Moving photos

Here’s how we finally got out of there.

We had a TON of help from the Elder’s Quorum and couldn’t done it with out them.  Especially the Rowe brothers as they played Tetris just right and fit us in a smaller truck than we anticipated. (Let’s just say I am still mad at Penske, they were late with our truck and didn’t give us the right one.  But we only ended up paying $330 total plus gas.)

We also could not have done it without fabulous women who helped watch the girls thanks Leah, Melissa, Cindy for your many hours!!! Other women who helped me pack, Didi and Misty.  And families who helped clean Rowe’s, Tibbs and Stices. You were all amazing!! We could not have made the drive without many yummy treats from many people and phone calls to keep me awake. 

Anna chant’s our address so cute so I had to take a photo in front of the address.  I wish we would have taken more photos of the people who helped, but this is what we were able to capture. We will miss our wonderful friends.  I hate goodbyes!  We hope that most of them are “see you laters!”

As we drove away Anna innocently and out of the blue said, “I’m going to miss Kristy, Dave and Winston (their dog).”  If you ask her now what she misses the most about Modesto she will reply, “Kristy and Dave”

Let’s just say, It always has positives, but moving stinks!

Seven now Eight

I cannot believe my little #2 is closer to one year old than to being a newborn. More than that I cannot believe how crazy this year have been and my lack of keeping a record about this little doll. There is so much to remember in the first 8 months!

Maddie is such a joy.  She will smile for almost anyone, though sometimes she smile then turn into me and cuddle… a little bit of shyness I presume.  Her smile makes me giddy inside and others have commented on how she just makes you feel happy.  A genuine happy spirit. Her eyes are a Hazel green and always full of wonder and happiness.  I could stare into them all day. She has fuzzy blonde hair and skinny mini arms and legs.  Her mouth, as I said, smiles at everyone and I love the way her top lip curls under on the sides.  Her tongue is also a feature of hers that we know well as it is out most of the time.Madelyn waves with her right hand by sticking her arm straight up in the arm, curling her hand, but sticking her pointer finger straight up. She also gives a big “eh!”  She signs “all done” by waving her arms and responds to us saying, “so big” by putting her arms straight up in the air.  “Dada” was her first word besides, “eh” for “hi.”  “Mamamama” is a regular in her vocab, but mostly when she is hungry…. I know where I stand.  She was saying “nanana” today, perhaps for Anna?She LOVES Mia, watches her with awe and reaches out to pet her all the time.  She even helped me hold Mia’s leash on our walk … which didn’t last long as it ended up where everything else goes, in her mouth.Baby sis is content to just sit and play, or watch Big Sis. She lights up when she sees Anna.  They have the cutest sisterly bond which is so fun to see.   She loves anything soft like stuff animals and towels  Maddie is pushing from her bum to her front with her knees, perhaps she’ll be crawling soon. She is easy going unless she NEEDS something, then she is a ticking time bomb.

Just like Anna, Maddie loves music.  If she is fussy in the car I will turn up the “kid music” for Anna and Maddie will quiet down and sing along.  She thinks it is hilarious when you sing and use her arms for actions. She is finally putting herself to sleep, with just a little bit of fussing.  Which is SOOO nice. Her favorite foods are vegetables especially squash, sweet potatoes, green beans and peas. Fruits seem almost too sweet for her and I have to mix them with rice cereal and formula. She still rarely will take a bottle, sippys are okay, but her favorite way to drink is from a straw.  Mads is a quick nurser, but she is constantly moving the whole time, kicking, pulling my shirt or hair and forget nursing if any one is around.   (side note: Anna came and gave her a toy while I was nursing yesterday, I said to her, “she is trying to eat” and Anna replied, “it is for her to hold so she doesn’t pull your shirt or scratch you!”  Such a good big sister!!)Anna calls her Mads, little munchie, baby sis and Maddie Janers. I love her giggles and kissing her cheeks, It is a joy to have her with us! 

The Fairy Door

Our new “Layton home,” as Anna now calls it, has a FAIRY DOOR!!! We enjoyed seeing them around Ann Arbor, Michigan while we lived there and now we have our very own!!!

Anna had ME color a picture for them and we left if out for a few days by the door.  (Those Fairies took a while to realize we had invited them in.)  But today they left Anna a little sucker treat! We are so excited to have these fairies know where we live!!! It will be a fun year.  Next up… decorating the door and making it more inviting.

P.S.  Yes, our fairy door resembles a doggie door, but let’s be honest Mia won’t be using it.  Also, please disregard my decoration station aka place I have put everything that I haven’t decorated with yet.

Little by Little

This is my theme for the last month.

