A Hard Day

I don't think that the girls were acting any differently today than they normally do but today was an especially hard day for me. I didn't feel like myself and I almost broke down crying 4 times today because they don't listen to me. No matter what I say they don't listen. I can only imagine how Heavenly Father must feel like jumping off a cliff with all of us down here "not listening" to what he says. Although, he is past all of that I am sure and has had millenniums to practice his patience. Normally it doesn't make me feel so terrible but the past few days and today especially I feel like I must be totally doing something wrong with them. I just feel like a terrible mom. It seems that other peoples kids obey but maybe everyone feels like this. Not only can I not make them obey me, but I am losing my patience a lot lately too.

I go up and down, up and down. One minute I am sitting with them and we are having so much fun. Watching them laugh, seeing what they find funny, listening to all the cute and hysterical things they say, how they take care of each other, how they congratulate me and give me five when I go pee pee on the potty and how they run to me to kiss their boo boo and it is magically all better. And then the next minute I am trying to get them to do what I tell them, put stuff down, don't touch, hurry up, sit down, all the normal things-and of course they don't do it and I am mad. Just for a minute until quickly reminded by the little things they do that they are 2 and absolutely adorable with all their quirks and personalities that I sometimes don't fully appreciate. Then again I am in awe that I get to be their mom.

Tonight Eric was out to eat with his brothers and dad and off to the Priesthood Session of General Conference. The girls and I had some food shopping, sorry-grocery shopping, to do so we didn't hang out with anyone like we normally do on these nights. We stopped off at the BBQ place that we love to grab a quick bite. Perfect place for us I figure. The girls love this restaurant because it has a train that goes around the whole restaurant on a ledge close to the ceiling. Great I thought, they will be good for me. Whatever. Out of control monkeys. We sat in a booth, first mistake. They wouldn't sit down and were walking all over the booth no matter how many times I asked nicely for them to sit, and asked not so nicely a few times too. And they were leaning over watching the people next to us non stop, with french fries loaded with ketchup in their hands. Finally I decided to sit on their side of the booth with them. Little did I know that Rachel had spilled her cup of water on the bench and I ended up with a big wet patch on my butt. Lovely. I shoved my food down as quick as I could so we could get out of there. This picture is from right after we ate. They both have lots of BBQ sauce on their shirts even though it is hard to see. I think we will be eating at home when daddy is not with us from now on. No big deal right? But today it was super frustrating and I almost cried again because of it. Hopefully this up and down and crying stuff doesn't last too long.

This morning we had a Williams family photo shoot with the wonderful photographer Ginger Williams from our ward. She is so great and I am so excited to see what the pictures look like. These are a few we just shot with our camera after and during. This is one for Pool Works. Who would let these crazy near their pool? Just kidding guys, I like this one!

There you go. Now these gentlemen can plaster a pool for you, and do your deck!

Challenging photo shoot. We didn't get any pictures with all the girls smiling but at least they are all looking straight. Rachel and Kylie had a little melt down each at one point and Peyton told April "no" when she asked her to smile but that was about it! For so many so young I think they did great! Lexie and Blake were the only ones who got excited when we tried to sing to them to get them to smile. So much for that tactic.

These ones with just the kids are adorable. Look at Peyton and Halli, so sweet! The one below looks so much better with the light. I don't know how to do photo shop yet. It is on my list of things to do.

I love Katelyn and Blake in this picture. She is just holding his hand and he is staring at her. She seems like she has done it forever!

While I was getting ready Livy came into the bathroom to do my nails for me. She had her nail polish and did my nails and then sat down to do hers.

Don't forget your toes!

Nice hair, below all cleaned up!

At the family photo shoot.

My Grandma Ede got the girls these bracelets when they were little but they are just starting to fit them. Rachel was so excited to wear hers and Livy wanted nothing to do with it so Rachel wore both of them. She is such a girly girl.

