Brad's Brown Eyed Girls

6 weeks

2011-10-27T08:10:00.001-07:00

Savannah is six weeks now and is doing so good!! She is starting to smile all the time and is even attempting to talk!! She is such a blessing in our home!!!

Busy Weekend

2011-10-24T15:46:00.000-07:00

So this was a GREAT weedend, but a BUSY weekend!! We went to the Temple and.....

... saw Zander's sealing, which was such a special thing to be apart of. We are so excited to have him in our family!!!! And then...

...Zander and Savannah were blessed!! It was kind of crazy but with such great things that it was well worth the running around!!

We were so blessed to have so much family here. We had my two brothers Matt and Mike, and my Uncle Don, Brad's Dad, Bruce, his brothers Jake and Spencer, and brother in law Matt, his Grandpa Lewis and Uncle Dale in the cirle. And then we had lots of other family and friends there to support us.

It's times like this that I feel so blessed to have mine and Brad's families around, and that they are able to be here for the special things in my kids lives!! Thank you everyone that came!!

Savannah's 1 Month Pictures

2011-10-19T10:27:00.000-07:00

I know they are a little dark but night time is the only time I have a second to take pictures!!

Isn't she just the cutest thing ever!!

Savannah Dawn

2011-09-29T10:49:00.000-07:00

Savannah Dawn came Sept. 12th and 10:48am.

She weighed 7 lbs. 11 oz. NOT 9 lbs. 11oz. like Brad texted everyone!! And was 191/2 inches, long for one of our babies!! Maybe she will have the Schmidtlein height but we'll see!

The girls were so excited.
Now the crazy life of three girls begins!!

She is a really good baby and actually started sleeping through the night at a week!! But because she is not putting on weight I am waking her up. It was so hard to ruin such a great thing but I remind myself it is better for her!!

My Mom came for two weeks and helped out and it was great!! She helped out so much it really didn't seem like I had just had my third. Now that she's gone I feel it, but it was a great two weeks and couldn't have asked for a better helper!!

We are so excited for our new addition and love her so much.

Her sisters can't get enough of her!!

Dancing Gir!!l

2011-09-02T11:01:00.001-07:00

Emma has now started Ballet and is a Dancing Girl!!

She just loves it and as you can tell loves to get in her dance clothes!!

I was worried at first how she would do without Madison in the class but she is doing Amazing!! All this morning she kept asking when she got to go to "school." The determination on her face when she dances is just adorable!! She is a natural!!

First Day of School

2011-09-01T10:57:00.001-07:00

The day I have been dreading finally came!! Madison's first day of school!! And this year they started way to early for my taste! Instead of the end of August, it was August 15th!! SUPER early!! But she was ready and so excited!! She couldn't wait to go and I was holding back tears that I had thought I had cried out that morning before I even got her up!

I think she looks so cute in her little uniform!!

Fortunatly she has her cousin Lynnie in the class so that made it easier, well for me anyways, for Madison it was an added plus but she was so excited about school she would have been fine either way!

She did so great and I think I did good too!! I didn't cry once infront of her!! Overall a fabulous start to the school years!!

The Simple Things in Life

2011-07-27T15:11:00.000-07:00

I was just thinking about the simple things in life that make us happy, and thought I could just watch my girls and could experience those fun things again through them!

Like playing in the sprinklers!!

Sacremento Here We Come

2011-07-17T15:26:00.000-07:00

We decided that we needed to get away for the weekend and go visit my brother and his family in their new house! And while we were there we also decided to take the girls to Fairytale Town.

They LOVED IT!!

We had so much fun getting to visit, all the other pictures were taken with my phone, but what you don't see is the awesome pool that is in my brothers back yard that the girls lived in while we were there!! One of these days I will learn how to get my phone pictures on my computer!!

Dance Performance

2011-06-11T15:19:00.000-07:00

Madison had her Spring Dance Performance again! They were the pinwheel fairies!
She was so excited!! Not that you can tell by the crossed arms but she just gets REALLY shy with all those people!

Her class was so cute!

She did such a great job!!

In the end I think she was almost more excited about getting the flowers then the performance, not quite but almost!!

Schmidtlein Reunion

2011-05-30T09:27:00.000-07:00

For the first time we had a Schmidtlein Reunion or maybe its just the first I've been to. Either way we went up to Kingston and went camping. The funny part was not one of the people there had the last name of Schmidltein, there were a lot with the middle name but not last. From our family Brya and I and our families were the only ones able to go so ALL the boys carrying the name were not there!
The main reason for us going there was to clean and fix up my Nana and Papa's grave, it was nice for the kids to get to see the graves and get to help with the cleaning!

My Uncle Don made a fence to go around all the family graves and it really turned out nice!! He is very skilled!

The girls had tons of fun playing with all their cousins and it was great for the adults to get reacquainted!! It had been since my sophomore year in high school since I had seen some of my cousins!!

Here's Brad working hard or hardly working whichever you prefer!!

Emma really did have fun contrary to this fit!!

Preschool Play

2011-05-24T19:09:00.000-07:00

In Madison's preschool at the end of the year they put on a little play.

Madison was the ButtercupBilly, buttercup, caterpillar, and the rose
Always willing to pose!!

Mrs. Stark (Aunt Janet) and Madison.

Madison had SO much fun in preschool this year, she was very worried about not seeing Mrs. Stark again, but fortunately we have the family tie so she can keep seeing her!!

Field Trip

2011-05-17T18:59:00.000-07:00

Today was Madison's last field trip for preschool!!
And they went to the Firehouse!! After watching a video they actually got to see the trucks go out on a call which was pretty cool! Well for the kids to see not for the person's house that was on fire, but everyone was ok so it wasn't too bad!

They had so much fun!

A new addition

2011-04-26T08:34:00.000-07:00

I figured I should finally post that we are going to have another addition to our family!

We just found out last week that it is going to be a GIRL!!!

We are all very excited! Especially Emma who kept saying she wanted a sister! Madison wanted a boy but is now excited about a girl! She actually informed the doctor it was a boy after he told us it was a girl.

This one was all on our own!! We actually did 8 months of Fertility last year and even did artificial insemination with no luck. At that point we decided to take a brake and then 6 months later found out we did it on our own!!

We are open to suggestions for names, or I should say I am, Brad has a name picked out already and I'm not ready to commit!!

Softball Opening Season

2011-04-03T15:50:00.000-07:00

This is our first season of Softball and after opening ceremonies, pictures, and two games I can safely say the parents who do this are saints!! It was a VERY long day!! And I only had one kid, I know others that had three doing the same thing!!We started out with Madison being VERY shy! She was clinging to my leg until I forced her out onto to the field. I know you think, gosh its her first time, but really her Uncle is her coach and her cousin is on the team. She wouldn't even go to them! But by the end she was smiling and waving and even said her name when they brought her the microphone!!

Emma just sat in the best seat of the house!!

Although it may look like she is ready for anything she would stand back and let the other girls get the ball!! At least she has the stance down! (the second game she did go after the ball)

In the end it was a great experience for her and she loved it!!

So it was well worth it!!

Slacking

2011-03-11T15:37:00.000-08:00

Ok, so not only have I been slacking on posting apparently I have been slacking on taking pictures too!! I just went to pull up some pictures to post and there are none to post. The last pictures I uploaded were from Halloween! Sad I know!Needless to say I will be filling in the last three or four months in later!! With pictures!!

But for an update....

Things have been going kind of crazy here!! Between all the sicknesses, which have been extensive, we have had Preschool, Ballet, and Play dates for Madison. And she will be starting Tea ball next month! Fortunately Emma is still to young to start anything yet but will start ballet this summer, which could be VERY interesting! Brad has been non stop between work and work at home!! And I have been trying to keep instep with all of them while watching kids, craft groups, a trip to Idaho, and lots of sickness!! Did I mention we have been sick..oh because we have!! The thing I'm worried about is Madison doesn't even start Kindergarten till the Fall!! Then we will have a whole knew crop of sicknesses, the joys of children!!

Well hopefully that has given a brief update and I promise to follow or precede this one with others!!

