Big Girl Bed!

Well, she's fallen out of her crib once and yesterday morning I opened her door and turned her light on so she could play in her crib with a doll while I brushed my teeth and such. Suddenly I heard her crying out for help and ran in... she was up "straddling" the railings of the crib trying to balance so she didn't fall. She had dropped her doll on the floor and was trying to get it. So, I figured we couldn't put it off any longer, so last night was her first night in her "big girl bed". She was so excited! I wasn't there at bedtime but Brent said they read stories and she went right to bed. She was so cute. Some of you may wonder why we didn't get her a toddler bed and went straight to the "twin". My only reason for this is that toddler beds are a complete waste of money. Anyway, we are so excited at how "grown up" she is and she is so proud of herself too... she loves showing us how she can get in and out of her bed. Yay for Mariska!

And I just thought these were fun...

Not really goodbye

As most of you know, President Gordon B. Hinckley died last night. As sad as this event can be, I'm not very upset. It seems strange to me that I'm not, but I know he was ready to go and his life was so accomplished. The main emotion I've been feeling since I heard the news is gratitude for having the blessing of a Prophet to lead us and joy for the reunion he has had with his wife. He was so humble and such a loving leader and he will be missed, until we all see him again. http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/

Some cute stuff

Not much has been going on lately, but a few cute things have happened.

She was playing with blocks at the table, waiting for Brent to bring dinner home and I was on the computer facing the other way. I hear her asking for more and turn around to get some and this is what she made...

The other night with her "kids meal" she got a tiny little dog. She loved it, she loves most things small enough to fit in her hand. And just to be nice we let her take it to bed with her. She was so excited! So, because it made her so happy we let her sleep with it again tonight. We went to check on her and this is how she was...

Giving her bear a bath...

We try not to spend money on toys, boxes are just as fun...

Uncle Ryan has some competition!

Look Out Wolfgang Puck...

Tonight was fun... for dinner Mariska was having a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and I asked her if she wanted to try some pickle with it. So I cut one up for her and put it on the side of her bowl. She put some in her mouth, took it out and said, "I don't like it"... so she went on to eat her sandwich. Brent and I were having TBLTs (turkey bacon lettuce tomato sandwiches) Mariska was really interested in trying all the stuff we were having, so she had a couple bites of tomato, tried the lettuce but "didn't like it" and seeing as she's my daughter, LOVED the bacon, or "boken" as she called it. It was pretty funny, in wanting to be like us, she used what she had in front of her to make her own "boken" sandwich... I guess that would be called a TBPB&J sandwich.

Mommy In Training

Mariska has been so cute this week! This has been one of those weeks where they just suddenly grow up really quickly... she's started doing her puzzles all by herself, when normally we have to show her where each one goes. She's drinking from a "big girl cup", and even handled eating 'unthickened' chicken noodle soup by herself. There is a major noticeable difference in her ability to communicate, both in understanding what we say and telling us what she wants. And she's started doing a lot more pretending during her play... she was cradling her baby and says, in her own way, "You're scared? You're ok, you're ok" as she rocked the doll and started going, "sh, sh, sh, sh" like Brent and I do with her. While I was doing dishes she was in the living room playing, when I peeked in to check on her she was "changing her baby's diaper" and asked me to help...

2nd haircut

Tonight was Mariska's 2nd haircut ever! It took a very long time, because she WOULD NOT hold still, but I think it could have been worse. Brent thinks it's cute, and I think it's pretty cute because she's 2 and adorable, but I also thinks she looks some what like "Herbert" on Monty Python and the Holy Grail (the wimpy guy who just wants to sing)... oh well, at least it's not in her eyes all the time now and it can always grow out some. What do you think?

Really good day

Hi there,
I just wanted to share that today, I weighed in at a weight I haven't been for about 2 years! I was very proud and excited... but then of course a little upset when I couldn't fit into a sweater I want to get into. Although I shouldn't have been, because it's only been about 2 pounds since I tried it on last, I guess my hopes were a little too high.
But, none the less I am lighter now, then I have been for a long time and it feels good. And I'm proud (though still a bit embarrassed, but I like sharing) that I am now officially, according to my BMI simply, in the "Overweight" category. I am, as of today, no longer considered obese. I was really proud. And now I only have 29.2 pounds to lose until I am not in the over weight range. I'm shooting for losing another 24 by mid April, so wish me luck! (If I reach that goal, I'll weigh less then when we were married.
Then I decided since I am too cheap to pay for upkeep on my hair, I was going to search the wealth of knowledge right in front of me and find out everything I can about styling curly, frizzy, big hair. And in my search I got interested in how to actually use make-up and looked a few things up. We went to the store today and I walked away with...
1)relaxing conditioner and conditioning shampoo I shall only use 2-3 times a week
2) alcohol free styling gel
3) Eye liner/brow pencil
4) lip gloss/stick (it's kinda both)
5) a purse... I can also use as a diaper bag, but won't be walking around practically wearing a sign that says "Pennie pinching mom who really couldn't care less about fashion"... now my sign would say "sensible mom who thinks things like fashion are pretty pointless but feels the pressure" or "is this lady like enough?!"
6) a wallet, which matches the purse!! Who's not proud of that!?
AND even... earrings!!!! Can you believe it?!

