Christmas 2007

I haven't posted in a while because my computer won't read the card from our camera right now. So no fun Christmas pictures put on our blog right now :(

I have decided I will go ahead and share our Christmas experience this year anyways :) Our Christmas festivities this year began on Saturday with my extended families "Annual Sheffield Christmas Party", which includes lots of fabulous soup (my personal fave is my mom's Broccoli Cheese soup), desserts (Natalie brought this amazing popcorn and fudge), and of course the white elephant gift exchange. It's always fun to get together and I especially enjoy seeing how big the other little kids are getting!

On Sunday, Jesse sang a SOLO in church of "Oh Holy Night" with the choir. What a brave man!!! He did a great job and it was wonderful to have his family in church to enjoy the singing, as well as help me with the kids :)! We went over to my in-laws that evening for dinner and had a BIG spaghetti dinner with more extended family to celebrate Jesse's sister, Esther's birthday!! My mother-in-law truly makes the BEST spaghetti I have ever tasted.

Monday morning found me in Robby's room at 4am, rocking him while he coughed like crazy and was having a hard time breathing. That day I spend almost two hours at the doctor's office with my two kids. Maddie was put BACK on antibiotics again for her never-ending cough and Robby was diagnosed with croup, and an ear infection & so they gave him a steroid shot and sent us on our way with Rx in hand. We went over to my parents house that evening for Christmas eve dinner and Maddie had so much fun helping to light the luminaries with her "papa". That evening we went and saw the Temple lights with his family and FINALLY made it home for mommy to begin working on presents, projects, etc. I think that this year was my record for how late I stayed up on xmas eve. I had lots of things to still do and a sick little boy that kept waking up every few hours, so I finally made it to bed around 4am :(

Thank heavens for kids who like to sleep in! That's what I decided was a blessing come Christmas morning. Both of my kids slept in until 8am. We then went out and saw what Santa brought to our house. Madison was so cute this year; when we walked into the front room she yelled "presents". She loved opening presents and especially LOVED the chocolate that Santa put in her stocking. She ate ALL OF IT in literally 20 minutes. It was insane. Then as we loaded her into the car to go visit Grandma & Grandpa all that lovely chocolate came back up and all over the car and car seat. We then spent the next little while cleaning up the car and hosing down the car seat. Oh well... at least all the candy was gone so quickly right?? I am afraid that Madison and Robby were spoiled completely by us, and both sets of grandparents! We had so much fun spending time with family, other than Robby being sick and feeling crummy all day (did I mention he has also been teething like crazy). When we finally made it back home, Jesse and I looked back and both kids were passed out in the backseat.

Merry Christmas to All of you!!

So sweet

So Jesse & I have been trying REALLY hard the last few months to teach Madison about being more reverent in church and during prayers at home. We keep reminding her how we fold our arms when we pray and what to say at the end of a prayer (amen). It has seemed like a pointless task because she rarely, if ever, actually follows us and tends to run around in circles during prayers.

We put up this adorable little christmas tree in her bedroom for the Holidays that is prelit and just a bit taller than Maddie. She loves to touch each light and talk about the colors ("dis is boo", "a lellow light", "I like da pink one", etc). Yesterday we were all in the kitchen and I noticed that Madison was missing. I started searching the house for her (like I always tend to do when I realize I haven't seen her in a few minutes).

I walked down the hall to her bedroom and noticed she was standing right next to her tree. She had her head bowed, arms folded, and was praying to her Christmas tree! I walked over quietly right by her door and listened to what she was saying. She was talking about her home, mommy, daddy, "dank you", and then said amen. Then after she was finished she clapped her hands and said "yeah". She looked so proud of herself. It was hysterical. I went out to the kitchen and had Jesse come see as well. When we walked back over she was doing it again! So I guess we were completely WRONG; she has been learning and getting what we've been teaching her. Madison is DeFiNitEly a two year old, and every once in awhile she does the sweetest things. Case in point: she loves to hold Robby's hand in the car while we drive. Jesse took this picture with the kids in his car holding hands the entire drive to Mesa!!

Our Thanksgiving

What did we do for Thanksgiving? Jesse, Robby, Madison, & I after running in the race. Jesse was awesome and ran the 10K with his sister, Abby. I ran in the 2mile with my sister Lori (her hubby also ran the 10K). It was so much fun and my father-in-law was so nice to come watch the kids that morning at the park!

A group of us after the races. Loriann with Kaylin, Abby holding Madison, Me (Tiffany) holding Robby & Jesse

After the Turkey Trot we went home and got ready (kids took naps :) and then we headed over to my in-laws for a delicious Thanksgiving dinner.

Three of the cutest girls I know! My three sister-in-laws: Abby, Esther & Joanna

Uncle Brett & Robby After dinner, the whole clan minus Robby & Aunt Joanna went to the ASU vs USC football game. We were so bummed by the loss, but still had fun going to the game together. Madison was so good at the game with all the people and noise--we were so proud of her...it's the first game she has been to in over a year. I just love the face she is making in this picture with Jesse!

Girls Weekend

A bunch of us ladies from our neighborhood went on a girls weekend/over nighter from Friday night through Saturday. We took off and stayed at this AMAZING vacation house in Scottsdale and dined, shopped, goofed around, slept (a tiny bit) and had loads of laughs together. Although I got home completely exhausted, it was so much fun to spend some girl bonding time together and get away from kids for a night. We really have the best group of women in Cortina!! Fun picture right after our delicious breakfast at the clubhouse. From left to right: Andy, Melissa, Katie Budge, Brigett M, Tiffany, Jen W, Hillary, Katie Brown, Bridget C, & Kelly. After breakfast we went shopping some more. We were such good bargain shoppers at the Rack and Old Navy!

Me (Tiffany), Jen & Katie in the back of the car with Hill and Katie in the front. It was so funny to see Katie trying to steer her HUGE vehicle into some tiny parking spaces :)

We all struck a pose together...we are quite the mommy group! At one point we sat and added up all the kids we had combined and out of this group I think we had around 35.

Is it time to cut some hair?

After Robby's afternoon nap on Sunday, I got to noticing just how much his hair has grown. I swear the last time I looked, he was just getting enough hair to cover that big head of his. Now when he wakes up from naps, his hair is sticking out every which way with little curls all across the back of his head. It looks like he is cursed with our genes for sure.

Luckily it still doesn't look SOOO bad if I sort of comb it down again.

My goal: not post anymore pics of my little angels until they have decent hair again :)

Happy Birthday Big Sis!

I am so excited to send out a happy birthday to Loriann! We are only sixteen months apart and so we truly were "raised together". I was always a little jealous of the fun things that she was "old" enough to do and sometimes my mom even let me do them with her. We have so many fun memories that I will always hold dear to me. Here are just a couple of them:

1. We shared a room for the first 17 years of my life and I still love to remember how we would stay up and talk or play together at night. When my parents would hear us we would fling ourselves on to our beds and pretend to be asleep (it never really fooled our parents) Nighttime with Lori was always a special time to me, because even during our teenage years when we didn't always see eye to eye, we still would talk and laugh at night.

2. Lori and I used to LOVE to play dolls, barbies, etc. My parents built in this little room off our bedroom where we could store all of the dolls. We used to sit in there for hours, making a TOTAL mess, but loving every second of it. Growing up, it was so nice to always have a friend to play with.

3. I have many fond memories of all the different "classes" my mom put us in together. We took tumbling, gymnastics, archery, ballet, soccer, the list goes on and on. We also went to trefoil ranch camp together, and I even got to sort of join Lori's girl scout group when I was too young.

4. My dad used to travel a lot with work when I was younger. While he was gone my mom would put a blanket out either on the lawn (summer) or in front of the fireplace (winter) and we would read books together. Little Women and the Secret Garden are both books I will never forget reading with them!

5. Lori was always such a "model" student in school. When she was younger she always said she either wanted to be a librarian or a teacher when she grew up. She loved to play school with me, but always insisted on being the teacher (just a touch bossy---after all she is the oldest). I still loved to play school with her and we would make tons of lists of all the students in the class together. Who would know that Lori would actually go into business instead?

6. A few years ago, Lori & Tyler had season tickets to the Suns only a few rows away from us. They were so sweet and would take Madison and hold her for a good portion of the game! That allowed Jesse and I to sit alone and feel like we were sort of on a "real" date.

7. Now Lori has her own little girl, Kaylin, who is now 8 months old! She is such a little peanut and so fun to hold. I love whenever we get together with our kids. I cannot wait to watch our kids grow up together. I always loved having cousins to play with....so thanks for giving my kids a cousin Lori Lou!!

We ate at bUbBa gUmPs on the Big Island of Hawaii this summer and this was a bench in front of the restaurant fashioned after Forrest Gump!

