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Sisterly Love and New Tricks!

The semester has finally ended! Now I can get back to posting more often! We have all been crazy busy but its nice to be able to take a breath and remember why we do the things we do. Chris is doing so well in the Medic program, we are so proud of him! He will be working over break so he will still be pretty busy. I am working on getting to apartment cleaned and organized. Chris' parents and little sister are coming to spend Christmas with us! We are super excited to see them! Samantha is so smart and learning so fast! She has learned to count to ten and tries really hard to sing the ABC's. She loves to sing, and play with Ashley. She helped the Paramedic Class with another one of their practice scenarios as their patient. Ashley is crawling all over the place (I guess she has been for a while but I am finally posting a video of it) and tries so hard to keep up with her big sis! ANyway, here are some pictures and videos of the girls!

Quick update!

I know I have been bad about posting once a week! The end of the semester is just a little over a week away and things have gotten pretty crazy around here! I haven't forgotten about my goal, I promise. We have just been super busy and time seems to be going by faster each day.

The girls both have colds right now but luckily I think they are over the worst of it. Chris is super busy getting ready for the end of the semester and working. I have been trying to get everything done that I can for my one class while still trying to get christmas presents ready to send.

Well, I promise to give a better update as soon as finals are over!

She's mobile!

Ashley has been mobile for a while now but I am finally getting around to posting about it. She not only army crawls still but started crawling like a big girl! She also sits up by herself, kneels, and pulls herself to standing! I can't believe how fast all of this has happened, it really seems like we just brought her home from the hospital! She will be seven months next week and even though she is pretty small for her age she is very determined to keep up with her sister.

I also just realized that I haven't posted her six month stats yet! She weighed in at a whopping 14 lbs (11th percentile) and was 26.5 inches long (74th percentile). Just for comparison Samantha was 17 lbs 11 oz and 28 inches long at six months! I was so surprised when the doctor told me what percentile Ashley is in because she eats the same amount that Samantha did at this age but is so much smaller!

Ashley is such a joy and loves to smile! It is rare that she ever cries for no reason and she is rarely cranky! She loves Samantha so much and really tries to keep up with her. Although Samantha would rather she not terrorize her constantly. I love the way her face lights up when she sees any of us and the way she giggles at so many things! I have been trying to get a video of her crawling but it never fails that she doesn't want to perform or Samantha gets in the way (just trying to be helpful)!





She crawled right out of her pants!

Samantha is TWO!!!

I can't believe that two years ago yesterday we were blessed with our first child! I can't even find the words to describe how amazing she is! Samantha is the most caring two year old I've ever known! Even if she thinks that you've hurt yourself she asks "you ok?" Yet at the same time she is hilariously stubborn. Her and I have had a deal for a while that when she turns two she doesn't get her pacifier anymore because she is a big girl and doesn't need it. So yesterday morning she said goodbye to her "pacer" as she calls it. I laid her down for a nap and she finally fell asleep only to wake up half an hour later and cry pretty much for the rest of the day! Even though it was her birthday she kept telling everyone "Happy Birthday to you!" It was adorable!

I am so grateful that Heavenly Father has entrusted us with such awesome kids! I have found myself on the verge of tears more than once in the last couple days just thinking about the last two years. I'm so proud to be her mommy!

So to celebrate we had a birthday party at the fire station since Chris had to work. We had dinner with all the guys on the shift and their families. Then we had cupcakes, ice cream, and opened presents! Thank You to all of our family and friends who sent gifts, she loves them all! One party down and one to go on Monday for her friends! Here are some pictures, see if you can guess what the cupcakes are supposed to be!

Halloween, Swine Flu, and the Ball!

I know it has been more than a week since my last post but you can blame the swine flu! Yes both of the girls got it or what the doctors believe was it (they aren't testing people here specifically for swine flu anymore unless they are hospitalized but they did test positive for flu). They were both really sick though and on top of that I was already sick but not with the flu, thankfully! We were lucky not to have to go to the hospital although at one point I seriously considered it for Samantha. We are feeling much better now though, so we can get back to unpacking.

I suppose I should go back to Halloween though since I haven't posted pictures yet. We went to the trunk or treat at our old apartment complex but only stayed for about an hour because the girls were just beginning to get sick. Samantha was the cutest Dorothy and Ashley was the cutest Pumpkin EVER! Even though we had a shoe crisis for our Dorothy we were able to improvise and she turned out great! We lost one of her shoes somewhere in the move and couldn't find it just hours before the trunk or treat so we had to buy some black shoes and use red glitter glue to make them sparkly. They turned out pretty cute if I do say so myself. The group picture of Halloween also has Tk, Tia and the boys in it, in case you were wondering.

