Count Your Blessings

My sister found this saying on a friends blog and I've accepted the challenge.
Erica is right. This is a great post for this holiday week and I myself haven't posted in a long time! But mine will be a little different than Erica's!

“Count your blessings” is simple to the point of stupid and powerful to the point of life-altering. Gratitude, that very specific feeling of thankfulness in your heart, allows you to see and absorb all you have, forgetting for a moment all you may lack. It connects your brain with your heart, and gives you the ground to be a more giving, effective, loving human. Being grateful allows generosity to flow. And many believe it also makes us more receptive as in, the more you love what you have, the more you get what you want. So herewith, a list to remind you of fundamental things to be grateful for every day, from apples to clouds to ice cream to getting enough nightly Zzz’s.


I am thankful for...

A is for Avie! I love her Chucky smile, her "Uh Oh's" and her curiousity.
B is for Brother-in-Laws. Not only loving but dealing with my sisters!
C is for Chocolate in so many ways! Dark, Hot, Milk!
D is for Dad. I don't know what my family would do without him. "What's going on?"
E is for Ella! I love my Princess, how she cleans and folds clothes and her giggle.
F is for Family and Friends! I love you all!
G is for Grapes, black especially! Costco sells the big ones and they are amazing!
H is for my Husband. We've been through so much and he still loves me!
I is for Images. Moments saved for all time!
J is for Jewelry. It's amazing what an accessory can do for your daily style.
K is for Kelly. Thankful for all the hard work he's put into our house.
L is for LOVE! Loving someone and having someone love you in return.
M is for Mom. How would I or my girls be able to survive without her?
N is for Nancy. She is the glue that keeps our family together!
O is for Outside. Gotta love some Vitamin D!
P is for Playboy Sushi Roll. My all time favorite and oh so yummy!
Q is for Quiet. Oh how much I love quiet time!
R is for Rain. The smell, the sound, everything!
S is for Sisters. My best friends in the whole world, I couldn't live without them!
T is for Tickling! I love the sound of my girls laughter.
U is for Unitards, always good for a laugh!
V is for Vacations. Especially ones with my family in Disneyland! The best times ever!
W is for Walrus, my absolute favorite animal in the world!
X is for Xanax. I'm sorry, but it helps me on those bad days!
Y is for YOU! If you are reading this, I am thankful for YOU!
Z is for my Zzz's! Everyone knows how thankful I am for sleep.

What are YOU thankful for?

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Have a great one and be safe Black Friday Shoppers!

My Baby Girls!

These are my girls!! The top picture is them at the zoo for the first time! They loved it.

Left is Avie, then Ella both getting their first haircuts with Auntie Erica at her salon, My Hair Lady! Avie wasn't too thrilled at first, but lightened up after watching Erica in the mirror! Ella did very well, which was expected of our princess. I think holding her dolly helped!

i'm terrible

at blogging!!

I've got so much to say... Work, The Girls, Kelly, Me... but I just don't have the time to share it. It's 24/7 girls and when I have a moment to myself, I usually nap or just sit on the couch!

I've got another new schedule at work now. I know, when will it just stay?! But it's going to give me even MORE time at home with the girls. Now it's time for me to step up and be SUPER MOM & WIFE!!!! I've got to do my duties and keep the house clean, play with the kiddos and have dinner on the table for when my husband gets home.

Oh no! I can already see my next blog post. I'm terrible at SUPER MOM & WIFE!!! :)

Reagan Lagoon Day!

Today was Reagan Lagoon Day! Thanks Reagan for spoiling us with free passes, free games and free food! Kelly didn't win anything at the raffle, but our friend Andrea won a iPod Nano and Mike won a 27" T.V., which he then traded with someone for a Wii. It was great fun!!

The girls had a great time! Although they only went on two rides, they LOVE to people watch. The girls weren't brave enough to go on the small rides by themselves, so we settled for the train and the carousel. The girls take after their father and never smile in photos for me. But I was able to snap a few!

Cute pictures!!

Now for my rants...

I had a selfish moment tonight. But then I stop and realize that the only thing that matters and should matter is my girls happiness. Yea, I didn't go on any rides but my girls had fun! They love being out in public where they can run around and scream. Do I wish I was able to just do whatever I wanted? Yea, kind of. But my girls smiles and giggles are worth so much more. Am I a little upset that Kelly got to stay late and enjoy himself while I had to get the girls home and get them to bed? Yes, I am.

