Some updates...

We had a birthday celebration the other week at my moms house for Becca. One of the gifts she received was a trunk full of Disney princess dress up clothes, and a box full of the shoes to go with each outfit! Let me tell you..these have been put to good use. Like I said Rachel has become a lot more girly, and loves to dress up! So here are a few random pictures from the last few weeks.
I know the resemblance is shocking! But no this is in fact Rachel, and not Snow White (also not to be confused with Pinocchio:)The girls love Pumpkin (our pet bunny). Poor Pumpkin probably gets more attention then he would like, but the girls don't seem to mind :)Sorry for the blurry picture. This is Rachel on Becca's birthday shoving the entire sugar cookie in her mouth! Non of these picture turned out well on the B-day. We are decorating sugar cookies here in the picture, but Rachel thought...why would I do that when I can just eat it??Yes Rachel is wearing safety goggles in this picture, I am not sure why, but hey if she likes them, then that is fine by me! Becca has the sweetest smile! Don't you think?I think I know what she is wishing for..."please let me turn into Princess Aurora" A girl can dream right?This is from the princess party my mom threw for Becca, lucky girl if you ask me.The girls with their great grandma Allen. I love the party hats!It looks like she got her wish after all! It's the one and only Princess Aurora:).

Something to share

This talk is a must read. It is long but worth it. The talk is titled......

Religious Freedom

Childhood is calling..

For years I have really come to believe that I was crazy! This movie that you see above here was a childhood favorite of mine! I have not seen it for years, and until just today had come to believe that I must have made this movie up in my head! I would ask my mom time and time again if she remembered anything about this movie...talking whales, lost city under water..anything?? She never knew what I was talking about. And today thanks to many a search on google....I found it!! I seriously had tears in my eyes! There is something so special about childhood..You know when you come across and old item you have not seen in years, or drive by an old home you grew up in? It brings back memories and emotions that can be so powerful..I felt that way today, even after just seeing the cover, and proving that it is a real movie (not made up in my head:) has been so incredible! I had forgotten so many things about this film, and suddenly I can remember so many things about it with just a picture! Anyway you might think I am crazy, but I loved my childhood, and I love finding old things that help me remember what it was like....

P.S. I was seriously contemplating writing a screen play for this movie before I found it. Haha! SO much for that idea..

Where does the time go......?

I can't believe that my little Becca is going to be 4 next week! I am feeling a little sad about it:(. She is such a bright, beautiful girl. Just full of life, energy, and love. She is always so quick to forgive, and give you hugs:).

I always thought it sounded so cheesy and untrue when my parents would tell me "it feels just like yesterday you were born"...Well I am going to say it as well! It honestly feels like it was just yesterday that our sweet sweet little Becca came into this world. I remember that I started having really strong contractions the night of the 11th, I did not sleep the whole night. The next morning to keep myself distracted I took a shower. Nathan had a final project at school he needed to go to, so I wanted to wait till he got home to go to the hospital. I made some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (weird I know) cleaned my house, and was watching a Halloween special on food network:)! My mom arrived at about the same time Nathan did, around 11 a.m. and off we went to the hospital! I had everyone in the room with me:) My mom, my mother in law, my dad, Alex at one point. I was totally in my own little world, a whole school full of kids could have come walking through for a field trip, and I would not have noticed! Anyway Becca came a little after 7 O'clock p.m. She was born on her late great grandpa Critchfield's birthday, which is really cool I think. She didn't make a single sound when she came out. She was just looking around at everything....She kept sticking her tongue out in the air like she was tasting it, just like a little lizard :). Words can't describe how instantly I fell in love with her, my whole world changed literally in a matter of seconds...I love you Becca Lou Who! The big 4...Can't believe it!

T- Shirt and jeans kinda girl

That would explain my style well. Like I said I am a bit of an online shopaholic...I love to find incredible deals, and I love to find them online. I can look as long as I want with out kiddos screaming to go home:). They are happier, I am happier. However, I find that I cannot put together an outfit to save my life seriously! So I go back to what I know works....T-shirts and jeans. Boring I know, but believe me if I tried to walked out of the house in anything else, you would wonder if that poor girl was blind? Or probably feel sorry for me:). Anyway Gap was having a big 40% off sale, and I had an extra 25% off coupon, so I did what I do best.... I bought 4 long sleeve favorite T's in 4 different colors! YEA! I also needed some boots, I have always wanted a pair of rain boots to keep my feet and pants dry in the cold wet months. I never buy them though. This year Target had a buy 1 get one half off shoe sell. So I bought the brown boots I needed and the rain boots! And free shipping of course! I love a good deal! Can't wait for them to arrive!

A few things

Somethings I have come to learn about myself, and accept....Other things I am still trying to overcome, or I am still in denial about. A list.....

1- I am a bit of a hermit. Honestly. I am perfectly fine being cooped up in my house during the winter time (or anytime for that matter), and not being social during the week. I do like to play on the weekends when I have Nathans help with the girls.

2- I do not go to play groups with other moms I really could care less. This is one I am trying to over come. Becca loves kids, and plays with them when they are outside in our neighborhood. For me this seems to be enough, for her I don't know? She and Rachel love to play together though and I am in no hurry to see that go away.

3- I am OCD about having a clean house. I have mentioned this a time or 2 I think? I can't leave the house with out it being clean, which makes leaving the house with myself and 2 kiddos stressful, and so I avoid it most of the time.

4- I am not a natural at teaching. I feel like my girls are these little sponge's who soak up so much, and most of the time I wonder.... what are they soaking up? Because I think I fail to teach them things they could be learning.

5- I don't have schedules of any kind accept for a sleeping schedule for my girls. I get stressed out easily if I have a schedule to go by.

