New York City

This year as a 4th grade field trip they decided to go to NYC to see the Lion King. Can I just say that is the most amazing show. It is almost to much to taken in. I was so visually stimulating!!! I would gladly pay the $145 to go and see it again. My friend told Charleigh that she would do her hair for the trip. Mary stayed tuesday night and got up at 4:30 to do her hair.


Charleigh looked super cute and got tons of compliments on how pretty she looked. Sadly this is the only picture I have because like an idiot I left my camera at home. While we were there we went to the most awesome Disney store I have ever been to. It was really neat to be on time square and to see all the neat shops they have. I would so love to go again and just hang out. But that trip will have to wait for a girls trip.

I know it has been forever!!! Thanksgiving!

This year we kind of had two thanksgivings one at home with my friend Mary and the other at the in-laws on Friday. Mike couldn't make it back until friday. So anyway it was nice to hang around the house on thanksgiving and play and watch football. I know it is strange that I actually watched football but what can I say it is an American tradition. Anyway while we were waiting for our yummy turkey to cook the girls, Mary and I decided to color. Here are our masterpieces.

This year for Halloween Piper was Barbie and Charleigh was a witch. I think they were super cute. Piper is our little poser. I just love this picture of her!!

 My Beautiful girls!!!

 I think that this is a really great picture of Charleigh.

Counting

I have been trying to teach Piper how to sort and group things so I thought she would have fun using skittles. She was so funny because she was so serious about it and she had to have all the s's showing. She did well!!

She is such a smart cookie. I hope she continues to love to learn.

Yesterday Charleigh's school has a fall festival and a friend and I decided to take the kids. Dennis had a service project with the elders quorum.  The girls had lots of fun playing the games, riding on the fire trucks, hayrides, face painting, hair glitter, hot dogs,pizza,  and for Piper the best of all horse rides!!!  Piper who never can be still stood in a 30 min line without complaints for getting impatient just to ride the horse. And even after all the waiting she was willing to wait again just to get another ride. I am thinking she likes horses. My camera battery died so I didn't get the second time. She ran out of tickets or I am sure she would have ridden another time. Charleigh on the other hand ditched us for a friend but I am glad she had fun.

Sometimes it is just fun to dance in the rain!!!

 I have been feeling very overwhelmed. Sometimes I just can't understand why your kids just refuse to do as they are told. Piper gets into everything. She goes from making one mess to another. I get so sick of cleaning up messes. And then Charleigh feels the need to tell me no whenever she feels that she doesn't want to do what I have asked her to do. ARRRRGH. Then Dennis comes home and tells me that the humming noise in my car is the transmission and because of the age of my car we should just wait for until we can't stand the noise anymore and then replace it. And lets not forget that the school will only reimburse us for four classes a year so next year when he will have 8 we are just out of luck. I am so sick of worrying about money. Ok I am done.

Week Three

This week I feel as if I have done a little better. I actually did a workout. That has been the hardest thing to get into. I know that I actually start working out more that it will get easier to keep up but I am having a really hard time getting motivated. I have thought about jogging in hopes that I will see a difference more quickly. This week I also gave up soda!! Yeah me!! I have been  working on drinking 64 oz of water a day but sometimes I am so sick of drinking water. I know that I can't drink juice because that has just as much sugar and calories as soda. So I will have to  get some lemons to add to my water. I have been doing really well at cutting down my portion sizes and have been trying to only eat a serving of what ever I am eating. Why does it have to be so hard to lose weight and so easy to gain. But I am going to have to get my butt in gear if I am going to compete with Mom!!

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL!!!

Friday was the 2nd game of the season for Dennis' school. The girls always have fun at the games dancing around to the band.  I have to say my favorite part is the band too. I love it when they have the drum line going and the band playing and you can feel it in your chest!!!! SO AWESOME!!! Makes me miss Silara more. I also love the crisp cool air that lets me know fall is on the way!!!!! I am loving it!

DC Temple

Yesterday our stake had a Relief  Society temple day . I went up with a few friends and had a wonderful day. My friend Rachel and I decided to not do a session but stay with another sister and watch the Joseph Smith movie. After the movie, which I cried through, we went to see a new exhibit that they have at the visitor center. Can I just say they were the most beautiful sculptures. The detail was just amazing. Here are the pictures I took. There are lots of them  so I hope I don't bore you.

This sculpture of Christ stunning. It was a  taller then me and when you stood right in front of it it was like Christ was standing right there. Like at any moment Christ was going to speak to you. It was hard to look up in the sculptures eyes because it felt as if it could see into your soul. I know that sounds strange and I guess it was but this sculpture was really powerful to me. Silara said he looked angry but when you look at it there you see love.

There is  one other I don't have a picture of because my battery ran out. I know some of them are a little dark but they asked us not to use the flash and I am not good at taking pictures.

A surprise visit

Friday I get a call from Dottie(my mother-in-law) asking me where I was. I had left early for a play date anyway she informs me that Mike(my brother-in-law) just showed up!! He has been in Afghanistan for over a year and had just completed a tour. We didn't know when we were going to see him because his post in in Fort Bragg but he surprised us all by coming for a visit!! He came with me to get Charleigh from school and she was so happy to see him. She and Piper sure love their Uncle Mike. And he must love them to because they are his little shadows whenever he is home. He even let Piper pretend to put make-up on him. Sorry about the crappy photos.

Week two

I was so hoping to do better towards my  points but for some reason it has been really hard to get going. But I have decided that I am going to this for Charleigh and Piper. I don't want them to have a weight obsessed mom who is always fat. I want them to have a mom who is healthy and has the energy to go and play. I owe it to them and to myself. I have been watching how much I eat and when I am so craving something sweet I have been trying to grab grapes or something that is good for you. Well that is if I am home my in-laws have all the yummy sweets that are so hard to resist. I can't help but grab a couple of the snack size yorks. YUMMY!! I am just going to have to do better at that or stay far away from my in-laws which won't be  happening so I guess I am going to have to develop some self control. I am so ready for the cooler weather to stay so I can go for bike rides with Piper more often. I am just to much of a baby to haul her around when it is hot. Anyway so that is week 2.

Tot Time!

Today we did something new we went to library. We have never gone because Piper just won't sit still very often and the times we have gone to the library I have spent chasing her around. But she is getting older and we thought it was about time for us to try out tot time. The lady who is in charge of the kids room is so sweet. She did a great job reading.  This weeks theme was music so Piper made a drum and a shaker. She seemed to have a really good time.

These kids are actually in her gymnastics class!

Gymnastics!!

Today was Pipers first gymnastics class. She was super excited and Charleigh was super worried. Charleigh wanted to know why we didn't inform her sooner and wanted to know if we really thought Piper was ready for this. I am not sure what she thought was going to happen but she was quiet upset. Piper's teacher is Ms. Leslie. She was very nice and had lots of patience with all the little 3 and 4 year olds. Piper smiled the whole time.

Sorry the pictures aren't that great we had to stay in a waiting room an they were all taken thru a window. I also need to figure out how to take an action picture without it being fuzzy.  Anyway I am thinking she is going to love taking the class. Thank you Marty and Dottie for the cool gift to Piper.