Getting to Know ME!!

My friend Heidi posted this on her blog and I learned some fun and interesting things about her. Those of you who might enjoy doing this, do it!! I think it's fun... let me know if you do so I can check out your blog!! Enjoy!!
All you do is highlight the ones you have done in your life.

1. started your own blog
2. slept under the stars
3. played in a band (clarinet in the 6th and 7th grade)
4. visited Hawaii
5. watched a meteor shower
6. given more than you can afford to charity
7. been to Disneyland
8. climbed a mountain
9. held a praying mantis
10. sang a solo
11. bungee jumped
12. visited Paris
13. watched a lightning storm at sea
14. taught yourself an art from scratch
15. adopted a child
16. had food poisoning
17. seen in person the Statue of Liberty
18. grown your own vegetables
19. seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. slept on an overnight train
21. had a pillow fight
22. hitch-hiked
23. taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. built a snow fort
25. held a lamb
26. gone skinny dipping
27. run a marathon
28. ridden in a gondola in Venice (does the hotel in Vegas count?)
29. seen a total eclipse
30. watched a sunrise or a sunset
31. hit a home run (in the park)
32. been on a cruise
33. seen Niagra Falls in person
34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. seen an Amish community
36. taught yourself a new language
37. had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. gone rock climbing (on a wall)
40. seen Michaelangelo's David
41. sung karaoke
42. seen the Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. visited Africa
45. walked on a beach by moonlight
46. been transported in an ambulance
47. received a prestigious award
48. gone deep sea fishing
49. seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. kissed in the rain
53. played in the mud
54. gone to a drive-in theater
55. been in a movie
56. visited the Great Wall of China
57. started a business (a lemonade stand in front of our house)
58. taken a martial arts class
59. visited Russia
60. served at a soup kitchen
61. sold Girl Scout cookies
62. gone whale watching
63. got flowers for no reason
64. donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. gone sky diving
66. visited a concentration camp
67. bounced a check
68. flown in a helicopter
69. saved a favorite childhood toy
70. visited the lincoln memorial
71. eaten caviar
72. pieced a quilt
73. stood in Times Square
74. toured the Everglades
75. been fired from a job
76. seen the changing of the guards in London
77. broken a bone
78. been on a speeding motorcycle
79. seen the grand canyon in person
80. published a book
81. visited the Vatican
82. bought a brand new car
83. walked in Jerusalem
84. had your picture in the newspaper
85. read the entire bible
86. visited the white house
87. killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. had chickenpox
89. saved someone's life
90. sat on a jury
91. met someone famous
92. joined a book club
93. lost a loved one
94. had a baby
95. seen the Alamo in person
96. swam in the Great Salt Lake (eww!)
97. been involved in a law suit
98. owned a cell phone
99. been stung by a bee
100. learned to play an instrument

Emma Speaks!!

Ok, so my friend posts some fun loving "MACY's THOUGHTS" and thus had to add a few of my own....
For instance, we were eating out one day for lunch and were sitting in our booth when a few elderly gentleman walked by dressed in their vet uniforms. Emma screams out, "Look mommy, Look!!" as she points to the men. They smile and wave and say "Hey there!!" She waves and says hi back... as they walk out another man walks in and is wearing his marine uniform and it makes Emma shriek out again pointing at him saying, "Look mommy!! Another one!!" to which the young man smiles and waves at her... and then she says still really loud where he (thankfully) smiles and keeps walking past us, "But he's black..." Red faced and trying to hold in a laugh I calmly have to sit her down and try to explain to her there's all sorts of different colors of skin and just as I finish explaining this to her she says, "Well, actually he is more brown than black."
A little while later we find ourselves at the grocery store. I don't like the word "shut up" being said in our home and thus everytime Emma has heard someone or something say it she says, "That's not a nice word is it mommy? We don't say that..." Thus, we were walking down an aisle and a man and his daughter were walking away from a women and the man was saying loudly, "Well, I'd just tell them to shut up..." To which Emma says to him as we're walking past him, "We don't say that, that's not a nice word." He smiles and I just had to keep walking in fear of what he might say next. I guess I should be glad she's listening to what we're teaching her...

Merry Christmas!!

Before we say Happy New Year we wanted to add just a few additional yearly activities in the mix. Emma had her Christmas Program for preschool on friday. She was so excited about it. She did her dance mix with her class and LOVED holding the candycane while at it. She especially loved showing us how she played her violin. (A make believe one as the teacher played the real one and the kids acted out the actions). But by far the favorite of the whole program was of course the big man in red. Her teacher helped Santa hand out fun little candy bags as each child got to sit on his lap and tell him what they wanted him to bring this Christmas season. Emma of course asked for 'My Little Pony', will she get it is yet to be seen, as she has been talking non stop about all sorts of things OTHER than the one she actually asks him for. We'll see what we can manage. She'll be happy with anything... Finally, the girls got to wear their Christmas dresses to church for the first time. Emma was especially excited, she LOVED the flower on it and was so thrilled to show it off to her teacher. Merry Christmas to everyone and have safe travels where ever you go.

