Sweet Happy Winnie

Whitney is so happy, we all love her so much. She has been such a wonderful addition to our family. She is so sweet and cheerful, and has the cutest smile. I have loved hearing all of the new sounds she has been making lately. She squeaks and squeals with delight and has such an adorable little girl laugh. She has beautiful dark blue eyes, and long sweeping eyelashes that curl. She loves Trista, and is just fascinated by her. One of her favorite places to be is in Trista's room on her princess bed. She loves playing with her sister, especially in her room. Whitney will laugh at anything Trista does, and in turn, Trista loves to make her laugh.

There is a time towards the end of each day when Trista can make Whitney laugh endlessly. Trista will stick out her tongue, jump up and down, raise her arms, dance a jig, spin in circles, and Whitney just can't laugh hard enough. It is so precious to see my two girls loving each other so much.

Whitney is at the stage where she can lift her head up off my shoulder when I am holding her, but she chooses to lay her head down and snuggle into me. Oh, this is the best time. I wish that she could be six months old just a little longer.

I love being the mommy to these sweet precious girls. I am so blessed.

Mother's Day Video

Someone sent me this a few years ago, and every time I watch it I still laugh. I hope that everyone had a happy Mother's Day!

Trista's First Talk & One Busy Weekend

Trista gave her first talk in church on Sunday! It went really well. I am so proud of her!
Here is a picture of my little Sunbeam in her new butterfly dress.


We were so busy that weekend. T.J. was asked to go to our ward's Fathers and Sons outing on Friday night. He went as part of the Elders Quorum Presidency to help make the breakfast in the morning. So, Trista, Whitney and I ordered pizza and had a picnic on my bed that night. In the morning, we went with my mom and sister Christi to Baisch and Skinner and got stuff to make a few new floral arrangements for my house and new office at RSC. Trista found a little bird she fell in love with and named him Conco. Then we went shopping to find a new dress for Trista to wear for her talk. We stopped by Mervyn's Super Sale, and found cute summer baby clothes for Whitney, but no dress for Trista. We raced over to Crismon's Baby Boutique and found the perfect one. It is cream with pink butterflies and a pink sash and bow. We also found cute new pink, white, and cream hair bows too. T.J. came home early and didn't go spelunking with everyone else, so that I could go to the temple for my friend Megan's endowment session later that afternoon. So sweet of him. After I got back from the temple, T.J. and I went to dinner at Macaroni grill (thank you Cami). I didn't think that the smoked buffalo mozzarella cheese in my pasta tasted quite right, but didn't want to say anything and spoil our date. I mean, surely the cheese couldn't be bad...they use it in almost every dish, how could it go bad? Sure enough, I was barfing come early morning. Not pregnant! LOL (At the end of the day on Sunday T.J. said I looked tired, I reminded him that I had been throwing up earlier that day, and he had completely forgotten. My pregnancy with Trista made me good at working in spite of a sour stomach.)

Trista and I started preparing for her Primary talk on Friday morning with a prayer and read the scripture that she was supposed to speak on. I pulled out the flannel board and laminated pictures from my new Family Home Evening kit that my mom gave me for Christmas to use as visual aids on Sunday. My mom spent hours and hours making those kits, and I am so glad to have one. Trista practiced the talk (and I practiced my picture placement) on Saturday and Sunday. T.J. teased me for how much I prepared for this. :) She talked about the prophet Noah, and that if we listen to the prophet we will be blessed.

Our Primary has opening exercises in the chapel, so I sat with her in the chairs behind the podium. As she looked out, she saw Grandma sitting in the back of the room. She and I went to give her a quick hug before Primary began and then back to our seats. It made her feel extra special to have my mom there to watch, I am so happy that she came.

The Sunbeams were in charge of opening exercises, so a little boy from her class gave the prayer, and another bore his testimony. The little boy giving his testimony didn't talk, so his dad did it for him. I thought, "Oh no. Now she knows that if she is nervous she doesn't have to do this." She did so great! She talked right in the microphone and spoke clearly. I was blown away at how calm she was and what a big girl she is turning in to.

