I took Ama to get his 2 year pictures today. It went much better than our first attempt yesterday. He was running around everywhere and the lady was patiently snapping his picture as fast as she could. She said this is how most 2 year olds get their pictures taken. Here is the link. Once again, all you have to do is type in my name Carrie Gabriel https://www.smilesbywire.com/home.asp?AC=LTPP0382105824JCP I think they turned out pretty well. I wanted a couple of Ama and Alauna together but they weren't cooperating. Well, Alauna was ready but Ama didn't want to stay by her.

It seems like alot happened today but I am so sleepy that I am going to cut it short tonight.

Oh, and here are a few more pics from Incredible Pizza where we celebrated Ama's 2nd birthday

Ama was standing on his slide dangling my phone charger over the side. Alauna was on the floor grabbing at it. I asked Ama if he was fishing for sisters. His reply~Yes I am!!

I turned around at a red light to check on Ama. He was calmly sitting in his carseat looking around WEARING JEREMY'S BERET! He looked like a chef!

Happy 7 month birthday Alauna!!

Today I had planned on taking Alauna to get her sweat test done (testing for cystic fibrosis) and then head over to a playdate at Cat's and then take the babies to get their pictures taken. My plans never seem to work out. Alauna's appointment took WAY longer than I was quoted. I would have been an hour late for Cat's so I went to Target instead to buy Alauna some tights. Then I TRIED to get the babies pictures done but Ama was too tired and would not cooperate. He wouldn't even let me put him down. Alauna did great though. I dressed her up more formal than I ever have in her whole life. She looked so different and so cute. Here is a link to the pictures we took today. https://www.smilesbywire.com/home.asp?AC=LTPP0382105823JCPYou just have to put in my name Carrie Gabriel I think they turned out pretty good. There were 4 shots that I really liked and ordered. You can guess which ones if you want and I will tell you if you are right. I rescheduled Ama'a 2 year pictures for tomorrow. Hopefully he will be in a better mood. When I walked into the studio one of the first things I saw was Alauna's picture on the wall!! Here is a link to the picture. It is the first one in the setting. Once again, you just have to type in my name. The picture is E12 https://www.smilesbywire.com/home.asp?AC=LTPP0382105706JCP

I got some supplies to make Valentine cards. I need to make 2 tonight for Cameron and Corbin so I can mail them and they get them in time. Ama will make them and I will "help" him. Then we will be nice and sign Alauna's name too.

Ama is starting to talk more. Today Alauna was crying and he patted her head and said Sissy. He says Tee for thank you. My mom likes the story of how I closed the dishwasher door and Ama told me good job. His best words are still ME and MOM.

Here are a few pictures of our trip to Incredible Pizza. We went there to celebrate Ama's second birthday. I'm going to post some today and some tomorrow.

Today was a good day. The house is clean. That is always a good thing. I got a great deal on a swingset for the babies. Now I just need to figure out how to put it together. Ama is going to have so much fun playing outside.

Ama and Alauna were pretty good today. I tried to feel Alauna butternut squash but she didn't really like it. She needs her daddy back. He is so much better at feeding babies. I just make a mess. Ama kept taking Alauna's socks off. Hmmmm....not sure what else happened. I was grocery shopping and Ama got a container of yogurt and opened it at the store and was scooping it out with his fingers. Frustrating. I let him eat it. What else could I do? If I took it away I would have a messy yogurt thing and a hungry, screaming boy.

I finally got something accomplished today. We went to the outlet mall here in El Paso today. That place is really cool. There are tons of kids places there. I was only shopping for kids things. Here is my deal of the day~ At the Old Navy outlet I got Ama 5 pairs of flip flops and a Beatles T-shirt. I got myself 2 pairs of flip flops and a tank top. All of that was a grand total of $22!! Between a sale at the outlet and a coupon I saved TONS of money. I also got Alauna a really cute summer outfit at Carters. It was a good trip. I will definitely be going back. I need some running shoes and I want to check out the New Balance store. They give a 20% military discount. And, no, I'm not really cheap but right now I am staying home with my babies so part of my job is to save our family money. Nothing I bought was on clearance. I just got lucky with the sales.

Alauna can get up on all fours now. I know she will be crawling soon. Watch out Ama! Your sister is going to get you!! She still doesn't have teeth but I am fine with that. She doesn't need any yet.

