Much Too Fast!

I would have to say that Saige is learning much too fast, I can barely keep up with her! Everything I teach her, she just excels at and wants to know more! Right now, we are working on her colors and shapes! She is very, very good at remembering things (like Daddy-except he claims his is "useless" information).

Tonight, we all sat on the floor getting ready to read a book and she comes and hands me a shapes book. There were triangles, rectangles, squares, and circles. Her favorite was a triangle and she pronounces it so cute, but so amazingly clear! Then I was combing Savannah's hair and Saige came to me with a box of crayons. She started to pull each of them out and said, "Color?" She was meaning what color were the crayons she was pulling out. She can remember that a color is green, so every time I ask her the color of a shirt or something, she will say green. But, when I told her the colors of each crayon, she would repeat back the color like she is filing it away in her "will need to know someday" file! She cracks me up! I did catch her studying on her own other colors too. She would say pink and orange. So I know she knows there are colors but hasn't been able to associate the colors yet with the correct names!

A few weeks ago, the nice "sick" bug went through our house. Reagan was coughing and Saige gets down on Reagan's level and says, "U arigh?"

About a week ago, Saige was bending over to pick up a toy and she let a stinker. She stood up tall and looked over at me and said, "cues me!" I just had to have a belly jiggle. She will also say "cues me" after she burps! When anyone else burps or stinkers, she will say "cues me" as well. AND, last but not least, when she sneezes, she will say "bless me" and "blesshoo" when someone else sneezes! She is so full of manners! AND, when Savannah does something to her (like pinch or pull hair) I always scold Savy for what she did. Soon to follow, Saige will repeat what I said which more often that not is, "Bannah, be nice!"

Last night, Saige, Savannah, and me were making Snickerdoodles and when I was rolling the dough, she kept saying, "Playdough." Then she would give me a disgusted look. I kept telling her it was cookie dough and it was good! It took her a while for her to believe me and that it didn't taste nasty like playdough.

I cannot believe how fast she is learning. I just bought flash cards for 4 year olds and I have started to go through some of those with her! It is amazing to watch her progress and her vocabulary and knowledge grow!

Like Strawberry Wine; 17

(Hmmm,wish I could look 17 again!)

So, I was making some yummy breadsticks for dinner the other day and Deanna Carter's song; STraWBerRY WiNE, came on. It was fun to reflect back on the memories of when I was seventeen. This song was very popular among my group of friends and this song meant something very different to me then vs. now! It was interesting because it was just then that I got my first taste of love and it was gone in an instant. Fun stuff? Not quite--that is where I learned my first life-long lesson! It was also interesting to think about the could-a beens, the should-a dones, and the woopsie's!

One other thing that sticks out in my mind was thinking that 30 was old! Now that I am (almost) there, its crazy to think that 30 is just around the corner for me! It's amazing how much I have changed, how much growing up I have done, how much growing up I have left, and all that has happened thus far!

SO, if you are reading this and you have been in my life at any point of time....

THanK YoU for helping me become the amazing woman I have become!

Talking Up a Storm!

Isn't it funny how we spend the first 2 years of a childs life trying to teach them to sit, crawl, walk, and talk and the next 16+ years trying to get them to sit down and shut-up? Well, it is beginning for us. Saige is just-a talking up a storm. Tonight, Saige and I had our first real conversation:

Saige: (burp) "Cu-me!"

Me: (laugh) "You're funny, Saige!"

Saige: "Daddy home?"

Me: "Nope, he's working."

Saige: "Yep, he's worken!"

(pause)

Saige: "Worken n home?"

Me: "Yep, he is at work then he will come home."

Saige: "Oh."

(pause)

Saige: "Oh no, Banna no dum pet!" (Savannah was dumping her plate)

Saige is such a smart little girl! She is very mature for her age and rarely gets in trouble. Usually it is Savannah that is always getting in trouble. For example, when she doesn't get her way, she will pull Saige's hair, bit, or pinch. Then she looks at me and giggles! UGGGH. I am a firm believer that when people say that at this age they don't know any better....blah...I disagree!

