Spring Break and Easter Eggs!!!

I love Easter time because there is a sense of new life and a fresh start. The Easter bunny came a week early at Grandma and Grandpa Moon's house and we had a special family home evening about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Spring Break went by way too fast. We spent a lot of time digging sprinkler trenches and gardening to finish landscaping our backyard (pictures to come soon... we're almost finished!!!)We did get a chance to spend some time at the park playing tennis and the Stirlings invited us for another egg hunt at their house. Both Demarie and Preslyn looked beautiful in their Easter dresses. Happy Easter!

The Berrett Band!

Blake and Monica Berrett stopped in this morning for breakfast on their way back to Utah. I was Monica's visiting teacher in Logan when we were in the student ward. When I went to visit her for the first time, Blake answered the door and totally lied to me and my partner, saying that she was sick and couldn't meet with us. With a little persistence, I was finally allowed inside and not only did I make new friends, but I also really liked their pad. A month later, they moved to the upstairs of the house and Aaron and I moved into the basement. (The moral of the story--Do your visiting teaching!). We had a lot of fun getting to know the Berretts. We loved meeting their cute little boy, Kyler, and seeing them as parents. Blake and Monica, you haven't changed a bit! Good luck with graduation!

FRIENDS AND FAMILY: COME VISIT US AND YOUR FACE CAN BE PLASTERED ON OUR BLOG TOO!

Four Months and Formula Fed!

I debate about putting this posting up for fear of getting turned in for child abuse! Preslyn had her 4-month check-up on Friday. The doctor was concerned because she had only gained an ounce during the past month and didn't even weigh 12 pounds. I told him that she nurses for about 30 minutes 5X a day and that she sleeps through the night. He encouraged me to nurse her and then follow up with a bottle after just to see if she would drink any more. Well, I went home and did just that. After breast feeding her for 30 minutes, Preslyn consistently took a 4- to 6-ounce bottle right after! I have been starving my poor child! She has always LOVED to eat her hands and baby's tend to do that, but since I started bottles, she hasn't been trying to shove her fist down her throat right after her feeding. I feel so bad--while I have been stuffing my face with icecream and oreos and gaining 10 lbs, my poor baby has been frantically eating hand and sucking on her blanket in her crib, wondering to herself what that never-ending pain is inside her tummy! Needless to say, it has been almost a week and she is now a formula baby and my milk is almost gone. I think she has gained a pound in one day!

What do little girls do all day?

I know many of you are asking, what do little girls
spend their time doing? Well, let me just say,
our world revolves around
princesses, princesses, and more princesses...

We went to the Orleans to see Disney Princesses On Ice. It was so magical! Every princesses' dream came true! There was even the big dragon on Sleeping Beauty and a magical coach for Cinderella. Demarie loved seeing Ariel and Preslyn was awed by the lights. She sat through the whole thing without a peep! The best part of the evening--NO BOYS ALLOWED! It was just a girl's night with Mommy, Demarie, Preslyn, Grandma Moon, the Stirling family (Wendy, Morgan, Sarah, and Bailey), and their grandma. That night we had a sleep over at Grandma Moon's house and the party continued on through the next day. We had princess pancakes for breakfast, watched Sleeping Beauty, and decorated princess cookies to give to our friends.

princesses, princes, crowns, magic wands, and a heart for... true love!

There's nothing like playing fairy princess with Mommy and baby Sis!

I'll grant

you just

three wishes...

Dreaming of being a princess....

Last night around 3:30, I heard heavy breathing by the side of my bed and the pleading of a almost 4-year old to "cuddle just for a little bit." Reluctantly I plopped her in between me and Aaron (our mattress already sinks in the middle so you can imagine the kind of sleep we get with an extra body in our bed!). In my delusionary state, I could hear her whispering to herself for over a half hour. I then heard her tap Aaron on his shoulder and say, "Daddy, I'm just trying to decide what princess I will be tomorrow."

Every princess needs a cottage deep in the woods (or backyard) where they can daydream and sing about their prince finding them someday...

We bought the Storybook Cottage and now we can't get Demarie to come inside! I'm sure our neighbors have peeked over the cement wall a few times to see who she is talking and singing to. She especially likes it when Daddy and Preslyn join in her play.

A TRUE Princess

from head...

to toe...

from front side...

and yes, even back side!

So you ask, what do little girls spend their time doing? Well, let me just tell you that I once had a daughter named Demarie, but somewhere between two and three years old, she moved out and was replaced by princesses. I no longer have a daughter named Demarie that puts away the silverware from the dishwasher or makes her bed when I tell her to. Instead, Cinderella is the one I have slaving away in my house or Snow White is the one whistling in her bedroom as she puts the toys away. Often I will walk into a room only to find princess Aurora laying on the floor asleep, awaiting the kiss of her prince. Sometimes Aurora is even out in the yard "picking round berries" off the budding rose bushes (so much for beautiful flowers this year). And Ariel's "ahh ahh ahh" echoes constantly off my vaulted ceilings. And what role do I get to play? Just guess.... To every princess there is always a wicked step-mother, prince, or evil fairy. I just hope that when Preslyn gets older, Demarie will let her be the princess every once in awhile!

Stay tuned for more princess postings!

Pictures at The Picture People

Since Grandma Harris gave Demarie and Preslyn matching dresses for Christmas, I figured I better take them to get their pictures taken together. We left the house at 12:30 to make it on time for our 3:30 appointment. That gave us just enough time to stop at two different stores to try to find Preslyn pink tights (as you can see our search was unsuccessful), wander around the mall looking for an outlet that worked to curl Demarie's hair (it was a windy day so I didn't want to do it at home), and to nurse Preslyn in the bathroom at Dillards before getting her in her dress. It's funny how many strangers will come sit with you while you nurse and engage in small talk. Anyways, I'm glad the pictures turned out well. I also got a picture of Preslyn in a cute dress that her aunt, Milisa, gave her (see the side picture). Preslyn is about 4 months in these pictures and Demarie is almost 4 years old. I hate looking at all the pictures at the end of the photo shoot because the lady always makes me feel guilty for not buying more copies. Does anyone else experience this or am I the only one that senses her underlying accusation, "If you don't buy another 5X7 your children will think you don't love them!" I wish I would have got more poses, but I'm a born cheap skate. I guess I'll just have to go through the big hassle again just to get another free 8X10!

Demarie Sue

&

Preslyn Evelee

Aren't they the prettiest little girls you have ever seen in your entire life?

(I think so, but of course, I'm a little biased!)

Shirley Temple

Demarie was excited to sleep in curlers for the first time.

The final result...

Shirley Temple!

Christmas 2007

The Sunday before Christmas, we went to Grandma and Grandpa Moon's house for dinner. We made 'gingerbread' houses and had a family home evening about the birth of Christ. Demarie enjoyed watching their train go around the Christmas Village.

Mommy made everyone pajamas to open on Christmas Eve. Even Baby Julie, Demarie's favorite doll got new pajamas to match Demarie's and Preslyn's.

The day after Christmas, we headed to Utah to visit family. We slept at Grandma and Grandpa Harris's house and went skiing and out to dinner. Preslyn napped in the trailer and Demarie enjoyed her first time playing in the snow. It was fun to see how everyone is changing! After that, we enjoyed a Christmas party with the Moon family. Of course, having a new baby, we were chosen to play Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus. We went to a barn to reenact the Christmas story and it sure gave us new insight into the birth of our Savior. The next day we went sledding with the four wheelers. I hope Demarie isn't traumatized forever from Mommy making her ride on the tube! We love to see family and really enjoyed our trip.

Sheldon, Marlaina, and Milin