Long time, no post!

I have no pics, but haven't posted in a while so I thought I would catch up. I have been sick this week-yuck! It should be impossible for moms to get sick! The girls are doing well, Katelyn loves preschool now. I have decided to sign her up for karate! I took her to my brother's karate graduation and her eyes were glued to them the entire hour! Then she came home and practiced her moves!
Taylor is now a toddler and is so grown up! I swear she is advancing way faster than Katelyn did. She now calls me mommy and can make every animal sound. She also says grandma and grandpa, gives kisses and mimics everything her sister does! Her favorite things are books! She could be read to all day, and will bring me books and sit on my lap while I read to her.
We are doing well, and surviving! I am very excited for the fall and cooler weather (it's still 100 degrees!).

Sea World

On Friday, I decided to take a quick trip to Sea World with Katelyn, Marci, Julio & Jordan. We left Sunday afternoon and came back Monday night. I love last minute fun trips! Thanks to my AWESOME friend Tammy, we were able to get a great deal at her timeshare condo...which was wonderful! I was going to take both girls, but my mom offered to watch Taylor. It was so great to be able to spend the whole day with Katelyn. She is a different person when it is just her. We both had such a great time. Katelyn kept saying, "This is so cool mom! I am having so much fun!" She is maturing into a little girl! She was so excited to stay at the condo and have a little adventure...that what makes these adventures so wonderful-seeing her face light up and her get so excited! I need to spend more one on one time with her. Plus it's always fun to hang out with Marci, Julio and Jordan!

Having fun in the Condo


Playing Jenga

The new Sesame Street area is awesome! The kids could have stayed in there all day. They especially loved seeing all the characters!

Feeding the dolphins

San Francisco

I just got back from San Francisco late last night...and I am glad to be home! I met up with my girlfriend Jene and we had a blast! I love that city! I could totally live there. It was wonderful to be by myself and get back in touch with who I am, as Jamie...not as a mother. Does that make sense? I think sometimes we only identify ourselves as "mom" and give so much to our children that we forget to take care of ourselves and forget who we are. It was very therapeutic for me and it also made me miss and appreciate my girls even more. I couldn't wait to come home and see them! I am so lucky to have two girls, who love me unconditionally, to come home to. This morning I peeked my head out of my room and saw Katelyn waiting in the hallway. When she saw me she said "Mommy, is that you?" Then she ran up to me and gave me the biggest hug ever and said, "You flew home! I'm so proud of you! I missed you so much!" And then when Taylor saw me her whole body shook with excitement and she reached out to me with a big grin on her face. What a perfect welcome! It was a great "refresher" weekend for me, and I am glad I went. Here are a few pictures.

Standing in front of the amazing Golden Gate Bridge

Jene and I

All Dolled Up and ready to party!

Oakland Temple-my first time seeing it and it is beautiful!

Swim Class

Monday was Katelyn's first swim class and she almost drowned! It was awful! I signed her up with the city and her teacher was a 16 year old kid who was doing this for the first time. So, after roll call he walks the kids out to where they can't touch the ground! Katelyn walks out and is looking around at the other kids and trying to keep up. Thankfully I was watching her like a hawk because she just went right under. I watched her walk out and then fall under the water. I started yelling at the kid who had his back towards her and he turned around and grabbed her. He wasn't even watching the kids and wasn't phased about Katelyn going under and flailing her arms around. She was crying and wanted to get out, but I didn't want her to freak out so I told her she was ok (what a bad lie!) I ran inside to get the manager and tell her what was going on...when she walked out with me Katelyn went under again! She yelled at the kid and told him he was supposed to have the kids at the steps. So, he took the kids to the steps, gave them diving rings, dropped them and told the kids to DIVE down and get them...WHAT!? So needless to say, I am worried about tonight's class...I am demanding that she go with another instructor. We will see.
Katelyn is doing really well in Preschool and loves it! I am loving the break and one on one time with Taylor. I hate to say it, but this little break makes me enjoy being a mother more...I guess absence makes the heart grow fonder!

One Year Check Up

Today was Taylor's Dr. appointment, and she did really well. Just this past week she has exploded with curious energy and is into everything! And she has mastered screaming and frustration! That girl has lungs! She screams when she is happy and when she is mad (no eating in restaurants for a while!) Here are her stats:
Weight:20.5 lbs
Height: 29 inches
She is 30 percentile, which is so foreign to me! She is very different than Katelyn was and is a very picky eater. I wish I had a picture to post...I will have to take one tomorrow!

On another note, I am sure a lot of you have heard of the Nielson family in Arizona, and the horrible plane accident that Christian and Stephanie were involved in. I heard about it and have been hooked to reading their blog and every story I can find. Plus just about every blog out there is having auctions to buy things to earn money for the family. My heart just breaks for this beautiful family. They have four beautiful children and both are in critical condition in the hospital. This story was so humbling for me and made me feel so grateful for the blessings I have. At times I get really down on my situation and wonder why my life has headed the direction that it has...but then I hear stories like this one and it gives me faith, strength and humility. My heart and prayers go out to this family. Check out their blog at: www.nierecovery.com

My Preschooler!

Today was Katelyn's first day of Preschool! From what I hear, it went OK. The teacher wouldn't really tell me what happened and just said that the first day is always interesting and that Katelyn is young and will figure it out. Katelyn told me she cried a lot...so, without knowing a whole lot, I hope that it will get better as time goes on. She went in no problem and had no problem saying good bye. I am a little concerned that I don't know what happened and that the teacher wouldn't tell me, so maybe I will stay a little bit next time to watch.I just laugh when I look at this picture...it is SO Katelyn! This is the face she gives me when I say "Show me your pretty smile!" It's like she is forcing a smile for me! Poor thing was so hot! Since it was the first day of school, I wanted to dress her in a cute Fall outfit...too bad it was 100 degrees outside! I am so ready for summer to be over!
I must say that the 3 hour break was nice! I am looking forward to this two times a week!
I love you baby girl!

So, What did you do for Labor Day?

Oh, I BOUGHT A NEW CAR!
I wasn't planning on doing this for a while, but I did it! It all started with me taking in my 7 year old Jetta (which I have loved!), and finding out it would cost $1500 to fix everything! The Jetta has been very small and hard to fit my girls and anything else in, but it was paid off so I was planning on keeping it for a while.
Anyway, I mentioned to my dad the cost of repairs and my need/desire to have a larger car. He then said that GM was having a huge employee discount sale on all of their cars this weekend and that he also had $3500 credit with GM....so we went to look! I went to Saturn first, and saw the VUE and fell in love with the look of it! I knew I wanted a small SUV with only 5 seats and all the other ones I looked at were too boxy for me.
Then after the test drive I was sold! After the credits, rebates and discounts I got $8000 off my car! Then I traded in my Jetta :( I can't believe the deal I got and my low monthly payment!
It is black with light gray leather interior ans has fun stuff inside!
Needless to say, this is the highlight of my week...no the highlight of the past year!