* remember this *

"Sisters function as safety nets in a chaotic world simply by being there for each other."

-- Carol Saline

Insect Morning

Yesterday morning was an "insect morning." Zoie wanted to be a ladybug and wanted me to be a butterfly. So that's what we were. We ran around the house saying "I'm flying, I'm flying" and went exploring. We found many things and ate many disgusting things (only insects would eat). Oh the imaginations of this little one. It was a lot of fun. Gotta love it!

Zoie discovered something she can do with her lips and cheeks here. :)

It was pretty funny, wish I was able to capture the noise she was making. 

WHAT KIND OF MORNINGS DO YOU HAVE?

Crockpot Apple Butter

So I started this post in August and forgot to post about it. Being a mom of two can be busy, I tell you, but it is so much. The month of August I was canning like crazy. A friend of mine has apple trees and they went out of control producing apples this year. So I've been over a couple of times to pick apples. It's been so much fun. I've started to develop a love for canning. I've canned, applesauce, apple filling, and now apple butter. Here is the link to my Crock pot Apple Butter. I've made a couple changes to fit my family's personal taste and such. Here are my changes:

6 cups of my homemade Applesauce
3 lbs organic apples, diced
4 cups sugar
1 cup apple juice
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves
1 tsp pumpkin spice

Directions the same. I think the pumpkin spice adds a little more to the apple butter, and the homemade applesauce makes it all that much better without all the stuff they put in the store bought kind. More recipes to come on my canning apples adventures. Enjoy!

My Reindeers

Thursday on our way home from Staunton, we stopped by the library to see Daddy at work. The whole drive there Zoie kept saying, "see Daddy work, go to library, see Daddy work." She was very excited. She absolutely loves going to the library.

When we got there Zoie saw Daddy's Reindeer hat and wanted to make one too. She loved it. He helped her make one and I made one for Charlotte. These were such a clever and cute idea my husband came up with. He is very creative. He made them with his morning pre-school group.

Aren't they cute reindeer's?

 

Snack Time

The other day I decided to spice up Zoie's snack time a bit. I told her we were going to have apples, oatmeal, butterscotch chips, and peanut butter. She got really excited and wanted to help. So I got everything together, cut the apples, and put peanut butter on. Then Zoie added the oatmeal and butterscotch chips. She had so much fun and was really excited to eat them.

They were delicious, healthy, and added a little bit of spice and fun! Here is how they turned out.

They were a bit messy, but so yummy!

Charlotte's Bling

Charlotte had many new experiences this trip. One of which was some "bling." Grandma, Aunt Blythe, Aunt Tilda, and me went to Icing and got Charlotte's ears pierced.

My Sister Blythe held Charlotte, I was a chicken and couldn't hold her. Thanks again Blythe. :) I did my best to keep Charlotte looking at me while they pierced them. She is such a trooper. They wouldn't do them at the same time. She did the best she could considering her age. :) She looks so cute and I absolutely love the earrings and think they fit her just perfect. She has white diamond daisy's with a black center. It's absolutely precious. I know it is a little hard to see them her in this picture, but this is the best she'd let me get.

 

 Such a happy baby. Charlotte you did great and remember We love you!

Thanksgiving

We flew out to Las Vegas to visit my family for Thanksgiving. It was a long long day. The girls flew great, better than we had expected, both on the way out and back home. Charlotte slept most of both flights and when she was up she was either eating or watching a show with her sister. Zoie watched shows, colored, and slept as well.

waiting for our connection

 

We landed in Vegas about 7pm (10pm EST). We were all tired from the long flights, but surprisingly we were pretty awake when we met up with family. I think it was the way past our too tired stage. We visited with Grandmeir and she gave Zoie and Ryan a haircut. It was Zoie's first new hair style. It was great. She sat still the whole time and didn't flinch or anything. She was great. She loves her new hair, I love her new hair, except for the fact that it makes her look so much grown up than she really is. You'd think I'd get use to the fact that she is growing up, but I'm not yet. :)

 

 