I'm at the point right now where I feel that WE need to change because of the girls. I mean, shouldn't we? We are a family now. If I'm going to go somewhere, the girls go with me. Therefore, plans will have to change since we have children. Sometimes I get jealous that Kelly still has a "friend" life and gets to enjoy himself. I have a few friends that I would love to get together with, but I don't. Not because I don't want to, but life is different now. My girls come first, end of story.

Kelly has a friend Mike that is getting married in less then a month and it's up in Sun Valley, Idaho. I'd love to go as a family, because that is what we are. But Kelly wants us to leave the girls at home so that we can enjoy ourselves for a weekend. Why do I think that is wrong? I don't know... It's just an inner battle that I have with myself. I put my girls first and I know that I need to take time for myself, I just don't.

Hopefully I'll find a happy medium somewhere. Sorry for the rambling, I guess I just needed to get it out! It was a fun time, I would have enjoyed to go on some rides, but I guess there is always next year!

Hope all is well with all! I'll try to post more, the girls have been so cute lately!

My Ballerina & Hip Hop Dancer

Maybe it's all the SYTYCD we've been watching lately or maybe it's in their genes... but my girls have got some moves! They've always loved to dance and I've recorded it several times. It's amazing at what they pick up. The other day, Ella started to twirl in circles with her hands in the air, almost like a ballerina! So I decided to record! She is so cute! She'll get dizzy and want to keep dancing, but she falls down a few times. Avie joins in the fun, but she is more of a hip hop dancer. She stomps and shakes back and forth. 

I love watching these girls and I find it amazing! that they now how to dance and when!

My next video will be Avie's "Oh No You Didn't." Maybe this weekend!

20 Days & Counting...

I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted.

The family is doing good. KJ is working hard at Reagan, hating the hot summer days. He's definitely got some awesome tan lines. The girls are getting bigger each day. Avie is getting her 8th tooth and Ella her 7th. They are both walking everywhere, crawling is in the past. They love exploring the entire house and are a little upset about the cabinet/drawer locks. They were still able to squeeze some measuring cups out of our bottom drawer and they think that is the coolest. I'm still working with Marriott, at least sometimes. I try to work my full work week, but it's hard. I like to stay home. I'm starting new depression/anxiety meds and it's been a hard couple of weeks.

But enough about that. Let's get to the blog title...

20 Days & Counting!!!!


That's right! We leave for St. George & Pine Valley in exactly 20 days!! I can not wait to get away for a week, relax, swim and best of all... SNOW FAMILY REUNION!! We always have so much fun with the whole Snow Family. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone, the new babies, playing POUNCE with my clucking sisters and having fun with my sweet girls!

I came across this picture when I was thinking about this post and I wanted to share it again!! It just shows you how much Pine Valley effects you! EVERYONE has a good time, even the husbands!! (Jesse is happy, I promise!)

Oh... and look at this!! The girls were really THAT small? I can't believe that they weren't even 2 months old when we went last year. Crazy!

I CAN'T WAIT FOR PINE VALLEY!!!!

Happy 1 Year!

My dearest Ella & Avie,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! 1st BIRTHDAY!

Your Dad and I are so proud of you two! You both have made this past year one crazy, yet extremely wonderful ride!

Looking at you both now, it's amazing to think you were once 5 lbs and that I could just leave you on the floor for hours and you'd be fine. Now, you are little chunky babies that won't sit still! Here are a few things that you have accomplished in the last month!

Avie
- You are now walking by yourself. Longest has been 5 steps!
- You are very good at mocking others. Coughing, clicking or sticking out your tongue
- Mama Mia!! (Hands on your head)
- Both arms in the air when someone says "Yay!"
- Climbing up on everything! Coffee table, fireplace, etc.
- Love using your teeth, biting everything! (4 teeth on top, 2 on bottom)

Ella
- Clicking your tongue
- Not quite walking, but you are great at standing
- Who loves Erica? I DO!
- You love the camera! You've established a cheesy face and even do it on cue
- Little Miss Whiness! You want attention, definitely a Momma's Princess!
- Love music! You will dance when you hear music and smile when we sing!

We celebrated your birthday with the whole family and all the friends at the house! You were spoiled beyond belief and got the cutest clothes! You absolutely loved the toothbrushes that your Cousin Jesse gave you. You won't stop playing with them. They actually helped us get you guys to be more comfortable in the bath again. Another favorite toy is the "Little People Home Sweet Sounds" that Grandma and Grandpa Snow gave you! I love seeing you guys playing with dolls!

