You know, when Luke and I were married 5 years ago, I told him I wanted to be a business woman and yeah, I wanted kids but didn't want to stay home with them because I wanted a career too. As soon as I was pregnant I knew that is not what I wanted! I had found my passion in photography, had started my business full-time the year I was pregnant with Emmagail and although it grew tremendously I just couldn't imagine having a "real" day job..haha! Emmagail had an amazing and unreal birth story, one I'll share here someday when I have the time to sit and write it all..and as soon as I was home with her, I just couldn't imagine doing anything but taking care of her every day. I still find it hard to find a good balance between doing what I am passionate about and taking care of my girls, but I do know that they have changed my life in so many ways and they are making me love living every day. If it weren't for them and my wonderful husband I don't know what my life would be like. Getting awakened by a sweet kiss and "I love you momma" or watching them discover new things...as simple as it seems these are the things I get up for every morning..that's what this blog is all about..my simple life. My minivan driving, gift knitting, scrapbooking, house cleaning, music playing, photograph taking, blog making, dr. pepper addicted life. :)
Poor Ella..has been sick for two weeks now..we’ve made 5 trips to the doctor or tests since it began. Found out yesterday she now has an ear infection and acute whooping cough. My poor girl..these I took on the way home last week from one of her appointments..I couldn’t resist..she looks so sweet.
We’ve all been ill this week..ALL of us..SO, just a “mini” version of the one liners for this week….
Acting like she’s using her “powers” (Lava Girl Powers, that is) on Luke..Luke did it back and she said “Your powers weaken me.” then Ella starts running towards Emmagail acting like she has powers while using sound effects too. haha!
“AHA! I know just what I need.”
She wanted to walk on the tredmill and after about two minutes she says, “that’s enough now..that’s enough NOW!”
“I want my OWN band! wih you, and baby wella and dadda..and my friends, RYLAN AND DYLAN!”
Wanting to watch The Fox and the Hound and said “I could watch this movie a HUNDRED times!”
She was climbing on me and i told her “I dont’ feel well, I’m sick too” and she said “let me feel your head. Well,…you feel fine to me.”
Emmagail has been tough to photograph going on about a year now..I attempted some new shots of her last weekend. As frustrating as it was at the time, I think I captured how she is right now..full of fire. HA! She did all the posing herself..the 2nd one especially cracks me up!
With Molly, my Mom and Dad’s Dog…
Ella finally had her party on Saturday, we’re all sick here now, but luckily the worst held off until now so we could get her party in. She LOVED her cupcake.
Emmagail had the chance to go to a Princess Party that the Parks & Rec Department here did, SHE LOVED IT! Although you can barely tell from the pictures my mom took. HAHAHAHAHA! I had to take Ella to the urgent care that day because she had such a high fever, and as luck would have it, by the time we got there her fever broke and never came back. It was day number 4 of such a high fever. Anywho, I was bummed I couldn’t go to the princess party because Emmagail doesn’t get the chance to do many things like this. Luckily my Mom and sister were around and took her. I heard MANY stories of all the activities they did. My favorite, they were dancing with tulle to use as “ribbons”, they were supposed to twirl them. HOWEVER, my child..ah yes, my child was the ONLY one who put hers on her head and danced around to her own “tune.” HAHA! I do have a video of some of the dancing I’ll try to post, but for now here are some pictures from the party. For some reason Emmagail has a little issue with facial expressions. She looks so in pain or bored in some of her shots. HAHA! Oh well..makes for good entertainment for the blog, right?! ENJOY.
Emmagail with her Auntie Sheridan, one of my two best friends.
Emmagail with my sister Ashley..again with the odd faces..hahaha..
They painted her nails..here she is with my mom.
Made bags to put their creations in..
Played pin the lips on the frog..or as my mom would describe, “you know, like pin the monkey on the donkey.” HA! Perhaps I will start a new segment of my mom’s one liners, because that one about made me pee in my pants a little bit. HAHAHA!
With Cinderella..
Please Emmagail, tell us how you really feel…
I can’t wait for her to meet new friends here..look how happy she is that she is around other princesses..
THIS, I doubt will help her make friends. HAHAHAHA! I sure hope I’m raising a trendsetter rather than an “odd” child. Yes, I’ll stick with she’s a trendsetter, but can you imagine this poor lady..”excuse me little girl, *AHEM*, can we use that as something other than a veil of mourning.” HA!