My pediatrician told me not to give the girls peanut butter or nuts until they turned two. I hear different things now but anyway we did it until they were almost two. Now Rachel is totally enjoying peanuts. She love them and peanut butter too. She just eats it on a spoon. She is definitely mine! I can't get enough of either!

This is their new picnic table they just got. They love it. We have eaten lunch on it the past few days and they ask to eat their snacks there and stuff too. They always ask me to sit with them too. It is so cute and perfect for this summer when they will be all wet and we can eat outside now.

Some new shades. Supposed to be for Easter but that is what happens when I shop for holidays early. I bought a bunch of stuff for Easter a month ago and I think I have maybe one thing left that they haven't gotten yet! Oops. Don't tell you know who!

Speaking of him, the girls now call him Eric when he is not there and sometimes when he is. They pretend call Eric on their phones and just today Rachel called me Jessica.

I am so thankful it is General Conference weekend. For anyone not a member of the LDS church, it is a conference held two times a year broadcast from Salt Lake City world wide. During this weekend we get to hear talks from our Prophet Tomas S. Monson and the Apostles. It is always such a great weekend. I am so happy it is now and I hope I can be receptive to the spirit and the messages that I need most at this time. I am so thankful for a loving husband too. A stubborn and independent spirited husband but loving and supportive one too! He gave me a long hug and told me I am doing a great job with the girls. He says no ones two year old listens to them, not any he knows of anyway. He didn't need to say anything spectacular just comforting and understanding. I know he loves me and I am so grateful for him. Hopefully tomorrow is a little less emotional.

Oh How Time Changes Things

A long time ago, 2 years to be exact, in a small town, Tomball, a new mom was a super germ freak. Hours were spent sanitizing bottles and pacis that touched anything, and precise care was taken with everything baby related. Oh how time changes things. This 2 year experienced mom has not given up her super germ freak ways entirely but has made exceptions. Today she said something she never could have imagined just 2 short years ago,

"I can't get you one right now, eat that one that's on the floor." (Gasp!) Yes that is right, this super germ freak has accepted that germs happen, especially with two 2 year olds. I have gotten over the dirty hands and clothes and even instructed, not only allowed but instructed, Rachel to eat chocolate teddy grahams off the floor. Big step for me. Yes the times have changed. So sorry to all of those who suffered through my craziness the first little while. Special thanks to Eric, Cassie, Mom, and Brenda for all you put up with from me!

Livy dressed herself up as Dora. It is a Dora backpack she has on and she asked me for stars to put in it (like Dora does, for everyone not privileged to a daily viewing of Dora). So we had to cut out some stars for her. She put her shoes on and said "Where's Boots, Let's Go!"

One of our new favorite habits. So happy I finally tried Dora bubblegum flavored toothpaste. Before this it was a hold them down torture session to get a quick brushing in.

Now they ask for their brushes and Dora paste. Then they assume their position on the fire place and brush or chew away. Rachel does also scrub the fire place with her toothbrush every once and a while but that is minor, remember time has changed me.

This picture is in reference to a previous post when I showed Rachel's hair cut. This is it cut and dry. Can't see that good and it still kind of looks crazy but believe me it looks much better.

Rachel loves putting shoes on but not until the other day has she been able to do it all by herself! Good job Rachel! Her first wrong shoe on the wrong foot pictures!

She even got two of the same shoes and the same sizes!

These pictures are from today when the girls played for the first time with each other without me for more than 5 minutes!! It was glorious! They played on the stairs, another way I seeing the times changing, throwing all their stuffed animals down the stairs.

Then bringing them all back up and putting them away. Repeat. Again and again.

These baskets were the animals beds. The would pick certain ones to put to bed and take care of. The others they just threw around.

Never realized how many they had until today. The pile is as high as the first stair.

It was a great day. It probably won't happen again but I enjoyed it today!

