Merry Christmas

We had a great Christmas this year- Christmas is so different when you have kids, it's so amazing to watch your child's eyes light up when they see presents under the tree and to be making their Christmas memories for the rest of their lives.

This morning Jeremy and I were in bed talking waiting for our girls to wake up (can you believe that? on Christmas!) and Eva opened her door, which is diagonal from our room- she looked at us and said:
Eva: I looked out my window and there's no snow...
Me: Yes...
Eva: Is it still Christmas?
Me: Yes sweety, it is still Christmas.
Eva: Ok, Merry Christmas...now I have to go pee.

Eva thinks it can only be Christmas with snow...she was genuinely worried that it wasn't going to be Christmas when she woke up. So sweet to see the world through your child's eyes.

I hope you all had magical Christmases. We did and thank you to the grandparents that sent us gift for the kids...they loved them! Picture's to come soon!

My Very Own Tinkerbell...and her many emotions.

So I was laying in bed with my camera...that sounds weird...anyway, Eva came in with her little dress up on and I asked her if she wanted to do a little mini photo shoot so I could play with different lens speeds and settings. She of course said yes.

This is the first test pic we did on automatic before I switched to different settings. Can you see the 16 year old girl in this picture? I can and I just poo'd.

Now presenting Eva's many emotions...we're working on her acting skills so I can profit from having children (I'm just joking...I thought I'd throw that out there just in case.)

Regular Happy:

Nervous:

SUPER Happy:

Sad:

Mad:

Content:

Anguish, disappointment and frustration...with a dash of sadness:

Thoughtful:

And that concludes the acting faces.

Oh Elle

This is why Santa is bringing Elle some age appropriate toys this Christmas.

My Newest European Obsession- The Ting Tings.

I saw this group on "Yo Gabba Gabba" believe it or not and I thought that they were a kids group...I'm always looking for kids music that does not sound like kids music...something I can tolerate without my ears bleeding. Anyway, I looked them up and they are a regular band. I'm pretty sure I'd be in love with them if I was 16- but I'm 26 so I just like them a lot. Enjoy.

Our own family pics

We headed over to my parents backyard this year to try and get some family pictures of the four of us. I tried to set it up the best I could and we were working on little time before Elle would completely meltdown...it was close to nap time. I think the pics turned out well for a sort of last minute idea. My mom took this pic of the four of us and I took everything else. Thanks mom and dad for your hard work! p.s. there were a ton of pics, these are my favorites:This picture pretty much sums uo Elle's entire personality...that's why I love it. This isn't the best picture...what with the garden hose and such in the back, but I love these shoes, that's the main reason I kept it...I can crop that other stuff out.

I may install a GPS in the top layer of Eva's skin once she's 16 (maybe even before) so I know where she is at all times...and with whom! Are you kidding me? Boys will be knocking on my door no matter what, even if my dream of making her a major nerd comes true, I'm just going to have Star Wars boys knocking on my door...and yes, they will be sent away.

Daddy and his girls, I love this shot of Jeremy and Elle- their sweet little mini-me bond.

Awww. I know you said it out loud or in your head.
And the baby makers themselves. I don't think we've had a decent shot of us since I was 18! Thanks mom- you captured us.

All in all, things turned out well, who knows if I'll actually get a card out this year...we'll see..maybe I'll wait till after Christmas and send out an awesome WDW pic!

busy, busy, busy...

I feel like I haven't really had updated pics or great posts in a while...it's been busy. I've been "working" the past month and finals were this last week...swim was ending and I'm planning for this huge trip...anyway, I finally sat down and downloaded all my pics so I can have a few posts of some pics.
I took some pics again this year of some families in my neighborhood. First up was the Bjarnason family...I love taking their pics because #1 there is never a dull moment and #2 I probably lose 5lbs- which I greatly appreciate.
Then I took some pics of the Stenson boys- this was right before their 4th little brother was born, I'll be hearding over there some time in the next week to get some little newborn shots of him...he is so tiny. These boys are great and way easy to take pics of...their so handsome it makes my job very easy.

And the last set I did was of the Luke family, their son is a few months older than Elle, it's so crazy how different boys and girls are...their daughter was a a great poser, she posed differently in every shot, a natural model...I don't think I directed her once.

So there are the fruits of my labors...my goal is to really learn more about photography so I can get better and better- I know I'm one of like a trillion stay at home moms who is interested in photography but once I find my self confidence in taking pictures I hope I can have my own little business someday.

twilight

Oh yes, I did go, I realize that this is about a month after the movie came out BUT I've been really lazy about putting my pics on my computer lately...this isn't even my pic I totally stole it off of Michelle's blog. We went twice...and are looking to go a third time...coupon/matinee price only.
I have no review to give on the movie...if you know my you already know what I think. You're welcome.

Is it Friday?

So once we finally got home last night I totally thought it was Friday and I was hoping to catch the rerun of Grey's b/c I forgot to tape it on Thursday...it turns out it was actually Monday.