Ahh..now she’s got it…
Making a “magic mirror” ..
With Belle..pretty sure she is seizing in this picture..
Painting her suncatcher..
Making a crown with Ariel..
With her favorite princess, obviously she can smile nicely.
Ah, yes, that’s my child..the one that looks LESS than thrilled to meet “Sleeping Beauty.” More to come about this party later..for now..some funny things that she has said in the last week..
i was trying to get emmagail to go clean her room and i said if you go clean your room like a big girl you can have a snack..
she said “okay i want TWO..i want a cookie, wonderpets snacks, and chocolate chips.” hahaha
“Boom Baby!” Thank you Emperor’s New Groove.
I told Emmagail to go to her room to play, she said, “do you mean go Princess??” Why YES, whatever it takes..hahaha!
she had BAD breathe one morning..haha..so i told her that she has bad morning breathe and she said “Baby Ella wants to see my morning breathe!” Now, she’s convinced bad breath is her special power! HA!
emmagail is all into adventurers etc. and now she says she needs a lava girl shirt and purple hair.
it was on tv and i recorded it not knowing what it was but thinking she might watch it and now she’s obsessed..she’s running up and down the hall saying “i must get power!” hahahhaa
Emmagail was trying to sing for me she said “I saw Alladin a bunch of times so I can sing it. *AHEM* (clears her throat) “hmmm…can you turn around
so I can sing it?” I said sure, you can’t sing it with me watching you? “No. Maybe I’ll do a ballerina Dance. ‘Cause that’s what ballerinas do.” She stands on one leg, looses her balance
and falls to the floor and then says, “Maybe not.”
“One of these days, i’ll get bigger.”
“I got boogers. I wish they’d go away.”
“I can’t, ’cause I’m a little shy.”
“Do you have Juice and Casaditas?” At the Mexican Restaurant to the waiter.
“You’re a Fat one, Mr. Grinch…” Singing ..saying Fat instead of Foul one..
“Momma do you have to poop or anything?” RANDOM!
Emmagail had an accident in her pants..and she said ‘WHY did my pee come out?! I have to put my pee in the toilet so the fishes can eat it” hahahahaha This is a long story about how we finally got her to “go number 2″ in the potty. haha!
emmagail told mom..like she was a cheerleader..haha.. “Give me a BIIIIGGGG GROOOOWWWWLLL!!” “Now give me a little growl…” hahahhaha
Emmagail wouldn’t stop singing loudly and luke asked her to be quiet so he can watch tv and she said “I got lots of songs in my mouth!’
“Bath..CHECK! Change Ella’s diaper…CHECK! My Dad gets home soon…CHECK! ’cause I miss him!” All while pointing to a finger each time like she has her own check list.
watching house hunters and they were showing a $725k house. hahaa..Emmagail was saying, “OH that’d be a good office for momma, that’d be good for us, that’d be my room, I’d like that pond (it was a pool..hahaha!)”
“Baby Ella thinks I stink.” Why do you say that? “Because everyone stinks, I think my friend toots.”
emmagail found a curly straw and wanted to use it and i said , no not tonight maybe tomorrow and she said “OH MOM give me a CHANCE! JUST ONCE!”
“Let’s all just take a deep breathe.”
laying in bed,trying to get them to sleep.. “let’s all just close our eyes.”
“I’m just teasin’ momma, I’m just teasin’”
Going to Sonic, “OH NOT this place again!”
Wanting fruit snacks, “just this one momma, just one, that’s it, come on momma.”
“WHEW! that was CLOSE, I almost peed on the floor!”
“but I don’t want Sheridan to go, I’ll MISS HER!”
Conversation between Emmagail and my sister as they are trying to get the carseat into Ashley’s vehicle.
Emmagail looks at the mess in the truck, “Are you gonna clean this out first?!” Ashley,”No, we gotta get going, just get up here until I get the carseat in.” Ashley is trying to figure it out and Emmagail says, “Do you know what you are doin’?”
Ashley says, “No, I really don’t” She’s reading the instructions. Emmagail says, “Let ME read that!” HAHAHAHAHA!
she’s watching me work and saying what does that say and i said Company name and she said “no it says they never have to clean their messes again. ” (she didn’t want to clean up her toys.)