Your Auntie Erica made you each a huge cupcake for your birthday! Avie, you jumped right in! Making sure to use both fists! Ella, you were a bit more timid. You enjoyed the taste of the cake/icing, but didn't like the whole getting messy thing.

You guys were surrounded by love and have been ever since you arrived! I can't wait to see what the coming months will bring! We are especially looking forward to the Snow Family Reunion coming up during the 24th of July. We are hoping that you guys will be ready for the annual races! Gotta earn those Cracker Jacks! Plus, it is going to be great seeing the whole family and all of the beautiful babies!

Ella, Avie... Mommy and Daddy love you with all of their hearts, more than words! You've changed our lives in so many ways and it's all been for the better. We still look at you both and are amazed that you are ours. It is still so surreal! We enjoy every minute with you, even the ones where I want to pull out my hair. Thank you both for being the cutest little girls EVER!

We love you!
-Mommy and Daddy

We also got your 1 year photos down at FotoFly (amazing  place!) Avie, you were a little pill! After the first picture, you immediately started to freak out. Nothing would calm you down! Miss Ella, you were a little princess! The camera loved you and you LOVED the camera! We got some great shots of you! However, you started getting a little upset when you got you messy with the cupcakes! Avie, you loved it! You dug right in and got all messy! You are definitely my daughter!

{ 11 Months }

Long post. Sorry!

But yes, 1 more month and I will have 1 year old twin girlies!! I can't believe how fast time has flown by. I'm a little late at posting. Technically the girls reached 11 months last Saturday, but I was in Vegas so I wasn't able to post then.

What's changed? The girls are so smart and growing every day. They both are still sucking their thumbs as you can see from the pictures below. They generally do it as a comfort when they are tired. They used to do it all the time, which Ella still does I guess.

They are standing alone really well now and are almost walking. It's pretty cute to see them struggle. Especially Ella. We've noticed that if she wants to get somewhere, she will first try to stand up like she is going to walk over. But then she realizes she can't walk, so she crawls. Oh and crawling! Man they are fast! We've got our entire living room gated off! It's not that we don't want them down the hall and/or the kitchen, it's more just to keep them in one location. It won't be long until the gates will have no more purpose. Like I said, they are smart. They both love to be on their knees, which is adorable. They look so grown up when they do it. Their falls are becoming less and less severe. They can catch themselves almost every time. And they will walk along all of our furniture, so I can see them walking before their 1st birthday, which is "Oh crap" for us!! But hey!, we need to start training for the 24th of July Races down in PV!

What else is new? Oh TEETH!! Both girls have their two bottom middle teeth in. Avie has the 4 top teeth almost through, but poor Ella doesn't have any. She doesn't even have signs of any coming in. She'll probably cute all 4 at once. At least with Avie, it was 2 at a time. But with teeth comes more food opportunities! The girls love noodles and love to make a mess with them. I've been sharing cheese sticks with them here and there, but I'm trying to introduce as much food as I can so they won't be picky eaters. They like eggs, toast, yogurt or pudding, most fruits and veggies (at least all the ones we've given them) Okay, no wait I lie. Ella didn't like raspberries. Which I didn't expect her to, but I thought I would try. But hey, they like olives! We haven't yet introduced juice, just water. The girls are still on formula, bottle fed. Some days I get over ambitious and try to give them formula in a sippy cup but they end up just getting frustrated and crying. I have yet to find a sippy cup that works well. They like the ones with handles, but it's too hard to drink out of. Then the ones that are easy to drink out of don't have handles and the water comes out too fast. See the problem that I'm having?! Any suggestions would be much appreciated. I need to start weaning them off the bottle asap. The girls are doing great at feeding themselves, Ella a little more so.

There is more?! Of course there is!! They are growing babies!! They both love to talk, sing and dance. They dance on queue when Mickey Mouse Club House has their end Hot Dog Dance or when any music is playing nearby. They can say Mama, Dada, Baba and my step dad Kelly is convinced they have said Papa, but I have yet to hear it. Erica taught them to raise their hands when she asks "Who loves Erica?" Avie responds with both arms stretched! They are both starting to know more and more about the NO concept. The majority of the time, they'll stop what they are being told no for and look at me all sad. So I think it's starting to click. Right now we are trying to teach them to blow kisses. They are however great at blowing raspberries. Avie will still do her coughing thing and she has now learned to stick her tongue out at you when you do it to her. Both girls give kisses, Ella's are a little more open mouth and slobbery, but we love them anyways. They both still hate grass! Erica enjoyed torturing Ella the other day. She would put Ella on the grass standing and try to have her walk to her. Ella couldn't do it and was afraid to sit down. It was kinda sad!

