A Season of Giving

I love Christmas. One of the things I love most about Christmas is the giving spirit. For the past couple years, our neighborhood has hosted a little get together for people to bring donations for Christmas. It's great because we can get all the neighbors together for some hot chocolate and donuts, and stand around fires as we come together for a good cause.

Last night, our neighborhood had our annual Christmas get-together. We had a great turn out! I'm so grateful to all the people who helped out with treats and donations. With everyone's help, we were able to gather a lot of needed items to donate to The Family Connection. Hopefully these items can really help some people out there who are in need.

Another thing I love about this time of year is the reminder that it is about how blessed we are. We are truly blessed, and Christmas time can really bring out the best in good people. I love hearing heartwarming stories of people helping other people. That's what it's all about.

I also love getting together with family and friends to celebrate the season. It's great going to parties with family and friends to celebrate the birth of our Savior. What a blessed time of year!

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!

Hannah's surgery

Well, Hannah had surgery yesterday. She had her tonsils and adenoids removed, and got a new set of tubes put in her ears. She was just supposed to have a tube taken out, but when the doctor got in there, her left ear was infected, and he asked if we would be okay with doing tubes again. Since they were already in there, I told him to go ahead.

Hannah had to have her tonsils and adenoids taken out because of breathing problems. She has always been a mouth breather. She has also been a really loud snorer, and occasionally has apnea episodes while she's sleeping. We decided that her adenoids were giving her troubles and got her checked out. The doctor said that taking the tonsils out would also help with the problems, so we did both. I'm really glad we did it because after the surgery, the doctor told us that her adenoids were totally blocking off her nasal passage. And, he said that her tonsils were huge, too. Interestingly enough, on the way home from her surgery, she started to fall asleep in the car, and she had her mouth closed and was breathing through her nose!

Poor Hannah. I feel so badly that we had to put her through that, but it was something that had to be done. Right now, my biggest fight with her is to take her pain meds, but I'm making her take them at least for these first few days to keep her comfortable. She drank really well yesterday, and I'm hoping she'll continue that. We're all stocked up on Jell-O, popsicles, pudding, yogurt and ice cream, so Hannah should be set for the next few days. Hannah is such a little trooper. She's been such a good and brave girl through this. I'm praying for a quick recovery for her so she doesn't have too much pain.

Headlamps are the COOLEST!!

And, I totally have one. Yeah, I pretty much look like the dork in the picture except my head isn't shaved. Are you jealous? (lol)

Well, you should be. It's an Energizer brand, and it's got a red light, and 3, that's right, 3 different LED functions. It's equipped with an adjustable head strap and padding under the light for my forehead comfort. You can also adjust the angle of the light. It's perfect for those times when you get to the movies late and need to look for a seat. (Picture me walking in wearing a headlamp saying, "Excuse me, are these seats taken?" (hehehehe))

But, in all seriousness, I really do have a headlamp. Now, what on Earth would I need a headlamp for? Well, I have been running on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays with some other ladies from the ward. We go at 5:30 AM, so it's still pretty dang dark outside. We have so much fun. Sure it's early, and I kinda feel like a crazy person wearing a headlamp, but it really does help. I really enjoy running, and it's been great to go with other people and chit chat on the way. Yesterday, we ran about 5.1 miles and it felt great. It's a little cold when you first start out, but by the end you're cookin'. Monday morning, it was drizzling a little and I wore a bright yellow rain-type jacket of Greg's. Not only was it big on me, but I looked quite conspicuous. Greg told me I looked like I was wearing a fishing jacket. I felt a little like the bad guy in "I Know What You Did Last Summer."

So, if you ever want to go running on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday morning, just come on over to my neighborhood at 5:30 AM. Then, you could see me wearing my headlamp. Or, if I'm feeling particularly cheeky one day, maybe I'll wear it to Wal-Mart. ;)

2 trips to Black Island Farms

The last couple weeks, the girls and I went to Black Island Farms. We went the week before Halloween with Mandee and her kids when Greg and Jamie were out of town. The girls all had a great time running, climbing and sliding. Here are some pics from the first trip:

Top: Brooklyn cheesing it by the pumpkins

Bottom: Hannah in a corn stalk tunnel

Top: Brooklyn on a slide

Bottom: Hannah with a big grin before she slides

Then, last Tuesday, Greg and I went with Jamie and Mandee and all the kids again. Needless to say, the second trip was much easier since the dads were there. It was really fun. We went on a "hayride" (I saw no hay - LOL!), and got to pick out our own pumpkins. Here are a few highlights:

Left: Family photo op

Right: Brooklyn picking her pumpkin

Left: Greg and the girls sliding down the big, white slide

Right: All of us on the "hayride"

I didn't have any pictures of Hannah picking her pumpkin because she didn't really want to. I do, however, have a picture of her picking her nose.

Aw, cute little Hannah.

Leelou Blogs Launch Party!

They're having some pretty cool giveaways. Check it out!

Happy Birthday, Angel Abbey!

Happy Birthday, Abbey! Today would have been Abbey's 8th birthday. I can't believe she was born 8 years ago today. It seems like another lifetime. She was so tiny when she was born. This would have been a big birthday for her. She would actually be getting baptized a week from today. That's a bittersweet thought. I know she's perfect and never needed to be baptized, yet I would have loved to be there for the occasion.

I can't help but watch the kids in primary whose class she would be in. I wonder whom she would be friends with. She would probably be one of the tiniest 8 year-olds ever. My girls would possibly be handing their clothes up to her. (lol)

We usually do something to commemorate her special day, but today I just don't have it in me. I know there's no etiquette on how long you can celebrate your late child's birthday, yet it seems like we need to get past that at some point. We'll probably just do something fun with our girls today. They'd like that.

I just thought I'd share a few photos of Abbey with you all. Thanks to all of you who loved her as much as we do.

Abbey and Daddy in Minnesota

Mommy and Abbey

Abbey in her cheerleader costume from Build-A-Bear Workshop (so cute!)


Happy Birthday, Angel Abbey!

Find me if you can.

Okay, please tell me I'm not the only one who does this.

Hi, my name is Brandi, and I daily hide from my kids - sometimes several times. I even have designated hiding spots.