Savannah isn't really putting a whole lot of words together yet. But, she is definitely a girly girl! I think her favorite words are "NO," "MILK," "DADDEE," ,"BANKET," and "MINE." She may be our cuddly girl, but she is our little turkey! She is definitely more naughty than Saige. I thought Saige was going to me our naughty one, but Savannah has proven me wrong! But, Savy sure does have a trick up her sleeve to wiggle right into your heart! The looks she gives are priceless! She really can be a sweet little girl, when she wants to be!

As mentioned before in previous posts, Savy likes to be flipped, tossed, twirled, and the like! I have taught the girls how to do somersaults. Savy is working on a back bend right now. It's amazing how quick they learn. When I say "do a somersault" they will lean forward and put their head on the floor and try to walk up towards their head. Usually they need a little assistance to get their diaper butt going in the right direction. When I tell Savy to do a back bend, she comes and stands right in front of me, puts her arms out, and looks backwards.

My girls are so much fun!

Little Angel

These are pictures of our Little Angels photo shoot in August 2009. I finally was able to purchase the negatives, so yay, I finally get show off my cute little Reagan!

How Do You Know When...

It's time to throw in the towel? To give up? To say, "no more, I'm done." When do you have no more will to live?

These questions I have certainly had a hard time with in the last 24 hours. I know with all my heart there is life here after, but to give up so easily just blows my mind. Granted, old age does have a lot to do with throwing in the towel, but when you have the option...it makes no sense.

This evening, I went to visit my Grandpa. He has given up and said to me, "I'm done." Within the last few hours, an overwhelming surge of emotions has gravitated me and I am not entirely sure why. Guilt? Maybe. Regrets? Perhaps.

Grandpa hasn't been as "available" to me as we could have made it. Growing up, he lived in California. With my parents divorced and a lack of communication, we never really had a relationship until he moved to Utah about 5 years ago. Even then, life takes its own course and we were still unable to form a close relationship. However, I am grateful for the time we have been able to spend together.

I will remember always, the stories he told me about his pilot days. His WWII days. The stories I heard when he came to my school to talk to the 5th and 6th graders about the planes he flew. Logging over 40,000 flight hours serving in the US Air Force is just amazing to me. He flew the P-47 and the P-51 planes all over Europe. He even survived getting shot down during the war. He served for 57 years. The amount of service he did for me and our country means a great deal to me! This information would have been very difficult to come by had he not moved here!

You can see more information about him, its very old, but it has a part about me (almost me) when it says he has 3 grandchildren and another due in July 1980 (that would be me!).

http://www.p47pilots.com/P47-Pilots.cfm?c=incP47BiographyHome.cfm&vm=BIO&pilotid=274&p=Paul%20D.%20Jewell

And ooooohhhh how he loves my girls! About a week ago, we all walked into his physical therapy session and the look on his face was priceless. Along with the gasp, he was filled with a very surprised, happy look. I know deep down inside, it means a lot to him. This is were I start feeling guilty that it took me this long to realize how much I had missed out on him in all my almost 30 years. It's hard to imagine at the rate he is going, I could only have another week or two (at most) to be able to see him.

Tonight, when I went to visit him, he said to me he doesn't feel so good. Then I told him, "you may not feel so good, but you look very handsome to me." He got a little blushy look on his face. It was really cute.

Also, it struck me...I was able to hold 2 people that are the closest things to Heaven, one old and one new! Him and Reagan! Seems lame, but cool in a sense because when he gets to where he is going, there will be only happy tears!

Thanks, Grandpa! I love you!

We've Turned 2!

Wow, two years old........ALREADY? SHeesh! Seems just like yesterday Bryce and I were wondering if it was even possible to even have children! Now look at us...we have gone from 0 to 3 in less than 2 years! Wahoo! I wonder what the record is? LOL, ok, I know its not us. But how time has gone by so fast! Anyway, these two are just so much fun! They are now putting 2-3 word sentences together and they are learning at such a rapid pace, I am desperately trying to keep up with them (in every way possible)!

Here are a few of their favorite things;

Saige and Savannah: "boons" (balloons), cookies, "cacker" (crackers), "fuut" (peaches), "banket" (blanket), and "miwk" (milk). They both love to read books and have books read to them.

