Decking the Halls

We decided this year to go on a Christmas tree adventure. Instead of paying $50 for a 5 foot tree at the local tree farm, we bought a permit to get our in the forest. It was a snowy day (doesn't happen often) and the girls were excited to be in the snow - Zoe wanted to eat it and Teagan just kept playing with it. We found a great tree that we knew was too tall but brought it home anyway. Little did we know, after some trimming, it is now as wide as it is tall! It looks nice though - for the most part, if you look at it from far away!

Zoe was a great help with decorating. She asked daily for a week if she could help me decorate the house! Three year olds and decorating are a lot of fun! She wants to help with wrapping but I'm just not that patient these days!

Procrastination

So, I'm trying to get things ready to head to Aberdeen for Thanksgiving. Am I doing anything that is actually helping me get ready? NO! I keep finding a bunch of other things to do! I still have to pack for the girls, myself, and the dog, prep my food so that I don't spend all evening making my dishes for Thanksgiving dinner (I'm in charge of beans and a salad), take a shower and wrap my brother's birthday present!

The good thing is that the girls are playing so nicely together. They have been sick off and on the past couple of weeks and even though they still are coughing, they are actually playing together and it doesn't involve screaming, pulling hair (Teagan's new thing to piss off Zoe!), or crying - oh wait, I spoke to soon! Their sisterly bond is so sweet!

Being Thankful

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is next week. I'm really not in the mood for the holiday's this year and it makes me sad. So, I've decided to list out the things I'm thankful for and hope that it helps. So here goes:

• My husband - he makes me smile everyday and is such a great friend and father.
• My girls - yes, they make my life crazy, but in a fantastic way! I am in awe everyday at all that they learn and how they make me laugh.
• My family - I have be truly blessed with great parents and in-laws.
• My siblings - my brother and all my in-law siblings. How great it is to have family that cares for one another and enjoys time together.
• My job - I love my job! I learn something new everyday and feel valued for what I do.
• My Darah - she keeps me sane even if she is 1,995 miles away! We talk almost everyday and the days we don't, I miss her! She is that one person, other than my husband, that I can totally be my dorky self with and she still loves me! How did I get so lucky? I just hope that someday, we get to live closer.
• My health - well, most of the time. Overall, I don't have any real major health issues and that is great!

Ok, I am done for now. It's not that I don't have more to be thankful for, I just have to go get ready for work and take care of sick kids!!!

Expectations

So, I had a few days off this last week. Nathan was on vacation last week and I took time off so he wouldn't be watching kids the whole time. I really didn't have anything planned to do, maybe organize a few things and general household stuff. I just didn't expect the following:

• Zoe getting pink eye - talk about making an already dramatic child more dramatic! You would think I was trying to poke her eyeballs out with pencils by the way she acted trying to get eye drops in!


• Teagan getting a cold - a constant runny nose, sniffly, red eyed (hey, it might be pink eye!) cold. The nice thing is that Teagan is pretty happy-go-lucky, so she just kind of goes with the flow!


• Doing endless loads of laundry. I have no idea what happened but I literally did 1-3 loads of laundry everyday from Wednesday to Sunday! It sucked!


• Doing endless loads of dishes. I realize as my children get older, that we dirty more dished but come on, I ran the dishwasher at least once a day. Sometimes, I'd unload it to simply reload and run again!


• Our friends, the Moerkeseth's didn't come to visit because of the PINK EYE - (I totally understand but was totally bummed!

So, for not have any expectations, I'm really bummed with how things turned out. It's like I have these unconscious ideas of how I'll spend some free time and when it doesn't work out, I'm irritated! I guess that is life as a parent - getting used to the unexpected and learning to accept it as how your life is. And not having too many expectations...

Happy Harvest and all that

Wow - I can't believe it's November! We had a great October with trips to the Pumpkin Patch, enjoying the nice fall weather and Aunt Becky and Uncle Dennis' Oktoberfest party!

Zoe was a doctor for Halloween and Teagan was her patient - they were quite amusing. After visiting each house in our little neighborhood, Zoe would turn around and say "Let's go to the next house for more candy!" Yet, she wouldn't udder the words "Trick or treat!" Teagan just followed behind and wanted whatever Zoe got at the door!

Dancing Queen

Ok, I have made the observation that Teagan is quite the dancer. Any time music comes one, her little body is groovin'. It's funny to watch her when she doesn't think anyone is looking - as soon as she sees you watching, she stops and gets all shy! Now if she can teach some of her moves to her sister, we are set!

Wow

Ok, I really suck at this blogging thing! I realized I haven't posted since April!! Life must be CRAZY!!

To catch up...

• Summer was so busy! We spent a lot of time with friends and family and enjoyed the weather, when it was nice and got a bit of camping in too. Our highlight though was going to Iowa to visit Auntie Darah, Uncle John and cousin Guthrie. What a great trip we had - we got to go on the airplane, see all sorts of Iowa corn and play, play, play! It just makes me miss them all so much more!!

Guthrie, Zoe and Teagan

Teagan singing!

• Aunt Kari came to visit recently. Unfortunately, she came out for a funeral, but we still got to spend time with her!
• Teagan learned to walk!! Oh, how our life has changed. Compared to Zoe, she is fearless! She climbs on everything and when you say "No", she just keeps going! She is still sweet as ever and is learning new words everyday. She loves to give kisses and say "Wuv u"
  
• Zoe and Teagan now share a room - they sleep in the same room at night and it is soooooo cute. Zoe gets up every once in awhile to tell me the Teagan isn't laying down or that she is looking at her!

• Zoe started pre-school! My baby is growing up! She seems to really like it and is making new friends. She told my mom recently about the boy at school that had a suit on and he was really cute! She wants to be Alton Brown, from the Food Network, when she grows up and watching him before bed has become our evening ritual. I secretly think Duffy is learning more than anyone.


• Zoe is teaching Teagan how to sing - it is the greatest thing to watch and listen to them! I love it!

All in all, things are moving along. We have a busy fall with the Girls-Get-Away weekend coming up, Uncle Dennis and Aunt Becky's Oktoberfest party and Halloween! I will TRY to be better about posting more often - Darah is my inspiration!