We are no longer swaddling the girls, so we find them in the weirdest positions in the morning. Ella is a big fan of sleeping on her belly, butt up. Avie is mostly on her side. Bedtime and Naptime has been getting better. I mean, there will be some bad days. The girls have now started throwing everything out of their cribs on to the floor. That's another game they like to play. At a restaurant, in their highchairs, wherever... you give them a toy, they drop it. You give it back to them, the look at you and drop it. Silly girls!

Below are a few recent pictures of the girls. I'm hoping Erica might be able to take more this weekend when they are more cooperative. It was close to bedtime so the girls weren't at their best. But Erica does a great job regardless!! I'm not going to lie, I like having Erica around. She's become an expert at not only taking photos but editing them as well. Thank you Erica! See more of her photos on her photography blog here! (My girls are featured in a few!)

We've got a full weekend ahead of us for Mother's Day! Saturday we'll be with Nancy and Sunday we'll be with my Mom. I don't know if we are going to fit KJ's Mom in there. He hasn't said anything about it. I'm hoping that I'll have some time alone with my girls for MY Mother's Day, but with me working both Saturday and Sunday (insert UGH here) it may be hard. No worries, just having them is all I need to celebrate!

Happy Mother's Day! I hope you all have a great weekend!

Spring is Here! (Picture Post)

Couldn't get one of Avie with Daddy. But doesn't Ella look a lot like Kelly? I think they are even pulling the same face!

More Sacfrices. Eh, I'll live!

That's a little cheesy. Well, maybe even a LOT cheesy because I made it. I couldn't find any other Sacrifice Motivational pictures, so I found my own picture and my own quote!

Anywho! There is a meaing behind this quote, I'm not just a weirdo. We all make sacrifices. I've come to find that being a parent, you have even more sacrifices. Go figure right? Don't worry, I'm not completely clueless and just finding this out now. I've just realized that I will have to make more to make my day to day work.

As some of you know, I'm currently working 4 days a week, 35 hour days. Which it's been fine, especially with Kelly out of work. But I find myself sick with worry now that he is back into work. Will our schedule work out? Since I only work 4 days (I only have babysitters for 3 weekdays) I'm working 9 hour shifts. That is a long time. Especially when you are watching 10 month old twins. I'm usually getting off around 6:30 or 7. And even though Kelly's schedule is flexible, it's also unknowing. He works until work is finished. He like to leave early, just in case and we can't guarantee that he'll get off before me and be able to pick the girls up at a decent time.

So what do we do? How do we fix this? I guess, Andee will work Saturdays too! I know, I'm crazy. I don't know what I've set myself up to do. I'll now be working 5 days a week, 35 hours. I'll be working every Saturday and Sunday, which is 16 hours, and then 3 weekdays at 6.5 hours. I figure, the less hours I work during the week, the better. This way I can get the girls to the babysitter at a decent time in the morning, but be home before 5 so they aren't watching them forever.

May will be my test month. We'll see how it works. Yea, I may miss out on Saturday activities, but I get off at 3. It's not like it's an all day thing. But we have to make sacrifices!! This has to be mine. Will it be hard to go back to 5 days of work, yes. But it will be so nice only working 6 1/2 hour days during the week. SO NICE! But 10 hour babysitting schedules? I mean come on. That's tough! Plus, Kalie AND Erica are taking their only day off during the week to help me out. Do I really want them to waste the entire day watching my hellions? No, I don't! It makes my stomach turn to know that they are going out of their way to help me out and it isn't very flexible. I mean, I can barely stand watching the girls all day long on my day off and I'm their mother!

Again, BIG THANKS to my family!! Erica, Kalie, Mom, Dad & Nancy for your willingness to help us out. I really can't thank you enough. You all are absolutely amazing!!

I'll keep everyone posted on how it goes. I'm hoping this works out. But if it doesn't, we can always adjust starting June. That is another great thing about my job is that they are amazing when it comes to schedules and they are so understanding.

Here's another one. I love my family!!!