Idaho!

Here's a couple of fun, late Christmas photos from our time out in Idaho. It really was such a nice Holiday and so great to be with Drew's family.

We also got to spend a day with my sweet cute grandparents in Pocatello. My grandma would not stop holding Moses and when she wasn't Valentine would yell at her "Run Grandma! Run!" trying to chase her. Seeing as my Grandma Connie isn't even walking so great these days, it was kind of funny.

Drew's parents have this skirt for dress-up and Valentine LOVED it. She wore it constantly as a dress and kept telling us how beautiful she looked in it.
Between Moses and Henry Marcene was always holding a big baby boy.
We did a White Elephant a couple of nights before Christmas and Valentine got some Hello Kitty chapstick- loooved it.
Greta, Neil and Lindy.
Abe and Sadie with the hideous scary doll lamp I got from the D.I. as my white elephant gift. The little girls liked it.
Lucy- sooo cute. Sorry for all of the pushing Lucy! I promise Valentine loves you!
The girls all took a bath together on Christmas Eve.


Pile of presents from Santa.
Moses's gifts from us.
Valentine's presents.


Valentine was almost more into the candy from the stockings than her actual presents.





Chad with the girlies.

At the Ballet

I just taught two ballet classes tonight..... IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!

Don't know how fun it was for the girls.... they opened the windows during class to cool down and I said "This is good! You didn't work hard enough in ballet class if you're not sweating by the end." A girl I also taught on Tuesday replied a bit flabbergasted, "Whatever I was SORE yesterday from your class!" I almost said to "suck it up" but these girls aren't quite as into ballet as I was, so I let it slide.

It was even more fun to come home and see Valentine dancing to Kirby playing the piano- she is a natural dancer and can already feel music and move her body beautifully and it warms my heart. It's in our blood and souls- I wish I could dance everyday. I'm signing Valentine up for ballet this weekend. YESSSS.

(Not fun? Seeing my post baby body in a leotard and tights. Yikes Bikes.)

What Are Valentine's New Favorite Words?

Me: "Valentine can you hand that to me?"

Tiny: "Nope."

Valentine singing to herself: "Appy Birfday to you, Appy Birfday to you, Appy Birfday Gramma, Appy Birfday to yoooouuuuuu!" (she just started singing the birthday song for my mom's b-day about a month ago, so that's who she always sings it to- she also sings to herself or to Moses: "You are my sunshine," "ABC's," "Once upon a dream," and "I still believe" from Cinderella III)

While I'm trying on different outfits one will catch her eye and she'll gasp, cover her mouth and say softly, "Ooooh, goodness gracious! It's so boot-i-ful Mama!"

Me: "Do you want some banana?"

Tiny: "Nope."

While eating cookie dough I just made: "MMmm, it's A-WI-CIOUS (delicious) Mama!"

"Mac N' Cheese!!!! Woo Hoo!!! Mac N' Cheese!!!"

"Daddy cwa-zy! (crazy) hee hee hee hee" (she points to Drew and snickers)

Me: "Valentine let's go upstairs."

Valentine: "Nope."

"Me no want pants on!! Dress Mama? Dress?"

"Hold it?!" asking to hold Moses- while she's holding him- "Hee hee, she's coot Mama! So coot!" (yes, she calls him "she")

"I wuv you Mama."

Blue Christmas... just kind of

This was my bed Christmas morning- before I got up I was in that space between Valentine and Moses- comfy huh?

Christmas with the Hafers has been GREAT! We've had so much fun with Drew's family (that is when Valentine isn't pushing Lucy). Tons of games being played, a white elephant un-birthday party, babies and little girls all over the place, and the awesome company of the Hafers. But..... I have to admit I really miss my family and my Christmas. No Grandpa dressed up like Santa, no Mexican food (I did make some enchiladas for Drew's family), no big fat real tree that I helped pick and decorate, no Christmas music/movies playing while wrapping elaborately late at night on Christmas Eve, and no Hansen/Casillas family. As much as I love being here and as happy as I am to be with the wonderful Hafers, I can't help but feel a little Christmas blue right now.

Thanksgiving, Babies, Baths, Dresses, and Bows... Oh My!

