She is most definitely back!

To the blogging world of course. She hasn't left our house that is for sure! And for proof, here are a few of Michaela's most recent. Enjoy :)

Mommy: Michaela, will you help mommy fold your clothes please?

Michaela: No thanks mommy, I am pretty busy right now.

Mommy: Doing what? Please help me with your chores.

Michaela: Mom, I already telled you that I have my own stuff to worry about, I just can't do your chores right now!

Michaela: (screaming) GET ME OUT OF THIS CAR!!!

Mommy: Please stop screaming.

Michaela: GET ME OUT RIGHT NOW!

Mommy: That is 1.....That is 2......Michaela, that is 3, no ice cream when we stop.

Michaela: (face crumples and she covers it with her hands), sobbs, Mommy, you just broke my heart all over the place. It needs the ice cream to make it alright

Michaela: Oh no! I am sad, the Holy Ghost just left my heart when I came to trouble

Daddy: Oh no - why don't you say a prayer and ask for it back?

Michaela: (right there on the kitchen floor) Heavenly Father, bless the Holy Ghost comes back please.

Daddy: Do you feel better now?
Michaela: Yep!

Daddy: Did he come back to your heart?

Michaela: Nope - he came back to my ear!

Daddy: Your ear?

Michaela: Yeah, kind of like a Little Jesus!!!

Mommy: Are you excited to ride in the new truck with daddy?

Michaela: Yep mom! Cause I am a (insert Tim the tool man Taylor style grunt here) MAN!

Alive?

Yes we are. I should blog about how Jordan graduated with his MBA, and show you the adorable pictures of the girls in their Hawkeye Cheerleader outfits at his graduation. Or, I could blog about how Heidi was sealed to us and how Ericka was able to come with us to Nauvoo and how special it was to have one of my dearest friends there and have Uncle Austin be one of the witnesses. (I still need to contact my photographer and pay her - hi Sarah, I am alive!) OR, I could blog or brag about how Jordan and I went to Puerto Rico WITHOUT our kids and had a magical time on the beach, snorkeling, and drinking Pina Coladas while swimming in an infinity pool. I could also explain in detail that we have moved from Iowa to Cleveland Ohio, and have been sleeping on the floor for four nights in a house with no a/c, and now we are in Seattle after a 4am flight and then a layover and then a 4 hour flight with kids who had only slept for 3 hours total.

But I won't. Not today, I only have 20 min on my battery life left. And the free breakfast ends at the hotel in 45 min.


So today, I will tell you that I have been married to my best friend for five years today. And by chance, or fate, or miracle, hotwire landed us at the exact hotel I woke up in exactly five years ago today to get ready for my wedding. I will eat my Continental breakfast with my spouse and our two kids rather than my fiance and my mommy. I love him. I love them. I love us. I love to be Fife. In our five years there have been: two BA's, one Masters, one very broken leg, eight houses, four states, two kids, three Sealings, 12 callings, two dogs, three cars, 22 states visited, two nephews, two nieces, and some of the best friends I could have ever hoped for. We are blessed, we are happy and we are alive! Pictures to come soon, someday or never!

Daddy's Little Hawkeye's :)

(Images from website - I couldn't wait to scan mine)

Happy Almost graduation Jordan! These were supposed to be a surprise, but I am way too excited at how well they turned out. ( I know Mom and Savannah will think the bows are too big - but I can't help it! :) )

Happy Adoption Day!

Heidi's Adoption is Final! We love her so much and are so grateful that this part of the adoption is final. Now, to the Temple we go, on May 15th :) Enjoy some pictures below of Heidi's big day, and some before that of this week at home.

Heidi may or may not LOVE mango! I am going to go with NOT!

And Michaela LOVES cake batter :)
And Playing the guitar. (and cheerleader costumes)
Here is a quick flashback of us on July 11, 2007. This is the day we finalized Michaela's adoption in Court, AND we got to be sealed that Evening in Seattle.

Happy Adoption Day Sweet Heidi! Heidi is wearing the same dress that Michaela wore to court. What a happy day!


She is such a beautiful baby girl. We feel so complete with her in the family! (No, Jordan, that does NOT mean we don't have to have more kids in our family - it means, I am happy right now with the two beautiful babies I have )

Michaela walking carefully up the courthouse steps - she didn't want her princess dress to drag on the ground.
Official Family! (Thanks to my friend Jennifer for coming!)
Eating muffins waiting for the Adoption Decree to be signed.
We love you Heidi, and are so happy to have you on our Eternal Journey!

It's OFFICIAL!!!!!

I have an AMAZING Husband! He has done so well in these last two years during his MBA program. He was one of the only first years to have his internship secured before Christmas, has been the vice president of the Tippie Leadership Association, and now, after lots of interview and many job offers, he has accepted a job that will allow him to take wonderful care of our family for years to come! Jordan will be working for American Greetings in their logistics department. We knew all that months ago, but our location was unknown until last week. It is a rotational program, so we will be moving around for the next three years, but Cleveland is the first stop! We couldn't be happier, American Greetings is very family friendly, and we plan on enjoying the three weeks vacation :) Congratulatios BABE! Cleveland - Here come the FIFE's!

This little baby girl is getting so BIG! She is such a good baby, she laughs all the time and sleeps so well at night. We just love her so much and can't wait to take her to the Temple to be sealed to us. It has been so fun to have a baby with hair, but her little wings and the very back of her hair were getting so long, that I gave her her first hair cut :) She looks so much older to me! Isn't she lovely?

A few Michaelaisms for you:

Mommy: Michaela, can you chew with my mouth closed?

Michaela: I can't mom, it's too hard with all this CRAP in my moth!

ps: Will the person who taught my child to say CRAP, please step forward?!?!

