Halloween

As many of you may know, Halloween is not my favorite holiday. It ranks right in there with Kwanzaa for me. But, this year I had to dress up a couple times, and really had a good time with it. I had purchased the girls' Halloween costumes back in September and made them wait until Halloween to wear them. (I know, I'm a mean mother.) This year, it was pretty fun because Brooklyn and Hannah each chose a different costume from the other.

Here is Brooklyn, our little Tinkerbell:

Here is Hannah, our little Cinderella:

I also had to dress up for London's (my niece's) birthday party, and I went as a goth:

This is Greg and me with the girls before we went to a couples' party. Greg and I were dressed like two of The Village People:

And, of course, here are Greg and I with Jamie and Mandee as The Village People:


I have to admit that I did have fun over Halloween, but I'm still glad it's over. Now it's time for the good holidays. (hehehehe)

Disneyland!

Well, we did it! Greg and I took a day during our San Diego vacation and drove up to Anaheim to take the girls to Disneyland. It was an extremely HOT day, but we all had a good time. The girls loved almost everything about Disneyland. Despite a few fits and tears, we really enjoyed the time at "the happiest place on Earth" as a family.

Greg and the girls in a teacup. Both girls loved this ride.

Hannah and Brooklyn waiting in line for their first ride. Little did we realize that they would HATE "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride." Ooooops! Hannah keeps telling everyone who will listen how scary it was.

Here is a picture of Greg and Brooklyn on the Dumbo ride.

Here is Hannah waiting for the Dumbo ride.



Ah, the joys of Disneyland. Just one of many fits thrown that day. (lol)

Just the girls and me at the front of Disneyland. This was actually a "good" picture.

Greg and the girls in front of Disneyland.

We had a great day at Disneyland. It totally wore us all out. Greg and I ended up carrying the girls most of the day throughout the park, so our arms were dead by the end of the night. It was definitely worth it, though. It was so much fun seeing how magical Disneyland was to our girls. They were in awe when they saw all the Disney characters dancing and singing in the street. And, they were utterly speechless when they met the princesses. I will post some pictures of that in another post.

This is how worn out the girls were after their day at Disneyland. They got to sleep in the "magic bed" that came out of the couch.

The one thing I can say that I would change is the time of year we went. When we take our kids to Disneyland again, we will DEFINITELY go right after school has started for everyone.

San Diego

We just got back from our family vacation to San Diego. We had a fabulous time! Greg's whole family went, and we all stayed in a condo that was a block away from Mission Beach. It was a great location. The weather was awesome, the company was great, and the food was fantastic. We went to San Diego for a family reunion of sorts because both of Sue's siblings live there, and several of their children live there as well. We all had some great times together going to Sea World, hitting the beach, enjoying a BBQ, going to dinner, and just hanging out.

I'll have some more specific posts to follow.

Stress fracture

*sigh*

So, I've been having pain in my right hip, and occasionally right thigh, when I'm walking. Since this symptom was relatively new, I decided to go to the sports medicine doctor to have it checked out.

After researching my symptoms online, I came to the realization that I may have a stress fracture of my femur. Since I'd already been having problems with my IT bands on the sides of both knees, I decided that I could at least talk to the doctor about that.

So, I went to the sports medicine doctor on Tuesday, and after some testing, she determined that I most likely had a stress fracture of my right femur. I went in for a bone scan on Thursday to confirm. On Friday, my doctor called and informed me that I had a stress fracture in the middle of my right femur. YAY!

The bad news is that I won't be able to run for a while, which takes me out of the Wasatch back. I was really looking forward to that, too. The good news is that the stress fracture is already in the healing process. So, I more than likely fractured it during the Ogden half marathon.

Oh, and speaking of the Ogden half marathon, I never posted about it. It was an awesome experience! The course was beautiful running down from Eden park through Ogden Canyon. What a gorgeous run. I felt really good the whole time, and finished in 2:o3. On the other hand, my body totally hated me for a few days after, but I made it. At least now I know part of the reason I was in so much pain. LOL!

So, there you have it. I won't be running for a while. I guess I'll just have to take up biking. ;)

My little cuties

I just thought I'd share a few of my favorite pictures of the girls from the last couple months.

This is on Easter in their Easter dresses. We actually caught a picture of Brooklyn giving Hannah a kiss. (Awww!)

This was Easter morning right after the Easter egg hunt in our front yard. The girls were so happy and excited, and I just happened to capture the little grins they shared.

