Weekend Highlights

We had a great weekend spending time as a family. We really don't get to hang out the four of us with Ken's schedule so it was well needed. Above is a picture of Tressa and the dessert she helped make last night for a treat. She was so proud of herself. She made a chocolate moose with vanilla wafers. It actually turned out to be DELICIOUS. Way to go Tressa!

Ken decided to give Katelyn a bath last night, guess who just had to get her hands in to help? That's right. Tressa. She had so much fun giving Katelyn a bath. I think she just loved to play in the bath water. Both my girls love the water, they must get it from their father.
I know, I know. You don't put up Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving. Let me explain, we thought since we would be out of town the weekend after Thanksgiving we would put the decorations up now. That way it will feel like Christmas when we get home. I just love Christmas especially the decorations and giving out presents. I love to see the smiles on our loved ones faces. You know the feeling. We had a great time decorating, especially now that Tressa is old enough to help and try to understand the meaning of Christmas. She just loves those candy canes on the tree. We keep telling her to leave them alone. What kid doesn't have a sweet tooth?
Here is a picture of my village. Ken's mom got me started on doing a Christmas village, so far I have 2 houses (on the ends), a lighthouse and a gas station. Every year after Christmas, I hit the sales for more village items. Hopefully some day my village will be the size of Colleen's.

I want to wish everyone a HAPPY THANKSGIVING this Thursday.

No Escaping IT

As you know from my last post that my family (excluding me) was sick with the flu, you know the throwing up and diarrhea. I thought that maybe I would escape from it and not get sick. Boy was I wrong.

Last night, it just hit like a ton of bricks. I was up most of last night with the same symptoms. So today, I decided to cancel all my appointments and just stay home. I know that you don't use the TV as a babysitter, but today I did. Tressa stayed in her toy room to watch cartoons and play with her toys. Katelyn stayed with me because she too is sick and throw up last night. So today I am kicking it back and fighting this flu so I can have an enjoyable Thanksgiving season next week.

On a side note, Ken and Tressa are doing well and over the worst. Yeah!!! Now if I can just get over it life will be great.

Best of Times, Worst of Times

This past weekend to me has been the best of times and the worst of times. It all started Friday morning with Ken having some gastric issues. While he was home resting with a bowl next to him and being close to the bathroom, the girls and I decided to go to playgroup and then have lunch at McDonald's with a playplace. When I got home, he was still where I had left him. That evening, he was sweet enough to let me go out with the girls (some friends in my ward) to dinner and then to Amy's house to play some Wii. I left Tressa with Ken and took Katelyn with me. I had a blast. It is always nice to somewhat get away from the kids and the responsibilities I have at home. Little did I know the weekend was only going to get worse.

Saturday, Ken still wasn't feeling well. The house was a wreck, which is not like me at all for those who know me. I am a Clean Freak. So later that afternoon, we decided to get some fresh air and do some Christmas shopping. It is amazing how many people are out this early starting their shopping for the holidays. We ended up getting Tressa a few things and then wishing for stuff that we will never get, i.e. a plasma flat screen TV.

Sunday morning, Tressa woke up at 5:00 in the morning complaining of monsters, before long she was up vomiting throughout most the morning. She couldn't keep anything down. The whole family stayed home from church. We ended up watching movies and eating crackers. It was not fun at all to sit at home with everyone sick but you. That's right, Katelyn also had some runny diapers and a little bit of throw up. In the end, we made it through. Ken is on call today and won't be home until the morning. So I am the one who will be dealing with Tressa who still is throwing up and telling me her stomach hurts. Katelyn, well, I will be changing a lot of diapers. Wish me luck. Hopefully, I can squeeze in some z's throughout today and tonight just to get me by.

Say 'Cheese'

Katelyn is now 6 weeks old and for the past week she has started smiling. I was finally able to get a couple of pictures of her smiling. She has such a cute smile and it is fun to see her so happy. She is quite a joy in our family.

Blessing pictures!!!

For those of you who want to see pictures from Katelyn's blessing, my cousin Traci put some up on her blog. Just go over to my Family and Friends, click on Traci, there you will find the pictures. Hopefully soon I will be able to put some of my own up. Enjoy!

A Tressa moment. Kids say and do the darnedest things. The other day, Katelyn was sitting in her swing just content not causing any trouble. Tressa walked over to her with her special time out timer, set it and put it on the couch next to Katelyn. Next thing I hear is Tressa telling Katelyn "35 minutes. Alright?". She is so used to being in time out that she thought Katelyn needed a turn. It made my day. It is amazing how the little things makes ones day.

Crazy do, hairdo that is!

Saturday night, I put sponge curlers in Tressa's hair. Well, I got great results, maybe a little to much result. Here are some pictures I took of Tressa and Katelyn in their Sunday clothes. I hope you find them as cute as their mother. LOL!

Above: Tressa and Katelyn

Top: Tressa with her new hairdo.
Below: Our cute new addition at 6 weeks on Tuesday.

Finally, we have success!

Starting last Friday, my mom and I started potty training Tressa. Yes my third attempt with her. She had several accidents throughout the day. She learned to hate the wetness running down her leg and standing in a pool under her. She would get upset and cry, which is understandable, considering it was all new to her. We didn't have much success the first day. Then the weekend hit and we thought it best with the blessing and visitors we would just put her in a pull up. We would start the adventure again on Monday.

Well it has been 2 1/2 days so far and we have finally succeeded. All day Monday she remained dry in her panties. After I put her pull up on for her nap, she would wet in them and tell me she wanted another one. For the past two days she has tried to hold it as long as she could until we put on the pull up. Monday night she did a little tinkle, we did not get to her in time.

However, this morning was a huge success. She did it not only once but twice. We are very excited for her. Hopefully we are off to having a great day and a good start to potty training.

Way to go, Tressa!!!

Katelyn at 1 month old

Here is Katelyn's one month old picture. Wow, how time flies when having fun.

Highlights from October!!!

So much has occurred in the month of October, it would take a novel to explain. So I will do it bullet style.

• We have had so many different visitors come stay with us. Colleen came to help for a week and a half. Keli and her girls came for a few days. After having a week to myself to adjust to two kids, my mom and dad came the last two weeks of October. Then this past weekend we had 18 visitors come for Katelyn's blessing.
• While my parents were here, we spent two days in Nauvoo, IL to attend the temple, explore Historic Nauvoo and to see Carthage jail. What a neat experience to walk where the pioneers walked and to see where our dear prophet, Joseph Smith, spent the last of his days on earth. I know that I enjoyed feeling the spirit and I know my parents felt it as well.
• My parents and I took the girls on a field trip to the Wildlife Prairie Park. There we took a train ride, watched the bison and elk be fed and went to the petting farm. Tressa had a blast, she has been asking me all summer to go.
• Most days we either went shopping for something or stayed in to clean or just relax.

• Of course, for Halloween we took the girls Trick-or-treating and handed out some candy.
  
• Last Saturday, we spent the day getting ready for visitors to arrive and for the blessing.

• Yesterday, we had Katelyn blessed. Followed by a feast of chicken salsa chili, chicken rice soup, beef stew, french bread (courtesy of Tiona), rolls and yummy desserts.

I want to thank everyone who came for the special occassion, we really appreciate your love and support. We really enjoyed having my mom and dad come out to see us in Peoria. I hope that they had a fun time and a safe travel home.

FYI: I apologize for not having any pictures from the blessing. It turns out that the pictures I took with my camera didn't work, because well I didn't have my memory card in the camera. OOPS!!! I will post some as soon as I can.