Santa

2010-12-09T08:04:00.001-08:00

We went to the Christmas Tree lighting this year but after seeing the super long line we decided to go back the next day to see Santa. We only stood in line for about five minutes!!
Madison talked to Santa for both the girls!! The only thing Emma said was that she wanted a Tiger toy! I have NO idea where she came up with that!! Madison kept asking me, while we were waiting, what it was that she wanted!! She couldn't remember the name! She wants the Leapster but I think if you can't even remember it then why should you get it!! Good thing Santa is nicer then me!!

Hanging the Christmas Lights

2010-12-04T07:56:00.000-08:00

After lots of pleading from the girls (mostly Madison) Brad hung the lights! It was Madison's first time helping and she was not to sure about being on the roof.
Just look at that expression!

Emma on the other hand was fearless!! We actually took her down after telling her to stop moving so much! It's pretty sad when the mom is more scared then the 2 year old!!

Although Madison was scared in the beginning she had no problems by the end of it!! She was even walking around not holding Brad's hand!! I don't know if I should be proud or scared!!

What a sweetie!

2010-12-02T07:58:00.001-08:00

This morning my little rug rat woke up at 5:45! So I grabbed her and put her bed with me. She squirmed for an hour and then got up. While I was still laying in bed I heard her singing

" I love Maddie, I love Maddie all day long!"

My girls are ALWAYS making up songs!! They come up with the funniest things or REALLY sweet things!!

It was so cute!! Then it was followed by "I just went potty and poopy"

Which prompted me to jump out of bed and help her!!

I love that my kids can sing about loving their sister and going to the bathroom in the same song!!

Now that's talent!!

Christmas Tree

2010-11-28T19:29:00.001-08:00

After last years Christmas Tree debacle we decided to go all together to get a Christmas Tree instead of just sending the guys and the kids! Well after lots of changes in plans we realized our little car was not going to make it up to go get a tree in the snow. So this year we used our fake tree! I am personally not a big fan but we wanted to get the tree up, so here it is!The great thing is the girls love it and that's all that really matters...right?
After we were done Madison just went on and on about how it was perfect!!
I love her excitement!

And after seeing two happy kids in front of the tree, I'd say it is pretty perfect!

Shooting...for girls?

2010-11-26T19:19:00.000-08:00

One of Brad's family's traditions is to go shooting on Thanksgiving. Well this year his parents went out of town so he ended up going the day after Thanksgiving with some cousins and Jake (his brother).

Every year Madison really wants to go so I send her wondering what she actually does!!

Now I know!!

Good thing Lynnie goes too or who knows what she would do!!

Thanksgiving

2010-11-26T19:08:00.000-08:00

We went to Brya's for Thanksgiving this year and had a lot of fun! That morning we had a funny incident!! Madison and Emma wanted to wear dresses! Which I was strongly discouraging since they were going to want to play with their cousins and they wouldn't be able to play like they wanted, well that was my reasoning!! A few tears later they finally won and they got to wear the dresses. For once I thought ahead and brought other clothes. About ten minutes after we got there and a million reminders to sit properly in a dress the dresses were off!! I do not know where this strong desire to where dresses comes from! Everyday they want to wear dresses and I try to discourage it because its so cold!

I never thought I would get those girls!!

Other than our dress drama we had a great day!! We ate and played games all day! I couldn't have asked for a better day...except maybe the gravy!

First snow!

2010-11-20T19:01:00.000-08:00

We had our first snow! It was the best kind! Came and left pretty much in the same day!! While I was away at Super Saturday the girls and brad make snowmen.Stitch
Lilo and Me!!
Apparently I'm to much for the front of the house so they had to put me in the back!!

Trick or Treat

2010-11-01T18:20:00.000-07:00

We had a lot of fun trick or treating this year!!

We went around with a huge group right in our neighborhood!

Emma as always got it easy!!

We even got glow wands and necklaces this year, the girls loved them!!

I do have to say I remeber getting way more candy!!

Halloween

2010-10-31T11:00:00.000-07:00

(Eric, Dayton, Lynnie, Madison, Emma, Austin, Jenna, Kate, Wyatt, Kylie, and Kysha)

So I know it's been forever but I have been busy or Brad has been sleeping in the room with the computer in it!! I am now At Brya's watching the kids which is still busy but I have some peace while they are outside!!

We had a fun and busy Halloween Brya and Jalyssa came from Fernley so they could trick or treat on Saturday with us!! We went to Annie's house and had dinner and then took off!! Here are all the kids! Needless to say the house was full!!

Ward HalloweenParty

2010-10-28T18:59:00.000-07:00

Our ward kind of does it all! We have the Chili cook off, the Trunk or Treat, and the Carnival games!!

Our girls' favorite is the candy!

This year my beehives did face painting!
They did a great job!Emma liked the cake walk until her number was called and she had to stop, not how I played!

Although maybe that's because her dad took the cupcake?

School Halloween Party

2010-10-27T18:13:00.000-07:00

We had Super Girl (Natalie), Snow White (Katelyn), Tinkerbell (Madison), McDonald's Fries(Mrs. Stark), a witch (Carlyn), Spider man (Ethan), and a pirate ( Kemper)!

I have to say I think I liked the fries the best!! I have always been a sucker for McDonald Fries!!

Lattin's Farm,Again?

2010-10-23T18:35:00.000-07:00

So, I know what you're thinking. These people must really love Lattin's Farm!! Well, we do!! The kids have so much fun. I think we go about every weekend in the fall!!
How could you pass up seeing these faces!!

Or visiting the animals?

Or these faces at the end of the day.

Then there's the Cotton candy and Kettle Corn.

I mean why would you NOT want to go all the time!!

Madison's First Field Trip

2010-10-13T17:37:00.000-07:00

Our first field trip was at Lattin's Farm.The kids took the hay ride out to the pumpkin patch. They got to pick out their own pumpkin!

I actually let her pick it out with out any input!! A break though for me!!

The fun part was my Uncle Don was the one that took us around.

He is so great with the kids!

The field trip was a success, the kids had so much fun!

Madison's 5th Birthday Party

2010-09-18T11:23:00.000-07:00

For Madison's Birthday this year she decided she wanted a Tinkerbell Tea Party!

We had everyone dress up as fairiesWe made wands and headbands
Madison dressed up as Tinkerbell

We had flower sandwiches with tiny Cinnamon rolls fruit and grape soda!! Madison had to have purple drink!

The kids seemed to have a lot of fun! The only complaint I got was from the parents when the kids went home with heads full of glitter!! (Fairy freeze tag!)

I am so glad it is over and I don't have to do another party for another year!!!

Looks can be Deceiving

2010-09-13T20:27:00.000-07:00

So Sweet, Right?

This was my night:

Madison and Emma sitting on my bed watching the show Madison picked out!

Me on the floor folding clothes

(Madison)"Mom when I'm a Mom I'm not going to be mean like you"

(Me).....(Silence)"what?"

(Madison)"When I'm a Mom I'm not going to be mean like you"

(Me)Still hoping I heard her wrong, then thinking

What did I do? This is not mean, I can do mean if you'd like!!

Lets just say I called my dad after sending her to her room and was advised not to take it personally and just talk to her about it!

I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO TEENAGE GIRLS!!

And am still trying not to take it personally!!

First Day of Preschool

2010-09-08T19:36:00.000-07:00

The day has come that Emma and I have been dreading! Madison started Preschool at Brad's Aunt's today!!

Whether we were excited or not Madison sure was!! When we picked her up from school Emma gave her a huge hug! Then I told them it time to go. Emma grabbed Madison's hand to walk to the car, and I started to talk to Madison's teacher. Next thing I knew Madison was by my side and Emma was crying hysterically grabbing at Madison's hand. I told Madison that Emma missed her so much and just wanted to hold her hand, so she did. Emma started laughing and said Thank you to Madison for holding her hand!! On the way to the car Emma looked up at Madison and said
"Have Fun?"
Asking if she had fun at school!
Is was so adorable and sad!! She really misses her sister when she's gone!! So does her Mom!!

Lattin's Farm

2010-09-03T19:10:00.000-07:00

When the cousins were here in Fallon we visited Lattin's Farm. Emma looked so cute when she went on the cow train, her little head was barely visible and just bobbed up and down.We saw a ton of animals while we were there!Ate some REALLY good Watermelon!

