The Barnesies

halloween!

2010-11-06T22:56:00.001-07:00

We had a blast this Halloween. The girls picked out their costumes the first week in August. Ava is a dinosaur (dragon really) and Emma is a tiger (rarrrr!).

We found our cousins at the local trick or treat. Caleb, Leah (Lelah), and iron man Zack.

Ava and Aunt Emily (Emahlea)

Every day since Halloween the girls have asked to go trick or treating. We had to put up the treat baskets because I think there have been days when the only thing Ava will eat is her candy.

Happy 3rd Birthday!

2010-10-23T13:49:00.001-07:00

Its was Ava and Emma's 3rd birthday this last week. They sure had a blast, for a better flow start at the bottom and work your way up. Ava and Emma love Mickey Mouse and Pluto

Ava shaking her "budda" (booty)

Ava and Emma eating their cake, they were eating so slowly that I ended up taking it away so we could get to the presents.

Happy Birthday to you!

Emma, what a cheezer.

Emma is like a fish in water, no fear.

Baby "Addalyn" Addison

Emma and Jeremy

Ava sporting her life jacket, she really likes to float on her back.

Ava and Natalie

The girls had a blast, and Jeremy and I were very greatful that everyone had such a good time.

Emma still asks me everyday if she can blow out candles. Yeah, they are 3!

I'm back!

2010-09-20T21:24:00.000-07:00

We now have the internet! Our computer died and it took us 8 months to take care of the whole situation. So now we are back on track. Just a little update on the girls: Ava is doing well. She is very talkative and loves to run and jump. She loves cats and dogs. She also loves to talk about
her daddy's new motorcycle "vroomm, vroom!". Emma is attempting to potty train. She loves treats and is constantly asking for a snack. Emma is a very good helper and loves to boss Ava around. Emma also has a more high strung personality that about drives me nuts, she can be sobbing one mintue and giggling the next, little turkey. She loves to ask, "What's your name?". Jeremy and I are working and we have a few guests staying with us so we have been busy. I'm glad I will be able to update this site more often!

happy holidays

2009-12-29T23:15:00.000-08:00

It's been over a month since I have touched this site and I am sorry that I am being such a slow poke... here are some pictures of the recent festivities.

Festival of trees- Thanksgiving weekend. Ava is OK sitting on Santa's lap but Emma is very concerned. She was out of there as soon as she possibly could be.

Emma likes to look at Santa but don't make her get too close. Jeremy and AvaThis was the girls at the ward Christmas party. This was a stretch for them to get this close to Santa.
Grandpa Troy and Emma Aunt Jaycee and Emma

Uncle Dallas, Jeremy, and Emma playing with Emily's itouch. It was all the rage.

Grandma Foster and the twins

Grandma Michele and Emma

Papa Troy and the girls trying to nap. Their sleeping schedule is always so off when we go on vacation. My dad used to do this with my sisters when they wouldn't take naps on Sunday afternoon.

Grandpa Foster and the twins

Emma thought the finger nail polish was lip gloss. Surprisingly she only got most of it on her face and not on her clothes. She was sitting on my lap when she opened it and it probably took me a whole minute to notice.

Aunt Emily (Emmamie) and the girls reading their favorite book about puppies.

Utah State basketball game- the girls were able to ride on a bus, see the Aggie bull, run around and watch a basketball game. They were sure tired by the end of the night.

I didn't get any pictures on Christmas eve. After dinner Ava and Emma were playing and Ava had a seizure. It was her first one it lasted 3 minutes. We rushed her to the ED at Logan Regional. She acted fine afterwards but she wasn't very happy with the IV start, CT scan, or the straight cath for a urine analysis. We usually play chimes on Christmas Eve at Grandma Moser's house and I hear Emma did a great job leading the group. So it was kind of a late start Christmas morning (8 a.m.) but I woke up to find my stocking with a note from Santa apologizing that he could fit my Escalade into his sleigh. Sigh... I must have been a really good girl. But I did get some scratch lottery tickets and I won... the satisfaction of scratching them. Wahoo!

Ava and Emma pile of presents. The cowboy bear was from the ED the night before.

Mom and Dad's tree and look at all the gifts!

Jeremy and Ava

Jaycee and Emily

Michele in those cute pink pajamas.

I think she is having a better day.

The girls received these cute little princess air mattresses. They love to lay on them.

Dad just finished hooking up the hot tub and boy did we enjoy it. The girls loved it too.

The girls in the hot tub. It was sure cold. When I got out my hair had icicles in it. brrrr.

Whew! Now we are home enjoying the snow. I posted a Christmas morning clip on youtube if you want to take a look http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zswbqKQzNg

Happy Holidays!

Ava's new walk..

2009-11-22T22:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T22:14:00.000-07:00

You can tell by the look in Ava's eyes that she isn't absolutely thrilled to be at the trunk-r-treat. She had a rough afternoon and didn't nap as long as she needed to, I guess. Ava was a turtle this year and Emma was a puppy.

Emma on the other hand had a great time trick or treating until she met "the monster". Our friend, Dan, was chained in the back of his pickup with a mask and a wig. Needless to say Emma was not a fan and kept talking about the monster all night. She even told Grandma Michele about it and would like of use a scared voice. But I think she'll get over it. So Jeremy and I had a great time visiting with everyone but I hope next year the girls have more fun.

Carving pumpkins (pah-Kins!)

2009-10-31T22:01:00.001-07:00

Last week we carved pumpkins and it was really fun. For some reason we kept putting it off like it was going to be a big mess or something and really it took us only 30 minutes. But the girls were a little unsure about the pumpkin guts. Emma has been really scared of new things lately. She could hardly stand to touch the pumpkin seeds. Ava really doesn't care. She wasn't feeling well and she was tired.

Ava wouldn't look at the camera.

We found some Mr. Potato Head like pieces to stick in the back of the pumpkins for a double effect.

Emma posing with the pah-Kins!

Puppy party

2009-10-31T21:08:00.001-07:00

So I am so very late at posting pictures of the girls birthday party here in Clarkston. We thought we would have a puppy theme and as I was planning I realized that I needed to plan way in advance to find all the puppy supplies I needed. So I improvised with little pom pon dogs that I made for the cake. Jeremy and I blew up balloons and I drew dog faces on them. Or what was supposed to be doggie faces. I am sure the girls didn't know the difference. We had family over and it was a big hit. The girls were super excited about all their gifts. Now we have puppy stuffed animals, puppy pictures, a puppy to walk besides all the books, clothes, car seats, etc etc. Emma can even sing parts of happy birthday.
Ava and me opening gifts.

Ava and her new puppy.

Emma loves puppies too.

Emma showing Aunt Jennifer her puppies from puppy surprise.

Emma loves to unwrap presents.

This little puppy is fun to pull around and I think Ava will get good practice walking the dog.

I even was surprised with a cake and gifts. I kinda like have combined birthday parties. Thanks to everyone we had so much fun.

Good little helpers

2009-10-30T09:33:00.000-07:00

I have two little helpers that are very good at helping. These next pictures are from when we were visiting my parent's house. We made a gingerbread Halloween house so of course we needed help warming up the frosting.
Ava is a good frosting kneader.

So is Emma.

I guess they thought that mom needed help wearing her readers...

So Ava helped with that.
Here dad is trying to start a fire with his homemade torch...

Emma though that was very fun.

Mom's sink had a leak too. Ava is helping grandpa fix it.

Ava says, "Grandma I will help you be lazy in your lazy boy chair."

Ava then said, "Emmy I will help you be lazy on the couch!"

Dad is reading three little pigs and Emma loves it.

Bear Lake and the condo

2009-10-21T21:26:00.001-07:00

So I am not much for thoughtful blogging right now. But here are some pictures from our recent trip to Preston. The girls were a little off when it came to sleeping so here is Ava zonked out on mom.
We had a little birthday party for the girls and me. Wow, who ever thought I would be 27.

Happy birthday to us!

The girls love the new tea party set and play food. They have cute little jackets, jellies, and a new puppy surprise.

Grandma Moser and Ava

Too many bums in the kitchen.

I must be the only seat in the house.

The beach on a cold day!

Grandpa Troy and Ava

Most days we went swimming and we played at the park. Some of the slides I remembered from 20 years ago when I used to play at that same park.

