started whispering in her ear.  She wouldn't speak at all until I picked her up.  After that she kind of, sort of said but would not speak that much in the microphone.  So I'm pretty sure no one heard the talk at all.  When we got home we filmed her saying in at home so we have it on video.

Here is her talk, we held up a different picture for each sentence.  She actually had the 2nd half totally memorized by just looking at the pictures.

Jesus showed us the right way to live

Jesus loved everyone

Jesus did nice things for others

Jesus died for us so we could repent when we make mistakes

3 days later, Jesus was resurrected

Because of Jesus, we can live with Heavenly Father again

 
I can show my love for Jesus by:

Making good choices

Reading the scriptures

Saying my prayers

Being reverent

Being nice to my brother and sister

I love Jesus and Heavenly Father and I know they love me.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

I'm proud of both of them.  They were so brave and looked so cute.  I still have a hard time believing my girls are old enough to do things like this.  Where did my little babies go?

Valentine's Day 2015

Leading up to Valentine's day was just like leading up to Halloween and Christmas.  The girls were sooo excited.  I tried to explain we don't get presents and stuff, he just write little letters and pictures to those we love.

My sister in law Whitney gave me a great idea and we got everyone a little Valentine mailbox that we put out the week of Valentine's to write each other little notes.  I would put little treats in there, like a rolo and they thought it was so fun.  They 'wrote' notes to each other and to us and the first thing out of their mouth each morning was 'I need to go check my mailbox.'

Valentine's morning they got a pair of valentine socks and a valentine heart decorated cup.  They were thrilled!  I love that they don't care what they get, any small, little, thing is so exciting for them.

We made sugar cookies which they loved decorating and of course eating.

Valentine's day after naps, we took them to Jungle Jims, a little indoor amusement park with little kid rides.  We haven't been there for a while and the girls are at the perfect age to enjoy it.  They loved every ride but hands down their favorite ride was the 'roller coaster'.  It goes so fast in circles.  I went with them the first time but just sent them after that and I was totally laughing at them.  Their faces looking at each other and laughing their heads off was the funniest thing to watch.  Jaron even loved all the rides.  His favorite was the swings.  Every time they would start to go, he would get this look on his face like 'it's moving and this is kind of fun'  It was so cute.  After that we came home and had a heart shaped pizza and played a new game we got called Zingo.  It's a fun game that the girls can play and enjoy.  Although I taught them Go Fish this week as well and they are loving Go Fish as well.

It was a fun Valentine's and don't worry they are already onto the next holiday and asking how many more sleeps until St Patrick's day, getting out all our green decorations and asking what does the secret leprechaun look like?  I love 3 year olds!

Jaron - 18 Months

Jaron turned 18 months the end of January. 

We had his doctor appointment.  No shots this time, we were 2 days early for the ones he needed.  Here are his stats:
Weight - 24 lbs 2 oz - 50%
Height - 33 inches - 75%

He has turned into such the little talker.  I was stretching it to think the girls were saying 10 words at their 18 month appt.  And I told our dr. that Jaron is easily saying 30-35 words.  He says a couple of 2 word phrases, Not me (wonder where he got that one from) and One more (his favorite saying) which he usually says after I dump a large cup of water over his head in the bath tub.  My favorite word is when he tries to say Trampoline.  He can't say it at all but totally has the same intonation that his sisters say it with, it's hilarious.  He has also started singing a little bit.  Mostly just one word from 2 different Frozen songs.  He'll sing Go, from 'Let it Go', and Gate, from 'First time in forever' when they say open up the Gate.

Jaron has turned into the typical I want my own way toddler.  He throws tantrums like it's the end of the world and will pout and cry for quite a while.  This is how he sat/cried this morning for 10 minutes when I didn't have the book he wanted.  And, I have no idea what book he even wanted...I love how toddlers think everyone can read their mind. Of course he kept peeking up to make sure I was still there.

He's also getting some molars right now and it's causing quite the stir with his sleep, his eating and his mood...hurry up teeth!

