Our Week in Review

Okay, these pictures are in reverse order, but oh well. Yesterday we got a nice surprise from my dear mother. She sent us these Halloween Cookies from Cookies by Design. She did this last year too, so now she's made it a tradition. They are so huge. Miguel was excited and dove right in. The girls have yet to earn one, because they don't finish their meals. Thanks Mom, we really enjoy them and it makes us feel special.

Nothing's better than a cookie and a glass of milk. It does a body good or at least the love handles!

Julianne has become quite the eater and is downing cereal and a fruit or vegetable twice a day. She also really loves her teething biscuits. Can you tell? She always has to be changed after one of them and her face must be soaked in warm water to remove the leftovers.

Last Saturday, Miguel and I got to go on a date to the BYU football game. It was a noon game and the weather was amazing so we asked his sister to watch the girls. We are so thankful that they did and we bought tickets there at the stadium. It was so nice and I love watching the game, especially in the stadium. Thank goodness they won. We love our Cougars.

You are only a kid once.

I remember crying last year around Halloween because I felt like I was the only one around here who cared anything about the holidays. Miguel could care less whether or not I decorated or anything else. He may quietly appreciate deep down, but he's not going to initiate anything. My children were too young to know the difference and I was so bummed about it. I realized that my mom and dad ruined me. They were so good about doing so much fun stuff for the holidays. Our house was always decked out and we did lots of fun activities. Now I'm the mom! It was so much more fun when I wasn't in charge. I realize that my mom created that Christmas spirit in our home. If I don't work hard at, there will not be a Christmas spirit in our home for my kids to experience. This is another one of those mother appreciation posts. The insight I'm gaining this year is that "you are only a kid once". Santa only visits for so many years, you can only go trick or treating for so many years, you get the idea. As Pres. Monson mentioned in his conference talk, these years will pass all too soon, so I'm out to live it up the best I can with my kids and help them have the best holidays possible, even if that means I have to plan every family party or activity. Maybe one day my kids will write nice things about me and say "Thanks Mom."
As a side note. I think that they should teach in those marriage prep courses at the Y that you should look at how your spouse's family celebrated the holidays. I think you would have a whole lot more fun if you traditions and expectations were similar. Don't worry, I still love my husband, I'll just have to drap him along for the ride!

Family Photo

Princess Julianne

After looking at prices online for photo sessions, I decided I better give it my best effort first. Here is the result. Luckily, Julianne is the most photogenic of the bunch.

Raising Marthas

So my mother is like Martha Stewart. As long as I can remember, she has been into crafts and sewing. She would make our Halloween costumes, curtains, and she would make and sell crafts back in the day. I'm talking earrings, puff paint sweatshirts (really back in the day ladies), Christmas Santa Claus gourds and you wouldn't believe what else. I've always admired her for it and have been, and actually continue to be, the beneficiary of her talent. Lately she had been sending me these cute little pillowcase dresses for each of the girls. These I think are super cute!She's got a new embroidery machine and she puts the girls names on all their stuff. Who needs Pottery Barn when you've got your mom?

So I've been trying to keep up with her by attempting to sew an actually Halloween costume myself. I actually went and picked out a pattern, interpreted and made a tinkerbell costume! I felt so accomplished and like I've connected with all the women in the past who had sewing skills. I'm developing a real skill. Needless to say I was excited. Pictures will come when I'm finished with it. I guess I just want to be like my dear mother.
This is an attempt to get a picture of the three of them in their dresses. I had to through Miguel in there to keep them contained. Doesn't he look thrilled. This is the best out of like 20. It's my luck.
Oh and here's my attempt at being Martha Stewart. I made pumkin pancakes this morning for my girls and my nieces. They were orange and everything. The girls were excited about them until they started eating them. The enthusiasm died quickly. I guess they would prefer their regular old pancakes for breakfast. I gave myself brownie points for trying.

Ballerinas and Chocolate Pie

Gabriela gave us a good laugh yesterday. Miguel totally set himself up for this one. We were sitting around the table eating chocolate pie and Miguel offered Gabriela a bite. She declined and then he thought he would be clever by saying, "It's only for ballerinas. Are you a ballerina?" She strolled over to the table, took the bite, and then looked him straight in the face and said, "Papi, are you a ballerina too?" We died laughing. Good one Gabriela.

HOUSECLEANING is my stumbling block

Do you ever feel you are running in a rat's exercise wheel? This is how I feel about housecleaning. It never ends. I really believe it is my stumbling block in life. I would be such a better mother and neighbor, be a better wife, more patient, more talented and who knows what else if housecleaning was out of the picture. I have made so many invitations to people about coming over for lunch and play dates and such, but I never end up calling and setting them up, because I'm too embarrassed by the condition of my house. I know women can be judgemental and I'm so afraid someone is going to think I'm a bad mother if my house isn't spic and span. So for those of you who are waiting for me to call, don't hold your breath. Actually if you tell me not to clean up and you are o.k. with a messy kitchen (the thorn in my side), then I'll have you over today. I actually enjoy and encourage people not to clean up before I come. It makes me feel a little more normal when I see a mom answer the door with her hair in a ponytail and in her pajama bottoms. I quietly feel at peace with myself. Thanks Amy for always loving me despite the mess. I'm not saying my house is a pigpen(?) or anything, it's just cluttered with the girls clothes, dress up clothes, and more clothes. There is usually dishes in the sink or on the stove (remember, I don't have a dish washer) and I do my best to keep the floor swept.
You see, I was raised in a home that had to be cleaned before we were allowed to go anywhere or do anything. I even had to put away my mother's clothes in her messy closet. So unfair. So now that same mentality still exists in my little brain. I can't do anything until my house is clean and that includes having anyone over. I punish myself in someways. The worst is that my mother and father in law drop in all the time unexpectedly and she is an obsessive compulsive cleaner. She spends her days cleaning out her cabinets and drawers, wiping baseboards and so on. I just want to die when they come in. They probably pity their poor son.
Whew, I'm glad I got that off my chest. Seriously just tell me it's o.k. and that your house is messy from your munchkins too and we can be best friends.