We had so much fun visiting my family. Zoie loved seeing everyone in "real life." hehehe.... I only say "real life" because since Charlotte's blessing we have been skyping with them on the computer and seeing them in person was really exciting for her. She loved my family. She spent a lot of the time hanging out with my little brother Nathaniel, who she calls by his nickname, Dozer. She always asked Dozer to go play with her. They became best friends. She loved sleeping with my sister, Blythe. Blythe on the other hand didn't, only because Zoie is a bed hog. Literally, she takes up the whole bed and moves constantly. You wouldn't think so, because she is so small. But let me tell you don't underestimate the small people. :) She also enjoyed wrestling with my other sister Matilda on the trampoline. She was so thrilled to have her nails done by my sister Shelby and now she is the only who can do her nails. She enjoyed having another little baby in the house, cousin, Elliot. She always wanted to know where he was, and was sure to tell everyone to be quiet because he was sleeping. She had lots of fun with the dogs, Bentley and Tess.

 

She also got to meet her Great Grandparents and Great Uncle again. Her and Charlotte went on a walk down to Wally's (our local gas station) with Great Grandpa. We use to do that as kids growing up. She got to tickle and give a bunch of raspberry's to Great Uncle Matt. She loved having so many people to play with.

 

Grandma and Grandpa were a BIG hit. They got her some yummy food and snacks, prizes, played wally-ball, went to the park, went on walks, went shopping, and so much more. She spent time cuddling with everyone. She even helped Grandpa put a door up in the house and bottle some pills for work. She loved being with everyone and making new and lasting memories. She talks about them all the time now that we are home. "Where's Dozer?" "Shelby do my nails." "I like Grandma's shoes!" "Talk to Grandpa." "See Aunt Blythe." I'm glad she had fun with my family and that we all were able to give her an amazing Thanksgiving.

 

Charlotte loved everyone too. She played a lot with Elliot. She cuddle with everyone and took a couple naps with Grandma and Aunt Blythe. She was feed a bunch by Grandpa and Great Grandpa. They gave her oranges and apples to suck on and the she had her first go with rice cereal. It took a while to get use to what is was, but after that she loved it. Charlotte loved the attention so much. She got spoiled with all the attention.

 

It was great to be home for Thanksgiving with a house full of everyone! I've missed them so much. It was fun for all the cousins to meet. We are looking forward to seeing them again soon. We all are so excited and can't wait to see them all again, especially Zoie. 



End Table Make-Over

Two years ago we moved into our little apartment and acquired some end tables for our living room. They were great and I loved them. Then we got some new furniture and no longer had space for them in our living room or any other room in the house. I tried to figure out what to do them and make some use of them but we just didn't have any space in this apartment. So they ended up sitting on our back porch for like 9 months!!!

This past weekend I knew what I was going to do with them. We had a bunch of new families move into our church ward this summer, and one family didn't bring any furniture with them. What a better way to start off the Christmas season than giving to those in need. I told Ryan and Zoie what I wanted to do and they got on board with me.

Zoie and I unscrewed and took the end-tables apart. I then sanded them down and stained them a dark walnut color. I absoluely love that color. I used it for my family blocks and mirror frame. Then Zoie helped me screw them back on. It was fun. Zoie loves to help me out with all my projects.

Here is how they turned out. What do you think?

 

 

They turned out great! Our friends love them and they look great in their house. I am really loving making old and ugly things pretty again. 

Long Time...Sorry

Wow... I can't believe it's been just about a month since my last posting. I'm sorry. We've been busy lately. I've been doing a lot of projects, that I am super stoked to share with you all and taking care of the house and the girls. Ryan is keeping busy with work, church callings, and the kids of course.

The girls are great and growing every single day. Zoie loves being a big sister, loves helping with whatever she can, loves learning about new things (especially Christmas), and so much more. Charlotte is now 5 months (another post to come on that). She is coming to understand what a voice is and does. She can squeal and squeak so loud it's crazy funny. She loves to play with Zoie and laughs with her so much. I'm glad those two get along, well a least for now anyways.

There is just a quick update for you. A lot more posts to come this week, Zoie's 1st real hair cut, Charlotte's new discoveries, my projects - end tables, box baskets, ottomans, coffee table, and a bunch on family life and activities.

Here are some pictures to hold you off until the next post. Aren't they so adorable! They absolutely love to be with each other.