Saw a "Little Brown Bear, with TEETH!"
Tara first comment when she saw Emma, pretty accurate!! And Madison hung out with her favorite uncle!! She actually told me once that we should name her brother, when we had one, Uncle Don!! It was really cute!

Then we were beat!!

Cousins

2010-08-30T14:05:00.000-07:00

So for my birthday this year I got a huge surprise!! My sister Tara, her 4 kids and my Sister in law Janet came to visit.So we had 10 of our kids, 2 I was watching, and five adults during the day!! Then that night we had 3 more kids and 3 more adults!! So my house was VERY full!! Fun but full!!

(Halle, Brielle, Jenna, Hyrum, Emma, and Madison)
Then we all headed to Brya's to enjoy some more space!!
(Wyatt, Madison, Dayton, and Paul)

One of the nights all the girls got their nails painted!

(Joy, Madison, Jenna, Emma)

And here's the boys

(Dayton, Wyatt, Brigham, Hyrum, Austin, and Paul)

Needless to say we are having a crazy week and half but it has been so fun to get everyone together!!

Soccer

2010-08-15T21:38:00.000-07:00

So my baby has followed in my footsteps!!

Playing a real sport, Soccer!

And she had a ton of fun!Even Emma wanted to play!They play from 3:30-5:00 and let me tell you it is HOT!!They played a game called Bear and I have to admit I found it pretty funny! They would kick their balls around in a square until it went out or someone took it! You could tell it was a bunch of 4 year olds who are still being told its not ok to take someone else's thinks! They were just not getting it!! So there were a lot of tears! Then they had three on three scrimmages, which consisted of Lynnie slide tackling everyone, Makayla giggling, the boys crying and Madison running in fear!! Ok not really, she made three goals and cried at the end because Lynnie took the ball!! Again with the not getting the point of the game!! Lynnie is the only one who truly knows soccer!! As Madison shouted, after hearing one of the fathers tell their son after he was taken out by Lynnie,
"Pushing is allowed!!"
Hehehe, I love soccer!!

Swim Lessons

2010-08-06T20:51:00.000-07:00

This summer has been a very busy one!! I don't know how people do it with more kids!! One of the many things keeping us busy was Swim Lessons!Emma was able to do two sessions and from the first to the second there was a Huge difference!!

Madison only got to do one because of conflicting things and then her surgery! She started jumping from the diving board with a noodle and ended without it!!

I was so proud of her!!

She was actually swimming instead of last year where they jumped up and down across the pool!

Look at that smile, pure joy!!

Our girls are definitely little fish and I love it!!

The Lake

2010-07-20T21:14:00.000-07:00

As always we had the week at the lake for the Stark Reunion! We weren't able to be out the whole week but we sure had fun when we were there!

Don't you just love the hair!!

Both girls loved the Jet ski! But Madison liked it faster then Emma.

Our cute little poser!!

The ever horrible picture I post of myself, my Mom once said I should have pictures of myself so that if I die early my children will have them to remember me by!

Morbid I know but True!!

Madison had a lot of fun riding on Brad's back! And ordering him around!!

Brad and Jake had fun throwing the girls, even when they are thrown Lynnie is higher!! Not fair!!

We had so much fun with Aunt Liz, as always!

Liz, Madison and their person they made.

(Madison named it the weirdest name, I can't remember the name!!)

Yet again another fun filled week with family!!

Camping in Kingston

2010-07-03T12:35:00.001-07:00

Our final trip for a VERY long time was to Kingston! My Dad grew up in Austin and spent some of his younger years in Kingston canyon! My Dad wanted to to go camping there and climb Bunker Hill. Which should not be called hill but ginormous mountain!!We went camping there a couple times when I was little. This time we were larger in number but still missing a lot! Matt's kids got sick just before so they were unable to come and Brad had to work. So Brya and I went without our husbands and Matt with out his family. As much as I hate to say it Matt had it right!! I will NEVER go camping without Brad again!!
We had six kids and five adults, you would think easy, not so!!

Every time I turned around Madison was clinging to her Uncle Dallyn!
And Emma was in time out!!

When she wasn't clinging she was posing for the camera!
And Em was squatting in the dirt!

The joys of feeding kids with no high chairs!! How did they do it back in the day?

So I think my favorite thing about camping is I don't wear makeup or do my hair or care what I'm wearing!! As you can tell!!

Time out AGAIN, you'd think she would catch on! Clinging again!!
The last morning we were there was a bit cold! Jenna was lucky Grammie had an extra sweatshirt, and I had a camera!! What a cutie!!
What a shot!

The camping trip was fun and enlightening all at the same time!! I learned its not the most fun going without your husband. Madison learned that when she has a UTI she screams every time she goes to the bathroom, and Emma learned if you look cute at your uncles they will pick you up!

The only bad thing about the trip was we were missing my sister Tara and her family, Charlie and his wife and Mike on his mission!! We sure missed them!!

My Dad

2010-07-03T10:01:00.000-07:00

Schmidtlein Family Time

2010-06-27T11:36:00.000-07:00

Next we went the far distance to Fernley and stayed at Brya's where we met up with my parents and little brothers (Dallyn and Leith.)

We decided to let the kids go swimming since it had been so hot! We picked the day that was cold! We ended up boiling water to off set the cold water being put in from the hose! Whether cold or not they had lots of fun playing with their uncles!!
Emma is turning out to be a poser like her sister! Only when she wants to though!!
Then everyone came back to Fallon and stayed for a couple days! We ended with a picnic at the park. We made for a huge group!! We had my parents and brothers, Brya and her kids, Matt and Annie and their kids, us, and my Aunt, Uncle and Cousin!!

Needless to say we kind of took over the park!!
Emma really liked the merry go round! I remember liking it too, but now I won't even go close to it!!

Even Emma made it to the top of the rocket ship, unannounced to me!
The good think about a big group is there's plenty of help to go around!We had so much fun seeing everyone, it had been a long time since we had seen a lot of them!

Virgina City

2010-06-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

Our next trip was to Virginia City! Of all of us Madison had the most fun!

Brad and I have a picture of us in this chapel when we were dating in high school!

I couldn't pass it up!

Madison LOVED going into all the stores!! Once we would leave one she would practically pull me into the next!!

Emma's favorite part was the car!!

Besides the stores, we stayed here the longest.

They had to each take a turn driving Over and Over!

And who can go to Virginia City without getting an old time picture done!! Brad wanted us all in but I won!!On the way down I started feeling car sick so we pulled over at the scenic stop.

It was a lot of fun but I would not recommend it to people with little children who don't love to go in shops!

Sac Town

2010-06-19T10:07:00.000-07:00

So this year our "Vacation" was supposed to be going up to my parents for my Dad's retirement but because they were moving that weekend we decided to not at more stress to a stressful situation and didn't go. But Brad already had the time off so we decided to take a bunch of miny trips!!

Our first trip was to Sacramento. Where we stayed with my brother and his family! It was so great to see them and the kids! They are so cute and grow up so fast!! Here are the kids swimming!!
Brad Found a little friend!!
Emma being the littlest was deemed the bucket girl and they filled that bucket till she screamed for them to stop!!

We actually came unprepared for the pool and after this I'm kind of glad. She just looks so cute!!We also went to Fairytale Town while we were there!! The girls loved it!!

I figured at least our little darkie Em looked like she fit in the tee pee.

Madison loved the castle, who would have guessed!

I loved the hydrangeas!!

Emma started getting a little tired and crawled up on Cinderella's carriage and sat there for a long time!!

Then they had to take a ride!

This reminds me of a picture I have of my family in South Dakota at Story Book Island, same idea as Fairytale Town but better!!

So I wanted both the girls to try!

We had snow cones that got ALL over! But that's the fun of vacation, right?

We found a little pirate while we were there! The cutest pirate I have seen!

Appropriate!! Although, maybe Em should have been the Lion!

After a long day we headed home, and the girls were exhausted!!
I wish I could say they slept well that night!