So back to Eva, we got to the hospital at 11am we got Eva all checked in, got her changed in her cute little two piece hospital outfit (complete with red grip socks) and waited, and waited and waited. Then the nurse had me give Eva the meds that make her feel loopy. That was totally awesome- this is the proper way to watch your child on drugs. Totally hilarious.
Then the nurse comes back and tells us that radiology had us down for 1:30pm not 12:30pm...so we had to wait another hour!!! Try explaining that to a four year old, on drugs!
Anyway, she eventually got in and eventually was in recovery and eventually made it back to her room. During all this time my parents had Elle down in the waiting room and they were keeping her occupied. THANK YOU SO MUCH MOM AND DAD!! I can not believe what a difference that made, I can't even imagine if we would have had to have her the whole time...I had a lot of friends volunteer to take her (what can I say, she's a doll) but I would have been worried about her all day, it was much easier to let my parents be the sweet grandparents that they are.
Long story short, we were there from 11am till 4pm! Elle didn't cry or complain once! That is truly a miracle...she even fell asleep in her stroller, that girl has NEVER done that, not even as a baby. Eva did great, she was very brave and strong. I'm very thankful for all the prayers, Eva was relaxed and even a little excited and Elle was an angel! We even went out to eat at Denny's afterwards and the waiter said how amazing our kids were and the were so good and quiet...I laughed...out loud...trust me Elle is not quiet...usually, but I totally just took it in, I was like, "Oh thank you so much, they are really good girls, aren't they?"
So after that we got home around 5:15pm and I left for class at 5:30pm...took my final..yikes, that's all I'm going to say. But I did find out that I got a B+ on my midterm so I'm hoping that my grade will even out...I'd take a C.

**And for those of you who aren't aware...I had a few comments of people who didn't know what was going on...Eva has had three seizures this year, she had her first one about a week or two after her 4th birthday, then another 3 months later, after that we went to the pediatric neurologist in Eugene and he said after her third one he wanted to do a MRI just to make sure there wasn't anything going on and then he would also be putting her on medication. She had her third one right after Halloween I think, I don't really remember. Anyway, so she's been on medication since then and she finally had the MRI yesterday. So that's what's going on with her.

On a completely different note, the nurse at the hospital asked if I was in the medical field, I was like, whaaaaat? Here's the convo:
Nurse: Are you in the medical field?
Me: (laugh- then point to myself) Me? (then realizing she was being serious)
Nurse: Yes, you seem very knowledgeable and comfortable with everything going on.
Me: Well, the first time she had a seizure it was so scary and overwhelming that I kind of just got used to it. I feel like I have to know what's going on.
Nurse: Yeah, I bet that was so scary, no one can prepare for something like that. (nurse walks away)
Me: Yeah, I went to the medical school of I-haven't-even-graduated-college.
Jeremy: (laughs)
Me: I'm totally going home and writing that in my diary, she thought I was in the medical field...how good does that make me feel!

Pray for us, we're off to Eva's MRI. She hasn't eaten since yesterday, she can't have anything else to drink after 9:30am(which is now past) and their estimating that she wont be done till after 3pm!!
Poor baby. I'm hoping that they have some of their timing off, I mean she's going to be put under I can't imagine it's going to take them more than an hour, the nurse told me 12-2 on Friday, that just seems excessive.
I'll give an update later today.
Also, it's my final today...maybe some of those prayers could be for me? ;)

I'm all about winning this Christmas...

I entered the Mary Lou's Weigh Platform Giveaway!

Check out Roni’s Weight Loss Blog for more information.

This scale actually sounds amazing- you never see a number and it claps for you when you lose weight, and if you gain weight it gives you advice...you never see the numbers!!

A moment like this...

between all the the craziness that is being a parent and watching your child grow, between carting kids from here to there, timeouts, hair pulling, tears, fits and screaming there are moments that make being a mother/parent one of the greatest miracles on this earth. There are times when you catch a glimpse of what kind of a person your child is going to be.


While I was getting ready for the day this morning Eva had Elle come upstairs with her and wanted her to go in her room (this is a rare occurrence) she let her play with things that she's usually screaming at her not to touch, and then Eva put Elle on her bed and read a story to her...it was the sweetest thing I have ever heard. Of course Eva doesn't know how to read yet but she was telling her this great story with the pictures from a book. Elle just sat quietly and listened. It was so precious. Elle looks up to Eva so much and it was just so sweet to hear them being loving and kind to one another. I want to take moments like these and remember them forever so I can always share them with people.

I'm so proud of Eva, she's had a rough year this year and her little body has gone through a lot...deep down beneath all of the crazy four year old tendency's is a caring teacher and a leader, she is going to become an amazing human being that will touch many lives.

It's twelve days of giveaways at the patch and I want to win!! They have been showcasing the CUTEST stuff and it's only day 2!!!
If I don't win the necklace by Tags-n-stones I think I'll go ahead and order one, I've been looking for a necklace like this with my girls initials on it for months, so adorable.
All right, don't feel left out, if you play by the rules you can enter too, check out their link.