Ava is getting better at walking. She can take 20 steps on her own now.

Emma was not a fan of the merry go round.

Swimming, swimming! Emily, Emma, Ava, and Grandma Michele

The Nez Perce Co. Fair

2009-10-21T21:17:00.001-07:00

My mom, Michele, was here in late September. I know it's been a heck of a long time since I blogged. But we went to the petting zoo, had a huge elephant ear, and a very large huckleberry ice cream cone.
Ava

Emma likes the turtle.

Ava acutally kissed the donkey on the side, yummo! More of the turle. I was afraid that he was going to bite her.

We've got a leak

2009-09-18T23:32:00.001-07:00

Jeremy and I found water underneath the floor in the basement bathroom at the beginning of the week. This is what we did to the floor looking for the source of the leak. Beautiful, I know.

After realizing that the water was coming from upstairs, Carpenter Jeremy knocked a large hole in the ceiling of the bathroom. I didn't take a picture because I am trying not to remember what it looks like. So again, Plumber Jeremy, decides that the valve on the toilet upstairs need to be replaced because it is slowly leaking. We both have wiped water up from behind that toilet but I just thought it was from the girls taking baths. Here Jeremy has two little helpers.
And finally the leak is fixed!

Ava's video

2009-09-07T08:09:00.000-07:00

She is getting better every day!

A little bit of a cold

2009-09-06T10:39:00.000-07:00

When we get the cold at our house the girls usually get if first and then I end up with it. Most of the time it passes Jeremy completely by. This last week we have had sore throats, head aches, and runny noses. Today at church Ava sneezed and had bilateral snot tube projection. It was kind of gross but how can we not laugh when it happens during the sacrament. I think I am the kind of person that procrastinates getting health care. I try not to be that way with the girls. But this morning Ava had really junkie lungs and very audible wheezing. But I got her ready for church anyway. During the sacrament meeting the girls had escaped out into the hall and I realized I was nervous for Ava to play with other kids because she was still sick. So now we are home and she is taking a nap. I plan to take her to Express Care when it opens at noon. It just seems like I need to have their ears checked on the weekends, or we need breathing treatments on the weekends, why does it always happen on the weekend?

little green tractor

2009-09-03T10:25:00.000-07:00

Grandma and Grandpa Moser won this John Deere power wheel machine just after the girls were born. They sent it to Michele and Troy's house where it was stored for about a year. Then Lil' Green made its way up here last Thanksgiving and then took up residence in our garage. Well we finally got it out for the girls to play with. Their legs are a little to short to reach the pedal unless they sit on the edge of their seats. Emma was very excited about it and I think Ava liked it in the end. But I don't think she likes Emma's driving. To help the girls get around Jeremy was using a broom handle to push the accelerator. Here Ava wanted to get out so we sat her in the bed of Lil' green. It actually dumps things too. Luckily, we didn't dump Ava.

Ava and Emma has a blast on outside on the Lil' green.

Their first wreck. Luckily, everything was made of plastic. Jeremy is partly to blame.

I have been having trouble loading videos to this site. I let this next clip load for 11 hours yesterday with still no results so I am going to load in on you tube and have the link posted here so you can still see it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwp9i9nlbKc

This next clip is of Jeremy helping the girls around the yard. Emma kept staring at me instead of watching where she was driving.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox8u4Kf223k

The Oregon Aquarium

2009-09-03T10:06:00.000-07:00

While we were in on the coast (a couple weeks ago!) we went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium. The girls had a blast. As you can see they wouldn't look at me so I could take their picture. All these photos are from behind. Here Ava is looking at jelly fish.
Emma likes to look at fish too.

Ava, Emma, Kaleb, and Eli are gazing into a tank with neon looking little jelly fish.

The sea lions where Emma favorite.

Emma, Ava, and Jilly bean

The Leonard family and the girls

In the last exhibit we were able to walk through a tunnel and sharks could swim over top of the tunnel.

Jeremy and the girls. Emma has learned how to stand up in her stroller and still get around on her own. Little turkey.

This is Emma watching the sea lions. We had so much fun.

drum roll please....

2009-08-29T06:59:00.001-07:00

Ava can walk! She took 5 steps last night! We were clapping and cheering for her and she was very happy.

the giggles

2009-08-27T08:08:00.000-07:00

This clip was taken on our way home from the Oregon Coast.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv4sH3x3pg8

S'mores

2009-08-25T14:30:00.001-07:00

We went down to the beach one evening to roast marsh mellows over a fire. Luckily, when we got to the beach someone had just finished with their fire so all we had to do is add more wood. It was pretty windy that night but the fire was toasty warm.
Leah, Kaleb, Eli, Shauna, and Zack
Adam, Rhonda licking her fingers and Jeremy and Emma

Ava sitting in the sand

Emma just wanted to get down and play. She loves the sand and she really loved the fire. So we tried to keep her safe by holding her but as you can see she just wants to get down.

Ava standing by a big rock.

I also want to mention that we roasted a marsh mellow and had a wonderful smore. We turned in early because the girls were cold. But it was fun. I will have to get a copy of all the others pictures that were taken because I was busy trying to corral the girls.

The Coast

2009-08-25T14:04:00.001-07:00

We just returned from the Oregon Coast and we had so much fun. The girls really liked being on vacation. I want to post pictures from the vacation in pieces related to the activities we did. So this post is just about the family. The house we stayed in was ginormous with three levels. We mostly spent our time upstairs on the top level where the kitchen and lounge area were. The girls loved playing with their cousins and we loved to visit with everyone.
Jeremy and I
Erin and Jason (I know, Jason looks super excited to be in this picture)

Leah, Emma, and Ava

Jeremy and Emma- we had lunch at Mo's.

Adam, Andrew, Brei, Jennifer, and Eli at Mo's

This was the only morning we spent on the beach. The girls were more interested in eating the sand than enjoying the beach so only made a few quick trips to the beach. Plus it was cold!

Nice hair Jeremy. We just were out there for 20 minutes or so.

Leah, Shauna, and Kaleb

Denise, Zack, Jeremy, Lusina, and half of Leah

just a little update

2009-08-18T14:51:00.001-07:00

The had their first ride in a pickup the other day when Jeremy picked them up from our sitter's house.

This didn't turn out to be a pumpkin, it's a spaghetti squash and it was very delicious too.

So can you tell which little girl this is? I had to look twice and I think I could only figure it out because I know who sits in what spot at our table.

Its... Emma! She always has her feet on the table.

Here's Ava.

This is my kitchen after I cook dinner, what a mess!

This is Emma after she ate her peanut butter and honey sandwich. She rubbed peanut butter all over herself and on me too.

Ava even had rubbed peanut butter in her hair. She has become quite the little paper chewer lately. I always find a piece of paper in her mouth. She also likes to eat books.

Emma is trying to help Ava's hair stand up like hers.

Ava is getting really good at standing up. Most of time she is right at my feet holding on to my pants as we both walk around. She sort of took a step the other day when she wasn't really thinking about it but then she sat down and crawled. Her new word is "push". She likes to push the garage door button to close it when we get home. She also loves to say "no, no, no!" as she is pointing her little finger at you.

We are headed to the Oregon Coast tomorrow- more fun pics to come!

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary...

2009-08-08T15:29:00.000-07:00

So since I always post about the girls I thought I show you a little of my garden. I have never had a garden before. I have however had many failed attempts at growing things in pots. So I was super excited to try this year. Our yard is growing great. If you notice the marigolds that are around my garden have grown way more than I expected.

I couldn't figure out how to show how tall they were but at the bottom of the picture is my cuff of my short sleeve shirt. Yes, they are that tall.

This is my sad little corn patch. It's been blown over few time and most of the tassel has actually been blown off. So I have ears on the stocks but they are still very skinny. So we will see.

Marigolds.

This is my pumpkin. It has a mind of its own. It's totally running everything over. I have given it a few trims, but it still keeps growing and growing.

'Lil pumpkin

This was my second cucumber plant that I started. The first one turned sort of a rust color and died.

Jeremy insisted we have sunflowers. So here they are the fence behind them is 15'.

My cherry tomato is overtaking the corn.

little cherry tomatoes

I started my green and hot peppers from seed. I think I started them late but I saw flowers on them this last week so we should have lots of peppers.