My Dad

2010-06-18T10:01:00.000-07:00

Today my Dad had his retirement ceremony and I am so sad that we were unable to go!! So I just had to post how proud I am of my Dad!! He has served in the United States Navy for 28 years!! All my life, and I couldn't be prouder of his service to his country!!

Congratulations, I love you Dad!!

Madison's First Dance Recital

2010-06-12T17:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Madison's first dance recital. She was so excited!! The whole day she kept reminding me to put on her red lipstick and asking when she was going to dance!! It didn't start till 7pm so it was a long day of reminders!!

Before we headed to the recital we went to Annie's to put on her make up and take pictures. It was so weird to see the girls with make up but they did look so cute!!
And apparently cold

Here is our little Dragonfly!!

Reagan, Madison, and Kate All of the Dragonflies
And our little poser!
Brad bought a flower for her at the recital, she loved it!! She hugged it through the entire preformance! She decided she needed to get flowers after every time she danced!!

We stayed for the entire preformance that night, and she just loved it. Every time a dance was over she would check to see if Brad was clapping and if he wasn't she would say "Clap Daddy!"
The next day she had lots of visitors. Brya and the kids came and Traci and Lynnie. Brya and the kids brought her some beautiful flowers. Madison was so happy to get more flowers!!
The sad thing about this prefomance is she had a fever! She woke up and told us she had a headache and then we checked later and founf out she had a fever. We still went to the one o'clock preformance becasue she was acting better and REALLY wanted to go!

But that ended up being her last one! She still had the fever and it had even got up so we ket her home instead of going to the seven o'clock preformance. It was hard for her she even cried a bit but it wasn't whole hearted because she really wasnt feeling good!!

Madison was so excited about everyone that came to see her dance (Grandma and Grandpa Lewis came, too.
I was so proud of her!! She did such a great job, it was just adorable!! Definitly a proud mama moment!

Red Lips

2010-06-11T08:37:00.001-07:00

This morning, while I was still in bed, Madison walked into my bathroom and walked out with this lovely Red Lipstick! We put it on her the day before for her dress rehearsal for dance and obviously she loved it!! She actually did a pretty good job putting it on. The sad thing is it really shows that she has my lips which are pretty much nonexistent.

(By the way the only reason I have this very red lipstick is because I bought it for a "How to Host a Murder" party! I don't actually wear it!!)

The Things Kids Say

2010-06-05T15:39:00.000-07:00

I was thinking the other day of all the cute and horrible things my children say and do and thought I should document them so I don't forget!!

Emma:

1. "No, be nice Daddy"

(with her finger pointed at me)

Translation: No, be nice to Daddy!

(We were having a "discussion")

2. "What doin?"

She asks me this every two seconds sometimes, it is cute but gets annoying being asked so many times!

3. Hey, Sissy!

(Every time she see's Madison)

4. Emma is our first biter

5. When Emma wants to go outside she gets my shoes and puts them on me, usually on the wrong feet!!

6. "Where Maddie?"

(Sounds like Ma-ee)
7. She copies EVERYTHING her sister does!

(This worries me, although it could be the other way around and that would be worse!!)

8. To her fathers joy she always defends her father when we play around.

Madison:

1. I asked her how she got so sweet and she said "cause you taught me."

2. "Don't do that or I'll punch you in the nose."

(not in that order, totally different times)

3. Today when we went to Walmart the stuff in the cart were all "her friends."

4. She talks to everything, today it was her ice cream cake!

5. She sings ALL the time about EVERYTHING around her!

6. Mouthwash is "Wash mouth"

7. A fly swatter is a "fly swapper"

8. She loves the Dentist

9. Told her friend the other day when she was coming over to play that they couldn't get the playroom dirty because she just cleaned it.

(proof that she is my child!!)

10. Defends me when her Dad attacks me!!

(I get the one who can actually do something)

To Be Continued.....

ABC School Graduation

2010-06-03T19:53:00.001-07:00

In January we started our own version of Joy School that we called ABC School! Madison couldn't have been more excited!! She would ask me at least three times a week when it was time to go to pre-school!

We did lots of fun stuff and even learned a few things here and there! I think the adults enjoyed it just as much as the kids. I do have to say it was a lot more work then I thought, but that was really my own fault, I planned way to much every time!

Today was their graduation and here are the graduates waiting to begin!

(Samuel, Camille, Sarah, and Madison)
And a would be graduate

(wanting to be like her sister, again!)

Madison kept saying we were going to her graduations! It was really cute!

True Sisters!!
Samuel had to get a picture with Madison!! Along with an education this year Samuel got his first crush! It was so adorable! On our last class, at my house, his Mom told me he saved a shirt to wear for the whole month so he could wear it to Madison's house and he not only had to comb his hair but put jell in it!! What a cute little guy! After Graduation we had otter pops and played at the park! Who could ask for a better Graduation?!

Random things

2010-06-01T19:30:00.000-07:00

This I had to document! I just love this kids smile! The dimples and teeth make it one of the best smiles I have ever seen!!
Madison has started putting her hands out like this EVERY time I take a picture or ask to see how she looks!! She will even leave the bathroom after I do her hair and walk to Brad with her hands out like that to show him her hair!!
It is so funny ...and weird!
Emma has started copying everything "sissy" does!! Madison had the apron on so she had to have it on!! It is so cute how much she wants to be like her big sister.
On a side note I have always hated when people call their kids sissy or sister! Who knows why, but I just don't like it! Now I have realized that Madison is really hard to say when you are just learning how to talk!! I finally get it! And think its kind of cute!

Here is our crew!! The girls have had so much fun having me watch kids! I think they will go through with drawls when I don't do it anymore! Not that I plan on it anytime soon!
Brad's Grandpa Lewis has been coming over for Sunday dinners and the girls have found lots to fill their time with when he is here. Madison pushes Emma around on the walker. They both just laugh and laugh!

Escapee!

2010-05-26T20:56:00.000-07:00

We have now encountered yet another problem we didn't have to worry about with Madison!! Escaping the crib!! I didn't know what to do, not having dealt with this before, but after talking to many trusted people!! And trying many different things we were able to drop the mattress to the floor! That worked well for about a month and then one morning I woke to a knocking at the girls' door, and lo and behold it was the escapee!!
Now, that we have excepted the inevitable, we have changed the crib into a toddler bed!! Much to my surprise it hasn't been to bad! I have to sit with her for about 5 minutes at nap time until she falls asleep. She does get out of bed at night but since she still can't open the door we don't have to worry to much! Plus Madison keeps her in check!!

(Don't mock the pillowcase!! It was Brad's and the girls love it!)

We are alive!

2010-05-03T22:05:00.000-07:00

Well I thought I should post something since its has been awhile. I keep wanting to post but our cord to connect the camera to the computer is MIA, and I always like posts with pictures! But I guess that's what happens when you try to organize...you can't find anything!

Things are going good here. We are staying very busy. We have kids over here Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Madison has Joy school on Thursday and Dance on Friday! Then on Saturday we all go to Lowe's where they have a wood project that Brad and Madison put together! (Every Saturday I have to convince myself to go, but once we're there and seeing how excited Madison is, makes it worth it!!) In between all that we have Doctors,Dentist and Chiropractic appointments in Reno which makes the week go really fast! It makes you really appreciate the days you do stay home!!

Emma is keeping us on our toes, she is really quick to smile and scream, we never know which it will be!! The smiles out way the screams..lucky for her, and us!!

Well that's our lives in a nutshell.

As soon as we find the missing cord I will post pictures!

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T19:16:00.000-07:00

We had two Easters this year. One with the Lewis' on Saturday and one on Sunday with Brya and her family. It was really nice we had an Easter egg hunt at both and then at the Lewis' we had the traditional Easter dinner. On Sunday we decided to just have appetizers. It was great!!I couldn't have planned it better myself, oh wait I did plan it! This was the Easter egg hunt the Easter Bunny did at my house!! Madison was very excited! It probably helps that she is the oldest so its easier!Although Emma was the smallest, she still held her own! No surprise there!

Here are our little Bunny's! Aren't they cute?

The kids made out like bandits!!

The Easter Bunny has gotten really good over the years!

