Curly Sue

Abby doesn't have much hair. In face she's almost 15 months old and is still sporting the old man's thinning look! However as the back of her hair grows, it's coming in curly! She gets these cute little rings and it feathers up. I'm really hoping her hair is like mine where I can wear it curly or easily straighten it.

The pictures aren't the best, but you can see her little curls.

And then there is Anna. She gets a little wave in it, but for the most part it's straight.

A Much Needed Family Day Out

Every hour of the previous weekend was spent working on the basement. The kids were hold up upstairs by a gate and pretty much on their own. Okay not "on their own" per se, but they were left alone to entertain each other while we hung drywall. An occasional PB&J and chocolate milk seemed to keep them full long enough to get some work done!

Chris felt pretty guilty that he didn't get to spend any quality time with the girls, plus he was sick all week so he had very little interaction with them to begin with. So this last weekend he insisted that it be all about the kids.

Fresh cut pineapple and whipped cream for dessert!On Saturday we went to lunch at B.K. so the kids could play, then to Home Depot to price my JETTED BATHTUB and finally to Boondocks. I'd never been there before, it was actually pretty cool.

Anna kicking my butt at air hockeyAbby loved that she could run and play and climb where ever she wanted. This kid is a climber!!
Out of all the prizes to cash your tickets in on, she goes with the snake!
It was a nice weekend spent with the family.

The Basement Finish Continues

We've actually done a bit more since these pictures, but that will be another post!!

Drywall is up! Do you know how hard it is to hang drywall on the ceiling with just 2 people? Even when you McGyver little doodad's to help hold the boards up, it's still hard. I'm one of those people where I don't have a problem calling a neighbor and saying "Hey, we're hanging 2 sheets of drywall, can we borrow your husband?" Because I know there will be a time where they will need help and I'd be glad to lend a hand. Many hands make light work right? Chris on the other hand has a hard time asking people for help. I quickly named off two people (a friend & one neighbor) that I know would not hesitate to help out, because they know we're always willing to help them if they ever need. He declined and insisted we do it. Either way, I'm glad it was just two sheets!!

This is how you keep kids out of the work space!!

Next up: MUDDING!!

Pay It Forward 2011 (blog stalkers wanted!)

If you haven't visited Aunt Peg's Homemade Jewelry page, you need to!!

I'm participating in her 2011 Pay It Forward idea and this is what I was sent. How stinkin' cute is this charm necklace!

One side says Abigail, the other says Anna

Now I have to send 5 people something I've made. Which will be interesting as to what I come up with!!

If you want to be one of my 5, email me!! You in return have to send 5 people you know something you've made (or bought, which is what I might do if I can't craft together something cute!!)

**Even if you're a blog stalker, you can still particiate! That would actually make it fun! email me at ccperkins132@msn.com

Abby and the pedicure!

Well she's too young to take her a spa to get a pedicure, so we do the next best thing!!

I couldn't have asked for a better dog to have with kids. Bear absolutely LOVES the girls. She sleeps in Anna's room and night, and let's Abby crawl all over her without as much as a flinch.

Great dog!!

How can you not want to make a change after hearing this song?

I love it!

And the finish begins!

We are in the process of finishing our basement. It's been almost 3 years since we've been in this home, it's about time. But it's nothing like when we built our first home and we were on a tight deadline. Nope, this is something we can do a little here, a little there. But we are hoping to have it all ready for flooring by the end of January.

My laundry room will become an office/exercise room. The spare bedroom will be a play room. Can I just say how excited I am to NOT have toys all over the house!! Nice! The bathroom will be the last room on list since it will be the most expensive to finish. But I AM GETTING A HUGE TUB!! I don't care if it takes up the entire bathroom area, I WANT MY JETTED TUB!!

We had an electrician come in and do all of the electrical work for us. So other than plumbing/carpet, Chris and I will be doing the basement on our own. We actually kinda of enjoy doing these projects. It gives us something that we can work together to do.

Office/exercise room

I had de-cluttered "a little" before this pic.

The washer & dryer will be framed off (eventually).De-cluttered!!Work in progress!
I would like to brag that I hung all the insulation MYSELF and in one evening!

Yes, that sound you hear is me patting myself on the back.

It's tough getting old!

I turned the big 36 this year. Ugh I'm getting old!

I will say that Chris loves birthdays and always lets me get away with so much!

I had "honey-do" list that he worked on (willingly might I add!!), he let me go kid-free shopping and he took some time off work so we could be together. The holiday's were SO busy that some nights he wouldn't get home until 9pm and then have to get up at 5am and do it all over again. He works so hard to provide for us, I am so grateful to be married to such a GREAT guy.

But enough about him! This is MY birthday post! :)

On Thursday I went and got my hair cut, then we met my mom at Wasatch Running and I picked out a new pair of running shoes (so excited to get out and start running again!!), I also got a new pair of Keen river shoes and a running pouch for my iPod. After we all went to Olive Garden for dinner (gotta love that Zuppa Toscana soup!!) Great birthday indeed!!

On Friday Chris made me dinner.

Steak, potatoes, green bean and of course....

