Mommy Daughter date

Before we headed out to Virginia I went to a Relief Society Activity that my sister put on. She's the new RS Counselor over Activities. She did a wonderful job on her first activity. Kathryn loved running around to all the different stations.

We made a necklace, a purse, a hairbow, a flower pen, and got this picture taken.

I miss my sisters. I've needed them. Rachel's my go to gal for anything kids related. Joanna is my movie super store, Melissa is always good to have watch Kathryn, Jessica is just so busy but anytime spent together is fun, and well Shelley left us a while ago to Seattle but she was the go to girl for anything food related.

I love my family!

4 months old

Charlotte had her 4 month appointment today. Just some stats for your reading pleasure and a picture for your viewing pleasure.

25 inches long 78%

14.4 lbs 73%

16 inch head circumference 90% ( this fluctuates between 95% and 90% because of the shunt and where they place it on her head.

She's doing great and I couldn't be more happy.

On and this Pediatrician was WAY better then the last one!

Light Brights

Do any of you remember the old Night Brights and how fun they were. We had a realy old one that I loved to play with. We got Kathryn one awhile ago and she's now finally playing with it nicely instead of throwing the little pieces everywhere. She likes me to make pictures with her. Mostly Butterfly's and Spiders. I know why the butterflys cause the abound in our back yard but I'm not to sure why she's so facinated by spiders. Maybe Charlottes Web?? We don't put the black paper on it. I'll introduce her to that later. with pictures and such to follow.

Anyway I tried a new setting on the camera. Macro. What do you think? I like how it turned out.

More Hair do's and some about me

I bought some sponge rollers the other day on my "I need some time alone" night. I went to TGI Fridays and got some chips and salsa and a Mint Brownie Shake. really filling huh! Anyway I went through my calender and color coded Charlotte's Dr appointments so they will be easier to find as to when the last one was and such. and any church things going on. It just was nice to sit alone and write things up without Kathryn coming and grabbing my pen away from me and wanting to color or coming to sit on my lap and squishing my face so I want to play with her. I think this will be come a once a month occurrence so that I can get my life planned for the next month. I say church things because I got called to be the Relief Society Secretary. I'm way excited to work with the sisters in the ward and the presidency is awesome. I'm a little nervous though because I have to take the roll and I know like 15 of the 60 or so sisters in the ward. So I have a long way to go to learn names and faces. I may be come the greeter for the next month or so until I get to know everyone!

But to the Hair part. I got some sponge rollers, which I've been wanting to get for a long time and just decided to go for it the other night. So I had to try them out the next day. Kathryn actually liked having them in but I learned that her hair is so fine that next time I'll have to dose her hair in mouse and hair spray if I want any curl to stay in. She did look super cute with the curlers in her hair though.

This other do is from one a blog that my friend Stephanie sent me. It's from someone that has kids with shorter and fine hair. So this worked great for Kathryn. It didn't stay all day but it looked super cute today while it lasted. I like trying new things on her since her hair is getting longer. I did cut her bangs a little bit today. Jill would freak at what they look like now. Glad she's only two and won't know I butchered her bangs. Oh well I can see her eye's now. That's all that matters. not how straight they are.

Take a close look at her outfit today. She wanted a dress so I picked out this cute purple overalls dress and she picked the poke a dot shirt to go underneath. Then she wanted the striped pants to wear to stop the mosquito's. She was defiantly styling today!

Charlotte

Charlotte is 4 months old. I can't believe how big she's getting. Here's a few for your viewing pleasure. She's getting better at holding on to her toy's too. The video below is of her holding and trying to eat her toys. With some fun baby noises so turn on the volume.

Listen to the fun noises she makes too. I'm sad that my mom has to miss this. I love showing off my girls!

Rolling over, well almost

Charlotte is half way there at rolling over. She can get up onto both sides now but just not all the way over. It's just been two days since she started doing this. So I'm sure in the next few days or maybe a week she'll be all the way over onto her tummy! She sure is growing up! My miracle baby!

