Nia's birthday

Two days after her princess birthday was her actual birthday. We were going to go see the new movie Tangled, but it was getting late and Nia wanted to play with her new toys. I made her mac n cheese and a yummy layered jello. She LOVES skittles, and so I made a rainbow cake out of skittles. And we had bubble-bear ice cream from G's dairy. Delicious! She really had a fun time, and so did we! We got her a bunch of dress-up stuff...now her imagination can really get going!

New Haircut

So I was getting my hair colored by my good friend Mindy, and I'd been thinking of cutting it shorter, but not really. Anyways, it was a spur-of-the moment decision, ( i just keep doing that) but I really like it! It's short! My hair grows fast, and I eventually want it long again, but it is a fun change.

Nia's Princess Birthday Party

We had a little birthday party for Nia with a few of her friends. I went all out with the decorations, and really had a lot of fun getting ready for it. She had a blast, and keeps asking if she can have another birthday party! There are a ton of pictures to follow!







I made these little tissue puffs that have been popping up all over the place on blogs...they are so cute and really quite easy. I made these ruffled streamers by just sewing two pieces of streamers together and gathering as I sewed. Of course, everything was pink!








Nia was Snow White for the occasion, and we all had a fun time doing things that princesses do! (painting our fingernails, coloring princess coloring pages, playing pin the princess on the castle, and eating rainbow cupcakes!) After we sang happy birthday to Nia she says "No! my names Mulan!" She is so funny! Always pretending.

Thanksgiving

So I forgot my camera over thanksgiving. We spent it in my hometown of almo with all my siblings. My mom was able to come at the last minute (she left my dad to start his new job in Colorado, we sure missed him) We LOVED having her there. If you'd like to see some thanksgiving pics check out my sisters blog: thehalltree.blogspot.com

So here's my new favorite Nia quote:

The other day Nia was running around the house as she often does. All out of breath and surprised she says: "whoa! My leg almost fell off!"

Has-Beens

Thats what mike and I were for halloween. Rock-stars that settled down...sortof. Mae is a lion cub and Nia is a black kitty-cat. MEOW!

We have been having a lot of fun lately as a family, just turning the tv off and doing things together. Carving pumpkins, playing games, going out, etc.

Mae is getting so close to crawling.! She sure is a sweetie. We were just watching old Nia videos of when she was mae's age, and they are more alike than we thought! They have a lot of the same mannerisms/laughs/looks. Things are always busy around here.!

Sorry they're not very good pictures, we kept meaning to have someone get one of us all together, but it never happened. Once we were ready Mae was asleep in her carseat, etc., etc. I need to be better at taking pictures!

un-official pictures

But its been awhile. So here are a few pictures I've been meaning to post. Lately Nia has asking me these questions: Have you ever tried this? and will jump up in the air and clap at the same time. Or she'll wave her hands up and down. Sometimes if we tell her something she'll repeat what we say with a question in her voice: That key is to check the mail, Nia. "that key is to check the
ma-ail?" She's getting big, and continues to be a big helper. Shes finally growing too, and I keep having to put away clothes that don't fit her anymore. :( She is excited to be a kitty-cat for halloween. (again)
Mae is starting to eat solids and really loves it. If we're all having dinner she will complain until she gets some too. She's growing so fast, but is still small for her age. She is sure lucky to have such a sweet big sister, and loves to watch Nia and just thinks she is so funny.
Mike and I are doing great, I got a new calling in the ward to be the nursery music lady. We have 3 large nurseries in our ward, so I go from nursery to nursery. And the Y.Mens got reorganized, but mike is still the 1st counselor.







If you can't tell, its been wearing Nia out being a big sister...

The food pics are previews of whats to come on my food blog! www.bakinacake.blogspot.com

And I only have video of Mae! I'll try to upload one of those.

Sister Love

Nia and Mae have been having so much fun together lately, Mae will make what I call her "play noise" where she half yells, its pretty hard to describe but soo cute! She will do it around Nia when shes down by her. Of course Nia loves blowing on her tummy and making her laugh.

I walked in and saw nia "playing" with mae. oh well, at least it wasnt on her head, right??



Today i was wasting time on the computer and playing with the girls on the bed. I hear Nia say: "do you want to play blocks with me, baby?? Ohhh, you do? Ok, get on the bed." I love my girls!





I think about my mom raising 3 daughters, and we all have always had the desire to be mothers and homemakers. Its my goal to do the same for my girls. I was told in a blessing that my daughters would be a great joy to me, and it's hard to imagine how that joy can grow in the eternities...because I have so much of it already!!

Mac n cheese forever!!

So this morning Nia came into my room saying she was really hungry. When i asked her what she wanted for breakfast she says: mac n cheese and oranges. hmmm... ok nia!





this is what mae was busy doing whille i was making it:




Here are some pictures at the zoo I forgot to post. Its been so nice being home this summer!!






Nia's friend Nona had a princess party today.





Nia absolutely had a blast. It was the cutest thing ever. I love having girls! :)

P.S. Mae's rolling over!! and over, and over, and over.




(recognize that shirt Marty? Promise I plan to return it.)

Love you Mom and Dad!!!

Summer Flies By...

We had a fun time going camping a couple weeks ago with my family. Mike had to be in Wyoming for work, but me and the girls went. It was short, but fun trying out mom and dad's new trailer.Nia had fun playing with cousins.

Last weekend my good friend/roomie got married in Boise, so my other friend Mindy and I went with our babies. I left Nia home with Mike, since it was a short trip, we left Friday and got back Saturday night after the reception and all the driving would not have been fun for her. It was great! Exhausting because of all the driving and wedding things, but it was so good to be there. It was so fun to see some old friends and catch up a little bit. (I miss hanging out with you so bad Cass!) Of course I didn't take a single picture. :(
Mae thinks she is just too old to lay down anymore and wants to sit up so badly. She is smiling and cooing up a storm, but we're still trying to win a laugh out of her! Nia has finally become a normal toddler, climbing up onto the counter, getting into things. I thought we'd miss that stage, but her little body finally caught up to her mind and I think it might be worse this way. She'll do things just to be funny, (wonder where she gets that from, eh??) and that includes being naughty. When I'm trying to explain to her that that wasn't a good choice, it was a naughty thing to do she'll brush it off and say "I'm not naughty, I'm just nice". Your a nice girl Nia, but sometimes you make naughty choices. And then she'll say it again...! figuring out this parenting stuff is crazy! Having patience is difficult. Thank goodness I'm not doing it alone!
I have been discovering some new cooking blogs and baking up a storm of new different recipes. It is sooo stinkin fun! Mike has had to remind me that he'd like for me to make some of his old favorites too. :) This has inspired me to get going on my recipe blog that has been sitting stagnant for a year now. I never did much with it to begin with, but am starting to figure out how I'd like to organize the recipes and starting to add more. (thanks for the encouragement Heather)
Well, here are a few pictures, since I know thats why everyone checks blogs anyways, the first is my oldest brother's baby Joziah with Mae. He is about a month younger than Mae. SO cute.

Real Quick...

Here are some new-born shots we had taken of Mae. Shes 1 week old in these pictures. I am getting the swing of things. With Mike home for the summer besides his occasional traveling/installs I have yet to take both of them somewhere by myself. I think I may be up for it now, but why do it if I don't have to, right?
Some news to note:
Our condo is up for sale, we realized that if we hope to move this fall then we had better get it on the market! We are praying that we sell it, and know we will if thats what's supposed to happen.
I spoke in sacrament meeting in church and Mike had the girls. He had a stressful time of it, but then again so did I! It all worked out though.
So without further ado, here's the pictures!