The cousins

While I was staying at my Brothers house for my Grandmas funeral he and his wife had a Christmas Party they went to, and so I stayed and watched the kids.  We were all lined up on the couch watching one last cartoon before bed.  :)

The girls first airplane ride

Ben was at a training at the time when we needed to fly out to Idaho to go to my Grandmas funeral so the girls and I had to go by ourselves.  I prepared for the trip by downloading movies on my kindle and getting headphones and backpacks with books and crayons and teddy bears in them.  

I really was quite stressed out to do this on my own with connections and potty training twins and airports and security and then driving from Salt Lake to Burley.  So I did everything I could possibly think of to prepare.  

There was so much to see and do at the airports I really struggled to get checked in and through security.  If you can imagine twin toddlers standing in line after line after line...They were extremely active and were not going to stand in line when there was so much to see and do.  

Once we got to the gate I had to speak with the attendant because all of our seats were on different rows and I didn't think that other people would be thrilled to be taking care of my kids.  I waited and waited for someone to help me and once someone did she was incredibly rude.

While she was being rude and chewing me out for not doing this when I checked in Ana decided that she needed to go potty and when I asked if she could hold it for just one minute she started screaming and crying saying no.  I looked at the gate attendant and said do you think there is anyway you can help me without yelling?  I am going to take my 2 YEAR OLD to the bathroom while you see what you can do to get us seated together.    While I was still in the bathroom with the girls a stranger comes up to me and tells me that she is pretty sure the attendant was trying to get a hold of me.

So I go out and THREE more people stopped me on the way saying they were trying to get a hold of us.  (just what was this lady saying to have everyone know who I was?) Anyway we got the seats we needed after I switched with someone once we were on the plane.  

We got all situated and the girls were awesome.  They were so excited to be going on an airplane to go see Grandma and Grandpa Ricks. 

Then we were delayed and delayed and sat and sat.  As the time kept ticking by the window to catch my connection was getting smaller and smaller.  I was starting to get freaked out again.  So we got to the next airport and I had asked the flight attendant if they had any information on my next flight and she was not helpful at all.  So we get off the plane and I have the girls RUN with their little backpacks flopping around and I am laden down with stuff and we get to the gate which I had to locate (since the flight attendants were so very unhelpful) and I look around and the flight is delayed.  Augh.....

and Thank goodness. It was going to start loading in 10 minutes so I take the girls and get them some ice cream.  They hadn't had dinner but there was no where else to eat.  So we had nuts, berries, cereal, and ice cream for dinner.  We got on the plane again and they settled right down and watched their movies! 

We got to Salt Lake and they had about had it.  They were so tired and starting to get grumpy from no real food and traveling all day. 

We were meeting my sister there and she was renting a minivan and we were going to drive up together.  Her flights were delayed as well and we ended up getting to the luggage carousels about the same time.  But we had way too much luggage for two of us.  Three car seats, two suitcases, two carry ons each and three kids!  So I told her to take her boy and get the van and pull up and I would find a way to get the luggage out the door!  But it was cold so I was going to wait.  The girls had had it with the waiting and were running up and down the aisle and the workers were starting to get a little irritated by it.  But I didnt care.  They had waiting in lines and sat in planes since 11am.  It was now 8pm.  They could suck it!

We got everything figured out and yes there was more drama and more issues and we still made it!  about midnight we rolled into my brothers driveway.  

I was so very thankful that they had got all the pack and plays set up and all we had to do was go to bed!

Here are some photos of the girls first Airplane ride!  (I have back dated this but I am writing it mid January.  They still talk about the airplane ride to go visit Grandma and Grandpa Ricks They absolutely loved it. )

My Grandma Dayley

My dear Grandma passed away on Friday, Nov. 29, 2013, at the age of 99 years.  Here is her obituary.