Grandma Gabriel called me today. That was nice. We had a good talk. She calls Alauna a little china doll. I agree that she does look like a little doll with some crazy hair.

Above is Ama signing a Valentine card and Alauna hanging out while Ama signs for the both of them.

Today Ama was being nice to his baby sister. He put some of his cereal on a little frisbee for her. She was so happy. She grabbed the frisbee and started waving it around. Ama was so indignant about the way she treated his gift. He said, "MOM" in a way that meant he thought she should get in trouble. It was all really funny. I tried to feed her bananas today but she wasn't feeling it. I gave her some yogurt last night and she didn't really want that either. She acts like she wants to eat but then when she actually eats something she doesn't really like it.

We were going to go to the outlet mall today but then I realized that tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday and that would be a good time to go shopping. Hopefully everyone else will be watching the game. I want to get some Carters sleepers for the babies next winter.

I still don't have a camera so I'm going to post some old pictures that I haven't posted before.

Today was our first day without Jeremy. The day seemed to go by fast. I got our garage door fixed. Ama was only one year old and managed to break it TWICE. My mom says he is just like Aaron, always breaking things as a baby. I got a new purse today. As my anniversary gift I get a new purse and wallet. I've been looking everywhere for the perfect set.

I can't post a picture today. I broke our camera last night and didn't get to buy one today. I'm looking for a good deal. I'm going to have to buy one tomorrow no matter what. I need to post pictures so daddy can see his babies.

Don't be jealous, Jeremy, but Della called and she bringing by some cornbread next week sometime. I wonder how well that would ship. Can you imagine opening a package and finding a block of cornbread? I guess I won't ship any.

The kids were pretty well behaved today. They are very loveable. Alauna is talkative and sits and rolls everywhere. She always has to have something to play with. Ama is my sweet daredevil. He is always doing something too. Today I found an envelope hanging behind the TV (the TV is on the wall). I bet he scooted his slide over to the TV so he could reach and thought it would make a good filing place.

Back to a post a day.....

...Because Jeremy just left. Now the babies and I are all alone. I miss him already. We didn't really think he was leaving today. He had been told he was leaving about every two weeks since November. The emotional roller coaster ride of that is over but new emotions have replaced them. It hasn't really sunk in that he is gone for good now. It seems like he is just at work, which he is, but Fort Bliss is much safer than Iraq and he can't come home everyday from Iraq. Here are a few pictures from today.

I'm not sure what else to write about. The babies are both asleep and I am sitting here all alone. Maybe when I am a bit more upbeat I will post about Ama's birthday and add some pictures of it.

Today was a lazy day. We just hung out at home playing, using the computer, things like that. My little nightowl Ama was actually asleep at 10pm. That is a MIRACLE. I really hope he isn't taking a nap right now. Here is a picture of him after his shower before he went to bed.

Alauna also had a good day. She was her normal sweet little self. She is getting really good at sitting up and she is really talkative.

Happy New Year!! Welcome 2010! The best part of 2009 was little Alauna. She is a perfect addition to our family. As Beth said, she is the best present of 2009.





Today the house was quiet for a few minutes. Here is why....

Don't laugh at Alauna's hair. I was experimenting and she fell asleep. Look at how big they are getting. Ama is 23 months old and Alauna is 5.5 months old

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! I have been getting behind on posts. It's harder to post everyday when Jeremy isn't gone. Yes, I know it should be easier since he is here to help me with the kids but it is more difficult because I don't have as much motivation.

We had a good Christmas. Happy First Christmas, Alauna! She loved opening presents. She attacked them. Ama had fun too. He seemed to have an endless supply of new toys. He also got some really cool books. Ama loves books.

Here is a video of Alauna opening a gift

And here is a video of both of them

Today was a lazy Sunday. We didn't leave the house. I did cook some yummy steak and rice for dinner.

My mom told me this a couple of days ago and I forgot to post it. On Thanksgiving Cameron (my nephew) told my mom that his mom got the turkey at work but for some reason they kept the head and the feathers. He thought it was because the turkey talked too much. I guess that makes sense.

Above is a video of Alauna in her jumperoo. She got that toy rolling for the first time. I am so proud of her.