No, this is not a game. We are not playing hide and seek. Yeah, I'm hiding, but I don't tell anyone I'm hiding. I sneak off hoping that no one finds me for a few minutes. Does that make me a bad mom? Nah, just one who's about to blow a gasket at any moment sometimes. We all feel like that occasionally, right? So, hear me out. Here's the scenario: both kids (both 2 year-olds) are playing. Suddenly, someone starts crying and whining over something they want but can't have. The other one is taunting her sister. They both start running for mom to rescue them. I calm them down, only to have them start up the drama again about 14 seconds later. So, instead of yelling and screaming myself, I decide to go hide for a couple minutes. Usually, by the time I come out of my hiding spot, the girls are happily playing again. No harm, no foul. Come on, will someone else please admit to me that they hide from their kids at times, too? Please.

Okay, so I actually have a couple of hiding spots. My favorite one is in our walk-in closet. I hide on Greg's side next to his dress shirts and the gun safe (don't worry, it's a small gun safe). Anyway, I can stand up back there and no one can see me. Sure, I have to tilt my head to the side to fit standing up, but the girls haven't been able to find me yet. (lol) Another spot I use is on the side of the couches in the front room. If I'm really quiet, they usually don't look for me there. Last night I even hid behind the island in the kitchen when I heard some whining coming my way.

I want to set the record straight. I don't hide from hurt or scared children. I only hide when the whining has gotten to me that day. I have to say that having two 2 year-olds can be somewhat of a trial at times. One minute I want to run screaming down the road (picture Phoebe from "Friends" with her crazy run), and the next minute I can't get enough of them. I just love those little girls!

And, I wanted to add that hiding is a way to be alone for a few minutes sans children without ever having to leave the house. Strangely enough, I also look forward to going out to get the mail each day as well. I really need to get out more.

Just a little thought...

Is the uterus a "homing device" of sorts? Now, stay with me on this, and you'll understand what I mean.

Does your husband seem to casually misplace things? Does he tend to ask you where his wallet, phone, keys, etc., are? And, you're expected to know right where everything is, right? Funny thing is, we usually do know where these things are. What is it about men that makes them seem to think that their lovely wives know where everything is? For some reason, I think that we women must either have a sixth sense of sorts, or the uterus acts as a homing device. What do you think? And, what are some of the crazy things you have been asked to help find before?

Missing Abbey

(This is one of my favorite pictures of Abbey.)

It's been almost 4 years since Abbey passed away. The 4-year anniversary of her passing is October 14. I've been missing her a lot lately, and I'm sure it's due in part to the time of year. But, I can't help but wonder what she would be doing now.

I feel like we are in a totally different phase of life than most people our age. Most people our age have school-aged kids. Their kids are playing sports, going to school activities, playing with friends, getting baptized, and doing other "big kid" things. Those are the types of things Abbey should be doing now. Instead, we're here to wonder what life would have been like if she were still here. Would she be taking dance lessons? Would she be the littlest soccer player ever? Would she like school? Would she be excited to be baptized? I guess I just feel a little "out of the loop" because I don't know what it's like having to tote kids all over town, or try to get to 3 different games on a Saturday afternoon. I often feel like we don't have a lot in common when it comes to parenting. (I know, it's totally silly.)

Don't get me wrong, I am so happy for our friends and their kids, but I can't help but envy their stage in life just a little. I am so totally in love with Hannah and Brooklyn. They are the light of our lives, and make us incredibly happy. But, we're just not to the place where we were supposed to be. I know that the time will go by so quickly between now and then, and I'm not trying to wish it away, but I am definitely looking forward to getting our girls into some extracurricular activities. I can't wait to watch them grow up and get interested in some activities. Hannah and Brooklyn are going to be going to a weekly playgroup starting on Wednesday. That will be something we can all enjoy together. I will definitely have to update about that.

Sorry for the downer. I just had to get that off my chest.

Lotoja 2008

Well, Greg and Chris rode in Lotoja again this year. They did great, although it wasn't without incident.

You see, about 10 miles into the 206-mile ride, some riders crashed in front of Greg, and he landed funny on his left arm. He called me and asked me to bring along the tool kit and some ibuprofen. I, being the mean person I am, was secretly hoping that someone besides Greg or Chris was the one who needed help. Well, unfortunately, the injured party was Greg. His left arm was swollen around the elbow, and he wasn't sure whether he'd broken it or not. However, after all the training, he decided to forge onward. Jenn and I hurried over to a pharmacy in Preston just as it opened, and I bought all the elbow support I could find. At the next stop, I put a tennis elbow strap on his arm, and off he went. Greg rode the rest of the 196 miles on an injured arm. What a trooper!

Greg and Chris finished the race in 12:40, which includes stop times. They did great!! Here are some pics:

Greg and his "baby"

Greg and Chris ready to race

On the road

Coming in for a food break

At the finish line!

Every letter makes a sound!

My girls LOVE this video. (Did I just say video? What is a video? I don't think those even exist anymore. LOL) In case the picture is too small, it's the Leap Frog DVD called "Letter Factory." It's a great teaching tool for little ones to learn the letters of the alphabet and their sounds.

Hannah and Brooklyn have watched this about a gazillion times, but they are learning so much from it. They can usually tell you the sound that every letter of the alphabet makes. And, now they're even starting to recognize the letters and point them out. Tonight, Greg had a shirt on that says "Maine" on it. Hannah pointed to the letter "A" and said, "The A says aah." I am totally blown away by what sponges young kids are. You go to teach them something new and they soak it up like crazy. If only our brains would work so well as adults. (hehehehe) Because of their new-found interest in the alphabet, I went and bought some alphabet posters to put on the walls of their playroom so we can start helping them recognize all the letters better.

Oh, on another note, my girls really do love each other. Tonight, Brooklyn went over to Hannah and said, "I love you!" and gave her a big old hug. Aw, how sweet! Then they wrestled around on the ground and giggled at each other. I love to watch the interaction and friendship between the two of them. Wherever one goes, the other is sure to follow. Most of the time when one of them asks for a snack, she asks for a snack for her sister, too. They really look out for each other.

I'll post later on about Lotoja. We had a good weekend up in Jackson. Let me just say that I'm so proud of Greg for finishing the 206-mile bike ride for the second year in a row. What a champ!

A rainy day 5K

Well, this is about what we looked like running the Hooper 5K yesterday. (All except for the fact that I'm not a middle-aged balding man.) :)

So, the 5K was set to start at 8 AM. When we got there around 7:30, the weather was pretty clear. I thought that we would be just fine. The weather stayed clear for the start of the race. Yay!!