Don't you just love those matching pink bathing suits?! Ben was happy sitting on the little raft until a second after the picture was taken and we dumped him (on accident I promise) into the Great Salt Lake!!

Lori, Robby, Cousin Kaylin, Grandma Sheffield
Lori with my little guy, Robby

Wasn't she a beautiful, blushing bride!

We all sure LOVE you!

Happy Halloween!

Madison dressed up as an angel for Halloween! Even though she thought she was a butterfly because of the wings. So I guess that makes her a "white butterfly"
Mommy with her little Teddy Bear

Care Bear & Teddy Bear!

Also, Aunt Loriann with cousin Kaylin. Lori was such a good sport to dress up like a hippie for halloween. I dressed up as a mom I suppose.

The Three Cousins! Kaylin, Madison, & Robby. Maddie, of course, loved to take off both of babies ears.

This year was a little different for us. Jesse & I didn't go to any Halloween parties, so it was a no-nonsense, no-dress up sort of year. I had also already dressed up as Dorothy, from the Wizard of Oz, twice for our wards "Activity days" Halloween party and for a Halloween gymnastics meet I judged, so I was so not in the mood to dress up again. Oh well....there's always next year!

Parks and Playtime

 We love playing together (most of the time)!

Madison loves to pick any flower she can get her hands on!
-this pretty much makes her Dadddy crazy-

Thank heavens that the weather is finally starting to get a little cooler! We have enjoyed going to the park and playing outside now. Robby especially loves to crawl around on the grass.

Jesse's 10 Year High School Reunion

It is official....my husband is now OLD! (j/k) A few weeks ago we went to his 10 year high schoold reunion and I have to say it was rather fun. They had a lunch at the park where everyone brought their kids. Maddie and Robby had fun at the park, other than Madison being flattened face first into the sand after running in front of someone swinging. It's a good thing she's a tough kid! That evening they had a dinner in Mesa. We even got to see our coolest ever neighbors, Mark & Missy Glover! We can't wait for my reunion in 2010 (well... maybe we can wait a little while :)

This is a picture that I stole off Missy's blog (thanks!) of Missy and I-- isn't she such a hot mama of five !! She lives one street away from me in our neighborhood and we are sooo sad that they released her and Mark from nursery: Maddie adored them!

PARKS AND PLAYTIME WITH THE KIDS!

wE lOvE pLayInG toGetHeR (mOst Of tHe tImE)!

Madison loves to pick any flower she can get her hands on!


Thank heavens that the weather is finally starting to get a little cooler! We have enjoyed going to the park and playing outside now. Robby especially loves to crawl around on the grass!

Bathtub Babes

We just recently began bathing our two kids together in the evening before bedtime. Sooo much simpler (why didn't I think of this before) and they LOVE IT!!

Princess Madison

Madison is obsessed with princesses at the moment. She loves her princess books, princess movies, and especially her princess crown! She is kind of a sassy girl don't ya think?!

Please Feed the Ducks?!?!

Madison tried to get as close as possible to the ducks even if that meant laying down at the edge of the pond or actually climb in herself (well almost)...she couldn't seem to understand why they kept swimming away as she got closer to them. She also loved feeding them and would jump up and down and scream with delight when she threw bread in the water & the ducks would fight over the piece of bread!

I am way too lucky to have the two most handsome boys (I mean men) belong to me! Robby also almost crawled right into the pond when we turned our backs for a moment.

Running Races

Jesse has always been amazingly motivated to drag his buns out of bed early on a Saturday morning to run races. Just recently I also began running and working out (when I realized Jesse's reunion was coming up) and I even ran a 5K last weekend. Of course now my ankle feels like it's going to fall off (a lovely bi-product of gymnastics). But I guess staying in shape is worth anything, including pain. So I am still running and getting prepared to run in the 2mile turkey trot on Thanksgiving (I am a bit of a wimp you see-- and cannot get the courage to do the full 10K race). Now that I pretended that I am this amazing person running 5K's and dealing with ankle pains....let me tell you the real deal. While I was out running 3 miles, Jesse, his sister Abby, and my friend Carla ran the half marathon at the same event. Now that certainly puts things into perspective:) Like I said, Jesse is truly one amazing guy!

Here are the kids at one of the races... out supporting their mommy and daddy! Many thanks to Aunt Joanna for coming and watching them last weekend!

And yes... Maddie really does have her hands on her hips in the picture (my dad said it reminds him exactly of me)