We are lovin' the sunshine! Even at 10am it's warm enough for us to play outside while Jake snoozes away in his crib :) I got Emma some new side walk chalk (yay for walmart - 1.88 for a huge tub!!! It's in the Easter section...) and she has been loving it. As much as I miss her being a baby, it is nice that she can play outside by herself and have a good time. I have a feeling the big sandbox will be a big hit this summer too. Emma and Kylie spent a good hour and a half out there yesterday. YAY for SPRING! (and with that said, we have chances of snow tomorrow...)

Emma's Update:

This just may be the easiest way to let you all in on what we know! After Emma's tumble and passing out - her pediatrician wanted an EEG and EKG done (on valentine's day) as well as a follow up with Em's Cardiologist. We did hear back on both tests last friday morning, all are NORMAL and everything appears to be just great! She will have a checkup with her Cardiologist on March 5 to check on her heart (for those that don't know she has had a stretched foramen ovale since birth = a hole in the top chambers of her heart) and make sure she is doing ok there. I will update you after that appointment too. Sorry this has been late in making it to the blog - I have had a really hard time with it and am of course better with the fabulous test results last friday but really wont be able to put it out of my mind until after her appointment on the 5th. Thank you for the prayers and well wishes, we've got one strong baby girl! This is a photo of her before her EEG, she was SO great and since it was valentines day she told everyone "Happy Holidays!!" instead of "Happy Valentines Day" it was pretty cute. We didn't get any after pictures as she was pretty tuckered out but she did get to pick herself out some balloons in the lobby on the way home. We'll keep you updated!

Kissy Face

Jake has this absolutely hilarious new 'Kissy Fishy Face' look going on, it's SOO funny and we can't help but laugh at him. Amazingly enough I caught it on camera friday! What a funny little guy! It's so great to see his personality start to develop, he is quite the character!

Friday night Nick and Andrea came over for dinner (which Andrea brought most of!) and we had a good time hanging out! We decided once again that it was another Jake and Nick look-a-like night so this time I got a picture! Anyway, good times were had by all, we are so grateful they live so close! We really enjoy their company.

This is a FABULOUS chili, and Aaron requests it about once a week!! Thanks Jan for sending it out in your Christmas letter - we LOVE it! For all you veggies, I'm sure that cooking up some vegeburger with taco seasoning would be just as good!

WHITE CHILI

*~*~*~*~*

1 lb ground turkey, browned

1 cup medium salsa

1 cup frozen corn kernels

2 cans great northern beans

1 can green chili enchilada sauce

8 oz. of grated cheese (Jalapeno Jack or Taco Cheese is what we used!)

In a large pot combine the browned turkey, salsa, corn, beans and cheese. Stir together and simmer over low heat for about 30 min. or until cooked through and cheese has melted.

Serve with sour cream (and we added some baked tortilla strips!)

Mmmmm! Enjoy with these last days of cold weather!

Noah and Santa Claus

Yesterday while Jake took his morning nap, Emma quietly played in the living room with her dollies, lining them up tenderly across the living room floor and then draping them with a blanket. She 'shushed' me and ran back to her room and came running back out with a book. "Mommy they can't go night night without their story." So I stood back and watched as she read them stories from her 'Baby Bible'. This is the one I remember best...

"Noah was there and it was raining, and he made a rainbow and the rainbow said 'Hello Santa Claus'! "

and her little face was so precious and so sincere it was all I could do to not laugh. I smiled and said that was a fabulous Noah story. We had lunch, and she went down for her nap. Once the house was quite, I couldn't help but capture what was left behind on the living room floor...

Little Man and Mommy

(HINT - if a slideshow has ended before you were able to see it all and it has gone to a screen that wants you to enter your information, you don't have to!!! There is a small 'x' in a box at the top right hand side of the slide box - click it twice and the slide will restart! :) )

Emma and Mommy at Playhouse Disney LIVE

PEEK

Everything!

Jake is into e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g !!! {OH MY} He is moments from crawling, but for now rolling gets him everywhere he wants to go. He does this hilarious little roll then props himself up on his elbow like he is 'striking a pose'. Today he found Emma's princess lego's and thought they looked like fun, he let out a little squel when he figured out how to dump over the whole bucket so he could get his hands on all of the loot. Quite the little character he is, our little Jake man. (ps. doesn't he look like Nick in that second picture??? crazy.)

*rewind*

Well I'm going to do some 'catching up' on here with pictures... so this is from Superbowl Sunday. We had our friends Adam and Holly over - just wanted to say 'thanks Holly' for enduring princess stickers, fuzzy bug headbands and the giant doll house. We had a good time, and it made it a bit easier to be 'snowed in' at home this year instead of our annual trip to Portland.

photographer in the making PART 2

Since mommy has a new camera it has really freed up the small canon and Emma seems to have claimed it has her own. Though I don't think I was picking up the camera at 2 1/2 years of age like Emma, but I did love taking pictures and started quite young. I was sorting pictures with my mom this weekend and came across several rolls that I had taken when I was in 1rst grade (approximately anyway). There were about 10 pictures of my cat (her name was princess) , a few of the floor and one or two very flattering pictures of my brother. We had a good laugh, and I realized - Em is following my love for pictures, and I am proud of it.

7 !?!

SEVEN DAYS since I last posted? Wow, I logged in this morning to post some new pictures and realized it has been far too long. So to my faithful blog following... I'm so sorry! We had a seriously rough week last week - thanks for all the prayers (but don't stop yet!!). I'm back on the computer and back to posting on the blog! Watch for lots of pictures today!

Y me

What I'm up to...

I have the crafting bug lately. Well, I always have it but sometime I feel it more than others. To those that don't have it an wish for it - it's {not} always a blessing! It keeps you up till 1am because you have an idea that you just HAVE to do, it makes you spend money because 'it'll be soooo cute' and so on... Anyway, here's a peek at what's been taking up my 'spare' moments lately! I have one last project that I can't post yet, and it's the best of all!

A book for Emma of all the funny things she says...

I started a 9x9 album and LOVE the smaller space and simple layouts. This is my first page for it.

Cards that my Nana asked for, some I just might have to keep for me!!!

A few headbands to add to our spring line. If your in town come to our 'Spring Open House' for Le'Laine Boutique! Feb 9

photographer in the making...

Since getting my new camera, Emma has really latched on to my small Canon Powershot and LOVES taking pictures. Every time Jake is playing on the floor I hear "Mommy, can I use the camera to take pictures of Jake?" I was SHOCKED the first time I let her and these are the pictures she came up with! These are pretty good for a 2 yr old taking them! Of course there were several up her nose and of the ceiling fan... but as they say - 5 good pictures for every 80 you take, or someting like that...

2007 vs 2008

Since we can't be there this year, thought I would post a picture from LAST year :) Here are the kis playing outside at Josh and Suzanne's - was warm enough they weren't even wearing coats! The next picture is this year - at home. Too much snow to drive to Portland :( We miss everyone over there!!! See you in a few months for SURE!