Santa Claus Is Coming Today!

At least, that's what Morgan sings all day long. She watched the "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" DVD (it's the one like Rudolph...we all watched it growing up...the claymation videos) the other day and now she sings "today" instead of "to town."

Anyway, the Bass Pro Shops is offerring a pretty nice deal--a free picture with Santa and a free kids meal at the restaurant. Obviously, it's to get you to shop in their store, but we have absolutely NO desire to even browse fishing, hunting, skiing, etc. gear, so it's a nice place to go without temptations.

Morgan was super excited to go see Santa last week for family night (a little early, I know, but we wanted to beat the crowd). She talked about it all day long and couldn't wait. She followed all the reindeer tracks in the store, super excited to meet Santa. That is, until, she saw him. Then, she would have NOTHING to do with him. She wouldn't even take the candy cane he offered. We know it's completely normal and we did expect it, so here's Morgan's picture with Santa. Or, should I say, our family picture with Santa.

Sadie, of course, has no idea what is going on, so here's her picture with Santa. I think he's the REAL Santa. No fake beard on this guy!

Today's Adventures

Today we went to Highlands Ranch for Brian's annual office Flag Football game. I guess it's their Turkey Bowl, because they always do it just before Thanksgiving. Anyway, it's completely informal, and the park is lots of fun.

Here's Morgan, showing off her goods to take to the park!

Here she is, admiring herself in the mirror! Notice her necklace caught on her pigtail.

While at the park, Morgan attempted to take pictures of this:

Instead, we got this,
and this,
and a bunch more pictures with her fingers in the way and the camera pointed at nothing identifiable. Oh well, thank heavens for digital cameras and "delete."

During halftime, Brian and Morgan fed the ducks. This video just doesn't do those hungry ducks justice! As we were walking toward the pond, they all swam over like they hadn't eaten for days! Too bad all we had was one little piece of bread!

Oh, and Sadie is starting to make faces now. She's been exploring her mouth lately, and I caught this. She actually wasn't sad, but that's one cute frown!

I HATE CARPET!!!

Phew! Now that I have that out of my system, I can explain why I recommend never putting carpet in your home. Well, any room that little kids can bring food into (which, we all know means anywhere because we listened to mom and never brought food into our rooms...).

This morning, I made smoothies for breakfast. Yummy, yummy, yummy! I put fresh raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, and bananas. They were delicious. Morgan was having a bit of trouble getting it to go through her sippy cup lid, because it was a little thick. So, I took the lid off, knowing that she would be careful. Plus, I completely trust her without a lid now.

So, I got this picture, about halfway through her smoothie. I just couldn't resist the purple mustache, especially how it curls up at the ends!


Morgan continues to drink her smoothie and eat her toast. However, she misjudged the edge of the table and down came smoothie, all over the dining room!! I actually watched it all, but couldn't catch the cup fast enough and it truly was an accident! Morgan's immediate response after, "Oh!" was, "So sorry, Mommy. I spill smoothie. So sorry!" So, here is the original disaster.

I pulled out the carpet cleaner and we both started scrubbing. I'm not exactly sure when because I was focused on scrubbing, but sometime in the middle of the 55 minutes we were scrubbing (yes, Morgan helped the entire time), Sadie stopped chatting to herself and blowing bubbles (a new talent of hers...it's quite cute!) and fell asleep. So, I left her there, figuring there was no point in moving her.
Here is the finished product. If you were to get down on your hands and knees, as I was while cleaning it, you will be able to see very, very light traces of pinkish/purple, but for the normal observer (i.e. the rest of my family), you wouldn't even know. For that, I am grateful, but I'm still bugging Brian for hardwood by next Christmas!

And, my initial statement still stands. I HATE CARPET!!!

Happy 27th Birthday, Brian!