Well, I started off pretty well. I did my first mile in 8 minutes, so I was ahead of schedule. About halfway through the race, I was running against a fierce head wind, which I hated. About 2/3 through the race, it started raining. Hard. I kept pushing and pushing to get through the race. I finished in 27:23, which ironically is my best time ever. (lol) Thankfully, I was safely in my car before the hail started. Yikes! Funny enough, I actually finished in 3rd place for my age division. It was a pretty fun race all around.

After the race, we went to the Hipwells for a waffle party. They were super yummy! (Thanks, Jamie.)

Now, the rest of this week will be focused on getting Greg ready for Lotoja which is on Saturday. I'm trying to carb-load him up for the big race. A biker burns approximately 40 calories per mile on average. So, I figure that Greg will be burning about 8,000 calories on Saturday alone!! We need to bulk that boy up with some major carbs before the race. I'm pretty excited to go up and follow along with Jenn again. At least this year we have a better idea of what we're doing as their support crew. Plus, we get a little weekend getaway in Jackson Hole. Shopping, here I come!!

My blogging goal for the day:

I'm going to visit friends' blogs and post comments on everyone's. Everyone likes a good comment, right? I'll try to leave something witty or entertaining for you all.

Oh, and I'm signed up for the Hooper 5K on Monday. Monday is supposed to be super craptastic weather! Yay! I can only hope and pray that the rain won't be falling during the 5K, or at least that I run fast enough that the raindrops aren't hitting me. (LOL)

All right. I'll see you all on your blogs!

Oh, and I've decided that my music on my blog is getting annoying, so if anyone has any suggestions for some cool new tunes, let me know.

It's a little scary, I know.

Yeah, I got a new church calling. Last week, I was called out of sharing time along with Greg from Elder's Quorum. The bishopric member took me in first, and I was thinking, "Good, I'm off the hook." I thought that right up until the moment he said, "Is there any reason that you couldn't fulfill a calling? Is there anything you need to talk to the Bishop about?" Since there wasn't (phew), I started sweating just a little. Greg came in, and I was asked to be the first counselor in the primary presidency.

So, that's pretty scary, right? I'm really excited, though. It's kinda crazy because I have only been in primary for about 1 year of my adult life. I'm still one of those teachers who has to use their own little songbook so I get the words to the songs right. (lol)

On Sunday, we were sustained and set apart. We had to take over on Sunday. It was a really neat experience. We had the outgoing presidency come in and share their testimonies and love for the children. Many tears were shed by teachers, kids, and us. The spirit was so strong in there. The primary kids are truly amazing little people, and I can see great things in store for them. You can just feel how much Heavenly Father loves each of them.

The scariest part is that the primary program is in about 8 1/2 weeks. So, we have that much time to write, practice, and put on the show. I'm hoping we can get it written soon! (yikes!) We've found a few ideas on Sugardoodle.com, but if anyone has any other good resources, please let me know.

The other part that scares me is that we'll most likely have to speak in church at some point. You know, they make the new presidencies speak in church. Gaaaah!! I really hope it doesn't come to that. If it does, I hope I get to go first or second so I don't feel obligated to take up very much time. (hahahahaha!) If we do have to speak in church, I'd pay someone to take my place. ;)

I'm done!

With the Twilight series, that is.

I love, love, LOVE it! I am a big Harry Potter fan, but I'd have to say that these books pulled me in way more than Harry Potter ever did. I am now huge Stephenie Meyer fan! And, after reading all 4 books, I am still in love with Edward. (Don't worry, I already told Greg I was in love with a vampire. He just rolled his eyes. LOL!)

Now that I've read this series, I am stoked for the movie Twilight to come out. I will definitely be going to see it, but I know it's nothing Greg would ever go to, so I'll probably see if my SIL and niece will go with me.

I think my next book I'll be starting is "The Host," which is also by Stephenie Meyer. I've heard it's also a good one.

Aside from that, there's not a whole lot of new stuff going on with us. Last week, I ran 5 miles for the first time ever. I was super excited. I ran another 5 on Saturday and took about 2.5 minutes off my time. Greg asked me if I wanted to run a marathon with him next spring. I'm not sure whether I want to do that or not. I've never had the desire to do a full marathon. I would like to possibly do a half marathon, but I'm not really excited about the idea of running 26 miles in one day. Who knows... Maybe I'll just train for it and see how I feel about it.

Right now I'm also trying to decide what to make for dinner. Any ideas? I really don't like cooking too much in the summer; it's just too hot. If I'm ever really rich, I think I'll hire someone to do my cooking for me. I'll make sure her name is Flo.

Okay, I'll admit it,

I'm in love with a vampire. Did I just blog that out loud?

So, I hadn't read any of these books about a week ago. I had heard of them, and thought about reading them, but I never got around to it. Then, when the fourth book in the series came out the other day, I thought I'd go ahead and see what all the hype was about.

Well, I am now an official "Twilight" fan. I'm not ashamed to say it. I got the book about a week or so ago, and I just finished the second book today. After finishing the second book, I just had to schlep on over to Wal-Mart with the twins to get the last two books. I have to say that Stephenie Meyer is a fantastic writer. I was totally mesmerised throughout the first book. That, my friends, is where I fell in love with a vampire. Now, I know that some of you out there are big Jacob fans, but I have to say that Edward is my pick.

If you haven't read the books, I highly recommend them. They are very quick reads, and very addictive. They don't, however, help get your housework done. Any takers on that?

I think we'll have to wait. :(

It's sad, but true. My girls are NOT into potty training right now. Brooklyn can stay dry for hours, but she has a hard time actually going. Hannah just pees and pees all day. (Sorry, TMI) The first day, I could get them to sit on the potty pretty well. By the second day, I was almost having to force them to sit. They were resisting going to sit on the potty, and I don't want to make them regress by forcing them to do it. Then, they would sit for about 20 seconds and tell me they were done. In two days, Hannah peed once on the potty. Brooklyn peed about 3 times, and she can hold it forever.

Anyway, I just don't think they're getting it, and I'm not so sure that they're ready right now. :( Plus, it was stressing me out so much I could hardly stand myself. I don't want to force them into it and cause issues later for them, so I guess I'll wait another week or so and try again.

