Cut! Take Two!

So here's my new, new haircut. I got it cut about a week ago and couldn't style it, so I got the longest layer cut off yesterday and now I really like it! I never wanted my hair this short again, but it's growing on me! I think I'll pick up a straight iron because it doesn't look this straight/smooth today. I can never redo what the hair stylist does :)





Grandpa Randy watched the girls while I went to get my haircut and I snapped this photo of them playing when I got home - Madeline is giving Abbie a ride on her shoulders while running all over the house.
And here's Abbie exploring the lazy susan while I made dinner. I don't know how she got herself in there, but it was a little challenge to get her out - her knee was caught under the tray!

Falling down, gently down, covering the ground below...

Last week was beautiful! 40 above, no hat for me as we played outside, and even the snow started melting in the hot sun - lovely!
The girls got ready in their winter gear (which didn't keep them completely dry) and we headed over to the Matteson's house via sleds. Madeline loves playing with Hunter, Walker, and Kyler (whom she calls "Walker's Baby"). They had so much fun on the swing set and slide. The older boys got a real kick out of pushing Abbie on the baby swing.
Now, it's cold again and windy and snowy...I figured that awesome weather was just a tease!

Do you see a resemblance?

Here's the magazine photo I saved from when I was pregnant with Madeline. I thought this is what she would look like...and here's a recent photo of Maddie. Any likeness between the two? Except for Madeline's eyes being a bit smaller and nose a bit rounder, we think so.

Temple Trip

This past weekend, we went to the LDS temple in Anchorage. My stepdad, Randy, came with us. We drove our Corolla. I was squished between the two girls in the back seat and Randy was up front and Jeremy drove...the whole way there and back (about 14 hours at least!). We caravaned with the Joneses and the Legges. We stopped at Arby's the moment we pulled into town and then headed to our hotel - a brand spakin' new one (for only $40 on priceline.com!). The girls were super troopers and didn't cry and scream too much in the car, but they were sure glad to get to the pool! We had an amazingly spiritual time at the temple and were so lucky to have Christy Jones to watch the girls for us so we could go together.

The next day, the guys went to the temple while we ate at the yummy breakfast buffet (for free!) in the hotel. Then we went to Chuck E. Cheese with the Joneses - we owed it to Madeline for being potty trained. That was her ultimate "treat" for giving up diapers :) We all had a blast - Jeremy kept running off with our tokens to play games, Abbie was a patient little sweetheart when Jeremy wanted to have her ride with him. The picture of the girls in the car is too precious - Abbie is just waiting with her little hands folded, for Madeline to put the token in.

This is our 3rd trip to Chuck E. Cheese since Maddie was born (once a year is good) and here are some photos from each time...and one of Abbie (in the same shirt as Madeline at that age!).

A few random things about Dahlia:

10 years ago: I was finishing up my senior year of high school. I was waiting to hear back from the only University I applied to...a month from now I found out I got into Brigham Young University - Hawaii (graduated from there in 2002).

5 Things on my to-do-list today: laundry, dishes, pack for Anchorage, make dinner for us and another family, renew my temple recommend.

3 of my bad habits: playing with my hair while I read, jumping to conclusions way too quickly, and wasting time with worry.

5 places I have lived: North Pole, Alaska; Laie, Hawaii; Fairbanks, Alaska; North Pole, Alaska; hopefully somewhere much further south of North Pole, Alaska.

5 jobs I have Had: Housekeeper at Westmark Inn (now Best Western), Front Desk clerk at two different hotels, dorm janitor, "student worker" (that's what we were all called) for the VP of Finance and the CIO for BYUH, and an IT project manager at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital.

Things most people don't know about me: I used to find and save pictures from magazines of what I thought my kids would look like before I even had kids (and one actually DOES look like Madeline), I'm interested in community planning and had ideas for a big plot of land (now spoken for by someone other than me) by where I used to live, and I used to have a club with all the neighborhood kids called the Blue Angels (ha!).

The cold snap snapped!

It's been -40 below lately (for over a week now) and we've been very cooped up in the house. Here are some photos of what we were up to. Maddie started swimming lessons (2 of which were canceled due to cold) and she was a bit timid at first and even cried a bit, but didn't want to leave by the end of the class. Her cousins, Dylan and Donaven are in the same class too! I found Madeline playing dentist as she was fixing Cookie Monster's "dank (rotten in Maddie's terms) teeth". Speaking of cookies, whenever I bake them I NEED to keep the light on in the stove so Abbie can watch and squeal with delight! And here are a few cute random post-bath time pictures (check out her chompers!) :)

So today it is only -2 below, but it's warm enough for Madeline and me to play outside in our unfinished "bear cave" while Abbie took a nap inside. We went for a short sled ride and watched our tarp lean to, which was covering our woodpile, collapse with the weight of the snow. Madeline was playing under it and got out just in time - she could've been crushed! Time for hot cocoa Maddie declared! So we're back inside for a break...

Cuteness!!!

I love my girls! Before my mom headed to NY (until May this time), she was over at our house one day to visit. She got the girls standing on the stool and brushing their teeth at the same time. I had to get a picture! They're good buddies - Maddie has been especially kind and shares so easily with Abigail now! It's so CUTE to see Madeline with a baggie of treats, passing them over to Abigail in their carseats in the rear view mirror! They can't really see each other well, but they can reach their hands out to one another to give and grab a marshmallow. I love it!

Boxes are great toys, huh? :)

My visiting teacher, Kasey Roberts, gave me some tulips! I love her! I love these flowers! I think tulips are my most favorite flower now! I never really had a favorite flower before - even with a name like mine - but now I find myself wanting to get more as their week of blossoming into abstract, organic shapes has faded. I'm addicted to buying tulips now (see, I bought some purple ones in the photo of Maddie and Benson). Speaking of those two kiddos - they are so funny together! They get along well, and they can also fight like siblings, but work it out and still like to play together. They leave with hugs.