Our BIG Helper!

Well after ripping out the carpet we decided now was as good of a time as any to put a new coat of paint on the walls. The paint for some reason was peeling off on the ceiling and places on the wall it would just rub off by touching it. Luke talked to and "expert" painter at Home Depot and decided the best fix would be to prime it all and repaint it. So we are in the middle of that right now. The upstairs is all white with primer and now we just have to decide what color to paint it. Micali of course wanted in on some of the action. I got the camera just in time to show Micali's first masterpiece. She could be famous someday with this much talent! She wanted to take Daddy's brush so we decided we would find a brush Micali could help with. I came down to my craft box and found her a little foam brush. She was so excited! I purposefully showed the other wall. That was her work before I got the camera. She had a really long attention span with this project. We were quite surprised! Enjoy!

Tis the Season...

Now is the time of year when it is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everything going on around us. I had seen this video clip before but I watched in this morning and decided I needed to share it. I love this time of year we have to remember the things we are most grateful for and to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I especially like the last picture where He is reaching out to us and wants us to rely on Him to take away those things that burden us. If you haven't had a chance to see this I hope you take a few minutes to relax and enjoy it. It is called Reflections of Christ.

Growing Up!

I took these pictures last week and kept trying to get on and post something but I kept getting distracted with the silly elf dance and didn't get time to make a real post. We have been busy here. We ripped out the carpet in all of the main living area upstairs. We are going to paint and put in new wood laminate flooring this week. I am hoping to get most of it finished up over this holiday weekend. However, we have learned that having two kids makes these supposedly quick projects become somewhat drawn out. They are being very good and patient with us though. Micali just wanted to get right in and help out. She really likes being daddy's little helper!
We didn't get as far as we would have liked on Saturday. So, Luke was so kind to make it as comfortable as possible for us for Sunday and Monday until we had time to work on it again. He swept the subfloor and brought up our rugs. It made it look better and I felt better having it down for the kids.

So here is Eli at 10 months old. He got another tooth so his total is 3 on top and 3 on the bottom. He tried pushing him self up on Saturday. He didn't quite get his big belly off the floor but at least he attempted it.

 

Micali is learning new words everyday. She has some funny phrases she has started saying. It makes me laugh when I hear her say them. "hmm, let's see." "Ok, How about...." "Do you hear that.....xander (stuffed puppy) is crying." She loves counting and saying her ABC's. She always wants to have paper and a pen. She will entertain herself for hours with a couch full of stuffed animals and a pile of books.

 

She has started being difficult about getting a picture taken. I have to bribe her if I want her to look at the camera. Other times like in the bottom row she will say "Cali sleeping" She will also run to get a stuffed animal for me to get a picture of instead.

Another one!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Too Much Fun!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Staying inside.

I had a plan to get a lot of things done yesterday. I was going to go to a family history class, and run a whole bunch of errands to finish picking up everything for a craft day I am sort of in charge of called Super Saturday. But, life happens and Micali was sick all day with stomach issues so we stayed home close to the bathroom. Here are some pictures I took while the kids were playing. I haven't played with my camera in awhile so I was just practicing and having a good time.

 

Elijah is nearly 10 months old now. I think I can say he sits up on his own. He was doing a good job at it yesterday. He can sign "daddy" and he has 5 teeth. He is my happy go lucky boy and I love him more and more everyday. I am worried for when he gets a little older. How could you resist this smile??

 

Micali just being cute reading with her bear. I couldn't resist the shot of her little feet. She laughed when she saw her toes on the camera.

 

This is just one of the many projects that will be featured at our Super Saturday tomorrow. I will take my camera and post some pictures of the finished products that everyone else creates.

Good Times

 

Micali loves to sing lately. I have noticed that she is very good at singing most of the words to I am a child of God and also Teach me to Walk in the Light. We sing to her before she goes to bed and she helps me sing to Eli before he takes a nap or goes down for the night. I was surprised when she started requesting her favorites and then even sang along.

 

A cute picture of my little man.

 

Micali and her friends. I just had to get a picture of her bed when I was putting her down for a nap this afternoon. Her bed is completely full of her friends. Some of them have names others are just referred to as bear, bunny, cookie man, etc. She even knows when one has gone missing.

 

Lastnight I tried distracting Micali so we could clear out her bed some and perhaps hide some of the friends so she had a place to sleep. She went in there all worried and made sure every one of them were accounted for. How does she remember that she left bunny in the basement while she was helping me do laundry? Luke did manage to get rid of the Carebear that makes way to much noise but, the others have all stayed and she likes it that way! Today she pulled a few of them under the blankets with her and signed "warm". She felt bad for them just sitting on her bed and wanted them under the blankets next to her.

Funny.

I got this email from my uncle and thought it was quite humorous. Our TV looks about as old.

My Little Sweeties

 

I tried to get some pictures of Eli's top teeth. They are coming in pretty far now and when they are fully in he is going to look so much different. I think that having teeth just makes them look all grown up. I couldn't get him to smile big enough for me though. He was really involved with playing. I figured out that I can get him to sit up for awhile if I put him infront of this toy because he just hangs on for dear life. When he is finished he lets go and rolls right on over. He still hasn't tried to crawl at all. He can pull himself in a circle to get the the things that are around him. If he spots something across the room that he wants he rolls right over to it. It is funny to watch. I need to get my camera ready so I can capture that on video. His new favorite snacks are goldfish and pretzels.

 

These pictures are of Micali enjoying her favorite things. She has quite the little personality and I love listening to her jabber with her babies and stuffed animals because now I can understand some of it. She was holding her little puppy Xander last night after Luke left to church and she brought him over in front of the TV. She said, Hey puppy wanna watch TV? OK.....uh....how bout Signin Time? Okay, wait.....sit...and then she asked me to help her put on Signing Time. It was so cute. She didn't have any idea that I was listening to her talk. Everyday now she comes up with something new that she says.
The other night for dinner we had ribs. I didn't think Micali would be into that so I fixed her something else. Well when Daddy came home and started eating ribs she was right over there next to him eating any piece of meat he would hand to her. She was all smiles and kept asking for more.
The big bowl of popcorn is also a favorite of hers. We got and air popper a few weeks ago so often after nap time I will make her a little snack. She can down this stuff but, I figure it is a pretty healthy treat. She doesn't even care if it doesn't have butter or salt on it.
I would have to say she is definitely a DADDY'S GIRL lately. She asks me all day long where daddy is but now she also answers that question for herself. "Where daddy?" Oh Daddy work? Yep! When he comes home he is the only thing she is interested in. She follows him around and teases him constantly. She takes his tie away from him, sits in his chair at dinner, steals his newspaper. Anything she can do to get daddy to chase after her or growl at her she will do.

Bob Bird For US SENATE!!

I just want to do my part in letting everyone know we have a REAL choice for US Senate. Kristen
Please visit birdforsenate.com


In all my years as a voter I have never stood up and done anything to help a candidate until now. Because I believe in the message Bob brings, and I know the integrity of this man's heart personally, I have donated money, time, and countless prayers for his bid to represent Alaska as our senator. The only reason he is marginalized by the press and the mainstream two party system is because he speaks of a true return to what this country was founded upon-the Constitution. A divinely inspired, unbreakable oath between our founding fathers and WE THE PEOPLE today. Please don't be suckered into thinking you will be throwing away your vote. Vote with a clear conscience. The choice is not between the lesser of two evils, but for the one who will remain true. BOB BIRD FOR US SENATE.
Lucas