Greg is borrowing a book from a co-worker about how to potty train your kid in 3 days. I will read it religiously and see if we can make it work for us. I can only hope and pray it can work for us.

I hope I'm doing the right thing. I'm really discouraged right now, and really disappointed in myself for not sticking with it, but I just don't think they're quite ready yet. :(

Somebody please hold me. (lol)

We have now entered potty training hell.

Oh yes, that's right. Potty training hell. :(

We had an unfortunate poop incident on Saturday, and that was the last straw for me. I am not letting my girls wear diapers anymore! So, I packed the diapers up and put them on my high shelf in the closet. No more diapers. Brooklyn woke up totally dry this morning! Great! So, I put her on the potty and NOTHING. However, a few minutes later, she had a river in her plastic pants. Hannah did, too. Hey, at least they timed it together. (lol)

So, we've had WAY more accidents than successes today. :( I'd say we've had about 6 accidents each and one success each. (sigh) I am making myself stick to this, though. I DO NOT want to revert back to diapers.

Any suggestions are welcome. If you don't have any, just say a little prayer for me (and my kids - lol). I know that a week from now I'll be glad I did it, but right now, I am in the depths of potty training HELL.

My little biker babes

Hannah and Brooklyn are my little biker chicks! As most of you know, Greg is really into road biking. Well, one day after he went for a ride, Greg took his gear off in the living room. Hannah and Brooklyn decided to try it on for size. I think they have some true biking potential. Watch out, Lance Armstrong, the Stuart twins are in town!

On an unrelated matter, my digital camera seems to be on the fritz. Any suggestions on a compact, digital camera? As much as I have loved my 4 megapixel beauty (haha), it's starting to look a little ghetto with the masking tape holding the broken battery door closed. (lol) Plus, I went to look at what pics are on the camera, and it told me it cannot use the memory card anymore. Whatever! Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Baby lotion is not a conditioner!

So, do you ever hear your kids laughing and playing nicely together and it's music to your ears? I do, too. But, many times, especially when the laughter is extremely boisterous, I am afraid of what I will find them doing.

Well, tonight was one of those nights. Of course, it's a night where Greg is on one of his LONG bike rides, so I'm doing the single parent thing tonight. Anyway, I could hear the girls giggling so hard in the front room. At first I thought, "Oh, how cute. They're playing so nicely." Then, I got this sinking feeling that something was amiss. I went into the front room to find the girls with a pump bottle of baby lotion. Hannah was nicely rubbing lotion into her hands, while Brooklyn was nicely rubbing lotion through her hair. Why on earth she would rub lotion into her hair is a mystery to me. However, it must have been extremely funny because she sure was happy about it. Hey, at least her hair will be soft and manageable. (lol)

Riverdale 4th of July 5K

Well, Greg and I ran the Riverdale 5K again this year. This year, Greg ran it with me and he pushed the girls in the jogging stroller. My time in the Syracuse 5K was 30:13, so I really wanted to break the 30 minute mark for the Riverdale one.

Greg set his stopwatch so we would keep on pace. At first, his pace was killing me, but then I got into the groove. I ended up getting my personal best. I came in at 28:19! I was so excited!! Greg was a big help as he kept pushing me on. He's kind of like my drill sargeant. (lol)

After the 5K, we went to the Riverdale parade. Hannah and Brooklyn love parades. Well, I'm not sure whether it's the parades or the candy they really like. They work it, too. They'll wave and be all cute and charming to get some candy thrown their way. They already know how to get what they want. The hardest part is keeping them out of the road during the parade.

The night of the 3rd, we took the girls to the West Point fireworks. They absolutely loved it! At first, the noise was scaring Hannah a little because she would say, "Watch out!" The girls are getting pretty good at naming their colors correctly now, so they would yell out, "Red! Green! Blue! Yellow!" It was so cute. My favorite part is what they call fireworks, though. They call them "splashes." When they see the sparks, they say, "It's splashing." They think the fireworks look like they're splashing in the sky. Greg and I thought that was pretty clever. ;)

Don't leave the kids inside alone anymore!

On Tuesday, I decided to be a good wife and mow the lawn. Don't worry, I wasn't mowing in my bikini. That would be a little less than attractive.

So, I got the front all mowed and checked on the girls. They were fine, so I proceeded to mow the back. I got almost all the way done (I only had a couple strips left), and I couldn't get the mower started again. I must have flooded the engine or something. So, I decided to go inside.

As I got up to the back door, the girls were standing there. Hannah was fully clothed, but Brooklyn was totally naked. I hurried inside, thinking the worst. I asked her where her diaper was and she said, "I put it in the garbage." I go take a peek in the garbage, and, sure enough, there's her diaper. Okay, great. I don't see any wet spots on the floor near where they were playing. Perfect. So, I grab a new diaper and put it on her. Crisis averted, right? WRONG!

I walk into our front room where the girls have, of course, thrown all the couch cushions and pillows onto the floor. On the bare couch, I see what looks like a wet spot. As I move closer, I see that it's not wet. It's poop! From what I could gather, Brooklyn stripped down on the bare couch, took off her poopy diaper, sat down on the couch, and scooted off the edge while wiping her butt. Gross!! I guess Brooklyn thought she was being a big girl by "changing" her own diaper. (lol) So, I spent a while cleaning and disinfecting the couch. I guess I should just be happy it wasn't on the couch cushions.

Maybe that's a sign that I shouldn't be mowing the lawn. (hmmmm...)

Dog food-a-rama!

I swear, I shouldn't try to get things done outside. It usually ends in a mess of some sort.

So, I was outside yesterday morning weeding our veggie garden out back (which, by the way, is no small feat). I think I'm being a good wife and getting some "extra" things done. The girls were inside playing nicely. Great! Anyway, I get done and come back into the house through the garage. The dog's "room" in the laundry room. The first thing I saw as I walked in the laundry room was all the dog's food in the water dish. No biggie, it happens all the time. **As a side note, if you're not aware, dog food expands when it's in water. It's pretty gross.** However, when I walked into the kitchen, I had more mess to clean. The girls had taken the bag of dog food and were throwing it all over on the kitchen floor. Gaaaaah!! I walked in right as Brooklyn reached into the bag and threw a handful onto the wood floor. The pattering sound of dog food hitting the floor, along with the wonderful aroma of lamb meal and rice was such a joy to walk in to. Thanks, girls.

