Heard of Shabby Apple?

They have some darling dresses there. They are everything I could hope for. Modest, yet sexy, and they are made to fit a WOMAN.
Mama Manifesto is doing a giveaway for a free dress. HELLO! Could I use a new dress? You betcha. I won't cry about the last time I felt pretty for church on Sundays (because it has been awhile), but let me just tell you, having babies, breastfeeding, and living on a student's budget has not helped my Sunday Wardrobe. (why the heck did I just say breastfeeding? Breastfeeding = 2 piece outfits. Since Amelia's weaning herself gradually, I feel now is a GREAT time for a dress. )
This is the dress I want. Antiquated.
Oh and it would be pretty fun to get to wear a smashing dress on a hot date with my dashing husband. I honestly wouldn't know what to do with myself. But, wouldn't it be nice to have a nice dress for a nice date out to a broadway musical? I know that Josh loves The Phantom of the Opera, and Les Miserables. I think that that would be my dream date with this dream dress.

We'll be comin' 'round the mountain

Yipee, this Friday is Josh's last day of school for a WHOLE WEEK! So, what's a family far away from other family to do?

We're drivin' home to y'all!

This is pert'nent infermation so y'all pay close attaintion.

Saturday afternoon/evening we'll arrive along the Wasatch Front. If you would like to see us you are welcome to come on over to Josh's parents house. For info on where they live please get in touch with me over e-mail or telephone. You're welcome to go over there around 7 pm. If you want something to eat, please bring a small treat to share with others, and then they will share their treat with you, too.

We'll be staying with my in-loves until Tuesday evening, then we'll head on over to my biological parents for the remaining duration of the trip. We are planning on leaving from my parents house on Friday afternoon to travel back home to MO-town.

On Thursday night (the night before we depart Utah) we're inviting anybody and everybody to come say good-bye to us. Also, at 7 pm. Again, if you would like to eat anything, please bring a small treat to exchange.

If you would like to see us any other time during the week you are more than welcome to come see us at whomever's house we will be at. Love y'all!!! Can't wait to show our kids off to you! And see you!!!

Amelia is 9 months old now

She weighs 16 lbs. 12 oz. 28 inches tall. And her head circumference is in the 91st percentile. She's gone down weight-wise (I think the Dr. said 20th percentile?), and she's in the 60th percentile for height.
The only time she'll nurse lately is if she's woken up from her deep sleep or if it's first thing in the morning and Conrad hasn't come parading through her room to get her all excited. So, if I'm lucky she'll nurse twice a day. With lots of other attempts, just unsuccessful ones. And she's liking the formula in the cup (as long as I had a little sugar to it!). It's either that or have a very WHINEY baby chasing me everywhere I go. She's got 8 teeth. Just look at 'em! And she definitely has a bigger appetite than what Conrad had. She eats everything, even potatoes. Conrad still won't look at mashed potatoes.

I think she's recognizing the signs I use with her. "eat", "more", "milk" and "diaper" are the ones I use. She does the diaper sign like crazy sometimes, and some of the time she is justified in using it.
She's a mama's girl. She really likes me! And I love it! (As long as it hasn't been a whiney day!)

going down early for the nap

and I don't mind!!! The whines, the plugged ears, the laying down on the kitchen floor by the heating vent with his 2 favorite things (blanket and teddy bear) are all good indicators that he's ready. And he's asleep already!

Happy Birthday to... ?

Who is this crazy poser?


It's CADE! And he's 11! He's my first-born nephew, so of course I am thrilled each time it is his birthday.He was not happy I caught him wearing this bow on his head. But isn't he a doll? Actually, he's a poll. And it's his birthday! Stop growing up, kid! I love you!

cute snapshots

This morning

Conrad sharing her binky with himself.
a binky kiss:it's a little blurry, but you still get the idea!

She's figured out how to climb onto shorter things.
I love my kids!

Curse you Crispy Rice

Oh how I loathe thee rice crispees.

Your sweet crackle pop makes me cringe every day

I pour out a bowl and put on Conrad's tray.

He inhales you as fast as he possibly can,

and in the process you fall like the whole bowl's hit the fan.

Some days when my boy is as hungry as ever

he pushes you off the table. Not clever!

I hate to clean you, oh how I hate it with spite.

You stick in my toes, and you put up a good fight.

So just leave me be, leave my toes alone.

I wish you would find a better home.

"Happy Valentimes Day!"

Cool. The title of this post and my last post are both quotes from the same show. Whoever guesses it right gets 300 points.

Josh and I celebrated last night by going out to eat at Olive Garden using the gift card I bought originally to give away at my siblings "Christmas Adam" party. (Christmas Adam is the day before Christmas Eve. Adam before Eve. Hence the name.) We ended up getting what we brought due to just plain awkwardness. Long story.

We had a really nice time and I even requested dessert. I never do that. I felt privileged to do so since, after all, it's Valentine's Day.

Tonight we are returning the favor we received last night by baby-sitting Luke and Chloe. Thanks to Heidi and Kyle. Y'all are peaches.

What are you doing for Valentines?

p.s. Amelia is getting the KNEE's figured out! She's climbing up on the front of our treadmill right now. Ope- she's on the treadmill! She's gifuring it out! oops, figuring. I need help, obviously. :)

"I want to go to there"

Thanks to cjanerun for showing me this cool website. I need all the help I can get in the wardrobe area. My wardrobe consists of shade shirts, old navy knock offs, and thrift store jeans.

Go see what it's all about at Cardigan Empire.

My kids Lately

At the park on one of our recent 70 degree days.

His face below says how EXCITING it was to be outside feeling this good in FEBRUARY.

On another day, with another child there were some other feelings.
Don't let this picture fool you.



















You see her true colors shining through:

For the past 2 days this is how Amelia has been. Sick with the worst kind of cold. The dreaded snot rocket cold.

All I could do was hold on tight. Fortunately, this afternoon she made a turn for the better, I think we're through the worst part of it.

"Just" a video of my precious baby girl

I seriously cannot get enough of her! That is so crazy to say. Here is "just" a video of Amelia learning to copy. It's far from expert, but I love her soft voice. That is who she is. Amelia is my little soft spot. On the other hand I could post about how Conrad is driving me crazy lately. He is constantly pushing my buttons, testing the limits. I swear sometimes he does things just to make me mad!!! He still manages to crack me up, thankfully. Tonight he woke up about 1 1/2 hours after bed crying saying, "clip my fingernails?" :)

Good news to my fellow food stampers

Yes, we have food stamps. I am not ashamed. We will pay back the money in a few years when Josh is paying taxes for earning a lot more than we earn now. (any amount is more than we earn now).

Anyway, Sam's Club now accepts Food stamps. Well, SOME of them. The one closest to my house accepts them. The lady at the register said that there's one in KC that doesn't accept them. So check your local Sam's Club if you have a membership to find out if you can use them there!

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