An Easter To Remember

So, Easter was not what it's cracked up to be for us this year. First of all it was so early, I never felt like Easter was here, and now it's gone. I really feel like we missed a whole holiday this time. Secondly, Mauree came down with a flu bug on Tuesday night. Because Mauree was sick, we weren't able to dye eggs or any of that fun stuff. She was so sick, I have never seen her so sad and miserable. It was pretty scary for her, she had never thrown up before and it kind of freaked her out. We explained it by saying she got germs from somewhere and now there was a yucky bug in her tummy making her sick, and her tummy was trying to get better by making the food come out. After she would throw up, she would ask for her tooth brush to get the "bugs" out. That is how Matt and I get her to brush her teeth saying, oh there's a chicken nugget bug, or juice bug, etc...Matt went to get her tooth brush and she says "mamma, I don't feel good, we brush my tummy and get the bugs out". It was so cute, but I felt so bad for her. By Thursday evening, I had my happy girl back...or so I thought. She got sick again that night and couldn't keep even water down. She was sleeping so much and was refusing everything. She didn't want to drink even. She didn't have a fever so I thought she was just drained from being sick and would be better soon. Matt and I felt something was wrong on Sat. afternoon when we realized she hadn't gone to the bathroom and all she wanted to do was sleep. She couldn't even stand up she was so weak. We were told by our Dr. to go to the E.R. quickly and he would call ahead to have someone meet us. So it was a traumatic event for all of us, especially my little Mauree. She had to stay over night to get her fluid levels back and to be monitored. Bless her little heart she was a trooper through it all. Maybe her new purple shoes that she would NOT take off until 4 a.m. brought her comfort that mommy couldn't? So that was our happy Easter. I am very grateful that she is better and I have my sweet happy girl back. Although I missed having Ham and Au grautin potatoes, dyeing eggs, and all the regular Easter activities, i think I gained a deeper love and appreciation for my Savior and what Easter is all about. I had a lot of time to think in the hospital that night and how hard it was for me to watch my baby suffer, feeling helpless. My thoughts turned to how Heavenly Father must have felt watching his son suffer for me and the love that they both have for us all. What a comfort and blessing knowing that He lives and that we can try to be like Him. I am grateful for the comfort I got that night as I pondered on what Easter is really about.

My little Mauree is such a good little helper! I am so grateful she loves to clean up and organize. She is also quite the perfectionist. This is something she gets from her daddy, which is one of the many manys I love about him. Things have to be put away in the right places and in order! We go to a mommy and me gym class on thursdays, and She loves it. She is very quiet and dainty as she interacts. It is pretty funny. Anyhow, each child has a colored rubber mat to sit on and they are layed out in a circle. The teacher was having us do the limbo and as each of the kids went around, the mats got kicked and were wrinkled and out of place. Bless her little heart but it was too much to handle, so we lost our place in line because she "Had" to make them each flat!! She wouldn't play the game until they were all perfect. It made me smile, I love watching her little personality in action.

Mauree loves to help me do chores, laundry, cooking, dusting, vacuuming, etc. I'm sure most of you moms know my feeling on praying for paitience andfinding teaching moments in these times...even if it takes an hour longer to get the house clean! I am just grateful for my little merry maid! Here is Mauree in action one day! I couldn't resist her in her high heels, undies, and necklaces. Don't you just want to pinch that little bum!!

P.S. ...and NO she didn't learn to clean in this outfit from watching her mommy clean! but should I be worried?!!

The Joys of being little!!

I wanted to add this picture of Mauree and her cousin Tyler playing in the snow. Mauree has never seen this much snow! We were visiting them in Albany NY, and there were a few good snow storms. Needless to say, they had a great time. I just love the looks on their faces...how happy and carefree to be little! It reminded me of how wonderful those days were, and how important it is for me to find ways to have them now as well. Thankfully I have a two year old to help me have those moments so much more often! So go ahead, roll around in the snow, make a fort, make a fool of yourself with your kids...I promise it will bring that feeling back if even for a minute!!

Check out my Slide Show!

So here are a few pictures to help drag out the holidays a bit longer! At least I got my tree out before April this year! (yes, i really left my REAL tree up until then once). Sorry to post so late but I just figured out how to do a slide show...baby steps I tell ya! Hope you enjoy the pictures and I promise to be up to date from now on!!

Just wanted to let you know...

Usually when it comes to music I am the last to know of who is good and who isn't. Although I love all kinds of music, I haven't purchased more than a couple cd's over the last 6 years...actually since I got married. Pretty sad I know. I know what songs I love but I hate to admit I don't usually know who is singing! Wow I am out of it. Anyway, my whole point is that I have found someone who's music I just love!! I think you will too. Her name is Dana Parish. She is from outside of Philly, but now lives in NYC, and from what I hear is on her way to the top singing all over the city. She was actually at sundance last week. My friend who was a model in New York for a few years met Dana through a mutual friend who was also in the industry. She has a great soulful voice and her music sticks in your head (in a good way)so be prepared. Just google her name and go to her myspace page. My favorites are: Frustrated, Hung up, and she laughed...actually they are all good. so enjoy!!! By the way has anyone heard of her yet and I am just way behind the times as usual?! P.S. Let me know what you think. Oh ya, I will hopefully be posting pictures soon! Don't give up on me.

The perfect Stocking Stuffer...

It was fun getting a Christmas tree this year with our little helper. I had such perfect visions of how I thought or (dreamed) it would go. We'd frolic happily through all the freshly cut trees looking for that "perfect one" while breathing in the smell of pine. We'd then spend the night decorating as a family listening to carols and talking about baby Jesus and why santa brings us toys, and it would all by captured on video to look back on as a happy memory. Well, most of this happened only instead of a pine forrest, we went to Lowes and it was freezing cold. Mauree was excited for the first 3 minutes but then couldn't feel her hands. The "perfect tree" didn't just jump out on us, so we carefully looked through many and found one to make our perfect tree. When I tried to film Mauree helping she just screamed at the top of her lungs...did I mention she is two?

Sunday night was our family night to decorate. It went pretty much as planned, Mauree had fun helping and it was great to see the excitement in her eyes. She wouldn't let me film, she must get that from her daddy because he hates it when I pull out the camera. So I thought I would be sneaky and set it up to film us all trimming the tree with out them knowing. That was a good idea until I forgot that I was filming us and left it on for forever. All of this would have been fine only the tape was in the wrong spot, and yes I recorded over pretty much ALL of our first Utah trip in over a Year!!!!! Mauree watched it every day. she loved seeing all of her cousins and grandparents and all of the fun things we did. It was seriously one of my favorite tapes ever. I am still sick about it. So by trying to make it a happy memory it will always haunt me as a very frustrating and sad day as well. But what can I do? NOTHING!! Thank goodness I have my sweet little helper who made my night by filling my stocking with the best gift ever! Herself!!! The night wasn't so bad after all!

It's official, I have no idea what I am doing on this darn blog. I'm sure it really is so simple but apparently I am a little too blonde for my own good....or should I say my own bad? Please be patient with my humble little blog as hopefully it will evolve into something grand one day!