Facebook

I know. I know. It's taken me forever but I finally gave in and joined Facebook. Be patient, people, while I get everything set up and all figured out! I guess the easiest way to find me is just type in my email, josh_n_sally@yahoo.com , or there is probably an easier way. Like I said, I'm a beginner at this!

Thanksgiving Vacation

We had a great time in Utah for Thanksgiving. We were able to go for an entire week and it really felt like a vacation to me.....an entire week with Josh away from work, time with family, and playing games.....it was nice! We were able to make it to the temple, get family pictures done, visit our friends the Brandts, and do a little shopping.

Fun time with cousins.

Annabelle got to sleep in the big girls room. I think one night they had 8 girls in there! Annabelle quite enjoyed her own little bed nestled in there. She is getting so grown up!

We went along to find some Christmas trees. Annabelle loved the snow and wanted to walk herself the entire time.

We went to Lake Point for Thanksgiving day and Josh's grandma Yates gave us Layla's quilt. She is so very talented and makes a quilt for each new great grandchild when they are born. I just love them!

I loved getting to stop and visit Jessica and her family for a little while. Thanks for letting us come and for dinner! Annabelle and Kailey are just a few weeks apart....aren't they cute!?! And their little boy Carson and Layla are just a few weeks apart also. We swear our lives are on the same paths.

There was lots of time for just laying around and relaxing.

Thanks Yates family for always making it so much fun to visit!

Old Navy Deals & Suture Removal

Yesterday the girls and I headed off for Missoula. I never know how it's going to go with the girls in the car for hours running between stores but yesterday they did pretty good. We were only gone 7 hours so that was actually quicker than I thought we would be. Anyway....our first stop was Old Navy. I was thrilled when I pulled up and saw signs for their 50% off clearance priced items. This is one of the best sales they have. Luckily we got there right as the store opened so everything hadn't been picked through too badly. If you have ever been there during these sales, you know what I mean. Clothes laying in huge piles everywhere and nothing folded! I asked and they said the sale went through Wednesday, so you might want to check and see if it's the same in your area. I came out of there with some awesome deals! It's worth the trip for sure! Just thought I'd share that.

Then it was on to our other shopping, getting the oil changed in the car, and finally back to the hospital to have Annabelle's stiches removed. That was not fun for her! She was fine while they swaddled her up this time, but the nurses weren't that great, actually, and it took them forever to get them out. Some of the stitches were pulled a little tight so it was hard for them to get underneath and get them snipped. Annabelle cried and Layla screamed the whole time. I had to go by myself with the two girls so Layla had to come in this time. I was worried she would get upset after being in town all day but I wanted to make it our last stop. But nevertheless the stitches are out. Annabelle asked them for a popsicle since she got one there last time and that made everything better! And of course by the time we left she was covered in stickers. She LOVES stickers and thank goodness they have mass amounts there! She has now graduated to steri-strips and has to have those for a few days and then she'll be bandage free!

Stitches

Yesterday turned out to be a long day......It started with me going to our craft Saturday at the church. Then later in the day Joshua went hunting and my mom came over to finish her crafts. While she was here Annabelle started getting a little restless and Layla needed a nap so my mom said she would just take Annabelle home with her while I put Layla down. It sounded like a good idea so I agreed. Josh got home right after my mom left and I started cleaning things up and the next thing I knew my brother, Aaron, came running in the door and said Annabelle was bleeding all over. I slipped my boots on, jumped the fence, and ran as fast as I could over to their house. When I got there I could hear Annabelle crying and sure enough, there was blood everywhere. My mom said she was in the kitchen thawing meat for dinner and Annabelle was in the living room and then all of a sudden she just heard Annabelle crying. So we don't actually know what happened but she had quite the gash to the forehead. I ran back home and grabbed her ibuprofen and gave her some of that. As soon as we got some of the blood off we could see she was definitely going to need stitches. So we loaded the family up and headed to the hospital. We needed to bring Layla so I could feed her but we couldn't take her in the hospital with us because of the whole swine flu deal. So Josh ended up just driving around and going to different stores the entire time to keep Layla happy while my mom and I spent over 3.5 hours in the ER with Annabelle.