Now, the next time Greg empties out the central vac unit, he'll think I poured a bag of dog food inside. (LOL)

The girls' first movie!

Can you guess what movie it was? That's right. We took the girls to see "Horton Hears a Who." It was the first movie we have ever taken them to. It was a discount theater, so the tickets were only $2 each. We went with Jamie, Mandee, Avery and Haden. The girls had a good time. They were a little fidgety and noisy at times, but what kid that age isn't at the movies? They stayed in the theater the whole movie, which was just short of a miracle. But, we made it! Now that we know they can do it, we'll have to take them to see another movie soon. The new movie theater near where we live shows a 10 AM matinee for $1, so we'll have to take them to those sometimes.

Yesterday afternoon, the girls and I went over to Grandma and Grandpa Stuart's house to play in the kiddie pool and slip-n-slide. Miranda, Cameron, and Meghan were there. I think all the kids enjoyed playing outside in the water and sunshine. What a beautiful day it was. This weather may be hot, but with a little water, shade, and a cool drink, it's perfect. I want my kids to gain an appreciation for playing outside. I feel like kids these days don't play outside enough. I remember growing up that I loved playing outside, and would be outside all day and never wanted to go inside. I want my kids to be active and want to play outside a lot as well.

Tonight, we're taking the girls to my mom's work party at the Roy Aquatic Center. I'm excited to take the girls. They had a great time there last year, so I can only imagine what a blast they'll have this year. Plus, it's free, so that's just an added bonus. (Woo-hoo!)

I guess I can be a biker now!

I don't know whether I mentioned it before, but Greg got a new road bike this year. It's nicer and much lighter weight than his old road bike. However, since his old road bike is still in great condition, it has now been handed down to me.

Well, last week, Greg bought me some biking shoes. Now, you might be thinking that you don't need special shoes to bike, but you do if you want to use the clip on pedals. Greg has been biking with clips on his shoes for a couple years now. Clip shoes are the way to go with biking in order to get a more effective exercise for your legs and body. If this sounds confusing, here's the basic gyst: the bike pedals are metal and the bike shoes have a metal piece screwed in to the bottom of them. The metal piece on the bottom of the shoes "clips" on to the pedal. So, your feet are connected to the pedals while you're riding. It's a little intimidating, so I tried them out around our neighborhood a bit to practice getting in and out of the pedals.

Monday night, Greg and I went out to Antelope Island for my maiden voyage on my bike. We rode 16 miles, and I felt really good. It was nice riding through the wind, and hearing the buzz of the tires against the road as we pedaled. The ride went great. Then, we stopped at the exit of the park, and Greg decided to go back and put a few more miles in before we left. I clipped out of my left pedal and stepped onto the ground. Success!! Then, forgetting my right foot was still clipped in, I went to step down and fell straight over into the gravel. It was hilarious, so don't feel badly about laughing. (LOL) I was just happy that my first crash happened when I was at a standstill. I felt like a big dork, though, because a car was driving in to the park just as I fell. I'm sure I gave them a good chuckle!

Syracuse 5K tomorrow!

Well, tomorrow I'm running my first 5K of the season. This week has been Syracuse Heritage Days. Tomorrow is the 5K and I'm really excited! I've been running quite a bit in the mornings with the girls in the jogging stroller, so I'm hoping that will make running on my own that much easier.

It's pretty funny. The girls like going for rides in the stroller while I run. I tell them we're going out and looking for birdies, doggies, and kitties. Somehow, they've added bunnies to the mix, but we have yet to see a bunny. (LOL) Half the time, the girls are sound asleep in the stroller when I get home. The other morning, they were actually leaning in toward each other sleeping. It was so sweet.

I actually think I will be needing some new running shoes very soon. The tread on my shoes is pretty worn down. So, I guess I'll be making a trip to Striders soon.

After the Syracuse 5K, I plan to run the Riverdale 5K next week on the 4th of July. It's become a bit of a tradition with us the past couple years, so it will be fun.

If anyone has any other races they're running, let me know and maybe I'll run with you! ;)

Marriage Tag!

All right, Bree. Here I go:

How long have you been married? We will celebrate our 11 year anniversary this September. Wow! I can't believe we've been married that long!
How old is your spouse? He is 33. He'll be 34 in October.
Who eats more? Greg.
Who said I love you first? Greg, shortly followed by me. (Ah, the memories...)
Who is taller? We are both exactly 5'7". Obviously, I don't wear heels a whole lot. (lol)
Who sings better? Me. Plus, Greg doesn't know all the right words to ANY song as far as I know. (LOL)
Who is smarter? We are both geniuses. (LOL) Actually, it depends on the issue. We both have book smarts, so I'd say we're equally smart. However, I would have to say I have a slight advantage since my head is bigger than Greg's. (LOL) I'm not joking.
Who controls the T.V. remote? Greg most of the time. However, I'm much better at controlling the remote when we're watching a show on DVR. Plus, I don't LOSE the remote as much.
Whose temper is worse? I'd say Greg.
Who does the laundry? I do most of it, but Greg does some as well.
Who does the dishes? We both do.
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? If you're standing at the foot of the bed, I do. It's closer to the door so I can get up with the kids if I need to.
Who cooks dinner? I do. Greg has some strange ideas about cooking. One time, when we were first married, he made a creation he called "China Man's Chili." It was Minute Rice mixed with a can of chili. Yuck!!
Who is more stubborn? Greg.
Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? We both will, but it's always hard.
Whose parents do you see the most? Greg's. They only live about 2 miles away.
Who has more friends? In real life, Greg probably does, but I'm friends with all his friends. He still keeps in touch with more people from HS than I do. On the internet, I have more friends, hands down. (lol)
Who has more siblings? Greg does. He has two sisters, and I have one sister.
Who wears the pants in the family? We both do. I don't like wearing dresses. --- Okay, I wear them when it comes to the kids. But, we make big decisions together, so it works out well.

I tag Mandee and Danielle.

Kids and singing

Oh, the joys! My girls absolutely LOVE to sing. Especially Brooklyn. No matter what song is playing on the radio, Brooklyn is always singing at least the last couple words to each line - with at least a 3 second delay, of course.

Hannah loves to sing, too. She is really good at leaving out most of the words, too. Is it laziness or just not knowing the words? Well, here are some examples:
ABC song: "ABDEFG. Next time won't you sing with me?" (lol)
Old MacDonald: "O' Don had farm. E-Yi-E-Yi-Yo." (and this is all mumbled together)
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star: This one is usually correct, but it's sung at about 3 times the speed it should be. Oh, this is also her "I'm going to hum this really fast because I'm mad at you" song.

