Monday, May 21, 2007

Our Trip to Rexburg

(I would just like to thank my sweet husband for the best Mother's Day present ever. A plane ticket to see family in my favorite little place in the world. Rexburg, Idaho.)

Nana and Lisa picked us up at the Idaho Falls airport. Hailey screamed "Nana!!!!" as she bolted through these doors, pulling her little pink suitcase. (way to melt Grandma's heart Hailey).


A Joyful Reunion!!


Aunt Li Li with Hailey at the airport
Nana with Baby Kate

Hailey found an old dance costume and danced around in it for us




Emily has grown up so much! I think she might outgrow me. I can't believe she is graduating this week.


Lisa is the best Aunt ever!!! She loves helping with the kids.


We had to take a Sunday picture in front of our favorite blossom tree at Nana's house. The blossoms seemed to match Hailey's dress.







Our Seminary Graduate!!! Isn't she beautiful!! Kudos to Ross dress for Less!!



Seminary Graduation with Emily

Proud Grandpa

My favorite Seminary teacher Brother Carter and his daughter. It was so fun to talk to him.

The whole family (including Logan, Lisa's husband) at Seminary Graduation

Annie bent down to grab something and Hailey jumped on top of her.

We went to Jamba Juice after a good workout at World's Gym. Hailey had fun at the little Gym day care while we ran and lifted weights.

*I will be updating our blog frequently while we are here in Rexburg so my sweet hubby can keep updated. Don't get sick of pictures just yet, there are plenty more to come. We are having a blast hanging out with our fun family!!


Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Little Miss Personality


I just had to share this picture of my little copycat. Everything now is "I dooo-ning it" (also known as "I doing it"). I can't help Hailey with anything or she gets mad at me. Her list of favorite things to do BY HERSELF include, putting her own shoes on (always on the wrong feet of course), pulling up her own underwear and brushing her teeth. Today she took off the outfit I had just put on her and managed to put her swimsuit on backwards with her sandals on the wrong feet and a skirt pulled up to her chest that was inside out. I didn't catch that picture. Too bad.
By the way, I feel like I am wasting my life away watching my endless list of TV shows. I love American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Lost and Prison Break (which is over for the season). Anybody have ideas on who is going to win A.I.? Dancing with the Stars? Thoughts on Melinda D. getting voted off?

Monday, May 14, 2007

Our Weekend Trip to Kirtland
(with Grandpa and Grandma Heiner)


When we heard that John and Arlene were going on a trip to visit some of the church history sites, we packed up the car and headed out to meet them! We were so excited not only to see the church sites but to spend some long awaited time with Grandpa and Grandma!! After a five and a half hour drive Hailey ran screaming to Grandpa and Grandma, jumped in their arms and gave them a big hug and a kiss. She was so happy to see them!




Grandpa and Grandma Heiner with Hailey



This was my favorite tour on the whole trip! This is the place where Joseph stopped after a 250 mile journey from New York (Emma was 6 months pregnant with twins!!!!). Joseph walked straight in the store, found N.K. Whitney (a man whom he had never met before) and said the famous statement, "Newel K. Whitney! Thou art the man! I am Joseph the prophet, You've prayed me here, now what do you want of me?"



The N.K. Whitney store was also the place that held the first Bishop's storehouse shown in this picture.

John and Kate inside the N.K. Whitney store.


The N.K. Whitney store


This is the second floor of the N.K. Whitney store. This table is where Joseph Smith finished the Joseph Smith Translation and received section 84, 88 and 90. The room where the school of the prophets was held is through a door to the left of this table. It was my favorite part of the whole trip. We learned that before the apostles could enter this room they had to be showered, clean and wearing their Sunday best. They learned many things in this specific room, one of which included the Word of Wisdom. We sang the Spirit of God and it was hard not to get emotional because the spirit was so strong. I will never forget sitting in that room, the same room the prophet and apostles sat many years before.


At the end of this river is where N.K. Whitney, his wife Ann Whitney and Willard Richards were baptized just to name a few.

This is the Ashery where they used ashes to make different things. Newel K. Whitney owned this and the sawmill. He gave so much to help the church and help build the temple.

This is the sawmill the saints used to cut wood to build the temple. It was neat to learn how it worked.

Hailey loves Grandma!! This is the Johnson Inn. Another family who gave everything they owned to the church to help members and build the temple.

I was talking to the sister missionary before we went on this tour to see inside the Kirtland temple. I told her I thought it was sad that we didn't own the temple. She said something that made an impression on me. She said that it wasn't our temple or the Church of Christ's temple but it is God's temple and if or when He wants it, the church will own it. This picture is in front of the Kirtland temple. The RLDS which is now called the Church of Christ owns it. Even though the tour was not very informative it was neat to be inside and remember what happened inside this temple.

Just an update on the whole potty experience. Hailey was doing great (seriously not one accident, not even in the car on the way to Kirtland) until the Church of Christ's visitor's center. She was going number 2 on the toilet and the automatic flusher went off. She stopped midstream and has been scared to go on any public toilet ever since because of the stupid sucking noise!! Every time she sees a toilet that is not her own she says "ssssk... ssssk" like something in the toilet is going to get her. I would be scared too after such a traumatic experience!!! I didn't expect her to even go on a public toilet and wasn't pushing her to do anything. The poor little thing held it for so long after that experience. What in the world do I do?!!


Our last night together we decided to eat at an Amish restaurant. Ohio has the largest population of Amish communities followed by Pennsylvania and then Indiana. The most fascinating thing I learned about them is that the Amish don't go to school past the eighth grade. They believe that the basic knowledge offered to that point is sufficient to prepare for an Amish lifestyle. Crazy!!