Once they got her all cleaned up the Dr said she would definitely have to stitch it because it was gaping too much to just use the glue stuff. Little miss Annabelle was so good while they cleaned her all up. I was so proud of her. The entire time I knew I needed to be strong for her. If she saw me cry then I was afraid she would get more upset so I held up fairly well, actually. They put the topical numbing ointment on and wrapped her head like a mummy and we had to wait for 30 minutes for that to work. The Dr came back in and was able to get a better look at the wound and could see how deep it was. It was almost like a punture wound it was so deep. She said that Annabelle would have to get a CT scan after the stitches to make sure her sinuses weren't punctured. That's how deep it was!!! Then the worst part came. They had to swaddle her down really tightly in a sheet and the nurse had to hold her head still. It broke my heart! My poor little girl was scared and I hated it! The numbing shots that followed were actually probably the worst. But after those she calmed down and was completely numb. The Dr put 5 stitches in and that part was done. Then it was on to the CT scan.

I was so worried she wouldn't hold still and that she'd be scared laying there by herself. Luckily I was able to go in the room with her and be right by her side. And I have to say she did AWESOME! She was so good and layed there as still as a 3 year old can. We ended up waiting for an hour for the results but everything look good. Finally we were on our way out. Josh picked us up, we stopped to get something to eat, and then rode the hour back home. It was a long night! I am happy to report that Annabelle is doing great today. She thinks it's fun to be getting medicine. It's like a special treat to her! I am so proud of how tough she is and very grateful that it wasn't anything more serious.

Too Cute

Layla is seriously so cute I almost can't stand it. I practically kiss her face off every day! Today I was digging through the Halloween box and I came across the chick costume Annabelle wore for Halloween when she was 1. I just had to put the little chick headpiece on Layla and it was adorable! I am so in love with this little girl.

So Grown Up

Annabelle thinks she is so grown up these days. She doesn't want my help for ANYTHING! Everytime I turn around she is crackin' me up with something new. Her latest thing is to hold out her hands and say "Stay there". For example when she announces that she needs to go potty she will say "Annabelle go potty go". Then holding up her hands "Mommy stay there"! She doesn't want me near the bathroom when she's going. She wants to do it all by herself. Or if I am trying to get her to get off the trampoline, instead of running away from me she will come right up to the edge and hold out her hands and say "Stay there".

She's also hilarious when she speaks in the third person. Just the other day she was in trouble so she was in her bedroom and Josh and I just busted out laughing when we heard her in there. "You ok Annabelle? Don't cry Annabelle. It's ok Annabelle." Or last night after she had an accident, "Annabelle no pee in underwear, Annabelle pee in potty" (repeated over and over and over).

Here are a few other cute things she says that I want to remember....
"Eewwww, stinky yellows!" Everytime I change Layla's diaper, poopy or not.
"Shhhh, sister's sleeping." After she yells something out.
"I's stuck." Only it sounds more like scuck.
"It's dirty." If she doesn't like the clothes I pick out she declares them dirty and shoves them in the laundry.
"Hi Josh." "Where's Josh?" Lately she likes to call her dad by Josh. It is so funny!

Annabelle is so sweet and always wants to be by Layla. Yesterday she got out her Dora pillow and sheets and got Layla's "pillow" (the boppy) for her and played with her on the floor. They are just so cute together. They remind me every day how lucky I am to have 2 healthy girls!

Recipes

My friend, Jessica, and I started a recipe blog a while back (Ok, it's been over a year ago!) and I haven't ever put a plug out on my blog for it. But today is the day.....Feel free to check in as new recipes are added, and if you're interested in being able to post to it also just let me know and we'll get you added!

bestrecipesoutthere.blogspot.com