Brooklyn sings the ABC song the same as Hannah. She enunciates a little better than Hannah, so Old MacDonald sounds a little better, too. I'd have to say one my favorite things they sing is "I Am a Child of God." My favorite part of their rendition is actually sung with the wrong words. They sing, "Lead me, guide me, walk beside me. Help me find the wake." (lol) This one cracks me up. It always makes me wonder if they think it's a surfer song. (hmmm)

Oh, and on a side note, I have been running a lot more lately. I really enjoy it. It's the one way that I'm literally running away from home, if even for only a short time, which is all I could stay away, really. Yesterday, Greg and I went for a 4 mile run. It felt really good, and it's the furthest I've run so far this season. I'll be running the Syracuse 5K on the 21 of June, which will be my first of the summer. I'm planning on doing some 5K's and maybe some 10K's this summer. If anyone wants to join me, just let me know. (Hint, hint, Mandee!) ;)

Yo Gabba Gabba!

Yo Gabba Gabba! For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, this is a show that is on Nickelodeon. My kids absolutely love it! DJ Lance, the crazy looking guy in the orange, is the host of the show. That boom box (or, ghetto blaster, if you will) is the case that holds all the little Yo Gabba Gabba friends.

Now, I know it's strange, but Yo Gabba Gabba doesn't even annoy me all that much. Maybe it's because it keeps my kids' attention. Or, maybe it's because it doesn't involve a big, purple dinosaur. (lol) At any rate, it is a very strange show. It's totally 70's, which is part of its charm. And, the songs on the show crack me up. One day it was on, and I heard a song called "Don't bite your friends." I was laughing so hard! Then, I started thinking that the song might actually be putting bad ideas into kids' heads. (Hmmm, maybe that's why Hannah is a biter.) ;) Another song that gave me quite the chuckle was saying something about not eating stuff off the floor, and not putting stuff from the ground in your mouth. See, it's really quite funny.

So, if you haven't watched Yo Gabba Gabba, you should give it a whirl. It's a little bizarre, but kids love it, which gives you more time to blog. Now, does it get much better than that?

Hi, my name is Brandi

and I'm addicted to Facebook. (hiding under computer desk)

I know what you're thinking: You're too old for Facebook; you're a dork; you haven't blogged in ages, you loser. Okay, I'm sorry for the lack of blogging lately. I have been a slacker. I apologize profusely, and will try to do better.

But, while we're on the subject, I have joined Facebook. I didn't really know a whole lot about it until recently. I got on there with some people I know, and I've found a bunch more people from high school and other places. It's been fun seeing what random people from high school are doing these days. If you haven't got a Facebook account yet, I highly recommend it. And, I will be your friend on Facebook, too. ;)

So, I'm sure you're just dying to know what's been going on with us lately. Well, let me see. The girls are just cracking us up lately (and making us a little crazy, too). They love Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Yo, Gabba Gabba (but, that's a whole other post). They are talking like crazy and learning more and more new words all the time. Best of all, they will now tell me they love me. It totally melts my heart, which wasn't even cold to begin with. (lol) My girls can be the sweetest and naughtiest kids all in the same day. Take today, for instance. I was in the shower while Greg was finishing up the yardwork. When Greg came inside, the girls had pushed a little chair from the living room into the kitchen. They had gotten into a drawer, took out my gum, and chewed and spit out a bunch of pieces of gum onto the floor. I actually got quite a chuckle out of it, especially since I didn't have to clean it up. (hehehehehe) I guess I wouldn't have thought it was quite so funny if one of the girls had gotten gum in her hair, but it didn't happen this time. (knock on wood)

Last weekend, Greg and I finished planting the flower beds, pots, and garden. This year's garden consists of: zucchini, crookneck squash, eggplant, red peppers, green peppers, jalepeno peppers, Better Boy tomatoes, Celebrity tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and spaghetti squash. I'm excited to see the plants all come along and start producing veggies. I'm even more excited to eat them. So, if anyone needs tomatoes once they come on, just give me a call or come on down to my house and get some. We can grow some pretty good ones. Yum!

Dammit!

Uhm, did I just say that? No, it was my beautiful daughter, Hannah. Oh, I'm not kidding. Now, I know what you're thinking: it's my fault because I must have said "dammit" in front of her on occasion. Okay, you caught me. (head hung down) However, I have really tried hard lately to NOT say anything like that around the girls because they are like sponges and will repeat ANYTHING these days. This is really quite funny when the "Expedia.com" commercials come on because at the end they sing, "Expedia. Dot com." My girls are usually singing, "Dot com." It's really quite darling, if I do say so myself. (lol)

So, most kids at the age of 2 don't like getting their diapers changed. I get that. Trying to crawl, wiggle, or roll away are all normal things a 2 year-old does during a routine diaper change. However, Hannah has taken it to a new level. When I open up her diaper, she repeatedly says, "Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!" I try so hard not to laugh at her. The other day, I was changing her diaper at my mom's house, and Hannah said, "Dammit! I can't poop." I'm so ashamed of myself.

Speaking of singing songs, my girls have already figured out that "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and the ABC song have the same tune. It took me YEARS to figure that one out. Just yesterday, I heard Hannah singing, "Twinkle, twinkle little star, next time won't you sing with me?" See, she's not saying expletives all the time.

Honk your horn! (blog topic courtesy of Bree's imagination)

Ah, the car horn. The most under-used and under-appreciated part of the entire car. The car horn is there for a purpose. So, why do so many people shy away from using it? Are they afraid of bringing unnecessary attention to themselves? Are they afraid of being rude? Are they afraid of noise pollution? Or, are they simply forgetting about this wonderful accessory in their cars? The horn is meant to be used. Use it.

Let me just preface this post by saying that I have thought this for a long time. When someone pulls out in front of you or cuts you off, they need to be made aware that they wronged you. If I pull out in front of someone, I deserve a honk. I may or may not have even honked from the passenger side while Greg or my mom were driving. (Ooops!)

