Fun Filled Weekend

A couple months ago a friend alerted me that Brian Regan would be performing in Eugene. Tom and I think he's pretty much the funniest comedian out there so I got some tickets as an early birthday gift for him hoping it would make up for the Randy Travis concert I dragged him to last month. The best part is that we also got to hang out with the Fullers. They were gracious enough to watch the girls while we went and let us crash at their place for the night. Plus it was an excuse to eat some Chicken Bonz, walk the trails so fond to me and be reminded of why we love that Eugene.

We laughed until it hurt and this is what we came back to. So sweet.
Jess thought baby T was pretty great. A little warm up for what's soon to come. I was trying to get her to agree to changing a few dirty diapers when baby # 3 comes, but so far it's a no.
A little fun outside before our departure.

When we got home Tom headed up north to the temple with his dad and brother and so the girls and I opted for a pajama party.

They were treated to a little facial.



Dancing..
and some green nails for St. Patty's Day. All in all it was a great weekend with great people.

Dress up

One of our friends gave us one of the best gifts for the girls a couple of years ago, it was a big tote of dresses and costumes she'd picked up at garage sales. Over the years we've added a few more items to it. Once in a while the girls will get an itching to get it out and play dress up.



This kitty shirt that Tegan is wearing is her favorite and only shirt she wants to wear right now. I have to peel it off of her to wash it and it isn't easy.

Special Outing

Recently one of the young woman from our ward asked if the girls would be interested in a "princess day" it was a fundraiser they were doing for a scholarship. We wanted to take both girls, but knew that Tegan might not be quite old enough so she want on a Daddy daughter date while I took Jess to get all primped up. She got to make a tutu, learn a dance, make a little card and get some goodies. She thought it was pretty cool.

Not a pageant lover myself, but Jess had fun posing with Miss Marion-Polk County and Miss Teen MPC.
Learning her dance.
All smiles in her new tutu that she later got paint all over and we had to throw away.

Proud of Big Sister



Today was a beautiful sunny day. Tegan has already learned to take advantage of sunny days, knowing they can be sparse this time of year. She played her little heart out with her friend. By the time I picked her up she was exhausted. It wasn't long before I was hearing her sweet snores from the back seat on our way home. It makes for a quiet ride which is nice, but getting her out of the car and to the bed doesn't always go real smoothly. She cried and cried in bed. She gets in such a tired haze that I can rarely pull out of her what the problem is. Jess came up to me and asked if she could help and suggested that maybe Tegan needed her. When I went by a little later to drop some things off in the room Jess was standing by Tegan's bed singing Tegan's favorite song "Wonder Pets"to her. It did little to console Tegan in her bad mood, but it sure made me smile. This isn't the first time and I know it won't be the last that Jess jumps in to help take care of her siblings. I was so proud of big sister today.

A Few of my Favorites, as of Late...

Every once in a while I like to document some of my favorite things I've been enjoying. Maybe because later I'll look back and laugh at myself, or maybe because I'll be reminded of how much I loved something and become excited about it all over again. Whatever the reason some of the things I have thoroughly enjoyed lately are...

1. Apples and almond butter.
We go through a lot of almond butter in our house. Tommy eats it by the spoonfuls. I can't do that, but I'm happy to put a giant hunk of it on the end of an apple or celery stick. We've finally found our favorite almond butter at WINCO. It magically grinds the almonds right before my eyes with a push of the button. I love it!

2.Energy
It's back, for the most part, and I'm loving it. All these projects I didn't even have the energy to think about a few weeks ago are now fresh in my head and I feel like I'm finally accomplishing a little more than feeding my kids and sleeping. Tom refers to it as nesting, but I think it's a little early for that.

3. Tums
I've been awaking in the middle of the night to awful leg cramps that make me want to scream out in pain, but I've found that if I'm consistent with my tums, I get a restful nights sleep and less indigestion. It's a win win situation.

4. Herbal mint tea and creamer
This was something I became addicted to when nothing else sounded good. I love curling up on the couch after the kids are down, flipping on the TV, and sipping my little concoction.

5. Jessie is reading
This has brought me much joy. It hasn't been easy and at times I felt like it wasn't going to happen anytime soon, but she's on her path to reading Spanish novels. If we can just teach her how to read English now.

6. Spring Break and a trip to a warmer place coming soon
The excitement of a vacation to a great place is enough to keep my engine running for a long time. The other day when it was stormy, cold, and downright yucky I cursed the state we live in wondering why we stay. The next day when it was sunny I felt bad for my snap judgement and remembered some of what I love about Oregon. Doesn't change the fact that in a few weeks we will be in sunny California surrounded by citrus trees and sunshine and I can't wait.

7. Pinterest
A few friends kept raving about this site and when listening it just seemed confusing to me, but I'm now on board and love it. I see how someone could spend a lot of time browsing around, and that's fun, but really I just love it for the ideas that some other, more creative person came up with and I get to use. The stuff for the kids has been my favorite part.

Addendum

8. Downton Abbey
How could I possibly forget Downton? It entertained Tom and I for weeks. Is it a soap opera? Yes, but It's a British one so that's different. Can't wait for season 3. Just one year to wait.