Anna Upclose

Here are the closeups of Anna people have been asking for. I had to include a side view of her cute upturned nose.

I hope all of you have a very merry Christmas this week.

Nora and the Nutcracker

Nora had another successful session of dancing, ending with a very sweet Nutcracker themed parent open house. Doesn't she look so precious in her Clara costume?

Hospital Stay

I love this picture. This was the first time the girls got to see their new baby sister and I think Aubrey was more happy to see the cool room behind the window then Anna. Aubrey finally noticed Anna when I showed them the black umbilical cord on her belly button.

So here is the brief story of why she was in the hospital for the first week of her life . . .

She pooped before she came out.

Meconium in the amniotic fluid can be kind of scary for baby's health after birth so all precautions were taken. Anna is happy, healthy, and well and now on to greater new things, like breastfeeding.


Birth story soon to come and of course more pictures of Anna.

Nora, Aubrey, and . . .

Anna Marleen Gunnerson!

She's finally home after a short stay in the hospital.

Born December 7 weighing in at 7 lbs 15 oz and 19 in.

more pictures to come

Nora's Fancy Birthday

This year we decided we were only going to do a small party for Nora so she was only allowed to invite her two cousins in town. We thought it would save on cost which I'm sure it did but it still felt like a pretty penny.

She wanted a fancy tea party based off the Fancy Nancy books. It turned out very cute and very 'fancy' according to what little girls find fancy. I usually love making homemade cakes or cupcakes but again was not as ambitious (because I'm pregnant), as I usually am so we opted for The Cupcakery here in Vegas. I love how their frosting has edible glitter to top it off.

Reunion Trip

One of our summer vacations was to our yearly reunion for Spencer's extended family in Lava Hot Springs, ID. Our families favorite parts were the kid activities, including making bubbles with hangers and swinging on the little playground. Spencer and I got to play golf in the family Gunnar Cup Golf Tournament, which we love. We didn't place well but we had fun doing it none the less.

Then we traveled back to see Grandma G perform in the choir and tour Temple Square. It was a short trip but was full of good times and great memories.

Aubrey's Birthday

I must relay to you that as of late I have been unmotivated to blog much. For now, I will blame it on being pregnant. But alas, I cannot allow Fall to come without any updating.

We had a wonderful time for Aubrey's 2nd birthday. No major party or theme just a small family gathering and celebration for my 'bubber boo'. Aubrey was ecstatic about receiving a wooden stove top range with baking set. It has been fun to watch her and Nora pretend to cook up some fabulous spreads and eat them up!

If You Didn't Already Know . . .

We're pregnant! And today they moved my due date a week up to Dec 2nd. Ultrasounds are the best and we are even more excited now after seeing this new wonder healthy, well, and kicking.

Nora came with us and kept on directing the ultrasound tech to show her this and that and to stop pausing the picture. She is hoping for a baby brother. We shall see if she gets her wish in another two months.

All Fairytales End

Nora's ballet classes have come to an end this session and it has been so fun and magical. These are the pictures from Aladdin week, which was one of my favorites. Take note at Nora's perfect form. I can't help but be a proud mama. Now we are getting ready for swim lessons. Wish us luck!
















Aubrey rubbing the magic genie lamp just like her older sister.
















Nora's sweet dance teachers, one who played Aladdin.

Easter Beauties

My girls were decked out in the same attire for Easter, thanks to an amazingly talented Aunt Amy. Thanks Amy!

Birthday Wishes

I love this man! Happy birthday my sweetheart . . .

Feeling Easter

The holidays are definitely getting more fun as my children grow older. At Nora's dance class they dressed up like bunnies and read Peter Rabbit as well as danced to Peter Cottontail. It was adorable and fun.

I'm looking forward to hearing General Conference and getting more in the true feeling of Easter. Have a great weekend!

Life/Lost

We love DVR . . .

But now I feel on Wednesday nights my Life is Lost and sometimes I Lie to Me that I'm not wasting my time.

Am I alone on this?

This is My Ballet . . .

For our ward talent show Nora performed one of her many freestyle ballets. Enjoy!

St. Patty Food and Fun

What cool green food have you been making today? We made the St. Patrick's Day version of this recipe and both girls loved it. I heard that a leprechan left his pot of gold in my backyard too! Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Recent Ramblings of My Small Children

Nora:

"This little piggie went to the market, this little piggie stayed home, this little piggie had rose berries (at first I thought she said rosemary), this little piggie had none, and this little piggie went we we all the way home!"

Probably wouldn't seem that funny to most everyone but it so shows you whose child she is! She probably has never been served roast beef in her life.

Aubrey:

Aubrey - "Mama! Mama! Wan go!"

Me - "I don't think so babe. Daddy will be home soon and we'll be eating dinner."

Aubrey (clearly bummed out and walking away) - "Ah, man!"

