Catch Up

So, the post below this one is a catch up of what we've been up to in UT. (Mostly for Running Man to see what we've been up to). Running Man left us on Monday to head back home, and the girls and I are here until my bro's wedding in a few weeks. The girls are loving the constant attention, and I am loving the breaks that gives me. We miss Running Man TONS though. Banana can't decide if she should be mad at me for keeping her here w/o her dad, or her dad for leaving her here. She does ok most days until bedtime, then struggles when she tells him good night. It breaks my heart every time and I feel like I am the worst mom in the world. Em doesn't know what to think so she has decided that food is her new best friend (as you can tell from the pics below). It's so nice to have a kid that will eat pretty much anything I put in front of her. Banana has always been such a picky eater that a lot of times it's like pulling teeth trying to get her to eat. We are still having a lot of fun, but we miss our friends!! I can't wait for a super fun girls night out when I get back, and to get to sleep in for a few days.
The pics below are from Banana's first bowling experience, fun around my moms house, and our 4th of July festivities. We went on a picnic with my in-laws in the mts., then had a fun time at my sister's house! One of my fave pics is of my Grandpa playing golf on the Wii!!! He loved it, and is contemplating buying one! We miss you all, and have a great week!

What We've Been Up To

Just Some More Fun

We are still having lots of fun in Utah! We're sad because Running Man has to leave tomorrow so he can get back for school and work. I 'm not sure if I can make it three weeks without him. I'm mostly a nervous wreck about it. Banana is heartbroken. She's starting to really miss her home. Today she told us she couldn't wait to go back to her most favorite place in the whole wide world...(which is the state we live in). Sad. These pics pretty much sum up what we have been doing.

We were able to go to the Oquirrh Mt. Temple Open House. It was gorgeous. They have giant chandeliers throughout the whole temple, and at one point Banana spotted one of them and shouted, "Look, just like in the opera." (She is obsessed with Phantom of the Opera).
Running Man and Banana went with his family to the Manti Pageant.
Em and I stayed to help with my soon to be SIL'S bridal shower. He told me she loved it even though it was pretty chilly.
This is the breakfast her dad gave her the next morning at the hotel. Yep, that's a fruit roll up :)


And we finally got to go to the wave pool. It took a minute for the girls to warm up to it, but once they did they couldn't get enough.


Em wasn't sold on being in that tube during the waves.

Banana hasn't stopped wearing her aunt's cowgirl hat around. She always tells us she's the mean cowgirl.

Utah or Bust!

We made it to Utah!! We are loving every minute, and espescially loving being out of the humidity for a little while :) Our trip has already been packed full of fun things. The drive was actually pretty smooth. I was pretty (make that extremely) worried about how Em would do in the car for that long. She was perfect! Her and Banana kept each other entertained most of the time. I drove for more than half of the drive this time, so I enjoyed letting Running Man play referee for the times that they weren't getting along! We both managed to stay awake most of the drive, and I loved just being able to have real conversatiopns with him when the kids were sleeping that night. It made the drive go a lot quicker. I decided it would be a great idea to drink a red bull (my first one ever) to try and stay awake that night. Um...not such a fab idea. All I had had to eat was basically junk, and add that to driving through the mountains in Colorado and it was not such a good experience for me ;) Never again.

I always forget how much I love the mountains until I am back here. I don't think I could ever settle down anywhere that wasn't surrounded by them. We've been hiking, built a campfire, and had a camp out. Banana is in heaven. She loves playing outside all day, and LOVES being with her cousins. The Boy and Blayr have provided nonstop entertainment for her. I got to meet my cutie niece, and I need to get a picture of her on here! She is a doll. And so quiet. I'm not used to that in my house!
We have a lot of fun things coming up, so I will try and keep the blog udpated! Here are some pics from the fun times these last few days.
Banana and Blayr livin' it up on the hike.

Running Man and I used to always come hiking in this area, and were excited to let Banana see it for the first time.
Our s'more making around the campfire!

Banana and her cousin putting on a little dancing show for us. It was pretty hilarious!
Our nephew Braxton. He is a great kid, and I can't believe how grown up he is now. I used to watch him when he was Banana's age, and it's hard to not see him that little boy anymore.
Banana was enteraining us with her campfire stories. She's not a performer at all :)
Finally, the big campout. Technically it was in my in laws backyard, but they still had fun.

Another Fab Year!

