All Dressed Up . . .

. . . and nowhere to go! This was Ashlyn last night around 8:00. This girl is obsessed with shoes (and purses just recently)- and she often brings some to us to put them on her. So she picked these ones last night and got her purse. Then she grabbed my hand to lead me out to the door. I said we didn't have anywhere to go, so she tried to get Matt to go. He said the same thing and she obviously got very upset!

Easter Dresses

So the girls wore their new Easter dresses today because of conference next week. I didn't like Rylee's hair in these pictures though, so I redid it. I will probably retake some pictures next week, but I had to put these on and tell the story about Ashlyn. So I took her picture alone first, then Rylee's, and then both together. So I'm sure they were a little sick of it. Ashlyn was mad because I took away her binky while I was taking their pictures together, but I kept taking pictures anyway. And right in the middle of her crying she smiled and said, "Cheese!" It was so funny and unexpected! So I got a couple shots and then she went back to crying. I guess she knew I wouldn't give up until I got a good one, so she did end up posing! What a funny girl!

Sisterly Love

The girls have been doing this a lot lately- and I love it! It's so cute to see them cuddling. They do it for a while too. I'm glad that they are starting to play and have so much fun together. They're so sweet!

Spring Break

Spring Break is finally here!!! I'm so excited- and I'm not going anywhere or doing anything. I have no plans- it's going to be great! I get to sleep in and don't have to wake the kids up every day- which is my least favorite thing to do ever. We don't have to get ready and be out the door before 8 AM. I don't go back to school until April 5. Then we will only have 50 days to go until the end of the year- yea!!! It's too bad that the weather is going to be rainy/snowy and cold all week though, but it'll still be a great week!

Happy Birthday, Oma!

Thank you, Oma, for being a great mother, mother-in-law, and grandma. We appreciate all you do for us. The girls love, love, love coming to your house to play. We love you so much! Happy Birthday!

Hairdresser

I think Ashlyn wants to be a hairdresser- is that what they're called?!? She has been obsessed with hair since birth- maybe because she didn't have much? She is always playing with my hair- it's her favorite toy. She plays with it as I feed her a bottle or rock her to sleep. And now she wants to help me do Rylee's hair. She especially loves to play with Rylee's hair when it's in pigtail braids. Ashlyn learned very early in life how to make Rylee cry- just pull her hair. Rylee was just letting her play with it for a few minutes though- she must not have been pulling too hard. Anyway- so maybe she'll be a hairdresser someday!

Her hair is growing though- it's getting pretty thick in the back- not as much on the top though. Rylee was completely opposite- she had it on top and not much in the back. Pretty funny!

Imaginary Friend

Rylee has an imaginary friend named Desiree. My mom has a friend named Desiree and they go walking together. They go to the church to walk and Rylee goes to play with the other kids on the days she goes to my mom's. Anyway, so that's where she got the name. The other day she came out of her room and said she was holding Desiree's hand. I walked by her and she said don't walk over Desiree. And today I asked her if Desiree was a kid and she said she was a mom- like her! It is actually kind of weird to me- I guess I never had a good enough imagination to have an imaginary friend. Or should I be worried?!?

Sunday Best

Matt let me take his picture with the girls this morning before church- everybody looked so nice and was in such a good mood. That's not our normal Sunday morning! The first one is the best, but I didn't turn the flash on.

We went to our cousin, Isaiah's, 4th birthday party yesterday at Teton Spectrum Raceway (I think that's what it's called.) They have lots of fun things to do like play arcade games, jump in bounce houses and go down slides, and race go-carts- or whatever they are! After we jumped and ate cake and ice cream, the kids were going to race the go-carts. They have a smaller and slower one just for kids. We didn't think Rylee could go- even though she really wanted to. We told her she wasn't tall enough, but she really wanted to. Well it ended up that one of the kids that was going to do it decided not to, so they let Rylee do it. She was SO EXCITED!!! She wanted to race. Matt and I tried to tell her everything she would need to know- she's never done anything like that before. So it was her turn and she ran to her car and the guy helped her get her seatbelt on and gave them instructions. She looked back and waved- she was ready to go. Well, off they went, and she was doing ok. She was bumping into the sides a little. She made it almost all the way around and crashed pretty hard. I don't think she was hurt, but she started crying and wanted to get out. So I held her and she stopped crying. Before the others were even done with their race, she wanted to race again! Now she is obsessed with driving! Last night we went somewhere and when we got home, she wanted to stay in the van and drive. I thought that was fine- I would sit with her and she could pretend she was driving. She made sure we both had our seatbelts on first, then I asked her where we were going. She said to Oma's. Then she tried to put the car in reverse- I didn't know she knew what to do. She said it's not working. I said it's because we don't have the keys. She thought for a minute and said, "Go get the keys."

