Merry Christmas

Christmas Angel

Santa visting Olivia's Preschool

Rain Rain Go Away

Jilli's trying out her new rain suit....

Today Today today is someone's birthday!

Happy Halloween

From Rapunzel, the Zebra and two overprotective parents :)

Jammin at the Pumpkin Patch

$15 and all the rides you can ride - can't beat that school fundraiser! Even the little one got in on the action. We were out way too late, ate too much pizza and got too dizzy spinning on spinny cups - perfect night!

A+ for effort

24 Hours in Lake Arrowhead

Thanks to the generosity of the Martin family, we were able to enjoy 24 blissful hours in beautiful Lake Arrowhead. Scott miraculously had time off, so we took advantage, loaded up the car and head up the hill to the mountains. The townhome is connected to the Arrowhead resort so we were able to use the lake and a wonderful pool/jacuzzi. Scott's Mom and family were in town as well, so we met up with them Sat nite for a cruise around the lake. Olivia loved it so much, when we pulled into the no wake zone to go back to the dock, she turned around concerned and said "Why are we slowing down?" Sunday was breakfast, lake swim, pool time, lunch and down the mountain to visit with Greg, Cindi, Emily, and Lisa (Scott's sis) family. What a great weekend. So good, Olivia asked at 6pm to go to bed...

What I Did Today

I thought it would be interesting to see what I did today:

Woke up every 2-3hours to soothe baby back to sleep

Olivia woke up at 4am, then back to bed till 7am

Baby up at 630, change baby

Get breakfast for crew, consume biggest cup of coffee can find, dress crew

Get to gym for 8:15am class, kids in kidcare (late)

*look in gym mirror, notice bruises on left underarm where Jillian pinches me while feeding (ouch!)

Finish class, get girls, get spit up on

Bring Livy's friend Chili home with us

Put Jilli down for nap

Make snacks for "big" girls, get O changed for gymnastics

Change baby

Load up car, take crew to gymnastics

Entertain squirmy wormy while Livy jumps at gym in blue suit

(gets compliment from instructor on suit, to which replies 'I have a million of them')

Head home for lunch (just my girls)

Blowup pool in backyard, fill w/water, get towels/toys - lasts 10 minutes, takes 3o minutes to setup

Comfort friend on phone who had bad morning

Feed Jilli

Livy eats fruit, salami, crackers, broccoli, water

Wrestle Jilli for another nap

Send renovation revisions to architect

Do 3 loads laundry, play puzzle/math game w/ Livy while Jilli sleeps Liv plays on computer so I can use restroom - did I eat yet?

Take girls to mall so I can buy diapers and tank top

Call Mom to see if she's feeling better (sick for weeks)

Liv plays on mall playset for 45 minutes like its the Olympics

Get goods, head home

Kids in bath, Livy complaining she aches (now has new fascination with minor cuts/scrapes - my take - attention getter)

Get Jilli out, put on floor naked

Jilli pees on self, back in bath

Make dinner - salmon, yam, peas

Feed girls - Livy eats everything except peas for Jilli

Dirty from peas, Jilli back in bath

Livy plays in room (now - bringing me a doll every other minute to do hair while bouncing Jilli to sleep)

Get rid of spider lurking in Livy's Littlest Pet shop doggy daycare (MOM, there's a spider!! yea yea - whoa...)

Jilli falls asleep so trick Olivia into getting into bed (by playing w/dolls and brushing their teeth too)

Brush teeth, brush dolls teeth

Read to Livy, get her quiet - baby wakes up

Get baby, give her final bottle, while cuddling Olivia - both fall asleep

Do dishes, change into pajamas

Send texts planning next moves

Eat strawberries and whip cream (finally, nutrition!)

Watch bad reality DIY shows...

Till tomorrow!!

**update: get text asking to find home for a rabbit, and a text photo from friends having wonderful time camping in Santa Barbara

Princesses

Wanna be like big sister...

Happy Birthday Olivia

O-livia! There's a line in the Olivia books by Ian Falconer where at the end of a long day, Olivia the pig's Mom is trying to put her to sleep and she says "Olivia, you really wear me out but I love you anyways." And Olivia says "I love you anyways too." So true - Olivia Keil is (as Grandpa says) a force of nature. And this little force turned 4 on Monday, May 17th. I posted some pics from her celebrations - she got to spend time with her family, friends and classmates! She loves being 4, and quickly points it out if I get it wrong. We had planned to go to Disneyland on her birthday, but when it came time to leave the house, she didn't want to go. Just being 4 was enough. This little 4 year old loves ponies, hopscotch, pancakes with syrup, PBS TV shows, her friend Chili, swimming, her grandparents, riding her new bike, giving the dogs in the neighborhood treats, doing science experiments, dancing with her whole body, organizing and leading her friends in games/play, Miss Tina her teacher, running everywhere, not wearing shoes, learning different languages, her cousins, bringing money with her in case Mommy needs a coffee, cutting with scissors, playing Littlest Pet shop, singing as loud as she can and group hugs.

So Happy Birthday Sweet Olivia. The world is a better place with you in it.

