Tyson read Sydney's latest favorite book "llama llama holiday drama" by Anna Dewdney. It's a great author! Don't you just love her little face? She giggles all over the same passeges.
We are having the bugarin family over for dinner.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Thursday, December 12, 2013
SAMs club
We went to SAMs club and took our sweet time getting samples and walking every isle. I found the coolest thing for small kitchens - a combo of microwave and convection oven. What?! Yeah it made me dream of having drawers under my stove and all that good stuff.
Anyway the girls found a car and Sydney was in love. So we played oh and I got gas for the van. We came home and the girls watched Super Why and then played and then off to bed. I took a shower and am now relaxing.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Cake success
I did it! After about 6 years of failed attempts at making a good looking double decker round cake - I did it. I remember the first time I attempted it. We were just married in 2007 and we were in charge of planning activities for the other young couples in the ward. We Planned a Christmas party and everyone needed to bring a dessert. I thought I would do a cake because they look awesome. Well the cake sucked. It fell apart and the frosting just took out more chucks of the cake. Don't believe me? Check out these picture proofs
I'm warming you the pics are so bad :)
Pretty bad eh? Well that was just the first of probably 40 attempts to make it. For a while I gave up on it but always wanted to come back. It just seemed to me that a Classic round cake is awesome and looks so fancy. This year I have stepped it up and watched about 6 hours of you tube videos on doing it. I finally got one to work. I made the cakes and cooled them for a long time. I made the frosting myself and let it chill. I did a crumb coat on the cake, then chilled for 20 minutes. Then I frosted it and back on the fridge.
I looked great! It was a little dry so I'll have to keep working on it but I was just Sooo happy it worked!
Friday, December 6, 2013
Binkie Extraction
I can't believe we did it! Sydney has been 100% binkie free for almost two weeks. So here's the story.
We went to Vegas right after she turned two. We had a great time but I also had a very strong feeling that we needed to get rid of bink soon. Sydney was growing up and she still really loved the binkie but she wanted it more and more during the day. We used binkie a lot for quiet time and she insisted more and more on being in her crib. I also noticed that whenever she fell or got hurt of just sad, she called for binkie. I did not want this to be her first source of calming.
I knew bink had to go, but I was scared and I was sad. She loved her binkie and it meant that she was growing up. I read alot about different ways to get rid of it. The fairy, the party, the binkie going up in a balloon. I decided that she would freak out if her binkie finally disappeared. I decided to slowly cut the tip of the binkie. I cut out the very tip on ALL her binkies plus londons binkie. I put the binkies back into the cribs and went on as normal. Now we had just gotten back from vacation and Sydney began resisting going to bed, even though she did have the binkie. Nap time was no big, but bedtime was really hard for three nights. Mostly because she did NOT want to go to bed. She was too busy playing. So for three nights she cried hard for a good hour. It was hard to not be able to go put her binkie back in. Tyson would go back in, give her water and then she would fall sleep just fine.
So then four days later I cut a little bit more of and so forth until the binkie was pretty much gone, but I never "took"it away. Finally after two weeks I noticed the binkie downstairs and Sydney was trying to give it to a puppet we were playing. I started saying with the puppet - "eewug. binkies are for babies and you are a big girl" and like magic it was done. It was like a light was turned on. She never has missed it since.
So now, we have started putting her to bed at 745 but giving her books and saying "you don't have to sleep but you do have to go to bed." We leave some books and walk out. She will spend the next 20 minutes "reading" and talking and then fall sleep. It's been a great transition and I am just so proud that we actually did it.
Sydney is growing up. she's such a sweet girl - energetic, spunky, full of life. I know sometime this year we will do potty training, but for right now I'm so excited to report such big news.
On a sidenote, we attempted to take London's away but changed our minds. Poor london still loved her binkie. So we gave it back, but we gave a different size. This way Sydney does not get confused. So now we are all happy. Sydney is great, London's sleeping again and we feel so blessed.
We went to Vegas right after she turned two. We had a great time but I also had a very strong feeling that we needed to get rid of bink soon. Sydney was growing up and she still really loved the binkie but she wanted it more and more during the day. We used binkie a lot for quiet time and she insisted more and more on being in her crib. I also noticed that whenever she fell or got hurt of just sad, she called for binkie. I did not want this to be her first source of calming.
I knew bink had to go, but I was scared and I was sad. She loved her binkie and it meant that she was growing up. I read alot about different ways to get rid of it. The fairy, the party, the binkie going up in a balloon. I decided that she would freak out if her binkie finally disappeared. I decided to slowly cut the tip of the binkie. I cut out the very tip on ALL her binkies plus londons binkie. I put the binkies back into the cribs and went on as normal. Now we had just gotten back from vacation and Sydney began resisting going to bed, even though she did have the binkie. Nap time was no big, but bedtime was really hard for three nights. Mostly because she did NOT want to go to bed. She was too busy playing. So for three nights she cried hard for a good hour. It was hard to not be able to go put her binkie back in. Tyson would go back in, give her water and then she would fall sleep just fine.
