She takes after ... her sister!

This morning I exit the shower and this is what greets me...

I misplaced the markers I was using on the moving boxes and apparently Phoebe found them and decided to put on some lipstick. (OOPS!)

Funny thing is it looks pretty similar to a stunt Audra pulled about a year ago!

What pretty little ladies!

Birka Lane

I thought I should pay a little tribute before our closing day on Friday...

Good Bye house!

You have been a great home for the four of us these past three years

We will miss you and our wonderful neighbors!

Miss Anna

My younger sister Rachel and her husband Tim 

gave birth this morning to 

Anna Lee Bowman

The family is glad that she is finally here 

and the three of them are doing Great!

We can't wait to meet her in June, wish we did not have to wait so long!

American Idol here she comes (cringe)

Audra has discovered the joy of singing...

It started with singing in the car along with Dora, expanded into singing songs to Phoebe to get her to laugh, and now she sings ALL OF THE TIME.  Usually she starts singing some song from her favorite show Little Einstein's but within a few seconds it morphs into a song about what is going on around her.  (while I type she is composing a song about how dinner will not be ready on time because Mommy is on the computer - how cute...).  I have tried to catch her and videotape it but as soon as I pull out the camera she stops singing and smiles at me.  I will try to be more sneaky in the future.

Miss Abi

My younger sister Rebecca and her husband Quinn welcomed 

Abigail Anne Krehbiel

to their family on March 8th (which just happens to be the birthday of Quinn's dad and our brother-in-law Tim)

Everyone is doing great and Big sister Nora is completely in love with her new sister

Isn't she precious?

I can't wait to meet her!

Interview with Audra Finley Yoder

My friend Sara did this interview with her little girl Morgan and posted it on Facebook. I thought it was SO cute that I had to do it too (thanks for the idea Sara) and post it here as well as on my Facebook page. Enjoy!  

1.  What is something mom always says to you?

Audra, please do something you are supposed to do

2.  What makes mom happy?

when I hug you

3.  What makes mom sad?

when I hit you, it makes you cry like this - "boo hoo"

4.  How does your mom make you laugh?

when I hug you very sweet and hug Phoebe

5.  What was your mom like as a child?

I don't know, do you?

6.  How old is your mom?

398 pounds

7.  How tall is your mom?

11-09-38, right mom?

8.  What is her favorite thing to do?

play with my toys, penguin and NEMO

9.  What does your mom do when you are not around?

You be crying for me

10.  If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

for wearing yellow crocs (what she is currently wearing as she claims to be famous, RIGHT NOW!)

11.  What is your mom really good at?

sewing

12.  What is your mom not very good at?

combing my hair

13.  What does your do for her job?

work in your office

14. What is your mom's favorite food?

tomatoes

15.  What makes you proud of your mom?

when you give me big, giant, super hugs

16.  If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

a television talking cartoon - "I really want you to be that, lets do it mom"

17.  What do you and your mom do together?

play, share coffee, cook, read books

18.  How are you and your mom the same?

we are the same when we comb our hair and make ourselves beautiful

19.  How are you and your mom different?

I am so tiny and you are older

20.  How do you know your mom loves you?

that you are nice to me

21.  Where is your mom's favorite place to go?

Woodman's (the grocery store)

22.  What is mom's favorite animal?

fishies

23.  Who is mom's favorite person?

Phoebe and Audra

24.  What is mom's favorite color?

Yellow today, right?

25.  Who is mom's best friend?

Daddy - O

Not a baby anymore!!!

Ok so this story may not be blog worthy but I found it significant and decided to write it anyway. This morning while I was enjoying my coffee Phoebe came to me and said "pooh, pese".  This translates into "Mom, I would really enjoy playing with my new best friend Pooh but I can't seem to find him would you help me please".  Of course I complied, how could I resist such a sweetly worded request?  I was looking for the toy in the pile of things on the floor when a little voice behind me screamed "pooh" and hit the side of her clothes hamper.  Apparently she had dropped it in there and needed assistance getting it out.  I received a GIANT kiss for obtaining it for her - what a great reward.  

See a bit of a lame story.

It is just a small reminder of how very quickly kids grow, I was super impressed that she figured out where the toy was and came to find me to help her. (I realize that I am easily impressed when it comes to my children).  I think of my sister's new baby, not yet 24 hours old, and think wow that was me only a few short months ago (17 to be exact).  Where did the time go and who is this independent toddler pulling on my leg?   Yet, little events like today remind me to be thankful for the time I have with my children and to steal all the hugs that I can now before they are to "cool" to hug their mommy! 