Probably wouldn't seem that funny to most everyone but she is still a small baby. It was hilarious!

Fancy Fun

We love the handmade tepee Grandma G gave Nora for Christmas. The girls love to stuff it with pillows and drink their milk in there.

Nora had a stupendous idea today! Very similar to an idea that you would find in a Fancy Nancy book.

























She and I added some feminine touches to her tepee to make it fancy.

























The girls found it very fabulous and comfy afterwards.

Clown Ballet

We started Nora up in dance classes again. This time around we went with a place my friend Mindy told me about. This was our second time there. Before we went Nora asked me about 15 times if it was time to go to dance yet.

She really likes to dance.

The students get to dress up every week in something corresponding with that weeks theme. This week was Olivia Saves the Circus, hence the abnoxiously huge bow tie. Nora looked so cute sassing up the ballet floor with her form of clown dance.

"Nora, show me how you point your toe!"

We've Been Featured

Yippee! Simply Healthful was featured today by Molly over at My Favorite Things. Thanks Molly.

Tropical Traditions

I love what they sell and I am so excited about their giveaway!

Movie Review

A wonderful lady recommended and let me borrow the controversial film The Business of Being Born, which was produced by Ricci Lake and directed by Abby Epstein. Have you heard of it?

My first reaction . . . wow! I will forever look at the journey of having a baby differently now. It was very enlightening.

A caution to those who watch: It is graphic, very much so. It wouldn't phase any doctors but it did me.

Before the Month Ends . . .

I need to give a shout out to my younger brother Stephen who had a birthday at the beginning of this month. For his birthday he asked for something similar to last year. Happy Birthday Stephen!

As you can see, Stephen loves to have a good time with whatever he's handed in life.

Nora loves any sweets her mama makes. I love that girl!

Under Construction

The main level of my house has a thin layer of brown dust all over it. Part of my Valentine's gift from my husband.

Thanks, honey.

I've been vacuuming all day.

There are still some finishing touches to be done. Pictures will be forthcoming.

Can this be possible? I actually enjoy sweeping my new floor.

Thanks, honey.

Such a sweet face!

Love Letters

My friend Heather is such a wonderful mom. This week she is writing a love letter a day for each of her children. Inspired, I'll be doing the same just in my journal. I gotta write something in there these 'blogging' days.

Nora's Equation

Nora getting dressed up in princess jewels and such instead of napping = Nora sleeping through her favorite Barbie Nutcracker movie.

Yes, she still takes a nap and yes she still needs it.

Darleen Meier Valentine Giveaway

Yippee for my sister's giveaway featured on Simply Healthful. I so wish Spencer could enter but I'd feel selfish if he won since I get her stuff all the time. I want to share the Valentine love, so head on over, you only have until Wednesday.

Blog Slurping is Back

Blurb and Blogger got their acts together and now the slurping action is available again on their newest BookSmart release. This is wonderful news. Hurray!

Grandma's Wisdom

My girls and I love to visit Grandma. We usually get to experience something domestically wonderful and most often tasty. Today, it was juicing oranges. Nora loved it. She is always trying to use my manual juicer (I don't even know what to call it), and will give up a second into it because it's too hard for her to use. The whole time I watched Nora pressing down on those oranges I was thinking, "man, I need to get me a juicer." I could get Nora to make us freshly squeezed OJ every week!

Vintage Valentine Keepsake

Every holiday my mom brings out her decor she has accumulated from past years and usually there will be something I have never seen or haven't seen for years. This Valentine card that she brought out with her heart chocolates and chocolate kisses (yum), was one item I had never seen. Here is a card received by my grandfather from TWO admirers in a grade school class (yeah, I'm not surprised, he was a pretty cool guy). It is small and delicate and beautiful. I love these type of treasures from the past.















I love this style of card too with the sweet poetry rhymes that leave warm fuzzy feelings in a person. I've noticed many of these type of cards were not signed inside. I wonder if that was how they did things back then.

Do you remember giving and receiving Valentines in grade school? Decorating coffee cans or shoe boxes in pink and red, with your name on it in numerous places so that people would know for sure that that was your Valentine mail box.

While admiring my grandfather's card, I reminisced with family members of our childhood memories of the holiday. I never realized how much I liked this holiday or used to like this holiday, until now. Love is cool enough to honor a day for it, right?

Tomorrow, I think I will have the girls start making their Valentines they were supposed to send out last year. Last year I must have been lacking in love for this upcoming holiday. Better late then never right? Again, I might add, don't you just love my grandfather's Valentine. I had to put up a Valentine favorite this year in keeping tradition with last year. I think I might try to find some vintage Valentine cards myself. Let me know if you know where to find any.

Book Giveaway

I love to read books, especially when they are one of my favorite subjects. Go here to enter.