Monster pumpkin plant

marigolds

The garden from afar.

Our little sleep over

2009-08-07T10:13:00.000-07:00

Ava and I had a little sleepover last night. She woke up at 4:30am and I held her for an hour. Then Jeremy woke up to get ready for work and he rocked her for a little while. Then he brought her back to me at 0630. Then at about 0845 I woke up to this:

Ava zonked out next to me. She is such a kicky cow, maybe the Foster's only know what this means. So I went up stairs to check on Emma and this is what I found.

Emma had been asleep so long she peed the bed. So after a quick outfit change Emma and I went to go see if Ava was waking up yet. And I don't know if Emma was too noisy and woke Ava up or what but this is Ava waking up with bed head:

She is pointing a picture of Jeremy and I on the wall. Notice how big her hair is. Notice Emma just stole Ava's binky too.

Here they are standing up next to each other. Ava is making a "cheese" noise with her tongue sticking out. Since this they ate breakfast. Ava threw all her food on the ground and she had to sit in time out while Emma got in trouble for playing with the blinds and she had to sit in time out too. And now they are napping. Whew!

A few more clips

2009-07-25T21:53:00.000-07:00

Emma is doing her jumping jacks, Ava too.

Ava loves to read books. We spend most of the day reading books.

Emma is singing to herself and twirling.

Ava's doing good

2009-07-24T07:30:00.000-07:00

Ava loves this push around toy. She and Emma fight to play with it all the time. Ava hasn't figured out how to turn around yet so she is always asking for help.

Ava is getting the hang of it

2009-07-15T07:25:00.001-07:00

Ava has been working really hard with all her therapists and she is learning to stand and walk. She will occasionally stand by herself but she hasn't taken her first steps yet. She has been practicing with this walker toy. We replaced the batteries and Emma thinks that she needs to push around the walker toy too.

The fourth part 3

2009-07-07T13:49:00.000-07:00

Emma and Ava made such messes at our 4th BBQ. We had to bathe them before we could go to the fireworks.

the fourth part 2

2009-07-06T22:18:00.000-07:00

This is Ava doing the actions to itsy bitsy spider. She loves this song.

The fourth of July

2009-07-05T21:51:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful 4th of July. We ate breakfast with Rhonda's ward, went swimming, had a BBQ at the park and watched fire works. Pretty much the funnest 4th ever! Probably because my little girls had such a great time. These pictures are sort of in a reverse order.
Adam and the girls. Ava and Emma like to wrestle each other. Mostly they are just fighting for the Binky.
Jennifer, Emma, Adam, and Ava

Emma, Ava, Adam hanging out on a blanket at the fireworks

Ava and Adam. She just had a blast.

Jeremy and Ava

Jen, Jen's baby (in her belly), and Ava

Our friend Joe, Andrew, and BreiAnne

Adam and Jennifer, it's like they have practiced this pose before.

Emma, me, Ava and Jeremy

Adam

These next few pics are from the BBQ. We met up with BreiAnne's family down at Swallows nest and had a good time. Mostly the girls just made a huge mess. Jeremy and I had to take them home to take a bath before we went to the fireworks.

Ava with brownies and rice crisipies

Ava again

I finally put Emma in the stroller to restrain her. She would walk a mile if I would let her. She was chasing Izzy, walking down by the river, and even helping everyone play some type of game that involves rolling/throwing your ball to get closest to the white ball (I can't remember what it's called). So finally to get her to eat I sat her in the stroller. Little stinker pot.

These next few pictures are from the ward breakfast. I didn't even think to put sunscreen on the girls and their little arms were pink the whole day.

Emma (cheese!) and Jen

Adam- what is he hiding from?

Emma looks like she has a ton of teeth in this picture.

Rhonda and Ava

This is what the girls spends most of their time doing: wiggling! They always want to get down. I am not sure who Jeremy is holding.

Andrew and BreiAnne

This clip was taken just after we got home from swimming. It was raining so hard that the drops were creating a while mist on top of the road. I don't ever remember rain like this in "good ol' Preston!" as Jeremy would say.

swimming swimming

2009-07-05T13:19:00.000-07:00

Ava is so close to standing by herself.

Ava resting on the beach towel.

More of Ava

The other day Grandma Rhonda bought a little purple pool for the girls to play in. She brought it to our house and the girls love it.

Happy Birthday Jeremy!

2009-06-30T22:12:00.000-07:00

It looks like the girls need a little more practice at the whole birthday thing. We will work on it. Happy birthday Jeremy! We made German chocolate cupcakes. Jeremy was home for his lunch break when we sang happy birthday to him. He received tickets to Silverwood from me and some chocolate covered almonds from the girls. Ralph and Rhonda took us out to lunch today too. What a fun birthday!

Aquatic Center

2009-06-27T20:25:00.000-07:00

We went swimming again today. The girls just love it. We played in the kiddie pool, the wave pool, the lazy river, and I even got to go on a slide. Adam and Jennifer are having a blast-just look at those smiles.

The girls loved to play in the water. I think if Emma didn't have to breathe she would be a fish. Jeremy is here with the girls on the lazy river.

I was trying to get a good picture. I think this one is my favorite. Jen and Adam found their cute little pink swimming suits in Hawaii. I love the ruffle.

I even think Jeremy had fun today. He had to work this afternoon so we only stayed for a little while. It actually works out well because the girls were pooped after swimming.

Here is Rhonda on the slide. I could hear her squealing the whole way down.

Rhonda relaxing in her tube.

Emma and me

We had so much fun. I love the cooler weather. It's just warm enough to be outside but not too hot. Jeremy is starting a new job in July (Lewiston Police Dept.) and we are looking forward to the little break he gets to take in between. We have many projects that we could work on around the house but it so tempting to just play.

week 4

2009-06-26T23:47:00.000-07:00

Our lawn looks amazing after just four weeks. The girls love to be outside and play in the grass.
This is the back yard. Our big tree out back provides shade all day long.

This is a nice picture of our neighbors fence... just kidding this is on the East side of the house looking from the back yard to the front.

This is in back yard looking west.

Spokane and Manito Park

2009-06-25T23:51:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to get some pictures up. I don't have time to journal tonight but I will work on catching up.
Ava had and appt with her neurosurgeon Dr. Ling in Spokane this last week. We usually go up and spend the night with Jeremy's sister Jennifer and her husband Adam. At Ava's appt the doctor was pleased with her head growth and her progess in development of her skills like crawling and cruising along furniture. She is such a wiggle worm. As Dr. Ling was trying to use his sensor to she what her shunt is set at I have to hold her still in my lap. Which, by the way, is nearly impossible. Our appt was quick and then we went to visit some friends at he Sacred Heart Neonatal Intesive Care Unit (NICU). We saw our friend Julie. She was Emma primary nurse. Later that evening we went out to dinner with the Leonards and we had a wonderful time. The girls were tired and went to bed pretty easily that evening.
Emma

Ava

Emma

Ava

phone home

2009-06-22T22:52:00.000-07:00

Well our promotional rate for having a home phone was up so we decided to disconnect it. So if you need to get a hold of us please just call us on our cell phones.
Funny thing- Little kids are pretty good at telling the truth and this is what I heard last week from two different children:
1-"Is there a baby in your tummy?" NO! But I bet it looks like there maybe could be one.
2- "You look like a boy." I did have a baseball cap on because I woke up with a real nice hair do.
Sigh...kids say the funniest things.

some very fun visitors

2009-06-15T22:55:00.000-07:00

Brittany and Dallas were here to visit for the weekend. We had a wonderful time relaxing, playing, and eating pizza. I am just doing a quick post with pictures for all my family reminding me to put pictures up. This is Ava and Dallas. I was in the process of making rolls and I clapped with flour on my hands to get Ava to look at the camera. Well it looks like it's snowing but really its not.
Emma watched me rolls out the rolls and I gave her a little piece of dough to play with.

The dough was sticky and her fingers were webbed.

Emma has a love for Little Debbie's oatmeal cookies. She at all of Dallas' stash.

Ava is checking out their snacks too.

We were able to play at the park.

