Talk

Rylee asked to give a talk in primary today. Well, sort of. Every week we go past the microphone to sit in our seats for closing exercises and she always tries to talk in it. Today she did the same thing and one of the counselors gave me a paper that said, "I know my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love me because. . ." She said Rylee could say that.

I wasn't really thinking it was a talk until they announced that we had a talk by Rylee Blatter. So she sat up front with the other kids who had parts. And then I helped her give her "talk." She spoke loud and clear- she did a very good job! Now she'll probably want to do that every week. I was kind of nervous about her being in primary and giving talks because that meant I would be the one writing them. But today wasn't so bad- it was just one sentence!

Matt's Birthday Party

Happy Birthday, Matt!

Matt is 33 today. We went to dinner at Applebee's and his family is coming over for Coldstone cake in a little while. (My dad and Cory are working and my mom doesn't have a car, so my family can't come.) I tried to find a picture, but he is like Rylee and hates getting his picture taken. But I will get some tonight, so I'll have to post one later.

Some Random Pictures

Rylee loves to take pictures-
she's always asking to take a picture of Ashlyn.
She took all of these pictures-
I think the one of Ashlyn is especially good.
She definitely likes being the photographer
more than having her picture taken.
That's from her Blatter side!

Ashlyn found this little notebook and it looked like
she was observing and taking notes of what was going on.

Ashlyn has started to play with dolls-
she tried so hard to put the baby in the carrier.

This is how Rylee poses for pictures now.
Not my favorite!

3-3-3-3

Rylee is 3 years, 3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days old today!

Lava Hot Springs

Last night our family and Stephan and Bradley drove down to Lava Hot Springs to go to the hot pools. Matt has been wanting to go for a while, but nobody has wanted to go with him! It's far away to go to a hot tub. I had never been before and didn't think being outside in the cold even if you're in a hot tub sounded like very much fun- for me or the kids.

The drive down was great- Rylee and Bradley were friends most of the way and Ashlyn took a good nap. It was a little crazy when we first got to Lava. I was still not convinced this was a good idea! We finally got ready and went out to one of the pools- it was HOT! And if it was hot to me I thought it was too hot for the kids. So we went to a different pool that felt like a nice bathtub- maybe a little hotter.

Rylee and Ashlyn LOVED it- especially Ashlyn. They have a step around the whole thing so you can sit and Ashlyn wanted to walk around on that all by herself. She even put her face in the water a few times- on purpose- and laughed afterwards. And as she was walking she fell in a couple of times and, after catching her breath, thought that was so much fun. (We were right there to grab her, but she wouldn't let us hold on to her- she would move our hands.) She was all smiles the whole time- it was too cold to get out of the water to take pictures. Rylee wasn't so sure at first either- going swimming in the dark is kind of weird to me too. But she quickly started to like it. It even snowed on us a little at the end- but it felt kind of good after being in the hot tubs for a while!

The ride home was not as enjoyable as the way there. Rylee and Ashlyn were tired and cranky! But we had a good time and Rylee said today how much fun she had swimming last night. We probably won't do it again for a while, but thanks, Matt, for finally making us go!

Rylee's First Haircut

Rylee got her hair cut Saturday for the first time! I like her hair long, so I haven't wanted to cut it. But it needed a trim. It's not a big change in length, but it looks a lot healthier! We've been talking about getting it cut and then Matt went in to get his cut, so she wanted to get hers cut too. She got to sit on a horse- like on a merry-go-round. She just sat there very still and quiet the whole time. After we were done she said that was so fun!

Two Front Teeth!

Ashlyn has some teeth- FINALLY! And they're her two front teeth- still no bottom teeth. I know that's weird, but what can you do?!? They came through on Sunday- she's been miserable. And more are on the way, so she will probably be miserable for a while. I don't remember teething being a big deal with Rylee, so this has been interesting!

The picture is not her best, but she does not like anybody touching or looking at her teeth- who can blame her?! So I have to take what I can get!

Ashlyn is Walking!

Ashlyn took her first steps a week before her birthday and now she is walking everywhere! She still falls down after a few steps (she's up to 8 at a time though!), but she gets right back up and goes again! She walks all the way down the hall! She is getting better and better every day- she has to keep up with her big sister! Rylee gets very excited when Ashlyn walks to her!

I just noticed on Rylee's birthday tracker thing that she is 3 years, 3 months, and 3 days old today! And Ashlyn is 1 year, 1 week, and 1 day old today! Yes, I am the only person that would notice that and think it was cool! Too bad I didn't notice sooner- we could have celebrated! Any excuse, right?!?

Sunbeam

Rylee is a sunbeam! It's crazy that she's old enough to be a sunbeam! But she's been in nursery since she was 12 months old, so I guess it's about time for her to move on! Look at how much her hair has grown! She loved nursery though- she especially loved her teacher- she was always very good with Rylee. I just hope she likes her new sunbeam teachers as much- that would be me and Matt! Yes, that's even crazier- we're sunbeam teachers!

There are 12 sunbeams in our ward, so they had to make another class. So Matt and I and another couple each have 6 kids- it was quite interesting yesterday. They won't go to singing/sharing time for a few months (hopefully sooner!!) and they don't go to closing exercises until next week, so we had to entertain these kids for over an hour and a half straight! And Ashlyn came with us too! She was funny- she sat in a chair by one of the boys and just stared and smiled at him for a while! She's boy-crazy already!

Our time also got moved to 1:00- so that's going to be miserable! Ashlyn didn't take a nap before or during church (she fights sleep like no other), so she didn't take a nap until after church at 4. And Rylee was begging for a nap during sacrament meeting- literally begging! She would usually take a nap on Sunday right after church at 2. So she didn't get a nap at all. Did she go to bed any earlier though- no way! My kids are such night owls- I hate it! So I don't think I'm going to like this change! We've lived in this ward for five years and for one year we had 9:00 church and the rest was 11:00- I don't know why we didn't change, but we got used to that. Late church and sunbeams- it's going to be a long year!!!