OZ!

Erin and I "kidnapped" my niece Tabby yesterday for her 8th bday (which is actually next week) and took her to see OZ at The Mesa Arts Center. She had no idea we were coming (Erin knew all week long and never spilled the beans, so props to her!!) When we got to Tabby's house we blindfolded her and we were off. We didn't tell her what we were doing until it was almost time to go in the theatre.

This is them with their tickets right after she found out. I hadn't been to the new Arts Center since they built it...wow! They have done such a fabulous job...if you haven't gone to see something there yet, I highly reccomend it. East Valley Children's Theatre (where I used to Direct) did the show, and they also did a wonderful job. The girls loved it. They are both into theatre, so they were like kids in a candy store! After the show the girls got to meet the cast:

Tabby and Erin with Dorothy

The Cowardly Lion (who was hilarious, btw...that's why Erin's smiling so big...he had her in stitches)

The girls with the Tin Man...who did a fabulous job with the movement (rusted to not rusted...I was impressed!)

Erin with her favortie: Glenda the Good Witch...she LOVED her!

By the time they met one of the monkeys they were a little bit more at ease and playful with meeting all of the characters...so they had alot of fun joking around. Tabby grabbed his tail and wouldn't let go...but the monkey had to go backstage eventually and get his fill of peanut shells before the next performance. Then I asked Tab where she wanted to go for a treat to celebrate and out of all of her options (including The Cheesecake Factory) she picked Wendys! LOL!! I love kids! They got Jr. Frostys, which they had never had and they loved them! It was so much fun to have an "older girls" day out, and Tiff told me that Tabby has been singing all of the songs since she got home! Two more weeks Tab and it's Baptism time!!

Nap Time

So, I was exhausted yesterday and I thought I would take advantage of Kelly's nap time to take a rest of my own. Erin was watching a show so I had about 25 min. or so. When I got up about 30 min. later this is what I found:
She was passed out! I tried for over 20 min. to wake her up and she wouldn't budge. The funniest thing was when Kelly woke up and tried to crawl in there with her. Then, she tried to grab her shirt and pull her out, and when neither of those worked she (obviously knowing Erin's love for Aurora) tried to wake her with a kiss.

It cracked us up, so I thought I'd share! :)

The Answers

OK- here we go. If you haven't played Guess That Garner and you want to, don't look...just scroll past this post! I know it's crazy, but the only picture that is Kelly is #3!!! Look at #5 and #3.....they look like they are the same kid! It's the coolest thing ever to me. My sis and I have always wished that we looked more alike, and I love the idea that people will be able to look at my kids and say "yup, there's a Garner!"

Guess That Garner

It's time to play everyone's favorite game show: Guess That Garner!! Since the moment Kelly was born all we have heard is how much she looks like Erin....some pics (not these...I picked new ones) have fooled friends, grandparents, and even us!! Can YOU tell which is which? (.....And Kelly does take a binky now for those of you who think you could tell that way.....in fact, we bought her the exact ones that Erin had......tricky!!) I actually think these pics are not as close as some of the other ones we have....but the others had "dead giveaway" hints in them (like a 4 yr. old, or it being Christmas time) :) Good Luck! I'll post the answers in a few days.

#1
#2
#3
#4
#5

TAGGED!!

I was tagged by Suzanne on Monday...but I didn't even see it until today (and only because my sis told me it was on there! Go Tiff!!)



How To Play This Game of Tag:

Post these rules on your blog. Answer these 15 questions about yourself on your blog. List:
3 joys
3 fears
3 goals
3 current obsessions/collections
3 random/surprising facts
-Tag five people at the end of your post by leaving their names .-Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

I'll probably change my mind as soon as I post (see random facts #2), but here are my answers for now:
3 Joys:
1. My family. I really could break this down to be all three of my joys and go into detail for each of them. (But then that would seem like cheating, a little) They are so loving and supportive of me as a wife/mom. Jim is seriously the best hubby around (ok, so I'm a little partial), and Erin is filled with such spunk, 5 or 6 moms came up to me after her dance recital to tell me that they were rolling in the aisles from her cute antics/stage presence. And Kelly is the happiest baby alive...we've seriously never seen a kid be so happy to see ANYONE (unless, of course it's nap time)
2. My sister. Tiff quit teaching a couple of years ago, and it was the best decision she ever made in my life!! HEEHEE But seriously, I don't know what I would do without her, and now that we live closer to each other, we are able to be there for each other and for each other's kids 24/7 and it ROCKS!!! She's the COOLEST sister or best friend that anyone could ever have! I love ya babe!
3. Massages. (of any kind..in any way, shape or form) Of course my favorite is a professional one, but I find most nights I'm asking Jimmy to rub my shouders/ back while we watch TV (and he does it....alot of times he volunteers before I ask! I told you he was awesome!)

Fears:
1. Something happening to the girls/Jim when they aren't with me
2. I've always been afraid of someone breaking into my house (from elementary school on up!) Oh, I could go on for hours about fears! :)
3. That our lives won't ever slow down. This past month has been complete chaos (hence me not blogging) and the next month doesn't look much better, and then it's back to work/school. I just want time to work on goal #1 (before I get old, or pregnant, or whatever could keep me from it! hehehe)

Goals:
1. To get my house cleaned and organized the way I want it. When we moved into this house, I was on bedrest so I didn't get everything unpacked and put away (our families came over and helped us get all of the necessities, thank goodness!!!) but yes, there are still boxes a year later that have not been unpacked. When I was taken off of bedrest, I had Kelly who is such a sweetie, but who up until about a month and a half ago did not take a nap unless it was in mommy's arms (nine months, in case you're trying to do the math)...not a single nap in her crib....so needless to say I haven't gotten much done this last year!
2. To start working out!! I need to tone, I need the endorphins, and all of the "cool kids" I know are doing it! :)
3. To start scrapbooking. I never even started Erin's, and now I need to do Kelly's as well....while I can still tell who's who!!!!