Ava, Dallas, and Emma

Reading books

We went to the Aquatic Center on Saturday. It was in the 80s, but the sky was overcast so the girls were cold. Ava's cheeks were purple and Emma was constantly shivering. So we ended up swimming in doors. Aunt Brittany was swimming with Emma.

Aunt Brittany is pushing Ava and Emma around in the laundry basket.

We have had so much fun. I will post more about their visit when we get back from Spokane and Ava's appointments on Wednesday.

new play house

2009-06-06T13:38:00.000-07:00

We decided it was time to finally put this playhouse together today. We had been storing it in the garage, and I needed that space to store all my Christmas decorations. So... here it is. The girls love it. Ava is sitting on the left on a little bench seat and Emma is standing by the door.
Ava playing with the faucet.

Emma loves to open and close the little red door.

Papa, Shell, and JAY-See!

2009-06-04T10:26:00.000-07:00

This last week my family was here to visit. It's amazing how quickly time goes by. We played, worked, and even shopped a little. We were playing so much that I didn't even take many pictures. So when my family got up to go home today, I woke the girls up and we got some pictures together.
Grandpa Troy (Papa), Emma, Ava, Jaycee (JAY-See!), and Grandma Michele (Shell)

Grandma Michele and Ava

I am really surprised that Michele was able to keep her eyes open when we took pictures this morning. Ava is still learning.

Emma wants to get down and Ava wants to know why Grandma is laughing.

Emma and Grandma Michele

Ava, Jaycee, and Emma

Jaycee and Ava

chocolate chip cookies

2009-06-04T10:18:00.001-07:00

Ava as she starts to eat her cookie-

Ava after. She has been cutting teeth again and she wasn't feeling very well when I took this picture.
Emma as she starts her cookie-

And this is her at the end. She is so messy!

house work

2009-06-04T10:00:00.001-07:00

We have been working hard outside to get some projects finished. We recently had new windows ands doors put in. While my parents were here we were able to finish up the painting and staining. This is my new storm door and the fiberglass door Troy and Michele helped me stian.

Michele and Jeremy were the window trim painters, doesn't it look good?

We have been planning to get a lawn in all spring and we finally were able to have hydroseed sprayed 8 days ago. I am really glad that we will have a lawn.

These shots are of the front yard. We haven't quite decided how to landscape the hill. We have been having troubles with puncture weeds (aka- goatheads, for my fellow southern idahoans) so we spray and spray and spray. GO AWAY!

I think the white trim looks a lot better. Troy and Michele- thanks for all the help this week. Jaycee- you are the best babysitter and I think right now you are Emma's favorite aunt (JAY-See!)

We've got ants!

2009-06-04T09:56:00.001-07:00

It's like they know I have two little girls that spill juice and leave crumbs on the ground.

Emma does her exercises

2009-05-25T22:11:00.000-07:00

I thought this was hilarious. She was watching her daddy. So cute.

it's a little too quiet

2009-05-24T22:57:00.000-07:00

The girls are so good to play with each other. This afternoon I was making chocolate chips cookies and I noticed that they were being a little too quiet. Usually that means they are into something. They love to unplug electrical cords, get into the pantry, and explore the bathroom wastebasket. But today I found them playing together in their room. Emma and Ava both love to crawl under stuff. They can usually be found under the end tables, under the dining table, or in this case, under Ava's crib. Emma is just relaxing under Ava's crib.
Emma and I had a little fight today, ok, we had more than one. She has been throwing little tantrums lately. I would just like to start this little story by saying that it is always my goal to make it to church on time. Well, Jeremy took yesterday off so I had extra help this morning getting the girls ready for church. All was going smoothly until about 8:30 am as I am trying to pull Emma's bangs out of her face. It started off with Emma wanting to hold the little hair elastics that I use. I usually put it in my mouth while I use both hands to comb and pull up their hair. So Emma has a little hair band in her front teeth and she continues to play. As I am combing her hair Jeremy is singing "Old McDonald" to try and distract her. The second I am ready to put the hair band in Emma's fit begins. She is arching her back, crying, twisting away from me, and attempting to move my hands with her hands. So, after 5 or 6 tries I gave up. It's now 8:45am and I have still got to finish getting ready for church. I am desperate and for my last attempt at pulling Emma's hair up I put her in her high chair. She of course doesn't want to cooperate and is throwing a little fit. But it keeps her still enough that I actually get her hair done. Whew! I usually have patience put today I had worn mine out and we hadn't even made it to church.

But we had a good day at church. The girls were very tired after a busy day of playing with all their friends in nursery. So I guess Emma and I have made up. I need to pray for more patience.

Ava is very easy going. She has been working on pulling herself up to things. Sometimes she uses her teeth to pull herself up and today she bit me twice trying to stand up next to me. She is really good at the actions to "5 little monkeys." She is especially good at the actions for "bumped her head" or as we sing it, "bonked her head." She is always trying new words she can say "Emma" and for her own name she says "Aba." It's pretty darn cute.
This clip is typical of them. If they aren't in this corner of the room they are in the other corner pressing the test button for the carbon monoxide alarm. It beeps loudly and scares them enough that they give me the "help me mom" look when I come looking for the source of the noise. Emma is in the red and Ava is wearing green.

new jammies

2009-05-24T22:33:00.000-07:00

Emma has on the ladybug pjs while Ava is sporthing the cup cake line.

crawling...sort of

2009-05-24T21:40:00.000-07:00

just learning...

2009-05-24T21:30:00.000-07:00

Ava and Emma are learning to eat with utensils and plates. I have really had a hard time with this because it is just so much easier and less messy for me to feed them. But, alas, they are at an age where they should be able to handle plates and forks. So I let them try. Oh the messes. This is Emma, she is in need of a hair cut.
Ava does a lot better than Emma when it comes to eating with a fork or a spoon.

Princess rocking chair

2009-05-24T21:21:00.000-07:00

Grandpa Ralph found this little pink rocking chair at a yard sale a couple weeks ago. The girls thing it is such a fun toy. Emma has now learned how to climb up, turn around and sit down. It took a few times of standing up and falling out backwards from the chair to figure this out. I love her little cheesy smile.
Emma has learned how to wink, but she blinks so here she is with another smile/wink/blink.

This is a wonderful picture of Ava's usual moring hair do. She has courser hair than Emma. Every morning we have to comb out the snarls. I should probably look into no more tangles stuff.

Bum in the air

2009-05-24T21:18:00.000-07:00

This is how Emma loves to sleep. I can even try to bring her knees out from under her and she will still be asleep and pull her knees back in . So darling.

little Ava

2009-05-09T21:58:00.000-07:00

Ava can stand!

2009-05-07T09:02:00.000-07:00

Recently little miss Ava has been waking up in the mornings at 4:30 am. Really she is happy when she wakes up but I can't seem to get her to go back to sleep unless we lay on the couch and watch music videos. So yesterday Ava was so noisy she woke up Emma too. If I get them out of their beds they just want to play and 4:30am is not time to play. So I pulled a pillow and blanket into their bedroom and laid down on the floor in between their cribs. The girls continue to talk and play and as I opened my eyes I see Ava standing up! She just learned to pull herself up. I was super excited. She is doing really well going from standing to sitting too. Yea!

my first 10k

2009-04-26T21:54:00.000-07:00

I ran in the Seaport river run last Saturday and I finished the 6.2 mile course in 67 minutes. Not too shabby for my first 10k. Jeremy pushed the girls on the short course. The course started at Swallows Nest in Clarkston and ended at Hells Gate in Lewiston. After the race you had two options for refreshment- a bottle of water or a Coors lite. Grandma Moser said that I should take the beer for a change. To get back to Clarkston we rode on a big jet boat. I think the girls really liked it. I forgot to take the camera with us but a nice lady in line behind us took our picture and said she would email it to me. So I hope she sends it.

Easter

2009-04-23T15:56:00.000-07:00

Well I know Easter was quite a while ago but I thought I should post some of our pictures. In this picture Emma does not want to look at the camera. Emma loves peeps.

"I think I will just chew on them"- Ava

Ava isn't sure about the bunny ears.

This was conference weekend in Spokane at Japanese Garden in Manito Park.

play time

2009-04-11T22:47:00.000-07:00

Ava tells stories

2009-04-11T09:13:00.000-07:00

Emma can walk!