So, the other day, I was driving through an intersection in Riverdale. I had the right of way; the other street has to stop. As I was pulling through the intersection, a lady starts her left-hand turn right in front of me. Not to let her get off so easily, I give her a friendly HONK. She immediately stops her car before completing her turn to let me go. As I'm giving her a crusty look, she looks over at me all bothered looking, and waves her hand forward and backward as if to tell me where she's going. Do I really care? No. I just wanted her to know that it was my turn first. She needs to learn the rules of the road before getting behind the wheel.

Okay. So, maybe I OVER-use my horn. But, I don't enjoy flipping people "the bird," so I'd rather give a friendly (or not so friendly) honk.

Speaking of honks, don't you think that horns should have different settings on them? For example, if you see a friend on the road, the honk to get their attention should be all friendly and happy like a bike horn. But, the disgruntled honk you give to idiotic driving practices should be all rude and angry like a fog horn. What about when you see someone pulled over on the side of the road all handcuffed? Shouldn't their be a honk that would sound like "Ooooooh, you're in trouble now!"

My point is, if you're not using your horn for anything other than picking up your friends, you should become more aware of its many uses. If you are using your horn, kudos to you! And, just remember, the next honk you get could be from me. (lol)

Honk your horn

Nap time

All right. Lately, nap time around here leaves something to be desired. I would say that something would be a nap. (rolling eyes)

I'll put the girls in their room in their cribs. Then, Hannah will inevitably get out of her crib and refuse to lay down. I have tried so many times to get her to lay down that I have no more energy for it. If it's not that, the girls will sit in there and be singing some freaky song they heard on "Yo Gabba Gabba" about nap time. They know the words to the song, they just don't know how to apply them in their lives. (lol)

So, yesterday, I decided to try a different approach. We all went in and laid down on my bed while I watched a show I had on DVR. I figured it would be a good way to get them sleepy and ready for a nap. Well, they both fell sound asleep on my bed. I decided to try leaving them there to see how long they would stay asleep. They actually slept for 2 FULL HOURS! I was ecstatic! I guess nap time will be on Mommy's bed from now on.

Speaking of naps, I could go for one about now.

Totally rejuvenated!

Well, I have been absent a few days this week. The first of the week started off a little rough. The girls still had their coughs, so I ended up taking them in to the doctor. Poor Brooklyn had a double ear infection, and sounded pretty crackly in her left lung. She got antibiotics for the ear infections and cough, and was put on nebulizer treatments for a couple days. Hannah had the same cough, and got antibiotics as well. Both girls are feeling much better now, and I'm so glad. (Yay!)

So, I got a call from my mom on Sunday or Monday night. She said that her sister was going to be unable to attend the BYU LDS Women's Conference (from here on out, we'll call it the WC). She asked if I would like to go in her place. Having never been to the WC before, I was a little apprehensive, but decided to go anyway. What could it hurt? I mean, I'd been having a really rough time these past couple weeks anyway. Greg kindly offered to stay home with the girls on Thursday and Friday while I was at the WC. Thanks, Greg! (kiss)

Wednesday night, we left for Provo. We stopped off at IKEA on the way down (which is a whole other post). We went and ate at Macaroni Grill, and headed on down to get our dorm rooms. We got all checked in, and prepared for the WC to start the next morning.

For those of you who have never been before, WC runs pretty much like this: opening session 9-10:15, session #1 from 11-12, session #2 from 12:30-1:30, session #3 from 2-3, followed by a closing session from 3:45-5 PM. It's a really busy day. You get to choose the topics and classes you attend. It was nice because I was able to gain a better perspective on the importance and hardships of motherhood. It makes me appreciate my role as a mother much more.

Then, for Friday's closing session, we were privileged to hear from President Thomas S. Monson. The spirit was so strong there. It was my first time being in the same room where a prophet was speaking, and it was an incredible experience. What a wonderful and righteous man President Monson is. I am so grateful that I was able to listen to our prophet in person. It was an experience I will never forget.

So, I would really like to go to WC again next year. Not only did I get away from the "everyday" for a couple days, but I also learned a lot and feel ready to face life again with a whole new outlook. Plus, it doesn't hurt that BYU's bakery makes some of the BEST mint brownies I've ever tasted. (LOL)

It's been a while.

Sorry for the absence. We haven't had the best week. Brooklyn threw last Saturday, Sunday, Monday, a break on Tuesday (yay!), and again on Wednesday. It wasn't constant, thankfully. She did have some times in between where she would eat and drink. Man, I was totally drained. Not to mention the fact that Greg wasn't home. Then, Thursday, Brooklyn woke up with this crappy cough and congestion in her throat. She still has it. Then, yesterday, Hannah threw up once. I'm hoping this will end soon, or I'll never be able to go out again. :( I feel like a caged animal. Oh well. At least the weather has been cold. (hehehehehehe!)

So, Mother's Day is coming up. What are you all getting for your moms? I'm not sure yet, plus I wouldn't post it because she reads my blog. I think Greg wants to get me some biking shoes so we can go biking together, since that's HIS passion. But, I'd rather have a PS2 with Guitar Hero 3 so I can party like a rock star at home.

I'm so looking forward to the weather warming up. I want to get out and plant some flowers and bushes to spruce up the yard a bit. And, I want to be able to take the kids outside to play so that all of their messes can just be hosed off. (lol) They ask to go outside a lot, and lately I've had to tell them that it's too cold. Soon enough we'll be out in the warm sunshine. I can't wait!!

Yesterday, my teaching partner and I had to do sharing time in Primary. Our class did so great! I was so proud of them for stepping up and participating. They are a great group of kids. Plus, it's always nice to have sharing time out of the way for another 6 months! Yay!!

Barf-a-rama Ding-dong!

Woo hoo!! After Hannah's puke on Thursday, we now have another one: Brooklyn!

Poor Brookers. This morning they both had some milk, then Brooklyn's came right up. I thought maybe the milk was too much on her empty tummy and didn't think much of it. Then, a few minutes later, I was on the computer and Brooklyn came to sit on my lap. She said, "My button hurts." (We call their belly buttons a button. Hehehehe) Anyway, she threw up all over the wood floor. (Yay, Brooklyn!! Way to keep it on a solid surface! It's much easier to clean.) So, I sat with both the girls for a while and watched cartoons while anticipating more sickness. But, no. They were both just running around and having a good 'ol time. Then, they wanted Pop Tarts and juice, which I gave them. Yay, nothing came up!! Then, they took a good nap into the afternoon, and still, nothing.