Aw, that sisterly love!

Sitting out on the front porch after the egg hunt.

Sorry, just another New York post

And, I don't think you'll be disappointed. I got a couple pictures with the Naked Cowboy! That's right, the Naked Cowboy. He just happened to be hanging out in Times Square on our last day there, so Greg took a couple pics for me. Please take the time to enjoy. (LOL)

More New York

No trip to New York is complete without a ride on the subway. We took the subway down to Chinatown. I'm so glad we did. The subway houses some very interesting people.

As a side note, I normally wouldn't cuff my pants at the bottom, but it was wet outside, and the streets of New York are really dirty. You do the math.

We took a harbor cruise that took us under the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges. Then, we went around the end of Manhattan and saw the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the fabulous Manhattan skyline.

The Statue of Liberty:
Ellis Island, also known as the Island of Tears. It was called this because some of the people who made it all the way across the Atlantic were too sick to be allowed into the US. Many people, including children, had to be left behind on the island, and most of the time ended up dying there.

Greg and the Brooklyn Bridge:

This is just a visual of how many taxis and how much traffic is in the middle of Times Square in the middle of the day:

WICKED!!

A trip to New York wouldn't be complete without seeing a Broadway show. A few days before our trip, I found a website and called a ticket number to get some tickets to Wicked on Broadway. There are ways of getting really cheap tickets to shows, but it's kind of a crap shoot to get them, so I decided to go the safe route since I REALLY wanted to see Wicked. I'm SO glad I did it! We saw Wicked at the Gershwin Theater in the Broadway district. Wow!

This is right before the show started. We had AWESOME seats. We were only about 8 rows back right on the inside aisle of the left side. It was amazing all you could see!

I absolutely LOVED the show!! The singing was wonderful, the costumes and scenery were incredible, and the story was outstanding! I was bawling at the end of the show. I highly recommend it!

This is Greg and me after the show:

Running in Central Park

Since Greg and I both enjoy running, we decided we needed to take a jog through Central Park. It was raining that day, but we decided to go anyway.

Here is a picture of me under a cool little underpass in the park:



Here I am going across a bridge. There is a big "lake" in Central Park. (Remember the movie "Big Daddy?" ;) )
These are some pictures of Greg and me running in front of the same fountain:

Despite the rain, our run through Central Park was really nice. It's amazing how big the park is, and how beautiful it is with the busy city right outside it. Another thing I found interesting is that Manhattan is built on a big bed of granite rock. Right inside Central Park there are HUGE granite hills. It's really gorgeous.

Our New York trip

Well, we made it. We survived New York City! What an experience!

Greg went out on Sunday, May 3 to NYC, and I flew out the next day. I took my first NYC cab ride from the airport to our hotel. Our hotel was a Hilton right in Midtown Manhattan. We were just about 4-5 blocks from Central Park, 3-4 blocks from Times Square, and a couple blocks from Radio City Music Hall.

When I got there, I dropped my stuff off in the room and we went out to explore the sights a little. Greg took me into Central Park to check it out. It's huge! Here is a picture of us in Central Park:

We also went down to Times Square to check out the action. It was amazing to see things that I've only seen in movies. As you can probably tell, it was a bit rainy while we were there.

This is in front of Rockefeller Plaza. It was so cool to see it in person.

More to come...

New York, New York!

I'm super excited!! I'm going to New York City!! Greg is going on a business trip in May, and I'm going with him. Wow, New York City!!

Greg is scheduled to go out there in May, and I've been itching to go somewhere for a while now. So, we found a great deal on a flight, and I'm flying out with him. It will be so much fun!

We are staying in a Hilton right across the street from the Museum of Modern Art. It's only a couple blocks away from Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, and about 5 blocks away from Central Park. During the day, I will be on my own for the most part, so I'll have lots of exploring to do.

I'm so excited! New York City is somewhere I've always dreamed of going, and now it's finally happening. So, if anyone has any great ideas on things I have to see, please let me know. This is going to be fun!!

Tag! I'm it.

My friend Diane tagged me, so I decided to see what would come up. I am posting the 6th picture in my 6th folder from my pictures. Thankfully, it wasn't anything incriminating of me. Here it is:

This is a picture of Hannah on Christmas Eve just last year. She was opening a My Little Pony baby from Grandma and Grandpa Stuart. Despite the look of dismay on her face, she really loved the pony (still does). She was pretty tired when this was taken. You know how the holidays can be.