6- I have not gotten to know my neighbors like I should. I have lived here for a year, and have little to show for that... One of those things I would like to change, but do I??? no.....

7- I wanted to sign Becca up for a dance class this fall, but I have changed my mind a bit. I know she would just love every minute of it. I love that she is home though with me, and that we have no interruptions to her pretend play. My other thought was that a time will come in our lives when things will be busy enough with the girls....school, dance, friends, sports etc. And I want to delay that a little longer. Or maybe I am wrong about this?

8- I am not sure what to do about school with Becca... I am scared to death honestly to send her to school. It seems every time I read the news another teacher has sexually molested a child. Does anyone have any suggestions? I keep thinking a private school maybe the only way to go....but again I don't know.

9- I am an online shopaholic! I am! I need a better hobby as Nathan would say....I am terrible at sewing I tried that (I don't have the patience for it). Maybe knitting? A lot of the time when I have free time I just like to sit and think. One of the things I am denial about..... I like to think of myself as a fun person.. after reading this I have come to the conclusion that that is probably not the case. Haha!

10- I love movies! Nathan is gone all day and night because he started his masters of accountancy program, and works full time. This does not bother me, because I get to watch a movie most every night after I put the girls to bed. I should be more productive with my time...but I am not (I should want to change this).

11- I think that is all for now. (I am in denial that there is more to add to my list:)

Fall Take 2!

Another reason why I love this blessed time of year...Halloween!!!! I love this Holiday about as much as I do Christmas! You can find me at Target & Tai Pan several times a week looking at all there fun Halloween decor :). And yes I already have my Halloween decor up all over my house!!:) I got it up this last weekend, after I put the girls to bed. Nathan and I have never seen the Harry Potter movies, so we decided to start them (thanks to Chelsie), after we were done putting up Halloween. We turned off all the lights in the house accept for the spooky jack-o-lanterns! Becca has been so excited for this holiday, so she got a fun surprise when she woke up for breakfast on Saturday morning! I saved her bedroom decor to put up with her that morning, and she loved every minute of it! Anyway in case I didn't bore you enough with my last post, be prepared to be bored some more with more pictures of the house!! I did put in a pic of my cute girls with there kitty cat ears:).Nathan found this book while we were up in Park City the other week, and had to get it! If you love Halloween books, this one is stinking CUTE!

Fall in the air...

Can I just tell you how much I love this time of year!?? I LOVE IT! I love all seasons and get incredibly excited when change is in the air don't you? There is something so beautiful though when the leaves on the trees change! Ahh! It's kinda fun to think about what the seasons mean...I love the feeling of fall, the earth is quieting down and getting ready for winter when all things will go into hibernation (including myself:). I love the coolness in the air (because I get to wear jackets, and boots again:). I love seeing the change in produce at the store, pumpkins!! And lots of different squash! I love to be in my kitchen and bake! Soups, breads, cookies! Ever year it is a tradition in our household when the fall starts to settle in, I make Orange Pumpkin Soup! I love it! This week I have been saying my farewells to summer, and bringing fall into my home...:) I changed out the girls wardrobes (that always takes a lot of work for some reason). I painted some new paintings, and changed the brighter colors in my house to fall colors. Next weekend I am going to go get pumpkins, and fill my house with them:). love it! Below are some pics of my house with fall changes.

Labor Day Weekend!

We usually go to Jackson Hole over Labor Day, however this year we decided to have a stay cation in Park City! We were in an incredible hotel! We stayed at the same place that was in my last post of pics:). It was a lot of fun! We hang with Keith and Leslie my other parents :) every year on this holiday. We went to Swiss Days, and up to the Alpine Slides, swimming, game playing, movie watching, exploring, and shopping! Oh and did I mention the BYU vs. Oklahoma game?? That was so great!! Leslie has a hard time watching these BYU games, she is in total anxiety the whole game. So the last few minutes of the game she needed to take a walk..... I go out in the hall minutes later to see her eavesdropping on someones door, and the lady in this room is yelling at her husband "JEFF JEFF ARE THEY GOING TO WIN THIS"!! "THAT WOULD BE SO AWESOME"!! So I am laughing, and poor Leslie who was trying to get away from the game couldn't escape it :). We knocked on "Jeff's" door after the game was won to meet these people, but they were gone haha! I just love Leslie she is so fun! Here are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure:). Hope everyone had a great weekend! Thanks again Keith and Leslie for such a fun get away! Love youBecca on the Bungee Jump! At one point she yelled out "mom and dad I'm having so much fun"! She smiled really big the whole time!My wonderful man!!:)I asked Becca to smile in the pic, and this is what I got :) Girls!Who says you need a double stroller???
Raywho at the Park City Library totally involved with the computer!

A few funny Becca quotes

- "Mom today my name is Pandalene" Who?? Ya she calls herself this a lot lately..Nathan and I can't figure out how this name came about! Haha!

- The other night driving home late at night, Rachel was crying and Becca was trying to sleep. At one point Nathan turns to me and whispers "maybe if we talk quietly Rachel will stop crying". Becca then pipes in louder with a .."Nope Rachel's still crying".

- The other day my phone was ringing. Becca was coloring and didn't bother to look up, instead she says dryly "mom your moms calling". Funny girl

Park City

We went and spent the day up in Park City! My dad needed to get away and write 2 scripts that he needs to turn in in 2 weeks, so they got a place away from home because they have company staying at their place. So I came up with the girls for the day to use the awesome pool, and go to the outlets of course:). Anyway here are a few pictures from our day! I love the ones of the girls in the tub because they were having a bubble bath, and Beck wanted to turn the jets on in the tub and it like tripled the size of the bubbles! Rachel was a little unsure about the situation:).