Join the club!

This past weekend I traveled to Marion, Indiana to visit my younger sister Rachel and attend a baby shower in her honor. The girls and I had a fantastic time!

It was GREAT to see her and my brother-in-law Tim but in all honesty I can't wait to meet the newest little addition to the family.  Rachel and Tim are 8 months pregnant with a little girl who is scheduled to arrive on April first. YEAH!!!

Here is our spread of tasty food (diaper cake not edible).  Rachel's friend Judy was gracious and offered her home for the party.  Currently, Rachel and Tim are in the process of gutting their new house and doing multiple remodeling projects - don't worry they are living in a rental home.  It will be exciting to see the finished results when we go out to visit them this summer.  

Here is a quick shot of Rach with a gift from her co-worker friend Beka.  She is SUPER crafty and made this cute box out of a drink carrier from the gas station.  Yep, the gas station!  I will be stealing this idea for future gifts - thanks "craft master".

Uncle Tim and Auntie Rachel

While in Indiana for my sister's baby shower the girls were able to spend some quality time with their Auntie Rachel and Uncle Tim

I think Tim read this Curious George book to the girls at least 20 times.  Well maybe not every story in the book that many times but it seemed like every time I turned around he was reading to at least one of the girls.  Thanks for your patience uncle Tim! Just think of it as very good practice for the upcoming addition to your family.  

To say that Audra was in love with her aunt would be an understatement.  She was a bit infatuated with her and would let me do NOTHING all weekend.  The super cute thing was that Audra kept getting Rachel confused with her identical twin Rebecca (who could not make the trip because she is about to give birth herself).  So instead of calling Rachel by the wrong name she referred to her as "she" all weekend.  Sorry Rach!  

big friends, little friends

While in Indiana visiting my sister Rachel I had the opportunity to drive up to Goshen and get together with two of my good girlfriends from college.  Sara and her husband Dave (and their sweet girls Morgan and Adrienne) live in Goshen and were gracious enough to let all of us "invade" their house.  Leah, her husband Sam, and their super cute son Will live in Indy but were in town visiting family and Leah and Will stopped by for some fun and a little lunch. 

It was great to see old friends again (it has been way to long since our last get together - Angie's wedding the Summer of 2007).  The girls had a blast and Audra is already asking when she can go and see her "new best friend, Morgan" again.  Oh and the "slide" was a hit, we may be borrowing that idea.  

Thanks again ladies and see you this summer!!!!

Gratitude

My good friend from college Sara recently created a post on her family blog about the things she is grateful for.  She sited another college friends blog and that woman's intention to express gratitude every day for a year.  I was touched by this concept and have chosen to create a space on this blog documenting the things I am grateful for (in the sidebar starting March 1st). I hope that in an attempt to appreciate the blessings in my life I will learn to focus on all of the things I have to be thankful for instead what brings me sadness, regret, and pain. 

New sister

Yesterday Phoebe was being a stinker.  She recently discovered the word "NO" and enjoys using it whenever she can.  Audra and I were trying to get Phoebe to give us kisses and of course she was running away and screaming No, No, No.  So Audra turns to me and says, "Mom, maybe we should trade her in for a new baby".  Ah sisterly love...

In training...

We switched it up this week and took Audra to Friday night skate (Ben will be on call on Sunday).  Although I did not get any pictures of Audra and her friend Noah on the ice I was able to snap a few pictures of Phoebe "testing out" the skating bars.

Poor girl wants to skate so bad she was ready to do it on her own yesterday.  She loves to go on the ice with Ben and will yell at him and pound on the glass whenever he skates by.

I thought she might be too young next year but she seems really interested so we will be "introducing" her to the ice next fall in St. Louis.   Audra thinks that I am going to teach her to skate as "daddy will be too busy with me".  We will see...

Productive Time Out

Audra was having a difficult time this afternoon so she was sent to her room for a Time Out.

This is how she emerged from her room when called to dinner...

Apparently she decided a her Time Out would best be spent accessorizing her outfit, FANCY!

(Yes, she is wearing a belt with leggings)

Before and After...

I usually post about the girls (face it they are more interesting) but I decided to change it up a bit and post about myself

So it has been a while since my last hair cut, 6 months to be exact.  

Thus, my hair was a "hot mess" and in need of a little attention

Today I visited my favorite stylist (who I will dearly miss) and here are her results

I am super happy with my new look

Strangely it looks exactly the same as the way I had my hair before I cut it all off and dyed it red, perhaps I should never have changed it...