But Jaron has turned into my little buddy.  It really is different just having 1 child this age and while his sisters go off and play he loves to just come hang out and play with his mom.  I love that during those times I don't have to divide my attention.  He loves to give me kisses, snuggle on my shoulder, and loves to feed me his 'nack' (snacks.)

Jaron copies everything we do...everything.  If his sisters are messing around at dinner or stand up on the chair, so does he.  If he is walking behind me and I turn around to see what he's doing, he turns around and walks backwards.  If I lay down, he comes and lays right by me.  If his sisters are on the couch, that is where he wants to be.  He wants to play puzzles and write his letters just like his sisters. He copies their dance moves, and I'm pretty sure can do a shuffle step better then they can after 6 months of classes. I even find him copying my hand gestures.

Jaron started Nursery last week.  He missed the first week because he got croup.  First time any of my children have had it, scary thing for me.  The next week was stake conference so we finally got to go last week.  He LOVED it.  He didn't even care that Shane took him in, talked for a minute and left.  Maybe in a week or so he'll realize it and start to care but he's pretty laid back so I don't really see it being a problem.  He played and was happy the whole time.  I was worried since we have 1:00 church but he did just fine.

We love our little guy and love the smiles and laughter he brings to our family.

Growing Up

My girls are growing up.  Sniff, Sniff.

I thought I would update you on a few things that show how grown up they've become.

Siena and Aria graduated from Nursery.  Look at how cute our nursery leaders are.  They did a whole little graduation ceremony with music and all.  Sister Bloomdale made each child a little blanket.  The girls LOVE their new sunshine blankets and sleep with them every night.  I don't think they quite understood what this all meant but it was so cute.  The girls have had such great nursery leaders.  Each time someone would get released I would feel so sad and then the people that would come in would be just as great.  Definitely a hard act to follow.

So now the girls are in Sunbeams and going to primary with the big kids.  They weren't so sure the first Sunday when I walked them in there but they went and did fine.  They were excited to tell me they still got treats in their class so everything seemed to be just fine with them.  They look so cute in primary sitting on the first row in their little chairs.  There are 10 sunbeams in their class so it's a pretty good size class, especially since when they were born it was just my girls and one other boy their age.  So many people have moved in a few short years.  This is how 90% of my pictures turn out...

The girls latest obsession right now are puzzles. They will do puzzles all day long.  We have a big floor one and then they got a few 24 piece ones for Christmas.  They both can do all of them with no help and are always so proud each time they finish them.  It's nice when I'm fixing lunch or dinner that they have a little puzzle to keep them occupied for a while.

The other big event, much to my dismay, is that they are slowly giving up naps.  Well, mostly Aria is.  She has been taking forever to fall asleep and then is waking up around 4am and taking an hour to go back to sleep.  And she isn't quiet about it either.  So as of today we are going to every other day naps.  I think she will do fine but Siena still needs her sleep.  I didn't give her a nap today but by tonight it was apparent she needed it, so I'm going to have to start sneaking Aria back downstairs or something.  Such drama cuz then Aria will blab to Siena she didn't take a nap, etc. and it's going to cause issues.  Twin problems I tell ya...

Today during naps we went to Target.  They were so proud and excited that they weren't taking naps, you should've seen their cute faces talking about it.

Speaking of talking, here are a few cute phrases they are saying:

'I promise'...not usually in the right context.  Like when I say, Siena go get your shoes on. 'ok mom I promise'

'Oh darn it', (said by Aria with much emphasis)  usually said when we passed by the 15 Christmas blow ups in our neighbors yard that were not 'blown up' at that precise moment.

We are into the Why phase, as in how many times can I ask why to a question my mom has just tried to answer before I get to a dead end and she can't answer why anymore. (Answer, it's usually about 10 whys before I have to end it.)

'I love it sooo much.' said by Aria to whatever toy, person, thing that has made her happy in that moment.