Today was my first day at all of it and according to Brent (not sure just how he knows) it all takes practice... so we'll see how long it takes me to get it all down, and just like keeping weight off, if I can stick with it.

It can be done...

Living proof...

Goodbye Cruel World!

This was really funny, and I'm glad we got pictures. Apparently Mariska just couldn't handle any more... goodbye cruel world!

Our trip...

We had a fantastic trip to Utah! We loved seeing all of you and had a great time. We left Texas around noon on the 18th and ended up making killer time, getting to Lehi around 8pm the next day. We spent that Thursday getting ready for Mariska's birthday party! Her party was a lot of fun, and I am really sorry for putting the wrong street name on the invitation!

Mariska's Cake - Thank you mom!

Her face in this picture truly does say 1,000 words. I love this picture.

I couldn't resist adding this picture of Emily.

On Saturday we headed over to the big Rasmussen Family Christmas Party. We had a really great time, although we still feel bad Mariska wasn't her most friendly, she was so tired.

She was an Angel in the "pageant", although I don't think she really understood her character.

Christmas morning at the Eldridge house...

This picture of her trying to see her hat really makes me laugh.Where are all her cats?

She was tired by mid afternoon, but she had a great time playing with all her cousins, here are some shots of her playing with Aubree.

Then we visited our friends Chris and Christina (we missed you Mike and Katelyn) where Mariska was able to hold a baby for the first time... special thanks to Christina for risking her first borns life to bring a smile to mine.

Just a little friendly poke in the eye. Baby Maya (or Aiya as Mariska calls her)

Later in the week we had a really fun game night with Brent's family. And I am so sorry to say, we forgot to take pictures! I'm a horrible person. But we had a lot of fun. We spent some time playing the "Battle of the Sexes" board game, which is surprisingly difficult, at least for me! Thanks to Brent's parents we have something new to save for... a Nentendo WII, I guess that's how you spell it. It was so much more fun than it looks. I kicked Brent's butt in golf in a couple of rounds! Although he did beat me most of the time. Is it pathetic to hurt your shoulder playing a video game? I'm just kidding, I didn't hurt my shoulder. It was a hamstring.

A day or so later we went up to see the lights at Temple Square with my parents and Amber and her family. It was SO COLD!! I bit my tongue a few times just trying to talk! Texas' 60 degrees sounded really nice at the time. But it was beautiful and we had fun. After we couldn't take the wind any longer we had dinner in the food court across the street.This is an amazing picture Brent took.The Rasmussens and Churches.Obviously us... and then us and my parents...

On Saturday morning I was able (thanks to Brent and my mom) to go have a "girls morning out" with my friend Amy. Again Amy, sorry for not being able to go to breakfast! (I had to fast because that afternoon Brent and I had our blood drawn for life insurance policies) Even though there was no food involved, I had a great time. I still want to buy that fancy dress we saw and just wear it to church or something.

After we had our blood drawn, since we hadn't eaten for so long... Brent and I went and tried out the "rumored to be just like In and Out" Chadder's restaurant in American Fork... Holy cow, JUST like In and Out!! Complete replica. I can completely see why they were sued by In and Out. Needless to say, I was beaming. It was a Christmas miracle! One day, they'll make a movie about a young woman, longing for a cheeseburger, fries and chocolate shake from In and Out for years. When suddenly, out of no where an exact copy of In and Out is built right in her midst and all her In and Out wishes come true! It really did make me so grateful we didn't actually drive all the way to Las Vegas on our way to Utah for In and Out. I'm pathetic, I know, but not as pathetic as I could be, since we didn't do it...

Anyway, we left Sunday morning and again made great time, arriving home around 5:30 Monday night. Mariska was really happy to be in her own bed, but she did have a great time in Utah. She keeps asking for family members! It breaks my heart everyday to say, "They are in Utah, we are in Texas" - Hopefully we'll get back sooner rather than later.

Here are a few fun pictures we took the other night...

That's it for now! Hope you're all great and that your holidays were as fun as ours!

People

Hi everyone!

We had so much fun seeing all of you and hope all your holidays were great! I'm working on getting a post finished with pictures of our Christmas, but I just wanted to add this before I did...

This morning I was watching the Today Show while having my bowl of Multi grain Cheerios and they had a segment on the new issue of People Magazine that will be out on Friday, called "Half Their Size". It's an issue about people who have lost 1/2 their body weight on diet and exercise...

One woman seriously almost made me cry, she had 5 kids and was topping 300 pounds and a size 24... now she is 150 pounds and a size 6. She told about how she had recently gone to her 15 year reunion and so many people mentioned that she was smaller then she was in high school, and she said that she actually was!!

She made me feel so great! People need to get rid of the idea that if you have kids or age in any way that you can't lose weight to be the size you were when you were younger! Not that it's easy, but it CAN be done!!

I just wanted to share, because this segment of the show meant a lot to me... I'm now down about 22 pounds!! Christmas somewhat "ruined" me when it comes to my work out routine and not craving the junk... but that part of the show was just what I needed to get back on track!