BURLEY — Mabel LaPriel Korth Dayley was born April 9, 1914, to Frederick and Rose Korth in Fielding, Utah. She was the eighth child of 11 children. The last seven children were girls, and Mabel was the middle of the seven. Can you imagine the hormones in that family??!! She had a delightful childhood. Mabel was a bit of a tomboy, loved the outdoors and sports. She hoed and thinned beets with a short-handled hoe and herded the cows to and from the pasture in the summer.
After she graduated from Bear River High School, she went to help her sister who lived in Twin Falls. There she met Mark Y Dayley, who was on the ward dance team. Mabel was partnered up with Mark, and that was the start of their romance. They were selected to go to the all-church dance festival in Salt Lake City and dance in the solo competition at Saltair. They fell in love on that trip to the Salt Lake Dance Festival and were married on Feb. 7, 1936, in the Logan Utah LDS Temple. They made their home in Milner, Idaho, at the Idaho Ranch. Two little girls, Janet and LaPriel, were born there. They moved to Logan, where Mark continued his education, then on to Burley where they purchased a farm southwest of town. Five more children were born, J Mark, Steven, Viola, Lee and a stillborn daughter. In addition to the six children, Mabel’s nephew, LaMar Isaacson, came to live with the family after the death of his mother. LaMar was always considered to be one of the family.
Years went by and the children grew up and all had left home except Lee, who was serving a mission in England. Then in 1974, Mark passed away and Mabel was left by herself for 39 years. She always faced the trials of life with courage and determination. Some of the last words she spoke were that she had tried to live a good life. Those who know her best would say that she succeeded.
Mabel was a wonderful wife, mother and homemaker. She always had good, hot meals on the table. She was a good cook and seamstress. She has crocheted an afghan for each of her grandchildren and many more that were given as gifts.
Mabel was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in the Primary, Sunday school and Relief Society organizations. She served for 18 months as a missionary in the Florida Tampa Mission and worked for six years in the Logan Temple. She also served in the Family History Center. Mabel had a green thumb and could grow almost anything. She grew a garden until she was about 90 years old, when heart surgery limited her physical activity. She always had beautiful flowers and house plants. Her gardens have been the envy of the whole neighborhood.

I was sad to hear that she had passed but I was also very happy for her.  She had wanted to go for so long.  Now she got her request.  She was a wonderful Grandma and I remember many things living next door to her.
The first memory I have is watching Tom and Jerry on her very old school TV while Mom did errands.  I dont remember how often it was but I loved sitting in front of her old box TV and watching the cartoon.  IT was always warm and welcoming in her home.
The next memory I have is watching out the side window while my Dads shop was on fire.  It was a terrifying experience since I was very young and she was calm and collected and was making sure that the fire department was on their way and talking me through it the whole time.  I felt like everything was going to be ok because she had confidence that it would be. 
The next memories I have are of Sunday dinners.  We ate Sunday dinner with her every Sunday.  We would switch off every other and one we would eat at our house and we would have the main course and she would bring the salad and dessert.  The next we would eat at her home and she would make the main course and we would bring salad and dessert.  I always loved her salads and deserts! 
There were some main courses that I was a little leery of.  One was the roasted goose.  I wasnt a big fan of foul and the little pile of bb's that would be on your plate after eating a slice was enough to put you off it for life!  But she was a fantastic cook and some of my favorite things she made were; scones and honey butter.  Brown and white pudding, (this had a name but I don't remember what it was!) Baby peas potatoes and carrots in white sauce.  Kohlrabi and vegetable sauce.  Her rolls she had many varieties and they were all good. She made so many good things these were just my favorites.
Every once in a while I would be invited to her house on a Friday night to spend the night and stay with her on Saturday.  She would make sure you had a bath and cleaned behind your ears :) and you could use TWO towels.  One for your hair and one for your body.  When you woke up on Saturday you could choose what you wanted for breakfast and I always choose pop tarts or alphabet cereal.  Then we would hang out on Saturday.  When you were getting ready to go home you got to go and choose a gift from the dresser to take with you.  I really enjoyed those visits and I am so glad she did that with us.
Grandma was always a huge part in our lives because she lived so close and she made it important to be involved in our lives. 
Because of this I have so many wonderful memories of her.  
I feel so very blessed to have had her so close for so long.  I love her and I am so happy she is back with her husband whom she missed dearly for so many many years. 

