Sleeping

We have had a lot of changes to our sleep schedules since Kate was born (obviously). Kate is fantastic! She started sleeping through the night at 8 weeks. She would sleep through the night for a few nights in a row and then wake up once the next night. For the last 10 or so days she has sleep through the night every night. What a great baby. Alyssa didn't sleep through the night till 6-7 months! This I believe is attributed to my behavior more than hers. She slept in our bed because I was so tired that it was easier to feed her practically while I slept. This led to her eating at night much longer than needed. The bad habit of sleeping in our bed continued for a long time. Occassionally we would get her to sleep in her bed but she would wake up in the middle of the night and then be transferred to our bed so we could go back to sleep. About a week ago I said enough is enough. She was waking up in our bed asking us to rub her feed, crying for no reason. I thought "this is ridculous that my 2 month old sleeps better than my 3 year old!" Russ agreed. We had a long discussion with her and set up some positive reinforcement agreements.The first few days she woke up 4 times a night, crying. Russ went into her room to calm her down, occassionally laying next to her until she feel back to sleep. The last 3 nights she has done great! She slept all night with out waking up crying. In the morning she comes into out room and says "I slept all by my self" (very proudly). This also in hoping to get the promised reward if she sleep in her own bed all night with out crying for 30 days (she gets a princess bed frame).  (We were planning on getting a bed frame at some point so why not take it on as a reward =)
Needless to say I am less tired than I have been in 3 years!

Easter

Easter was really fun this year. Alyssa was so excited  about it. She went to 4 Easter egg hunts. One at Riverwoods (total waste of time, 1000's of kids and the hunt lasted 10 seconds). One at each grandma's house and one at our house. For the week after Easter she wanted to play hide and find the Easter eggs over and over again. We would take turns hiding and finding them. At Easter dinner she asked almost everyone to play this with her, when that person got tired she moved on and asked someone else. We also tried to teach her about the true meaning of Easter. She basically understood that it was about Jesus. We also have a Sanders kids (and spouses) hunt, there is money involved so it makes it more fun. This year our newbie found the jackpot and came out with the most, Every person gets to find 10 eggs, if you touch an egg it is yours. Not all eggs have money. Every year Adam only finds 9 eggs, this year everyone found 10, Adam had 7 or 8. We all went searching and helped him find all 10. (He still came out with the least amount of money).

Getting ready for the hunt,

My Grandpa playing " hide and find the eggs"

Out hunting for the eggs

Easter picture of the girls (Kate's life-being smothered by Alyssa)

2 months

Kate was 2 months old on the 24th. I seriously can't believe it. I love having her in our family. She is a great baby. She has slept through the night a few times (2 nights in a row last night and the night before!) She normally wakes up about 5:30 to eat then goes back to sleep. We will see if sleeping through the night is going to continue. She smiles and is almost laughing. Today she laughed in her sleep, it was so cute. Alyssa is still totally in love with her. She wants to hug and kiss her all the time. She wants to help with everything. I am really enjoying the baby phase. With Alyssa I was always excited for her to get older and do more things. now that I have Alyssa who can play and do a lot of fun things I like having the baby to cute and be tiny. I know it goes so fast and I am trying to soak it up. I love how she fits perfectly in my arms and how I can do most things one handed. Today we had her 2 months check up. She is 10.1 lbs (20%) and 22 1/2 inches long (40%). I was surprised I thought she was bigger than that. Alyssa was 10.7 at her 2 month check up. I am going back to work next week. I will be part time working 2 1/2 days (wed-fri). Alyssa is excited to go back to day care. I am sad to leave Kate but I'm sure it will be fine. My babysitter is awesome and is so excited for my girls to come.
I have adjusted being at home full time. At first it was really hard for me, plus Alyssa was acting out. Alyssa is behaving much better now. I didn't know how hard being home all the time was. To be a good stay at home mom is actually harder than going to work. 

We go to the tulip festival at Thanksgiving Point every year. It is beautiful and there is every color of tulip imaginable.

Trying to capture a smile

Noelle's married!

Noelle and Eric were married yesterday in the Timpanogos temple. They were sealed by Eric's Grandpa. It was a wonderful and special sealing. I am so happy for them. Here are a few pictures from the wedding day. I don't have Photoshop right now so unfortunately I can't edit any of my pictures :( Alyssa has been so excited for Noelle's wedding and asking about it forever. She was disappointed that she couldn't go inside and she didn't really want to take pictures. The reception on the other had, she had a blast and cried when it was over. I didn't take many pictures at the temple and didn't take any at the reception (I was too busy with the kids and talking with family).

Kate and Alyssa

We got professional pictures of Kate and Alyssa when Kate was 2 weeks old and the day before Alyssa's 3rd birthday.

Bride

My sister is about to be a bride in 2 weeks. This week we went and took some bridal pictures of her. She looked beautiful.