Lilly & A Cupcake...

What do you get when you mix a 2 year old Lilly with a chocolate cupcake?

This.... Who cleaned it up is the question...

Daddy gave it to her.. who do you think?

Snow man making days!!

I had to laugh at Lilly as I put her snow suit on. She reminded me almost of the little boy in 'A Christmas Story'.

We have a new (temporary) addition to the family. We woke up this morning and to our surprise there was more snow. This time it stuck and stayed for a few days. The girls are warming up to it and as soon as daddy got home they were outside building a snowman (there was no way I was going to get 2 large snowballs on top of one another. I'm a wimp, I know). The girls had a good time searching for black "coal" rocks and a couple of whipple sticks from a bush nearby. Luckily I had decided to get baby carrots that day at the store thus creating his beautiful features as shown. With a scarf and a hat, our snowman came alive. (Not really; but the girls liked to think so). They took immediately to role playing with him and then decided it was too cold thus retreating for the house. They wanted him to come but alas, we explained that if he came in he'd melt away and they wouldn't get to see him the next day. They were happy just looking out the window at him. We'll see if this snow stays.... (I thought we escaped the snow when we moved down here; I was told it only happens like once every 5 years... great, we made it for the 5 year mark I guess.) Oh well, we are enjoying it while it lasts. It makes it feel more like Christmas for us thus we're enjoying the season!!

It's gonna be a WHITE CHRISTMAS!!

Ok, maybe not quite a White Christmas, but still it was quite a shocker when we woke up this morning to what seemed at first like another overcast day, but then we started seeing white flakes on our way to school. Emma was glad to be going INSIDE for school (she REALLY hates the cold), but Lilly was quite fascinated when we got home. She even tried to pick some snow up but didn't want to hold onto it. (Like the full moon shot?) We have dedicated these pictures to our little friend Caden Fry, considering he's been asking his mommy he wants to go see snow and doesn't remember it considering he was just a baby... so here's to you buddy!! Wish you could be here in person to enjoy it, (it's not sticking so your not missing out.) None the less, it's been fun (but cold) staying indoors and watching it all fall. It's beginning to feel like Christmas for sure. Thank you mother nature!

Guess who's knocking on May 10th?

I don't know what it is about baby feet but I just love seeing beautiful pix's of them. They make me want to just kiss and squeeze them. Thus, we of course are not only preparing for baby to be, but have an official date... We went in over Thanksgiving weekend and my doctor was able to tell both the due date as well as what to expect. I kept saying it was a girl hoping that would jinx it into making it a boy, but alas; you guessed it... another girl!! We are of course excited for either outcome (I being a little more nervous than Nate), but reassured none the less that it is going to be another fun filled adventure with whatever Heavenly Father sends our way. We are thrilled to add another sister to the brood and have been asking the girls what names they like (considering we are just fresh out of girl names). Any ideas, please throw them our way. We'll keep you posted as the date arrives!! Happy holidays to everyone!!

Thanksgiving Feast, Newborn Baby, Temple Lights... Busy, Busy, Busy!!

(For those of you that say I don't post enough pix of me, well here you go. This is as good as it gets for now. We are taking family pix's soon thus I'll have more to post later.)

We spent Thanksgiving in Salt Lake and really had a good time with family (didn't get to see many friends due to how short of time we were there). We kept up the tradition of shopping early Black Friday with the women in our Cooley family and thus sent our pregnant addition (Gretchen) into labor the very next day. (We had to give her props, she made it thru the whole shopping experience with no signs of labor.) I'll tell you the story: We went shopping 12:00am (yep, we're a set of dedicated women), got home from shopping at about 8:30 am; Gretchen went home to get some rest and about 11:30 am she woke and realized her water had broke. The next thing we know we get a call they're in the hospital and that night about 10:30 pm little Lucy Arissa George is born. Boy did she have a lot of blond hair. Emma was really taken to her but Lilly just wasn't sure. It was cute to see how they reacted to her (all the while thinking of our soon-to-be in May). Hopefully they'll take to their little one a little better than they did to Lucy. Congrats again Brady & Gretchen!!

One of our favorite things to do while visiting SLC during the Thanksgiving early Christmas season is to go and enjoy the lights on Temple Square. Even though it was a quick run thru, the girls enjoyed it (weather permitted) and especially enjoyed seeing the different colors. Emma enjoyed informing us she knew the colors and was ready for more.

We hope everyone's Thanksgiving Vacation was safe and relaxing.

The instant we got home Sunday afternoon I started taking out Christmas decor and have been setting up since. I love this season....

(BTW: Went to Twilight with the girls in our family and really enjoyed it!!)