Little Tidbits about them:

Saige: independent, quiet at home but interactive in social situations, Die Hard blanket fan, loves to spin, learning how to sing, gets so excited to see Susan (babysitter), takes only one time for her to learn something, loves to put things together and figure things out, scared to be tossed or anything that is "unnatural," entices you to tickle her by running past you with her belly exposed! She is very caring and will get Savannah's blanket when she is sad. If I bump her on accident or if she falls and gets hurt, she will say "sowree." She really doesn't cause a lot of trouble, but when she does her temper is like an explosion, then she becomes dormant again until the next time!

Savannah: tempermental, moody, cuddly, and fragile. I have diagnosed her as OCD, she will line things up, clean herself off, organize things, and sort/separate things. She is typically the trouble maker of the two, she will scratch, bite, hit, or pull/pull out hair. She shows little remorse, but yet gives more kisses and wants to cuddle, than Saige. Savannah temperment is like little tremors, she will get frustrated easily and will have minor "quakes" but rarely will have a major breakdown!

Here are some bday pics. We celebrated their birthday today because their birthday was on a weekday and plus, we were all sick! This week, our whole household has been battling diarrhea, stomach aches, and vomiting! It has been a real joy! But, we're back! Wahoo!

Savannah and Saige

Uncle Scott, Saige, Grandma Venable, Tim, and Emily

Zach (background) and Savannah

Papa and Reagan

Uncle Chase

Aunt Kim and cousin Jordan

Reagan enjoying her..Oops I mean Saige and Savannah's new wagon!

Most of the birthday girl supporters!

My beautiful cake creation! M&M's aren't my favorite or anything!

I had been singing the birthday song to them throughout the week and they get the biggest cheezer when the "Birthday" song is sung!

Attempting to blow out the candles!

Fun Day Of Skiing: Future Olympians?

We finally did it. We took the girls skiing for their first time. It was better than we planned! They did very well and lasted longer than I thought! At first, they were a little unsure, but at least they didn't turn into little noodles! We went up to Basin and Uncle Ty is an instructor, so he helped us get them geared up! We bought skis for all of us last July and we just needed some boots. Uncle Ty came through for us and hooked us up! Anyway, here they all are getting ready!

Their first "downhill!"

Saige, and she is actually in sliding motion in this picture!

Savannah at one of her "OK" moments!

Savannah in her "not so OK moments"

Instructor Uncle Ty, Saige, and Savannah

Papa and Savannah playing with the snow

Pretty Ballerinas!

This was so much fun to watch, I also had fun teaching them how to be little ballerinas! Funny thing is, I can't get them to do it without their tutu's!

Savannah

Saige trying to escape!

Saige being shy!

Savannah being stubborn!

6 Months: Big GIRL!

Well, Reagan is now 6 months old. Crazy! She is getting so big way too fast! She is so happy and the only time she is mad is when she is hungry! She loves to snuggle and I love it. Neither Saige or Savannah snuggled, so it is nice to have a cuddly baby! She loves to pinch or grab what she can. Mainly it is my hair or the skin on my arms. She definitely has a firm grasp. She loves her swing and her bouncy saucer thing. She is very ticklish, just about everywhere. She giggles like crazy! She is definitely a joy to have around and we are so blessed to have her!

We went to visit the doctor this last week and she is a BIG LADY! She weighs 16 lbs. 11 oz., height is 26 in., and head circumference is 17 inches.

Story Time

Saige and Savannah just love story time. They love to read books, look at books, and unfortunately, rip books! They just love it! But, at least they are interested! Every night before bed, Bryce or I will read them a story. Then, we let them sit in their cribs with a few books and they will read to themselves for a while and then it is lights out! They get so upset when I take away the books and turn the lights out. They scream, "Bookk, Bookke!" I just gotta love em! They are such a blast to have around, a lot of work, but a blast!

Saige and Savannah were lucky to get Grandpa Mike to sit with them and read, instead of me or Bryce! I had to get a picture! PRICELESS!

Saige reading to herself!

Savannah reading to herself!