Her primary teacher said that she started tearing up during her talk. I am so grateful for how sweet she is to my little girl and what a wonderful job she does with the Sunbeams.

I had just started my new calling teaching the 12 year old Sunday School class the Sunday before, so T.J. took Whitney to my class and did one of the enrichment activities for my lesson with the kids until I got back from Trista's talk to teach. We still had time for a good lesson. I love my new Sunday School class. I was the Activity Days leader for our ward (the only one for 16 girls) all last year when I was super pregnant. It wasn't easy for me to do that calling (especially in the summer), and have a job, and have Trista with me (potty training), while I was calling all the girls, getting the church house keys, setting up the chairs and table, giving a lesson, doing an activity, and buying and handing out treats for that many girls. After Whitney was born there was no way that I could still do it, but I didn't feel like I was done with those girls. (There are now four people that do my old job.) When I got word from the bishop that I was getting a new calling, I felt like I would be working with the young women, but still felt guilty about not being able to do Activity Days anymore. When he said Sunday School, I knew it was right. I would be working with the young women, the ones that were the older girls from my Achievement Day group from the year before. I have two boys in the class, so they are a bonus. This calling is perfect for me right now, and I love those kids.

I am so grateful for my two sweet daughters and my wonderful husband that loves and supports me. I am grateful to have family so close by that loves us and helps us. Trista is such a good girl, and I am so proud of her for always saying her prayers, and reading the scriptures, and being such a good helper. Whitney is so precious, and am so grateful that she is such a sweet happy little side kick. T.J. is my rock, I can't say enough good things about him, and I love him dearly.

The Best Day Ever

Trista and I played with makeup the other day. She felt like such a big girl. It was so fun.

I have always wanted to put mascara on her!

She said, "I feel special. Mama, this is the most amazing, best day ever!"

All Smiles

Whitney wore little overalls today after church and looked so cute.

I had to take pictures.

Trista was wearing an adorable little pleated jean skirt. Do you ever coordinate your kids clothing and not realize it at the time?

On Thursday, when Trista and I walked outside to say goodbye to Daddy, there were ducks walking down the middle of our street. We live down the street from the lake. Every once in a while we will get birds and ducks that come our way.......not to mention the crane (that was taller than me) that came to our backyard hunting last spring, and ate all four of our large ornamental koi from our pond. That was a crazy afternoon.

The ducks were just waddling down the street like this was nothing out of the ordinary....

Trista tried to give the ducks directions.

It was a really fun way to start the day!

Rice Cereal

We started feeding Whitney rice cereal this week. She seemed to really like it!

She usually sits with us at the table on T.J.'s lap during dinner. She watches his fork and the food go up and down and coos and lunges a little, so I thought that she was ready. The other day T.J. handed her a tortilla chip to be funny and she immediately put it right in her mouth and started sucking on it. She knows what to do!

I had to change to a softer tip spoon because she was chomping down on it a little too much.

You know I had help!

She kept turning her head to the side to eat. T.J. noticed it first and laughed. She wouldn't really take the spoon straight on. I guess she is used to eating that way. :)

Easter

Easter was so nice this year. We went to the Easter Pageant with Cami and Jess and their kids on Wednesday night. I am grateful for the opportunity for our family to go and see it. Trista talked about it for the rest of the week.

Easter morning the kids woke up to see their baskets. The Easter Bunny even left a little squeaky donut for our dog Toby.

Trista with her ears on (and a jelly bean in her teeth). She was so happy about this Sesame Street ring and stick-on earring set and her new Dora nightgown.

I was especially proud of the Baby basket that this Bunny put together.

I think that Whitney liked it. She kept talking to her new little friends.

I think the look on her face is so funny in this picture.

Whitney with her ears on.

T.J. with the girls.

After we came home from a wonderful church meeting, we had my family over to our house for Easter dinner and an egg hunt. Trista and her cousin Erin had a great time.

There were eggs in the flower beds...

On the playhouse porch....

Behind the jacuzzi......

In the grass.....

And some that were harder to find. T.J. gave the girls some hints....

And eggs were found on the roof!

It was a very fun Easter and I am glad that we got to share it with our families.