LITTLE BY LITTLE I WILL …

Pack up and clean my home in Modesto

Find a place to live

Say goodbye (or I like to just say “see you later”) to good friends

Say hello to family and friends

Clean up our rental home in Bountiful for over 100 hours

Find out more and more information on our previous renters and their criminal son.. that is one for the books!

Unpack into storage and live in 2-3 places

Find a sense of structure and routine

Unpack in my new home

Find where something I need is

Decorate

Help my two daughters get over high fevers

Plan for new activities, preschool, vacations, etc.

Get back up on my slalom waterski

Play with my dog

Enjoy my mountains again

Decorate

Garden

Loose weight

Get to know new neighbors and ward

Get back into blogging

Catch up on record keeping

Enjoy everyday with my girlies and husband

(P.S. The photo above is a picture from my bedroom window… so beautiful!)

Best Surprise Party Ever…

I “hosted” my own Surprise party last week. Kind of. 

How to do it?  Plan an event, like watching So You Think You Can Dance, and invite friends, expecting that between book club the previous night and Scrapbooking the following night, that you might have one or two show up. If no one shows up, it is okay because you are packing your house for a big move anyway and don’t mind if you have to watch the show alone.

Yeah, I was planning my typical get together which I have done for the past few years with those who were interested, and thought I would make it an open invitation to any of my Modesto Friends.  Then sneaky Leah and the others decide to make it a surprise party for ME! Complete with a table full of goodies (wish I would have gotten a picture), balloons, a poster and a “we love Heidi song.”  I opened up the door for a COMPLETE surprise, 15 girls lining my front path!! (Then a few others joined later).  I was shocked (2 minutes earlier I was gearing up to start some more packing, thank goodness they freed me from that!)

It was an awesome night. I felt VERY loved and grateful for my time here in Modesto.  The women I have met are amazing. They range from newly married to having kids in college.  Among them are AMAZINGLY creative SAHMs, a caterer, a marketing director, a hairstylist,  a professional ballerina, a school teacher, scrap bookers, book club enthusiasts, Twilight fans, Lawyer, nurse, and decorator, home décor refinisher (cannot think of what else to call her), and many other creative talents. 

I have learned that no matter what age you are, girls nights are fun and very refreshing…and these ladies are the best at planning!  They do once a month scrapbooking, birthday lunches, book clubs, movie nights, dinner nights, and incredible showers (including my own baby shower).  I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time!! I love that I can be myself, show up at 10:00 P.M. in my jammies and laugh the night away.

I will miss my Modesto Women! Thanks again for surprising me and making yet another fun GNO!

  

Big Sis in 2008 and Little Sis in 2011

Yep they are sisters! Can you tell who’s who? The both have their own looks, but definitely some similarities (especially the dress). (:

Both love and hate tummy time. I remember Anna getting stuck in the corners of that thing, Now Maddie does it too!

They both think I am the coolest Mom…. (and enjoy sticking their tongues out)

P.S. Anna has a elephant and Maddie has a giraffe. (:

Maddie Janers at 6 months

Hi, I am the second child and my mommy seems to be a lot busier today than she was when my sister was born.  There are not many posts about ME!  SO I am doing it myself, impressive huh?

I just turned 6 months!!  I am the happiest baby, okay MOST of the time. My smile can make anyone melt!  I am just 14 lbs. 6 oz. and 26 inches long.  My mom was worried about me last week , but as long as I am gaining, as little as I am, the doctor isn’t too concerned.  I am still 15 percentile for weight and 25 for height. I love waking up in the morning and kick like crazy when my family comes to get me.  I have been “snacking” ( obviously I am not a big eater yet) on a little rice cereal and fruit.  So far I think it is a little weird, but I like it when I can hold the spoon and get really messy! Speaking of holding, I grab and grab anything in site and put it in my mouth. I roll all around, I can arch my back up further than seems possible, and I like to sit, but my back gives way most of the time, so I need help.  I can talk up a storm and tell cool stories.  I also LOVE music, I sing along with my sister in the car. I hate taking naps, I usually just get a cat nap and call it good.  But I sleep well at night especially with my pink blanket! I hate bottles for eating, they are much more interesting to chew and my mom’s milk is MUCH better.  I still just play with Binky's as well, I must have my Mom’s strong tongue (like her dentist says).  My thumb and toes taste good a lot of the time as well.  My gums are getting hard, but no teeth yet. My eyes still cannot decide what color they are, they are a hazel green/brown.

 

I love my big sis and think she is the coolest, she can be a little overbearing at times, but that is okay.   I love looking out the window when my diaper is getting changed and I love looking at myself in the mirror.  (I am hilarious! AND cute! ) I love my dog, Mia, and think other animals are funny.  I am a Daddy’s girl and a  flirt.  I am still pretty particular about things, but I am the youngest Princess here so I feel like I am entailed to be!(: