Snow Wave

I just got a Google Wave account and was watching a video on it and saw that I could blog from a wave, so I thought that I would try it out. Yesterday Philadelphia got snow and they do not handle it very well (which is really suprising because before moving here I thought it snowed a lot during the winter, guess not). We still went out so we got to see how things shut down. Almost all of the roads that we were on had not been plowed. And none of the plows we saw as we were driving around were actually using their plow on the road. So lucky for us the Tiguan handled nicely, because there were a lot of other cars skidding all around and others that were stuck in snow banks.

We first went out to do some last minute shopping. This is what happens when Hallee finds a mirror in the stores:

After shopping we decided to go to Qdoba because they had a promotion, kids eat free. Because of the conditions it took forever to get anywhere (we were usually going between 20-30 mph the whole time), so when we got there we were ready to eat. Qdoba was in a shopping center and the parking lot was pretty bare. We discovered the reason was not just because people weren't driving because of the snow . . . the shops were closed too! Qdoba was closed so we drove past Five Guys, also closed. We saw a Chili's across the parking lot that we drove to . . . closed. We ended up finding an Olive Garden that was open, but by the time we left they had closed early too.

On the way home we passed a car that signaled us down so we stopped to help out. After a lot of pushing, mud flung all over me, and a soaked shoe and leg from stepping in an icy puddle the car was still stuck. They ended up calling for a tow to help them out. Anyways we made it home safely and even though Philadelphia was a mess it was a fun little adventure to be out in the thick of it.

Before we went to bed we captured this video of Maddie. Brushing her teeth tickles her!

Well I was unsuccessful in posting the blog from the wave . . . there are still some bugs and I couldn't get the Bloggy robot to work (Does that mean anything to anybody? It wouldn't have to me before about an hour ago).

I am so proud

I am pleased to say that after tomorrow at 12:30 pm Kyle will have finished his first semester of Law school! I am really so proud of him for making this decision and working so hard and still finding a way to balance his schooling with lots of family time and church responsibilities. I love my honey so much! Thanks for being so wonderful! 1 down, 5 to go!!!

He's also a really good daddy!

StellaPearl

Recently we were sent some hair accessories from StellaPearl (click here to see more hair accessories from StellaPearl) in exchange for some pictures of our girls wearing the hair clips. I had a blast with this and would invite anyone who would like to do an exchange for pictures to let me know. And if it is kid's stuff that needs advertising, we have two adorable little models!

Here is a recap from Halloween to now.

Maddie's birthday party #1 with Grandma Baillio visiting!

Maddie's first pigtails:

Brad and Celeste came to visit, and we went to the Children's Museum:

Maddie's birthday party #2 with friends (yes I did make the 1 cake, and yes I am proud of it):

For those that were wondering, here is an idea of what my apartment looks like

*disclaimer- all the fuzzy ones were taken with a phone....nothing to do with Kyle's photography skills. :)

So, mixed in there was my birthday, which I had a nice little date night without the kids, dinner and shopping. Got some fun things. Now I am 26. :)

There ya go....a photo story of the past month. If you just mix in a lot of snot and a little coughing, and some pretty nice weather for November, that's about it.

Which Family Should Be Mine?

Brad, Celeste, and their kids came up to visit us for Maddie's one year birthday and while they were up here Celeste took our family pictures and I took theirs. I'm glad we both got some good shots since we were doing it in between getting ready for Maddie's party and time was not something we had a lot of. Celeste did a great job in taking our pictures and we have chosen the one we want to use. But as I was doing some post edits on the picture there were two styles I really liked--one a more vintage look and the other a more vibrant look. So I thought I would put them on the blog and ask for you to tell me which you like more. Thanks again to Celeste!

You can also check out Brad and Celeste's family pics on the blog at my photography site.

Family, Halloween, Bday, Bday, and probably thanksgiving....all to come!

So....sometimes I get so behind on the blog that I start to feel overwhelmed, and then I slack more and more. I'm not sure how to remedy this. I guess part of it is waiting to get pictures uploaded...which, I am still waiting for. AND I was going to leave you with a picture of Hallee, but Blogger wont let me upload right now.....So, I will say a few things about my cute family.

1. Hallee is potty trained. I am still in awe and wonder and excitement and joy. You have no idea how much I am grateful for 1 less poopy diaper to change every day. no idea.

2. Maddie is 1! Holy moly. I can't believe that she has been with us for a year. Time goes by way too fast. She just had her 1 year appt and she is 50th % for height, 75th% for weight, and 98th% for head size. Yay! She is big and healthy. And the whole big head thing was expected because her sister has one too. :)

3. I am happy. I love my little family so much. My husband couldn't be better to me. My kids couldn't be sweeter and cuter and more fun than they are. Tonight I played with playdough with Hallee right before bed, and when she came over to kiss me goodnight, she said, "thanks for playing gloop with me." How sweet is that? Goodness.

Hallee and Maddie love each other so much. It makes me so happy. Granted Maddie has some issues with things being taken away from her because of Hallee's tendencies to do just that. Here are some things that I need to document so they can be reminded down the road just how much they loved each other.

- They genuinely love giving each other hugs and kisses, especially right after one of them wakes up from a nap. It's like they missed each other during that time.

- Hallee sometimes protests when I need to go put Maddie down for a nap, or put her to bed at night, because she wants to play with her.

- One day, Hallee taught Maddie how to say ooooo, and they sat there for probably 15 minutes saying ooooo to each other and laughing about it.

- Maddie is always watching Hallee. She definitely looks up to her.

- Hallee calls Maddie "my maddie" rather than my sister, or just maddie.

- One day when I was driving home with the girls, Maddie was crying a lot, and her binkie fell over the side, which I couldn't reach, and I just couldn't console her. I was saying things like, it's ok maddie, you're ok, and so on, and Hallee started chiming in to help. Finally when it kinda got quiet, Hallee goes, "I'm sorry Maddie, don't cry maddie, it's ok, don't cry. Mommy can't reach your pacifier right now. We are almost home. We will be home soon. It's ok maddie." It was seriously the sweetest thing I have heard from a child. I got teary eyed listening to her say it that way. She genuinely cared and wanted to help Maddie stop crying.

So...there is some living proof. They really do love each other.

Ok, a picture story from the last month...to come....

compare

And here is maddie!

Time flies

This was Hallee when she was Maddie's age almost exactly. I need to upload a picture of Maddie so you can really see the difference, or similarity, but here is shot #1.

Wasn't she adorable? My baby is so big now! All potty trained and everything!

This week was.....exhausting.

I apologize for not posting on the blog as much as usual. I think I post updates on my facebook so much that it almost feels like I'm blogging...it's just so easy to when it's right there on your phone. I will try better though.

So.....recap of the week.

Monday - I went to the ER. Not because of any emergency, but because I don't have a doctor yet, and I was having a little problem, and I was advised to go to the ER, because otherwise I wouldn't be seen for weeks. And, of course, when I got in the ER, they treated me like I was dumb, and didn't know what I was talking about, and shouldn't have gone to the ER in the first place. So, overall, a VERY pointless experience.

Tuesday - Still a little flustered from Monday. Maddie is sick. Did get to watch Biggest Loser though. :) Also I forgot to go to an appointment I had made for that day. Frustrating.

Wednesday - Excited because an old friend from San Antonio, Elise Cannon, came to visit!! She had a business meeting in Philly, and she came down from Connecticut, and stayed the night at our house! Had another little visitor...we really like having people visit us, so I won't go into detail on that one. :)

Thursday - We went and saw the Liberty Bell with Elise!!

Very fun! Very interesting piece of history. We didn't get much time to look at everything around the Bell, because it all closed. But that's ok. It was really great to catch up and talk to an old friend though. Kinda made me miss San Antonio. We also went to Gino's, a popular place to get Philly cheesesteaks.

Thanks for visiting Elise!

