Pay offs

There are a few times when you know that your efforts as a mother are paying off. The other day King J and I were downstairs and we heard the girls playing upstairs on the monitor. It got suspiciously quiet so I decided to go check on them. This is what I found:

Princess E had helped Princess M into her own bed. Tucked her in and was saying prayers with her. It made me get a little teary. Princess E is getting so big. She will be going into primary in January. It seems like just a few short months ago we were in the NICU praying our guts out for her. I love being a mom.

Santa Clause is comming to town

Well Saturday we were back in Salem for the family Christmas party. It was another fun day with the cousins. Princess E and Annie were joined at the hip. They rode the bouncy horses, pretended they were at a spelling bee, ate tons of junk food and played with their new barbies. Being with family is a lot of fun.

About a week before, for family home evening, we painted Christmas ornaments. Princess E was so proud of hers and decided that she wanted to give hers to grandma and grandpa. So on Friday I helped her get out the wrapping paper and tape. She wrapped them all by herself and would not put them down until they were delivered to her grandparents at the Christmas party. Even in the car, she had to hold them instead of putting them in the trunk with the rest of the presents. She is such a sweetie.

Grandma pulled out the princess dress ups that afternoon and all the girls chose their favorite. Of course Princess E chose Cinderella and Princess M chose Snow White. They all were so cute.

The highlight of the night though was a visit from the big man himself. I was so impressed with the girls. This was the first year that Princess E was not afraid and running away as fast as she could go. In fact she kept thinking of things she had to tell Santa. Like show she had "3 grandma's", that she was Cinderella and she just had to give him a hug because she loved him so much.

Princess M was really brave too. She didn't want to sit there for very long. But there were no tears.

Merry Christmas!

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas!

Friday was "Family Fun Day". We spend the day as a family putting up all of our Christmas decorations. We had such a good day. It was the first year that dad was here to help us. It is also the first year that we get to have 2 trees. I was lucky enough to get a HUGE one off of freecycle last year. We have learned that princess M LOVES Christmas lights. She giggles so much and gets all kinds of excited when they turn on.

We have had fun getting ready to put up the trees. I made a lot of homemade ornaments this year. Some of my favorite ones are these cinnamon/applesauce ones. They look like gingerbread. Princess E was a great helper when it was time to put them on the tree. To the left is a picture of the branch of the tree where she was putting them all. I looked and when I saw that she had about 6 of them on the same branch I told her we should probably move some around. She told me, " No mom, they are a family and need to stay together." Well, who could move them after that.

I love decorating the house. It makes it so festive and inviting. I really am grateful for the talent that I have been blessed with to make things look nice. It really makes me feel good.

Merry Christmas.

Thanksgiving 2006

Well, the day was a success. We had a wonderful day down in Salem with my parents. Tons of food, friends, family and football. Both girls were very excited to go and see their cousins and grand parents. Princess M was ready to go way before the rest of us. She got in the car when we were loading it and wouldn't get out for over an hour.

Princess M got to talk to her grandma in Tennessee right before we got on the road. She lit up when she was talking to her. She really loves talking on the phone, especially when it is one of her "3 grandmas". (She tells absolutely everyone that she has 3 grandmas. We cannot convince her otherwise. Oh well more the merrier right.) This is a picture when she was talking on Thanksgiving and singing Twinkle Twinkle little star to grandma. She was so cute.

King J was in heaven watching sports with people who actually care. I used to think that the sleep comes after the turkey is served though. That wasn't the case this year though.

This was the first year that he didn't have to work the holiday. Since he has been put on salary he does not get overtime. So we get him all to ourselves. It was wonderful. I am so grateful that he is finally taking some much deserved time off.



Here are some other pics from the day. Princess M loved dancing with Grandpa. Princess E loved playing with her friend Ashlynne, who's family got to come along with us this year. They were playing office in this picture. I love the imaginations of little ones.

Calling all Cooks

Since being married one of my favorite hobbies is cooking. I LOVE being in the kitchen and using new recipes. Even creating new ones sometimes. So today is a dream day for me, because the princesses and I get to spend the day making pies, cookies, pumkin loaf, and rolls just to name a few. Whenever I am in the kitchen I always have 4 extra hands ready to get sticky with me. I hope cooking is something that the girls will continue to have a desire to learn. It really is a good skill to develop.

Some of their favorite ways to help are to roll out the dough when making cookies or bread. Princess E loves to stir the juice and hand me veggies that need to be cut. Princess M still prefers more of a spectator/food taster roll. But she is always getting more brave.

From all of us here in the Royal Family, Happy cooking

Have a Happy Turkey day.

Two dancing girls

Princess E's new favorite love, dress up clothes. Especially dance clothes. She loves to dance, and sing. She has been blessed with a voice. Where princess M was born with the beat.

I am so grateful the have decided that playing together is a lot more fun than fighting over what is "mine". They really are becoming best friends.

-M

Well if you can't beat em, join em.

Well I finally decided to give in and join the technology age. I haven't wanted to start a blog because it would be one more thing I would have to keep up with. But after reading my sisters blog who lives so far away, I thought it would be a good idea for me since I don't keep up with others very well. It would be a good way for others to keep up with us.

What a great week to start. I am so grateful for this time of year. Especially now since princess's E and M are getting big enough to get excited about the season too. We started a list 2 weeks ago, that has been hanging on our wall, about what we are thankful for. It has been fun as E comes and tells me things she is thankful for. Today it was her dancing clothes. Yesterday it was her friends.

I truly am thankful for so many things. First and foremost, I am thankful for my hubby. I could not have found a better man. He shows me daily how much he loves and cares for me. He is such a hard worker and provides so well for us. I also am so very grateful to be the mom of 2 of our Heavenly Fathers choicest daughters. They truly are of royal birth. I always knew before I had children that I would have some very special spirits entrusted to me. I know that the trials that I had to go through to get them here were just the test to see if I qualified to be their mother.

I am so thankful for my testimony. I know that God lives and that he loves us. That he is always there for us if we just seek him. I am thankful for our home and all of the beautiful things we have been blessed with. I am truly thankful for family. Especially righteous parents who raised J and I to be the people we are today.

Well I hope to keep up on this blog so that those of you who we don't get to see very often can somehow know what is going on in our lives. Know that we love you all.

Queen M