2009-04-02T19:46:00.000-07:00

I have to apologize for turning the camera sideways, I didn't even think about it until later. But she is walking!

funny thing

2009-04-02T19:01:00.000-07:00

I was standing in the kitchen today unloading the dishwasher and Jeremy made a comment about the new bananas we bought a couple days ago. Our conversation went like this:
Jeremy- Oh wow, these bananas sure turned brown quick.
Natalie- Yeah, last night they were fine and today they are all spotty.
Jeremy- Just like you honey, they are spotting.

So funny, where does he come up with this stuff? I need to write down all the funny things he says.

messy faces

2009-03-19T21:46:00.000-07:00

These are some adorable pictures that I have taken lately.

I was watching reruns of Jon and Kate plus 8 the other day. And I guess she is kind of a neat freak. She was actually saying how she mops her kitchen floor three times a day, hands and knees. Now, Jeremy, my dear sweet husband, has labeled me as messy because I don't mop the floor three times a day. I am lucky if it get swept after every meal. But I seem to think that there are more important things in life like...hmmm. What do I do with all my extra time? Do I have extra time?

Ava just licked the chocolate pudding beaters, I feel it's my duty to teach them to lick beaters.

Emma just gets the pudding everywhere. I have removed the liners from their highchairs because it's just too much to wash them and they don't even stay clean very long.

Jeremy made the girls some noodles and added spaghetti sauce. It was a huge hit, they ate a ton. Here is Ava.

"Tadaa!"- Emma

You can tell Ava only uses her left hand to eat.

Super cute smile of Ava.

This is my lizard baby, she is always sticking her tongue out. Here Emma just ate a bite of blueberry yogurt and she wants to show you.

As you can see, Emma uses both hands to paint her tray with spaghetti sauce. Which, by the way, leaves the trays stained for quite some time.

But luckily, it all washes off in the bath tub.
Cute girls!

Happy Birthday Michele (with one L) and Grandpa Ralph!

2009-03-19T21:23:00.000-07:00

While we were down in S. Idaho visit for wedding festivities it happened to my my mom's 47th birthday. Wow, my mom is 47. I have friends that are 47, I guess that there isn't that much of an age difference between us at all. Anyway we had a little party. Michele (mom) was not feeling well with a cold and she was super tired after the wedding was all finished. But we had cake and ice cream and she opened her presents. Most of her gifts she picked out herself so I don't know how much fun that was. In this picture Ava is on Grandpa Moser's lap and Emma is standing next to him.

Jeremy

Michele and Jaycee with the wedding/birthday cake, we took of the fondant from the wedding and made our own lemon frosting to complete the cake. The candles were a 4, 5, and two reagular birthday candles = 47.

Wow, how do I get all these great pics of Em?

Ava clapping while we sang happy birthday

Emma being a good helper with presents.

The cake

Emo posing with the cake and ice cream

Then on March 12th it was Grandpa Ralph's birthday which we actually didn't even celebrate until the 15th. But we had German Chocolate cake and ice cream. Which I think is Ava and Emma's favorite. Here Andrew has found a new hair band, so handsom.

BreiAnne, Rhonda, and the birthday cake.

Emma and Natalie, I couldn't get her to look at the camera

Jeremy and Ava, look at her cute little cheesy smile.

Below is the clip of us singing happy birthday to Ralph.

The rolling stones are stuck!

2009-03-18T09:18:00.000-07:00

Dad was having troubles with kidney stones. The day we were leaving Preston, he had to go back to work. He almost made it, but then he had another episode. Poor guy. Here he is taking a cat nap in the living room. He always takes his naps like this.

The Barnes cousins

2009-03-17T16:15:00.000-07:00

Jason and Erin's family came to visit while we were down in S. Idaho. They live in Utah and it's been almost a year since we were able to see them. It was so much fun to visit. Erin looks wonderful and she is expecting a little baby girl in May. Jason is busy with work and school and the kids are so cute. Little Munchkin had gloves on her hands taped to her sleeves so she will learn to stop sucking her thumb, Thumbelina has a darling little raspy voice, and ET looks just like his dad. Ava and Emma were happy to them over to play. In this picture the Barnes are playing a board game. I think ET won.

Here the kids are having some dinner, notice munchkins pink gloves.

Ava and Emma are so happy to have cousins over to play.ET, Munchkin, and Thumbelina

I don't know about you but I think this is one of the cutest pictures I have ever seen. When they were packing up to leave Thumbelinia was feeling bad that she had leave. I miss them already- so the plan is that they have to move closer to us- OK?

P.S.- For some reason I have always thought that if you let a helium balloon go outside and it drifts away that is would land in the ocean and a dolphin would choke on it. Is it true that you must cut the plastic rings that come on a six pack of pop cans so that ducks don't get trapped? Maybe these are things that I was told in my younger years and I am just now coming to terms with them.

Foster-Larsen Wedding

2009-03-16T08:00:00.001-07:00

Brittany and Dallas were married last weekend and it was such a beautiful ceremony. I think I cried the whole time. We attened the wedding at the Logan, UT Temple. It was a very cold and blustery day. Afterwards as we were having our pictures taken outside the temple, most of the children were crying it was so cold.
Jeremy and Ava

Jaycee, Madison, and Nate

The Larsens

Cindy and Ava

Emma trying to warm up in the car

Ava and Natalie

The luncheon was at the Coppermill and it was delicious. I don't think there were any other little kids there besides ours. After they were finished eating, the girls were off visiting with the relatives. Both girls fell asleep. Aunt Cindy had Ava and Cousing Molly had Emma.
Emma and Jeremy

Ava

Emily and Emma

Later that evening we attnded the reception held at the Whitney Church. By this time the girls were about done being happy and social. They were starting to come down with a cold/cough. So at times they were a little cranky.

Emma and Natalie

Emma, Jeremy, Ava, and Natalie

Ava yawning

Emma looks tired too

Emma, Emily, and Ava. Notice Emma is crying.

I don't know how I got this picture but I think its very flattering- ha ha.

Ava and Emily

Grandpa and Grandma Moser, Ava and Natalie

Brittany Larsen

The wedding cake, that is a fondant bow, by the way.

Emily and Mollie

Troy Foster, Paul Larsen, and Justin Larsen- all looking so handsom in their brown tuxes.

Jaycee and Emma

Stephen and Anisha

Ava loves brownies and ice cream. Its a good thing their dresses where the color of the chocolate syrup.

Brittany's bridals

2009-03-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

This is my little sister Brittany. She had her bridals taken about a month ago and I am just now posting a few of my favorites. Her photogropher happended to be her friend and roommate Mollie. Mollie has taken family pictures for us before and she took the picture of the girls sitting in the grass on the right side of this blog. Anyway she does a wonderful job and it was nice to have her around for all the fun. I know she is currently working on her website, but I'm not sure when it will be up.

Sheesh, isn't Brittany gorgeous?

1st Haircuts!

2009-03-15T22:28:00.000-07:00

The girls have been needing a real hair cute for a while. I have attempted to trim their bangs but as you can see in past posts that I was not successful. Michele, on the other hand, has had much more experience at this kind of thing and the hair cute turned out so cute. Here Emma is wrapped in a towel sitting on the kitchen counter. All it took to make her sit still was letting her suck on the water bottle.

For some reason she loves to have water squirted in her mouth. But whatever works, right?

I almost saved those little curls that mom cut off, but this technically isn't their first hair cut so I didn't.

Emma and more water bottle action.

They have this cute little bob cut in the back that shows their neck. I think its just darling.

Ava sporting her new bangs. For some reason she loves to chew on socks. It can be just after I take them off of her to put her in the tub or if I am folding laundry, she is the sock monster.

Look how sweet Ava looks. "No, mom I am not chewing on my socks."

Emma with her new hair cut. Emily was teasing that she looked like on of the three stooges.

Ava loves her new bangs, they don't hang in her eyes.

Foster Fam(dam)ily

2009-03-14T21:48:00.000-07:00

Here are a few candid shots of the Foster fam. We had a blast visiting. I think Jaycee is tickling Ava.

Grandma Michele and Ava. They now have the same hair cut. So darling.

Grandma Foster and Emma. Grandma has twins Darin and Karen that just turned 40 last year. I think she really loves to see the girls.

Grandpa Foster and Ava. He brings Grandma down to visit and talks water with Troy.

