GOODBYE

Well, today is moving day. Jennifer and Brooklynn are off to Brookline. Although they won't be that far away, we will really miss them being right down the hall. I am certain it will take a couple of times of knocking on apartment 1904 before Sierra realizes that they are really gone. I am not looking forward to the constant questions that will certainly pile up as she tries to understand why they moved. Shandra and Stephen have been dear friends and the perfect neighbors. We are excited for their new adventure.

Well, I am certain you have noticed that 90% of the pictures on this blog are blurred. I use to think I was just a really bad photographer. Then I took my camera home for Christmas break. My sister, who everyone always raves takes the best pictures, couldn't take a single good picture with my camera. This was a bitter sweet realization. I called cannon. They said to send it in and they would fix it. Nate sent it off today. They said it will take at least two weeks. So, even though I will continue to post, you won't be seeing any pictures for a while.

SNOW DAY

I have really enjoyed watching the white snow blanket the earth from the warmth of my nineteenth floor apartment.

CC's HAIR CUT

I cut CC's hair today. I had to bribe her with a lollipop. She kept lecturing me on how she didn't want to look like Daddy, the only person's hair she has ever seen me cut. I kept reassuring her I was only going to take a few inches off, so it would look healthy again and wouldn't be so blah. She held up a small strand of hair and said you can just cut this piece. I told her it would look better if I cut all the piece the same length. After I was done she did concede that she looked pretty cute. When her dad came home she exclaimed, "Mom cut my hair. Isn't it beautiful? Now I am not blonde anymore!" (Blonde? Blah? I can see how it all gets very confussing!)

CONFESSIONS OF A PENNY PINCHER

Well, I know someday I will look back at this post and laugh. Someday when I have my Electrolux washer and dryer in my home. We live in a high rise where we have to pay for laundry. $1.50 to wash and a $1.50 to dry. Being a student, I try to cut down on the expense by hanging the clothes to dry. By the time laundry day is over, my home is filled with wet clothes hanging in all of the closets and more still hanging on each shower curtain rod. The remaining smaller items such as socks get strewed across the back of the couch and love seat. The evaporation from so many clothes drying in such an enclosed space results in so much condensation on the window it rains in our home every laundry day. Okay, there are no clouds in our home but the windows are so filled with condensation the windows release it in the form of water droplets. The other day I was feeding MJ in a chair close to the window and the window started to drizzle on my head.

Sometimes I splurge and use the dryer. You never realize how much you appreciate hugging a fresh load of laundry still warm from the dryer when you go without it. I can't wait till I have a washer and dryer again so I can throw load after load of warm laundry over top of CC's head. There is something warm and safe about being buried underneath warm clothes fresh from the dryer. I remember my mother doing that when we were little. One of the my most cherished childhood memories.

HIGHWAY 28

My favorite thing about Pittsburgh. I love enjoying the scenic beauty as I drive down 28 in Pittsburgh on the way to my home. The other day I was stuck in traffic and had my camera on hand and took a few pictures. I heard once that the city can't demolish buildings as fast as they are condemned. I like to picture in my mind what this thriving city must have looked like 100 years ago. I think the people who took pride and bought and built these amazing brick homes in the height of the steel area would be sad to see what has happened to some of their homes.

GUESS WHO?

They may look a lot alike but their personalities are entirely different. I love both of my girls and am grateful for the joy they both bring into my life.

LOVIN' MY MJ

Don't you love diaper only pictures? A few nights ago MJ was so cute, she played on the floor with me forever and then I put her pajamas on and wrapped her in soft blanket and cuddled her and she fell asleep in my arms. She was so peaceful.

SLEEP

Last night I was passing by CC's room and I told her to close her eyes and go to sleep. She responded with, "Okay I will close my eyes but it's okay that my dolls don't because they can't. Okay?" I thought it was pretty funny.

She has started sleeping better since she discovered friends in her stuffed animals.

SCIENCE CENTER

A view of the city from a window in the Science Center.



Sierra playing in the balls at the Science Center.



Sierra anticipating the ball drop at the Science Center.



Madison enjoying the Science Center.



Katahdin and Celeste enjoying the Science Center.



Sierra petting a horse shoe crab.



Sierra watching the miniture train display at the Science Center.

Today we went to the Science Center. (If you haven't already figured that out! :) ) Sierra, Celeste, Katahdin, Madison and I all went to a show at the center about Mars. Sierra had a few questions in the beginning and I thought she might be enjoying it. Right when the show ended she exclaimed loudly, "Mom, I never want to see that show again." I guess we won't be renting any documentaries on Mars anytime soon.

FUNNY THINGS SIERRA HAS SAID...

CC: Mom why did you go Shandra's house?
Me: Because I wanted to show her the new shirt I made.
CC: Why did you want to do that?
Me: I guess... because I wanted her to be proud of me.
CC: But Mommy, I am already so proud of you!

Next Day in the car....

CC: Mom can we go to Shandra's house?
Me: No we can't.
CC: Why?
Me: Why do you want to go to Shandra's house?
CC: Because I need to show Jennifer and Brooklynn my new chapstick. They will be so proud of me.



CC confussed about the meaning of words pretty hilarious.

This morning at the bathroom sink...

CC: Mom, what are you doing?
Me: I am washing my bangs because they are greasy.
CC: Oh.

This evening CC comes out of the bathroom into the front room with the whole front of her head wet.

ME: What are you doing?
CC: I am washing my brain mom cause that's what girls have to do, they have to wash their brains.



Later still in the evening...

I released a little gas while reading to her. Something I never do!

CC: Mom that was phsycho! (Laughing histerically.)

Phsycho? Wash your brain? Seriously Pumpkin keep saying words you don't know the meaning of in the wrong context it makes me laugh.