Butterfly Tree

Our Butterfly Tree

We have the coolest tree in our back yard. Which by the way needs to be trimmed but it's got these really pretty purple flowers on it. It looks like a lilac tree to me but I"m not sure there is such a tree. Anyway, We get butterflies in the tree all the time. There are usually the monarch orange and black ones but occasionally we'll get an awesome black one or a black and white stripy one. It's so fun to have the curtains open and see the butterfly's all over in the tree. I just wish it wasn't so hot and humid to actually enjoy the patio. Soon enough. Fall I can't wait for you to come!

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

A visit and the Smithsonian and Parking ticket

We went into DC a week ago wanting to go to the Aquarium but took so long finding a parking place that we ended up going to the Natural history museum instead. We found these parking spots near the Capital that had meters but as you can see below I thought the meters were only used on Saturdays so we didn't put in any money for the meter. Saturday Enforcement it was a Friday. But when we got back low and behold a parking ticket just for us. I'm going to print this picture and send in a letter saying this was misleading to someone new to parking meters.

The girls new ride. We've had it for awhile now. I like it but it's really heavy. and sometimes hard to maneuver but it works. I like I can have both girls contained as well. It is Sit and Stand one so I can take the back seat out and have Kathryn stand on a little platform. I haven't tried that yet but soon.
Just waiting for Matthew to get us some yummy hot dogs from a stand outside the museum. The inside food was like 8 dollars for a little sandwich and the yummy hot dog experience was just $2.00.

Not quite the same as Night at the Museum but close. I was really wanting to see the Dinosaur. We didn't get to see a lot of the museum cause Matthew got a call and had to get to work. We saw the elephant and a big exhibit on Skeleton Bones of all kinds of animals.

I thought this was crazy. A turtle skeleton. Sorry for the reflection. not sure what setting to use for that sort of thing. There was also an insect/ butterfly exhibit that we walked through and a rock gem exhibit. We have so many butterfly's in our backyard that I didn't even care to pay the extra and walk through their butterfly cove!

I just wish that parking was easier down there. I would go more often but the parking and pedestrians make me angry so I guess I'll have to find someone here that is a pro at the Mass Transit with children. There is still so many things I want to see.

My Cousin Adam came for a visit a few weeks ago. He and his wife Sofia lived in Maryland just about 45 mins away but just moved to Kansas this last weekend for a new job. He's now a Regional Manager and not just a project manager. I'm bummed they are moving. They are my closest family out here. I'm glad I got to see them before they moved away though. I do have another cousin in Maryland but their about to have Twins and way busy with that. I hope to see them soon to probably after the twins are born.

Yes that's him and me standing. He's like 6'7". I only know one other person taller then him Jeff is an inch taller. A whole two meters. Anyway Good luck Adam on your new job!

Fun with the girls

This is one of Kathryn's favorite things to do is sit on the swing and swing with Charlotte. kinda makes me nervous at how close she gets but Charlotte is a trooper. She can handle almost anything.

Isn't that precious. Kathryn loves to give kisses to her sister.

I'm trying to get Charlotte to sit up but her neck strength is still not up to par yet. I hope that when EI starts that the physical therapist can help me get her neck strong. And her legs. I've been trying to have her stand up or just put pressure on her legs and she's not standing at all. if she's laying down she pushes back on my hands but if she's standing she doesn't do much but squat down when I put her feet on my lap. She's a mover but I know she doesn't have all the feeling down there. It's sad sometimes when I'm just rubbing her legs or tickle her feet and I get no reaction. I sometimes forget she can't feel it. I'll continue caressing her all over just because I know it's good for her and because of her so smooth, baby soft skin. I love her to pieces. I love kissing on my baby girl.

Colors or lack of...

So my brother in law informed me of some really cool features on my Canon at the family reunion and I just LOVE the new COLOR options. I've been playing with it a bit. I'm sure you see that from the big picture on the blog but here are a few others I've been playing around with.

baby blues

Captured Miracles & my name is hope.m4v

The Miracle of America Concert and Art Exhibit, presented by Captured Mi...

New Hair Styles

I've been trying to actually do Kathryn's Hair lately. Since her hair is long enough for lots of things I thought I'd try to do more then just pig tails or her famous bear ears.

This one was easy. Just 4 ponys crisscrossing the bottom ones into the top ones.
Twisty to the side. Looked pretty but didn't stay in very well. I need to learn to make it tighter.

This I tried to do a French Braid around her head. Again needs to be tighter. I guess I'm afraid of pulling her hair to hard.