Call it a coincidence, or a birthday wish coming true, BYU played Air Force yesterday, and our family went down to Colorado Springs to celebrate Brian's birthday and give Morgan a taste of what she's been brainwashed with since birth. And, we are happy to announce, BYU won. It's a good thing, because it would have been a long drive back from the Springs if they had lost.


Morgan was so overjoyed when the players took the field, she said, "Mommy, take picture of Rah, Rah. Take picture!" So, here's the picture of "Rah, Rah".

Our true Cougar fans, Brian and Morgan. Notice the sun is still shining at this point. Sadie and I wimped out halfway through the last quarter and waited in the warm car.

Here we are, all sporting our Cougar Blue! Too bad we had to keep our jackets on to stay warm! 43 degrees and shade is not exactly comfortable!

Can we say POOPED?!?! We had left the house at 8 am and when we got back at 9:30 p.m., this is how I found the girls in their car seats.

Morgan really got into the spirit of the game. As the fans shouted, "BYU! BYU!" she chanted "BIU! BIU!" with them.

Overall, it was a long day, but I got an early Christmas present out of it. Brian figured I deserved something for spending 11 hours away from home, with 2 kids, in traffic, and no naps (for me or the girls). He surprised me with new laundry baskets! Lame, I know, but I've been bugging him for months! So, Happy Birthday, sweetie! We love you!

Miracles Happen!

Here's what happens when Morgan isn't hanging on me while I'm talking on the phone. Earlier this week, I talked to my mom for about 25 minutes and Morgan entertained herself the entire time! Plus, she let Sadie sleep in the swing and didn't wake her up! Hard to believe, I know!

Yes, she made a race track with her Golden Books (thanks, daddy, for teaching her how to "properly" use her books), several Lego objects (this day was birthday cakes for Brian's upcoming birthday), and ALL, yes, ALL of her felt pieces from her quiet box. It was great fun sorting them back into their packets. Oh well, the good thing is she is learning to play by herself and for that, am I ever grateful!

Tuesday...

...we made a vacuum. While I vacuumed, Morgan played with her blocks. Then, she wanted her own vacuum--out of blocks. So, I tried, and this is what our final project looked like. Oh, the wonders of Legos...
It's a good thing she didn't want me to make a broom and mop today. I would have been stumped!

Also, here are a few pictures of the girls' latest photo shoot in their PJs. Morgan is in this phase of holding Sadie and then wanting their picture taken. Isn't digital photography great? We have such cute little girls...

Happy, Happy Sadie!

Sadie is, by far, the sweetest baby! This week, she has started blowing bubbles (raspberries, I think is the technical term), in addition to cooing and giggling. I took a couple of videos for everyone to enjoy! The first one, she doesn't do much, but I thought her hands behind her head was too cute. In fact, just look at the picture...that smile, those hands! The second one is much cuter!

As Promised....

...here is a video of what Morgan and I spend most of our playtime doing. Yes, I have a Bachelor's degree from one of the nation's best Business Schools, and I spend my days building bridges with Legos. To be more exact, Legos are too small for our family (and will be for awhile), so we play with Duplos. Would I trade my profession? NOT A CHANCE.

As Brian says, I'm expanding my skill set. Given the supplies Morgan provides me (i.e. her leftover legos), I build as many bridges as I can until I no longer have enough pieces to make them symmetrical. That's my OCD coming out.

Now, I have experience in the ABC's: architecture, business, and construction. (Really, I'm just getting good at singing the ABC's! I think Morgan knows about 4 different versions/tunes now!)

Here are her "boats" as she calls them. Basically, whatever type of creation she makes that day is a "boat".

