Thanksgiving in Boston

One of the perks to living on the east coast is that my BFF Sarah does too. So after a short 6 hour drive (which only took 8 1/2 hours due to Payton getting car sick twice... boo!) we spent the fastest 5 days known to man. We stayed up late talking, went shopping, baked cooked & ate.

I would have been perfectly fine hanging out inside the whole time but Donald's one request was to see something touristy. So we went down to the Freedom Trail.

First we went to this really cool indoor market that had any & every food you could want.
Then we walked to Paul Revere's house. The brick line on the ground is the Freedom Trail.

We also got some really amazing Cannoli's. Okay I now understand the whole cannoli bit. When we got there the line was literally down the street. But it was well worth it!
These were taken right before we left. These girls had so much fun!
Especially these 2 girls!
I was so happy that Abby & I were still good pals. Thanks again Sarah & Darin for hosting us. Good food, good company, good everything!
Donald & I were prepared for a terrible ride home, I actually dreaded it! But about 30 minutes in to the ride this is what we had. They both slept for about 3 hours & it was so nice to just be able to talk to Donald & not hear "excuse me, can I say something, are you guys talking about me? (& if we said no "why not?").
Payton did get a little whoosy when we got off the highway for the last 30 minutes but was able to keep it together. We now have figured out the best way to come home.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

This year we put our Christmas Tree before Thanksgiving. We were going to Boston for Thanksgiving & we needed something to help count down the days till we got to see Chloe & this was perfect.

Payton loved decorating the tree. We have A LOT of ornaments & I loved being about to tell her about each one. The one she's holding above we got from Payton's Cardiologist in CA & the one below she received from her Papaw Don for her 1st Christmas.
Katie was happy to participate too. Once she figured out that the bell made noises she whacked herself in the head several times before we just had to take it away.
Daddy was home for the event so he helped too.
At this point Katie was still just rolling so every time she was on the floor in the living room she ended up under the tree.
There were some low hanging fruit that she was so excited & determined to get.
This one Santa in particular.
She tried from every position.
Just after these pictures she actually got a hold of it & almost pulled the tree down (it's a cheap tree).
Below is what happened after I took it away from her & moved it up higher. Life is hard!

Mom I need help...

One day Payton came home from school & was a little down. After some time she finally told me that she needed my help with something. Her friends at school really liked to play hop-scotch but my poor baby has THE WORST balance on the planet. She asked if I could help her learn to play hop scotch better. She was so sweet & I couldn't say no.

So after my sister suggested tape on the floor we were good to go. We used flowers for place holders & we played.

A lot of time was spent on the floor... but as you can see she still had fun.

At the end she decided that it was okay if she wasn't good at playing hop scotch because she figured out that older kids were better at playing it & she wasn't older yet.

Princesses at Church

Payton was given this dress by a member of our last ward & this was the first day she wore it. Once Payton was dressed she announced that "the people at church will be so surprised to see a Princess at church with them!" Payton then told me that I could take pictures of her if I wanted to, basically 'Mom take a picture'. For the one below I told her to pose & smile really pretty & this is what I got.

Katie is usually very good for church but it is in our best interest to get her straight home & to bed. This usually means she naps in her church clothes.

She went thru a phase where her face had to be covered while she slept. It drove me crazy because I always needed to go in & make sure there was room for fresh air... I included the one below so you wouldn't think I let my child smother herself.

My Goal...

So my goal for this blog is simple, Just Post....

So I hope to be on here at least once a week in an attempt to get caught up but since I just posted about Halloween I've got a lot of material to post about.

Thanks for continuing with me & I'll do my best to stay on top of this.

Love - Jenn

Payton - A Stylish Teacher

Payton has always had her own sense of style but it hasn't been until recently that she has fully asserted herself. She loves to put on Donald & my clothes & pronounce that she is ready to leave. The picture below was taken after I noticed it had been quiet for a little while & I peeked in Payton's room to find her going thru my bracelet box. She came out 20 minutes later is the 'perfect matching' bracelets that she told me I just had to give to her.

One of the best things that I have seen since moving here is that Payton has really started to be-friend her sister. She will sit & play with her & help her to play with toys. Payton is very good at keeping her patience in check & we've had many, many conversations about how we have to teach Katie. Lately Payton has started several conversations like, "Did you teach me how to do blank, or did I already know how to do it?" I was cleaning in the room by Payton's & I overheard her tell Katie, "If you want to play with this you have to learn how to not stick things in your mouth, giggles, & that too, giggles but I can hear frustration, Katie I don't think you can plan with my toys yet"

Payton really is the best big sister & she takes her job very seriously. She has even uninvited me from the room so that she can be the one to play with Katie. I love these girls!

When everyone wakes up happy

It is always a good day... when everyone wakes up happy!

Saturday is usually the only day this happens because we are not up at 6:30 & I'm usually not happy. :)

Saturday is also 1 or 2 days during the week that I will make something for breakfast. Payton has since told me several times that the only good thing about not going to school on Saturday is that she gets desert for breakfast (muffins, cinnamon rolls, pancakes, etc) not actually desert...

Random thought.... Bill Cosby does a comedic routine about parenting & his kids that is just so funny. There is a part where he talks about chocolate cake for breakfast & I just had to share. It is long 9:30 but is so funny. At around 3:40 he starts talking about the children coming down for breakfast, but the whole thing is great!

I hope you enjoy it, I had a good laugh!

Halloween, Yes Halloween....

We had Blue from Blue's Clues.

We had a Fairy Princess Ballerina. Payton has already told us that she wants to be a fairy next year to which Donald said, "I thought that's what you were this year".

P "No Dad, I was a Fairy Princess Ballerina & now I just want to be a fairy, that is very different!"

Donald "So we can reuse the fairy parts of your costume for next year."

P "There are no just fairy parts. I'll need a new one that is Fairy only"

Donald "So it'll be a different color"

P "No dad I'll be a pink fairy in a costume that is only for a fairy!"

Well he tried!

Donald had a school costume party & he borrowed some key pirate items from a friend at church & was off. Not too bad for spending a penny!

I was a clue... Picture me with a paw print (like Donald is wearing above).

When it gets quiet I start to worry

These 2 are never EVER quiet... so when it is quiet instead of enjoying some peace I get worried.

This time all was well, kinda. I guess it will depend on who you ask.

Not sure what make up Payton thinks Katie needs on her neck!

I just love her facial expressions. This was one of the first 'beauty sessions' so Katie was not quite sure what to expect but she has since become a more active participant. Payton hasn't done it as much now that Katie doesn't sit & endure it anymore, she 'wants to help'.

Just to prove that there were more than just concerned looks that day!

hehe the one with the blush brush, it makes me smile! What does that look say to you?