We are back!!!!! Our laptop at the hotel wouldn't let me sign in here to update so I have lots to say now. The plane ride and airport trips with the babies was okay. I was the crazy looking lady there with a baby in a wrap, a baby in a stroller, 2 blankets, a diaper bag and a purse trying to walk fast. It worked. The kids behaved well. It was Ama's second trip by plane and Alauna's first. Here are a couple of pictures from the plane.


The trip went pretty well. Keeping the kids quiet in the hotel room was tough but we managed. I had fun wrapping people. I actually wrapped 8 people and sold an extra wrap. I met my mom and Billy in Oklahoma City at the mall. We had lunch and did a little bit of shopping. Alauna sat in a high chair for the very first time. She looked so tiny! And here is a picture of Alauna and Billy
Ama played on the toys at the mall for the first time. He really liked them. It's a good thing Billy had a pocket full of quarters!The hotel had a playground. Here are a few pictures from one of our trips.


Here are a couple of pics from a day in the life of living in a hotel room. Yes, that is Ama doing something that got him in trouble after I put the camera down.

Jeremy graduated from his school. Congrats to him! We had been dreading him going but all is well now. Hopefully he gets promoted soon. We have been checking every month and his number is getting close. Maybe January-fingers crossed on that one.

Thanksgiving was fun. We went to Maria's house. Thank you Maria and family for a good time and delicious food. The leftovers were really good too. I can't wait for my new sweet potato pie!! If there is anyone in El Paso that likes sweet potato pies I HIGHLY recommend the pies that she got. Let me know if you need the info. It might even be worthy of shipping.

Black Friday--I waited in line for 1.5 hours at Toys R Us and then found out that they were out of the Neat and Tidy cottage that I wanted for the kids. I left empty handed. Later in the morning my shopping buddy (Alauna) and I went to Target and Walmart after the rush. I managed to get some good deals.

Here are a couple of pictures from today. Her daddy was experimenting and figured out that she can do this.



******I would like to post a special shout out to Sheri. Happy Belated Birthday, Sheri!!! I didn't get a chance to send you a card but I did remember and I was thinking of you on your birthday. I don't know if you have thought about it but we met 16 years ago, in the sixth grade. Look, now I'm dating us. I'm only kidding. We are still young. If there is anyone out there trying to do the math, I will help you out--we are 28.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHERI!
I did get your Thanksgiving day card. Thank you very much. It was really sweet.

Wish us luck. In a few hours we are about to take a plane ride up to see the missing member of our family. I'll post pictures from the trip later. I've been trying to get the house ready and it isn't working. I'm really tired and we have to leave in a few hours. I haven't even been to bed yet.

My wrapping/supplement business is going well. I'm really having fun with it. If anyone wants to know what I am talking about here is the link www.carriewraps.itworks.net Please feel free to email me or add a comment if you have any questions or are interested. If you are in the El Paso area I can apply a wrap with an herbal gel for $20. My first time I lost 3.75 inches and I lost more than 3 inches the second time also. It is completely worth the $20 and it only takes an hour.

And now....what you have been waiting for...pictures of the kids. Alauna really fell asleep like this and Ama is climbing off of his slide making a fishy face.

Here are Alauna's 4 month pictures. Use the link and then type Carrie Gabriel as the customer
https://www.smilesbywire.com/home.asp?AC=LTPP0382105121JCP

Happy 4 month Birthday Alauna!!!

This is especially for daddy!!! Good morning! She had already woken up and eaten breakfast and then went back to sleep. This is her getting up for the day.

Here we are at Wal-mart

Today is garage cleaning day. I've got to get started before crazy boy wakes up and makes things more *challenging*. This is what Ama looks like right now. Alauna is awake. I'm about to get her dressed and take her out in the garage with me. I'll update this post throughout the day. I just had a thought. I'm going to take a before and after picture of the garage so you can really see what my day will be like. Eventually I am going to turn it into a gym but until then I will be satisfied with being able to walk though it .

Here is the before of the garage

Here are the kids playing outside

Ama passed out after eating some peaches. Today has been a LONG day and it is only 3. I'm going to follow his lead and take a small nap too.

I'm going to consider the garage done. Here is an after picture. The stuff closest to the garage door is mostly empty boxes and then I have a pile of stuff I am trying to sell and there is tons of boxes of military gear in the corner. There is also alot of exercise equipment and for some reason we have 2 Christmas trees. Posting pictures and status updates on a blog is great motivation to get something done!

And because Alauna was so patient today...here she is!