So then four days later I cut a little bit more of and so forth until the binkie was pretty much gone, but I never "took"it away. Finally after two weeks I noticed the binkie downstairs and Sydney was trying to give it to a puppet we were playing. I started saying with the puppet - "eewug. binkies are for babies and you are a big girl" and like magic it was done. It was like a light was turned on. She never has missed it since.
So now, we have started putting her to bed at 745 but giving her books and saying "you don't have to sleep but you do have to go to bed." We leave some books and walk out. She will spend the next 20 minutes "reading" and talking and then fall sleep. It's been a great transition and I am just so proud that we actually did it.
Sydney is growing up. she's such a sweet girl - energetic, spunky, full of life. I know sometime this year we will do potty training, but for right now I'm so excited to report such big news.
On a sidenote, we attempted to take London's away but changed our minds. Poor london still loved her binkie. So we gave it back, but we gave a different size. This way Sydney does not get confused. So now we are all happy. Sydney is great, London's sleeping again and we feel so blessed.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Birthday surprise
Last night we surprised Ann brown for her birthday. We had a bunch of the girls meet at zinga yogurt. I was super worried noone would show up because my parties don't always work out but this time it did!
We had a great time. This week it's suppose to snow like crazy and the highs will be 10! To try and keep our sanity I took Sydney out and we walked for an hour then I took the girls to king Soopers to buy groceries so we don't run out of milk or something simple. On the way home Sydney was singing. It was super sweet. She's loving "moon moon moon" and popcorn popping. She does all the actions. Today she did excellent during our store run. Stayed close and very obedient. Our ongoing practice is slowly paying off. Tomorrow I'm hoping to do some craft and bath and whatever else I can do to keep the girls busy.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Holidays with Toddlers
I saw this post on a great blog. It spoke so much to me. Oftentimes I feel like I do this TOO much but then I realize that I'm just in that very very busy and exhausting season. I want to remember this great post.
Martha
Dear Young Mama Of Tiny People,
I hear you in the bathroom, locked behind the door and trying to unwrap a piece of chocolate with shaky fingers. I see you on Instagram, admitting where you failed and showing us your sad eyes and the crumbs in your hair. I read your Facebook status, the one where you can’t figure out how to get everything done with the little people under foot.
Oh, honey. I hear ya.
If you had time, I’d pet your hair and ply you with coffee and speak in soothing tones. But you’re short on time these days and I know those holidays are looming large on your calendar. You’ve got lists a mile long of obligations and cute things you pinned on Pinterest to do for your tiny people.
And that’s really sweet of you. You’re a good mama who is anxious to make good memories for her people and to celebrate with her loved ones. Well done, you!
You have all the reasons in the world (imagine me pointing to those sticky little fingers that even now are exploring your nose while you read) to say “no” right now, even to yourself when you want to do something fun. If it makes you yell, it’s a No. Every time. Gotta take food to X place and know that you will end up screaming while you cook? “No, I can’t right now. We will swing by and pick up a bucket of chicken.”
If baking cookies and watching your kids sling sprinkles all over the kitchen is going to make you yell today? Then no. Don’t do it. Always choose the relationship with your kids over the Advent activity that makes you scream. Always choose the Simple over the Pinnable.
Listen, the only person who expects you to accomplish All The Things on that list? Is you. You must extend to yourself the grace that others are already extending in your direction.
You can apologize for showing up with the grocery store cupcakes if you want, but you don’t have to say you’re sorry for choosing your kids and your sanity over perfectly piped buttercream icing. You know what? The lady at the bakery can pipe buttercream beautifully, too, but she can’t read Thomas the Train with the proper voices like you can. Everybody at the party knows that. So apologize if you want. But you don’t have to say you’re sorry for choosing wisely.
Look me in the face at my serious eyes: This is not your season to do all the things, some of the things, or most of the things. It is your season to do A Thing. I tell you that not to be a downer but to let you know that you will slay the crazies in your mind and the guilt that you feel when you flip your lid if you will pick ONE thing per morning. ONE thing for the afternoon. And rejoice if everyone is still alive at the end of the day.
Ready for some good news? Your small people who make everything hard? Because God is a gracious God to us tired mamas, they won’t remember this. They won’t remember that you yelled yesterday. They also won’t remember the Elf on the Shelf or the terrifying visit to Santa’s lap from your list of Fun Things To Accomplish. Nope. They’re just going to remember a warm, fuzzy, maybe slightly squishy version of Mama. They’re going to remember you were THERE.
So put up some lights, because those are magically soothing to young babes, and cross everything else off your list. Say NO to more this season. Your family traditions and “making memories” can wait another year, until that toddler is out of diapers or the baby quits nursing every half hour. This holiday? This season?