Ashlyn has started grabbing our hands and leading us places. Usually it's either outside or down the stairs. She goes up and down the stairs holding my hand- over and over again! She also wants to wash her hands all the time. If she sees someone doing it or if she hears me tell Rylee to do it, she rubs her hands together- that means she wants to do it too.

Doing the Dishes

I know I've been a little blog-crazy lately. But here's Ashlyn helping with the dishes. She loves to unload the silverware- she gives me one at a time. She's even started helping with the laundry- she sits on the washer, I hand her the clothes, and she puts them in the washer. Now I just need to teach her how to fold the laundry- she usually unfolds everything I've already folded and scatters it around the house. She's such a good helper!

Pez Slumber Party

Rylee has been playing with pez dispensers lately. She calls them her "sweeties." (Sometimes she wants to play that she's the mom and I'm the sweetie- I call her that a lot, so I guess that's just another name for kid!) But last night she was taking a lot of wipes and tissues, so I went to see what she was doing. She had made beds for her sweeties. They had pillows before, but I guess she didn't think they needed them anymore! She's so fun- she has quite the imagination!

Can't Get Enough!

We just can't get enough of this nice weather. We made it to 60 degrees today- I love it! We drew with chalk again and jumped on the trampoline.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Loves to Read

Ashlyn loves to read books. She doesn't like being read to so much- she likes to hold the book and read it herself. So independent!

Watching TV together

Well, Rylee's watching TV. Ashlyn isn't really into that yet!

Sidewalk Chalk

Spring is finally here! The past few days have been beautiful! Rylee and Ashlyn have been so happy to play outside. Today we drew with sidewalk chalk- Rylee absolutely loved it. Ashlyn had fun too- she drew a little bit, but was more interested in running around with the chalk! We have to take advantage of each nice day because we never know what tomorrow will bring! (Hopefully no more snow!)

Dresses, Alice, and No

Oma gave the girls these matching dresses when she came back from Hawaii. Oma and Opa even came to our church today for Matt's cousin, Jordan's, missionary farewell, so she got to see them in their cute dresses.

Hopefully they can wear them without the undershirts soon! The snow was gone in our yard until yesterday. It snowed most of the day and then we woke up to a snow-covered lawn again! Fortunately it was sunny today and the snow melted again. I'm getting really tired of the snow and cold- please come, spring!

Cory took me to Alice in Wonderland last night- I really liked it. I would definitely recommend it! It was my first 3D movie since Captain Eo at Disneyland in 1989! (I think that's when it was!) It was fun- thanks, Cory!

Ashlyn has started saying "no." She has been shaking her head "no" when we ask her a question for a while, but she now says the word- great!

Can We Go Swimming?

Rylee wanted to put her swimming suit on last night and this time she wanted Ashlyn to wear hers too. They had lots of fun dancing on the table- silly girls!

Ready for Spring

I hope spring is coming soon- we're all ready for it! We went out to play on Saturday. We've had a few nice days- I know it's sad when 45 degrees is nice! But when you've only had freezing temperatures for the last 4 or 5 months, you take what you can get! Ashlyn always wants to be outside. Rylee has wanted to jump on the trampoline for a long time. I told her when all the snow has melted she can jump, and we're almost there!! I'm excited too- I'm getting tired of my winter clothes and the girls' winter clothes. I'm ready for a change!

Oma's Cinnamon Rolls

Every Monday Rylee helps Oma make cinnamon rolls for the BYU-I students that come for FHE. It's the highlight of our whole family's week!! Mine especially because I get to eat some too! Rylee doesn't eat much, but she does eat the cinnamon rolls that she makes. She wouldn't let me take her picture eating them, so I got Ashlyn enjoying a bite too!

Tattoos

I forgot to mention the tattoos on Rylee's hand in the Spiderman picture. Those are kitty tattoos from Grandma. Grandpa started giving her them a while ago, and I guess Grandpa wasn't available this time so Grandma did it. Grandma told me today that it's getting more complex than just kitties and puppies- Rylee now asks for moose! I never would have thought my parents would be tattoo artists, but Rylee is very persuasive and usually gets what she wants!