And, I have to share a few sweet pictures from close to Valentines’ Day..
Well, it’s been a year folks. Can’t believe it, but it has. Ella’s first year has not been without drama..haha..as both of my girls LOVE to prove that life is way more exciting when they have accidents or get sick etc. She spent her first birthday sick..poor girl. Finally on the mend, I hope. She walked at 9 months, is talking some saying “Go” “Mama” “Dad” “Pa” (for Papa–my dad) “ball” and “bath” , she’s ornery and has quite a large personality although at first she seems very introverted and observant. She is starting to look like her Daddy more, I think, and can definitely hold her own against her sister. I can already see how their relationship will play out in the coming years..hahaha! We are enjoying her right now, that’s for sure! Although I’m in no hurry to add to our family, I’m wishing the last year hadn’t gone so fast..Emmagail and Ella have grown SO much since last year at this time.
Ella at two weeks…
A couple days before her 1st Birthday..
Notice the progression here..I get one cute shot with the bow..
She gives me the “Okay Mom, you got your one shot..I hate this thing” look.
Attempts to take care of the bow once and for all..
SUCCESS!
Happy Late Birthday to my baby girl..Mommy has been busy nursing you back to health so I hope you understand the late post. 
Took the kids to Chuck E. Cheese a few weekends ago..first time, it was fun and of course I forgot my camera in the car!! I know..bad momma. haha! We settled for a couple of shots from the sketch machine…
I had very good intentions of sharing some of these sooner, but life has gotten the best of me lately..SO..finally..here are a few of my favorite snack recipes..
Chocolate Puffcorn.
You’ll need these items, a microwave safe bowl..and a microwave.
Melt the chocolate in the bowl, in the microwave *AHEM* am I being too detailed? I’m sorry.
After it’s melted, but NOT BURNED..watch it closely, Stir in the puffcorn. Once it’s covered well with chocolate, spread gently onto wax paper or tin foil, let dry and ENJOY! This was close to valentines’ day so we did add sprinkles and a bit of food coloring..
Martz Sugar Cookies.
1c. Margarine, 1c. Sugar, 2 Eggs, 1Tbsp. Milk, 1Tbsp. Baking Powder, 3c. Flour
Cream together softened margarine, sugar, eggs, milk and baking powder. Add flour, mixing well. Chill dough in regfrigerator for 10-15 minutes. Roll out on floured surface and cut into desired shape with cookie cutters or place on cookie sheet as drop cookies. Bake in 350 degree oven until lightly browned around edges. You can frost these or put white (or in this case pink) chocolate on the top.
My very own Salsa..
Fresh Cilantro..I like to use one bushel of it..bushel meaning the way the store packages it. Of course, I LOVE fresh cilantro.
1 can of petite diced tomatoes
1/2 a white onion or red..whichever you prefer
1 can of rotel or diced chiles
1/2 cup of sugar
Chop Cilantro finely..better than I did here of course..hahahaha! Mix everything together, and you’ll love it!
My mom’s cheeseball..
You’ll need these items:
For a Large cheeseball..2 small or one large jar of pimentos, one bag of bacon bits, 2 packages of cream cheese, 3 green onions, and a few shakes of garlic salt. Mix all together, I like to wash, then use my hands. HA! Form into a nice pretty ball, or if you are like us and never have company, just leave it..it’ll be eaten soon enough anyways! 
We like ours with crackers, but you could use a variety of things to accompany it.
Green Beans Sauteed in Garlic and Butter.
One of my favorite recent additions to some of our Dinners, I love the version at most chinese restaurants, this one is my own so it’s a little different than those, but good..
I use fresh green beans, or frozen whole ones. I can get them at Sam’s in a large bag frozen and they taste great!
I throw in a few hand fulls of green beans into a skillet with butter..maybe 1-2 tablespoons. I’m sorry I’m not good with giving measurements..my mother never measures anything, therefore, I rarely do. Throw in 1-2 teaspoons of minced garlic..to taste, sautee for a bit, depending on how crispy you like them. Salt and Consume. MMMMM!
We have had so much snow this winter..I don’t think I can remember a winter like this..and one day when the flakes were absolutely huge and gorgeous we went out for a few minutes to play..this was Ella’s first time to play in the snow..
by Amy
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