Grandma Foster and Ava, belly shot.

This clip definitely deserves an intro. Dad (Troy boy) found a black brazier in the living room which happen to belong to the bride (aka Britter Bea). He then commandeered the for mentioned skivvies and turned them into a sling shot. What else do you do with golf balls and a stretchy brassiere?

Waffle Cookies

2009-03-14T21:14:00.000-07:00

When I was little my mom used to make waffle cookies. I remember we would get out her heavy waffle iron and it took forever to make all the cookies. My favorite part about this cookie is the frosting. Today was Jeremy, Ava and Emma's first experience with waffle cookies and all three approved, especially Ava.

Waffle Cookies

7 Tbls cocoa

1 cup butter- melt and add cocoa

Beat 4 eggs

Add 1 1/2 cup sugar

Combine chocolate mixture with eggs and sugar in a medium bowl.

Add:

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

Mix well, drop small Tbls in waffle iron, bake one minute

(my cookies needed 20 seconds longer)

Frosting

In a sauce pan melt 5 Tbls of butter and add

2 Tbls of cocoa

1/4 cup milk

1/2 cup sugar

In a larger bowl add 1 1/2 -2 cups powdered sugar, beat with beaters

The cookies are soft and the frosting is delicious.

Brittany's bridal shower

2009-03-13T21:37:00.000-07:00

After a very long day of traveling, everyone was ready for a party. Even the boys came to this party. Brittany, my little sister, was having a bridal shower thrown by Emily and Aunt Cindy and Aunt Tonya. It was so much fun. Britters made a haul. My favorite thing about the shower was that is was an open house which means no games! We were able to visit and snack, and snack, and snack, and visit somemore. In this picture Emma is all about the snacking.

Grandma Dora and Cindy.

Troy is delighted to attend his first bridal shower/openhouse. Maybe he was more excited about the snacks.

Emma and cousin Kenzie.

Emily, Kellie, and Aunt Tonya lounging, good job girls.

The bride (Brittany from Whitney) and Anisha

This is a picture from the day before the bridal shower, it's Jeremy looking all calm and collected as we are almost there!

Emma just waking up from a nap.

Ava looking like a little doll in her carseat.

Feed the birds

2009-03-12T21:30:00.000-07:00

Well, there are just so many things to blog about. I feel like I am way behind. So I am going to blogging new posts daily (8 so far). So you can expect many great and wonderful things. Before we headed down the the land of Preston, our little family had a big outing- feeding the ducks. Jeremy and I bought a loaf of white bread and took off down to the levy. As a child Jeremy would come to feed the ducks here too. When we got down there we got more than we bargained for. I bet there were one hundred ducks and four or five huge geese. I must admit the geese were a little intimidating. We would throw a whole slice of bread just to get the geese to go away and chase it.

Ava posing with the ducks and goose. She was eating the bread instead of throwing it.

Jeremy had to show the girls how it's done.

Ava and Emma in their new strollers. What cute smiles.
I think we have many duck/goose feedings ahead of us. Next time we will bring more bread.

VD (valentines day, not the other vd), TP, and E.L.B.

2009-02-14T20:57:00.001-08:00

Happy Valentines Day! We have had a wonderful day. We made sugar cookies and the girls love them. They are able to hold the whole cookie and take little bites. Here is Ava she is a cookie monster. Jeremy bought me a new digital camera so I have taken 70 pictures in the last two days. So here are some of my favorites.

Emma and Ava are posing in their new zip up sweat shirts, they have hearts of them.

Ava and her gift from her daddy, her shirt says I don't give a hoot, which matched her attitude today.

Emma and her heart.

The cookie monster, Ava.

Here I am frosting cookies, I think I ate too many.

Emma and her cookie.

Emma loves her spatula.

Emma has been getting into things lately.

Emma in the pantry.

Jeremy was in the shower and Emma was hanging out in the bathroom and I come in to find this... lil' Emma and the toilet paper.

"oops, I'm in trouble, mama, don't be mad."

Uh, oh, what's Emma up to now.

Ha ha Emma is in trouble, smirking as she thinks this.

Cute heart hair bows from Grandma Rhonda.

I love this photo of Ava.

February

2009-02-10T21:06:00.000-08:00

This month we have had some fun days playing together. The girls love sugar cookies, macaroni and cheese and canned peaches. Here is what Emma typically looks like at the end of dinner. I usually put a bib on but I was going to start the laundry that night so I just them enjoy dinner.
I was able to put little piggy tails in today, but after a nap they were falling out. Emma has a tender head, like her Aunt Emily. So I think she is named appropriately.

Ava's cute piggies.

Emma likes to sleep on top of the blankets.More of Ava's cute piggies.

This week Grandma Rhonda finished these adorable dresses and coats for the girls. They were so cute on Sunday. Jeremy and I had to speak so we sort of pawned off the girls to some friends during sacrement meeting. Everyone loved the cute new outfits. Thanks Rhonda

Here is Emma. She would hardly sit still long enough for me to get a picture.
Cheesy Emma.

Ava with an even bigger cheesy smile.

Emma getting her pjs on, look how big her feet are.

Ava can roll around where she wants to now. She rolled out of her towel while I was putting a diaper on Emma. She was so cute.

Ava

Ava waving at the camera.

Ava loves to wave. She has been waving for a while but she was waving to herself. It just so darn cute and of course Emma has her two bits.

New tricks

2009-01-27T19:30:00.000-08:00

Ava with turkey on her face.
Emma's home hair cut.

Emma loves to walk around she is so full of energy.

Emma has this little toy she pushes around and Ava can now roll to both sides.

More pictures

2009-01-22T21:55:00.000-08:00

It's been a little while since I posted any pics so here are a few of the recent weeks. Emma has been testing me when it's bedtime. This evening we were in a full out fight. Now, I don't mean a physical fight, but I mean a fight of wills. It took me two and a half hours to finally get her to settle down and go to sleep. Little stinker. This is Emma eating spaghetti.
Ava really liked the spaghetti too.

Emma finally going down for a nap, I think she is trying to think of ways to get out of sleeping.

Ava and her wild hair. She loves to get in the tub.

Ava has four little teeth on the bottom.

Ava posing as muscle woman.

Ava loves instant strawberry oatmeal for breakfast.

Emma loves toast for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Here she has figured out how to get around the bumper pad.

Emma loves to crawl in the kitchen.

She loves to look out the sliding glass door and play with the blinds.

This is a little clip that I got of them when they were napping, they were both doing the same thing at the same time. So cute. This is Ava.

This is little Emma.

We gots the barfs

2009-01-08T23:18:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to write a little something about our recent round with the barf. Emma was sick earlier this week and the poor little thing just kept puking. Luckily, it only lasted a day. As the naive mom that I am I was on the phone with the pediatric nurse and she was telling me if Emma didn't have a terrible fever or sever diarrhea that she wouldn't need to be seen. Then I said to her, "Emma has a twin and how would I keep her from getting sick?" She paused, and I am sure she was thinking to herself, "This has got to be a first time mom." and then she explained that there wasn't anything I could do. Since then Emma has recovered from her queasiness and we were praying that Ava wouldn't get it.
This evening after we got home from Grandma Rhonda's house, I was feeding the girls their bottles and I sat Ava up to burp and it was one of those burps that you know has puke behind it. So I quickly put Emma on the floor and was making a run for kitchen sink with Ava. She only got little spot of barf on the carpet, but when we hit the tile floor she didn't hold back. I was holding her so she was forward facing. So as she is throwing up on the tile I am still running to the sink and I step in it and almost slip. She was able to hit the dishwasher, cabinets, kitchen rug, and the counter top. When she was finished laid her on the cleanest part of the kitchen rug to take off her dirty pjs. Emma being the curious girl she is, is now starting to crawl toward us. I use my loud voice and instruct her to stay put. She blatantly disobeys me and continues to crawl into the kitchen through all the vomit on the floor. I think I am going to puke just writing about this. I turn to look at Ava and she very pale, poor little thing.
It was a night to remember.

