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Thursday, December 17, 2009

Going Crazy!!!

Our girls like to get out of the house to go to the park, the zoo, for a walk or even the store. Many times they mistake my moving of my shoes as a sign that we are going somewhere. Recently the girls asked where we were going and I said, "We're going crazy". The rest of the night the girls were anxious to get started and repeatedly asked when we were going to go crazy. Allyse even said at one point after we apparently weren't moving fast enough, "I want to go crazy". She's too young to realize that we are already there!!!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Random Pics

Happy Girls



Linda Metcalf was an angel and watched the twins for two and a half days so that we could take care of Laina.



Proud Parents





Synchronized Sleeping (after day at the zoo)


Parents as Babies




Randy shown first then JoElle. Again, both pictures within a few weeks of birth. Things that make you go, "Hmmmmmm"!

Who does Laina look like?





We get a lot of friends asking, "Who does Laina look like?" Well, here are pictures of the twins side by side with Laina (approximately the same age, about a few weeks old). We think that she is unique but you can decide for yourself! First Laina, then Allyse, then Keira (youngest to oldest).

IT'S A GIRL!!!!


Name: Laina
Time: 11:06am
Date: 8/27/2009
Weight: 9 lb 10 oz
Height: 20.5 inches

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

We're going to "see Attle"...the Story

Here's a little bit about our trip to Seattle. Before we left I was getting stuff ready to go and of course the girls were getting into everything and I kept saying that I was getting things ready for when we go to Seattle. Well, Allyse answered at one point, "Oh, for when we go to Attles house?" It took a minute until I realized what she said. In her little mind she made the connection that Attle was a person and we were going to go to "see Attle," just as we would go "see grandpa", or "see cousins". Even today Keira asked, "Are we going to see Attle today...at the beach mommy?"

The girls did very well on their first airplane ride. They, of course had it easy, it was Randy and I who had it rough. After our shuttle from the long-term parking lot, which was supposed to come every 5-10 minutes finally came after waiting 20+ minutes, we were on our way to the American Airlines terminal. However, when we got there we found out that it wasn't American but Alaska Air, a sister airline, that we were flying, which was on the other side of the LAX airport, but luckily only a four minute walk. The lady made it sound like we were running late and had to hurry so Randy took off with the luggage in order to get our boarding passes squared away while I followed behind with the girls as fast as my 7 month pregnant body could go. Luckily, the security check line wasn't long and we made it to our gate. I finally was able to use the bathroom, which I'd had to do since getting out of the car and seeing that there wasn't any activity at our gate, Randy went to get something to eat. After sitting for a bit waiting for them to start boarding at gate 32 I started listening to the boarding announcements being called out and finally asked Randy what our flight number was. All these boarding announcements I was hearing were for our flight...at gate 34! We packed light so we didn't have to check anything in, but we still had 2 carseats, 3 carry-on size suitcases, the diaper bag, and a backpack which we had to haul down the narrow airplane aisle of a practically completely boarded plane. It was quite stressful, but we were finally able to relax once we were all buckled in.

Okay, the rest of this is going to have to be in bullet point form or this will never get posted.

-The best thing is that we get to hang out with JoLynn (Randy's sister), John, Haliey, Jennings and Wyatt. Jennings and Wyatt were quite the troopers as they were the ones carrying the girls around a lot of the time.
-We get to see Haliey play in one of her soccer games
-Randy spends three days with visits to a dentist
-Girls learn theme song to Spongebob Squarepants
-Pikes Market where the girls every word was "I want that!" or "I want to hold you," which translates to "carry me."
-Mt. Ranier. The girls got to play in snow!
-Paddle boats on Greenlake very fun, but quite the leg workout.
-Randy and I have a date night at the Space Needle.
-Fourth of July barbeque with Randy's Uncle Bruce and Aunt Claudia
-An almost perfect view of Seattle fireworks from the Richmond's balcony. If there wasn't that darn tree!
-Schedule, what schedule! When the girls took naps it was because we were driving and who cares if it was past 10:00 when we finally put them to bed in their clothes without their teeth brushed.
-The girls falling in love with their Seattle cousins. They still ask if we are going to see their cousins...I wish. It's a beautiful area and Randy is already talking about what he'd like to do when we go again.

We're going to "see Attle"

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Mother Dear I Love You So!

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Easter

Allyse is in pink, Keira is in the green
They totally scored.
This was at a egg hunt hosted by one of Santa Clarita's Mom's clubs and before the hunt began they had all the kids sit down and they sang some songs. Allyse was probably wondering why they were sitting when there were all the eggs to pick up. She decided she was going to get a head start and took off running, but luckily Randy was able to hold her back.

March pictures

March...In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb

It's almost been a month, but I'm finally getting around to posting what we've been up to the last little while, in a very condensed format.

March was a crazy month. I got sick, then the girls took turns being sick, then I got another bug, so not fun! Luckily we were all through with being sick by the time that Randy's brother Steven and his family came out for a visit at the end of the month. We went to the beach which was a first for Emma, Miles and Brynna. We all had a great time having a picnic, flying a kite, playing in the sand, and for those who dared, the water. On Randy's birthday, March 30th, we went to Disneyland and California Adventure and had a great time. One of the highlights for the girls was meeting Minnie Mouse.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

It's a....