Friday - Bad day....remember how I said Maddie was sick? She actually got sick the previous Friday. It finally passed on to me. Regardless, Friday night is date night, so we dropped Hallee off at date group and took Maddie with us to dinner and to walk around the mall. While we were at dinner though, I got a phone call from my dad...my grandma (my mom's mom) had just passed away. And we are sitting in the middle of Applebees. And I was pretty close to Grandma Redd back when I lived in Texas. She used to take me shopping almost every time we would go up to visit her. And my mom used to take me and my friends to her house to spend the night when I was little, even though she lived in Austin, 1 1/2 hour drive away. It was just fun to be there. I remember lots of Christmases and Thanksgivings spent at their house. I am really going to miss her. Even though I haven't seen her much since I moved away, I always knew she cared and loved us, and the memories have always been there. And so that's what I have left of her. A few weeks ago when I found out she was sick with cancer, I sent her a card expressing my love and appreciation for her. And just last week they told her that she had 3 months to live, but it cut short to 3 days. I am so glad I sent that card when I did, because if I hadn't, she may not have ever known how I feel about her as my grandma.....

ok, so back at Applebees...it was a pretty emotional phone call, and needless to say, slightly embarrassing crying in front of lots of people. So...then we get home for the night, and I feel kinda dizzy, slightly nauseous, hot/cold at the same time. So I went to bed.

Saturday - Megan gets the Flu. Sweet. Good thing it's on a Saturday so Kyle can watch the kids. It's one of those, my whole body hurts, my skin is burning but I am freezing, congested, dizzy types of the flu.

Sunday - Maddie gets worse, Kyle starts to get sick, Megan is on the uphill.

Today - Hallee, after staying healthy and strong through all of this, starting to get a fever....sad day. I am doing ok now, so I can do my motherly/wifely duties again. Now it's my job to get everyone else better by the time Grandma Baillio (my mom) comes on Thursday!

What a week.

It would have been 100% rotten if it hadn't been highlighted by a fun visit from a friend!

Let's pray this week goes better.

D.C. Temple Trip

I had one of the best days yesterday. Our ward had a temple trip to the Washington D.C. Temple. I have always wanted to go to the D.C. Temple so I was very excited for this trip. I hadn't been to a temple in a while and I forgot how rejuvenating it is. There is power in temple attendance and I didn't realize what a significant difference it can make in my life until the end of the day.
Going to the temple is always better when shared with my beautiful wife. She is the most gorgeous person I know, inside and out. Here are some more stunning pics.

After the session we met up with Brad and Celeste, who were watching our girls. I got to play with Hallee and Brooklyn on the Temple lawn before we left. We found a grasshopper and Hallee was not shy.

Since we were in D.C. we figured we might as well take advantage of it and we went to the Mall. We went to a couple of the Smithsonian Museums while we were there, the American History and Natural History museums. Megan had her eye on the Hope Diamond in the Natural History Museum. While walking in between the museums we passed some street performers. I gave Hallee a dollar to give to one of them who was playing "drums"--he was using paint buckets and a shopping cart for his symbol. This is Hallee playing along with him.

I had a blast with the family, but mostly because I had blast with Hallee. We had so much fun in the museums and her excitement for the exhibits was contagious. At one of the exhibits there were mannequins and one had his mouth open showing his teeth. I went up to him and pretended he bit me. My partner in crime had my back. Hallee went up to him and said with a scowl, "Don't bite," as she smacked him. What a friend. As we were walking back to the car I said, "Hallee I had such a fun day with you. Thank you." She looked up at me and said, "You're welcome daddy." The fact that I'm here "daddy" makes me the happiest man in the world.

When we were leaving the Mall the sun was setting and it was a picturesque ending to a great day. On the ride back to Brad and Celeste's home I realized how attending the Temple had the power to change me. This whole week I have been hating myself for how hard I am on Hallee. I keep recommitting to have more patience with her the next day but sure enough I would fail day after day. I expected more than I should of from a two-year old and I didn't have the power to change this on my own, even though I desperately wanted to. But two hours at the Temple changed me and I felt more deserving when I heard the sweat little voice call me "daddy."

Mommy moment

I love this picture because of Hallee's big smile!

Yesterday, as I was making lunch for the girls, Hallee came up to me, gave me a big hug around my legs, and said, "you're my best friend EVER!" That was a great moment to be a mommy!

CocoaDreams Aprons GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

CocoaDreams Aprons Gift Card GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

This apron is really really cute! I've never owned one, but I have always wanted one, so I don't have to change in to scrubby clothes to go cook dinner! Check out how cute they are! And hope I win!!