Mommy: Hey Michaela, can you help me fold towels?

Michaela: I hate to burt your bubble mommy, but I am too busy playing right now.

Mommy: Um. WHAT?

And we still love little Simon :)

She loves her daddy!

Never too old for slumber parties!!!!

Another Chapter to my book...

Mommy: COme on, Michaela, lets get out of the car

Michaela: I'm coming CHICKEN POOP!

Mommy: Um, don't you mean, "Chicky-poo?"

Michaela: Ya, I do CHICKEN POOP HONEY, lets go!

Michaela: DADDY!!!!!!!! There is a pig-lion over there!

Daddy: Ok, well, don't worry

Michaela: DADDY!!!!!!! He is going to get us!

Daddy: He won't honey, there is no such thing as a pig-lion

Michaela: DAD!!!! He is scaring me!

Daddy: (bending over to the gutter she is afraid of) Look Michaela, there is nothing he-YIKES! (Quickly jumps away from the RACOON in the gutter!)

Michaela: Look daddy, a pig-lion!

Happy Easter!

Our girls are so much fun! They are each so different, but they get along so well. Michaela was always kind of chill, and didn't really giggle too much. Heidi is DRAMATIC and giggles at everything! It's fun to watch Michaela make Heidi laugh :)

Our Easter was fairly low-key. We had to coax Michaela downstairs to see what The Easter Bunny brought her, she thought it was weird that someone would break in to leave her candy. She asked me if I could just make some brownies instead and just make sure the door were locked. She warmed up to the idea though, once she saw all the Disney Princess stickers and markers he left her! Heidi was obviously oblivious, but it was fun to have her squealing and laughing for no reason! Enjoy the pictures - we sure enjoy our girls!

Yay for pigtails! I am enjoying so much having a baby with hair!

Egg Hunt in the front yard. I made her Easter Basket out of paper mache. They were fun and the most stylish baskets I have ever seen!

Easter Spoils!

Right before Heidi cried from her big Easter hug!!!!

Michaela: Mom where are my cracker's?

Mommy: I think they are in your kitchen where you left them, silly!

Michaela: Good gracious mommy, I am sooooo silly right?!

Mommy: Ok, M say your goodnight prayer

Michaela: No thanks, mom, I don't need to

Mommy: Yes you do, we always say personal prayers when we got o sleep at night - this one is just for you.

Michaela: nope, here I can give it to you, now it's not mine anymore right? I don't ahafta say one cause I gave my personal to you.

Mommy::............let's say it together then?

Here are a few pics from our Ward Easter Party.

On my toes!

Mommy: Michaela, how was Nursery?

Michaela: Great honey.

Mommy: What did you learn?

Michaela: That Jesus wears a dress mom, I saw it in the picture.

Michelle: Michaela, is that the world on your jammies?

Michaela: No Shell, those are continents!

Michaela: Mommy, I need a drink<>

Mommy: Hold on! I can't do it all at once eM! (sort of a nickname)

Michaela: Mom, honey, you just need to chill.

Girls, girls, GIRLS! (and Simon)

Spring is upon us! The sun has come out, and so have the capri's :) It's time to start packing and getting ready to say goodbye to Iowa. (note: Michelle, we are NOT. SAYING. GOODBYE.) Here are some pictures of the last few weeks, complete with captions.

My beautiful Michaela. Look at that ponytail Savannah!

Here is my little Heidi with her first ever pigtails. Who know what she is thinking to cause that face!

This picture was taken just moments after she woke up. There was no altering of this hairdo prepicture, it just looks that wonderful, ALL THE TIME! We usually put at least one ponytail in now to tame that wild do!

Miss Independent. Dressed herself this day. Please note that the mini skirt is actually one leg of of some major gaucho capri pants. Yes, I let her wear this all day. No, we did not go anywhere:)

Simon and Heidi taking a moment to snuggle before naptime. He sure loves his girls already!

In case you didn't get it from that last picture, Simon is SMALL. Here is all the proof you need.

If you google "food coma," You may just see this picture of Heidi after dinner :) She loves her solids!

Beautiful girl.

Michaela took a cooking class and had a blast. Now she helps me cook dinner everynight!

Heidi. Hates. Green. Beans. Broke her heart when she tried them for the first time!

We also took a major road trip during spring break, both kids, one dog, and new car for 8 days in a row - and it was wonderful! Pictures of that to come.

Michaela: Can I marry my daddy, mommy?

Mommy: No honey, I already married daddy, but someday you will marry a different boy.

Michaela: Do I hafta kiss my boy like you kiss daddy? I can't do that mommy, I think it's going to be gross. Even if he washes his teeth, I think its going to be too gross.

Mommy: Lets not worry about it ok? Let's think of something a 3year old needs to worry about.

Michaela: Okay, like no peeing in my pants and stuff right mom?

Mommy: yeah, stuff like that.

Michaela: Mommy, I hate bad guys.

Mommy: Hate isn't a nice word,

Michaela: Bad guys aren't nice too mom, so I can say hate right?

Mommy: Lets just say that we don't like them ok?

Michaela: Ok, but when you can't hear me, I am going to say hate.

Mommy:: ok.......

Mommy: Goodnight honey.

Michaela: Goodnight sweetypie honey. Sleep tight, say a prayer for you to make breakfast tomorrow ok?

Quick Update

Between a broken computer, a totaled car, (no wreck-just quit) finals an colds, we have taken a blogging break! There is too much to catch up on, so I will make it short and sweet. My new lap top is HOT PINK, seriously fuchsia! Our new car is an 09 Mazda 5 and we love it! Michaela started a cooking class, Heidi hates green beans, (note the face) and we got a new puppy - Simon the teacup Yorki.