Pay it Forward.....

So, here's how it works...
The first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive, at some point during the year, a handmade gift from me. What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise! The catch is that you must participate as well. Before you leave your comment, write up a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going (or be lazy and copy and paste like I did). Then come back, let me know you're going to play and sit back and anticipate the arrival of your gift!

Leave me a comment and then send me an e-mail with your name and address at jordandsamantha@gmail.com

Can't wait to surprise you with something FABULOUS this year!!

Birthday Celebration!

I know, I know, some of you JUST left my house! BUT, lots of relatives are just sitting at their computers waiting for this post, so I had to get it up, PRONTO! Anyway, here are some highlights.

- We have a tradition that we get to eat out on our Birthday, and Michaela ONLY eats baked potatos right now, so we took her to Wendy's. I know, classy right?! But it was really low key, she got to order her own food, and make all the noise she wanted, so we all win. Plus, they have Frosty's.
- The obscenely large bows in her hair are all my doing. Don't blame Jordan. I love them!
- The cake is supposed to look like a box of crayons, and there was a bowl of "pretzel crayons," right next to it. Use your imagination a little! That is all I did for a theme. No games, no structure - hey they are TWO!
-We had Capri Sun to drink...yep, even the adults!
-The random picture in the slide show of Michaela on the pot, is because I thought it was hilarious. Plus, I am big on birthday's so she got to do a mini Birthday Eve celebration that included a brownie, and that is the aftermath..... so it IS sort of Birthday related :)
-I think that's it! I don't plan on taking the balloons down because when Michaela sees them, she sings, "Burday TOO, Burday TOO, Burday Kuadea, Burday 2 her!" And I love it and don't ever want it to stop!

Happy Birthday Michaela Bug!

Two Minutes


Two Hours


Two Days


Two Weeks


Two Months


Two YEARS!!!



WE LOVE YOU MICHAELA!!!

Post is Paying Michaela to Model............(not really, but I think she has a shot!)


Michaela started gymnsatics last week, she had such a great time!


All she really did was jump..........why are we paying for her to jump?


More jumping......does she look OLD in this picture to anyone else??? Like TWO??


On the big trampoline.


And this one is the best. All the other kids are following the routine, following the pattern and acutally doing some gymnastics. Then there is Michaela, in lala jumping land in the middle! She just did her own thing the ENTIRE time, all the other mommies were laughing and saying she will get the hang of it - but I thought her way was pretty darn cute!


She had a few friends over the other day for playgroup.........this room is what we call Michaelaed. Enough said.


More friends..


She is somewhere underneath the ballpit mess.


And there you go! More pictures mom :)

Dear Mr. Sandman,

I know you are a busy individual, what, with the millions of people you are required to visit on a nightly basis. Is that how it works? Do you visit each person, each night and gift them with a wonderful night sleep? Or do you simply sprinkle sleepy dust over large areas and assume all is well in slumberland?

Well, Mr. Sandman, my dilemma is this: my daughter seems to have been skipped over during the distribution of sleepy dust. I suspect this to be the case because she is two years old and STILL hasn't slept all night!! She wakes up at lest three times a night, and WHEN she naps during the day, it's usually only for about 45 minutes. She must be tired- don't you think?!!! She is a wonderful person, and it's not that I don't enjoy every minute that I get to spend with her, but I was wondering if you would mind paying extra special attention when you come to our house. My husband and I are ONLY THINKING OF MICHAELA when we ask this, but the next time you stop by, will you please sprinkle Michaela with extra sleep dust? We are willing to pay extra.............

Thank You,
Sleepless in Iowa

Out of the Mouth of Babes..............

Michaela: MOM MOM MOM MOM!
Mommy: Michaela - ask Nicely!
Michaela: Who is Nicely??!!


Mommy: Michaela, good morning! Can I have a kiss?
Michaela: Nope!
Mommy: Why?
Michaela - Cause your teeth stink!!!

Mommy: Michaela - it's time for gymnastics, do you want to wear your tutu?
Michaela: No!
Mommy: What are you going to wear then?
Michaela: My TWO-THREE!

Feast Your Eyes!

The begining of potty training.....Not sure what she is looking at!




So I had some scrapbooking stuff out, but I had it blocked off in the dining room. So it was SAFE to load the dishwasher.....right? A few minutes into it, I hear Michaela singing, "raining, man is snoring, bump him head," And so on in her cute little Michaela language. I thought is was adorable and started singing with her. AND THEN, I cam out to the living room. And saw my pack of 1000 scraps of paper, raining on my baby. GREAT.



Ice Cram for Breakfast? Don't tell Grandma!


I watch this little boy during the daytime. He was sitting against Michaela's chair and she saw him, so she ran to her chair, squealed with delight and said, "Me rub you friend!" And she gave him an actual back massage. :)



Is this the cutest thing you have ever seen?

Who Thinks I Need Help????

So...... Jordan wasn't home this morning (yes, I drink coke in the morning......save the judging until you read this WHOLE post, there is more!) And the lid was on SO tight! So, I took it as a sign, I shouldn't be drinking Cherry Coke anyway, especially at 9 in the morning. So I left it there. Until 9:07. And then this happened. Poor Cherry Coke Bottle! Does anyone know if they make AA or something like it for Cherry Coke addicts like me???

Michaela and Jackson Wedding Rehersal

This is Michaela and her best friend Jackson. His mommy and I always tell them to be nice to each other because they are engaged........ wouldn't that be so cool?!! They have so much fun together and ask all the time to go to each other's house! We thought you might want a front row seat to their wedding rehersal dance....................ENJOY!



And this is what it looks like when Michaela dresses herself for the day! TWO YEAR OLDS!!

Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful, BEAUTIFUL Girl!

Cutest little happy face in the WORLD!!! (sorry it pauses at the end...... it's over though so you don't have to wait it out....)

Keeping Busy!

While we have been waiting for our second little girl to get here, Michaela has taken the opportunity to remind us of what a HANDFUL she is! We have had a crazy week! Nevertheless, we love her so much and know she will make a wonderful big sister to our baby! (yep, I am avoiding using her name on purpose...... it's a surprise!) Even those of you whom we have told a name we were thinking........that's not it anymore!!! Anyway, here are some pictures from the past week.



Michaela and daddy playing the guitar and Michaela using an apron that my grandma sent to me!


New coat from Old Navy! And ready for Church.

She Likes to Move It, Move It!!

December 08

There is just too much to post! We went to Seattle for Christmas, and were fortunate enough to see both our families while we were there. Our first plan was to fly out on the 22nd and settle in before the Holiday started. Mother Nature, however, decided to dump so much snow in Washington State that our flight got cancelled! We ended up flying out on Christmas Day, traveling all day and getting in really late that night. The Fife family was nice enought to wait for us though and we opened presents with them that night! Both of Jordan's brother's were there with their significant others (one has a wife, one has a girlfriend) and Michaela got to see her only cousin on that side(for now ;) ) and LOVED him! You may notice a lack of Fife sided pictures on this post. That is because My brother and sister in law are professional photographers and I felt silly taking the same picuters they were taking and pretty much left it up to them. I am hoping to score some when Amber gets around to posting hers..........

Anyway, after a week of Fife, we headed to the RAINFORREST of Amanda Park Washington to hang out with the Kresge side of life. It rained the entire time! In one 48 hour period, we got 15 inches of rain - that's A LOT of water! I did also get to go to Forks WA with my mom, (think Twilight people) and let me tell you, if you get a chance to visit the magical place that is Edward Cullen - DON"T. It's a let down. Not a stitch of fanism anywhere. Just a sign that says, "welcome to Forks." So below are some pictures, mostly from my side of the family, and there are many more stories to tell and pictures to show, and I hope I get around to doing it! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and Happy 2009!



Who doesn't like chocolate ice cream in a black-out?! And my dad reading her a story....




First snow experience!

Forks Washington, and prom night material!


Michaela and Grandma Fife and the Kresge Clan!

If the girls are crying - Uncle Richie might as well too! And......us.


The Winns and Another Family shot.


Reagan and Michaela and my BEAUTIFUL sister and Reagan - twins right??!