I had a great bday! Thanks to everyone who called/txt me yesterday! We spent the day relaxing and not doing a whole lot of anything which is just what I wanted! I woke up to two excited girls bouncing on my bed with the fabulous breakfast they made for me. Running Man took me to dinner at Woodfire Grille. It was so yummy, and I can't wait to go back. Kyle watched the kids down at the Y for us, and Banana is already dying to go back. I don't think I mind at all that bday's aren't the huge celebration that they were when we were younger. It is so nice to have it be so low key, and just be with my family. They surprised me with a new purse!! Those of you that have seen the one I've been using know why I desperately needed one! Of course it is pink. Banana wouldn't have it any other way. Thanks Cole for giving Running Man your input!! Running Man took the girls shopping over a week ago to get it, and Banana has kept a secret the whole time. I can't even believe it. Three year olds aren't known for keeping anything to themselves. Thanks Mom and Dad for your gift, and my inlaws for my awesome isabel bloom ballerina!! I've been eyeing that thing for two years, and it was such a surprise!
The countdown is on for Utah. We can't wait!! I'm trying to not think about the drive, and just enjoy the fact that we will soon be with our families!! My FIL and SIL are coming out for a few days this week so my FIL can compete in a triathlon with Running Man. I'm only slightly jealous that they are flying back to Utah the same day we are driving... :) Here are some highlights from this weekend.

My new purse! Banana had to show off her cute pink purse as well :)
I don't know why I keep showing you pictures of Running Man doing these things with my children. I'm bound to get in trouble one of these days...

The girls love climbing on Dad and making him do push-ups. I enjoy seeing how long he can last ;)

So It Begins

Let me set the scene for you. Those of you who have met my two little girls know that their personalities are night and day. Banana has always been quiet, pretty easy going, and not prone to screaming/crying/meltdowns of ginormous proportions. Em, though only a year old, is the complete opposite. She is a total sweetheart, but can flip the switch to monster child pretty quick, then switch it right back off. She is constantly harassing Banana and loving every minute of it. She has a mischievous side to her that I don't know how to deal with. Banana usually takes it all in stride, but I think she finally reached her limit today. And so we have this conversation...(after Em had been beating up on her/bothering her for a while)
Banana: I want a baby brother, can we get a baby brother?
Running Man: Why do you want a baby brother?
Banana: I want to take this one back to the hospital. Can we take this one back to the hospital? This one hits. I think we should take it back to the hospital and get me a different one.

Silence.
Then laughter that we tried oh so hard to restrain.
I thought little sisters were supposed to love each other all the time. I know my sister and I were perfect examples of that growing up : )
So I think Banana is starting to learn to fight back, and not let her little sister rule the playground. Here are some other cute things Banana has been saying lately.
We have been telling her that when we get a bigger house we can get a puppy, and almost every day she brings it up. Finally she just asked me. "How do we make our house brow big so we can get a puppy?"
She has also started having some imaginary friends, which I love because it is bringing out a really creative side of her. The other day she informed me that her friends name is Cheety Chaws. When I asked her what she looked like she told me she looks like a lady. Well mommy..kind of a freaky lady actually.
And she is always telling me when I do something funny that I am making it too hilarious.
I love my girls so much, and it is conversations like this that remind of how cute they really are.

No, this is not a form of punishment in our house. The girls LOVE when dad swings them like this. I just pretend I'm not seeing what they're doing, then I don't have to freak out!

Playing Catch Up

Hey all! Sorry I've been such a slacker, but we've been super busy and having a fabulous time with my mom here. She left this morning so things are settling down some. I think we're all having a little withdrawal. She spoiled us. A LOT. It was great to have some helping hands, and I enjoyed some peace and quiet while she kept the girls entertained. (Or they entertained her). I also got to see my little brother and his fiance Debbie. She is adorable, and a total sweetheart. The girls instantly fell in love with her and she was so sweet with them. We can't wait to see everyone again in a few weeks.
Banana also had her first dance recital over the weekend. I only cried a little. I didn't want to cry through her whole dance and not be able to see anything :) She was amazing. She had zero stage fright and was such a ham up on the stage. She hasn't stopped dancing since Saturday. She puts on her music at the house and does all of her routines for us. I need to record it so you can see how funny/cute it is. My class did great, and I was glad that I only had to stay in the wings and dance with them and not on the stage. They made all of the teachers come on stage at the end, and I could see Banana out in the audience with my mom waving at me the whole time. The studio I teach for is incredible, and I love the ppl there. I can't wait for next year!!
We also had a Em's bday party while my mom was here. I decided to make her the same cake that I made Banana for her first bday and I think I'll make that a tradition for my other future children. If you can't tell what it is, it's a caterpillar. It was fun to make and Banana loved frosting it (frosting meaning eating the frosting while I tried to frost...)
I think that catches you up on the last week. Life is getting crazier as Running Man gets ready for finals, and we get ready to head to Utah. Hope everyone is having a great week!


Riding the ponies at the zoo. Both of the girls loved it. Em doesn't look too happy in this pic, but she really did have a blast!
The bday cake before...and after.


Enjoying some of her presents!

Running Man and I gave Banana her first "dancing" flower. She was so cute with it.These didn't turn out that great, but I still wanted to put them on her. Isn't she cute?!

This was Em during the recital. She made it through about five numbers then spent the rest of the time in the lobby.

My cute class. I'm going to miss them!
What's the best way to celebrate her first recital? Lunch at Steak 'n Shake!