Garage

Our house is small and I am an organizer.  The girls needed someplace to play and I was constantly cleaning up after them in the house.  The best thing we ever did was make our garage a playroom.  We still park my car in there every night but during the day, it is  a fabulous playroom.  Jon got "garage carpet" from HomeDepot and put it down.  I went to CostPlus and bought baskets that I could organize their toys in.  We have an ipod sound dock out there that I put their kid music on and voila....a great place to play.  We have a slide out there, their play kitchen, books, puzzles, bikes and dress up clothes.  I leave the door into the kitchen open and they have a blast!  Elle cranks the music up and dances and Gwen cruises in circles on her trycicle.  It is their space and they love it.  At night we quickly tidy everything up and I pull my car back into the garage.  I love this picture of them.  They were both riding in circles to loud music and I made them stop so I could take a picture.  Gwen LOVES Elle's helmet and always brings it to me to put it on her.  Elle, as usual, is sporting a princess crown.  Good times!

Mothers Day

Today is mothers day.  Jon wrote the previous post...it completely surprised me.  I had no idea he even knew our "blog address"!  I was in tears reading it (literally) because I was laughing so hard, could completely relate and because I love him so much. In so many ways he makes my being a mother so much easier.  I have a lot to be thankful for.  I have a wonderful mom who taught me so much and loved me.  Not until you have children do you realize how much your parents really love you.  It is an amazing thing how much love our hearts can hold for our children.  I love the pictures above because they represent the two days, July 21st (elle's b-day) and December 13th (gwen's b-day), that I officially became a mother.  I love those pictures.  They were taken so shortly after our girls were born.  I feel so blessed to be a mom, more specifically, Elle and Gwen's mom.  I have always known what an amazing gift being a mother is.  I feel blessed that I understand that even though somedays seem monotonous, they are not meaningless.  As mind numbing as unloading the dishwasher AGAIN can be, or breaking up a fight, or having to rationalize for 15 minutes why patent leather shoes are not a good idea for a school field trip, I still get the bigger picture.  There really is nothing more important that I could be doing right now than raising our girls.  Yes, I get burned out.  In fact, Jon called home the other day and I was being really quiet on the phone.  he said, "hey, where are you"?  I didin't know if I should start laughing or crying but I sheepishly said, "I am sitting in the dark in our garage on the floor...I needed a break and I am drinking a diet coke.  I can't talk too loudly or they will find me".  Yes I have days that seem like they last for months but when I look at the girls asleep in their little beds, they are growing up much too quickly!  I feel blessed that I can stay at home with them and hug them and hold them tight when they are sad or happy.  I love that we can put music on and dance in the kitchen while they help me clean.  (Elle's favorite cleaning song is "Boogie Shoes" and Gwen gets a big crooked smile on her face and dances by turning around and around in a circle).  I love when Jon puts them in bed with me in the morning before he leaves for work and we watch cartoons together. There is an amazing essay on motherhood from the author, Anna Quindlen.  My friend Elizabeth quoted her today in a talk she gave at church.  This quote from the essay that she shared has been ringing in my ears all day.  

"The biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make while doing this (being a mom).  I did not live in the moment enough.  This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs.  There is one picture of the three of my children sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages 6, 4 and 1.  And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night.  I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed.  I wish I had treasued the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less".  

I try to whisper in my girls ears throughout the day, "I love being your mommy". I said it to Elle the other night as I was putting her in her bed.  I thought she was asleep.  She whispered back to me, "I love being your Ellers" with her eyes still shut.  Those are the moments that I will hold on to forever.  That is what being a mom is all about.  I adore these sweet little angels that I was given to care for.  I dreamed that I would be their mom from before they were born.  