Chuck E Cheese

2010-03-19T19:02:00.000-07:00

We decided to take the kids to Chuck E Cheese! So we headed up with Brya's family and had so much fun! I have to say I still have lots of fun there!!

(We haven't gone since in a REALLY long time and Madison's asks about going all the time!)

Emma was so excited! This was her first time going when she was old enough to play and she spent the whole time riding all the cars!

She even started catching rides with strange men!
At least she goes for the talk, dark, and handsome type!!
As I was doing this post I noticed that we do not have one single picture of Madison or Brya's kids. I guess we were just trying to make it fair since Madison has SO many!!

More Pictures of our Angels

2010-03-13T16:56:00.000-08:00

Since it had been awhile since I posted I have a lot to update on so here we go! In January Madison started ABC School, like Joy School! She loves it!! In the beginning she would get up everyday and ask if she was going to school! She has so much fun and the people we do it with are so great!
Brad, Madison and Emma have now taken to watching Phineas and Pherb! A cartoon that is surprisingly funny! Emma now has part of the beginning memorized, sad I know!!

Emma is following in her sister's footsteps, she loves to be on the phone!!

Funny story that has to be remembered!!

The other day Brya came down to go to our friend's baby shower. Brad watched Brya's four and ours (he is a brave man!) When we got home the older three were on the couch in towels. They had gotten in the water out back and so Brad gave them a bath. Well the boys clothes were still in the dryer when we got home so to preserve the girls innocence we got clothes for the boys, since I only have girls they were girl clothes. We had mixed reactions!! Wyatt screamed and cried about putting on the "girl clothes." Then there was Dayton who was more then happy to wear them. In fact when we finally took them off we had to fight him to take them off and he was hugging the panties and shirt saying "mine." It was hilarious!

The kids playing ring-around-the -rosies! Emma fell down too soon!!

Emma probably watching Phineas and Pherb again! I just love her outfit, don't you?

Ice Cream

2010-03-08T18:31:00.000-08:00

Well I know it has been forever!! I have finally found a second to blog!! Things have been very crazy around here and I just haven't had the time and when I do I just want to vegetate!! So here are a couple pictures I thought were cute!! My girls have taken on my liking of Ice cream!!
The only difference is they like chocolate, which they get from their father!! I thought this one was just hilarious!! Can you believe those teeth!! They are so cute BUT I know she won't think so when shes older!! So we are yet again trying to get her to stop sucking her fingers!! Wish us luck!! If anyone has suggestions that would be GREAT!!

I thought this one was just cute, it was valentines day and that was the monkey Madison got for her!! The dollar store is fantastic!!

Christmas

2009-12-28T07:52:00.001-08:00

This Christmas was fabulous!! Madison was so excited!! She ran out looked around and decided she didn't' get her Santa present she wanted, before even opening it!! That is how excited she was!Emma's present was a huge success!!
And Madison did get her Pop n' style cabbage patch!! She loved it!! She's only been asking for it since before her birthday in September!!

True to form Emma had just as much fun with the boxes as she did with her presents.

My favorite was between a video camera and my cricut!! Brad did REALLY good this year!!

(Ignore the picture!! I had to document Brad's great year! He is SO proud of himself!!!)

Even Aunt Heather and Aunt Jess had fun with the toys!!

We had a great Christmas spending time with family!! I'd say it was our best yet!! Kids just make Christmas so much more!!

Christmas Eve

2009-12-24T22:59:00.001-08:00

Today was a pretty busy day! We had to get the house cleaned, finish up shopping, family over the morning and then again in the evening!!

But we did find time to dance to the Christmas music and the girls had a blast!!

It was hilarious, one of the songs we had on was Elvis' "Santa bring my baby back to me." Madison was singing with it and in the beginning it says " I don't need a lot of presents," right after she said that she said "oh, no we do need a lot of presents!!" It was the funniest thing!! I swear we really do talk about the true meaning of Christmas!!

Brad's family came over and we watched a movie about Christ's birth and then played our New FaVOrIte game "Things"!!

The night ended with the girls opening their Christmas P.J.'s which they loved, a little more then I expected!!

Which is always nice when it works out that way!!

When Madison got in her bed she actually pulled back the curtain to find a star to make a wish for Santa to come. I don't know if that means she's done something bad I don't know about, so Santa wouldn't come OR she's just really excited!!

Hopefully it's just the REALLY excited!

Christmas Carolers

2009-12-23T22:50:00.000-08:00

For our project this week we made carolers. I thought they turned out pretty cute!! The hats look cuter if they are the same color as the people but I am a boring sock person!! White is pretty much all we have!!

Kids, Kids, and more Kids

2009-12-16T10:20:00.001-08:00

I started watching two little boys when school started and just started watching two more little girls!! Kind of crazy yes but its only twice a week, so not to bad!! After watching 6 kids (including mine) for a day I decided I needed to have a project a day to brake up the monotony for the kids and me!!So we made Kool-Aid play dough!!
It was REALLY easy, smelt GREAT (we used Cherry) and was a hit!!
And we always have time for dress up, apparently EVERYONE enjoys it!! Today we added another little girl and boy so we had LOTS of little princesses!!

Snowman E.T.

2009-12-14T10:15:00.000-08:00

Brad and Madison finally got around to making a snowman out of all our snow!! Some how it ended up looking like E.T.

Now we have a Darthvader snowman two houses down. My friends husband couldn't be beat by E.T. but technically he cheated, he actually used the helmet and cape!!

So we win!!

Christmas Dresses

2009-12-13T10:03:00.000-08:00

This year I didn't want to do my usual dress!! Well the color! I always do the typical reds in varying shade. I decided to do blue!! My favorite color! Now looking at the pictures I should have taken them with the cardigans off, the top is simple but very cute!!
Speaking of cardigans, it took me two months to find ones that were the same in the sizes I needed. I would always find them in 4T but never in 12 months!! It was a pain!! My suggestion, buy black cardigans right when they come out in the fall of you will never find them again!!

For those who wonder why you don't see Emma as much, this is why!! She is always on the move and will not sit still for anything...she's definitely not the poser her sister is!!

Our attempt of pictures infront of our Christmas tree

2009-12-10T17:14:00.001-08:00

My mom sent these cute antlers for the girls so I thought lets take pictures in front of the Christmas Tree since we have the camera back!

Madison did pretty good!! We had to have the balloon's in all the pictures because I didn't want a fight and they were tied on pretty tight!! SO that's the ribbon in the picture.

The ones where there was no screaming the balloons took over!
Then there was the screaming

Decent one with no covering or screaming Then Madison took the camera
And we got some FABULOUS ones!!
Emma was not happy(apparently neither was Brad)

Then it ended with us laughing and Emma screaming!!

The joy of family pictures!!

"I don't hear any stomping"

2009-12-01T20:20:00.000-08:00

Madison and I have our morning ritual of getting up and doing an exercise video!! Yes, Madison works out with me, she even gets the biggest spoons we have and uses them as her weights! Its really cute! Well this morning right before we worked out I made muffins, I put them in the oven and left the bowl on the floor in the kitchen so Madison could eat the leftover batter. I was doing jumping jacks and then push ups, and I heard "Mom I don't hear any stomping!" Confused as to what she was talking about I asked her what she meant, and her response was " I don't hear you stomping!" with this little, I've caught you trying to skip out on exercising while I wasn't watching, tone to her voice!! Like she was my trainer and I she caught me cheating while she left the room! So I explained to her that the I just switched to the next exercise, apparently that was enough of an explanation for her, she finished her batter, and came to exercise with me.

Probably to make sure I wasn't slacking off!!!

I couldn't believe it, my four year old was chastising me, later I wanted to comment on how instead of doing abs, which she deemed too hard, she ran in place. Which seemed like a cop out, but I thought that would be a little catty!!

Christmas Tree

2009-11-30T18:53:00.000-08:00

The day after Thanksgiving we all had our assigned places to be!! Brya, my Mom, Emma, Austin, Loren, and I went shopping.

Brad and Chuck took Madison, Dayton, Wyatt, and Jenna to get a Christmas tree!!

They started out smiling!
Hiked in a lot of snow!
Got covered in snow
Found the tree

Cut down the tree

(I want you to notice the saw is upside down, I can't figure if Brad thought that was safer or what...you can tell the Mom's weren't there)

And ended crying!!!