TRANSFORMATION OF A T-SHIRT

Lately I have been turning old ugly items of clothing to something new and more interesting. I found this men's large t-shirt at the thrift store for 1.99. I laid it flat and laid one a t-shirt that fit me on top of it. Then I just went to town cutting.

I trimmed the t-shirt fabric from the ribbing.

Then I quartered the ribbing and the neck of the t-shirt. Then I stretched and sewed the ribbing back into the neck. Then I sewed the side seams.

Then I gathered the top and bottom of the sleeve. I reattached the sleeve into the t-shirt. Then I took the little piece I trimmed from the bottom of the sleeve and used it as ribbing for the bottom of the sleeve. I cut this piece big enough to fit my arm and then sewed right sides together. Then re-attached the piece to the gathered base of the sleeve.

And easy as pie you have a new fitted t-shirt with a cute sleeve. Have fun experimenting with t-shirts. If you have any questions, hollar.

STARFALL.COM

CC has really enjoyed playing on the site starfall.com. My friend Celeste told her about. She always asks, "Can I play that game Celeste gave me?" I love her to play it because it not only entertains her for a while but she learns so much. She now asks me all sorts of question like, "Mom, what does ball start with." She is starting to get the concept that letters make up words and words make up stories.

Where ever MJ is her lamb (CC) is sure to follow. Whenever MJ is awake CC is right there. First thing in the morning CC comes into my room and asks if she can watch PBS and if I will get MJ out of her crib so she can come and watch it with her.

RECYCLE CLOTHES

I have been into recycling clothes lately. I picked up this sweater at the thrift store for 3.99 and turned it into a sweater dress for Sierra. I don't know if I love it but I am excited about my new mission... to turn someone else's throw away into somthing beautiful and trendy.

MY MORNING.

Sierra watched the man changing the flooring in our kitchen to tile. She asked him questions all morning long. "What are you doing?" "Why are you doing that?" Why are you wearing those?" "Why is the floor black?" On and on, question after question. I whispered to her, "Sierra, leave that poor man alone." She yelled, "Mom, why is that man poor?" at the top of her lungs. Kids!

FABULOUS BY 30

I know you think I am kidding. I keep saying it fabulous by 30. Look for a post in the summer saying I did it. My goal is to loose eight inches off my waist and 20 pounds. This won't put me back to my pre-marriage body but will put me back to my pre-Madison body.

I was mulling over with a friend how this was going to be accomplished. I don't have a lot of time and when I have time it isn't convienient. Nate is home in the evening but I don't want to go out running in Pittsburgh at night. Young Married students don't have the luxury of gym memberships or their own home gym, so you have to get creative. My friend who lives in the building suggested I run the stairs. I live on the 19th floor of a high rise. Yesterday. I ran twenty-two floors all the way up and all the down. Then I ran up to my floor the 19th floor and back down. I stuck my head out the window to get some fresh air in my lungs and then came up to the apartment to work on my ABS.

When you see the woman hobbling down the street with legs of jell-o don't laugh because she is going to be fabulous by 30! Oh, baby! :)

ASHER & MJ

My good friend Sarah came to visit me the other day. It was fun to compare notes as new mothers and enjoy each others company. We were pregnant at the same time and delivered in the same hospital about a month apart. Asher and MJ just layed by each other. It will be fun to watch these two grow up over the next year and a half. I am certain we will turn around and they will be playing with each other in nursery.

WHEAT PANCAKES

CC enjoys a batch of fresh whole wheat pancakes in the morning. These are really simple. I love making them for her and me. It is always nice to start the morning off with a nice warm breakfast. Here is the recipe if you would like.

1 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp of salt
1 egg
1 cup of milk/water (water is cheaper and tastes the same.)
1 Tbsp oil

THIS IS THE KEY TO A GOOD LIGHT PANCAKE, SO PAY ATTENTION. Mix wet ingredients together well, make sure that egg yolk is well beaten. Then mix the dry ingredients together in seperate container. Last add the wet to the dry and stir just enough to incorporate all the ingredients.

ENJOY.

MJ GIGGLING

Don't you love laughing babies. Shandra my neighbor videoed this while I was playing with MJ. She is so fun. She has been such a happy baby.

BUILDING CASTLES

Last night CC, MJ and I had Family Home Evening together. We talked about keeping the commandments. I was trying to explain the importance of doing what Jesus would like us to do. I told Sierra when she does what her mother says that is "honoring her mother" and that makes Jesus happy. She said, "You mean like when I hung up my clothes." I said, "Yes, like when you hung up your clothes." She got the most excited expression and run up to me and threw her arms around my neck and said, "Yeah, Jesus loves us!" Then the lesson was pretty much over. She was ready to move onto the activity. We built castles for Ariel and Cinderella. I was excited because she for the first time she fell in love with the blocks my dad made for me before she was born. She had a riot last night and insists we build more castles today.

CC and MJ

CC is always asking to hold her baby sister so this is a common picture. These ones made me smile. I thought I would share.

HANGING UP CLOTHES

Sierra decided to hang up some of the clothes in her dresser. I don't know why... maybe she was bored. I didn't know she was so good. This gives me an idea for another chore. :)

NEW YEARS CELEBRATION

We had a little family dinner to celbrate the new year. I thought it would be a good idea to set a few family goals for the comming year. I am certain you can't guess Daddy's choice for a family goal. Give up? Fish more. I thought I would steal my suggestion from my sister. I volunteered that we needed to have more fun as a family. I want to take CC to a broadway play this year and to Kennywood. Then last but not least CC pipped up, "Mom I think we should have some more Matters (her name for MJ). Let's have two more Matters." Although I don't think we are ready for any babies in the year 2009. I am glad Sierra loves her sister so much she wants two more.