This one I got off a blog that Whitney Chapman has on her list of fav blogs. It's fun. Two little ponies on the bottom pulled up into the middle of three then the middle split again to the top two ponies. Lots of rubber bands I'm going through but they are cute doo's.

I've also learned that if I put on a movie for her to watch she sits still a lot longer then she would otherwise!

Let me know which is your favorite!

Weir Family Reunion

We attended the Weir Family reunion this year the July 24th weekend in Snowflake, Arizona. It would have been a wonderful reunion if my sweet, adorable, Kathryn would have been well and healthy the whole time we were there. But to no avail. She got the fever's again. She got them at least once a month for the past 7 or so months. I'm not sure what's causing them but we have had a really stressful past 7 months. Maybe she's just responding to all the changes we're going through...



Anyway the reunion was nice otherwise. It was the first time they've had all the family together for the last 6 years. Matthew's brothers and sisters all live spread out across the country. So it takes a long time of planning and saving for their family to get together. They planned it for this year because the youngest, Maryann just got off her mission in June and well All have their families except her for now. I think the next one will probably be another 5-6 years. Maybe I can get the Heaton Ranch for it. That would be fun!




Kathryn enjoyed the first day we were there and got to play with the cousins some. She didn't get Twister very well but enjoyed jumping on the colored squares. There was a lot of ping pong played, volleyball, and water fights, and horseshoes. We had a talent show for all the grand kids and since Kathryn is too little Matthew and I participated and did the Silly Song with Larry, I love my Lips. It was great. and I got to be Larry!





There are 7 brothers and sisters in Matthew's family. I love all my in laws! His Brothers and Sisters are awesome and all the spouses are amazing too.





Ted and Hisako have 3 kids Ken, Erika and Anna. They are a smart and musically talented family! They live next to one of my favorite cousins in Kentucky the Fugals.





Brian and Julie have 3 kids Chelsea, Dallin and Nathan. Brian is hilarious and I just love talking with Julie. She's so easy going and easy to talk too. I'm going to miss seeing them as often as we did. They live in Snowflake in the Parents (backyard).





Steve and Amy have 2 kids. Ben and Mike. I know them the least but am so glad that I do. Amy is so full of Talent it's amazing to see what she's doing next. She has a few articles in the Friend and Ensign so if you want to look her up. Amy Weir is the name. Oh and there boys are so cute. We visited them for this Last Thanksgiving in Arkansas and Kathryn really liked a bean bag they had and the first thing Mike says when they get there is that he was sorry her forgot the beanbag for Kathryn to play with.

Jolene and Ji have one little boy Deven. What a fun Family they are. Jolene is so fun to be around and so smart too. We get lots of good advice from Jolene and Ji. We got to go visit them this last year too in New Mexico. Deven is just a two years older then Kathryn but man is he so grown up. He has memorized the first 6 Articles of Faith and working on the rest. and he's only 4.


Then there's Matthew and I in the line with our two beauties, Kathryn and Charlotte.


John and Micah are still newly weds well sort of. It's been 2 years but they still act like newly weds. It's nice to see how in love they still are. They just purchased their first home together and well I"m excited to see the progress and changes it goes through as they set up their first home. Micah is so much fun to be around and is known for her amazing cooking skills of the finer things with SUGAR! and CHOCOLATE! I'll miss living next door to them.

Maryann just got off her mission from Charlotte, North Carolina. Her letters home were so impressive, so full of the spirit and love for the people were she served. Who ever catches this young lady is sure in for a treat. I hope she finds what she's looking for!

And then the Grandparents Mick and Donna. I love them to pieces. Mick is an amazing Grandpa and Father and Gardener. And Donna well she has her quirks but I know she's got our best interest at heart. They are the best grandparents to my girls. Kathryn for sure had fun living with them for a few weeks while we were away!

So I guess one of the best things about getting married is the family that comes with it!


I almost forgot the part I liked the best. We blessed Charlotte there. It was a nice blessing and fun to have all of Matthew's brothers there to help assist. My mom and dad were going to be there but my dad had a meeting that went way longer then he anticipated so Joanna and Jared were the Turley participants. I'm so glad I have a worthy priesthood holder to be able to give my girls blessings when they need it.