Idol's Back, Baby!

So I guess I have to admit now that I am an American Idol watcher. Slightly embarrassing since my husband thinks it is totally stupid/staged. Yeah, the tryout footage probably is staged and it is a bit silly, but I suppose it's the silly in me that drags me to the T.V. I don't usually watch the tryout parts, but I heard there were tryouts in Salt Lake this time, so I have to watch. Oh well. We'll see how it turns out.

And BTW, David Cook's CD is great. If there is anyone out there wondering if it is worth the listen, don't. Just know that it is. My personal fav is "Bar-ba-sol", but there are many more to pleasure the ears. I wish I knew how to link it up to this message. I guess I'll just have to install one of those music list things on the blog. Anyway, hope this year can produce as well as last year did.

Also, does anyone have a copy of his (David Cook) rendition of Billy Jean that he sang on Idol last season? I have heard so much good, but I missed it. Would love to take a listen if anyone can share or point me in the right direction. XO

Photo Tag

Ok, this is kind of fun. Cami tagged me to do this game, so I'll play along. Here's how it works: Go to your photos, pick the 6th folder and the 6th picture in the folder, and then explain the story behind it.

Here's my 6th of 6th. A picture of Gabby at around 6 months. We were living in Minnesota and we made a trip to Utah in April of 2006. This picture was taken right before we went on that trip. Gabby had learned how to roll and she was always getting caught up in this blanket. It was so cute and always made me laugh, so I took this picture. Looking back I have several pictures of this nature. Thanks for the laughs Gabby. :)

I tag: Mel, Miranda, Janus, Janee, Cortnie, and Anne.

Halloween '08

So here are some pics of my cuties on Halloween. Jay found this cute onesie for Sasha at KMart (our only choice for shopping up here. Yeah for us). So she wore that during the day and then we put her in a fuzzy pajama that looks like a Piglet costume for the ward Halloween party. It was a fun evening, although I was dreading going. It just didn't sound fun. It was raining all day, the first day of cold that we had this fall so far. We had 70 degree weather all week before that, so I was kind of bummed that it got cold on Halloween. But it made the holiday feel more like Halloween, so that was good. And the ward thing was good too, turned out fun. That seems to be how things always go for me...something I'm unexcited about turns out to be fun and exciting. And Gabby was so excited to wear her costume and be Cinderella, since she thinks she is a princess anyway.

Hillbilly Mommy and Piglet Sasha on Halloween. I forgot to take a picture of Daddy, who was a nerd for Halloween. His costume turned out awesome too. I was bummed when I realized that I didn't take one. Especially since he doesn't dress up for Halloween very often. I have to capture those rare moments. Oh well. Next time.

Pretty Princess Gabby. So funny story about this dress. On Tuesday after Halloween, election day I guess, Gabby's friend Lauren was over playing. They were watching a Disney Princess sing-along DVD that we have. The last song on the DVD shows all the princesses dancing to a song. I was in Sasha's room and I was listening to Gabby and Lauren talk about the princesses. Lauren was telling Gabby that she was Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella, and that Gabby was Belle and Snow White. "Gabby, I'm the princesses with yellow hair because I have yellow hair and you're the princesses with black hair because you have black hair." Gabby was getting so upset that she couldn't be Cinderella. I heard her tell Lauren that she was Cinderella and they were going back and forth on this. Then Gabby was getting upset and she said "No Lauren, I'm Cinderella. Come on, I'm gonna show ya." Then she started walking back to Sasha's room where I was. I knew what she was up to. She wanted to show Lauren her Cinderella dress costume because she had been Cinderella for Halloween. That would prove that she is Cinderella. Lauren didn't come with her though. She was pretty upset by the whole thing. But I thought it was cute that she is so connected to that Cinderella dress. And that she said "I'm gonna show ya." She says that to me all the time. It's cuter if you can hear her say it, but you get the idea.

Those two are cute playmates, love to spend time together. They have found all kinds of things to do together, including drawing. They like to draw with markers. However, I have had to limit this activity because Lauren has taught Gabby how much fun it is to draw on yourself with the markers. The ones I have are not washable, so it takes a day or so to get it all off. Here's a sample of some of thier artwork:

That's what I get for not supervising the art project. Oh well. Lauren's mom Lisa told me that Lauren still had some blue on her face the next day when she went to preschool. Luckily it's not permanent. It's hard not to laugh at this, we were all laughing at them. (This was taken on Nov 2nd, we were having a get together at our house with some friends when the artists got to work). There was one other little girl, Payton, who had done the same thing, but she was not interested in being in the picture. Well, next time. :)

Upgrade in my Personal Technology

It seems that the only time I get on here is to put up pictures. I want to be more involved with my blog, but it is so time consuming for me. I can't keep my dishes washed...how can I justify getting online to send out my nonsense to the world? Oh well, guess I'll just have to lose some sleep and get back to it. I feel too disconnected from friends and I want to email and say "What's new?" But then I realize that I would know what's new if I read anyone's blog. Shame on me. I was even supposed to do some 'about me' blog that I was tagged on in August (is it too late?), but I can't even get to that. Well, better late than never, I guess.

