I should be sewing right now

The title is true...I should be sewing, but instead I'm updating the blog for those of you who don't have facebook. So here is what has happened lately:


Josh and I had our 3rd anniversary last night. We went to an awesome place called Extra Virgin for dinner then went to Harpos for a after dinner drink. We had a wonderful time. Happy Anniversary babe!!!















On Tuesday the girls and I went to Lacy's house to distract her from painting. Clo fell asleep on Ethan's bed. I would have never been able to get Mallory to do that. I guess that is the luxury of having a 2nd child that is very laid back.















This week I started putting hair ties in Chloe's hair. It's finally long enough to keep them in. She looks so cute w/ them in.




















Mal and Ethan waiting for their pudding.















A couple of weekends ago we went to Chillocothe for Janie's 7th birthday. We had a great time and Mallory was so excited to see Janie. Happy Birthday Janie.















Brooke holding Mallory so she could see.















Mal and Clo's nap times were on opposite schedules for a while so when Mal would got down Clo would be getting up. My house was a complete mess during those few weeks. Nap time is when I get everything done. Needless to say they are finally on the same schedule somewhat. So I got a lot of one on one time w/ the girls. Here is some play time w/ Chloe.















Saying cheese















Big girl




















The things you do to get your children to take medicine. We let Mallory drink apple juice out of a shot glass. Parents of the year...but at least we get her to take the medicine.















This is the most recent addition to our family...the Sit and Stand stroller. I am so happy we got it. We haven't been able to use it quite yet because we've been inside through most of this yucky, cold weather. But I am so excited to break it in...I will be sad when it starts to get dirty from all the use.















Cheesy Clo looking so smart on the computer.















Play time w/ Mal. She got to use the easel we got her for Christmas. She loves to paint.




















The girls being silly.




















That's pretty much all we've been up to during January. Staying inside and playing. Almost all the snow is melted...we were hoping for at least one more good snow storm to play in but we will see.

Catching up

Well to speed things up a big I skipped a couple of months of pictures. This is what has been happening in our lives lately. I decided to stay home again and just work as a server in the evenings. It wasn't working out for us financially for me to continue to work full-time and pay for a sitter. I love being home again. It's been an adjustment for us all. I'm relearning the girls and they are relearning me. They do miss our sitter quite a bit. If anyone is in need of a FANTASTIC sitter please let me know and I will pass along her information. She is a super, wonderful sitter.
I've been home now for almost a month. I really miss my girls/co-workers at the hospital...but I'm glad to be home.
Here are some pictures from October to current...of course in opposite order:

Mal playing in the snow. She loves to eat ice, etc so when her gloves got caked w/ snow that was the 1st thing she did.













She ran out of snow on her mittens so she decided to eat it off the ground. Don't worry I warned her about the 'yellow' snow.















Me and Mal getting ready to play in the snow...of course I did more shoveling then playing















Chloe is all done unwrapping presents.




















All the chaos after opening presents Christmas Day















Family picture in front of the tree Christmas day




















Christmas Eve picture before the girls went to Nana's house. I had to go to work so I missed out on the fun.




















The weekend before Christmas we went to Crown Center to go ice skating and finish up some last minute Christmas shopping. Chloe had to sit on the sidelines while dad and Mal went around the rink.















Dad and Mal trying to make it around in less then an hour.




















Me and Mal. She did really good but wasn't quite ready to do it by herself. It killed my back though:)















Cutie Mal getting ready to skate.




















We decided to get Mallory's hair cut. She got about 4 inches cut off. She was really excited about her new hair and it looks super cute.




















After picture.




















Mallory and Nacho














Chloe, she has about 6 teeth now. She has 4 on the bottom front and is cutting her 1 year molars on the bottom. She is starting to get some on the top, but nothing has poked completely through. Poor girl is getting all her teeth at the same time...some nights have been very rough.















The girls and I went to visit Oma and Gpa Dean in Illinois. We went down to Bernadotte to have dinner w/ the family. The girls and I were playing at the playground. Some of the equipment they had when my mom was little...but it still works great and the girls had a blast.