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T19:42:00.000-08:00

I am so excited for the new year. I have my goals set and I am planning to actually achieve them this year. Some of my new goals include: reading the Book of Mormon, hitting my goal weight, increasing my food storage, and saving money ahead of time for Christmas next year. We went out to dinner last night to a 50's style cafe call Way Back Cafe. Most of the girls' food ended up on the floor. But we had a good time. Afterward, we went to Locomotive Park with Jeremy's parents, Ralph and Rhonda, to finally see the Christmas lights.

I think this is a great picture of Ralph and Rhonda.

We went swimming on Monday night and Emma enjoyed it more this time. The pool was a little cool this time and Emma lips were a little purple and she was shivering.

Ava and Rhonda had fun.

Ava just always smiles. I was glad that their bathing suits still fit.

Emma and Jeremy are playing in the pool in the first clip. In the second clip, Emma is sitting in the shallow end while Ava plays with Rhonda.

Christmas

2008-12-26T21:54:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Christmas, I really think the girls have had a great time too.
This was taken on Christmas Eve. Ava is on the left and Emma is on the right. We came home late from the Barnes' and the girls were so tired.

Emma says "Merry Christmas!"

Ava is playing with her Santa presents.

The girls are not quite sure what to think about Elmo. Elmo says, "Elmo loves you, kiss, kiss."

Ava and her baby Sadie.

Emma and baby Jayda.

Opening gifts at Grandma Rhonda's. Aunt Denise helped the girls. Emma is in pink and Ava is in purple.

Ava is a happy girl.

New toys.

Jeremy is relaxing on Christmas morning.

Cute bows baby Ava.

Emma got a new headband in her stocking .

Ava did too.

Ava in her new outfit from her cousins- Eli, Rory, and Jill.

Erin sewed little flowers on the onsies and made the cute skirts and hair bows- Thanks!

Grandpa Ralph has a new robot toy and Emma found it's remote, she loves remotes.

Natalie and Ava.

Cute new jammies from the Fosters. This is the morning after Christmas and they were so excited to play with some new toys.

I just got Emma out of the tub and her hair was so cute I had to get a picture.

Ava is happy its almost bed time. I love her little teeth that are coming in.

Emma fell asleep on Jeremy chest after we opened gifts at the Barnes'. She was talking to him and then she just went to sleep. Ava and Emma love their new Elmo. He is telling them a story. It's pretty cool.

So we had a great Christmas. We were all together this year and we are so glad the girls are doing so well. Merry Christmas!

Fankle (fat ankle)

2008-12-23T21:38:00.000-08:00

Poor Jeremy. He had a little accident while playing basketball Monday morning. He came home and this was our conversation
Jeremy, Owww!, I sprained my ankle again.
Natalie: Oh, honey, are you okay?
Jeremy: NO! I need to lay down.
Natalie: Oh let me see, yup it looks pretty swollen.
Jeremy: Can you get me some ibuprofen?
Natalie: Sure. ( I am trying to get ready to go to work.)
Jeremy: Can you get me some ice to put on my ankle.
Natalie: Of course, honey.
Jeremy: I need another pillow to go under my knee.
Natalie: I will get it right now.
Jeremy: How am I going to take care of the girls today, can you stay home from work?
Natalie: Uhh, hmm, I think you will be okay. You can call me if you need me to come home.
Jeremy: I can't believe you are leaving me home with the girls like this. It hurts so bad.

As I am getting ready to walk out the door, he is trying to get up and get something to eat.
Later on when I get home from work I find he and the girls made it through the day just fine. Jeremy is crawling around to keep weight off his ankle and Emma is following him where ever he goes. That night I asked Jeremy if he needed a real pain pill to sleep well and he said he didn't think that the pain was that bad. Fewh! Another almost catastrophe avoided.

Jeremy is not very excited about his ankle- as you can see.

This and that

2008-12-20T21:36:00.000-08:00

I made some pumpkin chocolate chip cookies this evening. My plan was to take them around to the ladies that I visit teach. I had two little helpers in the kitchen today and they love cookie dough. Emma would hardly sit still long enough for me to snap a picture. She has cookie dough on her lips.
Ava sometimes pulls a sideways smile, but she likes cookie dough too.

This is her model pose.

We have snow at our house. I even called my parents and at that very moment it was colder here than it was there. Now that is really wierd. I love how the snow makes everything bright at night. I also love that it covers up my weeds in my yard.

Ava's smiling again, she is the happiest little girl. If you look closely you can see her two top teeth are coming in.

Emma loves to laugh and smile. She thinks anything is funny.

This is a clip at dinner the other night, we were all having a good time.

My little red honda

2008-12-17T22:42:00.000-08:00

I recently sold my little red prelude to Jaycee. I never had many troubles with it and Jaycee has now had it for three weeks and look what happened. There was no damage to the car, wheew!

Good thing dad has a connection to someone with a snow plow. Oh little duganheimer, you be nice to my (your) car.

This week...

2008-12-17T21:52:00.000-08:00

We had a lot of fun this week. The girls are so darling.
Ava and Emma in the tub, nice cheeser Emma.

Ava was laughing at the flash.

Emma is trying to get out of the tub.

One of Emma's many funny faces.

We went to visit Russel. He is the Jeremy's Uncle Wayne's younger brother. We had a nice chat, I even had to tell the girls to quiet down. I am holding Ava and Jeremy has Emma.

We found some new hats and mittens this week. It's been very cold. You must be asking youself, "Well, I wonder just how cold it is?" I will tell you we have had snow for three days now, I have never seen it actually stick before, and yesterday the high was 11, brrrr. I know I have become such a wimp.

Emma new favorite thing is to crawl into the kitchen. She is always at my feet. She licks the floor, she licks my legs and my toenails, really it's pretty gross. So, I have deep cleaned the kitchen floor so it is somewhat lickable.

Emma has a piece of ham stuck to her face from her ham sandwich.

The girls have been playing a lot together .

Emma likes to sit on Ava's lap.

She also likes to pull the lights off the tree...

And unwrap presents. Ava isn't crawling yet so I sat her by the tree so she could play with it and when Emma follows me to the kitchen I sit Ava in the kitchen too so she doesn't feel left out.
Below are two videos: 1- is Emma and her growl. 2- Is Ava trying to eat a fish in the bath tub.

Some visitors..

2008-12-11T20:11:00.000-08:00

Over Thanksgiving we had some visitors. We had so much fun.

Jaycee and the twins : Ava is in black and Emma is in red

Grandma and Grandpa Foster and the girls

Grandpa Troy and Ava

For some reason I can't get this picture to flip, but its Emma and Grandpa Troy

Jeremy and the girls

Aunt Emo and the girls

Almost our Christmas card picture, except for all the hair in my face!

Grandpa and the girls

Dallas and Emma

Britters and Emma

Ava and Dallas playing peek-a-boo, she absolutely loves Dallas

Emma learned to crawl

Thanksgiving

2008-12-03T21:43:00.000-08:00

I am finally getting things posted. Our computer was down for almost a week and I am trying to get back into the swing of things. We had a wonderful thanksgiving dinner at the Barnes' house. The food was excellent, the company was wonderful, and it didn't even take long to do the dishes afterwards.
Emily and Natalie

Adam and Jen

Troy (aka Yort) and Michele

Jermey and Dad

Emma eating turkey

Emma and Ava love the rollsTroy carved the turkey- good job Dad!

A little something..

2008-12-02T22:45:00.000-08:00

Emma can crawl!

This is how I get fat lips

2008-11-23T22:28:00.000-08:00

Yummy french fries

2008-11-19T21:18:00.000-08:00

We went out to eat this weekend with Jennifer, Adam, and Rhonda. It was the girls first time to actually sit in the high chairs at the restaurant. They did very well. They also tried french fries for the first time...

Emma loves french fries...

But not as much as Ava does.

Ava kept reaching for more, mmm french fries.

Emma had a cute poka dot bow in her hair.
Ava was so tired after our outing, we went during their nap time. After we were finished eating an older lady came over to our table to say hi to the girls. If you don't know, this is very typical. Every where we go people stop to talk to us. All I have to say is that everyone either is related to a twin or they "totally want twins!" Anyway, this older lady offered Ava some advice it went something like this, "If you eat too many fries, your behind will get too big and then you won't find a man." Now, I consider myself somewhat educated and I don't think this statement is rational. I see what the woman was inferring, but give the girls a break, it was their first time to try french fries. I remember as a child my grandma used to tell me that if I continued to pop my knuckles the only ring that would fit would come from a Kerr canning bottle. Hmm, no I don't wear a Kerr jar ring.