So I got a new phone for my birthday. It's the LG Decoy, comes with a built in Bluetooth and has MP3 capabilities, so I can listen to my music. Thing is, I have a MP3 player and I never use it (although I am using it right now. Colbie Caillat is helping me write this. Thank you Colbie). So we'll see what happens there. But it will be nice to have a head piece again. I've been 2 years without one and it will be nice to talk hands-free again.

Ha ha!! Look at the picture I found of the phone. Get out your magnifying glasses everyone! I thought it was bigger. Sorry about that. Technically unsavvy over here. Well, anyway, I like it so far (my phone, not the picture). Still figuring out all the details and everything it can do. But I do know how to answer it now, which is a step in the right direction. Hopefully I won't hang up on people anymore (sorry Holly). I feel like I'm more hip now with the new phone. Crazy what technology can do to you.

Gabby's Birthday Party

My baby girl is growing up! She will be 3 on Sunday. I can't believe how fast the time flies. Turning three, and I'm happy to report that she is now potty trained! Yeah! It only took about 2 1/2 days for her to get the hang of it. She is doing great. But this blog is not about that. On Wednesday, October 8th, we had a small party to celebrate her birthday. Since we are leaving on Saturday to go to Connecticut for a week to visit Uncle Phil, we decided to do the party before her birthday. Gabby wanted a princess party. It wasn't super princessy, but we did have a princess cake and we made prince and princess crowns. That was the extent of the theme. I had all these great ideas about how to make it fun, but I didn't start planning enough in advance, and my ideas didn't happen. Also, most of my ideas were a little to old for a 3 year old party. I have a 3 year old, you would think that I would know what is on their interest level. Anyway, we just made the princess crowns, played a few games outside, blew bubbles, drew with sidewalk chalk, ate cake and ice cream, and opened presents. Here are a few pics from the blessed event:

The crown and wand Gabby is holding came on her cake. Of course she had to put them on as soon as she saw them. This makes princess crown #3 for Gabby. Princesses can never have too many crowns.


Gabby's friends Lauren and Cole were so excited about the present they gave her that they decided to help her unwrap it. Here is Cole pulling it out of the bag to show Gabby. It's a puppy dog in a bag. Gabby loves it.


Happy Birthday Gabby! Daddy and I love you so much. You are such a joy to us and make us laugh every day. We are so happy at all your accomplishments and know that you will be successful at whatever you do. Thank you for being such a good and loving daughter. May that never change. I'm so grateful to know that I can be with you forever. I love you!

Sasha's First Cereal

October 6th was the big day. Sasha's first taste of rice cereal. I'm happy to report that she loves it. She anxiously laps it up. Now, only 4 days later, she has already learned to open her mouth in anticipation and she is eager to eat it. Looks like I have another good eater on my hands.

Our Family Funtime

A few pics from our recent trip to Utah. Adorable girly girls and their Nana, Great Grandparents (affectionately known as Ggpa and Ggma), and two crazy aunties.



Cute cousins, or as Gabby would say "Friends Together!" Gunnar is only a couple months younger than Sasha, so it is fun to have them together and see how much they love to be with other babies. Babies really do love each other. Sasha is doing her signature lip biting here. Could Gunnar get any cuter?


Sasha, zoning out. Earth to Sasha! Maybe my alien implant is effecting her brain too! (See April '08 dental entry for more details). Darn that breast milk. :)


Two cuties lovin' their Ggpa! I know he loves them too. Just look at the sparkle in his eye! Oh, well, you can't see his eyes. Well, it's there, believe me.


This has got to be one of my favorite pictures of Sasha. Look how cute she is! Of course, I'm not biased or anything (wink, wink). I'm so glad that we have been able to visit with my grandparents when we are in Utah. I know having the girls there just perks my grandma up and makes her have a better day. She is always so happy to see them and play with them. They love her too. Gabby has developed her special games that she plays with Ggma, and she loves to give hugs and kiss her hand.

Remind me again what's so funny? I took the picture so I could remember why Holly is laughing and now I don't. Oh well, it doesn't matter. Good times. These two will just laugh just to laugh. Somehow they can communicate through laughter. It's their special language. I'm a little jealous.

Thanks Auntie Cami for the beanie. I love it. Look how cute I am with it on! :) I will be styling this winter thanks to you. :) I'll be taking orders from all my baby friends, so get your knitting needles ready!