Minky Blanket

So my mom came to visit for a few days, and this is what we did... I have to say that it was really weird cutting a stuffed animal in half, but I think the finished product turned out pretty cute. :) We had to wait till Parker was in bed so we didn't tramatize him by hurting a Mau (cat - all cats are Maus). 

Of couse since it was late we got a case of the giggles doing this - especially when my mom found out I didn't know how to correctly instal the walking foot on my sewing machine!

We had so much fun though. I wish she could have stayed longer.

So if anyone is interested (probably not since I don't think anyone even reads my blog) I can make these "Critter Cuddlers" for $35 with almost any color and animal. Just leave a request on my most recent post so I will see it. :)

Playing at the Park

We FINALLY had a day that was nice enough to play at the park that I didn't have to work.

 (Thanks, Misty, for the invite. We had lots of fun.)

This little man is all BOY! He loved getting dirty and was picking up sand and throwing it on his shoes.

I'm guessing we will be spending a lot of time outside this summer. He was soooo mad when it was time to leave.

Lately...

     We have both been working hard and staying busy. I even cleaned out the basement and finally have room to do stuff down there! I set up my sewing machine and busted out a project that I started a VERY long time ago. It feels nice to finally have a space to work. A clean basement also means that I have room to workout down there again. My sister-in-law Paige and I have been doing that P90X program. YIKES talk about HARD! Now if I would just eat right I would be in AWESOME shape.
    Work is going great for Matt. They are having him be an instructor for a class when people are in trouble. I don't really know how to explain it, you will have to ask him! He also started school again in February. He is working on his bachelors degree now. Talk about time consuming! I am very proud of him though for all that he does for our family. Between work and school, there isn't much time for anything in-between. :(
    I am still cutting away at the hair salon. Its going... alright. I just don't feel like the girls I work with like me very much. Probably because they don't. Oh well, I guess. :(
    I am also training for another 1/2 marathon next month. My longest run so far is 9 miles, so that means this week will be 10. YIKES!!! It is so nice that we have had some nice weather lately, because there is no way I could spend over an hour on a dreadmill at the gym! It gets way too boring, even with my headphones plugged into the TV. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm starting to like running (a little). Now I just need to decide if I'm doing another TRI this summer...
    In other news... I feel extremely sorry for the Young Women in our ward. I am their new YW President. Oh man! I totally feel like a deer caught in the headlights! Hopefully everything will come together and the girls will be forgiving of the mistakes I am sure to make. I am excited to get to know them all as well as the ladies in the presidency with me. I am even going to earn my medallion again as a leader. :) After she was done laughing when I broke the news my mom did promise to keep Parker for me while I am at camp. Haha! I really am excited though. Please keep me (and our YW) in your prayers... We will need them!
    My SIL, Carrie, is due SOON with baby Norah. I am so excited to meet her. Pictures to come!
    Parker is growing up WAY too fast and is so much fun. He is starting to talk so much. It is amazing to hear him say new words for the first time and to watch him learn and grow. Just the other day I taught him to pick his nose and feed it to the dog... LOL! Okay... So he had a buggie hanging out and I wiped it off his nose, and before I could get a tissue Copper came up and licked it off my finger. YUCK! Well, when I picked him up from the babysitter she said, 'So he tried to feed our dog a buggar...' Talk about a proud moment! I think my dad is still laughing about it. I guess I will be more careful of the things I am 'teaching' our little man!
    Well, here are a few pictures of Parker because he is sooooo cute! :)

These are the 'choo-choos' he makes out of his cars I was talking about a few posts back. I find these all over the house.

And this is how I found him when I got back from my run last week... He slept like this for over an hour!

(notice the choo-choo he's been working on)

And this is one of my favorite pictures for some reason...

    And there you have it! Our life these days... :)

Christmas (in March!)

     Who says you can't post your Christmas pictures in March? LOL! Hey, at least I am finally getting around to it, right? And I DID try, blogger was just being smarter than me, so I couldn't get it figured out.
     We celebrated Christmas this  year at my parents house. We all had a great time up until a nasty case of the stomache flu hit with a vengence. Out of the 11 people staying at my parents house, 9 of us got sick in some form or another plus both of my grandparents! It is a good thing that my parents have 3 bathrooms... that is all I will say!
     We always play games and have yummy treats on Christmas Eve. This year we played the regular Christmas Bingo and ate cinnamon rolls. I read about a fun game called the 'candy bar game' on my friend's blog, so I decided to try it.... I don't think anyone wants to play it again, but it was lots of fun. Talk about a mess though! The clean-up almost took longer than the game.

Here are a few pics from the candy bar game...

Okay... so it was pretty messy...

Parker doesn't like his hands to be sticky, so this is how he ate his cinnamon roll...

All cleaned up and ready for bed...

     Christmas morning was 'magical' again this year. You know how when you are little everything seems so magical? It was so fun to play 'Santa' for Parker, and I bet that it will be even better next year.

     My mom got VERY spoiled this year! My dad gave her a pair of pants that we all INSISTED she try on as soon as she opened them. Once she put them on she discovered a key... to a 1966 MUSTANG!!!! Wow! Dad sure trumped us all on the gift giving this year. :)

     I will have to be sure to take some better pics of it this summer... Maybe Mom will even take me for a ride it it. :)

     Since the plague started Christmas afternoon we decided we are having a 'Christmas do-over' in June. I will keep you posted on that, but it better happen.

Babies!

     So November 29th was quite the day! Heidi (Matt's sister) had her precious little babies. After a few weeks of rising concerns (and blood pressure) they decided to take the twins a few weeks earlier than planned. Carter weighed 3lbs 13oz and Olivia weighed in at 5lbs 5oz! They were both so tiny, cute and perfect. Because of some eating issues they stayed in NICU for a few weeks. Carter got to come home first, even though he was smaller he was eating on his own, and then Olivia followed about a week or so later. They are both doing great now and I love being able to snuggle them.

This is the night they were born.

Olivia (top) Carter (bottom)

About a week or so later...

And after they had been home for a few weeks...

     Matthew thought that if I held them more it would make me baby hungry. Haha! No such luck! :) It doesn't exactly make me want another one when I'm wondering which one is going to spit-up or poop on me. But they ARE super cute and fun to cuddle. I love them.

Attempt at updating...

So I know that this is probably not possible... but I am going to ATTEMPT to get somewhat updated! Wish me luck... I will need it! :)