Just be. Be warm, be fuzzy, be slightly squishy. Be in the moment, be on the couch sniffing the baby’s head, Be Still.
Do less stuff.
Martha
Dear Young Mama Of Tiny People,
I hear you in the bathroom, locked behind the door and trying to unwrap a piece of chocolate with shaky fingers. I see you on Instagram, admitting where you failed and showing us your sad eyes and the crumbs in your hair. I read your Facebook status, the one where you can’t figure out how to get everything done with the little people under foot.
Oh, honey. I hear ya.
If you had time, I’d pet your hair and ply you with coffee and speak in soothing tones. But you’re short on time these days and I know those holidays are looming large on your calendar. You’ve got lists a mile long of obligations and cute things you pinned on Pinterest to do for your tiny people.
And that’s really sweet of you. You’re a good mama who is anxious to make good memories for her people and to celebrate with her loved ones. Well done, you!
But lemme put it to you straight: Do. Less. Stuff.
Lower your expectations for what is humanly possible in one day. Now think about how many toddlers you have and lower them again.You have all the reasons in the world (imagine me pointing to those sticky little fingers that even now are exploring your nose while you read) to say “no” right now, even to yourself when you want to do something fun. If it makes you yell, it’s a No. Every time. Gotta take food to X place and know that you will end up screaming while you cook? “No, I can’t right now. We will swing by and pick up a bucket of chicken.”
If baking cookies and watching your kids sling sprinkles all over the kitchen is going to make you yell today? Then no. Don’t do it. Always choose the relationship with your kids over the Advent activity that makes you scream. Always choose the Simple over the Pinnable.
Listen, the only person who expects you to accomplish All The Things on that list? Is you. You must extend to yourself the grace that others are already extending in your direction.
You can apologize for showing up with the grocery store cupcakes if you want, but you don’t have to say you’re sorry for choosing your kids and your sanity over perfectly piped buttercream icing. You know what? The lady at the bakery can pipe buttercream beautifully, too, but she can’t read Thomas the Train with the proper voices like you can. Everybody at the party knows that. So apologize if you want. But you don’t have to say you’re sorry for choosing wisely.
Look me in the face at my serious eyes: This is not your season to do all the things, some of the things, or most of the things. It is your season to do A Thing. I tell you that not to be a downer but to let you know that you will slay the crazies in your mind and the guilt that you feel when you flip your lid if you will pick ONE thing per morning. ONE thing for the afternoon. And rejoice if everyone is still alive at the end of the day.
Ready for some good news? Your small people who make everything hard? Because God is a gracious God to us tired mamas, they won’t remember this. They won’t remember that you yelled yesterday. They also won’t remember the Elf on the Shelf or the terrifying visit to Santa’s lap from your list of Fun Things To Accomplish. Nope. They’re just going to remember a warm, fuzzy, maybe slightly squishy version of Mama. They’re going to remember you were THERE.
So put up some lights, because those are magically soothing to young babes, and cross everything else off your list. Say NO to more this season. Your family traditions and “making memories” can wait another year, until that toddler is out of diapers or the baby quits nursing every half hour. This holiday? This season?
Just be. Be warm, be fuzzy, be slightly squishy. Be in the moment, be on the couch sniffing the baby’s head, Be Still.
Do less stuff.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Black Friday
This year was sooooo fun. I'm not sure what made it so great but pretty sure it was a combo of great food, Sydney playing for hours with Kerynn and watching red 2. Melissa and I hit Walmart that night to get diapers. I got a total of 15 boxes of diapers and 4 boxes of wipes. Walmart who is usually awesome at price matching wAs really shaky. I had to go to three different ones to get the amount of diapers and each cashier did not even know if they were price matching. It was so frustrating. The funny thing is that the ad said they price matched on the front page! What?! Weird people. This was my most frustrating year doing it which makes be sad. I was going to email it to Jael and Allison but after such a hard time I decided not to.
Besides that we loved hanging out with the scottorns. Ty has Friday off and he went to get stuff for his computer. It was a great weekend.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
This weekend
Friday night: date night. Shared salad at "que bueno" Mexican restaurant with an AMaZING band. They were so good and it made the whole experience better. They played all the songs I remember my Abuelita loving. It made me miss her. After we watched the hunger games catching fire movie. We got there at 7 but all the shows were sold out until 9 pm. We were crazy and stayed. Loved the movie.
Saturday: snowed and was cold. I worked on the bench with brother reeder and Ty went to a football game.
Sunday: Ty went to church. After it was dinner with the Bugarins. My bread was a flop but my cake was yummy.
It was a great weekend. Tomorrow is suppose to be in the 50's which will be a nice break from the 20's we had all weekend.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Leaves and chairs
The leaves were two weeks ago. Dream come true. The chairs are at Walmart two days ago.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
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