Happy Valentines' Day!

On Saturday, Mariah and I made pumpkin chocolate chip cupcakes to decorate for Valentines' Day. I saw on my cousin's blog the great idea to pre-measure everything for a toddler to help with cooking. Mariah loves helping me in the kitchen; a few extra little bowls to wash is a good trade-off for less mess and stress. I prepared everything during M's nap, and she was delighted when I told her I needed her to help me make a treat.

She loved pouring in all the little bowls of stuff.

She was also a great taster.

And she helped with the dishes.

After a quick run to the store for sprinkles, we decorated.

Mariah made this one for Dad. (The red under all the sprinkles says "Dad.")

I saw this idea in a Costco magazine. Mine, of course, is not as pretty as theirs, but it was fun.

I had to keep replenishing Laney's frosting, so she could dip every little piece of cupcake. She was pretty pleased about it.

Saturday afternoon we got a very fun Valentines' package ("parcel," as Mariah calls them) in the mail from Grandma Shaunna and co.

Mariah wanted to hang all the Valentines on the wall.

This was Valentines' Day breakfast. French toast with fresh raspberry syrup, hashbrowns, and orange juice. (The one nice thing about having Church in the afternoon is the freedom to make a big breakfast.)

Obedience . . . We're working on it.

This is one of Mariah's favorites: "Mom, go away so I can do this." (Always said just after I've told her not to do something.) At least she's honest?

Little Singers

I have no idea where my girls (probably Mariah) heard or got this, but they go around randomly singing vocal warm-up exercises:

And this is a random video of some of Elaine's cuteness. I started taping her because she was doing her "sick, couch, blanket, pacifier" thing. But she stopped and needed some prompting. It's kind of long, and very random; don't feel obligated to endure:

Sick

Ok. The girls have been sick with one thing or another for over 2 months now (with one or two well days here and there). I've had enough. The latest bug (soar throat, fever, stuffy nose) finally caught up to me 2 days ago; I'm feeling much better today and will hopefully be over it soon. The girls, though, have had this one for over a week now, and it's no fun. We've been to the doc twice, with no definitive test results . . . who knows what they have, and we just have to wait it out. Yuck. I haven't had a full night's sleep since the beginning of December, and my pregnant body is saying "enough is enough." My children are cranky and whiny which makes their mother also cranky and whiny. Just to give you a glimpse of our day . . . Laney is crying in bed, awake from a way-too-short nap, and Mariah is taking her nap in the garage. That's right, the garage. She's been taking naps in my bed, and a little incentive system I set up had her finally graduated from the carseat . . . until today. My systems only work for a week or so with her. So, back in the carseat she went. Then she was screaming and carrying on, and I could not have her waking up Elaine, so I told her if she didn't stop crying, I'd put her in her carseat in the car in the garage. And there she is. Please tell me I'm not abusive. (And sorry for the whiny post; it's out of my system now.)

Here are some cute pictures of Laney. She, usually a few times a day, comes to me holding her tummy and says, "Gick. Douch. Ganket. Ah-dier." Translation: "I feel sick. I need to lie down on the couch with my blanket and pacifier."

Dancing on a Snowed-in Sunday

We're Not in Utah Anymore . . .

Oklahoma is essentially shut down. Mike's university canceled classes Thursday and Friday; and church is canceled tomorrow. Mike and I have kind of been rolling our eyes at the whole "state of emergency" attitude. (They really did declare it a state of emergency, no kidding). I drove in it today, though, and I have to admit it's pretty treacherous. Snow-clearance equipment is hard to come by in Oklahoma; most roads are 4 inches of packed ice and snow. That said, I'm afraid it's still nothing to shut down life over. But I'm not complaining . . . Mike got a 4-day weekend! He's allowed his lazy pregnant wife to sleep in 3 days in a row, he shoveled the driveway, and he filed our taxes!

Reasons I Love My Husband

It's still January, and our federal taxes are filed! That's just one of the many many reasons I love my husband.

Baby Preview

Last night, we watched my friend's daughter, Grace. Mariah and Elaine were both fascinated and very good with her. I hope they will be the same with their little sister . . . .

Crazy Hair Day

Elaine brought a whole bunch of hair paraphernalia to me this morning and insisted that she wear it ALL. Never to be outdone or left out, Mariah needed the same. I thought the result was pretty cute.

Another Visit to the Stewarts