Click on the link on the right side that says

"This Moment Photography"

to see the pictures we've been taking!!!!!

Playing Catch up...again

Well, here's a quick overview of what's been going on with us...Alaura's been doing really well in Preschool! She's tracing her name and letters REALLY well. She knows all of the ABC's and can count to 20. (She knew this before preschool, but she's getting better and better) I'll post a video soon of her spelling some words and stuff. She's getting very creative and loves to play house and have tea parties!!!

Pinkies up!!!

She collects things..."Human stuff, just like Ariel!"

She's developing an interest in photography !!!

(these are original Alaura pieces)

She LOVES swimming!!!

Is working on her "good manners"

She loves music

and she turns anything she can into a bed!!! Pillows, blankets, even paper!!!!

This is a picture of her and Blackie (the class "pet") eating lunch when Alaura got to bring him home.

Eric's been busy helping Mom and Dad Olsen Move into their new gorgeous home! Working his his buns off at work, putting up with his pregnant wife and when ever the weather allows...He is the "Grill Master"
YES, he even grilled the pizza's!!!!!

I've been busy with my church calling, photography, cleaning the house (though it never looks like it) and my two favorite things in the world...being a wife and Mommy!!!!

Here's the princess blankie I made for alaura during her nap a few weeks ago

And of course her princess hair (it's a flower!!!)

Camie and I took the girls to the fair yesterday, it was preschool day!!! We got in for free and had a good time!

Leyna and Alaura really liked the goats

So did Camie!!!! Here's a new calf a few minutes old, we saw the beginning of the birth but left for a little while because it was sooooo hot.

Princess Alaura on her royal throne...moments before it fell apart
Look Mommy big bubbles!!!! Thanks Camie! I have a hard time lifting her up now that my belly's getting in the way

Today Alaura and I went out together to run some errands...she helped me put all of the food into bags and then into the cart. Afterward I told her, "Thank you for helping me, what would I do with out you?" She looked at me and said "Mommy, you'd die." I just about died laughing!!!!!

quick update

It just occurred to me that I haven't been doing very well at updating my blog or reading other peoples blogs... Eric and I took pictures at a reception almost two weeks ago as well as a portrait sitting, so I was editing and getting that put together last week (I'm posting them on another blog, I'll put a link on here soon) and tonight I have enrichment for my ward. I cooked 20 pounds of meat yesterday and cooked 4 pounds of beans from scratch, not to mention all the shopping and stuff. So needless to say I've been busy, and yet I'm not sure if there's going to be enough food...We're having Chipotle style tacos. I'm making the rice today!

Anyway, I've been really bad at taking pictures (of my family) lately, I'll do better though. Here are a couple that I did take.

Alaura's decided that she wants "princess hair" now which involves lots of rubber bands and hairspray ;) Here's a picture of one of the styles I did

It's not the best picture of me, but this is the first picture of taken of myself so far. So, here's my 21 week belly. Just a quick update on the pregnancy, I started feeling Sydney moving at 17 weeks and really kicking at 19 (this was two weeks later than with alaura) Alaura felt her kick a week ago and her reaction was great!!! She was so excited that she felt Sydney kick her. Eric finally felt her last night!!! She stops as soon as he tries to feel her. I have an appointment next Tuesday to get an ultrasound and to see my Dr. So as long as she's still a girl I'm going to buy her bed set soon and then I wont have to worry anymore about buying anything. I'm not sleeping very well at night due to a really sore back and hips...my arms fall asleep all night too, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I LOVE BEING PREGNANT!!!!! :) Honestly I'm enjoying it so much more this time, I was so scared of gaining weight last time that i didn't enjoy my growing and changing body, this time I'm still aware of what I'm eating and stuff, but I'm enjoying it a lot more. I'll probably be bigger this time and I'll cry about it after I have her, but as for here and now I'm Happy!!!
I also realized that I never put a picture of Alaura's new bangs!! I took the scissors to them month ago and she panicked "Put it back!!!!!" But she loves them now!!! She has side bangs!!!

Because it's funny!

I saw this on Lisa's blog and thought it was pretty funny!

THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES
Six married men will be dropped on an island with one car and 3 kids each for six weeks.Each kid will play two sports and either take music or dance classes.There is no fast food.Each man must take care of his 3 kids; keep his assigned house clean, correct all homework, and complete science projects, cook, do laundry, and pay a list of 'pretend' bills with not enough money.In addition, each man will have to budget in money for groceries each week.Each man must remember the birthdays of all their friends and relatives, and send cards out on time--no emailing.Each man must also take each child to a doctor's appointment, a dentist appointment and a haircut appointment.He must make one unscheduled and inconvenient visit per child to the Urgent Care.He must also make cookies or cupcakes for a social function.Each man will be responsible for decorating his own assigned house, planting flowers outside and keeping it presentable at all times.The men will only have access to television when the kids are asleep and all chores are done. The men must shave their legs, wear makeup daily, adorn himself with jewelry, wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes, keep fingernails polished and eyebrows groomed.During one of the six weeks, the men will have to endure severe abdominal cramps, back aches, and have extreme, unexplained mood swings but never once complain or slow down from other duties.They must attend weekly school meetings, church, and find time at least once to spend the afternoon at the park or a similar setting.They will need to read a book to the kids each night and in the morning, feed them, dress them, brush their teeth and comb their hair by 7:00 am.A test will be given at the end of the six weeks, and each father will be required to know all of the following information: each child's birthday, height, weight, shoe size, clothes size and doctor's name. Also the child's weight at birth, length, time of birth, and length of labor, each child's favorite color, middle name, favorite snack, favorite song, favorite drink, favorite toy, biggest fear and what they want to be when they grow up.The kids vote them off the island based on performance. The last man wins only if...he still has enough energy to be intimate with his spouse at a moment's notice. If the last man does win, he can play the game over and over and over again for the next 18-25 years eventually earning the right To be called Mother!

Randomness

Alaura LOVES to color...here are some of her works of art on the back patio with chalk...

A sun

A boy
This is how she makes her letters
Numbers

I forgot we had these pictures...

Eric found Alaura sitting in the hall eating her pretzels...

She LOVES her olives!!!!!

Erics Hunting Trip (Beware Bambi lovers)

Eric went on a hunting trip August 14th-19th in Utah. He had a really good time...and got his first deer!!! He got it on opening day!!! He spent the rest of the time pushing deer to the other 3 guys. Against all odds all 4 guys went home with a deer! Eric came home with some jerky and sausage...I have to admit that it's pretty darn good! Well, here are a few pics from his trip...there's a pic of his deer that he got, so if you don't like hunting (like me), don't look past the first three! ;)