We have since decided that next year we will be getting the tree on Saturday so everyone can go and take part in the fun!!

Who would want to miss that?!

Austin Hendrick Steffens

2009-11-15T09:33:00.000-08:00

Meet Austin, or Tyrone, as Madison calls him!! He's Brya's fourth and was born November 14th!

He was 8 pounds 4 ounces and 22 inches long!! Brya got her wish, she had her last one the day before her 30th birthday!
The hospital room was REALLY full with all his siblings and cousins!!
He is just adorable!!
We are So happy to have him in our family!!

Halloween

2009-11-01T07:51:00.000-08:00

This year we went up to Fernley for Halloween. Chuck was deployed and Brya due in three weeks so we figured we'd go up there!

We had Dorthy (Jenna), two firemen (Dayton and Wyatt), and Pirate Princess (Madison) and a witch (Emma)!!

Because of Brad's new work schedule he was able to be there, we love the new schedule!!

Emma sat in the car dragging her pumpkin and foot while Brad pushed her around! She of coarse loved Trick or Treating!
Madison and the boys had so much fun running to the houses! The only one's Madison wouldn't go to were the "scary ones." On the way to one (I made her go) she was really scared so Brad and I held both of her hands and walked her up. After I was talking her about how it was just pretend and not really scary and that I wouldn't let anything happen to her and she looked up and said " I know, I know....its not scary!" Funny how we both had to hold her hands and then she "really wasn't scared!"

Everyone did so good and we had a lot of fun!!
After all the kids were in bed the adults watched "Tremmers" and I just have to say I remember being so scared of that movie when I was little and it is so not anymore!!

Tunck or Treat

2009-10-29T07:39:00.000-07:00

We went to the ward Trunk or Treat this year without Brad! But fortunately my fabulous friend Amberlee went with us and we had a lot of fun!!
Emma walked around the gym carrying her bucket and would not let it go unless she was putting it down to get candy!!

Madison loved all the games but this one was the most fun to watch!

And then their favorite was getting all the candy, I have to say I kind of felt like a dork walking around with Emma getting candy, but I swear she ate just as much candy as the rest of us!!

Bed Head

2009-10-10T07:53:00.001-07:00

I just had to document the lovely bed head!! Emma with her fohawk and Madison with her craziness!! I just love it!!

Why can't this last forever?

2009-10-07T09:28:00.000-07:00

The other day, all of the sudden, Madison decided she wanted to do the dishes and she did, with my help!! Now after every meal she can be found getting her stool to stand on and standing over the sink washing dishes!! Last night I was sitting on the couch holding a plate and she came over, took it from me and got started washing!! I just want to know why this ends because I'm sure it will. Why can't it go on FOREVER?

She does it with a smile!!And she is even teaching her sister to do it!!

7 years!!

2009-09-29T09:29:00.001-07:00

Well its been seven years yesterday and I'm feeling good!!

We haven't gotten a ton of time together lately with Brad working ALL the time, but yesterday we spent the day in Reno and it was SO fun!! I love my girls but sometimes its nice to just have time for the two of us, and it was great!!!

I have such a great husband!! And I love him so much!! I think the thing I love about him the most is he is such a great father, I don't think I could ask for much more, even though I do!!

Madison's Fourth Birthday Party

2009-09-21T12:09:00.000-07:00

We decided this year to do a Friend birthday party for Madison!! Coming from a family who only did family parties I wasn't sure exactly what to do. Madison and I decided on Candy land theme and from that I decided to do a Candy walk and bounce house!! I figured I didn't want to plan too much!!I think the Candy walk was pretty successful, it took some directions but it was fun. I just drew the cards form Candy land and whoever was on that color when the music stopped got candy. I figure you can't go wrong with giving Candy!

Here is the cake!! I don't know what I was thinking deciding to make it, but my Mom always did that so I wanted to continue that tradition!!

This year she got LOTS of makeup, which was EXACTLY what she wanted!!

She was so excited for her Makeups, as she calls it!!

The bounce house was a lot of fun but kind of crazy with all the kids, when everyone left Madison and Emma were on and off of it all afternoon!!

By the time 3 came around Madison was so tired!!

But not enough to stop her from planning her party for next year!!

Even though her mother might not EVER plan one again!!

I had to post this, in one of the makeup sets she got had press on nails and she had to put them on with her make up!!

"I can do it now cause I'm 4!!"

2009-09-18T10:15:00.000-07:00

That's Right today Madison is FOUR!!

This morning she told me she would be four when she blew out her candles, so I had to explain that it was the day not the candles that made her four. We were making her birthday breakfast (blueberry muffins) and she wanted to do everything!! Her reasoning was because she was four she could do it!! Her actual words were "I can do it now cause I'm four!!" It amazes me when your little how the next day makes you able to do things, but when your older it feels completely the same!!

Here are some pictures of our little "sweety".

Newborn

One

Two

Three

And Four

She had to wear purple today because its her favorite color...even her panties had to be purple!!

Slacking

2009-09-17T07:43:00.000-07:00

Well I have really been slacking on posting lately!! But we have been pretty busy with watching kids, birthdays, and life in general!! In the last little while Emma has started walking (Finally!!)She is a lot more sturdy then Madison was at this stage and falls a lot more gracefully then Madison. I'm excited to not have a child with bruises ALL over her head form walking!!

Brad has also taught Em how to growl when she eats!! I think he really needs a boy so he can stop trying to turn my little girls to beasts!!

I have also found out why Madison is SO excited to get big (tomorrow is her birthday, so she has been talking about it!) She wants to get big so she can get married!! I asked her what was so great about being married, just wondering what she would say, and she said "because you did it!!" Then I asked her who she was going to marry and she said "I already told you, Prince Eric!!!"

A couple Fun Things

2009-08-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

Well first of all we got a new car!! I know what everyone is thinking, usually when you have kids you go bigger, but we decided to go for more economical with Brad commuting. Brad picked the color, he said he has been wanting an orange car for years, so I gave in. I'm getting used to it but still fell like I really stand out when I'm driving it!!Madison had her first sleepover!! Matt and the kids were in town and came over Friday night and spent the night!! They had so much fun!!
Saturday we all got up and went to the lake and got REALLY dirty!! All the kids got covered in dirt!!

And Emma just ATE the dirt!!

We had so much fun with Matt and the kids and were sad to see them leave but it is SO much nicer with them closer so we get to see them more often!!!

Play Room

2009-08-21T10:54:00.000-07:00

Well we finally did it!! We put the girls in the same room!! And now have a play room! We decided to put them both in Madison's room because Emma's is right by the front door and was always woken up by knocking or the door bell!!I have to say I was really worried about it, but its been great!! The girls love it!! The first night they were up for about an hour, after we put them to bed, laughing!! It ended with Madison in the crib and us telling her she had to stay in her own bed!!
They had a lot of fun "helping" switch the rooms and now they love it even more because they have a play room!
Emma has been the most helpful! She kept pulling everything out of the boxes, exspecially the necklaces. We definitely have another girly girl! Whenever there is anything that can go around her neck like a necklace she is putting it on!!

Now Emma is always in the playroom!! Most of the time in this chair, apparently its her favorite!! Its great though, she goes in there forever and just plays and I don't have to worry about her getting into anything she shouldn't. We still have a lot of things we want to get done in the room but even without it done its a huge success!!

Wedding Pictures

2009-08-13T20:17:00.001-07:00

So I finally have the pictures from Spencer's wedding from the 1st of August!! A little late but but better late then never!!(Lynnie, Liz, Madison and Emma)

Apparently while we were in the ceiling it was quite the photo op!! So here's a little of that!
Madison and Lynnie getting ready for their future!!
Hooray, Uncle Spencers is married!!

Janie and Emma

Still waiting

Me, Liz, Traci, and Jessi

(unfortunately Angie and Heather were busy at the time)

Isn't she so cute!!

Apparently all the pictures before really took it out of our girls!!

The cute couple and a couple of leeches!

Emma with her favorite person (Besides me!!)

The whole group!! My daughter in the front, No surprise there!!

