Is she breathing??

I am a lucky mom and have had great sleeper for a baby (unless she is sick and that is a whole other story!). Jane normally will sleep in until around 7:30 am. A couple of weeks ago she surprised me by sleeping in until 8 or 8:30 am. I didn't think it could get any better until the last few days where (believe it or not) she slept in until 9 or 9:30! Today she took it to an entirely new level. I got up as usual around 5:30, checked on Jane, exercised, checked on Jane, showered and got ready, checked on Jane, cleaned up the house, checked on Jane, started to check some friends blogs, checked on Jane. Finally, 10:30 am rolls around and I panic! "IS SHE BREATHING??" I run to Janey's room and she is peacefully laying in her bed talking to the ceiling. I wanted to say to her "who are you and what have you done with my baby?" Maybe she was worn out from this...

(Notice her lovely tupperware!)

or this...

(We had a bunch of my childhood friends, their husbands, and their children over for dinner last night. It was a Kitty Kat Klub reunion)

or probably this!

(Seven kids under the age of 5 made for plenty of entertainment!)

Here's to more 10:30 am mornings!

Signing Time!

My mom has a friend whose daughter works for Baby Signing Time (got that?). When she saw Jane signing, she told me that I needed to get a video ready to submit to Baby Signing Time (you could possibly win prizes/cash). I thought "what the heck!" So here is the video. I guess a mother deserves bragging rights occasionally. Here is my girl in action!

(There are two videos...I just couldn't stand cutting any of it out! Be prepared...it is a little long (5 min. all together) and I am a little obnoxious...Just watch Jane!)

Thanks for humoring me!

Home Sweet Home

I am so proud to call this beautiful place home. I love it so much that I have officially lived in three different houses on Westfield Rd. When I was 8 years old, my parents finished building the house that was across the street from where we were living at the time. I spent the rest of my childhood there until it was time to go to college in Logan. It was my home...I may be biased, but I can honestly say that I don't think that I have ever seen a more beautiful place. My father LOVES trees and planted hundreds (which I spent many evenings and Saturday's watering, might I add!). I think back on all of the hours that I spent playing in the ditch behind our house, nurturing and loving new baby kittens, playing "run away" with the Kitty Kat Klub, and just enjoying being a child. Now, I watch my neices and nephews who live on one side of my parents doing the same things that I did as a child. They climb the trees, ride their bikes around the driveway, build interesting contraptions, and enjoy the simplicity of childhood. Now I am currently in my third house on Westfield Rd. Some people look at me like I am crazy for living so close to family. However, I feel so blessed that my children will also grow up connected to this magical place. Oh the fond memories they will make!

Home Sweet Home!

Halloween Festivities

Having a sick baby (you will be able to tell from the pictures) and feeling like barfing myself wasn't going to stop me from having a great Halloween this year. And so it began...

My dad invited my sister Sara and I (and baby Ella and Jane) to lunch at the new Olive Garden in American Fork. Normally, I am not a big fan of areas developing, but can I just say how happy I am that I no longer have to drive clear to SLC or Orem to go out to eat! This new Olive Garden was an early Christmas present (not that I have an opportunity to eat out much)!

Jane thought that Aunty Sara and Baby Ella were hilarious in their kitty cat costumes. She kept signing "kitty cat" to her Aunt Sara all through lunch.

After lunch I went to go visit my mom (next door was a long way to travel) and cousin Ella was there. I have a feeling that these two are going to be the best of friends. Living two houses down from each other and being only 5 months apart means that there is going to be plenty of girl drama! I can't wait to see it all happen!

This is Jane's idea of giving Ella loves! Watch out Ella...she is a little aggressive!

Yesterday was probably one of the most beautiful days I have seen in a long time. There is something about the Fall...the way it smells, the crisp air, the AMAZING leaves...I just can't seem to get enough of it. Too bad that it always leads to winter! I decided to take Jane on a walk around my parents property and these are the pictures that came out of it (obviously she didn't feel well enough to smile. Poor thing).

Then we headed over to see the Ferguson cousins. We ate worms in a bun and drank witches brew.

Once Daddy got home from work we dressed up as farmers with their cow and headed down to the Trunk-or-Treat.Oh, I am SOOOO glad he doesn't really look like that!! I have a hard time even looking at him when those teeth are in. YUCK!

I haven't decided how I feel about Trunk-or-Treats. Regardless of how easy and efficient they are, I think that it is unfortunate that the world has changed so much since I was a kid that good old fashioned Trick-or-Treating is no longer safe. Someday I will tell my kids what I did on Halloween and they will be astonished. It is kind of like life existing without cell phones. I don't think they will believe me when I tell them!

My sister Sara...I am lucky to have her (just don't tell her I said that! tee hee)!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Field Trip!

The other week during the kids "Fall Break," my mom, the Ferg's, and Jane and I took a little field trip to the Bean Museam at BYU. It was way cooler than I expected. The place is full of every animal/fish/insect imaginable. Jane has an obsession with animals so it was perfect timing. We even saw a two headed snake. YIKES!

These two cousins (Duncan and Dawson) couldn't be sweeter to Jane! She adores them and I don't blame her!

Group photo: Jane couldn't stop growling at the bear!

This picture does a nice job showing each kids personality. Jane is learning so much from them. Nothing makes her more excited the "going to see the cousins."
I tried to get a picture of Jane doing the giraffe sign. However, my camera is too slow so we never got it on camera. Bummer.

We had a great day. I am learning that I need to be a little more creative with my days. I am the kind of person that goes wherever I am invited, but I am not great at initiating activities. So I find myself sitting at home more than I would like. I find that the days that I do go somewhere interesting with Jane, we are both more cheerful and I go to bed feeling like a good mom. If anyone has any other CHEAP (even better...free), but fun activities they do with their kids, I am all ears!