Ayden and Charlie

We were going to the store today and I figured since their hair was combed and they were dressed (these day's anything more than pajama's is photo shoot worthy!) I should probably get some quick pictures of them. They are changing and growing up so fast I think I need to do updates on these guy's more often.

Ayden

• catch phrases are; "I'm busy", Yes Sir!", "Oh boy", "What the!", "Mom! Charlie did.....!"
•  LOVES legos. Is constantly making lego creations.
• Wants to do everything and go everywhere with us. Never wants to be left out of the action.
• Is a total sweetheart. Is is so sweet with his sister and taking care of her. He NEVER turns down hugs, kisses (except for daddy because "he has prickly thorns" on his face), and cuddles.
• Let me preface this by saying I am NOT pregnant :) He has been saying that he wants a new little baby (either a brother or a sister will suffice) for while now. Don't know where that came from but I guess we better get going on that one!
• Has been asking more questions about.... um...."life" lately. I have tried my best to explain and talk to him about a few different issues that have come up. After a few awkward conversations and confused, furrowed eyebrows from Ayden, I think I did okay!

Charlotte

•  Is FULL OF ENERGY! This girl just go, go , go's ALL day!
• Won't keep anything in her hair (the hair clip above was removed seconds after these pictures were taken) so her hair often resembles a rats nest.
• Loves getting her toenails painted and often comes up to me with a bottle of nail polish.
• Has an awesome 3 step greeting routine; hug, kiss, headbutt.
• Stayed all by herself for the first time in nursery, hurray!
• Can identify several part's of her body, including her butt :)
• LOVES baby dolls and stuffed animals. Loves to give them big hugs and carry them around everywhere. We went to the fair this week and went to the petting zoo. Charlie went up to every goat and animal in there and gave them big hugs.

Old Tucson Studios

I am SO exhausted! But the kids are in bed, it's quiet and it's most likely now or never for blogging. Brian is out of town this weekend on a camping trip so as soon as he left we decided to par-tay! Okay... kidding. But we did decide to go have a little fun of our own and invited ourselves on my mom and brother's trip to Old Tucson Studios. I went there a LONG time ago with my family and had a lot of fun. We had SO much fun but I think I can speak for everyone when I say that Ayden had the MOST fun! He loved the whole place. The cowboys, the cheesy rides, the shows, exploring the town. This place was made for little boy's! It was a really great day, most times we go out or go on trips like this I feel so out of it. Like I'm not in the moment. I get so stressed and usually the day ends with a migraine. I have been working really hard at being more easy going and just enjoying all the activities we do. I think today was the first time I felt like I really had as much fun as the kids did. The weather was beautiful, my mom and brother were so helpful with the kids, my jogging stroller made walking around a breeze and (most importantly) BOTH kids were in great moods. Anyways, here are a ton of pics from our trip. 

Charlie looked super stylin in her new sunglasses!

we rode the train

Charlie took a few five minute cat naps throughout the day. Even with out a solid nap she was in a great mood the whole time.

 Ayden by the stage coach. 

Ayden and Charlie petting the donkey. About a minute after this photo my mom rescued Charlie from a near donkey poop grabbing incident! Yikes!

Ayden and Devin

 Charlie and Mommy on the carousel. 

Ayden loved all the guns!

 Towards the end of the day Charlie got so tired she could hardly keep her eyes open. The little stinker never gave up though! 

 We got to ride in a stage coach. Not my favorite mode of transportation! I can't believe that's how people traveled back then!

This is a replica of how a classroom would have looked. Crazy! 

 Scenery pics

Disneyland

So before I put off blogging about yet another trip, I'm gonna get this all out there now! We went to Disneyland in October with the Schmutz family and we decided to get annual passes. So as not to put them to waste I began planning our next trip soon after. I LOVE Disneyland, it is by far my favorite place to go and I wish SO BAD we didn't live so far away! We went there a lot when I was younger and living in California and it has always been a special place to me. We had been planning this trip for a couple of months and it was so fun to get excited about it with Ayden. We made a paper chain and counted down the day's till we got to go! This seemed to be the first trip that Ayden knew and remembered what Disneyland was, so the anticipation was pretty high. Brian's mom also went with us and it was so fun having her there! 

Here are some pictures from the trip (you can click on the pictures to make them bigger):

One of the main things I wanted to do this trip was ride on the Lilly Belle. It is a special car on the end of one of the trains made especially for Lillian Disney. The inside is BEAUTIFUL, with antique furniture and Victorian style decor. One of my favorite moments of the trip (minus Aydens meltdown on board)!

Some extra's:

Cluff Stuff

I would like to be able to say that the last month has been super crazy and that's why I didn't have time to blog. But truth is... I'm lazy! So here is a very condensed version of what's happened in the last month.

