This just in:

Evidently, Melissa knows exactly what happens to our food from the moment it goes into our mouths until it comes out again. But she doesn't know her colors.

They are growing up too fast!

The old saying, "It seems like only yesterday" is playing over and over in my head tonight. It seems like only yesterday that we were introducing Miss Melissa to her baby sister Kayla. They are growing up way too fast!

Terry was telling me the other day how a switch was flipped with Eliza and she just started doing all of these big girl things... I was kind of sad for her because time really does go by so quickly. Well, the past two days have been full of switch-flipping happenings with our two girls!

Miss Independent, I mean, Miss Kayla thinks that she is just as grow up as her sister and does a pretty good job keeping up with her. Today she was pushing the baby doll stroller around the house just like Melissa does and she repeatedly leaned over the edge to "check" on the baby!

We have been teaching her sign language and she is doing quite well signing different words when we ask her to. Today (after nap) we treated ourselves to small ice cream cones and I guess I was not sharing mine fast enough for Kayla because she frantically started doing the signs for more and eat! She would sign "more eat, more eat, more eat" so fast! It was the first time that she actually initiated signing and even more, put together her first sentence! Yippee for Kayla!

And my little shadow Melissa has decided that she is not a little girl any more, she is all grown up like Mommy and Aunt Ci Ci. She has already been telling everyone about her experiences as a missionary when she was big like mommy and serveda mission at the Squared Temple (Temple Square) like mommy and taught people about Jesus like mommy. It is SO sweet! She gets a very serious look on her face when she talks about Jesus and speaks kind of softly! She has also been copying EVERYTHING that I do with Kayla! She has her baby Honey and Honey miraculously does EVERYTHING that Kayla does... even throw food on the floor. It is great. So, I REALLY have to watch myself and how I behave! I guess she is my mirror for now!

I am so grateful to have my girls... and My Ray. I don't talk about him very often, but he is the greatest! I am so thankful that I moved here and agreed to have a CPR class in my living room! I have been blessed!

missing my Nephew...

We miss you, Baby Evan!!!

Kayla reads

Our funny morning.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Visit to Grandma and Grandpa's

We went to Grandma and Grandpa's house on Sunday for Daddy's Birthday... Here is a little video of our visit.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Kayla's Scary Ride

Sunday was a big, exciting, scary day for Miss Kayla. She took her first ride in the car while facing forward!!! We should have started her with a shorter trip because she was very scared! (we drove 1 1/2 hours to G-ma and G-pa's house!!!) She sat with her teeth clenched and her hands in fists held in front of her... The only reason she looks okay in this picture is because we were still in the driveway! Melissa didn't like it either... she likes looking at her sister's face! They are so cute!

No more T.V.

No more Television... or at least very little! Ray and I have been noticing an increasingly large amount aggression and discontent in Melissa and have been thinking and praying about what to do about it for several weeks. Please do not read more into this... we try to provide her with a well balanced, loving, peaceful home (most of the time it is peaceful!!!) We do not yell, hit, argue or anything like that... Dr. Phil would probably insist that we do since we are seeing these behaviors from our 2 year old, but really, we don't! So, like I said, we have been praying about what to do and last week it came to me... cut out the television watching. What? I asked? That is insane!! She hardly watches any television... AND if I cut out all watching of t.v. how will I EVER do the dishes??? So, I questioned this answer and came out with the same response... no more television. Well, it has been just over a week and we are seeing amazing results! In nursery on Sunday Sister ___ said that she was better behaved than she has been in a long time. She has started listening to Mommy when I ask her to do things. She isn't pushing her little sister... etc. It is amazing! (We have not COMPLETELY cut out the T.V. The girls are permitted to watch 1/2 hour of something every once in a while... like "Baby Einstein" or something else "educational." How else will Kayla learn sign language? She has no interest in learning it from me!!!)

My Little Shadows

~ I overheard this conversation between Melissa and Kayla today: "Kayla, you may not eat my sandal. It may have dog poop or some other yucky stuff on it and you do not want that yucky stuff in your mouth. It isn't healthy." I have no idea where she gets these ideas from! Okay, yes I do... she is my little shadow. I REALLY have to watch what I do and say around her! At least this time it was positive!!! ~ Kayla has been walking all around the house today. She walks with her hands out in front of her like she is reading a book. It took me all day before I realized that she is copying what we do when she walks to us... we have our hands out for her to grab onto! She is too cute! We are going to have to invest in some actual gates because our make-shift gates are nothing compared to her determination! ~ The girls actually played in the playroom for almost an hour tonight without me! I was able to do the dishes AND work on Kayla's baby book... They are proving to be excellent friends.

My First Award!!

"This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you've been awarded please pass it on to 7 others who you feel are deserving of this award."

Yippee! My first (and probably ONLY) award! Thanks David!

And... I only know 2 other bloggers besides the ones that you already named so, I will pass this honor on to:

my Sister CiCi and to My Ray at "My Liscence to Kill" don't let the name fool you! He is the sweetest, most wonderful person that you will ever meet... and he is nice too!

Kayla's 2nd 1st Birthday

Okay... here is ANOTHER video from Kayla's first birthday. I am not expecting anyone to watch another one, this is for Kayla and Melissa!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Our Busy Day...

This morning during breakfast Melissa told me (in a very serious voice) that I needed to get some paper and a pen so that we could make a To-Do list. I immediately grabbed the items and this is the list that she gave me: Walk on the treadmill, make Kayla's Birthday cake, finger paint, put the clothes away, decorate for Kayla's birthday, play dress-up, practice riding the horse, read some books, and order a certain something (that I cannot write about) online. Whew! It was going to be a busy day!!! I often write myself to-do lists, in fact I have a whole notebook that I keep track of things in... I have become my mom!! I did not realize she even KNEW about these lists... well, I guess this proves that she REALLY does not miss a thing! This is a video with a few of the things from our "busy day"... enjoy!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Melissa: AKA Personal Trainer

This morning at breakfast I told Ray (on the phone) that I needed to walk on the Treadmill this afternoon and that I would probably let Melissa walk a bit too so that she wouldn't be scared of it. Melissa did not say anything about it at the time and just kept eating her shredded wheat. After NAP she put on her tennis shoes and asked me where mine were. When I asked her why she needed to know she replied with, "Mommy, it is time to walk on the treading mills... get you treading mills shoes on. You go get them, I will watch Kayla." I guess I wasn't moving fast enough for her because she kept after me with cute comments until I had my "treading mills" shoes on. We then proceeded to walk on the treadmill for quite a while, her walking with me, then by herself and then Kayla INSISTING that she also needed a turn. My girls are SO funny! Who knows, I might just loose weight after all!

Family Happenings

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Kayla's 1st Birthday Party

Well, this one is a LONG one and mostly made so that Miss Kayla would have the memories recorded FOREVER. Feel free to watch it, but please don't feel like you MUST watch it!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Kayla is walking!

I just wanted to let everyone know that Kayla is now walking! Last night she was on Grandma and Poppa's front porch and started walking between CiCi, Laura and Grandma. She was so pleased with herself! She would take a step and pat her tummy... take a step and pat her tummy... too cute! Today she has been walking EVERYWHERE!!! 51 weeks old and walking. Amazing! BTW, we are in SC (again) for the blessing of Tia Ria's baby. I am so glad that we were able to come! Will post the pictures from Kayla's B-day party soon. Love to all!