Molten Lava Dessert!!

On Saturday he offered to watch the kids so I could shopping!

I LOVE Macy's and since they were having their huge 1-day sale I took FULL ADVANTAGE!

Best of all we got to spend 4 days together as a family.

Chris got to rest and I got the outside Christmas lights taken down (thanks honey-do)!!!

It's 2011..do you know where your resolutions are?

Yep, I'm one of those suckers who believes in resolutions and actually looks forward to the strike of midnight. Call me crazy but what a great way to jump start your life, turn it around or just plain make it better. Give up old habits, vow to do better and live a happier life. There is simply something about January 1st that makes it easy to commit to change.

First, let's take a look back at 2010's resolutions:
1. Become debt free.
We did work hard on this one. However loosing my job in July and the Jeep issues really put a damper into our overall plan. However the goal remains the same, the date simply changed.
2. Become a stay-at-home-mom.
HA!! I actually did this one! Not by choice, well, by circumstance actually. I am a SAHM for the time being. We are actually okay with just Chris working, but because we have bigger goals and dreams for our family, that 2nd income would be very helpful. I'm on the job hunt but in this tough market it's taking a lot longer to find work. If it's meant to be, it will be !
3. Become healthier.
I've definitely done better at this. Always room for more improvement, but I've done better than in 2009.
4. Relax more.
Yeah I make this one every year, but with a 4yr old and 1yr old and a husband who works 12hr days, this is not always easy. I have become "calmer". Maybe that has something to do with the church teachings?
5. Read more.
Yes and no. I get into moods where I want nothing more than to cuddle up with a good book and read all day. Then I have days where the book becomes a coaster and I'm off doing other things. This one goes back on my 2011 list!!

2011 Resolutions
1. Exercise More
I really want to get back into running. I got an iPod for Christmas and already made my "running playlist" and my mom is taking me to get fitted for running shoes for my birthday. I have always loved running and was so envious when I watched my sister Steph run her first 1/2 marathon this year. I thought "next year, that will be ME!" I'm not going to commit to 13miles, but I'm definitely not going to sit on the side lines anymore!!
2. Debt Free
I feel it in my bones that 2011 will be our year. The only exception is Chris's student loan which will take more than one year to pay off. However everything else will be GONE, GONE GONE!
And what I love the most is that we are smart enough NOT to let the past (credit cards, you little devils you!) EVER put us into debt again. If we can't pay cash, we don't need it!
3. Temple Sealing
This one is a big one! In July I will have been a member of the church for a year and hopefully we can get our temple recommends, which means we will be able to get sealed as a family in the temple. If you're not LDS you might not understand what a big deal this is, but for us it's a big deal!
4. Read More.
I'm actually looking forward to this one. I think I've become WAY TOO lax on the TV with Anna and it's starting to show. I've also started a computer habit that was recently pointed out to me (does blogging count??). So I'm really limiting the amount of computer/tv time our family has. There are plenty of great books we can be reading as a family. And by setting the example, hopefully Anna will follow!
5. Attitude Overhaul!
This is a big one. It's a goal that has many areas. I'm going to be a dreamer again. I'm going to be courageous and not so fearful. I'm going to be brave. I'm going to be a fighter for my family. I'm not going to waste my time comparing myself (or my family) to anyone elses, trying to keep up with anyone or holding onto things I should be worried about. I'm going to live for what make me and my family happy. I'm going to live the life I should be living!

I hope 2011 is full of great memories and is the year of change!

Good Things in 2011

2010 has come and gone. Man that went fast!! We had our fair share of ups and downs:

• Chris got promoted twice and is rocking it in the ERAC world!
• I lost my job in June but I think I'm doing pretty good at being a stay-at-home mom.
• The Jeep cost us a small fortune with the differential issues, but it seems to be running great now AND all upgrades are complete so Moab this year should be exciting!!
• We lost Grandpa Wood and two uncles, Blair Holding and Barry Perkins.
• Chris and I took our first vacation away from the girls in April and went to Moab for the EJS. Then we returned again to Moab with the girls in September.
• I was baptised in July in the LDS church and Chris received the priesthood.
• Anna turned 4 and started preschool, and Abby turned 1 and is running all over the place.

I know there is more, lots more, but 2010 is in the past and now it's time to focus on 2011!!

New Years Eve Sledding

For New Years Eve Anna and I headed out to meet Sara and her boys for an afternoon of sledding. It was Anna's first time and she LOVED it. I was worried because both girls have had colds, but Anna seemed to bounce back fine. Abby enjoyed the afternoon at my mom's!

Anna and Thaddius Papadakis

(I must say the boys loved Anna. They kept saying "Anna ride with me. Anna I'll pull you up the hill", so she'd sit in the tubes and the boys would pull her up the hill instead of making her walk. such little gentlemen already!!Sara and Mandi

Me and SaraThis would have been a super cute picture had my eyes not been closed! But the blinding snow kinda made it hard to see the pic preview! Oh well.
We're not used to having so many boys to play with.

I think Anna kept up pretty well!

And the best thing, it was easy to spot her since the boys were all in black/grey, and she's in pink from head to toe!!