27

A week ago today I turned 27! Old is a relative term I have come to realize. Two weeks ago 27 sounded so old to me, now it sounds like 22 to me. It was a great birthday now matter how old I am. My wonderful mother in law watched the girls so I could have a free morning and lunch. What a treat! Thank you so much Brenda!

After nap time we went to P.F. Chang's with my in laws for dinner and had a fabulous meal. Yum Yum. I love P.F. Chang's. Livy enjoyed the tiny desserts and the fact that she could hold and eat it all by herself. Quite a chocolate mess but she loved it!

A cute little Rachel face from across the table.

The dinner gang outside the restaurant.

The girls love the huge horse they have in front. Come on, what two year old wouldn't love a 15 foot tall horse!

Our family. Happy birthday to me. Thanks for a great birthday everyone.

Everyday Entertainment

Just some recent pictures of everyday things. No big spectacular event to report on just everyday, but entertaining, stuff!

20 little toes that I love.

The girls were on the couch upstairs together snuggled under some blankets. Had to get a shot of them! Of course cat, lip gloss, duck and paci were all present too. And two gigantic Dora dolls.

Livy came down to the landing on the stairs and asked for the blankies Becky made them. I threw them up to her and watched her drag these blankets up stairs. When I went to check on them they were snuggled together on the chair with the blankets. They love their sister.

New favorite toy, Ariel umbrellas. They have been kind of obsessed with umbrellas for a while but I have been scared to give them one for fear of a bad eye poke but they do really good with them and no accidents yet.

Livy opens and closes hers by herself. She especially loves it. She was playing outside the other night and it started to drizzle. She ran into the play room really fast, grabbed her umbrella and ran outside so she could use it! It was so cute.

Just a quick shot of their cute little New Balance sneakers. I love real sneakers on little kids. They are so adorable.

The era of dressing up has begun. Not until this week have they put the dress up shoes and clothes on at our house. Some times they will put the dresses on at grandmas house but now it is daily here.

Rachel doesn't like the tops, just skirts and the fairy wings!

Awesome outfit Livy. Can't wait until you guys dress yourselves.

I might have those wings on upside down? I can't tell which way is right.

Jump roping with our crown and shoes on. Livy's pretty good in the shoes. She does stairs, even though I ask her not to, and jumps all over the place. Rachel is another story but she tries and she loves them!

Rachel is very into the accessories right now.

And they are both into being naked. I had a picture of them cooking in their kitchen naked together but I decided to take it off because my blog isn't private and you never know now a days. Sad but true. Cute picture though. Always want their diapers off and then run from me.

Pretty princess.

Trying to get all of her stuff. There were a few pictures in a row of this, dropping one thing or another and then getting it picked up only to drop another. I love her arms bent funny trying to keep the bracelets on.

Livy singing and dancing in her new tutu.

Dancing in the tutus Becky and I made. Finally finished them.

I told them to get their shoes so we could leave and Livy came back with Eric's gigantic sneakers on saying, "okay, I ready mommy."

Rachel's after hair. This was her first real haircut. She only had a tiny trim earlier, not even enough to call it a real trim. And I don't know if this is considered a "real" haircut either since it was just me doing a couple of snips. Anyway, I can notice a big difference so I like the non poofy hair now. Now she just has some wacky curls and half curls but it looks cute.

Rachel's crazy poofy hair before.

Livy playing with Pebbles. She loves that dog.

Livy doing the labor. Rachel is the relaxer, Livy is the worker. Even when we read books at night Livy is always the one to go get another one each time. Rachel sits there and points and says "Niny get it." She doesn't even flinch or pretend she will get one. Here Livy is again pulling Rachel in the wagon whose wheels don't turn. Rachel with a pile of stuff as usual.

Notice the bowing of the wheels from the weight! They did eventually pop off.

Just hanging out having a snack.

There talking is getting cuter everyday. The way they explain stuff and pronounce stuff cracks me up. Although they often give me headaches from so much talking, I do love hearing it! That's all from the Williams household this week. Hope you are having a great one too!