Happy Mothers Day

Amy was gone Friday and Saturday for  stake youth conference and I had the girls all on my own.  With Mothers Day this weekend, it was a good opportunity for me to see how much Amy does on a daily basis.  Friday evening and night were no problem.  However Saturday morning when the girls woke up, the fun started.  Both girls were hungry and Elle wanted to go to the Bagel Shack.  I thought, "no problem"!  I got the girls dressed and when I got to the Bagel Shack it was packed.  No parking spots and it was crazy inside.  Trying to park, get the kids out, get the stroller for Gwen and navigate the traffic was a bit much.  Once inside I was trying to get into the huge line but with the stroller and Elle grabbing Bagels we ended up getting cut in front of 10 times.  I'm sure it was very funny for the people to watch.  Gwen decided to have a complete meltdown in the stroller.  One word.  ArchBack!!  This continued as I tried to get Elle to hurry and finish her bagel.  I felt much better once we were back in the car belted up and driving out of the parking lot.  For the past few days I had been looking for a camera lens that Amy wanted for her mothers day gift.  Of course it was sold out everywhere.  I tried 30 stores.  Friday night I found a store that had it but it was in Santa Ana.  I decided to drive there after the bagel shack.  When we got there the store seemed unusually busy and then I noticed their "no tax" sale for the weekend.  A professional camera store, tons of people and me with the kids... not a good combo.  It took Gwen 2 minutes before having another complete meltdown.  As I tried to get someone to help me I finally gave-in to Gwen and let her down and told Elle to watch her.  We were surrounded by lots of breakable items!  Once I finally got someone to help me, I was told that they were sold out of the lens I wanted.  At that same time I heard things flying off the shelves behind me and realized it was because of Gwen.  I almost lost it.  I told the guy I had called and that they told me they had the lens in and that I had to load the kids up and drive from San Clemente!!  I grabbed Gwen who was continuing to pull things off the racks and told Elle to follow me.  I had asked her to pick up some of the items Gwen had pulled off the shelves and Elle thought I asked her to bring them with her.  As I walked out of the store I turned around to see where Elle was.  She was now in the custody of the security guard who now thought we were some kind of shoplifting team.  I got back into the car and started to pull out when Elle says, "Dad, Gwen is stinky".  I knew what had happened... I just didn't know how bad.  I pulled over and as I pulled Gwen out to change her, we had it everywhere.  A total blow out!!!  It was all over the car seat, her clothes and body.  It took me a good 30 minutes to get it cleaned up.  I decided at that point the best chance for survival would be to retreat back to the house.  Gwen didn't sleep long at home for her nap because she had fallen asleep in the car on our way home.  The rest of the day consisted of lots of sippy cups, snacks, a fun trip to the park, another blow out from Gwen who managed to get her diaper off in the crib and to finish the day off I found Gwen standing up on the kitchen table ripping our mail up.  Right about then is when I realized that this is what Amy deals with everyday.  This is one of the many reasons why I love her and why the girls love their mommy so much.  The girls were so excited to see their mom when she walked in.  Gwen especially...she ran with open arms and a big grin straight into Amy's arms.  Elle mentioned to me that, "mom is much better at this" several times, which I will have to agree with.  Happy Mothers Day!  Thank you for working so hard and for being the Best Mom for our girls.  I love you.

love,

Jon

Strawberry Fields Forever

We went to the strawberry fields this morning.  Elle and Gwen each got their own little bucket and were able to pick their own strawberries right off the vine.  After Gwen picked a few, she sat down in the dirt and just ate to her hearts content.  Elle kept picking the whole time we were there but I think her motto was, "one for the bucket, two for me....".  The strawberry fields went on forever.  It was a little overcast this morning and so beautiful.  I am thinking we will have strawberry shortcake for dessert tonight...that is if the girls and I don't finish them off before dinner!  

Gwendolyn...

Mama loves you.  

Cherie N' Me

We were walking back to our car after dinner and Elle yelled, "Mom, come here!"  She was looking in a shop window.  Remember now, she is only 3.  I walked back and asked her what she needed.  She said, "Mom, isn't that the most beautiful lamp in the world!"  Ahhh, my heart sang!  When I had Elle, not only did I get a little girl, but I got a girl who loves all things "girl". She will flip through my home magazines and find her favorite page.  It really is so cute.  When I was a little girl, every time we would go into the mall, I loved going into a shop called "Cherie N' Me".  I would tell my mom that while she did her shopping throughout the mall, she could just leave me in that store.  It was a home store and I would just stand inside and  dream that someday I could have a bedroom that looked like that store.  As a little girl, I thought it was the most beautiful store in the world.  I have always loved all things to do with interior design.  I could read and study about it all day long...and never tire of it.  The lamp Elle is sitting next to is not the one she saw in the store window, but it is a favorite of mine.  It is from an online french antique boutique called French Blue and Co.  The owner of this online shop, Janet, used to have an antique boutique (say that 3x's fast) here in San Clemente...I frequented the store so often (the marble top dresser Elle is sitting on came from her shop too) that Janet and I became friends.  She now has this amazing website.  Check it out!

Flower Fields

My friend Andrea and I took our kiddos to the flower fields in Carlsbad this morning.  Elle, Gwen and their little friends had a great time.  The girls ran from station to station collecting stamps, ran through a sweet pea maze, went for a tractor ride and played in a fun playground called "Santa's Village".  My favorite part was choosing fresh flowers to take home.  Elle hopped up on to our kitchen counter and I let her arrange the flowers herself.  She did a great job!   A very fun morning.  

Palm Springs

We just returned from 3 fabulous days in Palm Springs.  My friend Christy and her family had a week at a hotel and her husband had to leave a few days before the week was up.  We were lucky enough to get the invitation to go out and join her and her girls for the remainder of their stay.  Christy's girls, Brinley and Malia are the same ages as Elle and Gwen.  Four little buddies.  I took Elle and Gwen and Jon stayed home to work (what a good husband and daddy).  We had so much fun.  Three full days of swimming. Elle and Gwen both LOVED the pool.  Gwen wanted to go down the waterslide non-stop.  She is fearless!  Christy and I had our hands full (literally) with four girls ages 3 and under.  Two non-swimmers and 2 semi-swimmers who think they are swimmers.  I don't know which Brinley and Elle loved more...swimming from sun up to sun down or getting matching princess nightgowns.  It was a perfect summer kick-off.  Thank you Christy!