Oklahoma Camping

We were invited to a friends birthday party up in the hills of Oklahoma.  It was in a large cabin and there were quite a crew of us!  We had a fantastic time even though it rained most of the weekend.
The girls loved going outdoors and taking walks so anytime the rain let up we went for walks.  They also loved playing with some Thomas the Train toys that one of the little boys brought.  It is such a privilege to have great friends!

Getting dressed by ourselves!

Kind of!  With a little help from our friends (mom)  Ana can get herself dressed but needs a little help from mom with coordination of colors and patterns!  But she can get it all on by herself and forcefully says "SELF" anytime someone wants to help her.  Even her socks and shoes!  I am proud of how well she is doing!
Emily is still working on getting dressed by herself, but is making great strides!  She loves her dog with glasses shirt.
And they love their gloves! They want to wear them all the time!

Ana

Emily

Cat in the Hat

I found a children's series that is very educational and the girls love it.  They are LeapFrog episodes on NetFlix.
They teach about numbers and letters.  Math and Phonics.  I was pretty sure they were over the girls heads developmentally wise, but they were fun to watch so I didn't worry about that.

Apparently they are getting something from them.  Emily (who I am super proud of) can count to 30 with just a little help with a few numbers on the way.  However, she always missed number 7.  Since she has watched those episodes she now remembers 7 most of the time!
Ana can count to 13 and always missed 5.  But now she has it!
The whole reason for this post is because when the girls are planning on spending more time on the potty than usual they ask for a book to read.  I usually give them a Dr. Seuss book.
Today when Ana got to this page

She said Mommy...(spelling this out) B.O.O.M says bum!  I looked at what she was reading and had to take this picture with my phone and text Ben to tell him what just happened!  It amazed me.
I have been teaching them letters for quite a while now, but I hadn't gotten to sounds or words yet.
But these episodes were teaching how to make words and sound them out while you are reading.
I am still amazed.
I know she can't actually read yet, and she sounded it out incorrectly, but kids are so smart.  I just hope I can keep up! :)

Mittens and Hats

At the wedding we went to for Ben's cousin Ann brought the girls these little hats and mittens.  They LOVE them and want to wear them all the time!  It is the time of year that the weather is cold one day and hot the next so I have not yet turned on the heat and there have been a few days that have been nippy!
So they found a great way to stay warm!

Butch

Butch over the past few years has been a poorly loved 5th wheel.  IT has only been in the past few months that the girls have figured out how to pet him by moving slowly and being soft.  Emily loves Butch and is always petting him. 
Ana doesn't really care too much about petting Butch.  She prefers to pat him.  a little harder than he prefers.

Reading on her terms

Emily has found a new pastime that she thinks is the bees knees.  It is awesome!
She gets this same Thomas the Train book and holds it up for me to read.  Waits for me to say "next page please" then gets a big smile on her face and changes the page then holds it up for me to read the next page.

Haloween

This is the first year we planned to take the girls trick-or-treating, so technically it is the first year they dressed up as anything.  They loved watching all the "Halloween" episodes of Dora and Diego and Thomas.  In the Dora Halloween episode Dora was a cat, so they wanted to be cats. 
Whew!  That is something I can do! So I looked around for tail and ears and they already had black clothes they could wear.
We went to my BFFs house for a Halloween party and then went to a few houses in her neighborhood to go trick-or-treating. So we had a fun dinner with friends and then set out for our first time ever!
The girls thought it was the most fun thing they had ever done!  They were almost running from house to house.  They would knock and then say trick or treat!  I was actually pretty amazed at how quickly they caught on.
near the end Ana kept trying to get a lollipop out of her pumpkin and Ben and I kept putting it back!
At the last house she finally managed to get it out and unwrapped and in her mouth before we could get it!
She was determined to get that darn candy!
They talked about Laura's house and trick-or-treating for quite a few days after Halloween!
It was so much fun for me to see them blossoming and starting to become little girls!