So, now it's my turn to tag. I tag: Bree, Mandee, Kathryn and April.

I have a slight bedspread issue

Uh, yeah. I got a new bedspread about 6 months ago. I really love it, but it's, of course, dry clean only. So, the last couple days my girls have been wearing panties and pull-ups. (It's not going well, by the way. LOL)

Anywho, Hannah sat right at the end of my bed on said bedspread and peed like I wish she would on the toilet. I used some stain/odor remover that's used for pet and kid stains (yes, that's what the bottle says - hehehehe) on the bedspread. Other than that, I think I'll go get it dry cleaned now. :( Has anyone had any experience with this, and how did your bedspread fare? I sure hope it's okay.

Ah, the joys! LOL!

Running in a blizzard!

So, yesterday my friend, Diane, and I decided to go running this morning at 6:30 AM. I really need some motivation to get up and go running, so it sounded great. I love running outside, and I don't even mind running in the cold. In fact, I've done it most of the winter.

Fast forward to this morning. We met outside at 6:30, and it was snowing ever so slightly. It wasn't terrible, but the wind was blowing it in our faces a bit. But, once we turned the corner, the snow wasn't terrible. Well, those little "flurries" turned into a blizzard! We were running against the wind with snow blowing in our faces. Half the time, we had our eyes halfway closed because the snow was so bad. We kept laughing the whole time because we felt a little crazy for being out in the crazy "Spring" weather.

But, we finished. We kept on going and made it home. By the time we got home, our clothes were COVERED in snow. We looked like we had been rolling around in the snow and we were pretty wet. It was quite hilarious! We may have looked like snowmen when we got back, but at least we got in our run for the day.

Thanks, Diane! That was awesome! ;)

I just gotta get this out there

Okay, so most of you are aware that my stubborn three year-old twins are potty training RESISTANT. Most of the time, they REFUSE to even sit on the potty. I feel badly, but I'm finding myself resenting changing them because they're not potty trained. Yeah, I know it makes me sound like a bad mommy, but that's how I've been feeling. Every time I change a diaper, I can't help but feel frustrated and hopeless. There are SO MANY kids out there who are much younger than my girls who are potty trained. I feel like the BIGGEST failure as a mother. I mean, if I can't even potty train my kids, and I'm a stay at home mom, what good am I? I swear that I hear of a new kid every week who just got potty trained, and the Stuart twins continue wearing diapers. (sigh) I mean, how do people actually get their kids to potty train when they're 2? My girls are a month past 3, and they are just lazy and stubborn about it. I feel like I'm at the end of my rope. :( Picking out their own panties from the store doesn't work. Stickers don't work. Treats don't work. Crying my eyes out doesn't even work. I've tried. (LOL)

Hannah almost seems like she's warming up to the idea. Today, I told her that I will buy her the Barbie in the white dress (wedding day Barbie) if she goes potty on the toilet and wears panties all the time. She thought that sounded like a pretty good idea, so I printed her a picture of the Barbie to look at and remind her what she's working toward. I also printed one for Brooklyn, but she just told me she doesn't want to sit on the potty, she wants to go play. GAAAAAHHHHH! Anyway, I'm hoping a little bribery will at least work for one of my kids. We shall see.

Sorry for the downer of a post. I just feel like a failure, and feel like my smart kids should be potty trained. I really HATE this! I feel like a dork because I was actually bawling about this today. I think the only creature in my house that felt bad for me when I was bawling was Dora. (hehehehe)

Just a few random thoughts

First off, I'm training for the Ogden half marathon. Training is going pretty well. I have some awesome ladies to run with, so the long runs are actually enjoyable because of the company. Last Saturday we ran 7.5 miles. We'll probably do that many or a little more tomorrow. I'm loving it!!

Hannah and Brooklyn are still not potty trained. :( They just don't seem interested, but I think one of these days we may just have to take the plunge and let them pee their pants until they finally get it. (hehehehe)

Greg was on the news the other night. A grand jury indicted a guy for mortgage fraud, and Greg has been involved in the investigation. Greg was standing in the background as the US Attorney was giving a press conference. He looked really serious and official. (But, in all actuality, he told me he was concentrating on not itching, touching, or picking his nose on camera. Good idea, Greg!) So, yeah, I live with a celebrity. Woo hoo!!

My girls make the BIGGEST messes in the world. I can't even believe the kind of damage they can do to the house in just a matter of a couple hours. Right now, I probably have a good hour of cleaning up toys. It's like we had a princess explosion!!