Building Bridges

This afternoon, I was kind of bummed when I called Brian and he said he would be home by 6:00 (lately, he's been coming home at about 5:15-5:30), so I thought, well, let's make the best of it. It was just after 4:00, so I needed to "entertain" for 2 more hours. Sadie needed to eat, and I needed to "distract" Morgan for awhile, so I told her she could bring her blocks and train set into the front room. She was so excited!
I sat on the couch, feeding Sadie, with the news in the background. I looked down, and Morgan was intently building her train tracks and "boats" (unfortuantely, no pictures--it would have ruined the moment). Absolutely no care in the world, other than to make sure she constructed her masterpiece just as she wanted. Then, when she had finished the train track and boats, she asked me to build some bridges for her train to go under. She seems to be obsessed with going over and under bridges right now.
Anyway, it was one of those warm your heart moments when you just want to freeze time. One of those moments that reminds you why you love your life, just how it is, even if you wash bottles, sweep the floor, and build lego bridges day in and day out. If you have a child that thinks you're the greatest, it all seems to be worth it. And, I'm pretty sure I'm the greatest bridge builder Morgan has ever known. Even better than Daddy.

Why I Want to Move to Arizona

Or anywhere else in the world that doesn't believe in changing the time twice a year!

Besides being closer to family and friends (which would be the real reason), I am sick of the time change thing!

Yesterday, both girls were up at 5 am. Sadie, of course needed a bottle, and Morgan kept saying, "I want breakfast! I want breakfast!" So, Brian got up to tackle the girls. I stayed in bed, because not long after Morgan stopped, Sadie stopped as well. I assumed she had fallen back asleep (it's actually one of my favorite things about Sadie right now--most of the time, give her 5 minutes and she's back asleep). Anyway, so I got out of bed at about 5:15 to find Morgan eating a bowl of Kix and Brian playing with Sadie on the floor. He had already fed her a bottle--such a great dad!

6:15 rolls around and Sadie is ready for her first morning nap. So, we convinced Morgan to go back to sleep also. The catch...she wanted to lay with Daddy in his bed. I am not sure how much Morgan slept. I just remember her still singing the alphabet song when I finally snoozed.

Church is from 11-2, so of course, it is nap time during Sacrament meeting. Overtired Morgan screams, in the middle of the meeting, "No Mommy, I'll be quiet!" Out to the car for time out.

I assume nursery went okay because the leaders never brought Morgan to us.

We get home from church and Morgan falls right to sleep for naptime. I decided I would let her sleep a little bit later, in hopes of fixing this sleep deprivation mess. So, at 4:00, she woke up, stepped out of her bedroom and saw that I was holding Sadie. Then, there was the following for the next 45 minutes. I should have locked her in her room, but I actually cooked dinner and stayed in the other room, so I wasn't bothered by her screaming in the front room. Plus, this will be great to show her when she's older!



By 7:00 bedtime, both girls were ready for bed. In fact, Sadie didn't even take her last bottle, she was that tired!

Crazy Halloween!

Here's some pictures of our Halloween. Nothing too exciting, but the ward party and trunk-or-treat went well and it's over! Now, I can relax!

Typical of Sadie, she never got dressed in her pumpkin costume...she slept in the sling almost the entire evening! Quite convenient, actually!



We had a table decorating competition and all the Primary kids went up on the stage to present their artwork. Even though Morgan had no idea what they were doing, she followed all the kids up and stood, front and center, on the stage. When the audience clapped, she clapped right along with them. It was pretty cute!

Can you tell I was a little preoccupied directing a Ward Activity? I never took the tag off of Morgan's skirt. I noticed when we were completely DONE cleaning up the gym!

Here's Morgan, fairy princess wings and all.

Here I am with the girls. Yes, this was Sadie's costume. By the time she woke up, we were starting to clean up the activity. I didn't see any point in changing her into a costume for one picture, in the front yard, nonetheless. This picture is just before we went across the street to our neighbors at 8:30 to show off Morgan.

We spent almost an hour over at our neighbors, and this is what Morgan did to entertain herself for about 15 mintues. When she was done blowing out the candle, she'd say, "Nittaya, please lite cake again, please." Nittaya, our neighbor, showed her how it's like blowing out the candles on a birthday cake. In fact, she even sang Happy Birthday to get Morgan going. We have lots and lots of fun with the Mergenthals.