Current obsessions/collections:
1. The Twilight Series....for those of you who have read them....enough said! I plan on re-reading them soon so I'm ready in August when the new one comes out. (on Kelly's Bday btw....what a nice way to unwind from a party!)
2. Disneyland. It's always a current obsession....and has been since I was little...I can never get enough...we haven't been since Erin was 2 and Jim and I keep joking that I need "the fix", but it's true. It's the happiest place on earth and I'm an addict!
3. Dating my hubby....going out to dinner or staying in and making pizza and watching a movie, or anything in between....we love spending time together and we start to get cranky if we don't have at least one night a week that we dedicate to it.

Random/Surprising Facts:
1. Nursing is a struggle for me. I enjoy it very much....and I enjoy knowing that I am helping my kiddos, but because of some of the challenges that I have had the last couple of months, I basically re-commit myself to it everyday. It has been especially hard with Kelly, and for the last 2 months I have had many people (myself included) who thought it would be best for me to just stop....but here I am... she's 10 1/2 months and we're still going. I don't know what will happen tom. (I'll keep you posted) but for now I am doing everything in my power to stick to it.
2. I am an extremely indecisive person (should I write something else here? Is that what I should say? heehee) I stood in Fresh and Easy the other day for 20 min. trying to decide what cake to get for my brother-in-law's bday! It was like I was working for NASA or something! :)
3. I was in my first play when I was 3 years old.......and the drama never stopped! :)

I tag Amy, Crystal, MaChel, Stephanie, and Katie

Look soon for posts....I promise I'll get it together soon! :)

Raspberries Anyone?

So, you might ask yourself, "why does this baby have smashed raspberries all over herself and her high chair?" Well, I'll give you two guesses...but I bet you'll only need one.........
here's the cutest culprit I've ever seen
"hey, look mom....Erin gave me raspberries!!!" Now in Erin's defense....she had just seen me feed Kelly a raspberry (a whole one, mind you) and normally we break things into small pieces for Kelly to eat....so she was seriously being an awesome big sis....and what do you say to that except, "Thank you sweetheart!"..............I'm just thankful for the foresight to put her in something that wouldn't show stains! heehee

Bye Bye Guido!!

So Guido (Jim's Truck) is no more. The two of them were in an accident last Monday, and although Jim is fine, we just got the call that Guido didn't make it. Really? You mean they didn't want to spend $4,000-5,000 to fix THIS?
It really doesn't look that bad...but this thing was a tank....for it to have even a scratch on it, I told Jim that they had to have hit each other pretty hard
I think I speak for all of our neighbors when I say, "thanks State Farm!" ...........Umm...so, does anyone have a truck they want to sell us? LOL!

Who needs baby toys?

So can someone (apparently much smarter than me) tell me why I took up space in a storage unit, my mother's garage, and now my garage for 4 YEARS keeping all of the cute baby toys that were in existence when Erin was born so that my new precious baby could play with them....only to find out that 2nd babies don't want baby toys.....they want big sister's toys???!!!!!! Shouldn't someone have warned me about this? Stacking rings?....no thanks mom....I've got Erin's kitty tunnel!
"Uh-Oh...I've been made........quick.... flash her a huge toothy grin and she'll put down the camera and play with me" .......

Who can resist that?????

It's all about the love

So, we here at the Garner household feel that it's all about the love. We feel the love from those of you wanting us to start a blog. (here it is, by the way...as if you couldn't figure that out. hehehe) I suppose peer pressure can be a good thing! :)

We feel the love that we have for our girls...

And the love that they have for each other. Could they be any cuter?
And the love we have for Family. My Uncle John was here for 2 days from Tokyo. He was staying at my Grandma's house, and so we got to spend part of the day visiting and catching up. It was his first time seeing Kelly. I love seeing him-- He has the best sense of humor, and always keeps us laughing...and Jim and I are always grateful for another reason to laugh...especially when it's not at each other! :)
Kelly has a love of grass apparently. Have you ever tried to get an 8 month old to stay on a picnic blanket?
And a LOVE of any food she can feed herself....or anything that she thinks she can pass for food. Baby thoughts: "hey, if I keep chewing this ("this" being a carpet fiber, piece of paper, or sister's barbie shoe, etc.) then Mom will think that I have real food and won't try to take it away from me! Ummm...No, but thanks for playing!
and Erin has a love of climbing trees....and being social. We weren't at the park for more than 5 minutes today, and she already had a group of kids following her around waiting for "direction"....which of course she was more than happy to give! :) Her favorite thing to do is act out plays that she makes up....can you tell she's my daughter or what?

Jim and I? Well, we have a love of hanging out and watching T.V...after the kids are in bed and we can just chill...(isn't it sad that that actually becomes a hobby after you have kids?)

And we LOVE to sneak into their rooms at night and watch them sleep...it gives us strength for the next day....dang cute kids! We love 'em.