Brad and Emma at the reception

Spencer and Heather

(Don't they look so happy)

90% of the pictures had Liz in them so I couldn't really get ANY without her so here is one of the cute ones!! Lucky Madison is in it or it wouldn't be so cute!

(Liz, Janie, Me, and a very tired Emma)

It was a long day with the wedding, lunch in, and reception but everything was beautiful and the girls just love their Aunt Heather!!

One Year Pictures

2009-08-11T22:23:00.000-07:00

I had my friend take pictures of Emma for her year photos and thought I would share some.

I can't believe how good they turned out, the little model was not in the best of moods!! I guess that's how you know you have a great photographer when you still get fabulous pictures!!

I LOVE this one!! I love how sweet she looks. And I just love her teeth, weird I know but I think they are so CUTE!!
This is Brad's favorite of the three, don't let this one fool you, she's a little beast!!

I just love her smile!!

Thanks SO much Corrine!! You did such a great job!!

My Little Peanut

2009-08-08T18:04:00.001-07:00

(Em and her Aunt Liz)

Well we took Emma to her one year appointment and she has followed in her sister's footprints!! She is skinny, short, and big headed!!

She weighs 16 lbs. 13 oz.

28 1/4 inchesand her head is 46cm.

Which puts her in the less then 3rd percentile for her weight, 25th for her length, and 75th for her head!!!

My poor big headed children!! ( I just have to say THAT, is from the Lewis side!!)

The funny thing is she is about a pound lighter then Madison at this age and a little less then a inch longer!!

It will be interesting to see who will be taller!!

Zucchini Bread

2009-08-06T19:37:00.001-07:00

My friend posted a zucchini bread recipe on her blog and I had zucchini from our garden (which I don't actually like, Brad planted it) so I decided to try it out!! I have never made zucchini bread but it sounded good, I figured if anything Brad and the girls would like it. AND... ...the reviews were good!!! Everyone loved it!! Even me!! The best part about cooking it was the recipe called for Cinnamon and while it was cooking my house smelled like churros!! You can never go wrong with that!!

Birthday Party

2009-07-30T08:47:00.001-07:00

We had a lot of fun at Emma's birthday party!! She actually took her first steps, which was REALLY exciting!!

I made a caterpillar cake for her birthday, I don't think she knew what to make of it, but I thought it turned out pretty cute!!

I thought she would really get into the opening of presents but she really didn't dive in like I thought she would. But she sure loved them when they were unwrapped!

And the favorite goes to Traci and Jake!!! The baby laughs when you push on its stomach and she LOVED it!! She laughs and the hugs it all the time!!

She couldn't get enough of the baby!!

After presents it was cake time!! My favorite!! I know some people think its a dumb tradition BUT we will ALWAYS do it in this Lewis House!!!
She started out delicate like Madison but then dove right in I was very proud!!

After her cake and bath she was still hanging on to her baby!! Good job Traci!!

And the question of the day!!

My sister Brya calls Emma her little Monchichi and so of coarse had to get her one for her birthday!! So what do you think, Monchichi or not?

My Baby is One!!

2009-07-29T16:11:00.000-07:00

One day old

One week

Two weeks

One Month

Three months

Six months

Nine months

ONE YEAR!!!!

She has grown up so fast!!

She is now giving Kisses, waving bye-bye, saying Hi (all the time) and has 5 teeth(five more then her sister had at this age!!)

We LOVE her so much!! Happy Birthday Baby Girl!!!

Lake Pictures

2009-07-20T22:06:00.001-07:00

Brad's cousin took pictures while we were at the Reunion and I thought they were so cute so I had to post them!!Em and Uncle Spencers (as Madison calls him)
Emma, Erin(she took all the pictures except this one), Madison

Madison and Logan (surprise surprise!!)

The other day she say his picture on our blog and I went to another website and she looked at me and said " Mom I want to see Logan" and asked why and she giggled and said " Because I like him!!" So the crush I thought would go away did not!! It's so cute!!

The girls were watching Spencer fix the boat!

I thought this one was so fun!!

Hoping and Praying for the boat to work!!

I just LOVE her smile!!

Stark Reunion and Madison's First Crush!!!

2009-07-12T11:06:00.003-07:00

Well The 8th hit and we were off camping again!! This time it was for the Stark Family Reunion, which is always held at the lake!!

Madison went knee boarding for the first time!! She did so good and was so brave I was really proud of her!! Emma and I had fun watching Brad and Madison show off their skills!

Emma and Aunt Liz

Emma was ready to go knee boarding herself but I figured she was a little to young!

I do have to say Madison was the cutest flag girl!!

I just thought this picture was So cute, She was looking up at Brad!!

The only place Emma could sleep without getting heat stroke was with Aunt Traci.

We sure loved her help!!

Brad did have to sleep most of the time but he did end up with a couple hours to play with the girls and boy did they love it!!
Brad also got some time to play himself.

THEN, for the thing you have all been waiting for.......

Madison's first Crush!!!

LOGAN!!!

I have to say I was hoping it would take a little longer for her to have her first crush!! But it sure was adorable!! She would follow Logan everywhere, ask where he was when she couldn't see him, have to sit with him, and even correct Lynnie on how to pronounce his name.

Madison and Preston

Funny story, when Madison was on the boat, Brad and Preston (Brad's other cousin) were teasing her by calling her John!! Which of coarse she would correct then every time. Then when we had dinner that night she told Logan that he could call her John!!!

After we had gotten her plate ready she insisted on sitting next to Logan!!

Logan was great and she had so much fun!!

I'm just worried about when she finds out they're cousins!!!

We had a lot of fun being at the lake with the Starks!! And can't wait till next summer to do it again!!

But I think for this summer we are camped out!!

Fourth of July

2009-07-06T07:41:00.000-07:00

Well our day started out with Madison and her little puppy, poor Emma has to go through a lot with her big sister.Then we went to the parade with some friends!! The girls had so much fun!! While I just kept getting annoyed that the big kids kept stealing the candy from the girls.

Caleigh, Makayla, Madison, and Emma

The girls were so happy to stand and wave at everyone!

Of coarse I had to take pictures of the girls together!!

And more!!

Then some of each of them!!

Then we went to the river and had roasted hot dogs and marshmallows with Brad's family. Then were off to the fireworks!!

On your mark get set GO!!!

Madison was racing with Aunt Liz, this was her starting pose!!

Janie, Liz and Madison

Madison and Emma!!

The funniest thing was, Emma was a crazy lady!!! She was SO happy and kept attacking Madison ALL night!!

It was a really great Independence day!!

Independence Day

2009-07-04T13:50:00.000-07:00

My Dad sent this to me and I thought it was very fitting so I had to post it!!

As the celebration of the birth of our nation approaches I could think of no greater words to read and by which to abide in this hour when so many cry calamity and woe.

“Men may fail, but this nation won’t fail. I have faith in America; you and I must have faith in America.

“I plead with you not to preach pessimism. Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world. This is the favored land. This is the land of our forefathers. It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials and crises it may yet have to pass through.

“We should not be concerned about finding what is wrong with America, but we should be finding what is right about America and should be speaking optimistically and enthusiastically about America.”

--Harold B. Lee

Happy Fourth Of July!!!!

11 months!!

2009-06-29T16:55:00.001-07:00

I can't believe it's only one more month and my baby will be a ONE!!
We just love this little girl SO much!!

Bath Monster

2009-06-27T17:58:00.000-07:00

So yesterday we camped at the lake with Jake and Traci. We had a lot of fun but were really dirty when we got home. So it was off to the bathtubs. I put both of the girls in and let them play and then took Emma out and got her lotioned and dressed. A couple minutes later I heard a splash then a cry from Madison.

I walked around the corner and found this.....a dark head instead of the blond head that was

expecting to see in the bath. That's right we have our own little Bath Monster. The resemblance was so similar to Emma we named it Emma!!

So then I took a picture because I figured no one would believe we had our very own Bath Monster!! Don't be jealous, I've heard very few Bath Monsters are ever seen, let alone caught!!