'Thumbs up for Mom' We had a FHE on making good choices where I read a story about a little boy who made good and bad choices throughout the day and they had to put their thumb up for a good choice he made and thumbs down for bad choices.  So now, for instance, when I stop at a red light '2 thumbs up for mom' or if their sister does something mean like push, yell, etc. 'Aria, thumbs down for you' as they are sulking into my arms.  It works to my advantage too cuz many times all I have to do is put my thumb down and they know to stop doing whatever they're doing.

One of my favorites when I ask a question like 'guess what we're doing today?' Siena gasps this little intake of breath like a little 'huh'  I know she learned it from me but it is seriously cute and funny.

'Sit your body down' said to each other when they're standing up on the kitchen table chairs.  This one was learned from Grandma Glover.  They also love to say 'Uh-oh Spaghetti-O' learned from Grandma as well.

And my least favorite of all 'Pinky Stinky Underwear' learned from a book from the library that they think is sooo funny and say it to each other all the time.  We've mostly put a stop to that one, but I still hear it occasionally.

And there you have our 3 year olds vocabulary update!

Christmas 2014

Christmas Eve day was spent doing final preparations.  We made reindeer food (peanut butter and chocolate covered chex mix) and cookies for Santa (Chocolate chip since he told the girls those were his favorite when we sat on his lap earlier in the month.)  Then after naps we headed over to my parents.  We had a yummy roast dinner.  It was a little more quiet than normal.  The Taylors were there until right after dinner and then it was just us, my parents and Jennifer.  We sang some songs and instead of acting out the nativity, because my girls would have nothing to do with that, we watched old home videos of us acting out the nativity when I was about 12 or 13 years old.  Pretty funny to watch.  The kids were excited to open up their Christmas eve present. (well Jaron got some slipper socks)  The girls got Frozen PJs.  We headed home and straight to bed so Santa could come.

The next morning we all got up and headed downstairs.  The girls loved looking at all the stuff that Santa had left them but really they were most anxious to open presents.  They looked through their stocking and loved seeing that Santa actually listened to what they wanted and got them flashlights, lots of candy canes and even a unicorn which they added to their list a little later.  Jaron found his little car track and sat down immediately and started playing and never really looked up or cared about much else.

Then we noticed that there were some reindeer footprints leading down to our basement.  The girls were amazed and so focused on following the footprints that led down the stairs, through the basement to another set of stairs and when the footprints ended, there sat a huge trampoline!  Santa had remembered and was pretty smart to realize the trampoline with the netting sides fit exactly in our basement.  He was also pretty smart to set it up inside since it was snowing outside.  Yes we had a beautiful white Christmas.  We must have left some good reindeer food since the reindeer joined Santa and helped put it together.  The rest of the day I'm pretty sure the girls liked following the footprints more then they liked the trampoline.  Although they LOVE jumping on the trampoline.  Still to this day anyone that comes over and wants to jump gets the whole conversation about the footprints that were there but 'no footprints anymore, only on Christmas.'  since we told them the footprints only stay on Christmas day then they disappear.  Santa also left Jaron a little power ride on batman bike.  Jaron liked it on Christmas but hasn't cared much for it since.  He'll grow into it I'm sure.  This picture is the best I got of the girls on the trampoline.  They wouldn't sit still for a picture so I had to wait until they fell down, they were cracking up hysterical in this picture.

After that we came up and opened presents which the girls and Jaron loved opening.  Then we ate breakfast and as fast as I could open and put together one toy, they were on to the next.  It was a little chaotic as everything got opened and played with for exactly 2 minutes before their attention diverted elsewhere.  Jaron got a cute Pluto stuffed animal (since he is always trying to steal his sister's stuffed animals) and he loves it.  He sleeps with it and carries it around and asks for it before he goes to bed.

Later that morning Grandma Glover and Aunt Margene came over for lunch and to exchange presents.  The kids got some cute Christmas clothes and some rolls of coins/money which they LOVED putting in their piggy banks.  These pictures were taken the Sunday after Christmas.