We have a little spin on the Olivia books goodnight routine. Every night I say "Goodnight Olivia, I love you." and Olivia always says back "I love you more." I don't think so.... :)

God's Garden Will Never Look Better

Sigh....sweet Grammie Suzie passed away on May 8, 2010 in Grants Pass, OR. She was an incredible 96 years old. I feel so fortunate to have made the journey on May 7th to visit with her one last time. She got to meet baby Jillian ( 5mos). She opened her eyes and blew kisses at her (gulp). We only had a couple minutes alone, but I will never forget stroking her gentle fingers, rubbing her swollen arm, whispering how much I love her/how happy she makes me in her ear and telling her how lovely life is because she is my Grammie. I am going to search for photos of Gram - this is all I could find on my current short search. You'll see her napping with Dad - I love this photo. I wrote the following at the airport waiting to depart. I don't know what the future holds, but I love the past I shared with this amazing woman. She is much loved and dearly missed - XOXO

It was sad to leave 235 Glen Dr. To me Grammie is sweet like chocolate. I miss the way she said my name - Airca. I miss her giggle and winks like we shared a secret. I am thankful she met my children. I am thankful I got to say I love you one last time. I still feel like a kid at Grammies sleeping in her bumblebee sheets. I wanted to take them with me. All things considered we are pretty lucky to have such a wonderful family!

Happy St Patricks Day

We started a St Pattys Day tradition where the night before, I set a bunch of leprachaun clues around the house. When Livy wakes up she searches for the little guy - green food coloring in the toilet, chairs turned upside down, green bead necklaces leading to the fence (that he climbed over to getaway). Livy LOVES it - so much , that she woke up today (March 18th) at 5am looking for him again (well done Mom). She dressed herself like this and asked me to take the photo - cracks me up.

We R Family

Cousin Selah came to visit and Auntie K got some beautiful photos. We r family

That's not nice

Ok - I am not the best at it, but am meagerly attempting to teach how to do chores. It's a chore to do it. It take less time for me to clean up around here, but I keep thinking it's an investment in their future. How happy will Olivia's future college roommate be when she keeps her side of the dorm clean - oh my!

Today as Olivia was taking her lunch plate to the kitchen sink (clearing the table) she dropped some green beans on the floor. I asked her to pick them up. She picked up one, then stopped and asked me to help her pick up the other one. I said "I told you to pick it up please." She said, "Please help me" (hmmm - no, you know how to pick it up.) "You pick it up" "Help me" "Pick it up" "Help me" "Olivia don't make me ask you again" Big teary eyes, quivering lips - "But it's not nice not to help!"

How do you clarify that one?

Earth to Olivia

I love this little kid's sense of humor..she's so fun(ny)

How to set the table

Grandma Betty kindly made Livy a placemat to teach her how to set the table. Now we need to work on manners....

Heaven has an Angel

Dear Aunt Mary Ann passed away March 1st after bravely fighting breast cancer for over a decade. She is much loved and missed.

Dear Father God,

I am so thankful to have known Aunt Mary Ann. I want her to know how much she’s touched my life, and how grateful I am that You’ve given me so many special times with her. And how many beautiful things I’ve learned. Aunt Mary Ann is the meaning of grace and kindness. She always made me feel welcome, taking time to listen to me, hear about my life, asked me questions about how I am doing and made me feel important. How blessed we are she gave us her ears – when so many people only want to speak. Father God, thank You for using Aunt Mary Ann to show me what it’s like to be a good sister. I witnessed the joyous moments when the sisters got together at events like Christmas girls lunch or baby and wedding showers . Their love for each other touched me and challenged me to be kinder and appreciate my own sister more. Father God, thank You for sharing Aunt Mary Ann with me to teach me about being a tender mother. Her gentle touch and soft proud words about her children inspire me to lead my own daughters with a kind heart and generous spirit. Father God, I love what I learned through Aunt Mary Ann about how to be a loving grandparent. I enjoyed hearing her speak fondly and proudly about all of her grandkids – how incredible they are! I am thinking of a time when she welcomed us to the Lagoon. We enjoyed spending the afternoon while the girls played in the water – Aunt Mary Ann wore her sun hat and sunglasses sitting at the picnic table watching over the kids having fun. Is there anything better than that? Father God, I have so much more to learn, there is too much beyond me. But I am slowly realizing that the richest life comes from the quiet moments of kindness we give to one another in your Glory. And for gifting us with special people who touch us in a way no one else can. I am forever grateful for Aunt Mary Ann, and I wish her peace and security now and forever. With all my heart, Erica

Sweetest Sound in the World

MOP FEET

LOTS OF SMILES AT THE KEIL HOUSE. JILLIAN IS NOW 12LBS,COOS AND SMILES. WITH ALL THE RAIN, WE'VE BEEN HAVING TO COME UP WITH INDOOR ACTIVITIES - FACE PAINTING, TOILET PAPER ROLL STILTS AND MOP FEET TO NAME A FEW (SEE NEXT POST). LIFE IS GOOD WITH OUR TWO LITTLE GIRLS, WE R BLESSED.