so many things to blog about.....

however, I am in San Diego and need an adapter to get the pictures off my camera!! Hoping to add many more posts soon. Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas.

So blessed

I was looking over all our pictures from our recent family photo shoot and felt so blessed. I have the most incredible family. My hubby is not only my soul mate but my best friend, no one can make me laugh like him. I love that we are happy simply sitting on the couch in each other's company and the even after six, almost seven years of being married I still get butterflies.

My girls with their unique personalities make each day an amazing gift. I love that with each passing day the girls are realizing that they are not only sisters, but the best of friends. I caught them holding hands walking around the house the other day, stopping to offer kisses to one another...it was so sweet. I love now that Ella is getting older she often times requests "mommy Ella dates"...her latest idea for our next date was to paint our toes and go to the nutcracker. I love that Chloe is a mommy's girl, and that every night when I put her to bed, she asks me to sing Bon Jovi's "living on a prayer". Such a spunky little girl.

Thank you Lord for my incredible blessings....

"Mommy, where are we going?"

I knew she would be asking this question as we headed in route to the doctor's office. It was time for the girls check-ups. From past experience I have found it very necessary to wait until the very last minute to tell Ella. Yes, even though her daddy is a doctor she is still terrified of going to the doctor...mostly because of the possibility of shots, and with this appointment there would be shots...

I was surprised with her reaction once I told her where our destination would be. She was calm and seemed more interested/concerned in calming baby sister's nerves down. Yep, the word "doctor" is synonymous with "shots" for Chloe...already (smart cookie she is!). The girls waited patiently yet anxiously in the waiting room and I could tell their little tummies would do flip-flops every time the nurse called someone back.

With brave faces on, the girls made their way back to the examination room. All went pretty smoothly...at first. Temps, blood pressure, weight, and growth were all recorded by the nurse. This is always my favorite part, as I love finding out how much the girls have changed and grown. Here is where they are at:

Ella (4 years)

Height: 40 inches

Weight: 39 lbs

Chloe (20 months)

Height: 33 1/2 inches

Weight: 23.5 lbs

We ♥ our pediatrician. She was one of Barth's professors in medical school and we have since developed an awesome relationship with her...she is amazing with the girls!! While distracting the girls with tape measures, tongue depressors and pics on her laptop the next several minutes of her examination of the girls flew by. Doing good so far...Next up...shots. Yep, it was inevitable and Ella quickly volunteered her little sister to go first. Six shots and many many tears later we made it!! Yes, both girls were quite sensitive for the next hour, but all in all it was a successful event.

caught you!!

Chloe loves our Christmas tree or any tree with "pretties" on it for that matter. However, she just can't seem to keep her tiny fingers off all the ornaments...and it always seems to be the breakable ones. After many "No, don't touch Chloe, just look" and "no no Chloe" (from big sister Ella) orders, it seemed we were finally making a little headway.

However, this is where I found her this morning....it is just so tempting mommy!!!!

Look at those guilty little eyes.....

a little girl time and a baby shower

I am always up for a little girl time. Bringing Ella and Chloe was not an option as both my babies have been sick this last week, or two, so I was really excited when I found out Barth would be able to watch them for a couple hours.

My good friend Maela is the wife of another 5Th year ortho resident. She has two boys very close to my two girls' ages and baby number three is due in January for her and it's a....girl!! Maela, you are in for a treat!!

More fleur du jour news...

While we are on the topic of flowers...I am now selling elastic headbands for babies!! They are perfect for those little ones with little or no hair (peach-fuzz friendly!!). If you or anyone you know is interested send me an email....makes for a perfect stocking stuffer or sweet addition to any gift!

Soft pink headband w/pretty in pink flower

Other headbands colors: newborn/infant size

Lavender

Bold lilac

Red

Chocolate

I have cards!

I guess that makes it official! I now have my own business card. I had customers asking for them and needed something to give people who asked in passing where they could purchase a clip.

What do you think?

Front and back view

Go Chargers!!!!

Barth and I got to go on a "date" this last Sunday...well kinda. My mom and sister watched the girls for us and we headed out the door to cheer on the Chargers!! I had never been to a live professional football game so I was pretty excited. I was so happy that Barth wanted me to go with him (he knows that I am not the biggest football fan). He said, "Of course I want you to go with me, you are my best friend". I ♥ you!!

They won!! I had the best time and definitely look forward to more games in the near future!!

I wanna doggie!!

No we are not getting a doggy, but Ella sure thinks it's about time we got one. We were at a mall in Escondido this last weekend and let the girls get in little dog time. With faces pasted to the windows the girls excitedly watched the puppies run around. A lady kindly offered to let the girls hold one (i think she was hoping to entice us into buying it really), and Ella without hesitation held out her arms...she loved her!!!

Barth made a friend too! This parrot hopped right onto his shoulder and kept biting his ear!!

Black Friday

Black Friday has been a long time tradition of the Riedel family. They are pretty intense. It starts with the adds in the paper and meticulously searching each stores items for that one thing you just can't live with out (or you can, but need it just cause it is to cheap to pass up). Then the mapping out of what store to hit first, usually the store that has the item on the top of your list. Waking up way before the sun is out racing around, fighting crowds, and waiting in ridiculously long lines.

Well, I gave in this year and decided to get the full experience. To his luck, my parents were more then willing to sleep at our house with the girls so that we could wake up long before they would. First question, is it just me, or do the store openings keep getting earlier and earlier? My husband told me we would be leaving our house at 2:30am...."are you kidding me?!" was my first response. When my alarm went off I almost changed my mind, but Barth's excitement about the whole thing was my only motivation. Well, we did it....5 stores, two cups of Starbucks, 4 and a half hours later and lots of bags to prove it we arrived home. Thank you baby for a crazy, but fun adventure!

Turkey Day!!

Thanksgiving was spent at my house this year. It was a blessing to have my parents here since Barth was on-call...at least I knew that the girls and I would not be spending the day alone! The hospital is typically quiet on a holiday, however, Barth got his fair share of pages and even got called into the hospital right before we sat down to eat. Oh well, such is the life of a doctor! All in all is was a fun day filled with family, delicious food and lots to be thankful for.

The bird

(my 2ND time cooking the turkey, and much more successful!)

Me and mother hen

This is how Barth spent most of the day...putting up lights and talking to the hospital

Ella getting a few golf tips from Grandpa

Chloe and Cboo (it was nice to share the holiday with you!)

So thankful for my sister!!

Thanksgiving Party

Now that Ella is in preschool, I am finding myself busy with new activities....Harvest parties, cupcake baking, Thanksgiving celebration and more goody baking!! What a blessing it is to be a mommy.

Ella's class had a Thanksgiving day party this last week and we were in charge of the dessert...best assignment if you ask me! From my own experience with food and sweets, you can never seem to go wrong with some yummy traditional sugar cookies. To make them more festive we chose to make some fall leaves...they were a hit! The kids enjoyed a cookie or two, along with a thanksgiving style lunch.

Our yummy cookies