Day to Day

I realize that my blog posts are irregular and infrequent, but I feel like my days all just seem to run together until they're a blur and time has passed without me noticing. If anything, I really need to be better about taking pictures and writing things down about my kids. Here's what we've been up to:

Snowball fight in December in Arizona

Lots and lots of Legos! Notice the expression on Nate's face. They are literally overtaking my house. It drives me a little crazy, but I have to admit, they are the best toy for Soren, but that's another post for another day...

Hosting family from Utah. We miss them! Wish they lived closer!

Growing up...made the big move to the Big Girl bed! It was a very easy and smooth transition. Wish I could say the same about potty training. :(

Squeezing in as much quality time as we can with Dad. I couldn't resist taking this picture.

Soren recently took a basketball class through the city and now he's playing T-ball. It's fun to see him really start to get into sports.

Keeping busy taking care of these two wild ones. They've been playing really cute together lately. Soren usually wakes up first in the morning and is always anxious for Sofie to wake up and play with him. Half the time he ends up waking her up himself.

I know I'm biased, but they sure are cute!

And, this is my own little hobby that I have fun with. I decorated this cake for my niece's first birthday last week. I have fun doing it. It kind of makes me want to take a class.

A Year Later....

So, it's been over a year since I took a picture of them while driving in the car, and here is proof that they can still be sweet to each other despite the sibling rivalry that goes on from time to time. I picked up Soren from school today, and after about five minutes of driving in complete silence, I looked back to see this. It puts a smile on my face. :)

For Grandma and Grandpa

Yes, we are alive! I promised Grandma that we would post these pictures a long time ago. To be honest, I haven't been really great about taking pictures lately. In fact, I had a year's worth of pictures on my camera before I downloaded them all to the computer. And now as I'm looking at them, I wish I knew how to take better picture with my camera. Perhaps it might help if my kids would sit still and look at the camera long enought for me to snap the picture. :) No such luck!

I really don't have a great reason to explain my absence either, and I'm not sure that I can promise that I will be more diligent, but I'll sure try for the sake of the grandparents who live too far away. :) If anything, hopefully it will entice you to come visit more often.

Obi Wan Kenobe
(It's very important that you don't mistake him for Luke Skywalker. As Soren will tell not hesitate to tell you, they have different colored light sabers- just so you know.)

The Cutest Ballerina Ever
(yes, I know I'm biased)

Highlight of My Day

It made my day yesterday, when I looked back and saw this...

I realize the quality of the pic. isn't great, but you do what you can with what you have. I did my very best to snap this with the camera on my phone, while driving stick at the same time.

Oh, To Be Young Again!

So, last Saturday I ran a 10K with some of my friends. I have to say, I thought I was getting to be in pretty good shape. I guess I'll just have to use this race as a starting point, because apparently, I have a ways to go...If it hadn't been for Brynn, I would have given up or walked at some point. Thanks for pulling me along!

(Me, Jamie, Brynn, and Tarah)

P.S. Gone, are the days where I can run a race without having to worry about wetting my pants. Apparently birthing two kids will do that to ya. :)

One of Those Days...

So, in my efforts to get back in shape (that is, if I'm not to far gone), I have started running in the mornings. This morning was no different when I had to drag myself out of bed at 6:00 a.m. to go before Nate had to leave for work. When I left, it seemed that all my little babes (including Nate) were tucked safely in their beds. Well,...when I returned an hour later, the door was locked, which was weird because I left it unlocked. Nate answered the door with an odd look on his face, and he wasn't at all ready for work like I expected him to be. Apparently, Soren had followed me out the door and went looking for me, unbeknownst to me and Nate. Thankfully, Drew, our neighbor, saw him a quarter-of-a-mile away as he was driving out of the neighborhood, headed for work. I'm confident that there were angels looking after Soren when I think of all the things that could have happened to him in this scary-hairy world of ours. Needless to say, we will be making some changes to our locks ASAP. Even if I had locked the door this morning, it wouldn't have stopped him. He knows how to unlock even the dead bolt.

Well, to say the least, the last couple of days have been rough between me and my little guy. So, I think I need a little reminder of all the things I love so much about him. Here are just a few:

First, he gives us an overflowing, constant stream of free entertainment. I'm sorry the video appears a little blurry and muffled. Keep in mind that it was also taken 6 months ago.


Second, he is so incredibly smart. I realize that every parent thinks this about their child, but I am constantly amazed at the things he knows, especially when I don't even remember teaching them to him. Sometimes, I worry that I'm a little too hard on him for that very reason. I have to remind myself that he is still only three years old.

Third, he really is such a sweet and thoughtful boy when he wants to be, especially to his little sister. She loves him so much. This last picture is of her parking herself outside of his bedroom just waiting for him to wake up for the day. Don't mind the fact that she is in only a diaper. That seems to be pretty standard around our house these days.

P.S. I don't know how I would survive these days if it weren't for the friends, who it seems, are inspired when they call at the exact right times. THANK YOU! You know who you are, and may the blessings of heaven be poured out upon you....and may I strive to become more like you....:)

9 Months

We took Sofie in for her 9-month check-up today. Wow! I can't believe that 9 months has already passed. I feel bad, like I haven't really been able to enjoy Sofie's baby stage like I did Soren's. It's like she grew up overnight. I'm far enough removed from it now, that I can honestly say, I was miserable for the first few months. She was not an easy baby. I loved her nonetheless, but she was very fussy and had a major temper. However, she is more than making up for it now. I have never known a baby to be so pleasant and happy all the time, even when she's tired. She is very social and loves to interact with people, especially her brother. I love watching the two of them together. While we were on hiatus in Utah, she finally started to crawl forward (as opposed to backwards) and her first two teeth came in. I will try to get a good picture of the two teefers later and post it.

Sofie weighed in at 17 lbs, 4 oz (25th percentile), and measured 27 1/2 inches long (45th percentile). She's a growin' girl, and I love it!