FINALLY!!!

The House is Ours!

It has been a very stressful process with so many little problems up to the very last moment. We almost canceled but we didn't, we endured, and now the house is ours. Demo on the flooring started this morning. We will be putting up crown molding, new base boards, hardwood floors, tile in the bathrooms, carpet in the bedrooms, and paint and then we will move in. We are hoping January 12th will be our move in date. I couldn't find our pictures of the actual house but here are floor plan pictures.

41oo sq feet, 6 bedrooms, 4 baths, large bonus room and yes I have a cleaning lady.

I have some catching up to do...

All I want for Christmas is...healthy kids. Well that didn't happen this year. The kids were still sick on Christmas and are actually STILL getting over it. I can't believe how long it has lasted. We almost postponed Christmas. Taylor asked us to tell Santa not to come until she was better. However she changed her mind right before dozing off to sleep. She then asked me if I could tell Santa to still come. Break my heart...she had been so excited for Christmas all month and then when it was FINALLY here, she had very little strength or energy to enjoy it. I was really sad when we left my mom's house that night and Taylor meekly wished her a Merry Christmas.

We had fun having Grandma and Grandpa J over Christmas morning.

Grandpa J caught our flu bug the day before so he was sick. It was sad.

My family will now be deceptively healthy.

I also joined the IPOD club this Christmas...a little late I know...but I think Tyler and Taylor have used it more than I have. =)
The fun ball machine.
A friend of my sisters made these cute scarves for the kids.
Taylor riding in style thanks to Grandma and Grandpa P.

Our Sick Family!

On Friday I was all excited to be able to post that we signed loan docs for our new home. After 3 months of stress, it was all coming to an end. YEA! HOWEVER, the stomach flu invaded our home and took all 5 of us as its victim. It started with Ashlyn on Thursday and she wasn't real bad so I didn't think much of it. Friday morning I became victim #2, Taylor was very soon after me, Andy joined later in the day, and Tyler finished it off. It turned into a really bad day. It was so sad to watch Taylor and Andy just lay on the floor with their eyes half open just wondering what the heck was going on. I got really nervous when Tyler started to not feel well. He had been taking care of us all day (he was so great!) and I didn't know what we were going to do if he got sick also. I text messaged my mom telling her my concern and she responded that she was sending a little prayer our way. After reading her message I was able to function enough to take care of my sick baby. I am so grateful for that little blessing. We thought we were better today, just a little out of it and tired but Taylor was hit again on our way to Wrightwood IN THE CAR. Yeah our car stinks! We had to take apart her car seat and scrub it down.

I really hope everyone is better as we start our Christmas celebration tomorrow.

There are 2 positive things to this chaos if you can even believe it: #1 I have received lots of cuddle time from my 3 little loves, especially Andy. My girls take up a lot of my attention and I sometimes feel Andy gets a little neglected. On Friday after everyone went to bed, I kept him in the living room with me while he slept and just cuddled with him. He was one of the last ones to get sick so I wanted to make sure he was past it before I put him to bed. He was so cute! #2: I have NO appetite so I am not at all tempted to indulge in Christmas treats. For example: I have a bag of homemade cinnamon rolls from one of my talented cinnamon roll baker friends and I only had 1. Normally they would have all been gone by now. Maybe I will actually loose those last few pounds I have wanted to get rid of.

As for the loan docs we will sign tomorrow morning and will fund and record on Wednesday. Our builder is being so kind as to allow Santa to put up Taylor's trampoline in the new backyard tomorrow night. Too bad the real Santa doesn't really do it. Tyler will be calling for reinforcements so you may want to turn off your phones. =)

We hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!

New Projects!

Some of you know that I own a vinyl sticker machine. I've had it for a couple years now and have always wanted to make it a real business. I have a fictious business name, a website, a blog but every time I try to get it going life just gets in the way. So I do ward craft nights and custom orders. I really enjoy making new projects and so I decided that as life permits I will post new projects for anyone that might be interested. Here are a few from a recent craft night and a couple I did as Christmas gifts for our friends. If you are interested, send me an email: tmjorgenson@yahoo.com

Meli Kalikimaka

Completed sign: $9.00
Lettering: $6.00
Palm Tree: $1.00

6X6 Tile

Completed tile: $8.00

Lettering: $5.00

The Center of Our Home

Fits board 6X30

Completed board: $15.00

Lettering only: $10.00

Daughter of God

Fits board 6X30

Completed board: $15.00

Lettering only: $10.00

Shipping costs not included.

Chelsea To The Rescue

We attempted family pictures at JC Pennys a couple weeks ago and they did not turn out very well. After waiting 2 hours to see the pictures, I don't think it would have mattered even if they were good, I was too frustrated to even think straight. So I immediately came home and emailed Chelsea to take new pictures for us. She did and they turned out great. There are a lot of cute ones of the kids. Here are a few of them and there will be more on our Christmas cards. Thanks again Chelsea!

LOVE HIM!

Even though Taylor is being a stinker in this picture, I love it. I think it is so funny!
Poor Ashlyn was sick and her throat was bothering her so she always had her sleeve (or leaves) in her mouth. I was really hoping for some cute pictures of my photogenic baby but not that day.

Now It's Christmas!

On Monday we went to Disneyland and had such a fun time. I love Disneyland this time of year. We only went on 2 rides. We spent most of our time at Santa's Round Up; making crafts, decorating cookies, and singing songs. We also went to Tom Sawyer's Island which is all Pirates now. Taylor loved it! We watched the parade, fireworks, and the "snow" fall. The castle is so pretty this year, all covered in snow.

In case anyone read my previous post, I did not have time to make

shirts but the girls are wearing winter shirts.

Love pictures like this.

Santa's roundup.

Tyler's perfectly decorated cookie. He is so talented.

So this little girl would not leave socks on our feet or a bow in her hair but would leave this Santa hat on her head. I think it is because she is the most photogenic baby on the planet and she realized that when she wore it she would get her picture taken. She is so silly!

We wore him out!

Front row seats. Tyler was getting hot chocolate and churro...tradition complete!

I've Been Tagged!

Post these rules of "tag" at the beginning of your blog. List 6 facts or habits about yourself. At the end of the post, you must tag 6 people and post their names. Go to their blog and leave them a comment letting them know they have been tagged and to read your blog for more details.


1. I love having twins! Being a mom of twins you receive many comments from people you pass throughout the day. I receive a lot of "Are they all your's," "God Bless You," "You are so blessed (I agree), and "Glad it is you and not me." I agree with the last one also. I love it. PLEASE don't get me wrong, it is really hard at times but I love their different personalities and watching them interact with each other and follow each other around. Tonight Andy figured out how to make one of his toys make noise and a little piece of it spin around. He was laughing at it and of course Ashlyn had to come see what was so funny. He pushed the button over and over for her and she couldn't stop laughing. Occasionally she would look up at him almost like she was saying, "Do you see this, it is so funny." I can leave them in their beds in the morning for an hour and they will just babble to each other, laugh, and pull on opposite ends of their curtain which they find hilarious. It is times like these that make me forget about how hard it is and grateful that I have been given 2.

2. I have a SEVERE dessert weakness. Self control is nonexistent when any sweets are around me. My favorite thing is homemade, straight out of the oven, chocolate chip cookies. If I am being honest though, it's not just cookies. My lack of control is extended to warm brownies with ice cream, cheesecake, peanut M&M's, doughnuts, ColdStone chocolate ice cream with brownies and carmel and the list goes on and on. I can't stop myself and before I know it I am sick to my stomach and beating myself up about all the fat grams and calories I just inhaled. That is why I rarely make or buy any of the above mentioned things. I have learned to love 100 calorie pack cookies when I need to satisfy a sweet tooth.