Crazy Week

2009-06-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

So our CRAZY week started last Thursday with the Lewis Family Reunion. Thursday night we went to the Temple which was so nice since its been a while!! Then Friday we went to the lake and had a lot of fun!!It was Emma's first time at the lake and she LOVED it!! Once she was in the water she did NOT want to get out!!!Madison had fun playing with Lynnie and Ezra. Do you think she's ready for the water of what?

The Family Reunion went through Sunday but we left Saturday night and went to Brya's to get ready for camping!! It has been at least 6 years since I've gone so I was Really looking forward to it!! Madison was the most excited about fishing!! She kept asking when we were going fishing!! Here she is with Chuck's catch!! She unfortunately didn't catch one, not from the lack of trying!!! I have never seen a three year old sit for so long!!Emma was happiest when we were in the tent since I would let her crawl around!!

Here are all the munchkins!!
The camp ground was beautiful!! Lots of of trees and water!! The best part was FLUSHABLE toilets!! A novelty I have never had while camping!!

My adorable niece Jenna.

What is camping without a picture like this!!
Brad was not there most of the time because he ended up working but to make up for it he bought Madison a fishing pole!! Well really he had his eye on it before the trip but didn't get it until he came back on Monday!! Madison, true to form, kept hugging it and thanking him for it!!
Here she is with her purple and pink fishing pole!!
Apparently Emma can't wait to go fishing herself!!

The family the last day in front of the tent, I say last day so you know we had already been out there for almost three whole days, which is why we look so great!!

After a long week many of us were really wiped out!!!

Or just trying to get out of clean up!!!

Swimming Lessons

2009-06-13T18:40:00.000-07:00

Madison started swim lessons on Tuesday and is LOVING them!!

Emma has even stuck her legs in and is loving the water!!

The things kids get into!!

2009-06-06T15:44:00.001-07:00

That's right Emma got into my tampons!! I've seen kids get into flour but really tampons!! She was SO excited too, I walked into the bathroom and she started stuffing them into her mouth and kicking her feet!!

I guess I should just be glad they were the unused ones!!

A couple new things

2009-06-01T13:21:00.000-07:00

Well first of all Emma now has her second tooth!! It only took a month to come it!! So it's been a FUN month!! It's the top one, so now she has one bottom and one top, it looks pretty funny!!And our second new thing was Emma swimming for the first time!!

(And now that I'm looking at this picture I'd say its time for a NEW suit for Madison!!)

Brad of coarse decided to do it on a colder day and she was the only one actually brave enough to go all the way in!! She LOVED it!! You can't really tell from the picture but she did!! I think we have another fish on our hands!!

My sweetie!!

2009-05-31T17:34:00.000-07:00

So this weekend has been little ruff, with sick kids and all!! But it also has been great!! The thing that made it great was Madison and Brad fighting. I don't know if other peoples families do this, but in my family I remember when I was little my brother and Dad would fight over who's woman my Mom was. My Dad would say "she's my woman," Mike (tiny at the time) would say "No, she's my woman!!" And it would go on like this for a while.

Well I always thought it was really cute, and always hoped my husband and kids would do that, silly I know but I loved it!!

Well it happened. Madison was calling me her sweetie and Brad said "No she's my sweetie!!" and on it went, with Madison actually starting to get annoyed!!! Yet again I know, SILLY!! But I loved it!!!

Ten

2009-05-29T16:57:00.000-07:00

Ten little finger and Ten little toes!! And now Ten months old!!
Doing what she does best, Putting EVERYTHING in her mouth!!

The Fallon Spice Girls-Where are they now?

2009-05-27T15:31:00.000-07:00

* Click on the picture to get the full effect

That's right Lisa Simper and Traci Lewis were Spice Girls!! I bet you would never had guessed.

Lisa

Once only concerned with her music is now a mother of three little girls!!

Traci

As a spice girl was obsessed with tight white pants, platforms and British flags and is now also a mother and my sister in law, who knew I would be related to a celebrity!!!

Memorial Day

2009-05-25T13:09:00.001-07:00

Well our memorial day was kind of ruined by Madison having a fever!! So instead of going to the parade (that never happened) and a BBQ, Brad worked on the garden with Madison's help. While we were outside we found a lizard that Madison named "Dirt."
Then we checked out our flowers in the front and just spent time as a family!!
Which is always nice!!
Emma also has now learned to climb up on our trampoline and is SO proud of herself!!

A Couple things you didn't know

2009-05-22T17:55:00.000-07:00

Firstly, that I apparently go walking in my high heels!! Pretty impressive, huh?

And, that I must wear aprons ALL the time!!

Madison has been playing "Mom" a lot!! And I am of coarse "Sweetie" (I call her that a lot I guess!!) Tonight she was reading me a story and I have to admit it was one of the cutest things ever!! She was reading, Jungle Book. When the picture would show pictures of hitting she would say "then Mogli hit Baloo," the she would look at me furrow her eyebrows and say "that's not very nice." It was really cute!!

Except later when she came in to Emma's room and informed me that my room was messy. I decided that she was still "Mommy" so she should go clean her room, so I said " Well its your room Mommy so you better go clean it!!" She stopped what she was doing, thought about it and said, "Oh, I'm Madison now!!" How convenient!!

Which I do have to say my room HAS been neglected because I have been organizing the girls' room. And well I do leave my room till the end!!!

Hair cut

2009-05-08T16:56:00.001-07:00

So I finally did it!! I've been wanting an A-line cut for a while but was to chicken to chop off my hair!!

So here it is, and I love it!!
There's the back so you can see I really did chop off a ton!!

Family pictures

2009-05-07T14:33:00.001-07:00

We got family pictures taken a little bit ago and I have taken awhile to post them, but here they are a little late!!So my favorite of the girls is actually to big to scan so here is another one that we got. I like it but I LOVE the other one!!
I decided it had been awhile since Brad and I got pictures taken together!!

This is one of the family but yet again the other one is to big to scan!! And then our little dancer!!

We did get others of Emma but they are in a set of three on matting so oh well!!

Right of Passage

2009-05-04T18:56:00.000-07:00

Well it has happened!!! Emma is officially a LEWIS!! She now stands on her fathers hands!! This if anyone is not aware, is on Brad's lists of the things his children must do!!

Lights Out in the ER!!

2009-05-04T15:56:00.000-07:00

So everyone that knows me knows I am no good at keeping secrets about myself or should I say things that most people wouldn't repeat!! So hear I go again!!!

The other day my poor nephew was in the ER because he fell so being the nice person that I am went to go keep Brya and Dayton company!! So we hung out for a while waiting for stitches. Finally the doctor and nurse came in (it was a busy night!!) They proceeded to give Dayton stitches. While this was happening I started feeling like I was going to pass out!! The sad thing was I was on the end of the bed by his head so I couldn't even see the bottom lip where they were giving the stitches!! Sad I know!! Anyways I walked to the other side of the room and continued to get REALLY hot so I took of my sweater.....AND turned the light off at the same time!!! THAT'S RIGHT!! I turned off the light while the doctor was stitching my nephews lip!!! Of coarse I couldn't find the light switch for a while so by the time I turned on the light (really a couple seconds but it seemed FOREVER) the doctor Brya and the nurse were staring at me. The nurse just laughed and the doctor didn't look impressed (I can't blame the guy). Brya being the nice sister she is said she was thankful for the reprieve form the tense moment. Dayton the awesome little dude didn't' even flinch!!!

So there you go another fun story from the Erin Lewis saga!!

9 months and Everywhere!!

2009-04-29T16:04:00.000-07:00

Well Emma is now 9 months old!!

She has been pretty busy this last month!! She now pulls herself up on the couch and crawls (when she feels like it, otherwise its an army crawl!)

Still no teeth, I'm holding out for a year like Madison!!
I also now know how it feels to have a kid that gets into EVERYTHING!!! It makes me miss Madison being that age and I didn't have to worry about her putting stuff in her mouth or getting into my stuff!! But still Madison wasn't half as smilie as Emma and I LOVE that!!

5 generation pictures!!

2009-04-22T18:37:00.001-07:00

So here are the long awaited 5 generations pictures!! My great grandma actually passed away a couple weeks ago and it makes me appreciate even more that we were able to go down and see her!! She was such a great woman!!
Here is Emma with her great great grandma and Grammie!!