Emma loves the puppy

2008-11-18T20:25:00.000-08:00

Emma and Izzy had a great time last weekend. Emma practically mauled Izzy and they were both having so much fun.

I lost the battle

2008-11-08T20:44:00.000-08:00

Tonight it was my pleasure to serve the two little sugar pies some dinner. My mother-in-law, Rhonda, brought over some delightful banana squash which I spent all afternoon boiling and preparing to freeze. I must say the squash was the peak of my menu today. I ate two whole cups with salt and pepper and I was stuffed. Which is a feeling that I haven't had in a while. To continue with my story, Ava and Emma have had some of Grandma Rhonda's squash before. They eat the baby food squash all the time, so I hoped they would eat it yet again.
It was not to be, for as I presented the yellow mushed up squash I was declined. At first politely, with a simple closed mouth and shaking of the head. But then the refusal became more fierce, including attempting to take away the eating utensil, yelling, pounding of fists, throwing of sippy cups, smashing undesired food in hair and in all high chair crevices, and lastly spitting everything down the front of the onsies. So it was off to the tub for another warm soak to remove all leftovers from dinner.
Emma has squash and pudding all over.

Ava loves to play in her food.

"Uh, mom, I was thinking, maybe you should just feed me cookies." -Emma

"I am showing you my muscle woman pose to intimidate you!" -Ava

Ava has squash and pudding in her hair, she slaps her forehead occasionally as if she is saying, "Duh!"

She is less amused as dinner goes on.

Emma is trying to come up with a way to get out of eating her squash. Ponder, ponder.

"I've made a mess, now all I need is Aunt Emily to clean my high chair!" -Emma

"Yup, that sounds like a great idea, Emma, lets keep making huge messes until Aunt Emily gets here to clean up after us!"

To Aunt Emily: We are excitedly awaiting your arrival, please do not judged us, we already know cleanliness is Godliness.

Happy Halloween... a little late

2008-11-05T20:11:00.000-08:00

The girls had a great time this Halloween. They didn't mind wearing their costumes and they loved visiting everyone. We took them around during the afternoon to see friends and family and later that night we went to the trunk or treat with the Clarkston wards combined. We then went to Aunt Brei's birthday party. I think the girls were very tired. But it was so much fun.

Emma, Jeremy, Kelsi, Karina, Ava and Natalie at the Trunk or Treat.

Such tired girls!

Emma and Ron at Aunt Brei's birthday party.

These are our scary jack-o-lanterns.

The girls love Grandpa Ralph!
Ava and Emma chewing on Rhonda's co-workers things, like kitties do.

Emma looks like she is having tons of fun!

Emma is trying to crawl like a kitty.

The Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-24T07:47:00.001-07:00

We went out to Wilson's Banner Ranch this week. They have a large pumpkin patch and an apple orchard. They girls had fun riding through the pumpkins and playing with the pumpkins Jeremy picked out for them. We took pictures in the straw. Emma and Ava thought it was quite fun to eat the straw. So that only lasted for a little while. We had someone take family pictures for us, but I think we can do better so we will have to try again.
Ava is on the left and Emma on the right. The pumpkins were still a little prickly.
Emma loves her pumpkin.

Ava does too.

We are sitting in a carriage but you can't really tell what it is.

Emma is on the left and Ava is on the right. Emma has straw in her hands and she will soon put it in her mouth.

See it's almost there. I love their little smiles.

Ava is sitting on a pumpkin, and below Emma is pulling a cheesy smile for the camera.

We had a lot of fun. We bought some apple cider, honey, pumpkins, and apples from the orchard. I think next year the girls will have a blast picking out their own pumpkins.

Husband tag

2008-10-24T07:18:00.000-07:00

Ok, so now that I have been tagged I hope this is some what funny. Thanks Anisha. I will tag Jennifer, my sister-in-law. Have fun!

1. What's his name? Reece Jeremy Barnes, he goes by Jeremy, I guess I only know him as Jeremy

2. How long have you been together? Our first date was in September of 2004, but it took a couple months for Jeremy to decide that I was worth his effort. We started dating in December of 2004.

3. How long did you date? 6 months dating, 2 months engaged

4. Who eats more? Jeremy does, but I think that is only because I am currently on Weight watchers. When he gets his big bowl of ice cream in the evening it about kills me.

5. Who said "I love you" first? It was me. I had been thinking about it for a couple weeks. We were standing on his back porch in the rain and I said, "I have to tell you something, but I don't want you to be scared, I love you." Luckily he said I love you back, and then there was more kissing.

6. Who is taller? Jeremy- 6'1'', me 5'6''

7. Who sings better? Well, that is a toss up. I think I sing the hymns at church better, but Jeremy definitely can belt out the latest song on the radio, he is so funny.

8. Who is smarter? I will say Jeremy, but it takes both of us to put together cribs, install baby gates, and fix the toilet that won't quit running.

9. Who does the laundry? Before we had babies, it was Jeremy, he was my little house husband. I was working a ton. Since the girls were born, its mostly me. And it's a ton of laundry. But he does help fold clothes that aren't wrong side out.

10. Who does the dishes? Depends on what time of day it is. Lately he does the dinner dishes, because I am bathing the girls

11. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do, that's how my parents sleep and Jeremy parents too.

12. Who pays the bills? Jeremy does. I am a kept woman.

13. Who mows the lawn? Well, this is also a toss up. It's who ever has a spare moment to do it.

14. Who cooks dinner? I make dinner, but Jeremy is great at grilling, baking frozen pizza and Pillsbury biscuits.

15. Who drives when you are together? Jeremy always does.

17. Who kissed who first? Jeremy kissed me first, mmm what big lips.

18. Who asked who out first? Jeremy asked me out first. I was really excited and we had a good time but we went back to his place to watch a movie and he sat in the recliner by himself and dozed while I sat next to the other couple that was with us while they made out. Yeah, I tease him about that.

19. Who proposed? Jeremy did. He asked me how many kids he thought we should have and if I thought we should get married, that was unofficial. I had to keep a secret for 2 weeks. We went ring shopping, but when he asked me I was totally surprised.

20. Who is more sensitive? Uh, that would be me.

21. Who has more friends? Probably Jeremy, I have two little friends named Ava and Emma.

22. Who has more siblings? Jeremy does, 5 siblings, and I only have 3.

23. Who wears the pants in the family? I will let him think he does.

Pumpkin Carving

2008-10-24T06:40:00.000-07:00

Andrew and Brei came over the other night and we finally got our pumpkins carved. Jeremy was actually excited this year. I usually have to drag him away from whatever else he is doing and he carves his pumpkin as quickly as he can. We bought pumpkin carving kits two years ago after Halloween. It came with little tools and patterns. The scaper outer made it very easy to quickly clean out my pumpkin, I will never use a spoon again. Ava and Emma had a great time.
Ava is playing with the guts of her pumpkin. Her face is messy because I hadn't clean her up after dinner yet.

Emma loves her little pumpkin.

Yeah, we are carving pumpkins.

Jeremy carved Ava's pumpkin on the left, and I carved Emma's. When we set the pumpkins down by the girls they pulled the lids off and...

Ava started to eat hers.

The girls were clapping in this picture.

Ava wouldn't look at the camera, and Emma was trying to direct her attention and then...

Emma pulled her over. She has been doing this a lot lately, I usually separate them.
Then Emma thought she would pat Ava on the head.

We had so much fun. I love this time of year.

Happy Birthday Babies!

2008-10-14T21:07:00.000-07:00

Ava and Emma turned 1 today. I always had a idea of how their birthday would be a well planned and organized affair. Well, we planned a little, organized a little and rushed around a lot. But I don't think the girls noticed. At the end of the evening, I think they were most excited about unwrapping Aunt Janice's gift that was covered in gold metallic paper.

The cakes
Ava isn't very excited about her party hat.

Emma loves the cake.

Ava loves frosting.

Emma's cake goatee

Emma is thinking, "Uhh, ohh, I got caught."

Ok, Ava likes cake too.

This clip is just after we finished singing happy birthday, I had to blow the candles out and remove them from the cake before I could let them dig in.