Mal playing in the leaves.




















Happy Halloween. Mal was a lady bug and Clo was a bumble bee




















Playing outside before it gets too cold.















silly girls






























Mal w/ her earrings on that A. Anita made




















Chloe on her 1st birthday. She turned 1 on October 6th. She has grown up so much since then. How did the time go so quickly.















Well, it is my goal to post at least once a month. Now that the holidays have passed I should have more time. It was pretty difficult for me to keep on top of everything when I was working full-time. Hope everyone had a happy and safe holidays.

Not enough hours in the day

Of course theses are most recent to least. Enjoy. Our camera broke so we had to use the old one that burns through batteries...so needless to say we haven't taken a lot of pictures. I know it's been 4 EVER since I have posted so I will spare the details...
John (Josh's dad) giving Chloe her 1st 4-wheeler ride












Mal and Clo enjoying their favorite summer time activity












Mal holding her ears while dad drives away on the 4-wheeler
















Dad and Clo
















swinging baby
















Mal playing doctor
















Mallory got Impetigo (staph infection) about 3 weeks ago. She is on the mend and only has a slight discoloration to the skin...but here it was in full bloom.












Clo and mama












Clo loves to look out the front door.
















My happy crawling baby
















Thinking the play food was real food.
















Mal and Clo hanging out












Mallory is showing everyone how tall our tomato plants are. The garden has been somewhat of a success. We have been able to get cucumbers, peppers, peas, green beans and tomatos out of it. We are also starting to get some pumpkins...actually the pumpkin vines are starting to take over the whole garden.
















Mal thinking (wishing) she was a baby again.












Swinging again...almost a nightly activity (no matter how hot it is outside)












Cutie pie
















Clo wishing she was on the outside.












Oma helping Mal water the plants: Mal says "the plants are saying 'I'm thirsty, I'm thirsty, I'm thirsty'!!!!!"
















Such a big girl












Clo and Oma












Yum socks












My goofy girls












Naked baby w/ a cone head












Clo loving on Nacho (he is so tolerant)












Baby blues
























Sleeping monster












har, har












Would you like a spot of tea












My big girl Mal putting together her puzzle
















Crawling baby












Sweet angel












Silly Clo
















Bath time
























Big sis












The girls have been great and growing.
Clo had her 9 mo check-up. She was 18lbs 1oz and only 25 inches long (fat and short). We are still using the carrier car seat...I'm not ready to give it up for a convertable carseat. She sure is heavy though. She is crawling EVERYWHERE. She loves to play/eat all of Mal's play food for her kitchen. One of these days I will have to post a video of Clo eating...she can put some food down and fast. Maybe I should enter her into one of those fastest eating contest...we could be millionaries. Clo is also pulling up on everything and kind of starting the cruse from one item to another. Clo is 10 months now...only two more months and she'll be a year. This year has flown by so quickly.
Mal is doing great and is a big help w/ Clo. Those two girls can really entertain each other. Mal's staph is pretty much gone now. Like I said before she only has a slight skin discoloration where it was. We are still putting an antibiotic ointment on it (per dr orders) and probably will continue to do it until it's competely gone.
Other then the kiddos nothing else is new. We try to get in as much family time that we can. It's hard to make time for everything when we are both working and then trying to keep up w/ all the household chores. Guess that is just a part of being working parents. Luckily Clo usually takes a nap when I get home and Mallory wants to watch a movie so I'm able to get a couple of things done by the time it's dinner time and Josh gets home. Josh and I pretty much go to bed w/in an hour of putting the girls down...so that doesn't leave much time to get other things done around the house after the girls go to bed.
We don't have any big plans for the next couple of weeks. I believe my parents will be coming into town for Labor Day weekend. We'd like to get out to Oregon and see my sister and brother-in-law sometime this year...but that is to be determined. Well, no promises but I hope to post again sooner then 3 months.