On March 31 the ultrasound technician confirmed my suspicions that this baby is another GIRL! I wasn't sure I was going to find out, but I just had to. Ever since we found out I have been preparing for another girl. While shopping the after Christmas clearance sales I bought a three pack angel picture frame ornament set and thought how perfect for my three little girls. Well, we definitely have got the clothes and with their birthdays just three weeks apart everything should work out seasonally, unless this baby does turn out to be the record breaking 22 pounder that I dreamed I had.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Yummy Drinks

In honor of St. Patricks day, which is tomorrow, here are some drinks made from the fabulous green fruit...the lime.

Lime Slush Punch (fron Christmas Recipes from the Lion House cook book)
2 cups sugar
8 cups water
1 12 oz. can frozen limeade
5 fresh limes, juiced
24+ oz. lemon-lime soda (add as desired)

Combine sugar and water and heat slightly until dissolved. Add frozen limeade and juice of the 5 limes. Mix and pour into a shallow pan. Freeze. (I used a 9x13 pan with lid which was just perfect.) Can be kept in freezer up to three months. Remove from freezer about an hour before serving and break up into slush. Pour into punch bowl and add soda.

This is a recipe that my friend Erin posted on her blog. It is soooo yummy!
Brazilian Limeade

4 limes
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk (maybe a touch more)
6 cups water
Lots of ice

Wash the limes thoroughly. Cut off the ends and slice into eight wedges, leaving the peel on. Place limes in blender with the sugar, sweetened condensed milk and half the water. Blend in an electric blender, pulsing for only a couple of seconds about 3 times (this will depend on the power of your blender. If you blend too much it will become very bitter. The pulp should be blended up, but most of the peel should not). Strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove the lime rinds.

Add the rest of the water. I usually pour it through the stainer to pick up any left over flavor. Stir and pour into a glass with plenty of ice.

Don't make it too far in advance. It tends to turn bitter after a few hours.

JoElle's note: I would plan to buy at least 12 limes, because you have a can of sweetened condensed milk opened and you won't want it to go to waste. And, if you have a large family you're gonna want a lot :)

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Two Year Old Attitude

The girls are in the dressing themselves phase now and are constantly wanting to change their clothes. Their pants and pajamas are what are in the dresser drawers and therefore what they have access to, but I don't think they would mind wearing pajamas all day. I have quite the time some times trying to get them dressed in the morning and as you can see in the pictures getting hair done these days is near impossible too. It used to be that a movie would keep them still while I did their hair, but now they see me coming with the brush and they take off running. I'm lucky if I can actually get it combed. I can see now why so many moms just opt to chop off their daughters hair.
Allyse has almost got it.
Keira can't quite get the pants over her diaper, but she doesn't seem to mind.

I usually buy their pajamas in a two piece set and am quite particular about having them wear the coordinating pj's on the same night. Apparently they don't take after me in this regard.



My Little Valentines

Pictures of the girls valentine cookie decorating play date February 13, 2009
Allyse's conversation heart creation.

"I think I can fit another one right...here."

Keira's creation...a little bit of this and a little bit of that.


Keira was in heaven with all the different sprinkles and candies!
While the other kids went to the bedroom to play, Keira was sitting
at the table eating it up!






Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Click and drag on sphere then let it go!

Monday, February 2, 2009

I was getting our lunch ready yesterday and I asked Keira if she wanted some grapes. Her reply was, "No, I want some chocolate."

The other night I had a dream that I had access to a 24 hour buffet. Actually, I've been having a lot of dreams about food lately...hmmmm. What I wouldn't give to just be able to walk into my kitchen and have a variety of foods just ready and waiting to eat. I am so, so, so hungry all the time right now and it seems I'm never able to get completely full. It doesn't help that when I open my refrigerator or cupboards nothing looks good.

Friday, January 30, 2009

Three Under Three

On or near August 29, three weeks before the girls turn three years old, we will be welcoming baby #3 to our family. I figure we might as well announce because for those that can see me, my belly is giving me away. By the way I've popped you'd think I was having twins this go around, but luckily there is only one.

I'm feeling good, but I'm incredibly exhausted (therefore the lack in posting). I am just too tired! Napping with the girls used to be an option, but now it is an absolute must. There have been days when I was just too tired to go check what the girls were doing and as a result, such as on Monday, found that my mascara had been found and used to color our rocking chair, and on Tuesday 3/4 of a bottle of bodywash squeezed onto the carpeted floor. This of course was due to my neglect of putting said objects out of the girls reach. This is going to be a long seven months!

Oh, by the way for those who don't know, we took our condo off the market. With all the foreclosures in the area it just drove the prices down too much for us to sell and make it worth it. It's a good thing in a way because there is just no way I would have been able to keep the place in presentable order all the time. We'll try again when the market turns, whenever that will be and until then just make the best of where we are.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

S.L.O. Christmas

The Man in the Red Suit

Here's the girls with Santa Claus taken at our ward party on December 6th. Allyse left, Keira right.