Birthday shoutout

So, today being Annjilla's birthday, I was thinking about all the people/friends/family that have birthdays in September, so I thought I would give them a shout out! And a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Even though some have already passed....better late than never right??? :)

Sarah - what up girrrl? Hope your birthday a couple weeks ago was spectacular! From what I hear it was! Sorry we couldn't be closer to celebrate with you.

Blade - oh little one, I can't believe you're one! I wish I could be around you more to watch you grow up! Holy cow! One! Maybe your mommy can pinch your cute cheeks for me. ;)

Annjilla - Happy Birthday TODAY!!! I hope you could enjoy the day, have fun, and party a little. :) We really miss you guys a lot! You had been the closest family to us for a long time.

Valbees - I know your birthday isn't for a few days, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY coming up! I miss you so much! I hope your first birthday as a mommy treats you well! Love you!

---um----that's all I can think of off the top of my head, without looking up everyone else's bdays. So.....if there is anyone else I missed... HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Everyone deserves a little shout out every once in a while! :) Sending love to all our peeps!

Life is fun

This weekend was really fun because Kyle and I were able to go on a date for the first time since we've been out here. It was just nice to have some quality time alone together, so we could talk and hold hands rather than hold babies and listen to crying, whining, laughing, and what have you that babies tend to do. It was pretty refreshing. Then yesterday we had a ward picnic, met some new people, had lots of food, and soaked up some sun. Then we watched the slightly depressing BYU game....yikes. But we had some friends over to watch with us, so at least the company was nice! :) But...in this midst of all the fun, Maddie got sick and so now I am home from church with her, because I don't want this sicky spreading germs, or getting worse. I am pretty sure she picked it up from a play group we had last week...but oh well, building the immune system, right?? :)

I have got to say, we really are having lots of fun out here. I know a lot of people complain about it, being so far from family, and not liking the east coast and all, which I am sure there will come a time where I will complain about those things too, but as of right now, we are really enjoying our time. We are making lots of friends, loving the beautiful area, gorgeous neighborhoods, cute apartment, and Kyle really likes his school. So...nothin to complain about. The whole living on student loans and going in debt thing is slightly stressful sometimes, but se la vie, right?

Here is a cute video of Hallee playing the piano at the children's museum. I got a year membership so we frequently go there to play. :) Enjoy!

NYC MIA

Mia came to visit us for Labor Day Weekend and we had a blast together. Friday after classes we hopped on the train to catch a bus that took us up to NYC where we took the subway to where we stayed for the weekend. We stayed at my mom's friend's place which is right between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. It is such a fun location with a gorgeous view. In the morning I would take the girls down to a park in front of their building and we would play on the beach and the play ground. I expected the Hudson to be a little dirtier and maybe have some bodies floating down it, but it was surprisingly clear.

Saturday we started off by going to Canal Street, or China Town, and Megan got to experience the back alley purse shopping experience (last time we did this in NY she didn't come because she and Hallee were feeling sick). Sure enough as soon as we walked down the street a little Chinese lady passed us discretely saying, "Coach bags," to no one in particular. We followed her back to her secret hideout where "babies" were not allowed so I stayed outside with the girls. The time I went in one of these secret stores there was no AC but Megan got that luxury so they were able to shop in comfort.

Afterwards we went to eat at the Shake Shack at Madison Park. The line was out of control! You would have to be mental to wait in a line that long for burgers, cheese fries, and a shake. So we waited in line.




On Monday we were back in Philly and we went to Linville Orchards. Hallee had such a great time there which made it such an enjoyable day. There was a huge playground, animals, a farmer's market, and pick your own fruit and veggies. We picked strawberries, pepper (purposely singular), apples, peaches, and pears.

On the hayride over to the pick your own.

Maddie and Daddy checking out the animals. I would feed the chickens corn and Maddie loved it.

Hallee picking apples. She started saying, "Twist and pull," as she was picking and Megan asked me if I had taught her that while we picked strawberries. I hadn't so I asked her where she learned it from. "From Mickey?"

"No."

"From Barney?"

"No. From Special Oso!"

Playhouse Disney teaching kids how to pick fruit, nuff said.