Chris and I were able to go to the Fireman's Ball in Idaho Falls with all of the guys on his shift and their wives/dates. The entire day was so nice! One of the assistant chiefs owns a Paul Mitchell Hair School here in Rexburg and he treated all of the wives to free pampering! We were told to pick any two things and enjoy ourselves! I got a facial for the first time and an awesome scalp treatment massage thingy, after which they did my hair for the ball. Chris stayed with the girls while I got pampered and then our wonderful friends Hillary and Cameron came and watched the girls while we were gone. It was so nice to get a night out with Chris and nice for him to get a break also.

The video is from a while back but I found it and thought you all would too! Samantha loves playing with Ashley and making her laugh!

We Moved Back to The Dark Ages!

So we are here but still not settled. I have spent all week cleaning our old apartment and now I'm finished so I can start organizing our new one. That might take me awhile because both the girls and I are now sick! Yuck! Oh and if you are wondering about the title to this post let me explain! In our new apartment we do not have the conveniences that we used to. We are without not only a washer and dryer but also a dishwasher!!! I know, I don't know how I'll survive! (Just kidding) I am well aware of the extra work that I have created for myself but it is well worth what we will be saving in rent! Sorry still no pictures but I promise to get them up soon, especially our adorable girls in their Halloween costumes!

Moving and More Fun...

Unfortunately I don't have pictures to post right now because our imac is still packed and I'm using Chris' laptop to do this post. So we are a little over half moved but enough so that we are actually "living" at our new apartment. Last night was our first night sleeping here and Samantha definitely had a hard time with the transition. When I tried putting her to bed in her new bedroom, she told me "Binta (that's how she says Samantha) go home" and screamed like she was terrified. So we had a slumber party in the living room instead. We still have a lot of the big stuff to move but poor Chris has been so crazy busy that we weren't able to get it moved yesterday like we wanted to and he had to work a 24 today (24 hr shift). Hopefully he can get some of the guys that he works with to help us on Monday. I guess that's it for now but I'll post pictures of our new place asap. And if you were wondering our mailing address will stay the same but we don't have a home phone number yet so if you need to call us you can call either of our cell phones, preferably after 7 PM during the week or anytime on the weekends.

Family Outing to Pick Apples! (updated with pictures!)

WOW! Three posts in one week! (technically four but who's counting) Anyway, today we decided to take a break from all the craziness around our house and go pick apples at the school's orchard! It was so great! I love spending time with this amazing little family of ours! The girls loved being outside! We haven't been able to get out as much because it got cold, but today was really nice!
They're so high!
My hair is a mess but this is how I got it cut!
Ashley wasn't so sure about this!
Up in the tree with Daddy!
Yay! Finally some she could reach!
My hubby is so talented!
Peek-a-boo Daddy!
Those ones were tough to get off!

Exploring...
Sitting in a tree!

They weren't so happy to be in the tree at this point!
At least one of them is smiling! Poor Ashley had the sun in her eyes!

Words to Live By!

I love reading everyone's blogs! I gain so many wonderful insights! I was reading my friend Laura's blog and I loved what she wrote so much that I wanted to share it with you all! I think we can all apply it in some way!

She wrote, "Today a testimony was borne in church that made me realise something important and quite profound...

Christ atoned for our sins. He suffered for us. He suffered for us and he did it willingly. Christ suffered so much pain I can't even imagine and I'm responsible for some of it. He died for us an excruciating death. He suffered and died and doesn't hold a grudge. He did it because he loves us. He doesn't hold a grudge!

If Jesus doesn't hold a grudge against me for the stupid things I've done that take me off the path that he's set for me by suffering and dying for me then I'm certainly not going to take my time when it comes to forgiving people.

I want things to be different but there's nothing I can do to change them. I'm ready and willing for them to change. My arms are open, ready to hold on to that little sister that doesn't want me right now. Do your worst (except don't), I'm never going to hate you and I'll always be here waiting even if it takes eternity. That's the way I've been taught. I love you. Forgive me of anything I've done that's hurt or upset you. I would never do that on purpose. I think you know that.

Life doesn't have to be as hard as we make it and I pray to God that we don't need a tragedy to make us behave more like family but I've seen it for myself, people survive tragedies.
"Life is only as good as the memories we make...""