My tulips are poking up through the ground. I am super excited for Spring and for everything to start growing and blooming again. We will also be planting a few early veggies like beets (BLECH!), green beans, and possibly peas. My vegetable garden is one of my favorite things in the summer. I can hardly wait to start growing and sharing the veggies we grow.

I went shopping with the Grocery Guru and some friends this week. It was quite humorous watching 7 ladies and about 11 kids chasing the guy around the store as he shouted out what items we should be putting in our carts. People probably thought we were some sort of rogue polygamist sect. (LOL)

I am totally loving Easter candy right now. I figure that it's a good thing that I'm running right now. Actually, I'm Jonesing for some more right about now...

I watched a really crappy movie the other day. I rented "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas." Don't bother. It's not uplifting, and it has a really depressing ending. What a drag!

Dora destroyed Strawberry Shortcake's little dog today. Hopefully the girls won't notice that little Pupcake has disappeared. (LOL)

And, I love my family so much. I can't imagine what I would do without these lovely people in my life. They are the best!

I forgot to post

a picture of the girls' birthday cakes.

Now, let me give you a little background. Their birthday was on Monday, February 16, which happened to be on President's Day this year. (Yes, I'm sure they'll thank me every time their birthday lands on that day.) Anywho, we had gone up to our friends' cabin (the Moffits) for the weekend. We stayed over on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Greg and I got going in pretty good time on Monday morning and made it home by about noon. I had to rush home, bake two cakes, make icing for said cakes, and decorate the cakes by piping little stars all over them in different princess colors.

Here is the finished product:

Some things you just don't want to find out.

Just a minute ago, I was in the kitchen cleaning up from lunch. Brooklyn and Hannah were playing in the other room. Suddenly, I hear Brooklyn chanting, "I've got a booger! I've got a booger." Um, gross!

I don't even dare go look. Someone please hold me.

Birthday Party Fun

We hosted a birthday party for the girls and some friends of theirs. This is how I decorated for the party: (Princess and pink, of course)
The girls had pizza for lunch.
And, personalized cupcakes for dessert. Yummy!

Brooklyn looking cute while sporting a new tutu:

Hannah looked adorable in her tutu, too. (Was that too many to's?)

I think the girls all had a good time. We invited Hannah and Brooklyn's playgroup friends, Emily, Kaitlyn, and Olivia. We also invited their cousins, Kennedy and London, and their friend, Avery.

What a fun day!

Happy late Birthday, Brooklyn and Hannah!!

I can't believe my girls are already three years old! They are such a joy in our lives. I LOVE these little girls so much!!

I often have people ask me if they have similar personalities. Um, not really. Sure, they both love everything princess and like the same movies, but they are definitely their own little people. If you've ever wondered how your own children can be so different being raised in the same house by the same parents can be so different, it's amazing to see how it happens with twins. Brooklyn loves to please people, and is a little on the sensitive side. She loves to give hugs and kisses and cuddle. She also has a flair for the dramatic. Hannah is a little more stubborn, but she is hilarious. She has to narrate her day and tell me everything that she's doing and why. (Funny thing is, Greg tells me that I do the same thing.) She's a little harder to get a hug and kiss from, but she is very loving. She's just a little too busy to be giving out hugs and kisses all the time.

Despite their very different personalities, Hannah and Brooklyn are each other's BEST FRIENDS. Wherever one goes, the other is sure to follow. I think that having twins is definitely the way to go since they always have a built-in buddy. I love to see the interaction between the two of them. They truly do care for each other. It's really sweet.

Anyway, Happy Birthday, girls!! We love you!!

My sleepy Hannah

Hannah is so sweet. When she's tired, she'll just fall asleep wherever she is. She's been known to fall asleep on the floor, on an uncomfortable little wooden bench the girls have, at the counter, and many times in the car.

Well, the other day she was watching me while I was doing something in the kitchen. Apparently, she just couldn't take it anymore and fell sound asleep at the counter. Here are a couple pictures of her sleeping. ** And, yes, that's a Gospel Art Kit she is resting her head on. **

Lipstick, anyone?

Brooklyn is OBSESSED with putting on "lips," as she calls it. She loves Lip Smackers, Chap Stick, and (unfortunately) lipstick. She can't get enough of the stuff. She'll come up to me and say, "Mom, I want some lips."

Well, this is how she came in to me the other day after getting into some of my lipstick. I think she did a rather good job putting it on, especially for a two, almost three year-old.