Fast forward to tonight. Greg is gone to our friends' house for the Jazz game and I decided not to take the girls and expose everyone to whatever they have. Well, Brooklyn came and told me again that her button hurt. And, there it was again. Gaaaaah!! We sat on the couch again and cuddled. She kept telling me again that her button hurt, but she wanted to go "night night." So, I put her down, and not 30 seconds later, she threw up again. Poor Brookers. :( I got her all cleaned up again, and put both girls down. So far, so good. I hope my poor girl is feeling better in the morning.

Oh, and Hannah said something really cute today. She was carrying a tiny framed picture of the Ogden LDS Temple around the house. Greg told her it was the temple. A little later, Hannah told me it was "Jesus' castle." She also said it was "Jesus' house." My heart just melted. It's like she understands how important the temple is. Aww, kids are so sweet. I sure do love my girlies.

Bite me!!

At least that's what Hannah thought Brooklyn said to her. Do you see that round, red mark on Brooklyn's face? Oh, yeah, Hannah bit Brooklyn right on the cheek! Aaaaaaah! I was so upset. This wasn't the first, but the SECOND time today that Hannah bit her. The first time she bit Brooklyn today was on her back. Thankfully, she didn't break the skin.

I was so furious with Hannah! I dragged her over to where I was comforting Brooklyn and yelled at her that we don't bite. I firmly tapped my finger against her mouth and said, "No biting!" I was so angry with Hannah that she was crying. I was glad that she was crying, though, because she really needs to learn not to bite. I just don't know what to do with that kid. Any suggestions on stopping a kid from biting are greatly appreciated.

So, later tonight, Hannah was teasing with Brooklyn and saying, "I'll pinch your bum bum." I said, "Yeah, you can pinch her bum bum, but we don't bite." Hannah said, "No bite." I hope that's a sign that my message got through a little.

As if the biting weren't enough, the day started off with Hannah puking on the wood floor. After that, she seemed pretty good, and she hasn't thrown up since (knock on wood). Is it crazy that I was really happy that she barfed on the wood floor and not on the carpet? (Hehehehehe)

Oh, and have a nice day. It's Thursday night: the best night of TV of the week!! Woo hoo!!

Exercise schmexercise!

So, now that Spring is finally showing its face (cross your fingers that it's here to stay), what is your exercise of choice? I've been thinking about what I'm going to start doing to get in better shape. After a cold, snowy winter, my body could use an overhaul.

One thing I'm really looking forward to is getting outside and running again. Maybe I could do a version of the Dunder Miflin Fun Run for Rabies. (LOL) BTW, if you don't watch The Office, you won't understand that joke. And, if you don't watch The Office, you REALLY should. It's hilarious!

Anywho, I'm getting really ready for Spring. I'm planning to do a few 5K's and maybe try a 10K as well. But, for the most part, I'll just be running on my own. I also may start biking a little with Greg.

Although running is all fine and good, I want to do other things as well. It's always good to mix up your workouts so your body doesn't develop "muscle memory." I would like to lift weights a little more, and maybe do something like Pilates a little more. But, I'm open for other ideas. Anyone have anything they absolutely LOVE to do that doesn't require a gym membership? I've thought about trying some yoga, but I don't know. Ideas and comments are welcome.

On a totally unrelated note, I have become totally addicted to jordan almonds. I don't know why, but I just can't stay away from that stinkin' bulk foods aisle. (Aaaaaaah!) But, they are oh so tasty.

To Photoshop, or not to Photoshop,

That is the question. What to do?

So, Friday night, I went to a class on how to do digital scrapping using Photoshop Elements (PSE). I have wanted to get into digi-scrapping for a while now, and the class made me uber excited to try! The only problem is, I don't have PSE or any other software to start. I am at a loss there.

You see, I can't decide whether PSE would be the best for me, or if I should get something like Memory Mixer (which I've also heard good things about). I don't want something that's super complicated, but I want something that can do cool stuff with. Yesterday, I downloaded a 30 day trial of PSE 6.0 just to test the waters. I started to do a little with it, but it seems a little complicated. If I were to get PSE, I think I would get the 4.o version. Does anyone out there in cyberspace have any advice for me on this? Help, please!

Test your speed!

76 words

Speedtest

Well, the painting is complete! - for now. . .

So, you'll remember that I painted that accent wall before Greg got home from Georgia. Well, we decided that it was time to paint the whole living room, kitchen, dining room, entry way, and hallway. It was a lot of work, but SO worth it. It's amazing how a fresh coat of paint can make your house look like new again. Here are some pics of the results:

My Bluetooth Rant

Okay, you all know what I'm talking about. And, I know, the Bluetooth isn't quite as conspicuous as the one pictured here, but you get the idea.

Bluetooths (or is it BlueTEETH?) are really starting to get on my nerves. I can see where they could be totally useful: in the car, while doing housework, or while working on your computer. However, people who have them don't need to wear them 24/7. I get so tired of seeing people walking around the mall or Wal-Mart wearing them, with no intention of actually using them. Are they really SO busy that it's inconvenient to take their phones out and flip them open to take a call in public? Plus, you can never tell whether these people wearing them are actually talking to you or to the little thing in their ear. And, it's getting harder and harder for me to laugh at the lone lady walking down the cereal aisle talking to herself because, when she turns around, she's wearing a Bluetooth. Is it a status symbol, or are these people just really important?

So, for those of us who don't own a Bluetooth, I have a solution. We can walk around like the guy pictured here:

And, for those of you who do have a Bluetooth, use it wisely. Otherwise, I'll be laughing at you in public. :)

Easter fun!

Well, we had a great Easter. Hannah and Brooklyn had a blast. We had to get up super early and do the egg hunt because our church is at 9 AM, and I had to be there at 8:15 for choir practice. The girls had a great time finding eggs at home. It was a much better experience than Syracuse's egg hunt, but that goes without saying. They got a Dora tent for Easter, so they were saying, "Dora! Boots!" as soon as they saw it. It's amazing how much they like such a simple thing.

The girls running out to see their Easter surprises

They were so cute when they were hunting for eggs. Greg was holding their baskets for them and they would say, "Thank you, Daddy," every time they put an egg in. They also had a good time at both grandparents' houses. They found more eggs and candy, and loved every minute of it. Here are a couple more pics:

Hannah and Brooklyn playing

All the granddaughters on my side

Thanks for looking!