I'm a model, if you know what I mean

So we entered the girls into the GAP modeling contest. After getting told by everyone, including the guy that came to our door trying to sell us the Oregonian, that we should have them modeling, we did it. We'll see if anything comes from it...who knows. We've thought of putting together portfolios for each of the girls, but I'm not sure we are ready to go that far. We shall see :)

Here's the pics we entered. Jason did a bit of photoshop to them. You could only change the colors and brightness of the photos...so they aren't to altered. Pretty cute if you ask me...but I'm the mom :)

Monday and Tuesday

This week has flown by!! With preschool and the gym in the morning, our day is half over before we know it. The last two days have been fun though.

We've had awesome weather here! So the girls have played outside.


Played dress up.

Played more dress up, but wanted to go for a walk this time.

We made cookies...

...and a triple berry pie!!

Miss ya!

mandy

What's been happening??

While Jason was home last week we had tons of fun. We:

Went to Roseburg for Jessica's farewell. While we were there we helped set up for a dance that they were having that night...with some yummy cupcakes :)

Had birthday dinner at a Mexican place. Super good. Once they found out Jess was turning 21, they brought her a hat and a shot...nice with the BYU sweatshirt. No, she didn't drink it, but we had to get a picture :)
The girls were to tired to sit up while we were unloading the car. How cute is this??


Taylor started preschool

Rilee wearing her big sister's backpack, almost.
We carved pumpkins.

Edward and Bella - my new best friends

I'm not sure if you guys remember, but about 3 weeks ago I mentioned that I was reading Twilight. The first book in a series of three by Stephenie Meyer. I figured I needed something to read in the evenings while Jason was gone on his recruiting trips.

So here we are 3 weeks later and I've completed the series while trying to take care of 2 kids and still be a normal human being. That's like 1200 pages!! I'm not a huge reader, if you don't count my People and Us Weekly magazines. This series is just so good. It captures you every time you start reading it and doesn't let go until the dishes are piled so high that I can't see out my window.

Anyways, just thought I'd let you know we are still alive and have lots to post on here soon. Jason is gone on another recruiting trip to Utah, so we will be doing the daily updates again :)

Mandy

What a Thursday

We started today at 6:30 with some blue pancakes. The girls love to pick a color and help me dye the mix. It usually makes it easier for them to eat too. Fun! Then we were off to the gym. I had another one of Sara's spinning classes. SO GOOD!! Loved it.

Next came Story time at the library. That was fun as always. Then we had to run an errand for a friend of ours who needed her medication overnighted to her in Boston. That took most of the afternoon by the time we got the prescription filled and mailed off. We were all exhausted.

Mom came over after work and we went to the Farmer's Market and FROZE!! It was so cold, but the girls loved dancing and playing.

I had to run to Borders after playing to get the next 2 books in the Twilight series. I LOVE IT!! I stayed up until 1:30 this morning to finish the first one. I would highly recommend it. I was surprised that I liked it to tell you the truth. But for me to read 500+ pages in 6 days says something :)

The girls are passed out already! I love the early bedtime...just not so use to the early wake up time :)

I'm off to watch survivor and read New Moon!! Can't wait!!

Mandy

Day 3...but who's counting

Today was an exciting day. Here it is in a nutshell: Breakfast, the gym, lunch, preschool orientation, Peter Pan, Grandma comes, Costco for shopping and pizza and finally Grandma reading a story.

Taylor walking into Preschool!
Taylor playing. She loved the triangle. They got to play here while us parents got the low down from the teacher.
Rilee got to play too and is pretty sure that she gets to go there with Taylor. I'm a bit worried about how she'll react when we drop Taylor off Monday morning and she doesn't get to stay. Taylor should be fine as Jackson, Bekah and Carter (all friends she's known before) will be in her class.Grandma go them a new book. It's the series of "If you give a mouse a cookie". I love those books. They are all combined and even have recipes for the cookies that you give the mouse and songs with a CD to sing with. To fun!


Update on Rilee's hand: It's looking much worse at is all begins to blister and stuff. But the pain seems to have died down a lot. She's such a trooper! The first comment out of her mouth when she saw Jackson at the Kids Klub was LOOK MY OWIE! So she was happy to show off her bandages. What kid isn't??



They are both finally asleep after having to use the bathroom a couple times each. I think that's one of the worst things about them being potty trained. When do you trust that they really have to go and when are they using it to get out of something...bed, chores, whatever. Oh well. Such is life!


Here's to another day down!!


Mandy

Tuesday

Today started out great. The girls were up and playing by 6:45 so we made it to my 9:15 spinning class with no problem. That class kicks my tail!! If you are here in Portland, you've got to join LA Fitness and come to Sara's class. SHE'S SO GOOD!! Love it!

Anyways, today was my brother's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL!! Yes, his name is Michael Schofield, for all those Prison Break fans out there. It still weirds me out when they say his name on TV. So that was fun to go see him and take him some balloons.

Then the tragedy happen. Taylor and Rilee were helping me make Mac-n-cheese for lunch. Taylor went to reach over Rilee to get a run away noodle and Rilee fell onto the burner that we were just using. POOR GIRL!! Taylor felt TERRIBLE. It was a total accident, but that didn't comfort her much. She was so protective of her little sister too. At the mention of taking Rilee to the doctor, Taylor was cry and cry because she didn't want her sister to have to go there. Anyways, after about 2 hours of keeping her bandaged hand on ice, she was good to go. What a strong girl! She was playing, reading books and eating with her hurt hand.