I found this so uplifting! What great principles to live by! My favorite part is that Christ doesn't hold grudges and neither should I!

Birthday, Moving, and other Henderson Happenings!

Ok, so here is the first post in meeting my new goal. October started out with my birthday, which I have been less and less excited about each year older I get. I'm not sure if this is because we can't afford to really celebrate or what. This year things were pretty low key although we did splurge and go out to dinner. The best part what the next day. Chris had to work and told me that the other guys' families were coming in for dinner instead of lunch and to be there at 6. It is unusual for him to give me an exact time since they never know when they will get a call but he did. When we got there they had a pizza and a movie set up for the kids and took us wives into the other room where they had made us a candle lit dinner complete with two waiters (the two single guys on the shift)! They had a medic student working with them who watched the kids while we ate a wonderful dinner and had cake for my birthday! It was awesome and so thoughtful of them!

We got some great news a few weeks ago! We got into the subsidized housing that we applied for back in January! We get the keys and can start moving in this Thursday. We will have the rest of the month to actually move so we don't have to rush. We are sad to be leaving our ward and the many friends that we have made but we will only be a block and h half away so we can still hang out!

In other news Samantha is becoming such a wonderful "big" girl! She loves being a big sister and helping Mommy take care of "Ashee" (as she calls her). We have been babysitting on of our neighbor's daughter who is just a few months younger than Samantha and they love playing together. Samantha is very "mothering" or in other words bossy but we are working on that. Some of her favorite things right now are coloring, nursery, singing songs (especially primary songs), holding Ashley, and of course playing outside with her friends (which doesn't happen a soften since its been so cold). She talks so much and is getting easier to understand. She even counts to ten with some help and can read the names, Samantha, Ashley, Mommy and Daddy!

Ashley has been very busy learning so much! She is loving baby food and eats so much! she army crawls and is really trying to crawl. She can sit up without support for about a minute before she loses her balance, but she gets better at it each day. She loves terrorizing Samantha and love the reaction she gets whenever she gets one of her sister's toys or grabs on to her clothes. I have been frustrated trying to find clothes from when Samantha was little that fit her right now. She is quite a bit skinnier than Samantha was so everything is too big.

Chris has been SO busy with the medic program, and the internship we don't get to see him as much as we would like to. He is working so hard and learning so much! Its fun to be able to understand the things he's learning since I have worked in the EMS field. He has been able to practice things like starting IV's on me which has been fun. We are excited to see him getting closer to graduation even though we still have over a year left. He enjoys working at the fire department and the extra experience that he is getting there.

As for me, I am taking one class this semester but I have definitely been keeping busy! Between the kids, babysitting, homework, housework and getting ready to move I find myself exhausted by the end of the day! I am enjoying my class which is a Book of Mormon class. It is online but we have a discussion board each week that has really helped me gain new insight into the teachings of the Book of Mormon. I have really enjoyed watching the girls interact and learn from each other. OH yeah and I got my hair cut! I cut eight inches off and am So glad I did! Sorry I don't have many pictures with it yet but hopefully you can tell. Well, I guess that's enough for today. Now for some pictures.

Everyone on Chris' shift minus the "waiters" at our candle lit dinner!
You can't really see it but my hair is cut in this picture.
Yummy!
So happy!Cooking with Daddy!
Samantha's bad hair day! They were having fun cuddling!
The wives got to climb the ladder on the ladder truck at the fire station! So high and scary when the wind makes it sway! I don't like heights!

New Goal!

I have made a blogging goal! We have been so busy that I have been neglecting our blog. There have been so many things to update about but I have not given it the attention that I feel it needs since this is after all pretty much my journal. So, one to the actual goal... I am going to update our blog at least once a week! I figure that by actually posting what my gaol is I will feel more accountable for actually doing it! Wish me luck and hopefully your still checking up on us from time to time.

Three Crazy Awesome Years Later!

Okay seriously, I have tried to post this three times! We have been having problems with our internet and this semester has become SUPER busy! Wednesday (the 16th) Chris and I celebrated our three year anniversary! Honestly I wasn't expecting to get to spend much time with him because he is now officially in the Paramedic program and therefore crazy busy all the time! I was pleasantly surprised! It was an awesome day! Its so great to know that no matter how busy life gets my husband always thinks of the girls and I. He is such an amazing man and I love him even more today than the day I married him!

Family Pictures!

Yay! We got new family pictures! I'm so grateful for my friend Megan and her wonderful talent! Thank you for taking time to take our pictures!