Brian: Is starting classes this month and taking a full load. There are a couple more classes that he needs to get into pharmacy school. He will also be taking his PCAT this semester and applying to Pharmacy school's around summer time! Yay! He is still working at Volvo doing their on-line inventory. They are really good to him there and let him have a super flexible schedule. Yay for Volvo!

Marie: Is not doing much :) We did just get my Parents piano and I have been having a lot of fun playing/ butchering songs. It's been about 6 years since I played so it's a work in progress getting back to where I was! We are still working on the house and I'm working up the courage to start texturing a new room. The plan is to do Ayden's room next and hopefully that will be soon!

Ayden: Is my little helper. He has been really great about helping me around the house and likes to help take care of Charlie. He still makes us laugh with some of the funny things he says and is such a character. He can be a real sweat heart. I have always felt since he was really young that he is very intuitive to people's feelings. He can tell when you aren't feeling well or sad and is always there to give a hug (or a blanket :)) and  tell you it's okay. He is a really special little guy and we love him!

Charlotte: Charlie is quite the firecracker! She gets into EVERYTHING. I think it's her mission in life right now to make as big of a mess as possible! Plus, she has just learned to climb and I have found her in some pretty funny situations because of it. She is also my little cuddle bug! I have always wished I would have a cuddly baby and I finally have one! Her favorite thing to do is cuddle up with you and read a book, or cuddle up with Daddy and watch Dora on his IPhone. She has also started giving the SWEETEST hugs complete with rubbing the back of your head. 

So that is about all that is going on with us. Here are some pics of them in their Christmas outfits!

The weather was perfect this morning so we decided to take the kids to the zoo. It was a beautiful day and PERFECT zoo weather. It was also a very special trip because it's our first trip to the zoo that Charlie could actually walk around! She LOVED it! I can't help but giggle every time I see her waddling around with a huge smile on her face. 

She has been the happiest little girl lately. So cuddly and this girl LOVES to tease! Every time you look at her she runs away laughing hysterically, thinking you are gonna chase her. I am just in LOVE with this stage she is in, it's quite fun!

THIS little boy is in a stage I'm not so in LOVE with! :) This face is one we see often. I'm not sure what is up with this little guy, but he has been in quite the funk! He's moody, and stubborn and I am never really sure which version of Ayden I'm gonna get at any given moment. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm at a total loss about how to deal with him, without totally loosing it! 

P.S.- I'm recording this because I'm really hoping that someday I'll remember this stage and laugh!

 Ayden LOVES being in control of the zoo map and telling everyone where to go! So cute!

 I have written a few posts on my hair blog and am having so much fun! Check it out here if you haven't already!

 http://r-p-sblog.blogspot.com/

Where I'm Supposed To Be

This past month has been a crazy one! It all began at the beginning of October. I had applied on a whim on-line for Cost Cutters over three months ago. I had totally forgotten about it when they called me back a couple of weeks ago. They asked me to come in for an interview and I very nervously agreed. I went in and this salon was just awful! It was dirty and outdated and there was NO way I wanted to work there.
As I thought about it I decided that I really DID want to work. I love doing hair and don't get to do near enough work as I'd like. So I decided to set my sight's a little higher and found a really nice upscale salon close to where we live. I sent in my resume thinking this place would never even write me back. I heard back a couple of day's later and had sort of a mini interview over the phone and they asked if I would come in for a real interview. The interview went great and they asked me to come in and bring in a model to do a cut and color on. My sister-in-law Karen was a life saver and agreed to be my model. I was SO stressed out and nervous, I think the most nervous I have EVER been! Despite being totally nervous I was super proud of Karen's hair and they said that they would give me a call. After a few day's of nervously awaiting their phone call, it came today. They decided they were going to pass. I was a little bit devastated because I was getting REALLY excited for this job! They didn't even give me a reason why (which I now regret not asking!). But I did my best and am really proud of the work I did, and that's all I can do.
As the disappointment is wearing off I think this was a good thing. Trying to schedule both Brian and I working and eventually Brian's school would have been tough. I love being a stay at home mom and I think I would have had a hard time dealing with working instead of being home with them. I think for now, this is where I'm supposed to be. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for us and that he knows what is best for us.
Out of all of this has come a project that has been over a year in the making! I'm finally starting a hair blog! Please check it out and if you have any hair related questions leave them in the comments and I'd love to answer them!

http://r-p-sblog.blogspot.com/

The Five Stages of Housework

Found this blog post and thought it was pretty funny. Note that I was reading a blog on cleaning as I sit wasting time on the computer surrounded but a total mess of a house! I guess I should probably get off my bum and get my house looking purdy!

photo by Darkstream via Flickr CC

1. Denial: My house isn't dirty, it's lived in.

2. Anger: You peed on your sheets on purpose, Didn't you?  Didn't you?

3. Bargaining: Maybe if i put this laundry basket in the hallway, the clothes will actually make it to the laundry basket...

4. Depression: Make the bed?  Why?  I'm just going to mess it up again later....

5. Acceptance: Well, nobody else is going to do it...