Taylor played the "Farmer Game" with Rilee to help her feel better. Tiffany, we may need to borrow this game for a bit longer :)

They are both now passed out now. I think it was a pretty traumatic day for us all. Luckily my mom was able to come over after work and help me out. Boy do those girls love her!! Yet another picture taken by Taylor :)

Anyways, the day was good over all. Another day worthy of presents, Dad!!

Here's my bag of tricks...a tad bit much for Rilee's tiny palm :)

Mandy

The Pitty Party is OVER!!

I have to apologize for the downer of a blog last night. Like I said I was in a bit of a funk. It bothers me to be like that. Normally I'm really happy and upbeat, except for the postpartum stuff, but that's a whole other post. So anyways, things are great now!! HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!

Today was a really good day. I woke up this morning and decided that I could either be sad and grumpy or happy and make the best of this situation. So I did. The girls and I had a lot of fun today. No major melt downs until bath time, but that's not too bad.

The girls were up on their own at 7:00 this morning which is great. Taylor's preschool starts at 8:00 next Monday, so I was hoping to have her waking up on her own in time for school. She's not a very happy camper if you wake her up before she's gotten all her beauty rest.

They requested pancakes for breakfast. Then we were off to the gym. The workout was good, I just hope I can move my arms tomorrow :)

I didn't realize that it was Columbus day today. See on the Disney channel they don't tell you stuff like that, so we headed to the bank after the gym. Surprise...it was a holiday. Oh well, that will just go on tomorrow's to do list.

After peanut butter and jelly for lunch we watched Cinderella and Little Mermaid for quiet time. The girls did pretty good. Rilee is starting to get the whole "stay on the couch and rest" concept. It's only taken her about a week...so I guess that's good.

Then it was time for the Barbie car. See, Christmas came early for the girls this year. We figured that getting the girls a barbie jeep in December was not to smart as it would be raining. So they got it early and LOVE IT!!!

Rilee tried riding her bike...but it didn't work out to well. See how blurry her foot is? That's because she's throwing a fit.

Rilee took the wheel for the first time today. We were all a bit afraid :) She did pretty well actually.

Tacos were for dinner, then we picked out clothes for in the morning and then came baths. Taylor had a little melt down, but by the time it was lights out, she was fine.


As for the presents...(Jason is getting the girls a present for everyday that they are good)...yes, they get one!! I was really impressed with them today.


I'm still going strong on my Twilight book and it seems to be picking up pace, which is nice. I'll keep you all posted as to if I would recommend it or not :)


Jason, one day down and four to go. We can do it!! Sorry for all the "issues" with your travel stuff today, but it will all work out because it's suppose to!


LOVEYOUBYE!


Mandy

Now you see him, Now you don't

It was a quick weekend here at the Young's.

Friday started out as every other day. Breakfast, the gym and then to Freddy's for some lunch and shopping. While we were shopping we picked up some poster board on the off chance that we would actually have some time to make a "Welcome Home" sign to take to the airport. Well we did and the results are below. The girls had some much fun coloring with mom's markers. Our kitchen table didn't fair to well, but I think I want to refurbish it anyways right?!?! :)

After getting Jason it was time for presents and some dad time. I made some enchiladas and we just stayed in for the night. It was pretty nice.

Saturday Jason and the girls took me to their date spot that they go to for breakfast. It's the Original Hot Cake House on Powell. It was amazing. One of those dives of a place, but the food is amazing. There were all walks of life...gangstas to college students to the hoyti toyti enjoying their food. After breakfast we played downtown where after an hour or so Taylor informed Jason and I that she HAD TO HAVE a Starbucks's. It was too funny.

Sunday was relaxing and full of cleaning. We tivo'd Conference so we could watch it without having to drive the Spirit away by yelling at the kids to be quiet :). We did catch bits and pieces and can't wait to watch it all. After conference we went to my folks for tacos. If you've never had Schofield tacos, you are missing out!!! They are the best.

Then we played Killer Bunnies with the Johnston's....crazy game. Now he's gone again. He won't be home until Friday Night.

I want to take this chance to spill out some of my feelings. As I have had my husband leave, come home to wash clothes and leave again, I feel that I am getting just a glimpse of what military wives and children go through. I know Jason going out to recruit for the school is nothing compared to our service people going out and risking their lives for their/our freedom. Although, I feel as though I've had a taste of the emotional ups and downs associated with the loss of your spouse to traveling, work, medical school, whatever it may be that takes our loved ones time.

I was kind of in a bad funk all weekend. I cleaned so much today hoping that if I stayed busy, I wouldn't notice each hour that passed by. Once the girls were down, it became all to real that he was leaving. I was glad to have some friends and a game to take my mind off it.

Everything happened so quickly. The game ended, Dave went to get the car. Jason kissed us girls and then he was gone. On his way to another week long trip and I am now here, wishing things were different.

Last week was lonely. The girls are usually in bed by 7:30 or 8:00. I almost want to keep them up until we all pass out on the couch just so I'm not alone. It's hard. It's hard to have a companion with you every night and then have that taken away. It's hard to be a single parent. It's hard to be the entertainment and the discipline all at the same time.

With all that depressing stuff said, I have to say how happy I am to have friends and family close by. What a support system I have here. May we all reach out to those families who are separated for whatever reason and help them in whatever way we can!!

Here's to another week!! Look for daily posts as we keep Jason up to date on what's going on with his girls!!

Mandy