Tea Party

Elle knows how to throw a great party.  Her stuffed animals thoroughly enjoyed her tea party.  They ate, sang, and read stories together.  

Princess Hair

Every night Jon and I play a shuffling "game" with the girls.  I am usually finishing dinner dishes while he takes the girls to the bath.  Just about the time I finish the dinner dishes, Gwen is done with her bath and jon passes her off to me all wet and wrapped like a piggy in her towel. (I could just kiss her little cheeks off!) I get Gwen into her jammies while Jon finishes with Elle.  Jon and I would make a great relay team...it is like clock work now.  Tonight after Gwen was ready to get passed to Jon to put her in her crib, I walked into our bathroom and saw what is pictured above.  How cute is that?  But the cutest thing about it is that it is a normal occurrence.  He brushes out Elle's tangles and then blow dries her hair.  She always complains that I can't make her hair as soft as daddy can.  It's true...I don't have the patience to blow her hair out.  After he does her hair, she runs her fingers through it and calls it her princess hair. I often forget how young Elle is.  She is only 3!  The majority of my day is spent talking with her.  She is quite the conversationalist and follows me around the house just chatting away.  When I look at these pictures and see her sucking her thumb in her "jammie dress" (nightgown) I am reminded how young she really is.  I don't want to forget this time with her. Before I can blink she will be grown and I will want to turn the clock back and see her in our bathroom sucking her cute little thumb while her daddy combs her hair.   

Sisters

I got Elle and Gwen dressed and put them on my bed to watch cartoons while I finished getting all of our things together before we headed out the door...Elle to preschool and Gwen to run errands with me.  I noticed it was quiet and that is usually NOT a good thing.  I quietly looked in the bedroom and saw the two of them laying with each other on the bed.  Elle had her hand around Gwen and Gwen was awake!  Usually she is jumping up and down or gets off the bed and goes and takes all of my shoes out of the closet.  But not this time.  Elle was gently stroking Gwen's little peach fuzz hair.  As much as I wanted a picture, I didn't dare go in the room because I knew Gwen would get up and the moment would be lost.  I finished getting everything together and went in to scoop them up to get them into the car and Gwen was sound asleep...hours before her normal nap time.  Elle was so proud of her mothering skills.  In her words, she said she had "loved-her" to sleep.  It melted my heart.  Since wen was now asleep, it was safe to get my camera out to capture the moment.

Happy Anniversary

Married 5 years...today.  I love you.

"Whatever Our Souls Are Made Of, His And Mine Are The Same"

Emily Bronte

Salad Bowl

When Elle was little she would get out the salad bowl just to sit in it.  Jon thought of the great idea to slide her across our kitchen floor while she was in the bowl.  She would just laugh and laugh and laugh.  Elle can't fit into the salad bowl anymore but it is the perfect size now for Gwen.  The other night after dinner, we put Gwen in that same bowl and played the same game with her that we used to play with Elle.  She loved it too and her giggle as she was sliding across the wood floors was priceless.  The top two pictures above are of Elle at about the same age Gwen is now.  The bottom two are of Gwen.  I never think they look much alike but now that I put these four photos together, I realize how similar these two little sisters look. Too cute. 

Mirror, Mirror On the Wall...

Gwen was admiring her beauty in the mirror.  The minute Elle saw the sweet moment, she couldn't stand it anymore and ran up to her and started making funny faces.  Gwen adores Elle.  It is really amazing considering how often Elle knocks her around.  No one can make Gwen smile like her big sister, Elle.  

Fancy Nancy

Elle's very favorite book is called Fancy Nancy.  She LOVES it.  She asks me to read it every day and refers to Nancy as if she is a real person.  Nancy is Elle's  personal heroin.  If Elle had a personal motto it would be, "what would Fancy Nancy do".  Nancy is a little girl who loves all things "fancy".  Some things Elle has learned from this book: gold is fancier than yellow, patent leather is fancier than regular leather, Nancy gets everything with sprinkles on top because it is well, just fancier! Dresses are fancier than pants and the more bows in your hair the better.  Elle frequently tries to get me to put matching bows in my hair to look fancier when we leave the house.  Her favorite thing to do is to play dress up and to dance.  She has a little plastic cd player in her room and cranks up the music and dances.  The funniest part is that I supply her with the music selections.  She doesn't know any better yet.  In the pictures I took above, the girls are dancing to Neal Diamond singing, "Cherry, Cherry".  Classic