After naps we headed back to my parents where more gifts were exchanged.  Jaron got this little bus that he doesn't think is so little because he loves to sit on it and ride it like a bike.  The girls got some cute Minnie Mouse remote control cars.  A yummy turkey dinner with some traditional Sees candy and our Christmas was complete.

After we got home Shad and Darienne came over and then it was off to bed late and exhausted.  But oh was it ever a fun day.  Just tonight Aria told me something that she is asking Santa for Christmas next year.  Really?  Already making her next list.  However, tonight they were also jumping around saying that it's almost Easter!  Haha, they're crazy.

PS  This might be the first post that I have more pictures of Jaron then the girls...3rd child syndrome.

Daddy Daughter Dates

During the Christmas season Shane and I wanted to find a way to teach the girls that Christmas is about giving.  They are a little young to understand giving to others they don't know even though I tell them all the time when I clean out their toys that they are going to other kids that don't have as many toys.  I've also been wanting to get the girls to have some one on one time away from each other every so often.  Except for occasional doctor appts. or things like that, they are never apart.  If I take one of them to the store, I usually just take both of them.  Also, Aria has been pretty demanding of me lately and not letting dad do anything for her.  If she needs something, Mom has to do it.  It's frustrating for me and for Shane who can't help out with anything.

So...we combined all 3 of these needs and told the girls that they were going on a date with Dad.  Aria went one night and then Siena went the next night.  The purpose of the date was to buy gifts for everyone else in the family for Christmas.  The girls were sooo excited.  They know Shane and I go on dates all the time so just the thought of a date had them talking about it the next 2 days.  They knew who was going when and couldn't wait.

While they were gone I planned a little fun night of tunnels, forts and books by flashlight.  Shane said they had a good time and each got an ice cream cone after going to buy gifts.  They are so funny because each of the things they got were something they wanted for themselves.  So when Aria walked in the door, she said 'I got you a treat mom...Skittles!'  It was so cute.  They were both excited as they went upstairs and wrapped their gifts and brought them downstairs.  Both of them as they handed their gift to each other proudly proclaimed what was inside 'It's a Frozen matching game!' or 'Here's your present, Elsa socks!'  They were just as excited to watch them open it on Christmas morning and were so proud they were able to participate in the gift giving.

It was fun for them to get out alone and we plan on keeping up the tradition and going on more 'dates'.

Meeting Anna and Elsa

In the middle of all our Christmas events we had going on, I happened to look up at our library to see an event that caught my attention 'Family Movie Night, Frozen sing a long'  Now normally this is not something I would go to but then I read that there would be 'visitors' there.  I was hoping that meant Elsa and Anna would be showing up but wasn't positive.  That day I almost didn't go, we had a lot going on and I was positive it was going to be so crowded that it wasn't even going to be worth it.  But we decided to check it out and I thought if it's too crazy we can just leave. 

We got there about 10 minutes early and NO ONE was there.  I thought I must have had the wrong day but when I looked it up it said it was right then.  So we walked in and I was shocked when it started there were only about 10 kids there, including my 3 and my sister Michelle's 3 kids.

It was such a fun event.  They had Frozen karaoke going on which I never thought my girls would do but they totally did.  We have a video of Siena singing 'Let it Go' and Aria singing 'Do you want to build a snowman'  They had little coloring pages, and a craft to make a little Olaf.

Then of course the main event was when Anna and Elsa showed up.  The girls were a little shy but I could tell were so excited.  Anna and Elsa were so cute talking to the kids.  My girls were so excited they were in their Anna and Elsa dresses to match Anna and Elsa.  Anna and Elsa played a few games, read some stories, gave out some bracelets and then posed for pictures.  The library even gave out little goody bags for everyone.

I was so shocked that it wasn't crowded but as I talked to the library ladies they said they were afraid to advertise but fear it would be so crazy. I'm sure they regret that a little bit but seriously it was such a fun night and made it even better that we had the place to ourselves.