Anyway, the food was very good. I had the fish and it was excellent. My favorite thing is their peanut butter spread. I know it sounds gross but it was soooo good. We actually bought a jar of it. It tastes like honey mixed with peanut butter but actually has some kind of marshmallow ingredient. The carrot cake was yummy too! We had fun watching the horse drawn buggies pass by from our window. Hailey loves horses more than any other animal so she about went crazy. I don't know if any of you have seen For Richer or Poorer with Kirstie Alley and Tim Allen, but I kept thinking of that movie while we were on our little Amish outing. Funny Movie.





Hailey loved snuggling with Grandma.






It was fun to have Grandma take a family picture. It seems like there is never anyone around to take one for us when we are at home.


Having fun at the Hotel
Thank you Grandpa and Grandma for letting us crash your trip!! We had so much fun. We love you!

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Holding Hands

This is just one of those sweet little moments in life that makes me smile. Hailey loves holding Kate's hand in the car.





Day at the Park

We had so much fun being outside the other day at the park. Everything here in Indiana is so green and beautiful in the Spring. Hailey loved the ducks! She made sure not to get too close though.



I just had to take a picture of this gigantic playground equipment. This kicks any playground I've seen in Idaho out of the park (no pun intended, ha,ha.) This picture doesn't even include it all. Wouldn't you think this would be intimidating to a two year old? Well Hailey had absolutely no fear climbing to the top of this thing. It about gave me a heart attack!

Monday, May 7, 2007

Potty Success!!
I know this is a funny thing to talk about but it is a monumental moment for Hailey so I thought it would be good to document. Hailey went "potty" in the big toilet for the first time. She was running around without a diaper and unexpectedly ran to me and said, "Mommy, potty!" Sure enough, she was serious this time! I really wanted to make this post because I was wondering if anyone had some good advice for continuing the whole potty idea?? For right now I am excited for the possibility of one less child in diapers!!

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Tag, You're It !
Meg sent this to me and I thought it was fun to fill out. Anyone who wants to do the same feel free!
1. Comics or novels? Novels, at least when I'm not changing a poopy, nursing a baby, managing a two-year old temper tantrum, filling up ANOTHER sippy cup with apple juice, or cleaning up toys.
2. Neat or slob? Neat, on good days. Overall I'd like to say I'm pretty darn organized. I live by the saying, "A place for everything, and everything in its place." Even if toys and dirty diapers are strewn all over the floor I am pretty quick to clean up. I've realized with two little ones I don't sit down for long anymore.
3. Chocolate or peanut butter? Chocolate. I crave it more than I did before I started having babies.
4. Cold or Hot? I've lived in Idaho my entire life until just a couple years ago and I've learned to love the cold. Don't get me wrong I love basking in the sun as much as anyone. But I also love cuddling up in a blanket with hot chocolate and watching a good flick when there is a bad blizzard outside. I'm sure if I moved to a warmer climate I'd probably never turn back.
5. Talk or sleep? Talk. I'm a gabber and a night owl.
6. Being told you're loved, having time spent with you, getting a present, having something done for you, being touched. Which describes your greatest need? Having time spent with me. John and I went for a ride on his motorcycle the other night for our date. I was singing "I want a C oo oo oo ool Rider" the whole time. (Grease 2). I feel like a new woman after some good old time together.
7. Which is your least favorite season? Don't have one. I love every season. Spring because I loving seeing all of the new growth plus it's not too hot for long walks. Summer because I can attempt to get a tan and I love the smell of barbeques. Fall because I love seeing the colors of the leaves changing (especially in Utah up American Fork Canyon). Winter, because like I said before I love bundling up inside, but also because of Christmas and snow skiing.
8. Do you like your photo being taken? Yep, I'm your regular supermodel (ha, ha).
9. Have you ever blabbed a secret when you said you wouldn't? Ok, who hasn't?
10. Who do you think has the most interesting life in your social (blog) group? Meg, she lives in New York and runs marathons, and Hanna, she lives in Mexico with three kiddies!!
11. Do you ever fantasize about having a different life? No!
12. Have you ever had to start your life all over again? No!
13. What are the three most important things to look for in a relationship? One that is built on friendship, and one that includes love and trust.
14. Words, tone and delivery, or body language: Which do you absorb first? Which is the most important? I absorb and remember the tone and delivery of what someone says. The words chosen are most important.
15. Are you a good communicator? For the most part, I'm no expert, that's why I'm still in the process of perfecting this trait.
16. Do you think you talk too much? Sometimes, especially if I am passionate on a topic.
17. Can you handle the truth? Not really, I'm too sensitive of a person. But it is good for me to hear it. I need to toughen up.
18. How often do you cry? All the time. I'm way too emotional.
19. What sound annoys you the most? I agree with Meg, when someone eats with their mouth open.
20. Where did your pet get its name? We named Lucy after an English bulldog that we were going to buy before her but couldn't because we were living in an apartment. His name was Louie. We loved that name and even though we couldn't get him at the time we wanted to name our first dog after him. We were able to buy a female bulldog soon after but we couldn't name her a boy's name so we improvised. LU-CY.
21. Would you rather be single, dating, engaged or married? Married. I love my hubby!
22. Significance, self-worth, security. Which is more important? Self-worth for sure.
23. If you could have one super hero power, what would it be? I would be Elasti-girl on the Incredibles. If my little girls were crying in the other room I could stretch my arms and grab them while I stayed sitting down. Think of all the things I could multi-task!! I could do one heck of a leap and be super flexible too.
24. Do you think you are a good driver? Yes, although I just got a speeding ticket.
25. Why do you go to work? My work includes two little ones. I do it because I love being a mommy.
26. Who was your favorite teacher? Mrs. Lindsay, third grade. She is the reason I know my times tables.
27. Who's survey would you most like to see? Hanna, Ashley, Melissa, Shanda, and Andrea.