3. I love day spas and getting massages. I get a massage at least once a month and try to make it to a spa quarterly. Lucky for me I have a husband who also loves these things so whenever we are able to get away for a night it is necessary for the hotel to be a hotel and spa. One of our favorite places is the Marriott located across the street from Fashion Island and it helps that Cheesecake Factory is within walking distance (Brownie Sunday Cheesecake...the best!).


4. I am a shopaholic for things at Target. I love Target and can spend hours wandering through the aisles. It is even worse this time of year with all the Christmas decorations. I can't resist buying clothes for the kids, clothes for myself, home decor, and whatever other odds and ends I can find. Lately I have been taking the kids which keeps me under control because by bathroom trip #3 with Taylor when we are in the Christmas section and I have a cart full of things and 2 babies, I am done.

5. I am a little obsessed with making holidays perfect. For example, I am currently struggling with the fact that the girls and I do not have our holiday shirts yet. I know what shirts I want but I have not been able to get in contact with the girl to make them AND we are going to Disneyland on Monday AND we have to have those shirts so we can take pictures in front of the big Christmas tree. The picture just won't be as cute if we don't have our shirts. See what I mean, I'm crazy! Luckily I have figured out how to make our own shirts. They won't be as cute but I think they will suffice. As a side note, I am obsessed with Disneyland during Christmas. It is just not Christmas without going to Disneyland to watch the Christmas parade and the snow fall and getting hot chocolate and a churro (I can only eat churros at Disneyland).

6. I take long showers. No matter how I hard I try I can't shower any faster even with my now short hair. Normally I shower when the babies take a nap so it is my one time during the day to be alone and so I savor those few moments and make them last as long as I can. I think it drives Tyler crazy that I am not a little faster but he is used to it by now and doesn't try to change it. He's the best! =)

I tag Sara, Trisha, Kalli, Rachel, Laura, and Kerri.

I Was Only Gone For 2 Minutes!!!

I had to run upstairs to put something away...literally a 2 minute thing. When I left Taylor she was washing her hands. When I returned, this is what I found. I asked her "What are you doing?" And she answered, "Making a bath for myself." Of course, in the sink. I think blogging is making me a better mom because instead of getting frustrated that she stripped off her clothes and climbed into the sink, I laughed and had to take a picture to post so you all could see.

Merry Christmas!

We got the perfect tree this year. It is REALLY big, almost too big, we had to do some manipulating of the tree stand to fit it in our house. I love it!

Taylor had so much fun decorating tree.

The finished product.

We attempted family pictures yesterday at JC Penny. The family picture did not turn out well so we have to redo them (AGH!) but we did get a few good ones of the kids.

Lighter and Shorter

Lately I have been feeling a bit frumpy and in definite need of a change. There's nothing better than a new hairdo. So I went to a new stylist (the one everyone I know goes to) and tried to not be too nervous and let her lighten and shorten my neglected mop. I love it! It was exactly what I was envisioning. She did a great job!

A Fun Rainy Day!

I love the rain. I especially love waking up to the sound of raindrops outside my window. Friday was one of those great rainy days. We only went out to get the babies haircut. Other than that we stayed home and made Christmas cookies, a countdown Christmas chain, and finished putting up Christmas decorations with Christmas music in the background. We definitely took part in some Christmas cheer.

Taylor loves her Princess umbrella. Thanks Grandma P!

Ashlyn's 1st haircut. She sat really still which is very unlike her.

It helped that I gave her my watch to chew on.

Andy is so ticklish, he laughed every time the stylist came after him with the clippers. It was so cute!

Christmas Cookies!

Can you guess that I bribed her with that uncooked cookie to smile like that?! Hey, it worked.

Our Christmas countdown chain.

I explained to Taylor that each morning she would get to take off one link on her chain and when they were all gone it was Christmas. After putting it up in her room, she said she was tired and wanted to go to bed. A little confused I said Okay Whatever. She climbed in bed, got under her blankets, and asked me to turn off her light and close the door. I was totally confused until a minute later she came out with a detached link from the chain saying, "I woke up so I got to take off a link."

Thanks Grandma J. for our snowmen, we love them!