Well, jeez. This is how horrible I am at blogging- I have about a thousand pictures and dozens of things to talk about. New Year's resolution: to update the blog AT LEAST once-twice a week. Hm, we'll see- I'm not so great with resolutions- my other resolution will be to be better at keeping my resolutions. Nice. Anyways, we had a marvelous Thanksgiving, like a year ago now, just kidding, only a month, with all of the usual suspects (minus a few) and delicious fare. This was my first year trying my Grandma's infamous yams and the much prized jello salad and I have to admit that I have been ridiculous and wrong for the past 24 years of my life. Both of those things are by far the BEST part of Thanksgiving and I am so disappointed in myself that it has taken me this long to discover their awesomeness. My life has new meaning now and I'm already ANXIOUSLY ANTICIPATING next Thanksgiving just so I can eat caramel yams, raspberry jello whipped cream goodness, mashed potatoes, and apple pie till I gag. What a simpleton I've been. Moving on: Thanksgiving was actually truly great because of all the family (not the decadent food). I LOVE LOVE LOVE my family. I don't think I can say it enough. Their company is so fun and fulfilling- we had lots of.... interesting stories and conversations this year- it was a blast. I love my own DARLING little family. I love my incredible parents and siblings. I love my wonderful ever-increasing extended family. BEST EVER. That's what I'm thankful for always.

The day after Thanksgiving Valentine got a visit from her BFF Louisa. They are CUTE and funny together. Valentine has been real interesting lately. She is definitely in the terrible two's and can I just say that that is not fun. Why do kids have to go through that stage? I just don't get it- like when I ask for something I need or something she's grabbed from me and she tries to hide it behind her back and when I actually reach for it she turns and CHUCKS it in the opposite direction or runs and throws it down the stairs. It's fun. Or when I have to tell her to not hit or chase Ada for the FIVE HUNDREDTH MILLIONTH time (those two are the bane of my existence) because she'll get bitten. But, it's worth it guess because she's also HILARIOUS. She is an awesome dancer and singer and does both alllllll the time. She also is the most talkative, energetic little thing and keeps us very very entertained with her little one-man shows or speeches that we understand nothing of because she's speaking in another language and very fast. She looooves dress up and is more often in dress up clothes than real ones- that is when she's not naked which is even more often- I just CANNOT get her to keep clothes on. Miss Hot-Stuff (as I've liked to call my sassy drama queen) is also a super sweet big sister. She loves loves her brother and is always kissing, trying to hold, talking to, concerned about "Mo-ness." I love them together- it makes me so happy and touched as a mother to see them getting along and so attached already.

On a little note- Kirby and I had a little show for our bows the other weekend with Taylor's fiancee, Michelle and her mom, Jolene, who are artists. It was great- we got a lot of work done and were able to sell some stuff and got really good feedback on our products. The website still isn't 100%, but go to it and please email us any orders you'd like for the Holidays!

P.S. If you'd like to see the pictures in chronological order start from the bottom and work your way up- if you can find the bottom that is- sorr-you (as Valentine says sorry).

This made me laugh really hard- poor little guy.






How Valentine is 90% of the time.




I can't get enough of this face.

Twinners!!!! Can you see Summer's cute twin belly? SO excited!
It makes me almost cry whenever I see Sierra hold Moses. What a sweet, special bond we all have from that sweet, special experience.


We way cracked out some Settlers action when everyone had left. Drew was in heaven needless to say.

I can't get enough of this face.

Maybe Valentine likes to be naked so much because I love my nakey babies- they don't get any cuter than when you can see every chubby roll and feel their soft silky baby skin.

Yet another dress.




JELLO SALAD! I'm pretty sure it was the word 'salad' that scared me off from ever trying this yummy treat.











By far the best picture of my life. Merry, the actress, always delivers.

MMM PIES!
YAMS!




Her favorite nightgown that she considers as a dress.

This is her new favorite dress-up dress- I bought it for $10 at a bridal store when Page was trying on dresses. And yes she always wears her crown backwards- apparently it's the only way she knows how to put it on.

She looks so much like Drew it's sometimes scary.



Bath time joy!