Home Improvements

Eric has been using our Christmas break to get a ton of stuff done around the house. He's been working in the basement nonstop, well, except for trips to home depot. The basement got ignored during our crazy fall, but we're hoping to give it some attention and finish it up this spring. We're really close to drywall, which is the part I am good at helping with, so I am very excited.




We also bought this star during our post-Christmas shopping. It was 60% off because it was a "Christmas" decoration. Nice. I've always wanted a star on my house. Now I have one.

Merry Christmas

SNOW

It seems like its been snowing a lot. It could have something to do with the wind in Springville. Even if its not snowing, the wind is blowing the snow around, which makes it seem like it is snowing. The babies and I have been spending our days inside, and Amos was starting to go a little stir crazy. Yesterday when Eric got home from work he got Amos all dressed in his snowsuit and boots and took him outside for an adventure. By the time I got the camera and got to the front door the boys were already headed back inside. Apparently Amos took two steps, fell down, and HATED it.


We'll have to try again, because his little snowsuit is sooo cute.

Our morning in video

Amos loves to stand on the Wii Fit....he's seen us play it a time or two, so he imitates us. The first video is me trying to get him to ski jump, he gets distracted by trying to turn on the fit, then he tells us what sound a pig makes:

Video number 2--Amos peed on the fit this morning, and he watched me clean it up. I guess he thinks I didn't do a good enough job. After he finishes cleaning, he does a ski jump.

Big Night Out

Eric and I were lucky to get to go to the Tree Room at Sundance tonight. It was a late anniversary celebration with our friends the Browns, and we had a great time. We ate so much good food, but had even better company.

We left the babies at home, with two babysitters. I have to admit, I was a little more nervous about it than I thought I would be, but the sitters said the kids were good and that they had a good time.

I did it

With A LOT of help from Eric, I finished both Maggie's baby announcements and our family Christmas cards. Woot! We mailed them earlier this week, so coming soon to a mailbox near you!

6 Weeks Old

Maggie turned 6 weeks old yesterday! Its so hard to believe its already been 6 weeks. Here are my favorite things about Maggie so far:

1. She CUDDLES. I've never met such a snuggler (besides maybe Eric).
2. She's slept through the night 3 times already.
3. She cries like a girl. She has the cutest little squeaky cry.
4. She doesn't care that all of her blankies are blue.
5. She likes her room to be roughly the same temperature as the Bahamas.
6. She's happy in the swing indefinitely.
7. She lets Amos kiss and hug her.
8. She doesn't pee on me when I change her diaper.
9. She wears pink like a princess.
10. She is a princess.

Boy's Best Friend

While my Mom was visiting last week she bought Amos one of those kid leashes that he can wear on his back. Amos' has a monkey backpack, and the monkey's tail is the leash that I can hold onto. I have mocked parents who used the leashes, but I've come to realize there are certain situations where it might be highly beneficial. Its also pretty cute. He really likes it, and he's been asking us to put it on him. He wears it all around the house while he plays. We haven't used the leash feature yet, so I am not sure how that will go.

Addresses

I've been back and forth and back and forth about whether or not to do Christmas cards this year. We have so much good news from this year, that I've decided I need to do it. They may not be amazing, but they'll get out. That being said, I need your addresses. Please email me at: LauraAllison@gmail.com

Thanks!

Second Child

Boy, have we been busy. Eric and I have talked about how second children always get jipped (sp?) and I now know, its not because they're loved less, its that their very existence makes life soooo much busier there just isn't time.

We dressed Maggie up for a photoshoot in her Christmas dress yesterday, but after we got her all dressed I realized my camera battery was dead. I took one photo on my cellphone, but we'll have to have a re-shoot with the real camera.

Yes!

Last night as I was feeding Maggie I gave her a little pep talk about sleeping through the night. I simply explained that Amos first slept through the night when he was 6 weeks old, and she was almost 6 weeks old. Since girls are better than boys, she only had a few days left to prove it. Well, Maggie took our little talk to heart and she slept until 7:15 this morning! Hallelujah!


Girls are better than boys.

Where's Maggie?

In case you've noticed the lack of "Maggie" in our recent activities and adventures, I assure you, she's safe and sound, snug as a bug:

More Christmas Tree

This picture just surfaced from the Christmas tree expedition last weekend:

Amos and Maggie

This morning while I slept in (yay for Eric!), the kids had a little bonding time/photoshoot:

Much Better Weekend

This weekend was much more successful than last. Its amazing how different things can be from week to week. The antibiotics have kicked in, and I feel MUCH better.

Friday night we went to Eric's work party. I know I say it a lot, but The Generations Network really knows how to party. The party was up at Zermatt in Midway, which I think is a very cool place. They had a full casino set up, a magician, comedy sportz, salsa lessons, and a music act all going on in different rooms. We had a great time wandering around eating and taking in all the entertainment. I learned I'm sorta've good at black jack too.

Saturday morning we went to the ward Christmas breakfast, and then the boys went to get the Christmas tree. I love how Amos is so interested in everything Eric does. We decorated the tree during Amos' nap. It was so cute when he woke up and saw all the ornaments. He just stood there in awe for a minute. Then he went for the nearest ornaments. We underestimated how tall he was, by just a little bit. Oops.



Saturday night was Thanksgiving Do-Over (see other post), and that brings us to today. We've have two very successful, fun days to make up for the 5 bad ones last weekend.

Thanksgiving Do-Over

Last night Eric and I held a Thanksgiving Do-Over. It was really fun. Everyone got to eat as much as they wanted, and no one got sick! The Browns, Brett, Derek, and Amy were kind enough to join us for the do-over, even though they enjoyed their original Thanksgivings.

Amos and the turkey (pre-thawing/cooking):


The "family":


Amos had a few cranberries:

Things Are Looking Up

Amos looks like I feel:


We spent three hours at the hospital today, and we have a verdict: I have a bladder and kidney infection. After a week of being sick and not knowing why, I've decided its much more fun to watch an episode of House than to be in one. Seriously, though, I feel such a relief knowing what is wrong and that its so easily treatable. 10 days of antibiotics, if Maggie can do it, so can I!

Journaling

So, I always claim I am blogging as a journal, but I've come to realize that I tend to only record the good things (that I have nice photographs of). Its time for a truth telling...

I had a terrible weekend. It was supposed to be 5 fun, relaxing, great days with Eric and the babies. Not to mention a really good Thanksgiving dinner. Early Thanksgiving day I got these insane chills, accompanied by a 101.7 temp. I have never felt so terrible in my life. My fever broke just in time for me to sweat my way through what was I'm sure a really good dinner. Sweating profusely in front of people you don't know very well is awesome.

Friday brought on a trip to the Instacare, of course there was no temperature in sight, so the doc told me to take a tylenol and sent me packing. To make a tedious story short, the rest of the weekend followed this pattern: intense chills & fever, fever breaks, horrible sweating. All of this was accompanied by guilt for sleeping 18-20 hours per day, leaving Eric alone with both babies.

Yesterday I still felt yucky, but seemed to be ok. Until last night, the fever hit again. I still have no idea what's wrong with me, and I hate it. Since its too early to call the doctor, I figured a blog was in order.